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  • MIL-OSI: Summons for a written resolution – amendments to the senior secured callable bond terms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oslo, 18 June 2025

    Interoil Exploration and Production ASA (the “Company“) has today requested Nordic Trustee AS to summon for a bondholders’ written resolution (the “Summons“) for the Company’s senior secured callable bonds with ISIN NO 001 0729908 (the “Bonds“).

    The purpose of the written resolution is to approve a proposal to amend the bond terms regarding the settlement of the interest payment on the Bonds falling due on 31 July 2025 (the “July Interest Payment“) in kind by the issuance and delivery of additional Bonds (“July PIK Bonds“) with terms and conditions substantially equal to those of the outstanding Bonds and the same interest rate as the outstanding Bonds at a rate of eight point fifty per cent (8.50%).

    In addition, the Company kindly request a waiver of the requirement in (i) Clause 13.2.1 paragraph (c) of the bond terms to publish its financial statements for year 2024 on its website within 120 days from the end of its financial year and (ii) Clause 13.2.1 paragraph (d) of the bond terms to publish its interim accounts for Q1 2025 on its website within 60 days after the end of Q1.

    For further background and details of the proposed resolutions, please see the attached Summons.

    The proposed resolutions will be passed if a simple majority of the voting bonds vote in favor of the proposed resolution prior to the expiry of the voting period. The voting period shall expire ten (10) business days after the date of the Summons, i.e., at 5 pm Oslo time on 3 July 2025.

    Please direct any further questions to: ir@interoil.no (mailto:ir@interoil.no)

    ***

    Interoil Exploration and Production ASA is a Norwegian based exploration and production company – listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with focus on Latin America. The Company is operator and license holder of several production and exploration assets in Colombia and Argentina with headquarter in Oslo.

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    Attachment

    • NO0010729908_SB_20250618

    The MIL Network –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government peacebuilders, youth and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) sow seeds of peace amidst guns

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    As morning breaks, the vast and open plains of South Sudan’s Lakes state are filled with sounds of cattle and the overwhelming smell of smoke.  

    It is at this relatively quiet time, that a team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and state authorities from the Ministry of Peacebuilding set out on a drive.

    They aim to meet herders, armed youth, and residents in cattle camps that dot the landscape. Why? To hear their concerns and discuss the possibility of a future without violence.

    For generations, cattle have been a symbol of wealth and pride across Lakes. And, in recent years, they have also become a source of deadly conflict. Cattle theft, revenge raids, and competition over water have left a trail of grief in local communities with countless lives lost and properties destroyed.

    At one such cattle camp called Buol, 24-year-old herder Makur Magor Bok stands firm at the centre of a gathering. A seasoned cattle keeper despite his age, Makur carries a weapon, not out of malice, he says, but out of necessity. “If I knew my cattle and my family were safe, I would give up my gun today,” he says, gesturing to the automatic rifle slung across his shoulder. “We are not criminals, we are just afraid.”

    Makur told Civil Affairs officers from the UN Peacekeeping mission that thieves had stolen one of his rifles, along with phones and solar chargers. Though he knew who was responsible, he made a decision that surprised many in his community. “I could have tracked them and fought with them, retrieved my belongings and avenged myself, but I remembered the peace messages I heard from UNMISS before. You said revenge only brings more killing,” he explained. “So I reported them to the traditional authorities. I want to believe in the law, not in a gun and, hopefully, I won’t be disappointed”

    His unprecedented choice—to trust the system instead of fuelling the cycle of violence—sparked a debate among his peers. Some responded with irony, while others said that they had seen enough of their people die over senseless quarrels.

    In another nearby cattle camp, Abuok Deng, a 17-year-old girl, shared her fears. “We sleep in fear. On any given night, someone might raid us. I think to myself that maybe this is the night I lose my baby brother; maybe this is the night someone hurts me,” she exhales, with looking out into the distance. “We need safety.”

    The team of government peacebuilders and UNMISS peacekeepers listened intently and responded with strong messages on conflict resolution, the power of dialogue, and the importance of community-led peace. “This visit is not about disarming people,” stated Ruby Awude, a Civil Affairs Officer. “It is about creating the kind of peace and safety in communities that makes carrying a gun unnecessary.”

    As twilight fell, the team left behind more than just words: they left seeds for lasting peace. Whether these take root depends not only on institutional change but also on the courage of individuals like Makur and Abuok.

    Their words reflect the hope that still flickers in Lakes state: that even in a place tormented by cycles of conflict, there are those who choose peace.

    – on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: “We may be from two countries but are one family”: Ethiopian peacekeepers hand over medical supplies in Bor

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    “It’s increasingly difficult for us to provide essential medication to patients, whether in hospitals or smaller clinics,” reveals Dr. Bol Chaw.

    Dr. Chaw is the medical director at Bor State Hospital in Jonglei, South Sudan. His concerns are shared by many across this country, where people living in remote areas often go without basic healthcare.

    But Dr Chaw has helping hands in the form of Blue Helmets from Ethiopia serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) who handed over a large shipment of vital supplies to the hospital – broad spectrum antibiotics, anti-malarials, painkillers, drugs to tackle chronic illnesses such as hypertension, and surgical materials.

    The handover couldn’t have been timelier, given the onset of the rainy season in the country which often leads to an uptick in malaria cases among communities.

    “Since we patrol consistently among communities, we are aware of the challenges they face, particularly with the ongoing economic crisis and consequent shortage of medical supplies. We felt that we must support them. We may be from two countries but are one family and families share,” explains Lieutenant-Colonel Desalegn Sahile Gulilat, commanding officer of the Ethiopian troops.

    To build further trust and goodwill, Ethiopian peacekeepers followed the medical outreach by providing some basic first aid training to medical staff.

    “These partnerships with our international friends such as UNMISS make a real difference in saving lives,” says Dr. Chaw.

    Beyond this gesture, the Ethiopian contingent undertakes regular patrols and provides military escorts for aid convoys, ensuring lifesaving humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable across the state.

    “There are many ways in which we, as peacekeepers, protect civilians. We are on the ground to be of service,” added Lieutenant-Colonel Gulilat.

    – on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Angola Environmental Serviços (AES) Seeks Partnership Opportunities, Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 as Silver Sponsor

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Waste management company Angola Environmental Serviços (AES) will return to the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference and exhibition in 2025 as a Silver Sponsor. Operating at the intersection of the environmental and hydrocarbon sectors, AES strives to become a leading national company providing integrated waste management services. As Angola expands its portfolio of exploration and production projects, these services will play an instrumental part in preserving the natural environment while ensuring optimal oil and gas operations.

    AES promotes environmental sustainability through the deployment of world-class technology, working closely with upstream operators across both the onshore and offshore markets. The company’s AOG 2025 sponsorship reflects its commitment to supporting oil and gas projects, creating new opportunities for greater collaboration across the industry as a range of major projects advance in the country.

    AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    In recent years AES has invested heavily in its infrastructure and human capital, with aims to position itself as the partner of choice for oil and gas operators. Through its two waste management facilities – situated at the SONILS base in Luanda and the Kwanda base in Soyo – the company deploys a range of services, from thermal desorption to incineration to landfill services, tank cleaning and cargo transport units. The strategic location of these bases positions AES at the center of Angola’s upstream and logistics industries, with close proximity to active and upcoming projects in the Kwanza and Lower Congo basins.  

    AES’ suite of clients further underscores its role in the country’s oil and gas sector. These include TotalEnergies, Azule Energy, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Sonangol, Etu Energias, Angola LNG and many more. The company has also worked closely with international service and technology firms, including SLB, Halliburton, Aker Solutions, among others. As major operators expand their presence in Angola amid a $60 billion investment pipeline planned for the coming five years, partnerships with AES will serve to advance the environmental and operational efficiency of oil and gas developments.

    – on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Shell Trading & Shipping’s Filippo Bof Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Filippo Bof, Head of Business Development: Africa and Med at Shell Trading & Shipping – the trading and supply branch of energy major Shell – will speak at this year’s Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference. Taking place on September 3-4 in Luanda, the event is the official meeting platform for the country’s hydrocarbon sector, uniting investors and operators from across the entire petroleum value chain. With a prominent presence in Africa, Shell Trading & Shipping is well-positioned to lead discussions on enhancing regional trade and petroleum distribution.

    During AOG 2025, Bof will participate in a panel discussion titled: From Extraction to Expansion: Financing Angola’s Oil & Gas’ Development, where he is expected to share insight into the role of multilateral lenders, development banks and private equity in unlocking projects across the value chain. Shell Trading & Shipping is seeking new opportunities to finance oil and gas projects, and with its expertise in hydrocarbon trade, stands to play an instrumental role in supporting the next wave of downstream developments in Angola.

    AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    As sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest oil producer, Angola has ambitions to position itself as a regional petroleum hub. The country is accelerating the development of downstream infrastructure to achieve this goal, with projects underway in refining, petrochemical production and cross-border pipelines. Upcoming refining projects include the first phase of the Cabinda Refinery (30,000 bpd); the Lobito Refinery (200,000 bpd) and the Soyo Refinery (150,000 bpd). The Cabinda Refinery is expected to begin operations in 2025 while Angola is currently seeking $4.8 billion to bridge the financing gap for the Lobito Refinery. Additionally, the country has signed an agreement with Zambia for the development of a 1,400 km pipeline linking the Lobito Refinery to Zambia’s capital city Lusaka. Technical work for the pipeline was completed in 2024.

    In addition to crude facilities, Angola strives to diversify its economy through natural gas projects. The country currently exports natural gas as LNG, primarily through its sole LNG facility in Soyo. Looking ahead, Angola seeks to develop steel and petrochemical manufacturing, while accelerating regional LPG distribution. These developments highlight a unique investment opportunity for global financiers, project developers and traders. Shell Trading & Shipping – with its global network of trading teams, shipping and maritime capabilities – offers an integrated network of supply and distribution abilities, and as such, has emerged as a strong partner for Angola as it strives to bolster exports and regional distribution.

    – on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) Executive Secretary Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 in Support of Africa’s Growing Downstream Sector

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) – a pan-African organization that serves as the voice of the continent’s downstream sector – will speak at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference. Taking place on September 29-October 3 in Cape Town, the event is the largest gathering of energy stakeholders on the continent. Kragha’s participation will contribute to discussions on the downstream sector, covering challenges, opportunities, trends and projects.

    This comes as many of Africa’s major oil and gas producers – including Nigeria, Angola, Algeria and the Republic of Congo – pursue bold strategies to strengthen domestic petroleum value chains. These efforts aim to reduce refined petroleum imports and improve fuel security. ARDA plays a key role by promoting strategic collaboration, policy advocacy and industry innovation. Recently, the association called for the creation of an African downstream register to better support projects. At AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies Kragha is expected to outline the benefits of such a register and highlight ARDA’s strategies to drive downstream expansion.

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

    Refinery development is a critical priority for many African countries, with several major projects underway to boost regional fuel distribution and lower costs. Angola is advancing three new facilities aiming for a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day (bpd), including the 60,000 bpd Cabinda refinery (expected online in 2025), the 200,000 bpd Lobito facility and the 150,000 bpd Soyo project. Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest at 650,000 bpd, is progressing toward full operational capacity. In the Republic of Congo, the Fouta Refinery, designed to produce 2.5 million tons of petroleum products annually, is slated to begin operations by the end of 2025. South Africa plans to rehabilitate the SAPREF refinery, which has been closed since 2022. The refurbishment aims to raise capacity from 180,000 bpd to 600,000 bpd, opening new opportunities for affordable fuel supply.

    Beyond refineries, several African countries are prioritizing cross-border pipelines to boost exports and regional fuel distribution. Notable projects include the 1,443-km East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline linking Uganda’s oilfields to Tanzania’s Port of Tanga and expected to start operations in 2026. Nigeria’s $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline will traverse 13 West African countries over 5,660 km to connect Nigerian gas fields with European markets via Morocco, with production targeted for 2029. Meanwhile, a planned $13 billion pipeline running from Nigeria through Niger to Algeria, spanning 4,128 km and delivering 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually, aims to facilitate regional exports and deeper African collaboration.

    While these developments mark significant progress toward expanding fuel distribution in Africa, achieving downstream ambitions requires substantial investment. Kragha’s participation at AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies is expected to provide valuable insights on sector challenges and opportunities, fostering new deals and partnerships.

    “In order to end energy poverty by 2030, Africa must significantly scale up investments across the downstream sector,” says Ore Onagbesan, Program Director of AEW 2025. “By shifting from an export-driven to a domestic-focused mindset, the continent can unlock greater value from its oil and gas resources. Organizations like ARDA recognize the critical role refining, pipelines, petrochemicals and terminals play in enhancing energy security across Africa.”

    – on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Proteas building a legacy of winning trophies

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    After ending a 27-year wait to win an International Cricket Council’s Test Championship (ICC), the national men’s cricket team, Proteas Men, have only just started to build momentum towards a culture of winning.

    In a thrilling final against Australia, the Proteas Men secured a historic victory with a five-wicket win on day four at Lord’s in England on Saturday. This was the first senior Men’s trophy since the 1998 ICC Knockout victory.

    “We hope that this can be the start of a lot more of these trophies. As much as we have achieved what we achieved in the past 18 – 24 months, this is not a big legacy as of yet. We will speak again in two to three years. We want to start a culture of winning trophies for the country,” Proteas men’s Captain Temba Bavuma said in Johannesburg at a media briefing.

    The men’s national cricket team received an electrifying welcome with jubilation, song and dance from supporters on their arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, on Wednesday morning. 

    “Seeing so many people welcome us at the airport was quite overwhelming. It was different from the last time we came back from the world cup in 2023. You don’t really realise what you have done until you start to interact with people. 

    “To see the emotion, to hear the things they have got to say; it gives you an insight into what we have done. As a team we are proud that we have been able to achieve something like this, but we are even happier that we have made our people proud,” Bavuma said.

    READ | Cricket world champions arrive home 

    This marked South Africa’s first-ever appearance in a World Test Championship Final, and their triumphant performance signalled a landmark achievement for the nation’s cricketing history. 

    This as Australia, currently ranked number one in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, entered the final as favourites and defending champions. 

    The Proteas, ranked second, rose to the occasion and delivered a memorable performance, cementing their status as one of the world’s elite test sides.

    The Captain expressed how the team’s journey has not been an easy one.

    “As a team we have our story. It wasn’t a simple and easy one. We have overcome a lot and managed to get to where we are. The biggest thing is that we have embraced everything that means to be a South African,” he said.

    The cricket team hopes this inspires budding cricketers and the nation.

    “Similarly to them, in their quest, their journey for what they want to achieve, as long as they keep having that passion, keep pushing against what people think is the unachievable.

    “We have been confident enough that we have been playing good cricket.  We have been getting ourselves in a position where we can be in finals. Just like with anything, you got to keep going and keep being relentless.

    “There was always that belief that at some point the harder we knock on that door, that it was going to happen,” Bavuma said.

    He said the beauty about international cricket is that there is always more games to play.

    “There’s the Zimbabwe tournament that leads into the start of the new test cycle [which] we will be setting our eyes on what we want to achieve over there. There is always something that we are working towards, it’s a legacy that we want to achieve [and] and trying to put together as a team. 

    “The legacy is not done yet. For now, we want to enjoy what this moment has brought to us,” Bavuma said.

    Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) head of national teams, Enoch Nkwe, said this victory will have a huge impact on generations to come.

    He said this restores a lot of faith and belief in South African cricket. 

    “We look at this format as a foundation to key fundamentals to other formats and the growth of cricket, not only in South Africa, but globally. What is encouraging is this is going to motivate a 15-year-old. We are going to ensure from behind the scenes that will continue to build these building blocks through this format,” Nkwe said.

    The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said the team’s win gives the nation hope.

    “People should see themselves when they watch our national teams, and that is what we are doing in cricket. They are following in the footsteps of rugby. We are a socially cohesive country [and] a rainbow nation, and you can see this.

    “We are the best sporting nation in the world. We have the strongest women and men in the world. We have the fastest runners, the best soccer players, [and] we have the best rugby players and cricket team,” the Minister said.

    The Proteas men’s head coach Shukri Conrad also expressed his joy at the warm reception the team received upon their arrival at the airport.

    “I am absolutely ecstatic to see people come out in their hundreds. It makes this win even more special. We won a few days ago but it hasn’t sunk in. To get a reception like this… it starts to sink in. The guys have been great, but the fans have been better,” Conrad said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: KZN launches technological tools to curb fraud and wasteful expenditure

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has unveiled the province’s new digital Supply Chain Management (SCM) system, which aims to reduce wasteful expenditure, fraud, corruption, and bias in government procurement processes.

    Speaking at the official launch in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, Rodgers announced that KwaZulu-Natal is the first province in South Africa to implement such system, which is set to be piloted during the management of the province’s R158 billion budget in the 2025/2026 financial year.

    Rodgers acknowledged that the province has experienced numerous challenges linked to manual procurement system, which he described as a major source of irregularities.

    “Generally, the root of fraud, corruption, irregular and wasteful expenditure can be found in our SCM processes. The implementation of a digital procurement system has become a priority,” Rodgers said.

    According to Rodgers, the digital procurement platform implementation may derive in the following benefits:

    •    Enforcing transparency and efficiency in procurement processes. Minimizing supply SCM fraud, corruption, bias, and enabling a fair and just environment for all stakeholders involved.
    •    Replacing all manual submissions and reduce human errors and the creation of audit trails which will foster accountability at all levels.
    •    The electronic system will also foster a culture of openness, empowering suppliers to compete on a level playing field, irrespective of their size or background, whilst ensuring targeted procurement from priority groups. 
    •    Reduction of irregular expenditure through effective planning and contract management.
    •    Compliance with SCM policies and regulations.
    •    The system will allow for budget blocking especially at requisition creation stage.
    •    The system will allow for price bench marking to ensure that the province obtains value for money and negotiates based on market prices.

    Rodgers said the system has been approved by National Treasury, with full implementation expected to take place between January 2026 and April 2027, in the selected departments.

    He said set-up costs are expected to range from R3 million to R5 million, with R20 million already allocated from the funds saved by the MEC through cost-cutting measures and curbing wasteful expenditure.

    Provincial data analysis centre 

    In another first for KwaZulu-Natal, Rodgers announced that the Provincial Treasury will be setting up a Data Analysis Centre, which will allow the analysis of provincial financial data to enable MECs and all departments’ management to make timeous and informed financial decisions.

    Rodgers said the centre will feature a comprehensive financial dashboard, which will allow real-time monitoring of provincial finances by MECs and departmental leadership.

    “This tool will allow us to observe total expenditure and revenue collection to address timeously issues of over-spending and under-collection. The dashboard will also enable provincial government leaders to live-monitor human capital trends in all departments.

    “The dashboard is imperative to the development of an ethical and capable state. It will also aid in the determination of the quantum of accruals (invoices received and not paid), quantum of debts (monies owed to government), whether governance committees are meeting and whether all invoices are paid within 30 days,” Rodgers said.

    He added that through the dashboard, the provincial government will be able to tell the extend of critical vacancy rates across government departments. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Social Justice Secretary: “Scrap damaging welfare reforms”

    Source: Scottish Government

    Call for UK Government to follow Scottish Government lead on social security.

    Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has urged the UK Government to protect and enhance social security rather than making cuts.

    The UK Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has been published today, which includes the details of the first set of changes to ill-health and disability benefits. The Scottish Government will not mirror the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) changes in Adult Disability Payment in Scotland.

    Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

    “The UK Government’s proposed reforms will be hugely damaging to those who rely on social security support, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis. These plans have yet to be passed at Westminster, so there is still time for the UK Government to step back from this damaging policy and I strongly urge them to scrap their harmful proposals.

    “The UK Government’s own analysis highlights how the proposals will push 250,000 more people across the UK into poverty – including 50,000 children. With around half of all children in poverty in Scotland living in a household with a disabled person, the changes threaten to undermine the progress that we are making to reduce child poverty, and the work of the UK Government’s Child Poverty Taskforce.

    “That the UK Government is prioritising deep cuts to disabled people’s support is made even worse by their failure to abolish the two-child limit, which is estimated to have pushed more than 35,000 children into poverty since July last year.

    “The reforms do not reflect the Scottish Government’s values. We will not let disabled people down or cast them aside as the UK Government has done. We will not cut Scotland’s Adult Disability Payment.

    “The UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it. If they do not, then disabled people can draw no other conclusion than the UK Government remain content to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MOU signed with Homes England to help deliver city centre vision

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Plymouth’s ambitions to provide thousands of homes in the city centre have taken a step closer with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England.

    Neil Hook, Director – Homes England South and London
    Tracey Lee, Chief Executive – Plymouth City Council
    Council Leader Tudor Evans – Plymouth City Council
    Eamonn Boylan, Interim CEO – Homes England

    Council leader Tudor Evans and Homes England CEO Eamonn Boylan signed the partnership document which is the next step in strengthening the working relationship between the two organisations.

    A new strategic partnership will accelerate the delivery of high-quality homes in Plymouth, supporting a transformational regeneration of the city centre and surrounding areas. These homes will play a key role in unlocking the economic potential of recent dockyard investments and help create a vibrant city where people can live, work, eat, shop, and socialise.

    This initiative aligns with the UK Government’s Strategic Defence Review, which identifies defence as a new engine for national growth. The Continuous At Sea Deterrent programme represents a generational investment in national security—and Plymouth is set to benefit directly.

    “Plymouth is at the forefront of a new era of economic opportunity,” said Tudor Evans. “By investing in affordable, high-quality housing, we’re not only supporting our defence capabilities but also creating a thriving, inclusive city for future generations.”

    The provision of affordable homes is central to retaining local talent, attracting new families, and ensuring that all communities benefit from this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

    Our city centre currently has around 800 homes in it. The top 20 English cities have an average of 8,000 homes, and regeneration over the last 20 years in Newcastle, Manchester, Salford, Sheffield and Leeds has shown that more housing in city centres plays a key part in rejuvenating them.

    City centres need to be more than shops, they need to be about culture, leisure, events and festivals, and places to live. There are also 8,000 people on the housing list and while the city centre was built for retail after the war, now is the time to bring people to live in the city centre again.

    The proposal is for a shared delivery plan to work together over five years to deliver a strategy for a series of transformative investments, acquisitions and developments which are rooted in the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan.

    Interventions are designed to act a catalyst and market-making investments, that will allow the public sector to create the right conditions and confidence for the private sector to invest and deliver the wider regeneration of the city centre.

    Councillor Evans added: “We have been working with Homes England on our vision for the city centre and this is another important step along the road to making a vision a reality.

    “With change of this scale in the pipeline, we need to set out and confirm common goals, get clarity of what we are working towards and be clear about how we are going to bring others along on the journey.”

    Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Homes England, said: “Our new Memorandum of Understanding with Plymouth City Council is an important step in strengthening our commitment to the area.

    “We’ll work side-by-side with the council to help achieve their vision for the city centre and support them to deliver 10,000 new homes for the people of Plymouth.”

    Extensive work is underway to develop shared ambitions with the agreed shared outcomes. They are:

    • Pioneering Urban Regeneration: Redefining the city centre as a dynamic hub of activity, focusing on homes and culture and diversification.
    • Delivering Nationally Significant Urban Regeneration: The city centre is nationally significant as a post war response to planning and urban design. Options will be considered to unlock a nationally significant urban extension in the heart of the city centre and look at how models can be pioneered that can be replicated elsewhere
    • Fostering Sustainable Development: The partners will consider ways to create a model of urban development that minimises environmental impact while maximising community benefits.
    • Empowering Local Businesses and Unlocking Private Investment: By strategically deploying government funding and leveraging private sector expertise, the vision is for a city centre that encourages market-led private sector investment and development. This includes working with landowners, leaseholders and occupiers to identify opportunities for joint investment.
    • Championing Social Justice via the Growth Alliance Plymouth (GAP) Through targeted initiatives and inclusive policies, there is potential to improve access to quality housing, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
    • Catalysing Private Sector-Led Development: Strategically deploying government funding and leveraging private sector expertise to encourage market led private sector investment and development.
    • Linking delivery to future planning policy: Homes England will work with the Council, Department for Transport, and MHCLG to shape a masterplan for Plymouth that delivers sustainable growth across all housing types and tenures. This will require an ambitious planning framework and a supply chain capable of delivering high quality homes and a population that can afford to live and work in Plymouth. The GAP work will continue to focus on skills, training and education that underpin these broader themes.
    • Embedding long term delivery goals into ways of working. The GAP programme will be the framework from which resourcing, delivery outcomes and ambition are embedded into the Council.

    This ambitious work programme will be overseen by a Strategic Investment and Regeneration Board attended by senior representatives from the Council and Homes England.

    The Council has embarked on a number of transformational projects designed to inject life, new uses and new visitors into the city centre. As well as the transforming the public realm of Old Town Street and New George Street, Armada Way, other projects in the pipeline include the former Civic Centre which is destined to be a city centre campus with a focus on blue/green skills as well as homes. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester’s post-16 partnership recognised with national teaching award

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester has been awarded a Silver Category Award in the Pearson National Teaching Awards for its Post-16 Pathway Partnership which sees the council working in collaboration with education and training providers across the city, to support young people to gain the qualifications and skills they need to help them access good jobs in the future. 

    The partnership was set up in 2022 to improve the post-16 education sector in the city through an approach that has a focus on ensuring equitable access, increasing provision, and aligning opportunities with Manchester’s economic growth sectors.    

    Since it was established there have been tangible improvements, including over 1000 additional post-16 places, enhanced curriculum offerings, sector-specific training, and more young people supported into education, employment or training.

    The voice of young people themselves plays a key part in the partnership through the Post-16 Youth Board, which helps directly in shaping the partnership, influencing the education provision, and helping ensure better connections between education and employment. 

    The Post-16 Pathway Partnership is also central to Manchester’s wider goals under the Our Manchester Strategy, Child Friendly City programme, and Making Manchester Fairer agenda. 

    It aims to continue driving systemic change, supporting young people to be safe, happy, healthy, and economically empowered, while also contributing to the city’s long-term development and social mobility. 

    Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:  “It’s brilliant to see Manchester’s Post-16 Pathway Partnership achieve national recognition for our ambitious and coordinated approach to improving outcomes for young people. 

    “With its focus on ensuring equitable access, increased provision, and aligning opportunities with Manchester’s economic growth sectors, we’re determined to make sure all our young people gain the qualifications and skills they need to go on and get good jobs, and to lead the fulfilling lives they deserve.” 

    The Pearson National Teaching Awards are held annually every year to recognise outstanding teachers, support staff and leaders from across the UK. 

    Manchester’s Post-16 Pathway Partnership has received a Silver Award in the School or College Partnership award category which celebrates either a group of schools or colleges, or schools / colleges working with external stakeholders that have achieved measurable, transformative impact in addressing a key local issue with national relevance. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reverend Clive Foster appointed as first Windrush Commissioner

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    News story

    Reverend Clive Foster appointed as first Windrush Commissioner

    Home Secretary appoints first Windrush Commissioner to deliver justice for victims, and ensure their voices remain at the heart of reform.

    The Home Secretary has appointed senior pastor Reverend Clive Foster MBE as the first Windrush Commissioner – delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to achieve justice for victims of the Home Office Windrush scandal.

    The announcement comes ahead of Windrush Day this Sunday (22 June), marking the 77th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush to Britain and the community’s extraordinary contribution to this country.

    This appointment forms part of the Plan for Change to ensure lessons from past injustices are fully embedded across government policy.

    The commissioner, a newly created role on a 3-year term, will provide independent oversight of the government’s work to address the Home Office Windrush scandal and ensure the voices of victims remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice.

    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    The story of the Windrush generations is woven into the fabric of our nation and this government is absolutely determined to right the wrongs they suffered at the hands of the Home Office.

    This is why I am delighted to welcome Reverend Clive Foster as our new Windrush Commissioner. His deep understanding through his own connections and dedicated community work makes him the perfect champion for those affected by this historic injustice.

    I look forward to working closely with Reverend Foster as we continue our vital work to rebuild trust and deliver the justice that the Windrush generations so rightfully deserve.

    Reverend Foster is a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham and brings valuable experience in community leadership and social justice work.

    With personal connections to the Windrush generations through his parents who migrated to the UK from Jamaica in 1959, Reverend Foster brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the role. He is the founder of the Nottingham Windrush Support Forum and serves as vice chair of the Windrush National Organisation where he volunteers.

     Windrush Commissioner Reverend Clive Foster MBE said:

    I’m honoured to take on the role of Windrush Commissioner. I’m committed to ensuring justice is delivered for the Windrush generations – people who have given so much to this country and deserve better than the treatment they have received.

    The injustices they faced must never be repeated, and that requires more than words; it requires cultural change, accountability, and action. My aim is to deliver change that the Windrush generations can see and feel in their everyday lives, particularly in how the Windrush status and compensation schemes operate.

    I will carry out this role independently, without fear or favour, while creating a constructive relationship with government where challenge is welcomed and scrutiny leads to specific, transparent improvements.

    Reverend Foster believes the Windrush generations should not be defined by a scandal, but by their extraordinary contribution to the UK and should now be celebrated.

    Since coming to power, the government has strengthened support for the Windrush generations through a £1.5 million fund to help affected individuals access compensation and re-establishing the Windrush Unit to drive forward the action needed to prevent a similar scandal from ever happening again.

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    Published 18 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 19, 2025
  • Vedic chants resonate in Zagreb as PM Modi receives rousing welcome in Croatia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome by the vibrant Indian community in Zagreb as he began his landmark visit to Croatia – the first-ever by an Indian Prime Minister to the country – on Wednesday.

    Zagreb is the last stop on PM Modi’s three-nation tour, which also included visits to Cyprus en route to Canada for Tuesday’s G7 Summit in Kananaskis.

    As a special gesture, the PM was warmly received by his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic at the Franjo Tudman Airport with a ceremonial welcome.

    “This is a special visit, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister to a valued European partner. I am grateful to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport,” PM Modi posted on X.

    Plenkovic said that PM Modi’s significant visit comes at a pivotal moment.

    “We welcomed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Zagreb! This is the first visit by the Prime Minister of India – the most populous country in the world, and it comes at an important geopolitical moment. We are starting a new chapter in Croatia-India relations and creating the conditions for strengthening bilateral cooperation in a number of areas,” the Croatian Prime Minister commented.

    Members of the Indian diaspora, waiting to catch a glimpse of PM Modi, were seen gathered in huge numbers as the PM’s motorcade drove through the city.

    Hundreds of people, including locals, also gave a grand welcome to PM Modi as he arrived at his hotel.

    Amid chants of “Modi-Modi”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”, PM Modi witnessed vibrant and energy-filled cultural performances from people present at the venue.

    PM Modi joined a group of locals chanting Vedic shlokas and also interacted with a few in the gathering while getting inside the building.

    Citing the centuries-old close cultural links, PM Modi had said before arriving in the country that he is looking forward to his visit and meetings with President Zoran Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

    Prime Minister Modi had asserted that the three-nation tour is also an opportunity to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in India’s fight against cross-border terrorism, and to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    Analysts reckon that the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Croatia will help in fostering stronger political and economic collaboration with Croatia. It will also provide a crucial opportunity to expand bilateral cooperation in various sectors including trade, innovation, defence, ports, shipping, science and tech, cultural exchange, and workforce mobility.

    India and Croatia have close cooperation in trade, investment, defence, agriculture sectors amongst others, and also cooperate in international fora, vibrant cultural exchanges and close people-to-people ties.

    The bilateral trade between both nations stands at about USD 300 million with the Indian investments in Croatia being roughly around USD 48 million.

    Prime Minister Modi briefly interacted with Croatian PM Plenkovic at COP-26 in 2021 and the virtual India-EU Leaders Meeting the same year.

    Former President Ramnath Kovind undertook State Visit to Croatia in March 2019, during which he was conferred with Croatia’s highest civilian honor (‘the Grand Order of the King of Tomislav’).

    India has been well known in Croatia for centuries, and the earliest Croatian visitors to India were missionaries. Links have been found between the Principality of Dubrovnik and Goa, and the Church of Sao Braz was reportedly built by Croatians around 1563 in Goa.

    The Indian community in Croatia has changed over the last three years rapidly due to the demographic situation in Croatia where a lot of foreign workers are being employed for carrying out work in different sectors of the economy.

    There were approximately 17000 Indians residing in Croatia in December 2024. Many of the Indian workers are working on short to medium term contracts and therefore at least 90 per cent of the people currently residing are those who form a part of the mobile population staying in Croatia for a specific contractual period.

    (IANS)

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Contributing to a stronger economy for Newfoundland and Labrador: Canada announces a sustainable increase in Northern cod TAC

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 18, 2025

    St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – Cod is an important species to Newfoundland and Labrador. Commercial and recreational fishing has shaped the province’s history, economy, and culture.

    Today, the Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, announced management plans for Northern cod (2J3KL) and Capelin (2J3KLPs) for the 2025-26 seasons, reinforcing support for Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastal communities. Recent scientific data and assessments confirm Northern cod has remained stable since 2017 and is at a higher level than previously understood from the 2024 assessment, allowing for a responsible total allowable catch (TAC) increase from 18,000 tonnes (t) to 38,000 t.

    Capelin is a key food source for Northern cod and other species, and plays a significant role in sustaining the marine ecosystem. While Capelin populations are stable, it is anticipated that stocks will decrease to recent average levels. As such, the TAC for Capelin will remain at 14,533 t.   

    To inform future management decisions for the recreational cod fishery – known to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as the food fishery –  the government will launch public consultations. The goal is to gather input on this fishery, and discuss the distinct differences in the health of the province’s three cod populations. While the stocks on the south and west coasts remain in the Critical Zone, the Northern cod stock status has improved. Recognizing the importance of cod to coastal communities, the management measures for the recreational groundfish fishery will remain unchanged for 2025.

    The government is launching a new voluntary pilot program for tour boat operations certified by Transport Canada, giving them the flexibility to retain fish seven days a week while eliminating the catch-and-release aspect. With the new tagging system, passengers can now keep two groundfish per day.

    As these measures come into effect this season, we remain committed to ongoing assessment, consultation, and adjustments to ensure responsible fisheries management decisions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Solomon to address the quantum community in Montréal

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 18, 2025 – Montréal, Quebec 

    The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, will be addressing the Canadian quantum community and providing remarks regarding the successes and the future of quantum.

    Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025

    Time: 9:30 am (ET)

    Location: Montréal, Quebec

    Members of the media are asked to contact ISED Media Relations at media@ised-isde.gc.ca to receive event location details and confirm their attendance.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Northern cod commercial fishery

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Based on recent science assessments, stakeholders and industry leaders have called for higher quotas in the Northern cod commercial fishery to continue rebuilding markets and expand processing capacity. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2025 season is increasing from 18,000 to 38,000 tonnes, boosting economic opportunities for coastal communities.

    Commercial allocations for 2025-26 are as follows:

    • 80% is allocated to inshore harvesters including a new allocation for the inshore mobile gear fleet
    • 10% is allocated to Indigenous groups and special allocation
    • 9.72% is allocated to Canadian offshore fleets
    • 0.28% is allocated to mid shore fixed gear and mobile gear fleets

    Under NAFO Conservation and Enforcement measures introduced by Canada, 2,000 tonnes, an amount equal to approximately 5% of the overall TAC, is set aside for other NAFO Contracting Parties fishing outside Canada’s exclusive economic zone, fulfilling Canada’s international commitments.

    Science

    The latest scientific data shows Northern cod has been generally stable since 2017 and is at a healthier state relative to its Limit Reference Point (LRP) than previously thought. The approach announced today has a high probability (73%) of maintaining the stock above the critical zone.

    Recreational Groundfish fishery

    The Recreational Groundfish fishery remains an important social and cultural tradition.

    For 2025-26, the current limits stay in place:

    • Five groundfish per person per day, with a maximum boat limit of 15 groundfish if three or more people are onboard.
    • The season will run for 39 days—every Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from June 28 to September 1, with a fall fishing period from September 20 to 28.

    Supporting tour boat operators and coastal economies

    To provide more flexibility and new economic opportunities for tour boat operators certified by Transport Canada, a new voluntary pilot program will launch in 2025. It will:

    • Introduce a tagging system providing tour boat operators greater flexibility and allowing retention seven days a week; and,
    • Permit passengers to retain two groundfish per day.

    Persons with Disabilities

    People with permanent disabilities can continue to apply for a designation that allows someone else to catch their daily groundfish limit during the Recreational Groundfish fishery on their behalf.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Simpson Cosponsors Bill to Protect Women’s Sports at Service Academies

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Rep. Simpson Cosponsors Bill to Protect Women’s Sports at Service Academies

    Washington, June 18, 2025

    WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored H.R. 3917 – the Protection of Women in Sports at Military Academies Act. This legislation would prohibit the participation of males in athletic programs or activities at the military service academies that are designated for women or girls. This legislation is sponsored by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD).
    “An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that men do not belong in women’s sports,” said Rep. Simpson. “Upholding the promise of Title IX means protecting women’s sports at every level of competition. Our nation’s military academies provide students with an excellent opportunity to pursue higher education, compete in athletics, and serve our country. These institutions should not focus on the woke, out-of-touch policies of the previous administration. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation and stand up for the next generation of female military leaders.”
    U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
    The full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Leaders Of Notorious Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Sentenced For Racketeering Conspiracy

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

    Sentencings Conclude the Northern District of California’s Successful Prosecution of 40 Members and Associates of the Violent Prison Gang

    OAKLAND – Four top leaders of the Nuestra Familia (NF) prison gang were sentenced today to federal prison terms ranging from 120 months to 175 months following their convictions at trial for racketeering conspiracy. David Cervantes, aka “DC,” was sentenced to 120 months; James Perez, aka “Conejo,” was sentenced to 120 months; Guillermo Solorio, aka “Capone,” aka “Caps,” was sentenced to 175 months; and George Franco, aka “Puppet,” was sentenced to 175 months. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers handed down the sentences.

    The sentences follow a three-month trial in 2024, which established that the four defendants—Cervantes, 76; Perez, 70; Solorio, 45; and Franco, 59—were senior members of the NF prison gang, serving on the General Council, the primary decision-making body for the gang. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all four defendants held a leadership role in a lucrative and violent criminal enterprise that engaged in murder conspiracies, attempted murder, drug distribution, and money laundering:

    • Cervantes was one of three “Generals” who sat atop the NF organizational structure, specifically the “General Advocates Office,” and made final decisions on serious matters involving governance of the enterprise. As the sole member of the General Advocates Office, Cervantes oversaw member discipline, a role that included deciding when members should be attacked or killed for violating gang rules.
    • Perez was another General of the prison gang, specifically, the “General of Prisons.” In this role, Perez was responsible for maintaining authority over all NF regiments and NF criminal activity within the California prison system.
    • Franco was a member of the NF’s “Inner Council” and was Regimental Commander of San Joaquin County. As a member of the Inner Council, Franco was an advisor to the three NF Generals (two of whom were Cervantes and Perez) and was part of the General Council that, in addition to member discipline, made other significant decisions in conducting the affairs of the NF.
    • Solorio was likewise part of the NF “Inner Council” and was an advisor to the NF Generals.  Solorio also was the Regimental Commander over the Monterey County Street Regiment, overseeing criminal activity, including largescale drug trafficking, by subservient Norteno street gangs.

    “The brutal violence and drug trafficking that this criminal enterprise ran from within state prisons touched every county in the Bay Area. With these sentences, 40 gang leaders and associates have now been convicted and brought to justice for the violence they caused inside and outside prison walls, and the community is now safer as a result,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “These convictions would not have been possible without the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners across multiple agencies and jurisdictions and the talented lawyers and staff from within our office.”

    “The sentencing of these four top Nuestra Familia gang leaders marks the final chapter in the successful dismantling of one of the most violent and entrenched prison gangs operating in California. Through sustained, coordinated efforts with our law enforcement partners, we have brought to justice 40 members and associates of this dangerous gang who spread violence and fear inside prison walls and outside throughout our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to rooting out organized criminal enterprises and protecting the public from those who use intimidation and brutality to maintain power.”

    The sentencings of these four defendants mark the successful completion of the prosecution of NF leadership in the Northern District of California. Forty Nuestra Familia members and associates, including defendants both on the streets and in California state prisons, have now been convicted and sentenced. This includes all seven members of the NF’s General Council, its entire senior leadership team, as detailed in the table below:

    Defendant

    Convictions

    Sentence Imposed

    David Cervantes aka “DC” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for three attempted murders and two murder conspiracies

    120 months

    James Perez aka “Conejo” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for two attempted murders and two murder conspiracies

    120 months

    Antonio Guillen aka “Chuco” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for two murder conspiracies and one attempted murder

    175 months

    George Franco aka “Puppet” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for one attempted murder and one murder conspiracy

    175 months

    Guillermo Solorio aka “Capone” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with a special finding for attempted murder

    175 months

    Trinidad Martinez aka “Trino” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for one attempted murder

    144 months

    Samuel Luna aka “Sammy” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for four murder conspiracies and one attempted murder

    175 months

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mari Overbeck, Leif Dautch, and Aseem Padukone of the Violent Crime Strike Force prosecuted this case, with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez and Kevin Costello. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI (San Francisco, Sacramento, and Phoenix Divisions, and Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit), the DEA, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshal Service, with the assistance of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Jose Police Department, and with support from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Antioch Police Department, Campbell Police Department, Fremont Police Department, King’s County Sheriff’s Office, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain View Police Department, Sacramento Police Department, Salinas Police Department, Menlo Park Police Department, Santa Clara County Parole Department, Santa Clara County Probation Department, Santa Clara Police Department, Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Modesto Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Francisco Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, and Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

    This investigation and prosecution was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Leaders Of Notorious Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Sentenced For Racketeering Conspiracy

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

    Sentencings Conclude the Northern District of California’s Successful Prosecution of 40 Members and Associates of the Violent Prison Gang

    OAKLAND – Four top leaders of the Nuestra Familia (NF) prison gang were sentenced today to federal prison terms ranging from 120 months to 175 months following their convictions at trial for racketeering conspiracy. David Cervantes, aka “DC,” was sentenced to 120 months; James Perez, aka “Conejo,” was sentenced to 120 months; Guillermo Solorio, aka “Capone,” aka “Caps,” was sentenced to 175 months; and George Franco, aka “Puppet,” was sentenced to 175 months. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers handed down the sentences.

    The sentences follow a three-month trial in 2024, which established that the four defendants—Cervantes, 76; Perez, 70; Solorio, 45; and Franco, 59—were senior members of the NF prison gang, serving on the General Council, the primary decision-making body for the gang. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all four defendants held a leadership role in a lucrative and violent criminal enterprise that engaged in murder conspiracies, attempted murder, drug distribution, and money laundering:

    • Cervantes was one of three “Generals” who sat atop the NF organizational structure, specifically the “General Advocates Office,” and made final decisions on serious matters involving governance of the enterprise. As the sole member of the General Advocates Office, Cervantes oversaw member discipline, a role that included deciding when members should be attacked or killed for violating gang rules.
    • Perez was another General of the prison gang, specifically, the “General of Prisons.” In this role, Perez was responsible for maintaining authority over all NF regiments and NF criminal activity within the California prison system.
    • Franco was a member of the NF’s “Inner Council” and was Regimental Commander of San Joaquin County. As a member of the Inner Council, Franco was an advisor to the three NF Generals (two of whom were Cervantes and Perez) and was part of the General Council that, in addition to member discipline, made other significant decisions in conducting the affairs of the NF.
    • Solorio was likewise part of the NF “Inner Council” and was an advisor to the NF Generals.  Solorio also was the Regimental Commander over the Monterey County Street Regiment, overseeing criminal activity, including largescale drug trafficking, by subservient Norteno street gangs.

    “The brutal violence and drug trafficking that this criminal enterprise ran from within state prisons touched every county in the Bay Area. With these sentences, 40 gang leaders and associates have now been convicted and brought to justice for the violence they caused inside and outside prison walls, and the community is now safer as a result,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “These convictions would not have been possible without the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners across multiple agencies and jurisdictions and the talented lawyers and staff from within our office.”

    “The sentencing of these four top Nuestra Familia gang leaders marks the final chapter in the successful dismantling of one of the most violent and entrenched prison gangs operating in California. Through sustained, coordinated efforts with our law enforcement partners, we have brought to justice 40 members and associates of this dangerous gang who spread violence and fear inside prison walls and outside throughout our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to rooting out organized criminal enterprises and protecting the public from those who use intimidation and brutality to maintain power.”

    The sentencings of these four defendants mark the successful completion of the prosecution of NF leadership in the Northern District of California. Forty Nuestra Familia members and associates, including defendants both on the streets and in California state prisons, have now been convicted and sentenced. This includes all seven members of the NF’s General Council, its entire senior leadership team, as detailed in the table below:

    Defendant

    Convictions

    Sentence Imposed

    David Cervantes aka “DC” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for three attempted murders and two murder conspiracies

    120 months

    James Perez aka “Conejo” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for two attempted murders and two murder conspiracies

    120 months

    Antonio Guillen aka “Chuco” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for two murder conspiracies and one attempted murder

    175 months

    George Franco aka “Puppet” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for one attempted murder and one murder conspiracy

    175 months

    Guillermo Solorio aka “Capone” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with a special finding for attempted murder

    175 months

    Trinidad Martinez aka “Trino” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for one attempted murder

    144 months

    Samuel Luna aka “Sammy” 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) – Racketeering conspiracy, with special findings for four murder conspiracies and one attempted murder

    175 months

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mari Overbeck, Leif Dautch, and Aseem Padukone of the Violent Crime Strike Force prosecuted this case, with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez and Kevin Costello. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI (San Francisco, Sacramento, and Phoenix Divisions, and Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit), the DEA, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshal Service, with the assistance of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Jose Police Department, and with support from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Antioch Police Department, Campbell Police Department, Fremont Police Department, King’s County Sheriff’s Office, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain View Police Department, Sacramento Police Department, Salinas Police Department, Menlo Park Police Department, Santa Clara County Parole Department, Santa Clara County Probation Department, Santa Clara Police Department, Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Modesto Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Francisco Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, and Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

    This investigation and prosecution was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Member Of Marion Gardens Jersey City Street Gang Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Sentences for Murders and Drug Trafficking

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

    NEWARK, N.J. – Today, Myron Williams, a/k/a “Money,” a/k/a “Tunchi,” 31, of Newark was sentenced before the Honorable Michael E. Farbiarz to life imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, life imprisonment for murder in aid of racketeering, 240 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and 120 months’ imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, with all sentences to run consecutively.

    Williams’s co-defendant Khalil Kelley, a/k/a “Billski,” 26, of Jersey City, was previously sentenced on June 5, 2025, to life imprisonment, plus a consecutive ten-year term of imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang and a gang-related murder.

    Also today, Jawaad Davis, 23, of Jersey City, was sentenced to 170 months’ imprisonment for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang, which included orchestrating a robbery that resulted in murder.

    Eight other individuals are pending sentencing.  Roger Pickett, a/k/a “Zy G,” 24, of Jersey City was convicted at trial along with Williams and Kelley.  The remaining defendants—Herbert Thomas, 49, of Jersey City; Andre Alomar, a/k/a “Dre8,” 24, of Newark; Naim Richardson, a/k/a “Ninicks,” 32, of Jersey City; Anthony Rogers, a/k/a “MG,” 25, of Jersey City; Quaseame Wilson, a/k/a “Qua Gz,” 28, of Jersey City; Javon Williams, a/k/a “J45,” 28, of Jersey City; and Keith Anderson, a/k/a “Beef3,” 23, of Jersey City—all pled guilty before trial.  Each defendant will be sentenced before Judge Farbiarz in Newark as follows:

    Anthony Rogers, a/k/a “MG” June 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
    Quaseame Wilson, a/k/a “Qua Gz” July 1, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
    Andre Alomar, a/k/a “Dre8” July 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
    Roger Pickett, a/k/a “Zy G” July 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
    Keith Anderson, a/k/a “Beef3” July 2, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
    Javon Williams, a/k/a “J45” July 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
    Naim Richardson, a/k/a “Ninicks” July 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
    Herbert Thomas October 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Myron Williams, Khalil Kelley, Roger Pickett, Jawaad Davis, Anthony Rogers, Quaseame Wilson, Andre Alomar, Keith Anderson, Javon Williams, and Naim Richardson are all members and associates of the neighborhood street gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex. Since 2013, they and their fellow gang members have committed numerous acts of violence, including three separate murders, on March 29, 2021, Nov. 20, 2021, and Nov. 1, 2022.

    On March 29, 2021, Kelley and other gang members lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the victim’s fellow gang member. When the victim opened the door to his residence, Kelley and another gang member brandished firearms, and the victim was shot multiple times in the chest, killing him. Pickett and Myron Williams then picked up Kelley and other gang members after they abandoned the murder vehicle in Newark.

    On Nov. 20, 2021, Myron Williams, Pickett, and Richardson lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the second victim’s fellow gang member. Williams and another gang member shot the victim when he opened the door to his residence.

    On Nov. 1, 2022, Davis facilitated the murder of the third victim by coordinating a narcotics transaction with the victim and the victim’s associate. When the victim and his associate arrived at the Marion Gardens Housing Complex to complete the narcotics transaction, they were robbed of their narcotics supply. During the robbery, Pickett and Wilson held the victim and his associate at gunpoint. After a struggle ensued, Pickett shot and killed the victim while his associate fled. Pickett then fled the Marion Gardens Housing Complex with Wilson.

    For months, investigators observed and documented hundreds of narcotics transactions in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex.  The investigation likewise revealed that Herbert Thomas was a primary supplier of narcotics to the Marion Gardens street gang.

    When each defendant was arrested on March 17, 2023, law enforcement seized contraband at several different locations, including heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, narcotics packaging materials, ammunition, bulletproof vests, and a loaded handgun.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited investigators of the Gang Intelligence Unit and the Homicide Unit of the Major Case Division of Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., and investigators of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to the convictions. He also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and the U.S. Marshals, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos, for their assistance.

    This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.

    The government is represented by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Maloy and Javon Henry, of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel:

    Myron Williams – William Strazza, Esq.
    Jawaad Davis – Jason Orlando, Esq. and Tyler Newman, Esq.

    Khalil Kelley – Kevin Buchan, Esq. and James Seplowitz, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Member Of Marion Gardens Jersey City Street Gang Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Sentences for Murders and Drug Trafficking

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

    NEWARK, N.J. – Today, Myron Williams, a/k/a “Money,” a/k/a “Tunchi,” 31, of Newark was sentenced before the Honorable Michael E. Farbiarz to life imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, life imprisonment for murder in aid of racketeering, 240 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and 120 months’ imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, with all sentences to run consecutively.

    Williams’s co-defendant Khalil Kelley, a/k/a “Billski,” 26, of Jersey City, was previously sentenced on June 5, 2025, to life imprisonment, plus a consecutive ten-year term of imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang and a gang-related murder.

    Also today, Jawaad Davis, 23, of Jersey City, was sentenced to 170 months’ imprisonment for his role in the Marion Gardens street gang, which included orchestrating a robbery that resulted in murder.

    Eight other individuals are pending sentencing.  Roger Pickett, a/k/a “Zy G,” 24, of Jersey City was convicted at trial along with Williams and Kelley.  The remaining defendants—Herbert Thomas, 49, of Jersey City; Andre Alomar, a/k/a “Dre8,” 24, of Newark; Naim Richardson, a/k/a “Ninicks,” 32, of Jersey City; Anthony Rogers, a/k/a “MG,” 25, of Jersey City; Quaseame Wilson, a/k/a “Qua Gz,” 28, of Jersey City; Javon Williams, a/k/a “J45,” 28, of Jersey City; and Keith Anderson, a/k/a “Beef3,” 23, of Jersey City—all pled guilty before trial.  Each defendant will be sentenced before Judge Farbiarz in Newark as follows:

    Anthony Rogers, a/k/a “MG” June 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
    Quaseame Wilson, a/k/a “Qua Gz” July 1, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
    Andre Alomar, a/k/a “Dre8” July 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
    Roger Pickett, a/k/a “Zy G” July 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
    Keith Anderson, a/k/a “Beef3” July 2, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
    Javon Williams, a/k/a “J45” July 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
    Naim Richardson, a/k/a “Ninicks” July 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
    Herbert Thomas October 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Myron Williams, Khalil Kelley, Roger Pickett, Jawaad Davis, Anthony Rogers, Quaseame Wilson, Andre Alomar, Keith Anderson, Javon Williams, and Naim Richardson are all members and associates of the neighborhood street gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex. Since 2013, they and their fellow gang members have committed numerous acts of violence, including three separate murders, on March 29, 2021, Nov. 20, 2021, and Nov. 1, 2022.

    On March 29, 2021, Kelley and other gang members lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the victim’s fellow gang member. When the victim opened the door to his residence, Kelley and another gang member brandished firearms, and the victim was shot multiple times in the chest, killing him. Pickett and Myron Williams then picked up Kelley and other gang members after they abandoned the murder vehicle in Newark.

    On Nov. 20, 2021, Myron Williams, Pickett, and Richardson lured a rival gang member outside by sending him Instagram messages pretending to be the second victim’s fellow gang member. Williams and another gang member shot the victim when he opened the door to his residence.

    On Nov. 1, 2022, Davis facilitated the murder of the third victim by coordinating a narcotics transaction with the victim and the victim’s associate. When the victim and his associate arrived at the Marion Gardens Housing Complex to complete the narcotics transaction, they were robbed of their narcotics supply. During the robbery, Pickett and Wilson held the victim and his associate at gunpoint. After a struggle ensued, Pickett shot and killed the victim while his associate fled. Pickett then fled the Marion Gardens Housing Complex with Wilson.

    For months, investigators observed and documented hundreds of narcotics transactions in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex.  The investigation likewise revealed that Herbert Thomas was a primary supplier of narcotics to the Marion Gardens street gang.

    When each defendant was arrested on March 17, 2023, law enforcement seized contraband at several different locations, including heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, narcotics packaging materials, ammunition, bulletproof vests, and a loaded handgun.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited investigators of the Gang Intelligence Unit and the Homicide Unit of the Major Case Division of Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., and investigators of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to the convictions. He also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and the U.S. Marshals, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos, for their assistance.

    This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center.

    The government is represented by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Maloy and Javon Henry, of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel:

    Myron Williams – William Strazza, Esq.
    Jawaad Davis – Jason Orlando, Esq. and Tyler Newman, Esq.

    Khalil Kelley – Kevin Buchan, Esq. and James Seplowitz, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: TAB Bank CIO Tami Fisher Honored with Utah Business Executive Excellence Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OGDEN, Utah, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tami Fisher, Chief Information Officer at TAB Bank, was named a winner of the Utah Business Executive Excellence Awards for her leadership in driving the bank’s digital transformation and aligning IT strategy with business objectives.

    The Executive Excellence Awards is an annual event celebrating the highest achievements in Utah’s business community. This event highlights members of executive teams for their strategic vision, resilient leadership and profound influence on improving the business landscape and quality of life in the state of Utah.

    Fisher developed and initiated a clear roadmap for the bank’s digital transformation, focusing on operational efficiency, optimizing internal expertise and accelerating innovation to enhance the customer experience. She has prioritized the transition to more modular and flexible services, allowing for faster technology integration and greater adaptability to stay ahead of industry trends and exceed customer expectations.

    “Tami is emblematic of TAB’s vision to build value in all we do through her work at TAB and with her community involvement,” said Austin Strong, CEO of TAB Bank. “Her expertise in leading organizational change and transforming technological infrastructure has made her an effective leader and an indispensable asset. Tami has helped put TAB on a positive technological trajectory to deliver for our clients.”

    Unlike many in the industry, Fisher does not come from a traditional tech background. Her deep knowledge of banking operations and technology management enables her to bridge business and IT—ensuring that tech decisions directly support customer needs and business growth.

    Fisher has partnered with like-minded senior leaders to organize the “Women and Allies at TAB” affinity group, a forum for women at the bank to share experiences, build skills and promote professional growth. She is dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where employees at all levels can thrive. In addition, she mentors women across the industry through the Silicon Slopes Women in Leadership program, which supports professionals at all stages of their careers.

    Fisher will be featured in the July 2025 issue of Utah Business and honored at an awards luncheon on June 26, 2025, at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business.

    About TAB Bank
    At TAB Bank, our mission is to unlock dreams with bold financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses nationwide. We are committed to building value in all we do through our innovative banking products. Our dedication drives us to continuously improve, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our clients with excellence and agility. For over 25 years, we have remained steadfast in offering tailored, technology-enabled solutions designed to simplify and enhance the banking experience. 

    For more information about how we can help you achieve your financial dreams, visit www.TABBank.com.

    Contact Information:
    Trevor Morris
    Director of Marketing
    801-710-6318
    trevor.morris@tabbank.com

    The MIL Network –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: TAB Bank CIO Tami Fisher Honored with Utah Business Executive Excellence Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OGDEN, Utah, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tami Fisher, Chief Information Officer at TAB Bank, was named a winner of the Utah Business Executive Excellence Awards for her leadership in driving the bank’s digital transformation and aligning IT strategy with business objectives.

    The Executive Excellence Awards is an annual event celebrating the highest achievements in Utah’s business community. This event highlights members of executive teams for their strategic vision, resilient leadership and profound influence on improving the business landscape and quality of life in the state of Utah.

    Fisher developed and initiated a clear roadmap for the bank’s digital transformation, focusing on operational efficiency, optimizing internal expertise and accelerating innovation to enhance the customer experience. She has prioritized the transition to more modular and flexible services, allowing for faster technology integration and greater adaptability to stay ahead of industry trends and exceed customer expectations.

    “Tami is emblematic of TAB’s vision to build value in all we do through her work at TAB and with her community involvement,” said Austin Strong, CEO of TAB Bank. “Her expertise in leading organizational change and transforming technological infrastructure has made her an effective leader and an indispensable asset. Tami has helped put TAB on a positive technological trajectory to deliver for our clients.”

    Unlike many in the industry, Fisher does not come from a traditional tech background. Her deep knowledge of banking operations and technology management enables her to bridge business and IT—ensuring that tech decisions directly support customer needs and business growth.

    Fisher has partnered with like-minded senior leaders to organize the “Women and Allies at TAB” affinity group, a forum for women at the bank to share experiences, build skills and promote professional growth. She is dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where employees at all levels can thrive. In addition, she mentors women across the industry through the Silicon Slopes Women in Leadership program, which supports professionals at all stages of their careers.

    Fisher will be featured in the July 2025 issue of Utah Business and honored at an awards luncheon on June 26, 2025, at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business.

    About TAB Bank
    At TAB Bank, our mission is to unlock dreams with bold financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses nationwide. We are committed to building value in all we do through our innovative banking products. Our dedication drives us to continuously improve, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our clients with excellence and agility. For over 25 years, we have remained steadfast in offering tailored, technology-enabled solutions designed to simplify and enhance the banking experience. 

    For more information about how we can help you achieve your financial dreams, visit www.TABBank.com.

    Contact Information:
    Trevor Morris
    Director of Marketing
    801-710-6318
    trevor.morris@tabbank.com

    The MIL Network –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Renergen’s Phase 2 EPC Contractor Awarded Preferred Bidder Status

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JOHANNESBURG, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Renergen is pleased to announce that preferred bidder status has been awarded to He4u consortium for the design, procurement, delivery, construction and commissioning for phase 2 of the Tetra4 LNG and helium liquefaction project, comprising of, Chart Industries Inc. (NYSE: GTLS), Wilson Bayly Holmes – Ovcon Ltd (JSE: WBO), and Aurex Constructors. The appointment of an acceptable EPC contractor in Phase 2 was one of the two remaining conditions for the DFC Phase 2 loan.

    The award is a key milestone in the project’s progress. The award confirms that Chart Industries’ Helium liquefier and LNG liquefaction technologies have been selected as Tetra4’s preferred technical solution for the implementation of Phase 2 of the Virginia Gas Project. In addition, the award includes multiple local construction and fabrication partners, such as Aurex and WBHO, that are well-versed in executing large projects in South Africa.

    Chart Industries, Inc. is a leading independent global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment servicing multiple market applications in energy and industrial gas. Chart’s unique product portfolio is used throughout the liquid gas supply chain in the production, storage, distribution and end-use of atmospheric, hydrocarbon, and industrial gases. Chart is headquartered in Georgia, the USA, with operations in over 50 countries globally

    WBHO is a multidisciplinary, international construction company. WBHO’s motto, “Rely on Our Ability”, demonstrates the pride they take in providing their clients, big and small, with safety first and quality always. Construction activities, which cover the full spectrum, are divided into four main operating divisions: Building Construction, Civil Engineering, Projects and Roads and Earthwork. WBHO Projects Division undertakes the EPC/Design & Construct and renewable energy projects for the Group. The origins of the present group date back to 1970 and today the group is one of the largest construction companies in Southern Africa and is listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange with a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor status.

    Aurex Constructors is an industry-leading multidisciplinary contractor, renowned for its commitment to quality and safety, delivering uncompromised excellence within the energy sector. As a B-BBEE Level 2 contributor with over 40 years of experience, Aurex specialises in Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Piping services, providing construction and maintenance solutions to the industrial, power generation and renewable energy industries, including EPC project services specifically for PV energy generation plants. The company has a proven track record of successfully completing large-scale and complex projects, making it a trusted partner in the industry.

    “Chart Industries is pleased to have been selected by Renergen as technology partner for Tetra4’s Helium and LNG liquefaction requirements. We look forward to providing our world-class technologies and engineering solutions at scale to Tetra4 as the company moves toward implementation of the next phase of the Virginia Gas Project.”, said Jillian Evanko, CEO of Chart Industries Inc.

    “We are excited to have such an experienced and technically strong team executing our Phase 2 project on a turnkey basis, and we have every confidence that the skillset they bring to the table and when combined with Worley who will be responsible to manage and oversee the contractors in official capacity as Owners Engineer, reduces the execution risk tremendously on Phase 2. This represents another major milestone, and one of very few remaining towards commencement of construction of Phase 2, said Stefano Marani, CEO of Renergen.

    ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPI) announced a firm intention offer to the shareholders of Renergen Limited on 20 May 2025. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions

    Contacts
    Mandy Stuart
    Email – Mandy@renergen.co.za
    Telephone – +27 84 6067200

    The MIL Network –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Data Turing Launches to Automate Brand Reputation Using Verifiable Truth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data Turing, a new technology venture, launched today with a first-of-its-kind platform that automatically builds authoritative brand narratives from verifiable data. The company’s pioneering service automates the creation of websites, articles, and white papers directly from authenticated sources, empowering executives, brands, and public figures to establish and control their digital identity with provable accuracy.

    In an era where digital misinformation is rampant, establishing authentic and trustworthy narratives has become a critical challenge for enterprises and public figures. Data Turing directly confronts this problem with a platform designed to ensure that all generated content is rooted in and cited by verifiable facts and real quotes. This creates a powerful tool for executive branding, corporate communications, and reputation management.

    “The foundation of trust is truth. In the digital world, truth is easily manipulated, and narratives are often built on sand,” said Alex Chen, CEO and founder of Data Turing. “We created Data Turing to change that. Our platform provides a foundation of stone, using verifiable data to construct authentic narratives. We are giving control back to leaders and organizations, allowing them to build their digital legacy on a bedrock of provable fact, not fleeting fiction.”

    Key Services of the Data Turing Platform:

    • Verifiable Narrative Generation: Ingests authenticated documents, interviews, and data to construct compelling and accurate brand stories with cited sources.
    • Automated Digital Assets: Generates a full suite of digital assets, including microsites, biographies, and articles, with every claim automatically linked to its source.
    • Executive & Brand Legacy Building: Provides a strategic tool for public figures and brands to proactively define their legacy, ensuring it is preserved accurately for the future.
    • Secure & Immutable Data Vault: Utilizes a cryptographically secured infrastructure to ensure the integrity of all source data.
    • Transparent Reputation Management: Equips communications teams with a system to manage brand reputation using content that is inherently trustworthy and transparent.

    Data Turing is already working with a select group of enterprise clients and public figures, who are using the platform to streamline content production for their owned media channels and enhance brand trust through radical transparency. A client digital legacy project powered by the Data Turing platform can be seen at https://jaredisaacmanquotes.com.

    About Data Turing

    Data Turing is a San Francisco-based technology company with a mission to preserve truth in the digital age. The company’s platform enables enterprises, executives, and public figures to generate authoritative brand narratives from verifiable data, fighting misinformation and building lasting digital legacies.

    Media Contact

    Brand: Data Turing, Inc.

    Contact: Jessica Miller, Director of Communications

    Email: media@dataturing.com

    Website: https://dataturing.com

    The MIL Network –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP : Form 8.3 – Spectris PLC

    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: Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP
    (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.
     
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    Spectris PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    17/06/2025
    (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”
    No

    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: 5p ordinary
    (ISIN -GB0003308607)
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:        
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives: 1,096,773 1.1%    
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    1,096,773 1.1%    

    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

    (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
    5p Ordinary CFD Increasing a long position 22,290 GBP 33.2195
    5p Ordinary CFD Increasing a long position 182,809 GBP 33.2692
    5p Ordinary CFD Increasing a long position 50,000 GBP 33.3229

            
    (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

    (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)

    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: 18/06/2025
    Contact name: Alex McMillan
    Telephone number: 646 282 5805

    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 –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Jaws’ and the two musical notes that changed Hollywood forever

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jared Bahir Browsh, Assistant Teaching Professor of Critical Sports Studies, University of Colorado Boulder

    Many film historians see ‘Jaws’ as the first true summer blockbuster. Steve Kagan/Getty Images

    “Da, duh.”

    Two simple notes – E and F – have become synonymous with tension, fear and sharks, representing the primal dread of being stalked by a predator.

    And they largely have “Jaws” to thank.

    Fifty years ago, Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster film – along with its spooky score composed by John Williams – convinced generations of swimmers to think twice before going in the water.

    As a scholar of media history and popular culture, I decided to take a deeper dive into the staying power of these two notes and learned about how they’re influenced by 19th-century classical music, Mickey Mouse and Alfred Hitchcock.

    When John Williams proposed the two-note theme for ‘Jaws,’ Steven Spielberg initially thought it was a joke.

    YouTube video not showing up for me

    The first summer blockbuster

    In 1964, fisherman Frank Mundus killed a 4,500-pound great white shark off Long Island.

    After hearing the story, freelance journalist Peter Benchley began pitching a novel based on three men’s attempt to capture a man-eating shark, basing the character of Quint off of Mundus. Doubleday commissioned Benchley to write the novel, and in 1973, Universal Studios producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown purchased the film rights to the novel before it was published. The 26-year-old Spielberg was signed on to be the director.

    Tapping into both mythical and real fears regarding great white sharks – including an infamous set of shark attacks along the Jersey Shore in 1916 – Benchley’s 1974 novel became a bestseller. The book was a key part of Universal’s marketing campaign, which began several months before the film’s release.

    Starting in the fall of 1974, Zanuck, Brown and Benchley appeared on a number of radio and television programs to simultaneously promote the release of the paperback edition of the novel and the upcoming film. The marketing also included a national television advertising campaign that featured emerging composer Williams’ two-note theme. The plan was for a summer release, which, at the time, was reserved for films with less than stellar reviews.

    TV ads promoting the film featured John Williams’ two-note theme.

    Films at the time typically were released market by market, preceded by local reviews. However, Universal’s decision to release the film in hundreds of theaters across the country on June 20, 1975, led to huge up-front profits, sparking a 14-week run as the No. 1 film in the U.S.

    Many consider “Jaws” the first true summer blockbuster. It catapulted Spielberg to fame and kicked off the director’s long collaboration with Williams, who would go on to earn the second-highest number of Academy Award nominations in history – 54 – behind only Walt Disney’s 59.

    The film’s beating heart

    Though it’s now considered one of the greatest scores in film history, when Williams proposed the two-note theme, Spielberg initially thought it was a joke.

    But Williams had been inspired by 19th and 20th century composers, including Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky and especially Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” In the “Jaws” theme, you can hear echoes of the end of Dvorak’s symphony, as well as the sounds of another character-driven musical piece, Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.”

    “Peter and the Wolf” and the score from “Jaws” are both prime examples of leitmotifs, or a musical piece that represents a place or character.

    The varying pace of the ostinato – a musical motif that repeats itself – elicits intensifying degrees of emotion and fear. This became more integral as Spielberg and the technical team struggled with the malfunctioning pneumatic sharks that they’d nicknamed “Bruce,” after Spielberg’s lawyer.

    As a result, the shark does not appear until the 81-minute mark of the 124-minute film. But its presence is felt through Williams’ theme, which some music scholars have theorized evoke the shark’s heartbeat.

    Mechanical issues with ‘Bruce,’ the mechanical shark, during filming forced Steven Spielberg to rely more on mood and atmosphere.
    Screen Archives/Moviepix via Getty Images

    Sounds to manipulate emotions

    Williams also has Disney to thank for revolutionizing character-driven music in film.

    The two don’t just share a brimming trophy case. They also understood how music can heighten emotion and magnify action for audiences.

    Although his career started in the silent film era, Disney became a titan of film, and later media, by leveraging sound to establish one of the greatest stars in media history, Mickey Mouse.

    When Disney saw “The Jazz Singer” in 1927, he knew that sound would be the future of film.

    On Nov. 18, 1928, “Steamboat Willie” premiered at Universal’s Colony Theater in New York City as Disney’s first animated film to incorporate synchronized sound.

    Unlike previous attempts to bring sound to film by having record players concurrently play or deploying live musicians to perform in the theater, Disney used technology that recorded sound directly on the film reel.

    It wasn’t the first animated film with synchronized sound, but it was a technical improvement to previous attempts at it, and “Steamboat Willie” became an international hit, launching Mickey’s – and Disney’s – career.

    The use of music or sound to match the rhythm of the characters on screen became known as “Mickey Mousing.”

    “King Kong” in 1933 would deftly deploy Mickey Mousing in a live action film, with music mimicking the giant gorilla’s movements. For example, in one scene, Kong carries away Ann Darrow, who’s played by actress Fay Wray. Composer Max Steiner uses lighter tones to convey Kong’s curiosity as he holds Ann, followed by ominous, faster, tones as Ann escapes and Kong chases after her. In doing so, Steiner encourages viewers to both fear and connect with the beast throughout the film, helping them suspend disbelief and enter a world of fantasy.

    Mickey Mousing declined in popularity after World War II. Many filmmakers saw it as juvenile and too simplistic for the evolving and advancing film industry.

    When less is more

    In spite of this criticism, the technique was still used to score some iconic scenes, like the playing of violins in the shower as Marion Crane is stabbed in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.”

    Spielberg idolized Hitchcock. A young Spielberg was even kicked off the Universal lot after sneaking on to watch the production of Hitchcock’s 1966 film “Torn Curtain.”

    Although Hitchcock and Spielberg never met, “Jaws” clearly exhibits the influence of Hitchcock, the “Master of Suspense.” And maybe that’s why Spielberg initially overcame his doubts about using something so simple to represent tension in the thriller.

    Steven Spielberg was just 26 years old when he signed on to direct ‘Jaws.’
    Universal/Getty Images

    The use of the two-note motif helps overcome the production issues Spielberg faced directing the first feature length movie to be filmed on the ocean. The malfunctioning animatronic shark forced Spielberg to leverage Williams’ minimalist theme to represent the shark’s ominous presence in spite of the limited appearances by the eponymous predatory star.

    As Williams continued his legendary career, he would deploy a similar sonic motif for certain “Star Wars” characters. Each time Darth Vader appeared, the “Imperial March” was played to set the tone for the leader of the dark side.

    As movie budgets creep closer to a half-billion dollars, the “Jaws” theme – and the way those two notes manipulate tension – is a reminder that in film, sometimes less can be more.

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

    – ref. ‘Jaws’ and the two musical notes that changed Hollywood forever – https://theconversation.com/jaws-and-the-two-musical-notes-that-changed-hollywood-forever-255379

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Ticks carry decades of history in each troublesome bite

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sean Lawrence, Assistant Professor of History, West Virginia University

    The black-legged tick, or deer tick, _Ixodes scapularis_, can transmit Lyme disease and other health hazards. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    When you think about ticks, you might picture nightmarish little parasites, stalking you on weekend hikes or afternoons in the park.

    Your fear is well-founded. Tick-borne diseases are the most prevalent vector-borne diseases – those transmitted by living organisms – in the United States. Each tick feeds on multiple animals throughout its life, absorbing viruses and bacteria along the way and passing them on with its next bite. Some of those viruses and bacteria are harmful to humans, causing diseases that can be debilitating and sometimes lethal without treatment, such as Lyme, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

    But contained in every bite of this infuriating, insatiable pest is also a trove of social, environmental and epidemiological history.

    In many cases, human actions long ago are the reason ticks carry these diseases so widely today. And that’s what makes ticks fascinating for environmental historians like me.

    Ticks can be tiny and hard to spot. This is an adult and nymph Ixodes scapularis on an adult’s index finger.
    CDC

    Changing forests fueled tick risks

    During the 18th and 19th centuries, settlers cleared more than half the forested land across the northeastern U.S., cutting down forests for timber and to make way for farms, towns and mining operations. With large-scale land clearing came a sharp decline in wildlife of all kinds. Predators such as bears and wolves were driven out, as were deer.

    As farming moved westward, Northeasterners began to recognize the ecological and economic value of trees, and they returned millions of acres to forest.

    The woods regrew. Plant-eaters such as deer returned, but the apex predators that once kept their populations in check did not.

    As a result, deer populations carrying borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, grew rapidly. And with the deer came deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). When a tick feeds on an infected deer, it can take up the bacteria. The tick isn’t harmed, but it can pass the bacteria to its next victim. In humans, Lyme disease can cause fever and fatigue, and if left untreated it can affect the nervous system.

    The eastern U.S. became a global hot spot for tick-borne Lyme disease starting around the 1970s. Lyme disease affected over 89,000 Americans in 2023, and possibly many more.

    Californians move into tick territory

    For centuries, changing patterns of human settlements and the politics of land use have shaped the role of ticks and tick-borne illnesses within their environments.

    In short, humans have made it easier for ticks to thrive and spread disease in our midst.

    In California, the Northern Inner Coast and Santa Cruz mountain ranges that converge on San Francisco from the north and south were never clear-cut, and predators such as mountain lions and coyotes still exist there. But competition for housing has pushed human settlement deeper into wildland areas to the north, south and east of the city, reshaping tick ecology there.

    A range map for the western black-legged tick.
    National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

    While western black-legged ticks (Ixodes pacificus) tend to swarm in large forest preserves, the Lyme-causing bacterium is actually more prevalent in small, isolated patches of greenery. In these isolated patches, rodents and other tick hosts can thrive, safe from large predators, which need more habitat to move freely. But isolation and lower diversity also means infections are spread more easily within the tick’s host populations.

    People tend to build isolated houses in the hills, rather than large, connected developments. As the Silicon Valley area south of San Francisco sprawls outward, this checkerboard pattern of settlement has fragmented the natural landscape, creating a hard-to-manage public health threat.

    Fewer hosts, more tightly packed, often means more infected hosts, proportionally, and thus more dangerous ticks.

    A tick’s mouth is barbed so it can hold on as it draws blood over hours.
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

    Six counties across these ranges, all surrounding and including San Francisco, account for 44% of recorded tick-borne illnesses in California.

    A lesson from Texas cattle ranches

    Domesticated livestock have also shaped the disease threat posed by ticks.

    In 1892, at a meeting of cattle ranchers at the Stock Raiser’s Convention in Austin, Texas, Dr. B.A. Rogers introduced a novel theory that ticks were behind recent devastating plagues of Texas cattle fever. The disease had arrived with cattle imported from the West Indies and Mexico in the 1600s, and it was taking huge tolls on cattle herds. But how the disease spread to new victims had been a mystery.

    A 1905 illustration of Rhipicephalus annulatus, a hard tick that causes cattle fever.
    Nathan Banks, A treatise on the Acarina, or mites. Proceedings of the United States National Museum

    Editors of Daniel’s Texas Medical Journal found the idea of ticks spreading disease laughable and lampooned the hypothesis, publishing a satire of what they described as an “early copy” of a forthcoming report on the subject.

    The tick’s “fluid secretion, it is believed, is the poison which causes the fever … [and the tick] having been known to chew tobacco, as all other Texans do, the secretion is most probably tobacco juice,” they wrote.

    Fortunately for the ranchers, not to mention the cows, the U.S. Department of Agriculture sided with Rogers. Its cattle fever tick program, started in 1906, curbed cattle fever outbreaks by limiting where and when cattle should cross tick-dense areas.

    Engorged ticks feed on a calf’s ear.
    Alan R Walker, CC BY-NC-SA

    By 1938, the government had established a quarantine zone that extended 580 miles by 10 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas Brush Country, a region favored by the cattle tick.

    This innovative use of natural space as a public health tool helped to functionally eradicate cattle fever from 14 Southern states by 1943.

    Ticks are products of their environment

    When it comes to tick-borne diseases the world over, location matters.

    Take the hunter tick (Hyalomma spp.) of the Mediterranean and Asia. As a juvenile, or nymph, these ticks feed on small forest animals such as mice, hares and voles, but as an adult they prefer domesticated livestock.

    For centuries, this tick was an occasional nuisance to nomadic shepherds of the Middle East. But in the 1850s, the Ottoman Empire passed laws to force nomadic tribes to become settled farmers instead. Unclaimed lands, especially on the forested edges of the steppe, were offered to settlers, creating ideal conditions for hunter ticks.

    As a result, farmers in what today is Turkey saw spikes in tick-borne diseases, including a virus that causes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a potentially fatal condition.

    Where to check for ticks and how to remove them.

    It’s probably too much to ask for sympathy for any ticks you meet this summer. They are bloodsucking parasites, after all.

    Still, it’s worth remembering that the tick’s malevolence isn’t its own fault. Ticks are products of their environment, and humans have played many roles in turning them into the harmful parasites that seek us out today.

    Sean Lawrence has nothing to disclose.

    – ref. Ticks carry decades of history in each troublesome bite – https://theconversation.com/ticks-carry-decades-of-history-in-each-troublesome-bite-257110

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: AI helps tell snow leopards apart, improving population counts for these majestic mountain predators

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eve Bohnett, Assistant Scholar, Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, University of Florida

    Snow leopards are hard to find and count, which makes protecting them difficult. zahoor salmi/Moment via Getty Images

    Snow leopards are known as the “ghosts of the mountains” for a reason. Imagine waiting for months in the harsh, rugged mountains of Asia, hoping to catch even a glimpse of one. These elusive big cats move silently across rocky slopes, their pale coats blending so seamlessly with snow and stone that even the most seasoned biologists seldom spot them in the wild.

    Travel writer Peter Matthiessen spent two months in 1973 searching the Tibetan plateau for them and wrote a 300-page book about the effort. He never saw one. Forty years later, Peter’s son Alex retraced his father’s steps – and didn’t see one either.

    Researchers have struggled to come up with a figure for the global population. In 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassified the snow leopard from endangered to vulnerable, citing estimates of between 2,500 and 10,000 adults in the wild. However, the group also warned that numbers continue to decline in many areas due to habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Those who study these animals want to help protect the species and their habitat – if only we can determine exactly where they live and how many there are.

    Traditional tracking methods – searching for footprints, droppings and other signs – have their limits. Instead of waiting for a lucky face-to-face encounter, conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, led by experts including Stéphane Ostrowski and Sorosh Poya Faryabi, began deploying automated camera traps in Afghanistan. These devices snap photos whenever movement is detected, capturing thousands of images over months, all in hopes of obtaining a rare glimpse of a snow leopard.

    But capturing images is only half the battle. The next, even harder task is telling one snow leopard apart from another.

    Are these the same animal or different ones? It’s really hard to tell.
    Eve Bohnett, CC BY-ND

    At first glance, it might sound simple: Each snow leopard has a unique pattern of black rosettes on its coat, like a fingerprint or a face in a crowd. Yet in practice, identifying individuals by these patterns is slow, subjective and prone to error. Photos may be taken at odd angles, under poor lighting, or with parts of the animal obscured – making matches tricky.

    A common mistake happens when photos from different cameras are marked as depicting different animals when they actually show the same individual, inflating population estimates. Worse, camera trap images can get mixed up or misfiled, splitting encounters of one cat across multiple batches and identities.

    I am a data analyst working with Wildlife Conservation Society and other partners at Wild Me. My work and others’ has found that even trained experts can misidentify animals, failing to recognize repeat visitors at locations monitored by motion-sensing cameras and counting the same animal more than once. One study found that the snow leopard population was overestimated by more than 30% because of these human errors.

    To avoid these pitfalls, researchers follow camera sorting guidelines: At least three clear pattern differences or similarities must be confirmed between two images to declare them the same or different cats. Images too blurry, too dark or taken from difficult angles may have to be discarded. Identification efforts range from easy cases with clear, full-body shots to ambiguous ones needing collaboration and debate. Despite these efforts, variability remains, and more experienced observers tend to be more accurate.

    Now people trying to count snow leopards are getting help from artificial intelligence systems, in two ways.

    Spotting the spots

    Modern AI tools are revolutionizing how we process these large photo libraries. First, AI can rapidly sort through thousands of images, flagging those that contain snow leopards and ignoring irrelevant ones such as those that depict blue sheep, gray-and-white mountain terrain, or shadows.

    Unique spots and spot patterns are key to telling snow leopards apart.
    Eve Bohnett, CC BY-NC-ND

    AI can identify individual snow leopards by analyzing their unique rosette patterns, even when poses or lighting vary. Each snow leopard encounter is compared with a catalog of previously identified photos and assigned a known ID if there is a match, or entered as a new individual if not.

    In a recent study, several colleagues and I evaluated two AI algorithms, both separately and in tandem.

    The first algorithm, called HotSpotter, identifies individual snow leopards by comparing key visual features such as coat patterns, highlighting distinctive “hot spots” with a yellow marker.

    The second is a newer method called pose invariant embeddings, which operates similar to facial recognition technology: It recognizes layers of abstract features in the data, identifying the same animal regardless of how it is positioned in the photo or what kind of lighting there may be.

    We trained these systems using a curated dataset of photos of snow leopards from zoos in the U.S., Europe and Tajikistan, and with images from the wild, including in Afghanistan.

    Alone, each model worked about 74% of the time, correctly identifying the cat from a large photo library. But when combined, the two systems together were correct 85% of the time.

    These algorithms were integrated into Wildbook, an open-source, web-based software platform developed by the nonprofit organization Wild Me and now adopted by ConservationX. We deployed the combined system on a free website, Whiskerbook.org, where researchers can upload images, seek matches using the algorithms, and confirm those matches with side-by-side comparisons. This site is among a growing family of AI-powered wildlife platforms that are helping conservation biologists work more efficiently and more effectively at protecting species and their habitats.

    A view from an online wildlife-tracking system suggests a possible match for a snow leopard caught by a remote camera.
    Wildbook/Eve Bohnett, CC BY-ND

    Humans still needed

    These AI systems aren’t error-proof. AI quickly narrows down candidates and flags likely matches, but expert validation ensures accuracy, especially with tricky or ambiguous photos.

    Another study we conducted pitted AI-assisted groups of experts and novices against each other. Each was given a set of three to 10 images of 34 known captive snow leopards and asked to use the Whiskerbook platform to identify them. They were also asked to estimate how many individual animals were in the set of photos.

    The experts accurately matched about 90% of the images and delivered population estimates within about 3% of the true number. In contrast, the novices identified only 73% of the cats and underestimated the total number, sometimes by 25% or more, incorrectly merging two individuals into one.

    Both sets of results were better than when experts or novices did not use any software.

    The takeaway is clear: Human expertise remains important, and combining it with AI support leads to the most accurate results. My colleagues and I hope that by using tools like Whiskerbook and the AI systems embedded in them, researchers will be able to more quickly and more confidently study these elusive animals.

    With AI tools like Whiskerbook illuminating the mysteries of these mountain ghosts, we have another way to safeguard snow leopards – but success depends on continued commitment to protecting their fragile mountain homes.

    Eve Bohnett receives funding from San Diego State Research Foundation and Wildlife Conservation Society. She is affiliated with University of Florida.

    – ref. AI helps tell snow leopards apart, improving population counts for these majestic mountain predators – https://theconversation.com/ai-helps-tell-snow-leopards-apart-improving-population-counts-for-these-majestic-mountain-predators-258154

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 19, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Germany’s young Jewish and Muslim writers are speaking for themselves – exploring immigrant identity beyond stereotypes

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Agnes Mueller, Carol Kahn Strauss Fellow in Jewish Studies at the American Academy in Berlin, Professor of German and American Literature, University of South Carolina

    A Muslim guest sits next to a Jewish one during an ordination ceremony at the Rykestrasse Synagogue in Berlin in September 2024. Omer Messinger/Getty Images

    The consequences of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and Israel’s war in Gaza have reverberated far beyond the zones of conflict.

    In the United States, for example, a growing number of people, including some Jewish groups, assert that political leaders are exploiting concerns about antisemitism for their own political goals, from cracking down on academic freedom to deporting pro-Palestinian activists.

    Debate about the war in Gaza feels fraught in Germany, too, where concerns about rising antisemitism have been used to criticize some Muslim communities. The Holocaust looms over discussions about Israel, with many claiming the country’s sense of historical guilt has made it, until recently, reluctant to criticize Israeli politics.

    In the wake of the country’s reunification in the early 1990s, about 200,000 Jews from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union came to Germany. In more recent years, waves of predominantly Muslim refugees from the Middle East have entered a space that already had a large population of Turkish immigrants and their descendants. However, many Germans oppose these more open immigration policies, with widespread backlash against Muslim migrants.

    In recent decades, some of Germany’s migrants and their children – some Jewish, and some Muslim – have used fiction to explore their identity and these contested issues in new ways, challenging simple narratives. As a scholar of German literature and Jewish studies, I have studied how literature creates new spaces for readers to explore the similarities between their experiences, building solidarity beyond stereotypes.

    ‘The Prodigal Son’

    Many of today’s young Jewish writers were born in the former Soviet Union and arrived in Germany with their parents as part of the “quota refugee” program. Initiated in the early 1990s, this program invited Jewish migrants into a newly unified Germany – intended to show that the country was taking responsibility for the atrocities of the past. The newcomers were flippantly called “Wiedergutmachungsjuden,” “make-good-again Jews,” referring to Germans’ desire to atone.

    One of them was Olga Grjasnowa. Born in 1984, Grjasnowa came from Azerbaijan to Germany at age 11. She has written about Holocaust memory, as in her 2012 novel “All Russians Love Birch Trees,” and said in a 2018 interview that all her books are “Jewish books.”

    Olga Grjasnowa during the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Aug. 22, 2019, in Scotland.
    Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images

    Her 2021 book “Der verlorene Sohn,” “The Prodigal Son,” echoes Holocaust memory, but in a historical novel set in 19th-century Russia.

    The protagonist Jamaluddin – the name derives from the Arabic word for “beauty of the faith” – is born in the Caucasian region of Dagestan, as the son of a powerful Muslim imam. To negotiate a peace deal, the boy is given as a hostage to Russia, where he grows up in the Orthodox Christian court of the czar. Though initially treated as an outsider, Jamaluddin assimilates and becomes a high-ranking officer, a life that ends when he must return to Dagestan. But there, too, he now feels homeless, regarded with suspicion as a stranger.

    “The Prodigal Son” deals with abduction, deportation, exile and constant wandering. Jamaluddin’s fate is shaped by authoritarianism, repression, war and discrimination – themes that are familiar in Holocaust literature, though here they befall a Muslim boy in another time and place.

    Repeatedly, the novel makes mention of Jewish communities and their own suffering under the czar. As Jewish boys are being forced to march from remote villages to Saint Petersburg, Jamaluddin is “furious and ashamed” of his fellow officers. But he also begins to feel self-pity, flooded with memories of his own departure from home.

    This scene depicts a historical reality under Czar Nicholas I, who ruled from 1825-1855: Russian Jewish boys were conscripted, sometimes kidnapped, to serve in the army. For contemporary audiences, the description can also evoke the death marches of Jewish prisoners during the Shoah, the Hebrew term for the Holocaust. Several additional moments in the book connect Jamaluddin’s experiences with images of Jewish flight and expulsion.

    New conversations

    Jamaluddin’s fate as an outsider between cultures can also bring to mind migrants’ experiences and emotions today. In 2022, one-quarter of Germans were either migrants themselves or had a parent who was not born in Germany. The largest minority group are Muslim-born Germans of Turkish descent, who are still routinely discriminated against.

    Antisemitism, meanwhile, is pervasive but less obvious. The Germans’ relationship with Jews was long dominated by silence and guilt – and Jews themselves were mostly invisible until the end of the Cold War, when Jewish migration from the former Soviet states picked up. My 2015 book “The Inability to Love” describes how mainstream German authors, fueled by guilt and shame over the Nazi past, fell into a philosemitic antisemitism: Outward displays of repentance for the Holocaust and public policies that ostensibly embraced Jews clashed with privately held prejudice.

    Many examples of new German literature show contemporary Jewish and Muslim characters with complex identities – protagonists who are not seen as simply Jewish, Muslim or belonging to only one culture, pushing back on reductive stereotypes.

    For example, Kat Kaufmann’s 2015 novel “Superposition” tells the story of the young, popular and charismatic Izy, a Russian Jew who lives in Berlin as a jazz pianist. Her love interest is Timur, an Eastern European man with a typically Muslim name. When Izy thinks of her and Timur’s future son, she imagines him growing up with the luxury to conceal where he is from – to define his identity as he wishes, unlike previous generations.

    Writer Fatma Aydemir speaks at a reading in Cologne, Germany, on March 21, 2022.
    Oliver Berg/picture alliance via Getty Images

    Stories by novelists such as Dmitrij Kapitelman, Lena Gorelik, Marina Frenk and Dana Vowinckel also depict moments of connection between Jews and other Germans, or between Jews and Muslims.

    Turkish and/or Muslim writers such as Fatma Aydemir and Nazlı Koca – who now lives in America, writing in English – tell similar stories of young characters navigating German culture as marginalized individuals. They often depict young women who struggle to reconcile their culture of origin with German social expectations and xenophobia today.

    “I wanted to question the idea that we all have one single identity and that’s it,” Aydemir told the literary site K24 about her novel “Ellbogen,” whose protagonist finds herself fleeing to Turkey, her family’s original home, after a personal crisis. “I think things are way more complex, more fluid than most of us want to believe.”

    This younger generation of German Jewish and Muslim writers is recasting entrenched debates, showing characters whose identities are multidimensional and more open than the burdened past or fraught present politics would suggest. Today’s young writers are creating new, brave spaces for conversation and empathy.

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

    – ref. Germany’s young Jewish and Muslim writers are speaking for themselves – exploring immigrant identity beyond stereotypes – https://theconversation.com/germanys-young-jewish-and-muslim-writers-are-speaking-for-themselves-exploring-immigrant-identity-beyond-stereotypes-252968

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 19, 2025
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