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  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Warnock, Collins, Schumer Lead Push to Boost Supply of Doctors, Ensure Access to Medical Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), along with Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), introduced the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act to increase the number of Medicare-supported doctor training slots available for medical students and address the shortage of primary and specialty care physicians in Arkansas and across the country.

    “There is an urgent, demonstrated need to strengthen our health care system by combating the alarming shortage of providers, particularly in rural areas,” said Boozman. “Lifting the outdated cap on residency positions supported by Medicare can expand the supply of physicians while helping ensure access to quality care and treatment in more communities nationwide. I am proud to work in a bipartisan way on this important medical workforce solution that also supports better health outcomes.”

    “Our state faces a critical shortage of primary care and specialty physicians, preventing many Georgians from accessing health care services in their community,” said Warnock. “Where you live shouldn’t determine the type of medical care you receive, and I will not stop working to help our hospitals hire and retain the health care workforce that Georgians deserve.”

    “In the face of growing demand for medical treatments and services, our country continues to struggle with a shortage of trained physicians. It is critical that we bridge the gap,” said Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would support training opportunities needed to alleviate the physician shortage and improve access to health care, particularly in rural or underserved communities, which in turn promotes healthier lives.”

    “The physician shortage in New York and across the country drastically impedes our hospitals from delivering good, quality care, leading to longer wait times and putting more strain on a healthcare system that’s already stretched thin,” said Leader Schumer. “This bipartisan legislation would expand training supported by Medicare and help ensure our communities have access to primary care and specialty physicians when they need it.”

    The U.S. faces a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, including up to 40,000 primary care doctors and as many as 20,000 surgical specialists. In 2023, around one-quarter of Arkansas’s medical residencies were not Medicare-supported Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots. Funding residencies independently is extremely costly to rural hospitals already struggling to attract and support physicians.

    Specifically, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act addresses the growing physician workforce shortage by:

    • Raising the number of residency program positions that Medicare can fund by 14,000 over seven years; and
    • Prioritizing positions for states with hospitals located in rural areas, new medical schools, hospitals training physicians in excess of their cap as well as hospitals that serve areas designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). 

    Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) have cosponsored the bill.

    This measure builds upon Boozman’s continued efforts to champion health care in The Natural State. In March, Boozman introduced the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act to prioritize placement of available medical residency spots in rural and underserved areas, as well as the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act to ease financial burdens on medical professionals completing their medical training.

    The bill is supported by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), National Rural Health Association (NRHA), American Medical Association (AMA) and the Greater New York Hospital Association.

    “The Association of American Medical Colleges applauds Senators Boozman, Warnock, Collins, Schumer, Gillibrand, Rosen, Klobuchar, King, Gallego, Welch, Slotkin, and Durbin for championing this important bipartisan legislation that would expand federal investment in physician training,” said AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, M.D. “With the nation facing a persistent physician shortage, this bipartisan bill would enhance and build on the investments academic health systems are making to strengthen the physician workforce by increasing Medicare support for physician training. We look forward to working with the Senate to advance this critical legislation and help ensure that patients across the country have access to timely, high-quality health care they deserve.”

    “The National Rural Health Association is proud to support the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act and thanks Senator Boozman and Senator Warnock for their work to introduce this bill. Rural communities continue to experience a chronic lack of physicians and these shortages are only projected to grow,” said NRHA CEO Alan Morgan. “This important legislation is a huge step towards recruiting and training more physicians in rural areas and ensuring that all rural residents have access to care. We look forward to continuing to work with the senators to pass this bill and find sustainable solutions to rural workforce issues.”

    “The American Medical Association commends Sens. John Boozman and Raphael Warnock for introducing this crucial bipartisan legislation that aims to address the physician shortage and resulting access challenges for patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “By expanding federal support for graduate medical education over the next seven years, Congress is taking a critical step toward ensuring patients nationwide have access to well-trained physicians in their communities.”

    Bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The United Kingdom welcomes the efforts of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to strengthen its role in conflict prevention: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    The United Kingdom welcomes the efforts of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to strengthen its role in conflict prevention: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council open debate on maintaining international peace and security.

    I welcome the opportunity today to discuss the OIC’s important cooperation with the UN on the resolution of conflicts and securing lasting peace and prosperity.

    I will make three points, President.

    First, the United Kingdom welcomes the efforts of the OIC to strengthen its role in conflict prevention, confidence-building, peacekeeping and mediation.

    In particular, we thank OIC members for their invaluable commitment of troops to UN Peacekeeping Operations.

    Effective cooperation and sharing of information between the UN and the OIC is important for developing coherent strategies for conflict prevention to support national prevention efforts.

    Second, the United Kingdom values the role of the OIC and its Member States as a key partner in our shared fight against terrorism and violent extremism. 

    This requires a multi-dimensional approach with the support of all relevant UN agencies, regional organisations, governments and civil society partners. 

    We encourage the UN and the OIC to maintain close coordination to ensure the protection of human rights while countering terrorism. 

    Third, the United Kingdom welcomes its broadening and deepening relationship with the OIC and its members, including this week hosting the OIC’s International Academy of Jurisprudence to strengthen collaboration on key issues and interfaith dialogue.

    We value this collaboration not least because inclusive governance and respect for human rights are fundamental underpinnings of peace and prosperity. And the United Kingdom firmly believes the right to freedom of religion or belief has a crucial role to play in this regard.

    Religious intolerance and persecution fuel instability, impeding both conflict prevention and resolution, as we sadly see in a number of the conflicts on this Council’s agenda.

    That is why the United Kingdom was proud to co-pen Security Council resolution 2686 with the United Arab Emirates in 2023. This was the first time a Security Council resolution had directly addressed the persecution of religious minorities in conflict settings. We remain committed to the full implementation of resolution 2686.

    In conclusion, President, when freedom of religion or belief is respected for all, and interreligious dialogue is promoted, we can build trust and understanding between communities, helping to secure sustainable peace.

    Thank you, President.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Guard soldier deployed to South Texas to help secure border convicted of smuggling illegal aliens into US

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A National Guard member deployed to South Texas to help secure the border was convicted of smuggling illegal aliens into the U.S. July 21. Findings of the smuggling were due to the combined investigation efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Corpus Christi, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of the Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility.

    Mario Sandoval, a 27-year-old resident of Houston, was found guilty of conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens at the end of a one-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

    “Driven exclusively by greed, this individual betrayed the solemn oath he swore to defend when he enlisted in the National Guard,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “His actions directly undermined the very mission he was deployed to support and put his fellow guard members in danger. Working closely with our partners, we were able to expose his scheme and hold him accountable for this unconscionable betrayal of our nation’s trust.”

    Sandoval was deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border with the Texas National Guard as part of Operation Lonestar. Following release from his orders, Sandoval remained in the Rio Grande Valley and began smuggling illegal aliens into the country in July 2024.

    During his trial, the jury was provided with text messages from Sandoval’s phone expressing that drivers were needed for trips from the Rio Grande Valley to destinations north of the immigration checkpoint. Surveillance showed Sandoval’s location at the immigration checkpoint while he was sending text messages about law enforcement and K-9 patrol presence. The defense attempted to convince the jury no conspiracy existed, and his text messages were out of context. The Jury did not believe those claims and found Sandoval guilty as charged after deliberating for less than an hour.

    “The conduct in this case represents an unthinkable violation of public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Thousands of brave men and women, military and civilian alike, work tirelessly to keep our border secure. It is truly disheartening that one bad apple chose to betray his fellow soldiers, his fellow citizens, and his country by engaging in human smuggling. I wish to thank the jury for their time and attention to this matter.”

    Sandoval was discharged from the Texas National Guard in October 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 22. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Lamont and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

    For more news and information on how HSI Houston combats alien smuggling and other transnational criminal activity in Southeast Texas follow us on X at @HSIHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union Reaches Landmark Tentative Labor Agreement with Boeing Covering 3,200 Defense Workers in St. Louis

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) Negotiators are unanimously recommending a new four-year contract affecting approximately 3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles, Mo., and Mascoutah, Ill.

    The four-year agreement includes improvements throughout the contract, including:

    • Average wage increases of 40% over the life of the agreement 
    • Increases in progression rates
    • Strengthens current medical benefits
    • Increased pension multiplier
    • Overtime improvements
    • Work-life balance

    “Our negotiating committee worked tirelessly to negotiate a deal that represented the concerns of our membership,” said IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Tom Boelling. “I couldn’t be more proud of the negotiating team and our membership.”

    “This contract puts money in members’ pockets, protects healthcare access, and ensures our members have a voice in future health decisions all while respecting the skill and dedication IAM workers bring to Boeing’s critical defense programs,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant.

    “This agreement reflects the strength of our membership and the power of solidarity,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “From the shop floor to the bargaining table, our members stood united and it paid off.”

    “We made it clear to the company that protecting our members’ futures was non-negotiable,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “With stronger pensions, real wage growth, and better work-life balance, we’ve delivered a contract that meets the moment.”

    IAM members assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies. Their work plays a vital role in safeguarding national security and supporting U.S. and allied defense operations.

    The current agreement expires on July 27, 2025 and a contract ratification vote will be held the same day. 

    The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

    goIAM.org | @IAM_Union

    The post IAM Union Reaches Landmark Tentative Labor Agreement with Boeing Covering 3,200 Defense Workers in St. Louis appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Designations to Appellate Division Courts Announced

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced six designations to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, in the First and Second Departments. Under New York’s Constitution, the Governor designates Justices of the Appellate Divisions from among the elected Justices of the State Supreme Court. This class is composed of highly skilled jurists who come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, underscoring Governor Hochul’s commitment to ensuring New York State’s judiciary reflects the wide array of people who call New York home. The slate consists of four designations to the Appellate Division, First Department and two designations to the Appellate Division, Second Department.

    “These designations to the Appellate Division are part of my continued commitment to building a judiciary that embodies the highest standards of legal excellence and reflects the rich diversity of New York,” Governor Hochul said. “Each of these jurists brings a wealth of experience and perspective that will strengthen our courts and help ensure that justice is served fairly and equitably across our state.”

    As Justices of the Appellate Division, First Department:

    Honorable Troy Webber, Associate Justice

    Justice Troy K. Webber was elected to the Civil Court, New York County, in 1993 and assigned to the county of her birth, Bronx County. In 2002, she was elected to the Supreme Court. In 2009, Justice Webber was appointed Acting Surrogate in New York County, where she served for almost 2 years and then returned to Supreme Court, Bronx County. In 2016, Justice Webber was appointed to the Appellate Division, First Department.

    Justice Webber began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in New York County. She then served as a Law Assistant to a State Supreme Court Justice, Assistant New York State Attorney General and Deputy Bureau Chief at the New York City Law Department. Justice Webber was also a litigation associate at a law firm. Justice Webber is a graduate of New York University School of Law, where she serves on the Alumni Board of Directors.

    Justice Webber serves as Co-Chair of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission and is a member of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, the Association of Women Judges, the Judicial Friends, and the New York County Lawyers Association. She serves on the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, the Advisory Committee on Criminal Law and Procedure and is a member of the board of directors of JALBCA (Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert).

    Justice Webber participates in the Scales of Justice Academy, a summer legal educational program for underserved female high school students, as well as the Legal Outreach Program. She mentors students who attend NYU Law School, the City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Fordham University School of Law and participates in moot court programs sponsored by NYU Law School and New York Law School. Justice Webber is also an adjunct professor in criminal justice at Monroe University.

    Honorable Saliann Scarpulla, Associate Justice

    Justice Saliann Scarpulla is a graduate of Boston University and Brooklyn Law School, cum laude. After law school, Justice Scarpulla clerked for the Hon. Alvin F. Klein in Supreme Court, New York County. When her clerkship concluded, Justice Scarpulla joined Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn as a litigation associate. Justice Scarpulla later moved to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as Senior Counsel in the New York Legal Services Office. From the FDIC Justice Scarpulla became Senior Vice President and Bank Counsel to Hudson United Bank.

    Justice Scarpulla returned to the New York State court system in 1999, as Principal Court Attorney to the Hon. Eileen Bransten. She was then elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2001, appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in 2009, and elected to the Supreme Court in 2012. From 2014 to 2020, Justice Scarpulla sat in the New York County Commercial Division, and she was responsible for all international commercial arbitration matters pending in the State Supreme Court. In 2020, Justice Scarpulla was appointed to the Appellate Division, First Department.

    Justice Scarpulla is a contributing author to the Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts treatise and has authored numerous articles on technology and commercial litigation. She is a frequent lecturer for, among others, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the New York County Lawyers Association, the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Practicing Law Institute, and the New York State Judicial Institute. Justice Scarpulla has received the Louis J. Capozzoli Gavel award and the Thurgood Marshall award from the New York County Lawyers Association, the Rapallo/Scalia award from the Columbian Lawyers Association, and service awards from the National Association of Italian American Women and the New York Women’s Bar Association.

    Justice Scarpulla is active in several New York City and statewide bar associations and is a Business Court Representative to the American Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Intellectual Property subcommittee. She is a member of New York’s Commercial Division Advisory Council, and the Co-Chair of the Council’s Subcommittee on Use of Technology in Commercial Division Cases. Justice Scarpulla also sits on the Chief Judge’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee, and, in October 2019, she was appointed for a term to the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board. Justice Scarpulla is a past Co-President and current Board member of Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA).

    Honorable Shlomo Hagler, Additional Justice

    Hon. Shlomo S. Hagler is the current Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term, First Department. He was appointed to the court in 2021. Justice Hagler began his judicial career in 1999, when he was appointed to New York City Housing Court. In 2003, he was elected to the New York City Civil Court, and in 2008, Justice Hagler was designated an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County. As an Acting Justice, he established and presided over an “Innovative Guardianship Part” that combined the authority of the Supreme Court under the Mental Hygiene Law with that of the Housing Court. This initiative aimed to protect and empower vulnerable individuals within the community. In 2012, he was elected to the Supreme Court.

    Justice Hagler earned his undergraduate degree from Yeshiva University in 1988, and a Juris Doctor from the City University of New York Law School in 1991. He started his legal career as an associate at Bartlett, Bartlett & Ziegler, P.C., before serving as Court Attorney to Hon. Martin Shulman, currently an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department.

    Justice Hagler recently received an award celebrating his 25 years on the bench from the New York County Lawyers Association and in April 2025, received the Benjamin N. Cardozo award from the Jewish Lawyers Guild for excellence in the legal profession. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Lawyers Guild and the Gender Fairness Committee of the Supreme Court, New York County. Justice Hagler has given numerous lectures as a judicial panelist on various legal topics, including protecting tenants with disabilities in housing.

    Honorable Margaret Anne Pui Yee Chan, Additional Justice

    Justice Chan, elected in 2021 to the New York State Supreme Court, serves in the New York County Commercial Division resolving complex business disputes. Before her election, she was an Acting Justice from 2012, handling a wide range of cases from mass torts to constitutional litigation.

    Born in Hong Kong, she immigrated to Canada at age seven and then, at fourteen, to Brooklyn. When she was elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2006, she became the first Asian immigrant woman to become a New York judge. Before ascending to the bench, Justice Chan had an immigration and appellate practice in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Her partner was Benjamin Gim, who co-founded the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund.

    Justice Chan attended Brooklyn College full time, where she majored in economics while also working full-time. She later attended Touro Law Center on a scholarship and was the managing editor of the Law Review. She then completed five years as a senior court attorney at the Appellate Division, Second Department.

    Justice Chan serves on various court committees, including the Committee on AI and the Courts and Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions (PJI) – Civil. She also served as a Fordham University School of Law adjunct professor from 2018-2024, teaching legal research and writing and the judicial-externship seminar.

    As Justices of the Appellate Division, Second Department:

    Honorable Elena Goldberg Velazquez, Additional Justice

    Justice Elena Goldberg Velazquez was appointed to the Appellate Term, 9th and 10th Judicial Districts, in 2024, where she hears appeals from landlord-tenant court, small claims court, civil court and criminal court. Recently, Justice Goldberg Velazquez was elected as the President of the Latino Judges Association.

    In 2022, Justice Goldberg Velazquez was elected to the New York State Supreme Court, 9th Judicial District. Presently, she is assigned to Westchester County where she has presided over a variety of civil hearings and trials. Since her ascension to Supreme Court, she has also been published in the New York Law Journal. Prior to becoming a Supreme Court Justice, Justice Goldberg Velazquez was a Yonkers City Court Judge, where she handled criminal matters from arraignment to disposition, landlord-tenant matters (both residential and commercial), small claims and civil matters. She also presided over trials and felony hearings. In addition, while in City Court she was appointed as an Acting Family Court Judge presiding over the Integrated Domestic Violence Court.

    Prior to being elected to the bench, Justice Goldberg Velazquez worked at the Supreme Court, Appellate Division First Department for nearly a decade. Prior to working at the Appellate Division, Justice Goldberg Velazquez worked at private law firms handling primarily civil matters.

    Justice Goldberg Velazquez is an active member of her community, having founded and served as president of her local neighborhood association. She has served as the President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, Chair of the Women’s Committee and Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee. She is presently a member of the New York State Bar Association, Hudson Valley Hispanic Bar Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, New York Women’s Judges Association, Westchester County Bar Association, Westchester Women’s Bar Association and the Yonkers Lawyers Association.

    Justice Goldberg Velazquez is a graduate of CUNY School of Law, where she was the managing editor of the New York City Law Review and now serves on the Board of Visitors. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Syracuse University where she graduated Pi Sigma Alpha. While at Syracuse, Justice Goldberg Velazquez was on the Dean’s List and a member of the nationally ranked Mock Trial Team.

    Justice Goldberg Velazquez resides in Westchester with her husband and two young daughters.

    Honorable Susan Quirk, Additional Justice

    Hon. Susan Quirk was elected to the Civil Court Bench in Brooklyn in 2016, where she served until 2018. She was then assigned to Brooklyn Family Court in 2018 to augment the bench in response to the enactment and implementation of the Raise the Age legislation, where she presided until 2022 when she was elected to the Supreme Court in Brooklyn where she currently presides over all types of criminal matters.

    Prior to becoming a judge, strongly attracted to both public service and the study of law, Judge Quirk began working as a paralegal in 1998 in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office while attending Brooklyn Law School in the evening. She graduated in 2004, receiving the distinction of being awarded the “Cali Excellence for the Future” Award for achieving the highest grade in Trial Advocacy. Upon being admitted to practice in 2005, Judge Quirk continued her career in public service by becoming an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, where she served with distinction until 2013, when she was designated a Court Attorney Referee in Supreme Court, where she continued to serve the public as a Hearing Officer until her election to the bench.

    Active in the legal community, Judge Quirk is a member of the Supreme Court Justices Association of the City of New York; the Puerto Rican Bar Association; the Brooklyn Bar Association; the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association; the Columbian Lawyers Association; the Catholic Lawyers Guild, Kings County Chapter; the Richmond County Bar Association; the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association, where she previously served on the Administrative Board; and the New York City Civil Court Judges Association, where she previously served as the Vice President for Richmond County.

    Judge Quirk is the proud mom of two young daughters, both of whom currently attend her alma mater, St. Joseph Hill Academy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Brompton Wellington Square AAA CLO ETF Declares Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  (TSX: BAAA, BAAA.U) Brompton Wellington Square AAA CLO ETF announces distributions payable on August 15, 2025 to unitholders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2025 as follows:

    Ticker Amount Per Unit
    BAAA   Cdn$0.08960
    BAAA.U   US$0.08950

    About Brompton Funds
    Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including TSX traded closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton’s investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com.

    About Wellington Square
    Wellington Square Advisors Inc. (“Wellington Square”) is a Toronto-based independent investment advisory led by portfolio managers Jeff Sujitno and Amar Dhanoya. Wellington Square has invested in CLOs for over 10 years with certain staff having specialized expertise gained from working for CLO managers.

    Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange-traded fund investments.  Please read the prospectus before investing. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this press release and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the fund, to the future outlook of the fund and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the fund. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Brompton Funds Declare Split Share Fund Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: DGS, GDV, LBS, LCS, LCS.PR.A, PWI, SBC) – Brompton Funds announces distributions payable on August 15, 2025 to class A shareholders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2025 for each of the following funds:

      Ticker Amount Per Share
    Dividend Growth Split Corp. (“DGS”) DGS $ 0.10
    Global Dividend Growth Split Corp. (“GDV”) GDV $ 0.10
    Life & Banc Split Corp. (“LBS”) LBS $ 0.10
    Brompton Lifeco Split Corp. (“LCS”) LCS $ 0.075
    Sustainable Power Infrastructure Split Corp. (“PWI”) PWI $ 0.085
    Brompton Split Banc Corp. (“SBC”) SBC $ 0.10
           

    Brompton Funds announces distributions payable on August 15, 2025 to preferred shareholders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2025 for the following fund:

      Ticker Amount Per Share
    Brompton Lifeco Split Corp. LCS.PR.A $ 0.175
           

    The funds noted above offer distribution reinvestment plans (“DRIP”) for class A shareholders which provide class A shareholders with the ability to automatically reinvest distributions, commission free, and realize the benefits of compound growth. Class A shareholders can enroll in a DRIP program by contacting their investment advisor.

    About Brompton Funds
    Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton’s investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com.

    You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units or shares of the investment funds on the TSX or other alternative Canadian trading system (an “exchange”). If the units or shares are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the investment fund and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them.

    There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning units or shares of an investment fund. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the fund. You can find more detailed information about a fund in the public filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the funds, to the future outlook of the funds and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the funds. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Brompton Funds Declares ETF Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: BDIV, BEPR, BEPR.U, BLOV, BPRF, BPRF.U, HIG, HIG.U, SPLT) – Brompton Funds announces monthly distributions for record dates from July to September 2025 for each of the following exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”):

      Ticker  Amount Per Unit
    Brompton Global Dividend Growth ETF BDIV Cdn$ 0.1200
    Brompton Flaherty & Crumrine Enhanced Investment Grade Preferred ETF BEPR Cdn$ 0.0675
      BEPR.U US$ 0.0675
    Brompton North American Low Volatility Dividend ETF BLOV Cdn$  0.0850
    Brompton Flaherty & Crumrine Investment Grade Preferred ETF BPRF Cdn$ 0.1100
      BPRF.U US$ 0.1100
    Brompton Global Healthcare Income & Growth ETF HIG Cdn$  0.0550
      HIG.U US$ 0.0550
    Brompton Split Corp. Preferred Share ETF SPLT Cdn$ 0.0550
           

    Record Dates and Payment Dates are as follows:

    Record Date Payment Date
    July 31, 2025 August 15, 2025
    August 29, 2025 September 15, 2025
    September 30, 2025 October 15, 2025
       

    About Brompton Funds
    Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other Toronto Stock Exchange traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton’s investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange-traded fund investments.  Please read the prospectus before investing.  Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the ETFs, to the future outlook of the ETFs and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the ETFs. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Brompton Funds Declares ETF Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: BDIV, BEPR, BEPR.U, BLOV, BPRF, BPRF.U, HIG, HIG.U, SPLT) – Brompton Funds announces monthly distributions for record dates from July to September 2025 for each of the following exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”):

      Ticker  Amount Per Unit
    Brompton Global Dividend Growth ETF BDIV Cdn$ 0.1200
    Brompton Flaherty & Crumrine Enhanced Investment Grade Preferred ETF BEPR Cdn$ 0.0675
      BEPR.U US$ 0.0675
    Brompton North American Low Volatility Dividend ETF BLOV Cdn$  0.0850
    Brompton Flaherty & Crumrine Investment Grade Preferred ETF BPRF Cdn$ 0.1100
      BPRF.U US$ 0.1100
    Brompton Global Healthcare Income & Growth ETF HIG Cdn$  0.0550
      HIG.U US$ 0.0550
    Brompton Split Corp. Preferred Share ETF SPLT Cdn$ 0.0550
           

    Record Dates and Payment Dates are as follows:

    Record Date Payment Date
    July 31, 2025 August 15, 2025
    August 29, 2025 September 15, 2025
    September 30, 2025 October 15, 2025
       

    About Brompton Funds
    Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other Toronto Stock Exchange traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton’s investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange-traded fund investments.  Please read the prospectus before investing.  Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the ETFs, to the future outlook of the ETFs and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the ETFs. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Brompton Funds Declares Increased ETF Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: BFIN, BFIN.U, BGIE, BMAX, CLSA, EDGF, TLF, TLF.U) – As a result of strong performance over the past year1, or NAV growth since launch in the case of CLSA, Brompton Funds is pleased to announce increased monthly distributions for record dates from July to September 2025 for each of the following exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”):

      Ticker Amount Per Unit Annualized
    % Increase
    Brompton North American Financials Dividend ETF BFIN Cdn$ 0.1300 8.3%
      BFIN.U US$ 0.1400 7.7%
    Brompton Global Infrastructure ETF BGIE Cdn$ 0.1350 12.5%
    Brompton Enhanced Multi-Asset Income ETF BMAX Cdn$ 0.1200 4.3%
    Brompton Split Corp. Class A Share ETF CLSA Cdn$ 0.1150 15.0%
    Brompton European Dividend Growth ETF EDGF Cdn$ 0.0575 9.5%
    Brompton Tech Leaders Income ETF TLF Cdn$ 0.1450 16.0%
      TLF.U US$ 0.1550 19.2%

    Record Dates and Payment Dates are as follows:

    Record Date Payment Date
    July 31, 2025 August 15, 2025
    August 29, 2025 September 15, 2025
    September 30, 2025 October 15, 2025
       

    About Brompton Funds
    Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other TSX traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton’s investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com.

    1Annual Compound Returns as at June 30, 2025

      1-year 3-year 5-year 10-year Since
    Inception    		 Since
    Inception    		 Inception
    Date
    BFIN 25.6% 16.5% 14.4% – 9.2% – Oct. 17, 2018
    BFIN.U 27.8% 17.0% 15.4% – – 11.4% Aug. 8, 2019
    BGIE 25.5% 15.4% 13.0% – 13.4% – Apr. 30, 2020
    BMAX 15.3% – – – 17.1% – Oct. 18, 2022
    EDGF 15.4% 14.2% 9.8% – 7.6% – July 21, 2017
    TLF 9.6% 25.4% 17.6% 17.0% 14.3% – May 20, 2011
    TLF.U 12.0% 27.0% 19.0% – – 20.4% Aug. 8, 2019
                   

    Returns are for the periods ended June 30, 2025 and are unaudited. Inception dates are noted in the table above. The table shows each ETF’s compound return for each period indicated. The performance information shown is based on net asset value per unit and assumes that cash distributions made by the ETFs on its units in the period shown were reinvested at net asset value per unit in additional units of the ETFs. Past performance does not necessarily indicate how the ETFs will perform in the future. Performance can only be provided for funds in existence for at least one year; therefore, the performance for Brompton Split Corp. Class A Share ETF is not available.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange-traded fund investments.  Please read the prospectus before investing.  The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the ETFs, to the future outlook of the ETFs and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the ETFs. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Brompton Funds Declares Increased ETF Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: BFIN, BFIN.U, BGIE, BMAX, CLSA, EDGF, TLF, TLF.U) – As a result of strong performance over the past year1, or NAV growth since launch in the case of CLSA, Brompton Funds is pleased to announce increased monthly distributions for record dates from July to September 2025 for each of the following exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”):

      Ticker Amount Per Unit Annualized
    % Increase
    Brompton North American Financials Dividend ETF BFIN Cdn$ 0.1300 8.3%
      BFIN.U US$ 0.1400 7.7%
    Brompton Global Infrastructure ETF BGIE Cdn$ 0.1350 12.5%
    Brompton Enhanced Multi-Asset Income ETF BMAX Cdn$ 0.1200 4.3%
    Brompton Split Corp. Class A Share ETF CLSA Cdn$ 0.1150 15.0%
    Brompton European Dividend Growth ETF EDGF Cdn$ 0.0575 9.5%
    Brompton Tech Leaders Income ETF TLF Cdn$ 0.1450 16.0%
      TLF.U US$ 0.1550 19.2%

    Record Dates and Payment Dates are as follows:

    Record Date Payment Date
    July 31, 2025 August 15, 2025
    August 29, 2025 September 15, 2025
    September 30, 2025 October 15, 2025
       

    About Brompton Funds
    Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other TSX traded investment funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton’s investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@bromptongroup.com or visit our website at www.bromptongroup.com.

    1Annual Compound Returns as at June 30, 2025

      1-year 3-year 5-year 10-year Since
    Inception    		 Since
    Inception    		 Inception
    Date
    BFIN 25.6% 16.5% 14.4% – 9.2% – Oct. 17, 2018
    BFIN.U 27.8% 17.0% 15.4% – – 11.4% Aug. 8, 2019
    BGIE 25.5% 15.4% 13.0% – 13.4% – Apr. 30, 2020
    BMAX 15.3% – – – 17.1% – Oct. 18, 2022
    EDGF 15.4% 14.2% 9.8% – 7.6% – July 21, 2017
    TLF 9.6% 25.4% 17.6% 17.0% 14.3% – May 20, 2011
    TLF.U 12.0% 27.0% 19.0% – – 20.4% Aug. 8, 2019
                   

    Returns are for the periods ended June 30, 2025 and are unaudited. Inception dates are noted in the table above. The table shows each ETF’s compound return for each period indicated. The performance information shown is based on net asset value per unit and assumes that cash distributions made by the ETFs on its units in the period shown were reinvested at net asset value per unit in additional units of the ETFs. Past performance does not necessarily indicate how the ETFs will perform in the future. Performance can only be provided for funds in existence for at least one year; therefore, the performance for Brompton Split Corp. Class A Share ETF is not available.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange-traded fund investments.  Please read the prospectus before investing.  The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this document and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the ETFs, to the future outlook of the ETFs and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the ETFs. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Strengthens Regional Presence at Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, participated in Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025, to strengthen its ties with Southeast Asia’s fast-growing digital economy. The event, hosted at Kuala Lumpur’s World Trade Centre, drew 3,300+ attendees from 20 countries, with support from Malaysian agencies like MDEC, the Ministry of Digital, and Tourism Malaysia.

    Bitget CEO Gracy Chen delivered a keynote address titled “Two Strategies to Thrive in a Volatile Market.” She spotlighted Bitget’s focus on real-world utility, from its $300M user Protection Fund to new tools like GetAgent (an AI trading helper) and xStocks for tokenized equities. Gracy pointed to her 2024 MYBW visit as the turning point. This year, she unveiled PayFi, Bitget’s bid to simplify cross-border crypto payments in emerging markets.

    Bitget CEO Gracy Chen delivering her keynote on the mainstage of MYBW 2025.

    “Malaysia Blockchain Week has become a key platform in this region,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Bitget will continue building here, through partnerships, localization, and product innovation. Our goal is to show up meaningfully, through utility, education, and experiences that resonate.”

    Bitget also teamed up with Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) to host Hype Drop: Kopi Rave, a side event held at Thong Kee Kopitiam in Kuala Lumpur. Blending wellness, streetwear, music, and collectibles, it drew over 400 attendees and generated strong social media buzz.

    Bitget Trivia winners with their various merch including the much-coveted Bitget Labubu doll.

    Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025 served as a timely stage for Bitget to reinforce its global leadership while celebrating Southeast Asia’s role in Web3 adoption. From shaping cross-border payment infrastructure to pioneering real-world asset trading, Bitget’s message at MYBW was clear: building in this space is about more than innovation.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency. 

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

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd30ebe8-c1fe-467d-8b57-715842f39aa4

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ae531e0-6f67-4e30-a223-dce6eeb9bdb9

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8eeebd48-a1b6-406e-9793-a25a2abd1ef4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Strengthens Regional Presence at Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, participated in Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025, to strengthen its ties with Southeast Asia’s fast-growing digital economy. The event, hosted at Kuala Lumpur’s World Trade Centre, drew 3,300+ attendees from 20 countries, with support from Malaysian agencies like MDEC, the Ministry of Digital, and Tourism Malaysia.

    Bitget CEO Gracy Chen delivered a keynote address titled “Two Strategies to Thrive in a Volatile Market.” She spotlighted Bitget’s focus on real-world utility, from its $300M user Protection Fund to new tools like GetAgent (an AI trading helper) and xStocks for tokenized equities. Gracy pointed to her 2024 MYBW visit as the turning point. This year, she unveiled PayFi, Bitget’s bid to simplify cross-border crypto payments in emerging markets.

    Bitget CEO Gracy Chen delivering her keynote on the mainstage of MYBW 2025.

    “Malaysia Blockchain Week has become a key platform in this region,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Bitget will continue building here, through partnerships, localization, and product innovation. Our goal is to show up meaningfully, through utility, education, and experiences that resonate.”

    Bitget also teamed up with Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) to host Hype Drop: Kopi Rave, a side event held at Thong Kee Kopitiam in Kuala Lumpur. Blending wellness, streetwear, music, and collectibles, it drew over 400 attendees and generated strong social media buzz.

    Bitget Trivia winners with their various merch including the much-coveted Bitget Labubu doll.

    Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025 served as a timely stage for Bitget to reinforce its global leadership while celebrating Southeast Asia’s role in Web3 adoption. From shaping cross-border payment infrastructure to pioneering real-world asset trading, Bitget’s message at MYBW was clear: building in this space is about more than innovation.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency. 

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

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd30ebe8-c1fe-467d-8b57-715842f39aa4

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ae531e0-6f67-4e30-a223-dce6eeb9bdb9

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8eeebd48-a1b6-406e-9793-a25a2abd1ef4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa24 Group Signs Groundbreaking Partnership with the Ivorian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Federation

    Source: APO

    Africa24 Group (https://Africa24TV.com/), the largest media group in Africa and broadcaster of four HD television channels, has signed a landmark partnership agreement with the Ivorian MMA Federation (Mixed Martial Arts) to promote, broadcast, and elevate the profile of MMA in Côte d’Ivoire and across the continent.

    This strategic collaboration aims to spotlight local and regional talent through exclusive reports on athletes, dedicated programming on all MMA competitions, and the promotion of core values of the sport such as discipline, self-improvement, respect, and inclusion.

    Catch exclusive footage now available on replay. (https://apo-opa.co/40WUROL)

    Unrivaled Distribution and Audience Reach for Sports in Africa

    The growth of MMA and sports across Africa represents a key priority for Africa24 Group — creating opportunities for youth, fostering a professional sports ecosystem, and positioning Africa as a global reservoir of emerging talent in one of the world’s fastest-growing disciplines.

    This partnership will further enrich the unique editorial offering of Africa24 Sport, the continent’s first and only 24/7 African sports news and competitions channel.

    “This agreement with the Ivorian MMA Federation is a positive step forward for sports fans across Africa. Africa24 Group is committed to delivering high-quality content through a platform accessible to all. This new milestone should benefit all sports, national and continental federations, and Olympic committees across Africa. It’s about building a shared platform that ensures maximum visibility, unparalleled exposure, and unprecedented reach for every sport on the continent,” said Constant NEMALE, Founder and President of Africa24 Group.

    Through this partnership, Africa24 reinforces its ambition to connect African sports to the world, while actively contributing to the professionalization of MMA in Africa — to the great satisfaction of the Ivorian MMA Federation.

    “Mixed Martial Arts in Côte d’Ivoire is evolving fast. The sport is growing steadily, backed by a strong organizational structure and promising momentum. I believe it has a bright future both in Côte d’Ivoire and across Africa,” said Jackson Parfait TAPÉ, President of the Ivorian MMA Federation.

    “MMA needs greater visibility, not only in Côte d’Ivoire but also globally. This partnership between the Ivorian MMA Federation (FIMMA) and Africa24 Sport is precisely aimed at showcasing a sport that is taking root and expanding in our country,” added Guillaume BEDA, Vice President of the Ivorian MMA Federation.

    As a key partner for sports development in Africa, Africa24 Group is mobilizing all its resources to serve MMA enthusiasts. Throughout the duration of this partnership, Africa24’s channels will broadcast all MMA competitions, with dedicated magazine shows and a team of expert journalists and passionate analysts delivering world-class coverage.

    With Africa24 Group, expect nothing less than exceptional sports entertainment.

    AFRICA24 – Together, Let’s Transform Africa

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AFRICA24 Group.

    Contact:
    Communications Department
    Africa24 Group
    Gaëlle Stella Oyono 
    Email: onana@africa24tv.com
    Tel: +237 694 90 99 88

    Social Media:
    @ africa24tv

    About Africa24:
    Launched in 2009, Africa24 Group is the continent’s leading TV and digital media network. It is the top media brand among decision-makers and senior executives in Africa and beyond. Africa24 operates four HD television channels available 24/7 via major global networks:

    • AFRICA24 TV: The continent’s first French-language news channel
    • AFRICA24 English: The reference English-language African news channel
    • AFRICA24 Sport: The first African sports news and competition channel
    • AFRICA24: The flagship channel for Africa’s creative industries

    Africa24 also operates myafrica24, the first HD streaming platform dedicated to Africa, accessible worldwide on all devices (smartphones, computers, tablets, and smart TVs).

    With global distribution through top operators and platforms (Canal+, Bouygues, Orange, Bell…), Africa24 is available in over 80 million households and boasts a digital community of more than 8 million followers across web and social media. Africa24 is the go-to media platform for global leaders seeking to engage with Africa-related topics.

    https://Africa24TV.com/

    About the Ivorian MMA Federation:
    The Ivorian MMA Federation is responsible for the organization, regulation, and promotion of Mixed Martial Arts in Côte d’Ivoire. The federation supports athletes, upholds sports ethics, and promotes MMA as both an elite sport and a powerful tool for social inclusion.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strong forestry partnership delivers for people

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    A forest tenure held by Lake Babine Nation is increasing by more than 2,000% through a partnership with the Province and a tenure transfer from West Fraser, marking a significant milestone in growing the Nation’s role in forestry.

    “This is real on-the-ground collaboration that gets things done for Lake Babine Nation, boosts the local economy and delivers for people across B.C.,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “It’s a powerful partnership – one that secures a steady fibre supply for West Fraser and helps produce world-class, made-in-B.C. wood products.”

    Through this partnership, the Lake Babine First Nations Woodland Licence is growing from approximately 5,600 hectares to encompass more than 126,000 hectares of Lake Babine Nation territory, bringing traditional values into forest management practices, over a forested area the size of about 311 Stanley Parks. The area of land available to harvest included in the licence is northeast of Smithers, near the Lake Babine Nation communities of Fort Babine (Wit’at) and Old Fort around the northern half of Lake Babine.

    “As stewards of our lands since time immemorial and still today, Lake Babine Nation has forever recognized the deep responsibility we hold in ensuring our forests are managed with ecological respect and generational sustainability,” said Chief Wilf Adam, Lake Babine Nation. “Forestry is not just an industry; its principles and mechanisms are woven into our identity, our traditions and our vision for the future. With the support of the Province, our new partnership with West Fraser will advance Lake Babine Nation toward prosperous new opportunities, along with the interconnected local economies within our area of influence. It’s a flexible agreement aimed at our great-grandchildren, through the health of our ecology and economy in balance.”

    Expanding Lake Babine Nation’s First Nations Woodland Licence was made possible through a partnership with West Fraser, serving as a model for business-to-business relationships that support long-term sustainability for the forestry sector, economic development for the communities that rely in it and reconciliation with First Nations.

    “I want to congratulate the Lake Babine Nation on what we have been able to build together,” said Sean McLaren, president and CEO, West Fraser. “This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership and the support of government. By recognizing the importance of fibre security and Indigenous partnerships, the Province is helping secure the future of the forest sector in Smithers – for our employees, contractors, local businesses and communities throughout the region.”

    The expanded tenure follows after a collaborative management agreement between Lake Babine Nation and BC Timber Sales, which ensured the continuity of BC Timber Sales operations and enhanced Lake Babine Nation’s stewardship over its territory. Lake Babine Nation established a forestry company called LBN Forestry to oversee its forestry operations. LBN Forestry is generating revenue, creating job opportunities for the community and supplying timber for local mills, together strengthening the local forestry economy.

    This milestone forest licence expansion represents a significant achievement in the implementation of Lake Babine Nation’s Foundation Agreement. The Foundation Agreement was finalized in 2020 and outlined a 20-year vision to implement Lake Babine Nation rights and title, including a vision to hold and manage a minimum of 250,000 cubic metres of forest tenure located on its territory.

    In 2021, the Province set a goal of 20% of the allowable annual cut being held by First Nations. Building upon this announcement, First Nations now hold approximately 20% of the allowable annual cut, through a mix of different types of tenures. The vision government put forward in the modernizing forestry policy intentions paper continues to guide work to evolve forestry policy.

    Quick Facts:

    • Nearly 212,000 cubic metres of allowable annual cut is being added to Lake Babine Nation’s First Nation Woodland Licence, bringing the new total to more than 230,000 cubic metres, or approximately 4,600 truckloads of logs per year.
    • The First Nation Woodland Licence covers approximately 10% of Lake Babine Nation’s territory.
    • The expanded First Nation Woodland Licence includes tenure contributed from West Fraser, building on two previous partnership agreements between the company and Lake Babine Nation.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about Lake Babine Nation, visit:
    https://www.lakebabine.com/

    To learn more about First Nations Woodland Licences, visit:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/forest-tenures/timber-harvesting-rights/first-nations-woodland-licence

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Seven Things to Know About CBO’s Budgetary Treatment of Potential Changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were chartered in 1938 and 1970, respectively, as government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to ensure a stable supply of credit for mortgages nationwide. Government-sponsored enterprises are private companies created by federal law to fulfill a specific purpose. In the case of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, that purpose is to facilitate the flow of funding for home loans by purchasing mortgages from lenders, pooling them into mortgage-backed securities (MBSs), and selling the securities to investors along with a guarantee against most losses from defaults on the underlying loans.

    After operating independently for decades, the two GSEs were placed in federal conservatorships in 2008. Since then, they have been controlled by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and effectively owned by the Department of the Treasury. In January 2025, the FHFA announced that it will seek comments on options to end the GSEs’ conservatorships.

    This report addresses seven key issues that might arise as the Congressional Budget Office estimates the budgetary effects of potential legislation or administrative actions that could result in selling the Treasury’s ownership stake in the GSEs and releasing them from government control. In keeping with its standard practices, CBO assesses the federal budgetary and economic effects of proposed policies but does not make policy recommendations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Men Charged with Immigration-Related Crimes Following Search Warrants in Navarre

    Source: US FBI

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA –Crescencio Diaz-Diaz, 36, and Marcelo Perez-Santiz, 33, both of the country of Mexico, have been charged in federal court with illegal reentry of a removed alien. Diaz-Diaz has additionally been charged with possession and use of fraudulent employment authorization documents.  The charges were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    Court documents allege that Crescencio Diaz-Diaz reentered the United States illegally after being previously deported in 2020.  He was encountered by federal agents during the execution of federal criminal search warrants at a Navarre business, Emerald Coast Lawns, and an adjacent residence yesterday.  During the search, agents seized a fraudulent permanent resident card (sometimes referred to as a “green card”) and social security card bearing Diaz-Diaz’s name and/or photograph but another person’s identifying information, which Diaz-Diaz allegedly admitted he presented to Emerald Coast Lawns in order to gain employment.

    Separate court documents allege that Marcelo Perez-Santiz reentered the United States illegally after being previously deported on three separate occasions in 2012 and had been found at the business address for Emerald Coast Lawns back in February.  Perez-Santiz was arrested yesterday on a criminal complaint and had an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho.

    The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

    The cases are being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Florida Highway Patrol, United States Marshals Service and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation by a sworn affiant that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to due process, to include a fair trial, during which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Disrupts Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud and Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against $325,000 in Funds Involved in Money Laundering

    Source: US FBI

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On July 17, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office obtained a temporary restraining order against the unidentified foreign operators of a fraudulent online cryptocurrency investment platform called “Triangular.” The order resulted in the suspension of online access to two websites used to access the platform.

    The United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri against more than $325,000 in cryptocurrency seized from two addresses linked to the scam. According to the complaint, the FBI used blockchain analysis and other investigative techniques to determine that the cryptocurrency is connected to the theft and laundering of funds from victims of the Triangular investment fraud scheme.

    The complaint alleges that between July and October 2024, the two cryptocurrency addresses were used to launder millions of dollars in suspected scam proceeds. The complaint further alleges that a victim located in the Western District of Missouri lost more than $16 million to the fake Triangular investment platform.

    The scammers involved in this scheme lured victims through unsolicited messages on social media sites like LinkedIn. Once a relationship formed, the scammers introduced the victims to the fraudulent Triangular platform and made promises of immense investment gain with little to no risk of loss. After the victims made an initial investment through the sophisticated-looking platform, the scammers manipulated the victims’ account to appear to show exponential investment returns and encouraged victims to transfer more cryptocurrency. But when victims tried to withdraw their profit, they were told they needed to pay more in false withdrawal fees or “taxes.” The victims never recovered their money.

    Commonly referred to as a cryptocurrency confidence scam, fake investment schemes like Triangular cost Americans billions of dollars every year, according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2024 Internet Crime Report.

    If you believe you are a victim of a cryptocurrency investment fraud or other cyber-enabled crime, report the fraud to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov, your local law enforcement agency, and the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov.

    The claims in the United States’ civil complaints are only allegations. The preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for August 6, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes. The case is United States v. John Doe, No. 4:25-cv-00529-BCW.

    This investigation is being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas City Field Office. The civil cases are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Constance. The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Springfield Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm

    Source: US FBI

    SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

    Joseph Archer III, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 96 months in federal prison without parole.

    On Oct. 29, 2024, Archer pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    On June 29, 2023, officers with the Springfield Police Department attempted to stop a Toyota Camry that was being driven by Archer. Archer fled from officers, leading them on a vehicle pursuit. During the pursuit Archer crashed into an officer’s vehicle, disabling the police vehicle, and causing the officer to suffer minor injuries. As a result of that crash, Archer briefly lost control of his car before continuing to flee. The pursuit ended when Archer crashed the Camry into an outbuilding. Archer fled the scene of the crash on foot before the officers arrived. When officers searched the Camry, they located a stolen Taurus PT handgun. They also located a box of ammunition, fentanyl, methamphetamine, mail addressed to Archer, and his Missouri Department of Corrections ID in the glove box.

    Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Archer has prior felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Man Who Targeted Metro Air Support Helicopter in St. Louis with Laser

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – A jury on Wednesday found a man guilty of a crime for temporarily blinding Metro Air Support pilots with a laser pointer.

    Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis took roughly 20 minutes to convict Joshua J. Johnson, 44, of one felony count of knowingly aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The trial started Tuesday afternoon with jury selection.

    Evidence and testimony at the trial showed that shortly before 9:45 p.m. on August 9, 2024, Johnson used a blue laser to target a marked Metro Air Support helicopter that was flying over the Benton Park neighborhood in St. Louis in support of other officers. A St. Louis County Police Department pilot and a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department pilot were temporarily blinded when blue light flooded the cockpit. As the blue light started to wane, the officers were able to track the beam to the driver’s side of a vehicle below them. The officers then tracked the vehicle as it drove down the street. The driver aimed the laser at the helicopter again. The officers continued to track the vehicle and provided updates to officers on the ground, who stopped the vehicle and arrested the sole occupant – Johnson. After initially denying that he pointed the laser, he later admitted that he was responsible. He also admitted that fact in calls from jail.

    Laser pointers are widely available and range in power. The strongest models can permanently blind air crews. Those who point lasers at aircraft can also be subject to civil penalties of up to $11,000 imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes to the FAA in 2024.

    Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30. The crime carries a potential punishment of up to five years in prison.

    The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Metro Air Support Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohsen Pasha and Derek Wiseman are prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Admit Stealing Jewelry, Valuables from St. Louis County Homes

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – Three men from Florida have admitted stealing jewelry and other valuables worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from homes in St. Louis County, including Ladue and Chesterfield.

    Benjamin Andres Ovalle-Taibo, 33, and Jonathan Vejar-Caro, 33, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Ovalle-Taibo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit the transportation of stolen goods and Vejar-Caro to one count of transportation of stolen goods.

    Henry Jose Ferreira-Perez, now 21, pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of stolen goods in December and has been sentenced to 14 months in prison.

    All three admitted travelling on June 9, 2023, to St. Louis County, where they scouted possible burglary targets and purchased items to use in home break-ins. That evening Ovalle-Taibo and Vejar-Caro stole luxury items worth more than $330,000 from a home in Ladue, including jewelry, handbags and watches. They drove to Illinois and stayed in an Airbnb before returning to Florida to sell the stolen goods.

    On June 16, 2023, Ovalle-Taibo and Vejar-Caro burglarized a home in unincorporated St. Louis County which was investigated by the Frontenac Police Department. They stole about $128,000 worth of items, primarily jewelry. They next day, they burglarized two homes in Chesterfield, stealing about $188,500 worth of items from one home and $44,000 from the other.

    Ovalle-Taibo and Vejar-Caro are scheduled to be sentenced in October. All three are in the United States illegally and will likely be deported upon their release from prison.

    The case was investigated by the FBI, the Ladue Police Department, the Frontenac Police Department and the Chesterfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Sunwave Health Achieves ONC Health IT Certification, Strengthening Its Commitment to Behavioral Health Providers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DELRAY BEACH, Fla., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunwave Health, a leading provider of healthcare software solutions, today announced that its all-in-one platform has earned the prestigious ONC Health IT Certification from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

    Earning ONC Health IT Certification reinforces Sunwave’s long-standing commitment to privacy, data security, and interoperability. By meeting federally recognized standards, Sunwave affirms its role as an enterprise-grade partner for behavioral health providers managing complex and sensitive data environments. This milestone further strengthens Sunwave’s ability to support providers as they navigate value-based care initiatives, streamline CMS reporting, and ensure compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act.

    “Achieving ONC Certification marks a major milestone for Sunwave. This rigorous validation underscores our unwavering commitment to building secure, interoperable software solutions that meet, and exceed, national standards,” said Tulasi Beesabathuni, Sunwave’s Chief Technology Officer.

    Sunwave’s unified platform unites EMR (Electronic Medical Record), Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and AI capabilities to offer behavioral health organizations a comprehensive, certified system designed to streamline healthcare workflows and enhance patient care.

    About Sunwave Health:
    Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Delray Beach, FL, Sunwave Health is the leading provider of behavioral health software. Combining CRM, EMR, RCM, and AI built for behavioral health facilities into one unified platform, Sunwave offers solutions that increase efficiency. For more information about Sunwave, visit www.sunwavehealth.com/.

    Contact
    Todd Schlosser
    Todd.Schlosser@SunwaveHealth.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM statement on Gaza: 24 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM statement on Gaza: 24 July 2025

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statement on Gaza.

    The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible. While the situation has been grave for some time, it has reached new depths and continues to worsen. We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe.

    I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace. We all agree on the pressing need for Israel to change course and allow the aid that is desperately needed to enter Gaza without delay.

    It is hard to see a hopeful future in such dark times. But I must reiterate my call for all sides to engage in good faith, and at pace, to bring about an immediate ceasefire and for Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages. We strongly support the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure this. 

    We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Nine more Chinese cities accredited as international wetland cities, China maintains world lead in number of wetlands

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE, July 24 (Xinhua) — Nine more Chinese cities were accredited as international wetland cities on Thursday at the opening of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) in the Zimbabwean resort town of Victoria Falls, bringing the total number of such cities in China to 22, the highest in the world.

    The newly accredited cities include Chongming in Shanghai, Dali in Yunnan Province, Fuzhou in Fujian Province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province, Lhasa in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province and Yueyang in Hunan Province. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan expressed their readiness to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BISHKEK, July 24 (Xinhua) — Presidents of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation on Thursday, during which the sides expressed their readiness to continue deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported.

    As noted in the Telegram channel of the President of Kyrgyzstan, during the conversation, the heads of state discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation and “expressed mutual readiness to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership based on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual understanding and support.”

    S. Japarov congratulated Sh. Mirziyoyev on his birthday, wishing the President of Uzbekistan “good health, longevity, inexhaustible energy and further success in state activities for the benefit of the development and prosperity of the brotherly Uzbek people.” –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Flood alert measures issued in northern China as heavy rains expected

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) — Several regions in northern China were put on flood alert on Thursday, with weather forecasts predicting heavy rainfall in the coming days.

    The Beijing People’s Government raised the rainfall alert level to yellow, the third-highest in a four-tier system, and launched a citywide flood emergency response.

    The Haihe River Flood and Drought Control Headquarters and Water Resources Committee in neighboring Tianjin Municipality issued Level 4 flood emergency response and emergency protection modes at 3:00 p.m. Moderate to heavy rainfall in the Haihe River basin is expected to cause water levels in the main river and tributaries to rise from July 24 to 26.

    Earlier in the day, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region raised its meteorological emergency response for heavy rainfall from Level 4 to Level 3. Rainfall of over 100 mm and up to 180 mm in some parts of the region is forecast, accompanied by thunderstorms and squalls.

    Northeast China’s Jilin Province issued a Level 4 drought and flood alert at 4 p.m. Heavy rainfall could hit central and western parts of the province, creating an increased risk of flooding and inundation in some cities and several rivers.

    At 3:00 p.m., a Level 4 flood alert was also issued in key cities in Hebei Province, with heavy rain and downpours expected overnight.

    The authorities of the abovementioned regions have instructed the relevant departments to strengthen monitoring and forecasting, issue timely warnings, intensify inspections of dams and reservoirs, and take effective measures to ensure the safety of citizens’ lives and property. The population is advised to remain vigilant in relation to possible secondary disasters caused by extreme weather. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carbajal Statement on House Passage of Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) released the statement below following House passage of bipartisan legislation to strengthen, support, and authorize funding through 2029 for the United States Coast Guard and its critical missions to safeguard the nation’s shorelines, facilitate maritime commerce, ensure maritime safety, and more. Carbajal is the top Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard, including its duties, organization, functions, and powers.

    “Every single day, the Coast Guard goes to work to protect seafarers and beachgoers, and reinforce our national defense. As the top Democrat on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I’m proud this bipartisan bill is moving forward. The legislation will deliver critical resources for the Coast Guard to carry out its missions, modernize infrastructure and safety systems, and enhance quality of life for our Coasties. Just as importantly, it renews our shared commitment to holding the service accountable for meaningful reforms to root out sexual assault and harassment from its ranks,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Carbajal.

    The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

    The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes appropriations for the Service through fiscal year 2029.  These authorizations will support Coast Guard operations and the continued recapitalization of its historically underfunded cutter fleet, aviation assets, shoreside facilities, and IT capabilities. The bill modernizes the Coast Guard’s acquisition process, increases transparency and accountability in the Service’s recapitalization efforts, and opens a pathway to the adoption of next-generation autonomous technologies.

    The bill also creates greater parity with the other armed services, including the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard and stronger protections for members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault and harassment, based on legislation the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced last Congress following the Service’s Operation Fouled Anchor.

    Furthermore, the legislation strengthens U.S.-Build requirements and improves accountability to better ensure a healthy, robust U.S. shipbuilding industry, while also making changes to maritime safety laws, amending requirements for merchant mariner credentials to facilitate an increase in the pool of qualified U.S. merchant mariners, increasing vessel safety, and improving regulatory processes.

    Click here for more information about the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEED Program Honors More Than 70 Students at Recognition Ceremony

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: SEED Program Honors More Than 70 Students at Recognition Ceremony

    SEED Program Honors More Than 70 Students at Recognition Ceremony
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, more than 70 high school students from southeastern North Carolina were recognized for successfully completing the SEED (Southeastern Education and Economic Development) Program, a unique career exploration initiative focused on advanced manufacturing and agriculture.

    “Every North Carolinian deserves a chance at success whether or not they want to pursue a traditional four-year degree,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Programs like SEED prepare students for careers in high-demand fields, giving them hands-on experience and industry-valued credentials. Congratulations to these students for their hard work in pursuit of a brighter future.”

    The recognition ceremony, held at the University of Mount Olive, brought together students, educators, industry partners, and community leaders to celebrate the achievements of participants from five area community colleges: Wilson Community College, Lenoir Community College, Wayne Community College, Sampson Community College, and James Sprunt Community College.

    The SEED Program is a registered pre-apprenticeship with ApprenticeshipNC, offering students a structured pathway into high-demand careers through hands-on learning, industry credentials, and exposure to real-world job environments. As a pre-apprenticeship, the program sets students up for success in future apprenticeship opportunities and long-term employment.

    Made possible through generous funding from Smithfield Foods, SEED was created in partnership with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), local school districts, community colleges, and regional employers. The program provides high school students with hands-on exposure to high-growth careers and helps build a sustainable talent pipeline for North Carolina’s workforce.

    “Smithfield is committed to investing in the future of agriculture and manufacturing by equipping young people with the skills and experiences they need to thrive,” said Jay Bennett, chief human resources officer for Smithfield Foods. “Through our support of the SEED program, we’re building meaningful partnerships with communities and helping students discover rewarding career paths that strengthen our industry and workforce.”

    “At Wayne Community College, we believe in the power of partnerships to transform lives and communities,” said Dr. Patricia Pfeiffer, President, Wayne Community College. “The SEED Program is a shining example of how education, industry, and public support can come together to create meaningful opportunities for our students. By giving them hands-on experiences and a clear path to future careers, we are not only preparing these young people for success but also strengthening the workforce and economy of eastern North Carolina.”

    Throughout the summer, students engaged in immersive experiences, including classroom instruction, industry tours, and technical simulations. The Advanced Manufacturing Academy was hosted by Wilson, Lenoir, and Wayne community colleges, while Sampson, James Sprunt, and Wayne community colleges led the Agricultural Academy.

    “Smithfield’s support helped bring this vision to life, giving students real-world experience in careers with long-term potential – right here in their home communities,” said Julia Wright, Board Chair of NCBCE. “We’re proud to recognize their dedication and growth through this program.”

    Each student received a certificate of completion during the ceremony, recognizing their commitment to personal growth, technical skill development, and work toward building a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

    SEED also provides financial support, covering stipends, supplies, and transportation to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed. In addition to the summer program, SEED supports career awareness for middle school students and offers professional development for teachers and counselors.

    The SEED program continues to grow, with plans to expand into additional counties and career pathways in the coming years.

    For more information on the SEED program, visit ncbce.org/seed.  

    Jul 24, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures $1.53 Million Settlement with One of Nation’s Largest Hospital Systems for Unlawful Training Repayment Agreements with Nurses

    Source: US State of California

    Settlement signals the steadfast commitment of California and its state partners to the robust enforcement of worker and consumer protection laws

    SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a settlement with HCA Healthcare, Inc. and Health Trust Workforce Solutions, LLC (together, HCA), resolving allegations that HCA unlawfully required entry-level nurse employees to repay the cost of a mandatory training program if they did not remain employed with the company for two years. HCA is one of the nation’s largest hospital systems and has several hospitals in northern and southern California. Today’s settlement is the result of a years-long investigation by Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general of Colorado and Nevada, working in partnership with the Biden Administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The states’ investigation found that HCA violated California employment and consumer protection laws as well as the federal consumer financial protection laws by using training repayment agreement provisions (TRAPs) in nurses’ employment contracts. These TRAPs are a form of employer-driven debt, or debt obligations incurred by individuals through employment arrangements.

    “All too often, employer-driven debt forces workers to remain in jobs that they would otherwise leave. That’s not just wrong; it’s illegal under state and federal law. Workers must be able to pursue better pay and better working conditions — not be trapped by debt that their employer makes them take out,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I’m grateful to my fellow attorneys general in Colorado and Nevada for their partnership. With today’s settlement, we are taking a stand for workers in our states by holding HCA Healthcare accountable — ensuring that all affected nurses are made whole financially, that the company pays a penalty for its wrongdoing, and that the company is subject to strong injunctive terms to deter future misconduct.” 

    “California Nurses Association and our national union, National Nurses United, want to thank Attorney General Bonta for his leadership in addressing this growing trend of employers, such as HCA, using debt repayment contracts to lock nurses and other workers into jobs,” said Sandy Reding, RN and a president of the California Nurses Association. “HCA, the largest for-profit hospital system in the country, has a shameful track record of using predatory stay-or-pay contracts, or Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPS), which handcuff nurses to our employers through the threat of serious financial consequences or ruin. No nurses and no other workers should be locked into a job under the weight of debt to their employer.”

    “The Attorney General has found that HCA’s StaRN scheme violated the law and exploited new nurses in the process. As the largest hospital system in the US, HCA should strive to make nursing a rewarding career, not punish new nurses by entrapping them in debt,” said Rosanna Mendez, Executive Director, SEIU 121RN. “Attorney General Bonta’s action demonstrates that he strongly supports California’s frontline healthcare workers, even when it means taking on a large and powerful corporation.”

    “The StaRN program put new nurses under HCA’s thumb, harming nurses’ morale at a time when we need them the most,” said Leo Perez, President, SEIU 121RN. “HCA is notorious for prioritizing profit over employee well-being. We are hopeful that this settlement will encourage them to reevaluate those priorities.”

    ”We stand with Attorney General Bonta in sending a clear message: Nurses should never be forced into debt just to launch their careers,” said Charmaine S. Morales, RN, President of United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. “As advocates who understand the real pressures nurses face, we support this settlement as a powerful step toward holding corporations accountable and protecting the dignity of our profession.”

    As a condition of employment at an HCA hospital, HCA generally requires that entry-level nurse employees complete the Specialty Training Apprenticeship for Registered Nurses (StaRN) Residency Program. The company has advertised StaRN as an avenue for entry-level RNs to get the education and training they need to land their first nursing jobs in an acute-care hospital setting, although StaRN does not provide nurses with education or training necessary for licensure as an RN. Until the Spring of 2023, HCA required that RNs hired through the StaRN program at facilities in several states, including California, sign a TRAP agreement in their new-hire paperwork. The TRAPs purported to require nurses to repay a prorated portion of the StaRN “value” if they did not work for HCA for two years. If a nurse left HCA before the end of the two-year period, then the TRAP loan was typically sent to debt collection.

    HCA imposed TRAPs on nurses who worked at their five hospitals in California: Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose; Regional Medical Center in San Jose; Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks; Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside; and West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills (no longer under HCA ownership).

    Under California’s settlement, HCA will:

    • Pay approximately $83,000 to provide full restitution to California nurses who made payments on their TRAP debt to HCA.
    • Be prohibited from imposing TRAPs on nurse employees and attempting to collect on the approximately $288,000 in outstanding TRAP debt incurred by California nurses who signed TRAPs with HCA.
    • Pay $1,162,900 in penalties to California. 

    HCA will pay a total of $2,900,000 in penalties under settlements filed in California, Colorado, and Nevada today. 

    Employer-driven debt refers to debt incurred by individuals through employment arrangements. This can include arrangements where an employer provides training, equipment, or supplies to a worker, but requires the worker to reimburse the employer for these expenses if the worker leaves their job before a certain date. Employer-driven debt has grown not only in the healthcare industry but also in the trucking, aviation, and the retail and service industries, among others. However, California workers are protected by state law that restricts the use of employer-driven debt, as Attorney General Bonta highlighted in a legal alert issued in July 2023 and a consumer alert in October 2024. Workers who believe their rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint at oag.ca.gov/report. 

    Attorney General Bonta is committed to ensuring California continues its vital work as a pillar of consumer protection enforcement and an outspoken advocate for robust federal protections. The settlement today comes on the heels of the 15th anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers from abusive financial services practices. The Dodd-Frank Act also authorizes state attorneys general to enforce its provisions and thereby promote stability, accountability, and transparency in the United States financial system.

    Attorney General Bonta proudly supports Assembly Bill 692 (AB 692, Kalra), co-sponsored by the California Nurses Association, which would prohibit employment contracts that require workers to pay their employers a debt if they leave their job, regardless of whether that worker was fired, laid off, or quit.

    Pending court approval, a copy of the complaint can be found here and the judgment will be available here shortly. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Operation Grayskull Culminates in Lengthy Sentences for Managers of Darkweb Site Dedicated to Sexual Abuse of Children

    Source: US FBI

    Operation Grayskull Eradicated Four Dark Web Child Abuse Sites and Led to the Convictions of 18 Offenders to Date, Who Have Collectively Received More than 300 Years in Prison

    Today, the Justice Department announced the results of Operation Grayskull, a highly successful joint effort between the Department of Justice and the FBI that resulted in the dismantling of four dark web sites dedicated to images and videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). To date, the operation has led to the convictions of 18 offenders, including a Minnesota man who was sentenced yesterday to 250 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for his involvement with one of these dark web sites. He was also ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution.

    “Today’s announcement sends a clear warning to those who exploit and abuse children: you will not find safe haven, even on the dark web,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These offenders thought that they could act without consequences, but they were wrong.  Thanks to the relentless determination of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners we have exposed these perpetrators for who they are, eliminated their websites and brought justice to countless victims.”

    “This operation represents one of the most significant strikes ever made against online child exploitation networks,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We’ve not only dismantled dangerous platforms on the dark web, but we’ve also brought key perpetrators to justice and delivered a powerful message: you cannot hide behind anonymity to harm children.”

    “Yesterday’s sentencing reaffirms our steadfast commitment to protecting our children, the most vulnerable among us, from those who exploit and harm them through the despicable trade in child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Thomas Peter Katsampes and his co-conspirators ran some of the darkweb’s most heinous networks, enabling horrific crimes against innocent victims, but Operation Grayskull has shut these sites down and delivered justice. We applaud the FBI and our international partners for their tireless work, and let this be a clear warning: we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone engaged in such atrocities, no matter how they attempt to cover their tracks.”

    Thomas Peter Katsampes, 52, of Eagan, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and conspiracy to distribute child pornography on Feb. 27. According to court documents, Katsampes joined a dark web site dedicated to CSAM in 2022, advertised and distributed CSAM over the website, including CSAM depicting prepubescent children, and eventually worked his way up to a staff position on the web site, which, among other things, involved moderating the site, enforcing the site’s rules for posting CSAM, and advising the site’s users about how to post CSAM.

    In addition to Katsampes, eight individuals have been convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Florida for their involvement in running the primary site targeted by Operation Grayskull.

    Defendant Residence Case Status
    Selwyn David Rosenstein Boynton Beach, Florida

    Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography, five counts of advertisement of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

    Sentenced on Dec. 12, 2022, to 28 years in prison and ordered to pay $80,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.
    Matthew Branden Garrell Raleigh, North Carolina

    Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and conspiracy to distribute child pornography.

    Sentenced on Aug. 1, 2023, to 20 years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $158,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.
    Robert Preston Boyles Clarksville, Tennessee

    Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and conspiracy to distribute child pornography.

    Sentenced on Aug. 15, 2023, to 23 years and four months in prison and ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.
    Gregory Malcolm Good Silver Springs, Nevada

    Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and conspiracy to distribute child pornography.

    Sentenced on Aug. 22, 2023, to 25 years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $93,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.
    William Michael Spearman Madison, Alabama

    Pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise.

    Sentenced on Jan. 23, 2024, to life in prison and ordered to pay $123,400 in restitution to victims of his offense.
    Joseph Addison Martin Tahuya, Washington

    Pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise.

    Sentenced on April 18, 2024, to 42 years in prison and ordered to pay $174,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.
    Joseph Robert Stewart Milton, Washington

    Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and conspiracy to distribute child pornography.

    Sentenced on April 18, 2024, to 23 years and 9 months in prison and ordered to pay $19,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.
    Keith David McIntosh Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography and conspiracy to distribute child pornography, both as a person with a prior conviction for possession of child pornography.

    Sentenced on Dec. 19, 2024, to 55 years in prison.

    The website’s leaders advertised and distributed CSAM, promulgated rules for the website, enforced the rules by banning or scolding users who violated them, held staff meetings, recruited members to serve as staff members, recommended users for promotion, edited and deleted user posts, praised individuals for participating in and contributing to the website, kept records of CSAM posts made by individual members, and paid for and maintained the website servers, among other things.

    Operation Grayskull resulted in the dismantling of a total of four sites dedicated to images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. These websites were some of the most egregious on the dark web, and they included sections specifically dedicated to infants and toddlers, as well as depictions of violence, sadism, and torture. The websites also contained detailed advice on how to avoid detection by law enforcement – for example, by using sophisticated technologies.

    In other judicial districts around the country, nine additional individuals have been convicted for their involvement with these websites, including the following:

    • Charles Hand, of Aberdeen, Maryland, was prosecuted in the District of Maryland and was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison;
    • Michael Ibarra, of Wenatchee, Washington, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Washington and was sentenced to 12 years in prison;
    • Clay Trimble, of Fordyce, Arkansas, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Arkansas and was sentenced to 18 years in prison;
    • David Craig, of Houston, Texas, was prosecuted in the Southern District of Texas and was sentenced to nine years in prison;
    • Robert Rella of Chesapeake, Virginia, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia and was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison;
    • Samuel Hicks, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was prosecuted in the Northern District of Indiana and was sentenced to 16 years in prison;
    • Richard Smith of Dallas, Texas, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Texas and was sentenced to 14 years in prison;
    • Patrick Harrison, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was prosecuted in the Western District of Michigan and was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison.
    • Thomas Gailus, of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and his sentencing is pending.

    Two other individuals in the United States died before being charged for their involvement with the websites. The operation also resulted in arrests in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, and South Africa.

    The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and Miami Field Office, West Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the cases.

    Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds and Trial Attorney William G. Clayman of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller of the Southern District of Florida coordinated the operation and prosecuted the defendants in the Southern District of Florida.

    Substantial assistance for the cases prosected in the Southern District of Florida was provided by FBI Field Offices and Resident Agencies in Huntsville, Alabama; Reno, Nevada; Clarksville, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; Madison, Wisconsin; Tacoma, Washington; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Minneapolis, Minnesota; CEOS’s High Technology Investigative Unit; and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Alabama, District of Nevada, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of Wisconsin, Western District of Washington, Western District of Michigan, and District of Minnesota.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –