NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Groundbreaking of Sullivan County Broadband Project

    Source: US State of New York

    ir=”ltr”>Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the groundbreaking of a $29.9 million broadband infrastructure project in Sullivan County that will bring high-speed internet access to more than 22,000 homes and businesses across the region’s rural and mountainous terrain. The project, funded through New York State’s Municipal Infrastructure Program under the ConnectALL initiative, represents the largest single broadband investment in Sullivan County’s history and advances the Governor’s commitment to ensuring every New Yorker has access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet. The groundbreaking will mark the beginning of construction on 253 miles of fiber optic cable and an expansion on an existing tower that will work in conjunction with Sullivan County’s 11 existing towers to deliver broadband service to previously unserved and underserved locations.

    “Today marks a historic turning point for Sullivan County — we’re finally bridging the gap that has held back too many communities for far too long,” Governor Hochul said. “This publicly-owned infrastructure isn’t just about faster internet — it’s about opening doors to better healthcare, education, and economic opportunities that access to high speed internet brings to the table. No New Yorker should be left behind simply because of where they live, and this project ensures that rural communities have the same access to opportunity as anywhere else in our state.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Municipal Infrastructure Program highlights New York State’s commitment to innovative, equitable broadband solutions. By prioritizing public ownership, we ensure broadband connectivity is universally accessible, affordable, and sustainable. This investment will make a tangible difference in the daily lives of Sullivan County residents — helping students succeed in school, supporting small businesses, and expanding access to telehealth and other vital services.”

    Senator Chuck Schumer said, “Access to high-speed internet is not luxury, but a necessity, a utility as vital as electricity for everyday life. Today, Sullivan County takes a major step towards closing the digital divide. I was proud to deliver a whopping $30 million in federal funding to boost affordable, high-quality internet access for more than 22,000 homes throughout Sullivan County. These federal resources will help families stay connected to education, to healthcare, economic opportunity, and each other. When I led the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to passage, I made sure there was funding for long term investments like this that would create good paying jobs helping build the 21st century infrastructure needed to make high-speed internet reach every corner of New York State.”

    Assemblymember Paula Kay said, “High-speed internet is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline. I’m proud to stand with Governor Hochul as we break ground on this record investment. By leveraging public-private partnership, we’re making sure families can learn, work, and thrive right here in Sullivan County.”

    Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s visionary support of upstate New York and the historic funding provided by the State’s ConnectALL program, Sullivan County is about to experience an incredible transformation that simply could not have happened otherwise. Together with our partner Archtop Fiber, we will be bringing high-speed Internet access to every corner of Sullivan, providing an essential service where it is needed most.”

    Sullivan County faces unique broadband deployment challenges due to its rural and mountainous terrains. Under the innovative public-private partnership model, Sullivan County will own the infrastructure while Archtop Fiber LLC will serve as internet service provider, ensuring competitive pricing and service options for residents and businesses. Construction on the fiber network will begin following the groundbreaking ceremony, with the first connections anticipated within 18 months. The project will be completed in phases, prioritizing areas with the greatest need while ensuring minimal disruption to local communities.

    The Sullivan County broadband project is part of Governor Hochul’s broader ConnectALL initiative, which has committed over $1 billion to expanding broadband access across New York State as essential infrastructure for economic recovery and long-term prosperity. Funded through the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund, the Municipal Infrastructure Program utilizes a public ownership model that serves the public interest while creating an open-access network for multiple internet service providers, promoting competition and keeping costs affordable for consumers. To date, ConnectALL has awarded over $240 million through the program, funding construction of nearly 2,400 miles of broadband infrastructure that will reach 98,000 locations across New York State. ConnectALL has expanded the program to nearly $300 million and is currently reviewing additional applications. Visit the ConnectALL Projects Dashboard for more information on Municipal Infrastructure Program projects.

    Governor Hochul’s ConnectALL Initiative

    Governor Hochul has made expanding broadband access a cornerstone of her administration’s efforts to create a more equitable New York. Through the ConnectALL initiative, New York State is investing $1 billion to transform the state’s digital infrastructure, enhance competition among providers, and ensure that every New Yorker has access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet. For more information on the ConnectALL initiative visit broadband.ny.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa explores regionalisation of chicken imports from Brazil

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, June 12, 2025

    The Department of Agriculture is currently assessing the possibility of implementing regionalisation for chicken imports from Brazil to ensure local demand is met without compromising biosecurity.

    This follows South Africa’s suspension of imports of live poultry, eggs, and fresh (including frozen) poultry meat from Brazil after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

    The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Brazil reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 – clade 2.3.4.4b) in chickens, in a breeding establishment (parents), located in the municipality of Montenegro, state of Rio Grande do Sul, on 15 May 2025.

    This necessitated South Africa to suspend trade of live poultry, eggs and fresh poultry meat, and revised its import permit process.

    Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, noted that while South Africa’s poultry industry has sufficient domestic slaughter chickens, concerns remain over the impact the suspension import of Brazilian poultry on the country’s food supply chain, particularly the affordability and accessibility of processed meats and pet foods.

    He said the department is in constant engagement with the Brazilian authorities to determine if the outbreak has not spread to other States and a confirmation that there are no additional affected farms in other regions.

    “This is a necessary procedure of ensuring that we don’t introduce the virus to South Africans and infect the poultry industry. We need to balance food security realities with biosecurity imperatives,” Steenhuisen explained.

    The Minister added that the department has established that the reason for the delay in Brazil responding to South Africa’s enquiries is due to the number of similar enquiries Brazil is receiving and responding to, since Brazil exports poultry products to many other countries. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Moore Issues Statement on EPA Move to Eliminate Clean Power Plan 2.0

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore issued the following statement after the EPA announced plans to scrap the Biden-era Clean Power Plan 2.0 earlier today:

    “The Biden-Harris war on affordable, reliable American energy ends today. By reversing these job-killing regulations, President Trump and Administrator Zeldin make it clear: the Green New Scam is over and American energy dominance is back. These EPA regulations would have shuttered every coal-fired power plant in America, bankrupted many coal mines, laid off thousands of coal miners, and driven up the cost of electricity for every American.

    “In a time when our nation’s adversaries are burning more coal than ever before, President Trump knows the only way to bring back jobs from overseas and fuel the Golden Age of America is by unleashing American energy, and today’s announcement once again confirms it’ll be coal-fired!”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Loving Day – Pic of The Week

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Growing up in Virginia, it can be easy to take for granted how much history is steeped within the nearly 240 years of the Commonwealth’s existence. While the state is well-known for being the birthplace of four of the first five presidents of the United States and housing many of their residences, it is also (in)famous for sparking the monumental Supreme Court case of Loving v. Virginia.

    Back in 1958, Richard and Mildred Loving were arrested in their Caroline County house, shortly after they were married in Washington, D.C. They were arrested for violating Virginia’s laws against interracial marriage, which made it a felony for interracial couples to leave Virginia, marry, and resume residence in the state. The Lovings pleaded guilty in 1959 at the Caroline County courthouse. They were sentenced to one year in prison, but the original sentence was suspended on the condition that they would leave the state for the next 25 years, unable to return together during that period, which resulted in the Lovings moving to Washington, D.C.

    The Caroline County courthouse located in downtown Bowling Green. Photo courtesy of Taylor Gulatsi.

    In 1963, they filed a motion asking for their convictions to be vacated and their sentences set aside. Ultimately, Judge Bazile (who sentenced their original case) refused, and the Lovings’ attorneys, Bernard Cohen and Philip Hirschkop, took the case to the Virginia Supreme Court, which followed suit in upholding the original ruling. After another appeal was denied, in April 1967, the case went to the United States Supreme Court.

    On June 12, 1967, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the Lovings. The decision in Loving v. Virginia struck down state laws banning interracial marriage in the United States, stating that so-called “anti-miscegenation” statutes were unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. The ruling overturned the 1958 convictions of Richard and Mildred Loving and the anti-miscegenation laws in 16 states, including Virginia. The result of Loving v. Virginia proved successful in helping the Civil Rights movement and would be referenced regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015.

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Improving Urban Land Access for Agriculture in Connecticut

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Land is a fixed resource, and while we cannot create more, it is possible to use available land and infrastructure more efficiently. Connecticut farmers, especially those in urban and peri urban locations, consistently cite land access as one of their biggest challenges.

    A UConn Extension team is expanding urban agriculture in Connecticut through a new project focusing on vacant lot activation and peri-urban farmland access linking, led by Jacqueline Kowalski, an associate extension educator based in UConn Extension’s Bethel office.

    Connecticut has five cities – Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, Hartford, and Waterbury – with over one hundred thousand residents, and 88% of the state’s population lives in urban areas. Meanwhile, the number of urban agricultural operations is also increasing, and there is more interest in beginning new operations. Urban agriculture’s growth is driven by increasing food security through local production, and a greater interest among more people in connecting with the land and growing their own food.

    “Secure land access is one of the greatest challenges that urban producers grapple with in Connecticut,” Kowalski says. “It is our hope that through this project, municipalities will see urban agriculture as integral to resilient communities and that urban producers can access underutilized space to start and expand their operations.”

    Kowalski currently works with urban farmers throughout the state to improve their operations, provide resources, expand agricultural involvement, and increase the number of urban agriculture operations statewide. Urban agriculture benefits include improving food security, contributing to sustainable landscapes, and aiding economic development.

    The new project builds upon UConn Extension’s current urban agriculture resources and will conduct a needs assessment with urban farmers on their land needs and the characteristics of vacant lots in urban and peri-urban areas to make them usable.

    The group is partnering with local organizations and has a 13-member advisory team working with them. Next, the research results will help the group identify potential land using geospatial analysis, including state and public land parcels. Municipalities and land trust organizations are providing input on these parcels, currently focusing on urban areas in western and southwestern Connecticut.

    Existing resources and training available through UConn Extension’s urban agriculture programs include site selection and modification and then working with cities and navigating zoning requirements. Programs provide education on intensive vegetable and flower production, season extension, business management, and product marketing. Complementary resources are available through UConn Extension’s food safety program and Center for Land Use Education and Research (UConn CLEAR).

    The project’s final phase is connecting urban farmers with the identified land and ensuring agricultural-friendly leases. The team’s goal is expanding or starting 20 urban farming operations. Partner organizations include the Councils of Governments (COGs), land trusts, and Land For Good, a nonprofit focused on the future of farming in New England. Team members will use existing resources, including CT Farm Link, a site managed by Connecticut Farmland Trust, to assist farmers and land use officials.

    “UConn Extension has over a century of experience supporting and strengthening food systems in Connecticut,” says Amy Harder, associate dean for UConn Extension. “We are excited to continue that commitment by helping farmers find success in urban areas, creating more opportunities for all families to have access to Connecticut Grown foods and products.”

    Connecticut has a heightened awareness about urban agriculture and land access because of the Northeast region’s population density. UConn Extension’s urban agriculture program, including this initiative, is building infrastructure for a more resilient and vibrant agricultural and food system. The broader impacts include helping other regions develop stronger urban agriculture programs through improved land access.

    This work is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2024-70019-42200.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Magazine: Being Jonathan

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A dozen alumni sat with us and shared their stories of being Jonathan. From heartwarming to face-pounding, Jonathan has seen and done it all over 60 years. And while he never started a fight, he finished a few.

    “I mean, let’s face it, it’s a crazy kind of thing to do,” says former Jonathan Joe Briody ’86 (BUS), ’95 MA, ’96 Ph.D. “It’s a very unique role to play on campus.”

    Fight, Fight, Connecticut

    They say it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. With the Seton Hall Pirate already sporting an eye patch, he could almost be forgiven for not seeing what was in store after provoking our mascot in the Field House.

    It was 1983, and Nick Zaharias ’85 (CLAS) and the Pirate had agreed to perform a fake fight at one end of the basketball court. Fake.

    “If you notice in the photo, he had the Seton Hall flag in our gym, which he shouldn’t have been doing to begin with. He had it on a piece of lumber and he came up unannounced behind me and hit me on the back of the head. He actually cracked the Husky dog head.

    “I immediately turned around and grabbed him and said, ‘What are you doing? This wasn’t our plan.’ And he said, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you that hard.’”

    Zaharias walked away — but then the Pirate hit him again, this time even harder.

    “That’s when I kind of lost it. I’m like, well, that’s it. This is our turf. This is not going to stand.

    Dan Parzych ’93 (CLAS) flexes in The Suit at a soccer game. (Contributed photo)

    “So I turned around and just started throwing punches and then he started throwing punches, but he had a rubber mask on and I had the big head. I think I took the flag off and threw it in the crowd. The crowd went nuts.

    “And then I walked away like Rocky.”

    That is, until the next day when then–athletic director John Toner called Zaharias to his office.

    “He said, privately, ‘That was pretty cool. You protected the pride. But I gotta do something.’ So I had a little punishment. I think a friend had to be the Husky dog for one game or something like that.”

    A couple of years later, Ray Shaw ’86 (CAHNR), ’02 MS took down the St. John’s mascot during a men’s basketball game in the Hartford Civic Center.

    Late in the second half, with the visitors beating UConn badly, the opposing mascot approached Jonathan and suggested some lewd and unprintable theatrics. Shaw, knowing the crowd was watching, pushed him away with an exaggerated double hand wave.

    “Then he comes over to me and reaches his hand out like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ So I go to shake his hand and he grabs me, and I say to myself, ‘This is it. It’s on.’”

    With the St. John’s mascot pulling on the securely tied Husky head, Shaw wrestled him to the court, where they rolled beneath the basket until referees separated them. Shaw, still on the court, looked up — and straight into a video camera piping the whole thing into the Jumbotron.

    “I did the first thing that came to mind: I put my arms up in a double bicep flex, and the crowd went absolutely nuts.”

    The next morning, like Zaharias before him, Shaw found himself in John Toner’s office. Shaw was also suspended for a game.

    Read on for more.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: illumin Announces Voting Results of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO and NEW YORK, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — illumin Holdings Inc. (TSX:ILLM, OTCQB:ILLMF) (“illumin” or “Corporation”), the advertising technology platform that enables you to win your next customer, today announced that at its annual general meeting of shareholders held on June 11, 2025 (the “Meeting”), all director nominees proposed by the management of the Corporation were elected as directors of the Corporation, as follows:

    Nominee Votes “For” % Votes For Votes “Against” % Votes Against
    Sheldon Pollack 14,228,168 98.969% 148,251 1.031%
    David Andrews 14,227,593 98.965% 148,826 1.035%
    Roger Dent 10,794,948 75.088% 3,581,471 24.912%
    Tal Hayek 14,216,272 98.886% 160,147 1.114%
    Paul Khawaja 14,225,634 98.951% 150,785 1.049%
    Michele Tobin 14,223,844 99.008% 142,575 0.992%
    Yishay Waxman 14,216,592 98.888% 159,827 1.112%

    In addition, the other item of business at the Meeting, being the re-appointment of auditors of the Corporation was also approved, as follows:

    Appointment of Auditor
    Votes “For” % Votes For Votes “Withhold” % Voted Withhold
    17,061,551 97.061% 516,625 2.939%

    Final voting results on all matters voted on at the meeting will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    About illumin:

    illumin is evolving the digital advertising landscape by empowering marketers to achieve transformative results through its customer-centric approach. Featuring a unified canvas built around the open web, illumin lets brands and agencies seamlessly plan, build, and execute campaigns across the entire marketing funnel—connecting programmatic channels, email, and social media within a single platform. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, illumin serves clients across North America, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, visit illumin.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Allredi Signs Partnership with GMA Garnet Group to Expand its Distribution Network

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allredi, a North American distributor of surface preparation, abrasives, and safety products to industrial contractors, announced today that it entered into a partnership with GMA Garnet Group (“GMA”) providing Allredi with access to GMA’s extensive abrasive product line across its supply chain throughout the U.S. and Canada. Allredi is backed by Capstreet, a Houston-based lower middle market private equity firm, and Ridgemont Equity Partners, a middle market private equity firm based in Charlotte, NC.

    Allredi supplies garnet abrasives to end users for the maintenance, cleaning and repair of large steel structures in the industrial, infrastructure, and downstream energy sectors. GMA provides garnet abrasives for use in blasting steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and glass, with operations in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East.

    “GMA produces a quality, high performance garnet abrasive, and we are excited to partner with them to better serve our customers,” said Allredi CEO Kevin Bourbonnais. “Our agreement with GMA provides Allredi with new access to a large, consistent volume of quality garnet processed in the U.S. With GMA’s processing facilities in Texas, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, we believe we can effectively serve customers throughout the U.S. and Canada, expanding beyond our previous Gulf-centric approach to Garnet distribution.”

    GMA manages the end-to-end supply chain, from sourcing to processing to international distribution, and reprocessing. With a long history of sustainable mining, GMA is focused on energy-efficient processing and reductions in landfill.

    “We’re excited about this partnership with Allredi, which expands our geographic reach across North America,” said Scot Cummins, Regional Sales Director at GMA Americas. “In particular, this will offer us an opportunity to increase our presence across Canada. Allredi’s strong distribution network and customer relationships make them a great fit for delivering GMA’s high-performance garnet to more end users. This partnership also supports our commitment to help customers reduce abrasive waste through initiatives like the Garnet Return Program.”

    To learn more about GMA Garnet Group, visit www.gmagarnet.com.

    About Allredi
    Allredi is a North American distributor of surface preparation, abrasives, and safety products to industrial contractors primarily in the industrial, infrastructure, and downstream energy sectors. The company was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Pasadena, TX with 24 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Please visit www.allredi-us.com for additional information.

    About Capstreet
    Founded in 1990, Capstreet invests in lower middle market software, tech-enabled services, and industrial business services companies. With more than 50 platform investments and more than 200 add-on acquisitions since inception, Capstreet’s investment strategy is focused on utilizing its Capvalue Framework® to help accelerate growth and profitability, and create long-term sustainable businesses. The majority of Capstreet’s investments have been with founder- or entrepreneur-owned businesses. For more information, visit the Capstreet website, https://capstreet.com.

    About Ridgemont Equity Partners
    Ridgemont Equity Partners is a Charlotte-based middle market private equity firm that has provided buyout and growth capital to industry-leading companies in the business services, industrials, and healthcare sectors for three decades. The principals of Ridgemont have refined a proven, industry-focused model designed to build distinctive middle market companies. www.ridgemontep.com.

    Contact:
    Lambert by LLYC
    Joanne Lessner, 212-222-7436, jlessner@lambert.com
    Jennifer Hurson, 845-507-0571, jhurson@lambert.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Oportun Lead Independent Director Neil Williams Issues Letter to Stockholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Highlights Board’s proactive measures to increase long-term stockholder value and record of effective oversight

    Urges stockholders to vote “FOR” Oportun’s two highly qualified nominees – CEO Raul Vazquez and Carlos Minetti – on the GREEN proxy card

    SAN CARLOS, Calif., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oportun (Nasdaq: OPRT), a mission-driven financial services company, today issued a letter to stockholders from Lead Independent Director Neil Williams detailing the actions that Oportun’s Board of Directors has taken to drive improved financial performance and reposition the Company for future success.

    After nearly eight years of dedicated service to Oportun’s Board, Mr. Williams plans to retire at the Company’s upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In his letter urging shareholders to vote in favor of Oportun’s skilled and experienced nominees, Mr. Williams highlights:

    • In response to the changing economic environment, Oportun announced a detailed plan to reduce expenses and streamline operations in February 2023.
    • The announcement of that plan took place nearly two months before the Company was aware that Findell Capital Management was a stockholder. Over the next two years, Oportun:
      • Executed multiple reductions in force; eliminated expenses across the organization; initiated a strategic review process for the Company’s credit card portfolio that eventually resulted in its sale; and discontinued several non-core businesses.
    • Oportun has driven $240 million in cost savings since mid-2022, and over the last two quarters returned to GAAP profitability.
    • Oportun’s highly engaged and qualified Board possesses the right mix of skills and experience to continue driving Oportun’s strong momentum. The expertise of the Company’s nominees, CEO Raul Vazquez and Carlos Minetti, aligns with the needs of the business and provides a strong foundation to guide Oportun moving forward.

    The Board urges stockholders to vote “FOR” Oportun’s two highly qualified nominees using the GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form. The letter to stockholders and other important information related to the Annual Meeting can be found at VoteForOportun.com.

    The full text of the letter to stockholders follows:

    Dear Fellow Oportun Financial Stockholders,

    My name is Neil Williams and I am the Lead Independent Director at Oportun Financial Corporation.

    At our upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders, one of Oportun’s stockholders, Findell Capital, is seeking to remove our CEO, Raul Vazquez, from the Board of Directors. Findell seeks to replace Raul on the Board with an individual who we believe is substantially less qualified and lacks Raul’s institutional knowledge and experience with Oportun. Earlier this year, the Board conducted a comprehensive review of Raul’s performance – as we do every year – and unanimously concluded that Raul is the right person to lead the Company forward. Removing him from the Board would leave Oportun without a seasoned leader and risk destabilizing the Company at a critical time.

    I joined the Board in 2017, at a time when the Board’s focus was on capitalizing on favorable economic conditions to accelerate the Company’s growth. The Board recognized an opportunity to deepen and extend our relationship with our customers and, in doing so, increase long-term stockholder value.

    Together with management, we developed and executed a plan to expand the Company’s offerings to include credit cards, secured personal loans, and tools for savings, budgeting and investing, while also expanding our personal loan portfolio and its regional footprint. That strategy initially resulted in significant growth and improved credit metrics until the economic environment changed dramatically beginning in early 2022. At that point, it became clear that our growth-focused approach was no longer viable.

    Findell would like stockholders to believe that the Board was unresponsive to the challenges the Company faced and only took action after being prompted by Findell and its designees.

    Nothing could be further from the truth.

    When conditions changed, the Board did what responsible fiduciaries are expected to do: we acted decisively with management to put the Company on a better path. In February 2023 – nearly two months before we were even aware that Findell was a stockholder – we announced a detailed plan to reduce expenses and streamline operations. Over the next two years, we:

    • Executed multiple reductions in force;
    • Eliminated expenses across the organization;
    • Initiated a strategic review process for our credit card portfolio that eventually resulted in its sale; and
    • Discontinued several non-core businesses.

    Since we took these actions, our team has been executing well and delivering on our commitments. We have driven $240 million in cost savings since mid-2022, and over the last two quarters Oportun returned to GAAP profitability.

    We also focused on tightening our credit standards in light of the new environment. Our credit tightening actions have been effective in improving the quality of our loan portfolio, as evidenced by the $439 million asset-backed securitization transaction we executed earlier this month, featuring our first class of notes rated AAA. At a 5.67% average yield, this pricing was 128 basis points lower than our January ABS financing, under arguably a more uncertain macroeconomic backdrop.

    All of these actions were initiated before we added two individuals identified by Findell to the Board, and were part of a plan to reposition the Company we had developed independently of Findell.
    It is no coincidence that our longer-serving directors were able to develop and oversee a plan to transform Oportun. These individuals are exceptionally talented and deeply committed to the Company, each bringing complementary and relevant skills to the Board. Their expertise is aligned with the needs of our business and forms a strong foundation for effective oversight.

    • Jo Ann Barefoot is experienced in consumer finance regulation. Her background as former Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, as well as her experience serving on the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, gives her critical insight into some of the Company’s most significant risks and opportunities. Since joining the Board in 2016, her background and expertise have been instrumental in navigating the regulatory landscape as we expanded our geographic footprint and evolved our business model.
    • As the former President and COO of Khan Academy, Ginny Lee has experience driving growth and operational excellence at a mission-driven, technology-focused organization. In addition, she spent more than 17 years at Intuit where she held multiple senior executive operational and technical roles, including Chief Information Officer. In that role, she helped grow Intuit, now one of the world’s largest fintech companies.
    • As a former senior and managing partner at KPMG, Louis Miramontes has advised hundreds of large public and private companies and their boards on audit, compliance and regulatory matters in the U.S. and Latin America. His expertise in public company financial reporting ensures strong oversight of the Company’s financial reporting processes and compliance.
    • Sandra Smith has a strong track record of building and scaling financial operations at leading technology companies. For example, she held senior financial roles at both public and venture-backed technology companies, including Twilio and Akamai Technologies, where she also led the investor relations program, enabling her to provide a valuable stockholder perspective in the boardroom. Her experience makes her an ideal Chair of our Audit Committee.
    • Raul Vazquez has served as Oportun’s CEO for more than a decade and has helped grow the Company’s loan portfolio from $100 million in 2012 to approximately $3 billion today. Under Raul’s leadership, Oportun grew loan originations from $243 million to $1.8 billion and expanded from 2 to 41 states. Before joining Oportun, he was a senior executive at Walmart.com and Walmart Inc., where he helped shape and scale the company’s multi-channel strategy and developed deep expertise in retail, operations and digital innovation – which prepared him well to lead a multi-channel, customer-centric business like Oportun.

    Over the last 16 months, we have appointed four new independent directors to the Board – Mohit Daswani, Carlos Minetti, Scott Parker and Richard Tambor. In addition, over the last two years, four other directors have stepped down. Importantly, two of the newly appointed directors, Scott and Richard, were recommended by Findell.

    Despite having a strong set of qualified directors, the Company’s 10-member Board was larger than our historical practice, and larger than the boards of many of our peers. We recognized that a smaller Board would be more in line with industry practice, increase focus and improve effectiveness, while also being consistent with feedback from stockholders, including Findell. Accordingly, to facilitate a reduction in Board size from 10 to eight directors, my colleague Scott and I are not standing for reelection at the upcoming Annual Meeting and will step down from the Board at that time.

    As I approach the end of my tenure at Oportun, I am confident that the Company is in good hands and on the right path, as demonstrated by continually improving financial performance in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. The Board has worked energetically with the management team to create value. While there is more work to do, I am proud of the progress we have made to reposition the business for long-term success.

    Oportun’s transformation has occurred not because the Board was pushed reluctantly into action as Findell claims, but because the Board and management recognized the need for a different approach to address an evolving macroeconomic environment. We proactively set a new direction and have worked diligently to oversee its execution. The incumbent directors have driven that change, and, in my view, are best equipped to ensure Oportun’s momentum continues.

    For these reasons, I strongly encourage you to vote FOR Oportun’s director nominees – Raul Vazquez and Carlos Minetti – by following the instructions on the GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form.

    Sincerely,

    Neil Williams

    Your Vote Is Important!

    Please vote on the GREEN proxy card “FOR” the Company’s two nominees using one of the following options:

    • Follow the instructions set forth on the enclosed GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form to vote via the Internet,
    • Follow the instructions set forth on the enclosed GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form to vote by telephone, or
    • Sign and date the enclosed GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.

    Remember, please discard any white proxy card or white voting instruction form that you may receive from Findell. If you have already voted using a white proxy card or white voting instruction form, you may cancel that vote by simply voting again using the Company’s GREEN proxy card or GREEN voting instruction form. Only your latest-dated vote will count!

    If you have any questions about how to vote your shares, please call the firm assisting us with the solicitation of proxies:

    INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED
    Shareholders may call:
    (877) 800-5195 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada) or
    +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other countries)

    Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this communication are “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this communication, including statements as to our future performance, financial position and our strategic initiatives, and the Annual Meeting, are forward-looking statements. These statements can be generally identified by terms such as “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “predict,” “project,” “outlook,” “continue,” “due,” “may,” “believe,” “seek,” or “estimate” and similar expressions or the negative versions of these words or comparable words, as well as future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “likely” and “could.” These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, financial trends and risks and uncertainties that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These risks and uncertainties include those risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except to the extent required by federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there is no assurance that the events or results suggested by the forward-looking statements will in fact occur, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24cd006c-d8c9-4110-a2e8-aecbc29376a0

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: EnerGeo Alliance Joins Upcoming U.S.-Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) to Boost Upstream Investment Across Africa

    The upcoming U.S.-Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) in Houston is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the EnerGeo Alliance, a global trade association for the geoscience and exploration industries. This partnership marks a significant step forward in advancing collaborative energy development between the U.S. and Africa, and in strengthening stakeholder engagement within the natural gas and geoscience sectors.

    Under the partnership, EnerGeo Alliance will support USAEF’s mission by facilitating direct introductions between EnerGeo’s member organizations and USAEF, enabling targeted sponsorship opportunities and fostering deeper industry participation in USAEF’s programming and events.

    With members active in more than 50 countries – including key African markets such as Namibia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola and South Africa – EnerGeo Alliance plays a vital role in supporting upstream energy development through advanced geoscience, seismic surveying and data-driven exploration. The partnership with USAEF strengthens the shared mission to connect U.S. and African stakeholders, facilitate energy investment and promote natural gas as a reliable, lower-carbon transition fuel.

    “This partnership reflects our commitment to strengthening collaboration between the geoscience community and energy stakeholders across Africa,” said Nikki Martin, President & CEO of EnerGeo Alliance. “With our members actively engaged in key markets across the continent, we see this as an opportunity to elevate upstream dialogue, support data-driven exploration, and help shape pragmatic solutions to Africa’s energy needs.”

    EnerGeo Alliance has been especially active in advocating for natural gas as a sustainable and cost-effective solution to meet growing power demand across Africa. In a recent policy brief, the organization spotlighted South Africa’s natural gas prospects and emphasized the role of upstream data in de-risking exploration and reducing environmental impacts. Their work complements USAEF’s goal of catalyzing partnerships that accelerate infrastructure growth and increase access to reliable energy across the continent.

    The partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in USAEF 2025, where EnerGeo Alliance will engage with delegates to spotlight the role of geoscience in upstream investment and showcase how seismic technologies can reduce risk and improve environmental outcomes in natural gas development. By aligning their networks and resources, USAEF and EnerGeo Alliance aim to create new pathways for investment, knowledge exchange and industry growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

    “Partnering with EnerGeo Alliance allows USAEF to bridge U.S. technology and expertise with African energy ambitions in a meaningful way. We’re not only expanding access to strategic geoscience players, but also enhancing opportunities for investment, sponsorship and long-term collaboration in Africa’s gas and energy value chains,” said James Chester, CEO of Energy Capital & Power.

    For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com. Join us in Houston this August to connect with the leaders shaping Africa’s energy landscape and experience the momentum that drives ECP’s events worldwide.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: LIS Technologies Inc. Appoints Former Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration Brent Park Ph.D., as its Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oak Ridge, Tennessee, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LIS Technologies Inc. (“LIST” or “the Company”), a proprietary developer of advanced laser technology and the only USA-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company, today announced that it has appointed Brent Park, Ph.D., as its Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy.

    “LIST’s technology arrives at a pivotal moment, as the United States accelerates efforts to build a secure, domestic nuclear‑fuel supply chain,” said Brent Park, Ph.D., Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy of LIS Technologies Inc. “This proprietary technology can be a key step toward reducing reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium and strengthening our national energy independence. I’m honored to join the Company and look forward to advising the leadership team as they advance the CRISLA technology from revival to commercialization.”

    Brent is a nuclear physicist and a former government official with demonstrated leadership experience at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Nevada Test Site (NTS), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Between 2018 and 2021, with Senate confirmation just 6 weeks after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump, Brent served as Deputy Administrator at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He led Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation programs to support the nation’s efforts in nonproliferation treaties and international arms control, international nuclear security, safeguards, and export control policies. Prior to joining NNSA, Brent was Associate Laboratory Director at ORNL, leading the science-to-application efforts for national security programs. Research topics are wide-ranging, with particular focus on materials science and engineering, cybersecurity, high-performance computing and big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and nuclear science and engineering.

    Figure 1 – LIS Technologies Inc. Appoints Brent Park, Ph.D., as its Executive Director of Nuclear Security and Safeguards Policy.

    Previously, Brent was the director of NNSA’s Remote Sensing Laboratory, where he led efforts to advance and field cutting-edge diagnostics and communications instruments in support of counterterrorism and radiological incident response for the nation. As the NNSA’s non-proliferation chief, he led efforts and engagements to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation and to reduce the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism around the world. Earlier, Brent managed and contributed to basic and applied research programs at LANL in the areas of physics and engineering, modeling and analysis, and nuclear weapons physics and engineering in support of stockpile stewardship, as well as nuclear emergency response and nuclear facility operations. Brent earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics at Illinois State University and a master’s degree in physics with an emphasis on remote sensing at Indiana State University. Later he shifted the direction of his research to nuclear physics and earned a master’s degree at Indiana University. Brent performed a thesis experiment using the spallation neutron source at LANL and earned a PhD in physics at Ohio University. He held a prestigious Physics Division postdoctoral fellowship at LANL before becoming a technical staff member.

    “Brent steps into this role with real enthusiasm, and we’re honored to welcome him to our team,” said Jay Yu, Executive Chairman and President of LIS Technologies Inc. “A distinguished leader, public official, and scientist, he brings a depth of experience that will benefit the Company both now and well into the future. During his tenure at the NNSA, Brent worked with some of the most advanced nuclear technologies in the industry. Now, his decision to join LIST reflects the promise of our patented, proprietary and U.S.-based CRISLA technology and the dedication that has shaped our company’s growth.”

    “Brent’s depth of experience and extensive network are a testament to his distinguished career, and it is a pleasure to welcome him to LIS Technologies,” said Christo Liebenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of LIS Technologies Inc. “His technical expertise, combined with his longstanding relationships across key institutions, will be instrumental as we navigate complex licensing, regulatory and non-proliferation pathways and advance our CRISLA technology through testing, demonstration activities and eventually to commercialization.”

    About LIS Technologies Inc.

    LIS Technologies Inc. (LIST) is a USA based, proprietary developer of a patented advanced laser technology, making use of infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes. The Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment. The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs. L.I.S.T is optimized for LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) for existing civilian nuclear power plants, High-Assay LEU (HALEU) for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Microreactors, the production of stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and applications in quantum computing manufacturing for semiconductor technologies. The Company employs a world class nuclear technical team working alongside leading nuclear entrepreneurs and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with government and private nuclear industries.

    In Dec 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million.

    For more information please visit: LaserIsTech.com

    For further information, please contact:
    Email: info@laseristech.com
    Telephone: 800-388-5492
    Follow us on X Platform
    Follow us on LinkedIn

    Forward Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For LIS Technologies Inc., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by any worsening of global business and economic environment: (i) risks related to the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, loss of key individuals and uncertainty of success of patent filing, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations and (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy a competitive laser enrichment technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the SEC. Only after successful completion of our Phase 2 Pilot Plant demonstration will LIS Technologies be able to make realistic economic predictions for a Commercial Facility. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • PM Modi, world leaders react after Air India plane with 242 on board crashes in Ahmedabad

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep shock over the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, describing the incident as “heartbreaking beyond words.”

    “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. I have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,” PM Modi said in a post on X on Thursday.

    An Air India plane headed to London with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday, airline and police officials said.

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was operating Flight AI-171 to Gatwick Airport when it went down shortly after departure. The aircraft was carrying 2 pilots, 10 cabin crew members, and 230 passengers.

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also expressed her heartfelt condolences following the crash of an Air India aircraft near Ahmedabad Airport, which was carrying 242 people, including crew members.

    “Distressed on hearing about the flight crash in Ahmedabad. My prayers are with all families and friends of those on board the flight,” said Sitharaman.

    Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said he was “deeply pained to learn about the plane crash in Ahmedabad.”

    “I convey my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. We stand firmly with those grieving and pray for the quick recovery of the injured. Om Shanti,” he posted.

    Offering his condolences, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with the passengers and their families.

    “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating,” Starmer wrote on X.
    “I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time,” he added.

    British Foreign Minister David Lammy said he was deeply saddened by the news and that the UK was working with Indian authorities.

    “Deeply saddened by news of a devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad, India,” Lammy said on X. “My thoughts are with all those affected. The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support.”

    Speaking later in the British Parliament, Lammy said the UK had activated a crisis team in both India’s capital, New Delhi, and in London.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also extended his condolences.
    “Horrible news of a passenger plane crash in India. My deepest condolences to Prime Minister @narendramodi and the entire people of India on this tragic day. Our thoughts are with all victims’ relatives and close ones in India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada. We share your shock and grief. We pray for as many lives to be saved as possible and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said in a post on X.

    The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said an operational control room had been activated “to oversee and coordinate all necessary response measures.”

    It also shared emergency contact numbers for assistance and information: the Delhi control room can be reached at 011-24610843 and 9650391859, while the Ahmedabad control room can be contacted at 9978405304 and 079-23251900.

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eastern Cape search and recovery operations continue

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Search and recovery efforts are ongoing across the Eastern Cape, following the recent inclement weather.

    Torrential rains over the past few days have caused devastating landslides and flooding, leaving hundreds of families displaced. The adverse weather has also caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure.

    Updating the media on Wednesday, Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, said that he has ordered the suspension of all other provincial programmes in the province, to enable Members of the Executive Council (MECs), including himself, to be on the ground and offer support to the affected communities.

    This after assessing the extent of widespread devastation, following the rains and strong winds that hit the province’s OR Tambo District Municipality enduring most of the severe weather.

    “Each of the MECs are looking at the service delivery needs of this and other affected communities across the province as mop-up operations begin in earnest. Together with the leadership of the OR Tambo District and King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, the provincial government is on the ground assessing the damage, to support relief operations, and engage directly with affected families and communities,” Mabuyane said.

    The Premier extended his deepest condolences to the families of the 49 people who passed away in OR Tambo District alone. Among the deceased are children whose scholar transport was swept away by floodwaters. 

    “The number of people confirmed to have been in the minibus taxi…. sadly, four learners have been confirmed to be deceased, together with the driver and a conductor of the minibus taxi. The rest of the deceased people are citizens of different ages. Four learners are still missing,” the Premier said.

    The heavy rains in the Amathole District have also displaced hundreds of residents from informal settlements, with many relocated to temporary shelters. The severe weather also caused power outages across several areas in the district.

    Mabuyane said a coordinated, multi-disciplinary emergency and rescue services team has been deployed across the province and remains actively involved in recovery, evacuation, and support efforts across the affected areas.

    The continuous provision of shelter, food, psychosocial support services, blankets, and other essentials to displaced families, through partnerships with the South African Social Service Agency (SASSA), the Department of Social Development, and local municipalities are some of the interventions that have been put in place by the provincial government.

    “Through the Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management (ICDM), technical experts are addressing damage to water infrastructure. When necessary, water tankers will be dispatched to ensure access to clean drinking water,” the Premier said.

    Search and rescue operations for the scholars is being led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) while the Department of Education is intervening to bring in the necessary support to the affected families during this tragic time.

    Restoration of electricity, reopening of roads

    Mabuyane also noted progress being made in reopening major roads affected by snowfall, and the continuous restoration of electricity following outages caused by gale-force winds and heavy snow.

    “Over the past 48 hours, at least 136 000 customers have since been brought back online, down from 300 000 that were without electricity. Eskom teams have resumed to continue with restoration to outstanding customers,” Mabuyane said.

    The Premier commended the South African Weather Service (SAWS) for their forecasts confirming that the inclement weather is coming to an end, as the cut-off low system responsible for the recent conditions moves out to sea.

    He also expressed gratitude to the provincial disaster management teams, including SAPS K-9 divers, the SAPS Search and Rescue Airwing, as well as residents for their swift response.

    The Premier further urged those that are yet received assistance to remain calm and patient, and that relief efforts will move faster with the easing of the inclement weather.

    “Infrastructure technical teams have been activated to carry out assessment to ascertain the extent of the damage as well as interventions that are required across the province. At this stage 20 health facilities have suffered damages to varying levels.

    “In terms of road infrastructure, engineers are on the ground assessing the impact and extent of the damage on our road network including rural roads. The R58 Khowa to Barkey through the Barkely is now open,” Mabuyane said.

    He advised motorists to exercise caution due to slippery conditions. He further called on citizens, and organisations to support the communities, as they continue to deal with this tragedy.

    “Condolences once again to the families who lost their loved ones,” he said.

    The Premier’s update on Wednesday came ahead of the visit of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa’s visit to the province on Thursday.

    READ | Minister Hlabisa visits flood-affected Eastern Cape

    –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act: joint statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act: joint statement to the OSCE

    Ambassador Holland delivers a joint statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the United Kingdom expressing deep concern over Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and my own country the United Kingdom.

    Our countries express our deep concern about Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act which came into force on 31 May 2025. This legislation represents a serious setback for democratic governance, civil liberties, and Georgia’s stated European aspirations.

    As ODIHR has said, the Act profoundly impacts the work of civil society and all those working to defend human rights in Georgia. It undermines the independence of civil society and political plurality as well as restricting media freedom.

    In doing so it also threatens the independent institutions and fundamental freedoms which all OSCE participating States – including Georgia – have agreed are essential foundations of democracy and regional security.

    ODIHR has confirmed that it stands ready to use its longstanding expertise to assist Georgia. We encourage Georgia to work with ODIHR, civil society and other international actors to bring their approach into line with international human rights standards as well as OSCE principles and commitments.   

    The Act risks further isolating Georgia from its partners, by directly contradicting the democratic values and human rights standards that must underpin Georgia’s European future.

    Our countries reiterate our unwavering commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and support for the people of Georgia in their pursuit of a democratic, open, and European future. We urge the Georgian government to repeal or substantially revise this law.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IMCA announces results of South America Committee elections

    Source: International Marine Contractors Association – IMCA

    Headline: IMCA announces results of South America Committee elections

    IMCA has welcomed four new industry experts including a representative from Marinha do Brasil – the Brazilian Navy – to its South America Committee following elections among IMCA Members.

    The successful candidates, who were all nominated and voted for by IMCA Members from across the region, are:

    Fugro’s John Chatten and Daniel Marins from Subsea7 were re-elected for a third two-year session, as Committee Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, alongside Renata Cortês and Patricia Gomes from Companhia Brasileira de Offshore – Grupo CBO, Cicero Ricardo Batista Lopes from Posidonia Shipping and Trading, Nelsiane Carrara from TechnipFMC, and Michel Teicher from SISTAC Sistemas de Acesso SA.

    The South America Committee supports the development of our industry across the region, promoting IMCA’s campaigns to improve safety and sustainability among key stakeholders, and regularly bringing local Members together to share their insights and experiences. Recent in-person meetings have taken place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The Committee works in partnership with energy company Petrobras, and Marinha do Brasil.

    For further information, contact jennifer.evans@imca-int.com.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Cenovus Energy restores full production at Christina Lake

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX: CVE) (NYSE: CVE) has now safely ramped up production at its Christina Lake oil sands asset following wildfire activity in the area. Production operations restarted on June 3 and production was ramped up over the course of the week.

    Site inspections confirmed there was no damage to Cenovus infrastructure. The company continues to closely monitor the overall wildfire situation in Alberta, with a focus on the safety of its people and assets. It appreciates the continued efforts of its teams who are working to keep the company’s people and assets safe, and for the provincial emergency management teams and firefighters keeping communities safe.

    Cenovus Energy Inc.
    Cenovus Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company with oil and natural gas production operations in Canada and the Asia Pacific region, and upgrading, refining and marketing operations in Canada and the United States. The company is committed to maximizing value by developing its assets in a safe, responsible and cost-efficient manner, integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into its business plans. Cenovus common shares and warrants are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, and the company’s preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit cenovus.com.

    Find Cenovus on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

    Cenovus contacts

    Investors Media
    Investor Relations general line
    403-766-7711    		 Media Relations general line
    403-766-7751

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Frozen yucca, hidden cocaine: drug route from Costa Rica to Europe dismantled

    Source: Europol

    The investigation targeted a criminal network that used companies in Costa Rica to receive cocaine from Colombia and conceal it in shipments of frozen yucca powder destined for Europe. The group relied on legitimate logistics chains to disguise their criminal activities and move cocaine by sea and air in small quantities to avoid detection.Shifting logistical routes in response to law…

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Largest amphibious exercise on Braunton Burrows since WW2

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Largest amphibious exercise on Braunton Burrows since WW2

    Exercise Catamaran brought together more than 3,000 personnel from several NATO allies to carry out training on the North Devon coast.

    Personnel from several NATO allies took part in the exercise. Copyright: MOD Crown Copyright.

    The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has enabled a major multi-national training exercise alongside NATO allies on Braunton Burrows Training Area, demonstrating its crucial role in supporting military capability.  

    Exercise Catamaran ran between 30 May and 7 June, bringing together military personnel from France, the UK, Brazil, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the US. Royal Marines from 40 and 47 Commando led British involvement in the exercise.  

    It is the largest amphibious exercise of this scale to have been conducted on the training area since it was used by US troops in 1943 to rehearse for the D-Day landings on Utah and Omaha beaches.  

    Ex Catamaran formed part of the wider French-led POLARIS 25 exercise, a month-long training exercise which sees more than 3,000 military personnel from allied nations working on warfighting skills together. The amphibious exercise involved more than 20 surface ships and 40 aircraft in the Atlantic and the Channel and included landing exercises taking place on the beach at Braunton Burrows. 

    Braunton Burrows Training Area is home to one of the largest sand dune systems in the UK and offers a unique place to train.  

    DIO’s Overseas and Training team played an important part in planning and facilitating the exercise. The Foreign Forces team acted as the liaison between the French exercise planners and the Ministry of Defence. They provided expert advice on how the training area could be best utilised to meet training objectives, ensuring that all partners were informed and engaged. 

    Alongside that, Braunton Burrows’ Deputy Training Safety Officer led safety briefings for military personnel, flexibly supported training requirements and ensured a safe place to train was maintained, carefully managing the balance between military training and public access on the area. This technical guidance proved crucial in developing realistic training scenarios that couldn’t be replicated elsewhere in the UK.  

    Braunton Burrows: Enabling Exercise Catamaran

    Brigadier Gavin Hatcher CBE, DIO’s Head of Overseas and Training Region, said:  

    As custodians of the Defence Training Estate, DIO proudly provides a safe and high-quality environment for our Armed Forces and allies to train. While we enable and support important military training year-round, the scale and complexity of Exercise Catamaran has really showcased the versatility and diversity of what we can facilitate.  

    My team has been working closely with the French military for some time to meticulously plan this phase of the exercise on Braunton Burrows Training Area. It has been great to see this collaboration brought to fruition this week with UK military personnel training alongside our allies as they prepare for potential deployments.

    Major Martyn Heenan, Royal Marines, said:  

    Braunton Burrows and the amphibious training it allows is so important as it is one of the most complex operations you can carry out and there’s very few places you can do it. It allows the allied nations involved in this exercise to get onto the same space in a challenging area and work together, which is very difficult to do anywhere else in the world.  

    It’s been a long planning process but DIO have been there all the way through, be it the Foreign Forces team, the Training Safety Officers or the regional commanders, they have really helped with the planning and delivering everything to make this a success.

    Braunton Burrows has to remain accessible to the public at all times, and the site’s Deputy Training Safety Officer conducts careful planning and continuous monitoring alongside colleagues from our industry partner, Landmarc, to ensure military activities can go ahead safely without endangering personnel or members of the public.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Oceans 28 states have signed the Global Ocean Treaty into law while the UK is failing to get onboard The European Commission and six EU countries, Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovenia, have today submitted their ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty at the United Nations headquarters. Despite… by Alexandra Sedgwick May 28, 2025

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    The European Commission and six EU countries, Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovenia, have today submitted their ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty at the United Nations headquarters. Despite repeated promises to sign the Treaty into UK law, the UK government is failing to get onboard. 

    Greenpeace is warning that, while the progress from other European countries is welcome, it is nowhere near enough to ensure the treaty enters into force in 2025, and in time to meet the goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 – agreed by all governments in 2022[1]. 

    The UK was among the first countries to sign the Global Ocean Treaty on 20 September 2023, indicating its intention to pass the Treaty into UK law. The current Labour government has repeatedly said it intends to ratify the Treaty, but has so far failed to introduce the necessary primary legislation to do so or to commit to a timeline. This has prompted calls from the International Development Committee and environmental groups to begin the legislative process urgently. Responsibility for this process lies with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

    Chris Thorne, Greenpeace UK senior ocean campaigner, said:

    “David Lammy wants the UK to be a leader on climate and nature, so he can’t afford to miss the boat on signing the Global Ocean Treaty into UK law. The Treaty can help to protect a third of our blue planet from threats like industrial fishing. As international action on ocean protection accelerates, the UK risks turning up empty handed at a key UN conference next month. Lammy must stop failing the ocean which all life on Earth depends on, prioritise ocean protection and urgently secure parliamentary time for the UK to join other European countries in signing the Treaty into law. We hear legislation has been drafted and is ready to go, it just needs pushing over the line.”

    The Global Ocean Treaty requires ratification by 60 states to enter into force. Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovenia have joined the 22 other states that have already deposited their ratification at the UN, making a total of 28 so far, nearly half of the 60 required. Governments had aimed to ratify the Treaty by June’s UN Ocean Conference to ensure that it enters into force quickly enough to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030. This Treaty is the only legal tool which can deliver this target on the high seas[2].

    Lukas Meus, Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe ocean campaigner, said:
    “It gives us hope to see such a large group of European countries ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty, but it’s still not enough. Governments had targeted the UN Ocean Conference as their deadline to ratify the Treaty, but even with this group of countries, that target is set to be missed. More countries must ratify the Treaty at the UN Ocean Conference, and should also confirm their support for a global moratorium on deep sea mining. Only then could we call this conference a success.”

    The UN Ocean Conference is the first high-level meeting after a deep sea mining company submitted the first-ever application to mine the deep sea to the US Government, bypassing the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the regulatory body set up by the United Nations to protect the deep sea as the common heritage of humankind and decide whether deep sea mining can start in the international seabed[3].

    With this new looming threat of exploitation, countries must make it clear that deep sea mining must not be allowed to start in 2025 and actively work towards securing a moratorium at the upcoming meeting of the International Seabed Authority in July, just weeks after the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC). 

    Greenpeace UK is calling on the UK government to:

    • Prioritise ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty by making time in the parliamentary schedule ahead of UNOC
    • Speak out in favour of a global moratorium on deep sea mining and use diplomatic influence to build support for this and the multilateral system
    • Implement a full ban on all forms of destructive fishing, including bottom trawling, in all UK marine protected areas
    • Work with the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda and other nations to champion one of the world’s first high seas sanctuaries in the Sargasso Sea. This stunning ecosystem supports a plethora of iconic wildlife including humpback whales, dolphins and sea turtles

    Ends

    Contact

    Alexandra Sedgwick, Greenpeace UK press officer, alexandra.sedgwick@greenpeace.org, 07739 963 301

    Notes to editors

    [1] Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovenia have joined Palau, Chile, Belize, Seychelles, Monaco, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Cuba, Maldives, Singapore, Bangladesh, Barbados, Timor Leste, Panama, St. Lucia, Spain, France, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Republic of Korea and Costa Rica.

    [2] In 2022, during the UN Biodiversity COP15, states agreed on a target of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, a figure supported by scientists for several years. 2.7% of the global ocean is currently fully or highly protected from human activities, and the figure is just 0.9% for areas of the high seas, which are beyond national jurisdiction. Greenpeace calculates that at the current rate of protection, the 30% target will not be reached until 2107.

    [3] In a media statement, the European Commission has said that it “deeply regrets” the US president’s Executive Order that “circumvents” the negotiations in the ISA, and that “it is crucial to recall that its provisions reflect customary international law and are thus binding on all states irrespective of whether they have acceded to the Convention or not.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Worker groups demand polluters pay for lost income, amid deadly South Asia heatwave

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    New Delhi, 01 May 2025 –  As a life-threatening heat wave unravels in South Asia,  more than 10 groups representing at lakhs of workers across Indian, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have signed a Polluters Pay Pact, calling on governments to introduce new taxes on oil, coal and gas corporations to fund solutions and help communities worldwide. 

    A Greenpeace India’s qualitative research report titled “Ground Zero: Climate Experiences among Informal Workers in Delhi,” released on this occasion found that street vendors suffer from immense productivity loss and health risks during peak summer months. The study noted that for every 1°C rise in temperature, informal workers’ earnings can fall by up to 19%, with income losses reaching up to 40% due to unbearable midday heat and reduced business. Simultaneously, medical expenses increase by around 14%—illustrating the devastating climate-health-economic nexus. The report mentions that street vendor’s daily earnings, once averaging Rs. 1000, now fluctuate between Rs 300-1200 due to climate disruption and market instability. 

    Workers across South Asia observed the International Workers’ Day, in a series of simultaneous events where they wrote messages about the impacts of extreme weather and their demands on sarees, a six-yard-long unstitched cloth draped by women in South Asia. The initiative, titled ‘Sarees for Solidarity’, carries messages of workers union leaders addressing the role of oil and gas corporations and their responsibility for the climate crisis which will be taken to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP30), scheduled to be held in Balem, Brazil. 

    An event held today in New Delhi also marked the launch of the Workers’ Collective for Climate Justice – South Asia, which emerged as the key outcome of the discussions by worker groups and civil society organisations on growing threats to workers from extreme weather events, fuelled by the oil and gas industry. Participants included the Youth Organization for Democratic Development and Help in Action (YODDHA) and Joint Hawker Action Committee for street vendors, the Basti Suraksha Manch union for waste pickers, the Telengana Gig and Platform Workers Union, Amazon Workers’ Union,  domestic workers, construction workers and indoor-based factory workers. 

    “As temperatures rise, we must do the same. City infrastructure needs to match the adaptation needs of everyone. Vendors, who work outside through the heatwave, are in urgent need of cooling centers, shaded areas, water, and medical care to survive this heatwave season,” said Sandeep Verma of the Youth Organisation for Democratic and Help in Action (YODDHA). “In the scorching heat, Indian workers have nowhere to hide, while the oil executives fueling this crisis are safely seated in air conditioned offices. This injustice must end by applying the polluter pays principle to those responsible for the climate crisis we’re in.”

    “When the heat rises, it’s not the CEOs of oil and gas companies who suffer—it’s the informal workers out on the streets, with little infrastructure and safety net for adaptation. Our Ground Zero report shows just how devastating this is: income drops, health risks soar, and yet no one’s held accountable. That’s why we’re backing the Polluters Pay Pact, said Amruta S. Nair, Climate and Energy campaigner at Greenpeace India. “Governments must impose taxes on Big Oil, the proceeds of which should be redirected for inclusive adaptation measures for vulnerable communities. Climate justice must begin by protecting those who are least responsible for this crisis, but who pay the heaviest price every day.”

    ”As momentum builds up to make oil and gas corporations pay for a crisis fuelled by their emissions, the industry responds with attacks against those calling them out. Emblematic of this assault on free speech is a multi-millions US$ meritless lawsuit by U.S. company Energy Transfer against Greenpeace U.S. and Greenpeace International. The Polluters Pay Pact shows that while polluters engage in intimidation, the climate movement can’t be silenced. Greenpeace organisations worldwide are committed as ever to resist the corporate polluters and the billionaire takeover of democracy.

    Read Report Here

    Notes:

    Find more about the workers group and unions here

    [1] “Weather Status” – India Meteorological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences. https://internal.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/extended.pdf .  

    [2] “Climate change made the deadly heatwaves that hit millions of highly vulnerable people across Asia more frequent and extreme” – World Weather Attribution https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-made-the-deadly-heatwaves-that-hit-millions-of-highly-vulnerable-people-across-asia-more-frequent-and-extreme/ 

    Contacts:

    Nibedita Saha,
    Media Officer, Greenpeace India  ,
    [email protected] 

    Tal Harris,
    Greenpeace International,
    Global Media Lead – Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign,
    +41-782530550,
    [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: “Nice Declaration” for an ambitious plastics treaty: the wake up call the world needs

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Nice, France – Over 90 member states at the United Nations Ocean Conference today announced their support to the ministerial declaration “The Nice wake up call for an ambitious plastics treaty” which includes a call for the adoption of a global target to reduce the production and consumption of plastic. 

    In response, Graham Forbes, Greenpeace Head of Delegation to the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and Global Plastics Campaign Lead at Greenpeace USA, said: “The Nice Declaration, signed by an overwhelming majority of countries, is the wake-up call the world needs. Governments are finally saying the quiet part out loud: we cannot end plastic pollution without cutting plastic production. Full stop.

    “The Nice Declaration tackles the root cause of the crisis, which is the ever-growing, reckless production of plastics driven by fossil fuel giants. The message to industry lobbyists is loud and clear: the health of our children is more important than your bottom line.”

    “We welcome the call for a legally binding global cap on plastic production, and real rules to phase out the most toxic plastic products and chemicals. For too long, treaty talks have been stuck in circular conversations while plastic pollution chokes our oceans, poisons our bodies, and fuels the climate crisis.

    “But this statement only matters if countries back it up with action this August in Geneva at INC-5.2. That means no voluntary nonsense, no loopholes, and no surrender to fossil fuel and petrochemical interests. We need a treaty with teeth—one that slashes plastic production, holds polluters accountable, and protects people on the frontlines.”

    ENDS

    Notes:

    A statement, signed by 234 civil society organisations, was also released in support of the Nice declaration. 

    Contact:

    Angelica Carballo Pago, Global Plastics Campaign Media Lead, Greenpeace USA, [email protected] , +63 917 1124492

    Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: NATO chief Mark Rutte warns Russia could use military force against alliance in five years

    Source: Chatham House –

    NATO chief Mark Rutte warns Russia could use military force against alliance in five years
    News release
    jon.wallace

    In his Chatham House speech the Secretary General said he expects NATO states to commit to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence, arguing ‘America has carried too much of the burden for too long’.

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Chatham House on 9 June to outline his vision for the alliance’s future funding and priorities, in his keynote pre-summit address before the NATO meeting on June 24 and 25.

    In his speech, Rutte outlined the need to ‘make our alliance stronger, fairer and more lethal’ in order to meet an increasing range of threats, particularly regarding Russia’s capacity to rearm and threaten alliance countries in the near future.

    ‘In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of NATO produces in a year,’ he said. ‘And its defence industrial base is expected to roll out 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armoured vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles this year alone…Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years’. He repeated five years for emphasis.

    The Trump–Albanese conversation could be complicated by the Australian government’s imposition this week of sanctions on two hardline Israeli ministers for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

    This action, in concert with the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, was immediately condemned by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called for the sanctions to be withdrawn.

    All this before we even get to the issue of tariffs, and Australia offering a deal on critical minerals to try to get some concessions.

    There is a lot of scripting prepared before such meetings. Albanese will have his talking points down pat. But with Trump being an “off-script” man, it is not an occasion for which the PM can be confident ahead of time that he is fully prepared.

    But Albanese has one safeguard, in domestic political terms. If things went pear-shaped Australians – who have scant regard for Trump – could be expected to blame the president rather than the prime minister.

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

    – ref. View from The Hill: Is the US playing cat and mouse ahead of expected Albanese-Trump talks? – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-is-the-us-playing-cat-and-mouse-ahead-of-expected-albanese-trump-talks-257336

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Statement on Senate Republicans’ Latest Effort to Force Nevada Public Land Sales in their Billionaire Tax Cut Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) released legislation that would use public land sales to pay for Senate Republicans’ billionaire tax cut bill. Senator Cortez Masto pushed to get similar provisions struck from the House bill, and just today called out Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum for the administration’s lack of consultation on such a critical issue for Nevada.
    “It is clear that this language was developed behind closed doors without input from critical Nevada stakeholders because it ignores provisions for affordable housing and eliminates funding Nevada relies on for our schools and water conservation projects,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “If we truly want to support affordable housing and economic development in Nevada, everyone needs to be at the table. Shoving lands sales in a reconciliation bill in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires is not the way forward, and I’ll continue to fight against this misguided proposal.”
    Senator Lee’s language directs the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to sell a certain percentage of federal lands in Nevada and other Western states for fair market value, while ignoring the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) and the Nevada tradition of sending federal land revenues back to the state to fund drought mitigation, public education, and conservation projects. Senator Lee’s bill would instead send the revenue from future lands sales in Nevada to the general Treasury. The legislation also ignores numerous already-negotiated lands bills across the state, including Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, a years-long effort to help Clark County grow, encourage affordable housing, and protect 2 million acres for conservation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: MFA: China hopes that the US, together with the Chinese side, will implement the consensus reached during the telephone conversation between the heads of the two states

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Xinhua | 12.06. 2025

    Keywords: USA

    Source: Xinhua

    MFA: China hopes that the US will work with the Chinese side to implement the consensus reached during the phone call between the two heads of state MFA: China hopes that the US will work with the Chinese side to implement the consensus reached during the phone call between the two heads of state

    MIL OSI Russia News –