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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Unprecedented Attacks on Veterans and Rising National Security Concerns, Congressmen Chris Deluzio, Pat Ryan, Ted and Lieu Lead 18 Democratic Members of Congress to Launch Veterans Caucus

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Ted Lieu (CA-36) led 18 House Democratic colleagues in launching the first-ever Democratic Veterans Caucus. 

    Chaired by Congressman Ryan, an Army veteran; Congressman Ted Lieu, an Air Force veteran; and Congressman Chris Deluzio, a Navy veteran, the Democratic Veterans Caucus is composed of members from across the country. The caucus’ formation comes amidst unprecedented security breaches at the Department of Defense, threats to veterans’ health care, and growing national security threats across the globe. 

    Uniting these voices is especially important and timely given the reconciliation fight. President Trump, aided by House Republicans, is trying to push through massive cuts to both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 10% of all veterans rely on Medicaid for health care, and there are 1.2 million veterans living in households – alongside seniors and children – who utilize SNAP benefits. 

    “I love this country, and I am proud to join with my fellow veterans and Democrats in the U.S. House. The Democratic Veterans Caucus is a powerful space to do that,” said Congressman Deluzio. “My fellow veterans and I in Congress are ready to go to the mat for America’s veterans and servicemembers and our country’s national security. We swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and America needs us now more than ever.” 

    “I refuse to let our draft-dodging President lecture us about what it means to be a Patriot while he cuts veterans’ health care, insults Gold Star families, and installs an incompetent loyalist who is dangerously politicizing the Department of Defense. It’s our duty, as those who have borne the battle, to fight for our fellow veterans and for the country we love so dearly,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Our loyalty is to no man. It is to the Constitution we swore an oath to protect and defend. Our mission is to deliver for our men and women in uniform and every freedom-loving American.” 

    “Our veterans deserve our gratitude. That is why it is despicable that the Trump Administration is leaving veterans behind,” said Congressman Ted Lieu. “From harmful DOGE cuts at the VA to attempts at rolling back benefits for veterans exposed to toxins, our nation’s heroes are experiencing unprecedented attacks on their care. We’re standing up this Caucus to fight for our veterans and uphold the oath we all took to defend the constitution. I am grateful to work with Reps. Deluzio and Ryan and all the Members in our Caucus to uplift veteran and service member voices.” 

    “Veterans served this country with honor and sacrifice. They kept their promises to defend our freedom, and now it’s our duty to keep our promises to them,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “As a former Navy helicopter pilot, I am disgusted by the Trump Administration’s decision to cut their health care and food assistance to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It is a betrayal not just of our veterans, but of the values this nation stands for. This caucus was formed to unite those of us who have worn the uniform and to fight back against these attacks. I will continue to stand in the breach to protect the care and services our veterans have earned.” 

    “America is the land of the free because we are home to generations of brave veterans. We have a sacred obligation to fight for these patriots in the face of the Trump Administration’s cruel and senseless cuts to critical healthcare and lifesaving services,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), who served as an intelligence officer for more than a decade in the Navy Reserve. “Veterans from New Hampshire and across the country deserve fighters in the United States Congress, and that is what this caucus is all about.” 

    “As an Army Ranger and paratrooper, I learned the ethos of servant leadership. True leaders jump out of the plane first, and always eat last. But that’s not the leadership we’re seeing from President Trump. Instead, we’re seeing Republicans cut veterans benefits and take away health care and food assistance in order to give the wealthiest Americans a massive tax break. It’s wrong for working families and our servicemembers. As a veteran and now a Democratic Member of Congress, I’m fighting back,” said Congressman Crow. 

    “Veterans need a united front to protect the benefits that they have earned,” said Rep. Panetta.  “At a time when we have an Administration that is cutting benefits, this caucus brings together Members who have served in uniform to ensure that the federal government upholds its commitment to defending the rights, benefits, and dignity of our fellow veterans. Fortunately, we know how to fight those who threaten our values and veterans’ services because we are committed to serving those who served our country.” 

    “Our veterans have given so much to our country, and for this Administration to cut and dismantle programs that benefit them and their families is simply disgraceful,” said Congressman Conaway. “While my Republican colleagues stand by and watch, this caucus serves as a coalition of former service members ready to push back. Every member of this caucus knows what it means to serve, and we will use our voices to ensure that promises made to veterans are promises kept.” 

    “When I joined the U.S. Army, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. As a member of Congress, I am honored to represent the 72,000 veterans in the Seventh District. Sadly, we have a Commander-in-Chief whose incompetence and chaos put American lives at risk and hurts our veterans,” said Vindman. “That’s why my Democratic colleagues who’ve worn the uniform and I are standing together and speaking out. We have a duty to defend the values and people that make America the greatest country in the world — and to ensure that no one, not even the President, gets away with undermining them.” 

    “I joined the Army Reserves when I was 18 because I felt it was my duty to give back to the country that gave me and my family so much. My parents fled communist Vietnam in search of freedom and democracy, and because America welcomed them, our family could not only survive but thrive. I am proud to join my fellow Veterans in the House Democratic caucus to stand up for all Veterans at a time when they are seeing their benefits cut, their expertise ignored, and their federal jobs terminated,” said Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45). “I was proud that the first bill I introduced as a Member of Congress was the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, to protect the livelihoods of Veterans who have served our country honorably and who continue to do so through civilian service. Our veterans have always had our backs, the Democratic Veterans Caucus will always step up to have theirs.” 

    “As a Marine, I will not stand by while Donald Trump insults our veterans and dismantles the services and benefits they rightfully earned,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal. “We have a responsibility to care for the heroes who defended our rights and freedoms. This Administration has abandoned this sacred duty through reckless actions, like rolling back the PACT Act and allowing DOGE to attack the VA. It’s heartless, cruel, and un-American. That’s why I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to launch the Democratic Veterans Caucus.” 

    “President Trump is not a veteran but that hasn’t stopped him from creating chaos and uncertainty in the lives of those who are. From threatening veterans’ health care to pushing reckless cuts to the benefits they’ve earned, the Trump administration has treated our community like collateral damage in a partisan agenda,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan. “As a veteran, a Member of Congress, and a proud advocate for those who’ve worn the uniform, I believe we have a sacred obligation to protect and honor our veterans—not undermine their health, dignity, or security. The launch of the Democratic Veterans Caucus couldn’t come at a more urgent moment. We are stepping up and stepping in to ensure veterans receive the care, respect, and support they’ve rightfully earned.” 

    “In the Marines, we were taught that you can fail a run and come back the next day—but if you lie, you’re out. Veterans, and all Americans, deserve leaders who tell the truth, and who respect service and sacrifice,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “Yet Donald Trump and his Republican allies lie every day about their commitment to the military and the veteran community. Democratic veterans in Congress aren’t afraid to call out the hypocrisy—and fight to make sure no one who served this country is left behind. I’m proud to be part of this new caucus and I’m looking forward to getting started.” 

    “As a combat veteran with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam and as a Purple Heart recipient, I know our nation’s responsibility to our men and women in uniform,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “Make no mistake: by firing over 80,000 VA staff, many of them veterans, this Administration isn’t just hurting us and our families — they are making every American worse off. Proud to join the Democratic Veterans Caucus as a founding member to continue our fight to protect those who have served our nation.” 

    “As a Navy veteran, I’m appalled by the President’s assault on veterans and their families,” said Congressman Gil Cisneros. “I’ve seen firsthand the detrimental effects of this administration on our veteran community. From cutting health care and veteran benefits to disparaging the honor of those who have served, the attacks from the President are un-American and vile. I stand firmly with my colleagues in the Democratic Veterans Caucus and know we will fight to protect the honor of veterans, their health care, mental health care, and their families.” 

    “I am proud to represent one of the largest veterans’ populations in the country,” said Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03). “As a veteran of the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, I look forward to continuing my work protecting America’s veterans, especially their health care, with the launch of the Democratic Veterans Caucus.” 

    Members of the Democratic Veterans Caucus Include: 

    1. Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA) – Marine Corps Reserve 
    2. Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA) – Navy 
    3. Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ) – Air Force 
    4. Rep. Jason Crow (CO) – Army 
    5. Rep. Don Davis (NC) – Air Force 
    6. Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA) – Navy 
    7. Rep. Jared Golden (ME) – Marine Corps 
    8. Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH) – Navy Reserve
    9. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA) – Air Force 
    10. Rep. Ted Lieu (CA) – Air Force 
    11. Rep. Seth Moulton (MA) – Marine Corps 
    12. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA) – Navy Reserve 
    13. Rep. Pat Ryan (NY) – Army 
    14. Rep. Bobby Scott (VA) – Army 
    15. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ) – Navy
    16. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA) – Army 
    17. Rep. Derek Tran (CA) – Army 
    18. Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA) – Army 

    Congressman Deluzio is a U.S. Navy veteran, deployed to Iraq and at sea, and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • India’s youth driving innovation and nation-building: L Speaker Om Birla at IIT Jodhpur

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday emphasized the pivotal role of Indian youth in shaping the nation’s progress, stating that India is emerging as a global leader in addressing contemporary challenges through the strength of its young talent and technological innovation.

    Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jodhpur, Birla lauded the contribution of India’s youth in propelling social, economic, and technological advancement, and urged them to continue harnessing cutting-edge technology for the betterment of the nation.

    Birla noted that the youth of India are increasingly transitioning from job seekers to job creators, with IITs playing a crucial role in this transformation. “Graduates from IITs have significantly contributed to strengthening the country’s startup ecosystem and economic development,” he said.

    Birla added that the global demand for skilled and innovative Indian youth is a testament to their growing impact, and encouraged them to become active stakeholders in the journey towards a Viksit Bharat.

    During his visit, the Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurated the state-of-the-art Lecture Hall Complex – II at IIT Jodhpur. He emphasized the importance of integrating modern scientific advancements with India’s rich spiritual heritage, stating that this balanced approach promotes ethical, inclusive, and sustainable growth. “India is moving forward by combining its scientific capabilities with spiritual wisdom, charting a path toward holistic national advancement,” Birla said.

    The LS Speaker also highlighted India’s strides in achieving self-reliance across various sectors — from manufacturing toys to producing defence equipment — and said that the country’s robust digital ecosystem has further fueled the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    Praising the contribution of IITs in advancing technical education, Birla asserted that every college and university in India should strive to become a hub of innovation and excellence. He called upon higher education institutions to move beyond conventional teaching and foster creativity, research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration to drive India’s growth in science and technology.

    “IIT students have enhanced India’s global stature by combining modern technology with Indian thinking and a fresh perspective,” he noted. Birla added that academic spaces should evolve into dynamic ecosystems where ideas are nurtured, talents are shaped, and future leaders are created.

    Referring to IIT Jodhpur’s transformative journey, Birla commended the institute for its pioneering role in global research, innovation, and cultivating scientific temper. He praised the efforts of Director Prof. Avinash K. Agarwal and the institute’s contributions in areas like defence technology and sustainable development in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

    Despite being located in a geographically challenging region, the institute has emerged as a beacon of progress, empowering young minds with access to world-class education and innovative thinking, Birla added.

    Birla also distributed ‘Research Initiative Grants’ to support innovation-related projects at the institute. Additionally, he launched IIT Jodhpur’s new official website and planted a sapling on the campus as a symbolic gesture of sustainable growth.

  • MIL-OSI Global: Edmund White was my friend – I know first-hand why his writing meant so much to queer readers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hugh Stevens, Senior Lecturer Department of English Language & Literature, UCL

    When I was 19 years old, I visited New York for ten days on the way to London. I was flying from New Zealand, that small island nation in the South Pacific where all sexual acts between men were still illegal. My body was naive and innocent, but my mind had somehow (partly through conversations with older, less naive students at Auckland University) absorbed essential knowledge about gay life happening elsewhere.

    Gay life happened in London, in Paris, in San Francisco. But more than anywhere else, it happened in New York. I was terrified. What would happen to me, in those sinful cities of the plain? With any luck I would be corrupted, and thoroughly de-moralised.

    It was November 1982, and Manhattan was freezing, especially after sub-tropical Auckland. On my first day, I walked ten or so blocks south from my hostel in Chelsea to Greenwich Village. My knees trembled, but still they carried me towards my goal. The theme tune from Sesame Street went through my mind: “Come and play, everything’s A-OK, friendly neighbours there, that’s where we meet, can you tell me how to get, how to get to Christopher Street?”

    It wasn’t difficult – you just walked south on Seventh Avenue. Where Seventh met Christopher, if you turned right, you passed an improbable number of gay bars and seedy bookstores until you reached the infamous, nefarious Christopher Street pier. I turned left. I walked past the Stonewall Inn, and soon I came to a not-so-seedy bookstore, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, where Christopher Street met Gay Street. Intrigued by the name – how could I not be? – I went inside.

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    I was the only customer in the shop. Behind the counter, piled with books, were a woman, and a man. They started talking to me. The man, Edmund White, told me that he was a writer, and the books were copies of his new novel, A Boy’s Own Story (1982). A real novelist! I looked at the book, at the beautiful boy in a lilac vest on its cover – a new hardback. It was too expensive for me.

    Sensing that my hesitation was financial, the woman told me that another book by the author, States of Desire: Travels in Gay America (1980), was much cheaper. By the time I left the shop I had a copy of States of Desire, and two invitations. One to join Ed for tea at the New York Institute for the Humanities, and another to hear him read from a novel-in-progress.

    He was billed alongside the painter Joe Brainard, who was reading from his own wonderful book, I Remember (1975). “I remember how much, in high school, I wanted to be handsome and popular. I remember when, in high school, if you wore green and yellow on Thursday it meant that you were queer.”

    I remember that Edmund’s voice, reading from his book Caracole (1985), was fluent and mellifluous. But I found his prose much more difficult to follow than Brainard’s poetry. After the reading there was a party, with biscuits, rounds of Brie and grapes. Among these confident Americans I was shy, and I thought the Brie was impossibly sophisticated – I had grown up with New Zealand Tasty Cheddar.

    Enchanted worlds

    I met Ed at the New York Institute for the Humanities on a cold, grey afternoon, and walked with him to his apartment on Lafayette Street. We chatted as we drank tea. “What authors do you like?” he asked me. “What music do you listen to?” He gave me a copy of A Boy’s Own Story, which he signed: “For Hugh, at the beginning of a friendship.”

    This was indeed the beginning of a friendship, although I haven’t seen Ed since 1998. I introduced him when he read from yet another novel, The Farewell Symphony (1997), at the University of York. Ed was extrovert and gregarious, whereas I am introverted, often painfully shy – and not good at keeping in touch.

    But over the years I have read and reread Ed’s work. His autobiographical novels, his memoirs, his short stories, his travel writing, his criticism, his biography of the French writer Jean Genet, his utilitarian guide to criminal pleasures, The Joy of Gay Sex (1977).

    Why does his writing mean so much to me – and to many other queer readers? Ed may have been confident, gregarious, never afraid to speak or to write about his own queer life, and the queer lives of others. But his writing also charted the anxieties, the anguish, the remorse, the self-loathing that were probably a part of every “gay” life in America in the 50s and 60s. And many gay lives in New Zealand in the 80s, for that matter.

    In A Boy’s Own Story the narrator remembers the enchantment of a marionette troupe performing Sleeping Beauty at his third birthday party. The performance transported him to a world in which “evil was defeated and love crowned”, in which “things devolved with the logic of art, not life”. Ed himself was such an enchanter: his art may have imitated life, but it also created magical worlds for his readers, enabling them to defeat evil and to find love.

    Our lives can imitate art. His art gives us the thrill of articulating what may not be articulated, of speaking the names that dare not be spoken, as when, on the last page of A Boy’s Own Story, the “boy” (now a remembering man) tells us how “scandalised” he was when Mr Beattie, the teacher he is seducing, “asked me to lick the bright red head, to roll my tongue around the head of his penis”. How scandalised and thrilled I was reading those words.

    Now Edmund is gone – he passed away on June 3 age 85 – but his enchanted worlds remain. They are there for us to read, and to reread, to inspire us to remember, remember, remember.

    Hugh Stevens 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. Edmund White was my friend – I know first-hand why his writing meant so much to queer readers – https://theconversation.com/edmund-white-was-my-friend-i-know-first-hand-why-his-writing-meant-so-much-to-queer-readers-258504

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • India now seen as global problem solver, says Dr Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said on Monday that the world increasingly views India as a key partner in addressing global challenges, attributing the shift to the country’s growing capabilities and the stable leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past 11 years.

    Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which saw the participation of over 150 countries including heads of state, ministers, scientists, and policymakers, Dr Singh noted a visible enthusiasm among global delegates to engage with India. He said that the perception of India on the global stage has undergone a substantial change since 2014, with decisive policy interventions and consistent governance driving the transformation.

    The Minister described it as a “pleasant coincidence” that the Modi government was completing 11 years in office at a time when India’s global stature was rising. “There is a huge surge of interest among representatives of other countries who are keen to benefit from India’s strengths and capacities,” he said, adding that over the last two days, members of the Indian delegation had observed “how much expectation the world now has from India.”

    On the subject of ocean-related challenges, Dr Singh said India had taken a leading role in addressing issues such as ocean warming, rising sea levels, and pollution. He emphasised that Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to ocean health was underlined by his mention of the Deep Ocean Mission in two consecutive Independence Day speeches. The mission, launched to explore marine resources and develop deep-sea technologies, is being implemented with the support of ISRO and several national research institutions.

    Dr Singh underlined the need for collective global action on ocean concerns, pointing out that oceans cover nearly 70% of the Earth’s surface and transcend political boundaries. “Issues such as rising ocean temperatures and water levels, oil spills, and plastic pollution affect humanity as a whole,” he said.

    India, he added, was among the first nations to officially ban single-use plastic and is following a “whole-of-government and whole-of-science” approach to address marine and environmental issues.

    The Minister also noted that several countries had sought one-on-one meetings with the Indian delegation, a development he said underscores India’s growing importance in shaping global conversations on climate, clean energy, and sustainable development.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Statement on ICE Raids in Los Angeles

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) shared the following statement to social media as ICE raids unfolded across Los Angeles, including in California’s 37th District, on Friday:

    “I am closely monitoring the ICE raids that are currently happening across Los Angeles, including at a Korean American-owned store in my district. LA has long been a safe haven for immigrants. Trump claims he’s targeting criminals, but he’s really just tearing families apart and destabilizing entire communities.

    “If you are a constituent of the 37th District and your family member has been detained, please reach out to my office and we can help locate your family member and provide you with a list of government-approved attorneys.

    “In these disturbing times, it’s important for you to know your rights and how to protect yourself. For more information, head to my website.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons celebrates passage of five bills out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) celebrated the passage of five of his bills focused on strengthening U.S. national security and international engagement out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a markup session Thursday. Senator Coons is a member of the committee.

    “From opposing hostage diplomacy to expanding our access to global sources of critical minerals, these bipartisan bills will strengthen our alliances, keep Americans safe, and advance our standing in the world,” said Senator Coons. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support, and to Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen for their leadership in holding last week’s markup. All five of these bills are commonsense pieces of legislation that protect our citizens and better position our nation for the future, and I hope the full Senate will swiftly take up and pass these bills.”

    The following bills written by Senator Coons passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week:

    • Defending International Security by Restricting Unlawful Partnerships and Tactics (DISRUPT) Act of 2025: The DISRUPT Act was introduced alongside Senator David McCormick (R-Pa.) to address “adversary alignment,” the growing cooperation between U.S. adversaries that threatens our nation’s interests. Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have intensified their cooperation, threatening global stability through increased technology and arms transfers, joint operations, and combined efforts to evade sanctions and export controls. The DISRUPT Act highlights the need for the U.S. to counter these threats and prepare for simultaneous challenges across regions, and requires the executive branch to craft a whole-of-government strategy to approach this phenomenon.
    • Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience (COUNTER) Act: The COUNTER Act, introduced with Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), would combat the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) attempts to strengthen its global reach by building and expanding military bases in strategically important locations. The PRC has intensified its efforts to establish an overseas network of military bases, which would allow the People’s Liberation Army to project and expand military power. The bill would mitigate this threat by requiring an intelligence assessment of these activities and a strategy from the State Department and Department of Defense. It would also create an interagency task force to implement the strategy and identify proactive measures to counteract both current and future Chinese attempts to add military bases in strategic locations.
    • Countering Wrongful Detention Act: Originally introduced last year alongside Senator James Risch (R-Idaho) to combat “hostage diplomacy,” the legislation would create new tools for the U.S. government to deter states from wrongfully detaining Americans abroad and support wrongful detainees upon their return home. The bill would create a U.S. State Department designation called the “State Sponsor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention” to hold foreign governments accountable for wrongfully detaining Americans abroad. It aims to refine existing U.S. government responses to wrongful detentions, enhance awareness of travel advisories for Americans in high-risk countries, and establish an advisory council on wrongful detention consisting of survivors, family members, and experts to provide policy recommendations to the executive branch. Seven of the 10 provisions contained in the Countering Wrongful Detention Act were passed into law as part of the FY 2025 NDAA.
    • Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration (Finding ORE) Act: The Finding ORE act, introduced with Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) would strengthen U.S. critical mineral security and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Critical minerals are essential to producing technologies in the defense, semiconductor, automotive, and energy sectors—industries that will shape America’s economic future and global standing. This bill aims to utilize the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) expertise in mapping critical mineral reserves while giving U.S. companies an advantage in responsibly developing mineral resources globally.
    • International Nuclear Energy Act: Introduced alongside Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), this bill aims to strengthen the U.S. nuclear industry and offset China’s and Russia’s influence on international nuclear energy development. The bill would create an office to coordinate nuclear export strategies and financing, promoting regulatory harmonization and standardization, and enhancing safeguards and security. The act also would form programs to promote international collaboration and hold cabinet-level biennial summits. Senator Coons is a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters, Slotkin, Bergman Call on Small Business Administration to Approve Disaster Declaration to Assist Communities Impacted by Northern Michigan Ice Storms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Elissa Slotkin (MI), as well as U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (MI-01), are calling on President Trump to approve the State of Michigan’s Small Business Administration (SBA) Rapid Administrative Disaster Declaration request following the severe winter storms that impacted Northern Michigan and the Eastern Upper Peninsula in late March. In a letter to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, the lawmakers expressed their support for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request to the SBA, which would help provide federal assistance to businesses, homeowners, renters, and private nonprofit organizations that were negatively impacted by the storm.  

    “The economic fallout from the storm has been staggering,” the lawmakers wrote. “In Emmet County, the second-most populous county in Northern Michigan, a local business survey conducted in the storm’s aftermath found that 97 percent of businesses experienced disruption, with 86 percent forced to suspend operations, and 71 percent reporting employees unable to report to work. More than half of these businesses reported infrastructure damage, inventory loss, or supply chain disruptions. Small businesses throughout the region, many of which are already operating on thin margins, are now struggling to recover.” 

    The National Weather Service has ranked this storm one of the most significant ice storms ever recorded in Northern Michigan. State and Federal officials estimate the storms caused $137 million in immediate response costs and inflicted severe damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. In addition to the immediate damage recorded, the summer tourism industry is expected to be impacted as well as other industries after devastating damage to 3 million acres of forest. The SBA Rapid Administrative Disaster Declaration would allow eligible businesses, homeowners, renters, and private nonprofits in the disaster area, specifically Cheboygan, Mackinac, Emmet, Charlevoix, Otsego, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties, as well as the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, to apply for SBA disaster loans to help them recover. 

    The lawmakers continued: “The hardworking people and businesses of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are strong and resilient. Yet, local capacity is limited, and recovery of this magnitude requires a coordinated effort at all levels of government. As such, we respectfully request that SBA swiftly approve Governor Whitmer’s request for an administrative declaration of disaster. This declaration would make available critical federal support and resources to struggling business owners as they continue working to stabilize operations, preserve jobs, and rebuild.” 

    Peters, Slotkin, and Bergman have worked in a bipartisan way to aid Northern Michigan communities impacted by this devastating storm. In May, the lawmakers urged President Trump to swiftly approve Governor Whitmer’s Major Disaster Declaration request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance, which, if approved, would help the affected areas recover from these severe winter storms. In the days following the storm, the lawmakers also wrote Governor Whitmer a letter expressing their willingness to provide any federal support needed as part of the State of Michigan’s response.  

    Text of the letter is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Hurricane Season, Welch Leads Colleagues in Calling on President Trump to Nominate an Experienced FEMA Administrator

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week led his colleagues in urging President Trump to expeditiously nominate a qualified Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator that will restore confidence in the agency as peak disaster season approaches. In their letter, the Senators expressed serious concern about the ongoing absence of a Senate-confirmed FEMA Administrator and steps the Trump Administration has taken to weaken and destabilize the agency, including the abrupt termination last month of Cameron Hamilton, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator.  
    “In recent months, your administration has reduced FEMA staff by roughly 30%, rescinded grant funding local communities rely on to recover from disasters and significantly scaled back emergency management training for state officials,” wrote the Senators. “Taken together, these actions have impeded ongoing recovery efforts and undermined the national response to future natural disasters.” 
    To date, President Trump has failed to nominate an Administrator or appoint someone who satisfies the qualifications specified for the role. David Richardson—Mr. Hamilton’s replacement as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator—told agency staff last week that he did not know the United States has a hurricane season. Mr. Richardson will head the federal response to any hurricanes that hit our shores this season. 
    The Senators concluded: “We agree that FEMA can do better and needs reform. But dismantling the agency and weakening its leadership will only leave states and localities stranded when disaster strikes. To preserve the long-term integrity of FEMA and ensure our nation’s preparedness for future disasters, we urge you to nominate a qualified Administrator that will restore confidence in the agency as soon as possible.” 
    In addition to Senator Welch, the letter was cosigned by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). 
    Read and download the full text of the letter to President Trump. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Minority Affairs Ministry marks 11 years of governance, highlights digital reforms

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Minority Affairs on Monday marked 11 years of governance under the Modi administration, celebrating a decade-long journey of service delivery, policy innovation, and inclusive development. The event, chaired by Secretary Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, was held in the national capital and attended by senior officials and representatives from affiliated bodies.

    The commemoration focused on the Ministry’s efforts to reform and modernize welfare mechanisms, particularly through the use of digital platforms. Officials noted that all ministry schemes are now being implemented via dedicated online portals, a shift that has enhanced transparency, simplified access, and strengthened service delivery.

    Highlighting the government’s commitment to accountability, the Ministry has institutionalised third-party reviews and audits across its welfare schemes. This measure, officials said, is aimed at improving programme effectiveness while reinforcing public trust in institutional mechanisms.

    In policy formulation, the Ministry has placed emphasis on collaborative governance. Inputs from states and key stakeholders have been actively incorporated into the design and implementation of schemes, with the aim of making them more responsive to local needs and social contexts.

    One of the key developments highlighted at the event was the notification of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. The legislation, which was shaped after extensive discussions within the Joint Parliamentary Committee, is expected to reinforce the governance framework of Waqf properties and further the socio-economic welfare of minority communities.

    Additionally, the Ministry recently launched the UMEED Central Portal on June 6. This integrated digital platform is designed to streamline access to various minority welfare schemes and facilitate community empowerment through better information access and coordination.

    The Secretary also noted that the formulation of Central Rules under the revised Waqf Act is in its final stages, with expectations that the new framework will bolster implementation and governance across the board.

    In his address, Dr. Kumar described the reforms as “foundational steps” in the Ministry’s broader commitment to inclusive growth. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to contribute meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 — a long-term national development roadmap focused on equity, opportunity, and prosperity for all communities.

    The event concluded with an oath-taking ceremony, where Ministry officials pledged to dedicate themselves to building a just and equitable India by 2047.

  • MIL-OSI Global: The food affordability crisis is one reason governments need to step up for school food

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Tina Moffat, Professor, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University

    Despite the hard work and dedication of hundreds of local grassroots organizations across the country to deliver student nutrition programs, there are, too often, not enough funds to purchase the food to meet student needs.

    As described in a study of elementary school parents’ and teachers’ perspectives on school food in southern Ontario, in the city of Hamilton and Peel Region, far too many school food programs cannot adequately meet existing nutritional needs of hungry students. Some teachers described how students, as young as four years old, come to school without enough nutritious food to fuel them through the day.

    As a researcher who examines biological and cultural determinants of human nutrition and food security, I conducted this study with academic colleagues in partnership with the Coalition for Healthy School Food.

    Fortunately, in 2024 the government of Canada announced a new National School Food Program and policy. As of March 10, 2025, the federal government has made school food agreements with all provinces and territories.

    This is an opportunity to reinvent school food across Canada and to catch up to other G7 countries that have long-running traditions of school food programs.

    Perspectives on school food programs

    In our study we asked parents through an online survey and focus group discussions in Hamilton and Peel Region to tell us what they envision for a future national school food program.

    Eighty-three per cent of the respondents were women; respondents self-identfied as South Asian (eight per cent), Black (five per cent), Indigenous (four per cent), Middle Eastern (four per cent), Southeast Asian (three per cent), Latino (three per cent), East Asian (three per cent) and white (70 per cent).

    Forty-three per cent of households were classified as experiencing some level of food insecurity, with 41 per cent having an annual household income of less than $69,999.

    Ninety-six per cent of survey respondents said they want their child to participate in a school food program, and 77 per cent said they would be willing to pay some amount for it. In parent focus groups, and teacher interviews, participants cited such benefits as:

    • Improving the nutritional quality of what students eat;
    • Reducing the consumption of highly processed foods;
    • Improving behaviour, learning, mental health and energy levels;
    • And connections to curriculum like nutrition and food literacy education.

    Participants saw affordability as one of the major barriers to an accessible program. Suggestions for funding models ranged from universal free programs to government-funded programs subsidized by optional parent contributions, and corporate donor funding.



    Read more:
    School gardens and kitchens could grow with Ontario’s proposed food literacy act

    Most parents and teachers were adamant that programs be universally accessible with nutritious and diverse food options for all students regardless of ability to pay.

    Severely underfunded provinces

    Federal funding of $79 million flowed to the provinces and programs in the first year of the government’s National School Food Program, but those funds were quickly used up.

    As noted by the Coalition for Healthy School Food, not all provinces are contributing in the same way towards school food programs to date.

    In Saskatchewan and Ontario, school food is severely underfunded relative to other provinces and territories. Saskatchewan and Ontario’s per capita investments are four times lower than the national median of 63 cents per student per day: Nova Scotia contributes $3.30 whereas Saskatchewan and Ontario are at the bottom of the pack at three and nine cents per student per day respectively. That’s based on an annual average of 190 school days per year across Canada.

    Without significant funding increases from those provincial governments, none of the hopes and dreams for a National School Food Program in Saskatchewan and Ontario will come to fruition.

    Challenges and opportunities ahead

    While the need for more funding is paramount, there are also logistical issues to tackle. Without commercial-grade kitchens in elementary schools, some survey respondents suggested centralized food preparation models by upgrading existing neighbourhood or high school infrastructure, from which meals could be distributed to local schools.



    Read more:
    What needs to happen next for Canada to have a successful school food program

    Others were in favour of contracting local food businesses as providers. A few parents raised the concern that school boards might contract large food conglomerates, resulting in a situation where corporate profit compromises food quality.

    Teachers voiced the need for adequate staffing and volunteer support so as not to unduly burden school staff. Some parents and teachers felt strongly about minimizing packaging waste. As one teacher stated:

    “I would be concerned about the environmental impact, going from trying to conserve and be mindful of what we use, like reusable containers, to a disposable model … I think it would send a poor message to kids who we’re asking to protect their environment.”

    The topic of how much time students have to eat arose frequently in discussions. In Ontario, many schools at the elementary level adhere to a two-break or balanced day model, where students have a “nutrition break” in the morning with recess, and another in early afternoon (instead of two short recesses and a mid-day window for lunch/recess). This may be a reason why parents and some teachers say that kids don’t have enough time to eat.

    Diversity and inclusion

    In addition to logistical operations and accessibility, parents and teachers voiced the need to consider social and cultural diversity and inclusion. They noted the diversity of student dietary requirements and preferences — from food allergies/intolerances and cultural and religious foods to concerns about what respondents referred to as their “picky eaters.”

    Teachers pointed out that halal and/or vegetarian foods must be made available. The oversight of food safety and offering a diversity of healthy food choices was mentioned repeatedly by parents.

    Meals and ingredients could be posted in weekly or monthly menus — like they are in in France, for example — to ensure students and their families are aware of what is being served.

    Programs engaged with students, community

    There was enthusiasm for exposing kids to culturally diverse menu options that would make students from all backgrounds feel included and welcome.

    While some parents were concerned that their kids might not eat foods they’re unfamiliar with, others thought it would be great to expose them to new foods that they might eat at school even if they wouldn’t at home.

    Some parents were excited about the prospect of community involvement, including volunteers but also students in food prep, distribution and cleanup. Beyond the school community, some proposed fostering partnerships with local farms, community gardens and local food providers.

    In sum, participants voiced the need for flexible programs that could be tailored to specific school, family and community needs — with clear communication with all families and school staff about the school food programs’ goals and operations.

    Much more work to do

    We have a tremendous need and opportunity in Canada to strengthen our food system and food security with the National School Food Program.

    We have just begun this project with the commitment of some federal, provincial and municipal funding, but there is much more work to do in developing school food programs in each part of the country.

    The continued food affordability crisis and the threat of tariffs by the United States make it clear how important these programs are.

    No matter how these programs end up evolving, parents and teachers in Hamilton and Peel Region have clearly voiced their desire for equity — school food program accessibility, regardless of family income. They also want to see food offerings meeting students’ diverse dietary requirements, and the inclusion of student, family, educator and local community partners.

    Tina Moffat receives funding from SSHRC.

    – ref. The food affordability crisis is one reason governments need to step up for school food – https://theconversation.com/the-food-affordability-crisis-is-one-reason-governments-need-to-step-up-for-school-food-257868

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nine Defendants Arrested for Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FARGO – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that beginning on May 15, 2025, a multi-state law enforcement operation resulted in the arrests of nine defendants following their indictment by a federal grand jury in the District of North Dakota for roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy with ties to the Almighty Latin King Nation criminal street gang.

    The defendants arrested are:

    Ricardo Jaquez, 46, Oakes, North Dakota

    Israel David Flores, a/k/a Izzy, 45, Audubon, Minnesota

    Michelle Lee Fuller, 38, Audubon, Minnesota

    Jose Manuel Jaquez, a/k/a Cash, 36, Oakes, North Dakota

    Jacob Edward Lambert, 37, Oakes, North Dakota

    Ashley Marie Bleecker, 40, Belcourt, North Dakota

    Alfredo Hernandez Jaquez, a/k/a Freddy, 47, Wells, Minnesota

    Wesley Wayne Tolleson, 37, Wells, Minnesota

    Jason Leonard Gulden, 44, Aberdeen, South Dakota

    All defendants have made appearances in federal court in North Dakota and face up to life in prison with a 10-year minimum mandatory if convicted.

    This case is part of Operation Crown Down, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in North Dakota and other states. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    An indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Drug Enforcement; Homeland Security Investigations; the Oakes Police Department; the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Cass County Drug Task Force; the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force; the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force; the CEE-VI Drug Task Force; the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Brown County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Office.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew P. Kopp.

                                                                                                                                         # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Highest Payout Online Casinos Australia: All iGaming Recommends These Real Money Casinos for Aussie Players

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, CA, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — All iGaming brings the excitement of online casinos in Australia right to your fingertips, combining traditional gambling thrills with digital convenience. As Aussies flock to online casinos, the demand for flexible, fun gaming experiences continues to grow. Whether you’re enjoying classic pokies or playing live dealer blackjack, there’s something for everyone.

    In this guide, All iGaming helps you navigate the top platforms, the latest trends, and essential safety tips for an enjoyable, secure gaming experience. Whether you’re just starting or already a pro, we’ve got you covered.

    Why Choose Online Casinos Australia?

    Australia’s gambling heritage, from horse racing to land-based casinos, has seamlessly transitioned into a thriving online sector. Here’s why online casinos in Australia stand out:

    • Flexibility: Login from anywhere—city or outback—without travel hassles.
    • Game Diversity: Enjoy Aussie-inspired pokies, international table games, and live dealer options.
    • Rewards: Welcome bonuses, free spins, and loyalty programs boost your playtime.
    • Big Wins: Progressive jackpots and high RTP games offer life-changing payouts.

    Generous welcome bonuses, free spins, and loyalty programs are staples of online casinos in Australia, designed to attract new players and reward regulars. These offers can significantly boost your bankroll, giving you more chances to explore and win. However, the real draw is the potential for substantial payouts, with progressive jackpots and high RTP (Return to Player) games offering life-changing rewards.

     Generous bonuses and the potential for substantial rewards make online casinos in Australia a favorite. Get Your Bonus Today – Join the Fun!

    How to Navigate the Best Online Casinos in Australia

    Selecting the right online casino Australia platform requires diligence. Consider these steps:

    • Licensing: Look for licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao eGaming.
    • Security: Ensure SSL encryption and eCOGRA certification for safety.
    • Bonuses: Understand wagering requirements (20x-50x) and game eligibility.
    • Payments: Use credit cards, e-wallets, or crypto for seamless transactions.
    • Support: Opt for 24/7 live chat or email assistance.

    >>SIGN UP SECURELY & GET STARTED WITH PREMIUM CRYPTO CASINOS ON ALL-IGAMING!

    Emerging Trends in Online Casinos Australia for 2025

    Online casinos in Australia are evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and shifting player preferences. Decentralized casinos, built on blockchain platforms like Ethereum, are gaining traction, offering transparency through smart contracts that automate payouts and game fairness. This trend appeals to tech-savvy players seeking control and security.

    NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and play-to-earn (P2E) models are transforming the industry, with some platforms introducing NFT-based rewards and tokenized assets that players can trade or sell. This gamification adds a new dimension, blending gaming with investment opportunities. Artificial intelligence (AI) is also making waves, powering personalized game recommendations, dynamic bonuses, and chatbots that enhance customer service.

    Regulatory changes are on the horizon, with potential updates to the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001 to address the growth of offshore operators. These shifts could impact licensing and advertising, requiring players to stay informed about legal developments to ensure compliance and safety.

    Top Features of Online Casinos Australia

    Best Online Casinos Australia shine with player-focused features:

    • Software Quality: Top-tier providers like Playtech and Evolution Gaming.
    • Mobile Gaming: Optimized for smartphones and tablets.
    • Security: 2FA and encryption protect your data.
    • Bonuses: No-deposit offers and cashback deals add value.
    • Blockchain: Provably fair games build trust.
    • Fast Payouts: E-wallets and crypto withdrawals in under 24 hours.

    >>SECURE, FUN, AND FAIR GAMING AWAITS – START PLAYING ON ALL-IGAMING!

    Tips for an Unforgettable Gaming Experience by All iGaming

    At All iGaming, we believe that strategic planning is key to making the most of online casinos in Australia. Here are some expert tips to help you maximize your experience: Start by setting a budget and sticking to it, using responsible gambling tools to avoid overspending. Explore free demo modes to familiarize yourself with games before wagering real money, especially for complex titles like poker or live dealer roulette.

    Leverage bonuses wisely by focusing on offers with low wagering requirements and high RTP games to improve your odds. Regularly check for new promotions, as online casinos 

    Australia frequently updates its offers. Engage with community forums or live chat features to exchange tips with other players, enhancing your skills and enjoyment.

    Security is paramount—always verify casino credentials and use strong, unique passwords. Keep software updated to protect against vulnerabilities, and consider using a dedicated device or VPN for added privacy, especially when accessing offshore sites.

    READY TO PLAY? CHECK OUT THESE TOP CRYPTO CASINOS ON ALL-IGAMING!

    Responsible Gambling in Best Online Casinos Australia

    Responsible gambling is a cornerstone of the online casinos in Australia experience. The potential for financial loss makes it critical to approach gaming as entertainment, not an income source. Set time limits take regular breaks to maintain balance, and use self-exclusion options if needed to curb excessive play.

    Support resources are widely available, with organizations like Gambling Help Online offering free counseling and tools. Many platforms integrate these services directly, providing links to helplines and self-assessment quizzes. By prioritizing well-being, players can enjoy online casinos in Australia sustainably, ensuring long-term enjoyment without regret.

    FIND YOUR IDEAL CRYPTO CASINO – CHECK OUT THE LIST ON ALL-IGAMING TODAY!

    Conclusion: Embrace the Thrill of Online Casinos Australia

    Online casinos in Australia offer a vibrant mix of tradition and innovation, delivering unforgettable gaming from across the country. With diverse games, advanced technology, and rewarding opportunities, these platforms cater to all preferences. By choosing licensed sites and practicing responsible gambling, you can dive into this exciting world with confidence.

    Whether you’re drawn to pokie spins or live dealer tables, this guide equips you to thrive. Embark on your gaming adventure today and experience the thrill of online casinos in Australia—right from the heart of Down Under.

    READY TO BET? CHECK OUT THESE LEADING CRYPTO CASINOS TODAY!


    Frequently Asked Questions for Best Online Casinos Australia

    1. What are online casinos in Australia, and how do they work?

    Online casinos in Australia are virtual gambling platforms that allow players to enjoy a wide range of games like pokies, blackjack, and live dealer tables from anywhere in the country. They operate using secure software from top providers, offering real money wagering and sometimes free play options. Players sign up, deposit funds via various payment methods, and access games through a website or mobile app, with winnings withdrawable subject to terms.

    1. Are online casinos in Australia legal?

    The legality of online casinos in Australia is governed by the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001, which restricts licensed operators from offering certain services to Australian residents. However, many players access offshore sites that are licensed elsewhere (e.g., Malta or Curaçao). It’s your responsibility to ensure compliance with local laws, as regulations may vary by state or territory.

    1. How can I ensure a safe gaming experience?

    To stay safe at online casinos in Australia, choose platforms with valid licenses, SSL encryption, and eCOGRA certification. Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and verify payment methods. Stick to reputable sites and avoid sharing sensitive information with unverified operators.

    1. What types of games can I play at online casinos in Australia?

    You can enjoy a variety of games, including:

    • Pokies: Australian-style slots with local themes.
    • Table Games: Blackjack, roulette, and poker in multiple variants.
    • Live Dealer: Real-time baccarat, sic bo, and more with live hosts.
    • Specialty Games: Keno and bingo for added variety. New technologies like AR and VR are also enhancing these offerings in 2025.
    1. What payment methods are accepted?

    Best online casinos Australia support:

    • Credit/Debit Cards: Visa and Mastercard.
    • E-Wallets: PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller.
    • Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more for fast transactions.
    • Bank Transfers: Direct deposits for larger amounts. Check each casino’s policy, as withdrawal times and fees vary 

    Disclaimer:

    The legality of online gambling in Australia is governed by the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001, which imposes restrictions on services provided to Australian residents. Many online casinos operate from offshore jurisdictions, and their legal status may vary depending on your location. It is your responsibility to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations before engaging in any online gambling activities.

    This content is not intended to provide financial, legal, or investment advice. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified professional or legal advisor before making any decisions related to online casinos. All iGaming is not affiliated with or in control of any third-party websites or services linked within this content, and we are not liable for their content, security, or practices.

    Email:support@alligaming.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ASM share buyback update June 2 – 6, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almere, The Netherlands
    June 9, 2025, 5:45 p.m. CET

    ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reports the following transactions, conducted under ASM’s current share buyback program.

    Date Repurchased shares Average price Repurchased value
    June 2, 2025 11,607 € 471.98 € 5,478,314
    June 3, 2025 4,528 € 482.57 € 2,185,065
    Total 16,135 € 474.95 € 7,663,379

    These repurchases were made as part of the €150 million share buyback program which started on April 30, 2025. Of the total program, 26.1% has been repurchased. For further details including individual transaction information please visit: www.asm.com/investors/dividends-share-buybacks.

    About ASM International

    ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Contact

    Investor and media relations

    Victor Bareño
    T: +31 88 100 8500
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    Investor relations

    Valentina Fantigrossi
    T: +31 88 100 8502
    E: investor.relations@asm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The answer to global energy security

    Alberta’s energy industry contributes billions of dollars to Alberta’s economy and plays a vital role in the global responsible energy supply.

    Premier Danielle Smith, Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean, and other government officials will attend the Global Energy Show from June 10 to 12 to welcome international delegates and promote Alberta’s responsible energy development. Their participation will focus on strengthening Alberta’s position as a trusted energy partner, advancing investment opportunities, and highlighting the province’s role in reducing global energy poverty through secure, sustainable supply.

    With current geopolitical challenges, Alberta’s role in energy security has never been more important for Canada’s stability and that of our trading partners, particularly in North America and Asia.

    “Alberta’s energy industry has been built from the ground up by innovative minds who saw opportunity where others see challenges – and they continue to do so today. Thanks to this ingenuity, Alberta has risen in the global ranks as an energy powerhouse with an equally strong environmental record. With global demand for energy security at an all-time high, Alberta stands ready to provide the solutions our partners need.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    “The world needs reliable, responsible and affordable energy from a producer they can trust. Alberta’s vast resources are positioned to meet long-term energy demand and will be key in obtaining North American and global energy security and helping defeat energy poverty. We intend to showcase this to attendees from all over the world at this year’s Global Energy Show.”

    Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals

    While at the Global Energy Show, Premier Smith and Minister Jean will meet with international officials and business leaders to promote Alberta’s energy sector and vast resource base. Their discussions will focus on strengthening Alberta’s position as a reliable resource partner, identifying new opportunities to meet evolving energy needs, and reducing global reliance on energy from conflict zones.

    “As Canada’s largest international energy gathering, the event will address critical issues including energy security, affordability, access and investment. With delegates from over 100 countries, Calgary will highlight Canada’s leadership in shaping the future of energy at home and globally.”

    Nick Samain, Senior Vice President at dmg events

    The conference is an annual event in Calgary, the heart of Canada’s energy sector, and will take place at the BMO Centre with numerous panels, keynote speakers and opportunities for delegates to network.

    Related information

    • Global Energy Show

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Default ahead for California? Unlikely, says New Report From Payden & Rygel’s California Municipal Social Impact Fund Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recent concerns over California’s fiscal health—driven by declining initial public offering (IPO) volume, reduced federal funding risk, and rising costs—have prompted questions about the state’s financial stability. However, after a thorough analysis, Payden & Rygel’s market-leading municipal bond team believes the risk of a bond default or severe credit deterioration remains low.

    “While we understand investors’ concerns about the California economy, its capacity to generate adequate revenue to match spending levels and the potential impact on the state’s municipal debt, we believe that although the revenue picture is softening, the outlook remains relatively stable over the next 1-2 years with potential credit rating deterioration limited to just one notch over that timeframe in a worst case scenario. Near term ratings will hinge on the final FY 26 budget that we expect Sacramento to pass by June 15th, otherwise lawmakers don’t get paid,” say the report’s authors, the Payden & Rygel’s California Municipal Social Impact Fund team.

    “We are also closely monitoring the evolution of entitlement spending reduction proposals at the federal level but ultimately expect Medicaid cuts to be less pervasive than currently feared,” they added.

    Here are six reasons to be optimistic:

    Reason 1: Legal structure.

    The 10th amendment prohibits states, including California, from filing for bankruptcy. While defaults are technically possible, California is nowhere near default based on current indicators.

    Reason 2: Strong revenues, limited impact from IPO weakness

    With less than a month in the current fiscal year, tax revenues are weakening but remain strong, with Governor Newsom’s recent May Revision projecting a relatively small $12 billion projected for next year. IPO activity, while down, is not a core revenue driver. Its recent decline reflects a normalization post-COVID stimulus, not a structural weakness.

    Reason 3: Credit ratings are stable

    All three major credit agencies S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch—rate California AA-/Aa2/AA, respectively, all with stable outlooks but we expect the ratings agencies to refine their views this summer following the finalization of the FY 2026 budget process by the end of June.

    Reason 4: A strong economy with healthy reserves

    California’s gross domestic product (GDP) ranks #4 globally, recently surpassing Japan, underscoring a broad, diverse and innovative state economy with a deep employment base. Although reserves have dipped since 2023 due to pandemic fund drawdowns and budgetary uncertainty in FY 2023/2024 due to delayed tax receipts, they remain at comparatively strong levels historically that will grant state leadership time to navigate federal policy uncertainty, which Governor Newsom blames for a softening of revenue.

    Reason 5: Manageable liabilities

    Debt service is low at 3–4% of governmental expenditures, and pension funding remains solid. Because of constitutional protections that prioritize education and debt payments, revenue would need to drop over 50% to threaten debt service. For context, State revenues dropped 15% in 2008.

    Reason 6: Credit conditions are weakening but remain healthy

    Despite uncertainty, California retains healthy credit fundamentals with relatively stable ratings, manageable deficits, excellent access to liquidity and conservative budgeting assumptions that support bondholder confidence.

    In summary, while recent headlines surrounding tariffs, fiscal tightening, and economic uncertainty have contributed to heightened market anxiety, our base case remains firm: Although California’s credit profile is softening, it continues to demonstrate resilience, supported by a vast and diversified tax base, substantial reserve levels across all governmental funds, and long-term liabilities that we consider both moderate and manageable.

    Here is a link to the full report.

    ABOUT PAYDEN & RYGEL

    With $165 billion under management, Payden & Rygel is one of the largest privately-owned global investment advisers focused on the active management of fixed income and equity portfolios. Payden & Rygel provides a full range of investment strategies and solutions to investors around the globe, including Central Banks, Pension Funds, Insurance Companies, Private Banks, and Foundations. 

    This material reflects the firm’s current opinion and is subject to change without notice. Sources for the material contained herein are deemed reliable but cannot be guaranteed. This material is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or buy any security. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

    For press requests, please contact:
    Kate Ennis
    ennis@daipartnerspr.com
    301-580-6726

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/367a23d6-9d21-429c-a5ea-634d52a11acd

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f85ccbe4-4c3a-4ee8-a197-5f8be8382a85

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Pride Month, Davids Introduces Bill Supporting LGBTQI+ Youth Mental Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, during Pride Month, Representative Sharice Davids reintroduced her legislation to improve mental health support for at-risk LGBTQI+ youth. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of American teenagers found that LGBTQI+ students report significantly worse mental health than other students. Also, nearly 40 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens said they considered committing suicide in 2023. The Pride in Mental Health Act works to improve physical and mental health in at-risk youth.

    “Children here in Kansas and across the country continue to struggle with mental health challenges, but we are failing many of our most vulnerable children on this issue,” said Davids. “My Pride in Mental Health Act takes a comprehensive and data-driven approach to tackling the mental health crisis among LGBTQI+ youth. By increasing access to mental health support for our children and teens, we can save lives.”

    Specifically, the Pride in Mental Health Act:

    • Increases mental health support for LGBTQI+ youth by updating care standards, developing training for caregivers, identifying school bullying prevention guidelines, and more.
    • Protects at-risk youth by commissioning a report on the mental health and mental health care of LGBTQI+ youth in foster care and other federal social services programs.
    • Directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to review and update resources listed on their website that pertain to LGBTQI+ communities.

    The Pride in Mental Health Act has been endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN, National Education Association (NEA), Advocates for Trans Equality, PFLAG National, American Psychological Association (APA), Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker, interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), The Trevor Project, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    “As someone who faced firsthand the challenges of growing up LGBTQI+ while struggling with their mental health, I know how isolating and overwhelming it can be,” said Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15). “Across the country, LGBTQI+ youth face alarmingly high rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and disproportionate representation in the foster care system. For too long, we’ve failed to meet their needs with the compassion and support they deserve. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Pride in Mental Health Act with Rep. Sharice Davids to confront these disparities head-on and ensure every young LGBTQI+ person has access to the care and support they need to thrive.”

    “Young people across the country are struggling right now with unprecedented levels of depression and mental health challenges, and it is felt most acutely among LGBTQ+ youth,” said Congressman Sorensen (IL-17). “It’s important this Pride Month that we help our vulnerable youth access the mental health care, treatment, and resources they need to live happy and healthy lives as their full selves. I’m proud to work with my fellow Equality Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Davids and Torres, to address this crisis head-on. With this legislation, we can improve and save lives.”

    “On behalf of PFLAGers everywhere, I thank Rep. Davids for introducing this important bill providing tools and accountability to SAMHSA,” said Brian K. Bond, CEO, PFLAG National. “Across races, places, genders, and abilities, all people — including LGBTQ+ youth — deserve to thrive as their authentic selves. This bill will ensure access to and measurement of critical behavioral health services, especially for trans youth who are facing unprecedented attacks by people who are seeking to remove the most basic access to healthcare of all kinds.”

    “The LGBTQ+ community faces significant barriers to accessing mental health care,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Ensuring access to early intervention and comprehensive, evidence-based treatment are essential to helping LGBTQ+ individuals with mental health conditions to live well. The Pride in Mental Health Act helps ensure that all individuals affected by mental illness receive the care and support they need and deserve to lead healthy, fulfilling lives within a supportive and inclusive community. NAMI is grateful to Rep. Davids for introducing this legislation and proud to support this important bill.”

    “Passing the Pride in Mental Health Act would provide vital resources to support the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people and shine a necessary spotlight on the serious mental health crisis facing our country,” said Mark Henson, Interim Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, The Trevor Project. “The Trevor Project’s research found that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, yet half of those who wanted mental health care were not able to get it. It’s clear that we need more resources to end suicide among this high-risk group, and this legislation creates a critical avenue for providing the resources, data, and awareness we need to help LGBTQ+ young people across the country lead the happy, healthy lives they deserve.”

    “The reintroduction of the Pride in Mental Health Act is a critical step toward closing the persistent behavioral health gaps experienced by LGBTQ+ youth,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association. “Decades of psychological research show that access to affirming, evidence-based care dramatically improves outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. This legislation affirms a simple but powerful principle: every young person deserves the support they need to thrive — without fear, stigma, or discrimination. We commend Representative Sharice Davids for her bold leadership and steadfast commitment to the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.”

    “LGBTQ+ youth are growing up in a moment of crisis — where their very existence is being debated in legislatures across the country,” said David Stacy, Vice President for Government Affairs, Human Rights Campaign. “They are not just facing the everyday pressures of adolescence, but also the constant drumbeat of rejection and discrimination. Mental health support from affirming, qualified professionals isn’t just helpful — it’s lifesaving. The Pride in Mental Health Act is a crucial response to this national emergency.”

    Davids has focused on improving mental health care since taking office. She visited Tyler’s House KC to help launch their summer mental wellness programming, helped secure funding for mental health programs in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, and advocated for stronger mental health supports in schools. She also helped acquire grants for local police departments to hire more behavioral health specialists to the force, including the Overland Park Police Department’s new Crisis Action Team. Her legislation to renew federal mental health grant programs for health centers, schools, and law enforcement also passed the U.S. House.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Democrats Challenge Trump’s Unconstitutional Birthright Citizenship Executive Order in Court

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Washington, D.C. —  On Friday, House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force, remaining steadfast in their commitment to fighting against the Trump Administration’s illegal attacks on the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship, filed an amicus brief in the matter of Trump v. Casa, Inc., which is now before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Trump Administration filed this appeal to overturn a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the President’s attempt to change the constitutional right to birthright citizenship via executive order. 

    The amicus brief–signed by 170 House Democrats–provides overwhelming evidence that President Trump’s Executive Order violates the Constitution and over a century of Supreme Court rulings, as well as laws enacted by Congress. It also signifies the lawmakers’ commitment to defending birthright citizenship, following their amicus briefs filed in State of Washington v. Trump before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in the Supreme Court cases Trump v. Washington, Trump v. CASA, Inc., and Trump v. New Jersey.

    The full brief is available HERE.   

    The effort is once again being helmed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with Litigation Task Force Chair Assistant Leader Joe Neguse and Co-Chair, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin; Representatives Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, and Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement; as well as Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Yvette Clarke, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng, and Congressional Jewish Caucus (CJC) Co-Chairs Jerry Nadler and Brad Schneider.

    See what they had to say below: 

    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a chainsaw to the United States Constitution. Their disgraceful actions on birthright citizenship violate our nation’s laws and are an assault on the American way of life. House Democrats will continue to push back aggressively against them in the courts, in Congress and in our communities. The Supreme Court of the United States must stand on the side of the Constitution and reject this outrageous effort. I am thankful for the leadership of Rep. Raskin, Rep. Thompson, Rep. Jayapal, Rep. Clarke, Rep. Espaillat, Rep. Meng, Rep. Nadler, Rep. Schneider and Assistant Leader Neguse of the Litigation Working Group and Rapid Response Task Force in standing up for the rule of law,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 

    “President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and as our amicus brief makes clear, House Democrats will continue to vindicate our constitution,” said Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse. 

    “Donald Trump’s executive order purporting to eliminate birthright citizenship violates not only the first sentence of the Fourteenth Amendment but decades of Supreme Court interpretation and federal laws enacted by Congress,” said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. “The Fourteenth Amendment is clear that people born in the United States are American citizens regardless of their parents’ origin or status. A Presidential executive order cannot override the U.S. Constitution to strip millions of Americans born here of their rights and freedoms. We will fight to defend this core principle of Constitutional equality and membership.”

     “We will not allow the Trump administration to redefine what it is to be an American just to fit their extreme anti-immigrant beliefs. Under the Constitution, people born here are United States citizens – no matter who they are, what they look like, or where their families came from. Americans reject what Trump is attempting to do, and the Supreme Court must too,” said Ranking Member Bennie Thompson. 

    “Birthright citizenship is a core piece of our Constitution. Ending it through executive order is simply unconstitutional and a dangerous overreach of executive power,” said Ranking Member Pramila Jayapal. “All persons born on U.S. soil are U.S. citizens, that is what our Constitution dictates and is something President Trump cannot undo by waving a pen. As the first immigrant to serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, I am proud to be co-leading on this amicus brief to stand up for the immigration laws of this country.”

    “Birthright citizenship is enshrined in our Constitution and has been affirmed by the Supreme Court numerous times — including in the landmark United States v. Wong Kim Ark decision. No matter what President Trump says or does, he cannot unilaterally overrule the law of the land by signing a piece of paper. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I join my colleagues in standing up for American values and against this unconstitutional executive overreach,” said CAPAC Chair Grace Meng.

    “Birthright citizenship is a moral imperative in the United States because of its origins. It’s about our collective recovery from the evils of slavery, yes, but it’s also about equal opportunity for every American born in this country,” said CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat. “This brief reminds the Supreme Court of the historical weight of the 14th amendment and of the very real costs that would be imposed by additional legal requirements on all growing families by a spurious reinterpretation of this keystone amendment.”

    “Donald Trump is not a king. He cannot dismiss a century and a half of legal and judicial precedent that affirms the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment of our Constitution with the swipe of a pen. Our Constitution clearly says if you are born here, you are a citizen. I’m hopeful that our highest court will follow the precedent set by its predecessors and send a clear message to the President that his flagrant, illegal overreach will be stopped,” said CJC Co-Chair Brad Schneider.

    “Donald Trump’s divisive and xenophobic policies seek to divide and distract us,” said CJC Co-Chair Jerry Nadler. “We are dealing with a President who believes he is not just above the law, but above the U.S. Constitution.  The 14th Amendment is clear that persons born in the United States are U.S. citizens. And yet, President Trump feels compelled to single-handedly change what has been universally understood about the law since the Amendment was adopted in 1868.  All Americans should be disturbed by Trump’s assertion that he can unilaterally change the Constitution at will to suit his purposes.  This represents an assault on our democracy, and we cannot stand idly by and allow the President to disregard fundamental pillars of the Constitution. That is why I am proud as the Congressional Jewish Caucus Co-chair to join my colleagues in leading this effort.” 

    Background on the Task Force’s Wins:

    The Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force first took the unprecedented step of filing a trial court amicus brief to defend American consumers from predatory lenders and bad actors. They were successful in this case after a federal judge blocked efforts to dismantle the CFPB, citing the group’s argument multiple times throughout the 112-page ruling. The Task Force was also able to effectively prevent the Trump Administration from dismantling the Department of Education, filing another such brief that led to a federal court demanding the immediate rehiring of unlawfully terminated staff. House Democrats have so far filed eight amicus briefs in cases against Administration lawlessness. 

    For more information on House Democrats efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump Administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The container hub project in the port of Aktau gives a new powerful impetus to the development of TMTC

    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

    NANJING, June 9 (Xinhua) — The first phase of the first launch complex of the container hub project in the Aktau port of Kazakhstan was officially put into operation on Monday, which will give a new powerful impetus to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITC), experts said.

    The above-mentioned project, located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, is a key hub that connects the port of Baku in Azerbaijan and increases the capacity and efficiency of the TMTC.

    “The launch of the first launch complex of the container hub in the port of Aktau is an important stage in the development of the transport system of Kazakhstan and the Trans-Caspian route connecting China with Europe via Central Asia and the Caspian Sea,” noted Damir Kozhakhmetov, General Director of KTZ Express JSC.

    According to him, the emergence of modern transshipment infrastructure on the Caspian Sea coast will reduce the overall time of cargo delivery between China, Central Asian countries and Europe. This will make TMTC more reliable, competitive and convenient for business.

    According to the data, the total area of the project is about 19 hectares, and its designed throughput capacity is 240 thousand standard containers /TEU, twenty-foot equivalent/ per year.

    “The project contributes to the creation of new jobs, stimulates the development of related industries, such as warehouse logistics and terminal services, and also opens up additional opportunities for export-import operations,” added D. Kozhakhmetov.

    Over the years of joint work between China and Kazakhstan in the transport and logistics sector, such large infrastructure projects as the Kazakh-Chinese logistics base in the port of Lianyungang /Jiangsu Province, East China/, the land port “Khorgos – Eastern Gate” on the border of the two countries, and the international transit motor corridor “Western Europe – Western China” have been put into operation.

    D. Kozhakhmetov believes that these facilities have become the basis for building a modern logistics infrastructure between the two countries. And the container hub in Aktau is a logical continuation of joint work.

    “It unites more than 7 thousand km of transport network – from the east coast of China to the Caspian Sea, forming a full-fledged land-sea route within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative,” said D. Kozhakhmetov.

    Chairman of the Board of JSC “FB “Samruk-Kazyna” Nurlan Zhakupov said that this project is an important step in the development of the transport and logistics sector of Kazakhstan.

    He emphasized that Kazakhstan is located at the junctions of the international transport corridors “North-South” and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route /Middle Corridor/. This emphasizes the importance of the Aktau port in regional and international logistics.

    Deputy Mayor of Lianyungang Ren Dong noted that the container hub project in Aktau port demonstrates the forward-looking planning of China and Kazakhstan within the framework of the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”. It will further deepen interconnectivity, increase the throughput capacity of the TMTC, and promote trade and economic development of countries along the route.

    Let us recall that the project is being implemented in two stages. The first stage occupies an area of 9.1 hectares, on the territory of which 3 railway loading and unloading lines and about 690 container sites have been built. It will allow for a full cycle of operations – container handling, customs inspection and handling of hazardous cargo. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Alleged QLD money laundering organisation dismantled, 4 charged

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Four people allegedly involved in an elaborate Queensland-based money laundering scheme that smuggled cash around the country and washed millions of dollars of criminal proceeds have been charged following an 18-month, multi-agency investigation.

    The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) has also restrained assets across Queensland and NSW suspected of being the proceeds of crime, which have a combined value of about $21 million and include 17 properties, bank accounts and vehicles.

    More than 70 members from the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (QJOCTF), comprised of the AFP, Queensland Police Service, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC and Australian Taxation Office, executed 14 search warrants at homes and businesses across Brisbane and the Gold Coast on 5 and 6 June 2025.  

    AUSTRAC and the ATO also provided analytical expertise and support during the investigation, which was centred on Southeast Queensland but also monitored cash dead drops in multiple cities around Australia.

    A Brisbane man, 32, from Heathwood, who was allegedly a major client of the money laundering operation and washed $9.5 million in 15 months, was charged on Thursday (5 June) with money laundering and failing to provide the password to a mobile phone. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates’ Court today (9 June).

    In December 2023, the QJOCTF began investigating suspicious financial transactions. The investigation linked the Heathwood man to a company that had received millions of dollars transferred by suspicious third-party transactions.  

    Investigators following the money trail allegedly identified the man was a customer of a sophisticated money laundering operation allegedly being run through the armoured transport unit of a security company that transferred $190 million cash into cryptocurrency.    

    Investigations into the source of the $190 million converted into cryptocurrency by the security company remain ongoing.

    A Gold Coast man, 48, and woman, 35, who were the director and general manager respectively of the security business, were each charged on Friday (6 June) with a money laundering offence. The couple, from Maudsland, was granted watchhouse bail and is scheduled to face Southport Magistrates Court on 21 July 2025.

    Another Brisbane man, 58, from West End, who allegedly funnelled laundered money through a business account to a separate business account controlled by the Heathwood man, was also charged on Friday with two money laundering offences. He was granted watchhouse bail and is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on 1 August 2025.

    The QJOCTF alleges the Gold Coast-based security company used a complex network of bank accounts, businesses, couriers and cryptocurrency accounts to launder millions of dollars of illicit funds over 18 months.

    The security company, which transferred cash between businesses and banks, allegedly mixed cash from its legitimate business arm with illicit funds deposited by suspected criminals.

    To further obfuscate the source of the funds from law enforcement, the security company allegedly channelled the money through a web of transactions including through a sales promotion company, a classic car dealership and cryptocurrency exchange services.

    The organisation then paid out the funds to beneficiaries using cryptocurrency or those third-party companies.

    The Heathwood man allegedly controlled the sales promotion company and received about $9.5 million in cash and cryptocurrency originating from the security company over 15 months.  

    The QJOCTF will allege the Heathwood man attempted to distance himself from the money laundering scheme by setting his wife up as a ‘straw director’ of the promotions company, while he maintained effective control.

    The QJOCTF alleges the West End man was the director of a classic car dealership that received about $6.4 million from the security company and laundered it through his business over a 17-month period.  

    The director allegedly opened at least seven bank accounts with different banks to conceal the source of the money as he moved it around. The illicit money was then allegedly mixed with legitimate money from the car dealership before being transferred to the sales promotions business.

    It is alleged the security company was also the front for the movement of millions of dollars of illicit cash from other states to Southeast Queensland for laundering.

    The cash, which was allegedly generated by organised criminal ventures, was left at dead drop locations around the country and collected by a network of couriers who sent it as domestic cargo on flights to Queensland. It was then collected by the security company’s couriers in Southeast Queensland.

    During search warrants last week, investigators seized crypto wallets containing about $170,000 in cryptocurrency, $30,000 cash, encrypted devices, along with business records and documents related to the alleged money laundering scheme.

    The Maudsland man, 48, the director of the security company, was charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of general crime, worth $10 million or more, contrary to section 400.2B(6) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment.

    His wife, 35, who was the general manager of the business, was charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of general crime, worth $10 million or more, contrary to section 400.2B(3) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for life.

    The Heathwood man, 32, allegedly linked to the sales promotion company, was charged with:

    • one count of dealing with proceeds of crime, worth $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3(2B) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 12 years’ imprisonment, and
    • one count of failure to comply with a 3LA Order, contrary to section 3LA(5) of the Crimes Act (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment.

    The West End man, 58, who was the director of the classic car company, was charged with:

    • two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime, money or property worth $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3(2B) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 12 years’ imprisonment
    • one count of uttering a forged document, contrary to section 488(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (QLD). The maximum penalty for this offence is three years’ imprisonment, and
    • one count of dealing with identification information to commit or facilitate an indictable offence, contrary to section 408D of the Criminal Code (Qld). The maximum penalty for this offence is 5 years’ imprisonment.

    Investigations are ongoing, and further arrests have not been ruled out.

    AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said money laundering undermined Australia’s national security, the economy and social security system.

    ‘Many Australians are feeling the financial pinch but remain law-abiding and honest citizens,’ Det Supt Telfer said.

    ‘Criminals always choose greed over decency and will constantly find opportunities to increase their wealth at the expense of others.’  

    ‘We allege this organisation intentionally concealed and disguised the source, value and nature of their illicit money, and distanced themselves from the funds to try to avoid getting caught by authorities.’

    ‘This plot was elaborate and calculated, and it demonstrates the lengths criminals will go to make money.’

    ‘Money laundering investigations are incredibly challenging due to the complex web of deception used by criminals, and this crime cannot be tackled by one agency alone.’

    ‘This result is a testament to the great work done by the investigators, forensic accountants in the QJOCTF, the CACT, and our Taskforce Avarus partners.’  

    Queensland Police Service Crime and Intelligence Command, Detective Acting Superintendent David Briese, from the Drug and Serious Crime Group, said money laundering was far from a victimless crime.

    ‘Criminal networks use money laundering to legitimise their profits and exploit legitimate businesses, harming communities and economies. It fuels serious organised crime, enabling everything from drug trafficking and exploitation to fraud and violence,’ Det a/Supt Briese said.

    ‘This case demonstrates both the complexity of money laundering operations, and the extreme lengths criminals will go to conceal their illicit gains.’

    ‘The result reflects the strength of our collaboration across law enforcement, intelligence, and regulatory bodies, and our shared commitment to protecting the public from the harms of serious and organised crime.’

    ABF Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff praised the efforts of ABF officers working alongside partner agencies in the QJOCTF.  

    ‘Today’s outcome sends a formidable message to those who seek to engage in criminal money laundering. This act is illegal and unacceptable, and all branches of law enforcement can and will work together to bring such crimes to justice,’ a/Commander Sokoloff said.

    ‘I would like to acknowledge the dedication of our highly trained investigator who was engaged as a co-case officer for the entirety of this investigation.  He has worked tirelessly with his colleagues to achieve this outcome, drawing upon ABF digital intelligence sharing and observations which were critical to the success we see today.’

    ‘This type of illegal activity is insidious – and the ABF will continue to work hand in hand with its partners to detect and deter such schemes.’

    ATO Deputy Commissioner John Ford reinforced the ATO was assisting partner agencies in disrupting, investigating and penalising the perpetrators of organised crime.  

    ‘Serious and organised crime harms our community, economy, government and way of life, and robs the community of funding for essential services such as health and education,’ Mr Ford said.

    ‘This week’s action is a strong reminder to those involved in money laundering – while you may think you can wash away the evidence, this is simply not the case. We will continue to work together with our partner agencies to disrupt these criminals and hold them to account.’

    AUSTRAC National Coordinator, Law Enforcement, Markus Erikson said AUSTRAC intelligence was pivotal in putting a stop to these crimes.

    ‘The intelligence AUSTRAC provided to law enforcement painted a vivid trail of criminal activity being undertaken by disparate individuals,’ Mr Erikson said.

    ‘I would like to recognise the businesses who report to AUSTRAC for their commitment to protecting the financial system from harm. Without their reporting, this disruption would not have been possible, and the offending may have continued undetected.’

    ‘I would also like to acknowledge the incredible work of our partner agencies in this matter. Operations like this take significant resources, hard work, and personal sacrifice to accomplish.’

    ‘This outcome is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in Taskforce AVARUS as well as the Queensland Police Service and Australian Taxation Office.’

    ACIC National Manager Boyd Doherty emphasised the critical role of the QJOCTF.  

    ‘The ACIC works closely with partners to disrupt the highest threat criminal networks. Serious and organised crime groups thrive off money made from criminal activities,’ Mr Doherty said.  

    ‘We are committed to disrupting the operations of these groups, denying them the ability to profit and making Australia a hostile environment for them to operate in.’

    The QJOCTF is a multi-agency team focused on targeting and dismantling transnational serious organised crime networks in Queensland.

    Taskforce Avarus was established in 2022 to target the highest priority money laundering threats facing Australia. The Taskforce comprises the AFP, AUSTRAC, ACIC and ABF who work in partnership to uncover methods criminals use to conceal their illegal funds.

    The CACT – which brings together the resources and expertise of the AFP, ABF, Australian Taxation Office, ACIC and AUSTRAC – was permanently established in 2012 as a proactive and innovative approach to trace, restrain and ultimately confiscate criminal assets. 

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    MIL OSI News –

  • Northeast India’s infrastructure revolution: 11 years of connectivity and growth

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ortheast India has witnessed significant infrastructure growth over the past 11 years, with new roads, rail lines, and airports enhancing connectivity as part of a wider government plan to integrate the area with national development goals.

    From 2014 to 2025, roads, railways, air routes, and digital networks have expanded at an unprecedented pace under flagship schemes like the Act East Policy and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).

    More than 4,000 km of roads have been constructed during this period, opening access to remote border areas. The region now boasts 10 new greenfield airports, vastly improving air connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The commissioning of the Bogibeel Bridge and the under-construction Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, India’s longest, are reshaping transport logistics across the Brahmaputra.

    The Indian Railways made historic inroads into Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, with the latter receiving its first passenger train in independent India’s history. Railway connectivity has also extended into Manipur and Nagaland during this 11-year timeframe.

    Meanwhile, inland waterways have been revived with Ro-Ro ferry services on the Brahmaputra, enhancing cost-effective cargo movement. Digital inclusion has kept pace, with Bharat Net projects and 4G saturation programs narrowing the digital divide across all districts.

    Under NESIDS alone, over 600 projects have been sanctioned for upgrading healthcare, education, drinking water, and public infrastructure. This sustained momentum in infrastructure development over 11 years is seen as a crucial factor in improving the quality of life and attracting private investments in the region.

  • MIL-OSI China: China releases historical files exposing Japan’s war crimes in northeast 2025-06-09 21:41:03 More than 1,200 historical files related to Japan’s invasion during World War II were released by the provincial archives of Liaoning on Monday, International Archives Day, shedding new light on Japan’s invasion and occupation of China more than 80 years ago.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      SHENYANG, June 9 (Xinhua) — More than 1,200 historical files related to Japan’s invasion during World War II were released by the provincial archives of Liaoning on Monday, International Archives Day, shedding new light on Japan’s invasion and occupation of China more than 80 years ago.

      The files are archival catalogs of the South Manchuria Railways Co., which was founded in 1906 and ended in 1945. The colonial enterprise was believed to have bankrolled Japan’s militarist ambitions during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression between 1931 and 1945.

      Among the disclosed files are tables of the compensation for families of soldiers who died and were injured in the Mukden Incident on Sept. 18, 1931. The incident occurred when Japanese troops blew up a section of railway under their control near Shenyang and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for attack. They bombarded Chinese barracks near Shenyang the same evening, beginning a large-scale invasion of northeast China.

      Other files are related to events like the Lugou Bridge Incident and the Nanjing Massacre. “The files showed that the South Manchuria Railways Co. played a significant role in the Japanese invasion in China by gathering intelligence, supporting pro-Japanese forces, funding the war, participating in military activities and glorifying the aggression,” said Cong Longhai with the Liaoning provincial archives.

      According to Cong, during its operation in China, the company has controlled the economic lifeline of northeast China, plundered mineral resources, and collected various intelligence.

      “The files recorded the evidence of Japan’s invasion of China and are also unbreakable evidence written by the Japanese invaders themselves, which are of significant historical value,” he said.

      This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and in the World Anti-Fascist War. By releasing the historical files, Cong hopes that they could further help uncover the inside story of Japan’s long-planned invasion of China, and tell the heroic deeds of the Chinese nation during that war, he added.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese defense ministry rebukes Britain for hyping up “China threat” in report 2025-06-09 21:33:02 A Chinese defense spokesperson on Monday rebuked Britain for hyping up the so-called “China threat” in its recent strategic defense evaluation report.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) — A Chinese defense spokesperson on Monday rebuked Britain for hyping up the so-called “China threat” in its recent strategic defense evaluation report.

      Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry regarding the document issued by the British government.

      China adheres to the path of peaceful development and pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. It has always been a defender, builder and contributor to security in the Asia-Pacific region, said Jiang.

      He urged the British side to perceive China in a correct manner, objectively and rationally view China and its military development, and stop propagating the so-called “China threat.”

      The British side should make more practical efforts to contribute to the growth of relations between the two countries and their militaries, Jiang added. 

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  • MIL-OSI China: China adds new items to list of documentary heritage

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

    BEIJING, June 9 — A new batch of 52 archival documents have been listed as China’s documentary heritage, the National Archives Administration of China announced on Monday.

    With the new inscription, the total number of registers on the country’s documentary heritage list has now reached 250.

    The 52 newly added documents comprise paper records, stone inscriptions, as well as bamboo slips and woodblock printing plates.

    They reflect the history in ancient China, the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the history of the Communist Party of China and New China, covering aspects of religion, culture and major construction projects in China’s history.

    China launched the China Documentary Heritage Programme as part of the country’s efforts to implement the UNESCO-established Memory of the World (MoW) Programme. It investigates and catalogs archives and documents in the country with world-class cultural value, providing a basis for China’s application for the MoW regional register for Asia and Pacific and MoW international register.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE HSI Buffalo arrests convicted sex offender illegally present in US

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BUFFALO, N.Y. — On June 4, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo arrested a twice-convicted Chinese national, also a registered sex offender, for being illegally present in the United States despite having a final order of removal.

    Personnel with ICE HSI and U.S. Border Patrol arrested Ho Kai Tam, also known as Raymond Tam, in Williamsville, New York. While in the U.S. illegally, Tam, a 42-year-old citizen of Hong Kong, was arrested in January 2003 and ultimately convicted of mail fraud for an offense that occurred in Buffalo, New York. Later, he was arrested in February 2010 and ultimately convicted of sexual misconduct for an offense that occurred in Tonawonda, New York.

    Tam entered the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident on or about July 2, 1996. An immigration judge issued a final removal order for Tam on July 11, 2005.

    Following his recent arrest, Tam was transported to the Batavia Federal Detention Facility. He will remain in ICE custody.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canadian launches mission to combat illegal fishing and protect marine ecosystems in the Indo-Pacific

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 9, 2025

    Ottawa, ON – Globally, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major contributor to declining fish stocks and the destruction of marine habitats. IUU fishing also undermines the livelihoods of legitimate fish harvesters and impacts food security in vulnerable coastal communities, affecting millions of people.

    Today, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) launched its third annual high seas patrol to deter IUU fishing in the high seas of the North Pacific, including near the Aleutian Island chain, focusing on migratory routes for key species like Pacific salmon.

    The mission, known as Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), is led by DFO fishery officers and supported by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to protect fish stocks under Canada’s Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. As a Pacific nation, Canada is committed to deepening its engagement and its role across the Indo-Pacific region as an active and reliable partner.

    Fishery officers and support personnel will patrol over 15,000 km while onboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a high endurance, multi-purpose vessel that is also a light icebreaker, and is biofuel capable. The expert crew will conduct high seas boardings and inspection operations under international law to ensure compliance with regulations and to detect IUU fishing.

    During this mission, Canada’s CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier will make a special port visit during Expo 2025 in Osaka,  Japan, where members of the public can visit the vessel and learn about Canada’s role in fighting IUU.

    In addition to monitoring and enforcement by sea, Canada is conducting daily aerial surveillance this summer out of Hokkaido, Japan. Air patrols conducted by DFO fishery officers will monitor fishing vessels and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law. Canada’s air surveillance program has previously identified significant conservation concerns related to shark finning and illegal marine mammal harvest, including the harpooning of dolphins, and pollution events that threaten the marine environment. Continued monitoring for these activities will allow Canada to hold non-compliant vessels accountable.

    As a Pacific nation, Canada recognizes that the Indo-Pacific region will play a significant and profound role in Canada’s future. Every issue that matters to Canadians—national security, economic prosperity, respect for international law and human rights, democratic values, public health, protecting our environment—will be shaped by the relationships that Canada, along with its partners, have with countries throughout the Indo-Pacific.  

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Criminal Illegal Alien Arrested during Los Angeles ICE Operation Committed Notorious Gang-Affiliated Murder of Two Teenagers at a Graduation Party

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    This criminal illegal alien is who Governor Newsom, Mayor Bass and the rioters in Los Angeles are trying to protect over U.S. citizens

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is revealing further details of Cuong Chanh Phan’s, one of the criminal illegal aliens arrested in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) operation in Los Angeles, criminal past.  

    According to local reports in 1994, Phan and his gang member associates were asked to leave a high school graduation party following a dispute. They returned with semiautomatic weapons and fired shots at 30 partygoers. Dennis Buan, 18, of South Pasadena and David Hang, 15, of San Marino, California were killed, and seven others were wounded.

    Following the shooting, more than 120 sheriff’s deputies and police officers launched a manhunt that resulted in the arrests of Phan and eight other alleged gang members linked to the murders and shootout. 

    “It is sickening that Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass continue to protect violent criminal illegal aliens at the expense of the safety of American citizens and communities. This cold-blooded killer is who the rioters are trying to protect over U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The brave men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminals like this and protect the lives of American citizens.” 

    On June 7, ICE arrested Cuong Chanh Phan, a 49-year-old illegal alien from Vietnam. His criminal history includes a conviction for second degree murder.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Antalpha to Report First Quarter 2025 Financial Results on June 17, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Antalpha Platform Holding Company (NASDAQ: ANTA) (“Antalpha” or the “Company”), a leading fintech platform serving the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, today announced that it will report its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, before the U.S. market opens on June 17, 2025. The Company’s management team will hold a conference call at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on June 17, 2025 (or 8:00 P.M. Singapore Time on June 17, 2025) to discuss the financial results.

    Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of “Q1 2025 Antalpha Earnings Conference Call”. Please follow the steps to enter your registration details, then click “Register”. Upon registration, you will be provided with the dial-in number, the passcode, and your unique access PIN. This information will also be emailed to you in a calendar invite.

    For registration, please click:
    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI0bcb89f8f5d548dd9cbb0600510464f1

    All participants must use the link provided above to complete the online registration process in advance of the conference call.

    A live webcast of the conference call can be assessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/8zqoeq2s. Following the call, a replay of the call will be available on Antalpha’s investor relations website at ir.antalpha.com.

    About Antalpha
    Antalpha is a leading fintech company specializing in providing financing, technology, and risk management solutions to institutions in the digital asset industry. As the primary lending partner of Bitmain, Antalpha offers Bitcoin supply chain and margin loans through the Antalpha Prime technology platform, which allows customers to originate and manage their digital assets loans, as well as monitor collateral positions with near real-time data.

    Contact
    Investor Relations: ir@antalpha.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Maxim Group LLC Expands Equity Sales and Trading with Strategic Hires Erik Killough and Ryan Loader

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maxim Group LLC, a leading full-service investment banking, securities, and wealth management firm, is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its Equity Sales and Trading division with the addition of two seasoned professionals, Erik Killough and Ryan Loader. This strategic growth also includes a broadening of institutional services through the firm’s Connecticut and Boston branch offices.

    Erik Killough brings 28 years of experience in equity trading, including 23 years specializing in Asia-Pacific markets during live trading hours. His knowledge of international market dynamics brings enhanced execution capabilities to clients with global investment strategies. Prior to joining Maxim, Mr. Killough served as Vice President at Guzman & Company. His extensive career also includes senior positions at GMO, The Boston Company, and Standish, Ayer & Wood. 

    Ryan Loader brings 25 years of sales and trading experience, featuring a strong background in industrial sector equities and a robust track record of servicing institutional investors across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to developing his hedge fund relationships within the U.S., Ryan will expand the firm’s reach north of the border, bringing Maxim’s full suite of broker-dealer services to Canadian institutions and corporate clients. Prior to joining Maxim, Mr. Loader served as Director of Global Equity Sales & Trading at Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Erik and Ryan to our team as Maxim’s equity trading platform continues to expand,” said Michael A. Cerussi, Head of Institutional Sales and Trading at Maxim Group. “Erik brings a wealth of experience in global markets, while Ryan offers extensive cross-border institutional reach. Together they enhance our pool of talent and will open new avenues to business opportunities, bolstering Maxim’s offerings for current and future clients across diverse regions and markets.”

    About Maxim Group LLC
    Maxim Group LLC is a full-service investment banking, securities and wealth management firm headquartered in New York. The independent and employee-owned firm provides a full array of financial services including investment banking; private wealth management; and global institutional equity, fixed-income and derivatives sales & trading, equity research and prime brokerage services. Maxim Group LLC is a registered broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) and is a member of FINRA SIPC, and NASDAQ. To learn more about Maxim Group LLC, visit maximgrp.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Upexi Joins Webull Corporate Connect Service Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Enables Upexi to build a community and foster relationships with Webull’s 24 million registered users

    Connect with the Company on Webull here

    TAMPA, Fla., June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Upexi, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPXI), a brand owner specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of consumer products with diversification into the cryptocurrency space, today announced joining the Webull Corporate Connect Service (CCS) platform to increase engagement and transparency with investors.

    Upexi’s portal on the Webull Corporate Connect Service provides a direct communication channel for shareholders and potential investors, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to engaging with the investment community. Through Webull, Upexi will share timely updates, including company news, earnings reports, presentations, and other key announcements.

    “At Upexi, transparent and consistent communication with our shareholders and prospective investors is a top priority. As we continue to execute on key initiatives and drive growth across the business, we recognize the importance of increasing visibility, market awareness, and community,” said Allan Marshall, CEO of Upexi. “Adding the Webull platform to our investor communications strategy allows us to meet retail investors where they are, providing real-time updates and engagement through a platform they actively use.”

    To stay up to date on Upexi’s recent developments on the Webull Corporate Connect Service platform, current Webull users can follow UPXI from the app on their smartphone or tablet device. To download the app and register for your free Webull account, visit www.webull.com/trading-platforms.

    About Upexi, Inc.
    Upexi is a brand owner specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of consumer products. The Company has entered the cryptocurrency industry and cash management of assets through a cryptocurrency portfolio. For more information on Upexi’s treasury strategy and future developments, visit www.upexi.com.

    Follow Upexi on X – https://twitter.com/upexitreasury
    Follow CEO, Allan Marshall, on X – https://x.com/marshall_a22015
    Follow CSO, Brian Rudick, on X – https://x.com/thetinyant

    About Webull Financial
    Webull Corporation owns and operates Webull, a leading digital investment platform built on next-generation global infrastructure. Through its global network of licensed brokerages, Webull offers investment services in 14 markets across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. Webull serves more than 24 million registered users globally, providing retail investors with 24/7 access to global financial markets. Users can put investment strategies to work by trading global stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and fractional shares through Webull’s trading platform, which seamlessly integrates market data and information, its user community, and investor education resources. Learn more at www.webullcorp.com.

    Forward Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. For example, the Company is using forward looking statements when it discusses the anticipated use of proceeds. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with business strategy, potential acquisitions, revenue guidance, product development, integration, and synergies of acquiring companies and personnel. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward- looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Company Contact
    Brian Rudick, Chief Strategy Officer
    Email:Brian.Rudick@upexi.com
    Phone: (216) 347-0473

    Investor Relations Contact
    KCSA Strategic Communications
    Valter Pinto, Managing Director
    Email: Upexi@KCSA.com
    Phone: (212) 896-1254

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alex Ezeh, Dornsife Endowed Professor of Global Health, Drexel University

    The Lancet has released its second global commission report on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. Adolescents are defined as 10- to 24-year-olds. The report builds on the first one, done in 2016. The latest report presents substantial original research that supports actions it recommends to be taken across sectors as well as at global, regional, country and local level. The co-chairs of the commission, Sarah Baird, Alex Ezeh and Russell Viner, together with the youth commissioners lead, Shakira Choonara, give a guide to the report’s findings.

    What were the key findings?

    The report noted significant improvements in some aspects of adolescent health and wellbeing since the 2016 report. These include reductions in:

    • communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, particularly among female adolescents

    • the burden of disease from injuries

    • substance use, specifically tobacco and alcohol

    • teenage pregnancy.

    It also found that there had been an increase in age at first marriage and in education, especially for young women.

    Despite this progress, adolescent health and wellbeing is said to be at a tipping point. Continued progress is being undermined by rapidly escalating rates of
    non-communicable diseases and mental disorders, accompanied by threats from compounding and intersecting megatrends. These include climate change and environmental degradation, the growing power of commercial influences on health, rising conflict and displacement, rapid urbanisation, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    These megatrends are outpacing responses from national governments and the international community.

    What’s unique about today’s cohort of adolescents?

    Born between 2000 and 2014, this is the first cohort of humans who will live their entire life in a time when the average annual global temperature has consistently been 0.5°C or higher above pre-industrial levels.

    At roughly 2 billion adolescents, they are the largest cohort of adolescents in the history of humanity. And this number will not be surpassed as populations age and fertility rates fall in even the poorest countries.

    They are the first generation of global digital natives. They live in a world of immense resources and opportunities, with unprecedented connectedness made possible by the rapid expansion of digital technologies. This is true even in the hardest-to-reach places.

    Growing participation in secondary and tertiary education is equipping adolescents of all genders with new economic opportunities and providing pathways out of poverty.

    These opportunities, however, are not being realised for most adolescents. Increasing numbers continue to grow up in settings with limited opportunities. In addition, investments in adolescent health and wellbeing continue to lag relative to their population share or their share of the global burden of disease.

    Investments in adolescents accounted for only 2.4% of the total development assistance for health in 2016-2021. This was despite the fact that adolescents accounted for 25.2% of the global population in that period and 9.1% of the total burden of disease. We use development assistance as a measure because, while governments also invest in adolescents, it’s difficult to account for how much this is. For example, when a government supports a health facility, it serves the entire population.

    Yet, the report provides evidence to show that the return on investments in adolescent health and wellbeing is highly cost-effective and at par with investments in children.

    What’s the news for adolescents in Africa?

    The report recognises the special place of Africa in the global future of adolescents. It notes that, by the end of this century, nearly half of all adolescents will live in Africa.

    Currently, adolescents in Africa experience higher burdens of communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, at more than double the global average for both male and female adolescents. They also have a higher prevalence of anaemia, adolescent childbearing, early marriage and HIV infection. They are much less likely to complete 12 years of schooling and more likely to not be in education, employment, or training.

    Female adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest adolescent fertility rate at 99.4 births per 1,000 female adolescents aged 15-19 (the global average is 41.8). They have also experienced the slowest decline between 2016 and 2022.

    Globally, there was progress in reducing child marriage between 2016 and 2022. But in eight countries in 2022, at least one in three female adolescents aged 15–19 years was married. All but one of these eight countries were in sub-Saharan Africa. Niger (50.2%) and Mali (40.6%) had the highest proportion of married female adolescents.

    The practice of child marriage is declining in south Asia and becoming more concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. As the report notes:

    it continues because of cultural norms, fuelled by economic hardships, insurgency, conflict, ambiguous legal provisions, and lack of political will to enforce legal provisions.

    What should be Africa’s focus areas?

    Beyond adolescent sexual and reproductive health concerns in sub-Saharan Africa, obesity is increasing fastest in the region. This illustrates the vulnerability of adolescents to the power of commercial interests.

    Since 1990, obesity and overweight has increased by 89% in prevalence among adolescents aged 15–19 years in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the largest regional increase.

    The absence of data on adolescents is a problem. Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are absent in many data systems. For example, data on adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa is virtually absent.

    Stronger data systems are needed to understand and track progress on the complex set of determinants of adolescent health and wellbeing.

    Another area of concern is the massive inequities within countries, often gendered or by geography. While female adolescents in Kenya are experiencing substantial declines in the burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, adolescent males are experiencing increasing burdens. In South Africa, years of healthy life lost to maternal disorders show more than 10-fold differences between the Western Cape and North West provinces.

    Where there’s been strong political leadership, remarkable changes have been seen. Take the case of Benin Republic. The adolescent fertility rate in the country declined from 26% in 1996 to 20% in 2018 and child marriage from 39% to 31% over the same period. Strong political leadership has also led to substantial reductions in female genital mutilation or cutting. This fell from 12% of girls in Benin in 2001 to 2% in 2011–12 among 15–19-year-old girls in Benin Republic. Political leadership also facilitated the expansion, by the national parliament in 2021, of the grounds under which women, girls, and their families could access safe and legal abortion.

    But for every country that takes positive steps to protect the health and wellbeing of adolescents, several others regress.

    The last decade has witnessed regression in several countries. In 2024, The Gambia attempted to repeal a 2015 law criminalising all acts of female genital mutilation or cutting. In 2022, Nigeria’s federal government ordered the removal of sex education from the basic education curriculum.

    What are the recommended courses of action?

    The report calls for a multisectoral approach across multiple national ministries and agencies, including the office of the head of state, and within the UN system.

    Coordination and accountability mechanisms for adolescent health and wellbeing also need to be strengthened.

    Laws and policies are needed to protect the health and rights of adolescents, reduce the impact of the commercial determinants of health, and promote healthy use of digital and social media spaces and platforms.

    Strong political leadership at local, national, and global levels is essential.

    The report also calls for prioritised investments, the creation of enabling environments to transform adolescent health and wellbeing, and the development of innovative approaches to address complex and emerging health threats.

    It calls for meaningful engagement of adolescents in policy, research, interventions and accountability mechanisms that affect them.

    Without these concerted actions, we risk failing our young people and losing out on the investments being made in childhood at this second critical period in their development.

    The current adverse international aid climate is particularly affecting adolescents as much development assistance relates to gender and sexual and reproductive health. Concerted action in addressing adolescent health and wellbeing is an urgent imperative for sub-Saharan Africa.

    Alex Ezeh is a fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (Stias).

    Russell Viner and Sarah Baird do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends – https://theconversation.com/a-quarter-of-the-worlds-population-are-adolescents-major-report-sets-out-health-and-wellbeing-trends-257282

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –