NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Australia: From Epping to Powrunna – fourth translocation successful

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 23 Jul 2025

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    Eleven wombats were taken from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to Powrunna State Forest.

    An additional 11 northern hairy-nosed wombats have been transported from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) in Queensland’s central west to Powrunna State Forest in the state’s southwest.

    This translocation project is an integral component of the Queensland Government’s northern hairy-nosed wombat recovery program which aims to establish a third population of the endangered marsupial.

    The project began in May 2024 after extensive preparation of the site at Powrunna and 37 wombats have already successfully been translocated.

    In June 2025, rangers from across Queensland gathered at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to carefully trap six females and five males for relocation to their new home.

    Principal Conservation Officer Samantha Ryan said there were now 21 females and 16 males at Powrunna, which had been specifically chosen for the third population of wombats.

    “Monitoring by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation shows the wombats have embraced their new home with plenty of new burrows,” Ms Ryan said.

    “We have already seen some young-at-foot on trail cameras, and our ultimate goal is to create another self-sustaining population of northern hairy-nosed wombats.

    “Transportation takes around ten hours during the day when the wombats are usually sleeping, and they’re released early in the evening into artificial burrows.

    “Our goal is to translocate up to sixty wombats to Powrunna by 2026, and there is much hope that the population there will grow as it has at Epping.”

    Senior Program Officer David Field had never seen a northern hairy-nosed wombat prior to the translocation, and said it was wonderful to be involved.

    “It was great to be involved in the planning, trapping, relocation and release of this endangered species and it’s an experience I’ll never forget,” Mr Field said.

    “I’ve learnt so much by working alongside experts, and the wombats were in excellent condition and were bigger and softer than you’d expect.”

    Rangers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have used radio trackers and remote cameras to monitor wombats at Powrunna, and site inspections show they have moved on from starter burrows and have dug multiple burrows of their own.

    Northern hairy-nosed wombats previously ranged from New South Wales and into Queensland. In the eighties, the population of wombats at Epping Forest National Park was estimated to be around 35 and is now estimated to be at least 400.

    Richard Underwood Nature Refuge near Wycombe is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and is home to a small population of northern hairy-nosed wombats.

    The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (GNTAC) and Gunggari Native Title Holders, Glencore, The Wombat Foundation and Australian Wildlife Conservancy have provided ongoing support for this project.

    In Queensland, some national parks are designated as “scientific” and are either fully or partially closed to the public to protect their natural values.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Hybrid Software Group: 2025 Interim Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PRESS RELEASE – REGULATED INFORMATION

    HYBRID SOFTWARE GROUP: 2025 INTERIM REPORT

    Cambridge (UK), 23 July 2025 (18.00 CEST): Hybrid Software Group PLC (Euronext: HYSG) announces it has published its half year report and unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2025.

    The full document is available to download from the financial reports section of the Company’s web site at  https://hybridsoftware.com/investors/financial-reports.

    Mike Rottenborn, Hybrid Software Group CEO comments, “Hybrid Software Group delivered a solid performance in the first half of 2025, with all three reporting segments in line with our budget for revenue and operating profit at mid-year.

    Beginning with the Printing Software segment, we have repeatedly mentioned that 2024 opened with €3.3 million in revenue from the renewal of a large OEM contract in Japan.  With no similar renewal in Q1 of 2025, our figures looked weak compared to 2024.  This has normalised in Q2 with the launch of Mako Apex, a new variant of our Mako software that supports Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to render complex graphics much faster than Central Processing Units (CPUs).  This allows our OEM customers to increase the performance of their software while reducing the total computing cost, and sales of Mako Apex are driving new contracts in Q2 and beyond.  In addition, OEM royalties from the sale of digital presses which incorporate the Harlequin RIP and/or SmartDFE, our patented AI-optimised Digital Front End software, continue to build.

    Moving to the Printhead Solutions segment, the good results from Q1 continued in the second quarter.  Business in China remains strong, but we also see significant growth in Europe and North America and a reduced dependence on sales to our largest customer in China.  Sales continue to grow in the additive manufacturing (3D printing) space, where inkjet plays a significant role.  The chip shortage is over: manufacturing costs are under control and margins have improved significantly.  We continue to introduce new printhead drivers for our customers and have an exciting development pipeline which bodes well for the future prospects in this segment.

    The Enterprise Software segment continues to perform well.  In comparing our first half figures to last year, it is important to remember that the largest trade fair for the printing industry, Drupa, took place in May and June of 2024.  Hybrid Software closed a lot of business during Drupa but that left the sales pipeline relatively weak in the third quarter, and we did not see a recovery until October of last year.  The current situation is much better.  Enterprise Software sales increased more than 7% in the first half of 2025 and the pipeline looks promising as we enter Q3. Our BrandZ business continues to grow as a supplier of software solutions to brands and CPGs while supplying complementary software to the printers and trade shops which also service these brands.”

    Financial highlights (unaudited)

    For the six months ended 30 June
    In thousands of euros 2025 (unaudited) 2024 (unaudited)
    Revenue 26,592 26,922
    Operating profit 2,210 2,344
    Profit before tax 1,415 1,870
    Tax credit 223 281
    Profit for the period 1,638 2,151
         
    EBITDA from continuing operations 5,431 6,483
         
    Adjusted operating profit 3,953 4,383
    Adjusted net profit 3,189 3,998
         
    Cash and cash equivalents 11,159 8,041
    Loans & borrowings (4,400) (6,900)
    Net cash 6,759 1,141

    About Hybrid Software Group
    Through its operating subsidiaries, Hybrid Software Group PLC (Euronext: HYSG) is a leading developer of software and electronics for labels & packaging and industrial print manufacturing. Customers include press manufacturers such as HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, and hundreds of packaging printers, trade shops, and converters worldwide.

    Hybrid Software Group PLC is headquartered in Cambridge UK. Its subsidiary companies are colour technology experts ColorLogic, printing software developers Global Graphics Software, enterprise software developer HYBRID Software, 3D design and modelling software developers iC3D, the industrial printhead driver solutions specialists Meteor Inkjet, and pre-press workflow developer Xitron.

    Contacts

     

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As New York Police Departments Face Staffing Shortages, Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Keep New Yorkers And Law Enforcement Families Safe

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Bill would establish a pilot program to provide child care services for police officers
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to call for the passage of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act. This bipartisan bill would provide $24 million in federal funding for each of the next 5 fiscal years to establish a pilot program to provide child care for law enforcement families. Providing child care options for officers could help enhance recruitment, allow families to plan around abnormal work hours, and increase public safety by reducing barriers to a career in law enforcement. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) cosponsors this bill in the Senate and Representative Scott Peters (D-CA-50) leads companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    “Police officers play a vital role in keeping communities safe, and officers should not have to choose between taking care of their children and staying in the police force,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill would help give aspiring police officers safe, viable child care options while also providing stability to current officers struggling to find care for their kids that works with their nontraditional work schedules. Expanding child care is a win-win for officers and communities, and I’m committed to working across the aisle to get this bill passed.”
    The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act would authorize $24 million in funding for each of the next 5 fiscal years and allows for grants of up to $3 million to individual law enforcement agencies or consortia to establish child care programs for their police personnel. In addition, to ensure parents employed by smaller police departments receive support, 20% of the total grant funding will be set aside for law enforcement agencies employing fewer than 200 officers.
    Police officers often work extended hours on a nontraditional schedule. In a recent survey, more than 70% of law enforcement agencies reported that recruitment is more difficult now than five years ago, and at one major metropolitan police department, more than half of officers reported having to leave or miss work due to child care issues. This issue disproportionately impacts women, who make up less than 14% of sworn officers and 4% of police chiefs. Senator Gillibrand’s bill would help increase public safety by reducing barriers to a career in law enforcement and by ensuring the best talent is recruited into our police departments.
    This legislation is supported by the following organizations: 30×30, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), National Asian Peace Officers Association (NAPOA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), International Association of Chiefs of Police, Central New York Association of Chiefs of Police, New York State Association of Chief of Police, AFSCME, and Third Way.
    The full text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • New National Cooperative Policy to be unveiled soon: Amit Shah

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Government is set to unveil the New National Cooperative Policy (NCP), aimed at realising the vision of “Sahakar se Samriddhi,” the core mandate of the Ministry of Cooperation. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said that the policy seeks to unlock the full potential of the cooperative sector by providing a comprehensive framework for its growth and development.

    To formulate the new policy, a national-level committee was constituted on 2nd September 2022 under the chairmanship of Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu. The committee comprises experts from the cooperative sector, representatives from various levels of cooperative societies, Secretaries and Registrars of Cooperative Societies from States and Union Territories, and officials from central ministries and departments.

    Over the course of its work, the committee held 17 meetings and organised four regional workshops to gather feedback and suggestions from stakeholders across the country. These inputs have been carefully integrated into the draft policy, which is now ready and will be made public shortly.

    Highlighting the Government’s efforts to strengthen the cooperative movement, the Minister informed the House that a comprehensive plan has been approved to expand the reach of cooperatives to the grassroots level. The plan aims to establish two lakh new multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS), along with dairy and fishery cooperatives, in every panchayat and village across India over the next five years. This will be achieved through convergence of various Government of India schemes such as the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF), National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with active support from NABARD, NDDB, NFDB, and State Governments.

    As part of this initiative, Margdarshika-a guidebook detailing the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders- was released on 19th September 2024. According to the National Cooperative Database, a total of 21 new PACS have been registered in Haryana as of 30th June 2025.

    However, no new PACS were established in the state during the first quarter of the current financial year, from 1st April to 30th June 2025, as per the latest data available on the National Cooperative Database Portal.

     

  • MIL-OSI Canada: CBSA officers at Calgary International Airport and Commercial operations seize 160 kg of cannabis, worth over $1.2 million, in a year

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 23, 2025                Calgary, Alberta                Canada Border Services Agency

    Over the past year, the CBSA has seized more than 160 kg cannabis at the Calgary International Airport and Calgary Commercial operations. The majority of the cannabis was illicit and destined for export. The total amount has an estimated street value of over $1.2 million. These seizures disrupt organized crime that helps fund other illegal activities such as narcotics and weapons smuggling.

    Among these seizures, border services officers at the Calgary International Airport seized 109 kg in 4 separate smuggling attempts. In each attempt, the cannabis was discovered in vacuum-sealed packages within suitcases destined for the United Kingdom (U.K.). The travellers involved were arrested by CBSA officers.

    Some additional highlights include:

    • On July 12, 2025, officers intercepted 12.29 kg of cannabis contained in an otherwise empty suitcase from a Canadian citizen.
    • On May 13, 2025, officers intercepted 17.5 kg of cannabis from the suitcase of a traveller from Hong Kong.
    • On October 27, 2024, officers intercepted 31.6 kg of cannabis from a Canadian citizen on a stopover from Vancouver. Officers also found 1 gram of fentanyl and 29 grams of cocaine in small bags hidden within this traveller’s suitcases.
    • On Aug 31, 2024, officers intercepted 48 kg of cannabis concealed in bath towels within two suitcases of a Canadian citizen. A second Canadian citizen was also arrested.

    At Calgary Commercial operations, officers intercepted 9 packages containing small amounts of cannabis of 1 to 10 kg each bound for the U.K., Belgium and the Netherlands. The cannabis was contained in vacuum-sealed bags and were falsely declared.

    Although cannabis is legal in Canada, the illicit cross-border movement of cannabis is a serious criminal offence, punishable with imprisonment of up to 5 years under the Customs Act and up to 14 years under the Cannabis Act.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mankato Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

    Source: US FBI

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mankato, Minnesota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on June 30, 2025.

    Ethan Schnitker, 41, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Schnitker was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 13, 2025.

    The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on October 3, 2021, in Gregory County, South Dakota, on property located within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Schnitker had sexual contact with a minor victim without her permission while they were visiting the area. Schnitker was responsible for the minor’s care at the time.

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

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

    Schnitker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mankato Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

    Source: US FBI

    PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mankato, Minnesota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on June 30, 2025.

    Ethan Schnitker, 41, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Schnitker was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 13, 2025.

    The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on October 3, 2021, in Gregory County, South Dakota, on property located within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Schnitker had sexual contact with a minor victim without her permission while they were visiting the area. Schnitker was responsible for the minor’s care at the time.

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

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

    Schnitker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Little Eagle Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Killing Hunka Brother Within the Standing Rock Reservation

    Source: US FBI

    ABERDEEN – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on July 15, 2025.

    Evan John Bobtail Bear, age 35, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Bobtail Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025.

    On May 14, 2024, Bobtail Bear argued with his brother at a gathering outside a home in Little Eagle, South Dakota, which lies within the Standing Rock Reservation. Bobtail Bear punched his brother in the head. Bobtail Bear’s brother, unconscious, keeled over and struck his head on a concrete driveway. When Bobtail Bear saw his brother was seriously injured, he pleaded with him to wake up. He never did, succumbing to his injuries on June 8, 2024, in a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

    Bobtail Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Bihar’s railway budget grew nine times in 11 years, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said that the budgetary allocation for railway infrastructure and safety works in Bihar has witnessed a nearly nine-fold increase in the last eleven years. From an annual average outlay of ₹1,132 crore during 2009–14, the allocation has surged to ₹10,066 crore in 2025–26.

    Highlighting the transformation, the Minister informed in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that the commissioning of new railway tracks in Bihar has also seen substantial growth. Between 2009 and 2014, 318 km of new tracks were laid, averaging 63.6 km per year. However, from 2014 to 2025, this figure rose to 1,899 km, averaging 172.6 km annually- more than two-and-a-half times the earlier rate.

    Several key infrastructure projects have been completed in Bihar in recent years. These include the construction of major bridges such as the Munger Bridge (₹2,774 crore), Patna Bridge (₹3,555 crore), and Kosi Bridge (₹516 crore). Other completed works include doubling of railway lines like Hajipur-Bachwara and Kiul-Gaya, gauge conversions across multiple routes, new line constructions, and electrification projects. The total expenditure on these projects runs into thousands of crores, reflecting the scale and ambition of ongoing railway expansion in the state.

    The Minister said that although some of these bridges were sanctioned before 2014, significant progress was achieved only after that year. He credited improved planning, efficient execution methods, and consistent fund availability for the timely implementation of these large-scale works.

    As of 1st April 2025, a total of 52 railway projects are sanctioned in Bihar, covering 4,663 km with an estimated cost of ₹86,107 crore. Of these, 1,014 km have been commissioned, and ₹29,353 crore has already been spent. These include 31 new line projects, one gauge conversion, and 20 doubling or multi-tracking projects.

    The Minister underlined that railway projects are sanctioned zonally rather than state-wise, as many span across state boundaries. Projects are approved based on traffic projections, operational requirements, socio-economic impact, and suggestions from state governments and public representatives.

    He added that timely completion of railway projects depends on factors such as land acquisition, environmental clearances, availability of funds, local law and order, and climatic conditions.

    To improve mobility and safety, Indian Railways is eliminating manned level crossings by constructing Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs). Between 2014 and 2025, 558 such bridges were constructed in Bihar. Additionally, 218 more ROBs/RUBs, worth ₹6,014 crore, are in various stages of implementation.

    Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 98 railway stations in Bihar have been selected for redevelopment to enhance passenger amenities. Works have already been completed at Pirpainti and Thawe stations under Phase-I. Other stations including Saharsa, Salauna, Luckeesarai, Gaya, and Muzaffarpur are witnessing rapid construction activity. The redevelopment includes upgraded station buildings, foot overbridges, new platforms, improved parking and circulating areas, and enhanced accessibility.

    The Minister informed that Bihar is also being served by 20 Vande Bharat trains and 10 Amrit Bharat Express services. Furthermore, two Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services are operational in the state, providing faster and more modern connectivity to the people.

    Railway infrastructure projects in Bihar are managed by the East Central Railway (ECR), Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Eastern Railway (ER), and North Eastern Railway (NER) zones. The Ministry continues to monitor progress closely and updates are made available in the public domain through the Indian Railways website.

     

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The ‘Oil Industry, African Energy Chamber (AEC) and Africa Bromance’ Remains Committed to Africa’s Energy Development Despite Attacks from Foreign Funded Groups

    Source: APO

    In yet another attack on the African oil and gas industry, Extinction Rebellion has condemned South Africa as it strives to advance oil and gas exploration across its offshore market. An article published this week by the group’s spokesperson Moraig Peden cites new offshore oil and gas projects as being in direct conflict with the country’s climate commitments, despite the fact that operators have secured environmental authorization to explore offshore. Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) condemns the article as yet another blatant attack on not only the African energy industry but its population at large. Oil and gas will play a fundamental role in alleviating energy poverty in Africa and the AEC – in collaboration with the oil industry and African communities – will continue advocating for offshore exploration and production.   

    Groups such as Extinction Rebellion has been consistent in their attacks against the industry, turning to violent and disruptive measures to voice their biases and relentless opposition. Rather than peaceful protests, foreign funded environmental groups have turned to climate-motivated sabotage. Activists from Shut the System, for example, sabotaged internet cables in London in early 2025. Following which, the group stated that they “vow to wage a campaign of sabotage targeting the tools, property and machinery of those most responsible for global warming.” This is a direct attack on the industry.  

    Another group, Just Stop Oil, has also been relentless. Attacks include throwing soup at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting, throwing paint on Stonehenge, gluing themselves to roads to stop traffic, cable-tying themselves to goal posts at sports events and England-wide blockades at ten critical oil facilities in 2022. Just Stop Oil protestors were also given multi-year prison sentences in England in 2024 for their roles in closing multiple junctions of the M25 motorway. In the US, Greenpeace was issued to pay $660 million in damages in 2025 for malicious interference with the Dakota Access Pipeline. The group also has a history of occupying coal power plants and blocking coal shipments in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. But it is the group’s attacks on the industry in Africa that stand to bring far-reaching disruptions.   

    Greenpeace has been strongly opposing exploration in Africa by companies such as Shell, Meren Energy (formerly Africa Oil Corp), TotalEnergies and more. All three companies have secured environmental authorization and/or financing for their offshore activities but Greenpeace continues to launch attacks against these companies. The company challenged Shell’s exploration rights in court and continues to ask for donations to support its attacks on oil companies.  

    “We at the chamber expected these attacks as we approach this next edition of AEW: Invest in African Energies. These attacks always come. We denounce the violence of Extinction rebellion.  We hope that we will have a robust conversation about Africans right to drill and provide energy for the millions of Africans that live without access to electricity or clean cooking solutions. The AEC-Africa-Oil and Gas Industry bromance will continue fighting for Africa. We will continue fighting to make energy poverty history. We will continue fighting for generations to come,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.  

    It is clear that the writer Peden does not fully understand the African context. If the writer truly understood what every day Africans in Mali, Mozambique, Namibia and other countries go through, she would not have this extremist and radical environmental agenda against the continent’s energy development. We must be reminded that over 600 million Africans live without access to electricity while over 900 million people live without access to clean cooking solutions. But it seems that Extinction Rebellion is bent on ensuring that Africans remain without access to electricity or the energy they need for the future. This is exactly what the AEC opposes. This is also why we are proud to be part of a bromance with Africa and the global oil and gas industry. This is why we will continue fighting for oil and gas exploration.  

    It is surprising to see that Extinction Rebellion and Peden criticize African exploration efforts when they fail to criticize the bromance between countries in other parts of the world and the oil and gas industry. They do not criticize Norway for producing four million bpd and sanctioning new energy projects or the UK which is drilling in the North Sea or the US in the Gulf. It is Africa, where people want to drill for more oil and gas to help lift the continent out of poverty, that the attacks come. 

    “I was hoping the she would bring Greta Thunberg along because she will protest anything. Moraig Peden and the foreign funded green groups now have the Mantashe Derangement Syndrome.  The attacks on Africans by Moraig Peden and Extinction rebellion deceitful and dishonest, Or blatantly dishonest. This is just the beginning, Africans and the energy industry have been through tough times, but you’ve never seen me quit and there’s no quitting on our fight to make energy poverty history and industrialize Africa. We see Moraig Peden’s attacks as simply hypocrisy especially coming from a wealthy woman with a Eurocentric view of energy who believes Africans should stay in the dark while she is shopping for car elevators” Concluded Ayuk. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank Shareholders Approve Key Resolutions and Reaffirm Support for Preferred Creditor Status

    Source: APO

    At the 32nd Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), held as part of the Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25 to 28 June 2025, shareholders approved a series of key resolutions aimed at strengthening the Bank’s strategic direction, financial resilience, and governance.

    Among the most significant outcomes was the appointment of Dr. George Elombi as the fourth President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, succeeding Professor Benedict Oramah, who will step down later this year after nearly a decade of transformative leadership.

    Shareholders also approved the expansion of the Bank’s Concessional Finance Window, increasing its capital allocation from USD 1 billion to USD 5 billion, and raising the direct shareholder contribution from USD 200 million to USD 700 million. This substantial expansion reflects the growing demand for accessible development finance across Africa and the Caribbean, and strengthens Afreximbank’s capacity to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

    In addition, shareholders reaffirmed the commitment of the Bank’s Member States to Afreximbank’s Preferred Creditor Status (PCS), as codified in the Bank’s Establishment Agreement, to which all Member States are signatories. This reaffirmation underscores continued support for the Afreximbank’s role as a trusted African Multilateral Financial Institution.

    In what marked his final Shareholders’ Meeting, Professor Oramah welcomed the outcomes and expressed appreciation for the vision and leadership shown:

    “It has been a great honour to serve as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank for the past decade. I commend our shareholders for the bold and strategic decisions taken, particularly the unwavering reaffirmation of their commitment to respect their obligations under the Afreximbank Establishment Agreement, through which the Bank enjoys Preferred Creditor Status across its member states. We also welcome their decision to increase the size of the Africa Trade Transformation Fund (ATTF), the Concessional Finance initiative launched at the 30th Annual Meetings of the Bank, from USD 1 billion to USD 5 billion. These decisions would collectively shape the future of this great institution and advance Africa’s prosperity.

    “I am confident that the Bank is well placed to continue making a profound impact under the capable leadership of my able successor, Dr. George Elombi, and I extend my very best wishes to him.”

    The shareholders also elected Mr. Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy as Chairman of the General Meeting for the period 2025/2026 and passed other statutory resolutions including adoption of the Bank’s audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 and appointment of auditors.

    The shareholders in addition confirmed the re-election of Dr. Denny Hamachila Kalyalya (Zambia), Dr. John Panonesta Mangudya (Zimbabwe) and Mr. Victor Jérôme Nembelessini-Silué (Côte d’Ivoire) to the Bank’s Board of Directors. Independent Directors Mr. Anil Dua (United Kingdom) and Mr. Ronald Sibongiseni Ntuli (South Africa) were also re-elected.  Newly elected Directors include Mrs. Leila Mokaddem (Tunisia), as a nominee of the African Development Bank.

    The shareholders noted the challenges and negative reports disputing African Multilateral Financial Institutions and undermining the commitments that African states have made in the treaties establishing these institutions, including Afreximbank.

    In a statement unanimously endorsed and adopted by the General Meeting, Mr. Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Chairman of the General Meeting, affirmed the shareholders’ unwavering confidence in the Bank’s financial resilience and mandate to drive Africa’s trade-led growth.

    Mr. Edun stated: “The shareholders affirm their respect for the 1993 treaty establishing Afreximbank, signed and ratified by African states, noting that it enshrined binding sovereign commitments and underpinned the preferred creditor status (PCS) of the Bank, shielding its loans from sovereign debt restructurings.

    “Additionally,  shareholders reaffirm the commitment of the Bank’s Member States to the Preferred Creditor Status (PCS) enshrined in the Bank’s Establishment Agreement to which all Member States are signatories and call for collective responsibility in safeguarding the integrity of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AMFIs).

    “This meeting confirms shareholders’ full commitment to supporting the Bank’s mission, and call upon all stakeholders to engage constructively, reflecting the Bank’s robust legal protections and credit fundamentals.”

    This collective statement by Afreximbank’s shareholders sends a strong signal to partners, rating agencies, and the broader financial community: the Bank remains a trusted and protected institution anchored by solid legal foundations and an unwavering mandate to drive Africa’s economic transformation through trade.

    Nearly 6,000 delegates attended the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings, making it the Bank’s most highly attended Annual Meeting in its 32-year history. Attendees included 22 current and former African and Caribbean Heads of State or their representatives, as well as policymakers, academics, business leaders and high-profile dignitaries. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Media Contact:
    Vincent Musumba
    Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
    Email: press@afreximbank.com

    Follow us on: 
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    About Afreximbank:
    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

    For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China ready to facilitate travel between China and India — Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) — China will maintain communication and hold consultations with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday.

    Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on India’s decision to resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24 this year after five years.

    “We have taken note of this positive step,” the official said, adding that facilitating cross-border travel is in the common interest of all parties. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL operation targeting phone scams nets 1,500 arrests

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    LYON, France – More than 1,500 people have been arrested in an INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting multi-million euro telephone and e-mail scams across Asia.

    More than 1,500 people were arrested in an INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting multi-million euro telephone and e-mail scams across Asia.

    Operation First Light 2016 targeted a variety of social engineering fraud scams and related financial crimes.

    Operation First Light 2016 saw police across the region conduct raids of suspicious call centres, with the largest in the Philippines where police arrested some 1,300 Chinese nationals working in a single location as part of a massive criminal operation.

    The suspects were engaged in a range of criminal activities from the same building, including telephone scams aimed at victims in China, money laundering and illegal online gambling.

    Based on intelligence exchanged in the framework of the operation, in December police in Spain arrested more than 200 Chinese nationals and shut down 13 call centres in Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante which scammed thousands of victims out of some EUR 16 million.

    In this case, the suspects posed as law enforcement or justice officials, telling the victims in China that their bank accounts had been targeted by criminals and directing them to transfer a sum of money into a designated bank account in order to track the criminals.

    The two-month operation targeted a variety of social engineering fraud scams – including telephone deception, romance scams and e-mail deception – and related financial crimes.

    ‘Social engineering fraud’ refers to scams which manipulate or trick people into giving out confidential or personal information which can then be used for financial gain by the criminals involved.

    “By sharing information through INTERPOL, police can overcome the challenges in investigating international telephone fraud, such as criminals frequently changing locations or IP addresses, and build working relationships to prevent similar criminal activity in the future,” said Makoto Tanase, Coordinator of INTERPOL’s Financial Crimes unit.

    INTERPOL’s Financial Crimes unit, in conjunction with the Liaison Office in Bangkok, facilitated the exchange of information and coordinated the joint police action during the operation, which took place between 1 October and 30 November.

    Korean, Thai and Indian nationals were also among those arrested, with additional countries in Europe and the Americas contributing intelligence or providing investigative support. In addition to social engineering fraud, the suspects also face charges of payment card fraud and related financial crimes.

    Countries participating in Operation First Light 2016 included: Austria, China, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Centre launches geo-coded address system under ‘Dhruva’ Policy

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The centre has introduced the ‘Dhruva’ Policy, a pioneering initiative aimed at transforming how addresses are structured and managed across the country. At the heart of this policy is a geo-coded grid system that assigns unique codes called DIGIPINs to every location within a 4×4 metre area, promising enhanced location accuracy and more efficient service delivery.

    The policy introduces a new ‘Digital Address’ layer, allowing individuals and institutions to generate personalized address labels. By combining the DIGIPIN with traditional descriptors like house numbers and street names, users can create precise, easy-to-share digital addresses. This innovation is expected to simplify navigation, streamline logistics, and strengthen digital infrastructure.

    Designed with a federated and interoperable framework, the initiative enables every physical location in India to be digitally mapped and identified. This is expected to bolster service delivery in sectors such as postal services, telecommunications, and broadband-particularly in remote and underserved regions.

    Notably, the Dhruva Policy is built entirely on indigenous technology. Its open-source architecture supports domestic innovation and aligns with the government’s vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. Officials believe that the system will help reduce delivery costs, improve resource planning, and promote digital inclusion by making public services more accessible and responsive.

    The initiative is currently at the proof-of-concept stage. A draft policy document has been circulated for stakeholder consultation to gather feedback and refine the framework.

    Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, shared the information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

     

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 23rd, 2025 Heinrich Releases Statement on Trump Administration Preventing Gallup Indian Medical Center from Providing Health Care to Vulnerable New Mexicans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Reports illustrate how Trump’s Executive Order to “promote efficiency” in federal government forced Gallup Indian Medical Center to halt medical services and lose staff

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in response to new reporting that details how Trump’s Executive Order to “promote efficiency” is preventing Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) from providing medical services, pushed physicians out, and upended necessary contracts that make the medical center function.

    “I am appalled at Gallup Indian Medical Center’s dismal state. Despite the truly heroic work being done by providers there, burdensome and unnecessary red tape inflicted by the Trump Administration has caused this already overburdened hospital to cut down on essential services.

    “My office has received numerous reports that GIMC has slashed the number of beds available and scaled back maternal care. That’s not okay. If expectant mothers need an ultrasound or experience pregnancy complications overnight, they shouldn’t have to be flown to another facility to receive basic medical services. But that is the state of care right now.

    “I continue to call on President Trump to take immediate action to repeal DOGE’s policies that are crushing this hospital.

    “This facility desperately needs federal investment in a new location. Instead, this Administration is nearly bringing its operations to a halt, undermining Tribal sovereignty, existing federal law, and the government-to-government relationship.

    “The inherent sovereignty of Tribes is recognized in the U.S. Constitution, in treaties, and across many federal laws and policies, and it has been consistently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. These trust and treaty obligations require the federal government to adequately fund and staff IHS hospitals like GIMC.

    “The Trump Administration’s actions are a blatant and unacceptable violation of treaty obligations and must end now.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Leader reflects on Derby’s diverse communities

    Source: City of Derby

    In her latest column, Councillor Nadine Peatfield reflects on the diverse communities that make up Derby, creating a rich and vibrant place to live and work…

    As a councillor, celebrating and investing in our communities has always been, and continues to be, the most important part of the job.

    Now more than ever before, it is critical that we celebrate the diverse communities that make our city what it is. This isn’t just a feel-good exercise, it’s essential to be a stronger and more creative society. When we embrace and celebrate experiences, we discover so much potential that benefits us all.

    Here in Derby, we have a long history of celebrating the wide range of cultures represented in our city. During the Spanish Civil War, 50 children came to Derby as refugees and lived at Burnaston House – now the site of the Toyota Burnaston site – between 1937 and 1938 as part of a national effort to protect these children from the horrors of war. This story was in one of the newspapers we uncovered in a time capsule, whilst refurbishing Derby’s Market Hall.

    During the Second World War, Derby also became the temporary home to around 270 Belgian refugees, many of whom made Derby their permanent home after the war ended, as well as many displaced Ukrainians who have contributed significantly to our city. These are just a few examples of our city stepping up to help those in need of a new or temporary home and giving them a warm Derby welcome. If you’re interested, you can find out more about these refugees in our Local Studies Library.

    Back to the present day, I had the privilege of attending the Community Party in Arboretum Park earlier last month, organised by Rosehill Infant School and Community One, as well as other local organisations. The event was all based around ‘Celebrating Culture’ and residents enjoyed entertainment, sports, food and most importantly, had fun together whilst celebrating the many different cultures represented, particularly in Arboretum and Normanton.

    Events like these play a crucial role in putting the unity into community. When we take the time to learn about traditions that are different to our own, we break down barriers and build a greater understanding of our neighbours.

    Did you know that, according to the most recent Census, more than 80 languages are spoken in Derby, including British Sign Language? I loved visiting the Royal School for the Deaf Derby recently to meet their students, teachers and some of the parents. It was such a joyous occasion with choirs signing expressively to music and a keynote speech from the Council’s very own Corey Beck. Whilst there, I had a wonderful conversation with recent OBE recipient, Wendy Daunt, an absolute inspiration who has been rightly recognised for her life-long campaigning for sign language. I hope to be able to support her further aspirations for deaf inclusion across our city.

    I was also invited to attend the opening service of the RCCG Solid Rock Church in their new home on East Street. It’s fabulous to have such a vibrant place of worship right in the heart of our city. I’ve very grateful to Pastor James and his team, who work tirelessly for communities and people facing challenges. I hope everyone will take the opportunity to welcome them to the city centre and learn more about their church.

    Celebrating its 50th year, the Caribbean Carnival organised by the Derby West Indian Community Association is a highlight of our calendar, bringing together communities and celebrating Caribbean culture – how can you not love the vibrant costumes, energetic dancers and fabulous music?!  Our city would be a much duller place without it.

    Different backgrounds bring different problem-solving approaches, leading to more robust solutions and greater innovation. Look at all the different global organisations that have put down roots in Derby, such as Toyota, which not only enhance our city, but create new jobs and boost our local economy.  

    By celebrating the diversity of our city, we’re not prioritising one group of people over another or forgetting our history, but rather about creating a space where everyone feels welcome, valued and respected for who they are. Diversity, in its truest sense, encompasses a vast spectrum: race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and countless other features that make us unique. Ignoring or downplaying these differences isn’t just a missed opportunity, it harms our society.

    Increasingly, we are seeing more and more hurtful, divisive, and frankly unacceptable language used online about the cultures and communities represented in our city. Let me be clear; racism has no place in Derby, and I’d like to challenge anyone who is tempted to engage with or contribute to this negativity to consider the damage that this does to our city and to our communities.

    I know that celebrating diversity isn’t always easy. It requires conscious effort, open-mindedness, and a willingness to confront our own biases. It means actively seeking out diverse voices, listening to their stories, and creating platforms for their contributions. This is why the Council is actively taking steps to genuine inclusion, empowering all our communities to thrive.

    In these turbulent global times, let’s celebrate our differences and reap the benefits that it brings to all of us. After all, we have far more in common than that which divides us.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Pest Control Steering Committee reviews progress of anti-mosquito work in combating chikungunya fever, and efforts in rodent control implemented by departments (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Pest Control Steering Committee reviews progress of anti-mosquito work in combating chikungunya fever, and efforts in rodent control implemented by departments (with photo) 
    Mosquito control
     
         The representative of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) reported to the PCSC the situation of mosquito proliferation this year thus far. The gravidtrap indices for Aedes albopictus from April to June 2025 (1.2 per cent in April, 8.6 per cent in May and 9.5 per cent in June) were lower than those in the same period in 2024 (4.2 per cent in April, 15.7 per cent in May and 14 per cent in June) and remained at a relatively low level. With the rainy season approaching, the FEHD has continued to intensify the mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD will continue to conduct on-site inspections with relevant departments, and provide them with professional advice and technical support. The rainfall from April to June in 2025 was lower than the previous year, and with the effort of the Government and relevant stakeholders, the gravidtrap indices in some monitored areas reaching alert levels (zero in April, six in May and two in June) dropped compared with the same period in 2024 (one in April, 10 in May and four in June).
     
    In spite of that, the rainfall in June 2025 reached 237.3 millimeters, which was higher than in April (57.1 millimeters) and May (81.6 millimeters). As the hot and rainy weather approaches, combined with the increase in inbound and outbound passenger traffic during the upcoming summer holiday, the overall risk of mosquito borne diseases may rise significantly. The departments will closely monitor the situation of mosquito infestation as reflected by the surveillance indices and strengthen mosquito prevention and control measures based on the recommendations discussed at the meeting, including constantly updating the list of mosquito infestation hotspots to adjust and plan their work based on the actual situation, to ensure that mosquito prevention and control work is prompt and effective.
     
         It is worth noting that in addition to dengue fever, Aedes albopictus can also transmit chikungunya fever (CF). CF is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong. Recently, a considerable number of CF infection cases have been reported in neighbouring regions and some overseas countries. As Hong Kong people frequently travel to and from different places, if a citizen is infected with CF abroad and is bitten by mosquitoes in Hong Kong during the infectious period, and subsequently the mosquitoes bite other people, local transmission may occur. In view of this, although there have been no CF cases in Hong Kong since 2020, the industry and the public must remain vigilant and intensify mosquito prevention and control efforts to avoid the risk of local cases during the summer.
     
         Owing to the communicable disease notification mechanism established by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has kept abreast of the latest situation of CF in Guangdong Province.  At the meeting, the CHP briefed the PCSC about the latest global situation and international response measures regarding CF, as reported by the World Health Organization. 
     
    The CHP has reminded the public to take precautionary and personal protection measures against mosquitoes, both locally and when travelling outside Hong Kong. The CHP’s Port Health Division has stepped up inspections at the boundary control points to ensure good environmental hygiene and effective implementation of anti-mosquito measures. The Division also conducts temperature screening for inbound travellers. Any travellers with fever will be assessed on health conditions and referred to hospitals for follow up when necessary. The CHP will also maintain close liaison with relevant stakeholders, such as airlines and the travel industry, to provide the latest disease information and health advice in a timely manner. The CHP has set up a dedicated webpage on CF (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/109029.html 
         In addition, the CHP has issued a letter to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong to provide them with the latest epidemiological information and appeal them to watch out for CF-related symptoms among those who return to Hong Kong from outbound travel. If CF cases are detected, they should be immediately referred to hospitals for treatment and reported to the DH in accordance with the established mechanism, so that the DH can initiate epidemiological investigations, and implement prevention and control measures. The Hospital Authority (HA) has reminded healthcare professionals to be vigilant in early identification of patients for timely diagnosis and management of patients. Once a suspected case is detected, the HA will activate the surveillance and notification mechanism and report the case to the CHP immediately.
     
         Following Typhoon Wipha, the accumulation of stagnant water may have created mosquito breeding places, increasing the risk of mosquito infestation. Relevant departments and stakeholders will promptly launch a new round of actions to thoroughly eliminate mosquito breeding places, supplemented by fogging operations (i.e. ultra-low volume spraying) to eradicate adult mosquitoes. Subsequently, the departments will continue to take proactive anti-mosquito measures, including clearing potential breeding grounds at least once a week during the rainy season and timely co-ordination of fogging operations until the season ends, in a collective effort to safeguard public health.
     
    Rodent control
     
         Starting from 2024, the FEHD has fully adopted thermal imaging cameras with AI technology to conduct the Rodent Activity Survey (RAS) and establish a RAR in each district. The FEHD uses AI to analyse thermal images captured by cameras to detect and understand rodent pathways and activity ranges. This helps assess rodent infestation objectively and effectively to allocate resources precisely for targeted rodent control measures. The RAR in the second half of 2024 was 94 per cent (for every 100 images, 94 of them did not detect rodents), and the number of survey locations with RAR lower than 80 per cent has decreased by 10 as compared to the first half of 2024. From 2025, the FEHD’s RAS has been extended to public housing estates and parks managed by the Housing Authority and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Relevant departments will have more data to enhance precision in rodent control work and make the survey more representative.
     
         Making reference to the results of the RAS, the FEHD continues to strengthen rodent control and implement a series of targeted rodent prevention and control measures, including overnight anti-rodent operations and the application of new anti-rodent technologies and tools, which have gradually shown positive results. From January to June, 2025, the FEHD collected a total of approximately 57 200 live rodents, marking an increase of 92 per cent and 54 per cent as compared to the same periods in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
     
         In the meeting, the FEHD briefed participants on how to make effective use of the RAR data to address rodent blackspots, and properly allocate resources to step up rodent prevention and control work so as to achieve a precise and effective rodent control strategy, for reference by relevant departments.
     
         The effectiveness of prevention and control of rodents relies on the co-operation of stakeholders from various sectors. On December 31, 2024, the FEHD launched the first phase of the Anti-rodent Charter, targeting residential premises to raise residents’ awareness of environmental hygiene and foster good habits to create a rodent-free environment. Residential premises that sign the Charter will be provided with free anti-rodent technical support from the FEHD, including invitations to attend pest control seminars organised by the department. As of June 15, 2025, 640 residential premises have signed the Charter, covering over 580 000 households. Two premises, with over 40 households, that signed the Charter have participated in the Pilot Scheme on Joint Property Management. Other participants joining the Pilot Scheme will be gradually invited to sign the Charter when they are ready.
     
         The FEHD has actively provided technical support to residential premises that signed the Charter and organised 48 publicity and education activities over the past six months, including rodent control seminars, exhibitions and site visits, to encourage community participation in daily anti-rodent efforts. A total of approximately 2 150 people took part. Among these, two large-scale rodent control seminars held by the FEHD in March and June, 2025 were very well-received, attracting over 400 anti-rodent liaison ambassadors.
     
         All departments agreed to continue to strengthen rodent prevention and control measures in premises under their respective management, to strengthen internal monitoring and assessment of the outcome of rodent control work, and to actively encourage relevant sectors and stakeholders to co-operate with the Government’s work, eliminating rodents’ fundamental survival conditions of food, harbourage and passages from their respective areas.
     
         The second-stage environmental hygiene-related legislative amendments was passed by the Legislative Council on May 8, 2025 and will come into effect on August 17, to more effectively tackle rodent infestation and other environmental hygiene issues. The FEHD can now serve a “Notice of Elimination of Vermin” to persons responsible for management of the building (e.g. property management companies) when appropriate, for their follow-up action to eliminate vermin infestation in common parts of a building. Under the legislative amendments, the maximum penalty for non-compliance with “Notice of Elimination of Vermin” will be raised from a fine at level 2 ($5,000) and a daily fine of $100 to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and a daily fine of $450, so as to enhance deterrent effect.
     
    The meeting was chaired by the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong. Participants of the meeting came from three policy bureaux and 20 government departments and organisations.
    Issued at HKT 22:32

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Pest Control Steering Committee reviews progress of anti-mosquito work in combating chikungunya fever, and efforts in rodent control implemented by departments (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Pest Control Steering Committee reviews progress of anti-mosquito work in combating chikungunya fever, and efforts in rodent control implemented by departments (with photo) 
    Mosquito control
     
         The representative of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) reported to the PCSC the situation of mosquito proliferation this year thus far. The gravidtrap indices for Aedes albopictus from April to June 2025 (1.2 per cent in April, 8.6 per cent in May and 9.5 per cent in June) were lower than those in the same period in 2024 (4.2 per cent in April, 15.7 per cent in May and 14 per cent in June) and remained at a relatively low level. With the rainy season approaching, the FEHD has continued to intensify the mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD will continue to conduct on-site inspections with relevant departments, and provide them with professional advice and technical support. The rainfall from April to June in 2025 was lower than the previous year, and with the effort of the Government and relevant stakeholders, the gravidtrap indices in some monitored areas reaching alert levels (zero in April, six in May and two in June) dropped compared with the same period in 2024 (one in April, 10 in May and four in June).
     
    In spite of that, the rainfall in June 2025 reached 237.3 millimeters, which was higher than in April (57.1 millimeters) and May (81.6 millimeters). As the hot and rainy weather approaches, combined with the increase in inbound and outbound passenger traffic during the upcoming summer holiday, the overall risk of mosquito borne diseases may rise significantly. The departments will closely monitor the situation of mosquito infestation as reflected by the surveillance indices and strengthen mosquito prevention and control measures based on the recommendations discussed at the meeting, including constantly updating the list of mosquito infestation hotspots to adjust and plan their work based on the actual situation, to ensure that mosquito prevention and control work is prompt and effective.
     
         It is worth noting that in addition to dengue fever, Aedes albopictus can also transmit chikungunya fever (CF). CF is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong. Recently, a considerable number of CF infection cases have been reported in neighbouring regions and some overseas countries. As Hong Kong people frequently travel to and from different places, if a citizen is infected with CF abroad and is bitten by mosquitoes in Hong Kong during the infectious period, and subsequently the mosquitoes bite other people, local transmission may occur. In view of this, although there have been no CF cases in Hong Kong since 2020, the industry and the public must remain vigilant and intensify mosquito prevention and control efforts to avoid the risk of local cases during the summer.
     
         Owing to the communicable disease notification mechanism established by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has kept abreast of the latest situation of CF in Guangdong Province.  At the meeting, the CHP briefed the PCSC about the latest global situation and international response measures regarding CF, as reported by the World Health Organization. 
     
    The CHP has reminded the public to take precautionary and personal protection measures against mosquitoes, both locally and when travelling outside Hong Kong. The CHP’s Port Health Division has stepped up inspections at the boundary control points to ensure good environmental hygiene and effective implementation of anti-mosquito measures. The Division also conducts temperature screening for inbound travellers. Any travellers with fever will be assessed on health conditions and referred to hospitals for follow up when necessary. The CHP will also maintain close liaison with relevant stakeholders, such as airlines and the travel industry, to provide the latest disease information and health advice in a timely manner. The CHP has set up a dedicated webpage on CF (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/109029.html 
         In addition, the CHP has issued a letter to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong to provide them with the latest epidemiological information and appeal them to watch out for CF-related symptoms among those who return to Hong Kong from outbound travel. If CF cases are detected, they should be immediately referred to hospitals for treatment and reported to the DH in accordance with the established mechanism, so that the DH can initiate epidemiological investigations, and implement prevention and control measures. The Hospital Authority (HA) has reminded healthcare professionals to be vigilant in early identification of patients for timely diagnosis and management of patients. Once a suspected case is detected, the HA will activate the surveillance and notification mechanism and report the case to the CHP immediately.
     
         Following Typhoon Wipha, the accumulation of stagnant water may have created mosquito breeding places, increasing the risk of mosquito infestation. Relevant departments and stakeholders will promptly launch a new round of actions to thoroughly eliminate mosquito breeding places, supplemented by fogging operations (i.e. ultra-low volume spraying) to eradicate adult mosquitoes. Subsequently, the departments will continue to take proactive anti-mosquito measures, including clearing potential breeding grounds at least once a week during the rainy season and timely co-ordination of fogging operations until the season ends, in a collective effort to safeguard public health.
     
    Rodent control
     
         Starting from 2024, the FEHD has fully adopted thermal imaging cameras with AI technology to conduct the Rodent Activity Survey (RAS) and establish a RAR in each district. The FEHD uses AI to analyse thermal images captured by cameras to detect and understand rodent pathways and activity ranges. This helps assess rodent infestation objectively and effectively to allocate resources precisely for targeted rodent control measures. The RAR in the second half of 2024 was 94 per cent (for every 100 images, 94 of them did not detect rodents), and the number of survey locations with RAR lower than 80 per cent has decreased by 10 as compared to the first half of 2024. From 2025, the FEHD’s RAS has been extended to public housing estates and parks managed by the Housing Authority and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Relevant departments will have more data to enhance precision in rodent control work and make the survey more representative.
     
         Making reference to the results of the RAS, the FEHD continues to strengthen rodent control and implement a series of targeted rodent prevention and control measures, including overnight anti-rodent operations and the application of new anti-rodent technologies and tools, which have gradually shown positive results. From January to June, 2025, the FEHD collected a total of approximately 57 200 live rodents, marking an increase of 92 per cent and 54 per cent as compared to the same periods in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
     
         In the meeting, the FEHD briefed participants on how to make effective use of the RAR data to address rodent blackspots, and properly allocate resources to step up rodent prevention and control work so as to achieve a precise and effective rodent control strategy, for reference by relevant departments.
     
         The effectiveness of prevention and control of rodents relies on the co-operation of stakeholders from various sectors. On December 31, 2024, the FEHD launched the first phase of the Anti-rodent Charter, targeting residential premises to raise residents’ awareness of environmental hygiene and foster good habits to create a rodent-free environment. Residential premises that sign the Charter will be provided with free anti-rodent technical support from the FEHD, including invitations to attend pest control seminars organised by the department. As of June 15, 2025, 640 residential premises have signed the Charter, covering over 580 000 households. Two premises, with over 40 households, that signed the Charter have participated in the Pilot Scheme on Joint Property Management. Other participants joining the Pilot Scheme will be gradually invited to sign the Charter when they are ready.
     
         The FEHD has actively provided technical support to residential premises that signed the Charter and organised 48 publicity and education activities over the past six months, including rodent control seminars, exhibitions and site visits, to encourage community participation in daily anti-rodent efforts. A total of approximately 2 150 people took part. Among these, two large-scale rodent control seminars held by the FEHD in March and June, 2025 were very well-received, attracting over 400 anti-rodent liaison ambassadors.
     
         All departments agreed to continue to strengthen rodent prevention and control measures in premises under their respective management, to strengthen internal monitoring and assessment of the outcome of rodent control work, and to actively encourage relevant sectors and stakeholders to co-operate with the Government’s work, eliminating rodents’ fundamental survival conditions of food, harbourage and passages from their respective areas.
     
         The second-stage environmental hygiene-related legislative amendments was passed by the Legislative Council on May 8, 2025 and will come into effect on August 17, to more effectively tackle rodent infestation and other environmental hygiene issues. The FEHD can now serve a “Notice of Elimination of Vermin” to persons responsible for management of the building (e.g. property management companies) when appropriate, for their follow-up action to eliminate vermin infestation in common parts of a building. Under the legislative amendments, the maximum penalty for non-compliance with “Notice of Elimination of Vermin” will be raised from a fine at level 2 ($5,000) and a daily fine of $100 to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and a daily fine of $450, so as to enhance deterrent effect.
     
    The meeting was chaired by the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong. Participants of the meeting came from three policy bureaux and 20 government departments and organisations.
    Issued at HKT 22:32

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: CJB Crypto reshapes the ETH earning experience: building a new path for stable income in the crypto wave

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The continued expansion of the cryptocurrency market has given rise to innovative participation models. With its unique advantages, digital asset platforms are becoming a key channel for individuals looking to generate passive income. Unlike traditional setups that require significant hardware investment and technical know-how, modern platforms now offer computing power leasing as a simplified, accessible model for users.

    Breaking through traditional constraints: the core advantage of computing power leasing
    Zero hardware requirements:
     Participants no longer need to research machine specifications, manage heat dissipation, or handle frequent equipment upgrades. The era of complex technical maintenance is being replaced by user-friendly digital platforms.

    Flexible participation options:
     Users can select resource plans based on their personal budgets and market conditions, allowing them to scale their investment up or down as needed.

    Green efficiency upgrade: 
    Top platforms prioritize renewable energy sources such as hydropower and wind, greatly reducing the carbon footprint per transaction and aligning with sustainable investment goals.

    Transparent and manageable returns:
     Real-time earnings tracking, supported by blockchain data, makes daily profits visible and integrates smart contracts for automated distribution.

    A secure choice under a compliance framework
    Protecting user assets is a fundamental priority. Leading service providers actively engage with global regulatory standards. CJB Crypto, for example, has obtained a payment service license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license in Estonia, providing robust legal safeguards for participants.

    Diversified strategies for income growth

    Startup incentives:
     New users receive a $10 welcome package and can immediately begin earning through network contribution.

    Community-driven model:
     The referral program offers dual rewards—earn 3% of your direct invitees’ net earnings and an additional 1.5% from their extended network, with total referral bonuses capped at $50,000.

    Auto-reinvestment feature:
     Daily returns can be automatically reinvested into resource contracts, enabling compound growth and supporting long-term wealth accumulation.

    Optimized user experience in modern platforms:

    • A real-time dashboard displays resource performance and yield trends across major digital assets like BTC, ETH, and FIL
    • Supports conversion of earnings to stablecoins (e.g., USDT, USDC) or direct withdrawals to digital wallets
    • Offers tiered packages to suit everyone—from beginners exploring the space to advanced users seeking high-performance options

    As global infrastructure continues to evolve, modern platforms offer a balanced approach to crypto asset allocation, combining efficiency, transparency, and innovation. Choosing a trusted provider with sustainable practices, clear operations, and regulatory alignment is essential for steady, long-term financial growth in the digital economy.

    Bring the world’s wealth to you. Join CJB Crypto and explore the limitless potential of digital 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: CFEC Releases Results of April 2025 Foreign Exchange Volume Survey

    Source: Bank of Canada

    The Canadian Foreign Exchange Committee (CFEC) released today the results of its April 2025 semi-annual survey of foreign exchange volumes in Canada. The purpose of the survey is to provide information on the size and structure of the foreign exchange and foreign exchange derivatives markets in Canada. Volumes are broken down by product, currency, counterparty, maturity and execution method. The eight banks with the largest foreign exchange sales activity in Canada participate.

    The summary highlights of the April 2025 survey include the following:

    • The monthly turnover in April of traditional foreign exchange products (defined as spot transactions, outright forwards and foreign exchange swaps) totaled about US$4.4 trillion. On an average daily basis, total turnover decreased by 1.7 per cent to US$201.0 billion from October 2024.
    • Spot transactions increased by 23.9 per cent to US$32.1 billion on an average daily basis from October 2024. Outright forwards increased by 11.2 per cent to US$24.2 billion and foreign exchange swaps decreased by 7.8 per cent to US$144.7 billion over the same period.
    • The monthly turnover of foreign exchange derivatives (currency swaps and options) totaled US$608 billion in April. On an average daily basis, derivatives turnover increased by 42.4 per cent to US$27.6 billion from October 2024.
    • Currency swaps turnover increased 49.6 per cent to US$21.4 billion and currency options turnover increased by 22.2 per cent to US$6.2 billion on an average daily basis from October 2024.
    • Compared with the survey from one year ago, the average daily turnover of traditional foreign exchange products increased by 12.7 per cent, and foreign exchange derivatives increased by 34.6 per cent.

    The detailed results of the survey are presented in the summary tables attached. 

    Notes

    CFEC is an industry group composed of senior representatives from financial institutions actively involved in the foreign exchange market in Canada and the U.S. dollar/Canadian dollar market globally. Formed in 1989, its objective is to provide a forum for the regular discussion of issues and developments pertinent to the foreign exchange market, including the review of market practices and procedures. The Bank of Canada chairs CFEC and provides secretariat services to the Committee.

    The Bank of Canada also co-ordinates the CFEC survey on behalf of the market participants. The eight banks that participate in the survey are:

    • Bank of America Canada
    • Bank of Nova Scotia
    • BMO Capital Markets
    • CIBC World Markets
    • National Bank of Canada
    • RBC Capital Markets
    • State Street Canada
    • TD Securities

    Globally, the (London) Foreign Exchange Joint Standing Committee, the (New York) Foreign Exchange Committee, the Singapore Foreign Exchange Market Committee, the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market Committee, the Australian Foreign Exchange Committee and Hong Kong’s Treasury Markets Association conduct similar surveys. Their results are also released today (see links below).

    https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/london-foreign-exchange-joint-standing-committee
    http://www.newyorkfed.org/fxc/volumesurvey/
    https://www.sfemc.org/statistics.html
    http://www.fxcomtky.com/index_e.html
    http://www.tma.org.hk/en_newsevents.aspx
    https://www.afxc.rba.gov.au/statistics/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Vietnam joint army training kicks off 2025-07-23 19:21:35 The China-Vietnam joint army training kicked off at a training base in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on July 22. Participating troops from both sides attended the opening ceremony.

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

      BEIJING, July 23 — The China-Vietnam joint army training kicked off at a training base in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on July 22. Participating troops from both sides attended the opening ceremony.

      After the opening ceremony, the Vietnamese participating troops visited the Chinese military’s wheeled vehicles, light arms, recon equipment, drones, protective devices and various other weapons and equipment.

      This event marks the first-ever joint training between the two armies. Focusing on the joint border patrol training, it will conduct mixed-group training around four aspects: joint reconnaissance, joint fire strike, joint rescue and joint logistic support.

      The two sides will carry out the joint training in modules covering eight subjects, including camouflage reconnaissance, unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance, live-fire shooting and rescue of the wounded.

      During the training, the two sides will also conduct exchanges, visits, and some cultural activities.

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: AI chatbots can boost public health in Africa – why language inclusion matters

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Songbo Hu, PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge

    Language technologies like generative artificial intelligence (AI) hold significant potential for public health. From outbreak detection systems that scan global news in real time, to chatbots providing mental health support and conversational diagnostic tools improving access to primary care, these innovations are helping address health challenges.

    At the heart of these developments is natural language processing, an interdisciplinary field within AI research. It enables computers to interpret, understand and generate human language, bridging the gap between humans and machines. Natural language processing can process and analyse enormous volumes of health data, far more than humans could ever handle manually. This is especially valuable in regions with a stretched healthcare workforce or limited public health surveillance infrastructure, because it enables faster, data-driven responses to public health needs.

    Recently, our interdisciplinary team, combining expertise from computer science, human geography and health sciences, conducted a review of studies on how language AI is being used for public health in African countries. Almost a decade’s worth of academic research was analysed, to understand how this powerful technology is being applied to pressing human needs.

    Out of 54 research publications, we found that evidence of real-world effects of the technology was still rare. Only 4% of these studies (two out of 54) showed measurable improvements in public health, such as boosting people’s mood or increasing vaccine intentions.

    Most projects stop at technology development and publication. Very few advance to real-world use or impact. Opportunities to improve health and well-being across the continent could be missed as a result.

    Current limitations

    In recent years, AI language technologies for public health have increased rapidly. This wave of technology development really took off as the COVID-19 pandemic renewed attention to public health. Health chatbots and sentiment analysis tools were developed in Africa and beyond.

    Health chatbots “talk” to people and provide reliable health information in a friendly, conversational way. Sentiment analysis tools scan social media posts to understand what people are feeling and talking about. Together they can identify misinformation or changes in public opinion and then provide accurate information.

    Of course, new technologies come with imperfections. We found that most technologies for public health in Africa exist in just a few languages whose dominance can be traced to colonial times, namely English and French.

    The consequences are clear: key health messages fail to reach many communities, leaving millions unable to access or act on essential information.

    We also found that few projects have gone beyond the laboratory development stage. Our study found only one system in operation that had a measurable public health effect.

    A successful model

    This standout example comes from a team at the Center for Global Development and the University of Chicago, in partnership with the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics. Their chatbot, deployed on Facebook Messenger, was designed for people in Kenya and Nigeria who were hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines. It was only available in English.

    More than 22,000 social media users used this app, sharing vaccine-related questions and concerns. The chatbot provided tailored, evidence-based responses to topics ranging from vaccine effectiveness and safety to misinformation. Its effect was notable. The intervention boosted users’ intention and willingness to get vaccinated by 4%-5%. The strongest effects were seen among those most hesitant to begin with.

    Behind this success was the researchers’ commitment to understanding the local context. Before launching the chatbot, in-depth discussions were held with focus groups and social media users in Kenya and Nigeria. The aim was to learn about the specific worries and cultural factors shaping attitudes toward vaccination.

    The chatbot was designed to address these concerns. This user-centred, locally adapted approach enabled the chatbot’s messages to address real barriers. As this example demonstrates, language technologies for public health are most effective when responding to the concerns and needs of the intended users.

    From lab to life

    These technologies take time and money to be put into practice. The COVID-19 pandemic jump-started development but public health language AI technologies are very new. It could be that a future survey would find a very different situation.

    At the same time, advances in large language models such as GPT-4 are rapidly lowering the technical barriers to developing language technologies. These models can often be adapted to new applications with far less data and effort than previous methods. Recent advances could enable small teams of researchers or even individual developers to build tools tailored to the specific needs of their own communities. The path from lab to real-world effects may become much shorter and easier.

    Investors, accelerators and state support could help make this transition from lab to life happen.

    Technology developers can also contribute by rooting their work in community-driven, multi-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. Social science and public health research knowledge and skills can inform the design and development of new technologies.

    To maximise the potential of language technologies for public health, the following needs to happen:

    • involving communities and health workers in natural language processing design

    • expanding provision in indigenous African languages

    • integrating language technologies into existing health systems.

    Future research and development must move beyond technical prototypes and laboratory tests to rigorous real-world evaluations that measure health outcomes.

    The other co-authors behind this research are: Abigail Oppong, Ebele Mogo, Charlotte Collins, and Giulia Occhini.

    Songbo Hu currently receives funding from the Cambridge Trust.

    Anna Barford currently receives funding from UKRI and the Mastercard Foundation. She has previously received funding from the the British Aacdemy, ESRC, Leverhulme Trust, CPEST, the University of Cambridge, Unilever (via a philanthropic donation to the University) and the Asian Development Bank. Anna is the Co-Director of the Business Fights Poverty Institute and a consultant to the International Labour Organization.

    Anna Korhonen receives funding from UKRI, and has previously received funding from MRC, EPSRC, NERC, Royal Society, ERC, and philantrophic donations to the University of Cambridge.

    – ref. AI chatbots can boost public health in Africa – why language inclusion matters – https://theconversation.com/ai-chatbots-can-boost-public-health-in-africa-why-language-inclusion-matters-260861

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Economic and Social Council Concludes High-level Political Forum

    Source: United Nations 4

    2025 Session,

    36th & 13th Mtgs (AM & PM)

    ECOSOC/7216

    The Economic and Social Council concludes its High-level Political Forum under the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.

    The Forum, which began 21 July is part of the Council’s high-level segment, which will run through 24 July.

    Member States will make statements this morning under the theme “UN@80:  Catalyzing Change for Sustainable Development” and in the afternoon conclude the Forum with the adoption of a ministerial declaration. 

    Also today, the Council will continue its voluntary national reviews, on Bhutan, Ghana, Iraq, Qatar, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, India and Lesotho. 

    Council President Bob Rae and Vice President Lok Bahadur Thapa will chair the reviews. 

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Get $50 Welcome Bonus, 100x Leverage & No KYC on BexBack – Crypto Futures Trading Simplified

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin trades near $120,000 and the crypto market enters a new bull market, holding spot positions may struggle to deliver short-term profits. With the market showing strong upward momentum, investors looking to maximize their returns can turn to BexBack Exchange for a powerful solution. BexBack offers 100x leverage, a 100% deposit bonus, and a $50 welcome bonus for new users, providing traders the tools to seize profitable opportunities. Plus, with no KYC requirements, BexBack ensures a seamless and efficient trading experience.

    Advantages of 100x Leverage Crypto Futures

    1. Amplified Profits: Control large positions with a small amount of capital, capturing more profits from market fluctuations.
    2. Low Capital Requirement: Participate in high-value trades with minimal investment, lowering the entry barrier.
    3. Increased Market Opportunities: Profit quickly from price fluctuations, especially in volatile markets.
    4. High Capital Efficiency: Leverage enables better use of your capital, expanding your investment potential.
    5. Profit from Both Up and Down Markets: Adapt to any market conditions, with opportunities to profit whether the market goes up or down.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform offering up to 100x leverage on futures contracts for BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and over 50 other digital assets. Headquartered in Singapore, the platform also operates offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. Like many top-tier exchanges, BexBack holds a U.S. MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. The platform accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe, with zero deposit fees and 24/7 multilingual customer support, delivering a secure, efficient, and user-friendly trading experience.

    Why recommend BexBack?

    No KYC Required: Start trading immediately without complex identity verification.

    100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds, double your profits.

    High-Leverage Trading: Offers up to 100x leverage, maximizing investors’ capital efficiency.

    Demo Account: Comes with 10 BTC in virtual funds, ideal for beginners to practice risk-free trading.

    Comprehensive Trading Options: Feature-rich trading available via Web and mobile applications.

    Convenient Operation: No slippage, no spread, and fast, precise trade execution.

    Global User Support: Enjoy 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are.

    Lucrative Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission, perfect for promoters.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users , you can be a winner in the new bull run.

    Sign Up Now on BexBack — Break the 100x Leverage and KYC Barriers, Get Double Deposit Bonus and $50 Welcome Bonus Instantly

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a16aa38f-cdae-425e-996c-2648e82d5ef0

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ad5a331-aa57-4f0b-ab21-b87061191568

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12f8df3a-75b9-480f-affd-fd9829799b27

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84422ec5-b03f-4214-bcd7-94d2ec100652

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Get $50 Welcome Bonus, 100x Leverage & No KYC on BexBack – Crypto Futures Trading Simplified

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin trades near $120,000 and the crypto market enters a new bull market, holding spot positions may struggle to deliver short-term profits. With the market showing strong upward momentum, investors looking to maximize their returns can turn to BexBack Exchange for a powerful solution. BexBack offers 100x leverage, a 100% deposit bonus, and a $50 welcome bonus for new users, providing traders the tools to seize profitable opportunities. Plus, with no KYC requirements, BexBack ensures a seamless and efficient trading experience.

    Advantages of 100x Leverage Crypto Futures

    1. Amplified Profits: Control large positions with a small amount of capital, capturing more profits from market fluctuations.
    2. Low Capital Requirement: Participate in high-value trades with minimal investment, lowering the entry barrier.
    3. Increased Market Opportunities: Profit quickly from price fluctuations, especially in volatile markets.
    4. High Capital Efficiency: Leverage enables better use of your capital, expanding your investment potential.
    5. Profit from Both Up and Down Markets: Adapt to any market conditions, with opportunities to profit whether the market goes up or down.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform offering up to 100x leverage on futures contracts for BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and over 50 other digital assets. Headquartered in Singapore, the platform also operates offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. Like many top-tier exchanges, BexBack holds a U.S. MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. The platform accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe, with zero deposit fees and 24/7 multilingual customer support, delivering a secure, efficient, and user-friendly trading experience.

    Why recommend BexBack?

    No KYC Required: Start trading immediately without complex identity verification.

    100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds, double your profits.

    High-Leverage Trading: Offers up to 100x leverage, maximizing investors’ capital efficiency.

    Demo Account: Comes with 10 BTC in virtual funds, ideal for beginners to practice risk-free trading.

    Comprehensive Trading Options: Feature-rich trading available via Web and mobile applications.

    Convenient Operation: No slippage, no spread, and fast, precise trade execution.

    Global User Support: Enjoy 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are.

    Lucrative Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission, perfect for promoters.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users , you can be a winner in the new bull run.

    Sign Up Now on BexBack — Break the 100x Leverage and KYC Barriers, Get Double Deposit Bonus and $50 Welcome Bonus Instantly

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a16aa38f-cdae-425e-996c-2648e82d5ef0

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ad5a331-aa57-4f0b-ab21-b87061191568

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12f8df3a-75b9-480f-affd-fd9829799b27

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84422ec5-b03f-4214-bcd7-94d2ec100652

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester Day this weekend – everything you need to know!

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester’s favourite day of the year is back this weekend with a fantastic day of free music-themed family fun on Saturday (26 July) to help celebrate the city’s homegrown musical talent and this year’s big summer of live music in the city.

    Inspired by what is proving to be a sensational summer of music in Manchester, expect pop-up performances, astounding acrobatics and banging beats throughout the city’s streets and squares as the whole city comes together for Manchester Day 2025.

    The council has worked with outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank on a programme for the day this year that is full of surprises and promises lots of free fun all with a musical twist.

    The day kicks off with a mini parade at 12 noon from St Peter’s Square, that will make its way along Deansgate and on to the Cathedral.  Led by two fantastical creatures, and with over 400 participants, including live bands, dancing birds, plenty of drummers and some of Manchester’s many community groups dancing and performing their way along the route in a riot of colour and sound, it’s definitely one not to miss.

    From English National Opera and Walk the Plank teaming up with football fans and community choirs, West End show tunes, juggling drummers, a hip-hop wrestling ring, plus two musical cats and a larger-than-life canary all in a giant birdcage, the day will see non-stop surprises throughout. 

    Expect sparks to fly as the world’s largest dhol drum rolls into town, opening up to reveal dancers and drummers, whilst award-winning dance company Levantes will be dressed to impress at their ‘High Tea with a Twist’, in New Cathedral Street. 

    Throw some shapes and bust some moves over on the Deansgate dancefloor where Moroccan trance music and Bhangra dance will be the order of the day, whilst French street theatre company Stoptoï will be combining dance, drumming and juggling in a brand-new, high-energy show on St Mary’s Gate.

    Enjoy music and performance from some of Manchester’s finest groups including the Bridgewater Hall Singers, or kick back and relax with a drink at the Capri Beach bar, before having a wander around one of the city-wide music trails, exploring Manchester’s musical heritage and hotspots. 

    Don’t miss the Perfect Pitch Three O’clock Kick-off, or the show-stopping grand finale in Cathedral Gardens combining opera singing and football chants at 4:30 pm in Cathedral Gardens, where a main stage will feature a fantastic programme of music throughout the day, The Urban Playground Team will perform Zoo Humans, a parkour performance piece that blends movement and storytelling.

    The day will also see a whole host of free have-a-go activities for youngsters of all ages to join in with from circus skills, drumming workshops, and ukulele introduction sessions, to music-themed craft activities and the ever-popular sport pop-ups.

    Manchester Day visitors are also invited this year to join Manchester Opera House for an exclusive free behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic venue, with the chance also to take part in special performance-themed workshops, or to try their hand at crafting band posters from recycled show posters.

    And don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled throughout the day for a majestic lion, a cheeky gorilla, giant seagulls and a host of marvellous bees and butterflies – just a few of the weird and wonderful walkabout acts waiting to surprise people on the day.

    Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “We’ve got a fantastic Manchester Day lined up for everyone this year which is going all out to celebrate the music our city and our fabulous communities make.  We’ve got an absolute ton of stuff going on for families and people of all ages on Manchester’s favourite day of the year. So shake your maracas, slip on your dancing shoes, prepare to make some noise, and come on down and join us!”

    Manchester Day has been created in collaboration with outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank who have also worked with community groups across the city to put together what is set be a vibrant and lively mini parade.

    Liz Pugh, Creative Producer, Walk the Plank, said: “The mini parade celebrates the wonderful creativity and diverse traditions of our modern city and highlights the contribution of some of our newest communities.  We’re bringing the talents of some of Manchester’s finest carnival artists, and will be welcoming back groups like Keep Manchester Tidy and the School of Samba, as well as some exciting newcomers.”

    Manchester Day 2025 is sponsored by Manchester Airport Group, with activations across the city on the day by Red Bull, Capri Beach Club, Shaken Udder, Just My Look, Manchester Originals, and The Cut & Craft.  The event is also backed by Redgate and Department, and partners Great Northern Warehouse and The Opera House, as well as through long-standing partnerships with Biffa and Manchester Evening News.

    Activities run throughout the day on Saturday 26 July from 12 noon to 5 pm.

    Here’s the full lowdown on what’s happening and where throughout the day:

    MINI PARADE
    Fantastical winged creatures, a Phoenix, and beautiful birds of paradise will feature in this year’s mini parade which involves over 20 community groups and bands and more than 400 participants.

    Two playful inflatable Griffins will lead the parade whilst the Queen Bee sits atop her Gondola made from recycled cutlery, repurposed into a beautiful vessel that sails through the streets, and Walk the Plank’s giant Dhol Drum beats out Punjabi rhythms as it makes its way along Deansgate.

    Dancers from the Filipino Anglo Club of Greater Manchester and Colibri Dance bring the traditions of the Philipines and Mexico to Manchester, whilst the Hong Kong Cultural community takes part for the first time with a Phoenix kite-bird and Lo Ting a character who is half-human, half-fish and according to legend is the ancestor of Hong Kong’s people.

    Manchester’s Lithuanian Association will be bringing a Lithuanian legend to life with their Queen of Serpents who changed her children into trees, and the Guangxi Cultural Association will be performing traditional Chinese dance in full costumes.

    Parade highlights also include Manchester Airport Group with their planes, traffic controllers, and dancing chandeliers, and more dance from Ad Hoc Dance, one of the longest running community dance groups, as well as hip hop from young street dancers from FreshSkillz.

    With the Irish pipes of Fiana Phadraig Pipe Band from Wythenshawe, drummers from the Manchester Dhol Players, the Brazilian-inspired brass of Jubacana, two samba bands, and singers from the Perfect Pitch collaboration with English National Opera, it promises to be a loud and lively start to the day. 

    The mini parade leaves St Peter’s Square at 12 noon, travelling along Peter Street to Deansgate, then along the length of Deansgate before ending at the Cathedral at approximately 1 pm.

    CATHEDRAL GARDENS
    Enjoy main stage performances from Baked a la Ska, who will be serving up original tunes along with playful ska-infused covers of your favourite hits, alongside synth pop star Michael Aldag and world music from Manchester International Roots Orchestra.Be transported to the sunny shores of the Caribbean by steel band, Arthur’s Class Act.

    The Urban Playground Team will perform Zoo Humans, a parkour performance piece that blends movement and storytelling. Keep your eyes peeled for a surprise performance later on it the afternoon.

    Plus listen out for chart-topping hits played on ukuleles and a stunning PERFECT PITCH mass choir finale from 4:25 pm featuring football fans, community choirs, internationally acclaimed soprano Camilla Kerslake and some extra surprises. 

    Look out also for pop-up performances from Cocky Robins, beautiful Butterflies, Giant Seagulls, and a pair of post-match footballers who aren’t afraid of getting down in the dirt and a Three o’clock kick-off penalty shoot-out like no other.

    ST ANN’S SQUARE
    Join us in our wrestling ring stage – hosted by Trans Creative’s Kate O’Donnell – for West End showtunes from Sam Buttery, mind boggling magic from Fay Presto, music from rapper OneDa, an acoustic performance from viral sensation Michael Aldag, and opera with a twist from Flat Pack Music, plus hula hooper extraordinaire Danielle de la Wonk, and wrestling demos from Future Shock Pro Wrestling, 

    Marvel at the larger-than-life Birdcage Stage where a giant canary and two musical cats will defy the laws of gravity to try and outwit each other in cartoon capers full of slapstick silliness. Who will end up inside the cage at the end?
    And look out for a lion on the loose and a mischievous stowaway from Borneo.

    DEANSGATE
    Watch the mini parade snake its way along Deansgate between 12 noon and 1 pm, led by two giant fantastical griffins, followed by live bands, dancing birds, drummers and some of Manchester’s many community groups in a riot of colour and sound.

    Marvel as sparks fly when the world’s largest dhol drum rolls into town, opening up to reveal the Nachda Sansaar dancers and drummers.

    Get on down to live acts on the Deansgate dancefloor, including Moroccan trance music, Bhangra dance, Kemoy and the KYSO Collective, and the Soul Beats dance troupe.

    Seasoned cyclists or complete beginners are all invited to join the Manchester Day Pedal Party. Hop onto a balance bike, try out an e-cargo bike, or test a top of the range road bike. There’ll also be accessible, adapted bikes that can be ridden.

    NEW CATHEDRAL STREET
    New Cathedral Street will be alive with the sound of music, as the Bridgewater Hall Singers serenade crowds with songs from across the decades, and ukulele orchestras play chart-topping hits.

    Enjoy High Tea with a Twist with Levantes Dance, who will be dressed to impress and performing daring dance and acrobatics above a tastefully laid tea table, plus hilarious street theatre heroes delivering a sizzling mix of slapstick comedy, and the world’s only mobile football stadium.

    MARKET STREET
    Visit Circus House to learn a whole new set of circus skills.

    Discover the finest regional produce at the Manchester Day Craft Market by Manchester Markets, selling everything from home-made bakes and locally sourced honey, to hand dipped candles and artisan doughnuts.

    ST MARY’S GATE
    Don’t miss French street theatre company Stoptoï combine dance, drumming and juggling in a high-energy show full of rhythm and imagination.

    Get your blood pumping at the 60m, pop up athletic track supplied by GLL, or dive into the fast and furious world of The Hundred, a turbo charged version of traditional test cricket.

    Try batting, bowling, and catching in a special area, meet players from Manchester Originals, and be in with the chance of winning prizes.

    Enjoy astounding acrobatic performances and master a new skill with the folks from Circus House.  

    OPERA HOUSE 
    Take a free, guided, behind-the-scenes tour of this iconic Manchester venue on Quay Street, craft a band poster from recycled show posters, or take part in a performance themed workshop.

    KING STREET
    King Street turns into Guitar Street as the Music for the Senses art trail takes over the city centre, with amazing artworks and interactive installations that celebrate Manchester’s legendary music scene. In association with Wild in Art.

    EXCHANGE STREET
    Make some noise with Manchester Libraries and craft a harmonica or tambourine to take home.  

    MCR LIVE ’25 HUB
    Roll with it at the city’s newest destination on Piccadilly Gardens to help celebrate the mammoth summer of live music in Manchester.

    Grab a drink at the bar, sample some of the North West’s best street food or catch a free DJ or live music act on the outdoor stage. 

    Locations and activities may be subject to change. Find out the most up-to-date information 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council Convenes to Debate Recent Developments in Middle East

    Source: United Nations 4

    9963rd Meeting (AM & PM)

    The Security Council is holding its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Chaired by Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the meeting covers recent developments in Gaza, the West Bank and the wider Middle East region — including in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and the Red Sea.  Members will hear a briefing by Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations.

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: EnerPure Appoints Advisory Board Members to Support Strategic Growth and Commercialization Efforts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Winnipeg, MB, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EnerPure Inc. (“EnerPure” or the “Company”), a waste to energy company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Farrar, Susan Rohac, and Mogens L. Mathiesen as Advisory Board Members. Each of these newly appointed Advisors brings significant industry experience and expertise in their respective areas and their thought leadership, strategic acumen, and experience will be invaluable to management as EnerPure moves through the commercialization and growth phase.

    “Gary, Susan, and Mogens as true experts in their respective fields provide tremendous depth and width to the knowledge base of our team, we are honoured to have them on the team” said Rick Koshman, President and CEO of EnerPure. “Each of them brings a unique and highly complementary skill set that aligns perfectly with our goal to deploy 21 recycling plants in 6 years. Gary with over 46 years experience in UMO recycling, Susan as one of Canada’s most prolific Cleantech investors, and Mogens with his shipping decarbonization focus provide us with priceless industry insights and know-how as we look to navigate the next few years.”

    About Gary Farrar
    Gary is a seasoned executive with over 45 years of leadership in the used motor oil (UMO) recycling and environmental services industry across North America. His expertise spans operations, business development, logistics, refinery supply, and sales. He has held senior roles including U.S. Vice President of Supply and Product Sales at Safety-Kleen, where he led the growth of recycled oil streams and oversaw the world’s largest UMO re-refinery. As General Manager of Safety-Kleen Canada, he managed nationwide operations and multiple business lines. At Heritage-Crystal Clean, he helped launch and scale a 75-million-gallon refinery in Indianapolis. Gary is known for building high-performing teams and driving operational and commercial success in complex industrial environments.

    About Susan Rohac – LinkedIn
    Susan recently retired from BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) after 34 years of service. As Managing Partner of the Climate Tech venture capital fund, she led a pan-Canadian team of investment professionals and managed a portfolio of over $1 billion in assets including a $500 million fund that was launched in 2022 focusing on investing in Canada’s most promising cleantech companies. She has invested in a wide range of climate technologies such as CCUS, CDR, hydrogen, critical minerals, energy storage/battery, mobility, proptech, and advanced materials. Susan was recognized as a Climate Leader in 2024 by the Clean50 and was recipient of the Clean16 award. Susan holds honour degrees in both science and finance and has her executive MBA and ICD governance designation.

    About Mogens L. Mathiesen – LinkedIn
    Mogens has over 25 years of expertise in maritime technology and sustainability. Specializing in maritime decarbonisation, he has pioneered data-driven solutions to reduce shipping emissions. As Chief Industry and Strategy Officer at HUB Ocean, Mogens led initiatives to enable green shipping routes and foster industry collaboration. He co-founded Arundo Analytics, driving the development of analytics platforms for maritime applications, and volunteers in the Ocean Rescue Service in Norway. With an M.Sc. in Ocean Engineering and Marine Cybernetics from the NTNU and UC Berkeley, Mogens is committed to advancing sustainable practices through innovation and strategic leadership.

    About EnerPure – https://enerpure.tech
    “We recycle Used Motor Oil (UMO) to reduce GHG emissions while producing a lower carbon-intensive marine fuel.”

    Each year ~17 billion litres of UMO* are improperly burned or dumped, causing widespread environmental harm. EnerPure sees a tremendous opportunity to solve this problem through the deployment of its modular micro-scale recycling plants using its patented technology to convert UMO into high-quality marine fuel.

    EnerPure is entering its next phase of growth, with our first commercial plant planned for Alberta. Our recycling plants require ~5% of the capex of traditional solutions, enabling localized recycling (while reducing the cost of collection) and providing strong economic returns. 

    Our technology has been proven via our pilot plant (operating at 43% of scale) with 1.6 million litres processed and validated through the sale of over 1.2 million litres. Our drop-in ISO 8217-compliant marine fuel is in high demand in a growing market with its 14.6% lower carbon intensity.  Annually each recycling plant can reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and criteria air contaminants by 36,315 and 437 tonnes, respectively.

    EnerPure, while delivering strong economic returns, offers a proven, scalable platform where environmental need meets commercial opportunity, powering the energy transition through smart regional recycling.

    *UMO is defined as any petroleum-based or synthetic lubricating oil that cannot be used for its original purpose due to contamination.

    Disclosure and Caution
    This press release may contain certain disclosures that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. However, the forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to economic, capital expenditures, and engineering projections, that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    The securities referred to in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.

     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Gene editing technology could be used to save species on the brink of extinction

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cock Van Oosterhout, Professor of Evolutionary Genetics, University of East Anglia

    Earth’s biodiversity is in crisis. An imminent “sixth mass extinction” threatens beloved and important wildlife. It also threatens to reduce the amount of genetic diversity – or variation – within species.

    This variation in genes within a species is crucial for their ability to adapt to changes in the environment or resist diseases. Genetic variation is therefore crucial for species’ long term survival.

    Traditional conservation efforts – such as protected areas, measures to prevent poaching, and captive breeding – remain essential to prevent extinction. But even when these measures succeed in boosting population numbers, they cannot recover genetic diversity that has already been lost. The loss of a unique gene variant can take thousands of years of evolution before it is recovered by a lucky mutation.

    In a new paper in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, an international team of geneticists and wildlife biologists argues that the survival of some species will depend on gene editing, along with more traditional conservation actions. Using these advanced genetic tools, like those already revolutionising agriculture and medicine, can give endangered species a boost by adding genetic diversity that isn’t there.

    Genetic engineering is not new. Plant breeders have used it for decades to develop crops with traits to boost disease resistance and drought tolerance. Around 13.5% of the world’s arable land grows genetically modified crops. Gene-editing tools such as Crispr are also being used in “de-extinction” projects that aim to recreate extinct animals.

    The Dallas-based company Colossal Laboratory & Biosciences has attracted headlines for its efforts to bring back the woolly mammoth, dodo and dire wolf. In de-extinction, the DNA of a living relative species is edited (changed) to approximate the extinct species’ most charismatic traits.

    For example, to “resurrect” a woolly mammoth, Colossal’s researchers plan to splice mammoth genes (recovered from ancient remains) into the genome of the Asian elephant to produce a cold-hardy, hairy elephant-mammoth hybrid. Colossal recently engineered grey wolf pups with 20 gene edits from the extinct dire wolf’s DNA.

    Colossal edited grey wolves to have traits from extinct dire wolves.
    Colossal

    The “Jurassic Park”-style revival of long-gone creatures has attracted considerable attention and funding, which has accelerated the development of genome engineering techniques. These same genome editing tools can be used for conservation of existing and endangered species. If we can edit a mouse to have mammoth hair, or edit a wolf to resemble a dire wolf, why not edit an endangered bird’s genome to make it more resilient to disease and climate change?

    Museum specimens

    Using DNA from historical specimens, scientists can identify important genetic variants that a species has lost. Many museums hold century-old skins, bones, or seeds – a genomic time capsule of past diversity. With genome editing, it is possible to reintroduce these lost variants into the wild gene pool.

    By restoring genetic variation, species can be fortified against emerging diseases and environmental change. A sharp decline in population numbers is called a “bottleneck”. During a bottleneck, inbreeding and genetic drift lead to the random loss of genetic diversity. Harmful mutations can also increase in frequency. Such “genomic erosion” compromises the health of individuals and can make populations more prone to extinction.

    If we can pinpoint a particularly damaging mutation that has become widespread in the population or a variant that has been lost, we could replace it in a few individuals using gene editing. Aided by natural selection, the healthy variant would gradually spread in the population.

    If a threatened species lacks genes that it desperately needs to survive new conditions, why not borrow them from a close relative that already has those traits? Known as facilitated adaptation, this could help wildlife cope with threats such as climate change.

    In agriculture, such cross-species gene transfers are routine. Tomatoes have been engineered with a mustard plant gene to tolerate cold, and chestnut trees got a wheat gene for disease resistance. There is no reason why such techniques cannot be expanded to animals.

    These genetic interventions can complement, but never replace traditional conservation measures. Habitat protection, control of invasive predators, captive breeding programmes, and other on-the-ground action remain absolutely necessary. Importantly, gene editing only makes sense if the target population has recovered in numbers enough (often through conservation), to allow natural selection to do its job.

    Measuring the risk of extinction

    Gene-edited animals or plants wouldn’t have a chance if released into a barren habitat or a poaching hotspot. Genomic tools can give an extra edge to species that are already being saved from immediate threats, equipping them for adaptive evolution in the future.

    Climate zones are shifting, new diseases are spreading, and once-isolated populations are cut off in small fragments of habitat. Without intervention, even intensive habitat management might not prevent a wave of extinctions.

    However, a strategy of gene editing also comes with significant risks and unknowns. One technical concern is off-target effects – Crispr and other gene-editing techniques might make unintended DNA changes in addition to the intended edit. In other words, you attempt to insert a disease-resistance gene, but accidentally disrupt another gene in the process. Similarly, a gene may have more than one function, which is known as pleiotropy.

    Especially in less-well studied species, we may not be aware of all those functions or pleiotropic effects. Regulatory inertia and public scepticism may also present big obstacles – these issues have historically limited the rollout of genetically modified (GM) organisms, particularly in agriculture.

    There are also evolutionary and ecological uncertainties. A deliberate gene edit might have knock-on effects on how the species evolves over time. For instance, if one individual is given a highly beneficial gene that spreads rapidly, it could replace all the other gene variants at that location in the genome (the full complement of DNA in the organism’s cell). This is known as a “selective sweep”, and it inadvertently reduces the genetic diversity in that region of the genome.

    Some critics argue that the narrative of a genetic quick fix could distract from the root causes of biodiversity loss. If people believe we can simply “edit” a species to save it, will that undermine the urgency to protect habitats or cut carbon emissions? Portraying extinction as reversible might seed false hope and reduce the motivation for tough environmental action.

    Conservation efforts, strong environmental policies and legal protections remain indispensable. So do habitat restoration, climate action and reducing the impact made on the environment by humans.

    Nevertheless, genome engineering is a new tool in the conservation toolbox. It’s one that –given the right assistance and environmental encouragement – can help save species from extinction.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Cock Van Oosterhout receives funding from the Royal Society for conservation genomics work on threatened bird species in Mauritius, and a donation by the Colossal Foundation for conservation genomic research on the pink pigeon. He is member of the Conservation Genetics Specialist Group of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

    – ref. Gene editing technology could be used to save species on the brink of extinction – https://theconversation.com/gene-editing-technology-could-be-used-to-save-species-on-the-brink-of-extinction-261419

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Counting the climate costs of abandoned shopping trolleys

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Neill Raath, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing, University of Warwick

    Richard Johnson/Shutterstock

    Despite the steady growth of online shopping, a majority of the UK public still prefers to buy groceries at the supermarket.

    Shopping trolleys can help us lug our purchases back to the car, but some shoppers are evidently taking them further afield. In 2017, 520,000 trolleys were reported as abandoned in the UK. Sunderland in north-east England alone reported 30,000 abandoned trolleys between 2020 and 2022. Likewise, 550 trolleys were collected in a single day in western Sydney, Australia.

    Supermarkets employ a range of methods to stop trolleys leaving their premises, including coin slots, vertical bars (to stop trolleys leaving the shop floor), wheel-locking mechanisms and car park wardens. Despite these efforts, abandoned trolleys still blight the landscape and need to be collected.

    Many supermarkets use commercial collection services, such as Wanzl TrolleyWise or TMS Collex. These companies typically use diesel vans to survey suburban areas, collect trolleys and return them to supermarkets. They also offer to refurbish weathered or damaged trolleys, sometimes by applying a zinc-based coating to protect against corrosion – a process known as regalvanisation.

    We are researchers at the University of Warwick who wanted to understand the environmental impact of trolley abandonment. So, we set out to investigate it.

    Collecting versus manufacturing

    How does the environmental impact of using vans to rescue abandoned trolleys compare with losing these trolleys to excessive damage or corrosion and having to make new ones?

    Our study used a standardised methodology known as life-cycle assessment to analyse the potential environmental impact of collecting and handling abandoned shopping trolleys within an area of Coventry, a city in the English West Midlands, which includes our university campus.

    We spoke to trolley suppliers, who told us trolleys used at the supermarket in Coventry were most likely made in Spain. This was incorporated into our model.

    A trolley discovered by the author, abandoned in a bush near a car park.
    Neill Raath

    Through conversations with our university’s estates department and commercial collection services, we established that approximately 30 trolleys were collected a week on average in the area surrounding the Tesco supermarket in the Cannon Park shopping centre.

    Our model assumed that a bulk transport of 50 trolleys is sent twice each year to be refurbished, in a round trip of 220km between Coventry and a refurbishment facility based in the UK that was noted on stickers placed on refurbished trolleys.

    Vans collecting 520,000 abandoned trolleys in a year could emit the equivalent of 343 tonnes of CO₂ (the annual equivalent of driving 80 petrol cars). If we imagine that 10% of these 520,000 trolleys have been left outside too long and need to be regalvanised then the total global warming impact increases by 90% to the equivalent of 652 tonnes CO₂ (roughly the same as 152 petrol cars being driven for one year).

    This is quite a surprising increase for such a small number of trolleys. It suggests that the real problem lies with the environmental impact of manufacturing.

    Most of the emissions can be avoided

    We found that one trolley would have to be collected 93 times by a diesel van to have the same environmental impact as manufacturing a new one.

    Our results showed that the emissions incurred during the diesel van collection phase were only 1% of the manufacturing impact, and the regalvanisation stage was only 8%. We might wonder whether switching to electrically powered collection vans might help. While the emissions would be reduced, the impact of using diesel vans is still minuscule compared to that of making new trolleys.

    We found that the highest environmental impact stemmed from manufacturing, which was mainly attributed to making and replacing the steel frame of the trolley.

    These results reinforce the benefits of following the circular-economy principle of keeping trolleys in use for as long as possible, and avoiding manufacturing to replace abandoned ones.

    Would anything change if we switched to plastic trolleys? Other researchers have investigated the effect of changing trolley materials and have found that trolleys made of polymers have many benefits compared with steel: they use less material, are less dense (a benefit for collection vans that emit less by driving around lighter products) and do not require protective coatings, which themselves have an environmental impact.

    Blast furnaces at conventional steelworks are very carbon-intensive.
    Pedal to the Stock/Shutterstock

    However, if these polymer trolleys were to be sent to landfill (or left to deteriorate in the environment), they could release carcinogenic chemicals, as well as microplastics, as they break down. This leads us back to the importance of keeping products in use.

    Abandoning trolleys is bad for the environment, with a potential global warming impact equivalent to 0.69 kg CO₂ for collecting one trolley and returning it to a supermarket. If we multiply this by the potential 520,000 abandoned trolleys a year, this figure becomes quite big.

    Preventing trolley abandonment should be a priority not just for supermarkets, but for the general public as well. However, once a trolley is abandoned, it is far better to collect and refurbish it than to let it fall out of use and manufacture a new one, as 92–99% of the environmental impact can be avoided.

    While it is unlikely that we can ever stop trolleys being abandoned, we hope that next time people see a trolley in an alley or park bush, the potential environmental impact of losing this trolley to service would be apparent.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    The authors 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. Counting the climate costs of abandoned shopping trolleys – https://theconversation.com/counting-the-climate-costs-of-abandoned-shopping-trolleys-258500

    MIL OSI Analysis –