NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Chandra Finds Baby Exoplanet is Shrinking

    Source: NASA

    A star is unleashing a barrage of X-rays that is causing a closely-orbiting, young planet to wither away an astonishing rate, according to a new study using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and described in our latest press release. A team of researchers has determined that this planet will go from the size of Jupiter down to a small, barren world.
    This graphic provides a visual representation of what astronomers think is happening around the star (known as TOI 1227) and a planet that is orbiting it at a fraction the distance between Mercury and the Sun. This “baby” planet, called TOI 1227 b, is just about 8 million years old, about a thousand times younger than our Sun. The main panel is an artist’s concept that shows the Jupiter-sized planet (lower left) around TOI 1227, which is a faint red star. Powerful X-rays from the star’s surface are tearing away the atmosphere of the planet, represented by the blue tail. The star’s X-rays may eventually completely remove the atmosphere.
    The team used new Chandra data — seen in the inset — to measure the amounts of X-rays from TOI 1227 that are striking the planet. Using computer models of the effects of these X-rays, they concluded they will have a transformative effect, rapidly stripping away the planet’s atmosphere. They estimate that the planet is losing a mass equivalent to a full Earth’s atmosphere about every 200 years.
    The researchers used different sets of data to estimate the age of TOI 1227 b. One method exploits measurements of how TOI 1227 b’s host star moves through space in comparison to nearby populations of stars with known ages. A second method compared the brightness and surface temperature of the star with theoretical models of evolving stars. The very young age of TOI 1227 b makes it the second youngest planet ever to be observed passing in front of its host star (a so-called transit). Previously the planet had been estimated by others to be about 11 million years old.
    Of all the exoplanets astronomers have found with ages less than 50 million years, TOI 1227 b stands out for having the longest year and the host planet with the lowest mass. These properties, and the high dose of X-rays it is receiving, make it an outstanding target for future observations.
    A paper describing these results has been accepted publication in The Astrophysical Journal and a preprint is available here. The authors of the paper are Attila Varga (Rochester Institute of Technology), Joel Kastner (Rochester Institute of Technology), Alexander Binks (University of Tubingen, Germany), Hans Moritz Guenther (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Simon J. Murphy (University of New South Wales Canberra in Australia).
    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.

    Learn more about the Chandra X-ray Observatory and its mission here:

    chandra

    https://chandra.si.edu

    This release features an artist’s illustration of a Jupiter-sized planet closely orbiting a faint red star. An inset image, showing the star in X-ray light from Chandra, is superimposed on top of the illustration at our upper left corner.
    At our upper right, the red star is illustrated as a ball made of intense fire. The planet, slightly smaller than the star, is shown at our lower left. Powerful X-rays from the star are tearing away the atmosphere of the planet, causing wisps of material to flow away from the planet’s surface in the opposite direction from the star. This gives the planet a slight resemblance to a comet, complete with a tail.
    X-ray data from Chandra, presented in the inset image, shows the star as a small purple orb on a black background. Astronomers used the Chandra data to measure the amount of X-rays striking the planet from the star. They estimate that the planet is losing a mass equivalent to a full Earth’s atmosphere about every 200 years, causing it to ultimately shrink from the size of Jupiter down to a small, barren world.

    Megan WatzkeChandra X-ray CenterCambridge, Mass.617-496-7998mwatzke@cfa.harvard.edu
    Corinne BeckingerMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama256-544-0034corinne.m.beckinger@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA to Preview Advanced US-India Radar Mission Ahead of Launch

    Source: NASA

    NASA will host a news conference at 12 p.m. EDT Monday, July 21, to discuss the upcoming NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission.
    The Earth-observing satellite, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), carries an advanced radar system that will help protect communities by providing a dynamic, three-dimensional view of Earth in unprecedented detail and detecting the movement of land and ice surfaces down to the centimeter.
    The NISAR mission will lift off from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, on India’s southeastern coast. Launch is targeted for no earlier than late July.
    NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California will stream the briefing live on its X, Facebook, and YouTube channels. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.
    Participants in the news conference include:

    Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
    Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters
    Wendy Edelstein, deputy project manager, NISAR, NASA JPL
    Paul Rosen, project scientist, NISAR, NASA JPL

    To ask questions by phone, members of the media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of the event to: rexana.v.vizza@jpl.nasa.gov. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. Questions can be asked on social media during the briefing using #AskNISAR.
    With its two radar instruments — an S-band system provided by ISRO and an L-band system provided by NASA — NISAR will use a technique known as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to scan nearly all the planet’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. Each system’s signal is sensitive to different sizes of features on Earth’s surface, and each specializes in measuring different attributes, such as moisture content, surface roughness, and motion.
    These capabilities will help scientists better understand processes involved in natural hazards and catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, land subsidence, and landslides.
    Additionally, NISAR’s cloud penetrating ability will aid urgent responses to communities during weather disasters such as hurricanes, storm surge, and flooding. The detailed maps the mission creates also will provide information on both gradual and sudden changes occurring on Earth’s land and ice surfaces.
    Managed by Caltech for NASA, JPL leads the U.S. component of the NISAR project and provided the L-band SAR. NASA JPL also provided the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and payload data subsystem. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Near Space Network, which will receive NISAR’s L-band data.
    Multiple ISRO centers have contributed to NISAR. The Space Applications Centre is providing the mission’s S-band SAR. The U R Rao Satellite Centre provided the spacecraft bus. The rocket is from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, launch services are through Satish Dhawan Space Centre, and satellite mission operations are by the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network. The National Remote Sensing Centre is responsible for S-band data reception, operational products generation, and dissemination.
    To learn more about NISAR, visit:
    https://nisar.jpl.nasa.gov
    -end-
    Karen Fox / Elizabeth VlockHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / elizabeth.a.vlock@nasa.gov
    Andrew Wang / Scott HulmeJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-379-6874 / 818-653-9131andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov / scott.d.hulme@jpl.nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UH Seeks New Proposals to Expand Statewide Broadband Access

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    UH Seeks New Proposals to Expand Statewide Broadband Access

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    July 14, 2025

    HONOLULU — The University of Hawaiʻi Broadband Office has announced the release of eight new Requests for Proposals (RFPs) aimed at expanding high-speed internet access across the state through Hawaii’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, a federal initiative to provide affordable, high-speed broadband access to all Americans, especially those in areas that are currently unserved or underserved. The re-release of all RFPs, with revisions, is part of a final “Benefit of the Bargain” Round conducted in compliance with the latest federal policy guidance.

    This latest posting of the RFPs mark Hawaii’s continued efforts to respond quickly to changing federal guidance while still moving forward on a multi-year effort under the BEAD program to address disparities in broadband coverage.

    “High-speed internet is critical for creating opportunity and improving digital access,” said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, who leads the state’s Connect Kākou initiative. “We are continuing to move forward to connect communities that have been historically underserved, and I’m grateful to the many partners who are contributing to a more connected Hawaiʻi.”

    The RFP process will lead to the competitive selection of vendors to connect these communities, as well as nearly 700 community anchor institutions, which include schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, and other public spaces that provide broadband access and essential support services to residents.

    Interested parties are encouraged to review the RFP details and submit proposals by August 1, 2025 at 5:00pm HST. Click here for more information on the RFPs and submission guidelines. Hawaiʻi’s participation in the BEAD program is part of Connect Kākou, the State of Hawaiʻi initiative to ensure people from all walks of life have reliable access to high-speed internet, and have the tools and knowledge to safely and confidently use the internet.

    # # #

    Media Contact:
    Shari Nishijima
    Office of the Lieutenant Governor

    Daniel Meisenzahl
    UH Office of Communications

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – Seeking Community Input for Maui Nearshore Marine Management, July 16, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – Seeking Community Input for Maui Nearshore Marine Management, July 16, 2025

    Posted on Jul 16, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

     

    DAWN N.S. CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

     

     

    SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT FOR MAUI NEARSHORE MARINE MANAGEMENT

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 16, 2025

      

    MAUI COUNTY, Hawai‘i – Maui residents are called to join the conversation and provide feedback on a revised draft proposal developed for Maui’s nearshore waters, ensuring healthy reefs and abundant resources for future generations. The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) Holomua Marine Initiative is hosting two upcoming information exchange sessions on the proposal.

    The community-nominated Maui Navigation Team has worked collaboratively with DAR for more than two years to create draft management recommendations with the Maui community, which were first shared to the public through a series of Information Exchange Sessions hosted in September of 2024. The navigation team is grateful to everyone who attended these sessions and took time to share their manaʻo and feedback. Based on the comments received during these initial sessions, the navigation team has further revised the proposal to reflect the priorities and needs communicated to it by the Maui community and is seeking additional input.

    Please save the date, RSVP at https://bit.ly/holomuarsvp and join one of these upcoming sessions:

    • Pukalani: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 – 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
      Mayor Hannibal Tavares Pukalani Community Center
      91 Pukalani St., Pukalani
    • Kīhei: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 – 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
      Kīhei Community Center
       303 E Lipoa St., Kīhei

     

     

    The Holomua Marine Initiative first launched on Maui in October of 2022 with a series of public talk-story sessions to learn more about community management priorities and concerns regarding the status of Maui’s nearshore resources. Holomua is an inclusive, bottom-up approach to marine resource management that is community-driven and incorporates local ecological and cultural knowledge.

    When the process first launched, the Maui community nominated members to form a navigation team, which is a 16-member hui of Maui fishers, community leaders, cultural practitioners and scientists who were tasked to co-develop a nearshore management plan with support from DAR. The team members bring decades of experience with Maui’s nearshore resources and knowledge of local fishing practices. The team represents 10 of the 12 Maui moku.  

    The navigation team’s management proposal for Maui includes strategies that are centered around the Holomua Marine Initiative’s four main pillars for effective management: 1) place-based planning, 2) pono practices, 3) monitoring and 4) restoration. Some key topics in the draft proposal include fishing rules geared toward reducing unsustainable fishing practices, improved enforcement and strengthening compliance, creating a habitat restoration area and addressing land-based threats to the nearshore reefs such as injection wells and sedimentation.

    The draft recommendations offer a holistic approach to nearshore marine management for Maui, and balance the need for conservation and restoration of resources like fish and corals, while also allowing sustainable harvest to continue feeding Maui families.

     

     

    # # # 

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    For information and updates: Holomua Marine Initiative on Instagram (@holomuamarine) and Facebook (@holomuamarine), or visit the website at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/holomua/

     

    Event flyer: see attached

     

    Video – Holomua Information Exchange Session, Lahaina (September 25, 2024): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/im45i4aocp20s7gu060ak/Lahaina-Meeting-September-25-2024.mov?rlkey=2i47awpeyv9k9egzthk8u6y5b&st=17m1tjc6&dl=0

     

     

     

    Media Contacts: 

    Patti Jette                                                                                         

    Communications Specialist                                                          

    Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources                           

    808-587-0396                                                                                  

    [email protected]                                                           

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/BRAZIL – Father Mario Lanciotti, Xaverian missionary, among myths, tales, and legends of the indigenous people of the Amazon

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 17 July 2025

    by Gianluca FrinchillucciRome (Agenzia Fides) – A new light is shining on missionary witness among the peoples of the Amazon. Professor Mario Polia, anthropologist, historian of religions, and profound expert on Andean cultures, has published a valuable collection of oral accounts collected by Father Mario Lanciotti, a Xaverian missionary active in Brazil in the 1960s, and a former missionary in China and Japan.The work brings together myths, tales, legends, and cosmogonic tales passed down orally for generations by the indigenous people of the Amazon. Father Lanciotti heard them directly from the faithful of his missions, during long evenings in the villages, often by moonlight, to the sound of crickets and night frogs. “For me,” he wrote, “it was not a pastime: I considered it indispensable for my missionary work.” “I have always tried to better understand the people to whom I was sent and to help them according to my abilities and capabilities. I have tried to love and accept them as they are, avoiding noise and paternalism,” he recounted in one of his testimonies. Furthermore, in a letter to a friend, he wrote words of luminous serenity: “I am here, in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, on the banks of the Xingu River. I am happy. When I came to work in this abandoned place, I was over 71 years old, but now I feel rejuvenated by 40. Here I truly feel at home as a missionary. The Lord has been so good to me in my old age! If you want to be happy, come with me!”“Father Lanciotti,” Polia affirms, “knew how to compile these oral testimonies, even though he was aware that, for many, these beliefs needed to be overcome. As he himself said, old superstitions remain in the deepest layers of the soul, like posters glued one on top of the other: when you tear off the first one, the previous one reappears. Lanciotti’s great intelligence was understanding that, to evangelize, you must first understand the other’s way of thinking. His compilation is an act of respect and listening.”“I spent a long period in the Xingu River area, on the border between the lands occupied by the whites and the forests where the indigenous tribes still live,” Father Lanciotti noted in another account. “I spent many afternoons with the ‘civilized’ Indians. We sat on the grass, in the moonlight, while crickets, toads, and night birds accompanied us. After religious instruction, I encouraged my indigenous interlocutors to tell me stories of the jungle and mythological events handed down through the centuries.” Father Mario Lanciotti (1901-1983), originally from Cupra Marittima (Ascoli Piceno, Italy), was a Xaverian missionary for fifty years in China, Japan, and finally Brazil. He worked in the most difficult areas of Pará and the Xingu, dedicating his life to serving the most disadvantaged. Almost blind, he asked to live out his final years in a nursing home in Belém, “the poorest among the poor.” He was buried in Abaetetuba, on the banks of the Amazon River. (Agenzia Fides, 17/7/2025)

    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Stock Yards Bancorp Awarded Raymond James Community Bankers Cup

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBT), parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with offices in Louisville, central, eastern and northern Kentucky, as well as the Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan markets, today announced that it is has been awarded the prestigious Raymond James Community Bankers Cup for its performance in 2024.

    The award recognizes the top 10% of community banks based on various profitability, operational efficiency, and balance sheet metrics. The pool of banks considered for recognition includes all exchange-traded domestic banks, excluding mutual holding companies, with assets between $500 million and $10 billion as of December 31, 2024.

    “We were honored to once again be awarded the 2024 Raymond James Community Bankers Cup. This achievement highlights not only Stock Yards’ strong performance but also our continued commitment to delivering exceptional service to the communities we proudly serve.”

    Stock Yards Bancorp has been awarded the Raymond James Community Bankers Cup a total of 10 times.

    Louisville, Kentucky-based Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., with $9.00 billion in assets, was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company. It is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1904. The Company’s common shares trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “SYBT.”

    Contact: T. Clay Stinnett
    Executive Vice President,
    Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
    (502) 625-0890

     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank and Partners Launch a $263.8 Million Infrastructure Project to Transform Urban Development in Abia State

    Source: APO

    The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, Nigeria’s Federal Government and the Abia State, has launched the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project, a transformative $263.8 million initiative to modernize urban infrastructure, enhance mobility, and promote inclusive, climate-resilient development over the next five years.

    The project addresses critical infrastructure gaps in urban transport, erosion control and waste management which have long constrained mobility, public health and economic productivity in the cities of Umuahia and Aba in Abia State.

    The African Development Bank is contributing $115 million to the project, including $100 million from its ADB window and $15 million from the Canada-AfDB Climate Fund (CACF). The Islamic Development Bank is co-financing with $125 million, while the Federal Government of Nigeria is providing $23.8 million in counterpart funding.

    The project will rehabilitate more than 248 kilometers of roads in the cities of Umuahia and Aba, restore two erosion sites, and catalyze private sector investment in solid waste management through public-private partnerships.

    Abia State, like many rapidly growing regions, has faced mounting infrastructure challenges driven by urban expansion, environmental pressures and limited investment over time. Cities such as Umuahia and Aba are contending with aging roads, erosion threats, and strained waste systems. This project signals a decisive shift toward integrated, climate-resilient urban development that supports inclusive growth and long-term sustainability.

    Speaking at the launch, Dr. Alex C. Otti, Governor of Abia State, said the initiative marked a defining moment in the State’s infrastructure renewal agenda: “The fruits of development are richer when supported by partners who believe in your vision. We are focused on raising living standards, expanding access to education and healthcare, and driving economic productivity. Investor confidence is growing, public optimism is rising, and Abia is emerging as a destination of choice for opportunity and impact.”

    The project is expected to generate over 3,000 temporary jobs during the construction phase, with 30 percent reserved for women, and approximately 1,000 permanent jobs during the operational phase. A key feature of the project is its focus on youth employment and skills development: 50 percent of the permanent roles will go to young people, who will be trained through the State Youth Road Maintenance Corps—a cadre of local engineers drawn from all 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State.

    Dr. Akande Oyebola, Assistant Director at the International Economic Relations Department of the Federal Ministry of Finance, reaffirmed the Government’s support: “This initiative represents a significant milestone in our collective effort to drive economic growth, strengthen infrastructure, and improve the quality of life for the people of Abia State.”

    Dr. Abdul Kamara, Director General of the African Development Bank’s Nigeria Country Department, commended the leadership of the federal and state governments. “This project is rooted in partnership, ambition and long-term impact,” he said.  “At its core, this project is about lives, it is about reducing travel time by half, increasing incomes, improving access to schools and hospitals, and creating space for entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, to thrive.”

    Beyond the physical infrastructure, the project incorporates comprehensive social and environmental safeguards. These include training for women and youth entrepreneurs, resettlement support, HIV/AIDS and STI awareness campaigns, and strengthened systems for procurement and financial management.

    Otumchere Oti, Abia State Commissioner for Works, reaffirmed the State’s commitment to accountable delivery.

    “Today we reassure all stakeholders, our development partners, contractors, communities, and government institutions, that implementation will be guided by diligence, transparency, and accountability. Our monitoring mechanisms are robust, and our resolve is strong. This is a defining moment for Abia State, and we shall rise to it with determination and unity,” he said.

    The African Development Bank will provide technical support, capacity building, and close implementation supervision through its Nigeria Country Department and sector teams.

    The launch of the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project marks a key milestone in the Bank’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s development priorities through inclusive, sustainable infrastructure investment.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Contact:
    Nkiruka Henrietta Ugoh
    Nigeria Country Department
    media@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Syria’s Sharaa vows to protect Druze rights as ceasefire holds

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of trying to fracture Syria and promised to protect its Druze minority on Thursday, after U.S. intervention helped end deadly fighting between government forces and Druze fighters in the south.

    Overnight, the Islamist-led government’s troops withdrew from the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, where scores of people have been killed in days of conflict.

    One local journalist said he’d counted more than 60 bodies in the streets of Sweida on Thursday morning. Ryan Marouf of Suwayda24 told Reuters he had found a family of 12 people killed in one house, including women and an elderly man. “People are looking for bodies,” he said in a voice recording.

    Violence in Syria escalated sharply on Wednesday as Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus,while also hitting government forces in the south, demanding they withdraw and saying Israel aimed to protect Syrian Druze -part of asmall but influential minority that also has followers in Lebanon and Israel.

    Israel, which bombed Syria frequently under the rule of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, has struck the country repeatedly this year, describing its new leaders as barely disguised jihadists and saying it will not allow them to deploy forces in areas of southern Syria near its border.

    Addressing Syrians on Thursday, interim President Sharaa accused Israel of seeking to “dismantle the unity of our people”, saying it had “consistently targeted our stability and created discord among us since the fall of the former regime”.

    Sharaa, who was commander of an al Qaeda faction before cutting ties with the group in 2016, said protecting Druze citizens and their rights was “our priority” and rejected any attempt to drag them into the hands of an “external party”.

    He also vowed to hold to account those who committed violations against “our Druze people”.

    The Syrian Network for Human Rights said it had documented 193 dead in four days of fighting, among them medical personnel, women and children.

    The Network’s head Fadel Abdulghany told Reuters the figure included cases of field executions by both sides, Syrians killed by Israeli strikes and others killed in clashes but that it would take time to break down the figures for each category.

    A Reuters reporter saw government fighters loot and burn homes during this week’s violence, including just before they departed Sweida overnight. Fighters also shaved off the moustaches of Druze men.

    Moustaches are worn by Druze sheikhs and many other Druze men as a symbol of religious and cultural identity with spiritual significance.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late on Wednesday the United States had engaged all the parties involved and that steps had been agreed that would end “this troubling and horrifying situation”.

    Sharaa credited U.S. Arab and Turkish mediation for saving “the region from an uncertain fate”. A Turkish security source said Ankara played a crucial role in securing the ceasefire.

    The violence has underlined the challenges that Sharaa faces in stabilizing Syria and exerting centralised rule over the country, despite his warming ties with the United States and his administration’s evolving security contacts with Israel.

    Sharaa faces challenges to stitch Syria back together in the face of deep misgivings from groups that fear Islamist rule. In March, mass killings of members of the Alawite minority exacerbated the mistrust. The Druze follow a religion that is an offshoot of Islam.

    ISRAELI STRIKES

    Israel’s airstrikes on Wednesday blew up part of Syria’s defence ministry and hit near the presidential palace as it vowed to destroy government forces attacking Druze in southern Syria.

    “We will not allow southern Syria to become a terror stronghold,” said Eyal Zamir, Israel’s military chief of staff.

    The United Nations Security Council will meet on Thursday to address the conflict, diplomats said.

    “The council must condemn the barbaric crimes committed against innocent civilians on Syrian soil,” said Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon. “Israel will continue to act resolutely against any terrorist threat on its borders, anywhere and at any time.”

    Scores of Israeli Druze broke through the border fence on Wednesday, linking up with Druze on the Syrian side.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israeli Druze citizens not to cross the border. The Israeli military said it was working to safely return civilians who had crossed.

    (Reuters)

  • South Korea lashed by heavy rain, four dead and more than 1,000 evacuated

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Four people died and more than 1,000 have been evacuated in South Korea after the country was lashed by torrential rain on Thursday, the safety ministry said.

    A driver was killed after a 10-metre-high (33 ft) roadside wall collapsed on top of a moving vehicle on Wednesday in Osan, some 44 kilometres (27 miles) south of Seoul, fire agency officials said.

    Another person was found with no heartbeat in a flooded car in Seosan, South Chungcheong province, and could not be revived.

    As of 5 p.m. (0800 GMT), some parts of the South Chungcheong region further south of the capital had seen more than 400 millimetres (15.7 inches) of rain since Wednesday, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said.

    The downpours resulted in record rainfall in the area and more wet weather was forecast for Thursday night, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.

    Landslide alerts were raised to the highest level for several regions including Chungcheong as the heavy rains continued, according to the Korea Forest Service.

    In the city of Gwangju, some 267 kilometres (166 miles) south of Seoul, 87 roads and 38 buildings were submerged within about two hours after torrential rain warnings were issued, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

    Some 403 schools were closed and 166 reported property damage from the heavy rain on Thursday, the Ministry of Education said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Arclaim Finance to Launch DeFi Staking Platform on July 15, Solving Liquidity Challenges for Crypto Investors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem evolves rapidly, driven by innovation and the pursuit of liquidity. Staking, a popular method for cryptocurrency users to earn passive income, faces a persistent challenge: limited liquidity and untapped potential of staked assets. Arclaim, a pioneering decentralized staking platform, addresses these issues, offering users an optimized way to maximize earnings through staking. By leveraging advanced smart contracts and a user-centric approach, Arclaim redefines staking in the DeFi space, delivering higher returns, enhanced security, and unparalleled flexibility.

    A New Era for Staking

    Arclaim transforms how users interact with staked assets by combining robust technology with innovative earning mechanisms. Unlike traditional staking platforms, Arclaim not only facilitates high-yield staking but also integrates arbitrage opportunities, enabling users to earn from multiple streams. This dual-earning model, supported by carefully audited smart contracts, positions Arclaim as a leader in the DeFi ecosystem, appealing to both novice and seasoned investors.

    “Arclaim empowers users to unlock the full potential of their crypto assets,” says Josh Smith, spokesperson for Arclaim Finance. “By combining high-APR staking pools with arbitrage opportunities and a 98% profit-sharing model, we prioritize user earnings while ensuring safety and reliability.”

    How Arclaim Works

    Arclaim operates through a seamless, secure, and efficient process designed to optimize user earnings. The platform’s proprietary system follows a structured approach:

    1. Analysis of Staking Pools: Arclaim’s advanced algorithms scan the market to identify staking pools with high Annual Percentage Rates (APR) and strong arbitrage potential, ensuring users access the most lucrative opportunities.
    2. Deployment of Smart Contracts: Once optimal pools are identified, Arclaim deploys robust smart contracts to facilitate staking. These contracts securely lock user funds and efficiently distribute rewards.
    3. Profit Distribution Model: Arclaim distributes 98% of fees and profits back to users, retaining only 2%. This user-centric model maximizes earnings, setting Arclaim apart from competitors.
    4. Earnings Through Arbitrage: Beyond staking rewards, Arclaim’s smart contracts exploit price differences across pools, generating additional profits for users.

    This streamlined process ensures users benefit from high returns, transparency, and ease of use, all while maintaining the highest standards of security.

    Why Arclaim Stands Out

    Arclaim distinguishes itself through innovative features that address the limitations of traditional staking platforms:

    • Higher Returns: By identifying high-APR pools and leveraging arbitrage, Arclaim consistently delivers superior returns compared to other decentralized applications (dApps).
    • User-Centric Profit Model: With 98% of profits returned to users, Arclaim prioritizes community financial growth, unlike platforms that retain significant portions of earnings.
    • Safety and Reliability: Arclaim’s smart contracts undergo rigorous audits to ensure the security of user funds, fostering trust among users worldwide.
    • Optimized Staking Experience: The platform’s intuitive interface simplifies staking, allowing users to monitor earnings and withdraw profits effortlessly.

    These features make Arclaim a transformative solution, combining the best of DeFi innovation with a focus on user empowerment.

    Who Benefits from Arclaim?

    Arclaim caters to a diverse audience, from beginners exploring DeFi to experienced investors seeking advanced opportunities. Whether users aim to earn passive income through staking or capitalize on arbitrage, Arclaim’s user-friendly platform and transparent profit-sharing model make it an ideal choice. With a low entry barrier, users can start staking with minimal investment, democratizing access to high-yield opportunities in the DeFi space.

    The Future of Staking

    As DeFi continues to expand, Arclaim sets a new standard for decentralized staking platforms. By addressing liquidity challenges and maximizing user profits, the platform paves the way for a more efficient and inclusive staking experience. Arclaim’s innovative approach ensures users can optimize their assets while maintaining control and security.

    The platform’s vision extends beyond staking. By integrating arbitrage opportunities and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Arclaim unlocks the full potential of crypto assets. As the DeFi ecosystem grows, Arclaim positions itself as a leader, offering a compelling solution for those seeking to enhance their financial future without compromising on reliability.

    A Bright Future for DeFi Investors

    Arclaim’s combination of safety, reliability, and high earning potential reshapes how users perceive staking. As more individuals explore DeFi, platforms like Arclaim play a pivotal role in empowering users to maximize their crypto investments. With its robust smart contracts, transparent profit model, and user-focused design, Arclaim invites investors to join a revolution in decentralized finance.

    For those looking to earn more from their staked assets, Arclaim offers a secure and innovative platform to achieve financial goals. Whether new to staking or a seasoned investor, Arclaim provides the tools to take control of your crypto portfolio.

    About Arclaim Finance

    Arclaim Finance, based in Wellington, New Zealand, leads the charge in decentralized staking innovation. With a mission to optimize liquidity and earnings for crypto users, Arclaim combines advanced smart contracts with a user-centric profit model to redefine staking in the DeFi ecosystem. Visit arclaim.com to learn more and join the staking revolution.

    Media Contact:
    Josh Smith
    Arclaim Finance
    Email: support@arclaim.com
    Website: https://arclaim.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Arclaim Finance. 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. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. 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.

    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 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.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58de9966-b614-477b-af1f-f9fc6ca02d3c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Arclaim Finance to Launch DeFi Staking Platform on July 15, Solving Liquidity Challenges for Crypto Investors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem evolves rapidly, driven by innovation and the pursuit of liquidity. Staking, a popular method for cryptocurrency users to earn passive income, faces a persistent challenge: limited liquidity and untapped potential of staked assets. Arclaim, a pioneering decentralized staking platform, addresses these issues, offering users an optimized way to maximize earnings through staking. By leveraging advanced smart contracts and a user-centric approach, Arclaim redefines staking in the DeFi space, delivering higher returns, enhanced security, and unparalleled flexibility.

    A New Era for Staking

    Arclaim transforms how users interact with staked assets by combining robust technology with innovative earning mechanisms. Unlike traditional staking platforms, Arclaim not only facilitates high-yield staking but also integrates arbitrage opportunities, enabling users to earn from multiple streams. This dual-earning model, supported by carefully audited smart contracts, positions Arclaim as a leader in the DeFi ecosystem, appealing to both novice and seasoned investors.

    “Arclaim empowers users to unlock the full potential of their crypto assets,” says Josh Smith, spokesperson for Arclaim Finance. “By combining high-APR staking pools with arbitrage opportunities and a 98% profit-sharing model, we prioritize user earnings while ensuring safety and reliability.”

    How Arclaim Works

    Arclaim operates through a seamless, secure, and efficient process designed to optimize user earnings. The platform’s proprietary system follows a structured approach:

    1. Analysis of Staking Pools: Arclaim’s advanced algorithms scan the market to identify staking pools with high Annual Percentage Rates (APR) and strong arbitrage potential, ensuring users access the most lucrative opportunities.
    2. Deployment of Smart Contracts: Once optimal pools are identified, Arclaim deploys robust smart contracts to facilitate staking. These contracts securely lock user funds and efficiently distribute rewards.
    3. Profit Distribution Model: Arclaim distributes 98% of fees and profits back to users, retaining only 2%. This user-centric model maximizes earnings, setting Arclaim apart from competitors.
    4. Earnings Through Arbitrage: Beyond staking rewards, Arclaim’s smart contracts exploit price differences across pools, generating additional profits for users.

    This streamlined process ensures users benefit from high returns, transparency, and ease of use, all while maintaining the highest standards of security.

    Why Arclaim Stands Out

    Arclaim distinguishes itself through innovative features that address the limitations of traditional staking platforms:

    • Higher Returns: By identifying high-APR pools and leveraging arbitrage, Arclaim consistently delivers superior returns compared to other decentralized applications (dApps).
    • User-Centric Profit Model: With 98% of profits returned to users, Arclaim prioritizes community financial growth, unlike platforms that retain significant portions of earnings.
    • Safety and Reliability: Arclaim’s smart contracts undergo rigorous audits to ensure the security of user funds, fostering trust among users worldwide.
    • Optimized Staking Experience: The platform’s intuitive interface simplifies staking, allowing users to monitor earnings and withdraw profits effortlessly.

    These features make Arclaim a transformative solution, combining the best of DeFi innovation with a focus on user empowerment.

    Who Benefits from Arclaim?

    Arclaim caters to a diverse audience, from beginners exploring DeFi to experienced investors seeking advanced opportunities. Whether users aim to earn passive income through staking or capitalize on arbitrage, Arclaim’s user-friendly platform and transparent profit-sharing model make it an ideal choice. With a low entry barrier, users can start staking with minimal investment, democratizing access to high-yield opportunities in the DeFi space.

    The Future of Staking

    As DeFi continues to expand, Arclaim sets a new standard for decentralized staking platforms. By addressing liquidity challenges and maximizing user profits, the platform paves the way for a more efficient and inclusive staking experience. Arclaim’s innovative approach ensures users can optimize their assets while maintaining control and security.

    The platform’s vision extends beyond staking. By integrating arbitrage opportunities and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Arclaim unlocks the full potential of crypto assets. As the DeFi ecosystem grows, Arclaim positions itself as a leader, offering a compelling solution for those seeking to enhance their financial future without compromising on reliability.

    A Bright Future for DeFi Investors

    Arclaim’s combination of safety, reliability, and high earning potential reshapes how users perceive staking. As more individuals explore DeFi, platforms like Arclaim play a pivotal role in empowering users to maximize their crypto investments. With its robust smart contracts, transparent profit model, and user-focused design, Arclaim invites investors to join a revolution in decentralized finance.

    For those looking to earn more from their staked assets, Arclaim offers a secure and innovative platform to achieve financial goals. Whether new to staking or a seasoned investor, Arclaim provides the tools to take control of your crypto portfolio.

    About Arclaim Finance

    Arclaim Finance, based in Wellington, New Zealand, leads the charge in decentralized staking innovation. With a mission to optimize liquidity and earnings for crypto users, Arclaim combines advanced smart contracts with a user-centric profit model to redefine staking in the DeFi ecosystem. Visit arclaim.com to learn more and join the staking revolution.

    Media Contact:
    Josh Smith
    Arclaim Finance
    Email: support@arclaim.com
    Website: https://arclaim.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Arclaim Finance. 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. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. 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.

    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 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.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58de9966-b614-477b-af1f-f9fc6ca02d3c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: New parliament presents traps for Albanese and Ley

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Anthony Albanese hasn’t been in any rush to convene the new parliament, which Governor-General Sam Mostyn will open on Tuesday.

    It’s only mildly cynical to observe that governments of both persuasions often seem to regard having pesky members and senators around too much as a hindrance to business. Accountability is all very good in theory – facing it in practice is another matter.

    In this first fortnight of the new parliament, however, much of the attention will be less on the government than on the opposition. Liberal leader Sussan Ley has handled her early weeks without tripping. But her critics hover like crows on the fence in lambing season. Angus Taylor, who narrowly lost the leadership ballot, retains his ambition. The right-wing media wait for Ley’s mistakes.

    Ley will need to maintain a strong grip on her team’s messaging, especially on foreign and defence policy, or the Coalition will open itself to criticism.

    Taylor, now the defence spokesman, attracted attention this week when he went out on a limb on Taiwan, telling the ABC, “we should have a joint commitment with them [the US] to the security of Taiwan”.

    Ley, who says she wants to avoid unrelenting negativity, must choose the Coalition’s targets carefully. It has been presented with some useful fodder with the (inadvertently) leaked Treasury brief to the re-elected government that urged the need for tax rises and spending cuts. This is manna from political heaven because it is on the Coalition’s favoured economic ground, and raises issues for which the government doesn’t have immediate or clear-cut answers.

    As important as Ley’s own performance will be, so will that of shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien. Taylor’s handling of the job last term was a serious weakness for the Coalition.

    Facing a well-prepared and confident counterpart in Jim Chalmers, O’Brien must find his feet quickly. Sensibly, he has hired on his staff an experienced, credible economist, Steven Hamilton, who has been an assistant professor of economics at George Washington University in Washington DC. Hamilton has also been a regular contributor to The Australian Financial Review, so he has a feel for, and contacts in, the financial media.

    The government has a mix of legislation to introduce in this initial fortnight. Albanese promised during the campaign that Labor’s first cab off the rank would be its commitment to cut student debt by 20%. It also foreshadowed early action to cement in penalty rates.

    It didn’t anticipate having to rush in a bill to strip funding from childcare centres that do not meet safety standards. This follows the recent revelations
    of abuse.

    The first parliamentary fortnight comes in the run-up to the government’s August 19–21 productivity roundtable (named by Chalmers the “economic reform roundtable”). With expectations inevitably exploding, observers will be watching closely the dynamics between the treasurer and the prime minister in parliament.

    The two agree that delivering election promises should be the floor, rather than the ceiling, of ambition for the second term. But their degrees of ambition differ. Chalmers fears Albanese’s is limited; the prime minister fears his treasurer’s will overreach. Will Albanese show a restraining hand on the roundtable in the weeks before it?

    As the government wants to emphasise delivery to voters in the early days of the parliament, Chalmers hasn’t rushed to seek the deal he needs with the Greens on his controversial changes to superannuation tax arrangements. The plan is to increase the tax on balances of more than $3 million, and tax the unrealised capital gains.

    The Greens want the $3 million reduced to $2 million and that amount indexed. It’s a fair assumption a compromise will be reached when negotiations occur.

    That will be a relatively easy test for the Greens under their new leader Larissa Waters, who has also said she wants to be constructive while holding the government to account.

    Later on, though, will come harder issues, including whether the Greens will sign up to a new environmental protection authority, stymied by political obstacles last term.

    In general, the Senate will be less complicated for the government in coming months than last term, given the Greens hold the sole balance of power on legislation contested by the opposition.

    That means things are more frustrating for other Senate crossbenchers.

    In his stand on staffing, Albanese is not improving their mood. Pauline Hanson’s One Nation doubled its representation to four senators but has no extra staff. Staff allocation is up to the prime minister, who has once again been arbitrary about how many staff individual Senate crossbenchers receive. This is an unfair and indefensible system – there should be independent, consistent rules.

    ACT senator David Pocock hasn’t lost any staff but he has lost clout, compared with last term when his vote could be crucial and he was able to trade it for concessions from the government. The new numbers deal him and other non-Green crossbenchers out of the game.

    In the House of Representatives, the Teals retain strong representation but, as in the last parliament, they can only exert (limited) influence, not power. For a while early this year, when it looked as if there would be a hung parliament, they were preparing wish lists.

    One new Teal will be sworn in next week, Nicolette Boele, who won the seat of Bradfield from the Liberals. She can’t know, however, whether she will see out her term. The Liberals have challenged the result after she won by just 26 votes. The matter will be decided by the Court of Disputed Returns.

    There are three possible outcomes: the court confirms the result; the result is overturned and the seat awarded to Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian (who was allowed to vote in the Liberal leadership and supported Ley); or a fresh election is ordered.

    The Liberals are taking some risk with the challenge. If there were a new election, and they lost it, that would be another setback for them and could destabilise Ley’s leadership.

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

    – ref. Grattan on Friday: New parliament presents traps for Albanese and Ley – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-new-parliament-presents-traps-for-albanese-and-ley-261096

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Lantronix Disrupts Industrial Connectivity With the Debut of Its Affordable, Award-Winning 5G Wireless Router Series

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader in compute and connectivity IoT solutions enabling Edge AI Intelligence, today launched its new NTC-500 Series rugged industrial-grade 5G router, designed to transform the economics of enterprise mobility and connectivity. This NTC-500 Series product launch is a direct result of Lantronix’s acquisition of NetComm Wireless, validating Lantronix’s strategic investment as well as underscoring its global position as a provider of cutting-edge connectivity solutions for enterprise and industrial IoT markets.

    The NTC-500 Series positions Lantronix to capitalize on the accelerating global shift toward wireless industrial infrastructure. With carrier certification, global approvals and a disruptive price point, the NTC-500 Series empowers enterprises to eliminate costly Ethernet infrastructure — potentially thousands of dollars per drop — while retaining the high-speed, low-latency performance traditionally associated with wired networks.

    By addressing key pain points, such as high deployment costs, long installation timelines, limited mobility and the need to support a high density of connected end points, the NTC-500 solution opens new revenue streams across private 5G, edge computing and industrial automation markets. Its flexible, future-ready design supports a wide range of use cases, enabling customers to scale efficiently while reducing total cost of ownership.

    “Lantronix has redefined the economics of industrial 5G mobility and critical connectivity,” said Daniel Quant, head of Industrial IoT Products and Business Line at Lantronix. “The NTC-500 Series delivers a rugged, globally approved and carrier-certified 5G solution at a breakthrough price point, enabling customers to scale digital transformation faster, future-proof their infrastructure investments and significantly reduce operational costs.”

    Private-5G ready, the NTC-500 Series supports the n48-CBRS band, n77 & n78 and more, enabling the rapid digitization of previously stranded or mobile assets. This unlocks new levels of automation, operational agility and productivity across enterprise and industrial segments.

    According to ABI Research’s 1Q 2025 Private Cellular Network Forecasts, the 5G market will grow from $2.7 billion in 2025 to $29 billion by 2030. Private 5G deployments in sectors such as manufacturing and healthcare are accelerating, driven by demand for advanced cellular capabilities in mission- and safety-critical applications.

    Award-Winning 5G Wireless Router

    Lantronix’s NTC-500 5G Series has not only resonated with customers and partners, but it has also earned industry-wide recognition. Lantronix’s innovation was recently honored with the 2025 Industrial IoT Product of the Year Award from IoT Evolution World, a leading authority covering IoT technologies.

    “Lantronix is a worthy recipient of a 2025 Industrial IoT Product of Year Award. Its NTC-500 Series is an outstanding representative of the diverse range of innovation that’s driving the multi-billion-dollar IoT market today. It is my honor to congratulate the Lantronix team for their innovative work and superior contribution to the rapidly evolving IoT industry,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO of TMC, publisher of IoT Evolution World.

    Built for High-Scale, High-Impact Deployments

    Supporting the latest 3GPP Release 16 5G features, the NTC-500 Series includes 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) and 5G Standalone (SA) with 4G-LTE fallback and Dynamic 5G Slicing, which enables complex end-to-end, on-demand quality of service solutions in partnership with leading carrier networks.

    Key Capabilities and Use Cases

    • High-Speed Data Transfer: Ultra-fast 5G data transmission for seamless communication between industrial assets and systems. Use Cases: Machine vision, remote inspections and firmware updates.
    • Low Latency for Real-Time Control: Near-instantaneous data, critical for robotics, AGVs, and security systems. Use Cases: Autonomous robotic arms, AGV coordination access control.
    • Cable-Free Connectivity for Improved Agility: Eliminate potentially thousands of dollars in cable runs, enabling flexible asset deployment. Use Cases: Modular production lines, pop-up logistics hubs, and reconfigurable warehouses.
    • Site-Wide Mobility for High-Density Asset Connectivity: Reliable and deterministic wireless communication across large campuses with many endpoints. Use Cases: Smart factories, AGV and Smart Forklift fleets, outdoor logistics yards.
    • Disruptive Price-Point: Enterprise-grade 5G at a price that expands addressable markets. Use Cases: Retail, QSR, mining, construction and cost-sensitive automation.

    About Lantronix

    Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth industries including Smart Cities, Automotive and Enterprise. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that address each layer of the IoT Stack. Lantronix’s leading-edge solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing. 

    For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements related to Lantronix products and awards. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent tensions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024; as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    Lantronix Media Contact:
    Gail Kathryn Miller 
    Corporate Marketing & 
    Communications Manager 
    media@lantronix.com 
    949-212-0960 

    Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:
    investors@lantronix.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lantronix Disrupts Industrial Connectivity With the Debut of Its Affordable, Award-Winning 5G Wireless Router Series

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader in compute and connectivity IoT solutions enabling Edge AI Intelligence, today launched its new NTC-500 Series rugged industrial-grade 5G router, designed to transform the economics of enterprise mobility and connectivity. This NTC-500 Series product launch is a direct result of Lantronix’s acquisition of NetComm Wireless, validating Lantronix’s strategic investment as well as underscoring its global position as a provider of cutting-edge connectivity solutions for enterprise and industrial IoT markets.

    The NTC-500 Series positions Lantronix to capitalize on the accelerating global shift toward wireless industrial infrastructure. With carrier certification, global approvals and a disruptive price point, the NTC-500 Series empowers enterprises to eliminate costly Ethernet infrastructure — potentially thousands of dollars per drop — while retaining the high-speed, low-latency performance traditionally associated with wired networks.

    By addressing key pain points, such as high deployment costs, long installation timelines, limited mobility and the need to support a high density of connected end points, the NTC-500 solution opens new revenue streams across private 5G, edge computing and industrial automation markets. Its flexible, future-ready design supports a wide range of use cases, enabling customers to scale efficiently while reducing total cost of ownership.

    “Lantronix has redefined the economics of industrial 5G mobility and critical connectivity,” said Daniel Quant, head of Industrial IoT Products and Business Line at Lantronix. “The NTC-500 Series delivers a rugged, globally approved and carrier-certified 5G solution at a breakthrough price point, enabling customers to scale digital transformation faster, future-proof their infrastructure investments and significantly reduce operational costs.”

    Private-5G ready, the NTC-500 Series supports the n48-CBRS band, n77 & n78 and more, enabling the rapid digitization of previously stranded or mobile assets. This unlocks new levels of automation, operational agility and productivity across enterprise and industrial segments.

    According to ABI Research’s 1Q 2025 Private Cellular Network Forecasts, the 5G market will grow from $2.7 billion in 2025 to $29 billion by 2030. Private 5G deployments in sectors such as manufacturing and healthcare are accelerating, driven by demand for advanced cellular capabilities in mission- and safety-critical applications.

    Award-Winning 5G Wireless Router

    Lantronix’s NTC-500 5G Series has not only resonated with customers and partners, but it has also earned industry-wide recognition. Lantronix’s innovation was recently honored with the 2025 Industrial IoT Product of the Year Award from IoT Evolution World, a leading authority covering IoT technologies.

    “Lantronix is a worthy recipient of a 2025 Industrial IoT Product of Year Award. Its NTC-500 Series is an outstanding representative of the diverse range of innovation that’s driving the multi-billion-dollar IoT market today. It is my honor to congratulate the Lantronix team for their innovative work and superior contribution to the rapidly evolving IoT industry,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO of TMC, publisher of IoT Evolution World.

    Built for High-Scale, High-Impact Deployments

    Supporting the latest 3GPP Release 16 5G features, the NTC-500 Series includes 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) and 5G Standalone (SA) with 4G-LTE fallback and Dynamic 5G Slicing, which enables complex end-to-end, on-demand quality of service solutions in partnership with leading carrier networks.

    Key Capabilities and Use Cases

    • High-Speed Data Transfer: Ultra-fast 5G data transmission for seamless communication between industrial assets and systems. Use Cases: Machine vision, remote inspections and firmware updates.
    • Low Latency for Real-Time Control: Near-instantaneous data, critical for robotics, AGVs, and security systems. Use Cases: Autonomous robotic arms, AGV coordination access control.
    • Cable-Free Connectivity for Improved Agility: Eliminate potentially thousands of dollars in cable runs, enabling flexible asset deployment. Use Cases: Modular production lines, pop-up logistics hubs, and reconfigurable warehouses.
    • Site-Wide Mobility for High-Density Asset Connectivity: Reliable and deterministic wireless communication across large campuses with many endpoints. Use Cases: Smart factories, AGV and Smart Forklift fleets, outdoor logistics yards.
    • Disruptive Price-Point: Enterprise-grade 5G at a price that expands addressable markets. Use Cases: Retail, QSR, mining, construction and cost-sensitive automation.

    About Lantronix

    Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth industries including Smart Cities, Automotive and Enterprise. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that address each layer of the IoT Stack. Lantronix’s leading-edge solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing. 

    For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements related to Lantronix products and awards. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent tensions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024; as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    Lantronix Media Contact:
    Gail Kathryn Miller 
    Corporate Marketing & 
    Communications Manager 
    media@lantronix.com 
    949-212-0960 

    Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:
    investors@lantronix.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Freelancer Limited to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Freelancer Limited (ASX: FLN; OTCQX: FRLCY), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and projects, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Freelancer Limited upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

    Freelancer Limited begins trading its ADR today on OTCQX under the symbol “FRLCY.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

    Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

    About Freelancer Limited
    Thirteen-time Webby award-winning Freelancer is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 80 million registered users have posted over 25 million projects and contests to date in over 3,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management for consumers and businesses on the Internet with over US$8 billion in transactions secured. Freelancer also owns Loadshift, Australia’s largest heavy haulage freight marketplace with over 800 million kilometres of freight posted since inception. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Market under the ticker FRLCY.

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.
    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market, OTCID™️ Basic Market and Pink Limited Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS are each SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit
    www.otcmarkets.com.

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    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • Global oil prices likely to decline, India ready for any sanctions fallout: Hardeep Puri

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday expressed confidence that global oil prices could see a decline in the coming months. He also played down concerns about possible US sanctions over India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia.

    “The price of oil will come down as more sources of supplies are coming. We have enough oil around,” Puri said, underlining India’s strategy of tapping into a wider pool of suppliers to ensure energy security.

    In response to questions about potential US secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian energy, Puri said he was “not worried at all.”

    “If something happens, we will deal with it,” he said, adding, “Ek darwaza band hota hai to doosra khul jata hai” (When one door closes, another one opens).

    The minister highlighted that India has significantly broadened its oil import network. “India has diversified the sources of supplies from 27 to 40 countries now. 16 per cent of oil market growth has come from India, and studies show it may go up to 25 per cent.”

    Addressing the global dependence on Russian oil, Puri said that Russia accounts for 10 per cent of global crude production. “Our analysis shows that if Russia were not included, prices would have gone up to 130 dollars a barrel. Even Turkey, China, Brazil, and the EU have purchased oil and gas from Russia,” he said.

    ANI

  • Fire at mall in Iraq leaves at least 69 dead: Report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A massive fire in a hypermarket in al-Kut city in eastern Iraq has left at least 69 people dead and 11 others missing, Reuters reported citing city’s health authorities and two police sources on Thursday.

    Reuters’ footage of the aftermath of the overnight fire showed the blackened exterior of “Corniche Hypermarket” building, with rescue teams and security forces still at the site.

    Videos verified by Reuters showed firefighters spraying water on the blazing building overnight and people climbing from the roof with the help of rescue teams.

    “We have more bodies that have not been recovered still under fire debris,” city official Ali al-Mayahi told Reuters.

    The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but the province’s governor said initial results from an investigation would be announced within 48 hours, the INA state news agency reported.

    “We have filed lawsuits against the owner of the building and the mall,” INA quoted the governor as saying.

    A lack of safety measures in Iraq has led to large death tolls in fires. In 2023, more than 100 people were killed after a fire swept through a crowded wedding hall in a northern Iraqi town.

    (Reuters)

     

  • Indore, Surat, Navi Mumbai top Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai have once again secured the top spots in urban sanitation, emerging as the cleanest cities in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings. The three cities were ranked first, second, and third, respectively, in the newly introduced “Super Swachh League,” which recognises sustained excellence in cleanliness. Vijayawada followed closely, securing the fourth position.

    The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25 were presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in the national capital on Thursday.

    Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow were declared the new generation of top clean cities, emerging as India’s leading Swachh Shehars. In total, 78 awards were presented, recognising cities, cantonments, and institutions for their exemplary performance across a range of sanitation parameters.

    Prayagraj was honoured as the Best Ganga Town, while Secunderabad Cantonment Board was awarded for its strong sanitation efforts. Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur received recognition as the Best SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehars for prioritising the safety, dignity, and welfare of sanitation workers. A special award was conferred upon the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the Prayagraj Mela Adhikari, and the Municipal Corporation of Prayagraj for successfully managing urban waste during the Mahakumbh, which saw a record footfall of approximately 66 crore people.

    This year’s Swachh Survekshan introduced a simplified and inclusive assessment framework, enabling smaller cities to compete on equal footing with larger counterparts under the principle of “One City, One Award.” As a result, 34 cities from various States and Union Territories were declared Promising Swachh Shehars for their notable progress in sanitation and urban cleanliness.

    Addressing the gathering, President Murmu commended the Ministry’s efforts in advancing the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R) principles and described the theme “Waste is Best” as central to promoting circularity in urban development. She highlighted the potential of circular practices in empowering youth, generating green jobs, and encouraging entrepreneurship. Applauding efforts by schools, startups, and zero-waste colonies, she urged all citizens to contribute to the collective resolve of building a cleaner India.

    Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal launched the Swachh City Partnership initiative, a unique mentorship programme where 78 top-performing cities will each adopt and mentor one underperforming city from their respective states. “Zaroorat hai sabko saath lekar chalne ki,” he said, calling on cities to embrace the spirit of “Each One Clean One.”

    He also announced the Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme, set to begin on August 15. The year-long initiative aims to clear legacy waste, unlock valuable urban land, and boost scientific waste processing capacities across cities.

    MoHUA Secretary Srinivas Katikithala reflected on the transformative decade of the Swachh Bharat Mission and called for long-term planning to align with India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasised the role of the newly revamped survey framework—featuring 10 new parameters and five distinct population categories—in making the competition more inclusive and performance-driven.

    As a token of appreciation, President Murmu was presented with a handcrafted sarangi made from discarded materials, symbolising the mission’s waste to wealth philosophy. The event also saw the digital launch of the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 Results Dashboard, providing an interactive overview of city rankings, achievements, and key performance indicators.

    Check out the winners list, GFC & ODF results dashboard here.
    https://ss2024.sbmurban.org/#/home

  • Drone attack targets Tawke oilfield in Iraq’s Kurdistan

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A drone attack targeted an oilfield operated by Norwegian oil and gas firm DNO in Tawke, in the Zakho Administration area of northern Iraq, on Thursday, the Kurdistan region’s counter-terrorism service said.

    The attack is the second on the DNO-operated field since a wave of drone attacks began early this week.

    DNO, which operates the Tawke and Peshkabour oilfields in the Zakho area that borders Turkey, temporarily suspended production at the fields following explosions that caused no injuries, the counter-terrorism service said.

    DNO did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

    This week’s drone attacks have reduced oil output from oilfields in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region by between 140,000 to 150,000 barrels per day, two energy officials said on Wednesday, as infrastructure damage forced multiple shutdowns.

    The Ain Sifni oilfield, operated by U.S.-based Hunt Oil, was attacked on Wednesday in the Dohuk region of northern Iraq.

    Hunt Oil said that none of its team members were injured and its facilities are shut down while it assesses the damage.

    No group has so far claimed responsibility. However, Iraqi Kurdistan security sources said initial investigations suggest the drone came from areas under the control of Iran-backed militias.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pasifika secondary students explore leadership and future pathways at EIT

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

    6 hours ago

    Pasifika secondary students from across Hawke’s Bay came together at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale for a new leadership event focused on identity, connection and pathways to tertiary education.

    The HB Pasifika Secondary School Leadership Mini Conference brought together more than 100 students from 26 schools for a day of interactive workshops, cultural affirmation and future-focused kōrero.

    Hosted by EIT’s Cultural and Learner Support, Liaison and MPTT teams in collaboration with the Pasifika Teachers Committee, the event aimed to inspire young Pasifika leaders and strengthen ties between schools and tertiary education.

    Special guest speaker Danny Toala, a professional rugby player and old boy of Hastings Boys’ High School, shared his personal journey and reflections with students. Toala has played for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies and Moana Pasifika and now plays for French Pro D2 club Oyonnax.

    Sharon Malaitai, EIT Pasifika Student Support Advisor, said the day was about giving students a sense of what learning in a tertiary environment feels like. It also helped them see themselves in that space.

    “It’s been really engaging. The day was about helping our Pasifika learners see themselves in tertiary education, having the same confidence as their ancestors to navigate through any challenges.”

    “Also allowing the students the experience of learning in a tertiary space, and that feeling of belonging and being here at EIT,” she said.

    Workshops throughout the day focused on identity and leadership, understanding how the brain works, learning about student support services and exploring available courses.

    “One workshop looked at understanding your identity, recognising the strengths and challenges that come with that and how they can help you through your educational journey,” said Sharon.

    “Another was about understanding the brain, and how to overcome some of the challenges students might be dealing with. Others focused on practical support like scholarships and financial help, and understanding what courses are available.”

    Sharon said the strength of the day lay in the connections. These included those among the students and those between the community and the institution.

    “This all started with a community connection. It’s something the Pasifika Teachers Hawke’s Bay Committee was navigating and then reached out to me for support. It shows the strength and importance of relationships and just having the students here is powerful. It’s a way of re-acknowledging what our community values are.”

    Pasifika Teachers Hawke’s Bay Committee board member Blossom Sale said the event was part of a wider effort to provide termly leadership and connection opportunities for Pasifika students across the region.

    “The whole purpose is to connect young Pasifika leaders, not only within their schools but with other schools as well,” she said. “It’s about building relationships, giving them tools and resources, and promoting education within our Pasifika communities.”

    She credited Sharon and the team at EIT for creating an experience that was not only informative but uplifting.

    “It’s been awesome seeing the students engage and also hearing that there is real support here at EIT.”

    Blossom said many Pasifika students face a difficult transition from high school to study or work.

    “We’re just trying to stand in that gap. This is about helping them see their options, whether that’s study, trades or work. And journeying with them through that process.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: EIT launches environmental programme grounded in kaitiakitanga

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

    12 seconds ago

    A new programme at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) is equipping students with practical environmental skills while embedding the principles of kaitiakitanga (Māori environmental guardianship).

    The NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2) and Primary Industry Operational Skills (Level 3) are delivered as a 32-week conjoint programme, combining predator control, native planting, fencing, and machinery training with a kaupapa Māori approach.

    Site coordinator Tania Basher said the course was designed to fill a gap in environmental education at these levels while offering a pathway into further study or work across the primary industries.

    Programme tutor Tane Cruikshank said the programme aims to connect people with nature in a kaupapa Māori way, fostering a deeper relationship with the environment.

    “Kaitiakitanga is woven through everything we do,” Tane said. “It’s not just a concept we talk about; it’s something the students practice every day through their work in the gully and their growing connection to the whenua.”

    Students began with Level 2 in March and will move into Level 3 from late July.

    Tane said the programme is about more than environmental work, as students gain skills that can be applied across a variety of industries, opening doors to future career opportunities.

    Throughout the programme, students carry out practical environmental work, including pest control, restoration planting, native tree propagation, and track maintenance. Most of the learning takes place in a large gully behind EIT below Otatara Pa that EIT students have been returning to native bush.

    They build trap boxes, install DOC 200 traps, monitor wildlife using cameras, and have adopted a zone within the gully to manage and restore.

    Tania said students have taken guardianship of the gully space and have achieved some great trapping results.

    Level 3 introduces advanced tools and machinery, including scrub bars, chainsaws, light utility vehicles, and tractors. Students also develop skills in fencing and conservation infrastructure, such as building predator-proof enclosures.

    Tane said the skills they gain can be used in conservation, horticulture, agriculture, or farming.

    Alongside practical training, learners gain industry experience through partnerships with local organisation Te Wai Mauri, who run a native plant nursery and kaitiaki ranger team. This connection to local initiatives reinforces the kaupapa Māori foundation of the programme and provides students with valuable real-world experience.

    Applications are open now for the July intake. Graduates can go on to entry-level roles in the primary industries or progress to further qualifications such as the NZ Diploma in Environmental Management.

    “It’s about experiencing a connection with the whenua as a foundation for their learning,” Tania said.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Low-altitude amendments take effect

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Two legislative amendments on low-altitude economy development will come into effect tomorrow.

    The two amendments – The Small Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Order 2025 and the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Amendment) Order 2025 – are aimed at facilitating the development of a low-altitude economy.

    The amendments to the Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) Order serve to extend the existing regulatory regime to cover SUA weighing over 25kg but not exceeding 150kg.

    Relevant guidance documents including the updated Safety Requirements Document and Advisory Circulars will be available online from tomorrow.

    Meanwhile, the amendments to the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 serve to facilitate the trials of various unconventional aircraft in Hong Kong.

    New articles are added to empower the Chief Executive to permit the trials of unconventional aircraft under specified conditions.

    Practical guidance in respect of the trials of unconventional aircraft will be published online tomorrow.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

    Source: Government of South Africa

    States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

    In a significant multilateral initiative, a coalition of countries from various regions has agreed on six coordinated diplomatic, legal and economic measures aimed at restraining Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and upholding international law.

    The Emergency Conference of The Hague Group, jointly organised by the governments of Colombia and South Africa as co-chairs, brought together 30 nations from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. 

    “In the deliberations at the Bogotá conference, all 30 participating States unanimously agreed that the era of impunity must end – and that international law must be enforced without fear or favour through immediate domestic policies and legislation – along with a unified call for an immediate ceasefire,” a joint statement issued at the end of the conference read. 

    To initiate this process, 12 countries from around the world – Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa – convened in Bogotá, Colombia, for two days. 

    READ | Israel’s disregard for ICJ rulings undermines global governance, says Dangor

    The countries committed to immediately implement six measures through their domestic legal and administrative systems. 

    The leaders have scheduled a meeting for 20 September, coinciding with the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to invite more countries to join this initiative. Consultations with governments worldwide are currently underway.

    The countries have since announced several measures to be adopted based on the States’ domestic legal and legislative frameworks. This includes a ban on arms shipments to Israel, a prohibition on ships transporting such arms, and a review of public contracts to identify any links to companies benefiting from the Israeli occupation. 

    In addition, the group supports “universal jurisdiction mandates”, which would enable States or international bodies to prosecute serious international crimes, regardless of where they occurred.

    “These 12 States have taken a momentous step forward,” said UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese. 

    “The clock is now ticking for States – from Europe to the Arab world and beyond – to join them.”

    The conference agreed to set a deadline for States’ final decisions by September 2025, in line with the 12-month timeframe mandated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024.

    That resolution called on all States to take effective action on Israel’s violations of international law, including accountability, sanctions, and cessation of support — within one year of adoption.

    “We came to Bogotá to make history – and we did,” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro. 

    “Together, we have begun the work of ending the era of impunity. These measures show that we will no longer allow international law to be treated as optional, or Palestinian life as disposable.” 

    South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, said what they have achieved is a collective affirmation that no State is above the law. 

    “The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious and that coordinated State action is possible,” said Lamola. 

    The Executive Secretary of The Hague Group, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, said the conference marks a turning point – not just for Palestine, but for the future of the international system.  

    “For decades, States, particularly in the Global South, have borne the cost of a broken international system. In Bogotá, they came together to reclaim it, not with words, but with actions.” – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Parts relating to firearm marking requirements in Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and Firearms and Ammunition (Marking of Firearms) Regulation to come into effect on July 25

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    A spokesman for the Security Bureau said today (July 17) that the Government will publish the Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (Commencement) Notice (Commencement Notice) and the Firearms and Ammunition (Marking of Firearms) Regulation (Regulation) in the Gazette tomorrow (July 18) to fully implement the United Nation’s Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition (Firearms Protocol). The Commencement Notice and the Regulation will come into operation on July 25, 2025.
     
    The spokesman said, “The Firearms Protocol entered into force in 2005 to strengthen control over licit firearms, prevent their diversion into the illegal circuit, and promote relevant law enforcement co-operation of the States Parties. The Firearms Protocol has entered into force for the People’s Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)) since January 18, 2024. The Firearms Protocol stipulates the requirement to criminalise illicit manufacturing of or cross-border trafficking in firearms, component parts and ammunition, as well as falsifying or illicitly obliterating, removing or altering of the requisite markings on firearms.”

    The Government tabled the Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 2025 at the Legislative Council (LegCo) on April 2, 2025, which was passed by the LegCo on May 28, 2025. The Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (Amended Ordinance) empowers the Commissioner of Police (Commissioner) to enact subsidiary legislation to set out the detailed technical requirements for marking of firearms. Except for the parts relating to firearm marking (namely sections 8, 9, 10(1), 11, 13, 14, 15(1), (2) and (3), 16, 17, and 18 of the Amended Ordinance), the other parts of the Amended Ordinance came into effect upon gazettal on June 6, 2025.

    ​The spokesman added, “According to the Amended Ordinance, the parts relating to firearm marking shall come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Security (S for S) by notice published in the Gazette. The S for S now decides that the provisions relating to firearm marking in the Amended Ordinance shall come into effect on July 25, 2025. The Commissioner also enacts the Regulation, specifying the marking requirements for firearms manufactured in or imported into the HKSAR, including the location of markings, the method of engraving, the size of markings, as well as the exemptions for imported firearms from marking and the related requirements. The Regulation will come into force on July 25, 2025.”

    The Government will table the Commencement Notice and the Regulation at the LegCo on the coming Wednesday (July 23) for negative vetting.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Unemployment rate stays at 3.5%

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.5% in the April to June period, the same as that in March to May, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

     

    The underemployment rate remained at 1.4%.

     

    Total employment was 3,657,300, down 7,400 from March to May, while the labour force also dropped 7,000 to 3,793,500.

     

    The number of unemployed people in April to June was 136,200, about the same as that in March to May. Meanwhile, the number of underemployed people decreased 1,000 to 52,600.

     

    Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said various industries in Hong Kong are undergoing transition and their respective unemployment rates have different trends.

     

    Looking ahead, Mr Sun explained that the trend of unemployment rate will hinge on the overall economic performance, and he elucidated that the entry of fresh graduates and school leavers during the summer may impact the overall employment situation.

     

    “Nevertheless, the continued expansion of the Hong Kong economy should provide support to the labour market,” he added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nano Labs Appoints Dr. Kailong Cai as CEO of Subsidiary Nano bit to Lead Global Crypto Reserve Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nano Labs Ltd (Nasdaq: NA) (“we,” the “Company” or “Nano Labs”), a leading Web 3.0 infrastructure and product solution provider in China, today announced the appointment of Dr. Kailong Cai as the chief executive officer (“CEO”) of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nano bit HK Limited (“Nano bit”). Dr. Cai will be fully responsible for driving Nano bit’s strategic upgrade and overseeing its global operations. This appointment marks a significant step in the Company’s ongoing evolution into a world-leading, publicly listed cryptocurrency reserve enterprise.

    Dr. Cai is a renowned expert in crypto finance, with a strong academic background and extensive international experience. He holds a Ph.D. in finance with deep and broad background in both Chinese and U.S. financial markets. From 2020 to 2025, Dr. Cai served as a partner at Jasper Crypto Fund. From 2017 to 2018, Dr. Cai served as the chief strategy officer of Huobi Group (currently known as HTX), a global leader in crypto asset trading, as well as CEO of its U.S. subsidiary, where he led the development and execution of the company’s globalization strategy. Prior to that, he worked for approximately 6 years at Deutsche Bank on Wall Street, specializing in financial product innovation, risk management, and technology-driven business optimization. With over a decade of experience in fintech and asset management, Dr. Cai brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role.

    Dr. Cai is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) and financial risk manager (FRM), with deep expertise in fintech, blockchain, and asset management.

    Dr. Jianping Kong, Chairman and CEO of Nano Labs, commented on the appointment, “We believe Dr. Cai’s appointment brings visionary leadership and strong strategic execution capabilities to Nano Labs. Under his guidance, Nano Labs will accelerate its strategic reserves of core crypto assets, refine its asset-liability structure using capital market instruments, and further its global expansion. With Dr. Cai on board, we are more confident in achieving our goal of becoming a leading public cryptocurrency reserve company in Asia with global influence, offering investors efficient and transparent access to crypto asset allocation.”

    Dr. Cai stated: “It is a great honor to take on this role and contribute to Nano Labs’ ambitious strategic vision. I look forward to working with our talented and forward-thinking team to enhance our crypto asset strategies and capitalize on emerging market trends and technological advancements.”

    About Nano Labs Ltd

    Nano Labs Ltd is a leading Web 3.0 infrastructure and product solution provider in China. Nano Labs is committed to the development of high throughput computing (“HTC”) chips and high performance computing (“HPC”) chips. Nano Labs has built a comprehensive flow processing unit (“FPU”) architecture which offers solution that integrates the features of both HTC and HPC. In addition, Nano Labs has actively positioned itself in the digital assets space, adopting BNB as its primary reserve asset. It has accumulated nearly US$170 million in mainstream digital currencies including BNB and BTC, and established an integrated platform covering multiple business verticals, including HTC solutions and HPC solutions*. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: ir.nano.cn.

    *  According to an industry report prepared by Frost & Sullivan.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s plan to appeal the Staff’s determination, which can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

    For investor inquiries, please contact:

    Nano Labs Ltd
    ir@nano.cn

    Ascent Investor Relations LLC
    Tina Xiao
    Phone: +1-646-932-7242
    Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ragnarok Crush Official Launching in Global Except for China and Japan on July 17, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Seoul, South Korea, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (“Gravity” or “Company”), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games, announced that GRAVITY Game Hub PTE. Ltd., Gravity’s wholly-owned subsidiary, has officially launched Ragnarok Crush, a Strategy Action Puzzle RPG Mobile game, in Global except for China and Japan on July 17, 2025.

    Ragnarok Crush is a Strategy Action Puzzle RPG Mobile game based on Ragnarok IP. The game features a 3-match puzzle system, offering the fun of strategically moving and combining puzzles to clear various stages. It is available for download and play after downloading from Google Play and Apple App Store in each region except for China and Japan.

    The pre-registration held globally until the official launch has demonstrated strong user interest by surpassing its target number of participants at a fast pace. In addition, the closed beta test (CBT) conducted in May received positive feedback for its new approach utilizing Ragnarok IP and the two-player PVE content, further raising expectations for the official launch.

    Gravity stated, “Ragnarok Crush is a new attempt that combines the Ragnarok IP with puzzle. While retaining the original’s job system and growth element, it offers a unique gameplay experience by strategically solving puzzles to defeat monsters. It is a casual and accessible game for players of all, and we encourage everyone to actively participate in the various regional offline events prepared to celebrate its official launch.”

    [Gravity Official Website]
    http://www.gravity.co.kr

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Website]
    https://roc.gnjoy.asia/

    [Ragnarok Crush Google Play Download Page]
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gravitygamehub.rocrush.aos

    [Ragnarok Crush Apple App Store Download Page]
    https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ragnarok-crush/id6740312911

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Lounge]
    https://game.naver.com/lounge/Ragnarok_Crush/home

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Facebook Page]
    https://www.facebook.com/RagnarokCrush

    [Ragnarok Crush Official X]
    https://x.com/ragnarokcrush

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Discord Community]
    https://discord.gg/ZjMAseG7Wp

    About GRAVITY Co., Ltd. —————————————————

    Gravity is a developer and publisher of online and mobile games. Gravity’s principal product, Ragnarok Online, is a popular online game in many markets, including Japan and Taiwan, and is currently commercially offered in 91 regions. For more information about Gravity, please visit http://www.gravity.co.kr.

    Contact:

    Mr. Heung Gon Kim
    Chief Financial Officer
    Gravity Co., Ltd.
    Email: kheung@gravity.co.kr

    Ms. Jin Lee
    Ms. Yujin Oh
    IR Unit
    Gravity Co., Ltd.
    Email: ir@gravity.co.kr
    Telephone: +82-2-2132-7801

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ragnarok Crush Official Launching in Global Except for China and Japan on July 17, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Seoul, South Korea, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (“Gravity” or “Company”), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games, announced that GRAVITY Game Hub PTE. Ltd., Gravity’s wholly-owned subsidiary, has officially launched Ragnarok Crush, a Strategy Action Puzzle RPG Mobile game, in Global except for China and Japan on July 17, 2025.

    Ragnarok Crush is a Strategy Action Puzzle RPG Mobile game based on Ragnarok IP. The game features a 3-match puzzle system, offering the fun of strategically moving and combining puzzles to clear various stages. It is available for download and play after downloading from Google Play and Apple App Store in each region except for China and Japan.

    The pre-registration held globally until the official launch has demonstrated strong user interest by surpassing its target number of participants at a fast pace. In addition, the closed beta test (CBT) conducted in May received positive feedback for its new approach utilizing Ragnarok IP and the two-player PVE content, further raising expectations for the official launch.

    Gravity stated, “Ragnarok Crush is a new attempt that combines the Ragnarok IP with puzzle. While retaining the original’s job system and growth element, it offers a unique gameplay experience by strategically solving puzzles to defeat monsters. It is a casual and accessible game for players of all, and we encourage everyone to actively participate in the various regional offline events prepared to celebrate its official launch.”

    [Gravity Official Website]
    http://www.gravity.co.kr

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Website]
    https://roc.gnjoy.asia/

    [Ragnarok Crush Google Play Download Page]
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gravitygamehub.rocrush.aos

    [Ragnarok Crush Apple App Store Download Page]
    https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ragnarok-crush/id6740312911

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Lounge]
    https://game.naver.com/lounge/Ragnarok_Crush/home

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Facebook Page]
    https://www.facebook.com/RagnarokCrush

    [Ragnarok Crush Official X]
    https://x.com/ragnarokcrush

    [Ragnarok Crush Official Discord Community]
    https://discord.gg/ZjMAseG7Wp

    About GRAVITY Co., Ltd. —————————————————

    Gravity is a developer and publisher of online and mobile games. Gravity’s principal product, Ragnarok Online, is a popular online game in many markets, including Japan and Taiwan, and is currently commercially offered in 91 regions. For more information about Gravity, please visit http://www.gravity.co.kr.

    Contact:

    Mr. Heung Gon Kim
    Chief Financial Officer
    Gravity Co., Ltd.
    Email: kheung@gravity.co.kr

    Ms. Jin Lee
    Ms. Yujin Oh
    IR Unit
    Gravity Co., Ltd.
    Email: ir@gravity.co.kr
    Telephone: +82-2-2132-7801

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Police protection for New Caledonian politicians following death threats

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    New Caledonian politicians who inked their commitment to a deal with France last weekend will be offered special police protection following threats, especially made on social media networks.

    The group includes almost 20 members of New Caledonia’s parties — both pro-France and pro-independence — who took part in deal-breaking negotiations with the French State that ended on 12 July 2025, and a joint commitment regarding New Caledonia’s political future.

    The endorsed document envisages a roadmap in the coming months to turn New Caledonia into a “state” within the French realm.

    It is what some legal experts have sometimes referred to as “a state within the state”, while others say this was tantamount to pushing the French Constitution to its very limits.

    The document is a commitment by all signatories that they will stick to their respective positions from now on.

    The tense but conclusive negotiations took place behind closed doors in a hotel in the small city of Bougival, near Paris, under talks driven by French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and a team of high-level French government representatives and advisers.

    It followed Valls’ several unsuccessful attempts earlier this year to reach a consensus between parties who want New Caledonia to remain part of France and others representing the pro-independence movement.

    Concessions from both sides
     But to reach a compromise agreement, both sides have had to make concessions.

    The pro-French parties, for instance, have had to endorse the notion of a State of New Caledonia or that of a double French-New Caledonian nationality.

    Pro-independence parties have had to accept the plan to modify the rules of eligibility to vote at local elections so as to allow more non-native French nationals to join the local electoral roll.

    They also had to postpone or even give up on the hard-line full sovereignty demand for now.

    Over the past five years and after a series of three referendums (held between 2018 and 2021) on self-determination, both camps have increasingly radicalised.

    This resulted in destructive and deadly riots that broke out in May 2024, resulting in 14 deaths, more than 2 billion euros (NZ$3.9 billion) in damage, thousands of jobless and the destruction of hundreds of businesses.

    Over one year later, the atmosphere in New Caledonia remains marked by a sense of tension, fear and uncertainty on both sides of the political chessboard.

    Since the deal was signed and made public, on July 12, and even before flying back to New Caledonia, all parties have been targeted by a wide range of reactions from their militant bases, especially on social media.

    Some of the reactions have included thinly-veiled death threats in response to a perception that, on one side or another, the deal was not up to the militants’ expectations and that the parties’ negotiators are now regarded as “traitors”.

    Since signing the Paris agreement, all parties have also recognised the need to “sell” and “explain” the new agreement to their respective militants.

    Most of the political parties represented during the talks have already announced they will hold meetings in the coming days, in what is described as “an exercise in pedagogy”.

    “In a certain number of countries, when you sign compromises after hundreds of hours of discussions and when it’s not accepted [by your militants], you lose your reputation. In our country . . . you can risk your life,” said moderate pro-France Calédonie Ensemble leader Philippe Gomès told public broadcaster NC La Première on Wednesday.

    Pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou was the first to face negative repercussions back in New Caledonia.

    Tjibaou’s fateful precedent
     “To choose this difficult and new path also means we’ll be subject to criticism. We’re going to get insulted, threatened, precisely because we have chosen a different path,” he told a debriefing meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

    In 1988, Tjibaou’s father, pro-independence leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, also signed a historic deal (known as the Matignon-Oudinot accords) with pro-France’s Jacques Lafleur, under the auspices of then Prime Minister Michel Rocard.

    The deal largely contributed to restoring peace in New Caledonia, after a quasi-civil war during the second half of the 1980s.

    The following year, he and his deputy, Yeiwéné Yeiwéné, were both shot dead by Djubelly Wéa, a hard-line member of the pro-independence movement, who believed the signing of the 1988 deal had been a “betrayal” of the indigenous Kanak people’s struggle for sovereignty and independence.

    ‘Nobody has betrayed anybody’
     “Nobody has betrayed anybody, whichever party he belongs to. All of us, on both sides, have defended and remained faithful to their beliefs. We had to work and together find a common ground for the years to come, for Caledonians. Now that’s what we need to explain,” said pro-France Rassemblement-LR leader Virginie Ruffenach.

    In an interview earlier this week, Valls said he was very aware of the local tensions.

    “I’m aware there are risks, even serious ones. And not only political. There are threats on elections, on politicians, on the delegations. What I’m calling for is debate, confrontation of ideas and calm.

    “I’m aware that there are extremists out there, who may want to provoke a civil war . . . a tragedy is always possible.

    “The risk is always there. Since the accord was signed, there have been direct threats on New Caledonian leaders, pro-independence or anti-independence.

    “We’re going to act to prevent this. There cannot be death threats on social networks against pro-independence or anti-independence leaders,” Valls said.

    Over the past few days, special protection French police officers have already been deployed to New Caledonia to take care of politicians who took part in the Bougival talks and wish to be placed under special scrutiny.

    “They will be more protected than (French cabinet) ministers,” French national public broadcaster France Inter reported on Tuesday.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Malaysia visa-free agreement comes into force

    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 17 (Xinhua) — A mutual visa waiver agreement between China and Malaysia officially came into effect on Thursday, further expanding visa-free travel opportunities for Chinese.

    Under the new policy, Chinese and Malaysian nationals holding valid ordinary passports can enter, exit or transit through the other country without a visa for tourism purposes. Each stay in either country must not exceed 30 days and the cumulative stay must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.

    The policy move comes three months after China and Malaysia signed a reciprocal visa-free agreement, marking another step forward in China’s efforts to ease travel and promote international exchanges. -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 –