Category: Business

MIL-OSI United Nations: Congratulating Cabo Verde on Fiftieth Anniversary, Secretary-General Recognizes Its ‘History Marked by Pain, Injustice, But Also by Solidarity’

Source: United Nations 4

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks, delivered by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, at the fiftieth anniversary of Cabo Verde and the fiftieth anniversary of its partnership with the United Nations, in Praia today:

I am happy to be with you today on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and I thank the Government and the people of Cabo Verde for your warm welcome and hospitality. I am honoured to deliver his remarks on this historic occasion.

It is with deep emotion that I send these words to a country I hold close to my heart. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, as former Prime Minister of Portugal and as a long-time friend, I am honoured to mark this fiftieth anniversary of Cabo Verdean independence and partnership with the United Nations.

Cabo Verde has shaped my conscience and conviction. And I celebrate with you the enduring spirit of the povo cabo-verdiano — a people whose determination has long outshone the constraints of geography.

The story of Cabo Verde is a story of freedom reclaimed. On 5 July 1975, the world bore witness to the birth of a new republic.

After centuries of colonial rule, the people of Cabo Verde — together with their brothers and sisters in Guinea-Bissau — rose up to demand self-determination.

As a Portuguese citizen, I cannot speak of Cabo Verde without acknowledging the deep and complex history we share — a history marked by pain, injustice, but also by solidarity.

I carry with me the memory of walking through the gates of the former Tarrafal concentration camp — in the company of Edmundo Pedro and Sérgio Vilarigues, who had endured its horrors. Their stories of suffering and resistance are etched into my memory.

Today, we honour so many heroes of that struggle — heroes like Amílcar Cabral. Receiving the Order of Amílcar Cabral by Prime Minister Carlos Veiga remains one of the greatest honours of my life.

From the beginning, Cabo Verde chose the harder path: Stability over strife. Dialogue over division. The peaceful transition to independence, the embrace of democracy and good governance. A model that endures.

Cabo Verde is also a wonder of geography. Ten volcanic islands scattered across the Atlantic, bound by morabeza — that singular warmth and grace that define the Cabo Verdean soul.

But, it is the people who truly set Cabo Verde apart. A culture that is at once rooted and global, melancholic and joyful.

This nation gave the world morna — a music of sodade, of longing for home across distant seas. It brought us the timeless voice of Cesária Évora, who sang from Mindelo to the world — and made every listener feel a little closer to Cabo Verde.

When Cabo Verde gained independence, many may have doubted. Yet, five decades later, you stand as a middle-income country and a champion of peace and equality.

As Prime Minister of Portugal, I had the privilege of working closely with Cabo Verde to deepen our cooperation. I recall with pride the signing of the Acordo de Cooperação Cambial — a monetary agreement that was more than a technical arrangement.

It was a bridge between our economies, a symbol of trust and a recognition of Cabo Verde’s growing role on the global stage. And through it all, you have remained true to your values.

Welcoming migrants, upholding the rule of law and staying true to the principles of solidarity and open cooperation. I saw these values in action during my last visit.

At the port of Mindelo, I watched the sails of the Ocean Race rise against the horizon — a striking reminder of Cabo Verde’s openness, resolve and connection to the wider world.

What stayed with me was not just the race, but the spirit onshore — young people learning, communities coming together, leaders thinking boldly about the future. It reinforced what I have always felt: Cabo Verde is not just navigating the tides of change — it is helping to chart the course.

And the United Nations has been honoured to journey with you. From the earliest development plans — schools, health systems and social protection, to our shared work on food security, disaster resilience and democratic institutions.

From supporting the graduation from least developed country status, to cooperating on climate action, ocean conservation, biodiversity protection, renewable energy. And advancing the multidimensional vulnerability index — a vital tool to reflect the unique challenges of small island developing countries.

Together, we are exploring new frontiers: the blue economy, digital inclusion and diaspora engagement. And today, as we celebrate your past, we also recommit to your future. A future shaped by resolve. Cabo Verde knows, more than most, the realities of climate change. Rising seas, droughts, external shocks.

Your location also brings higher costs — for transport, for energy, for resilience. But, you have turned water scarcity into a frontier of innovation.

You are building climate resilience in your infrastructure and communities. You are expanding clean energy. You are leading on marine conservation. And as co-lead of the Small Island Developing States Coalition for Nature, you are rallying global action to protect our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems.

You are showing the world that ocean stewardship is a responsibility. And the world must match your determination with support — through climate finance, technology and fairer systems for small island developing States.

Fifty years ago, Cabo Verde was born into freedom. Today, it moves boldly into the future with ambitious plans grounded in the Sustainable Development Goals; with innovation in the blue economy, biodiversity and climate resilience; with empowered youth and inclusive growth; with leadership in regional affairs — from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the African Union; and with more regional integration — taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The people of Cabo Verde understand what it means to struggle — and to overcome. To the povo cabo-verdiano, in every island and across the ocean: This celebration belongs to you.

As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I salute your journey. As a friend, I rejoice in this moment and celebrate with you. As a citizen of the world, I thank you — for your example, your partnership, your promise.

May Cabo Verde forever shine: As a light in the Atlantic. A bridge between continents. A country of hope and dreams. Parabéns, Cabo Verde. Long live the republic. Long live your journey. Long live your future. Obrigado.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: BNP PARIBAS ADAPTS ITS GOVERNANCE AHEAD OF ITS FUTURE STRATEGIC PLAN
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BNP PARIBAS ADAPTS ITS GOVERNANCE AHEAD OF ITS FUTURE STRATEGIC PLAN

PRESS RELEASE

Paris, 7^th July 2025

As the European leader in investment banking, corporate financing and the management of long-term savings, BNP Paribas has all the necessary expertise, industrial and technological platforms and strong client franchises to launch a new stage of development.

In this context, BNP Paribas is adapting its governance in order to strengthen its integrated model and the cross-functionality between its businesses in the perspective of its future strategic plan.

The Group will be perfectly positioned to seize the opportunity of the Savings and Investment Union (SIU), as well as technological transformations, most notably artificial intelligence.

As a result, CPBS (the Commercial, Personal Banking & Services division of BNP Paribas) is creating a new unit within its organisation encompassing the Commercial & Personal Banking businesses in the euro zone, including Commercial & Personal Banking in France (CPBF), BNL banca commerciale in Italy, BNP Paribas Fortis (CPBB) in Belgium and BGL BNP Paribas (CPBL) in Luxembourg.

Yannick Jung, current Head of CIB Global Banking, will lead this new unit. Appointed Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Group, he will report to Thierry Laborde, Group Chief Operating Officer in charge of CPBS.

This new unit will accelerate mutualised investments, industrialisation and technological assets to enhance the quality of customer experience. It will accelerate cross-selling with CIB and IPS businesses, as well as the distribution of CPBS-originated assets.

By uniting the Group’s Commercial & Personal banking and several specialised businesses, CPBS is consolidating leading positions in Europe both for its Corporate and Private franchises and for its specialised businesses. As the leader in financing for European SMEs and mid-caps, in particular innovative companies, and the leader of private banking in Europe, CPBS supports the European economy and its customers in managing their financial savings.

Furthermore, Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) is adapting its governance, which will now consist of an Executive Chairman and a Chief Executive Officer. Consequently, Yann Gérardin, Group Chief Operating Officer will also become Executive Chairman of CIB. Reporting to Yann Gérardin, Olivier Osty, current Head of CIB Global Markets, will become Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Group and Chief Executive Officer of CIB.

Going forward, the CIB organisation will now consist of two Coverage activities (Institutional coverage & Corporate coverage, including sectors and advisory), 5 Business Lines – Transaction Banking, Capital Markets, Equities, Fixed Income Currencies and Commodities (FICC), Securities Services –, and 3 geographies EMEA*, APAC and Americas, whose managers will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of CIB, Olivier Osty.

Over the past ten years, with an exceptional track record, CIB has doubled its revenues to become the n°1 European CIB. CIB is now a leading European bank for the largest global institutional and corporate clients. Benefiting from the power of the Group’s integrated model, this success is the result of investment and deployment of cutting-edge platforms at the service of clients, as well as the execution of an effective “Originate & Distribute” strategy making the bridge between institutional and corporate clients, which will be at the heart of financing the European economy in coming years.

Lastly, the Investment & Protection Services (IPS) division, under the responsibility of Renaud Dumora, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas, will continue to accelerate its development. Following transformative external growth operations, primarily the acquisition of AXA IM which will create the European leader in long-term savings management, as well as in life insurance in France and Italy, and wealth management in Germany, IPS will have a unique range of products and services. The division will benefit from an increasingly broad and privileged access to individual, corporate and institutional clients, in close collaboration with CIB and CPBS. IPS will also continue to deploy powerful platforms for its businesses, strengthening its capacity to meet client needs and grow the business. This new dynamic will enable IPS to boost its contribution to pre-tax income by more than half, targeting it at more than 20% of Group’s pre-tax income.

These appointments will take place from 1^st September 2025.

“These changes and appointments represent a major step in preparing BNP Paribas for the next phase of its growth. They aim at consolidating the Group’s integrated model by accelerating the market share growth of our CIB based on its “Originate & Distribute” approach, strengthening the cross-functionality of our commercial banks in the eurozone and preparing their future by focusing in particular on common technological investments. With the acquisition of AXA IM, one of our largest external growth moves, we are consolidating the Group’s asset management businesses and accelerating the development of our IPS division in line with its insurance and wealth management businesses” announced Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Director and Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas

*EMEA CIB Countries

About BNP Paribas
Leader in banking and financial services in Europe, BNP Paribas operates in 64 countries and has nearly 178,000 employees, including more than 144,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.

BNP Paribas press contacts
Hacina Habchi : hacina.habchi@bnpparibas.com; + 33 (0)7 61 97 65 20
Giorgia Rowe : giorgia.rowe@bnpparibas.com; + 33 (0)6 64 27 57 96

Attachment
- 20250707_PRGroup_ENG
The MIL Network –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: BNP PARIBAS ADAPTS ITS GOVERNANCE AHEAD OF ITS FUTURE STRATEGIC PLAN
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BNP PARIBAS ADAPTS ITS GOVERNANCE AHEAD OF ITS FUTURE STRATEGIC PLAN

PRESS RELEASE

Paris, 7^th July 2025

As the European leader in investment banking, corporate financing and the management of long-term savings, BNP Paribas has all the necessary expertise, industrial and technological platforms and strong client franchises to launch a new stage of development.

In this context, BNP Paribas is adapting its governance in order to strengthen its integrated model and the cross-functionality between its businesses in the perspective of its future strategic plan.

The Group will be perfectly positioned to seize the opportunity of the Savings and Investment Union (SIU), as well as technological transformations, most notably artificial intelligence.

As a result, CPBS (the Commercial, Personal Banking & Services division of BNP Paribas) is creating a new unit within its organisation encompassing the Commercial & Personal Banking businesses in the euro zone, including Commercial & Personal Banking in France (CPBF), BNL banca commerciale in Italy, BNP Paribas Fortis (CPBB) in Belgium and BGL BNP Paribas (CPBL) in Luxembourg.

Yannick Jung, current Head of CIB Global Banking, will lead this new unit. Appointed Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Group, he will report to Thierry Laborde, Group Chief Operating Officer in charge of CPBS.

This new unit will accelerate mutualised investments, industrialisation and technological assets to enhance the quality of customer experience. It will accelerate cross-selling with CIB and IPS businesses, as well as the distribution of CPBS-originated assets.

By uniting the Group’s Commercial & Personal banking and several specialised businesses, CPBS is consolidating leading positions in Europe both for its Corporate and Private franchises and for its specialised businesses. As the leader in financing for European SMEs and mid-caps, in particular innovative companies, and the leader of private banking in Europe, CPBS supports the European economy and its customers in managing their financial savings.

Furthermore, Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) is adapting its governance, which will now consist of an Executive Chairman and a Chief Executive Officer. Consequently, Yann Gérardin, Group Chief Operating Officer will also become Executive Chairman of CIB. Reporting to Yann Gérardin, Olivier Osty, current Head of CIB Global Markets, will become Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Group and Chief Executive Officer of CIB.

Going forward, the CIB organisation will now consist of two Coverage activities (Institutional coverage & Corporate coverage, including sectors and advisory), 5 Business Lines – Transaction Banking, Capital Markets, Equities, Fixed Income Currencies and Commodities (FICC), Securities Services –, and 3 geographies EMEA*, APAC and Americas, whose managers will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of CIB, Olivier Osty.

Over the past ten years, with an exceptional track record, CIB has doubled its revenues to become the n°1 European CIB. CIB is now a leading European bank for the largest global institutional and corporate clients. Benefiting from the power of the Group’s integrated model, this success is the result of investment and deployment of cutting-edge platforms at the service of clients, as well as the execution of an effective “Originate & Distribute” strategy making the bridge between institutional and corporate clients, which will be at the heart of financing the European economy in coming years.

Lastly, the Investment & Protection Services (IPS) division, under the responsibility of Renaud Dumora, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas, will continue to accelerate its development. Following transformative external growth operations, primarily the acquisition of AXA IM which will create the European leader in long-term savings management, as well as in life insurance in France and Italy, and wealth management in Germany, IPS will have a unique range of products and services. The division will benefit from an increasingly broad and privileged access to individual, corporate and institutional clients, in close collaboration with CIB and CPBS. IPS will also continue to deploy powerful platforms for its businesses, strengthening its capacity to meet client needs and grow the business. This new dynamic will enable IPS to boost its contribution to pre-tax income by more than half, targeting it at more than 20% of Group’s pre-tax income.

These appointments will take place from 1^st September 2025.

“These changes and appointments represent a major step in preparing BNP Paribas for the next phase of its growth. They aim at consolidating the Group’s integrated model by accelerating the market share growth of our CIB based on its “Originate & Distribute” approach, strengthening the cross-functionality of our commercial banks in the eurozone and preparing their future by focusing in particular on common technological investments. With the acquisition of AXA IM, one of our largest external growth moves, we are consolidating the Group’s asset management businesses and accelerating the development of our IPS division in line with its insurance and wealth management businesses” announced Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Director and Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas

*EMEA CIB Countries

About BNP Paribas
Leader in banking and financial services in Europe, BNP Paribas operates in 64 countries and has nearly 178,000 employees, including more than 144,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.

BNP Paribas press contacts
Hacina Habchi : hacina.habchi@bnpparibas.com; + 33 (0)7 61 97 65 20
Giorgia Rowe : giorgia.rowe@bnpparibas.com; + 33 (0)6 64 27 57 96

Attachment
- 20250707_PRGroup_ENG
The MIL Network –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: EMGS – Vessel activity and multi-client sales update for the second quarter 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (the “Company” or “EMGS”) releases information on vessel activity and multi-client sales during the quarter approximately 4-5 working days after the close of each quarter. The Company defines vessel utilisation as the percentage of the vessel charter period spent on proprietary or multi-client data acquisition. Downtime (technical or maritime), mobilisation, steaming, and some standby activities are not included in the utilisation rate.

At the end of the second quarter 2025 the Company had one vessel on charter, the Atlantic Guardian. The Atlantic Guardian completed the second of two proprietary surveys in India in the quarter and started transit back to Norway for three fully prefunded multi-client surveys in the North Sea with a total contract value of USD 2.7 million.

The utilization for the second quarter was 44% compared with 51% for the second quarter 2024.

EMGS had one vessel in operation and recorded 3.0 vessel months in the quarter. In the second quarter 2024, the Company recorded 3.0 vessel months.

Multi-client revenues in the second quarter
The Company expects to record approximately USD 200,000 in multi-client late sales in the second quarter of 2025.

EMGS will publish its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday 13 August 2025 prior to 07:30 local time (Norway). A recorded presentation will also be made available over the Internet. To access the presentation, please go to the Company’s homepage (www.emgs.com) and follow the link.

Contact
Anders Eimstad, Chief Financial Officer, +47 948 25 836

This information is published in accordance with the Norwegian Securities Trading Act § 5-12.

About EMGS
EMGS, the marine EM market leader, uses its proprietary electromagnetic (EM) technology to support oil and gas companies in their search for offshore hydrocarbons. EMGS supports each stage in the workflow, from survey design and data acquisition to processing and interpretation. The Company’s services enable the integration of EM data with seismic and other geophysical and geological information to give explorationists a clearer and more complete understanding of the subsurface. This improves exploration efficiency and reduces risks and the finding costs per barrel. CSEM technology can also be used to detect the presence of marine mineral deposits (primarily Seabed Massive Sulphides) and in other offshore construction and exploration activity.

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025

MIL-OSI: Soitec : Information Relating to the Total Number of Voting Rights and Shares Forming the Share Capital

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Bernin, on July 7, 2025

INFORMATION RELATING TO THE TOTAL NUMBER
OF VOTING RIGHTS AND SHARES
FORMING THE SHARE CAPITAL

(Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French financial markets authority (AMF))

Corporate name and address of the company: SOITEC
Parc Technologique des Fontaines – Chemin des Franques
38190 Bernin (FRANCE)

Statement date	Total number of shares forming the share capital	Total number of voting rights
06/30/2025	35,727,041⁽¹⁾	Number of theoretical (gross) voting rights ⁽²⁾: 45,640,854
06/30/2025	35,727,041⁽¹⁾	Number of exercisable (net) voting rights ⁽³⁾: 45,564,582

35,727,041 ordinary shares of €2.00 par value each, listed on the Euronext Paris regulated market under ISIN code FR0013227113 and the mnemonic “SOI”.

The total number of theoretical voting rights (or “gross” voting rights) is used as the basis for calculating the crossing of shareholding thresholds. In accordance with article 223-11 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers – AMF), this number is calculated on the basis of all shares to which single or double voting rights are attached, including shares without voting rights (for example, treasury shares, liquidity contract, etc.).

The total number of exercisable voting rights (or “net” voting rights) is calculated after taking into account the number of shares entitled to double voting rights, and after deduction of the shares without voting rights (for example, treasury shares, liquidity contract, etc.).

*****

About Soitec

Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of more than 2,200 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Nearly 4,300 patents have been registered by Soitec.

Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on LinkedIn and X: @Soitec_Official

*****

Media Relations: media@soitec.com

Investor Relations: investors@soitec.com

Attachment

DDV June 2025 EN

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025

MIL-OSI: Central 1 Announces Voting Results from 2025 Virtual Annual General and Special Meeting

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Central 1 Credit Union (“Central 1”) is pleased to announce the voting results from its 2025 virtual Annual General and Special Meeting (“AGM”) held on June 26, 2025.

Class “A” Members passed two special resolutions approving amendments to Central 1’s Constitution and Rules (“Rules”) relating to a change in Board composition and the elimination of the Double Majority.

“In an age where consumers and technology are driving rapid evolution in the financial services industry, modern governance structures are critical to remaining nimble and responsive,” said Shelley McDade, Central 1’s Board Chair. “For Central 1 — and the members and clients it provides important payments, clearing & settlement, and treasury services to — these governance changes will enable robust decision-making, driving progress and impact for Canadian credit unions and other financial service providers who bring banking choice to Canadians.”

Also approved, by ordinary resolution, was the annual appointment of the auditors and resolutions relating to the Director Remuneration cap. Voting on the resolutions closed on July 4, 2025.

In order to be approved, each of the special resolutions were required to receive the approval of: (i) not less than 50% plus one of the Class “A” members voting on the resolution (“one member, one vote”); and (ii) not less than 2/3 of the votes cast by Class “A” members voting on the resolution, on the basis of one vote per Class A share held. All voting was done by electronic ballot.

Below are the voting results on each special resolution:

Special Resolution	Outcome of the Vote	Votes cast by Class “A” Members on the basis of one vote per Class “A” share (%)		Votes cast by Class “A” Members based on one member, one vote (%)
Special Resolution	Outcome of the Vote	Votes For	Votes Against	Votes For	Votes Against
Board Composition Amendments 25-AGM-S-1	Carried	94.42	5.58	90.91	9.09
Double Majority Amendment 25-AGM-S-2	Carried	92.79	7.21	81.82	18.18

Amendments to the Rules provided for by Special Resolution 25-AGM-S-1 (the “Board Composition Amendments”) included, generally, (i) reducing the number of directors on Central 1’s Board to eleven, (ii) seven directors from Class A Member credit unions of which two must be from Small/Medium Class A Members with four unaffiliated directors, (iii) the ability to adjust to six directors from Class A Member credit unions of which one must be from Small/Medium Class A Members with five unaffiliated directors, (iv) all eleven directed elected based on capital, and (v) removal of geographic boundaries.

Amendments to the Rules provided for by Special Resolution 22-AGM-S-2 (the “Double Majority Amendment”) included (i) the elimination of a requirement that amendments to the Rules be approved by a majority of not less than 50% plus one of the members voting on the resolution, and (ii) certain provisions relating to voting procedures with respect to Rule amendments.

Amendments to the Rules approved at the AGM are subject to regulatory approval.

Central 1 announced, at the meeting, that Meridian Credit Union re-appointed Sanjit (Sunny) Sodhi to Central 1’s Board for a third term. The following directors concluded their respective terms on Central 1’s Board of Directors and are thanked for their many contributions to the Board of Directors: Connie Denesiuk, Art Van Pelt, and Cheryl Wallace.

At the close of the 2025 AGM, Central 1’s Board of Directors is composed of the following directors:

Carolyn Burke	Shelley McDade
Paul Challinor	Penny-Lynn McPherson
Barry Delaney	Sunny Sodhi
Shawn Good	Christie Stephenson
Brian Harris	Tom Vandeloo
John Klassen	Russ Voutour

About Central 1

Central 1 cooperatively empowers credit unions and other financial institutions who deliver banking choice to Canadians. With assets of $10.8 billion as of March 31, 2025, Central 1 provides critical payments, treasury and clearing and settlement services at scale to enable a thriving credit union system. We do this by collaborating with our clients, developing strategies, products, and services to support the financial well-being of their more than 5 million diverse customers in communities across Canada. For more information, visit www.central1.com.

Contacts:

Media

Heather Merry
Senior Manager, Communications
Central 1
T 1.800.661.6813 ext. 2355
E communications@central1.com

Investors

Brent Clode
Chief Investment Officer
Central 1
T 905.282.8588 or 1 800 661 6813 ext. 8588
E bclode@central1.com

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025

MIL-OSI: Fengate highlights responsible investment progress with release of 2024 Sustainability Report
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fengate Asset Management (Fengate) today released its 2024 Sustainability Report (the report), demonstrating the firm’s continued commitment to responsible investment in Canada and the United States (U.S.).

Fengate’s second firmwide sustainability report, the latest report details the significant progress made in several key areas between January and December 2024, including responsible labour, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data management, climate risk management, and economic impact reporting. The full 2024 Sustainability Report is available here.

“Fengate was founded with a fundamental commitment to upholding our responsibilities to our stakeholders, our environment, and our communities, as we believe responsible investment is critical to delivering long-term, sustainable value,” said Lou Serafini Jr., President and CEO of Fengate. “This report demonstrates that we can achieve impactful results by being thoughtful in the opportunities we pursue, in the decisions we make, and by selecting the right partners to help deliver our projects.”

The report also highlights key accomplishments from across Fengate’s infrastructure, private equity, and real estate businesses. Highlights include:
- Engaging labour responsibly: Fengate Infrastructure’s LAX Consolidated Rent-a-Car (ConRAC) project in Los Angeles was delivered under a Project Labour Agreement (PLA), creating more than 5,000 jobs and generating US$200 million in wages for the local workforce throughout construction. More than 4.1 million union construction labour hours were generated, with all of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) trades involved.
- Raising the bar for sustainable design: Fengate Real Estate’s Harmony Commons student residence project delivered for the University of Toronto became the largest passive house-certified building in Canada, and the largest passive house dormitory in the world. The building consumes 70% less energy and contributes 90% less GHG emissions per person in peak conditions and eliminates the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooling.
- Moving the needle on the energy transition: With nine renewable energy assets throughout the U.S., Fengate Infrastructure achieved a capacity of 749 megawatts (MW), generating more than 1.9 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy in 2024.
- Enhancing nature protection: A third of Fengate Real Estate’s 600-acre Friday Harbour Resort in Innisfil, Ontario, is dedicated nature reserve. Every measure has been taken to ensure that natural wildlife – including 40 species of birds, deer, and red fox – are protected. Additionally, new wetlands have been created to provide enhanced habitat opportunities for a range of flora and fauna.
- Improving resource conservation: Fengate partnered with U-PAK Emerald Energy to divert 100% of landfill waste from the office buildings it manages to achieve zero waste, with 628 metric tonnes of waste diverted, 2,093 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions avoided, and 125 MWh of electricity generated from waste.
- Elevating industry leadership: Fengate was recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for the 17th consecutive year, named as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers, and was recognized by Great Place to Work Canada as a Best Workplace for Financial Services, Women, Inclusion, Mental Wellness, Today’s Youth, Giving Back, and Most Trusted Executive Teams. The firm also achieved a 5/5 PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) score on policy, governance, and strategy for the 2024 assessment period.
About Fengate
Fengate is a leading alternative investment manager with more than $24 billion in assets under management, focused on infrastructure, private equity, and real estate strategies. With offices in Toronto, Miami, and Houston, and 300 team members across North America, Fengate leverages more than 50 years of entrepreneurial experience to deliver excellent investment results on behalf of its clients. Learn more at www.fengate.com.

Media contact
Dale Gago
Communications and Marketing Business Partner
Fengate Asset Management
dale.gago@fengate.com
437 326 1473

The MIL Network –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: WTW appoints Alena Kharkavets as Head of Claims in North America

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced that Alena Kharkavets has been appointed North American Head of Claims in its Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT) business.

Kharkavets comes to WTW from Intact Financial Corporation (TSE: IFC), Canada’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance, where she held progressively senior roles and spent nearly twenty years building deep, end-to-end expertise in pricing, claims, underwriting, M&A, digital distribution and strategy.

Kharkavets will work with clients to advance their claims analytics, embedding data science and AI into claims processes to create better claims outcomes for carriers and their customers. She will also collaborate on projects outside of claims, including leading on the provision of strategic advice to clients on the most effective use of data and analytics to improve decision making across their organizations.

Laura Doddington, Head of Personal and Commercial Lines, North America, Insurance Consulting and Technology, WTW, said: “Alena is a recognized leader in insurance pricing and claims analytics and we are excited to have her join our team. Her deep expertise, technical skills and commitment to data-driven decision making will be major assets to our clients, as we continue to strengthen our position as the leading consulting and technology solutions provider for the insurance industry.”

Alena Kharkavets said: “I am excited to be given the opportunity to work with WTW’s hugely experienced and talented ICT team. I look forward to harnessing and extending WTW’s market-leading technology capabilities and innovations to deliver solutions that generate exceptional value to our clients and build upon WTW’s reputation for excellence.”

About WTW

At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organisations sharpen their strategy, enhance organisational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximise performance.

Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

Learn more at wtwco.com.

Media Contact
Andrew Collis: +44 7932 725 267 | Andrew.Collis@wtwco.com

Arnelle Sullivan: +1 (718) 208-0474 | Arnelle.Sullivan@wtwco.com

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: WTW appoints Alena Kharkavets as Head of Claims in North America

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced that Alena Kharkavets has been appointed North American Head of Claims in its Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT) business.

Kharkavets comes to WTW from Intact Financial Corporation (TSE: IFC), Canada’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance, where she held progressively senior roles and spent nearly twenty years building deep, end-to-end expertise in pricing, claims, underwriting, M&A, digital distribution and strategy.

Kharkavets will work with clients to advance their claims analytics, embedding data science and AI into claims processes to create better claims outcomes for carriers and their customers. She will also collaborate on projects outside of claims, including leading on the provision of strategic advice to clients on the most effective use of data and analytics to improve decision making across their organizations.

Laura Doddington, Head of Personal and Commercial Lines, North America, Insurance Consulting and Technology, WTW, said: “Alena is a recognized leader in insurance pricing and claims analytics and we are excited to have her join our team. Her deep expertise, technical skills and commitment to data-driven decision making will be major assets to our clients, as we continue to strengthen our position as the leading consulting and technology solutions provider for the insurance industry.”

Alena Kharkavets said: “I am excited to be given the opportunity to work with WTW’s hugely experienced and talented ICT team. I look forward to harnessing and extending WTW’s market-leading technology capabilities and innovations to deliver solutions that generate exceptional value to our clients and build upon WTW’s reputation for excellence.”

About WTW

At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organisations sharpen their strategy, enhance organisational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximise performance.

Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

Learn more at wtwco.com.

Media Contact
Andrew Collis: +44 7932 725 267 | Andrew.Collis@wtwco.com

Arnelle Sullivan: +1 (718) 208-0474 | Arnelle.Sullivan@wtwco.com

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: Sidetrade: 20 years on the stock market, 20 times its IPO price
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Sidetrade, the global leader in AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, today celebrates 20 remarkable years as a listed company. Founded in Paris, France, the company has become a global leader in Order-to-Cash and has multiplied its market valuation twentyfold since its IPO on July 7, 2005.

On July 7, 2025, in a moment filled with pride and emotion, Sidetrade’s Founder and CEO, Olivier Novasque, visited the Euronext Paris headquarters alongside some of the company’s historic figures to mark two decades of public listing. The traditional market opening bell ceremony highlighted two decades of uninterrupted growth and bold entrepreneurship that have established Sidetrade as a world leader in the Order-to-Cash space. Twenty years after its IPO, Sidetrade stands as a unique French tech success story, built on a foundation of performance, innovation, resilience, and independence.

A founding vision: leveraging technology to power business cash flow
When Olivier Novasque founded Sidetrade in 2000, his goal was to build a valuable, agile company ahead of its time. He foresaw the need to reinvent the financial relationship between customers and suppliers, moving away from a purely administrative model toward one driven by performance. Based on this vision, he laid the foundation for a technology platform designed to deeply transform cash flow generation. Going against the prevailing standards of the time, he rejected the dominant on-premises model and bet on SaaS from the very beginning, an audacious move that proved visionary.

A former finance executive turned entrepreneur, Novasque made the rare choice to raise only essential funds. Instead, he prioritized self-financed growth, aiming to build a high-quality, industrial-grade, tech-driven business.

“I believe the best companies aren’t necessarily those that raise the most money, but those that work tirelessly to execute their vision with rigor, creativity, and resilience,” said Olivier Novasque, CEO and founder at Sidetrade. “Today, I want to honor everyone, past and present, who has contributed to Sidetrade’s journey. I’m proud to be surrounded by an executive team united by a spirit of ambition, innovation, and excellence. Together, with all Sidetraders, we are ushering Order-to-Cash into the age of the Agentic Revolution.”

For years, tech company success was often measured by the size of their fundraising rounds rather than their ability to sustain a viable business model. Sidetrade took a different route, rooting its growth in self-financing. Aside from €2 million raised pre-IPO and a €4.5 million capital increase at IPO, Sidetrade has never resorted to public fundraising or shareholder dilution.

As of today, the company holds nearly €50 million in cash and treasury shares. This performance is the result of a sustained growth strategy and over a decade of investment in artificial intelligence, funded entirely by the company’s ability to generate cash year after year. In 2024, the company delivered a standout performance:
- Revenue growth of +26% (+16% on a comparable basis)
- Operating margin of 15%
- Net income of €7.9 million
- Free cash flow of €8.7 million
This financial discipline has in no way compromised shareholder value creation. Listed at €12.50 in 2005, Sidetrade’s share price has increased twentyfold, reaching €249 as of July 4, 2025. This represents a stock market performance of over +1,800%, more than 11 times that of the CAC Mid & Small index, which rose by +164% over the same period.

A recognized technology leader

Innovation is part of Sidetrade’s DNA. In 2025, the company’s innovation capabilities were recognized by some of the most respected rankings in the sector:
- Named a Leader in Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for the third consecutive year
- Identified by IDC as a key player in financial automation
- Ranked among Europe’s 150 Most Innovative Companies by Fortune
These accolades highlight the uniqueness of Sidetrade’s technology foundation, which includes a cloud-native architecture, proprietary action-oriented AI, and a one-of-a-kind payment behavior Data Lake, enriched with over $7.2 trillion in intercompany transactions.

From its humble beginnings in a Paris office to a global presence, Sidetrade has followed a trajectory of organic growth reinforced by nine acquisitions. The company has rigorously executed its model while expanding geographically across Germany, the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, and of course, France. Today, with 65% of revenue generated outside France, Sidetrade supports major enterprises in 85 countries as a partner in their financial transformation.

Sidetrade’s inclusion in the Euronext Tech Leaders index in June 2025 marks more than institutional recognition; it affirms the rise of a European tech champion capable of combining breakthrough innovation with profitable growth to power the next generation of enterprise finance.

“Congratulations to Sidetrade on 20 years of public listing on Euronext,” said Delphine d’Amarzit, Euronext Paris Chairwoman and CEO. “Sidetrade’s remarkable stock market journey is a testament to its sustained growth and demonstrates the power of Euronext to help local SMEs become global mid-cap players while preserving their independence. It perfectly embodies the synergy between entrepreneurial ambition and the excellence of European capital markets, recently underscored by Sidetrade’s entry into the Euronext Tech Leaders index.”

Sidetrade’s unique trajectory, combining technological innovation, financial performance, and capital discipline, is now catching the attention of American institutional investors. “Sidetrade’s stock performance reflects a remarkable growth journey and a robust business model built on high revenue recurrence, operational excellence, and cash generation,” said Jean-Pierre Tabart, Senior Analyst at TP ICAP Midcap. “Above all, we believe the group still holds significant upside potential. Beyond the strength and durability of its fundamentals, a substantial valuation gap remains compared to North American SaaS players. Moreover, the current share price does not reflect the stock’s strategic value, driven by its scarcity—there are very few opportunities in the European market to gain exposure to a true SaaS company—and by Sidetrade’s lead in artificial intelligence, which is expected to further reinforce its technological leadership in the Order-to-Cash space.”

Sidetrade is one of the few long-term success stories on the Euronext stock market. With a robust and exportable model, the company has established itself as a global leader with solutions deployed across multinational companies. This trajectory, built with discipline and vision, is now entering a new chapter: one of AI-augmented finance, where more intelligent, more autonomous, and entirely focused on the AI agent revolution.

Next financial announcement
First Half Year Revenue for 2025: July 16, 2025 (after the stock market closes)

Investor & Media relations @Sidetrade

Christelle Dhrif +33 6 10 46 72 00 cdhrif@sidetrade.com

About Sidetrade (www.sidetrade.com)
Sidetrade (Euronext Growth: ALBFR.PA) provides a SaaS platform designed to revolutionize how cash flow is secured and accelerated. Leveraging its new-generation agentic AI, nicknamed Aimie, Sidetrade analyzes $7.2 trillion worth of B2B payment transactions daily in its Cloud, thereby anticipating customer payment behavior and the attrition risk of 40 million buyers worldwide. Sidetrade has a global reach, with 400+ talented employees based in Europe, the United States, and Canada, serving global businesses in more than 85 countries. Among them: AGFA, BMW Financial Services, Bunzl, DXC, Engie, Inmarsat, KPMG, Lafarge, Manpower, Morningstar, Page, Randstad, Safran, Saint-Gobain, Securitas, Siemens, UGI, Veolia.
For further information, visit us at www.sidetrade.com and follow @Sidetrade on LinkedIn.

Contact Euronext

Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella fbornancin-tomasella@euronext.com

About Euronext

Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway, and Portugal. As of March 2025, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with around €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.
For the latest news, follow us on X (x.com/euronext) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/euronext).
In the event of any discrepancy between the French and English versions of this press release, only the English version is to be taken into account.

Attachment
- Sidetrade: 20 years on the stock market, 20 times its IPO price
The MIL Network –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and Interstellar unveil African Currency Marketplace eliminating $5 Billion trade bottleneck

Source: APO – Report:

Building on the successful rollout of its groundbreaking continental payment infrastructure, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), in strategic collaboration with Interstellar, a leading African deep-tech company, have announced the launch of the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (PACM). The launch was announced on the sidelines of the 2025 Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com) Annual Meeting (AAM2025) held in Abuja from June 25 – 28.

This next-generation Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI) represents a bold evolution of the PAPSS mission, addressing Africa’s longstanding challenge of currency inconvertibility and enabling seamless, sovereign currency exchange for intra-African trade.

For decades, Africa’s economic momentum has been hindered by a fragmented financial landscape. The continent’s 41 currencies, diverse regulatory environments, and lack of convertibility have created significant friction. To trade with neighbouring countries, African businesses have often relied on external (hard) foreign currencies for foreign exchange, creating what experts call the “hard and costly currency bottleneck.” This workaround drains an estimated $5 billion annually in fees, delays, and opportunity costs, undermining the competitiveness of African enterprises and slowing progress toward realising the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“PAPSS African Currency Marketplace is fully transparent, order book-driven, and operates with trusted counterparties, strictly adhering to local regulatory frameworks and global best practices,” affirmed Mike Ogbalu III, CEO of PAPSS. “By creating a single, continent-wide liquidity pool, PACM serves as a powerful liquidity engine for intra-African commerce.” This launch marks a major strategic evolution in the PAPSS journey. According to Mr Ogbalu, since its official launch in 2022, PAPSS has enabled real-time cross-border payments across 17 countries, connecting 14 national switches and over 150 commercial banks. Initially piloted in the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), PAPSS rapidly expanded to become the core settlement layer of the AfCFTA’s financial infrastructure. But while payment rails were laid, a deeper issue remained.

“We soon realised that solving for payments alone was not enough,” explained Mike Ogbalu. “Corporations, airlines, reinsurance firms, and multinationals operating across Africa still faced a persistent hurdle: trapped capital, arising from limited currency convertibility and overreliance on hard currencies.” For example, he explained, over $2 billion is currently ‘trapped’ in African countries where airlines operate, unable to repatriate their funds due to exchange restrictions or depreciation of local currencies. “The PAPSS African Currency Marketplace is the answer to that problem — an extension of our commitment to building sovereign, frictionless financial infrastructure for Africa.” He added.

The PAPSS African Currency Marketplace jointly developed by PAPSS and Interstellar, enables the direct exchange of African currencies without passing through hard currencies. As a transparent, continent-wide, peer-to-peer platform, it allows businesses to trade directly in local currencies in near real-time while remaining compliant with national regulations. It unlocks liquidity, releases trapped capital, eliminates excessive foreign exchange costs, and supports the continent’s long-term goal of financial sovereignty. In partnership with PAPSS, the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace is built on Interstellar’s enterprise-grade, blockchain-agnostic infrastructure, which enables the use of permissioned blockchain technology while ensuring institutional grade-security, scalability, and near instant settlement.

“This is not just about technology, it is about fulfilling a continental vision,” said Ernest Mbenkum, Founder and CEO of Interstellar during a fireside chat at the launch. “PAPSS African Currency Marketplace was built from the ground up to serve Africa’s specific needs. PAPSS and Interstellar are not just collaborators, we are co-architects of a new financial future, aligned in purpose and committed to transformation.”

Ernest Mbenkum further emphasised, “African currencies deserve a better place in the world. With this marketplace, your local currency is no longer just a medium of exchange, it becomes a vehicle of opportunity.” He also highlighted that this is only the beginning of Interstellar’s vision, stating, “We’re building a future where Africa no longer needs to wait for foreign rails to move value. Our infrastructure will power Africa’s financial renaissance.”

Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, noted: “The PAPSS African Currency Marketplace gives us the power to transform trade dramatically, bringing us to trade with each other with a major benefit that we can now accept each other’s currency.”

The impact is already being felt. During its pilot phase, more than 80 African corporates transacted across 12 currency pairs, with all transactions settled in local currencies. For example, a company like Kenya Airways, which earns Nigerian Naira from ticket sales, can now use PACM to directly exchange Naira for Kenyan Shillings—without converting through a third currency. Early adopters include ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company) and Access View Africa, which called the platform “a dream come true.”

PAPSS African Currency Marketplace liberates trapped capital, eliminates excessive FX costs, and transforms multi-week settlement delays into near real-time execution. PAPSS CEO Mr. Ogbalu noted that following positive experiences of some early adopters, PAPSS had received interest from institutions outside Africa seeking to join the ecosystem. “This demand proves the value of what we’ve built,” he said.

With over 150 banks already connected through PAPSS and growing demand across the continent, PAPSS African Currency Marketplace stands as a game-changing financial tool for a more unified, sovereign, and efficient Africa.

Concluding his opening keynote, Mr. Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President – Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank reiterated: “Africa will not rise by ideas. Africa will rise by actions. “

The PAPSS African Currency Marketplace is now open to eligible corporations, financial institutions, and other market participants across the continent.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Papa Thiongane
communications@papss.com

Website:
marketplace@papss.com

About PAPSS:
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System – PAPSS is a centralised Financial Market Infrastructure that enables the efficient flow of money securely across African borders, minimising risk and contributing to financial integration across the regions. PAPSS collaborates with African central banks to offer payment and settlement solutions that commercial banks and licensed payment service providers (switches, fintechs, aggregators, etc.) across the continent can connect to, making these services accessible to the public. To date, PAPSS has developed and launched 3 payment solutions: PAPSS Instant Payment System (IPS), PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (PACM), and the PAPSSCARD.

Afreximbank and the African Union (“AU”) first announced PAPSS at the Twelfth Extraordinary Summit of the African Union held on July 7, 2019, in Niamey, Niger Republic, therefore adopting PAPSS as a key instrument for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Further, in its thirteenth (13th) extraordinary session, held on December 5, 2020, the assembly of the African Union directed Afreximbank and the AfCFTA secretariat to finalise, among others, work on the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System (PAPSS). The 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU further directed the AfCFTA and Afreximbank to deploy the system to cover the entire continent. PAPSS was officially launched in Accra, Ghana, on January 13, 2022, thus making it available for use by the public.

About Interstellar:
Interstellar Inc. is Africa’s leading enterprise blockchain infrastructure company —enabling secure cross-border transactions, stablecoin integration, and next-generation financial solutions across the continent. Its core platform, STARGATE, is a critical blockchain-agnostic, enterprise-grade infrastructure that empowers major institutions to build and scale secure, high-performance financial applications, including tokenization platforms and payments solutions.

Media files

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Driving Angolan Hydrocarbon Production: bp Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Murray Auchincloss Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025

Source: APO – Report:

Murray Auchincloss, CEO of global energy company bp, has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference as a keynote speaker. His participation comes as bp – through its joint venture Azule Energy – advances a series of large-scale oil and gas developments in Angola, covering strategic investments from upstream exploration to oil production to non-associated gas development. Auchincloss’ participation at the event reflects bp’s broader commitment to Angola and is expected to unlock new opportunities for collaboration across the sector.

With a long history in Angola, bp has played an instrumental role in unlocking significant value from the country’s oil and gas resources. Initial forays by the energy major in the 1990s included the acquisition of four deepwater blocks, with a further five deep and ultra-deepwater blocks across the Kwanza and Benguela basins acquired in 2011. These investments marked the start of a decades-long commitment to Angola, with the energy major contributing significantly to the country’s oil production. Many of these blocks continue to account for a significant share of the country’s production portfolio, including Block 18 and 31 in the Lower Congo basin and Blocks 19 and 24 in the Kwanza and Benguela basin.

Following a merger of bp’s Angolan assets in 2022 with those of energy major Eni, the companies further strengthened their operational stronghold in Angola. The merger led to the establishment of the largest independent equity producer of oil and gas in the country and one that continues to play a central role in Angola’s oil and gas market. The company’s asset portfolio comprises 18 licenses – of which 11 are operated by Azule Energy and one is situated in Namibia. Azule energy also has a stake in the country’s sole LNG facility: Angola LNG. With a target to increase oil production to 250,000 barrels per day – up from the current 210,000 bpd – while advancing non-associated gas development, Azule Energy is accelerating the development of several impactful projects.

The company is preparing to start operations at the Agogo FPSO vessel in the second half of 2025. The vessel – arriving in Angolan waters in May 2025 – will be situated at the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development, joining the operational Ngoma FPSO to harness resources from Block 15/06. The vessel will increase the block’s production capacity by 120,000 bpd and features a combined cycle power generation unit, advanced electrification and digital automation, a seawater-driven turbine generators and a vapor recovery unit to eliminate flaring. The vessel will add to Azule Energy’s existing portfolio of operational FPSOs in Angola, with four deepwater vessels. currently in production.

Beyond Agogo, Azule Energy is developing Angola’s first non-associated gas projects through its operatorship of the New Gas Consortium. The project will harness gas resources at the Quiluma & Maboqueiro shallow water fields, thereby enhancing feedstock for the Angola LNG facility. As of February 2025, the project partners – namely, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, Sonangol P&P and Totalenergies – completed the offshore platforms for the project. Production is expected to start in late-2025 or early-2026, six-months ahead of schedule.

These developments coincide with a drive to enhance clean energy development in Angola, with Azule Energy spearheading projects in biorefining and solar. The company is developing the Caraculo solar photovoltaic plant through Solenova – a joint venture with Sonangol – which will be located in the province of Namibe. The project targets a total capacity of 50 MW, with the first 25 MW phase coming online in 2023. In 2024, Azule Energy and Sonangol signed an agreement to enhance decarbonization at the operational Luanda Refinery – the country’s sole operating refining facility. The agreement will see the partners conduct a feasibility study for the development of a biorefinery at the facility, aiming to advance low-carbon energy solutions in Angola. These projects reflect the commitment by bp to advance Angolan energy production and Auchincloss’ participation at the country’s premier industry event is expected to generate greater understanding of the company’s portfolio, ongoing projects and future investment plans.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Media files

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Copy of President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the EP plenary debate

Source: European Commission (video statements)

On 7 July 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the European Parliament Plenary Debate in Strasbourg, France.

Follow live events and access media content here:
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/

Stay updated — follow us on X: https://x.com/EC_AVService

Follow us on:
-X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
-Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JziQ6qcARy0

MIL OSI Video –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Copy of President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the EP plenary debate

Source: European Commission (video statements)

On 7 July 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in the European Parliament Plenary Debate in Strasbourg, France.

Follow live events and access media content here:
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/

Stay updated — follow us on X: https://x.com/EC_AVService

Follow us on:
-X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
-Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JziQ6qcARy0

MIL OSI Video –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First ARU Peterborough undergrads set to graduate

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

Peterborough’s historic cathedral is the venue for ARU Peterborough’s graduation ceremony on 11 July

The first cohort of ARU Peterborough students to join the city’s new university in 2022 are preparing to celebrate their graduation this week, with many having already secured skilled jobs in the local area.

Peterborough Cathedral will host this year’s graduation ceremony for ARU Peterborough students at 2pm on Friday, 11 July.

Students who have studied undergraduate degrees, degree apprenticeships, postgraduate courses and professional development qualifications will cross the cathedral stage to mark the formal completion of their studies.

“Congratulations to all our graduates on their success. This graduation ceremony marks a historic milestone for ARU Peterborough. It is a celebration of the achievements of our first cohort of students and reflects our mission to create opportunities, drive social mobility, and deliver high level skills tailored to local and national needs.

“This graduation also signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our university and community, as we expand our academic offer with a range of new courses available to start this September.”

Principal of ARU Peterborough, Professor Ross Renton

The first graduation is a landmark moment for the city, which until the opening of ARU Peterborough, was known as a higher education “cold spot”. The university has provided opportunities for many students to develop their skills – opportunities they might not have had otherwise.

James Johnson, 26, is to start work after graduation at local firm ParkAir as an Embedded Software Engineer. The Applied Computer Science graduate from Yaxley said: “It’s unlikely I would’ve attended university if it wasn’t for ARU Peterborough. I was 24 when I enrolled and going further afield wasn’t an option.

“Finding a local job straight after graduation means a lot. At the start, I was a little uncertain if university was right for me. This proves going to ARU Peterborough was the right thing to do.”

Faaizah Hussain, who lives in Peterborough and has studied for a BSc (Hons) degree in Accounting and Finance at ARU Peterborough, will give the Vote of Thanks speech at the graduation ceremony on 11 July.

Faaizah, who has now enrolled on a Postgraduate Certificate in Education to become a teacher, said: “I had already secured an apprenticeship and hadn’t planned on going to university until I found out about ARU Peterborough. I wasn’t keen on moving away or commuting long distances, and I didn’t realise there was a university here until my mum came across an advert and told me about it.

“Studying at ARU Peterborough has far exceeded my expectations. The one-to-one support has helped shape both my confidence and my character. University turned out to be so much more than I imagined – there wasn’t just academic guidance, there was genuine care from the tutors.

“Throughout my time here, I’ve taken on so many different roles. I co-founded a student society, was elected as a student governor, became a course representative, and worked as a student ambassador, which I absolutely loved. ARU Peterborough really gives you the platform to grow and get involved in ways that make a lasting impact on not just your own student experience, but the university’s future as a whole.”

Kazim Raffiq-Fazal, from Peterborough, has been a student ambassador during his computer science degree course and has just started a job at a Cambridgeshire software development company.

Kazim, 20, said: “I did my A-levels here in Peterborough and I knew university would be the next step for me. I went to a few open days at other institutions but I knew I wanted to study close to where I was living. I went to an open day at ARU Peterborough, met some of the lecturers and saw what the course contained, and it was everything I was looking for.

“I don’t think I would have had the same experience if I had gone to university elsewhere. Studying close to home has allowed me to spend less time commuting and I have been able to take part in more study and activities.

“In my second year I did an internship at a software company and that led to an offer to work for them after I graduated.”

ARU Peterborough is a partnership between Anglia Ruskin University, Peterborough City Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

“Huge congratulations to the first ever graduates of ARU Peterborough. This is both a personal achievement for each student and a landmark moment for our city.

“ARU Peterborough is transforming lives, tackling the higher education cold spot we faced, and building a pipeline of talent that meets the needs of local businesses. It’s helping people gain the skills and confidence to succeed and thrive in our local economy.

“This day is another example of what can be achieved through ambition and partnership between the City Council, ARU and the Combined Authority. And it marks just the beginning of ARU Peterborough’s growing role in the city’s regeneration and success.”

Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

“Firstly, a huge congratulations to all those who will be graduating on 11 July.

“When the concept of ARU Peterborough was created, its vision was to teach skills businesses in Peterborough are calling out for – andfor these to be skills needed for careers of the future.

“These are the very first set of graduates who will be leaving ‘job ready’. It will help ensure we retain our brightest and most hard working students, delivering confident and capable employees to our businesses and helping our city to flourish for years to come.”

Councillor Nick Thulbourn, cabinet member for growth and regeneration at Peterborough City Council

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Guinea-Bissau: 2025 Article IV Consultation, Eighth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Rephasing of Access, Extension of the Arrangement, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, Modification of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Guinea-Bissau

Source: International Monetary Fund

International Monetary Fund. African Dept. “Guinea-Bissau: 2025 Article IV Consultation, Eighth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Rephasing of Access, Extension of the Arrangement, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, Modification of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Guinea-Bissau”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 167 (2025), accessed July 7, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229016094.002

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Guinea-Bissau: 2025 Article IV Consultation, Eighth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Rephasing of Access, Extension of the Arrangement, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, Modification of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Guinea-Bissau

Source: International Monetary Fund

International Monetary Fund. African Dept. “Guinea-Bissau: 2025 Article IV Consultation, Eighth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for Rephasing of Access, Extension of the Arrangement, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, Modification of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Guinea-Bissau”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 167 (2025), accessed July 7, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229016094.002

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement with Cameroon on the Third Review of Resilience and Sustainability Facility and Eighth Reviews of Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility
Source: IMF – News in Russian

July 7, 2025

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.
- The IMF and the Cameroonian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the eighth reviews of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and the third review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
- Cameroon’s economy picked up slightly with real growth estimated at 3.5 percent in 2024, up from 3.2 percent in 2023. Inflation is trending down but remains elevated with an average inflation of 4.5 percent in 2024.
- Program performance was mixed. Higher-than-expected current spending led to a slippage on the fiscal deficit target at end 2024, requiring corrective measures. The authorities have made progress on a broad structural agenda. They are encouraged to sustain efforts to restructure SONARA, complete key infrastructure projects, and strengthen the financial sector.
Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by
Ms. Cemile Sancak, Mission Chief for Cameroon, visited Yaoundé from April 30 to May 8 and held subsequent meetings to discuss progress on reforms and the authorities’ policy priorities in the context of the eighth review of their four-year economic program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangements, and the third review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The ECF/EFF arrangements were approved by the IMF Executive Board for a total amount of SDR 483 million (US$689.5 million) in July 2021 (see press release 21/237). An extension of these arrangements of 12 months was approved in December 2023 to allow more time to implement the policies and reforms, and access was augmented by SDR 110.4 million (US$147.6 million) (see press release 23/469). The 18-month RSF was approved by the Executive Board in January 2024 in the amount of SDR 138 million (US$183.4 million) (see press release 24/30).

At the conclusion of the discussions, Ms. Sancak issued the following statement:

“The IMF and the Cameroonian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the eighth reviews of the ECF/EFF arrangements, and the third review of the RSF arrangement. The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board. Completion of the review would enable disbursement under the ECF-EFF arrangements of SDR 55.2 million (US$75.9 million) and disbursement under the RSF arrangement of SDR 51.7 million (US$71.1 million).

“Cameroon’s economy expanded by 3.5 percent in 2024, up from 3.2 percent growth in 2024. Inflation remains in decline with a twelve-month average inflation of 4.5 percent in 2024, down from 7.5 percent in 2023.

“The 2024 fiscal outturn was weaker than expected with a non-oil primary deficit of 2.4 percent of GDP, exceeding the target of 2 percent of GDP. An overrun on current expenditures led to an accumulation of new payment arrears and reduced space for pro-growth investment expenditure. The authorities will revise the 2025 budget to take into consideration the 2024 outturn and announce supporting measures to address the source of the fiscal slippage and assure a net reduction of payment arrears over 2025.

“The economic outlook remains favorable assuming fiscal discipline over the coming electoral period and continued reform implementation. Nevertheless, downside risks have increased, notably with heightened global economic uncertainty. The growth forecast for 2025 has been marked down slightly to 3.8 percent amidst weakening global demand and tighter financing conditions. With the implementation of corrective measures, the authorities expect to resume fiscal consolidation and target a non-oil primary deficit of 1.4 percent in 2025. Over the medium-term, economic growth is forecast to reach 4.5 percent and inflation to slow gradually toward the regional convergence criterion of 3 percent.

“The authorities have made progress on a broad structural reform agenda. Over the course of their Fund-supported program, some 40 structural benchmarks will have been implemented, aligning with the objectives set out under the national development strategy (SND30). Going forward, it will be important to advance the restructuring of SONARA, sustain efforts to complete key infrastructure projects, and strengthen the financial sector by addressing persistent weaknesses and fully implementing the national financial inclusion strategy and the financial sector development strategy.

“Under the RSF, Cameroon has made substantial progress on its climate policy framework and enhanced readiness for climate adaptation and mitigation. The authorities have implemented most of the remaining four reform measures: the establishment of climate guidelines for evaluating investment projects, adoption of a national climate plan, and elaboration of a national strategy for disaster risk financing.

“The IMF team met with the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute, the Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, and other senior officials. The mission also met with representatives of development partners, the private sector, and civil society. The team wishes to thank the Cameroonian authorities for their excellent cooperation and for the open and constructive dialogue.”

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

@IMFSpokesperson

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/07/07/pr-25241-cameroon-imf-reaches-agreement-on-the-3rd-rev-of-rsf-and-8th-rev-of-ecf-and-eff

MIL OSI
MIL OSI Russia News –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: The New England Strike Force Joins Nationwide Crackdown on Health Care Fraud
Source: US FBI

CONCORD- Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack, together with Acting U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Drescher of the District of Vermont and Craig M. Wolff of the District of Maine, announces a sweeping enforcement action aimed at combatting health care fraud across New England. The enforcement action is a result of the collaboration and partnership between the Districts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, and the New England Strike Force.

The New England Strike Force charged six defendants in connection with unrelated allegations including conspiracies to defraud the State of New Hampshire’s Medicaid program (NH Medicaid), Medicare, and other federal benefit programs, totaling over $14 million. The charges filed in federal court throughout New England are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from various schemes, including a previously convicted social worker who submitted claims to NH Medicaid following his disbarment from billing federal health care programs, a conspiracy to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment that were medically unnecessary, and a conspiracy to fulfill illegitimate prescriptions for drugs including Ozempic.

The schemes charged in the District of New Hampshire include:

Previously Convicted Felon Charged in New Scheme Fraudulently Billing Medicaid and Exploiting a Vulnerable Patient
- United States v. Erik Alonso: Erik Alonso, age 54, of Miami, Florida, was charged by indictment with eight counts of health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to submit claims to NH Medicaid, despite being barred from billing federally funded health care programs following a previous heath care fraud related conviction in 2015. Alonso failed to disclose his exclusion to his employer, a Laconia, New Hampshire-based telehealth psychotherapy provider, and purportedly provided psychotherapy treatments to NH Medicaid beneficiaries between March 2022 and July 2024 via telehealth. In addition, Alonso allegedly exploited a psychotherapy patient by using purported psychotherapy sessions to seek and obtain assistance from that client with personal tasks, including preparing an application for a presidential pardon of his prior conviction and assisting him with applying for licensure in other New England states. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and John Howard, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Straw Owner of Health Care Company Used to Commit Fraud and Launder Illicit Proceeds
- United States v. Leo Anzivino Jr.: Leo Anzivino, Jr., age 34, of Teaticket, MA, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $6 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Anzivino, Jr. acted as the straw owner of a durable medical equipment (“DME”) company, Advanced Medical Supply (Advanced), and conspired with others to cause the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. The indictment further alleges that Anzivino falsified bank account documents, including beneficial ownership information, and conspired to launder fraudulent funds from the DME scheme to conceal and disguise the nature, source, origin, and control of the proceeds of the DME fraud. Anzivino, Jr., made four transfers from one Advanced account at a New Hampshire bank to another Advanced account at a Massachusetts bank, totaling over $3 million dollars, to conceal a co-conspirator’s control over the funds. The government seized approximately $353,768.29 in assets tied to the alleged scheme. This case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
The schemes charged in the District of Vermont include:

Global Pharma and Money Laundering Scheme
- United States v. Manthan Rohit Shah: Manthan Rohit Shah, 37, of Mumbai, India, was charged by indictment with misbranding prescription medication, conspiring to import controlled substances, and conspiring to commit international concealment money laundering. As alleged in the indictment, Shah owned and operated Company-1, a pharma company based in Mumbai, India. Company-1 allegedly shipped controlled substances and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs, including drugs that contained potentially potent, dangerous, and/or addictive substances, into New England and across the United States. Shah and Company-1 used fake prescriptions to provide a veneer of legitimacy for customer orders, despite the customers never obtaining such prescriptions. Shah undertook various acts in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. For example, on or about May 6, 2025, Shah sent a text message to an undercover law enforcement agent regarding Company-1’s fulfillment of illegitimate prescriptions for 50 pens of the drug Ozempic, costing approximately $6,200, to be shipped from a location outside the United States to an address in Vermont. Shah also conspired with others to direct the shipment of pharmaceutical drugs without valid prescriptions to a network of online pharmacies and call centers that fulfilled orders placed by customers in New England and across the United States. Shah then conspired with others to launder the funds from financial accounts in the United States, through shell companies, and to Shah’s company in India. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Patrick Brown, John Howard, and Thomas Campbell.
Health Care Scheme Involving Purchase of Tulum Penthouse, High-Volume Cash Withdrawals
- United States v. Evelyn Herrera: Evelyn Herrera, 61, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $6.5 million in Medicare funds. According to the charging documents, Herrera, the owner of Merida Medical Supplies Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare from individuals residing across New England for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment, which were medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. After the funds from these fraudulent services were deposited into a bank account controlled by Herrera, she allegedly conducted financial transactions and attempted to conceal the source, origin, and control of the health care fraud proceeds generated by Merida. For example, Herrera allegedly sent an international wire from her bank account, indicating it was to be used to purchase property in Mexico, and sent other funds to a cryptocurrency wallet that she controlled. During the scheme, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a payment suspension to Herrera for suspected fraud, after which Herrerra allegedly attempted to withdraw large amounts of cash from a bank and siphon funds off to other individuals. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn. The complaint was filed in the District of Vermont.
Health Care CEO Indicted in Cross-Border Health Care Fraud Scheme
- United States v. Donald Jani: Donald Jani, 39, of Maharashtra, India, was charged by indictment with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.9 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Jani, the CEO of CSS Pain Relief, Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. Jani and his co-conspirators allegedly used the personal identifying information of elderly and disabled New England residents to fraudulently bill Medicare. As part of the conspiracy, Jani unlawfully used the personal identifying information of medical providers in the District of Vermont and elsewhere to create the false appearance that the DME claims were premised on legitimate medical orders. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, John Howard and Thomas Campbell. The indictment was brought in the District of Vermont.
The scheme charged in the District of Maine includes:

Individual Charged in Health Care and Identity Theft Scheme
- United States v. Joseph Dobie: Joseph Dobie, 36, of Lewiston, Maine, was charged by complaint with aggravated identity theft, false statements relating to health care matters, and unlawful use of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits in connection with an identity-theft scheme. As alleged in the complaint, Dobie used a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain Medicaid and SNAP benefits in Maine, while simultaneously receiving SNAP benefits in New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Scott. The complaint was filed in the District of Maine.
Additionally, the New England Strike Force provided valuable support in a nationwide investigation:

Operation Gold Rush: Transnational Criminal Organization-Led Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

Outside of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, the New England Strike Force also supported a nationwide investigation, Operation Gold Rush, which resulted in charges in the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of California, the Middle District of Florida, and the District of New Jersey against 19 defendants in connection with the largest loss amount ever charged in a health care fraud case brought by the Department at $10.6 billion. Twelve of these defendants have been arrested, including four defendants who were apprehended in Estonia as a result of international cooperation with Estonian law enforcement and seven defendants who were arrested at U.S. airports and the U.S. border with Mexico, cutting off their intended escape routes as they attempted to avoid capture. The criminal case is being prosecuted by DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chiefs Kevin Lowell and Shankar Ramamurthy, and Trial Attorneys Sara Porter, Andres Almendarez, Leonid Sandlar, Monica Cooper, Thomas Campbell, Danielle Sakowski, and Matthew Belz. Trial Attorney Sara Porter initiated the investigation, which has been supported by members of multiple Strike Forces. The civil forfeiture proceeding is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson of the District of Connecticut and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Chelsea Rooney. Office of Public Affairs | National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud | United States Department of Justice

These charges are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown. Descriptions of each case involved in the national enforcement action are available at Criminal Division | 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

The New England Strike Force’s cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

Leveraging advanced data analytics, forensic accounting, interagency collaboration, and subject-matter expertise, the New England Strike Force investigates and prosecutes complex health care fraud and money laundering schemes across the region, focusing on both individuals and corporations engaged in criminal conduct. DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell leads the Strike Force.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.

###

MIL Security OSI –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: MiddleGround Capital Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell Arrow Tru-Line to the Chamberlain Group, a Blackstone Portfolio Company

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LEXINGTON, Ky., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiddleGround Capital (“MiddleGround”), an operationally focused private equity firm that makes control investments in North American and European headquartered middle-market B2B industrial and specialty distribution companies, today announced that it has entered a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio company Arrow Tru-Line (“ATL”), an independent manufacturer and supplier of structurally critical overhead garage door hardware components, to the Chamberlain Group, a global leader in intelligent access and monitoring with leading brands including LiftMaster and myQ.

Arrow Tru-Line is the market-leading manufacturer and distributor of metal garage door components and hardware, serving OEMs, distributors and installers across North America. Originally founded in 1970 and headquartered in Archbold, Ohio, ATL manufactures a complete offering of essential hardware, including hinges, brackets, angles, tubes, springs and pre-assembled track sets through the processes of rollforming, stamping, assembling and sourcing products. The company, led by CEO Thomas Brockley, operates six manufacturing and distribution facilities across the U.S. and Canada.

“Since we acquired Arrow Tru-Line in late 2021, Tom and the management team have done an exceptional job operating the business and positioning the company for the future, while preserving core manufacturing jobs that are so important for the US economy,” said John Stewart, Founding and Managing Partner of MiddleGround. “In partnership with our operations team, the management team has vertically integrated the business to drive further value for customers. Through the execution of operational improvements, the company has substantially improved free cash flow conversion and profitability. Additionally, we are excited to provide our investors with much-needed liquidity. The fact that we have been able to achieve such a positive outcome given the economic conditions of the last four years is a testament to our team and our investment strategy.”

“We are very proud to have helped ATL improve its manufacturing capabilities through the hard work of our operations team and the management team. MiddleGround provided the company with critical capital investment that allowed for the vertical integration of key components while expanding the company’s capabilities, setting the company up for future revenue growth,” said Lindsay Quintero, Vice President at MiddleGround. “The company is well-positioned to capitalize on future growth in the U.S. housing market based on aged U.S. housing stock, record-high homeowner equity, and an ongoing undersupply of housing. We’ve aligned ATL’s product portfolio to include a full suite of garage door hardware products that will enable the company to capitalize on current industry tailwinds that include an accelerated demand for residential repair and remodeling, new housing construction, and increased commercial construction in North America. We believe that as a part of Chamberlain, the combined platform is well-positioned to deliver even greater value through its highly complementary product offering.”

“MiddleGround has been an exceptional partner for ATL. Their operational expertise and deep, hands-on experience has positioned us with several competitive advantages,” added Mr. Brockley. “We’re looking forward to continuing the strategic momentum MiddleGround has imparted under the Chamberlain Group.”

The transaction is MiddleGround’s third full exit for its first fund, MiddleGround Capital I, LP, which closed in August 2019 at $460 million.

Advisors
Raymond James served as financial advisor and Greenberg Traurig served as legal counsel to MiddleGround Capital. Wells Fargo served as exclusive financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LP served as legal counsel to the Chamberlain Group.

About MiddleGround Capital
MiddleGround Capital is a private equity firm based in Lexington, Kentucky with over $4.1 billion of assets under management. MiddleGround makes control equity investments in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution businesses. MiddleGround works with its portfolio companies to create value through a hands-on operational approach and partners with its management teams to support long-term growth strategies. For more information, please visit: https://middleground.com/.

About Arrow Tru-Line
Arrow Tru-Line is the leading independent manufacturer and supplier of overhead garage door hardware components in North America selling into both residential and commercial sectors. Headquartered in Archbold, OH, the company has 6 facilities supporting its core manufacturing footprint spread across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit: www.arrowtruline.com.

About Chamberlain Group
Chamberlain Group (GG) is global leader in intelligent access and Blackstone portfolio company. Our myQ ecosystem allows you to unlock your home’s full potential with an all-in-one access + monitoring app. myQ also delivers seamless, secure, access to businesses and communities worldwide. CG’s LiftMaster® and Chamberlain® products are found in 50+ million homes, and 13 million+ people rely on myQ® daily. Our patented vehicle-to-home connectivity solution, myQ Connected Garage, is available in millions of vehicles from the leading automakers.

Follow Chamberlain Group on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone’s more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, real assets, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.  

MiddleGround Capital Media Contacts
Doug Allen/Maya Hanowitz
Dukas Linden Public Relations
MiddleGround@dlpr.com
+1 (646) 722-6530

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: Liberty Agents Seeks Strategic Backers to Power AI and Data Infrastructure Across the WLFI + USD1 Ecosystem

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

From the team behind Assimilate, MacroEdge, and AIaaS – Liberty Agents is preparing to launch as the coordination layer for sovereign builders aligned with liberty-first principles.

LONDON, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LibertyAgents.io, the AI and data coordination layer for the WLFI + USD1 ecosystem, is preparing to launch – and is now seeking strategic backers to help activate the next phase of decentralised infrastructure.

Built by the team behind, MacroEdge.ai, Assimilate.News, and AIaaS.io, LibertyAgents.io provides verified agent deployment, macro and stablecoin dashboards, curated data feeds, and KYC-ready onboarding tools for sovereign project launches – all operating on a stack already shipped, tested, and integrated.

“You can’t scale liberty with narratives,” said M0R84N, CEO at Assimilate Corp. “You scale it with infrastructure. Liberty Agents is how we do that.”

Built on a Proven, Bootstrapped Stack

LibertyAgents.io is not a concept. It’s a surface layer built on top of an operational intelligence stack shipped by Assimilate Corp over the last 8+ months:

• MacroEdge.ai – Real-time macro terminal with 80+ indicators, ETF tracking, AI agents, and native WLFI / USD1 dashboards

• Assimilate.cc – Terminal for agent deployment, coordination, and signal overlays

• AIaaS.io – 500+ deployable tools for AI agents, dashboards, and strategy execution

• Assimilate.News – Curated updates across macro, tech, and decentralised systems

• USD1Bot – Lightweight sentiment and USD1 stablecoin tracker on X

These tools are already in market – live, modular, and designed for liberty-aligned systems. Not Just Another Meme-Agent Generator

In an era where AI and crypto are often reduced to gimmicks – meme-bots, prompt wrappers, speculative agent launches – Liberty Agents takes a radically different approach.

This platform isn’t built to mint hype.
It’s built to surface signal, deploy usable intelligence, and support builders who treat liberty not as a theme – but a principle worth designing for.

Liberty Agents is about infrastructure that lasts – not noise that trends.

Strategic Backers Wanted

Liberty Agents is now in pre-launch alignment mode and we’re speaking directly with strategic backers.

Backers who recognise the opportunity:

• A live, working AI + macro stack

• A coordination layer aligned with WLFI / USD1

• A route to support verified builders, onchain signal, and permissionless deployment

What backers receive:

• Early access to the Liberty Agents deployment layer and stack-wide integrations

• Strategic influence on dashboards, data services, and new agent tooling

• Visibility as a launch supporter (optional)

• Optional access to deal flow from emerging agents and sovereign deployments

If you’re deploying capital into liberty-first infrastructure or want to help unlock the ecosystem these tools were built for, we’re ready to talk.

LibertyAgents Patron NFTs

For institutions or high-net-worth individuals who resonate with the mission, there is another (faster) way to participate:

Aligned supporters can mint a Liberty Agents Patron NFT – a symbolic, non-financial access pass. Four Patron tiers are available in strictly limited numbers. NFT minting is denominated in USD1.

These NFTs offer tiered access to the Liberty Agents ecosystem and demonstrate alignment with decentralised, sovereign infrastructure. More details available at LibertyAgents.io.

Whether you’re ready to engage or simply ready to signal – we’re ready.

Token-Agnostic Agents. Payments in USD1. And a Liberty Fund

Liberty Agents does not assume every tool or project needs a token.

The platform will support verified, tokenless deployments, as well as modular access tiers powered by USD1.

From premium agent capabilities to real-time data feeds, USD1 can serve as a clean, stable medium of exchange – enabling payment, licensing, and contribution without introducing volatility or governance overhead.

In parallel, Assimilate Corp is preparing the groundwork for a Liberty Fund – a discretionary pool designed to support WLFI aligned developers, projects, and coordination tools that advance the ecosystem.

WLFI & USD1 Alignment by Design

While currently unaffiliated with World Liberty Financial or USD1, the platform is directly aligned with both:

• WLFI + USD1 dashboards already live on MacroEdge.ai

• USD1 flows integrated into early-stage agents and feeds

• WLFI-native tooling in development, including ETF overlays and launch modules

• USD1 considered for settlement, agent access, and data monetisation use cases

About the Team

Assimilate Corp is led by contributors with deep Web3 and protocol experience, including a successful metaverse ecosystem exit in late 2024. The team has built every piece of infrastructure to date without external funding – and LibertyAgents.io is the next logical evolution.

Explore the Initial Stack

• Global macro terminal: https://MacroEdge.ai

• Agent tools & AI sentiment: https://Assimilate.cc

• AI as a Service platform: https://AIaaS.io

• Emerging tech news curation: https://Assimilate.News

• Coordination layer: https://LibertyAgents.io

TL;DR

• LibertyAgents.io is a soon-to-launch coordination layer for WLFI + USD1 ecosystems

• Built by the team behind Assimilate, MacroEdge, AIaaS, and more

• Not a meme factory – real infrastructure: agents, dashboards, data services

• USD1-enabled payments and USD1 AI agent liquidity pairing

• Launching with a Liberty Fund to support aligned projects and grass roots builders

• Seeking strategic backers – the stack is ready, the application process open

• Tiered Patron NFTs for those of a HNW who wish to support the mission

Media Inquiries / Access:

team@libertyagents.io

Lorene George
Communications Manager
Liberty Agents is a trading style of Assimilate Corp Assimilate Corp, Panama City

Web: www.libertyagents.io
X (Twitter): @LibertyAgents
CEO: @M0R84N

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

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f8d1214-5747-438f-a39d-e4040229861e

The MIL Network –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Great British Energy permanent CEO appointed
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Great British Energy permanent CEO appointed

Dan McGrail’s appointment brings world-class private sector experience to publicly-owned clean power company.
Dan McGrail appointed as the permanent CEO of Great British Energy, after holding interim role

appointment of interim CEO to permanent position brings world-class private sector experience to Great British Energy

leadership will help the company drive forward the government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission

Dan McGrail has been appointed as the permanent Chief Executive Officer of Great British Energy, a company owned by the British people, to help drive forward the government’s Plan for Change and make the UK a clean energy superpower.

His appointment brings world-class private sector experience to Great British Energy, with the former Chief Executive of RenewableUK and CEO of Siemens Engines now leading the UK’s publicly-owned clean power revolution.

Under his stewardship as interim CEO for the last 4 months, he has helped rapidly set up the company. This includes announcing £1 billion for Great British Energy to invest in clean energy supply chains such as electric cables and floating offshore wind platforms to ensure the clean energy revolution is built here in Britain.

Meanwhile hundreds of schools and hospitals are already set to benefit from lower bills thanks to Great British Energy investment into rooftop solar. Around 200 schools and 200 hospitals will install solar panels that could power classrooms and hospital operations, with hundreds of millions in savings to be reinvested in schools and the NHS.

This follows the appointment in January of five new non-executive directors to join Chair Juergen Maier on the company’s start-up board, bringing a wide range of experience across different sectors, with knowledge on workplace rights, building UK supply chains and driving investment in clean energy.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

Dan has been a visionary leader as Great British Energy’s interim CEO, and will bring world-class private sector experience to our publicly-owned clean power company

Great British Energy is at the heart of our clean power mission and Plan for Change and is investing in clean energy supply chains to create manufacturing jobs here in Britain.

I look forward to working with Dan to unleash the benefits of clean energy, driving growth and new jobs in communities.

Great British Energy CEO Dan McGrail said:

It is a privilege to take on the CEO role permanently and lead Great British Energy from our Aberdeen HQ at such a pivotal moment.

We are already delivering for British people, with schools and hospitals set to benefit from cheaper energy bills.

We will now focus on scaling up as Britain’s publicly owned energy company, making strategic investments that drive forward the government’s clean power mission and give people a stake in clean energy.

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said:

We wish Dan all the very best in his crucial role leading Great British Energy, which he has spent the last few months setting up so successfully. Although he will be greatly missed by everyone at RenewableUK, his leadership skills and vision, backed by a highly capable team, have left us in the strongest possible position to thrive as we continue to expand our membership and champion the sector. Great British Energy’s ambitious plans to invest in vital new renewable energy projects, including an initial £300 million in offshore wind, will help to create tens of thousands of new jobs all over the country in innovative industries with world-class supply chains which we are proud to represent.

Dan will be based in Scotland, working from the Aberdeen headquarters, on a permanent contract with Great British Energy. He took up the post of interim CEO of Great British Energy in March on secondment from RenewableUK.

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Published 7 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Lilo & Stitch: With love, a bereaved child feels safe enough to grieve and grow

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Elena Merenda, Associate Head of Early Childhood Studies, University of Guelph-Humber

Lilo’s story offers a meaningful glimpse into how grief shows up in children through their emotions and actions. (Disney)

This story contains spoilers about Lilo & Stitch.

At first glance, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, set in Hawaii, seems like a playful, heartwarming film about an alien’s misadventures and a young girl’s search for connection and friendship. But there’s a deeper story — one about childhood grief in the life of the main character, Lilo, and how she navigates the loss of her parents.

Lilo’s story offers a meaningful glimpse into how grief shows up in children through their emotions and actions.

Grief in childhood is often misunderstood and overlooked. A common misconception is that children don’t grieve because they’re too young to understand loss. But just because children don’t express grief the way adults do, it doesn’t mean they aren’t grieving.

As an early child educator who teaches families and post-secondary students about children’s grief, I often say this: anyone who is capable of loving is capable of grieving — and children are deeply capable of love.

Children express grief through behaviours

Lilo’s grief is never directly named in the film, but it’s everywhere — she lashes out, isolates herself and clings tightly to Stitch. These behaviours mirror how many children express grief through actions rather than words.

Research from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network notes that young children often grieve through behaviour — aggression, regression, somatic complaints or withdrawal. This is tied to their stage of cognitive development.

As the theory of cognitive development by renowned psychologist Jean Piaget outlines, children aged two to seven think concretely and egocentrically, making abstract concepts like death hard to understand.

In one scene, Lilo insists on feeding a sandwich to her pet fish Pudge, believing he controls the weather — an imaginative ritual that helps her feel a sense of control in a world that feels uncertain and unstable. In multiple scenes she refuses to listen to her sister Nani, reflecting how grief often shows up through routines, symbolic actions or emotional withdrawal.

Grief can make children feel ‘different’

The Canadian Alliance for Children’s Grief estimates that one in 14 children in Canada will lose a parent or sibling before age 18. Yet despite how common it is, childhood grief is often overlooked — especially in schools, where emotional pain may go unnoticed.

Feeling ‘different’ may go unnoticed in schools.
(Disney)

In Lilo & Stitch, we see this reality through Lilo. She knows she doesn’t fit in and asks her sister why no one likes her. Her classmates tease her for being “weird” and emotionally reactive. In one scene, she tries to share a handmade bracelet during dance class, only to be mocked and excluded. The moment may seem small but it reveals a deeper truth: grief can make children feel isolated, overwhelmed and fundamentally different from their peers.

Research confirms this. Studies in the Journal of School Psychology show that bereaved children often describe themselves as “not normal” or “different,” especially when their peers haven’t experienced a similar loss. Without safe, validating spaces to process their grief, these feelings can lead to loneliness, behavioural struggles and low self-esteem.

Grief grows with us

Grief in childhood isn’t a single moment — it evolves and deepens over time. As children grow, so does their understanding of what they’ve lost. They often revisit their grief at new developmental stages, carrying it in different ways.

Lilo & Stitch reflects this beautifully. Lilo doesn’t talk much about her parents’ death, but we see her grief in the routines she clings to — like listening to Elvis or sharing old family photos. These aren’t just quirks; they’re ways she keeps her parents close.

This reflects what grief researchers call the continuing bonds theory, which emphasizes that maintaining emotional connections to the deceased can support healthy adaptation. Grief isn’t something children “get over.” It’s something they learn to carry — with support, connection and love.

Healing doesn’t mean Lilo returns to who she was before her parents’ deaths. Her grief remains, but she begins to rebuild her world with Stitch, Nani and her new ‘ohana (family).

They don’t replace what was lost, but they become a space where grief and love can coexist.

One of the film’s most memorable lines captures this truth:

“This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It’s little and broken but still good. Yeah… still good.”

Connection is the path to healing

Just as grief is rooted in love, healing is rooted in connection.

Lilo’s healing comes from presence. Despite the chaos he brings, Stitch stays. Nani, overwhelmed and unsure, keeps showing up.

Their love and steady, unconditional presence allow Lilo to begin feeling safe enough to grieve and grow.

‘Lilo & Stitch’ trailer.

This reflects what attachment research tells us: strong, secure relationships are among the most powerful protective factors for children navigating loss. When a child feels emotionally safe with a caregiver, they’re better able to regulate emotions, build resilience and integrate the pain of loss into their development. In bereavement, the presence of a stable, responsive adult can determine whether a child’s grief becomes traumatic — or transformative.

In Lilo & Stitch, connection becomes both the container for Lilo’s grief and the bridge to her healing. The film gently reminds us: love may be the reason we grieve, but it’s also the most powerful way through it.

How caregivers can support a grieving child

1. Maintain routine and consistency.

In times of grief, structure helps children feel safe. Predictable routines — like mealtimes, bedtime rituals and daily rhythms — offer a sense of stability when everything else feels uncertain

2. Normalize and validate emotions.

Help your child name what they’re feeling and let them know it’s OK. Say things like, “It’s OK to feel that way,” or “Whatever you feel is welcome here.” Validation helps reduce shame and gives children permission to process their grief openly.

3. Answer questions honestly.

Children need truthful, age-appropriate information about what has happened. Avoid euphemisms like “went to sleep” or “passed away,” which can cause confusion. Instead, use clear, simple language: “Their body stopped working and they died.” Honesty builds trust and supports children’s cognitive and emotional development as they process the permanence of death.

4. Seek support.

Grief can feel overwhelming — for children and their parents or caregivers. Reach out to school counsellors, grief therapists or local support groups, because support can reduce isolation, support expression and improve coping in grieving families.

Elena Merenda 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. Lilo & Stitch: With love, a bereaved child feels safe enough to grieve and grow – https://theconversation.com/lilo-and-stitch-with-love-a-bereaved-child-feels-safe-enough-to-grieve-and-grow-259873

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Kenya: Ambassador Guo Haiyan Attends Events of the 4th Edition Nairobi City Marathon

Source: APO

On July 6, Ambassador Ms. Guo Haiyan was invited to attend the related activities of the 4th Edition Nairobi City Marathon. Accompanied with PS for Sports Mr. Elijah Mwangi, President of the Kenya Athletics and officials from UNEP, she signaled the start of the race and presented awards to the winners.

First held in 2022, the Nairobi City Marathon has attracted over 17,000 runners from more than 70 countries and regions, including about 300 Chinese, with its main course on the Nairobi Expressway, a key project of the “Belt and Road Initiative” built by a Chinese company.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Kenya.

Media files

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Alcohol and colonialism: the curious story of the Bulawayo beer gardens

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maurice Hutton, Research Associate, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester

Kontuthu Ziyathunqa – Smoke Rising – was what they used to call Bulawayo when the city was the industrial powerhouse of Zimbabwe. Now, many of its factories lie dormant or derelict. The daily torrent of workers flowing eastward at dawn, and back out to the high-density western suburbs at dusk, has diminished to a trickle.

But there is an intriguing industrial-era institution that lives on in most of the older western suburbs (formerly called townships). It is the municipal beer hall or beer garden, built in the colonial days for the racially segregated African worker communities. There are dozens of these halls and garden complexes, still serving customers and emitting muffled sounds of merriment to this day.

Read more: Mbare Art Space: a colonial beer hall in Zimbabwe has become a vibrant arts centre

Like other urban areas in Rhodesia (colonial Zimbabwe), Bulawayo was informally segregated from its inception, and more formally segregated after the second world war. Under British rule (1893-1965) and then independent white minority rule (1965-1980), municipal drinking amenities were built in the townships to maintain control of African drinking and sociality. At the same time, they raised much-needed revenue for township welfare and recreational services.

Read more: Zimbabwe’s economy crashed – so how do citizens still cling to myths of urban and economic success?

I researched the history of these beer halls and gardens as part of my PhD project on the development of the segregated African townships in late colonial Bulawayo. As my historical account shows, they played a key role in the contested township development process.

From beer halls to beer gardens

Bulawayo’s oldest and most famous beer hall, MaKhumalo, also known as Big Bhawa, was built more than a century ago. It still stands at the heart of the historic Makokoba neighbourhood. It’s enormous, but austere, and in the early days it was oppressively managed. Drinkers would describe feeling like prisoners there.

The more picturesque beer gardens began to emerge in the 1950s, reflecting the developmental idealism of Hugh Ashton. The Lesotho-born anthropologist was educated at the Universities of Oxford, London and Cape Town, and took up the new directorship of African administration in Bulawayo in 1949.

Beer gardens emerged in the 1950s. Bulawayo Housing and Amenities Department

He was tuned into new anthropological ideas about social change, as well as developmental ideas spreading through postwar colonial administrations – about “stabilising” and “detribalising” African workers to create a more passive and productive urban working class. He saw a reformed municipal beer system as a key tool for achieving these goals.

Ashton wanted to make the beer system more legitimate and the venues more community-building. He proposed constructing beer garden complexes with trees, rocks, games facilities, food stalls and events like “traditional dancing”. So the atmosphere would be convivial and respectable, but also controllable, enticing all classes and boosting profits to fund better social services. As we shall see, this strategy was full of contradictions…

Industrial beer brewing

A colonial beer advert. Masiyepambili

MaKhumalo, MaMkhwananzi, MaNdlovu, MaSilela. These beer garden names, emblazoned on the beer dispensaries that stick up above the ramparts of each garden complex, referenced the role that women traditionally played in beer brewing in southern Africa. This helped authenticate the council’s “home brew”.

But the reality was that the beer was now produced in a massive industrial brewery managed by a Polish man. It was piped down from steel tanks at the tops of the dispensary buildings into the plastic mugs of thirsty punters at small bar windows below. (It was also sold in plastic calabashes and cardboard cartons.)

Masiyepambili

And the beer garden bureaucracy, which offered a rare opportunity for African men to attain higher-grade public sector jobs, became increasingly complex and strictly audited.

As the townships rapidly expanded, with beer gardens dotted about them, sales of the council’s “traditional” beer – the quality of which Ashton and his staff obsessed over – went up and up.

Extensive beer advertising in the council’s free magazine mixed symbols of tradition (beer as food) with symbols of modern middle-classness.

Beer monopoly system

The system’s success relied on the Bulawayo council having a monopoly on the sale of so-called “native beer”. This traditional brew is typically made by malting, mashing, boiling and then fermenting sorghum, millet or maize grains. Racialised Rhodesian liquor laws restricted African access to “European” beers, wines and spirits.

So, the beer hall or garden was the only public venue where Africans could legally drink (apart from a tiny elite, for whom a few exclusive “cocktail lounges” were built). The council cracked down harshly on “liquor offences” like home brewing.

This beer monopoly system was quite prevalent in southern and eastern Africa, though rarely at the scale to which it grew in Bulawayo. Nearly everywhere, the system caused resentment among African townspeople, and so it became politically charged.

Beer delivery lorry at Esiqonweni. Maurice Hutton

In several colonies, beer halls became sites of protest, or were boycotted (most famously in South Africa). And they usually faced stiff competition from illicit drinking dens known as shebeens.

In Bulawayo, the more the city council “improved” its beer system after the Second World War, the more contradictory the system became. It actively encouraged mass consumption of “traditional” beer, so that funds could be raised for “modern” health, housing and welfare services in the townships. Ashton himself was painfully aware of the contradictions.

In his guest introduction to a 1974 ethnographic monograph on Bulawayo’s beer gardens, he wrote:

The ambivalence of my position is obvious. How can one maintain a healthy community and a healthy profit at one and the same time? I can almost hear the critical reader questioning my morality and even my sanity. And why not? I have often done so myself.

Many citizen groups – both African and European – questioned the system too. They called it illogical, if not immoral; even some government ministers said it had gone too far. And when some beer gardens were constructed close to European residential areas, to cater for African domestic workers, many Europeans reacted with fear and fury.

As Zimbabweans’ struggle for independence took off in the 1960s, African residents increasingly associated the beer halls and gardens with state neglect, repression, or pacification. They periodically boycotted or vandalised them. Nevertheless, with few alternative options, attendance rates remained high: MaKhumalo recorded 50,000 visitors on one Sunday in 1970.

After independence

After Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, the township beer gardens remained in municipal hands. They continued to be popular, even though racial desegregation had finally given township residents access to other social spaces across the city.

The colonial-era municipal beers continued to be produced, with Ngwebu (“The Royal Brew”) becoming a patriotic beverage for the Ndebele – the city’s majority ethnic group.

Beer dispensary valves at Umhambi. Maurice Hutton

But with the deindustrialisation of Bulawayo since the late 1990s, tens of thousands of blue collar workers have moved to greener pastures, mostly South Africa. The old drinking rhythm of the city’s workforce has changed, and for the young, the beer gardens hold little allure. Increasingly, they have been leased out to private individuals to run.

Read more: Beer, politics and identity – the chequered history behind Namibian brewing success

Nevertheless, there is always a daily trickle of regulars to the beer gardens, where mugs and calabashes are passed around among friends or burial society members. Some punters play darts or pool. And there are always some who sit alone, ruminating – perhaps in the company of ghosts from the past.

The beer gardens of Bulawayo embody the moral and practical contradictions of late colonial development – and the ways in which such systems and infrastructures may live on, but change meaning, in the post-colony.

– Alcohol and colonialism: the curious story of the Bulawayo beer gardens
– https://theconversation.com/alcohol-and-colonialism-the-curious-story-of-the-bulawayo-beer-gardens-256511

MIL OSI Africa –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Hassan, Pappas Deliver Remarks and Congratulate New Citizens from Over 40 Different Countries at U.S. Naturalization Ceremony

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Portsmouth, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) attended and delivered remarks congratulating new citizens from over 40 different countries at a U.S. Naturalization ceremony at the Strawbery Banke Museum. Photos from today’s event can be found here.
“At every point in our history, America has been shaped by immigrants from every corner of the world and every sector of society,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was honored to be a part of today’s naturalization ceremony in Portsmouth, and I congratulate each and every new citizen on this momentous event in their lives.”
“It was a privilege to join today’s naturalization ceremony at Strawbery Banke and to welcome and celebrate America’s newest citizens,” said Senator Hassan. “Ceremonies like the one held today are an opportunity for American citizens, new and old, to recommit ourselves to supporting and defending the ideals of freedom, self-government, and the rule of law as embodied by our Constitution.”
“At today’s naturalization ceremony we welcomed our newest American citizens and reflected on the profound impact that immigrants have on New Hampshire and in our country. Immigrants come to work hard and seek freedom, opportunity, and security, and immigration renews the spirit of our nation,” said Congressman Pappas. “I was honored to join these patriotic Americans and congratulate them on taking the oath of citizenship.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: IMCA, MTS, and OCIMF publish landmark guidance on dynamic positioning safety and assurance

Source: International Marine Contractors Association – IMCA

Headline: IMCA, MTS, and OCIMF publish landmark guidance on dynamic positioning safety and assurance

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), The Marine Technology Society Dynamic Positioning Committee (MTS DPC), and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) are pleased to announce the release of

This milestone publication presents a unified approach setting out how the global offshore industry can assure DP vessels are capable of delivering safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible operations with predictable outcomes.

The publication is the result of a collaborative effort among IMCA, MTS DPC and OCIMF, as well as classification societies, DP assurance providers, vessel operators, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The JDP01 publication refocuses industry best practice on a core principle: proving single fault tolerance (SFT) in absolute terms. Its guidance introduces a comprehensive, transparent framework for assessing redundancy integrity and implementing evidence-based validation into every stage of design, testing, and operation.

The publication will serve as a critical reference for vessel designers, shipyards, assurance providers, charterers, and operators. By bringing together MTS’s academic and technical leadership, IMCA’s contractor-driven focus, and OCIMF’s commitment to operational excellence and safety, this collaboration is designed to enhance maritime safety through consistency and standardisation.

“This initiative reflects the best of our industry coming together, with purpose, discipline, and vision to address complex safety and environmental challenges,” said Suman Muddusetti, Chairman of the MTS DPC. “With JDP01, we are not only enhancing station-keeping reliability but also supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, enabling confidence in more efficient operational configurations.”

Richard Purser, Technical Adviser – Marine, at IMCA, said: “This new guidance represents a transition from ‘tick-box’ compliance to comprehensive, systems-engineered assurance in DP safety and dependability. It highlights that single fault tolerance is the key to safe DP operations and that all stakeholders – vessel owners, equipment manufacturers, vessel designers, and DP practitioners – have a role to play in ensuring that vessels have single fault tolerance in multiple configurations of DP systems to ensure safe DP operations.

“We expect this guidance will support standardisation across the industry and improve assurance outcomes for all stakeholders.”

The Dynamic Positioning Committee is one of 15 committees under the umbrella of the Marine Technology Society, a professional society that advocates for marine technology and resources while promoting member success and public understanding.

OCIMF is a voluntary association of oil companies with an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas. It promotes best practice in the design, construction and operation of tankers, barges and offshore vessels, and their interfaces with terminals.

JDP01 – A Unified Approach to Verification, Validation, and Assurance of Single Fault Tolerance in DP Systems is available to download here.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: IMCA, MTS, and OCIMF publish landmark guidance on dynamic positioning safety and assurance

Source: International Marine Contractors Association – IMCA

Headline: IMCA, MTS, and OCIMF publish landmark guidance on dynamic positioning safety and assurance

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), The Marine Technology Society Dynamic Positioning Committee (MTS DPC), and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) are pleased to announce the release of

This milestone publication presents a unified approach setting out how the global offshore industry can assure DP vessels are capable of delivering safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible operations with predictable outcomes.

The publication is the result of a collaborative effort among IMCA, MTS DPC and OCIMF, as well as classification societies, DP assurance providers, vessel operators, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The JDP01 publication refocuses industry best practice on a core principle: proving single fault tolerance (SFT) in absolute terms. Its guidance introduces a comprehensive, transparent framework for assessing redundancy integrity and implementing evidence-based validation into every stage of design, testing, and operation.

The publication will serve as a critical reference for vessel designers, shipyards, assurance providers, charterers, and operators. By bringing together MTS’s academic and technical leadership, IMCA’s contractor-driven focus, and OCIMF’s commitment to operational excellence and safety, this collaboration is designed to enhance maritime safety through consistency and standardisation.

“This initiative reflects the best of our industry coming together, with purpose, discipline, and vision to address complex safety and environmental challenges,” said Suman Muddusetti, Chairman of the MTS DPC. “With JDP01, we are not only enhancing station-keeping reliability but also supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, enabling confidence in more efficient operational configurations.”

Richard Purser, Technical Adviser – Marine, at IMCA, said: “This new guidance represents a transition from ‘tick-box’ compliance to comprehensive, systems-engineered assurance in DP safety and dependability. It highlights that single fault tolerance is the key to safe DP operations and that all stakeholders – vessel owners, equipment manufacturers, vessel designers, and DP practitioners – have a role to play in ensuring that vessels have single fault tolerance in multiple configurations of DP systems to ensure safe DP operations.

“We expect this guidance will support standardisation across the industry and improve assurance outcomes for all stakeholders.”

The Dynamic Positioning Committee is one of 15 committees under the umbrella of the Marine Technology Society, a professional society that advocates for marine technology and resources while promoting member success and public understanding.

OCIMF is a voluntary association of oil companies with an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas. It promotes best practice in the design, construction and operation of tankers, barges and offshore vessels, and their interfaces with terminals.

JDP01 – A Unified Approach to Verification, Validation, and Assurance of Single Fault Tolerance in DP Systems is available to download here.

MIL OSI Economics –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping inspects manufacturing plant in Shanxi province

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

YANGQUAN, SHANXI PROVINCE, July 7 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected a valve manufacturing enterprise in Yangquan, north China’s Shanxi Province, on Monday afternoon, where he learned about the province’s efforts to accelerate industrial transformation and upgrading and promote high-quality development.

While visiting Yangquan Valve Co., Ltd., Xi Jinping inspected the production workshop and product exhibition of the company, and had a warm conversation with workers. –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.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond
Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Olayinka Ajala, Associate professor in Politics and International Relations, Leeds Beckett University

More than 40 Malian soldiers were killed and one of the country’s military bases was taken over in early June 2025 in a major attack by an al-Qaeda linked group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), on the town of Boulikessi.

The same group launched an attack on the historic city of Timbuktu. The Malian army claimed it repelled the Timbuktu attack and killed 14 terrorists.

Terrorist groups have attacked Boulikessi in large numbers before. In October 2019, 25 Malian soldiers were killed. The target was a G5 Sahel force military camp.

Timbuktu has been in the sights of terrorist groups since 2012. JNIM laid siege to the city for several months in 2023. Timbuktu has a major airport and a key military base.

In neighbouring Burkina Faso, there have been running battles in recent months between the military and terrorist groups. About 40% of the country is under the control of groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Military bases in the country have also been targeted.

Mali and Burkina Faso are under military rule. Insecurity, especially increasing terrorist attacks, were key reasons the military juntas gave for seizing power in both countries.

I have been researching terrorism and the formation of insurgent groups in west Africa and the Sahel for over a decade. What I am observing is that the terrorist groups are becoming more daring and constantly changing tactics, with increased attacks on military camps across the region.

Military camps are attacked to lower the morale of the soldiers and steal ammunition. It also sends a message to locals that military forces are incapable of protecting civilians.

I believe there are four main reasons for an increase in large scale attacks on military bases in the region:
- the loss of the US drone base in Niger, which has made surveillance difficult
- an increase in human rights abuses carried out in the name of counter terrorism
- a lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism
- constant changes of tactics by the terrorists.
Identifying and addressing these issues are important to counter the trend.

Why are the attacks increasing?

First is the loss of the US drone base in Agadez, Republic of Niger, in 2024 after the military seized power in the country.

I was initially sceptical when the drone base was commissioned in 2019. But it has in fact acted as a deterrent to terrorist groups.

Terrorist organisations operating in the Sahel knew they were being watched by drones operating from the base. They were aware surveillance information was shared with member states. The loss of the base has reduced reconnaissance and surveillance activities in the region.

Second, an increase in human rights abuse in the fight against terrorism in the region is dividing communities and increasing recruitment into terrorist groups. A report by Human Rights Watch in May 2025 accused the Burkina Faso military and allied militias of killing more than 130 civilians during counter-terrorism operations.

The report argued that members of the Fulani ethnic group were targeted in the operations because they were perceived to have relationships with terrorist groups. Terrorist groups are known to use such incidents to win the hearts and minds of local populations.

Third, the lack of a coordinated approach to counter terrorism in the region is reversing the gains made in the last decade. Major developments have included the dissolving of the G5 Sahel. This grouping was created in 2014 to enhance security coordination between members. The members were Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Niger. The organisation launched joint counter-terrorism missions across member states but was dissolved in December 2023 after Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew.

The weakening of the Multinational Joint Task Force due to the military coup in Niger and the countries’ strategic repositioning is undermining counter-terrorism initiatives. Task force members were Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin.

The mandate of the task force is to combat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating around the Lake Chad basin. After its establishment in 2015 the task force achieved significant progress. In January 2025, Niger suspended its membership, putting the fight against terrorism in the region in jeopardy.

Fourth, terrorist groups in the region are becoming more sophisticated in their approach. In April 2025, JNIM terrorists were suspected of launching a suicide drone attack on Togolese military positions.

For its part, the military in the Sahelian countries are struggling to adapt to the terrorists’ new tactics. In the last few years, there has been a proliferation of drones in Africa by states and non-state actors.

Halting the trend

To combat the increasing attacks by terrorist groups, especially large-scale attacks on military positions, four immediate steps are necessary.

First, nation states need to invest in surveillance capabilities. The loss of the drone base in Niger means Sahelian states must urgently find new ways of gathering and sharing intelligence. The topography of the region, which is mainly flat, with scattered vegetation, is an advantage as reconnaissance drones can easily detect suspicious movements, terrorist camps and travel routes.

There is also a need to regulate the use of drones in the region to prevent use by non-state actors.

In addition, countries fighting terrorism must find a way to improve the relationship between the military (and allied militias) and people affected by terrorism. My latest publication on the issue shows that vigilante groups engaged by the military forces are sometimes complicit in human rights abuse.

Training on human rights is essential for military forces and allied militias.

Terrorism funding avenues must be identified and blocked. Large scale terrorist attacks involve planning, training and resources. Funding from illegal mining, trafficking and kidnapping must be identified and eradicated. This will also include intelligence sharing between nation states.

Finally, the Sahelian countries must find a mechanism to work with the Economic Community of West African States.

As the numbers and intensity of terrorist activities are increasing across the Sahel, immediate action is necessary to combat this trend.

Olayinka Ajala 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. West Africa terror: why attacks on military bases are rising – and four ways to respond – https://theconversation.com/west-africa-terror-why-attacks-on-military-bases-are-rising-and-four-ways-to-respond-258622
MIL OSI –
July 8, 2025

Category: Business

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Great British Energy permanent CEO appointed

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Updates to this page

Children express grief through behaviours

Grief can make children feel ‘different’

Grief grows with us

Connection is the path to healing

How caregivers can support a grieving child

From beer halls to beer gardens

Industrial beer brewing

Beer monopoly system

After independence

Why are the attacks increasing?

Halting the trend