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Category: Entertainment

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RAF Invictus competitors share their recovery journey07 Feb 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force

    UK Armed Forces personnel and veterans are joining counterparts from 20 nations to compete in adaptive sports at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.

    Team UK comprises 62 competitors – all wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans, who have experienced a range of challenging physical and mental injuries sustained while serving in the UK Armed Forces either at home or abroad.

    Team UK departing for the Invictus Games 2025 in Vancouver.

    Some of Team UK, who serve or served in the RAF, have shared their inspiring recovery journeys in this short documentary, ‘I AM INVICTUS: Finding me again’.

    This video contains emotional discussions around mental and physical health that some viewers may find upsetting. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, please see the link below for support.

    What the competitors want to share with those listening, is how powerful the Invictus Games can be in your recovery.

    “A big thing for me is I really want to keep promoting the programme. Because for me it’s been so powerful. If that can just reach one person that felt the way I did, and help them to realise, you may think you’ve tried everything but there are other things out there. I really hope that my contribution to the Invictus Games and my part of the programme and the journey isn’t about what we achieve this time round, it’s about getting other people involved for the legacy of the games. So that they get involved next time round and it helps them.”

    Corporal Matthew ‘Twitch’ Wickens

    The Invictus Games uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, offering a recovery pathway that helps wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women reclaim their purpose, identity and future, beyond their injury. The Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion are supporting Team UK to compete at the seventh Invictus Games, which features winter sports for the first time. Selection for the Games is based on the recovery benefit to each individual, rather than solely on expected performance. 

    Access to adaptive sports and the opportunity to participate in the Invictus Games is just one way the Royal British Legion & MOD supports the wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces community. There are also adventurous training and theatre and art programmes available for personnel, veterans and families which are delivered by partners via the RAF Recovery and Support Team.

    In recent months, Team UK have been preparing for the Games at the Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall, which promotes the use of adaptive sport and adventure activities to help improve confidence and positively impact mental health and wellbeing. These activities are designed to help each individual achieve their best possible recovery and either return to Service duty or make a smooth transition to civilian life.

    The Invictus Games will be broadcast in the UK between 8-16 February on ITV in the UK. Nine daily highlight shows will be available on ITVX across the duration of the Games, which will include the Opening Ceremony.

    If you or a friend needs help or support, visit the Health and Wellbeing page for links to resources and partners who can help.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Hola Prime Launches Transformative CSR Initiatives to Support Education, Health, and Sustainability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hola Prime, a leading prop trading firm, has launched a series of impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, including school renovations, community support programs, and environmental sustainability efforts, aimed at creating lasting positive change.

    In a world where businesses are often measured by their bottom line, Hola Prime, an award-winning prop trading firm, is proving that true success goes beyond financial returns. While known for funding traders, the company is also investing in communities, ensuring that its impact extends far beyond the trading world. Through a series of CSR initiatives, Hola Prime is redefining corporate responsibility by transforming lives and fostering hope where it’s needed most.

    Renovating School: A Better Space To Learn

    At Tarauli School, Punjab the firm took on the challenge of turning an abandoned backyard into a thriving playfield. The newly developed ground now fosters teamwork, discipline, and a love for sports among students. Beyond the physical transformation, the team engaged over 200 students in workshops and interactive sessions, reinforcing the belief that education extends beyond textbooks. Volunteers also distributed 500+ books and essential school supplies, ensuring that students have the resources they need to excel academically.

    Challenging Stigmas at Chandi Kusht Ashram Society

    Stepping into the Chandi Kusht Ashram Society, a shelter for people affected by leprosy, the team didn’t just donate – it connected. Volunteers prepared meals, reaching and supporting 400 families, fostering moments of warmth, inclusion, and acceptance. By engaging directly, Hola Prime aims to break down societal barriers and promote empathy as a key driver of change. The visit also included motivational support to empower them with strength and lift their spirits with affection.

    Bringing Joy to Young Cancer Fighters

    At Access Life, Chandigarh, a shelter supporting over 2500 children battling cancer, the firm crafted a day of laughter, imagination, and art therapy. Children sculpted clay toys, painted vibrant lanterns and enjoyed a mesmerizing magic and puppet show. The initiative was designed not just to entertain but to provide therapeutic relief, proving that healing extends beyond medicine. In addition to the entertainment, the company provided 150+ art supply kits, 100 wellness kits, and 50 handmade toys to support the children’s emotional well-being.

    Sustainability and Green Initiatives

    Hola Prime’s commitment to positive change goes beyond social initiatives. As part of its sustainability efforts, the company also spearheaded a tree plantation drive alongside the students of Tarauli School, planting over 300 trees to promote environmental consciousness from a young age. By integrating green initiatives into its outreach programs, the firm is ensuring that its impact is not only social but also ecological.

    A Business Model Rooted in Social Good

    By going beyond traditional CSR and embedding compassion into its business ethos, Hola Prime is redefining what it means to be a responsible corporation. Whether funding traders or funding futures, the company continues to invest in meaningful change. In a fast-paced financial world, it serves as a reminder that the most valuable returns are the lives we touch.

    Social Links

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565158992654&sk=about_contact_and_basic_info

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holaprime_global/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVEJa1Ml132Be7tnk-DjeQ

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hola-prime/?viewAsMember=true

    X: https://x.com/HolaPrimeGlobal

    Discord: https://discord.gg/TJ7TcHPXBf

    Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/HolaPrime/

    Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/HolaPrime/

    Medium: https://medium.com/@social_46267

    Media Contact

    Company: Hola Prime

    Contact: Media Team

    Email: marketing@holaprime.com

    Website: https://holaprime.com/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The illusion of equal opportunity for minority NFL coaches

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joseph N. Cooper, Endowed Chair of Sport Leadership and Administration, UMass Boston

    On the day after the New England Patriots ended their NFL season with a miserable 4-13 record, team owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo, the team’s first Black head coach. In a press conference following his decision, Kraft explained that he put Mayo in “an untenable situation” by hiring him to lead an underperforming team.

    Kraft’s assessment reflects an all-too-familiar reality for Black coaches in the NFL. Though Black players account for 53% of all NFL players, only 19% of head coaches are Black men.

    At the beginning of the 2024 season, the NFL set its own league record with nine of its 32 head coaching jobs held by minorities. In addition to Mayo, Las Vegas’ Antonio Pierce, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles, Atlanta’s Raheem Morris and Houston’s DeMeco Ryans are Black. They were joined by Carolina’s Dave Canales, who is Mexican American, Miami’s biracial Mike McDaniel and the New York Jets’ Robert Saleh, who is of Lebanese descent.

    By season’s end, three of those coaches were gone, including the Raiders’ Pierce. Pierce, like Mayo, was given one season to turn around a team with a losing record. Saleh was fired during the season.

    In my view as a scholar of race and professional sports, the firings revealed the NFL’s double standard for Black head coaches and suggest that Black men are still valued more for their athletic prowess than their leadership skills.

    During a Fox NFL Sunday show shortly after Mayo’s firing, former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski called Mayo’s firing shocking, disappointing and “unfair.”

    ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was quick to blame the race of Mayo as a factor. “They call it Black Monday for a reason,” Smith said. “Jerod Mayo was clearly not given a lengthy enough opportunity.”

    A checkered history

    In 1921, a year after the NFL’s inaugural season, Fritz Pollard became the first Black head coach when he was hired to lead the Akron Pros. It would take nearly 70 years before the NFL had its second Black head coach – Art Shell of the Oakland Raiders in 1989.

    Since then, Black coaches have had few chances in the NFL. Even fewer have succeeded. Only two Black head coaches have won Super Bowl titles: Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts in 2007 and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008.

    To address the lack of Black head coaches, the NFL enacted in 2003 what is known as the Rooney Rule, a hiring practice named after Dan Rooney, the former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers who sat on the NFL’s diversity committee. The rule requires teams to include two minority candidate during the interview process for head coaching jobs and was later applied to general managers, senior executives and assistant coaches.

    But even with the rule, the percentage of Black coaches has consistently been lower than the percentage of Black players. Research has shown that Black coaches are both less likely to be promoted to head coaching jobs than their white counterparts and less likely to receive a second chance after a losing season.

    In fact, since the Rooney Rule was instituted in 2003, nonwhite coaches have been more than three times as likely to be fired after one season than white coaches, according to data collected by the USA Today NFL Coaches Project.

    Their data did not include the scores of Black assistant coaches who are routinely overlooked for their first head coaching jobs.

    Eric Bieniemy takes the field as a UCLA assistant coach during the 2024 season.
    Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

    Eric Bieniemy, for example, shared two Super Bowl championships as offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 and 2022. Given his experience, he was widely expected by NFL analysts to earn a head coaching job.

    In order to pursue that goal, Bieniemy left the Chiefs in 2023 to join the Washington Commanders and was a favorite to become the team’s next head coach. But the Commanders were sold at the end of the 2023 season, and the new owners promptly fired him.

    Bieniemy is back in the NFL after being hired in February 2025 by the Chicago Bears as their running backs coach, a lower rank than his prior position as offensive coordinator.

    The benefit of the doubt

    In 2020, the NFL expressed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement by promoting social justice messages on end zones and players’ helmets. The NFL also hired Roc Nation, Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z’s company, to manage its music and entertainment.

    A year later, the NFL formally ended their decades-long practice of race norming in which the league routinely gave Black players lower baseline cognitive ratings than white players in legal actions related to concussions and subsequent dementia.

    But those measures, much like the Rooney Rule, have not closed the racial disparities among NFL head coaches and have not stopped white coaches from appearing to be more likely to receive the benefit of the doubt.

    The NFL used goal post pads in 2022 to proclaim the league’s efforts to end racism.
    Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

    Still unresolved is a 2022 lawsuit filed by Black head coach Brian Flores. Despite posting two winning seasons during his three-year tenure, he was fired by the Miami Dolphins. Flores filed a suit against the NFL, the Miami Dolphins and two other NFL teams alleging widespread racial discrimination and hiring practices.

    During an interview with reporters before the 2025 Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s diversity initiatives, saying, “We’ve proven to ourselves that it does make the NFL better.”

    Goodell was quick to point out that the NFL’s diversity efforts do not mean a “quota system” in which a certain number of candidates of each race are hired.

    “There’s no requirement to hire a particular individual on the basis of race or gender,” Goodell said. “This is about opening that funnel and bringing the best talent into the NFL.”

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

    – ref. The illusion of equal opportunity for minority NFL coaches – https://theconversation.com/the-illusion-of-equal-opportunity-for-minority-nfl-coaches-247057

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: California wildfires force students to think about the connections between STEM and society

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Erika Dyson, Professor of Religous Studies, Harvey Mudd College

    Satellite imagery shows the front line of the Palisades fire in Los Angeles on Jan. 11, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Contributor

    Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

    Title of course:

    “STEM & Social Impact: Climate Change”

    What prompted the idea for the course?

    Harvey Mudd College’s mission is to educate STEM students – short for science, technology, engineering and math – so they have a “clear understanding of the impact of their work on society.” But the “impact” part of our mission has been the most challenging to realize.

    When our college revised its “Core Curriculum” in 2020, our faculty decided we should create a new required impact course for all students.

    What does the course explore?

    The course is taught by a team of eight instructors who share their own disciplinary perspectives and help students critically analyze proposed interventions for increasing wildfire risks.

    Our instructors teach biology, chemistry, computer science and mathematics.

    The class also includes scholars focused on media studies, political science religious studies and science, technology and society.

    The course focuses on California wildfires so students can think critically about the ways STEM and social values shape each other.

    For example, in 1911, U.S. Forest Service deputy F. E. Olmsted applied the Social Darwinist idea of “survival of the fittest” to forest management. Reflecting the prevailing views of his era, he believed that competition was the driving force behind biology, economics and human progress – where the strong thrive and the weak fail.

    Olmsted said it was good forestry and good economics to let the forests grow unchecked. This policy would yield straight and tall “merchantable timber” suitable for sale and the needs of industry.

    He also rejected “light burning,” which Native Americans had used for centuries to manage forest ecosystems and reduce the flammable undergrowth.

    We live with the consequences of such reasoning 100 years later. Fires speed through overgrown land at alarming rates and release enormous amounts of carbon and other particulate matter into the atmosphere.

    Why is this course relevant now?

    Climate change is arguably the most pressing concern of our time. And wildfires are particularly relevant to those of us in fire-prone areas like Southern California.

    Public distrust of science is increasing. Consequently, society needs skilled STEM practitioners who can understand and communicate how scientific interventions will have different consequences and appeal to different stakeholders.

    For example, Los Angeles first responders have been using drones for search and rescue and to gather real-time information about fire lines since at least 2015.

    But the public is not always comfortable with drones flying over populated areas.

    The Los Angeles Fire Department has fielded enough citizen concerns about “snooping drones” and government concerns about data collection that it developed strict drone policies in consultation with regulators and the American Civil Liberties Union.

    The course’s focus on writing, critical thinking and climate change science prepares students to participate in public discussions about such interventions.

    By making students consider the impact of their future work, we also hope they will be proactive about the careers they want to pursue, whether it involves climate change or not.

    What’s a critical lesson from the course?

    Not everyone benefits in the same way from a single innovation.

    For example, low-income and rural Americans are less likely to benefit from the lower operating costs and lower pollution of electric vehicles. That’s because inadequate investment in public charging infrastructure makes owning them less practical.

    The course’s interdisciplinary approach helps to expose these kinds of structural inequities. We want students to get in the habit of asking questions about any technological solution.

    They include questions like: Who is likely to benefit, and how? Who has historically wielded power in this situation? Whose voices are being included? What assumptions have been made? Which values are being prioritized?

    What materials does the course feature?

    We combine popular and scholarly sources.

    Students watch two documentaries about the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, which killed 85 people.

    The 2018 Camp Fire caused an estimated $US12.5 billion in damages.
    AP Photo/Noah Berger

    They analyze wildfire data using the Pandas library, an open-source data manipulation library for the Python computer programming language.

    They also read a Union of Concerned Scientists report examining fossil fuel companies’ culpability for increased risk of wildfires. And they analyze the environmental historian William Cronon’s classic indictment of the environmentalist movement for romanticizing an idea of a pristine “wilderness” while absolving themselves of the responsibility to protect the rest of nature – humans, cities, farms, industries.

    We also examine poetry by Ada Limón, indigenous ecology and Engaged Buddhism.

    What will the course prepare students to do?

    The final assignment for the course asks students to critically analyze a proposed intervention dealing with growing California wildfire risk using the disciplinary tools they have learned.

    For example, they could choose the increased deployment of “beneficial fires” to reduce flammable biomass in forests.

    For this intervention, we expect that students would address topics like the historical erasure of Indigenous knowledge of prescribed burning, financial liabilities associated with controlled burning, and scientific research on the efficacy of beneficial fires.

    Darryl Yong is a professor at Harvey Mudd College and co-directs Math for America Los Angeles. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation.

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

    – ref. California wildfires force students to think about the connections between STEM and society – https://theconversation.com/california-wildfires-force-students-to-think-about-the-connections-between-stem-and-society-248286

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Fourth Star Launches Immersive Media Streaming Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, CA , Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fourth Star, the cutting-edge virtual reality immersive media streaming platform, is officially available to the public. This innovative platform transforms traditional entertainment by enabling users to seamlessly watch standard 2D, 180 and 360 immersive media content and movies. Fourth Star redefines how audiences engage with immersive storytelling, offering an unparalleled first-person centric perspective on entertainment.

    “Fourth Star is more than just a platform – it’s a revolution in entertainment,” said Greg Simon, Co-Founder & CEO of Fourth Star. “We’ve created an immersive experience where users can not only consume content but also actively participate in it. Our vision is to transform how people experience media content and movies in a way that has never been done before.”

    A New Era of Interactive Entertainment
    The largest immersive media streaming platform available on Sidequest, users can explore nearly forty unique environments, interact with AI-driven crew, and experience entertainment in an entirely new way. Whether socializing in the Café, customizing avatars in private Apartments or Ships, or stepping directly into a movie’s storyline, Fourth Star offers a groundbreaking approach to digital engagement.

    “The combination of VR, AI, and blockchain in Fourth Star sets a new standard for immersive entertainment,” said Craig Wiltshire, CTO of Fourth Star.”Our vision is to seamlessly integrate all three technologies into the user experience. We are redefining the entertainment experience from passive observation to active creation.”

    Built for Content Partners
    Fourth Star is a self-serve platform designed for content partners of all sizes, from individual creators to blockbuster studios. Content partners can set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing their work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience. The Creator Portal empowers partners to distribute and profit from their immersive media with ease, making Fourth Star a truly open and accessible metaverse for digital entertainment.

    Key Features of Fourth Star

    • VR Streaming Platform – Users can access nearly forty environments and own their own luxury apartments and ships all equipped with an immersive media streaming entertainment hub. 
    • Social & Customization – Connect with others in dynamic social hubs, personalize your avatar, and invite your friends to your own luxury apartment and ship. 
    • Player Portal – Users can access the web-based marketplace to explore content, invite friends, 
    • Creator Portal – Set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing your work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience.
    • Blockchain Integration – The FSTR token, built on the Polygon blockchain, powers the ecosystem, providing secure transactions and exclusive rewards.
    • AI-Powered Companions – Coming soon

    FSTR: The Utility Token Powering Fourth Star
    FSTR serves as the primary ecosystem currency within the Fourth Star platform, enabling users to purchase Apartments, Ships, AI Companions, and exclusive content. Token holders benefit from:

    • VIP Access – Exclusive events, early screenings, and red carpet experiences.
    • Discounts – 25% savings on in-app purchases (IAPs) and entertainment content.

    FSTR can be purchased today to unlock the above benefits and more at the Probit Global Exchange using this link: https://tinyurl.com/35jbbcxb

    A New Paradigm in Entertainment
    Fourth Star is designed to deliver the future of entertainment through merging cinematic storytelling with interactive gaming, offering:

    • A seamless transition from passive to interactive experiences.
    • A thriving community for players, creators, and investors.
    • Advanced AI integration for interactive AI characters.
    • Don’t just watch the star in the movie, become the star. 

    Availability and Access
    Fourth Star is now live and available for users worldwide on Sidequest. Whether you’re an explorer, content creator large to small, storyteller, or entertainment enthusiast, Fourth Star provides an immersive space to experience digital entertainment like never before.

    About Fourth Star
    Fourth Star was established in 2022 with platform design and environmental modeling. In 2023, focus turned to closed alpha and beta testing, alongside workshops with content creators. By Q1 2024, we launched the open beta, gathering feedback and introducing creators. In Q2 2024, we launched the FSTR, sold ships and apartments, and developed our creator and partner reward systems. In 2025, we’ll be launching ‘Genevieve’, an AI-powered comprehensive marketing system, advanced AI tools enabling the generation of immersive content and interactive storylines, AI companions, a creator reward system introducing virtual asset rentals, and interactive gamified blockbuster films.

    Join Fourth Star
    Ready to explore the next frontier of entertainment? 

    Website: https://www.fourthstar.com/
    Telegram: https://t.me/fourthstarhq
    X/Twitter: https://x.com/fourthstarhq
    Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fourthstarmetaverse?si=-9iy08EVubLrzFp1

    Media Contact:
    Greg Simon
    CEO and Co-Founder
    greg@fourthstar.com
    XVerse Inc. (DBA Fourth Star)

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “M” Mark status awarded to Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025 and Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “M” Mark status awarded to Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025 and Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show
    “M” Mark status awarded to Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025 and Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show
    ******************************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:      The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025 (February 9) and the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show (February 14 to 16).           The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (February 7), “The Hong Kong Marathon is the largest annual long-distance running event in Hong Kong. It has been well-received by the public over the years, attracting up to 74 000 participants this year, including internationally renowned elite runners. As for the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, it is a 5-star international jumping competition sanctioned by the Federation Equestrian Internationale. It will be held in Hong Kong for the first time and will feature a world-class horse show, entertainment and a performance. The above two major sports events will stimulate the local economy and enhance Hong Kong’s international image, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s status as an events capital.”           The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local “national sports associations” and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.           For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.

     
    Ends/Friday, February 7, 2025Issued at HKT 12:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4445–4446: Cloudy Days are Here

    Source: NASA

    Earth planning date: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025
    Overnight before planning today, Mars reached a solar longitude of 40 degrees. The solar longitude is how we like to measure where we are in a Mars year. Each year starts at 0 degrees and advances to 360 degrees at the end of the year. For those of us on the Environmental Science (ENV) team, 40 degrees is a special time as it marks the beginning of our annual Aphelion Cloud Belt (ACB) observation campaign. During this time of year, the northern polar ice cap is emerging into the sunlight, causing it to sublimate away and release water vapor into the atmosphere. At the same time, the atmosphere is generally colder, since Mars is near aphelion (its furthest distance from the Sun). 
    Together, these two factors mean that Mars’ atmosphere is a big fan of forming clouds during this part of the year. Gale is right near the southern edge of the ACB, so we’re starting to take more cloud movies to study how the ACB changes during the cloudy season. (Jezero Crater, home to Perseverance, is much closer to the heart of the ACB, so keep an eye on their Raw Images page over the next several months as well.
    The drive from Monday’s plan ended early, after just about 4 meters instead of the 38 meters that had been planned (about 13 feet vs. 125 feet). We initially thought this might have been because our left-front wheel ran into the side of a large rock (see the image above), but after we got our hands on the drive data, it turned out that the steering motor on the right front wheel indicated that a rock was in the way on that side too, so Curiosity stopped the drive to await further instruction from Earth. This is a well-understood issue, so we should be back on the road headed west today.
    The cold weather is still creating power challenges, so we had to carefully prioritize our activities today. Despite the drive fault, we received the good news that it was safe to unstow the arm, so we were able to pack in a full set of MAHLI, APXS, and DRT activities. Before that, though, we start as usual with some remote sensing activities, including ChemCam LIBS and Mastcam observations of “Beacon Hill” (some layered bedrock near the rover) and a ChemCam RMI mosaic of the upper portion of Texoli butte.
    After taking a 3½-hour nap to recharge our batteries, we get into the arm activities. These start off with some MAHLI images of the MAHLI and APXS calibration targets, then continue with MAHLI and APXS observations of “Zuma Canyon.” This is followed by DRT, APXS, and MAHLI activities of some bedrock in our workspace, “Bear Canyon.” Although we then take another short nap, we don’t yet stow the arm as we have a pair of lengthy post-sunset APXS integrations. The arm is finally stowed about an hour and a half before midnight.
    The second sol of this plan begins with some more remote sensing activities, starting with ChemCam LIBS on “Mission Point”. This is followed by a series of Mastcam images of “Crystal Lake” (polygonal fractures in the bedrock), “Stockton Flat” (fine lamination in the bedrock), “Mount Waterman,” and Mission Point. We then finish with some ENV activities, including a Mastcam tau and Navcam line-of-sight to measure dust in the atmosphere and a Navcam cloud movie. This plan ends with a (hopefully!) lengthy drive west and many hours asleep to recharge our batteries as much as possible before planning starts again on Friday. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that REMS, RAD, and DAN continue to diligently monitor the environment throughout this plan.
    Written by Conor Hayes, Graduate Student at York University

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Hyperscale Data Announces 19.2 Bitcoin Mined in January 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company (“Hyperscale Data” or the “Company”), today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Inc. (“Sentinum”) mined approximately 19.2 Bitcoin in the month of January 2025, which were mined at the Company’s data center in Michigan (the “Data Center”). The January monthly mining run rate of approximately $1.9 million in Bitcoin mining revenue is based upon a current Bitcoin price of approximately $97,000.

    Milton “Todd” Ault III, Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data, stated, “We are transitioning to becoming a provider of high-performance computing (“HPC”) services powering AI solutions, which we believe holds greater promise in the foreseeable future, and we expect the transition will be completed at the end of September 2025. In the meantime, we remain confident in our mining operations and maintain our medium-term view on Bitcoin as an appreciating asset that supports the Company’s overall capital allocation strategy. We also expect to bring Bitcoin mining machines back online at our Montana location by the end of March, which will bolster our mining activities. Assuming Bitcoin maintains its current price of approximately $97,000, and that the Company has fully transitioned the Data Center’s existing power capacity of 30MW from self-mining of Bitcoin to HPC services in September of this year, we anticipate generating approximately $20 million in Bitcoin mining revenue in 2025. If our transition to HPC services is delayed, then we would realize additional revenue from our Bitcoin operations.”

    Hyperscale Data notes that all estimates and other projections are subject to the volatility in Bitcoin market price, the fluctuation in the mining difficulty level, the ability to build out and provide the necessary power for miners, and other factors that may impact the results of Bitcoin mining production or operations.

    For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data’s public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

    About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

    Hyperscale Data is transitioning from a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact to becoming solely an owner and operator of data centers to support high performance computing services. Through its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging artificial intelligence ecosystems and other industries. It also provides, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ault Capital Group, Inc., mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an artificial intelligence software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, Hyperscale Data is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data’s headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company’s business and financial results are included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company’s website at www.hyperscaledata.com.

    Hyperscale Data Investor Contact:
    IR@hyperscaledata.com or 1-888-753-2235

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCSD to hold Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival to celebrate spring festival with public (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCSD to hold Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival to celebrate spring festival with public (with photos)
    LCSD to hold Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival to celebrate spring festival with public (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         To celebrate the festive season with the public, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is presenting the Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) from today (February 7) until February 12. The carnival, with the theme of “Chinese Lanterns: An Enduring Heritage”, features dazzling lanterns and a series of fabulous performances and activities. Members of the public are invited to join for free.      The HKCC piazza is decorated with specially themed lanterns to create a joyful ambience. In addition to a 6-metre ornate palace lantern and an exquisite “Glittering Fish・Lanterns with Abundant Blessings” display launched in mid-January, a number of animal-shaped lanterns such as pandas, colourful peacocks, meerkats and squirrels are also on display. The lanterns will be illuminated from 6pm to 11pm daily.      A range of entertainment and activities with traditional Chinese characteristics and youthful vigour will also be organised. There will be songs, dances and acrobatic performances featuring Bouyei, Dong and Miao ethnic groups by the Guizhou Performance and Arts Group. Other attractions include music, dance and lion dance performances by young local artists and youth organisations, an intangible cultural heritage market and photo exhibition on Guizhou, lantern riddles, inclusive performances, and more.      Details of the events are as follows:

    Theme: Chinese Lanterns: An Enduring Heritage

    Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre piazza and foyer

    From today to February 12

    Lantern display: animal-shaped lanterns including pandas, peacocks, meerkats and squirrels
    Self-service lantern riddles
    Music performances by youth groups

    February 11 

    Youth Night: Chinese instrumentals, harmonica music, a lion dance, dances and music performances by young local artists and youth organisations
    Inclusive dance and music performances
    Lantern riddles
    “Diverse Guizhou” intangible cultural heritage market and “Secret Views” of Guizhou photo exhibition

    February 12

    Gala Night: ethnic songs, dances and a variety show by the Guizhou Performance and Arts Group, and a cappella and break dance performances by local groups
    Lantern riddles
    “Diverse Guizhou” intangible cultural heritage market and “Secret Views” of Guizhou photo exhibition

    Chinese New Year Lantern Display (running until February 16)

    A 6-metre ornate palace lantern adorned with peonies and magpies, and surrounded by sky lanterns, carp fish and lotus flower lanterns and an exquisite “Glittering Fish・Lanterns with Abundant Blessings” lantern display made by local paper-crafting master Mo Cheuk Kei based on the style of traditional Chinese New Year paintings

          Both the Chinese New Year Lantern Display and the Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival are part of the activities of the Spring Festival Gala 2025. For details about stage performances and activities, please refer to the event webpage at: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cpo/lanterncarnival.html or call 2591 1340.

     
    Ends/Friday, February 7, 2025Issued at HKT 16:35

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Levels Protocol Launches Solana’s First-Ever Changing Token

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — By introducing the first token that changes in real-time as its market capitalisation increases, Levels Protocol is revolutionising cryptocurrency in the Solana Ecosystem. In contrast to conventional digital assets, level tokens automatically update their names, symbols, and metadata on-chain to reflect significant events and promote an engaging, dynamic trading environment.

    A Token That Grows Alongside Its Community

    Levels Protocol, based on Solana’s fast blockchain, allows tokens to change without requiring manual modification. With each price milestone being a collective accomplishment for token holders, this innovation produces an exciting investment experience.

    Users can create changing tokens with the Levels Launchpad dApp, transforming market momentum into a gamified experience where progress is rewarded at every round.

    How It Works:

    * $0.0001: Token name = “levels”
    * $0.001: Token name = “levelsss”
    * $0.01: Token name = “levelssssss”
    * $0.1: Token name = “levelssssssssss”
    * $1: Token name = “levelssssssssssssssss”

    An Ecosystem Driven by the Community

    The foundation of Levels Protocol is an incentive-driven framework intended to encourage participation and long-term viability.

    Promoting Intense Engagement

    Every $500 invested earns traders points, which they can use to obtain $LEVELS airdrops and guarantee leaderboard rankings.

    Developers vie for rewards ranging from $30,000 to $50,000+, which spurs ongoing innovation.

    Platform fees are distributed to stakers, guaranteeing long-term value and usefulness.

    A Well-Timed Launch for Long-Term Effects

    In order to sustain community participation and enthusiasm, Levels Protocol uses a staggered release strategy, providing new utilities gradually rather than launching with all features at once.

    Transforming the Cryptocurrency Trading Industry

    Levels Protocol provides a distinctive take on tokenomics by fusing gamification, decentralised technology, and community cooperation. With each milestone reflecting collective progress, its dynamic structure turns static digital assets into community-driven, dynamic entities.

    MEDIA DETAILS:
    Website: https://levelsprotocol.dev
    Person Name: Azul Yager
    Webmail: Azulyager@levelsprotocol.dev
    Location: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, PO Box 111969, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Levels Protocol. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cd15edb4-2a68-4b03-9cb1-e0d1525cc748

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Choi Chang-sau mourned

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law today expressed sorrow over the passing of Choi Chang-sau, a master of the “Arts of the Guqin”, and extended condolences to Mr Choi’s family.

    She explained that inheriting the craftsmanship of guqin making, Mr Choi took up the operation of his family business, the Choi Fook Kee musical instrument shop. He also founded the Choi Chang Sau Qin Making Society in 2011.

    Miss Law said: “Dedicated to the arts for many years, he shared his knowledge generously with local guqin lovers, making remarkable contributions to nurturing talent and passing on precious intangible cultural heritage. We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Choi.”

    With a history dating back more than 3,000 years, guqin is one of the oldest plucked musical instruments in China. Guqin making is a traditional art that involves woodwork, lacquering, calligraphy and the actual making of music.

    The “Arts of the Guqin” was inscribed onto the fourth National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: PhenixFIN Corporation Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NAV per share $80.59

    NEW YORK, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PhenixFIN Corporation (NASDAQ: PFX, PFXNZ) (the “Company”), a publicly traded business development company, today announced its financial results for the fiscal first quarter for its year ending September 30, 2025.

    Highlights

    • First quarter total investment income of $6.2 million; net investment income of $1.6 million
    • Net asset value (NAV) of $162.8 million, or $80.59 per share as of December 31, 2024
    • Weighted average yield was 13.3% on debt and other income producing investments
    • On October 1, 2024, the Company completed the merger and reorganization of The National Security Group, Inc. (“NSG”) an Alabama based insurance holding company
    • On February 6, 2025, the Board declared a special dividend of $1.43 per share to be paid on February 18, 2025, to stockholders of record as of February 17, 2025.

    David Lorber, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated:

    “We have had a great start to fiscal year 2025 as we continue to remain focused on executing our strategic priorities which include growing our platforms, pursuing compelling investment opportunities and increasing NAV per share.”

    Selected First Quarter 2025 Financial Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2024:

    Total investment income was $6.2 million of which $5.9 million was attributable to portfolio interest and dividend income, and $0.3 million was attributable to fee and other income.

    Total net expenses were $4.6 million and total net investment income was $1.6 million.

    The Company recorded a net realized gain of $1.2 million and a net unrealized loss of $0.3 million.  

    Portfolio and Investment Activities for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2024:

    The fair value of the Company’s investment portfolio totaled $300.1 million and consisted of 43 portfolio companies.

    The Company had certain investments in 3 portfolio companies on non-accrual status with a fair market value of $1.5 million.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $7.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, $59.2 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.25% unsecured notes due 2028 and $84.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.

    ABOUT PHENIXFIN CORPORATION

    PhenixFIN Corporation is a non-diversified, internally managed closed-end management investment company incorporated in Delaware that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. We completed our initial public offering and commenced operations on January 20, 2011. The Company has elected, and intends to qualify annually, to be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company operates under an internalized management structure.

     SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT AND OTHER DISCLOSURES

    This press release contains “forward-looking” statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and the Company may make related oral forward-looking statements on or following the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements, including among other things, PhenixFIN’s ability to execute on its strategic initiatives, deliver value to shareholders, increase investment activity, increase net investment income, implement its investment strategy and achieve its investment objective, source and capitalize on investment opportunities, grow its net asset value per share and perform well in the prevailing market environment, the ability of our portfolio companies, including National Security Group, Inc. to perform well and generate income and other factors that are enumerated in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PhenixFIN Corporation disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release.

    Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The press release contains unaudited financial results. For ease of review, we have excluded the word “approximately” when rounding the results. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of PhenixFIN Corporation’s common stock. There can be no assurance that PhenixFIN Corporation will achieve its investment objective. 

    For PhenixFIN investor relations, please call 212-859-0390. For media inquiries, please contact info@phenixfc.com.

    PHENIXFIN CORPORATION
    Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
     
        December 31,
    2024
    (Unaudited)    		     September
    30,
    2024    		  
    Assets:            
    Investments at fair value                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments (amortized cost of $160,480,488 and $143,179,354 respectively)   $ 160,343,098     $ 142,233,426  
    Affiliated investments (amortized cost of $20,564,242 and $20,564,242, respectively)     13,861,599       14,750,785  
    Controlled investments (amortized cost of $152,223,817 and $97,016,429, respectively)     125,889,697       70,931,647  
    Total Investments at fair value     300,094,394       227,915,858  
    Cash and cash equivalents     7,187,110       67,571,559  
    Receivables:                
    Interest receivable     1,313,520       1,313,598  
    Other receivable     16,640       65,838  
    Dividends receivable     105,804       23,468  
    Due from Affiliate     1,040,512       90,500  
    Deferred tax asset     887,099       887,099  
    Deferred financing costs     625,323       760,680  
    Other assets     514,630       1,066,323  
    Prepaid share repurchase     101,115       101,115  
    Receivable for investments sold     41,897       2,955,775  
    Total Assets   $ 311,928,044     $ 302,751,813  
                     
    Liabilities:                
    Credit facility and notes payable (net of debt issuance costs of $1,417,816 and $1,510,815, respectively)   $ 141,743,682     $ 135,723,636  
    Payable for investments purchased     3,688,247       –  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses     2,391,430       5,570,150  
    Interest and fees payable     1,029,334       768,043  
    Other liabilities     256,426       294,063  
    Due to Affiliate     46,995       88,148  
    Total Liabilities     149,156,114       142,444,040  
                     
    Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 8)                
                     
    Net Assets:                
    Common Shares, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; 2,723,709 shares issued; 2,019,778 and 2,019,778 common shares outstanding, respectively     2,020       2,020  
    Capital in excess of par value     704,909,588       704,909,588  
    Total distributable earnings (loss)     (542,139,678 )     (544,603,835 )
    Total Net Assets     162,771,930       160,307,773  
    Total Liabilities and Net Assets   $ 311,928,044     $ 302,751,813  
                     
    Net Asset Value Per Common Share   $ 80.59     $ 79.37  
    PHENIXFIN CORPORATION
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (Unaudited)
     
        For the Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		  
        2024     2023  
    Interest Income:            
    Interest from investments            
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments:                
    Cash   $ 2,824,594     $ 2,682,143  
    Payment in-kind     354,681       90,674  
    Affiliated investments:                
    Cash     –       455,692  
    Payment in-kind     –       –  
    Controlled investments:                
    Cash     588,195       286,238  
    Payment in-kind     –       149,967  
    Total interest income     3,767,470       3,664,714  
    Dividend income                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments     596,298       665,526  
    Affiliated investments     142,495       –  
    Controlled investments     1,399,350       1,348,200  
    Total dividend income     2,138,143       2,013,726  
    Interest from cash and cash equivalents     227,032       41,108  
    Fee income (see Note 9)     11,064       2,108  
    Other income     72,774       22  
    Total Investment Income     6,216,483       5,721,678  
                     
    Expenses:                
    Interest and financing expenses     2,545,811       1,542,061  
    Salaries and benefits     1,028,617       1,424,992  
    Professional fees, net     418,013       357,554  
    Directors fees     204,000       187,500  
    Insurance expenses     88,421       97,756  
    Administrator expenses (see Note 6)     84,355       77,852  
    General and administrative expenses     221,793       325,061  
    Total expenses     4,591,010       4,012,776  
    Net Investment Income     1,625,473       1,708,902  
                     
    Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments                
    Net realized gains (losses):                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments     1,168,670       229,804  
    Affiliated investments     –       –  
    Controlled investments     –       –  
    Total net realized gains (losses)     1,168,670       229,804  
    Net change in unrealized gains (losses):                
    Non-controlled, non-affiliated investments     808,538       1,364,243  
    Affiliated investments     (889,186 )     2,431,263  
    Controlled investments     (249,338 )     (1,200,373 )
    Total net change in unrealized gains (losses)     (329,986 )     2,595,133  
    Deferred tax benefit (expense)     –       –  
    Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)     838,684       2,824,937  
                     
    Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   $ 2,464,157     $ 4,533,839  
                     
    Weighted average basic and diluted earnings per common share   $ 1.22     $ 2.19  
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted (see Note 11)     2,019,778       2,072,694  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Prairie Operating Co. Announces Acquisition of DJ Basin Assets from Bayswater Exploration and Production for Approximately $600 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Adds ~24,000 net acres in Weld County and ~26 mboepd of oil-weighted (69% liquids) net production
    • Adds 77.9 MMboe and ~$1.1 Billion in Proved PV-10 value(1)(2)
    • Attractive valuation, highly accretive across key cash flow metrics
    • Significantly increases 2025 production, revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance

    HOUSTON, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Prairie Operating Co. (Nasdaq: PROP) (the “Company,” “Prairie,” “we,” “our” or “us”), today announced it has entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement to acquire (the “Bayswater Acquisition”) certain assets (the “Bayswater Assets”) from Bayswater Exploration and Production and certain of its affiliated entities (collectively “Bayswater”), a premier operator in the Denver-Julesburg Basin (the “DJ Basin”).   The transaction will significantly increase the Company’s operational scale and footprint in the DJ Basin and add highly economic drilling locations.

    The purchase price of the acquisition is $602.75 million. The transaction consideration will consist of cash and up to ~5.2 million shares of Prairie common stock. Prairie anticipates funding the cash portion of the consideration, net of expected purchase price adjustments, through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s credit facility, pursuant to which the Company has received commitments to expand its borrowing base to $475 million as of the closing of the Bayswater Acquisition, and proceeds from one or more capital markets transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors. The Company expects to complete the Bayswater Acquisition in February 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, with an economic effective date of December 1, 2024.

    “This acquisition delivers compelling strategic and financial advantages and reflects our disciplined, but opportunistic approach to rapidly expand our footprint in the DJ Basin,” said Edward Kovalik, Chairman and CEO of Prairie Operating Co. “Not only will the addition of these high-quality assets be immediately accretive, but they will also accelerate our development plans, enhance operational efficiencies, and drive sustainable, long-term value creation for our shareholders.”

    Gary Hanna, President of the Company, added, “This acquisition represents a transformative milestone for Prairie Operating Co. by significantly expanding our footprint and production of oil rich assets in the DJ Basin. Upon closing, we will be well-positioned to deliver significant organic production growth in 2025 and beyond.”

    Key Prairie Highlights, Pro Forma for the Transaction:

    • Transformational Increase in Oil-Weighted Production: ~27,500 net BOEPD (69% liquids)
    • Expanded Footprint / Inventory Life: ~54,000 net acres, including ~600 highly economic drilling locations, providing ~10 years of drilling inventory
    • Significantly Increases Free Cash Flow: Expected to be immediately accretive to per-share cash flow metrics
    • Maintains Strong Balance Sheet: Expected leverage ratio of ~1.0x at closing with upsized committed credit facility and ample liquidity
    • Meaningful Infrastructure Synergies: Leverages existing infrastructure to drive operational efficiencies and reduce development costs
    • Attractive Valuation Metrics(1): PV-20 of Proved Developed Producing (“PDP”) reserves and $23,500 per net flowing BOE

    2025 Updated Guidance

    Upon the closing of this acquisition, the combined Company’s 2025 pro forma outlook includes:

    • Average Daily Production: 29,000 – 31,000 BOEPD
    • Capital Expenditures (Capex): $300 million – $320 million
    • Adjusted EBITDA(3): Expected to range between $350 million and $370 million

    *Based on an active hedging program and an average working interest (“WI”) of 75% or greater.

    Estimated Reserve Data

    A summary of the estimated reserves and values of our properties (as adjusted to give effect to the Bayswater Acquisition), as of November 30, 2024, and as determined by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, the Company’s independent Petroleum Reserve Evaluation Firm, using SEC pricing as of November 30, 2024 is set forth below.

      Our Pro Forma Net Reserves  
    Reserve Category Oil
    (MBbl)    		 NGL
    (MBbl)    		 Gas
    (MMcf)    		 Total
    (MBoe)    		 Liquids
    (%)    		 PV-10
    ($MM)(4)
    Proved Developed Producing (PDP) 23,581 14,810 113,611 57,326 67 % $860
    Proved Developed Not Producing (PDNP) 173 26 216 235 85 % $5
    Proved Undeveloped (PUD) 25,547 8,970 72,088 46,531 74 % $495
    Total Proved 49,301 23,806 185,914 104,093 70 % $1,360

    (3) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

    (4) PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

    Webcast Access

    Date: Friday, February 7, 2025
    Time: 10:00am Eastern Time (9:00am Central Time)
    Participant Listening: 877-407-9219 / +1 201-689-8852

    The webcast may be accessed from the “Press & Media” page of Prairie’s website at: https://www.prairieopco.com/media

    To participate via telephone, please register in advance here: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=DUzJKsjj

    Participants can use Guest dial-in numbers above and be answered by an operator OR click the Call meTM link for instant telephone access to the event: https://hd.choruscall.com/InComm/?callme=true&passcode=13751732&h=true&info=company&r=true&B=6

    The Call me™ link will be made active 15 minutes prior to scheduled start time. Upon registration, all telephone participants will be joined to the conference call in listen only. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for two (2) weeks following the call.

    Advisors

    Citi is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is serving as legal advisor to Prairie. Citibank N.A. is also leading the committed financing under the Company’s anticipated expanded credit facility, with Latham & Watkins LLP as legal advisor to Citibank N.A.

    About Prairie Operating Co.

    Prairie Operating Co. is a Houston-based publicly traded independent energy company engaged in the development and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. The Company’s assets and operations are concentrated in the oil and liquids-rich regions of the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, with a primary focus on the Niobrara and Codell formations. The Company is committed to the responsible development of its oil and natural gas resources and is focused on maximizing returns through consistent growth, capital discipline, and sustainable cash flow generation. More information about the Company can be found at www.prairieopco.com.

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

    Adjusted EBITDA

    This press release also contains Adjusted EBITDA, which is a financial measure not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to evaluate the performance of our business, make operational decisions, and assess our ability to generate cashflows.  Management believes Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with helpful information to better understand the underlying performance trends of our business, facilitate period-to-period comparisons, and assess the company’s operating results.

    Adjusted EBITDA is derived from Net income and is adjusted for income tax expense, depreciation, depletion, and amortization (DD&A), accretion of asset retirement obligations, non-cash stock-based compensation, and loss on unrealized commodity derivatives. We adjust net income for the items listed above to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially between periods and companies within our industry depending upon accounting methods, book values of assets, capital structures, and the method by which assets were acquired. Additionally, the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA does not imply that our operating results will not be affected by unusual or non-recurring items. 

    Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, including that it excludes certain items that affect our reported financial results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP Net income or as an indicator of our operating performance or liquidity. Additionally, our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

    The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income, which is the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (in Millions)

    PV-10

    This press release contains PV-10, which is a financial measure not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. PV-10 is derived from the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows (“Standardized Measure”), which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for proved reserves. PV-10 is a computation of the Standardized Measure on a pre-tax basis. PV-10 is equal to the Standardized Measure at the applicable date, before deducting future income taxes discounted at 10%. Neither PV-10 nor standardized measure represents an estimate of the fair market value of the applicable crude oil, natural gas and NGLs properties. We believe that the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to our investors as supplemental disclosure to the Standardized Measure, or after-tax amount, because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our reserves before considering future corporate income taxes and our current tax structure. While the standardized measure is dependent on the unique tax situation of each company, PV-10 is based on prices and discount factors that are consistent for all companies.

    The following table reconciles PV-10 to the standard measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:

    Reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standard Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, are forward-looking statements, including statements about our ability to complete and successfully finance the Bayswater Acquisition, our financial performance following the Bayswater Acquisition, estimates of oil, natural gas and NGLs reserves, estimates of future oil, natural gas and NGLs production, and the Company’s updated guidance set forth in this press release. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including our ability to satisfy the conditions to closing the Bayswater Acquisition in a timely manner or at all, our ability to successfully finance the Bayswater Acquisition, our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Bayswater Acquisition, the possibility that we may be unable to achieve expected free cash flow accretion, production levels, drilling, operational efficiencies and other anticipated benefits of the Bayswater Assets within the expected time-frames or at all, and our ability to successfully integrate the Bayswater Assets . There may be additional risks not currently known by the Company or that the Company currently believes are immaterial that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the Company’s expectations can be found in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on March 20, 2024, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Wobbe Ploegsma
    info@prairieopco.com
    832.274.3449

    Tables accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2887d588-6948-4d53-b85e-af27741c6839
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a82a869-eea3-4d69-b087-417457b9dc27

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sunderland resident found guilty of fly-tipping

    Source: City of Sunderland

    A Sunderland resident has been left with a court bill of nearly £1,000 after being caught on CCTV fly-tipping household waste and three sofas at the rear of his property.

    Malik Yansane, of Athol Road, was found guilty following a trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court of offences under Section 33(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

    The court heard how shortly after 8am on Friday 28 October 2022, Mr Yansane was observed on CCTV removing waste from his property and leaving it in the street. A Street Watch CCTV camera had been set up by the council as part of ongoing work to deter fly-tipping.

    Despite clear warning signs about CCTV surveillance, Mr. Yansane deliberately left three sofas directly beneath a post-mounted camera monitoring the area.

    The court heard how, following a report of fly-tipping, Sunderland City Council’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Team attended the rear of Athol Road, where they discovered a significant illegal waste deposit. Alongside the three sofas, officers found a child’s bouncer chair, a plastic container, black bin bags, and boxes, all discarded in plain sight of the camera.

    Officers swiftly launched an investigation, searching the waste for evidence before arranging its immediate removal.

    As part of an investigation, Mr Yansane attended an interview with council officers and confirmed it was him on the camera evidence and he admitted to illegally dumping waste behind his property.

    Mr Yansane was offered the opportunity to pay a £300 Fixed Penalty Notice instead of facing prosecution. He received the notice on Wednesday 18 January 2023 and was told to pay within ten days.

    On Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 8 February 2023, he received postal reminders that if he didn’t pay, legal action would be considered. The penalty was not paid and the council began court proceedings.

    The case was heard on Tuesday 4 February 2025 and Mr Yansane, who was representing himself, conceded that he had admitted in interview and that he had placed the items in the back lane and did not have any permissions, permits or licence to do so. He had also made no arrangements for anyone to collect the items and he had himself previously reported fly-tipping near his property.

    Magistrates found him guilty of fly-tipping and ordered him to pay a £300 fine, £245.21 to cover clean-up costs, and £450 for legal and investigation fees. In total, Mr Yansane was ordered to pay £995.21.

    Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero, Councillor Lindsey Leonard said: “This case shows that fly-tipping will not be tolerated. If you illegally dump waste, we will investigate, take legal action, and bring offenders to court.

    “Sunderland City Council is dedicated to keeping our community clean, and we encourage residents to dispose of their waste properly.”

    Residents are encouraged to report any fly-tipping or waste disposal issues directly to Sunderland City Council. You can do this online at www.sunderland.gov.uk/report-it or by calling 0191 520 5550.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Homegrown hit comedy returns

    Source: City of Liverpool

    One of ITVX’s most successful-ever comedies is set to return to the small screen tonight, thanks to Liverpool Film Office.  

    G’wed will be back for a second series at 10.05pm Thursday 6 February and is the tenth project to receive investment from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s LCR Production Fund which is facilitated by Liverpool City Council’s Film Office.

    The first season aired in 2024 and has been streamed over six million times.

    Written by Liverpool’s Danny Kenny and produced by Golden Path Productions, filming for the second series took place in Wirral and Liverpool for five weeks last summer. As part of the production fund agreement, it supported six trainees from the Film Office’s skills initiative Action!, which saw the industry-newcomers hone skills as assistant directors, and take up roles in costume, props, locations, make-up and sound departments.

    The £3 million, LCR Production Fund is was launched by Mayor Steve Rotheram in 2019, and has to date invested in 10 high-end TV dramas including This City Is Ours, the Time series 1 and 2 – the first of which won a BAFTA – and Emmy Award-winning The Responder.

    The Action! initiative has been made possible through £2.3m of BFI National Lottery funding which was awarded to Screen Alliance North, a new skills cluster partnership delivered by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire.

    The partnership aims to make the screen sector more accessible and to help build a thriving and skilled workforce across the North of England.

    For more information head to the Liverpool Film Office website.

    Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

    “When I launched the LCR Production Fund, I wanted to help establish the Liverpool City Region as the ‘Hollywood of the North.’ We’ve already begun to see that pay off, supporting a number of award-winning productions.

    “This investment isn’t just about making great TV—though G’wed has clearly been a hit – it’s about creating opportunities for local people, supporting our economy, and showing the world what our region can do. I’m really proud to see how our funding is helping to nurture the next generation of talent and put our region at the heart of the UK’s creative industry.”

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:

    “This investment has helped provide opportunities for local crew and trainees – some of who were given the first step on their film and TV career ladder.

    “The fund has helped bring so much to our region, from the economy to providing opportunities for local people to flourish in a career they could have only dreamt of.

    “It is fantastic what has been achieved here and hope that the impact of the fund continues for many years to come.”

    Action! trainee and Chargehand props on G’wed 2, Ciaran Dow Jones said: “During my placement, I worked in dressing props, which gave me great hands-on experience in creating sets and managing prop storage.

    “Everyone had a real laugh on set and there was great teamwork amongst the cast and crew. The best part was the fun atmosphere – every day on set was exciting.

    “Moving forward, I want to keep developing my skills in the art department while also exploring other roles in film and TV, with the goal of becoming a director one day.”

    Head of Liverpool Film Office, Lynn Saunders said:

    “We’re proud to have invested in the second series of G’wed and I know that it will build on the success of the first which was a hit for audiences.

    “Having filmed in Wirral and Liverpool, and being solely based in Wirral, we are proud to have worked closely with Wirral Council colleagues to make this series possible. “We’re looking forward to tuning in on Thursday along with thousands of others.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hop inside Miffy’s world as museum celebrates iconic character’s birthday

    Source: City of Leeds

    One of the world’s most beloved bunnies has hopped into Leeds City Museum this week, inviting visitors to celebrate a very special birthday.

    From Friday (Feb 7) museum-goers can step inside the world of international phenomenon Miffy, the adorable rabbit created by Dutch artist and illustrator Dick Bruna, as the iconic character marks her 70th anniversary with a new exhibition.

    The exhibition features a collection of screen prints, films, pencil drawings, paintings, original book designs and Miffy merchandise from across the world alongside stop motion models from the TV series Miffy and Friends.

    The interactive exhibition, which is free to visit, will bring Miffy to life through giant versions of some of the illustrated icon’s most popular books, inviting visitors to enter Miffy’s world, play hide and seek among the trees and use their imaginations to create their own stories using puppets, drawings and colour.

    A collaboration with Mercis, the global brand owner of Miffy, the concept for the exhibition began in 2022 when Leeds Museums and Galleries won a prestigious European award for its learning programmes.

    The trophy awarded to the service was a bronze sculpture of Miffy created by Dick Bruna’s youngest son, Marc Bruna.

    Matt Storey, Leeds City Museum’s principal keeper, said: “It’s a real joy to welcome such a world-famous character to Leeds and for the museum to be playing an important part in celebrating 70 years of both Miffy and Dick Bruna’s unique art, life and legacy.

    “As well as marking a huge milestone for Miffy, the exhibition is a great chance for families to come together at the museum and step into a world of play and imagination which they can explore and be inspired by.”

    Originally created on June 21, 1955, Bruna first drew Miffy to entertain his young son whilst on a rainy seaside holiday in Holland, telling him stories about a rabbit which ran around the garden of their holiday home.

    The acclaimed series of picture books which followed used simple illustrations and rhyming text to explore universal childhood themes, with Miffy becoming globally synonymous with friendship, innocence, fun and design.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for different generations to come together at the museum and celebrate a character who has been a part of so many childhoods all across the world.

    “Leeds City Museum is the ideal place for such a family-friendly exhibition and we’re really looking forward to welcoming families in the coming months.”

    The Leeds City Museum exhibition will run from February 7 until September 7, 2025, and is free to visit.

    A programme of Miffy themed events and activities will take place throughout February half term and the museum will be celebrating Miffy’s official birthday in June.

    After Leeds, the exhibition will move to Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life.

    For more details, please visit: Miffy’s 70th Birthday | Leeds Museums and Galleries | Days out and exhibitions

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: The Spring Festival: A global gateway to understanding China

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

    BEIJING, Feb. 7 — As the world ushers in the Year of the Snake on the Chinese lunar calendar, the Spring Festival has expanded beyond its traditional roots to become a global phenomenon, offering a window through which people around the world can learn about China’s cultural ethos and contemporary dynamism.

    To mark the Chinese New Year, the London Eye was lit up in auspicious red, while Dubai’s Burj Khalifa dazzled with festive projections. Global iconic landmarks joined China in celebrating a millennia-old tradition. Additionally, the festival’s global imprint extends beyond the lights: dragon dances, temple fairs and other activities were held across the world.

    This year’s Spring Festival is the first since its inscription on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. The Chinese New Year is becoming a festival celebrated across the world. As nearly 20 nations recognize the Spring Festival as an official holiday and some 200 countries hold celebrations, this cultural event reflects humanity’s shared yearning for renewal and connection.

    China’s expanded visa-free travel policies have amplified this cultural exchange, enabling more international travelers to visit China and immerse themselves in the festival’s rich customs.

    Foreign visitors have experienced not just festive fireworks, but the profound values embedded in the tradition: familial bonds that transcend borders, the harmony between humanity and nature, and an emphasis on social cohesion. These values resonate across cultures, dismantle stereotypes and nurture mutual cultural appreciation.

    “The Spring Festival Gala,” an annual TV program broadcast live and watched by billions worldwide, epitomizes China’s cultural appeal. The 2025 gala featured the performances of U.S. band OneRepublic and Peruvian artists, demonstrating artistic dialogue between East and West.

    The televised extravaganza also offers a glimpse of the integration of tradition and modernity as well as technological progress in the country. AI-powered robots performed a synchronized dance in embroidered jackets during the show, showcasing China’s fusion of heritage and cutting-edge technology, and the openness, inclusiveness and innovation of Chinese culture.

    Beyond culture, this year’s Spring Festival illuminated China’s economic resilience amid global economic headwinds.

    The eight-day holiday saw year-on-year increases in tourist numbers and expenditure, as well as record box office revenue. Boosted by trade-in programs and other policies, the sales of home appliances and communication equipment at key retailers jumped during the festival, reflecting the vibrancy of China’s consumption market.

    In Chinese culture, the snake symbolizes agility, wisdom and vitality. As the world is fraught with growing uncertainties and regional frictions, the Spring Festival, an age-old tradition that perpetually rejuvenates itself, serves as a unique portal to a dynamically evolving China.

    Moreover, the values enshrined within the Spring Festival not only act as a guiding light for individuals, but also hold the potential to foster deeper mutual understanding among different cultures and promote world peace and prosperity.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dates revealed as Coventry City Council hosts Godiva Festival 2025

    Source: City of Coventry

    Godiva Festival is set to make a triumphant return in 2025 as organisers reveal the awaited dates.

    The festival will take place over three days in the summer from Friday 4 – Sunday 6 July 2025.

    The event will see a weekend of music, entertainment and family-friendly fun in the city’s War Memorial Park.

    Renowned for showcasing a diverse line-up of top-tier musical acts alongside the best of Coventry’s local talent, Godiva Festival is the highlights of the city’s event calendar.

    Past line-ups have featured unforgettable performances from big name artists such as The Enemy, Mel C, Richard Ashcroft and Rudimental.

    Tickets are set to go on sale in March. Details about ticket prices and the eagerly awaited line-up will be unveiled in the coming weeks, ensuring festival goers have time to plan for what promises to be a fantastic weekend.

    Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council and Cabinet Member for Events, said: “I’m delighted to announce that Godiva Festival will be returning in 2025 and will be taking place in July.

    “Last year we hosted an unforgettable 25th Godiva Festival and we hope to build on that by putting the well-known names on stage alongside our fantastic local talent.

    “As we eagerly anticipate the festival, it’s important to acknowledge the economic benefits it brings to Coventry, particularly in terms of tourism.

    “We also recognise the financial pressures faced by our attendees and with that in mind, we remain committed to keeping prices as low as possible whilst delivering a high quality event.

    “The festival continues to be fuelled by the incredible support and love from Coventrians and those who travel to the festival alike. It remains a pivotal part of our city’s cultural landscape and I hope both residents and visitors to the city see that it reflects the spirit of Coventry.

    “We will be back soon with more information on ticket breakdown and pricing and of course to start sharing some of our line-up.”

    Godiva Festival received an Improvers Certification from A Greener Future for sustainability measures in place at last year’s event.

    Coventry College will again be the proud sponsors of the festival’s Family Field.

    As the festival gears up for another amazing year, stay connected with the latest updates by visiting www.godivafestival.com.

    Sign up for the free festival newsletter to be the first to find out about the line-up or follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: To Yuri Alexandrov, People’s Artist of Russia

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Mikhail Mishustin congratulated the artistic director of the State Chamber Musical Theatre “Saint Petersburg Opera” on his 70th birthday.

    The telegram states, in particular:

    “You have made a great contribution to the development of Russian culture and art. A high level of skill, commitment to the academic traditions of the opera and directing school have allowed you to head one of the best chamber theaters of the Northern capital – “Saint Petersburg Opera” for more than thirty years. An innovative approach, unexpected stage solutions, modern interpretation of classical works are embodied in your unique productions, which invariably become a bright musical event, causing admiration among millions of viewers in the country and far beyond its borders.

    I wish you the fulfillment of all your plans, good health, happiness and prosperity.”

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2 sports events get ‘M’ Mark

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Major Sports Events Committee announced today that it has awarded “M” Mark status to the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025, due to take place this Sunday, and to the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, scheduled to be held on February 14 and 16.

    Major Sports Events Committee Chairman Wilfred Ng said these events will stimulate the local economy and enhance Hong Kong’s international image, thereby strengthening the city’s status as an events capital.

    “The Hong Kong Marathon is the largest annual long-distance running event in Hong Kong. It has been well-received by the public over the years, attracting up to 74,000 participants this year, including internationally renowned elite runners.”

    For the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, a 5-star international jumping competition recognised by the Federation Equestrian Internationale, Mr Ng added: “It will be held in Hong Kong for the first time and will feature a world-class horse show, entertainment and a performance.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Belle Gibson built a ‘wellness’ empire on a lie about cancer. Apple Cider Vinegar expertly unravels her con

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University

    Netflix

    Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson.

    The first episode opens with Gibson’s character (played by Kaitlyn Dever) breaking the wall between the performance and the audience, saying:

    This is a true story based on a lie. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent. Belle Gibson has not been paid for the recreation of her story.

    And from these first few seconds, we know, Gibson herself is not innocent.

    A familiar story

    For anyone who followed Gibson during her rise to fame in the 2010s – or her spectacular fall – the show feels eerily familiar.

    From the clothing, to the makeup, to the food, Apple Cider Vinegar excels in set design and staging. Every effort has been made to ensure this true story, based on a lie, looks like it did when it was unfolding on our phone screens in 2010s.

    As someone who followed Gibson closely and spent months hunting down the recalled cookbook to see if the health claims were as outlandish as I’d heard (they were), this show was a treat to watch.

    The scenes are cut with recreations of Belle’s stylised Instagram pictures of green juices, beaches and food with “no nasties”. Belle’s account was removed from Instagram after the massive public ousting of her hoax.

    Apple Cider Vinegar has done an incredible job recreating this account and breathing life back into the deleted content.

    Even after being caught out, the real Gibson claimed ‘unscrupulous natural therapists duped her into believing she was dying’, according to 60 Minutes.
    Netflix

    The cancer con

    While the core story of Apple Cider Vinegar is unpacking Gibson’s lies and path to destruction, it also shows us a very real and heartbreaking side to cancer.

    Other prominent characters include fellow influencer, Milla Blake (played by Alycia Debnam-Carey) and follower Lucy (played by Tilda Cobham-Harvey). Both of these women are battling cancer. We learn about their relationships with Gibson and how her lies so easily bled into their lives.

    We witness how alluring Gibson’s lies were for people who were desperately looking to feel “well”. We understand her magnetism, and just as easily to feel the rage of the families who watched as their loved ones deteriorated. In the words of Lucy’s partner:

    I’m not letting some influencer with a nose ring undercut years of medical research.

    Apple Cider Vinegar demonstrates how one can be taken down a path of cancer treatment quackery. The allure of alternative medicine is presented compellingly when contrasted with the painful realities of traditional cancer treatment.

    Milla, suffering from an aggressive form of cancer, seeks out alternative options after doctors recommend an amputation. She says:

    I didn’t know the words to describe the rage I felt when the doctors looked at my body and only saw disease.

    While holistic approaches to many diseases can be helpful when combined with traditional treatment, Apple Cider Vinegar illustrates how toxic it can be to “moralise” health.

    When people assign moral properties to neutral health conditions such as cancer, AIDS or COVID, this can lead to stigmatisation and feelings of being “bad”. Some characters in the show talk about how their behaviours led them to sickness and how “healthy” actions would save them (rather than medical treatment).

    The show also regularly uses language that is prominent in online health communities, such as referring to certain foods as “good” or “toxic”. In one scene, we see a character fall into a panic and call a holistic health professional after her parent takes a pain killer.

    The real story

    Apple Cider Vinegar is based on the book The Woman Who Fooled the World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, two journalists who were instrumental in uncovering Gibson’s lies.

    Creator Samantha Strauss crafts this story expertly. We see Gibson’s story from all sides. We feel sympathy for her – for her childhood and loneliness – before being put in the shoes of someone whose partner is dying because they followed Gibson’s advice.

    Some characters and scenes have clearly been fabricated, such as when Gibson claims to see a doctor named “Dr Phil”. But these fabrications seem acceptable, because we are told from the beginning that’s what this show would do: create and fictionalise some characters.

    Other scenes feel very real. The character Milla Blake, a fellow influencer, is heavily inspired by the real woman who died in 2015 from epithelioid sarcoma.

    She made a platform online by sharing how she rejected traditional cancer treatment in favour of alternative treatments (Gerson therapy). Like Belle, she was a part of the inspirational speaking and author circuit at the time.

    Alycia Debnam-Carey (left) plays Milla Blake, a character based on a real woman who died from epithelioid sarcoma in 2015.
    Netflix

    In their book The Woman Who Fooled the World, Donelly and Toscano speculate about how Belle got close to this influencer (to follow her pattern of success online) and to other cancer patients, including a young boy and his family (to mimic symptoms and appear more authentic).

    Apple Cider Vinegar shows us hints of this behaviour. We see Belle begin to mimic the language of other people sharing their experiences with cancer and act in similar ways.

    Whether or not you are already familiar Gibson’s story, Apple Cider Vinegar is a compelling watch. You’ll especially love it if you enjoy non-fiction productions that play with ideas of truth such as iTonya, the Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna.

    Apple Cider Vinegar is streaming now on Netflix.

    Edith Jennifer Hill 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. Belle Gibson built a ‘wellness’ empire on a lie about cancer. Apple Cider Vinegar expertly unravels her con – https://theconversation.com/belle-gibson-built-a-wellness-empire-on-a-lie-about-cancer-apple-cider-vinegar-expertly-unravels-her-con-248999

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: S. Korea’s court holds 6th hearing of Yoon’s impeachment trial

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    South Korea’s constitutional court held the sixth hearing of impeachment trial on President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday, with the arrested president being present for the fourth time.

    Yoon, dressed in a black suit and red necktie, presented himself at the courtroom in central Seoul at about 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT).

    Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, former chief of the Army Special Warfare Command, said in the hearing that it was exactly correct that Yoon ordered him to remove “lawmakers” from the chamber of the National Assembly, where the lawmakers gathered to lift an emergency martial law which was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3 last year.

    About two hours after the declaration, Yoon called Kwak through a scrambler phone, giving orders that the lawmakers should be dragged out of the chamber before the quorum to revoke the martial law is filled, according to Kwak.

    Kwak also received a call from former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun who ordered access to the National Assembly to be blocked so that the quorum of 150 lawmakers would not be filled.

    Yoon denied the allegations, saying it would be impossible between superiors and inferiors of public offices to give calls out of the blue and give orders to block access to the parliament and drag lawmakers out.

    Throughout the midnight hours of the short-lived martial law imposition, military helicopters landed at the National Assembly and hundreds of armed special forces troops broke into the parliamentary building, TV footage showed.

    Under the constitution, a president is required to report the martial law imposition to the National Assembly, a sole body with the right to repeal martial law.

    According to the prosecution’s indictment, Yoon urged military commanders over the phone to push martial law troops into the parliamentary chamber by “firing guns” and “using axes” to break the door open.

    Col. Kim Hyun-tae, chief of the Army Special Warfare Command’s 707th Special Mission Group, said in the hearing that he was ordered by Kwak to seal off and secure the National Assembly building, not ordered to drag lawmakers out.

    Kim stressed that when the special forces troops tussled with citizens inside and outside the parliamentary building, the troops only defended, not attacked, as they felt a lot of shame, noting that the troops were people who could not aim guns at or use force against ordinary people.

    Next hearings were scheduled to be held on Feb. 11 and 13.

    The motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power is suspended.

    Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15, becoming the country’s first sitting president to be arrested.

    Yoon, who was named as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, was indicted under detention on Jan. 26, becoming the country’s first incumbent president to be put on trial in custody.

    Yoon was accused of conspiring with the former defense minister, who had already been indicted under detention, to declare unconstitutional, illegal martial law and dispatch armed forces into the National Assembly.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Year of the Snake starts with travel, spending boom

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Passengers are seen at the waiting hall of Beijing South Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    As China celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Snake, the festive atmosphere was reflected in a surge in travel and consumer spending. With tourism booming, restaurants bustling, and box offices setting new records, the festivities showcased China’s economic vitality.

    The Spring Festival, China’s most important festival, sparked a nationwide travel surge as families reunited and celebrations took place across the country. Official data showed that more than 2.3 billion passenger trips were made nationwide during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, which concluded on Tuesday.

    Official projections estimated over 9 billion passenger trips during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush that officially began on Jan. 14.

    The annual migration — once dominated by homebound travelers — now sees a growing number of people opting for holiday getaways, filling train stations, highways, and airports in celebration of the Year of the Snake.

    Tourism soars on heritage charm

    With China’s Spring Festival now on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, cultural exploration-centered tours have become increasingly popular.

    Online searches for “intangible cultural heritage tourism” jumped 174 percent since the beginning of this year, while folk craft-related searches spiked 321 percent, according to Meituan Travel. On the popular video-sharing platform Douyin, demand for intangible cultural heritage tours led to a 462 percent year-on-year rise in group tour bookings for folk fairs.

    According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China saw a record 501 million domestic tourist trips during the just-concluded holiday, up 5.9 percent year on year. Tourist spending reached a record high of over 677 billion yuan (94.43 billion U.S. dollars) during the period, a 7 percent increase from the previous year.

    The cultural allure extended beyond domestic travelers, attracting visitors from around the globe. The latest data from the National Immigration Administration showed about 14.37 million cross-border trips were made during the holiday, up 6.3 percent from last year’s Spring Festival holiday. Of these, 958,000 trips were made by foreign nationals, marking a 22.9 percent increase.

    Foreign tourists try to make tofu during a folk celebration of the Spring Festival in Wayaogang Village, Yongding District of Zhangjiajie City, central China’s Hunan Province, Jan. 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    According to Chinese online travel service giant Trip.com Group, inbound travel orders during the Spring Festival holiday rose 203 percent year on year, underscoring the growing international appeal of China’s cultural and natural landmarks.

    Among the top destinations was Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province, renowned for its spectacular mountain scenery that inspired scenes in global blockbusters. Malaysian tourist Vincent Koh Swee Sam was among the many international visitors drawn to cultural heritage in Zhangjiajie. Immersing himself in local festivities, Sam joined villagers in writing Spring Festival couplets, pounding glutinous rice cakes, and making tofu.

    Sam’s hands-on experience with Chinese calligraphy deepened his appreciation for the art. “I used to know China only through textbooks and maps,” he said. “But now that I have stepped into it myself, it feels so good.”

    Dining boom feeds festive spirit

    No Spring Festival is complete without a grand feast, and this year, more families chose to dine out for ease and variety, driving a surge in restaurant bookings.

    In Shanghai’s bustling city center, all 91 tables at the renowned Cantonese restaurant Xinya were packed with diners on Chinese New Year’s Eve, according to executive chef Huang Renkang.

    People have a reunion meal at a restaurant in Nanjing City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Jan. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), the revenues of key restaurants tracked by the ministry climbed 5.1 percent year on year in the first four days of the holiday.

    Online platforms saw a similar rise. Meituan reported a 305 percent year-on-year increase in online bookings for Chinese New Year’s Eve dinners, while high-end restaurants featuring Chinese culinary experiences saw significant growth.

    Notably, orders for “intangible cultural heritage” meal packages searched on Meituan soared over 12 times year on year since the beginning of this year.

    Box office hits record high

    From Chinese mythology to homegrown animation, this year’s Spring Festival film lineup drew massive crowds and posted record-breaking sales.

    China’s box office sales jumped to an all-time high of 9.51 billion yuan over the holiday period, while attendance also set a new record, with 187 million moviegoers packing theaters.

    People watch a film at a cinema in Feidong County, Hefei City, east China’s Anhui Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Leading the charge was the animated feature “Ne Zha 2,” which grossed around 4.84 billion yuan.

    “The moviegoers’ enthusiasm indicates vibrant consumption during the holiday as well as the consumers’ confidence in domestic productions,” said Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association.

    Experts attributed the success to strong audience anticipation, beloved characters and stories, and high-quality storytelling.

    “The strong performance of these films lays a solid foundation for the steady growth of China’s film market in 2025,” noted Chen Jin, a data analyst from box office tracker Beacon.

    Policy boost sparks shopping spree

    Festive cheer and consumer enthusiasm energized the market even before the holiday began. With the country’s trade-in program driving demand, shoppers eagerly seized the opportunity to upgrade cars, home appliances, and digital devices, ushering in a vibrant holiday shopping season.

    People visit a flower market in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Jan. 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The MOC reported receiving subsidy applications for 10.79 million electronic devices over a four-day period starting Jan. 20. This follows the inclusion of mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches in the trade-in subsidy program, marking a significant expansion of the initiative launched in March last year.

    Moreover, according to the ministry, automobile trade-ins reached 34,000 while home appliance trade-ins reached 1.04 million units as of Jan. 23.

    Building on this momentum, online retail sales grew by 5.8 percent during the eight-day holiday, while sales of home appliances and communication equipment at key retailers jumped by over 10 percent.

    “Spring Festival offers a glimpse into the year’s economic trends,” said Chen Lifen, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council.

    In this holiday season, a blend of cultural experiences and new consumption scenarios has helped reinforce the economic recovery momentum, injecting confidence into the economy and setting a strong foundation for the year ahead, Chen noted.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: WA Labor has thumping Newspoll lead a month before election; federal Labor improves

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    The Western Australian state election will be held on March 8. A Newspoll, conducted January 29 to February 4 from a sample of 1,039, gave Labor a 56–44 lead, from primary votes of 42% Labor, 32% Liberals, 3% Nationals, 12% Greens, 4% One Nation and 7% for all Others.

    At the March 2021 WA election, Labor won 53 of the 59 lower house seats on a two-party vote of 69.7–30.3, a record high for either major party at any state or federal election. Labor won 59.9% of the primary vote.

    A 56–44 result in Labor’s favour would still be a thumping victory, but it would represent a 14% swing to the Liberals from 2021. Labor will lose many seats, but they are very likely to easily retain a lower house majority.

    Labor Premier Roger Cook had a net approval of +18, with 55% satisfied and 37% dissatisfied. Liberal leader Libby Mettam had a net approval of -2, with 41% dissatisfied and 39% satisfied. Cook led Mettam as better premier by 54–34.

    While this Newspoll is very good for state Labor, only 35% of WA voters said the Anthony Albanese federal Labor government deserved to be re-elected, while 50% said it was “time to give someone else a go”.

    Federal Essential poll: Coalition remains ahead on respondent preferences

    A national Essential poll, conducted January 29 to February 2 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 49–47 lead by respondent preferences including undecided (48–47 in mid-January). The Coalition has led by one or two points in the past four Essential polls.

    Primary votes were 36% Coalition (down one), 30% Labor (steady), 12% Greens (steady), 8% One Nation (up one), 1% UAP (down one), 9% for all Others (up two) and 4% undecided (down one). These primary votes imply a Labor lead by about 50.5–49.5 by 2022 election preference flows.

    The poll graph below includes the latest polls from Essential and Morgan, but not the DemosAU poll. In the last two weeks, the Morgan poll has trended to Labor, with Labor’s two-party share using 2022 flows increasing from 48% to 50.5%.

    On action to combat antisemitism, 9% thought the government was doing too much, 30% said it was doing enough and 43% believed it was not doing enough. On the importance of antisemitism, 40% said it was a major issue, 48% a minor issue and 12% not an issue. Issue salience will be greatly overstated by questions that ask about one issue; it’s best to ask about various issues.

    By 37–31, respondents supported tax discounts of $20,000 for small businesses to pay for meals and entertainment for staff and clients. The question did not mention that this idea was proposed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

    By 77–16, voters thought there should be laws requiring equal salaries for men and women in the same position, but by 49–45 they said gender equality has come far enough already. On social and economic inequality, 57% (down two since May 2024) thought it is increasing, 29% (up three) staying about the same and 10% (up one) decreasing.

    Core inflation dropped in December quarter

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics released inflation data for the December quarter on January 29. Headline inflation was up 0.2% in December, unchanged from the September quarter, with annual inflation down from 2.8% to 2.4%. The peak annual inflation was 7.8% in December 2022.

    Core (trimmed mean) inflation increased 0.5% in December, down from 0.8% in September, for an annual rate of 3.2%, down from 3.6% in September. Annual core inflation peaked at 6.8% in December 2022.

    The ABC’s report said financial markets thought there was now a 90% chance of an interest rate cut when the Reserve Bank board meets on February 17–18. A rate cut would be good news for the government.

    Morgan and DemosAU polls are tied

    A national Morgan poll, conducted January 27 to February 2 from a sample of 1,694, had a 50–50 tie by headline respondent preferences, a two-point gain for Labor since the previous poll. This is the first time the Coalition has not led in a Morgan poll since late November.

    Primary votes were 38.5% Coalition (down two), 30% Labor (up 0.5), 11.5% Greens (steady), 5.5% One Nation (down 0.5), 10.5% independents (up 1.5) and 4% others (up 0.5). By 2022 election flows, Labor led by 50.5–49.5, a 1.5-point gain for Labor.

    The previous Morgan poll, conducted January 20–26 from a sample of 1,567, gave the Coalition a 52–48 lead by respondent preferences, unchanged from the January 13–19 poll.

    Primary votes were 40.5% Coalition (down 1.5), 29.5% Labor (up one), 11.5% Greens (down 1.5), 6% One Nation (up two), 9% independents (up 0.5) and 3.5% others (down 0.5). By 2022 election flows, the Coalition led by 51–49, a one-point gain for Labor.

    A DemosAU national poll, conducted January 28 to February 1 from a sample of 1,238, had a 50–50 tie, unchanged since November. Primary votes were 38% Coalition (steady), 33% Labor (up one), 12% Greens (steady), 7% One Nation (steady) and 10% for all Others (down one).

    DemosAU is using 2022 election flows for its polls. The primary votes would be expected to give Labor a 51–49 lead, so rounding probably contributed to the tie.

    Freshwater breakdowns of young men and young women

    The Financial Review had breakdowns of voting intentions and other questions from the last three national Freshwater polls on January 28. These polls were conducted from November to January from an overall sample of 3,160. This analysis focused on differences between men and women aged 18–34.

    Among young women, Labor and the Greens each had 32% of the primary vote, while the Coalition was at just 25%. Among young men, Labor had 36%, the Coalition 32% and the Greens 20%. I estimate young women would vote Labor by about 65–35 and young men by 59–41 after preferences.

    While there is a difference between young men and women, Labor would easily win the overall youth vote in this poll. Labor’s problems in the overall polls are due to older voters skewing to the Coalition.

    Young women preferred Albanese as PM to Dutton by 58–27, while young men preferred Albanese by 55–37. With young women, Albanese was at net -11 approval and Dutton at net -22. With young men, Albanese was at net +6 approval and Dutton at net -6. Young men were much more positive than young women about the direction of the country and the economy.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. WA Labor has thumping Newspoll lead a month before election; federal Labor improves – https://theconversation.com/wa-labor-has-thumping-newspoll-lead-a-month-before-election-federal-labor-improves-248437

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall on RFD-TV: President Trump Will Take Care of Our American Farmers and Ranchers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined RFD-TV to discuss this week’s Senate Ag Committee hearing, the challenges farmers are facing, trade agreements, and President Trump’s tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada.

    [embedded content]

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include:
    On the challenges farmers are facing:
    “I don’t have to tell your listeners that we had a record drop in net farm income that was basically due to high interest rates and high input costs. Again, you’re all well aware of those as well and the regulatory environment we’re drowning in.”
    “The mental health of farmers, the farmer suicide issue comes to mind. The right to work on your own property and work on your own tractors and machinery. All those little issues add up, the average age of the farmer, I think is in the 60s now. So plenty of challenges out there, and our challenge up here now is just to prioritize those and do what we can to help the American farmer and rancher.”
    On the importance of trade agreements benefitting farmers:
    “We got to talk about trade. And certainly, we’re grateful for the past trade agreements. President Trump got done with USMCA, South Korea, Japan…And Joe Biden didn’t do any new trade agreements. So for four years, we’ve sat idle, and we’re looking forward to President Trump hopping back in there and doing some strong bilateral trade agreements.”
    On President Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada:
    “This is a drug war and not a trade war. And first and foremost, my farmers and ranchers, they’re parents and grandparents. And this is about the fentanyl drug war, that we’re losing 200 Americans every day from fentanyl poisoning. We’re losing 75,000 Americans every year from fentanyl poisoning, more than we lost in the entire Vietnam War. So President Trump has asked Canada, Mexico, and China, to stop the nonsense.” 
    “These precursors were mostly made in China, but now a lot of the precursors are in laboratories in Canada. So we need those countries to step up. And they are.” 
    “I think as long as over the next 30 days, we see significant progress that the tariffs on Mexico and Canada won’t come to fruition, at least I hope they don’t. But I do appreciate President Trump worried about our national security, and I appreciate that our farmers and ranchers are patriots and still supporting him.” 
    “And don’t forget one last thing, the last time we had it out with China, President Trump gave farmers and ranchers $28 billion from that tariff money. He’s not forgotten about us. We’re a huge priority to President Donald J. Trump.”
    On China promising retaliatory tariffs:
    “China is just next to impossible to deal with, and America needs to divorce from China as much as possible. You know, they’re constantly stealing our intellectual property. We talked about the fentanyl issues already. They’re trying to buy up American farmland. They don’t play fair. They simply don’t.”
    “We’ve given them huge breaks for decades now. They’ve had 25-50, 75% tariffs on American goods and products forever, and now we just want it to be fair and equal. They’re no longer a developing nation, so we have to play hardball with them before they’re going to come to the table.” 
    “This is why USMCA was so important – that Canada and Mexico are our number one trade partners now for agriculture…at the end of the day, I have faith in President Trump that he’s going to take care of the American farmer and rancher. I think we could come back and talk about 45Z someday, and how we’re hoping President Trump will support that in the biofuels industry, rolling back regulations. I think that you can count on President Trump to champion that so we can’t look at all these issues in little single silos.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese ring in Year of the Snake with travel, spending boom

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Passengers are seen at the waiting hall of Beijing South Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    As China celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Snake, the festive atmosphere was reflected in a surge in travel and consumer spending. With tourism booming, restaurants bustling, and box offices setting new records, the festivities showcased China’s economic vitality.
    The Spring Festival, China’s most important festival, sparked a nationwide travel surge as families reunited and celebrations took place across the country. Official data showed that more than 2.3 billion passenger trips were made nationwide during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, which concluded on Tuesday.
    Official projections estimated over 9 billion passenger trips during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush that officially began on Jan. 14.
    The annual migration — once dominated by homebound travelers — now sees a growing number of people opting for holiday getaways, filling train stations, highways, and airports in celebration of the Year of the Snake.
    Tourism soars on heritage charm
    With China’s Spring Festival now on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, cultural exploration-centered tours have become increasingly popular.
    Online searches for “intangible cultural heritage tourism” jumped 174 percent since the beginning of this year, while folk craft-related searches spiked 321 percent, according to Meituan Travel. On the popular video-sharing platform Douyin, demand for intangible cultural heritage tours led to a 462 percent year-on-year rise in group tour bookings for folk fairs.
    According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China saw a record 501 million domestic tourist trips during the just-concluded holiday, up 5.9 percent year on year. Tourist spending reached a record high of over 677 billion yuan (94.43 billion U.S. dollars) during the period, a 7 percent increase from the previous year.
    The cultural allure extended beyond domestic travelers, attracting visitors from around the globe. The latest data from the National Immigration Administration showed about 14.37 million cross-border trips were made during the holiday, up 6.3 percent from last year’s Spring Festival holiday. Of these, 958,000 trips were made by foreign nationals, marking a 22.9 percent increase.

    Foreign tourists try to make tofu during a folk celebration of the Spring Festival in Wayaogang Village, Yongding District of Zhangjiajie City, central China’s Hunan Province, Jan. 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    According to Chinese online travel service giant Trip.com Group, inbound travel orders during the Spring Festival holiday rose 203 percent year on year, underscoring the growing international appeal of China’s cultural and natural landmarks.
    Among the top destinations was Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province, renowned for its spectacular mountain scenery that inspired scenes in global blockbusters. Malaysian tourist Vincent Koh Swee Sam was among the many international visitors drawn to cultural heritage in Zhangjiajie. Immersing himself in local festivities, Sam joined villagers in writing Spring Festival couplets, pounding glutinous rice cakes, and making tofu.
    Sam’s hands-on experience with Chinese calligraphy deepened his appreciation for the art. “I used to know China only through textbooks and maps,” he said. “But now that I have stepped into it myself, it feels so good.”
    Dining boom feeds festive spirit
    No Spring Festival is complete without a grand feast, and this year, more families chose to dine out for ease and variety, driving a surge in restaurant bookings.
    In Shanghai’s bustling city center, all 91 tables at the renowned Cantonese restaurant Xinya were packed with diners on Chinese New Year’s Eve, according to executive chef Huang Renkang.

    People have a reunion meal at a restaurant in Nanjing City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Jan. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), the revenues of key restaurants tracked by the ministry climbed 5.1 percent year on year in the first four days of the holiday.
    Online platforms saw a similar rise. Meituan reported a 305 percent year-on-year increase in online bookings for Chinese New Year’s Eve dinners, while high-end restaurants featuring Chinese culinary experiences saw significant growth.
    Notably, orders for “intangible cultural heritage” meal packages searched on Meituan soared over 12 times year on year since the beginning of this year.
    Box office hits record high
    From Chinese mythology to homegrown animation, this year’s Spring Festival film lineup drew massive crowds and posted record-breaking sales.
    China’s box office sales jumped to an all-time high of 9.51 billion yuan over the holiday period, while attendance also set a new record, with 187 million moviegoers packing theaters.

    People watch a film at a cinema in Feidong County, Hefei City, east China’s Anhui Province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Leading the charge was the animated feature “Ne Zha 2,” which grossed around 4.84 billion yuan.
    “The moviegoers’ enthusiasm indicates vibrant consumption during the holiday as well as the consumers’ confidence in domestic productions,” said Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association.
    Experts attributed the success to strong audience anticipation, beloved characters and stories, and high-quality storytelling.
    “The strong performance of these films lays a solid foundation for the steady growth of China’s film market in 2025,” noted Chen Jin, a data analyst from box office tracker Beacon.
    Policy boost sparks shopping spree
    Festive cheer and consumer enthusiasm energized the market even before the holiday began. With the country’s trade-in program driving demand, shoppers eagerly seized the opportunity to upgrade cars, home appliances, and digital devices, ushering in a vibrant holiday shopping season.

    People visit a flower market in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Jan. 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The MOC reported receiving subsidy applications for 10.79 million electronic devices over a four-day period starting Jan. 20. This follows the inclusion of mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches in the trade-in subsidy program, marking a significant expansion of the initiative launched in March last year.
    Moreover, according to the ministry, automobile trade-ins reached 34,000 while home appliance trade-ins reached 1.04 million units as of Jan. 23.
    Building on this momentum, online retail sales grew by 5.8 percent during the eight-day holiday, while sales of home appliances and communication equipment at key retailers jumped by over 10 percent.
    “Spring Festival offers a glimpse into the year’s economic trends,” said Chen Lifen, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council.
    In this holiday season, a blend of cultural experiences and new consumption scenarios has helped reinforce the economic recovery momentum, injecting confidence into the economy and setting a strong foundation for the year ahead, Chen noted.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Arrives Worldwide

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced the global availability of the new Galaxy S25 series. Together with One UI 7, Gemini is officially available at launch in 46 languages,1 making it easier than ever to perform seamless interactions across Samsung and Google apps.
     
    ▲ New York 500 Broadway, Galaxy Experience Space
     
    “The Galaxy S25 series is a fundamental shift in how we interact with our phones,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are thrilled to see how our users will enjoy this true AI companion that offers seamless and intuitive solutions in their daily lives.”
     
    ▲ Dubai The Bay Festival City Mall, Galaxy Experience Space
     
    On the Galaxy S25 series, AI agents with multimodal capabilities are integrated within the One UI 72 platform to perform complex tasks seamlessly across apps and enable natural user interactions through speech, text, videos and images. Now Brief3 provides tailored suggestions to guide through the day and Now Bar4 offers a new hub for ongoing activities. From enhanced productivity with Writing Assist to limitless creativity unleashed by Drawing Assist,5 the expanded capabilities of Galaxy AI6 continue to empower users in every aspect of their daily lives.
     
    Interactions with the Galaxy S25 series are also more intuitive. With just a single command, Gemini7 can effortlessly find a user’s favorite sports team’s schedule and add it to Samsung Calendar. Additionally, Google’s enhanced Circle to Search8 now gives users more helpful information with AI Overviews and one-tap actions.
     
    ▲ Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, Galaxy AI Sai Gon Terminal
     
    The Galaxy S25 series further refines and enhances the core capabilities that define the Galaxy experience. Powering the Galaxy S25 series globally, the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy fuels on-device processing for more responsive AI experiences. With unique customizations for Galaxy, including ProScaler9 and Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe), the Galaxy S25 series boasts enhanced AI image processing and display power efficiency. The newly introduced 50MP ultrawide camera sensor for the Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers epic shots from every range in exceptional clarity, while professional grade controls like Virtual Aperture and Samsung Log turn any photo or video into the ultimate visual experience.

     
    ▲ Indonesia Jakarta Kota Kasablanka, Galaxy Experience Space
     
    The Galaxy S25 series is the industry’s first smartphone lineup to support Content Credentials, based on the open technical standard from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA). Samsung has also joined the C2PA as a member, alongside industry leaders including Adobe, Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Publicis Groupe and more, all collaborating to establish Content Credentials as the universal standard for digital content provenance. In line with its commitment to responsible mobile AI innovation, Samsung adopted this standard to enhance transparency for content created and edited with generative AI.
     
    Starting February 7, the Galaxy S25 series will be widely available through carriers and retailers and on Samsung.com. Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Gray. Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ come in Navy, Silver Shadow, Icyblue and Mint. More unique color options are also available exclusively at Samsung.com,10 including Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack and Titanium Jadegreen for Galaxy S25 Ultra as well as Blueblack, Coralred and Pinkgold for Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25.
     
    All Galaxy S25 devices will come with six months of Gemini Advanced and 2TB of cloud storage at no extra cost. Gemini Advanced comes with Samsung’s most capable AI models and priority access to the newest features like Gems, custom AI experts for any topic, and Deep Research, which acts as a personal AI research assistant.
     
    For more information about Galaxy S25 series, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, Samsungmobilepress.com and Samsung.com.
     
    ▲ Mexico City Santa Fe Mall, Galaxy Experience Space
     
    ▲ Brazil Sao Paulo, Galaxy S25 launch event
     
    ▲ Germany Berlin, Galaxy Experience Space
     
     
    1 Supported languages include Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified / Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Farsi, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Marathi, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese.2 The official One UI 7 release will commence with the latest Galaxy S series devices. The update is expected to gradually roll out to other Galaxy devices.3 Now Brief feature requires Samsung Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language, device model, or apps. Some features may require a network connection.4 Availability of functions supported within the apps may vary by country. Some functional widgets may require a network connection and/or Samsung Account login.5 Drawing Assist feature requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.6 Samsung Account login may be required to use certain Samsung AI features. Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by AI features. Availability of Galaxy AI features may vary depending on the region / country, OS / One UI version, device model and phone carrier. Some function availability may vary by device model. Galaxy AI service may be limited for minors in certain regions with age restrictions over AI usage. Galaxy AI features will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.7 Gemini Extensions feature availability varies based on content. Internet connection, Android device, and set up required. Language availability varies. Results for illustrative purposes and may vary. Check responses for accuracy.8 Sequences shortened and simulated. Results for illustrative purposes only. Service availability may vary by country, language, or device model. Requires internet connection. Users may need to update Android and Google app to the latest version. Results may vary depending on visual or audio matches. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Works on compatible apps and surfaces, and with ambient music only. Will not identify music coming through headphones or if phone volume is off.9 ProScaler feature is supported on Galaxy S25+ and Ultra models. Image quality can be enhanced up to QHD+, depending on the screen resolution setting of the device.10 Availability of colors may vary by market and network provider.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul Convenes Trade Policy Roundtable

    Source: US State of New York

    Today, Governor Kathy Hochul convened a roundtable with business leaders from Western New York to discuss the potential impacts of trade tariffs on New York’s economy and consumers.

    B-ROLL of the Governor convening the roundtable with business leaders can be found on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here .

    PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor’s Flickr page here.

    “I cannot emphasize enough how devastating tariffs would be for New Yorkers: the cost of most goods would spike, businesses would see massive disruption and our economic growth would be put at risk,” Governor Hochul said. “Today in Buffalo, I heard directly from Western New York business leaders about their concerns about tariffs. We all know the cost of living is too damn high — and that’s why New Yorkers can’t afford a backdoor tax disguised as a tariff.”

    Buffalo Niagara Partnership President & CEO Dottie Gallagher said, “Placing a heavy tariff on all imports from our largest trading partner will raise costs and drive inflation on employers and families across the Buffalo Niagara region. Canada has long been our closest trading partner and ally, and its recent $1.3 billion investment in border security proves that Canada remains committed to our mutually beneficial partnership. Our federal leaders must stick to trade policy that encourages growth and investment, and unlocks the power of our cross-border economy. We thank Governor Hochul for bringing employers to the table to understand the impacts tariffs would have on our regional economy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Who Fired Shots Into the Air Outside San Angelo Home Sentenced to 2.5 Years for Gun Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A man who fired shots outside a San Angelo residence was sentenced to 30 months in prison for a federal gun crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham.

    Edgar Eduardo Gamez-Rodriguez, a 22-year-old citizen of Mexico, was indicted in September 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2024 to illegal alien in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.

    According to a plea papers, at around 5:05 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2023, law enforcement responded to a call of “shots fired” outside a home in San Angelo. Witnesses, who were attending a party there, reported that Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez had fired several rounds from a handgun into the air.

    A sheriff’s office incident report details how Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez – intoxicated and irate at having his keys taken away – pulled out his gun, racked the slide, and pointed it straight at two musicians who’d been hired to play at the party. He climbed into his vehicle, then fired four to six shots into the air before driving off, according to multiple witnesses. He later allegedly told a partygoer he “knows people” who could “shoot up” the house.

    According to plea papers, law enforcement later executed a search warrant at Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez’s residence, where they recovered a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun along with two 9mm magazines. In the drawer where the gun and ammunition were stored, they found an employment contract with Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez’s signature and the keys to his vehicle.

    Officers also reviewed Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez’s facebook profile photo, which showed him holding a black handgun.

    A query of the defendant’s immigration records showed that he was a citizen of Mexico based on his birth in Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico. Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez had never been given permission to enter or remain in the United States, and had been removed to Mexico previously via Laredo.

    After serving his sentence, Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez will once again face deportation proceedings.

    Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Haag prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: DTE Energy Board of Directors declares quarterly dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Detroit, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (NYSE: DTE) — The DTE Energy Board of Directors declared a $1.09 per share dividend on its common stock payable April 15, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business March 17, 2025. 

    About DTE Energy 

    DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers across Michigan. The DTE portfolio also includes energy businesses focused on custom energy solutions, renewable energy generation, and energy marketing and trading. DTE has continued to accelerate its carbon reduction goals to meet aggressive targets and is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy, emission reductions and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, x.com/DTE_Energy and facebook.com/dteenergy. 

    The MIL Network –