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  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Works to Block House-Passed Rescissions Package That Would Claw Back $9.4 billion for Humanitarian Aid, NPR, PBS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – After the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed the Trump Administration’s rescissions package to claw back $9.4 billion in previously enacted federal funding from humanitarian aid, international development, public health, NPR, and PBS last week, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is working in the U.S. Senate to try to halt these shortsighted cuts.  But Senator Reed says it will be a difficult path because rescission bills only require a simple majority and Senate Republicans currently have a 53-47 majority.

    Last Thursday, the House voted 214 to 212 to claw back the funds, with all but four House Republicans supporting the measure and all Democrats opposing.  Six Republicans initially opposed the package, endangering the bill’s passage since all Democrats present voted against it.  However, two Republican holdouts were pressured into flipping their votes at the last minute.

    The rescissions package eliminates all federal support — $1.1 billion — for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the next two years, targeting PBS, NPR, and small, local public radio and TV stations nationwide, threatening children’s educational programming, and jeopardizing emergency alert coverage.  The bill also seeks to cut $8.3 billion from international development, global democracy, and humanitarian programs which support America’s national security, promote global peace, and prevent global health crises from reaching our shores, including funds for peacekeeping and refugee assistance; the Democracy Fund; USAID global health programs; UNICEF; the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); and the UN Women and Child Fund.

    The package has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Senator Reed, a leading Democrat on the committee, stated:

    “These shortsighted cuts undermine U.S. national security and global leadership.  The soft power we project through lifesaving humanitarian aid, international peacekeeping, and public health funds makes America safer and helps us effectively counter adversaries and advance U.S. interests without having to engage militarily. 

    “Meanwhile, the cuts to PBS and NPR undermine efforts to ensure that all Americans have access to unbiased news, educational programs,  and diverse broadcasts that are not available through commercial media.

    “At a time when President Trump is raising prices on consumers with his costly tariffs and ripping away health care from millions of Americans to fund bigger tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, this rescissions package will do nothing to help average Americans, but it will make our country less secure and less connected.

    “In the Senate, it takes 60 votes to pass appropriations bills.  By definition, these bills are the product of bipartisan compromise and address the broad interests of the American people.  If Senate Republicans ram this recissions package through on a partisan basis, they will undermine this process and surrender to this administration’s desire for them to simply be a rubberstamp.  

    “I will continue working on a bipartisan basis to oppose these reckless cuts and I am hopeful we can build bipartisan consensus on a better way forward that puts American interests first.”

    Congress has the power to rescind funds that the federal government has not yet spent, and it routinely does so, on a bipartisan basis, during the regular appropriations process so these resources can be wisely reallocated.  The president may also formally recommend cuts (rescissions), which Congress, if it chooses to, can consider on an expedited basis with only a simple majority required to adopt them.  In order to make cuts under this process, Congress must act within 45 days of receiving the president’s formal recommendations.  Congress has the option not to act on the president’s request.  The president may also send more than one package of proposed rescissions, and this administration has vowed to do so if this first package passes.

    The White House’s official transmission of the rescission package on June 3 started a 45 day clock for Congress to act. 

    While the Senate Appropriations Committee has the opportunity to review and alter the President’s rescission proposal, any Senator may seek to bring all or part of the proposal to the Senate floor 25 days after referral to the Appropriations Committee.

    White House budget director Russell Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is scheduled to testify about the rescissions package before the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 25. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Erie County Botanical Gardens’ Expansion & Renovation

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens broke ground on its long-anticipated expansion and renovation project. The $31 million project will include much-needed visitor amenities to meet the demands of the community, further the organization’s mission, and provide generational growth and stability. It is anticipated to be completed in early 2027.

    B-ROLL of the Governor at the groundbreaking for the Botanical Gardens is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

     Wow. First of all, this is a homecoming for me. No I mean, I was born right there — across the street. I was born at Our Lady of Victory Hospital, and this neighborhood is just part of my story. And as a little girl, I would take my naps when I was about three or four years old in my parents’ bed, and on their dresser was a picture of their wedding right in front of this building.

    So to me, this is always a magical place where mom and dad had their wedding pictures. And so as they brought us here as children, because when you grow up, and dad had worked at the steel plant down the road, the trailer park — still there, this is where you came for vacation, right? You didn’t have a lot of money to go on fancy trips. You came here, you thought you were going to the tropics, you thought you were going to a desert.

    I mean, you could use your imagination to just think of all the places around the world that you probably were never going to get to in person, but your mind was activated, and I know that dream is still there for so many people, and I want to thank the people who brought us here.

    Erin Grajek, who’s doing an extraordinary job as the President and CEO, I want to commend you for your leadership. It’s a good day. Probably the only person happier than you, Erin, is your 10-year-old son, Miles, who got out of school today. Right, Miles? You must be really proud of your mom. Tisha Luciani, our Board Chair. Let’s give her a round of applause as well.

    And we have a very special guest here, traveled some distance. Our former CEO and President, Dave Swarts. If you do not know him, he has been gone a little while, not too long, but he spent a decade of his life as the Chairman and CEO of this institution. Before that, he had been in public life and we worked closely together. But literally, I think my first trip home, after going to Albany, after I became Governor, Dave wanted me to come here, sit in his office, look at some plans.

    He showed me the plans, and I was hooked. And I knew that we could, with support from the State — which I would actually have a little more say over as the Governor — that we could make some real magic happen here. And so I was proud in April of 2022, my very first budget to announce significant funding to implement a vision here. So Dave, I want to give you a lot of credit for having the vision and the connections to be able to get this over the finish line. So welcome to you and Susan, your wife, who’s been at your side for such a long time.

    But it’s also a chance to thank our elected officials. This is something that I know our County Executive is enormously proud of. This is also his hometown and a place that he gathered often as a child, and I want to thank Mark Poloncarz for the county stewardship for this great project. Our Mayor, Chris Scanlon, has joined us as well. Mayor Scanlon, thank you for being here and all your support for this.

    The representatives of this area — the two elected officials of this particular property in Albany — Senator April Baskin, Assemblymember Pat Burke, thank you for getting your enormous support for this. Senator Sean Ryan, Assemblymember Jon Rivera, neighboring elected officials, but also this is a regional asset. This is for the entire region. Indeed it’s an incredible jewel for the State of New York, and I’m proud to be here.

    It’s hard to think about this place, though, without recognizing the life and legacy of Mark Mortenson, who really just drove this so hard and would’ve liked nothing more I’m sure than to be here on this day. And our thoughts go out to him, his family and what a loss for all of us.

    But also this is a place beloved by so many. And a $31 million investment signals that this community matters. And sometimes people who live here all their lives, they overlook how extraordinary this community is. This place — you have one of the most beautiful basilicas in the country right across the street, and we have to make Father Baker a saint someday. Right?

    Can we keep that going, everybody? Please keep that going. So I put out there we have an American Pope. We’re going to go have a little chat.

    I know he knows where Lackawanna is on a map — that’s a place that my dad — my mom went to school right there. My grandpa was the track coach at Father Baker. We always saw my uncles running around this beautiful property, and it’s such a tight-knit community here.

    And those who either live in Lackawanna, live in Western New York, or just true lovers of the extraordinary presentation of God’s greatest gift to us — nature and plants and flowers right here. All of you are part of something quite extraordinary.

    For 125 years — 125 years this place has been here. So people who came long before and people long after us, will take note of what we did when we were the stewards of this place.

    Didn’t just let it stay, but had to fix many of the deteriorating structures. The Conservatory is so beautiful now, and I remember the light shows we used to see before the pandemic struck. But a 120,000 square foot expansion so we can have a better gathering space and more programming for children and just welcome generations to come.

    Not even kids born yet. It’ll be coming to this place because we cared enough to make an investment and say, “This community matters. The botanical gardens matter, and the future for this community matters as well.” So I look at this, you welcome over a hundred thousand people every year. That’s extraordinary.

    We have many other assets in the state that don’t claim that many people who are drawn to this place of comfort and solace, especially when the weather’s bad outside. I loved coming here during snowstorms with my kids, right? Let them walk around a little and pretend they’re outside. And so this is always going to such a significant part of our community and it has an economic impact over $5 million. Don’t underestimate that.

    That’s me every time I come to the gift shop. I walk out with all kinds of loot but I know we can double those numbers, right? We can hit 200,000. Why not, and I’ll help promote this. The State of New York will help promote this even more. That’s my commitment to you. And we can double the economic impact.

    So right up there with places like Kleinhans, who we invested in, and Fort Niagara and the aquarium, and children’s museums and other places this is part of what makes this place so incredibly special? So I just want to tell you, I’m so glad it worked out that I could be here for this celebration. As Marv Levy used to say, “Where would you rather be than right here, right now?” Right, Bills fans?

    So this is a humbling experience for me to come back as Governor, as someone who’s born over there, raised in this community. Treasure this institution and be able to help with $12 million from the state. So, congratulations to everyone involved. I cannot wait to come back.

    December 18th, 2026. That’s the day. That’s the day I will proudly come back as your Governor to say we’ll be cutting the ribbon on the next chapter for the Botanical Gardens. So thank you everybody.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Erie County Botanical Gardens’ Expansion & Renovation

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens broke ground on its long-anticipated expansion and renovation project. The $31 million project will include much-needed visitor amenities to meet the demands of the community, further the organization’s mission, and provide generational growth and stability. It is anticipated to be completed in early 2027.

    B-ROLL of the Governor at the groundbreaking for the Botanical Gardens is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

     Wow. First of all, this is a homecoming for me. No I mean, I was born right there — across the street. I was born at Our Lady of Victory Hospital, and this neighborhood is just part of my story. And as a little girl, I would take my naps when I was about three or four years old in my parents’ bed, and on their dresser was a picture of their wedding right in front of this building.

    So to me, this is always a magical place where mom and dad had their wedding pictures. And so as they brought us here as children, because when you grow up, and dad had worked at the steel plant down the road, the trailer park — still there, this is where you came for vacation, right? You didn’t have a lot of money to go on fancy trips. You came here, you thought you were going to the tropics, you thought you were going to a desert.

    I mean, you could use your imagination to just think of all the places around the world that you probably were never going to get to in person, but your mind was activated, and I know that dream is still there for so many people, and I want to thank the people who brought us here.

    Erin Grajek, who’s doing an extraordinary job as the President and CEO, I want to commend you for your leadership. It’s a good day. Probably the only person happier than you, Erin, is your 10-year-old son, Miles, who got out of school today. Right, Miles? You must be really proud of your mom. Tisha Luciani, our Board Chair. Let’s give her a round of applause as well.

    And we have a very special guest here, traveled some distance. Our former CEO and President, Dave Swarts. If you do not know him, he has been gone a little while, not too long, but he spent a decade of his life as the Chairman and CEO of this institution. Before that, he had been in public life and we worked closely together. But literally, I think my first trip home, after going to Albany, after I became Governor, Dave wanted me to come here, sit in his office, look at some plans.

    He showed me the plans, and I was hooked. And I knew that we could, with support from the State — which I would actually have a little more say over as the Governor — that we could make some real magic happen here. And so I was proud in April of 2022, my very first budget to announce significant funding to implement a vision here. So Dave, I want to give you a lot of credit for having the vision and the connections to be able to get this over the finish line. So welcome to you and Susan, your wife, who’s been at your side for such a long time.

    But it’s also a chance to thank our elected officials. This is something that I know our County Executive is enormously proud of. This is also his hometown and a place that he gathered often as a child, and I want to thank Mark Poloncarz for the county stewardship for this great project. Our Mayor, Chris Scanlon, has joined us as well. Mayor Scanlon, thank you for being here and all your support for this.

    The representatives of this area — the two elected officials of this particular property in Albany — Senator April Baskin, Assemblymember Pat Burke, thank you for getting your enormous support for this. Senator Sean Ryan, Assemblymember Jon Rivera, neighboring elected officials, but also this is a regional asset. This is for the entire region. Indeed it’s an incredible jewel for the State of New York, and I’m proud to be here.

    It’s hard to think about this place, though, without recognizing the life and legacy of Mark Mortenson, who really just drove this so hard and would’ve liked nothing more I’m sure than to be here on this day. And our thoughts go out to him, his family and what a loss for all of us.

    But also this is a place beloved by so many. And a $31 million investment signals that this community matters. And sometimes people who live here all their lives, they overlook how extraordinary this community is. This place — you have one of the most beautiful basilicas in the country right across the street, and we have to make Father Baker a saint someday. Right?

    Can we keep that going, everybody? Please keep that going. So I put out there we have an American Pope. We’re going to go have a little chat.

    I know he knows where Lackawanna is on a map — that’s a place that my dad — my mom went to school right there. My grandpa was the track coach at Father Baker. We always saw my uncles running around this beautiful property, and it’s such a tight-knit community here.

    And those who either live in Lackawanna, live in Western New York, or just true lovers of the extraordinary presentation of God’s greatest gift to us — nature and plants and flowers right here. All of you are part of something quite extraordinary.

    For 125 years — 125 years this place has been here. So people who came long before and people long after us, will take note of what we did when we were the stewards of this place.

    Didn’t just let it stay, but had to fix many of the deteriorating structures. The Conservatory is so beautiful now, and I remember the light shows we used to see before the pandemic struck. But a 120,000 square foot expansion so we can have a better gathering space and more programming for children and just welcome generations to come.

    Not even kids born yet. It’ll be coming to this place because we cared enough to make an investment and say, “This community matters. The botanical gardens matter, and the future for this community matters as well.” So I look at this, you welcome over a hundred thousand people every year. That’s extraordinary.

    We have many other assets in the state that don’t claim that many people who are drawn to this place of comfort and solace, especially when the weather’s bad outside. I loved coming here during snowstorms with my kids, right? Let them walk around a little and pretend they’re outside. And so this is always going to such a significant part of our community and it has an economic impact over $5 million. Don’t underestimate that.

    That’s me every time I come to the gift shop. I walk out with all kinds of loot but I know we can double those numbers, right? We can hit 200,000. Why not, and I’ll help promote this. The State of New York will help promote this even more. That’s my commitment to you. And we can double the economic impact.

    So right up there with places like Kleinhans, who we invested in, and Fort Niagara and the aquarium, and children’s museums and other places this is part of what makes this place so incredibly special? So I just want to tell you, I’m so glad it worked out that I could be here for this celebration. As Marv Levy used to say, “Where would you rather be than right here, right now?” Right, Bills fans?

    So this is a humbling experience for me to come back as Governor, as someone who’s born over there, raised in this community. Treasure this institution and be able to help with $12 million from the state. So, congratulations to everyone involved. I cannot wait to come back.

    December 18th, 2026. That’s the day. That’s the day I will proudly come back as your Governor to say we’ll be cutting the ribbon on the next chapter for the Botanical Gardens. So thank you everybody.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster City Council launches consultation on new powers to tackle antisocial behaviour | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    • Council seeking views from the public on new measures to tackle nuisance vehicles, pedicabs and on street anti-social behaviour.
    • Fines of up to £1,000 could be handed down to people who flout new regulations to keep the public safe. 

    Westminster City Council has launched a public consultation on proposed new Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) as part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on antisocial behaviour and create safer, cleaner, and more welcoming communities. 

    Public Spaces Protection Orders are intended to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour that is detrimental to the community’s quality of life. They do so by imposing conditions on the use of that area to ensure everyone can enjoy public spaces.  

    The proposed PSPOs would give the police and council officers additional powers to tackle persistent issues such as public urination, verbal abuse, drug use and other forms of anti-social behaviour that affect residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence and officers will be able to issue fixed penalty notices to immediately respond to this anti-social behaviour.   

    The council is seeking views from residents on proposals to: 

    • Introduce a new PSPO to tackle On-Street ASB in South Westminster building on the work of the new Street Based Intervention team.
    • Engage residents and those who visit or work in the rest of Westminster to gather their views on whether this approach is the right one for to be deployed in other parts of the city.
    • Extend the existing nuisance vehicle PSPO to cover Soho and Mayfair.
    • Introduce a new city-wide PSPO to tackle nuisance caused by pedicabs  

    This is the latest move by the council in a wider package of initiatives introduced to clamp down on antisocial behaviour. Recent actions include:

    • a £500k investment in new CCTV to double the number of cameras to 200, which includes 40 additional cameras for the West End.
    • the launch of a new Street Based Intervention Team, combining City Inspectors and Homeless Outreach officers.
    • the recruitment of more City Inspectors to keep the city’s streets clean and safe – both boosting deployment in existing teams and creating a new 8 member specialist ASB team.   

    Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council, said: 

    “Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected where they live. This is why this administration has invested in more City Inspectors and the new 200 camera CCTV system to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in partnership with the police. This investment has given us extra capacity to make more effective use of the additional powers available through these new PSPOs, enabling our city inspectors and police to tackle unacceptable behaviour swiftly and effectively.  

    “We want to hear from our residents first – this consultation gives the public a vital say in shaping how we respond to ASB and build safer streets for everyone.” 

    The council is urging residents, businesses, and community organisations to take part in the consultation. 

    To have your say and learn more about the proposed PSPO’s, visit:  

    https://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-community/crime-and-community-safety/anti-social-behaviour/public-space-protection-orders-pspo 

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors:

    The council is consulting on new powers including:

    FIXED PENALTIES

    A person who is guilty of an offence under this Order shall be liable to a £100.00 Fixed Penalty Notice under s.68.

    CRIMINAL CONVICTION

    A person who is charged with the offence of failing to comply with this Order is liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 (currently £1000) on the standard scale.

    DISPERSAL

    Two of the proposed Orders contain a  Dispersal Order related to “Remaining in the Restricted Area after having been asked to leave by an Authorised Officer” and a requirement to “leave the Restricted Area if asked to do so by an Authorised Officer and must not return to the Restricted Area for 24 hours”. ‘Authorised Officer’ in this context is an employee or agent of the Authority who is authorised for the purpose of giving directions under this Order, a Police Officer or any other person designated by the council.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Hidden gems of LGBTQ+ cinema: celebrating the wonderful slippery queerness of Penda’s Fen

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benedict Morrison, Senior lecturer in Film, Television, Literature, and Queer Studies, University of Exeter

    I was not around in 1974 to witness the first television outing of Alan Clarke’s Penda’s Fen. Broadcast only seven years after sex between men was partially decriminalised in England and Wales, this enigmatic film was beamed into the nation’s living rooms with an audacity that remains giddying today.

    Some commentators have suggested that the film “seems a world away” from the gritty social commentary of Clarke’s Scum (1977) and The Firm (1989). But Penda’s Fen recognises that unruly desire – manifested within the film in Blakean visions of angels, demons and the pagan King Penda – is political.

    Stephen, a classical music-loving, left-wing-despising rector’s son, lives among the green and pleasant Malvern Hills, where he plays at being an impeccably uniformed cadet and struggles to suppress his delirious sexual desire for other boys.

    This article is part of a series highlighting brilliant films that should be more widely known and firmly part of the canon of queer cinema .

    In his visions, the path of least resistance – that of being the young man everyone wants him to be – is championed by the sinister figures of the Mother and Father of England (modelled on conservative activist Mary Whitehouse and social critic Malcolm Muggeridge). This path would offer him “the right to inherit power”.

    But playing the role of the straight, conventional boy weighs heavily on Stephen, and he slips further from the narratives he longs to believe in. Haunted by a series of real and imagined encounters with angels, demons and England’s pagan past, Stephen begins to questions all he knows about himself – his religion, politics and sexuality.

    When I finally saw Penda’s Fen after its re-release by the BFI in 2016, it was uncannily familiar. Like Stephen, I grew up as the gay son of a rector in the rural West Midlands, torn between the lures and impossibilities of sexual convention.

    The political rhetoric of the LGBT+ community in the 1990s created social impact by speaking in very clear terms about non-straight identities. This rhetoric, for the sake of clarity, often offered narrow definitions of the characteristics and attributes that made someone definitively LGBT+.

    But it did lead to progress, featuring in campaigns for the repeal of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which banned any affirmative presentation of homosexuality by local authorities, including schools. It also was used in campaigns that led to the lowering of the age of consent for gay sex to 16, in line with heterosexual sex.

    However, this narrow view left me with an uncomfortable sense that my inconsistencies and contradictions meant that I was never quite, never just, gay. Despite being a valuable term as I came out and claimed a social identity and a community, it failed to capture the complexities of my experience in a single word.

    These inconsistencies and complexities shine in queer theorist Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s not-quite-definition of “queer”: “The open mesh of possibilities, gaps, overlaps, dissonances and resonances, lapses and excesses of meaning when the constituent elements of anyone’s gender, of anyone’s sexuality aren’t made (or can’t be made) to signify monolithically.”



    Read more:
    Hidden gems of LGBTQ+ cinema: Saving Face is a complicated romcom that tenderly depicts the experiences of queer Asians

    Sedgwick suggests that queerness is a kind of structural messiness; far from being a neat summing-up of someone’s identity, it is where the desires and behaviours which make up a person’s sexuality don’t quite add up, and so escape full understanding.

    Loving your own strangeness

    For me, the greatest queer films are not those which seek to confirm the myth of stable identity but, instead, open these meshes of possibility. I know of no film which does this better than Penda’s Fen.

    When the film begins, Stephen stamps out all his flickering desires. He clings to clear-cut notions of gender, sex and nation, the three pillars that will secure his power as a man in society.

    By the end, he has encountered the ghost of the composer Elgar, fantasised about schoolmates in homoerotic rugby scrums, and discovered that he is adopted and less English than he imagined. In this “Gnostic anarcho-punk anti-pastoral visionary work of English art”, as the writer Gary Budden calls it, all Stephen’s certainties shatter.

    As he ultimately stands in the hills’ high places, tempted by the Mother and Father of England to repress confusion and embrace their idea of normality in a folk-horror echo of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness, his rejection becomes a radiant queer manifesto:

    “I am … nothing pure. My race is mixed. My sex is mixed. I am woman and man. Light with darkness … I am mud and flame!”

    Mud and flame is what I was as a teenager living in the shadow of those same hills: the earthy and the fiery, the tangible and the transcendent, the banal and the radical, the secure and the lost. This was – although I didn’t realise it at the time – queerness, a word theorist Lee Edelman writes “can never define an identity; it can only ever disturb one”.

    No film that I know captures this sense of slipping, sliding, desiring self so well as Penda’s Fen. Everyone who has ever felt the constituent parts of their own sexuality refusing to align should watch the film and fall in love with their own strangeness.

    Penda’s Fen, like queerness, resists specific interpretation. It is telling that the visionary commissioning editor David Rose, who oversaw the BBC Birmingham drama department and greenlit Penda’s Fen, confessed that he “didn’t understand it at all, but that’s as it should be”. This attitude is unimaginable in commissioners today.

    Clarke’s film is a blend of folk horror motifs, the politics of society and character-driven drama that cracks open meaning just as the church floor fractures when Stephen plays the organ discordantly.

    Viewers new to the film should experience its extraordinary final sequence without spoilers, but I will say that the closing images of Stephen – that
    “strange, dark, true, impure, and dissonant” protagonist – offer me the thrill of queerness’s unsettled, unsettle-able politics.

    Benedict Morrison 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. Hidden gems of LGBTQ+ cinema: celebrating the wonderful slippery queerness of Penda’s Fen – https://theconversation.com/hidden-gems-of-lgbtq-cinema-celebrating-the-wonderful-slippery-queerness-of-pendas-fen-257299

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth Discussed at Open Dialogue within SPIEF-2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MOSCOW, RUSSIA, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The session “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth”, based on the results of the Open Dialogue of the Russia National Centre, opened the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum business program on June 18.

    Recognised international experts from Russia, Cameroon, Spain, Azerbaijan, and Canada, as well as authors of the best essays from the Open Dialogue, participated in the discussion.

    Speakers discussed the changing world order, Africa’s potential, and trends in the future economy, including demographic changes and the implementation of breakthrough technologies.

    “This year, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is taking place against turbulent world events. This includes the situation in the Middle East and trade wars. Much time will be devoted to this current agenda at the forum. We must not forget which long-term trends and challenges led to the current situation, which trends are basic and defining. It is important to conduct an open dialogue about how we build the world of the future and how to form a new platform for global growth. In which countries does this global growth occur, on which technologies will it be built, and on which principles and cultural code? Our task is to ensure that forward movement benefits people in all countries that, like Russia, are working on the future. It is through open dialogue that our future and its understanding are built,” emphasised Maxim Oreshkin.

    A speaker from Spain, Juan Antonio de Castro de Arespacochaga, a doctor of economics and professor at Complutense University of Madrid, delivered a report on how the global majority of countries are changing reality.

    “Today, most countries are not just participating in global processes – they are changing reality. We see how an increasingly flexible and multipolar world order is forming. World trade is becoming fragmented, fast, and technological, while the international system is becoming a network of preferential agreements, which distorts the principles laid down in the foundation of GATT and WTO,” noted Juan Antonio de Castro de Arespacochaga.

    One of the main discussion topics was: “Africa – driver of the future economic order.” Chairman of the African Advisory Council Francois Ndengwe noted that demographic growth is transforming Africa into the future cradle of the global workforce.

    “This is not just statistics – this is human capital that can become a new driver of global growth. Those who invest in education today and build universities in Africa will tomorrow shape markets and set the game’s rules together with Africa,” said Francois Ndengwe.

    Sergei Ivanov, Executive Director and Member of the EFKO Group board of Directors, spoke about the business’s new responsibility in the modern world. The expert emphasised that business today is not just a profit generator but an active participant in social transformations.

    “What projects and technologies should we invest in today? Investment criteria are three conditions: qualitatively improving human life, being produced in harmony with nature, and being accessible, at a minimum, having mass potential. But what’s more important is not only what you produce, but also in what culture you do it. In 2012, the president spoke words that I’ve been quoting often lately. He said that the great mission of Russians is to unite, to bind civilisation with culture, language, and universal responsiveness. And so we try to build our culture and our ethics around this very universal responsiveness. To build capitalism with a human face,” said Sergei Ivanov.

    Another session’s focus, “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth”, was on breakthrough technologies. As noted by Yuri Kozarenko, General Director of “Transport of the Future” LLC, today, automation has reached a level where robots create robots for the production of goods and services for humans.

    “This year has become significant, showing a leap in the technological development of artificial intelligence. Several centres, schools, and institutes have been opened in China to train robots in various specialities. We in Russia, in turn, are opening robot training centres based in the Samara region and Moscow, including the Institute of Unmanned Systems. We teach robots to bring social benefit in an economically efficient way,” emphasised Yuri Kozarenko.

    The expert added that technological innovations today directly affect social spheres, for example, helping to solve the demographic crisis.

    During the session, participants also discussed the report on the results of the Open Dialogue prepared by the Centre for Cross-Industry Expertise “Third Rome.” The conclusions of the session “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth” became the foundation for the subsequent business program of SPIEF-2025. The session “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth” recording can be viewed on the Russia National Centre website.

    Social Links

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    DZen: https://dzen.ru/gowithrussia

    Contact for the media

    Brand: Russia National Centre

    Contact: Media team

    Email: Pressa@russia.ru

    Website: https://russia.ru

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth Discussed at Open Dialogue within SPIEF-2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MOSCOW, RUSSIA, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The session “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth”, based on the results of the Open Dialogue of the Russia National Centre, opened the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum business program on June 18.

    Recognised international experts from Russia, Cameroon, Spain, Azerbaijan, and Canada, as well as authors of the best essays from the Open Dialogue, participated in the discussion.

    Speakers discussed the changing world order, Africa’s potential, and trends in the future economy, including demographic changes and the implementation of breakthrough technologies.

    “This year, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is taking place against turbulent world events. This includes the situation in the Middle East and trade wars. Much time will be devoted to this current agenda at the forum. We must not forget which long-term trends and challenges led to the current situation, which trends are basic and defining. It is important to conduct an open dialogue about how we build the world of the future and how to form a new platform for global growth. In which countries does this global growth occur, on which technologies will it be built, and on which principles and cultural code? Our task is to ensure that forward movement benefits people in all countries that, like Russia, are working on the future. It is through open dialogue that our future and its understanding are built,” emphasised Maxim Oreshkin.

    A speaker from Spain, Juan Antonio de Castro de Arespacochaga, a doctor of economics and professor at Complutense University of Madrid, delivered a report on how the global majority of countries are changing reality.

    “Today, most countries are not just participating in global processes – they are changing reality. We see how an increasingly flexible and multipolar world order is forming. World trade is becoming fragmented, fast, and technological, while the international system is becoming a network of preferential agreements, which distorts the principles laid down in the foundation of GATT and WTO,” noted Juan Antonio de Castro de Arespacochaga.

    One of the main discussion topics was: “Africa – driver of the future economic order.” Chairman of the African Advisory Council Francois Ndengwe noted that demographic growth is transforming Africa into the future cradle of the global workforce.

    “This is not just statistics – this is human capital that can become a new driver of global growth. Those who invest in education today and build universities in Africa will tomorrow shape markets and set the game’s rules together with Africa,” said Francois Ndengwe.

    Sergei Ivanov, Executive Director and Member of the EFKO Group board of Directors, spoke about the business’s new responsibility in the modern world. The expert emphasised that business today is not just a profit generator but an active participant in social transformations.

    “What projects and technologies should we invest in today? Investment criteria are three conditions: qualitatively improving human life, being produced in harmony with nature, and being accessible, at a minimum, having mass potential. But what’s more important is not only what you produce, but also in what culture you do it. In 2012, the president spoke words that I’ve been quoting often lately. He said that the great mission of Russians is to unite, to bind civilisation with culture, language, and universal responsiveness. And so we try to build our culture and our ethics around this very universal responsiveness. To build capitalism with a human face,” said Sergei Ivanov.

    Another session’s focus, “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth”, was on breakthrough technologies. As noted by Yuri Kozarenko, General Director of “Transport of the Future” LLC, today, automation has reached a level where robots create robots for the production of goods and services for humans.

    “This year has become significant, showing a leap in the technological development of artificial intelligence. Several centres, schools, and institutes have been opened in China to train robots in various specialities. We in Russia, in turn, are opening robot training centres based in the Samara region and Moscow, including the Institute of Unmanned Systems. We teach robots to bring social benefit in an economically efficient way,” emphasised Yuri Kozarenko.

    The expert added that technological innovations today directly affect social spheres, for example, helping to solve the demographic crisis.

    During the session, participants also discussed the report on the results of the Open Dialogue prepared by the Centre for Cross-Industry Expertise “Third Rome.” The conclusions of the session “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth” became the foundation for the subsequent business program of SPIEF-2025. The session “Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth” recording can be viewed on the Russia National Centre website.

    Social Links

    Telegram: https://t.me/gowithrussia

    VK: https://vk.com/gowithrussia

    OK: https://ok.ru/gowithrussia

    DZen: https://dzen.ru/gowithrussia

    Contact for the media

    Brand: Russia National Centre

    Contact: Media team

    Email: Pressa@russia.ru

    Website: https://russia.ru

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Elio: Disney’s enjoyable new animation may be an original story – but it’s also a forgettable one

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Laura O’Flanagan, PhD Candidate, School of English, Dublin City University

    In a summer cinema release schedule filled with sequels, remakes and franchise instalments, Disney’s latest animation Elio is a rare original story.

    Recently, much has been written and hands been wrung about the lack of original films in Hollywood. Indeed, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in 2024 that the studio’s output would primarily be sequels, saying: “There’s a lot of value in the sequels obviously because they’re known and it takes less in terms of marketing”. At least he’s honest.

    Elio is an unknown entity for the studio and indeed for 2025’s cinema goers. Fittingly, the film tackles the most unknown entities of all: outer space and life beyond Earth. What does this new story have to offer today’s cinema audiences who are accustomed to characters they already know and onscreen worlds that they have already visited?

    Elio tells the story of Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab), a lonely newly orphaned boy who is fascinated with space and aliens. He lives in California with his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana), a major in the US Air Force.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    When aliens make contact one night, Elio secretly answers their call and is brought to the “Communiverse” in outer space, a brightly coloured world that is populated with aliens. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s leader, Elio is tasked with solving an intergalactic crisis in this new alien world – a world in which he increasingly feels he belongs. Elio needs to decide whether to leave Earth forever, or if there is no place like home.

    Characteristic of Disney (Pixar), the film’s visuals are audaciously stunning. Space is depicted as a twinkling magical canvas upon which Elio can dream, and sweeping, majestic images of Earth beg to be seen on a large cinema screen. The Communiverse is depicted beautifully in iridescent colours. But, against this spectacular setting, the characters ring a little hollow.

    Elio is given little emotional depth, and in the Communiverse there are simply too many aliens for an audience to connect with. Elio’s new friend Glorgon is the exception here, and his open-hearted comedic wonder will certainly appeal to younger viewers. Aunt Olga is disappointingly underdeveloped and her status as a military major is presented as at odds with her new role as Elio’s caregiver.

    The film forgoes much of Olga’s story in favour of a zany subplot between Glorgon and his alien father who need to reconnect. This feels like a missed opportunity and a superficial effort to depict a female character of high military rank that falls short of giving her any real agency or power in the film.

    Strikingly, the filmmakers use audio clips of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos to amplify the film’s message about life and connection. These are accompanied with spectacular visuals of space and constellations. But these audio clips have a solemnity that seems out of place alongside an alien blob called Glorgon who has daddy issues.

    This oddness of tone is woven throughout the film, laced with peril that feels unthreatening, comedic moments which stop before the belly laugh, and sentimental scenes that cut before the tears flow. Characters and plotlines are plentiful but consequently, the film spreads itself too thin, leaving the entire story feeling underdeveloped and somewhat shallow.

    There is a lot of everything in this film, and certainly something for everyone. And maybe that’s the point. In the past two decades, we’ve moved from a shared cultural canon to a stratified ecosystem of personalised content streams.

    In this entertainment landscape, a film like Elio could appeal to everyone a little bit, rather than become anyone’s firm favourite. Everyone in the family will enjoy a part of this film, albeit different parts. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Elio’s clone is living on Earth.

    This may well be Disney’s strategy: to release an original story with broad appeal in order to mitigate the risks associated with untested stories and characters. This may prove financially viable initially, but will it create films with enduring legacies that generate franchises and spawn sequels?

    I fear Elio will not. The film provides little more than a passable afternoon at the cinema. It is pleasant, forgettable and safe – unlikely to live in the memory to “infinity and beyond”, like previous Disney releases.

    Laura O’Flanagan 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. Elio: Disney’s enjoyable new animation may be an original story – but it’s also a forgettable one – https://theconversation.com/elio-disneys-enjoyable-new-animation-may-be-an-original-story-but-its-also-a-forgettable-one-259213

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: What is an ‘alpha’ male?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jwana Aziz, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham

    AS Inc/Shutterstock

    The recent success of the Netflix show Adolescence has drawn attention to misogynistic rhetoric and how it spreads online. Safeline, an organisation supporting survivors of sexual abuse, has warned that terms like “high-value” and “low-value men” (also described as “alpha” and “beta” men) are being used to radicalise boys, drawing them into embracing such rhetoric.

    Last year, Elon Musk shared a post that argued only “high T alpha males” – men with high testosterone levels – can think freely and are most qualified to lead and govern. Relevant here is the reach of influencers like Andrew Tate, a self-described misogynist who, with his brother, is now facing 21 charges in the UK including rape and human trafficking, all of which they deny.

    What do these terms mean, and how harmful are they?

    The terms alpha and beta male are pseudoscientific terms used to push a concept of masculinity as necessarily hierarchical and aggressive. The theory frames the ideal of a man as someone who is financially successful, assertive, strong, logical and a “natural” leader.


    Boys and girls are together facing an uncertain world. But research shows they are diverging when it comes to attitudes about masculinity, feminism and gender equality.

    Social media, politics, and identity all play a role. But what’s really going on with boys and girls? Join The Conversation UK and Cumberland Lodge’s Youth and Democracy project at Newcastle University for a discussion of these issues with young people and academic experts. Tickets available here.

    Acquiring high-value status is not viewed merely as key to success in life, but also for attracting what are seen as high-value – namely virtuous and physically attractive – women, as well.

    Common and serious use of terms like alpha or high-value male were once largely confined to niche internet subcultures like the manosphere and incel (involuntary celibate) forums. But they have broken into the mainstream through influencers like Tate, whose followers describe him as “Top G”.

    Changing norms?

    There are also signs that the ideas around what it means to be “high value” are changing from the traditional, hegemonic view of masculinity. An interesting case study is Ashton Hall, whose morning routine video recently garnered millions of views on TikTok, and was widely discussed online.

    The male self-improvement influencer’s meticulously structured day comprises a series of self-optimisation tasks, starting with push-ups at 4am, journalling by 4.40am, and dunking his face in ice water before hitting the gym at 6.20am. After another ice-water face plunge and some hours of work, the video ends with a woman presenting him with his evening meal.

    It is interesting to see Hall take practices traditionally seen as feminine, like journalling and skincare, and embrace them as part of an otherwise very traditionally masculine morning routine.

    Another hypermasculine influencer, Hamza, also blends his tough man demeanour with practices like meditation, nutrition and wellness. He frames these habits as “warrior training”. Such practices, then, are not viewed as feminine or emasculating.

    Face masks and self-care have been rebranded by some as part of a masculine routine.
    G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock

    Masculinity today is influenced by neoliberal ideals, where a man’s value is measured by his productivity and success. Practices like self-care are branded as discipline and performance-enhancing tools, used to construct the most optimised, competitive version of the male self.

    Ashton Hall may not describe himself as an “alpha male”, but in many respects he embodies the idealised neoliberal archetype of masculinity: physical strength, wealth and material possessions.

    While Tate’s displays of wealth and women are clear performances of masculine dominance, Hall’s more restrained approach fits within the same hierarchy. In both, “value” is defined by discipline, social ascendancy and power, especially over women. In Hall’s video, it is a woman’s hands that can be seen preparing and serving his food, reinforcing traditional gender roles.

    Why is it harmful?

    It’s important to note that not all hypermasculine influencers are necessarily bad role models for young men and boys.

    But, as we have explored in a recent report, self-improvement content can be a key gateway into the misogynistic digital space of the manosphere.

    In our analysis of online discussions, we found that many of those drawn to hypermasculine influencers reported struggling with various offline vulnerabilities. These included experiencing big life changes, anxiety, depression, bullying and social isolation, and also being neurodiverse. Young followers described motivational content as having “saved” them. Others came across this content through otherwise innocuous searches about getting better abs or finding a girlfriend.

    One 15-year-old in our research, for example, recalled being severely bullied at school. He said that after adopting a strict routine inspired by Tate (waking at 6 am, pursuing fitness, cutting out social media), “Now people respect me.”

    Initially, what young men find may boost their confidence. But in encountering the promotion of unrealistic standards for self-improvement and a “hustle culture” mentality, they may be indoctrinated into an online world of rigidity and misogyny.

    Assigning worth to men based on social and economic status has personal and societal consequences. It presents failure to meet these standards as a path to loneliness and suffering, and frames following self-improvement influencers as the only solution.

    The appeal of self-improvement lies in its promise of transformation – from a state of dissatisfaction and unfulfillment to one of abundance, empowerment and power. Even followers of Tate’s who say they don’t agree with his views of women are drawn to his financial and business success.

    While presented as aspirational, being “high-value” is typically reserved to those with privileges of time and wealth, making it inherently exclusive and inaccessible to most. More importantly, it encourages a worldview where people are judged not for who they are, but for rather how much they produce and what they can offer.

    Such rhetoric reduces human relationships to metrics-based transactions based on a hierarchical order where only those who have accumulated the most power, wealth, and success rise to the top. Andrew Tate’s “Top G” persona rests on this understanding of human relations, resulting in a hyper-competitive transactional model of masculinity.

    More concerning is the ease through which this discourse lends itself to misogynistic narratives. In one video, Tate describes how a “body count [the number of sexual partners] is the easiest way to judge the value of a woman”.

    This metric, which men are exempted from, becomes the standard that men can use to asses and demean women. It reveals the true intentions behind concepts such as “high value” – a way to rank men and justify the control and devaluation of women, further reinforcing systems of power and male dominance.

    Jwana Aziz receives funding by University of Birmingham QR Policy Support Funding and a donation from the Barker Family Trust.

    Anna Lavis has previously received funding for research into online harms from Wellcome, Samaritans and the ESRC, and the work on which this article draws was funded by University of Birmingham QR Policy Support Funding and a donation from the Barker Family Trust.

    Anna sits on Meta’s Eating Disorders and Body Image Global Experts Advisory Board, but receives no payment for this work.

    – ref. What is an ‘alpha’ male? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-an-alpha-male-254503

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: National Indigenous Peoples Day: Minister Sawhney

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kemp Announces Second Round of Rural Site Development Grants

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced today the second round of grants in the OneGeorgia Authority’s Rural Site Development Initiative. This program enables Georgia’s rural communities to identify, assess, and develop new, ready-for-development industrial sites, further growing the state’s capacity for economic growth. Eligible activities for use of grant funds include, but are not limited to, site studies, land grading, and other essential community infrastructure efforts that support site development.

    “Georgia offers the workforce, connectivity, and business-friendly environment for companies to be successful in every corner of the state, which is why we’ve been named the top state for business for over a decade,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “The Rural Site Development Initiative helps us maintain that competitive edge over other states by empowering communities to build on that success and turn fields of dreams into sources of good-paying jobs for rural Georgians. I want to congratulate all of these communities on receiving these awards and thank our legislative partners who helped make this program possible through strategic funding.”

    For site improvement grants, grantees demonstrated substantive plans for industrial site development while meeting OneGeorgia Authority eligibility requirements. Total funding for this round of grants is $8 million, marking more than $18 million in grants distributed to rural site development since the program’s launch.

    “Georgia’s historic economic development success has not happened by accident. It is the direct result of our leadership’s decades-long dedication to strengthening our workforce, investing in our infrastructure, and building a better, brighter future for Georgians across the state,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “The OneGeorgia Authority’s Rural Site Development Grants represent our state’s unwavering commitment to bringing new opportunities for economic success to every corner of the state, and I look forward to seeing the impact these awards will have on rural Georgia communities and citizens for generations to come.” 

    “The Rural Site Development Initiative is critical for our rural communities across the state, where a business-friendly environment is not only critical, but growing at a record pace,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “The approved funding will help current projects grow and future projects begin, while keeping Georgia’s business environment a model for the rest of the nation.” 

    “Georgia’s economic development success is the result of strong leadership and strategic investment,” said Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn. “This tool enables communities to remain attractive for future prospects and achieve their vision of economic prosperity.”

    “The Rural Site Development Initiative empowers communities to proactively shape economic growth that aligns with their long-term goals,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “GRAD-certified sites offer speed-to-market advantages for companies and strengthen Georgia’s competitive site portfolio. As we build on years of economic success, investing in new site development ensures we sustain and accelerate that momentum.”

    In addition to meeting OneGeorgia Authority requirements, applicants leveraged other funding sources to demonstrate community commitment. Use of funds is subject to all applicable state laws and regulations, as well as to the policies and requirements of the OneGeorgia Authority and the Department of Community Affairs. OneGeorgia funds must be expended within the timeframe specified in the grant award documentation, which is generally two years from the date of the award.

    Site Improvement Grants

    Development Authority of the City of Milledgeville and Baldwin County
    The Development Authority of the City of Milledgeville and Baldwin County in middle Georgia was awarded $2 million for site readiness improvements, including the construction of an entry road and other road improvements, at the 1,500-acre, GRAD-certified Sibley Place. The total project costs are $2,193,982.

    Development Authority of Bulloch County
    The Development Authority of Bulloch County in coastal Georgia received a grant of $1,518,920 for site grading and sewer improvements at the 69-acre, GRAD-certified Cannady Site. The Development Authority of Bulloch County is contributing to the total infrastructure cost of $2,024,960.

    Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority
    The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority in middle Georgia was awarded a grant of $2 million for sewage and drainage improvements at the 250-acre, “GRAD Select” Georgia Highway 257 Rail Site. The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority is contributing to the total infrastructure cost of $6,039,671.

    Worth County Economic Development Authority
    The Worth County Economic Development Authority in southwest Georgia received a grant of $2 million for water, drainage, road, and other infrastructure improvements at the 196-acre, “GRAD Select” Worth County Industrial Complex. The Worth County Economic Development Authority is contributing to the total project cost, which is expected to be $2,248,723.

    GRAD-Certification Scholarships

    Development Authority of Burke County
    The Development Authority of Burke County in east Georgia was awarded $35,278 to assist with the costs of seeking GRAD certification for the 150-acre Waynesboro-Burke Industrial Park. The total project costs are $39,198.

    Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority
    The Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority in southeast Georgia was awarded $75,000 to assist with the costs of seeking GRAD certification for the 72-acre Douglas Aviation Industrial Park. The total project costs are $90,050.

    Development Authority of Jefferson County
    The Development Authority of Jefferson County in east Georgia was awarded $75,000 to assist with the costs of seeking GRAD certification for the 230-acre Louisville Airport Industrial Park. The total project costs are $82,500.

    McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority
    The McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority in coastal Georgia was awarded $192,745 to assist with the costs of seeking GRAD certification for the 247-acre Tidewater East Industrial Park. The total project costs are $260,345.

    Pulaski County-Hawkinsville Development Authority
    The Pulaski County-Hawkinsville Development Authority in middle Georgia was awarded $31,455 to assist with the costs of seeking GRAD certification for the 170-acre Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Industrial Park. The total project costs are $34,950.

    Washington-Wilkes Payroll Development Authority
    The Washington-Wilkes Payroll Development Authority in east Georgia was awarded $142,450 to assist with the costs of seeking GRAD certification for the 455-acre Washington-Wilkes Industrial Park Expansion. The total project costs are $167,450.

    About GDEcD
    The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for arts, film, and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit georgia.org for more information.

    About Department of Community Affairs  

    The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) partners with communities to build strong, vibrant neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas through community and economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing. Using state and federal resources, DCA helps communities spur private job creation, implement planning, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions, and promote volunteerism. DCA also helps qualified Georgians with low to moderate incomes buy homes, rent housing and prevent foreclosure and homelessness. For more information, visit www.dca.ga.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Teenager jailed for stabbing school friend to death in east London park

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A teenager has been jailed for stabbing his school friend to death in an east London park.

    A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, 20 June.

    The judge ruled he was a ‘dangerous offender’ and ordered that he must serve at least seven years of his sentence in prison.

    He was found guilty at the same court of the manslaughter of 15-year-old Pharell Garica following a trial that concluded on Friday, 7 February. He was found not guilty of murder.

    The court heard that the defendant, who was aged 15 at the time, stabbed Pharell in the heart, chased him until he collapsed then fled without helping him and disposed of the weapon.

    The defendant admitted stabbing Pharell, but claimed it was in self-defence. However, the jury disagreed with this account.

    Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts very much remain with Pharell’s family and friends, who had to re-live the last traumatic moments of his young life during the trial after the defendant failed to take responsibility for his actions.

    “Somehow the defendant came to be in possession of a multi-tool, which he claimed in court was carried to the scene by the victim. The evidence we gathered disputed the defendant’s account that he grabbed the multi-tool and delivered a fatal blow to save his life. When the defendant became in possession of that weapon he had a choice. He could have walked away, he could’ve thrown the multi-tool to the floor. Instead, he chose to stab Pharell in the heart and then chased him, still armed with the knife, until he saw the victim collapse from his fatal injuries. Instead of rushing over to help his former friend, he fled the scene and tried to dispose of the evidence.

    “Our investigation revealed that the defendant had a fascination with knives after we found 43 images and videos from 16 and 17 July alone of him playing with knives.”

    Detective Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “Pharell’s death was first and foremost a devastating tragedy for his family and friends, but it also had considerable impact across our local communities.

    “While overall violence has been reducing in Hackney, tragic events such as this serve as a reminder that too many of our children and young people have to contend with the callous reality of knife crime. We continue to work night and day, with the council, local charities and wider partners to address both the root causes of knife crime and to deter people from carrying knives through police action.

    “If any young person feels they need to carry a knife please speak to a parent, carer, teacher, youth leader or adult you trust and we can get you the support to step back from that decision safely.”

    Police were called at around 16.05hrs on Tuesday, 23 July to Stellman Close, E5 to reports of a stabbing.

    Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended, but sadly Pharell was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The court heard that Pharell and the defendant, who used to be friends before a falling out, met in the park shortly before the attack. The defendant had told a mutual friend that he was going to fight Pharell as he was talking about him.

    Following Pharell’s death, the police received some information, which led them to make an arrest enquiry at the defendant’s address. He was not home.

    Detectives soon tracked him down to a family friend’s house, where he stayed following the manslaughter, and he was arrested at 05:07hrs on Wednesday, 24 July.

    Detectives then began their lengthy investigation of gathering evidence to prove the defendant was responsible for killing Pharell. They reviewed hours CCTV that captured the defendant entering the park, before putting his hood-up, walking to the area where the attacked happened with Pharell, chasing Pharell out of the park while still holding the knife and then finally disposing of the weapon.

    The weapon was recovered close to where the defendant was seen discarding it on CCTV. The multi-tool was forensically linked to both the defendant and Pharell.

    Officers also analysed the defendant’s mobile phone which showed communication of Snapchat between the pair in the days leading up to the manslaughter, as well as 43 videos and photos of the defendant playing with knives only a week before the killing on Tuesday, 16 and Wednesday, 17 July. The defendant also messaged his mother following the attack saying he could not come home, to remove certain items from their home and asking to go to Portugal.

    The defendant gave a prepared statement to officers admitting to stabbing Pharell but saying he did it in self-defence after getting the knife off him – something detectives and the jury disputed.

    He was charged on Thursday, 25 July and was convicted as above.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Teenager jailed for stabbing school friend to death in east London park

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A teenager has been jailed for stabbing his school friend to death in an east London park.

    A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, 20 June.

    The judge ruled he was a ‘dangerous offender’ and ordered that he must serve at least seven years of his sentence in prison.

    He was found guilty at the same court of the manslaughter of 15-year-old Pharell Garica following a trial that concluded on Friday, 7 February. He was found not guilty of murder.

    The court heard that the defendant, who was aged 15 at the time, stabbed Pharell in the heart, chased him until he collapsed then fled without helping him and disposed of the weapon.

    The defendant admitted stabbing Pharell, but claimed it was in self-defence. However, the jury disagreed with this account.

    Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts very much remain with Pharell’s family and friends, who had to re-live the last traumatic moments of his young life during the trial after the defendant failed to take responsibility for his actions.

    “Somehow the defendant came to be in possession of a multi-tool, which he claimed in court was carried to the scene by the victim. The evidence we gathered disputed the defendant’s account that he grabbed the multi-tool and delivered a fatal blow to save his life. When the defendant became in possession of that weapon he had a choice. He could have walked away, he could’ve thrown the multi-tool to the floor. Instead, he chose to stab Pharell in the heart and then chased him, still armed with the knife, until he saw the victim collapse from his fatal injuries. Instead of rushing over to help his former friend, he fled the scene and tried to dispose of the evidence.

    “Our investigation revealed that the defendant had a fascination with knives after we found 43 images and videos from 16 and 17 July alone of him playing with knives.”

    Detective Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “Pharell’s death was first and foremost a devastating tragedy for his family and friends, but it also had considerable impact across our local communities.

    “While overall violence has been reducing in Hackney, tragic events such as this serve as a reminder that too many of our children and young people have to contend with the callous reality of knife crime. We continue to work night and day, with the council, local charities and wider partners to address both the root causes of knife crime and to deter people from carrying knives through police action.

    “If any young person feels they need to carry a knife please speak to a parent, carer, teacher, youth leader or adult you trust and we can get you the support to step back from that decision safely.”

    Police were called at around 16.05hrs on Tuesday, 23 July to Stellman Close, E5 to reports of a stabbing.

    Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended, but sadly Pharell was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The court heard that Pharell and the defendant, who used to be friends before a falling out, met in the park shortly before the attack. The defendant had told a mutual friend that he was going to fight Pharell as he was talking about him.

    Following Pharell’s death, the police received some information, which led them to make an arrest enquiry at the defendant’s address. He was not home.

    Detectives soon tracked him down to a family friend’s house, where he stayed following the manslaughter, and he was arrested at 05:07hrs on Wednesday, 24 July.

    Detectives then began their lengthy investigation of gathering evidence to prove the defendant was responsible for killing Pharell. They reviewed hours CCTV that captured the defendant entering the park, before putting his hood-up, walking to the area where the attacked happened with Pharell, chasing Pharell out of the park while still holding the knife and then finally disposing of the weapon.

    The weapon was recovered close to where the defendant was seen discarding it on CCTV. The multi-tool was forensically linked to both the defendant and Pharell.

    Officers also analysed the defendant’s mobile phone which showed communication of Snapchat between the pair in the days leading up to the manslaughter, as well as 43 videos and photos of the defendant playing with knives only a week before the killing on Tuesday, 16 and Wednesday, 17 July. The defendant also messaged his mother following the attack saying he could not come home, to remove certain items from their home and asking to go to Portugal.

    The defendant gave a prepared statement to officers admitting to stabbing Pharell but saying he did it in self-defence after getting the knife off him – something detectives and the jury disputed.

    He was charged on Thursday, 25 July and was convicted as above.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Who represents Britain on screen? UK film and TV culture still has a worrying class problem

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nick Lee, Senior Lecturer in Film History and Critical Theory, Royal Holloway University of London

    The British media has a class problem, according to recent research by The Sutton Trust. In short, the privately educated are over-represented in the creative industries, especially in film and television. The trust’s report, A Class Act (2024), demonstrates that this area of British culture is disproportionately produced by the most privileged segment of the population.

    The Great British Class Survey (2011) indicated that the “top” 6% of the population has privileged access to three types of capital – economic, social and cultural. Its children are more likely to go to fee-paying schools and Oxbridge.

    The Sutton Trust report informs us that, “school attendance is a useful proxy measure for the socio-economic circumstances someone grew up in, with private school attendance in particular strongly related to family income”. Accordingly, the 7% of the UK population which attends private schools roughly correlates with the “elite” 6% identified in the Great British Class Survey.

    This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins too.

    This “elite” is the group over-represented in the British media. According to media watchdog Ofcom, in 2019 only 52% of the workforce in the British television industry had gone to non-selective state schools – attended by 88% of the British population – and the privately educated accounted for 14%. A further 22% went to selective schools and 10% went to overseas schools.

    The privately educated proportion rises to 38% when we look at the wealthiest individuals in film, television and music. The Guardian also reported recently that nearly half of all UK arts and media award nominees are privately educated.

    These statistics make clear the extent to which the top class of British society is able to monopolise opportunities when it comes to jobs in the British media.

    When we look at actors, this problem is especially pronounced. Of the all-time top-ten grossing British actors, 50% are privately educated, with Idris Elba the only working-class, state-educated actor in the top five.

    For actresses, the problem is even more pronounced. In a recent snapshot of Ranker’s top 20 British actresses working today, 80% are privately educated or aristocratic, and all of them are white. Only Keira Knightley and Jodie Comer are state educated (and neither attended drama school).

    Obviously, this is a problem in terms of social mobility, but also in terms of British culture more broadly. It begs the question: who represents Britain to a domestic audience, but also on the international stage? If we look at two major British hits from the last 25 years, again we see that attendees of private schools and Oxbridge are over-represented.

    In 1999, Notting Hill was the highest-grossing British film of all time. Its star (Hugh Grant), writer (Richard Curtis), director (Roger Michell) and producer (Duncan Kenworthy) were all privately educated, and all attended Oxbridge. Of the main cast, only Gina McKee and Rhys Ifans were state educated and non-Oxbridge; both have regional accents. McKee’s character has a condition that confines her to a wheelchair, and Ifan’s character is barely civilised.

    Paddington (2014-2025), the hugely successful British film franchise displays similar tendencies. Of the central recurring cast, only Paddington, the uncivilised foundling bear, is played by state-educated Ben Whishaw.

    The rest of the Brown family, residing in a fantastical pseudo middle-class Primrose Hill, are all played by privately educated actors. State-educated Julie Walters plays housekeeper Mrs Bird with a strong Scottish accent. And as with the UK’s most successful film franchise, Harry Potter (which similarly has a handful of state-educated actors), the privately educated David Heyman produces.

    The British “middle-class” shown in these films is actually drawn from the most affluent segment of British society. Yet these actors are able to unproblematically “play down” in terms of class and upbringing. Ewan McGregor, who went to the private Morrison’s Academy, became famous playing a heroin addict in Trainspotting.

    This contrasts sharply with the paucity of working-class or middle-class actors who “play-up”: Kenneth Branagh is one notable example, having achieved it through an association with Shakespeare — the zenith of British dramatic art. Branagh’s Belfast – an account of his own upbringing – is remarkable in its stark contrast to the work by which he made his name.

    My own research on the working-class author and broadcaster Archie Hill has shown how class also dictates which contributions to British culture are preserved, and how a narrow establishment determines this. Even when working-class people make significant cultural contributions, they are more likely to be overlooked in posterity.

    Working-class actors used to be encouraged and celebrated, as the careers of Tom Courtenay, Richard Burton, Michael Caine, Albert Finney, Rita Tushingham, Eileen Atkins and Imelda Staunton demonstrate. The Atlee government’s post-war settlement in Britain concentrated resources on working-class communities and emphasised social mobility, allowing young working-class people to thrive and access cultural resources previously reserved for a wealthy elite.

    The “angry young men” of kitchen sink realism and the rise of roles for working-class actors have to be seen in this context. However, as the consensus of the post-war settlement declined from the late 1970s, so did numbers of working-class actors on our screens. As Julie Walters lamented in 2015: “People like me wouldn’t get a chance today”.

    As social inequality in Britain deepens, the problem gets worse: since the 1970s the proportion of working-class actors, musicians and writers has halved. Social media has enabled a new “nepo-baby” aristocracy to emerge – the children of celebrities now becoming celebrities simply by virtue of their birth.

    Why does this matter? Because the narrowness of this field is bad news for diversity. We need greater breadth and depth when it comes to British culture and those who produce it.

    Michaela Coel and Stephen Graham – as recent successes I May Destroy You and Adolescence have shown – are two considerable forces in this respect, but more needs to be done if this structural imbalance is to be corrected.

    Sadly, British film and television frequently offers us a misrepresentative and inverted Britain, one where the majority has been marginalised, and the elite masquerade as the class norm. No wonder so many Americans think Hugh Grant is a “typical Brit”.

    Nick Lee 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. Who represents Britain on screen? UK film and TV culture still has a worrying class problem – https://theconversation.com/who-represents-britain-on-screen-uk-film-and-tv-culture-still-has-a-worrying-class-problem-255741

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Maris-Tech Unveils Peridot: A New AI-Powered Observation System for Comprehensive Threat Detection

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New Solution Combines AI, Thermal Imaging, and Multi-Sensor Stitching to Create a Seamless View for Defense and Security Operations

    Rehovot, Israel, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maris-Tech Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTEK, MTEKW) (“Maris-Tech” or the “Company”), a global leader in video and artificial intelligence (“AI”)-based edge computing technology, is proud to announce the completion of the first prototype of Peridot – an AI-based passive observation system designed for comprehensive situational awareness.

    Peridot integrates multiple high-definition day and thermal video sensors with advanced stitching algorithms to create a panoramic view, both horizontally and vertically. The result is uninterrupted coverage and early detection of conventional and modern threats, including drones and unmanned vehicles.

    This breakthrough technology is designed for border and strategic site protection, offering a fully integrated, standalone solution to monitor, detect and enable quicker response to aerial and ground-based risks. In addition to its observation capabilities, Peridot can serve as a trigger system for passive or active threat defeating mechanisms – making it an ideal part of layered defense strategies.

    “Peridot represents a significant technological leap and a major milestone for Maris-Tech,” said Israel Bar, Chief Executive Officer of Maris-Tech. “We’re proud of the team that brought this concept to life. As a standalone solution, Peridot positions us higher in the defense technology value chain, and we believe the industry will benefit greatly from its introduction.”

    About Maris-Tech Ltd.

    Maris-Tech is a global leader in video and AI-based edge computing technology, pioneering intelligent video transmission solutions that conquer complex encoding-decoding challenges. Our miniature, lightweight, and low-power products deliver high-performance capabilities, including raw data processing, seamless transfer, advanced image processing, and AI-driven analytics. Founded by Israeli technology sector veterans, Maris-Tech serves leading manufacturers worldwide in defense, aerospace, Intelligence gathering, homeland security (HLS), and communication industries. We’re pushing the boundaries of video transmission and edge computing, driving innovation in mission-critical applications across commercial and defense sectors.

    For more information, visit https://www.maris-tech.com/

    Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

    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, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect”,” “may”, “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the potential capabilities and applications of the Peridot system, including its integration into layered defense strategies, its ability to provide early detection and comprehensive situational awareness and the Company’s belief that Peridot represents a significant technological advancement and will positively impact the defense industry. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: its ability to successfully market its products and services, including in the United States; the acceptance of its products and services by customers; its continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for its products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; its ability to successfully develop new products and services; its success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; its ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Investor Relations:

    Nir Bussy, CFO
    Tel: +972-72-2424022
    Nir@maris-tech.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget PRO Program Launches Limited-Time PRO+2 Upgrade to Supercharge High-Volume and Institutional Traders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, and Web3 company, has announced a limited-time PRO+2 Level Upgrade Promotion alongside the announcement of Bitget PRO, an upgraded program designed to support the needs of institutional clients and high-frequency traders. Meant for eligible users, the promotion reinforces Bitget’s commitment to empowering professional traders with better rates, priority infrastructure, and exclusive perks.

    The Bitget PRO program introduces a dynamic tiered system built to streamline institutional access to lower fees, optimized API limits, exclusive loan and custody services, and expanded withdrawal limits. With the rise of algorithmic and institutional trading, Bitget PRO serves as a dedicated infrastructure layer that facilitates complex strategies and capital efficiency.

    “Institutional traders are shaping the future of digital finance through precision and scale. Bitget PRO is built to support their ambitions—offering advanced infrastructure and seamless access to tailored financial tools,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Our time-limited PRO+2 upgrade is our way of welcoming top-tier participants into the program with minimal friction—unlocking superior benefits and showing our ongoing commitment to supporting institutional growth in crypto.”

    The PRO+2 Level Upgrade Promotion will run from July 2 to August 31, 2025, instantly boosting trading power for both new and existing users. Traders will be upgraded by two levels based on their June trading volume, while new users can apply for the same boost by submitting proof of past trading activity or asset holdings before August 15, 2025 (GMT+8). For example, approved traders currently tiered as PRO3, will get upgraded to receive PRO5 fee rates and benefits. This promotion allows eligible users to unlock up to PRO6-level benefits earlier than ever, including top-tier fee discounts, deeper liquidity, and personalized institutional support. Additional perks include improved fee structures on spot and futures, higher API rate limits, increased withdrawal caps, flexible sub-account management, and direct access to Bitget’s API team for real-time support.

    The Bitget PRO program is automatically assigned daily at 9:00AM (UTC+8), with qualification based on a user’s 30-day API trading volume. PRO1 and above require at least 20% of trades via API. Those who do not meet the criteria will revert to VIP tiers. This structure allows seamless mobility while rewarding activity and technical engagement.

    Earlier this year, Bitget strengthened its institutional offering with the launch of Institutional Lending, enabling up to 5x leverage on spot trading. Additional upgrades, including Unified Accounts and enhanced OTC services, reflect Bitget’s commitment to supporting professional traders with flexible, secure solutions.

    For more details on the Bitget PRO+2 Level Upgrade Promotion, visit here. For details on the Bitget PRO program in general, visit the official Bitget PRO Program page and direct inquiries to institution@bitget.com.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform. Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a6da46e-0407-43bb-b236-a93a5188d971

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FV Bank Redefines Institutional-Grade Client and Tax Reporting Efficiency with Bitwave

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FV Bank, a globally regulated digital asset custodian and banking platform, announced a landmark partnership with Bitwave to streamline and automate digital asset tax and financial reporting, setting a new institutional standard for compliance and operational scalability.

    As digital asset adoption continues to mature, so do the expectations for institutional accountability, tax transparency, and audit-readiness. With a customer base spanning over 70 countries and operations in one of the most stringently regulated environments in finance, FV Bank has taken a bold step forward to modernize its infrastructure and ensure compliance without compromising efficiency.

    Operational Innovation Meets Regulatory Excellence

    Leading custodians – like FV Bank – face unique reporting challenges when managing customer assets under the FBO (“For the Benefit Of”) accounting model. This structure requires financial teams to track assets and liabilities both at the institution level and for individual customers.

    By integrating Bitwave’s industry-leading financial platform, FV Bank has successfully automated the dual-layered reporting structure, creating both client-facing tax forms (such as 1099s) and detailed internal books that meet institutional audit standards.

    “At FV Bank, we take pride in offering secure, compliant, and forward-thinking financial services. Partnering with Bitwave allows us to push the envelope on what’s possible with digital asset reporting efficiency with global scale,” said Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank.

    “We’re not just solving a tax problem, we’re setting a new benchmark for operational excellence.”

    Solving Tax Complexity at Scale

    Tax reporting in digital assets is notoriously complex, especially for high-throughput financial institutions.

    With Bitwave, FV Bank has streamlined its tax workflows to automatically generate accurate, auditable gain/loss data for every client account. This eliminates the need for fragmented spreadsheets, manual reconciliations, and error-prone calculations.

    “FV Bank is a true leader in operational compliance and financial innovation,” said Pat White, CEO of Bitwave.

    “Their embrace of Bitwave for both internal and customer-facing reporting proves that institutions can lead the way in digital asset transparency and integrity.”

    Driving Scalable Compliance for the Future of Finance

    Bitwave’s robust platform is designed to meet the needs of enterprise-grade finance teams, enabling institutions like FV Bank to remain audit-ready, regulator-friendly, and technologically agile.

    This partnership represents a scalable solution that other neobanks, trust companies, and crypto-forward enterprises can emulate.

    As regulators and policymakers focus increasingly on transparency and accountability in crypto finance, FV Bank is not waiting to react, it’s leading.

    About FV Bank

    FV Bank is a fully licensed and regulated U.S. digital bank offering a vertically integrated suite of digital asset and traditional banking services. With a focus on innovation, security, and compliance, FV Bank is Banking the Future by providing USD banking, digital asset custody services, money market accounts, Visa debit cards, and stablecoin deposits and conversions, all accessible via a single, unified platform.

    For more information about FV Bank, please visit www.fvbank.us.

    About Bitwave

    Bitwave is the #1 digital asset subledger and on-chain finance platform for businesses.

    Built for enterprises and institutions, Bitwave simplifies digital asset tax, accounting, and payment workflows for global finance teams – all with a comprehensive, audit-ready platform.

    Trusted by Fortune 100 leaders, Bitwave delivers the reliability, security, and control demanded by today’s leading finance teams. We enable the digital asset economy with scalable financial operations.

    For more, visit bitwave.io.

    Media Contact:
    Kaleb Leija
    VP of Marketing, Bitwave
    marketing@bitwave.io 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e55433b-f39c-4295-b904-12b7ba085cab

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FV Bank Redefines Institutional-Grade Client and Tax Reporting Efficiency with Bitwave

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FV Bank, a globally regulated digital asset custodian and banking platform, announced a landmark partnership with Bitwave to streamline and automate digital asset tax and financial reporting, setting a new institutional standard for compliance and operational scalability.

    As digital asset adoption continues to mature, so do the expectations for institutional accountability, tax transparency, and audit-readiness. With a customer base spanning over 70 countries and operations in one of the most stringently regulated environments in finance, FV Bank has taken a bold step forward to modernize its infrastructure and ensure compliance without compromising efficiency.

    Operational Innovation Meets Regulatory Excellence

    Leading custodians – like FV Bank – face unique reporting challenges when managing customer assets under the FBO (“For the Benefit Of”) accounting model. This structure requires financial teams to track assets and liabilities both at the institution level and for individual customers.

    By integrating Bitwave’s industry-leading financial platform, FV Bank has successfully automated the dual-layered reporting structure, creating both client-facing tax forms (such as 1099s) and detailed internal books that meet institutional audit standards.

    “At FV Bank, we take pride in offering secure, compliant, and forward-thinking financial services. Partnering with Bitwave allows us to push the envelope on what’s possible with digital asset reporting efficiency with global scale,” said Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank.

    “We’re not just solving a tax problem, we’re setting a new benchmark for operational excellence.”

    Solving Tax Complexity at Scale

    Tax reporting in digital assets is notoriously complex, especially for high-throughput financial institutions.

    With Bitwave, FV Bank has streamlined its tax workflows to automatically generate accurate, auditable gain/loss data for every client account. This eliminates the need for fragmented spreadsheets, manual reconciliations, and error-prone calculations.

    “FV Bank is a true leader in operational compliance and financial innovation,” said Pat White, CEO of Bitwave.

    “Their embrace of Bitwave for both internal and customer-facing reporting proves that institutions can lead the way in digital asset transparency and integrity.”

    Driving Scalable Compliance for the Future of Finance

    Bitwave’s robust platform is designed to meet the needs of enterprise-grade finance teams, enabling institutions like FV Bank to remain audit-ready, regulator-friendly, and technologically agile.

    This partnership represents a scalable solution that other neobanks, trust companies, and crypto-forward enterprises can emulate.

    As regulators and policymakers focus increasingly on transparency and accountability in crypto finance, FV Bank is not waiting to react, it’s leading.

    About FV Bank

    FV Bank is a fully licensed and regulated U.S. digital bank offering a vertically integrated suite of digital asset and traditional banking services. With a focus on innovation, security, and compliance, FV Bank is Banking the Future by providing USD banking, digital asset custody services, money market accounts, Visa debit cards, and stablecoin deposits and conversions, all accessible via a single, unified platform.

    For more information about FV Bank, please visit www.fvbank.us.

    About Bitwave

    Bitwave is the #1 digital asset subledger and on-chain finance platform for businesses.

    Built for enterprises and institutions, Bitwave simplifies digital asset tax, accounting, and payment workflows for global finance teams – all with a comprehensive, audit-ready platform.

    Trusted by Fortune 100 leaders, Bitwave delivers the reliability, security, and control demanded by today’s leading finance teams. We enable the digital asset economy with scalable financial operations.

    For more, visit bitwave.io.

    Media Contact:
    Kaleb Leija
    VP of Marketing, Bitwave
    marketing@bitwave.io 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e55433b-f39c-4295-b904-12b7ba085cab

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Festival of the Sea ship-shape and ready for launch

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    With the Tall Ships on the horizon, art, heritage, sport and leisure organisations across Aberdeen are set to present a raft of maritime-themed events for local people and visitors to the city.

    The Festival of the Sea takes place from 12 to 27 July, the two weeks either side of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen (19-22 July). From sports camps to singing and storytelling, theatre and dancing to sea dragons and coastal discovery tours, and from exhibitions and creative writing to watercolour workshops, there’s something for all ages to discover and enjoy. Twenty organisations are presenting around 40 free and paid-for events in indoor and outdoor locations across the city.

    This is the second Festival of the Sea and it is hoped that it will become an annual event, creating a legacy for the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen.

    Highlights of the programme include

    Pirates! Scottish Dance Theatre at His Majesty’s Theatre
    Saturday 19, Sunday 20 July, 2pm and 7pm
    Join best friends Tom and Daisy as they are swept away into the world of Captain Sandy Rogers and her rowdy crew! This unforgettable adventure features a bunch of slippery zombies, strange underwater creatures and a final, all-out duel with the wicked Captain O’Greed!

    Coastal Discovery Day at the Greyhope Bay Centre
    Monday 21 July, 10am-4pm
    Meet organisations connected to the coast and local area to learn about their work protecting the Aberdeen coast and species that call it home, take part in a beachcombing acvitity and a litter pick. 

    Viktor Wynd and the Museum of Curiosities at Aberdeen Art Gallery
    Thursday 17 July, 7pm-8pm
    Artist and writer Viktor Wynd offers a glimpse of his extraordinary, not to say infamous, curiosity museum in London’s West End. We may hear stories about mermaids, mandrakes, and monsters as well as travellers tales from his adventures

    Citymoves Dance Agency: Creatures of the Deep Summer Youth Camp
    Monday 21-Friday 25 July, ages 5-12
    Enjoy a high-energy creative camp that uses dance and creative expression to explore nautical topics, along with the funky routines, singing, and crafting activities.

    Deemouth Artist Studios Workshop Weekender 
    Wednesday 23 – Sunday 27 July, 10am-5pm
    A long weekend of workshops hosted by DAS creative residents, from pottery and jewellery, to weaving, screen printing and more, there’s something for everyone.

    Fittie Arts and Crafts Fair
    Saturday 19 July, 10am-4pm
    Stalls include sea-themed jewellery, handmade candles and rustic charm creations for the home. Fittie themed merchandise is also on offer along with a fundraising stall for the RNLI.

    Fish ‘n’ Ships
    Saturday 12 July–Wednesday 23 July
    Aberdeen Young Ambassadors will be popping up, in and around the city, to trade artworks in exchange for non-recyclable plastics.

    Ben Torrie, Director of Programming and Creative Projects at Aberdeen Performing Arts, said: “No Festival of the Sea would be complete without some swashbuckling pirate fun. Scottish Dance Theatre’s energetic and vibrant production at His Majesty’s Theatre is the perfect event for families to take in whilst visiting the city for the Tall Ships Races. Tickets are on SAIL now!”

    Lesley-Anne Rose, Creative Director of Open Road, said: “The Festival of the Sea is a perfect fit for Aberdeen and its harbourside communities. We’re excited to build on the success of last year and offer a programme of free family events, artist workshops, storytelling and music.”

    Hayley Durward, CEO of Citymoves Dance Agency, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in the Festival of the Sea with our children’s summer camp, Shaper/Caper pop up dance performances, What Moves You performance at Balnagask care home and intergenerational street performance in Torry. The Festival of the Sea programme will help extend the Tall Ships reach into communities and across generations.”

    Frances Coombey, Programmes at Operations Manager at Greyhope Bay Centre, said: “We’re really lucky to live in a city such an incredible and diverse coastline. The Festival of the Sea is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our connections to the coast through nature, heritage or creativity. We’re really excited to be working with our volunteers, local experts and artists to deliver a mix of fun and inspiring events for the Festival of the Sea programme.”

    Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said: “Tall Ships Races Aberdeen is set to be Scotland’s biggest free family event this summer. I’m delighted that so many of Aberdeen’s art, culture, heritage and leisure organisations are supporting it with Festival of the Sea activities which are extending the impact of this major event for local people and visitors to the city.”

    Organisations taking part in the Festival:
    Aberdeen Art Gallery
    Aberdeen Arts Centre
    Aberdeen City Libraries
    Aberdeen Maritime Museum
    Aberdeen Sports Village
    Aberdeen Young Ambassadors
    Citymoves Dance Agency
    Clan Cancer Support
    Deemouth Artist Studios
    Fittie Community Development Trust
    Greyhope Bay Centre
    Harbour Voices Choir
    His Majesty’s Theatre
    Music Hall
    Old Aberdeen Library
    Open Road
    Pushing Out the Boat
    Stonehaven Folk Festival
    Torry Community Library
    University of Aberdeen
     

    For full programme details and booking information visit
    www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/festivalofthesea

    Image L-R: Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, Lesley-Anne Rose of Open Road, Hayley Durward of Citymoves, Frances Coombey of Greyhope Bay Centre

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Partners With Electronic Arts and Xbox To Bring EA SPORTS FC™ 25 to Samsung Gaming Hub

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung today announced a partnership with Electronic Arts (EA) and Xbox to bring the action of EA SPORTS FCTM 25 to Samsung Gaming Hub. Samsung TV and monitor owners can now play EA SPORTS FC 25 through the Xbox app with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on supported devices1. All players need to get started is a compatible controller and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes EA Play.
    As a special promotion, new Xbox Game Pass subscribers can receive a two-month Ultimate Game Pass subscription2. The offer is available to both existing Samsung TV and monitor owners and those who buy a new, qualifying product. To redeem, users can simply download the Samsung Promotions app on their Samsung TV, click the Xbox promotion banner or scan the QR code with their mobile device, and then follow the steps on the screen to activate their offer.
    “We are delighted to bring EA SPORTS FC 25 to Samsung TVs and monitors through cloud gaming on Samsung Gaming Hub,” said Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “As the world’s leading TV manufacturer, one of our goals is to immerse soccer fans around the world feel the thrill and enjoy the exciting game of soccer, whether they are playing the game or watching a match live on a Samsung TV.”

    EA SPORTS FC 25 gives players more ways to win for the club, by teaming up with friends across their favourite modes with 5v5 Rushand managing their clubs to victory as FC IQ delivers more tactical control than ever before. Fans will also continue to experience unrivalled authenticity with the most true-to-life experience of football’s biggest competitions, clubs and stars, with FC 25 featuring over 19,000+ athletes across 700+ teams in more than 120 stadiums and 30+ leagues from around the world.
    Samsung Gaming Hub, first introduced in 2022, has redefined home entertainment by giving players access to thousands of games directly on Samsung TVs and monitors. This includes the 2025 TV series, spanning Samsung Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, OLED, QLED, The Frame and The Frame Pro, which are powered by Samsung Vision AI for AI enhanced picture and sound, along with new personalized features that bring you closer to all the shows, movies and games you love.

    In a first for the TV industry, Samsung has partnered with Microsoft to integrate Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), and now supports a wide range of streamed games from partners including NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Amazon Luna.
    For more information on Samsung Gaming Hub, please visit www.samsung.com.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/UGANDA – “Voices of Peace”: campaign by Sudanese youth to launch a sustainable peace process

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 20 June 2025

    Internet

    Kampala (Agenzia Fides) – “Stopping the war has become a national demand”. This is the goal of a group of Sudanese youth who have launched the “Voices of Peace” campaign in Kampala, Uganda. Inaugurated on Saturday, June 14 by Sa’ad Mohamed, Executive Director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), seeks to engage young Sudanese in building a sustainable peace process.“Through this campaign, we plan to build a comprehensive peace process, with youth at its heart, benefiting from the power and influence of social media in shaping public opinion” said one of the young Sudanese present. The aim is to leverage social media and traditional arts to foster reconciliation and end the ongoing conflict in their homeland (see Fides, 17/4/2023).According to organizers, the initiative will use digital media and traditional arts – including the role of “Hakamats” (traditional female praise singers and storytellers) – to spread messages of peace and coexistence, while also monitoring and documenting human rights violations across Sudan.The note sent to Fides also states that Sudanese civil and political groups have extensive experience using digital media and social networking sites, which played a pivotal role in mobilizing the Sudanese Revolution from December 2018 to April 2019. Faced with media suppression, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp became crucial for organizing protests and coordinating actions. The revolution effectively broke the official media blockade, transforming social media into a popular tool for communication and unifying revolutionary slogans. Sudanese activists gained international support, particularly on Twitter, turning it into a space for global solidarity. Digital platforms also became a vital medium for youth to discuss state-building, transitional justice, and human rights, fostering a culture of digital resistance.Asjad Bahaa, a founder and participant in the campaign, said “Voices of Peace” is the second phase of an ACJPS project, which began in April focusing on documenting enforced disappearances. She explained that the campaign will train youth as monitors and documenters of human rights violations, addressing the exodus of many activists due to security threats.Youth are “the fuel of war and peace,” often easily recruited by armed groups. “We are trying to reverse this by training youth to be peace advocates,” she said. “We are also working to reorient the role of Hakamats to be symbols of peace instead of incitement,” she said.The campaign launches as the conflict between the Army and the Rapid Support Forces enters its third year, with violence escalating and little sign of a political settlement. Humanitarian conditions continue to worsen, and civilian violations are widespread.Examples from other countries highlight the potential of arts and media in peacebuilding. Following the 1994 genocide, Rwanda used traditional arts, community theater, and radio broadcasts to promote love, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Sierra Leone after the 2002 civil war, mobile youth music groups used traditional music to reintegrate child soldiers and foster tolerance. In Colombia media campaigns incorporating traditional arts and music played a role in ending the conflict with FARC rebels. These initiatives, using popular songs broadcast via planes, radio, and social media, encouraged dozens of fighters to disarm and rejoin society. In Niger the role of “Hakamats” was empowered in peacebuilding through folk songs. Trained in reconciliation concepts, these women became key messengers, using songs in markets and at weddings to informally convey messages urging an end to violence and promoting coexistence in pastoral communities. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 20/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four months of Operation Take Back America results in criminal charges against 39 defendants in Alaska

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Charges against defendants include serious drug trafficking, firearm and other offenses.

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman announced today the immediate success of Operation Take Back America in Alaska. In just over four months since its inception, the District of Alaska has already criminally charged 39 defendants under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, repel the invasion of illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime and drug trafficking.

    “Operation Take Back America has already been a huge success in Alaska. By concentrating our efforts on national law enforcement priorities and aggressively charging individuals for perpetrating crimes that most significantly impact public safety, our communities are becoming safer,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “The road ahead will be challenging, but I want to thank our federal, state and local partners for these early successes and look forward to the continued mission.”

    “DEA’s core mission is protecting America from drug traffickers and others who seek to do harm to our communities,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “We are proud to collaborate with our partners in Alaska as we work collectively to aggressively implement Operation Take Back America.  The amazing results so far speak to DEA’s commitment to work with our partners to make Alaska safe.”

    “Transnational criminal organizations responsible for violent crime and drug trafficking in Alaska not only endanger communities, but are also a threat to our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Through Operation Take Back America, Alaskans can expect to see continued results in our mission to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises in furtherance of public safety.”

    “When law enforcement agencies at all levels unite, each contributing its distinct strengths, the collective effort enhances the safety of all Americans in the fight against violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the ATF Seattle Field Division.

    Among the 28 cases charged between Jan. 21, 2025, and June 10, 2025, the following three cases highlight the impact of Operation Take Back America in Alaska:

    U.S. v. Mobley

    On Nov. 14 and 15, 2024, Sean Mobley, 45, allegedly distributed carfentanil to two people, one adult and one minor. Carfentanil is a highly potent opioid not approved for human use. It is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Both victims allegedly used the substance and overdosed. The adult victim was revived by Narcan, but the minor victim died. Mobley then allegedly dumped her body onto a secluded ATV trail in Wasilla in the middle of the night. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison.

    U.S. v. Clifton et al

    Between August 2024 and February 2025, Corey Clifton, 51, and Elizabeth Cruickshank, 44, allegedly conspired together, and with others, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl in Alaska. Specifically, on one occasion, Clifton allegedly shipped a parcel from Washington to Cruickshank in Alaska. The parcel contained over 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl pills (over approximately 42,000 pills) packaged in small baggies with stickers inside drink mix containers. The indictment also alleges that between April 2024 to 2025, Clifton and Cruickshank conspired together to launder over one-half million dollars in drug proceeds. Clifton is also accused of possessing two firearms and ammunition as a felon. If convicted, they face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

    U.S. v. Kawanishi

    On Oct. 21, 2024, Alexander Kawanishi, 32, allegedly purchased illegal narcotics from an individual at an Anchorage motel. Court documents allege that Kawanishi provided the individual with $100 in cash, but later demanded the money back. When the individual refused, Kawanishi allegedly shot the individual with a pistol in the lower back/hip area before fleeing the scene. On Nov. 15, 2024, law enforcement located Kawanishi slumped over the wheel of a vehicle that was stuck on a snowbank. When Kawanishi woke up and exited the vehicle, he was wearing body armor and had two pistols on his person.  During Kawanishi’s arrest, law enforcement, discovered a third firearm, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. At the time of the alleged conduct, Kawanishi had two felony convictions in Alaska Superior Court, making him a felon in possession of multiple firearms. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

    Below is the full list of cases charged as part of Operation Take Back America in Alaska (in alphabetical order):

    U.S. v. Benson (DT) U.S. v. Melvin(VC) U.S. v. Santiago-Martinez (I)
    U.S. v. Carroll (VC) U.S. v. Miles et al. (DT) U.S. v. Schaefer et al. (DT)
    U.S. v. Clifton et al (DT) U.S. v. Mobley(DT) U.S. v. Cody Severance (VC)
    U.S. v. Cotton(DT) U.S. v. Owens (VC) U.S. v. Sergio Severance (VC)
    U.S. v. Facey(DT) U.S. vs. Parker (DT) U.S. v. Spann (VC)
    U.S. v. Garrett (DT) U.S. v. Ritchie (DT) U.S. v. Steffensen  (DT)
    U.S. v. Greydanus et al. (DT) U.S. v. Rodgers et al. (DT) U.S. v. Walker (VC)
    U.S. v. Katelnikoff et al. (DT) U.S. v. Ronquillo (I) U.S. v. Washington et al. (DT)
    U.S. v. Kawanishi (VC) U.S. v. Rowcroft-Ivy (VC) U.S. v. Woods (DT)
    U.S. v. Lemana (VC)    

    *Drug Trafficking (DT)
    *Violent Crime (VC)
    *Immigration (I)

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Heyman commends the FBI Anchorage Field Office, DEA Seattle Field Division, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for their investigations that lead to these charges. He also thanks the state and local law enforcement partners that assisted with the operations in these cases.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys with the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska are prosecuting the cases.

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Pavel Zhukov: “Musical Changes” gave the orchestra the opportunity to constantly be in good shape”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Ingenium is an engineer and a genius in one word, and it is also the new name of the Polytechnic pop-symphony orchestra, for which the 2024–2025 creative season was on the rise. On October 15 last year, it was the orchestra under the direction of Dmitry Misiura launched a new original project “Musical break”. In early April, the orchestra became a first-degree laureate of the IV International Arts Prize-Contest “Embodiment of Mastery”. And at the end of the month, the musicians took first place at the festival “Student Spring”— the most significant annual creative competition of student groups from universities in the North-West.

    And since February 2024, the orchestra has had a second conductor, Pavel Zhukov, a master’s student. Today, Pavel is already a graduate of the Polytechnic University, but continues to work in the orchestra. What is an orchestra for students, how are concerts and rehearsals held, and what is it like to find yourself at the conductor’s stand, Read in our traditional section “Person”.

    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: Stansberry Asset Management Named to Worth’s 2025 Top Registered Investment Advisor Firms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WESTLAKE, Texas, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stansberry Asset Management (“SAM”) is proud to be recognized by Worth as one of the top registered investment advisory firms in the country. This honor reflects the trust SAM has earned from clients through its active portfolio management approach, personalized wealth planning, and disciplined focus on helping investors navigate today’s challenges while preparing for the future. As markets evolve and investor needs become more complex, SAM continues to offer a distinct alternative to traditional models—grounded in research, independence, and a deep understanding of what matters most to the families and institutions they serve.

    The Worth Leading Advisor program recognizes firms that meet a rigorous set of benchmarks, including assets under management of over $500 million, a predominantly high-net-worth client base, a strong emphasis on comprehensive financial planning, and full independence from broker-dealers—ensuring advice remains objective and client-centered.

    “We’re incredibly honored to be named to Worth’s list of top RIA firms for the second year in a row,” said Chris DeLaura, Chief Executive Officer at Stansberry Asset Management. “This milestone reflects the trust our clients have placed in us and the dedication of our entire team. We’re proud of the work we do together and remain committed to delivering informed, active investment management combined with holistic financial and wealth planning to help our clients grow, protect, and preserve their wealth.”

    To view the full list, visit: https://worth.com/leading-advisors/top-registered-investment-advisor-firms/

    About Stansberry Asset Management (SAM)
    Stansberry Asset Management is a registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Westlake, Texas, with offices in New York, NY, Clifton Park, NY and San Mateo, CA with clients across the country. SAM marries informed, active, sophisticated investment management with holistic financial and wealth planning, all with a focus on helping clients build and preserve their legacy. SAM’s approach is rooted in rigorous analysis, strategic insight, and a commitment to client-centric service. For more information, please visit www.stansberryam.com

    About Worth

    Worth is a leading American wealth management and lifestyle media company, providing insight and guidance for high-net-worth individuals since 1986. Through rigorous selection, Worth’s Leading Advisor program highlights the most accomplished registered investment advisory firms across the country. Their annual list of Top Registered Investment Advisor Firms is recognized as a benchmark of excellence and professionalism within the industry. For more information, visit worth.com.

    Contact:

    Claire Snider
    info@stansberryam.com
    646.854.4370

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Stansberry Asset Management Named to Worth’s 2025 Top Registered Investment Advisor Firms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WESTLAKE, Texas, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stansberry Asset Management (“SAM”) is proud to be recognized by Worth as one of the top registered investment advisory firms in the country. This honor reflects the trust SAM has earned from clients through its active portfolio management approach, personalized wealth planning, and disciplined focus on helping investors navigate today’s challenges while preparing for the future. As markets evolve and investor needs become more complex, SAM continues to offer a distinct alternative to traditional models—grounded in research, independence, and a deep understanding of what matters most to the families and institutions they serve.

    The Worth Leading Advisor program recognizes firms that meet a rigorous set of benchmarks, including assets under management of over $500 million, a predominantly high-net-worth client base, a strong emphasis on comprehensive financial planning, and full independence from broker-dealers—ensuring advice remains objective and client-centered.

    “We’re incredibly honored to be named to Worth’s list of top RIA firms for the second year in a row,” said Chris DeLaura, Chief Executive Officer at Stansberry Asset Management. “This milestone reflects the trust our clients have placed in us and the dedication of our entire team. We’re proud of the work we do together and remain committed to delivering informed, active investment management combined with holistic financial and wealth planning to help our clients grow, protect, and preserve their wealth.”

    To view the full list, visit: https://worth.com/leading-advisors/top-registered-investment-advisor-firms/

    About Stansberry Asset Management (SAM)
    Stansberry Asset Management is a registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Westlake, Texas, with offices in New York, NY, Clifton Park, NY and San Mateo, CA with clients across the country. SAM marries informed, active, sophisticated investment management with holistic financial and wealth planning, all with a focus on helping clients build and preserve their legacy. SAM’s approach is rooted in rigorous analysis, strategic insight, and a commitment to client-centric service. For more information, please visit www.stansberryam.com

    About Worth

    Worth is a leading American wealth management and lifestyle media company, providing insight and guidance for high-net-worth individuals since 1986. Through rigorous selection, Worth’s Leading Advisor program highlights the most accomplished registered investment advisory firms across the country. Their annual list of Top Registered Investment Advisor Firms is recognized as a benchmark of excellence and professionalism within the industry. For more information, visit worth.com.

    Contact:

    Claire Snider
    info@stansberryam.com
    646.854.4370

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Steering Committee Meeting of Regional Trial Monitoring Project Shows Unified Commitment to Justice Reform in Kosovo

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Steering Committee Meeting of Regional Trial Monitoring Project Shows Unified Commitment to Justice Reform in Kosovo

    Steering Committee Meeting of Regional Trial Monitoring Project Shows Unified Commitment to Justice Reform in Kosovo | OSCE

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    Home Newsroom News and press releases Steering Committee Meeting of Regional Trial Monitoring Project Shows Unified Commitment to Justice Reform in Kosovo

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Higher Education hosts youth outreach in Mpumalanga

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Higher Education and Training has successfully held a Youth Month Community Outreach Programme at Ehlanzeni Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, supporting students and local youth in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

    The week’s programme, held in partnership with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the Deputy Minister, Dr Mimmy Gondwe’s Helpdesk, provided a vital platform for students to raise concerns and receive real-time assistance on matters including funding queries, delayed results, and the issuance of diplomas and certificates.

    “The Youth Month Community Outreach Programme aims to deliver higher education support services directly to students. It is important for us as a department to always be visible, responsive, and impactful, so our students can progress well academically,” Gondwe said during the engagement.

    The Deputy Minister said the helpdesk will continue to play a crucial role in the programme, providing support to all students and addressing queries in real time, marking a significant step in ensuring effective student engagement.

    Upon assuming office, the Deputy Minister quickly established the helpdesk, showing the government’s dedication to supporting students and stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.

    Among the most frequently managed queries are tracking of student diploma applications, NSFAS related matter including applications, appeals, issuing of allowances, student admissions, and verification of registered institutions of higher education.

    To ensure efficient and accurate support, the helpdesk works in close coordination with key units within the Department of Higher Education and Training. These include the Examinations and Diplomas section, as well as the TVET and university branches within the department, and NSFAS.

    To date, the DM’s helpdesk has handled a total of 27 658 queries, with an impressive resolution rate of 89%.

    “I am encouraged by the positive and visible impact the Helpdesk is making in the PSET sector. It provides students and stakeholders with a trusted platform to escalate their issues. I urge students to continue using this service and to contact us at DMsdesk@dhet.gov.za,” the Deputy Minister said.

    The Youth Month Community Outreach Programme will head to the Western Cape next week. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Who will perform on stage at Scarlet Sails 2025?

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    The main theme of the concert numbers on Palace Square will be the victory of good over evil. An important milestone in Russian history will also be reflected – the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.

    Lidiya Butuzova, general producer of the concert part of the “Scarlet Sails-2025” graduates’ celebration on Palace Square:

    – In the concert part of “Scarlet Sails”, together with the artists and graduates, we will discuss what helps us all win, what qualities are necessary for this, what is needed to move forward and achieve success. Of course, we will remember the great victories of our ancestors.

    The concert of the main celebration of graduates will include several blocks, each of which will embody the qualities that help to win.

    The 5UTRA group will talk about hope. It is this that helps to overcome difficulties and believe in the best. The video sequence on the screens, made in pastel colors, will create an atmosphere of lightness and emphasize the moment of expectation of happiness. For the first time in the history of the graduates’ holiday, the artists of the theater on the water will appear on stage. Together with the ballet “Todes”, they will complement the first performance.

    Singer and musician Akmal’ will be responsible for love. The performer, dancers and other artists on stage will turn into a single mechanism, the clear and precise movements of which symbolize order and harmony.

    The most anticipated artist of the evening is Nadezhda Kadysheva. In the “Power of Unity” block, she will perform popular hits “Shiroka Reka”, “I’m Not a Witch”, “Techet Ruchey”, “Vinovataya Lie Ya”, “Plyvet Venochek”. These compositions are filled with deep meanings, conveying a feeling of love for the homeland, loyalty to traditions and the strength of the Russian people. The graphics on the screens will show picturesque landscapes of Russian expanses and native birches, magical images of fairy-tale characters familiar to everyone from childhood.

    Vadim Samoilov/Agatha Christie will talk about wisdom and cunning, and the rock and pop group The Hatters will talk about courage. The group’s lead singer will experience the state of weightlessness. The “Will and Spirit” block is assigned to the singer Bearwolf. A musical medley, a theatrical performance and the appearance on stage of the brightest and most large-scale decoration of the evening will show the victory of light and goodness over darkness and chaos.

    “Ivanushki International” will present “Joy and Jubilation”. Honored Artist of Russia Zara will conduct a history lesson and remind about the exploits of our ancestors and heroes of our time. Those who defended their country, glorified and inspired subsequent generations.

    Lidiya Butuzova, general producer of the concert part of the “Scarlet Sails-2025” graduation celebration on Palace Square:

    – “Scarlet Sails” is a project that in itself inspires new achievements. The project is about dreams and the fulfillment of desires. The main thing is to believe in it and charge yourself with the wonderful energy of love, kindness and happiness that comes from it.

    A separate issue will be dedicated to the most tragic page in the history of the city on the Neva – the siege of Leningrad. It will be a kind of epilogue and summing up. This is a block about people who survived the siege and stood firm in the Great Patriotic War. And all of them, of course, possessed those qualities – fortitude, faith, hope, will, wisdom, love – that helped them win. The stage will turn into a window sealed with tape during the bombing, and the chronicles of those terrible days will come to life on white canvases. Musician and composer Nikola Melnikov and the orchestra will perform Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7.

    The hosts of the main graduates’ concert will be Mitya Khrustalev and Daria Blokhina.

    The concert on Dvortsovaya will begin at 22:00 Moscow time and will last 2 hours and 40 minutes. At 00:40, a water-pyrotechnic show will unfold in the waters of the Neva with the participation of the main symbol of the holiday – the snow-white brig “Russia” under scarlet sails.

    The Scarlet Sails festival was revived in 2005 after a long hiatus on the initiative of Joint-Stock Bank ROSSIYA, the Government of St. Petersburg and Channel Five.

    The material was prepared by the press service of Channel Five.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: RM of BTS Debuts as Samsung Electronics’ Art TV Global Ambassador at Art Basel in Basel 2025

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics announced that RM of 21st century pop icons BTS has been named the new global ambassador for Samsung Art TVs earlier this week. RM joined Samsung at Art Basel in Basel 2025 to celebrate creativity, share his passion for art and spotlight how Samsung Art TVs and Samsung Art Store are making curated art experiences more accessible than ever before.
     
    
    ▲ RM’s interview at Samsung ArtCube during Art Basel in Basel 2025
     

    ▲ RM admires artwork by Kun-Yong Lee.

     

    ▲ RM engages with a piece by Basim Magdy.

     

    ▲ RM stops to look at artwork inside ArtCube.

     

    ▲ RM checks out a piece on display at ArtCube.

     
    As an artist, collector and cultural voice, RM has long expressed his love for visual art — often sharing museum visits, artist insights and his own growing collection with the global audience. At Samsung’s ArtCube lounge, he reflected on what it means to live with art in a digital age, why accessibility matters and how technology is opening new doors for global discovery.
     

    ▲ RM participates in a talk session at Art Basel in Basel 2025.

     
     
    Art, Technology and the Everyday
    “When I connect with a piece of art, it’s like having a silent conversation,” said RM. “Samsung Art TV lets those conversations happen anywhere. It makes it easier for people to discover artists, reflect on their own emotions and build a personal connection with the art they choose to live with.”
     
    Known for his thoughtful approach to art and culture, RM took the opportunity to share his personal reflections. He spoke about how art has influenced his worldview and how platforms like Samsung Art TV offer an opportunity for everyone to make art a part of their daily lives.
     

    ▲ RM views the artwork on display inside ArtCube.

     

    ▲ RM snaps a photo inside ArtCube.

     

    ▲ RM creates a personalized selfie in the artistic style of Marc Dennis.

     

    ▲ RM reflects on artwork by Kun-Yong Lee.

     

    ▲ RM observes a piece by Kun-Yong Lee.

     
    Through the Samsung Art TV’s expansive discovery features and curated collections, RM shared that he’s been exposed to a wider world of creativity — sparking curiosity and reshaping how he thinks about visual culture. He reflected on how digital platforms like Samsung Art Store are helping viewers break out of their comfort zones and pre-set tastes shaped by algorithms.
     
    “Every space has a mood,” RM shared during the talk session. “And sometimes a single artwork or a frame can shift that feeling. I love that Samsung Art TV gives people the freedom to discover and live with art in a way that fits their everyday rhythm.”
     
    A Personal Vision for the Future    
    RM also confirmed he is actively searching for a physical space to house his growing collection, an idea he’s hinted at in previous interviews. This gallery, he explained, would be rooted in a desire to connect East and West, past and present as well as personality and universality.
     
    “I want to bring everything together into one space,” he said. “Maybe I’ll call it ‘rkive’ like my Instagram. It won’t be easy, but I want to try.”
     

    ▲ RM shares his thoughts on art during a talk session held at Art Basel in Basel 2025.

     
    He expressed hope that, one day, his collection could be shared digitally through Samsung Art TV, reaching people around the world — especially those who can’t visit museums or galleries. “Unless you live in Seoul, it’s not easy to access museums or galleries to experience art in Korea.” He added that it would be great to have an ‘art bridge’ through Samsung Art TV one day, that would allow someone to “press a button and be led into a new world of art.”
     
     
    Reimagining Art for Everyone
    Samsung’s partnership with RM is rooted in a shared belief that technology can be a bridge to meaningful experiences. Whether it’s discovering a new artist, reinterpreting a classic or simply finding beauty in a quiet moment, Samsung Art TVs bring emotional and artistic depth to any space.
     
    “RM’s sincerity and influence make him a natural partner for Samsung Art TV,” said Sofia Monteiro, Curator at Samsung Art Store Europe. “He’s someone who doesn’t just appreciate art — he lives with it. And that reflects exactly what our platform is all about.”
     
    
    ▲ “Talk With RM” at Art Basel in Basel
     
    Through Samsung Art TVs, Samsung continues to redefine how people connect with art, turning walls into ever-evolving canvases and living spaces into curated galleries.
     
     
    RM and Samsung Invite the World To Live With Art
    As Samsung’s Art TV ambassador, RM continues to champion a more personal connection to art, design and culture. His partnership encourages art lovers everywhere to see creativity not as something reserved just for galleries but as something to bring into everyday life.
     
     
    About RM of BTS
    RM (Kim, Namjun) is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, music producer and leader of 21st century pop icons BTS. His discography includes solo mixtapes “RM” (March 2015) and “mono.” (October 2018), as well as solo albums “Indigo” (December 2022) and “Right Place, Wrong Person” (May 2024), which showcase his remarkable versatility across genres. As a creative powerhouse and avid art enthusiast, RM is renowned for crafting profound lyrics often inspired by various art forms. His flexible and philosophical approach to music and ability to push creative boundaries with cutting-edge collaborations has led him to work with a diverse range of artists, including Erykah Badu, Anderson .Paak, Lil Nas X, HONNE, Mahalia and more. On May 24, 2024, RM released his critically-acclaimed second solo album “Right Place, Wrong Person.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Employment and vacancies statistics for March 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Employment and vacancies statistics for March 2025 
    Employment statistics
     
    In March 2025, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 714 400 persons. The import and export trade engaged 349 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 314 000 persons, financing and insurance 232 700 persons, retail trade 230 800 persons, and food and beverage services 218 900 persons.
     
    Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of accommodation services (4.0% or 1 500 persons), human health services (3.9% or 6 000 persons), and real estate (3.7% or 5 100 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of retail trade (-4.6% or -11 100 persons), wholesale (-3.4% or -1 700 persons), information and communications (-3.3% or -3 600 persons), and food and beverage services (-2.8% or -6 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
     
    Vacancies statistics
     
    Among the 55 170 private sector vacancies in March 2025, 5 660 were from the industry of education, 5 050 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 4 950 from residential care and social work services, 4 860 from food and beverage services, and 4 660 from financing and insurance.
     
    Vacancies decreased in all the selected industries in March 2025 over a year earlier. Decreases were more notable in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-5 080 or -58%), human health services (-2 760 or -43%), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-1 670 or -25%), education (-1 660 or -23%), and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-1 550 or -31%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.
     
    Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service and sales workers (20 200 vacancies), professionals (10 120 vacancies), and associate professionals (8 390 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.
     
    Seasonally adjusted statistics
     
    For discerning the latest trend in employment and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with December 2024, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by less than 0.05% and decreased by 7.3% respectively in March 2025. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of employment and vacancies are shown in Table 4.
     
    Other information
     
    The above employment and vacancies statistics were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective employment and vacancies figures relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancies figures relate to manual workers only.
     
    A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:
    “Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, March 2025”
    (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452″Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2025″
    (    www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452 
    Users can browse and download these publications at the website of the C&SD.
     
    Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email:     employment@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

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