NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Work begins at state-of-the-art weather centre headquarters

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Work begins at state-of-the-art weather centre headquarters

    Construction has begun on the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, marked by a breaking ground ceremony on Wednesday 9 July.

    Left to right: Jonathan Richards – Project Director, Mace, Andy Brown – Director of Research, ECMWF, Mark Bourgeois – CEO, the GPA, Lord Vallance – Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Penny Endersby, CEO of the Met Office and President of the ECMWF Council and Professor Van De Noort CBE – Vice Chancellor, University of Reading

    Construction has begun on a new cutting-edge facility for meteorological research and forecasting, marked by a breaking ground ceremony.

    The event took place today (July 9) at the site of the new headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at the University of Reading’s Whiteknights Campus, led by Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. 

    Also in attendance were key stakeholders in the project including ECMWF Directors, Penny Endersby, CEO of the Met Office and President of ECMWF Council, Mark Bourgeois, CEO at the Government Property Agency (GPA) which is delivering the scheme, and representatives of the University of Reading, Mace – design and build construction partners, project advisors AtkinsRéalis and BDP – the architects.

    Construction of the modern, accessible and highly sustainable headquarters, which is being funded through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is expected to be ready for occupation in early 2027. 

    ECMWF will move from its existing premises in Reading, where it has been for half a century, to the new headquarters. Once operational the building will accommodate up to 300 scientists and staff to support world-leading work on all aspects of weather prediction systems, forecast production and research into climate change. The state-of-the-art facility will support the use of the latest advances made in areas such as data assimilation, earth system modelling, predictability and reanalysis to improve weather predictions and understanding of climate.

    UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    The UK is proud to continue to host the headquarters of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. This state-of-the-art facility places the UK at the heart of international efforts that are helping us to make better sense of our weather and climate.

    By improving our weather predictions we can optimise our energy consumption estimates, adjust transport schedules effectively and give our farmers time to prepare for extreme weather – helping people and businesses to save money, cut energy use and stay safe.

    With the university’s Department of Meteorology and parts of the UK Met Office, National Environment Research Council (NERC) National Centre for Atmospheric Sciences and NERC National Centre for Earth Observation all currently located within the university – and now the new ECMWF HQ – means the town of Reading is home to an exceptional cluster of weather, climate research and operational forecasting facilities.

    Florence Rabier, ECMWF Director General said: 

    After 50 years at Shinfield Park in Reading, we are pleased that this move to state-of-the-art sustainable premises will provide excellent facilities for our staff and visitors, and bring us even closer to many colleagues at the university.

    ECMWF is an intergovernmental organisation with 35 member and cooperating states that have built a strong international collaboration with each of these countries’ meteorological services. As well as traditional numerical weather prediction and research, together with our member and cooperating states, we are spearheading the artificial intelligence/machine learning revolution in weather science for the benefit and protection of citizens.

    Mark Bourgeois, the GPA’s CEO said:

    It is a landmark occasion to get construction underway of this new facility, which has been designed to industry-leading net zero carbon standards. This project is a perfect example of cross-government collaboration which will deliver a modern, inspirational and energy-efficient headquarters for ECMWF’s forecasting, research and training functions, retaining a world-leading scientific organisation and attracting long-term investment into the region.

    It’s another milestone for us at the GPA to deliver smart, modern, sustainable and digitally connected workplaces that focus on supporting productivity and wellbeing.

    For media enquiries, email: pressoffice@gpa.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM remarks at the British Museum: 9 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    PM remarks at the British Museum: 9 July 2025

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s remarks at the British Museum.

    It’s really fantastic to see you here and to just really take in this incredible place that is the British Museum, a world-class institution, which I’m really proud to say is also right in the heart of my constituencies, so welcome to my manor.

    Mr President, Emmanuel, Mrs Macron, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, you’re very, very welcome here and it is fantastic to see you. We have thousands of visitors here every day from all over the globe to admire the Museum’s incredible collection of world history all around us here, every single day. So it’s a real pleasure to welcome two special sets of guests this afternoon, our brilliant French guests and friends who are all here, but also young people representing the next generation and that is so important as we contemplate our history because I know just how important access to the arts, to culture and history is for the next generation.

    Its potential to spark the imagination. There’ll be very many people who come here and have their imagination sparked and that has put a light on for them and for so many other people to transform young people’s lives by bringing history and culture and art into it. And opening their eyes to new possibilities and opportunities and encourage them to reach the full extent of their ambitions and their talents. So no matter where you’re from or who you are, it’s here to bring us together to remind us of our shared history but also the common bonds that endure across languages, across borders and cultures – and that’s what today is all about, making sure that everyone can appreciate our incredible history, inviting young people to bridge our past and our future and igniting the passions and the talent of the next generation.

    And we are celebrating a brilliant initiative today. Everybody is walking around here with a smile on their face and when the President yesterday announced to both Houses what was going to be happening here there was a great cheer went up and that was representative I think of how this is being felt across the entire country.

    It is a brilliant initiative because what Emmanuel, my friend, announced yesterday, this cultural exchange between our two nations, two of the great treasures of our history, the priceless artefacts of Sutton Hoo, which we’ve just been to see upstairs, absolutely incredible story, incredible artefacts. And the Bayeux Tapestry, which means so much and again the smiles as people saw just the depiction on the wall behind me as we walked in tells you just how much this means. Because for Sutton Hoo 1,300 years ago in East Anglia, a wealthy man, we don’t know who it was, probably a King, was buried in a lavish funeral ceremony, an Anglo-Saxon era that of course was put to an end 300 years later by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, but it is an incredible piece of history that we have here just imagining what that must have been like changing our perception of that era of history frankly and bringing so much learning to us, and of course the Battle of Hastings illustrated by the remarkable Bayeux Tapestry – the beginning of a thousand years of shared culture that is now defined by mutual admiration and kinship, as well of course by some healthy competition as anyone who was watching the Euros on Saturday will attest, but that history, that long history forms the foundation of the European continent as we know it today. Now both these treasures contain stories of war and of peace, of power and of politics, alliances and enemies that we still know all too well in our modern world. They show us how connected our countries have always been, they deepen our appreciation of our shared history and enrich the relationship between our two nations today because we are now entering a new era of world history, a time of huge change and turmoil that has led to insecurity for so many people and in this new world our alliances are in my view more important than ever.

    The strength and solidarity of countries that share the same values, the same aims, the same hope for the future so just as we stood together in the last century to bring peace to Europe and it was a real privilege, Emmanuel, to mark Armistice Day in France, walking with you the same route as Churchill and de Gaulle once walked. Thank you so much again for that invitation to be there at that very special moment and today the UK is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with France leading the coalition of the willing to support Ukraine, as well of course us working together to call for a sustainable peace in the Middle East. And at home we’re working together for our shared security and prosperity, creating jobs and growth for our people, tackling irregular migration, strengthening our defences to protect Europe from any threats, growing our economies and collaborating on the technologies of the future, and forging closer connections between our peoples with this cultural exchange, giving people across Britain the chance to admire a Bayeux Tapestry, and there will be so many people who will want to come here to see that as soon as they can, and people across France to enjoy the treasures of ancient England. Well timed for the thousandth anniversary of William the Conqueror’s birth in 2027, so as we look back together today we are also inspired to look forward towards the future and remember that it is for us to write our own chapter of history now as two nations who forged peace, made our people better off and remain the strongest of allies and the closest of friends and on that note it is a pleasure to welcome my friend, Mr President, Emmanuel, to speak to you today.

    Thank you so much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DfT issues warning about scam text messages asking people to pay fines

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    DfT issues warning about scam text messages asking people to pay fines

    People receiving text messages claiming to be from DfT should not click on any links or share financial details.

    The Department for Transport is aware of text messages claiming to be from the department asking people to pay fines for outstanding traffic tickets.

    This is a scam and was not sent by the department.

    Do not click on the link or share personal and financial details.

    If you have received this text or a similar one, please report it to the National Cyber Security Centre at report@phishing.gov.uk or by forwarding it for free to 7726.

    Further advice on how to avoid and report internet scams and phishing is available on GOV.UK.

    News desk enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM meeting with President Macron of France: 9 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM meeting with President Macron of France: 9 July 2025

    The Prime Minister met the French President Emmanuel Macron in Downing Street.

    The Prime Minister met the French President Emmanuel Macron in Downing Street this afternoon.

    They reflected on the State Visit of the President so far, agreeing that it had been an important representation of the deep ties between our two countries.

    Moving on to discuss joint working, they shared their desire to deepen our partnership further – from joint leadership in support of Ukraine to strengthening our defence collaboration and increasing bilateral trade and investment.

    The Prime Minister welcomed the news that EDF would take a 12.5% stake in Sizewell C leading to lower bills, more jobs and better energy security for the UK.

    The leaders agreed tackling the threat of irregular migration and small boat crossings is a shared priority that requires shared solutions. 

    The Prime Minister spoke of his government’s toughening of the system in the past year to ensure rules are respected and enforced, including a massive surge in illegal working arrests to end the false promise of jobs that are used to sell spaces on boats.

    The two leaders agreed on the need to go further and make progress on new and innovative solutions, including a new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs.

    Finally, they looked ahead to the 37th UK-France Summit taking place tomorrow and agreed to aim for concrete progress on these areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Alma íbúðafélag hf.: Stækkun skuldabréfaflokksins AL210926

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Alma íbúðafélag hf. hefur lokið við stækkun á skuldabréfaflokknum AL210926 sem gefinn er út undir útgáfuramma félagsins.

    Skuldabréfaflokkurinn AL 210926 er óverðtryggður og ber fljótandi vexti tengdum 3 mánaða REIBOR vöxtum að viðbættu 1,40% vaxtaálagi. Lokagjalddagi flokksins er 21. september 2026. Skuldabréfaflokkurinn er veðtryggður samkvæmt almennu tryggingarfyrirkomulagi.

    Seld voru skuldabréf að nafnverði 1.000 m.kr. á pari og verður heildarstærð flokksins því í kjölfar stækkunar 3.100 m.kr.

    Greiðslu- og uppgjörsdagur er föstudagurinn 18. júlí 2025 og í kjölfarið verður sótt um að skuldabréfin verði tekin til viðskipta á Aðalmarkaði Nasdaq Iceland hf.

    Acro verðbréf hf. hafði umsjón með sölu skuldabréfanna og töku þeirra til viðskipta.

    Nánari upplýsingar veitir:

    Ingólfur Árni Gunnarsson, framkvæmdastjóri Ölmu íbúðafélags hf., í tölvupósti ingolfur@al.is.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Alma íbúðafélag hf.: Stækkun skuldabréfaflokksins AL210926

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Alma íbúðafélag hf. hefur lokið við stækkun á skuldabréfaflokknum AL210926 sem gefinn er út undir útgáfuramma félagsins.

    Skuldabréfaflokkurinn AL 210926 er óverðtryggður og ber fljótandi vexti tengdum 3 mánaða REIBOR vöxtum að viðbættu 1,40% vaxtaálagi. Lokagjalddagi flokksins er 21. september 2026. Skuldabréfaflokkurinn er veðtryggður samkvæmt almennu tryggingarfyrirkomulagi.

    Seld voru skuldabréf að nafnverði 1.000 m.kr. á pari og verður heildarstærð flokksins því í kjölfar stækkunar 3.100 m.kr.

    Greiðslu- og uppgjörsdagur er föstudagurinn 18. júlí 2025 og í kjölfarið verður sótt um að skuldabréfin verði tekin til viðskipta á Aðalmarkaði Nasdaq Iceland hf.

    Acro verðbréf hf. hafði umsjón með sölu skuldabréfanna og töku þeirra til viðskipta.

    Nánari upplýsingar veitir:

    Ingólfur Árni Gunnarsson, framkvæmdastjóri Ölmu íbúðafélags hf., í tölvupósti ingolfur@al.is.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Half-Year Statement on the Implementation of the Liquidity Contract as of June 30, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HALF-YEAR STATEMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIQUIDITY CONTRACT  AS OF JUNE 30, 2025

    Bernin (Grenoble), France, July 9, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext Paris) announces that, under the liquidity contract entrusted to BNP Paribas on July 3, 2023, on the settlement date of June 30, 2025, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account:

    • 72,325 Soitec shares, and
    • €904,901

    During the 1st semester of 2025, a total of:

    • 231,383 shares were bought for €14,129,177 (i.e. 2,855 transactions).
    • 208,969 shares were sold for €12,889,302 (i.e. 2,792 transactions).

    We remind you that:

    1. At the time of the previous half-yearly balance sheet, on the settlement date of December 31, 2024, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account:
    • 51,394 Soitec shares, and
    • €2,009,718
    1. During the 2nd semester of 2024, a total of:
    • 215,838 shares were bought for €19,591,223 (i.e. 3,775 transactions);
    • 197,982 shares were sold for €17,859,326 (i.e. 3,174 transactions).
    1. On July 3, 2023, the day before the start of trading, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account:  €8,000,000.

    Aggregate data for each trading day in the 1st semester of 2025 are given in the appendix to this press release.

    *****

    Agenda

    Annual General Meeting: July 22, 2025.

    First-quarter 2025-2026 revenue: July 22, 2025, after market close.

    *****

    About Soitec

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

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

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

    *****

    Media Relations: media@soitec.com

    Investor Relations: investors@soitec.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: From Kabul to the catwalk – the surprising global history behind fashion’s fur revival

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Magnus Marsden, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Sussex

    The winter season of 2024-25 marked a resurgence of fur clothing – both faux and real – in fashion across Europe and North America. Shearling jackets and embroidered “Penny Lane coats” featured widely in reports on the latest fashion trends. Vintage fur coats are also back in vogue.

    To many, the resurgence came as a surprise. The anti-fur movement, especially influential in the 1980s, continues to shape perceptions of fur. In the 2010s, cities including New York and Los Angeles banned the use of fur to make clothes. The UK meanwhile banned the farming of fur-bearing animals, and, alongside the EU, has committed itself to legislating against all fur imports.

    Just last year the town of Worthing, in England, debated whether their mayor should wear ceremonial robes trimmed with fur or not. Despite these trends, many young people have embraced the renewed trend of wearing real fur.

    Some clothes made from animal skins became popular during the counter-cultural movement of the 1960s, but historically, fur has mostly marked status, wealth and luxury. Today, many critics interpret fur’s return to fashion as a cultural expression of rightwing politics.

    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.

    Fur is prominent in the “boom boom” fashion trend, which emphasises excess and “male-coded values”. It has been described by fashion journalists as “over-the-top and unashamed about its own greed and lack of wokeness”.

    Fur clothing is a reminder of the moral tensions between need and desire, and luxury and excess. In addition to being inter-generational, these debates are also about gender. For much of the 20th century, fur coats symbolised femininity, erotic power and class position in the west. But by the 1980s, advertising campaigns depicted women who wore fur as either stupid and unthinking or thinking and unspeakably cruel, leading many to jettison it.

    Anti-fur protests were held across the US in 1994.

    Fur’s return to fashion has injected old debates with new significance. Some young people are willing to wear faux fur because it does not involve killing animals. But others argue that, because it is made from synthetic material, faux fur is actually more environmentally damaging and prefer to wear the real thing. They claim that wearing vintage fur is a form of “sustainable consumption” but are challenged by those who argue that this fashion trend ultimately justifies killing animals to make clothes.

    The boom boom trend is said to embody a contemporary expression of 1980s “conspicuous consumerism”, but in an era of economic austerity the adoption of fur by young people suggests the clothes they wear identify their desires rather than their financial reality.

    A global history of fur

    Today, as in the 1980s, the perspectives, interests and experiences of non-Europeans are often unheard in debates around fur. A decline of fur-bearing animal populations in North America and Siberia from the early 19th century, led to a global expansion in fur farming.



    Read more:
    How central Asian Jews and Muslims worked together in London’s 20th-century fur and carpet trade

    From the 1850s, for example, Central Asia supplied furs to Europe and North America. Local artisans cured the pelts of karakul lambs – a native breed – to yield a rich and glossy fur. In central and south Asia, men of high status wore karakul hats; in Europe and America, they were mostly used to make women’s coats.

    After the Russian revolution of 1917, many nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists, who raised sheep and other animals, left central Asia and moved with their flocks to neighbouring Afghanistan. The trade in karakul fur grew in the country, and foreign currency reserves came to depend on lambskins sold at auctions in London and New York.

    In the 1960s, sheepskin coats made in Afghanistan – known as “Afghans” – became popular in the west, being worn by stars including Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. The 1969 British edition of Vogue featured an interview with an icon of “oriental chic”, the “beautiful, dashing, intelligent, adventurous” Afghan socialite, Safia Tarzi, who lived in Paris, and ran a boutique clothing shop in Kabul.

    The Afghan coat enjoyed a resurgence in 2000 having been worn by the character Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) in the film Almost Famous.



    Read more:
    Friday essay: how ‘Afghan’ coats left Kabul for the fashion world and became a hippie must-have

    In the 1980s, the anti-fur campaign contributed to a declining market for karakul. For decades, rumours of Central Asian shepherds extracting lambs from the wombs of sheep to ensure a steady yield of delicate pelts had circulated. Moral opposition to the practice was not confined to the west.

    During my research on globally dispersed activists, intellectuals and merchants from Afghanistan, a man from Afghanistan, now based in London, told me that his father banned his family from wearing karakul hats because sheep and their lambs were treated cruelly.

    In the 1990s, civil war destroyed much of the infrastructure of the karakul industry in Afghanistan, but a trickle of pelts reached auction houses located in Frankfurt, Copenhagen and Helsinki.

    In the 2000s, international development organisations attempted to revive the trade, though sales never returned to anyway near the levels of the 1970s. By the 2010s, families in northern Afghanistan struggling economically opted to send sons to travel illegally to Turkey to find work as shepherds for commercially oriented Turkish farmers.

    Promotional videos of fashion houses occasionally touch on the Penny Lane coat’s ties to Afghanistan, but media coverage of fur fashions rarely address its historical connections to central Asia.

    Magnus Marsden received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council including for the research upon which this article is based.

    – ref. From Kabul to the catwalk – the surprising global history behind fashion’s fur revival – https://theconversation.com/from-kabul-to-the-catwalk-the-surprising-global-history-behind-fashions-fur-revival-256382

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: China’s interest in the next Dalai Lama is also about control of Tibet’s water supply

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom Harper, Lecturer in International Relations, University of East London

    As the 14th Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday with thousands of Tibetan Buddhists, there’s already tension over how the next spiritual leader will be selected. Controversially, the Chinese government has suggested it wants more power over who is chosen.

    Traditionally, Tibetan leaders and aides seek a young boy who is seen as the chosen reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. It is possible that after they do this, this time Beijing will try to appoint a rival figure.

    However, the current Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, insists that the process of succession will be led by the Swiss-based Gaden Phodrang Trust, which manages his affairs. He said no one else had authority “to interfere in this matter” and that statement is being seen as a strong signal to China.

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

    Throughout the 20th century, Tibetans struggled to create an independent state, as their homeland was fought over by Russia, the UK and China. In 1951, Tibetan leaders signed a treaty with China allowing a Chinese military presence on their land.

    China established the Tibetan Autonomous Region in 1965, in name this means that Tibet is an autonomous region within China, but in effect it is tightly controlled. Tibet has a government in exile, based in India, that still wants Tibet to become an independent state.

    This is a continuing source of tension between the two countries. India also claims part of Tibet as its own territory.

    Beijing sees having more power over the selection of the Dalai Lama as an opportunity to stamp more authority on Tibet. Tibet’s strategic position and its resources are extremely valuable to China, and play a part in Beijing’s wider plans for regional dominance, and in its aim of pushing back against India, its powerful rival in south Asia.

    The Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday as many Tibetans living in China fear talking about independence.

    Tibet provides China with a naturally defensive border with the rest of southern Asia, with its mountainous terrain providing a buffer against India. The brief Sino-Indian war of 1962 when the two countries battled for control of the region, still has implications for India and China today, where they continue to dispute border lands.

    As with many powerful nations, China has always been concerned about threats, or rival power bases, within its neighbourhood. This is similar to how the US has used the Monroe Doctrine to ensure its dominance over Latin America, and how Russia seeks to maintain its influence over former Soviet states.

    Beijing views western criticism of its control of Tibet as interference in its sphere of influence.



    Read more:
    India and Pakistan tension escalates with suspension of historic water treaty

    Another source of contention is that Beijing traditionally views boundaries such as the McMahon line defining the China-India border as lacking legitimacy, a border drawn up when China was at its weakest in the 19th century. Known in China as the “century of humiliation”, this was characterised by a series of unequal treaties, which saw the loss of territory to stronger European powers.

    This continues to a source of political tensions in China’s border regions including Tibet. This is a controversial part of China’s historical memory and continues to influence its ongoing relationship with the west.

    Demand for natural resources

    Tibet’s importance to Beijing also comes from its vast water resources. Access to more water is seen as increasingly important for China’s wider push towards self-sufficiency which has become imperative in the face of climate change. This also provides China with a significant geopolitical tool.

    For instance, the Mekong River rises in Tibet and flows through China and along the borders of Myanamar and Laos and onward into Thailand and Cambodia. It is the third longest river in Asia, and is crucial for many of the economies of south-east Asia. It is estimated to sustain 60 million people.

    China’s attempts to control water supplies, particularly through the building of huge dams in Tibet, has added to regional tensions. Around 50% of the flow to the Mekong was cut off for part of 2021, after a Chinese mega dam was built. This caused a lot of resentment from other countries which depended on the water.

    Moves by other nations to control access to regional water supplies in recent years show how water is now becoming a negotiating tool. India attempted to cut off Pakistan’s water supply in 2025 as part of the conflict between the two. Control of Tibet allows China to pursue a similar strategy, which grants Beijing leverage in its dealings with New Delhi, and other governments.


    Shutterstock.

    Another natural resource is also a vital part of China’s planning. Tibet’s significant lithium deposits are crucial for Chinese supply chains, particularly for their use in the electric vehicle industry. Beijing is attempting to reduce its reliance on western firms and supplies, in the face of the present trade tensions between the US and China, and Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods.

    Tibet’s value to China is a reflection of wider changes in a world where water is increasingly playing an important role in geopolitics. With its valuable natural resources, China’s desire to control Tibet is not likely to decrease.

    Tom Harper 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. China’s interest in the next Dalai Lama is also about control of Tibet’s water supply – https://theconversation.com/chinas-interest-in-the-next-dalai-lama-is-also-about-control-of-tibets-water-supply-255843

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Ed Davis begins chamber duties as the next Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    Ed Davis begins chamber duties as the next Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod today, as his appointment is announced in the House of Lords chamber.

    Black Rod has a range of administrative and ceremonial duties. He is responsible for maintaining order within the House and its precincts, and is perhaps best known for the iconic moment during the State Opening of Parliament when he will knock on the door of the House of Commons to summon MPs to hear the King’s Speech.

    Find out more about Ed Davis’s appointment to the role of Black Rod https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2025/april/ed-davis-confirmed-as-next-black-rod/

    Catch-up on House of Lords business:

    Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
    Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/

    Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:

    • X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ukhouseoflords/albums
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-house-of-lords
    • Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaXp5KCDV9M

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US media “fueling” rhetoric about China’s “theft of intellectual property” — Chinese ambassador to Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 9 /Xinhua/ — In recent days, some American politicians and media outlets have once again “heated up” the hackneyed rhetoric about “intellectual property theft” and “forced technology transfer” by China. These accusations not only represent a malicious distortion of Sino-American trade and economic relations, but have also become an ideological tool for the United States to promote trade protectionism, according to an article by Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui published in the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

    “The thesis of ‘China’s theft of intellectual property’, which is being inflated by the American side, is essentially a manifestation of arrogance and prejudice, namely the theory of ‘racial superiority in technology,’” the ambassador writes. “The United States considers itself exceptional and technologically superior to the rest of the world, looks down on everyone and claims that China is allegedly incapable of independent breakthroughs in key technologies, and, ignoring the facts, fabricates accusations. It is noteworthy that such American technology giants as Apple, Google and Amazon, clearly stated during hearings in the US Congress that there is no evidence of China stealing technology from American companies.”

    According to the ambassador, China’s technological progress is “a breakthrough through the blockade as a result of hard work in independent development.” In terms of investment in research and development (R&D), China confidently ranks second in the world. China is one of the world leaders in such areas as 5G, high-speed rail, renewable energy and unmanned aerial vehicles. The country is making a successful transition from the largest importer of intellectual property to its creator and largest exporter.

    “China has become the first country in the world to have more than 4 million patents in force domestically, with high-quality patents accounting for 41.5 percent. In 2024, the number of international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) exceeded 70,000, ranking China first in the world for the sixth consecutive year,” Zhang Hanhui wrote.

    As he points out, the thesis spread by the American side about the alleged “unfair protection of intellectual property” in China actually aims to incite discord and hinder the influx of foreign investment into the Chinese market. In recent years, China has been continuously improving its legal system in the field of intellectual property. There are 30 arbitration courts for intellectual property, 115 national centers for the protection of intellectual property and rapid response centers operating throughout the country. Foreign companies have already effectively “put forward a vote of confidence” through their practical actions.

    The Chinese diplomat cites the following data: in 2024, Apple’s R&D investment in China increased by 22 percent, Pfizer established three research centers in Shanghai, Wuhan and Beijing. Medtronic opened its first digital health innovation base in China. “The accelerated establishment of research centers in China by foreign companies demonstrates the effectiveness of efforts in the field of intellectual property protection,” Zhang Hanhui emphasizes.

    The claims about “forced technology transfer” are a substitution of concepts, the article points out. The American side is trying to present the fact of mutually beneficial cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies as “forced technology transfer.”

    “It must be clearly emphasized: ‘forced technology transfer’ not only does not comply with Chinese law, but also directly contradicts the country’s basic state policy of openness to the outside world,” the Chinese ambassador writes.

    According to him, China has been steadily promoting opening up to the outside world at a high level: the negative list for foreign investment has been significantly shortened, restrictions in the manufacturing sector have been completely abolished, and restrictions on foreign capital participation have been continuously relaxed. These measures have greatly expanded the freedom and choice for foreign companies to invest in China.

    “Meanwhile, the US is forcing three major South Korean battery manufacturers that invest in the US to disclose key technologies, forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok and hand over its operating algorithms — these are true examples of forced technology transfer and outright robbery,” notes Zhang Hanhui –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Russia EXPO has become a bright calling card of bilateral relations – Ambassador of China to Russia Zhang Hanhui

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 9 /Xinhua/ — The 9th China-Russia EXPO, which opened in Yekaterinburg, has already become a calling card of bilateral relations, said Zhang Hanhui, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Russia.

    “The EXPO has become a bright calling card of bilateral relations, an important ‘window’ for demonstrating interregional cooperation and has received high praise from the leaders and all layers of society of the two countries,” he noted in an interview published on Wednesday in Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

    According to the ambassador, since the first exhibition was held in 2014, the China-Russia EXPO has already been successfully held nine times. In total, about 10,000 Chinese and Russian companies, as well as 1.05 million entrepreneurs, took part in the previous exhibitions. The total amount of agreements concluded reached almost 500 billion yuan.

    “Within the framework of the EXPO, a number of cooperation results were obtained that have a broad impact and demonstration value. It can be said that the EXPO has become a “big stage” for the development of practical cooperation between the two countries,” the Chinese diplomat stated.

    Zhang Hanhui pointed out the symbolic significance of the 9th China-Russia EXPO. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping successfully made a state visit to Russia and took part in the relevant commemorative events. “Holding the EXPO is an important practical measure to implement the agreements between the leaders of the two countries,” the ambassador emphasized.

    “Against the backdrop of China and Russia’s joint efforts to promote the construction of an open world economy and bring certainty and stability to global trade, the 9th China-Russia Expo will greatly boost the confidence of regions and enterprises of the two countries in cooperation and promote the high-quality development of bilateral trade and economic relations,” Zhang Hanhui noted.

    The focus on regions and the holding of the 5th China-Russia Forum on Interregional Cooperation is an important feature of this year’s EXPO, he believes. More than 300 enterprises from 18 provinces, municipalities directly under the central government and autonomous regions of China are participating in this year’s EXPO.

    According to the diplomat, the planning and design of the exposition and business events of the current EXPO fully reflect the new features and trends of Chinese-Russian trade and economic cooperation. “The exhibits will cover both traditional areas /mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, agriculture/ and new areas /medicine, digital economy, new energy/,” Zhang Hanhui said. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Permanent Gaza Ceasefire Talks to Take Place If Interim Agreement Reached – Israeli FM

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JERUSALEM, July 9 (Xinhua) — Israel is ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a temporary truce is reached with the Palestinian movement Hamas, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday.

    As noted in a statement released by the office of the head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, G. Saar made the relevant comments during a joint press conference with Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar in Bratislava.

    “Israel is seriously seeking to reach an agreement on the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza,” noted G. Saar.

    He added that an Israeli delegation remained in Doha, Qatar, for indirect talks with Hamas on a proposed 60-day truce that would include the release of 10 living hostages and the return of the bodies of several dead.

    Earlier, two meetings took place in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the second of which took place on Tuesday. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow expects to continue dialogue with Washington – Russian President’s press secretary

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 9 /Xinhua/ — Moscow expects to continue dialogue with Washington and the line on improving relations between Russia and the United States, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

    “We expect to continue our dialogue with Washington and our line on repairing the badly damaged bilateral relations,” D. Peskov told journalists.

    According to him, Moscow and Washington want to resolve the situation in Ukraine by political and diplomatic means, there are no disagreements here. As D. Peskov noted, despite the US decision to resume arms supplies to Kyiv, Russia still expects that the American administration will continue its efforts “to bring the Ukrainian settlement process to the political and diplomatic plane.”

    As confirmed by the White House and the Pentagon on July 1, the United States has suspended the supply of some weapons to Ukraine. However, on July 7, D. Trump said that the United States was going to send more weapons to Ukraine. On July 8, he said that he had approved the sending of additional weapons to Ukraine. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How a lottery-style refund system could boost recycling

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jiaying Zhao, Associate Professor, Psychology, University of British Columbia

    Imagine you’re standing at a bottle depot with an empty pop can. You can get a dime back, or you can take a chance at winning $1,000. Which would you choose?

    Every year, the world produces two trillion beverage containers but only 34 per cent of glass bottles, 40 per cent of plastic bottles and 70 per cent of aluminium cans are recycled.

    To increase recycling rates, many countries have adopted deposit refund systems, where you pay a small deposit, say 10 cents, when you buy an eligible beverage container and get this deposit back when you return it to a local depot.

    Through this system, approximately 80 per cent of containers in British Columbia and almost 85 per cent of containers in Alberta are recovered. Still, that leaves millions of containers as litter, in landfills or incinerated every year, contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

    With Canada’s goal of zero plastic waste by 2030 drawing near, a new approach to recycling beverage containers could make a difference.

    We recently conducted a research experiment to find out if more people would recycle more often if they had a chance to win a prize.

    A lottery-style refund to boost recycling

    Psychology research shows that people tend to prefer a small chance to win a large reward over a guaranteed small reward. For example, people would more often prefer a small chance to win $5,000 over receiving a $5 reward.

    Applying this insight to recycling, we turned the small guaranteed refund of $0.10 in B.C. and Alberta into a 0.01 per cent chance of getting $1,000. We set up recycling tables at food courts in Vancouver and at a RibFest event in Spruce Grove, Alta.

    When people brought their beverage containers to us to recycle, we presented them with five options for a refund. They could get their guaranteed 10 cents, or a chance to win a larger amount of money, the highest option being $1,000.

    We found that people preferred the chance to win $1,000 over the other options, and they felt the happiest after making this choice.

    To see if the lottery option actually increased recycling, we conducted an experiment where we told people ahead of time that they would get their guaranteed 10-cent refund or that they had a chance to win $1,000 for each bottle they brought to our study.

    We found that people brought 47 per cent more beverage containers when we offered them a chance to win $1,000 than when we offered them the guaranteed refund.

    Overall, our findings suggest that offering a chance to win a larger amount of money can meaningfully boost beverage container recycling. The excitement of a potential big win can motivate people who may not be enticed by the typical small, guaranteed refund.

    Choice matters

    A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. People recycle for different reasons. They also have different risk tolerances, and some may rely on the guaranteed refund for additional income. To capture diverse preferences and needs, it’s vital that the lottery-style refund is offered in addition to the guaranteed refund, not instead of it.

    It would also be beneficial to include smaller, more frequent prizes alongside the grand prize, so people win relatively frequently to keep motivations high.

    This is Norway’s approach to their recycling lottery, with 39 per cent of people choosing the lottery option when they recycle. In 2023, Norway’s recycling lottery achieved a 92.3 per cent container return rate.

    Importantly, our research does not capture people who collect large bags of containers to return to the depot. It’s possible that this demographic may have different preferences for the refund, and future research should examine this group in particular.

    Green lottery for good

    The lottery-style refund has the same expected payout as the 10-cent refund per bottle. This means that, on average, people will take home the same amount of money as with the guaranteed option, without incurring additional losses or gains. This benevolent factor distinguishes the lottery-style refund from other types of lotteries or gambling that often profit off the players.

    Since the only way to enter this lottery-style refund is to recycle beverage containers, it’s impossible to directly re-enter any winnings into the lottery. There are also no near-misses, losses disguised as wins, exciting lights and sounds or other sensory stimulation often associated with gambling.

    Some might be apprehensive about potential gambling dangers of creating a lottery system. However, there has not been a single case linking the recycling lottery to gambling addiction. There is also no evidence that purchases of beverage containers would increase as a result of the lottery-style refund.

    Our study’s transparent design, with clear odds, ensures fairness, unlike casino games built to take players’ cash. For this approach to be successful, deposit refund systems must maintain this transparency in lottery-style program operations and payouts.

    If done right, offering a chance to win a higher amount of money for recycling can meaningfully increase recycling rates, contribute to a circular economy and allow people to choose the refund option that works best for them.

    Jiaying Zhao receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Jade Radke receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship and the University of British Columbia Indigenous Graduate Fellowship.

    – ref. How a lottery-style refund system could boost recycling – https://theconversation.com/how-a-lottery-style-refund-system-could-boost-recycling-259896

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms – what are they and how common are they? A systematic review and meta-analysis

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    There has been long-standing public and clinical debate over the frequency and severity of antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. Some reviews have argued they are common, severe, and often mistaken for relapse.

    We invited journalists to the SMC last summer to hear details of a German meta-analysis of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms which suggested that one in six people experience one or more discontinuation symptoms when coming off antidepressants.

    UK researchers have also been looking into this, with more of a focus on the nature of the discontinuation symptoms. This is particularly important in helping clinicians and patients identify them and to distinguish them from relapse. This analysis, published in JAMA Psychiatry, looked at additional RCT data as well as unpublished data from 11 trials which have never been included in a systematic review on this topic. It helps provide new insight into the specific type of discontinuation symptoms experienced, whether they vary by antidepressant, and is able to unpick which symptoms are most likely to be associated with antidepressant discontinuation.

    The authors were at the SMC to explain their findings, how they fit into previous work on this topic, and discuss the clinical implications.

    Speakers included:

    Michail Kalfas, Research Assistant, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London

    Dr Sameer Jauhar, Clinical Reader in Affective Disorders and Psychosis, Division of Psychiatry Imperial College London

    Professor Allan Young, Head of Division and Clinical Chair in Academic Psychiatry, Imperial College London

    Dr Gemma Lewis, Associate Professor in Epidemiology & Applied Clinical Research, University College London

    This Briefing was accompanied by an SMC Roundup of comments. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to cohort study looking at the use of antibiotics to treat UTIs in the first trimester and risk of birth defects

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A cohort study published in JAMA Network Open looks at antibiotic use for UTIs during pregnancy (first trimester) and the risk of birth defects. 

    Dr Caroline Ovadia, Clinical Senior Lecturer & Honorary Consultant Obstetrician, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “Antibiotic usage is common in pregnancy, and untreated urinary tract infections are thought to be associated with increased risks of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth. Previous smaller studies have variably suggested that the antibiotic trimethoprim used in the first trimester of pregnancy may be associated with increased risk of fetal development concerns, which may occur by its mechanism of action – trimethoprim can block the action of folic acid, which we know is important in early fetal development. This study reports results from a much larger group of patients, and shows that, for those given trimethoprim plus sulfamethoxazole as a combined antibiotic, the rate of congenital anomaly is very slightly higher – with approximately 1 out of every 145 more patients having a baby with a congenital anomaly than happens with those treated for a urinary tract infection with the penicillin group of antibiotics. This supports current practice recommendations to select alternative antibiotics in the first trimester of pregnancy (while organ development is happening for the fetus), and again the general principles of prescribing in pregnancy: to use the appropriate medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest effective time. Reassuringly for patients, the antibiotic nitrofurantion was not found to be associated with higher risks of fetal anomalies when used in the first trimester for urinary tract infection treatment, which had been previously suggested in some evidence; similarly the absolute risk of congenital anomalies with antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infection in pregnancy remains low, supporting the benefit of appropriate clinician-led treatment of urinary tract infection in pregnancy.”

    ‘First-Trimester Antibiotic Use for Urinary Tract Infection and Risk of Congenital Malformations’ by Osmundson et al. was published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time on Wednesday 9th July. 

    DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.19544

    Declared interests

    Dr Carolina Ovadia “I have previously consulted for Mirum Pharmaceuticals and participated in research supported by Mirum Pharmaceutical funding, and been supported to attend scientific meetings by Dr Falk Pharma.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to systematic review and meta-analysis on antidepressant withdrawal symptoms

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry looks at antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. 

    Dr Susannah Murphy, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, said:

    “People taking antidepressants are understandably concerned about what might happen when they stop, particularly about the possibility of withdrawal symptoms. This study is an important contribution to the field, providing a comprehensive review of the current evidence on antidepressant discontinuation. Its strengths lie in the large amount of data analysed—over 50 studies representing more than 17,000 patients—and the useful comparison it makes between those stopping antidepressants and those in placebo group.

    “The findings suggest that while some individuals may experience symptoms like dizziness, nausea, vertigo, or nervousness, the vast majority do not. This indicates it could be helpful for clinicians to inform patients about these potential effects, while also reassuring them that such symptoms are not common.

    “It’s important to note that the studies included only measured discontinuation symptoms in the first two weeks after stopping medication, so we still need more research to understand how long these effects might last.  The study was also not able to assess the severity of the symptoms, and this is important to consider in future studies”

     

    Prof Katharina Domschke, Full Professor of Psychiatry and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Germany, said:

    “The methodologically very robustly collected and analyzed data reported in the study by Henssler et al. (Lancet Psychiatry, 2024) is now supported by the present results published in JAMA Psychiatry, showing only small numbers of antidepressant discontinuation symptoms in some cases. 

    “The study is characterized by an excellent methodological quality being the most comprehensive meta-analysis on the topic to date including 50 studies, 38 of which had an observation period longer than two weeks, the critical time frame during which discontinuation symptoms are expected to occur. With over 17,000 participants, the analysis provides high statistical power. The results are stratified by different antidepressants and specific individual symptoms. Two sub-meta-analyses were conducted: one employing the Discontinuation-Emergent Signs and Symptoms (DESS) scale, which is the most established standardized instrument for assessing discontinuation symptoms; the other using various outcome parameters.

    “An interesting aspect is the breakdown by individual antidepressants, with angomelatine and vortioxetine—the latter unfortunately no longer reimbursed by health insurance in Germany—showing a particularly favorable profile.

    “The present study is very welcome in hopefully correcting worried patients’ impression that antidepressants could cause high rates of withdrawal symptoms as stated by a recent study by Horowitz et al. published in Psychiatry Res. 2025, which, however, is methodologically much weaker than the present one with only 310 patients included in a very specific primary care setting, a very poor response rate of 18% introducing a major bias, and no standardized quantitative outcome measure.

    “It is possible that certain subgroups of patients experience more pronounced discontinuation symptoms than others. Future research efforts should focus on identifying the underlying biological and psychological mechanisms—for example, whether these patients metabolize the medications differently, possess a specific genetic background, or whether comorbidities and concomitant medications might account for these reactions.

    “This new study is extremely welcome in terms of helping to destigmatize antidepressants. Along these lines, in light of the present results in synopsis with the ones reported by Henssler et al in Lancet Psychiatry in 2024, it is high time to stop referring to ‘withdrawal symptoms’ and instead use the term ‘discontinuation symptoms.’ The term ‘withdrawal’ is traditionally reserved for the context of substance dependence, which, in the case of antidepressants, is simply incorrect.” 

    Prof Christiaan Vinkers, Psychiatrist and Professor of Stress and Resilience, Amsterdam UMC, said:

    “This is an important and timely study. The topic of antidepressant withdrawal has generated much discussion and concern, although sometimes more heat than light. This new systematic review and meta-analysis in JAMA Psychiatry brings welcome clarity by using rigorous methods and placebo-controlled comparisons. The findings show that, on average, people who stop taking antidepressants experience about one additional discontinuation symptom, most often dizziness, compared to those continuing treatment or stopping placebo. Crucially, the overall symptom burden remained below the threshold for clinically significant withdrawal syndrome. The study also found no increase in depressive symptoms shortly after discontinuation, suggesting that early mood worsening is not a common withdrawal effect but more likely signals relapse.

    “Importantly, the authors include unpublished trial data and take into account the nocebo effect, which may inflate perceived symptom rates in open-label studies or uncontrolled settings. This helps temper some of the more alarming claims about universal and severe withdrawal. At the same time, the study acknowledges limitations, including short treatment durations and lack of real-world tapering strategies in most included trials. We still need more data on long-term users, individual vulnerability, and best practices for discontinuation.

    “Overall, this is high-quality research that strengthens the evidence base and promotes a more balanced and science-based understanding of antidepressant discontinuation. IIt reminds us that while withdrawal symptoms do occur in a minority of cases, they are on average typically not severe and manageable, especially with proper clinical support.”

    ‘Incidence and Nature of Antidepressant Discontinuation Symptoms, A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis’ by Michail Kalfas et al. was published in JAMA Psychiatry at 16:00 UK time on Wednesday 9th July. 

    DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.1362

    Declared interests

    Dr Susannah Murphy: SEM has received consultancy fees from Zogenix, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, UCB Pharma and Janssen Pharmaceuticals and held grant income from Zogenix, UCB Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and ADM.

    Prof Katharina Domschke: Speaker’s fees by Janssen 

    Member of the Neurotorium editorial board, Lundbeck Foundation

    Prof Christiaan Vinkers: I am involved in publically ZonMW-funded research on antidepressant discontinuation, including the TEMPO and HARMONIE studies. I am affiliated with the antidepressant discontinuation outpatient clinic in Amsterdam (www.afbouwpoli.nl), and I serve as a member of the Dutch multidisciplinary guideline committee on psychotropic drug discontinuation. I have received a speaker’s fee from Tiofarma, but no financial ties to pharmaceutical companies relevant to this work.

    This Roundup was accompanied by an SMC Briefing. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RNLI issues safety advice ahead of hot weather

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    As Northern Ireland prepares for a spell of hot weather, the RNLI is urging families to enjoy themselves but to put safety first.

    The RNLI is asking anyone planning a trip to the coast or inland waterways to make sure they keep themselves and their families safe by following this advice:

    • Visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flag.
    • Check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks.
    • Keep a close eye on your family – on the beach and in the water – don’t allow your family to swim alone.
    • If you fall into the water unexpectedly, Float to Live.
    • In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

    RNLI lifeguards will be providing a daily patrol between 10am and 6pm on beaches at Benone, Downhill, Castlerock, Portstewart Strand, Portrush East and Portrush West Strands, Whiterocks and Ballycastle on the Causeway Coast and Tyrella, Cranfield and Murlough in County Down. Lifeguards are trained in casualty care and water rescue and will be on hand to offer water safety advice to the public and provide information on sea conditions that day.

    Linda-Gene Byrne, RNLI Water Safety Lead, said: “We are expecting people to head to the coast during the hot weather, it is a great way to have fun, relax and cool off in high temperatures. Choosing a lifeguarded beach will mean our lifeguards can ensure you enjoy a safe visit. Please head to a lifeguarded beach, swim between flags. Remember where there are no flags, there are no lifeguards.

    “If you find yourself in trouble, Float to Live. Knowing this technique and encouraging your family to practice it, could save your life. Whether you get into difficulty in the water at the coast or on any of our inland waters, Float to Live: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.”

    For more information and advice on water safety please visit RNLI.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pedestrian crossing improvement works to begin

    Source: City of Leicester

    A NEW zebra crossing is due to be put in place near a school in a residential area of Leicester.

    Work is due to begin on the scheme at Avebury Avenue, to install the new zebra crossing on the route which is used by parents and pupils at nearby Alderman Richard Hallam Primary School.

    The work will get underway from Monday (14 Jul) and is expected to take up to four weeks to complete. The road will remain open during the works, but temporary stop and go signs will be in place.

    Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “This is part of an ongoing programme of work in neighbourhoods across the city, where people have raised concerns, input ideas or highlighted possible areas for improvement.

    “By working with local communities in this way, we are able to invest in highways schemes that make a real difference to the daily lives of residents.”

    Installation of the new crossing will cost around £16,000 and is part of a rolling programme of pedestrian crossing improvements across the city.

    Works to improve the school crossing on St Barnabas Road, close to St Barnabas Primary School, are due to get under way in the coming weeks. Full details will be publicised nearer the time.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The toxic management handbook: six guaranteed ways to make your best employees flee

    Source: The Conversation – France – By George Kassar, Full-time Faculty, Research Associate, Performance Analyst, Ascencia Business School

    If performance management is not implemented properly, it can demotivate and drive out employees. PeopleImages.comYuri A/Shutterstock

    Who said that an organization’s main resource and true competitive advantage lies in its employees, their talent or their motivation? After all, maybe your real goal is to empty out your offices, permanently discourage your staff and methodically sabotage your human capital.

    If that’s the case, research in performance management offers everything you need.

    Originally rooted in early 20th-century rationalization methods, performance management has become a cornerstone of modern management. It has evolved to adapt to contemporary HR needs, focusing more on employee development, engagement and strategic alignment. In theory, it should help guide team efforts, clarify expectations and support individual development. But if poorly implemented, it can become a powerful tool to demotivate, exhaust and push out your most valuable employees.

    Here’s how to scare off your best talent. Although the following guidelines are meant to be taken tongue-in-cheek, they remain active in the daily work of some managers.

    Management by ‘vague’ objectives

    Start by setting vague, unrealistic or contradictory goals. Above all, avoid giving goals meaning, linking them to a clear strategy or backing them with appropriate resources. In short, embrace the “real” SMART goals: stressful, arbitrary, ambiguous, repetitive, and totally disconnected from the field!

    According to research in organizational psychology, this approach guarantees anxiety, confusion and disengagement among your teams, significantly increasing their intention to leave the company.

    Silence Is Golden

    Avoid all forms of dialogue and communication. Never give feedback. And if you absolutely must, do it rarely and irregularly, make sure it’s disconnected from actual work, and preferably in the form of personal criticism. The absence of regular, task-focused and actionable feedback leaves employees in uncertainty, catches them off-guard during evaluations and gradually undermines their engagement.

    How your employees interpret your intentions and feedback matters most. Be careful though: if feedback is perceived as constructive, it may actually boost motivation and learning engagement. But if the same feedback is seen as driven by a manager’s personal agenda (or, ego-based attribution), it backfires, leading to demotivation, withdrawal and exit.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    Performance evaluation ‘trials’

    Hold annual performance review meetings in which you focus solely on mistakes and completely ignore successes or invisible efforts. Be rigid, critical and concentrate only on weaknesses. Make sure to take full credit when the team succeeds; after all, without you, nothing would have been possible. On the other hand, when results fall short, don’t hesitate to highlight errors, assign individual blame and remind them that “you did warn them!”

    This kind of performance evaluation, better described as a punitive trial, ensures deep demotivation and accelerates team turnover.

    Internal competition, maxed out

    Promote a culture of rivalry among colleagues: circulate internal rankings regularly, reward only the top performers, systematically eliminate the lowest ranked without even thinking of helping them improve, devalue the importance of cooperation and let internal competition do the rest. After all, these are the core features of the “famous” method popularized by the late Jack Welch at General Electric.

    If you notice a short-term boost of motivation, don’t worry. The long-term effects of Welch’s “vitality curve” will be far more harmful than beneficial. Fierce internal competition is a great tool for destroying trust among teammates and creating a persistently toxic atmosphere, leading to an increase in the number of voluntary departures.

    Ignore wellbeing and do not listen, no matter what

    We’ve already established that feedback and dialogue should be avoided. But if, by misfortune, they do occur, make sure not to listen to complaints or warning signs related to stress or exhaustion. Offer no support or assistance, and of course, completely ignore the right to disconnect.

    By neglecting mental health and refusing to help your employees find meaning in their work – especially when they perform tasks seen as meaningless, repetitive or emotionally draining – you directly increase the risk of burnout and chronic absenteeism.

    In addition, always favour highly variable and poorly designed performance bonuses: this will heighten income instability and kill off whatever engagement remains.



    À lire aussi :
    Meditation and mindfulness at work are welcome, but do they help avoid accountability for toxic culture?

    The subtle art of wearing people down

    Want to take your talent-repelling skills even further? Draw inspiration from what research identifies as practices and experiences belonging to the three major forms of workplace violence. These include micromanagement, constant pressure, lack of recognition, social isolation and others that generate long-term suffering. Though often invisible, their reoccurence gradually wears employees down mentally, then physically, until they finally break.

    Obviously, these tips are meant to be taken ironically.

    Yet, unfortunately, these toxic practices are all too real in the daily routines of certain managers. If the goal is truly to retain talent and ensure lasting business success, it is essential to centre performance management practices around meaning, fairness and the genuine development of human potential.

    George Kassar ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. The toxic management handbook: six guaranteed ways to make your best employees flee – https://theconversation.com/the-toxic-management-handbook-six-guaranteed-ways-to-make-your-best-employees-flee-260733

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The toxic management handbook: six guaranteed ways to make your best employees flee

    Source: The Conversation – France – By George Kassar, Full-time Faculty, Research Associate, Performance Analyst, Ascencia Business School

    If performance management is not implemented properly, it can demotivate and drive out employees. PeopleImages.comYuri A/Shutterstock

    Who said that an organization’s main resource and true competitive advantage lies in its employees, their talent or their motivation? After all, maybe your real goal is to empty out your offices, permanently discourage your staff and methodically sabotage your human capital.

    If that’s the case, research in performance management offers everything you need.

    Originally rooted in early 20th-century rationalization methods, performance management has become a cornerstone of modern management. It has evolved to adapt to contemporary HR needs, focusing more on employee development, engagement and strategic alignment. In theory, it should help guide team efforts, clarify expectations and support individual development. But if poorly implemented, it can become a powerful tool to demotivate, exhaust and push out your most valuable employees.

    Here’s how to scare off your best talent. Although the following guidelines are meant to be taken tongue-in-cheek, they remain active in the daily work of some managers.

    Management by ‘vague’ objectives

    Start by setting vague, unrealistic or contradictory goals. Above all, avoid giving goals meaning, linking them to a clear strategy or backing them with appropriate resources. In short, embrace the “real” SMART goals: stressful, arbitrary, ambiguous, repetitive, and totally disconnected from the field!

    According to research in organizational psychology, this approach guarantees anxiety, confusion and disengagement among your teams, significantly increasing their intention to leave the company.

    Silence Is Golden

    Avoid all forms of dialogue and communication. Never give feedback. And if you absolutely must, do it rarely and irregularly, make sure it’s disconnected from actual work, and preferably in the form of personal criticism. The absence of regular, task-focused and actionable feedback leaves employees in uncertainty, catches them off-guard during evaluations and gradually undermines their engagement.

    How your employees interpret your intentions and feedback matters most. Be careful though: if feedback is perceived as constructive, it may actually boost motivation and learning engagement. But if the same feedback is seen as driven by a manager’s personal agenda (or, ego-based attribution), it backfires, leading to demotivation, withdrawal and exit.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    Performance evaluation ‘trials’

    Hold annual performance review meetings in which you focus solely on mistakes and completely ignore successes or invisible efforts. Be rigid, critical and concentrate only on weaknesses. Make sure to take full credit when the team succeeds; after all, without you, nothing would have been possible. On the other hand, when results fall short, don’t hesitate to highlight errors, assign individual blame and remind them that “you did warn them!”

    This kind of performance evaluation, better described as a punitive trial, ensures deep demotivation and accelerates team turnover.

    Internal competition, maxed out

    Promote a culture of rivalry among colleagues: circulate internal rankings regularly, reward only the top performers, systematically eliminate the lowest ranked without even thinking of helping them improve, devalue the importance of cooperation and let internal competition do the rest. After all, these are the core features of the “famous” method popularized by the late Jack Welch at General Electric.

    If you notice a short-term boost of motivation, don’t worry. The long-term effects of Welch’s “vitality curve” will be far more harmful than beneficial. Fierce internal competition is a great tool for destroying trust among teammates and creating a persistently toxic atmosphere, leading to an increase in the number of voluntary departures.

    Ignore wellbeing and do not listen, no matter what

    We’ve already established that feedback and dialogue should be avoided. But if, by misfortune, they do occur, make sure not to listen to complaints or warning signs related to stress or exhaustion. Offer no support or assistance, and of course, completely ignore the right to disconnect.

    By neglecting mental health and refusing to help your employees find meaning in their work – especially when they perform tasks seen as meaningless, repetitive or emotionally draining – you directly increase the risk of burnout and chronic absenteeism.

    In addition, always favour highly variable and poorly designed performance bonuses: this will heighten income instability and kill off whatever engagement remains.



    À lire aussi :
    Meditation and mindfulness at work are welcome, but do they help avoid accountability for toxic culture?

    The subtle art of wearing people down

    Want to take your talent-repelling skills even further? Draw inspiration from what research identifies as practices and experiences belonging to the three major forms of workplace violence. These include micromanagement, constant pressure, lack of recognition, social isolation and others that generate long-term suffering. Though often invisible, their reoccurence gradually wears employees down mentally, then physically, until they finally break.

    Obviously, these tips are meant to be taken ironically.

    Yet, unfortunately, these toxic practices are all too real in the daily routines of certain managers. If the goal is truly to retain talent and ensure lasting business success, it is essential to centre performance management practices around meaning, fairness and the genuine development of human potential.

    George Kassar ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. The toxic management handbook: six guaranteed ways to make your best employees flee – https://theconversation.com/the-toxic-management-handbook-six-guaranteed-ways-to-make-your-best-employees-flee-260733

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Membership Updates for July 2025

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: Membership Updates for July 2025

    IADC welcomes 8 new Members:

    • ASIATIC ENERGY – Mahesana, Gujarat, India

    • BASRA VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER – Al Hussien District, Basra, Iraq 

    • BETATEC HOP PRODUCTS – Malvern, Worcestershire, UK 

    • BRUNO SILVA CARNEIRO MAPURUNGA – Mojave, California, US

    • DUKE MARINE TECHNICAL SERVICES USA INC – Katy, Texas, US

    • FARSUND DRILLING SOLUTION AS – Farsund, Agder, Norway 

    • INTERNATIONAL UPSTREAM ENERGY CONSULTANTS LLC FC – Pecos, Texas, US

    • STEPWISE AS – Stavanger, Norway

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flood protection for more people in West Kent one step closer

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Flood protection for more people in West Kent one step closer

    Another major milestone has been reached at the Leigh Flood Storage Area (FSA) after new central gate is installed as part of works to increase its capacity.

    Leigh Flood Storage Area centre gate being installed (Environment Agency)

    • Second flood gate installed at Leigh Flood Storage Area as part of major upgrade.
    • Once completed approximately 25% more floodwater can be stored – bringing the total storage capacity up to the equivalent of 2,800 Olympic swimming pools.
    • Over 1,800 homes and 575 non-residential properties better protected from flooding.

    Another major milestone has been reached at the Leigh Flood Storage Area (FSA) after the new central gate, the second of three new gates, has been installed as part of works to increase its capacity.

    The Leigh Flood Storage Area, the largest Environment Agency-owned and operated flood storage reservoir in Kent, currently reduces the risk of flooding from the River Medway to 1,200 homes and businesses in Tonbridge and Hildenborough.

    The scheme works by storing additional water in a storage area, similar to a large lake, and is operated during periods of heavy rain to reduce the volume of water travelling downstream to protect vulnerable homes and businesses.

    Over the last year, the Environment Agency has been working tirelessly to reduce the flood risk to a further 600 homes and 575 businesses by replacing the 44-year-old original gates and raising sections of the embankment. Replacing the gates has extended the life of the structure to at least 2060.

    Ian Nunn, Flood and Coastal Risk Management Operations Manager, Environment Agency, said:

    The installation of the new centre gate is a huge achievement and another great step forward in the project to reduce the flood risk to over 1,800 homes and 575 non-residential properties in Tonbridge and Hildenborough.

    People can be assured that the flood storage area will remain operational throughout the project, to continue to protect people, homes and businesses.

    Thank you to local residents for their continued patience while the work is ongoing.

    The Environment Agency are currently delivering the government’s long-term funding programme of flood defences, investing £2.65 billion over 2024/5 and 2025/6 to scale up national resilience through building new and improving existing flood defences. The improvement works at the Leigh Flood Storage Area are part of this programme. The Environment Agency prioritises maintenance work on assets to provide the greatest flood risk reduction for people, homes, and businesses.

    Leigh Flood Storage Area centre gate being lifted by crane (Environment Agency)

    The new central gate, lifted into place by a 300-tonne crane, is the second of the three new gates that will be installed during construction. The third and final gate is expected to be installed in late summer. The new gates were delivered in pieces and welded together on site. Each gate weighs around 12.5 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of a single-decker bus!

    By replacing the gates and raising the clay core in sections of the embankment, the flood storage area will be able to store approximately 25% more water than it does now.

    Increasing the current capacity of 5.58 million cubic metres to over 7 million cubic metres of flood water, the equivalent of 2,800 Olympic size swimming pools, will help to better protect more than 600 additional homes from flooding, as well as 575 non-residential properties.

    Cllr Matt Boughton, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said:

    It’s fantastic to see the construction of this vital project progressing so well. The scale of the engineering involved is truly impressive, not least the installation of the enormous gates which will provide reassurance for thousands of homes and businesses in our borough who will see their properties far better protected from the devastating impact that flooding can have.

    I’d like to thank the Environment Agency and all involved for their work so far and very much look forward to successful completion of the scheme in the coming months.   

    Liz Gibney, Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP) Chair said:

    While we are going through a dry spell currently, we ought not to forget the devastating effect that flooding can have on local businesses, residents, and communities. KMEP prioritised this project for investment to provide peace of mind to business leaders, knowing their premises and livelihoods are better protected.

    The second new gate at Leigh marks a significant milestone in this important project, and is a vital step towards a safer, more resilient future for everyone. We thank the Environment Agency and partners for their hard work.

    Ends

    Media enquiries

    Notes to Editors

    There are around 90,000 Environment Agency maintained assets, worth £26 billion, that reduce the risk of flooding to 2.3 million properties. These assets benefit the economy by reducing the annual average flood damages of £2.8 billion.   

    For more information – please visit the scheme’s GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leigh-expansion-and-hildenborough-embankments-scheme/leigh-expansion-and-hildenborough-embankments-scheme

    To find out more about how the two elements of the scheme work, you can view our YouTube animations:

    Working in partnership

    The Environment Agency is working to deliver the scheme in partnership with:

    • Kent County Council
    • Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
    • Kent and Medway Economic Partnership

    Funding is through the government’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA), with contributions from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Kent County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (now the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership).

    Scheme progress

    It is expected that the scheme will be completed by the end of winter 2025/26.

    This is a complex programme and timings could change depending on external factors, such as the weather. Regular scheme updates are provided to residents and stakeholders via newsletters and on GOV.UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK strongly condemns the reckless Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    The UK strongly condemns the reckless Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

    I’d like to make three points.

    First, the UK, like our briefers, strongly condemns the reckless Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. 

    They have led to the tragic loss of life of innocent mariners. 

    They undermine maritime security and global trade, and pose a significant risk to the environment.

    The UK remains committed to countering the threat posed by the Houthis and restoring freedom of navigation.  

    We will continue to work with partners and support the Special Envoy in a coordinated international approach to achieve these goals.

    Moreover, the Houthis’ continued smuggling of weapons into Yemen is a clear violation of the arms embargo, as implemented by resolution 2216. 

    The UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism is critical to ensure compliance with the arms embargo and prevent smuggling of illicit arms. 

    So the UK calls on the international community to redouble efforts to enforce compliance with the arms embargo, disrupt the illegal weapons flow and support the critical role of the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism, in this regard.

    Second, as USG Fletcher reminded us and Ms Nasser too, Yemen is experiencing a significant deterioration in food security. 

    The FAO’s Integration Food Security Phase Classification for Yemen notes, as USG Fletcher said, that the number of Yemenis experiencing food insecurity is predicted to rise by over a million to 18.1 million by February next year.

    This year, the UK’s Food Security Safety Nets programme will provide $79 million of assistance to help feed at least 864,000 Yemenis, and to support the Government of Yemen’s economic reforms to design a more coherent and coordinated response. 

    As others have said, the Houthis’ continued arbitrary and cruel detention of aid workers are undermining efforts to meet the needs of Yemenis.

    The UK condemns these unjustified detentions. 

    And I reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained.

    Finally, President, Yemenis have suffered for far too long a toxic combination of insecurity and dire humanitarian conditions. 

    Now is the time to redouble our efforts towards an inclusive and sustainable peace. 

    The UK remains committed to supporting the UN Special Envoy’s work to deliver this.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Socially assistive robots

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Robots and Autonomous Systems are increasingly being integrated into modern healthcare. Will we one day also have Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) to assist less able, isolated or elderly people in private or care homes? Is there a role for these robots in lifting people between beds and chairs, delivering food/parcels, answering the door, accessing the upstairs, analysing boxes of pills to regulate medication, providing intimate care, or even just having conversations? And what kind of regulation, policy and ethical issues will all that throw up?

    A new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers considers the current regulations for RAS in established settings and makes recommendations for how these guidelines must be adapted to healthcare and home settings to look after vulnerable people while ensuring safety and privacy.

    This SMC briefing brought together three authors on the report to talk about how a world of socially-assistive robots needs to be regulated, how they might help in future, what they might look like and what they could do. They were also happy to answer any questions on the ethics and risks.

    Speakers included:

    Prof Helen Meese, PhD, CEng MIMechE, CEO, The Care Machine ltd & Immediate Past Chair, Biomedical Engineering Division, IMechE

    Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo PhD, Professor of Machine Intelligence, Leader of Technological and Digital Innovations, Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University

    Dr Daniele Magistro PhD, Associate Professor in Physical Activity and Health, Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader Of Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme Is Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The leader of a multimillion-dollar bank fraud scheme and one of his co-conspirators were sentenced to prison today, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kotto Yaphet Paul, 50 of Waxhaw, N.C., was ordered to serve 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Latoya Tameika Ford, 50, of Covington, Georgia, was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both Paul and Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Paul also pleaded guilty to money laundering and aiding and abetting.

    A third co-conspirator, Bruce Howard Marko, 66, of Charlotte, was sentenced in April to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.5 million for his role in the scheme. A fourth individual charged in this case, Love Norman, of West Palm Beach, Florida, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and is awaiting sentencing.

    Four additional defendants were previously convicted of bank fraud conspiracy for their involvement in the scheme. Amrish D. Patel was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Dwight A. Peebles, Jr. was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Denise Woodard was ordered to serve 36 months in prison, and Derrick L. Harrison, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution ranging from $620,000 to more than $3.1 million.

    According to filed court documents and court proceedings, beginning in 2018, the co-conspirators executed a scheme that defrauded at least 17 federally insured financial institutions of more than $17 million in fraudulent loans. Paul, who was the organizer and leader of the scheme and the primary beneficiary of the fraud conspiracy, relied on a network of co-conspirators that included Ford, to prepare and submit the fraudulent loan applications to financial institutions and facilitate the fraud. The fraudulent loans were of several types, including business loans purportedly for the purchase of equipment, land development loans, and residential mortgage loans. To secure the loans from the financial institutions, Paul and his co-conspirators made material misrepresentations on the loan applications and provided fraudulent documentation, including false income and employment information; financial statements; bank statements; and tax returns. The loan applications also contained misrepresentations about the purpose of the loans and the operations of the relevant businesses.

    Based on the fraudulent loan applications, Paul and his co-conspirators secured at least 42 loans from the victim financial institutions. Contrary to information provided on the loan applications about the purposes of the loans, the defendants used the loan proceeds to purchase real estate, cover unrelated business expenses, make investments, make payments toward earlier loans, and pay for personal expenditures.

    According to court documents, Paul engaged in money laundering in furtherance of the fraud and executed monetary transactions using funds derived from the criminal scheme. For example, in 2020, Paul wired nearly $400,000 to a title insurance company that Norman used to purchase a home in Florida.

    Court documents show that the defendants defaulted on most of the loans, causing substantial losses to the victim financial institutions that issued the loans.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the Office of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Charlotte, and the Charlotte Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation, for the investigation of this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two South Florida Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – On June 13, Jeremiah Wolliston, 23, and Keith Patrick, 38, of West Palm Beach, Florida, were sentenced to 168 months and 72 months in federal prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to their involvement in a scheme to buy stolen business checks from the mail and commit bank fraud.

    According to court documents, between December 2022 and May 2024, Wolliston and Patrick were involved in a conspiracy with others to buy stolen business checks from the mail, which were then altered and deposited into fraudulently opened bank accounts. As part of the scheme, Wolliston and Patrick set up fictitious corporations in Florida and Georgia using the names of their corporate victims and opened fraudulent bank accounts. Wolliston and Patrick deposited the checks before making ATM and counter withdrawals, wire transfers, and drafting checks to transfer the money to other members of the conspiracy. Total losses related to the scheme exceeded $4.5 million.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) made the announcement.

    USPIS, Homeland Security Investigations, USPS Office of the Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, West Palm Beach Police Department, and the Palm Beach Sherriff’s Office jointly investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld prosecuted the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitch Hyman is handling asset forfeiture.

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov,under case number  24-CR-20440.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: UPDATE – Introducing Aptean Fresh Produce ERP: The Next Generation of Produce Pro Software

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Unifying Decades of Fresh Produce Expertise with Cutting-Edge Technology in a Powerful, Cloud-Based ERP Solution

    ALPHARETTA, Ga., July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aptean, a global leader in mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announces the launch of Aptean Fresh Produce ERP, the evolution of its industry-leading Produce Pro Software. Designed to tackle the unique challenges of the fresh produce industry, this powerful solution combines decades of deep industry expertise with Aptean’s global innovation and cutting-edge technologies, ushering in a new era of productivity, intelligence and adaptability for companies.

    For over 30 years, Produce Pro Software has been a trusted ERP platform for fresh produce distributors, wholesalers, foodservice providers, growers, packers, shippers, processors, and terminal markets across North America. Renowned for setting the gold standard in operational efficiency, traceability and compliance, Produce Pro transformed how the fresh industry leverages technology to compete and grow. That legacy continues, strengthened by Aptean’s powerful technology ecosystem, delivering next-generation solutions that drive innovation, efficiency and growth for fresh produce businesses.

    Built on the robust Microsoft Business Central platform, Aptean Fresh Produce ERP delivers a secure, scalable, cloud-native solution designed for modern produce operations. AI-powered capabilities transform complex data into real-time, actionable insights, empowering teams to make better decisions faster. With seamless Microsoft integration and a sleek, user-friendly interface, daily operations have become more efficient, intelligent, and more connected than ever.

    “Aptean Fresh Produce ERP isn’t just an upgrade—it’s the future of fresh produce technology,” said Marc Hatfield, Regional Account Director for Fresh Produce at Aptean. “We have taken everything customers love about Produce Pro and supercharged it with Aptean’s advanced technology and cloud-native architecture. Designed for a fast-moving, high-stakes market, this next- ERP empowers produce operations stay ahead.”

    Aptean Fresh Produce ERP offers:

    • Proven Legacy: Over 30 years of produce-specific innovation, now elevated.
    • Cloud-Powered Performance: Secure, scalable and continuously optimized with Microsoft Cloud.
    • AI-Driven Insights: Transforming complex data into real-time intelligence for sharper decision making.
    • User-Friendly Design: A sleek, modern interface built for seamless team adoption and enhanced productivity.
    • Seamless Integration: Native compatibility with Microsoft 365 and Aptean’s complementary suite, including TMS, EDI, Ecommerce and BI.
    • Future-Ready Adaptability: Designed to evolve with your business and keep pace with demands.

    “Aptean Fresh Produce ERP is a smarter way forward—intuitive, intelligent and built to grow with your business,” said Hatfield. “It unites the proven functionality of Produce Pro Software with the power of the cloud, offering greater scalability, accessibility and ongoing innovation. Backed by Aptean’s deep software expertise and a suite of integrated technologies like TMS, EDI, Ecommerce, BI and more—fresh produce businesses evolve and thrive with solutions made specifically for them.”

    To learn more, visit: aptean.com

    About Aptean
    Aptean is a global provider of industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. Aptean’s solutions and services help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MiningToken Launches Simplified Crypto Mining App, Empowering Users to Effortlessly Mine Bitcoin Amidst a Volatile Crypto Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the global cryptocurrency market continues to experience high volatility, more investors are seeking simpler and safer ways to participate in the digital asset ecosystem. In response to this growing demand, Swiss blockchain technology company MiningToken has officially launched a mobile crypto mining application for Android and iOS, allowing users to mine cryptocurrencies directly from their smartphones—no technical experience or hardware required. The app connects users to powerful global mining pools and provides real-time access to crypto earnings.

    Simplifying Bitcoin Mining: Now Everyone Can Participate

    Traditional crypto mining typically requires expensive hardware, complex configurations, and ongoing maintenance—making it inaccessible to most users. MiningToken eliminates these barriers by offering a distributed computing platform where users can mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remotely. By simply downloading the app and registering, users gain access to platform-managed hash power, with automated mining operations and pool integrations. Crypto mining has never been more accessible.

    Multi-Currency Mining with Flexible Stablecoin Payouts

    MiningToken supports mining of several major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Dogecoin (DOGE). All rewards are paid out in stablecoins (such as USDT), providing users with a reliable hedge against market volatility. The platform offers transparent hash rate tracking and visualized mining statistics, allowing users to monitor performance and earnings at any time.

    Flexible Mining Contracts for All Investor Types

    MiningToken provides a variety of mining contract options, ranging from short-term trial plans to long-term participation strategies. Each contract clearly outlines the duration, hash power, and supported currencies, with low entry thresholds that make crypto mining accessible even to beginners. Users can easily choose the plan that best matches their risk appetite and investment goals.

    Click here to view the complete mining plan and learn more about the benefits

    Mine Anytime, Anywhere with the Mobile App

    The MiningToken mobile app is now available for both Android and iOS devices. Getting started is simple:

    1. Download and install the official MiningToken app
    2. Register and verify your account to receive an exclusive welcome bonus
    3. Browse available mining plans and start earning daily returns automatically

    Users can track daily earnings, monitor their hash power allocations, and manage their crypto assets directly within the app—truly enabling Bitcoin mining from the palm of your hand.

    About MiningToken

    Based in Switzerland, MiningToken is a blockchain technology company focused on building a globally accessible and compliant crypto mining infrastructure. Through technical innovation and service optimization, MiningToken aims to make Bitcoin mining simple, secure, and inclusive. In 2025, MiningToken has quickly become one of the most popular crypto mining platforms, trusted by miners worldwide.

    Contact Information

    Email: info@miningtoken.com
     Website: https://www.miningtoken.com

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or a solicitation for investment. Crypto mining and staking involve risk, and there is a potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended that you conduct your own due diligence and consult with a licensed financial advisor before investing in or trading any cryptocurrency or security.

    The MIL Network –