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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada celebrates National Shipbuilding Strategy milestones at Irving Shipbuilding

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 26, 2025 – Halifax, Nova Scotia 
     

    Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening its sovereign shipbuilding capabilities and supply chains so that the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) are equipped to conduct operations at home and alongside allies in an increasingly complex environment.  

    Today, the Honourable Kody Blois, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, joined Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the RCN, and other dignitaries to celebrate significant progress on the Arctic and offshore patrol ships (AOPS) and River-class destroyers (RCD) being constructed at Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI). The AOPS and RCD are critical NSS initiatives that will bolster Canada’s naval strength and economic resilience for decades to come.

    Parliamentary Secretary Blois commended ISI on its AOPS project achievements. The AOPS project for the RCN will be completed this year, with delivery of the sixth and final ship, the future His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Robert Hampton Gray, anticipated this summer.

    The AOPS project for the CCG is also progressing, with the launch of the first ship, the future Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Donjek, anticipated in 2026. Construction of the second ship, the future CCGS Sermilik, continues to advance.

    In addition, ISI is pivoting to the future and ramping up production for the RCD project. Parliamentary Secretary Blois highlighted that full-rate production on the first RCD, the future HMCS Fraser, is now underway, with delivery of this ship anticipated in the early 2030s. The shipyard will continue to integrate lessons learned from the earlier production of an RCD test module, as well as the AOPS project, into the construction process.

    Beyond new ship construction, ISI is supporting the ongoing operational readiness of the RCN’s Halifax-class frigates until the arrival of the RCD. The shipyard is conducting repair and maintenance activities on HMCS Halifax, with anticipated completion next year.

    This year marks the 15th anniversary of the NSS. Since its inception, the strategy has revitalized Canada’s marine industry, fostered innovation and created a skilled workforce. NSS contracts awarded between 2012 and the end of 2024 are estimated to have contributed close to $38.7 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) and created or maintained approximately 21,400 jobs annually between 2012 and 2025.

    The Government of Canada remains committed to advancing shipbuilding projects that equip the RCN, the CCG and Transport Canada with modern, capable vessels. The NSS will continue to evolve through the integration of lessons learned and close collaboration with industry partners to continue to deliver important benefits for Canadians.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada celebrates National Shipbuilding Strategy milestones at Irving Shipbuilding

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 26, 2025 – Halifax, Nova Scotia 
     

    Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening its sovereign shipbuilding capabilities and supply chains so that the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) are equipped to conduct operations at home and alongside allies in an increasingly complex environment.  

    Today, the Honourable Kody Blois, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, joined Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the RCN, and other dignitaries to celebrate significant progress on the Arctic and offshore patrol ships (AOPS) and River-class destroyers (RCD) being constructed at Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI). The AOPS and RCD are critical NSS initiatives that will bolster Canada’s naval strength and economic resilience for decades to come.

    Parliamentary Secretary Blois commended ISI on its AOPS project achievements. The AOPS project for the RCN will be completed this year, with delivery of the sixth and final ship, the future His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Robert Hampton Gray, anticipated this summer.

    The AOPS project for the CCG is also progressing, with the launch of the first ship, the future Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Donjek, anticipated in 2026. Construction of the second ship, the future CCGS Sermilik, continues to advance.

    In addition, ISI is pivoting to the future and ramping up production for the RCD project. Parliamentary Secretary Blois highlighted that full-rate production on the first RCD, the future HMCS Fraser, is now underway, with delivery of this ship anticipated in the early 2030s. The shipyard will continue to integrate lessons learned from the earlier production of an RCD test module, as well as the AOPS project, into the construction process.

    Beyond new ship construction, ISI is supporting the ongoing operational readiness of the RCN’s Halifax-class frigates until the arrival of the RCD. The shipyard is conducting repair and maintenance activities on HMCS Halifax, with anticipated completion next year.

    This year marks the 15th anniversary of the NSS. Since its inception, the strategy has revitalized Canada’s marine industry, fostered innovation and created a skilled workforce. NSS contracts awarded between 2012 and the end of 2024 are estimated to have contributed close to $38.7 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) and created or maintained approximately 21,400 jobs annually between 2012 and 2025.

    The Government of Canada remains committed to advancing shipbuilding projects that equip the RCN, the CCG and Transport Canada with modern, capable vessels. The NSS will continue to evolve through the integration of lessons learned and close collaboration with industry partners to continue to deliver important benefits for Canadians.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transformation of Saratoga County Airport

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of a project that transformed the Saratoga County Airport into a world-class travel destination, substantially upgrading the airport’s facilities and services to further position the region for greater economic growth and expanded tourism. The reimagined airport features a new terminal building that boasts a spacious lobby, a new passenger waiting area, car rental space, a pilot’s lounge, and restaurant, along with a brand new adjacent 20,000 square-foot hangar, among other upgrades. Funded with $27 million from the Governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Completion, the project has revitalized the more than 80-year-old facility into a state-of-the-art gateway that will welcome visitors and become an exciting destination for local residents.

    The new facility, with its enhanced passenger and public amenities, is anticipated to further stimulate the local economy, according to the latest data from a State Department of Transportation survey that estimated the airport’s economic impact exceeds $9.7 million.

    “Regional airports like Saratoga County are catalysts for business, tourism and economic vibrance — injecting millions into local economies and building the foundations of a brighter future,” Governor Hochul said. “Saratoga is a crown jewel of our state, and whether you’re off to the races, traveling for business or coming home to New York, this world class facility will welcome you with open arms.”

    Built in 1943, the former facility was little more than a hangar that also served as an office space, passenger waiting area, flight planning area and conference room. The completely transformed facility now includes a conference space and a public restaurant operated by the owners of the well-known Alexis Diner in Rensselaer County — offering breakfast, lunch and dinner for diners seeking a unique aviation setting. The main lobby, outdoor patio, second-floor conference room and restaurant are all available for public use.

    Visitors will enter the spacious lobby, which features a carpet in the shape of Saratoga Lake, reflecting the area’s natural beauty. A grand staircase leads to the second-floor conference room and dining area, with an adjacent balcony overlooking the runway. In addition to the impressive amenities inside, the facility has a slate and timber exterior, and circular drive adorned with roses and featuring a bronze statue of a jockey riding a racehorse at its center — paying tribute to Saratoga’s horse racing heritage.

    The terminal building and connected hangar were built sustainably, featuring solar panels on the hangar roof, and geothermal wells for heating and cooling. EV chargers were also installed in the facility’s parking lot.

    The estimated $35.9 million project created approximately 390 jobs, and a project labor agreement guaranteed a skilled and trained workforce receiving fair wages, benefiting local economies and families across the region.

    The Saratoga County Airport was one of nine airports that received a share of a total of $230 million in Governor Hochul’s round of Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition funding announced in September 2022. This funding is not only upgrading New York’s Upstate airports, but it is also enhancing their ability to compete on the national and global aviation stage.

    New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Governor Hochul’s strategic investment in our upstate airports is yielding huge dividends throughout New York, facilitating the growth of business and tourism in communities across our state. The new Saratoga County Airport represents our Governor’s vision for spaces that harmonize the role of our local economies with transportation needs and places that our community members will enjoy. Today, we are celebrating a major milestone for the Saratoga Region and everyone who visits, works here, or calls this region their home.”

    The Saratoga County Airport handles private aircraft with two runways and is operated by fixed based operator, North American Flight Services. Major construction began in January 2024 with work completed in time for the 2025 Belmont Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course. Improvements include:

    • Construction of a new fixed base operator terminal building to include new waiting areas; concessionaire tenant spaces; rental car lease space; advertisement display lease opportunities; conference room space; weather information access station; pilot lounge area; and connected 20,000 square-foot hangar space
    • Installation of solar panel array on hangar portion of new terminal building
    • Installation of geothermal wells for heating and cooling
    • Rehabilitation of the apron connecting to new terminal building

    Senator Charles Schumer said, “Saratoga County, prepare for takeoff! I’ve long fought to secure federal funding for airport upgrades because I know how crucial our airports are for attracting business and tourism to the Capital Region, and I’m proud that it is delivering for Saratoga County Airport today. This project will boost our local economy by improving the general aviation facilities. Whether a semiconductor business is flying in to meet GlobalFoundries or folks are visiting to experience Saratoga Race Course, or the Revolutionary battlefield, or using it as a gateway to Lake George and the Adirondack Park, these improvements will make that experience easier and more welcoming. I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s partnership helping New York’s regional airports like Saratoga County’s reach new heights.”

    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Investing in our regional airports means investing in the future of our communities. These state-of-the-art improvements to the Saratoga County Airport created hundreds of good-paying jobs and will expand tourism in the Capital Region, positioning Saratoga County as a leading travel destination for years to come. I’m proud to have fought for the federal funds being used for this project, and I’ll continue working in Congress to deliver the resources our New York State communities need to thrive.”

    Representative Paul Tonko said, “I’m proud to see this transformative investment in the Saratoga County Airport come to life thanks to a strong state-federal partnership. This new and improved facility will not only elevate the travel experience for visitors to our Capital Region, but also serve as a powerful economic driver here in Saratoga County and beyond. I look forward to seeing this initiative boost tourism, create good-paying jobs, and help showcase all that Saratoga County and our Capital Region have to offer. Through projects like this one, we’re working together to make strategic infrastructure investments that help our communities thrive.”

    Assemblymember Al Stirpe said, “After waiting over 80 years for a proper makeover, Saratoga County residents and visitors alike will be able to visit an airport unique to the area that incorporates eco-friendly features and state-of-the-art designs. The new Saratoga County Airport reflects a larger effort to give back to our regional airports, loaded with the potential to grow local tourism, increase revenue, and enhance lives for Upstate residents. As Chair of Economic Development, it is critical that we renew our state’s aging airport infrastructure to ensure its continued growth for generations to come, solidifying Upstate New York as a good place to live, travel to, or make memories.”

    Assemblymember Carrie Woerner said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her strategic vision to not only revitalize the Saratoga County Airport, but to modernize it in a way that maintains our area’s rich culture and history. I have no doubt that the many enhanced travel, work and dining conveniences will improve our local economy and overall quality of life. And, I appreciate the significant effort that went into designing more efficient and sustainable upgrades with the beauty of our mountains, lakes and horses in mind. I’d also like to thank the County Board of Supervisors for their steadfast leadership and support of the county airport’s expansion and enhancement.”

    Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett said, “We are proud to unveil the new welcome center at the Saratoga County Airport. Designed to showcase Saratoga County’s charm, this modern facility is a vital gateway to our local economy and an inviting attraction for the community with public dining, a scenic patio space, a pilot lounge, car rental desk, spacious hangar, and a community room available to organizations for meetings and small events. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors thanks the New York State Department of Transportation for providing funding to support the County’s airport modernization project, helping us to create a sustainable, energy efficient building for business travelers, glider and leisure pilots, and community members alike.”

    The Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation and was open to upstate commercial passenger service airports and airports providing specialized service for commercial aircraft and/or corporate jets. Applicants were encouraged to apply for funding a single project or a program of projects to help meet the demands of the 21st century. Projects submitted for review by eligible airports were evaluated based on established criteria, including, but not limited to innovation in design, passenger amenities and experience, operational efficiencies and economic effectiveness for the airport’s region.

    About the Department of Transportation
    It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment and supports the economic well-being of New York State.

    Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers!

    For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit our website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Mega Frenzy Officially Launches in June 2025 – Legal Offshore Casino Access for US Players Seeking Real Money Action

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heuston Gaming Inc. has announced the official launch of Mega Frenzy, a fully licensed offshore online casino now available to players in the United States. Operating under international regulations, Mega Frenzy gives US based users an ideal offshore casino for real-money gaming, including slots, table games, and live casino options.

    Designed to offer a secure and seamless offshore gaming experience, Mega Frenzy supports fast deposits, encrypted user verification, and a wide selection of games from globally recognized software providers. With the June 2025 launch, U.S. players can now explore an offshore casino platform that offers international gaming features while remaining compliant with offshore licensing laws.

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    Offshore Access, Smooth Navigation & Mobile-Friendly Gameplay at Mega Frenzy

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    How Bonus Terms Work at Offshore Casinos

    Knowing the bonus terms at offshore casinos is key. Wagering requirements may be different than domestic sites. It’s vital to understand these terms well. This ensures you get the most out of your bonuses.

    UNLOCK A MEGA 100% EXTRA COINS: MEGA FRENZY

    Funding Your Offshore Casino Account: Deposit & Withdrawal Guide

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    Play Smart: Responsible Gambling at an Offshore Casino

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    Offshore Casino Budgeting: Tips to Stay in Control While Playing

    When playing at offshore casinos, it’s essential to have a clear budget. This makes sure your gaming stays fun and doesn’t hurt your wallet. The temptation to gamble more can be high. But staying in control leads to a better time.

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    What Sets Mega Frenzy Apart from Other Offshore Casinos

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    Regulatory Info & Player Protection at Mega Frenzy

    Mega Frenzy follows offshore casino regulations closely, ensuring all games are fair and safe. They take your player privacy protection seriously, using strong security to keep your information safe.

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    Learn more about safe gaming by checking out licensed and secure online casinos.Mega Frenzy uses the latest security tech and follows strict rules. This makes it safe and fair for new and seasoned players.

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    Offshore Casino FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Mega Frenzy

    How can I visit the official Mega Frenzy website?

    To access Mega Frenzy, simply visit its official website. Here, you’ll dive into an exciting world of offshore online gambling.

    How do gambling sites like Mega Frenzy handle account creation?

    Creating an account at Mega Frenzy is easy. Just follow the steps on their website for a smooth signup. This lets you begin playing for real money without any fuss.

    Are my details safe when I verify my identity on casino games platforms?

    Absolutely, your safety is a priority at Mega Frenzy. Verifying your identity is a key step they take. It ensures you’re protected under gaming laws, keeping your information safe.

    What payment methods do betting sites like Mega Frenzy offer?

    Mega Frenzy offers several safe deposit options. You can use Visa and Mastercard among others for quick access to gaming.

    What betting markets make Mega Frenzy stand out?

    Mega Frenzy shines with its big bonuses and diverse games, including live dealer action. Its broad range of betting markets sets it apart in the offshore space.

    Why is Mega Frenzy among the best offshore sportsbooks for US players?

    Mega Frenzy offers seamless mobile gaming, live dealer games, top-tier customer support, and strong security—making it one of the best offshore sportsbooks out there.

    Media Contact

    Project name: Mega Frenzy

    Company Website: mega-frenzy.com

    Email: support@megafrenzy.com

    Twitter: https://x.com/Mega_Frenzy

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by a Mega Frenzy. The views, statements, and opinions expressed are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect those of this media platform or its publisher. We do not verify, endorse, or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any information presented.This article is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, legal, or gambling advice. Online gambling carries significant risk and may be illegal in some jurisdictions. Always ensure you comply with local laws before engaging in gambling activities. Participation in online casinos may result in financial loss—gamble responsibly and only with funds you can afford to lose. Investments or offers related to cryptocurrencies, NFTs, mining, or blockchain technology mentioned herein are speculative in nature and carry substantial risk, including the potential loss of all capital. These products and services may not be suitable for all users. Readers are strongly advised to conduct their own research and seek professional advice from a licensed financial advisor before making any decisions.
    Neither this media platform nor its publisher assumes responsibility for any losses, misrepresentations, or fraudulent activities arising from the content of this publication. In the event of legal claims or disputes, we accept no liability. All complaints, concerns, or copyright issues should be addressed directly to the content provider .

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

    GlobeNewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/351be596-d766-4082-b85d-6d03f5cdee8f

    The MIL Network –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: BTC Miner: Earn Passive Income Daily with Zero Effort – Potential to Earn Millions Daily

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As cryptocurrency continues to surge, BTC Miner has redefined the mining process, offering investors a hassle-free and straightforward way to earn digital assets. Using cutting-edge cloud mining technology, BTC Miner provides an easy path to earning passive income with minimal effort and no technical expertise required.

    Whether you’re an experienced investor or just getting started with cryptocurrency, BTC Miner offers a simple and secure way to mine Bitcoin and other digital currencies from the comfort of your home.

    Register Now and Receive $500!

    BTC Miner is offering all new users a generous $500 sign-up bonus, enabling you to quickly experience the benefits of cloud mining. This special offer gives you a head start in your mining journey and helps you begin earning passive income immediately.

    Earn Guaranteed Daily Profits with Zero Technical Knowledge

    BTC Miner eliminates the need for expensive hardware and complex technical setups. By using a user-friendly cloud mining platform, even beginners can start mining in just a few easy steps. Simply choose your mining contract, and BTC Miner handles the rest, providing you with consistent, automated daily earnings.

    FCA Certified and Secure

    BTC Miner operates under full compliance with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ensuring your investments are handled with the highest levels of security and transparency. The platform uses advanced encryption technologies to protect user data and funds, giving investors peace of mind.

    How to Easily Earn Cryptocurrency with BTC Miner

    Getting started with BTC Miner is quick and easy:

    1. Sign Up: Register on https://btcminer.net and claim your $500 sign-up bonus.
    2. Choose Your Plan: Select a cloud mining contract that suits your investment goals. Plans start as low as $300, making it accessible to everyone.
    3. Start Earning: Once registered, BTC Miner’s AI-driven system begins mining on your behalf, and you’ll start receiving passive income daily.
    4. Earn More by Referring Friends: BTC Miner has introduced a highly rewarding referral program, where you can earn up to $50,000 by referring friends and family to the platform.

    Investor Feedback and Success Stories

    BTC Miner users have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about the platform, praising its ease of use, security, and steady returns. “I was hesitant at first, but BTC Miner has truly exceeded my expectations,” says John T., a long-time investor. “I’ve been able to earn passive income without any technical expertise, and the steady payouts have been a game-changer for me.”

    Samantha L., a new user, adds, “The $500 sign-up bonus was an incredible way to get started. I’ve already seen a return on my initial investment, and I’m excited to see my account grow even further.”

    Final Thoughts

    BTC Miner offers a path to financial freedom with its easy-to-use cloud mining platform. In a volatile market, its AI-driven optimizations ensure that your mining power works smarter, not harder, providing you with reliable, daily earnings. Whether you’re looking for a secondary income stream or seeking financial independence, BTC Miner is the perfect platform to start your cryptocurrency journey.

    Join BTC Miner today and unlock a new source of passive income. Visit https://btcminer.net for more information and to claim your $500 bonus.

    About BTC Miner

    BTC Miner is a leading cloud mining platform that allows users to earn Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies daily without the need for hardware or technical management. With its AI-driven system and secure, FCA-compliant platform, BTC Miner ensures a seamless and profitable experience for investors, both beginners and seasoned traders. BTC Miner makes it simple to grow your digital assets.

    MEDIA Contact:
    Full Name: Liam Carter
    City: Shropshire, United Kingdom
    Email: info@btcminer.net
    Website: https://btcminer.net

    Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, legal advice, or investment recommendations. Stock Trading involves risk and market volatility. Please research or consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions. BTCMiner.net and associated parties are not liable for any financial loss incurred.

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    The MIL Network –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: World Bank Group, IAEA Formalize Partnership to Collaborate on Nuclear Energy for Development

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, sign a partnership agreement to collaborate on the safe, secure and responsible use of nuclear energy for development. (Photo: M Arnaldo/World Bank)

    The World Bank Group and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sealed an agreement today to work together to support the safe, secure and responsible use of nuclear energy in developing countries. The partnership agreement, signed by World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, formalizes multiple engagements between the two institutions over the last year, and marks the World Bank Group’s first concrete step to reengage with nuclear power in decades.

    The agreement also reflects a new, broader approach by the World Bank Group to electrification—one that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and reliability, while managing emissions responsibly. With electricity demand in developing countries expected to more than double by 2035, this approach aims to help countries deliver the energy people need by enabling pathways that best fit their national context, including development objectives and Nationally Determined Contributions.

    Nuclear energy provides continuous baseload power, enhancing grid stability and resilience. Reliable baseload electricity is essential for job-generating sectors such as infrastructure, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing. Nuclear power is also a source of high-skilled employment and stimulates investment across the broader economy. In addition, it can adjust to changes in electricity demand and support frequency regulation, enabling greater integration of variable renewable energy sources.

    “Jobs need electricity. So do factories, hospitals, schools, and water systems. And as demand surges—with AI and development alike—we must help countries deliver reliable, affordable power. That’s why we’re embracing nuclear energy as part of the solution—and reembracing it as part of the mix the World Bank Group can offer developing countries to achieve their ambitions. Importantly, nuclear delivers baseload power, which is essential to building modern economies,” said World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. “Our partnership with the IAEA marks an important step, and I’m grateful to Rafael for his personal commitment and leadership in making this possible. Together, we’ll deepen our expertise, support countries that choose nuclear, and ensure that safety, security, and sustainability guide every step forward.”

    “Today’s agreement is a milestone and the result of a year of joint work since President Ajay Banga kindly invited me to the World Bank Group Executive Board in Washington in June of last year,” IAEA Director General Grossi said. “This landmark partnership, yet another sign of the world’s return to realism on nuclear power, opens the door for other multilateral development banks and private investors to consider nuclear as a viable tool for energy security and sustainable prosperity. Together, we can help more people build a better future.”

    Under the memorandum of understanding signed today, the IAEA will work with the World Bank Group in three key areas:

    • Build knowledge related to the nuclear field: Expand the World Bank Group’s understanding of nuclear safety, security, safeguards, energy planning, new technologies, fuel cycles, reactor lifecycles, and waste management.
    • Extend the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants: Support developing countries in safely extending the life of existing nuclear reactors-one of the most cost-effective sources of low-carbon power-as many global reactors near the end of their original 40-year design life.
    • Advance SMRs: Accelerate the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which offer flexible deployment, lower upfront costs, and potential for wide adoption in developing economies.

    Thirty-one countries currently operate nuclear power plants, which combined produce about 9% of the world’s electricity, amounting to almost a quarter of all low-carbon power globally. More than 30 other countries, most of them in the developing world, are considering or already embarking on the introduction of nuclear power and are working with the IAEA to develop the necessary infrastructure to do so safely, securely and sustainably.

    “SMRs have great potential to cleanly and reliably power progress and fight poverty, but financing remains a roadblock,” Director General Grossi said. “Today’s agreement is a crucial first step to clearing that path.”

    Contacts

    World Bank Group (London): David Young, (202) 473-4691, dyoung7@worldbankgroup.org;

    International Atomic Energy Agency (Vienna): Jeffrey Donovan, +43 699 165 22443, j.r.donovan@iaea.org

    About the World Bank Group: The World Bank Group works to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet through a combination of financing, knowledge, and expertise. It consists of the World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, ida.worldbank.org/en/home, www.miga.org, www.ifc.org, and www.icsid.worldbank.org. 

    About the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The IAEA is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to prevent its use for military purposes. The IAEA supports its member states in developing robust and sustainable nuclear safety and security infrastructures and applies safeguards to verify the peaceful use of nuclear material and technology.

    MIL OSI NGO –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman David Scott Statement On the House Passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military and Veteran Affairs Spending Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

    Congressman David Scott Statement On the House Passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military and Veteran Affairs Spending Bill

    Washington, June 26, 2025

    Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman David Scott released the following statement regarding House Passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military and Veteran Affairs Spending Bill

    “Instead of writing spending bills that lower the cost of living, my Republican colleagues have passed a FY2026 MilCon-VA bill that fails to meet Georgia Veterans’ needs while omitting funding for Fort Gordon’s Cyber Instructional Facility—directly harming one of the military’s key cyber training hubs. I cannot support a bill that redirects billions of VA dollars to private hospitals and clinics, rather than strengthening VA’s in-house capacity to care for Veterans.

    This means our vets will see higher costs, longer wait times and lower care quality. I am also deeply disappointed Republicans rejected a number of Democratic amendments to improve the bill, including those to protect servicemembers from the economic impact of the President’s tariffs, reverse the Administration’s illegal closure of VA housing programs, and to prohibit mass firings at the VA. Georgia Veterans answered the call to serve, we owe it to them to ensure they receive the care, benefits, and respect they deserve—not just empty rhetoric or partisan cuts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four People Sentenced for Kidnapping and Stealing $7000 From 83-Year-Old Veteran

    Source: US FBI

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Four people have been sentenced to prison for kidnapping an 83-year-old Arlington man and taking $7,000 from him.

    According to court documents, on Dec. 30, 2023, Phillip Anderson, 37, Anthony Brockington, 22, Damien Griffin, 23, and K’la Hargrove, 27, traveled to the victim’s home intending to rob him. Hargrove’s boyfriend, who was incarcerated, owed $4,000 to Anderson for drugs, and had performed yardwork and handiwork for the victim. Hargrove, who had previously met the victim through her boyfriend, contacted the victim and arrived at the residence first. After the victim allowed Hargrove into his home, some of her co-conspirators, all of whom were armed, forced their way inside the home, assaulted the victim, and held him at gunpoint while demanding he give them money.

    When the victim explained he didn’t have enough cash in his home, the co-conspirators kidnapped the victim and took him to a “trap house” in Washington, where they physically restrained the victim and continued to assault him. The victim was forced to transfer $7,000 to the bank account of an associate of Griffin. While the victim was being held, Griffin used the victim’s credit card to make purchases from McDonalds, DoorDash, and a gas station, and attempted to purchase gift cards at a CVS Pharmacy. During the night of Dec. 31, 2023, Griffin and Brockington, at Anderson’s direction, returned to the victim’s home, broke into a locker, and stole firearms. They transferred the firearms to Anderson, who later sold them.

    On Jan. 1, 2024, the victim escaped from the trap house and returned to his home. A neighbor called 911 to report the kidnapping, and the victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. The kidnappers caused the victim to sustain fractures to his sternum and hands, broken ribs, and bruises and lacerations to his head and face.

    On Oct. 30, 2024, Griffin pled guilty to conspiracy to kidnap. On Jan. 30, he was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison.

    Anderson pled guilty on Jan. 16, to conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping. On May 1, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

    On Jan. 30, Brockington pled guilty to kidnapping and aiding and abetting kidnapping. On May 1, he was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison.

    Hargrove pled guilty on March 13 to aiding and abetting kidnapping. She was sentenced today to six years in prison.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.

    The Arlington County Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Sehar F. Sabir and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina Stam prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-196.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rapid City Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter

    Source: US FBI

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on June 18, 2025.

    Luke Standing Bear, age 19, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    A federal grand jury indicted Standing Bear in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025.

    On July 6, 2024, Standing Bear was in his neighborhood, in the Eastridge community in Pine Ridge, where he tried to fight several other men. The victim, who was one of the men whom Standing Bear tried to fight, told Standing Bear to go home. Standing Bear went back to his house and armed himself with a knife. Standing Bear returned to the scene of the first argument and got into another argument with the victim. Standing Bear was disarmed by bystanders, but then retrieved a second knife from his home and returned again to the street where the victim was standing. Standing Bear approached the victim after being insulted and stabbed the victim one time in the ribs. The victim took one step and collapsed to the ground. The knife had pierced several internal organs and the victim’s aorta. The victim survived the flight to the hospital in Rapid City but died during surgery.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.

    Standing Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tri-Cities Man Who Strangled and Assaulted His Girlfriend Sentenced to Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Jordan Michael Gunlock, age 33, was sentenced after pleading guilty to strangling and assaulting his girlfriend. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 24 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in November 2023, Gunlock got into an argument with his girlfriend at her home in Wapato, Washington, after she moved his jacket. During the argument, Gunlock grabbed his girlfriend by the back of the head and pulled her hair, injuring her.  After Gunlock stopped pulling her hair, the girlfriend told Gunlock to leave her home. Gunlock initially refused, but fled the residence after his girlfriend called for law enforcement to respond.

    In November 2024, Gunlock and his girlfriend were staying at the Legends Hotel Casino in Toppenish, Washington. While in their room, Gunlock put his hands on his girlfriend’s neck and strangled her. After Gunlock stopped strangling his girlfriend, she left the hotel room and went to the hotel lobby.  While sitting in the hotel lobby, the girlfriend was crying and gasping for air. Legends employees approached the girlfriend and called for law enforcement to respond.  Gunlock’s strangulation assault left red marks on her neck that were still visible to law enforcement later that evening.

    In asking for the 2-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse noted that Gunlock has repeatedly assaulted and threatened to harm his girlfriend and members of her family if she left Gunlock or did not act had he directed.  AUSA Black Horse argued that the 2-year sentence of imprisonment in a federal facility followed by 3 years of supervised release as well as a federal no-contact order with his girlfriend would deter future acts of Intimate Partner Violence perpetrated by Gunlock against his girlfriend.

    At the sentencing hearing Judge Dimke noted that at the time of his arrest, Gunlock was located at his girlfriend’s residence in violation of a state court domestic violence protection order and that he had pressured her not to cooperate with state and federal authorities pursuing domestic violence assault charges against him.  The Court specifically noted text messages from Gunlock indicating that he believed if his girlfriend did not show up to court that domestic violence charges against him would be “dropped.”  In sentencing Gunlock to 2 years imprisonment, the Court stated it wanted to send a message that it takes domestic violence crimes on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation seriously, and that interfering with the criminal justice system and demonstrating a lack of respect for court orders would result in serious consequences.

    “Protecting victims and ensuring their safety is a top priority for our office, particularly in cases involving intimate partner violence in Indian Country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “This prosecution reflects our ongoing commitment to working with Tribal partners to hold offenders accountable and to disrupt cycles of abuse that threaten the safety and well-being of Native women. Prosecution of MMIP-adjacent cases like this one is critical to protecting our Tribal communities throughout Eastern Washington.”

    “Mr. Gunlock’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s continued commitment to the safety of the state’s tribal communities,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office.  “Domestic violence cannot and will not be tolerated, and the FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to bring justice for the victims of these deplorable crimes.”

    This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP and MMIP-related cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.  The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.  Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse. 

    1:25-cr-02005-MKD

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican Drug Trafficker Caught with 84 Pounds of Methamphetamine and Thousands of Fentanyl Pills Sentenced to Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that Jose Bautista Andrade, age 46, of Mexico, was sentenced after pleading guilty to fentanyl trafficking charges. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 132 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) developed information that Andrade was working for drug dealer based in Mexico. Andrade would make regular trips to pick up dugs in California, store the drugs at his home and storage units in the Yakima area, then deliver the drugs to customers in Western Washington and accept payment from customers.

    In October and November 2023, the FBI conducted two controlled purchases for total of four pounds of methamphetamine from Andrade. Both purchases took place at the Tacoma mall.

    On February 6, 2024, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at Andrade’s home and a storage unit. In total, agents located nearly 5 pounds of fentanyl pills, approximately 84 pounds of methamphetamine, and four firearms.

    At the sentencing hearing Chief Judge Bastian noted the large amount of drugs in this case and that Andrade was a major player in the drug trafficking operation.

    “Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Seal did an outstanding job bringing this case to a successful resolution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “His meticulous preparation and tenacious advocacy ensured that a major fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficker was held accountable. Prosecuting cases like this—where the scale of drug trafficking threatens the health and safety of entire communities—is essential to our mission, and AUSA Seal’s work exemplifies the dedication and excellence we strive for in the Eastern District of Washington.”

    “Even in small quantities, fentanyl and other dangerous drugs can kill, destroying lives and devastating communities. However, Mr. Bautista Andrade was found to possess not small quantities but several dozen pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “By removing this drug trafficker and his supplies from the streets, our investigators have undoubtedly made Yakima a safer place. I am grateful to them for their diligent work on this case and continued dedication to removing this toxin from our neighborhoods.”

    This case was investigated by the FBI, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Seal.

    1:24-cr-02064-SAB

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU prosecutors crack down on illegal Chinese imports scheme

    Source: European Union 2

    Tons of goods illegally imported through port of Piraeus, €700 million in losses

    (Luxembourg, 26 June 2025) – A coordinated raid by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece), Madrid (Spain), Paris (France) and Sofia (Bulgaria) has dealt a significant blow to criminal networks flooding the EU market with goods fraudulently imported from China, while evading custom duties and VAT. The criminal scheme, which involved the massive importation of textile, shoes, e-scoters, e-bikes and other goods, is believed to have caused an estimated damage of approximately €700 million. 

    The investigation carried out by the EPPO, code-named ‘Calypso’, spans 14 countries: Bulgaria, China, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. A total of 101 searches were conducted yesterday at the offices of customs brokers, companies controlled by the organised criminal groups under investigation, the premises of the suspects, and at the offices of tax advisers and representatives, lawyers, accountants and transport companies, in Bulgaria, Greece, France and Spain. Ten suspects were arrested, including two customs officers. In addition, firearms and cold weapons were found and seized in the houses of three of the suspects.

    Law enforcement agents seized €5.8 million (of which €4.75 million in Greece and the remaining in France and Spain), in different currencies, including Hong Kong dollars, euros in digital wallets and cryptocurrencies. In addition, 7 133 e-bikes and 3 696 e-scooters were secured, as well as 480 containers for further checks and verification in the Port of Piraeus. Eleven properties located in Spain were also seized, as well as 27 vehicles and luxury items (bags, watches and jewellery). Freezing orders were also issued in Greece to seize real estate, boats and bank accounts.

    At issue are several criminal networks, mainly controlled by Chinese nationals, that handle the full circuit of the goods imported from China into the EU market, including distribution to different Member States and sales to end customers, as well as money laundering and sending the profits back to China, while defrauding the payment of customs duties and committing large-scale VAT fraud. 

    How it works 

    The fraudulent scheme starts with the introduction of the goods from China into the EU, mainly through the port of Piraeus (Greece), with a substantial undervaluation or misclassification of the goods, in order to evade custom duties – using false documents to conceal the true value and nature of the merchandise. A network of professional enablers operating at the customs entry point, such as customs brokers, service providers and accounting firms, facilitate the initial clearance, and the apparent purchase and transport of the merchandise by companies mainly registered in Bulgaria, but operating in Greece with a Greek VAT registration number. 

    The goods are subsequently sold to companies established in other Member States, thus allowing the first apparent purchaser to benefit from a VAT import exemption based on Customs Procedure 42 (CP42). This procedure, created to simplify cross-border trade, exempts importers from paying VAT in the country of importation, if the imported goods are subsequently transported to another EU Member State. 

    Through a chain of buffer and shell companies, the goods are apparently sold to companies in specific Member States, where they are supposed to be sold on the market. These fraudulently declared destinations include Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. However, these fake ultimate acquirers of the goods never receive the merchandise, and operate as a missing trader, thus not paying VAT. In some cases, the criminal organisations used identity documents from legitimate companies, fraudulently hijacking their VAT numbers to conceal the true destination of the goods.

    In reality, after the goods enter the EU, they are stored in warehouses and places controlled by the criminal organisations, and from there they are transported, using false documents, to France, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain (the real countries of destination). These Chinese logistics centres, where all goods are stored, operate as highly controlled warehouse districts, functioning almost like exclusive communities, accessible only to members of the criminal groups managing them.

    The transport documents are destroyed as soon as the goods are delivered, and the merchandise is sold to end customers mostly on the black market, in cash, as part of a highly concealed parallel economy. 

    One-stop criminal enterprise

    The criminal organisations under investigation are in charge of producing the false invoices and transport documents to conceal the real destination of the goods, and to recruit a large network of sham companies used for the fake sales and deliveries, in order to hide the whole fraudulent chain. This allows the companies controlled by the criminal organisations to sell the products at a very competitive price, since VAT remains unpaid and customs duties and anti-dumping fees are largely evaded.

    Finally, the proceeds of the crime are transferred to China using different money laundering techniques, including providing money laundering services to other criminal organisations via trade-based underground banking systems. In this way, the organised criminal groups control and conceal the whole criminal chain, from the initial fraudulent import to the VAT fraud, and from the sale of the goods to the laundering of the profits.

    The total damage of the criminal activities under investigation is currently estimated at approximately €700 million: over €250 million come from evaded customs duties (which revert entirely to the EU budget), and close to €450 million from unpaid VAT (which damages both the EU budget and the national budgets of Member States). The damage caused by the fraudulent scheme under investigation is likely much higher. Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is also actively supporting the EPPO to further evaluate the extent of the damage in evaded customs duties. 

    This EPPO-led investigation was supported by Europol through analytical assistance, coordination via a Virtual Command Post, and the deployment of an expert to the command centre in Luxembourg, with additional backing from national law enforcement agencies – highlighting the value of cross-border cooperation against organised crime. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) contributed to the detection. 

    All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent courts of law.

    The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

    List of most important partners and national authorities involved:

    • Europol
    • European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    • Hellenic Internal Affairs Agency of Law Enforcement Bodies (Υπηρεσία Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων Σωμάτων Ασφαλείας)
    • Hellenic Police’s Digital Forensics Investigations and Analysis Subdivision (Υποδιεύθυνση Ψηφιακής Εγκληματολογικής Έρευνας και Ανάλυσης της ΔΕΕ)
    • France’s National Anti-Fraud Office (Office National Antifraude – ONAF)
    • Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (ДАНС); National Investigation Service (Национална следствена служба); General Directorate National Police) Главна дирекция “Национална полиция”) and General Directoratе Gendarmerie and Specialised Counter-Terrorism Department (Главна дирекция “Жандармерия и специализан отряд за борба с тероризма”)
    • Spain’s National Police and Tax Agency (Policía Nacional and Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wakpala Woman Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Killing Her Mother within the Standing Rock Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ABERDEEN – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Wakpala, South Dakota, woman convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.

    Malania Rose Fast Horse, age 25, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Fast Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 6, 2025.

    Fast Horse quarreled with her mother in their Wakpala, South Dakota, home, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, on Christmas Eve 2024. Fast Horse lost her temper and stabbed her mother several times in the chest, arm, and hand. Fast Horse ambled to her grandmother’s home next door and told her grandmother and brother she had stabbed her mother. She then grabbed some cigarettes and left. Fast Horse’s brother ran next door, finding his mother lying in a pool of blood on the floor, alive but incoherent. Although EMS was promptly dispatched, Fast Horse’s mother later succumbed to her injuries.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

    Fast Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wakpala Woman Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Killing Her Mother within the Standing Rock Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ABERDEEN – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Wakpala, South Dakota, woman convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.

    Malania Rose Fast Horse, age 25, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Fast Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 6, 2025.

    Fast Horse quarreled with her mother in their Wakpala, South Dakota, home, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, on Christmas Eve 2024. Fast Horse lost her temper and stabbed her mother several times in the chest, arm, and hand. Fast Horse ambled to her grandmother’s home next door and told her grandmother and brother she had stabbed her mother. She then grabbed some cigarettes and left. Fast Horse’s brother ran next door, finding his mother lying in a pool of blood on the floor, alive but incoherent. Although EMS was promptly dispatched, Fast Horse’s mother later succumbed to her injuries.

    This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

    Fast Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four SoCal Residents Sentenced for Their Roles in an Armed Robbery and Carjacking at Car Repair Shop in San Bernardino County

    Source: US FBI

    Three Southern California residents on June 23 were sentenced to prison for their roles in a 2024 armed robbery and carjacking at a Bloomington, California, auto repair shop and ordered to pay $11,980 in restitution.

    All four defendants were found guilty by a jury of participating in an armed robbery and carjacking of a car repair business in Bloomington, California, in which one victim was pistol-whipped into near unconsciousness. At the conclusion of a 13-day trial, a federal jury on late June 18 returned a guilty verdict on all counts against the following defendants:

    • Marcos Guerrero, 49, of Glendora, California, was sentenced to 219 months in federal prison.
    • Elijah Gafare, 36, of West Covina, California, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
    • Cinthia Leal, 39, of Glendora, California, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
    • A fourth defendant, Vincent Solarez, 59, of Upland, California, was sentenced to four years in prison on June 2. Solarez was also ordered to pay $11,980 in restitution.

    All four defendants were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carjacking.

    Guerrero, Gafare, and Leal also were found guilty of witness tampering and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of and in relation to a crime of violence. Guerrero, further, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

    According to evidence presented at trial, Guerrero, Gafare, Leal, and Solarez participated in an armed robbery of a car repair shop in Bloomington, California, in the early morning hours of March 12, 2024. During the robbery, two of the defendants brandished firearms, and one of the defendants pistol-whipped one of the victims into near-unconsciousness.

    The defendants kept the victims hostage and threatened to kill them if the victims didn’t hand over cash, their car, and if they ever called law enforcement. In total, defendants stole several thousand dollars in cash and the business surveillance system, in addition to the victim’s car and other property.

    Law enforcement tracked the defendants down and arrested them in May and June of 2024.

    On May 30, 2024, Guerrero illegally possessed a .45-caliber firearm and dozens of rounds of ammunition. He isn’t permitted to possess firearms and ammunition because his criminal history includes convictions in San Bernardino County Superior Court for home invasion robbery, first-degree residential burglary, false imprisonment by violence, possession of a firearm by a felon, and evading a police officer.

    The FBI Inland Violent Crimes Suppression Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua J. Lee and Neil P. Thakor of the General Crimes Section, and Tritia L. Yuen of the Riverside Branch Office, are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed, Assistant Professor of Communication, Cornell University

    Netflix began its Africa operations in South Africa in 2016. When the US streaming giant announced it was setting up shop in Nigeria in 2020, many west African film-makers, writers, artists and media audiences were jubilant.

    Finally, west Africa’s creativity and brilliance would be formally recognised on the world stage. Netflix Naija’s purpose was to produce local content for Netflix just like Netflix South Africa and later Netflix Kenya.

    Read more: Netflix Naija: creative freedom in Nigeria’s emerging digital space?

    Some film-makers have been wary of US cultural imperialism happening through the market dominance of Netflix and other US streamers. Others have rushed to the streamer to sign deals that will gain their films and TV shows a global audience.

    Netflix’s interest in African stories comes with a colonial power dynamic that research and scholarship has not fully explored. As a scholar of media and communication, I recently examined the effect US streamers are having on the stories being told in films in Nigeria and Ghana.

    In my study, I argue that despite the growing global interest in African pop culture, African creative workers need to be careful about interest from global conglomerates. We can’t talk about African cinemas going global without paying attention to how Hollywood’s colonial relationship with Africa has shaped and influenced what African filmmakers believe will sell globally.

    Read more: Black Panther, Wakanda Forever and the problem with Hollywood – an African perspective

    What price is being paid to appeal to global audiences? Film-makers might focus so much on the western gaze that they lose focus on telling African stories authentically and respectfully.

    In my study, I analyse various films including the Ghanaian film Azali and the Nigerian movie Lionheart to argue that that’s exactly what’s happening.

    Dancing to the tune of the west

    Despite the existence of thriving African film and TV industries before the advent of streaming technologies, we are seeing a replication of what I call the everydayness of colonialism in the area of media representations of the continent.

    Here, African filmmakers and producers find themselves jumping through hoops to tell stories that are “fit” to be streamed to Netflix’s millions of American, European and global subscribers. Global cosmopolitan audiences are prioritised over African audiences.

    Read more: Woman King is set in Benin but filmed in South Africa – in the process it erases real people’s struggles

    African audiences at home and in the diaspora are the reason we have vibrant film industries such as Nollywood to begin with.

    This displacement of African audiences happens both in representation and in access.

    Most African movie audiences do not have access to Netflix and other streaming platforms due to the digital divide and the cost of subscribing. So the target audience shifts to the elite, both African and global, who can afford to stream.

    Azali and Lionheart

    Ghana and Nigeria’s film industries were developed by artists who wanted to reflect their societies to their communities. I found that with Netflix’s arrival, there is a danger of disrupting and undoing this important work.

    The intervention of US streamers has led to the development of glossier versions of Africa. They are universal enough to be consumed by anyone, anywhere in the world, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of stories to achieve this global appeal.

    In Azali, for example, I found that the film sacrificed authentic language and geographical accuracy to tell a story for a western audience.

    Azali explores the themes of child marriage, child-trafficking and rural-urban migration in Ghana. Here, a film about the Dagbamba was set in the town of Zebilla, where Dagbanli is not the dominant language. The film cast non-Dagbanli speakers in major roles to speak a language they neither understood nor had any proficiency in. If Dagbamba had been centred as the primary audience of the movie, this cultural indignity might not have happened.

    Lionheart, though star-studded, departed from traditional Nollywood narrative conventions. The film tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian family and the quest of a young woman to take control of the family business. The movie had high production values and told a story that would be considered universally relatable. However, it was disqualified in its bid for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category because of its majority English dialogue. Despite appealing to Netflix in the area of production quality and storyline, African film-makers were still punished by the Academy.

    Nigeria and Ghana’s film industries have traditionally told a wide variety of African stories. Netflix’s arrival is reducing African stories to stories about the elite and for the global cosmopolitan elite.

    Stories about the majority of Africans are being erased. Africa becomes a backdrop to tell stories about the elite class.

    In my study, I argue that narrative construction is an important part of identity and that when external factors begin to determine how African stories are told, it distorts the image of Africa for Africans and raises questions of cultural sovereignty.

    Moving forward

    It is refreshing to see African cultures appreciated on a global scale. But this shouldn’t erase narratives about the African masses and working communities.

    There are film-makers that are resisting the Netflix canon. Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele shows that this is possible in A Tribe Called Judah. Her film set a new box office record in Nigeria by avoiding direct to Netflix/streamer distribution and staying true to African audiences. The film tells the story of how a single mother and her five sons navigate poverty in Lagos. It was later licensed to stream on Amazon Prime Video after it made history at the box office in Nigeria.

    Other film-makers like Omoni Oboli, whose approach centres the Nigerian masses, has turned to YouTube. She tells Nigerian stories while resisting the exploitation that can often come with signing a Netflix deal.

    Read more: The unique strategy Netflix deployed to reach 90 million worldwide subscribers

    These projects offer an alternative. As Netflix expands, African creative workers and cultural policymakers must protect the narrative integrity of African stories and resist the economic exploitation of African film-makers. Productions can capture the nuances of African stories while representing African languages and cultures with respect and dignity – without selling out to western values.

    – Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high
    – https://theconversation.com/netflix-gives-african-film-a-platform-but-the-cultural-price-is-high-259252

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By John Mukum Mbaku, Professor, Weber State University

    The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has raged since April 2023. It’s turned Sudan into the site of one of the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian and displacement crises.

    At least 150,000 people have been killed. More than 14 million have been displaced, with over 3 million fleeing to neighbouring countries like Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Once a vibrant capital city, Khartoum is now a “burnt-out shell”.

    This devastating war, rooted in long-standing ethnic, political and economic tensions, has been compounded by what international and regional actors have done and failed to do. As Amnesty International notes, the international response remains “woefully inadequate”.

    The problem lies in the fact that external involvement has not been neutral. Instead of halting the conflict, many external players have complicated it. In some cases, international interventions have escalated it.

    More than 10 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia have been drawn into Sudan’s war. This has turned it into a proxy conflict that reflects the interests of external actors, such as Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

    Several actors have taken sides.

    Saudi Arabia, for instance, backs the Sudanese army. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is alleged to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Egypt, citing historical ties, backs the army. For their part, Ethiopia and Eritrea reportedly support the paramilitary group. Chad has been accused of facilitating arms shipments to the Rapid Support Forces via its eastern airports. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Iran have also been linked to diplomatic and military support to Sudan’s army.

    These geopolitical entanglements have made peace nearly impossible, deepening the conflict instead of resolving it.

    I have studied Africa’s governance failures for more than 30 years, from military elites and coups to state capture and political instability. Based on this, my view is that Sudan’s conflict cannot be resolved without serious international commitment to neutrality and peace.

    Read more: Sudan’s peace mediation should be led by the African Union: 3 reasons why

    The involvement of foreign actors on opposing sides must be reversed. International involvement must be premised on helping the Sudanese people develop the capacity to resolve governance problems themselves.

    For this to happen, regional diplomacy must be stepped up. The African Union must assert its legitimacy and take the lead in addressing this challenging crisis. It can do this by putting pressure on member states to ensure that any ceasefire agreements are enforced.

    The East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development can provide assistance in securing a peace agreement and ensuring it’s enforced. Members of these continental organisations can encourage external actors to limit their intervention in Sudan to activities that promote democratic governance and sustainable development.

    The African Union

    The African Union should play a central role in bringing peace to Sudan. But its absence has been conspicuous.

    Despite adopting the “African solutions to African problems” mantra, the African Union has neither held Sudan’s warlords accountable nor put in place adequate civilian protection measures.

    First, it could have worked closely with the UN to deploy a mission to Sudan with a mandate to protect civilians, monitor human rights (especially the rights of women and girls), assist in the return of all displaced persons and prevent any further attacks on civilians.

    Second, the African Union could have sent an expert group to investigate human rights violations, especially sexual violence. The results could have been submitted to the union’s Peace and Security Council for further action.

    Third, the African Union could have worked closely with regional and international actors, including the Arab League. This would ensure a unified approach to the conflict, based on the interests of Sudanese people for peace and development.

    Finally, the AU could have addressed the root causes of Sudan’s conflicts, which include extreme poverty, inequality, political exclusion and economic marginalisation.

    The African Union could also make use of the insights and knowledge gleaned by African leaders like Kenya’s William Ruto and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who have attempted to mediate, but have failed. The AU should also use the political expertise of elder statesmen, such as Thabo Mbeki, Moussa Faki and Olusegun Obasanjo, to help address the conflict and humanitarian crisis.

    The United Arab Emirates

    The UAE is alleged to back the paramilitary troops in the war. In recent years, the UAE has become increasingly involved in African conflicts. It has supported various factions to conflicts in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel region and Libya.

    Its increased involvement in Africa is driven by several strategic interests. These include fighting terrorism, securing maritime routes, and expanding its trade and influence.

    Read more: Sudan is burning and foreign powers are benefiting – what’s in it for the UAE

    In 2009, the UAE helped Sudan mediate its border conflict with Chad. The UAE supported the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, as well as Sudan’s transitional military council.

    In 2021, the UAE signed a strategic partnership with Sudan to modernise its political institutions and return the country to the international community. The UAE has stated that it has taken a neutral position in the present conflict. However, on 6 March 2025, Sudan brought a case against the UAE to the International Court of Justice. It accused the UAE of complicity in genocide, alleging that the UAE “has been arming the RSF with the aim of wiping out the non-Arab Massalit population of West Darfur.”

    The United States

    During his first term, US president Donald Trump spearheaded the Abraham Accords. These agreements were aimed at normalising relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including Sudan. Subsequently, Sudan was removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

    The accords appeared to have brought Khartoum closer to Washington. They provided avenues for the type of engagement that could have placed it in good stead when Trump returned to the White House in 2025.

    However, Sudan’s internal political and economic instability, including the present civil war, has complicated the situation.

    The Abraham Accords were a significant foreign policy achievement for Trump. A peaceful, democratically governed, and economically stable and prosperous Sudan could serve as the foundation for Trump’s “circle of peace” in the Middle East.

    But Trump and his administration are preoccupied with other domestic and foreign policy priorities. During his May 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump did not officially address the conflict in Sudan. Instead, he placed emphasis on securing business deals and investments.

    The European Union

    The European Union has strongly condemned the violence and the atrocities committed during the war in Sudan, especially against children and women. The organisation has appealed for an immediate and lasting ceasefire while noting that Sudan faces the “most catastrophic humanitarian crisis of the 21st century”.

    Unfortunately, member countries will remain preoccupied with helping Ukraine, especially given the growing uncertainty in Washington’s relationship with the authorities in Kyiv.

    The preoccupation and focus of the EU and the US on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran may, however, be underestimating the geopolitical risks Sudan’s war is generating.

    A peaceful and democratically governed Sudan can contribute to peace not just in the region, but also in many other parts of the world.

    What now?

    To end Sudan’s war and prevent future ones, international and African actors must do more than issue statements. They must act coherently, collectively and with genuine commitment to the Sudanese people’s right to peace, democratic governance and sustainable development.

    Democracy and the rule of law are key to peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in Sudan. However, establishing and sustaining institutions that enhance and support democracy is the job of the Sudanese people. The external community can provide the financial support that Sudan is likely to need. It can also support the strengthening of electoral systems, civic education and citizen trust in public institutions.

    – Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them
    – https://theconversation.com/sudan-foreign-interests-are-deepening-a-devastating-war-only-regional-diplomacy-can-stop-them-259824

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed, Assistant Professor of Communication, Cornell University

    Netflix began its Africa operations in South Africa in 2016. When the US streaming giant announced it was setting up shop in Nigeria in 2020, many west African film-makers, writers, artists and media audiences were jubilant.

    Finally, west Africa’s creativity and brilliance would be formally recognised on the world stage. Netflix Naija’s purpose was to produce local content for Netflix just like Netflix South Africa and later Netflix Kenya.



    Read more:
    Netflix Naija: creative freedom in Nigeria’s emerging digital space?

    Some film-makers have been wary of US cultural imperialism happening through the market dominance of Netflix and other US streamers. Others have rushed to the streamer to sign deals that will gain their films and TV shows a global audience.

    Netflix’s interest in African stories comes with a colonial power dynamic that research and scholarship has not fully explored. As a scholar of media and communication, I recently examined the effect US streamers are having on the stories being told in films in Nigeria and Ghana.

    In my study, I argue that despite the growing global interest in African pop culture, African creative workers need to be careful about interest from global conglomerates. We can’t talk about African cinemas going global without paying attention to how Hollywood’s colonial relationship with Africa has shaped and influenced what African filmmakers believe will sell globally.



    Read more:
    Black Panther, Wakanda Forever and the problem with Hollywood – an African perspective

    What price is being paid to appeal to global audiences? Film-makers might focus so much on the western gaze that they lose focus on telling African stories authentically and respectfully.

    In my study, I analyse various films including the Ghanaian film Azali and the Nigerian movie Lionheart to argue that that’s exactly what’s happening.

    Dancing to the tune of the west

    Despite the existence of thriving African film and TV industries before the advent of streaming technologies, we are seeing a replication of what I call the everydayness of colonialism in the area of media representations of the continent.

    Here, African filmmakers and producers find themselves jumping through hoops to tell stories that are “fit” to be streamed to Netflix’s millions of American, European and global subscribers. Global cosmopolitan audiences are prioritised over African audiences.



    Read more:
    Woman King is set in Benin but filmed in South Africa – in the process it erases real people’s struggles

    African audiences at home and in the diaspora are the reason we have vibrant film industries such as Nollywood to begin with.

    This displacement of African audiences happens both in representation and in access.

    Most African movie audiences do not have access to Netflix and other streaming platforms due to the digital divide and the cost of subscribing. So the target audience shifts to the elite, both African and global, who can afford to stream.

    Azali and Lionheart

    Ghana and Nigeria’s film industries were developed by artists who wanted to reflect their societies to their communities. I found that with Netflix’s arrival, there is a danger of disrupting and undoing this important work.

    The intervention of US streamers has led to the development of glossier versions of Africa. They are universal enough to be consumed by anyone, anywhere in the world, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of stories to achieve this global appeal.

    In Azali, for example, I found that the film sacrificed authentic language and geographical accuracy to tell a story for a western audience.

    Azali explores the themes of child marriage, child-trafficking and rural-urban migration in Ghana. Here, a film about the Dagbamba was set in the town of Zebilla, where Dagbanli is not the dominant language. The film cast non-Dagbanli speakers in major roles to speak a language they neither understood nor had any proficiency in. If Dagbamba had been centred as the primary audience of the movie, this cultural indignity might not have happened.

    Lionheart, though star-studded, departed from traditional Nollywood narrative conventions. The film tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian family and the quest of a young woman to take control of the family business. The movie had high production values and told a story that would be considered universally relatable. However, it was disqualified in its bid for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category because of its majority English dialogue. Despite appealing to Netflix in the area of production quality and storyline, African film-makers were still punished by the Academy.

    Nigeria and Ghana’s film industries have traditionally told a wide variety of African stories. Netflix’s arrival is reducing African stories to stories about the elite and for the global cosmopolitan elite.

    Stories about the majority of Africans are being erased. Africa becomes a backdrop to tell stories about the elite class.

    In my study, I argue that narrative construction is an important part of identity and that when external factors begin to determine how African stories are told, it distorts the image of Africa for Africans and raises questions of cultural sovereignty.

    Moving forward

    It is refreshing to see African cultures appreciated on a global scale. But this shouldn’t erase narratives about the African masses and working communities.

    There are film-makers that are resisting the Netflix canon. Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele shows that this is possible in A Tribe Called Judah. Her film set a new box office record in Nigeria by avoiding direct to Netflix/streamer distribution and staying true to African audiences. The film tells the story of how a single mother and her five sons navigate poverty in Lagos. It was later licensed to stream on Amazon Prime Video after it made history at the box office in Nigeria.

    Other film-makers like Omoni Oboli, whose approach centres the Nigerian masses, has turned to YouTube. She tells Nigerian stories while resisting the exploitation that can often come with signing a Netflix deal.



    Read more:
    The unique strategy Netflix deployed to reach 90 million worldwide subscribers

    These projects offer an alternative. As Netflix expands, African creative workers and cultural policymakers must protect the narrative integrity of African stories and resist the economic exploitation of African film-makers. Productions can capture the nuances of African stories while representing African languages and cultures with respect and dignity – without selling out to western values.

    Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed 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. Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high – https://theconversation.com/netflix-gives-african-film-a-platform-but-the-cultural-price-is-high-259252

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed, Assistant Professor of Communication, Cornell University

    Netflix began its Africa operations in South Africa in 2016. When the US streaming giant announced it was setting up shop in Nigeria in 2020, many west African film-makers, writers, artists and media audiences were jubilant.

    Finally, west Africa’s creativity and brilliance would be formally recognised on the world stage. Netflix Naija’s purpose was to produce local content for Netflix just like Netflix South Africa and later Netflix Kenya.



    Read more:
    Netflix Naija: creative freedom in Nigeria’s emerging digital space?

    Some film-makers have been wary of US cultural imperialism happening through the market dominance of Netflix and other US streamers. Others have rushed to the streamer to sign deals that will gain their films and TV shows a global audience.

    Netflix’s interest in African stories comes with a colonial power dynamic that research and scholarship has not fully explored. As a scholar of media and communication, I recently examined the effect US streamers are having on the stories being told in films in Nigeria and Ghana.

    In my study, I argue that despite the growing global interest in African pop culture, African creative workers need to be careful about interest from global conglomerates. We can’t talk about African cinemas going global without paying attention to how Hollywood’s colonial relationship with Africa has shaped and influenced what African filmmakers believe will sell globally.



    Read more:
    Black Panther, Wakanda Forever and the problem with Hollywood – an African perspective

    What price is being paid to appeal to global audiences? Film-makers might focus so much on the western gaze that they lose focus on telling African stories authentically and respectfully.

    In my study, I analyse various films including the Ghanaian film Azali and the Nigerian movie Lionheart to argue that that’s exactly what’s happening.

    Dancing to the tune of the west

    Despite the existence of thriving African film and TV industries before the advent of streaming technologies, we are seeing a replication of what I call the everydayness of colonialism in the area of media representations of the continent.

    Here, African filmmakers and producers find themselves jumping through hoops to tell stories that are “fit” to be streamed to Netflix’s millions of American, European and global subscribers. Global cosmopolitan audiences are prioritised over African audiences.



    Read more:
    Woman King is set in Benin but filmed in South Africa – in the process it erases real people’s struggles

    African audiences at home and in the diaspora are the reason we have vibrant film industries such as Nollywood to begin with.

    This displacement of African audiences happens both in representation and in access.

    Most African movie audiences do not have access to Netflix and other streaming platforms due to the digital divide and the cost of subscribing. So the target audience shifts to the elite, both African and global, who can afford to stream.

    Azali and Lionheart

    Ghana and Nigeria’s film industries were developed by artists who wanted to reflect their societies to their communities. I found that with Netflix’s arrival, there is a danger of disrupting and undoing this important work.

    The intervention of US streamers has led to the development of glossier versions of Africa. They are universal enough to be consumed by anyone, anywhere in the world, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of stories to achieve this global appeal.

    In Azali, for example, I found that the film sacrificed authentic language and geographical accuracy to tell a story for a western audience.

    Azali explores the themes of child marriage, child-trafficking and rural-urban migration in Ghana. Here, a film about the Dagbamba was set in the town of Zebilla, where Dagbanli is not the dominant language. The film cast non-Dagbanli speakers in major roles to speak a language they neither understood nor had any proficiency in. If Dagbamba had been centred as the primary audience of the movie, this cultural indignity might not have happened.

    Lionheart, though star-studded, departed from traditional Nollywood narrative conventions. The film tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian family and the quest of a young woman to take control of the family business. The movie had high production values and told a story that would be considered universally relatable. However, it was disqualified in its bid for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category because of its majority English dialogue. Despite appealing to Netflix in the area of production quality and storyline, African film-makers were still punished by the Academy.

    Nigeria and Ghana’s film industries have traditionally told a wide variety of African stories. Netflix’s arrival is reducing African stories to stories about the elite and for the global cosmopolitan elite.

    Stories about the majority of Africans are being erased. Africa becomes a backdrop to tell stories about the elite class.

    In my study, I argue that narrative construction is an important part of identity and that when external factors begin to determine how African stories are told, it distorts the image of Africa for Africans and raises questions of cultural sovereignty.

    Moving forward

    It is refreshing to see African cultures appreciated on a global scale. But this shouldn’t erase narratives about the African masses and working communities.

    There are film-makers that are resisting the Netflix canon. Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele shows that this is possible in A Tribe Called Judah. Her film set a new box office record in Nigeria by avoiding direct to Netflix/streamer distribution and staying true to African audiences. The film tells the story of how a single mother and her five sons navigate poverty in Lagos. It was later licensed to stream on Amazon Prime Video after it made history at the box office in Nigeria.

    Other film-makers like Omoni Oboli, whose approach centres the Nigerian masses, has turned to YouTube. She tells Nigerian stories while resisting the exploitation that can often come with signing a Netflix deal.



    Read more:
    The unique strategy Netflix deployed to reach 90 million worldwide subscribers

    These projects offer an alternative. As Netflix expands, African creative workers and cultural policymakers must protect the narrative integrity of African stories and resist the economic exploitation of African film-makers. Productions can capture the nuances of African stories while representing African languages and cultures with respect and dignity – without selling out to western values.

    Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed 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. Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high – https://theconversation.com/netflix-gives-african-film-a-platform-but-the-cultural-price-is-high-259252

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By John Mukum Mbaku, Professor, Weber State University

    The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has raged since April 2023. It’s turned Sudan into the site of one of the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian and displacement crises.

    At least 150,000 people have been killed. More than 14 million have been displaced, with over 3 million fleeing to neighbouring countries like Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Once a vibrant capital city, Khartoum is now a “burnt-out shell”.

    This devastating war, rooted in long-standing ethnic, political and economic tensions, has been compounded by what international and regional actors have done and failed to do. As Amnesty International notes, the international response remains “woefully inadequate”.

    The problem lies in the fact that external involvement has not been neutral. Instead of halting the conflict, many external players have complicated it. In some cases, international interventions have escalated it.

    More than 10 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia have been drawn into Sudan’s war. This has turned it into a proxy conflict that reflects the interests of external actors, such as Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

    Several actors have taken sides.

    Saudi Arabia, for instance, backs the Sudanese army. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is alleged to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Egypt, citing historical ties, backs the army. For their part, Ethiopia and Eritrea reportedly support the paramilitary group. Chad has been accused of facilitating arms shipments to the Rapid Support Forces via its eastern airports. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Iran have also been linked to diplomatic and military support to Sudan’s army.

    These geopolitical entanglements have made peace nearly impossible, deepening the conflict instead of resolving it.

    I have studied Africa’s governance failures for more than 30 years, from military elites and coups to state capture and political instability. Based on this, my view is that Sudan’s conflict cannot be resolved without serious international commitment to neutrality and peace.



    Read more:
    Sudan’s peace mediation should be led by the African Union: 3 reasons why

    The involvement of foreign actors on opposing sides must be reversed. International involvement must be premised on helping the Sudanese people develop the capacity to resolve governance problems themselves.

    For this to happen, regional diplomacy must be stepped up. The African Union must assert its legitimacy and take the lead in addressing this challenging crisis. It can do this by putting pressure on member states to ensure that any ceasefire agreements are enforced.

    The East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development can provide assistance in securing a peace agreement and ensuring it’s enforced. Members of these continental organisations can encourage external actors to limit their intervention in Sudan to activities that promote democratic governance and sustainable development.

    The African Union

    The African Union should play a central role in bringing peace to Sudan. But its absence has been conspicuous.

    Despite adopting the “African solutions to African problems” mantra, the African Union has neither held Sudan’s warlords accountable nor put in place adequate civilian protection measures.

    First, it could have worked closely with the UN to deploy a mission to Sudan with a mandate to protect civilians, monitor human rights (especially the rights of women and girls), assist in the return of all displaced persons and prevent any further attacks on civilians.

    Second, the African Union could have sent an expert group to investigate human rights violations, especially sexual violence. The results could have been submitted to the union’s Peace and Security Council for further action.

    Third, the African Union could have worked closely with regional and international actors, including the Arab League. This would ensure a unified approach to the conflict, based on the interests of Sudanese people for peace and development.

    Finally, the AU could have addressed the root causes of Sudan’s conflicts, which include extreme poverty, inequality, political exclusion and economic marginalisation.

    The African Union could also make use of the insights and knowledge gleaned by African leaders like Kenya’s William Ruto and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who have attempted to mediate, but have failed. The AU should also use the political expertise of elder statesmen, such as Thabo Mbeki, Moussa Faki and Olusegun Obasanjo, to help address the conflict and humanitarian crisis.

    The United Arab Emirates

    The UAE is alleged to back the paramilitary troops in the war. In recent years, the UAE has become increasingly involved in African conflicts. It has supported various factions to conflicts in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel region and Libya.

    Its increased involvement in Africa is driven by several strategic interests. These include fighting terrorism, securing maritime routes, and expanding its trade and influence.



    Read more:
    Sudan is burning and foreign powers are benefiting – what’s in it for the UAE

    In 2009, the UAE helped Sudan mediate its border conflict with Chad. The UAE supported the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, as well as Sudan’s transitional military council.

    In 2021, the UAE signed a strategic partnership with Sudan to modernise its political institutions and return the country to the international community. The UAE has stated that it has taken a neutral position in the present conflict. However, on 6 March 2025, Sudan brought a case against the UAE to the International Court of Justice. It accused the UAE of complicity in genocide, alleging that the UAE “has been arming the RSF with the aim of wiping out the non-Arab Massalit population of West Darfur.”

    The United States

    During his first term, US president Donald Trump spearheaded the Abraham Accords. These agreements were aimed at normalising relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including Sudan. Subsequently, Sudan was removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

    The accords appeared to have brought Khartoum closer to Washington. They provided avenues for the type of engagement that could have placed it in good stead when Trump returned to the White House in 2025.

    However, Sudan’s internal political and economic instability, including the present civil war, has complicated the situation.

    The Abraham Accords were a significant foreign policy achievement for Trump. A peaceful, democratically governed, and economically stable and prosperous Sudan could serve as the foundation for Trump’s “circle of peace” in the Middle East.

    But Trump and his administration are preoccupied with other domestic and foreign policy priorities. During his May 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump did not officially address the conflict in Sudan. Instead, he placed emphasis on securing business deals and investments.

    The European Union

    The European Union has strongly condemned the violence and the atrocities committed during the war in Sudan, especially against children and women. The organisation has appealed for an immediate and lasting ceasefire while noting that Sudan faces the “most catastrophic humanitarian crisis of the 21st century”.

    Unfortunately, member countries will remain preoccupied with helping Ukraine, especially given the growing uncertainty in Washington’s relationship with the authorities in Kyiv.

    The preoccupation and focus of the EU and the US on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran may, however, be underestimating the geopolitical risks Sudan’s war is generating.

    A peaceful and democratically governed Sudan can contribute to peace not just in the region, but also in many other parts of the world.

    What now?

    To end Sudan’s war and prevent future ones, international and African actors must do more than issue statements. They must act coherently, collectively and with genuine commitment to the Sudanese people’s right to peace, democratic governance and sustainable development.

    Democracy and the rule of law are key to peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in Sudan. However, establishing and sustaining institutions that enhance and support democracy is the job of the Sudanese people. The external community can provide the financial support that Sudan is likely to need. It can also support the strengthening of electoral systems, civic education and citizen trust in public institutions.

    John Mukum Mbaku 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. Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them – https://theconversation.com/sudan-foreign-interests-are-deepening-a-devastating-war-only-regional-diplomacy-can-stop-them-259824

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By John Mukum Mbaku, Professor, Weber State University

    The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has raged since April 2023. It’s turned Sudan into the site of one of the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian and displacement crises.

    At least 150,000 people have been killed. More than 14 million have been displaced, with over 3 million fleeing to neighbouring countries like Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Once a vibrant capital city, Khartoum is now a “burnt-out shell”.

    This devastating war, rooted in long-standing ethnic, political and economic tensions, has been compounded by what international and regional actors have done and failed to do. As Amnesty International notes, the international response remains “woefully inadequate”.

    The problem lies in the fact that external involvement has not been neutral. Instead of halting the conflict, many external players have complicated it. In some cases, international interventions have escalated it.

    More than 10 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia have been drawn into Sudan’s war. This has turned it into a proxy conflict that reflects the interests of external actors, such as Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

    Several actors have taken sides.

    Saudi Arabia, for instance, backs the Sudanese army. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is alleged to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Egypt, citing historical ties, backs the army. For their part, Ethiopia and Eritrea reportedly support the paramilitary group. Chad has been accused of facilitating arms shipments to the Rapid Support Forces via its eastern airports. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Iran have also been linked to diplomatic and military support to Sudan’s army.

    These geopolitical entanglements have made peace nearly impossible, deepening the conflict instead of resolving it.

    I have studied Africa’s governance failures for more than 30 years, from military elites and coups to state capture and political instability. Based on this, my view is that Sudan’s conflict cannot be resolved without serious international commitment to neutrality and peace.



    Read more:
    Sudan’s peace mediation should be led by the African Union: 3 reasons why

    The involvement of foreign actors on opposing sides must be reversed. International involvement must be premised on helping the Sudanese people develop the capacity to resolve governance problems themselves.

    For this to happen, regional diplomacy must be stepped up. The African Union must assert its legitimacy and take the lead in addressing this challenging crisis. It can do this by putting pressure on member states to ensure that any ceasefire agreements are enforced.

    The East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development can provide assistance in securing a peace agreement and ensuring it’s enforced. Members of these continental organisations can encourage external actors to limit their intervention in Sudan to activities that promote democratic governance and sustainable development.

    The African Union

    The African Union should play a central role in bringing peace to Sudan. But its absence has been conspicuous.

    Despite adopting the “African solutions to African problems” mantra, the African Union has neither held Sudan’s warlords accountable nor put in place adequate civilian protection measures.

    First, it could have worked closely with the UN to deploy a mission to Sudan with a mandate to protect civilians, monitor human rights (especially the rights of women and girls), assist in the return of all displaced persons and prevent any further attacks on civilians.

    Second, the African Union could have sent an expert group to investigate human rights violations, especially sexual violence. The results could have been submitted to the union’s Peace and Security Council for further action.

    Third, the African Union could have worked closely with regional and international actors, including the Arab League. This would ensure a unified approach to the conflict, based on the interests of Sudanese people for peace and development.

    Finally, the AU could have addressed the root causes of Sudan’s conflicts, which include extreme poverty, inequality, political exclusion and economic marginalisation.

    The African Union could also make use of the insights and knowledge gleaned by African leaders like Kenya’s William Ruto and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who have attempted to mediate, but have failed. The AU should also use the political expertise of elder statesmen, such as Thabo Mbeki, Moussa Faki and Olusegun Obasanjo, to help address the conflict and humanitarian crisis.

    The United Arab Emirates

    The UAE is alleged to back the paramilitary troops in the war. In recent years, the UAE has become increasingly involved in African conflicts. It has supported various factions to conflicts in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel region and Libya.

    Its increased involvement in Africa is driven by several strategic interests. These include fighting terrorism, securing maritime routes, and expanding its trade and influence.



    Read more:
    Sudan is burning and foreign powers are benefiting – what’s in it for the UAE

    In 2009, the UAE helped Sudan mediate its border conflict with Chad. The UAE supported the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, as well as Sudan’s transitional military council.

    In 2021, the UAE signed a strategic partnership with Sudan to modernise its political institutions and return the country to the international community. The UAE has stated that it has taken a neutral position in the present conflict. However, on 6 March 2025, Sudan brought a case against the UAE to the International Court of Justice. It accused the UAE of complicity in genocide, alleging that the UAE “has been arming the RSF with the aim of wiping out the non-Arab Massalit population of West Darfur.”

    The United States

    During his first term, US president Donald Trump spearheaded the Abraham Accords. These agreements were aimed at normalising relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including Sudan. Subsequently, Sudan was removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

    The accords appeared to have brought Khartoum closer to Washington. They provided avenues for the type of engagement that could have placed it in good stead when Trump returned to the White House in 2025.

    However, Sudan’s internal political and economic instability, including the present civil war, has complicated the situation.

    The Abraham Accords were a significant foreign policy achievement for Trump. A peaceful, democratically governed, and economically stable and prosperous Sudan could serve as the foundation for Trump’s “circle of peace” in the Middle East.

    But Trump and his administration are preoccupied with other domestic and foreign policy priorities. During his May 2025 visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump did not officially address the conflict in Sudan. Instead, he placed emphasis on securing business deals and investments.

    The European Union

    The European Union has strongly condemned the violence and the atrocities committed during the war in Sudan, especially against children and women. The organisation has appealed for an immediate and lasting ceasefire while noting that Sudan faces the “most catastrophic humanitarian crisis of the 21st century”.

    Unfortunately, member countries will remain preoccupied with helping Ukraine, especially given the growing uncertainty in Washington’s relationship with the authorities in Kyiv.

    The preoccupation and focus of the EU and the US on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran may, however, be underestimating the geopolitical risks Sudan’s war is generating.

    A peaceful and democratically governed Sudan can contribute to peace not just in the region, but also in many other parts of the world.

    What now?

    To end Sudan’s war and prevent future ones, international and African actors must do more than issue statements. They must act coherently, collectively and with genuine commitment to the Sudanese people’s right to peace, democratic governance and sustainable development.

    Democracy and the rule of law are key to peaceful coexistence and sustainable development in Sudan. However, establishing and sustaining institutions that enhance and support democracy is the job of the Sudanese people. The external community can provide the financial support that Sudan is likely to need. It can also support the strengthening of electoral systems, civic education and citizen trust in public institutions.

    John Mukum Mbaku 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. Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them – https://theconversation.com/sudan-foreign-interests-are-deepening-a-devastating-war-only-regional-diplomacy-can-stop-them-259824

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European rural areas face higher levels of energy poverty

    Source: European Union 2

    Around 48 million Europeans are unable to keep their homes warm, according to a new report. Rural areas in the EU experience higher levels of energy poverty, especially in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. However, rural areas are ahead of cities in carrying out energy efficiency improvements.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European rural areas face higher levels of energy poverty

    Source: European Union 2

    Around 48 million Europeans are unable to keep their homes warm, according to a new report. Rural areas in the EU experience higher levels of energy poverty, especially in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. However, rural areas are ahead of cities in carrying out energy efficiency improvements.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British industry to benefit from billions in government spending under new plans to protect national security

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    British industry to benefit from billions in government spending under new plans to protect national security

    Government will back British industries such as energy, steel and cyber – giving them more of the £400bn spent on government procurement each year and protecting our national security.

    • British industries such as energy, steel and cyber are set to get more money from government spending under new plans being considered to protect UK national security.
    • Central government departments will be told to consider UK-made steel for all public projects, and use exemptions for buying rules wherever possible to support steel makers, in new guidance issued today.
    • New rules would also ensure the public sector excludes companies that have failed to pay small businesses on time.

    Government will back British industries such as energy, steel and cyber – giving them more of the £400bn spent on government procurement each year and protecting our national security.

    A consultation launching today will consider new rules to give the government greater power to back our national security through government buying and ensure the country retains a strong, homegrown industrial base.

    The plans will allow Ministers to designate certain UK industries as nationally important to protecting UK national security – as part of our Plan for Change to secure Britain’s future.

    Current rules require public sector buyers to consider bids from overseas suppliers that can undercut UK firms. Under the new designation, public sector buyers will be able to avoid normal buying rules to support national security, and award contracts to our industries. 

    Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said:

    Strong industry is essential to our national security. The new rules being considered  will give us the power to protect our national industries, ensuring more money goes to them as we buy goods and services in government.

    Our reforms will boost growth and ensure British industry is supported to deliver national security and our Plan for Change.

    The move aims to harness the £400 billion spent by central Government each year on everyday products and services to boost British business – as the government rebuilds the country in a decade of national renewal and delivers the Plan for Change. 

    The changes come following the publication of the government’s Industrial Strategy which set out a ten year plan to boost investment, skills and jobs and reduce the energy costs for business and industry.

    New guidance will also require Government departments to consider UK-made steel in all future public projects, including those that form part of the £725bn of UK infrastructure spending over the next 10 years.

    Industry Minister Sarah Jones said:

    This is the latest win for our Steel Strategy, supporting jobs across the UK and building on the launch of our modern Industrial Strategy which will cut energy costs for steel firms.

    By strengthening our procurement to back British industry, we’ll not only bolster national security but drive growth by filling up companies’ order books across the UK. Supported by up to £2.5 billion, our upcoming Steel Strategy will set out how we’ll boost growth and investment in the sector even further.

    Cracking down on late payment and supporting SMEs

    The new rules will also ensure public sector buyers exclude companies that cannot evidence a good record of paying businesses in their supply chains promptly and on time. 

    Prompt payment is vital to a small business’ success, as they work to tight margins. By ensuring government supply chains are paying them quickly and on time we can remove uncertainty and fuel growth.

    Alongside prompt payments, new rules will be introduced that would require all large contracting bodies to set three year targets for SME spending. 

    The government previously announced that Government departments would have targets, and this expands that requirement to the wider public sector. Further prioritising and boosting spending with SMEs.

    Supportive quotes;

    Gareth Stace, Director-General of UK Steel said:

    This is unequivocally positive news for the UK steel industry. These changes rightly recognise the strategic importance of steelmaking to national security and the vital role of resilient domestic supply chains. 

    With the launch of the National Infrastructure Strategy and Strategic Defence Review, the next decade presents a generational opportunity for our steel industry. This revised guidance and proposals in the consultation will help government departments unlock the full capacity and capability of our members, supporting jobs and driving investment across the country.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York’s climate leadership recognised

    Source: City of York

    York has once again been recognised on the global stage for its work to tackle climate change — retaining an ‘A’ rating from the independent CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) for a third time.

    The rating places York among only 112 cities worldwide to achieve the top grade, highlighting the city’s climate leadership and transparency.

    This accolade isn’t just about international recognition — it reflects the real, practical changes being delivered across the city.  From lower energy bills to warmer homes, greener transport options to community energy partnerships, the council’s work is making an everyday difference to those living and working in the city.

    One of the city’s key tools in supporting that progress is YorEnergy — a free advice service helping people across York find ways to cut energy bills and reduce emissions.  More information is available at yorenergy.co.uk.

    Samantha Mills, who’s Heworth home has benefitted from the YorEnergy scheme, explained:

    We’ve had some really important work on our home through the YorEnergy scheme and already we’ve seen a difference.

    “Bills were higher and the house didn’t stay warm, but with our new insulation things have changed.

    “The process to get these improvements done was really easy too, with someone on hand to guide us through the whole process.”

    The council is actively working with York Community Energy to expand solar rooftop projects to reduce costs across the city’s schools, with ten school’s already completed and another in the pipeline.  Alongside this, citywide upgrades to LED street lighting are saving energy and reducing costs for council taxpayers.

    York’s longer-term ambition is reflected in major infrastructure investments, such as a proposed developments at the former Harewood Whin landfill site. The council is also exploring new heat networks and commercial partnerships as part of its Local Area Energy Plan — helping lay the groundwork for a more resilient, sustainable energy future.
    In council housing, the ongoing insulation programme is improving comfort and affordability for tenants.

    City of York Council Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, Cllr Jenny Kent, said:

    This is independent recognition for the third year running that CYC is ahead of the curve, making real headway and building a healthier, energy secure, resilient York.

    “We should all be very proud that we are one of only 112 cities globally to be recognised as top ranking for our efforts.

    “It reflects the continued hard work of our dedicated staff in obtaining external funding for projects that reduce energy costs and emissions for residents, businesses, and council taxpayers alike. This includes making more people’s homes comfortable and affordable, helping improve air quality, expanding our tree planting, and supporting active travel and investment in supporting bus services.”

    To hear more about the city’s climate initiatives and other resident news, sign up for updates at york.gov.uk/EmailUpdates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Real Matters to Announce Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results on July 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real Matters Inc. (“Real Matters”), a leading network management services provider for the mortgage lending and insurance industries, will announce its third quarter fiscal 2025 financial results via news release on Thursday, July 31, 2025, before market open.

    Conference Call and Webcast         
    A conference call to review the results will take place at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, July 31, 2025, hosted by Chief Executive Officer Brian Lang and Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo Pinto. An accompanying slide presentation will be posted to the Investor Relations section of our website shortly before the call.

    Conference call dial-in:

    • Participants can dial-in to the conference call; however, pre-registration is required. To register, visit: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI798e8af4ea274111bfa0efe3766760a2.
    • Once registered, you will receive an email including dial-in details and a unique access code required to join the live call.
    • Please ensure you have registered at least 10 minutes prior to the conference call start time.

    To listen to the live webcast of the call:

    The webcast will be archived and a transcript of the call will be available in the Investor Relations section of our website following the call.

    About Real Matters
    Real Matters is a leading network management services provider for the mortgage lending and insurance industries. Real Matters’ platform combines its proprietary technology and network management capabilities with tens of thousands of independent qualified field professionals to create an efficient marketplace for the provision of mortgage lending and insurance industry services. Our clients include top 100 mortgage lenders in the U.S. and some of the largest banks and insurance companies in Canada. We are a leading independent provider of residential real estate appraisals to the mortgage market and a leading independent provider of title and mortgage closing services in the U.S. Headquartered in Markham (ON), Real Matters has principal offices in Buffalo (NY) and Middletown (RI). Real Matters is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol REAL. For more information, visit www.realmatters.com.

    For more information:
    Lyne Beauregard
    Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
    Real Matters
    lbeauregard@realmatters.com
    416.994.5930

    The MIL Network –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five ways you can use mantra meditation every day to boost your wellbeing

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jennifer Donnelly, Doctoral Researcher, Meditation-based Interventions in Clinical Settings, Centre of Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    Andrii Iemelianenko/Shutterstock

    Meditation has become a popular subject on self-improvement podcasts, corporate strategy days and health campaigns. But beyond the buzz, there’s a growing scientific and clinical interest in meditation as a tool to regulate attention and promote relaxation. These are increasingly recognised as central to wellbeing in a world of constant notifications, high demands and information overload.

    Mantra meditation has roots in ancient contemplative traditions across many cultures. At its simplest, a mantra is a word, phrase, or sound repeated silently or aloud to focus the mind, steady attention and support relaxation. Depending on the tradition, mantras may carry deep spiritual, linguistic or energetic significance. But in a more personal or secular practice, you might choose or create a mantra that’s meaningful only to you.

    It’s important to note that mantra meditation is distinct from focusing on breathing. While both help develop concentration and awareness, the mantra, not the breath, is the primary anchor of attention in mantra meditation. You may notice the breathing naturally while meditating, but the repetition of the mantra is what gently draws your mind back when it wanders.

    Emerging research suggests that mantra meditation may have promising benefits, from reducing stress and burnout to improving mood, focus and sleep. Focusing on a mantra to disengage from an overactive mind can be a valuable tool in today’s fast-paced world.

    Mantra meditations moments

    A simple starting point is to choose a phrase that resonates with you, something easy to remember and calming. For example: “I am … here now.” Or a word like “ease” or “peace”. Some people visualise a calming image, like a steady tree or a gentle wave, repeating it silently in their mind. The key is to return to your chosen anchor, your mantra, each time your mind drifts.

    You don’t need a special cushion, app or ritual. Below are five everyday moments when you can try this light mantra-practice:

    • On public transport: Use a few minutes of your commute to mentally repeat your mantra. The surrounding noise and movement can actually enhance the practice. When your mind wanders, which it will, gently return to your anchor.

    • While brushing your teeth: This brief, repetitive activity is already part of your day. Use the rhythm of brushing as a cue to repeat your mantra internally.

    • During your first sips of tea or coffee: Let this be a pause point. Breathe naturally. Repeat your chosen phrase. Even a few seconds of presence can shift the tone of your morning.

    Your first morning coffee could become a moment of deep calm in an otherwise hectic day.
    NDAB Creativity/Shutterstock

    • Instead of scrolling: Replace one moment of habitual phone use with one minute of mantra repetition. Notice the impulse to scroll, and meet it with your mantra instead. You can scroll later if you want; the point is to notice the choice.

    • Before stepping out of the car: Pause for 30-60 seconds before entering a new environment, whether that’s work, home or a social setting. This brief ritual can be a surprisingly powerful reset when transitioning to a new destination or activity.

    Longer sessions may deepen the effects, but short, consistent moments of practice are what build tolerance and insight. Meditation doesn’t always begin with peace. More often, it starts with the uncomfortable awareness of how distracted our thoughts can become. That moment of noticing is not a failure, it’s the practice.

    For parents, especially those with young children, meditation might feel unrealistic. But mantra practice can be adapted. Children often respond well to repetitive, rhythmic exercises. Try counting fingers together, repeating a calming phrase, or simply taking three breaths. It might not look like traditional meditation, but it can still create a shared moment of calm.

    Even counting fingers with children could be a way to experience a moment of togetherness and calm.
    YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock

    For those living with chronic pain, health challenges or intense life transitions, meditation can sometimes make discomfort feel more present. In such cases, stillness might initially increase distress.

    Some research confirms that meditation can have uncomfortable or adverse effects, and distraction may be necessary at times. Even so, carefully introduced mantra meditation techniques or similar practices may support people living with chronic conditions by helping shift how discomfort is experienced, if approached with care, and suitable supports are offered.

    Mantra meditation isn’t about perfect focus, or fixing all our problems. Its strength lies in offering you a portable, repeatable practice to build awareness, one moment at a time.

    So before you move on after reading, try this: take 30 seconds, close your eyes, and return to your mantra. Just for now.

    Jennifer Donnelly 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. Five ways you can use mantra meditation every day to boost your wellbeing – https://theconversation.com/five-ways-you-can-use-mantra-meditation-every-day-to-boost-your-wellbeing-259313

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five ways you can use mantra meditation every day to boost your wellbeing

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jennifer Donnelly, Doctoral Researcher, Meditation-based Interventions in Clinical Settings, Centre of Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    Andrii Iemelianenko/Shutterstock

    Meditation has become a popular subject on self-improvement podcasts, corporate strategy days and health campaigns. But beyond the buzz, there’s a growing scientific and clinical interest in meditation as a tool to regulate attention and promote relaxation. These are increasingly recognised as central to wellbeing in a world of constant notifications, high demands and information overload.

    Mantra meditation has roots in ancient contemplative traditions across many cultures. At its simplest, a mantra is a word, phrase, or sound repeated silently or aloud to focus the mind, steady attention and support relaxation. Depending on the tradition, mantras may carry deep spiritual, linguistic or energetic significance. But in a more personal or secular practice, you might choose or create a mantra that’s meaningful only to you.

    It’s important to note that mantra meditation is distinct from focusing on breathing. While both help develop concentration and awareness, the mantra, not the breath, is the primary anchor of attention in mantra meditation. You may notice the breathing naturally while meditating, but the repetition of the mantra is what gently draws your mind back when it wanders.

    Emerging research suggests that mantra meditation may have promising benefits, from reducing stress and burnout to improving mood, focus and sleep. Focusing on a mantra to disengage from an overactive mind can be a valuable tool in today’s fast-paced world.

    Mantra meditations moments

    A simple starting point is to choose a phrase that resonates with you, something easy to remember and calming. For example: “I am … here now.” Or a word like “ease” or “peace”. Some people visualise a calming image, like a steady tree or a gentle wave, repeating it silently in their mind. The key is to return to your chosen anchor, your mantra, each time your mind drifts.

    You don’t need a special cushion, app or ritual. Below are five everyday moments when you can try this light mantra-practice:

    • On public transport: Use a few minutes of your commute to mentally repeat your mantra. The surrounding noise and movement can actually enhance the practice. When your mind wanders, which it will, gently return to your anchor.

    • While brushing your teeth: This brief, repetitive activity is already part of your day. Use the rhythm of brushing as a cue to repeat your mantra internally.

    • During your first sips of tea or coffee: Let this be a pause point. Breathe naturally. Repeat your chosen phrase. Even a few seconds of presence can shift the tone of your morning.

    Your first morning coffee could become a moment of deep calm in an otherwise hectic day.
    NDAB Creativity/Shutterstock

    • Instead of scrolling: Replace one moment of habitual phone use with one minute of mantra repetition. Notice the impulse to scroll, and meet it with your mantra instead. You can scroll later if you want; the point is to notice the choice.

    • Before stepping out of the car: Pause for 30-60 seconds before entering a new environment, whether that’s work, home or a social setting. This brief ritual can be a surprisingly powerful reset when transitioning to a new destination or activity.

    Longer sessions may deepen the effects, but short, consistent moments of practice are what build tolerance and insight. Meditation doesn’t always begin with peace. More often, it starts with the uncomfortable awareness of how distracted our thoughts can become. That moment of noticing is not a failure, it’s the practice.

    For parents, especially those with young children, meditation might feel unrealistic. But mantra practice can be adapted. Children often respond well to repetitive, rhythmic exercises. Try counting fingers together, repeating a calming phrase, or simply taking three breaths. It might not look like traditional meditation, but it can still create a shared moment of calm.

    Even counting fingers with children could be a way to experience a moment of togetherness and calm.
    YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock

    For those living with chronic pain, health challenges or intense life transitions, meditation can sometimes make discomfort feel more present. In such cases, stillness might initially increase distress.

    Some research confirms that meditation can have uncomfortable or adverse effects, and distraction may be necessary at times. Even so, carefully introduced mantra meditation techniques or similar practices may support people living with chronic conditions by helping shift how discomfort is experienced, if approached with care, and suitable supports are offered.

    Mantra meditation isn’t about perfect focus, or fixing all our problems. Its strength lies in offering you a portable, repeatable practice to build awareness, one moment at a time.

    So before you move on after reading, try this: take 30 seconds, close your eyes, and return to your mantra. Just for now.

    Jennifer Donnelly 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. Five ways you can use mantra meditation every day to boost your wellbeing – https://theconversation.com/five-ways-you-can-use-mantra-meditation-every-day-to-boost-your-wellbeing-259313

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eastern Cape flood death toll increases to 101

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The death toll from the devastating floods that struck the Eastern Cape earlier this month has risen to 101, the provincial government confirmed on Thursday.

    Briefing the media on the provincial government’s response to the June disaster incident on Thursday, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Zolile Williams, said the victims include 63 adults and 38 children, with 32 children identified as learners, while two remain missing.

    The OR Tambo and Amathole Districts remained the most severely affected areas due to loss of lives and the displacement of families, damaged infrastructure, livestock losses and learners missing examinations.  

    “The OR Tambo District alone accounts for 77 of the deceased, with Amathole District 10, Alfred Nzo District five, Chris Hani District five, Joe Gqabi District two, and Sarah Baartman District two,” Williams said.

    He also noted that among those who lost their lives include public servants, who were the first responders.

    Ongoing relief efforts

    The MEC said the provincial government remains in the first phase of disaster management response, including Immediate Response and Humanitarian Relief, which is characterised by the provisions made to ensure that all affected people are safe and basic needs are met.

    He noted that the provincial government has activated response systems, enabled through the District Development Model (DDM) approach, and in line with National Disaster Response Standard Operating Procedures, as well as in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

    Humanitarian partners include Gift of the Givers, Al Imdaad Foundation, the Black Coffee Foundation, and Asfraful Aid. Corporates such as Old Mutual, MTN, and local businesses and supermarkets continues to reach communities whose homes and belongings were destroyed by the floods.

    “These collaborations underscore the power of public-private partnerships in responding swiftly to emergencies,” Williams said.

    Williams also acknowledged ongoing support from ordinary citizens who have extended a helping hand to those in need, including those whose presence and contributions have brought hope and comfort to the affected families during this time of need.

    He said government continues to appeal for continued support from the private sector, businesses, and individuals to assist with donations of food, clothing, blankets, furniture, and other essentials. Some affected families have commenced laying their loved ones to rest.  

    “Burial support that is being provided has been made possible by AVBOB who have pledged to offer the storage of the bodies, burial services and transportation of the human remains to the area identified by the family for burial.

    “From today, we are expecting that 31 of the bodies will be buried across the provinces and this includes two learners from Jumba Senior Secondary School who are being buried in Ngqeleni, as well as Nomonde Ntlabathi, who was an Enrolled Nursing Assistant at Bedford Orthopedic Hospital, who will be buried in Centane on Saturday, together with her three grandchildren,” Williams said.

    Through the Department of Education and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), government has also provided financial assistance to the families to assist with funerals preparations.

    “We remain grateful to our social partners who have provided groceries to the families.” – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, Lawmakers Demand Trump Admin. Exempt Essential Baby Products from Harmful Tariffs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Last Month, After Pressure from Pressley, Treasury and Trump Said Exemption Was “Under Consideration”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) led 25 of her colleagues on a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding an immediate exemption for essential infant and toddler products—including car seats, strollers, cribs, and highchairs—from current and future tariffs. Last month, after sharp questioning from Congresswoman Pressley in the House Financial Services Committee, Secretary Bessent conceded that such an exemption was “under consideration,” which was later reaffirmed by President Trump.

    “There have been more than thirty days since your testimony and no exemptions on baby products have been announced. Hence, we urge you to relieve families of the high tariffs on products they need to care for their children,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “As you are aware, baby products are not optional luxury goods. They are necessities for millions of American families to ensure a safe environment for infants.”

    Car seats are legally required in all fifty seats, but more than 90% of them are made in China. Under the current on-again, off-again tariff regime, many of these products have seen price increases of up to 30%, placing a significant and unnecessary burden on working families. With approximately 3.5 million babies born each year in the United States, this means millions of families face steep cost increases to care for their newborns and comply with basic child safety laws. Further, according to BabyCenter, new parents now spend an estimated $20,000 during their child’s first year—including nearly $1,000 on baby safety gear alone.

    According to the Joint Economic Committee, new parents are at risk of paying an additional $875 million overall in 2025 on baby goods, including bouncers, activity centers, carriers, diaper bags, and other types of car seats, as a result of Trump’s tariffs. In Massachusetts, new parents could pay an additional $20.6 million.

    “At a time when families are already struggling with the rising costs of food, housing, and healthcare, trade policies that further inflate essential childcare expenses are both counterproductive and deeply concerning,” the lawmakers continued. “We therefore urge you to immediately work with the President to exempt baby and toddler products from current and future tariffs, particularly those involving imports from China.”

    The lawmakers noted that during the first Trump Administration, the U.S. Trade Representative created exclusions for baby safety products, an acknowledgement that the health and safety of infants should not be collateral damage in trade policy. They requested a response to their letter by July 10, 2025.

    Joining Rep. Pressley in sending the letter are Representatives Becca Balint, Greg Casar, Sharice Davids, Cleo Fields, Bill Foster, Josh Gottheimer, Al Green, Jonathan Jackson, Julie Johnson, Stephen F. Lynch, Betty McCollum, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chris Pappas, Delia Ramírez, Deborah K. Ross, Andrea Salinas, Brad Sherman, Eric Swalwell, Emilia Strong Sykes, Shri Thanedar, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Ritchie Torres, Eugene Simon Vindman, and Frederica S. Wilson.

    To view a copy of the letter, click here.

    Last month, in a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley pressed Secretary Bessent about the harmful impact of Trump’s tariffs on families with young children and asked if he would support an exemption to tariffs on baby products and other items that parents need to care for their kids, such as car seats. In response to her questioning, Secretary Bessent conceded that such an exemption was “under consideration.”

    In April, Congresswoman Pressley joined 45 colleagues in sending a Congressional letter to the Trump Administration imploring them to end tariffs on essential baby goods.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 27, 2025
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