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  • Amit Shah inaugurates Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University, hails blend of healthcare and education

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today inaugurated the Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University (ACU) in Karnataka, hailing it as a milestone in the pursuit of affordable healthcare and education for all.

    Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Shah praised the efforts of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt in upholding the cultural ideal of “Sarva Jan Hitaya, Sarva Jan Sukhaya” — the welfare and happiness of all. He commended the Mutt’s initiatives in running health centres in rural areas, offering free medical treatment to the underprivileged, and setting up educational institutions for children.

    The newly inaugurated campus, constructed at a cost of ₹200 crore, spans 20 lakh square feet over 16 acres and is designed to accommodate 4,000 students. It houses a modern 1,000-bed hospital that offers comprehensive healthcare facilities, including free and affordable treatment for the poor. In his address, the Home Minister said this establishment would emerge as a true centre of service through its integration of education and healthcare.

    Shah paid tribute to Jagadguru Dr. Balagangadharanatha Swamiji for preserving and enhancing the 1,800-year-old spiritual heritage of the sacred Adichunchanagiri Hills by intertwining it with service and education. He also lauded the continued efforts of Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji in carrying forward this legacy.

    He noted that the Mutt’s work has fostered a deep connection with thousands of families, especially from poor and middle-income backgrounds, by promoting spirituality and Karma Yoga through community service. The Mutt’s holistic outreach is based on nine key pillars — Anna (food), Akshara (education), Arogya (health), Adhyatmika (spirituality), Aashraya (shelter), Aranya (environment), Aakaalu (disaster relief), Anukampa (compassion), and Anubandh (social connection). According to Shah, this inclusive approach has significantly strengthened social unity and serves as a model for other religious and cultural institutions.

    Highlighting the university’s role in combining tradition with innovation, he emphasized its efforts in reconnecting the youth with India’s cultural roots while equipping them with cutting-edge education. He credited Mahaswami Ji with ensuring that students not only receive quality education but also free accommodation, giving them an opportunity to lead dignified lives. The university, he said, has become one of the country’s premier institutions, offering advanced medical care at low cost. The 1,500-bed hospital includes facilities for critical care, cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology, and complex transplants like kidney, liver, and cornea.

    Shah further highlighted the Modi Government’s commitment to healthcare reform. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remarks that illness and its related expenses are among the leading causes of poverty, he stated that Modi’s vision had materialized through initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which now provides free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh to 60 crore citizens.

    He elaborated on other major health and welfare initiatives launched under PM Modi’s leadership, including the construction of nearly 12 crore household toilets, the Fit India Movement, the celebration of International Day of Yoga, and the Mission Indradhanush vaccination campaign for children up to 15 years of age. He also mentioned the Poshan Abhiyan, which addresses maternal and child nutrition, and the Jan Aushadhi Yojana, through which essential medicines are available at just 20% of market prices at over 15,000 locations.

    In addition, Shah pointed to the dramatic expansion of medical education infrastructure in the country. Since 2014, the number of AIIMS institutions has increased from 7 to 23, medical colleges from 387 to 780, MBBS seats from 51,000 to 1,18,000, and postgraduate medical seats from 31,000 to 74,000.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lurgan entrepreneur’s skincare brand thrives with help from Go Succeed programme

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Claire Geddis, pictured with Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray and Lady Mayoress Mrs Moutray, at the recent Lurgan Show.

    A Lurgan based entrepreneur is on a mission to bring the luxury spa experience directly into boutique hotel rooms as the artisan producer invests in a major expansion.

    Claire Geddis, founder of Wild Shore, has developed a unique organic spa collection designed to help people experience the healing power of nature, whether at home or while staying in a hotel that doesn’t have a spa.

    The business whose products have already been shipped as far afield as China, Australia, and the United States, is now targeting hotels and high-end B&Bs across Ireland and beyond, after receiving assistance from the government-backed enterprise support service, Go Succeed.

    Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Alderman Stephen Moutray, said:

    “Claire’s journey is a fantastic example of the innovation and ambition we see in our local business community. Go Succeed is proud to support entrepreneurs like Claire who are taking bold steps to grow their business and represent Northern Ireland on the global stage.”

    Claire selling her products at the Artisan Market in Dromore.

    A former biologist and beauty therapist with 15 years’ experience, Claire combines her scientific background and hands-on knowledge of skincare to handcraft a collection that includes artisan soap, soaking salts, hand and body cream, and a soy candle – all infused with a bespoke blend of five essential oils: lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress and thyme.

    “Every element is organic and made by hand using certified ingredients sourced from across the world,” said Claire. “At the heart of Wild Shore is a desire to let nature do what it does best. I’ve seen a rise in skin sensitivity, psoriasis and eczema, and I wanted to create something healing and luxurious, without the chemicals.”

    Now scaling up her business, Claire is focusing her efforts on the boutique hotel market, offering a bespoke in-room guest experience.

    “I’m working with boutique hotels to create a special welcome: a small gift box with a mini soap, soak and cream, and a booklet that shares the story behind the products. It instantly elevates the experience, giving guests that spa feeling from the moment they walk in the door – even if the hotel doesn’t have its own spa.”

    Since launching, Claire has showcased her products at events across the UK and Ireland including the Gifted Fair in Dublin’s RDS, the Belfast Holiday Show and will attend the European Horse Championships at Blenheim Palace later this year.

    To take the next step, Claire turned to Go Succeed – Northern Ireland’s free business support service delivered through all 11 councils – for mentoring and practical support.

    “I initially approached Go Succeed to explore financial advice, but the real value was in the mentoring,” she said. “They helped me refocus my business plan and dig deep into the numbers – what was really needed to scale for export. I wouldn’t be where I am now without that support.”

    Go Succeed offers free mentoring, peer networks, business planning support and access to funding opportunities, all designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

    Funded by the UK Government, Go Succeed is delivered via each of Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils and provides entrepreneurs with access to mentoring, events, grant funding, planning tools and business networks. Visit www.go-succeed.com to learn more.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

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

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

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

    Highlights of the programme include

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: Samsung

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Share your priorities to shape strong vision for future of council services in Norfolk

    Source: City of Norwich

    Communities are being invited to share their priorities to help shape a strong, shared vision for the future of local government in Norfolk.

    This vision puts local people, place and progress right at the heart of how council services are run. 

    Currently, services are split between the county council and seven borough, city and district councils. The Government wants to replace all eight with a reduced number of ‘unitary councils’, which would deliver all services, and has asked the existing authorities to make proposals for what future services could look like.  

    Breckland Council, Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, and Norwich City Council are working together and agree that having three unitary councils would best serve the people of Norfolk (as opposed to having one or two). 

    Over the summer, we are speaking with as many people as possible across Norfolk – residents, businesses, community groups and others – to champion our shared vision and invite everyone to complete our Future Norfolk survey to share their priorities and help shape a final submission to the Government this autumn. 

    Our joint proposal to have three unitary councils for Norfolk is based on the findings of an independent report – The Strength of Three – and our collective knowledge of our communities. The strength of having three unitary councils is they are about you: 

    • People: Local decisions by local leaders who understand your community. Three councils will strengthen local democracy, increase transparency, and make decision-making close to home  
    • Place: Services shaped by the strengths and needs of each area. Three councils will celebrate the unique identity, strengths, challenges, and heritage of different areas  
    • Progress: A future-ready Norfolk that works for everyone. Three councils will build a resilient, sustainable future for Norfolk that can adapt to changing needs. 

    In a joint statement, the Council Leaders of the six districts (below) said: “Having three unitary councils serving Norfolk is best for local democracy. People would be represented by councillors who live closer to their homes, understand their community and what matters to local people. It will ensure communities have their say and provide more strong, local voices to champion Norfolk at regional and national levels.

    “We know Norfolk isn’t the same everywhere, what works well in one place might not work in another, each area has strengths and needs, so three unitary councils can support each other while still enabling services to focus on what matters most to people in each area. 

    “At the same time, three councils will still be big enough to work well in delivering people’s priorities across all council services, making the most of opportunities for Norfolk to thrive, but agile enough to stay flexible to other national changes while maintaining our local focus.  

    “Any changes by Government to local councils could affect your services and who helps make decisions for your area – that’s why we want you and everyone in your community to complete our Future Norfolk survey and tell us about your priorities to help inform our submission to the Government.” 

    You can find out more about the survey and take part until 1 August 2025 at www.futurenorfolk.com

    This joint article is on behalf of:

    • Breckland District Council: Leader: Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen 
    • Broadland District Council: Leader: Councillor Sue Holland 
    • Great Yarmouth Borough Council: Leader: Councillor Carl Smith 
    • King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council: Leader: Councillor Alistair Beales 
    • North Norfolk District Council: Leader: Councillor Tim Adams 
    • Norwich City Council: Leader: Councillor Mike Stonard 
       

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 20 June 2025

    Internet

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

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear and the Namibian Government Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Develop Namibian Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Infrastructure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, N.Y., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) to explore collaborative opportunities focused on developing the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain infrastructure within the Republic of Namibia.

    The MoU represents a shared vision between NANO Nuclear and NIDA to add significant value to the country’s uranium resources, support industrial development, and create new opportunities for Namibian citizens within the global nuclear energy market. With Namibia already ranked among the world’s top uranium producers, the collaboration aims to help position the country as a key player in the emerging secure and diversified global nuclear fuel supply chain.

    Figure 1 -NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Chief Executive Officer James Walker and Richwell Lukonga, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency following the signing of the MoU.

    “This first step with NIDA reflects our long-term commitment to helping NIDA build a stable, localized, and internationally respected nuclear fuel supply chain in Namibia,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “We are proud to work alongside Namibia to ensure that its natural resources can power not only domestic progress but also global energy resilience.”

    Under the MoU, NANO Nuclear and NIDA will work together to evaluate opportunities related to the development of infrastructure, technology transfer, education, job creation, and local workforce development in support of Namibia’s national nuclear energy development goals. NIDA will help coordinate government and stakeholder engagement, while NANO Nuclear will lead assessments related to industrial capability, fuel logistics, and potential international nuclear fuel supply contracts for NIDA.

    “This collaboration with Namibia highlights our mission to position the Company as a leader in the global clean energy transition and reinforces our strategic intent to secure the resources necessary to fuel the future of nuclear energy in the United States and abroad,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear. “NANO Nuclear brings the advanced nuclear expertise and commercial vision that align well with NIDA’s development mandate. Through education, infrastructure, and responsible industrial development, this collaboration will unlock meaningful opportunities for the Namibian people while supporting NANO Nuclear’s broader strategy to de-risk and decentralize the nuclear fuel supply chain.”

    Figure 2 – NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Chief Executive Officer James Walker and Richwell Lukonga, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency at the signing of the MoU.

    As the world accelerates toward low-carbon energy solutions, the nuclear industry is experiencing a renaissance. By establishing Namibia as a trusted link in the global nuclear fuel supply chain, this collaboration will support energy security, economic diversification, and scientific advancement in southern Africa and beyond.

    Initial work under the MoU will focus on identifying viable areas for investment, conducting feasibility studies, and facilitating engagements with other government bodies, technical institutions, and international stakeholders. The MoU also envisions expanding the collaboration into areas of training, joint venture development, and nuclear-ready industrial site planning.

    NANO Nuclear and NIDA will also work to negotiate and enter into definitive agreement related to the collaboration in the future.

    About Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA)

    The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) is a commercial state-owned enterprise under Namibia’s Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade. NIDA’s mission is to drive inclusive and sustainable industrial development through investment facilitation, infrastructure development, and support for key growth sectors aligned with Namibia’s national development plans.

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR™Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

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    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include those regarding NANO Nuclear’s plans to collaborate with NIDA, and the goals of such collaboration, as described in this press release. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions or risks related to operations in Namibia, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the enacted ADVANCE Act and the May 23, 2025 presidential executive orders seeking to support nuclear energy, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Personal Loans for Bad Credit with Guaranteed Approval for Credit Scores 580 or Lower – Radcred Launches New Loan Platform For No Credit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glendale, California, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radcred has launched its new platform for personal loans for individuals with bad credit, offering a streamlined and flexible process to secure loans despite poor credit scores. This innovative platform enables those with credit scores below 600 to secure quick, collateral-free loans, focusing on income and repayment ability rather than just credit scores.

    With fast approval times, flexible repayment terms, and no collateral required, Radcred’s platform provides a straightforward and transparent way for borrowers to access financial relief during times of urgent need. This new offering is designed to help individuals navigate unexpected expenses without the constraints of traditional credit-based lending practices.

    Why People with Poor Credit Scores Turn to Personal Loans for Bad Credit?

    Individuals with credit scores below 600 often face difficulties accessing traditional loan options. Traditional lenders typically rely on credit scores as the primary qualification metric, making it hard for people with poor credit to secure financial assistance. This gap in financial services has led to a growing demand for personal loans for individuals with bad credit, which offer a more flexible approach.

    Radcred’s platform addresses this need by considering borrowers’ income and repayment capacity, rather than focusing solely on their credit scores. Many people with bad credit turn to Radcred’s loan platform to cover urgent financial needs, such as medical bills, car repairs, or rent payments. The platform provides a lifeline to those who would otherwise be rejected by traditional lenders, offering quick and accessible loans based on their ability to repay rather than their credit history. This offers a crucial opportunity for individuals to meet their financial goals without the burden of an unacceptable credit score.

    Key Features of Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit Platform 

    Radcred’s platform is designed to offer borrowers a seamless, fast, and secure way to obtain personal loans, even with bad credit. The user-friendly process streamlines access to funds, prioritising income and repayment capacity over credit scores. With quick approvals, no collateral required, and flexible terms, Radcred provides an efficient and transparent loan experience. Key features include:

    • Fast Approval: Loans can be approved within minutes, with funds often deposited the same day, providing quick access to much-needed cash.
    • No Collateral Required: Unlike many traditional loans, Radcred’s platform does not require borrowers to put up assets as security, making it easier for those without valuable collateral to qualify.
    • Flexible Terms: Radcred offers repayment terms ranging from 1 to 3 years, allowing borrowers to choose the option that best fits their financial situation and budget.
    • Transparent Fees: There are no hidden fees; the APR and all fees are disclosed upfront, ensuring borrowers understand the total cost of their loan.
    • Accessibility: The entire process is conducted online, eliminating the need to visit a store or branch, making it convenient for borrowers to apply from the comfort of their own homes.

    These features combine to create an easy-to-use platform that simplifies the loan process for those who need it most. Radcred’s commitment to providing fast, transparent, and flexible personal loans makes it an excellent solution for individuals with poor credit.

    GET THE FINANCIAL RELIEF YOU NEED 

    How Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit Platform Works?

    Applying for a personal loan on Radcred’s platform is simple, quick, and user-friendly. The process is designed to be accessible for individuals with bad credit. With just a few easy steps, borrowers can complete the application online, receive instant approval, and get matched with lenders offering personalized loan terms based on their income and ability to repay.

    • Apply Online: To begin the process, visit Radcred’s website and complete a straightforward online application form. The process takes only a few minutes, allowing you to get started right away.
    • Soft Credit Check: Radcred performs a soft-pull credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. This step helps the platform understand your creditworthiness without negatively impacting your score.
    • Lender Matching: Once you apply, Radcred’s platform matches you with multiple lenders who offer personalized loan terms based on your profile. This step provides a variety of options for you to choose from, ensuring you find the best deal.
    • Review Offers: After receiving loan offers, you can review the details, including interest rates, repayment terms, and loan amounts. This transparency allows you to compare your options and choose the loan that best fits your needs.
    • Receive Funds: After selecting the best offer, you can accept the loan terms, and the funds will be deposited directly into your bank account, often on the same day.

    Radcred’s platform focuses on providing accessible, fast, and flexible loan options for individuals with bad credit, offering a quick and straightforward process that ensures you can get the financial help you need without long waits or complex procedures.

    Why Borrowers Turn to Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit?

    Many individuals with bad credit often find themselves facing limited borrowing options, especially when they need money quickly. This is where Radcred steps in, providing a lifeline to borrowers who traditional lenders may have rejected. The platform’s unique approach focuses on income and repayment capacity, rather than credit scores, making it easier for individuals with poor credit histories to secure loans.

    Radcred’s flexibility is a significant appeal, as it offers quick and easy access to loans that can help cover urgent expenses, such as medical bills, car repairs, or household costs. The fast approval process and same-day funding provide borrowers with immediate relief. The online application and matching with multiple lenders make the process seamless and efficient. By considering a borrower’s financial situation rather than focusing solely on their credit score, Radcred offers a truly accessible solution for those in need.

    COMPARE PERSONALIZED LOAN OFFERS WITH RADCRED

    Eligibility Requirements for Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit 

    To qualify for Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit, applicants must meet the following requirements: be at least 18 years old, a U.S. resident, and have a valid bank account for direct deposit. Proof of income is required to demonstrate the ability to repay the loan, and Radcred uses a soft-pull credit check that won’t affect your credit score.

    • Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
    • Residency: You must be a U.S. resident.
    • Bank Account: A valid bank account is required for direct deposit of funds.
    • Income: Proof of income (such as pay stubs or bank statements) must be provided to demonstrate the ability to repay the loan.
    • Credit Check: Radcred uses a soft-pull credit inquiry, so applying won’t affect your credit score.
    • Flexible Criteria: Although credit scores are considered, they are not the sole determining factor in approval.

    The Benefits of Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit 

    Radcred’s platform offers several key benefits that set it apart from traditional loan providers. These include quick approval times, often within minutes, and same-day funding for eligible borrowers. With flexible repayment terms ranging from 1 to 3 years, no collateral required, and transparent fees, Radcred provides accessible loans tailored to individuals with bad credit.

    • Speed: Loans are approved quickly, often with same-day funding, offering fast access to cash when you need it most.
    • Flexibility: Repayment terms can range from 1 to 3 years, allowing borrowers to select a schedule that fits their financial situation.
    • Transparency: Radcred provides clear APRs and no hidden fees, so you know exactly what to expect.
    • No Collateral: The loans are unsecured, meaning you don’t need to risk your property or assets.
    • Accessible for Bad Credit: Radcred focuses on income and repayment ability rather than credit score, offering opportunities for individuals with poor credit.

    These benefits make Radcred’s platform an excellent option for individuals in need of financial relief but who struggle with traditional lenders.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT RADCRED’S LOAN PLATFORM

    How Radcred Connects Borrowers with Licensed Payday Lenders?

    Radcred operates as a marketplace, connecting borrowers with a network of licensed and vetted lenders. The platform carefully selects its lending partners to ensure they meet industry standards and comply with relevant regulatory requirements. Each lender in Radcred’s network is thoroughly vetted to guarantee they follow responsible lending practices and provide fair, transparent loan terms.

    By working with multiple lenders, Radcred provides borrowers with access to a range of loan options, enabling them to compare rates, terms, and conditions before selecting the best deal. This competitive environment ensures that borrowers receive personalized offers suited to their financial needs. Moreover, Radcred ensures consumer protection by partnering only with licensed lenders who adhere to legal standards, providing a safe and secure borrowing experience.

    About Radcred 

    Radcred is a fintech company dedicated to offering accessible and transparent financial solutions for individuals with poor credit. With a focus on customer empowerment, Radcred provides personal loans based on income and ability to repay rather than credit scores. The platform’s mission is to provide fast and flexible loan options to underserved populations. Radcred has helped thousands of borrowers secure affordable loans quickly and continues to expand its platform to meet the growing demand for accessible financial solutions.

    Final Thoughts: Radcred Provides Essential Relief for Low Credit Consumers 

    Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit platform offers a fast, flexible, and transparent solution for individuals struggling with poor credit. The platform’s quick approval process, no collateral requirements, and focus on income rather than credit score make it a valuable tool for those in need of urgent financial assistance. 

    Whether it’s medical bills or unexpected expenses, Radcred provides an essential service for those who may otherwise be excluded from traditional lending options. Visit Radcred.com today to apply for a personal loan and take control of your financial future.

    Disclaimer 

    Loans are subject to approval and available only to qualified applicants. Eligibility requirements vary by state. Radcred uses a soft-pull credit check, and credit scores are considered but not the sole determining factor. Loan terms, amounts, and approval times depend on the lender. Availability may be limited based on geographic restrictions.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Personal Loans for Bad Credit with Guaranteed Approval for Credit Scores 580 or Lower – Radcred Launches New Loan Platform For No Credit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glendale, California, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radcred has launched its new platform for personal loans for individuals with bad credit, offering a streamlined and flexible process to secure loans despite poor credit scores. This innovative platform enables those with credit scores below 600 to secure quick, collateral-free loans, focusing on income and repayment ability rather than just credit scores.

    With fast approval times, flexible repayment terms, and no collateral required, Radcred’s platform provides a straightforward and transparent way for borrowers to access financial relief during times of urgent need. This new offering is designed to help individuals navigate unexpected expenses without the constraints of traditional credit-based lending practices.

    Why People with Poor Credit Scores Turn to Personal Loans for Bad Credit?

    Individuals with credit scores below 600 often face difficulties accessing traditional loan options. Traditional lenders typically rely on credit scores as the primary qualification metric, making it hard for people with poor credit to secure financial assistance. This gap in financial services has led to a growing demand for personal loans for individuals with bad credit, which offer a more flexible approach.

    Radcred’s platform addresses this need by considering borrowers’ income and repayment capacity, rather than focusing solely on their credit scores. Many people with bad credit turn to Radcred’s loan platform to cover urgent financial needs, such as medical bills, car repairs, or rent payments. The platform provides a lifeline to those who would otherwise be rejected by traditional lenders, offering quick and accessible loans based on their ability to repay rather than their credit history. This offers a crucial opportunity for individuals to meet their financial goals without the burden of an unacceptable credit score.

    Key Features of Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit Platform 

    Radcred’s platform is designed to offer borrowers a seamless, fast, and secure way to obtain personal loans, even with bad credit. The user-friendly process streamlines access to funds, prioritising income and repayment capacity over credit scores. With quick approvals, no collateral required, and flexible terms, Radcred provides an efficient and transparent loan experience. Key features include:

    • Fast Approval: Loans can be approved within minutes, with funds often deposited the same day, providing quick access to much-needed cash.
    • No Collateral Required: Unlike many traditional loans, Radcred’s platform does not require borrowers to put up assets as security, making it easier for those without valuable collateral to qualify.
    • Flexible Terms: Radcred offers repayment terms ranging from 1 to 3 years, allowing borrowers to choose the option that best fits their financial situation and budget.
    • Transparent Fees: There are no hidden fees; the APR and all fees are disclosed upfront, ensuring borrowers understand the total cost of their loan.
    • Accessibility: The entire process is conducted online, eliminating the need to visit a store or branch, making it convenient for borrowers to apply from the comfort of their own homes.

    These features combine to create an easy-to-use platform that simplifies the loan process for those who need it most. Radcred’s commitment to providing fast, transparent, and flexible personal loans makes it an excellent solution for individuals with poor credit.

    GET THE FINANCIAL RELIEF YOU NEED 

    How Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit Platform Works?

    Applying for a personal loan on Radcred’s platform is simple, quick, and user-friendly. The process is designed to be accessible for individuals with bad credit. With just a few easy steps, borrowers can complete the application online, receive instant approval, and get matched with lenders offering personalized loan terms based on their income and ability to repay.

    • Apply Online: To begin the process, visit Radcred’s website and complete a straightforward online application form. The process takes only a few minutes, allowing you to get started right away.
    • Soft Credit Check: Radcred performs a soft-pull credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. This step helps the platform understand your creditworthiness without negatively impacting your score.
    • Lender Matching: Once you apply, Radcred’s platform matches you with multiple lenders who offer personalized loan terms based on your profile. This step provides a variety of options for you to choose from, ensuring you find the best deal.
    • Review Offers: After receiving loan offers, you can review the details, including interest rates, repayment terms, and loan amounts. This transparency allows you to compare your options and choose the loan that best fits your needs.
    • Receive Funds: After selecting the best offer, you can accept the loan terms, and the funds will be deposited directly into your bank account, often on the same day.

    Radcred’s platform focuses on providing accessible, fast, and flexible loan options for individuals with bad credit, offering a quick and straightforward process that ensures you can get the financial help you need without long waits or complex procedures.

    Why Borrowers Turn to Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit?

    Many individuals with bad credit often find themselves facing limited borrowing options, especially when they need money quickly. This is where Radcred steps in, providing a lifeline to borrowers who traditional lenders may have rejected. The platform’s unique approach focuses on income and repayment capacity, rather than credit scores, making it easier for individuals with poor credit histories to secure loans.

    Radcred’s flexibility is a significant appeal, as it offers quick and easy access to loans that can help cover urgent expenses, such as medical bills, car repairs, or household costs. The fast approval process and same-day funding provide borrowers with immediate relief. The online application and matching with multiple lenders make the process seamless and efficient. By considering a borrower’s financial situation rather than focusing solely on their credit score, Radcred offers a truly accessible solution for those in need.

    COMPARE PERSONALIZED LOAN OFFERS WITH RADCRED

    Eligibility Requirements for Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit 

    To qualify for Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit, applicants must meet the following requirements: be at least 18 years old, a U.S. resident, and have a valid bank account for direct deposit. Proof of income is required to demonstrate the ability to repay the loan, and Radcred uses a soft-pull credit check that won’t affect your credit score.

    • Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
    • Residency: You must be a U.S. resident.
    • Bank Account: A valid bank account is required for direct deposit of funds.
    • Income: Proof of income (such as pay stubs or bank statements) must be provided to demonstrate the ability to repay the loan.
    • Credit Check: Radcred uses a soft-pull credit inquiry, so applying won’t affect your credit score.
    • Flexible Criteria: Although credit scores are considered, they are not the sole determining factor in approval.

    The Benefits of Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit 

    Radcred’s platform offers several key benefits that set it apart from traditional loan providers. These include quick approval times, often within minutes, and same-day funding for eligible borrowers. With flexible repayment terms ranging from 1 to 3 years, no collateral required, and transparent fees, Radcred provides accessible loans tailored to individuals with bad credit.

    • Speed: Loans are approved quickly, often with same-day funding, offering fast access to cash when you need it most.
    • Flexibility: Repayment terms can range from 1 to 3 years, allowing borrowers to select a schedule that fits their financial situation.
    • Transparency: Radcred provides clear APRs and no hidden fees, so you know exactly what to expect.
    • No Collateral: The loans are unsecured, meaning you don’t need to risk your property or assets.
    • Accessible for Bad Credit: Radcred focuses on income and repayment ability rather than credit score, offering opportunities for individuals with poor credit.

    These benefits make Radcred’s platform an excellent option for individuals in need of financial relief but who struggle with traditional lenders.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT RADCRED’S LOAN PLATFORM

    How Radcred Connects Borrowers with Licensed Payday Lenders?

    Radcred operates as a marketplace, connecting borrowers with a network of licensed and vetted lenders. The platform carefully selects its lending partners to ensure they meet industry standards and comply with relevant regulatory requirements. Each lender in Radcred’s network is thoroughly vetted to guarantee they follow responsible lending practices and provide fair, transparent loan terms.

    By working with multiple lenders, Radcred provides borrowers with access to a range of loan options, enabling them to compare rates, terms, and conditions before selecting the best deal. This competitive environment ensures that borrowers receive personalized offers suited to their financial needs. Moreover, Radcred ensures consumer protection by partnering only with licensed lenders who adhere to legal standards, providing a safe and secure borrowing experience.

    About Radcred 

    Radcred is a fintech company dedicated to offering accessible and transparent financial solutions for individuals with poor credit. With a focus on customer empowerment, Radcred provides personal loans based on income and ability to repay rather than credit scores. The platform’s mission is to provide fast and flexible loan options to underserved populations. Radcred has helped thousands of borrowers secure affordable loans quickly and continues to expand its platform to meet the growing demand for accessible financial solutions.

    Final Thoughts: Radcred Provides Essential Relief for Low Credit Consumers 

    Radcred’s Personal Loans for Bad Credit platform offers a fast, flexible, and transparent solution for individuals struggling with poor credit. The platform’s quick approval process, no collateral requirements, and focus on income rather than credit score make it a valuable tool for those in need of urgent financial assistance. 

    Whether it’s medical bills or unexpected expenses, Radcred provides an essential service for those who may otherwise be excluded from traditional lending options. Visit Radcred.com today to apply for a personal loan and take control of your financial future.

    Disclaimer 

    Loans are subject to approval and available only to qualified applicants. Eligibility requirements vary by state. Radcred uses a soft-pull credit check, and credit scores are considered but not the sole determining factor. Loan terms, amounts, and approval times depend on the lender. Availability may be limited based on geographic restrictions.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: At Antarctica’s midwinter, a look back at the frozen continent’s long history of dark behavior

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniella McCahey, Assistant Professor of History, Texas Tech University

    Is this visitor to Antarctica going crazy or having a good time? Tim Bieber/Photodisc via Getty Images

    As Midwinter Day approaches in Antarctica – the longest and darkest day of the year – those spending the winter on the frozen continent will follow a tradition dating back more than a century to the earliest days of Antarctic exploration: They will celebrate having made it through the growing darkness and into a time when they know the Sun is on its way back.

    The experience of spending a winter in Antarctica can be harrowing, even when living with modern conveniences such as hot running water and heated buildings. At the beginning of the current winter season, in March 2025, global news outlets reported that workers at the South African research station, SANAE IV, were “rocked” when one worker allegedly threatened and assaulted other members of the station’s nine-person winter crew. Psychologists intervened – remotely – and order was apparently restored.

    The desolate and isolated environment of Antarctica can be hard on its inhabitants. As a historian of Antarctica, the events at SANAE IV represent a continuation of perceptions – and realities – that Antarctic environments can trigger deeply disturbing behavior and even drive people to madness.

    Long hours of constant near-darkness take their toll in the Antarctic winter.
    Andrew Smith, via Antarctic Sun, CC BY-ND

    Early views

    The very earliest examples of Antarctic literature depict the continent affecting both mind and body. In 1797, for instance, more than two decades before the continent was first sighted by Europeans, the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” It tells a tale of a ship blown by storms into an endless maze of Antarctic ice, which they escape by following an albatross. For unexplained reasons, one man killed the albatross and faced a lifetime’s torment for doing so.

    In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe published the story of “Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket,” who journeyed into the Southern Ocean. Even before arriving in Antarctica, the tale involves mutiny, cannibalism and a ship crewed by dead men. As the story ends, Pym and two others drift southward, encountering an enormous, apparently endless cataract of mist that parts before their boat, revealing a large ghostly figure.

    H.P. Lovecraft’s 1936 story “At the Mountains of Madness” was almost certainly based on real stories of polar exploration. In it, the men of a fictitious Antarctic expedition encounter circumstances that “made us wish only to escape from this austral world of desolation and brooding madness as swiftly as we could.” One man even experiences an unnamed “final horror” that causes a severe mental breakdown.

    The 1982 John Carpenter film “The Thing” also involves these themes, when men trapped at an Antarctic research station are being hunted by an alien that perfectly impersonates the base members it has killed. Paranoia and anxiety abound, with team members frantically radioing for help, and men imprisoned, left outside or even killed for the sake of the others.

    Whether to gird themselves for what may come or just as a fun tradition, the winter-over crew at the United States’ South Pole Station watches this film every year after the last flight leaves before winter sets in.

    A trailer for the 1982 film ‘The Thing,’ set at an Antarctic research station.

    Real tales

    These stories of Antarctic “madness” have some basis in history. A long-told anecdote in modern Antarctic circles is of a man who stabbed, perhaps fatally, a colleague over a game of chess at Russia’s Vostok station in 1959.

    More certain were reports in 2018, when Sergey Savitsky stabbed Oleg Beloguzov at the Russian Bellingshausen research station over multiple grievances, including the one most seized upon by the media: Beloguzov’s tendency to reveal the endings of books that Savitsky was reading. A criminal charge against him was dropped.

    In 2017, staff at South Africa’s sub-Antarctic Marion Island station reported that a team member smashed up a colleague’s room with an ax over a romantic relationship.

    Mental health

    Concerns over mental health in Antarctica go much further back. In the so-called “Heroic Age” of Antarctic exploration, from about 1897 to about 1922, expedition leaders prioritized the mental health of the men on their expeditions. They knew their crews would be trapped inside with the same small group for months on end, in darkness and extreme cold.

    American physician Frederick Cook, who accompanied the 1898-1899 Belgica expedition, the first group known to spend the winter within the Antarctic Circle, wrote in helpless terms of being “doomed” to the “mercy” of natural forces, and of his worries about the “unknowable cold and its soul-depressing effects” in the winter darkness. In his 2021 book about that expedition, writer Julian Sancton called the ship the “Madhouse at the End of the Earth.”

    Cook’s fears became real. Most men complained of “general enfeeblement of strength, of insufficient heart action, of a mental lethargy, and of a universal feeling of discomfort.”

    “When at all seriously afflicted,” Cook wrote, “the men felt that they would surely die” and exhibited a “spirit of abject hopelessness.”

    And in the words of Australian physicist Louis Bernacchi, a member of the 1898-1900 Southern Cross expedition, “There is something particularly mystical and uncanny in the effect of the grey atmosphere of an Antarctic night, through whose uncertain medium the cold white landscape looms as impalpable as the frontiers of a demon world.”

    Footage from 1913 shows the force of the wind at Cape Denison, which has been called ‘the home of the blizzard.’

    A traumatic trip

    A few years later, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, which ran from 1911 to 1914, experienced several major tragedies, including two deaths during an exploring trip that left expedition leader Douglas Mawson starving and alone amid deeply crevassed terrain. The 100-mile walk to relative safety took him a month.

    A lesser-known set of events on that same expedition involved wireless-telegraph operator Sidney Jeffryes, who arrived in Antarctica in 1913 on a resupply ship. Cape Denison, the expedition’s base, had some of the most severe environmental conditions anyone had encountered on the continent, including winds estimated at over 160 miles an hour.

    Jeffryes, the only man in the crew who could operate the radio telegraph, began exhibiting signs of paranoia. He transmitted messages back to Australia saying that he was the only sane man in the group and claiming the others were plotting to kill him.

    In Mawson’s account of the expedition, he blamed the conditions, writing:

    “(T)here is no doubt that the continual and acute strain of sending and receiving messages under unprecedented conditions was such that he eventually had a ‘nervous breakdown.’”

    Mawson hoped that the coming of spring and the possibility of outdoor exercise would help, but it did not. Shortly after his return to Australia in February 1914, Jeffryes was found wandering in the Australian bush and institutionalized. For many years, his role in Antarctic exploration was ignored, seeming a blot or embarrassment on the masculine ideal of Antarctic explorers.

    After five months of isolation in trying conditions on a remote Antarctic island, 22 men rejoice at their rescue in August 1916.
    Frank Hurley, Underwood & Underwood, via Library of Congress

    Wider problems

    Unfortunately, the general widespread focus on Antarctica as a place that causes disturbing behavior makes it easy to gloss over larger and more systemic problems.

    In 2022, the United States Antarctic Program as well as the Australian Antarctic Division released reports that sexual assault and harassment are common at Antarctic bases and in more remote field camps. Scholars have generally not linked those events to the specifics of the cold, darkness and isolation, but rather to a continental culture of heroic masculinity.

    As humans look to live in other extreme environments, such as space, Antarctica represents not only a cooperative international scientific community but also a place where, cut off from society as a whole, human behavior changes. The celebrations of Midwinter Day honor survival in a place of wonder that is also a place of horror, where the greatest threat is not what is outside, but what is inside your mind.

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

    – ref. At Antarctica’s midwinter, a look back at the frozen continent’s long history of dark behavior – https://theconversation.com/at-antarcticas-midwinter-a-look-back-at-the-frozen-continents-long-history-of-dark-behavior-253906

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: At Antarctica’s midwinter, a look back at the frozen continent’s long history of dark behavior

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniella McCahey, Assistant Professor of History, Texas Tech University

    Is this visitor to Antarctica going crazy or having a good time? Tim Bieber/Photodisc via Getty Images

    As Midwinter Day approaches in Antarctica – the longest and darkest day of the year – those spending the winter on the frozen continent will follow a tradition dating back more than a century to the earliest days of Antarctic exploration: They will celebrate having made it through the growing darkness and into a time when they know the Sun is on its way back.

    The experience of spending a winter in Antarctica can be harrowing, even when living with modern conveniences such as hot running water and heated buildings. At the beginning of the current winter season, in March 2025, global news outlets reported that workers at the South African research station, SANAE IV, were “rocked” when one worker allegedly threatened and assaulted other members of the station’s nine-person winter crew. Psychologists intervened – remotely – and order was apparently restored.

    The desolate and isolated environment of Antarctica can be hard on its inhabitants. As a historian of Antarctica, the events at SANAE IV represent a continuation of perceptions – and realities – that Antarctic environments can trigger deeply disturbing behavior and even drive people to madness.

    Long hours of constant near-darkness take their toll in the Antarctic winter.
    Andrew Smith, via Antarctic Sun, CC BY-ND

    Early views

    The very earliest examples of Antarctic literature depict the continent affecting both mind and body. In 1797, for instance, more than two decades before the continent was first sighted by Europeans, the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” It tells a tale of a ship blown by storms into an endless maze of Antarctic ice, which they escape by following an albatross. For unexplained reasons, one man killed the albatross and faced a lifetime’s torment for doing so.

    In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe published the story of “Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket,” who journeyed into the Southern Ocean. Even before arriving in Antarctica, the tale involves mutiny, cannibalism and a ship crewed by dead men. As the story ends, Pym and two others drift southward, encountering an enormous, apparently endless cataract of mist that parts before their boat, revealing a large ghostly figure.

    H.P. Lovecraft’s 1936 story “At the Mountains of Madness” was almost certainly based on real stories of polar exploration. In it, the men of a fictitious Antarctic expedition encounter circumstances that “made us wish only to escape from this austral world of desolation and brooding madness as swiftly as we could.” One man even experiences an unnamed “final horror” that causes a severe mental breakdown.

    The 1982 John Carpenter film “The Thing” also involves these themes, when men trapped at an Antarctic research station are being hunted by an alien that perfectly impersonates the base members it has killed. Paranoia and anxiety abound, with team members frantically radioing for help, and men imprisoned, left outside or even killed for the sake of the others.

    Whether to gird themselves for what may come or just as a fun tradition, the winter-over crew at the United States’ South Pole Station watches this film every year after the last flight leaves before winter sets in.

    A trailer for the 1982 film ‘The Thing,’ set at an Antarctic research station.

    Real tales

    These stories of Antarctic “madness” have some basis in history. A long-told anecdote in modern Antarctic circles is of a man who stabbed, perhaps fatally, a colleague over a game of chess at Russia’s Vostok station in 1959.

    More certain were reports in 2018, when Sergey Savitsky stabbed Oleg Beloguzov at the Russian Bellingshausen research station over multiple grievances, including the one most seized upon by the media: Beloguzov’s tendency to reveal the endings of books that Savitsky was reading. A criminal charge against him was dropped.

    In 2017, staff at South Africa’s sub-Antarctic Marion Island station reported that a team member smashed up a colleague’s room with an ax over a romantic relationship.

    Mental health

    Concerns over mental health in Antarctica go much further back. In the so-called “Heroic Age” of Antarctic exploration, from about 1897 to about 1922, expedition leaders prioritized the mental health of the men on their expeditions. They knew their crews would be trapped inside with the same small group for months on end, in darkness and extreme cold.

    American physician Frederick Cook, who accompanied the 1898-1899 Belgica expedition, the first group known to spend the winter within the Antarctic Circle, wrote in helpless terms of being “doomed” to the “mercy” of natural forces, and of his worries about the “unknowable cold and its soul-depressing effects” in the winter darkness. In his 2021 book about that expedition, writer Julian Sancton called the ship the “Madhouse at the End of the Earth.”

    Cook’s fears became real. Most men complained of “general enfeeblement of strength, of insufficient heart action, of a mental lethargy, and of a universal feeling of discomfort.”

    “When at all seriously afflicted,” Cook wrote, “the men felt that they would surely die” and exhibited a “spirit of abject hopelessness.”

    And in the words of Australian physicist Louis Bernacchi, a member of the 1898-1900 Southern Cross expedition, “There is something particularly mystical and uncanny in the effect of the grey atmosphere of an Antarctic night, through whose uncertain medium the cold white landscape looms as impalpable as the frontiers of a demon world.”

    Footage from 1913 shows the force of the wind at Cape Denison, which has been called ‘the home of the blizzard.’

    A traumatic trip

    A few years later, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, which ran from 1911 to 1914, experienced several major tragedies, including two deaths during an exploring trip that left expedition leader Douglas Mawson starving and alone amid deeply crevassed terrain. The 100-mile walk to relative safety took him a month.

    A lesser-known set of events on that same expedition involved wireless-telegraph operator Sidney Jeffryes, who arrived in Antarctica in 1913 on a resupply ship. Cape Denison, the expedition’s base, had some of the most severe environmental conditions anyone had encountered on the continent, including winds estimated at over 160 miles an hour.

    Jeffryes, the only man in the crew who could operate the radio telegraph, began exhibiting signs of paranoia. He transmitted messages back to Australia saying that he was the only sane man in the group and claiming the others were plotting to kill him.

    In Mawson’s account of the expedition, he blamed the conditions, writing:

    “(T)here is no doubt that the continual and acute strain of sending and receiving messages under unprecedented conditions was such that he eventually had a ‘nervous breakdown.’”

    Mawson hoped that the coming of spring and the possibility of outdoor exercise would help, but it did not. Shortly after his return to Australia in February 1914, Jeffryes was found wandering in the Australian bush and institutionalized. For many years, his role in Antarctic exploration was ignored, seeming a blot or embarrassment on the masculine ideal of Antarctic explorers.

    After five months of isolation in trying conditions on a remote Antarctic island, 22 men rejoice at their rescue in August 1916.
    Frank Hurley, Underwood & Underwood, via Library of Congress

    Wider problems

    Unfortunately, the general widespread focus on Antarctica as a place that causes disturbing behavior makes it easy to gloss over larger and more systemic problems.

    In 2022, the United States Antarctic Program as well as the Australian Antarctic Division released reports that sexual assault and harassment are common at Antarctic bases and in more remote field camps. Scholars have generally not linked those events to the specifics of the cold, darkness and isolation, but rather to a continental culture of heroic masculinity.

    As humans look to live in other extreme environments, such as space, Antarctica represents not only a cooperative international scientific community but also a place where, cut off from society as a whole, human behavior changes. The celebrations of Midwinter Day honor survival in a place of wonder that is also a place of horror, where the greatest threat is not what is outside, but what is inside your mind.

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

    – ref. At Antarctica’s midwinter, a look back at the frozen continent’s long history of dark behavior – https://theconversation.com/at-antarcticas-midwinter-a-look-back-at-the-frozen-continents-long-history-of-dark-behavior-253906

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s support

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Samuel Perry, Associate Professor, Baylor University

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, at a prayer during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – commonly called the CREC – drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, who they said was divinely appointed.

    As a scholar of the Christian right, I have studied the CREC. Hegseth’s membership in a church that belongs to the CREC drew attention because prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality and the separation of church and state.

    The CREC is most easily understood through three main parts: churches, schools and media.

    What is the CREC?

    The CREC church is a network of churches. It is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson grew up in the town, where his father was an evangelical minister.

    Wilson co-founded the CREC in 1993 and is the public figure most associated with the network of churches. Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow. Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curriculum, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university, all of which were founded by Wilson and associated with Christ Church. All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with – or at war with – secular society.

    While he is not Hegseth’s pastor, Wilson is the most influential voice in the CREC, and the two men have spoken approvingly of one another.

    Pastor Douglas Wilson leads others at a protest in Moscow, Idaho.
    Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, CC BY-SA

    As Wilson steadily grew Christ Church in Moscow, he and its members sought to spread their message by making Moscow a conservative town and establishing churches beyond it. Of his hometown, Wilson plainly states, “Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town.”

    The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology. On its website, the CREC says that it is “committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.”

    CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, “A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.”

    In a broader political sense, CREC theology includes the belief that the establishment clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. The most common reading of the establishment clause is that freedom of religion precludes the installation of a state religion or religious tests to hold state office.

    The CREC broadly asserts that the government and anyone serving in it should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians and only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States.

    Researcher Matthew Taylor explained in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, “They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.”

    While the CREC may not have the name recognition of some large evangelical denominations or the visibility of some megachurches, it boasts churches across the United States and internationally. The CREC website claims to have over 130 churches and parishes spread across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.

    Like some other evangelical denominations, the CREC uses “church planting” to grow its network. Plant churches do not require a centralized governing body to ordain their founding. Instead, those interested in starting a CREC congregation contact the CREC. The CREC then provides materials and literature for people to use in their church.

    CREC schools, home schools and colleges

    The CREC’s expansion also owes a debt to Wilson’s entrepreneurship. As the church expanded, Wilson founded an associated K-12 school called “Logos” in September 1981, which since then has grown into a network of many schools.

    In conjunction with its growth, Logos develops and sells “classical Christian” curriculum to private schools and home-school families through Logos Press. Classical Christian Schools aim to develop what they consider a biblical worldview. In addition to religious studies, they focus on classic texts from Greece and Rome. They have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among conservatives.

    Logos’ classical Christian curriculum is designed to help parents “raise faithful, dangerous Christian kids who impact the world for Christ and leave craters in the world of secularism.” Logos press regularly asserts, “education is warfare.”

    According to the website, Logos schools enroll more than 2,000 students across 16 countries. Logos also has its own press that supplies the curriculum to all of these schools. On the heels of Logos’ success, Wilson founded the Association of Classical Christian Schools in 1993 as an accrediting body for like-minded schools. The ACCS now boast 500 schools and more than 50,000 students across the United States and around the world.

    Additionally, Wilson founded New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. New Saint Andrews is a Christian university that takes the classical Christian approach to education championed by Wilson into higher education.

    The New Saint Andrews College is consistent with other CREC institutions. It considers secularism a weakness of other universities and society more generally. Its website explains: “New Saint Andrews has long held a principled and clear voice, championing the truth of God’s word and ways, while so many other colleges veer into softness and secularism.” The school is governed by the elders of Christ Church and does not accept federal funding.

    CREC media

    In addition to the Logos Press, which produces the CREC school curriculum, Wilson founded Canon Press. Canon Press produces books, podcasts, a YouTube channel and assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. The YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers.

    Books published by Canon include children’s picture books to manuals on masculinity. A number of books continue the theme of warfare.

    The politics page of the press contains many books on Christian nationalism. Christian political theorist Stephen Wolfe’s book “The Case for Christian Nationalism” is one of the most popular among books on Christian nationalism. The website has dozens of books on Christian nationalism and media dedicated to the construction of a Christian government.

    Author Joe Rigney, a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College and an associate pastor at Christ Church, warns of the “Sin of Empathy.” Rigney claims that empathizing with others is sinful because it requires compromise and makes one vulnerable in the fight against evil.

    CREC controversies

    Pete Hegseth at his confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025.
    AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    As the church network has grown, it has drawn attention and scrutiny. Wilson’s 1996 publication of a book positively depicting slavery and claiming slavery cultivated “affection among the races” drew national attention.

    Accusations of sexual abuse and the church’s handling of it have also brought national news coverage. Vice’s Sarah Stankorb interviewed many women who talked about a culture, especially in marriage, where sexual abuse and assault is common. The Vice reporting led to a podcast that details the accounts of survivors. In interviews, Wilson has denied any wrongdoing and said that claims of sexual abuse will be directed to the proper authorities.

    Hegseth’s actions as secretary of defense concerning gender identity and banning trans people from serving in the military, in addition to stripping gay activist and politician Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship, have brought more attention to the CREC. I believe that given Hegseth’s role as secretary of defense, his affiliation with the CREC will likely remain a topic of conversation throughout the Trump presidency.

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

    – ref. What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s support – https://theconversation.com/what-is-crec-the-christian-nationalist-group-has-a-vision-for-america-and-defense-secretary-pete-hegseths-support-258273

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s support

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Samuel Perry, Associate Professor, Baylor University

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, at a prayer during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – commonly called the CREC – drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, who they said was divinely appointed.

    As a scholar of the Christian right, I have studied the CREC. Hegseth’s membership in a church that belongs to the CREC drew attention because prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality and the separation of church and state.

    The CREC is most easily understood through three main parts: churches, schools and media.

    What is the CREC?

    The CREC church is a network of churches. It is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson grew up in the town, where his father was an evangelical minister.

    Wilson co-founded the CREC in 1993 and is the public figure most associated with the network of churches. Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow. Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curriculum, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university, all of which were founded by Wilson and associated with Christ Church. All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with – or at war with – secular society.

    While he is not Hegseth’s pastor, Wilson is the most influential voice in the CREC, and the two men have spoken approvingly of one another.

    Pastor Douglas Wilson leads others at a protest in Moscow, Idaho.
    Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, CC BY-SA

    As Wilson steadily grew Christ Church in Moscow, he and its members sought to spread their message by making Moscow a conservative town and establishing churches beyond it. Of his hometown, Wilson plainly states, “Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town.”

    The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology. On its website, the CREC says that it is “committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.”

    CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, “A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.”

    In a broader political sense, CREC theology includes the belief that the establishment clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. The most common reading of the establishment clause is that freedom of religion precludes the installation of a state religion or religious tests to hold state office.

    The CREC broadly asserts that the government and anyone serving in it should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians and only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States.

    Researcher Matthew Taylor explained in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, “They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.”

    While the CREC may not have the name recognition of some large evangelical denominations or the visibility of some megachurches, it boasts churches across the United States and internationally. The CREC website claims to have over 130 churches and parishes spread across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.

    Like some other evangelical denominations, the CREC uses “church planting” to grow its network. Plant churches do not require a centralized governing body to ordain their founding. Instead, those interested in starting a CREC congregation contact the CREC. The CREC then provides materials and literature for people to use in their church.

    CREC schools, home schools and colleges

    The CREC’s expansion also owes a debt to Wilson’s entrepreneurship. As the church expanded, Wilson founded an associated K-12 school called “Logos” in September 1981, which since then has grown into a network of many schools.

    In conjunction with its growth, Logos develops and sells “classical Christian” curriculum to private schools and home-school families through Logos Press. Classical Christian Schools aim to develop what they consider a biblical worldview. In addition to religious studies, they focus on classic texts from Greece and Rome. They have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among conservatives.

    Logos’ classical Christian curriculum is designed to help parents “raise faithful, dangerous Christian kids who impact the world for Christ and leave craters in the world of secularism.” Logos press regularly asserts, “education is warfare.”

    According to the website, Logos schools enroll more than 2,000 students across 16 countries. Logos also has its own press that supplies the curriculum to all of these schools. On the heels of Logos’ success, Wilson founded the Association of Classical Christian Schools in 1993 as an accrediting body for like-minded schools. The ACCS now boast 500 schools and more than 50,000 students across the United States and around the world.

    Additionally, Wilson founded New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. New Saint Andrews is a Christian university that takes the classical Christian approach to education championed by Wilson into higher education.

    The New Saint Andrews College is consistent with other CREC institutions. It considers secularism a weakness of other universities and society more generally. Its website explains: “New Saint Andrews has long held a principled and clear voice, championing the truth of God’s word and ways, while so many other colleges veer into softness and secularism.” The school is governed by the elders of Christ Church and does not accept federal funding.

    CREC media

    In addition to the Logos Press, which produces the CREC school curriculum, Wilson founded Canon Press. Canon Press produces books, podcasts, a YouTube channel and assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. The YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers.

    Books published by Canon include children’s picture books to manuals on masculinity. A number of books continue the theme of warfare.

    The politics page of the press contains many books on Christian nationalism. Christian political theorist Stephen Wolfe’s book “The Case for Christian Nationalism” is one of the most popular among books on Christian nationalism. The website has dozens of books on Christian nationalism and media dedicated to the construction of a Christian government.

    Author Joe Rigney, a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College and an associate pastor at Christ Church, warns of the “Sin of Empathy.” Rigney claims that empathizing with others is sinful because it requires compromise and makes one vulnerable in the fight against evil.

    CREC controversies

    Pete Hegseth at his confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025.
    AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    As the church network has grown, it has drawn attention and scrutiny. Wilson’s 1996 publication of a book positively depicting slavery and claiming slavery cultivated “affection among the races” drew national attention.

    Accusations of sexual abuse and the church’s handling of it have also brought national news coverage. Vice’s Sarah Stankorb interviewed many women who talked about a culture, especially in marriage, where sexual abuse and assault is common. The Vice reporting led to a podcast that details the accounts of survivors. In interviews, Wilson has denied any wrongdoing and said that claims of sexual abuse will be directed to the proper authorities.

    Hegseth’s actions as secretary of defense concerning gender identity and banning trans people from serving in the military, in addition to stripping gay activist and politician Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship, have brought more attention to the CREC. I believe that given Hegseth’s role as secretary of defense, his affiliation with the CREC will likely remain a topic of conversation throughout the Trump presidency.

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

    – ref. What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s support – https://theconversation.com/what-is-crec-the-christian-nationalist-group-has-a-vision-for-america-and-defense-secretary-pete-hegseths-support-258273

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury convicts Du Quoin felon of possessing a firearm

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

    BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois jury found a Du Quoin man guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon in Franklin County.

    A jury convicted Marcus T. Moore, 42, of one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

    “To help protect the public and keep guns away from dangerous individuals, convicted felons lose the right to legally possess firearms. As this case demonstrates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work to hold repeat criminal offenders accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

    According to court documents, a Sesser police officer initiated a traffic stop on Moore’s vehicle on Sept. 10, 2023. After Moore failed a field sobriety test, he fled on foot as officers attempted to take him into custody. He was apprehended after being tased, and a firearm was discovered secured to his ankle.

    Moore had a prior federal conviction from 2007, which prohibited him from legally possessing a firearm. Moore was on federal supervised release at the time of his arrest.

    Moore’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 7 at the federal courthouse in Benton. Convictions for felon in possession of a firearm are punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment.

    The Sesser Police Department led the investigation with support from ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Sanders and Tom Leggans are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Low-income homeowners hit by disasters may get less help from the government, as Trump administration nixes rules on fairness, community input and resilience

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ivis García, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University

    Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage to homes in North Carolina in 2024. AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek

    Imagine that a hurricane has destroyed your home.

    The roof is gone. The floors are flooded. Your family’s belongings are ruined.

    When this happens, you can apply for federal disaster aid, hoping for a lifeline. For many low-income families and other people of modest means, funding for that aid is often channeled to the states through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program.

    Known as CDBG-DR, this program mainly provides funding to repair and rebuild homes belonging to people of low-to-moderate income who either have no insurance at all or whose coverage falls short of what is needed to making housing safe again.

    When homes are damaged beyond repair or located in areas where it’s too dangerous to rebuild because of the likelihood of future bouts of flooding in the same place, the CDBG-DR program can help pay for residents to move somewhere else that is less prone to disasters. In both cases, it covers costs that the Federal Emergency Management Agency does not pay for.

    But in 2025, with hurricane season underway, the rules for who gets help and how it’s distributed have changed significantly.

    As an urban planner who has researched disaster recovery efforts, I’m alarmed by Memorandum 2025-02, which HUD published on its website in March 2025.

    The memo changes the rules for nearly US$12 billion in disaster recovery funding approved by Congress for disasters occurring in 2023 and 2024. And HUD is implementing these changes early in the process, before any of this money has been distributed.

    This home in Puerto Rico was destroyed when Hurricane Fiona struck the island in September 2022.
    Ivis Garcia

    What has changed

    The memo does away with the civil rights certifications, fair housing assessments, environmental standards and citizen advisory groups
    that have long been mandatory for the recipients of disaster recovery funds.

    Civil rights certification means that CDBG-DR grantees must verify that disaster aid will be distributed without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, disability status, or other characteristics known as “protected classes.” Without this certification, there’s no formal process to ensure disaster aid is distributed fairly.

    Fair housing obligations are assessments of whether middle- and lower-income families, people of color or people with disabilities can find safe, affordable housing without facing any discrimination.

    In addition, HUD no longer requires detailed demographic reporting on who is applying for or receiving aid. This includes information such as gender, race, age, disability status and the language someone speaks.

    Another change is that HUD’s updated disaster recovery guidelines no longer require economic development funds to emphasize people of modest incomes or their communities. Under the new rules, any business hit by a disaster can get recovery funds. It doesn’t matter how much money the owners make, as long as they can show that the disaster affected them.

    And several important environmental protections have been rolled back. HUD previously mandated that disaster recovery projects comply with federal building standards.

    Those codes are tougher than the local housing codes. These included rules for building homes higher off the ground to avoid future flooding and using stronger construction methods to withstand extreme weather events. Without them, new construction may be less durable and less safe – especially in areas hit hard by hurricanes or other natural disasters.

    Strong energy efficiency standards help keep long-term utility costs low and reduce pressure on power grids during extreme weather events. They also make rebuilt homes more sustainable by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    Tina Brotherton, 88, right, gets help from 9-year-old neighbor Lainey Hamelink as she surveys the wreckage of her business, Tina’s Dockside Inn. It was completely destroyed in Hurricane Idalia, as was Brotherton’s nearby home, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., in 2023.
    AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

    Less coordination and communication

    HUD has also removed a requirement for the nonprofits, local governments and other recipients of CDBG-DR grants to create and convene citizen advisory groups. That change took effect on March 24, 2025.

    These groups, which have long made it easier for local communities to have a say regarding federally funded disaster recovery efforts, have played an important role in making sure those efforts reflect the needs and priorities of local residents – especially those most affected.

    While eliminating this step may make it easier and faster for local governments to spend the recovery funds allocated for their communities, it also means there’s less opportunity for their own communities to influence how those funds are spent. Without that input, recovery efforts fail to resolve the real challenges people are facing.

    Staffing and funding cuts

    The White House’s 2026 budget proposal retains the HUD program that distributes disaster recovery grants while eliminating the related Community Development Block Grant program, which helps people experiencing homelessness and also funds everything from child care to services for older people.

    I’m concerned about how CDBG-DR grants will be distributed, apart from the program’s changes. HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the CDBG-DR program, is slated to lose 84% of its staff, according to widespread media reports published earlier this year.

    The Trump administration is also calling for cutting HUD’s staff, and President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget would cut the agency’s entire budget in half.

    In its March 25 HUD memo, the Trump administration framed these policy changes as a way to streamline recovery efforts and provide greater flexibility in the use of federal disaster funds. The memo also asserted that the changes were needed for compliance with executive orders that banned the use of diversity, equity and inclusion criteria and hiring practices that the administration considers to be discrimintory.

    But critics of the policy rollbacks, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which advocates affordable housing, worry that removing long-standing safeguards could weaken the CDBG-DR program’s core mission of equitably distributing aid and building resilient communities. The standards and community input systems HUD has abandoned, the coalition says, have historically helped ensure that disaster recovery funds reach the people who need them most.

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

    – ref. Low-income homeowners hit by disasters may get less help from the government, as Trump administration nixes rules on fairness, community input and resilience – https://theconversation.com/low-income-homeowners-hit-by-disasters-may-get-less-help-from-the-government-as-trump-administration-nixes-rules-on-fairness-community-input-and-resilience-257439

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: 3rd China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange kicks off 2025-06-20 19:28:59 The third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange kicked off in Guiyang City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province on June 19, 2025.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      By Wang Hui and Xing Yang

      The third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange kicks off in Guiyang City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province on June 19, 2025.

      GUIYANG, China, June 20 — The third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange kicked off in Guiyang City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province on June 19, 2025. More than 160 participants including defense policy officials, relevant experts and scholars, and representatives of think tanks from China, ASEAN countries, and Timor-Leste attended the event.

      Themed on “Jointly Promote Regional Peace and Build a Safe and Secure Home”, the three-day event is hosted by the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

      During the event, the representatives had in-depth discussions on the central topic of “Shared Future: Current Situation and Vision of China-ASEAN Defense Cooperation”. They reviewed the positive progress made in China-ASEAN defense cooperation, analyzed new opportunities and challenges in the current regional security situation, and shared views on how to deepen mutual trust, expand fields of cooperation, innovate in cooperation mechanisms, and effectively respond to common security threats. They will also have deeper exchanges on four key topics, namely “Roles of ASEAN in the Evolving International Landscape”, “Institutional Innovation in Regional Security Architecture”, “Cooperation in Maritime Security and Crisis Management”, and “Military Applications and Governance of Emerging Technologies”.

      The first China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange was held in October 2019.

      Participants from home and abroad attend the third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange in Guiyang City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province on June 19, 2025.

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Information session for people affected by Scott Street fire

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    Running from 1pm to 7pm, the drop-in session will allow residents or employees of local businesses directly or indirectly impacted by the blaze and subsequent road and building closures to meet Council staff and those from partner agencies who will be able to answer questions and provide advice.

    Fifty-five families have been displaced because of the blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.

    Residents should arrive at the main entrance to the Council offices at 2 High Street, Perth.

    Information will be available on a range of issues including:

    • Housing
    • Welfare Rights
    • Local taxes
    • Access to properties
    • Donations
    • Mental Health and Wellbeing support
    • Social work
    • Community Support and engagement and more

    Councillor Eric Drysdale, Deputy Leader of Perth and Kinross Council and ward member for Perth City Centre, said: “The devastating consequences of last weekend’s tragic fire will be felt for months to come.

    “Our thoughts remain with those affected, not least the friends and relatives of the man who sadly lost his life in the blaze.

    “People who lived at 41 Scott Street lost everything and now face the challenge of rebuilding their lives. Residents and nearby businesses also face being unable to access their homes and premises for weeks or months. Whatever we can do to help them, we will.

    “The response from the people of Perth and Kinross to this emergency has been humbling. The generosity people and businesses have shown has been exemplary.

    “But we know that those affected will still have many questions as they begin to move forward. We want to do everything we can to help them and Tuesday’s event will, I believe, help provide some of those answers.

    “We know it is a long road ahead but will continue doing all we can to support those in their hour of need.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Central Asia embrace new cooperation opportunities

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

    XI’AN, June 20 — The rhythmic clatter of wheels on rail tracks echoed the fading tinkle of camel bells, heralding a renaissance of the ancient and timeless Silk Road, invigorated by blossoming cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.

    With the second China-Central Asia Summit having concluded in Astana, Kazakhstan earlier this week, both sides are seizing fresh opportunities for trade and economic cooperation, vowing to uphold multilateralism, consolidate the multilateral trading system, and deepen cooperation in key areas such as agriculture and energy.

    Since the inaugural summit held two years ago in Xi’an, a historic city in northwest China, cooperation between China and Central Asia has drawn these land-linked economies closer to each other, yielding mutually beneficial outcomes across various sectors.

    ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY

    Xi’an, once a bustling gateway to the Silk Road, is witnessing the revival of this ancient trade route, with a recently launched international tourist train service making exchanges between China and Kazakhstan easier.

    As a hallmark achievement of the 2023 summit, this 3,000-kilometer journey connects Xi’an in Shaanxi Province with Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. Traversing snow-capped mountains and vast grasslands, what makes this train route truly special is the opportunities it provides for cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries. Such cultural interactions can, notably, also translate into valuable business opportunities.

    During the train’s maiden journey in 2025, Yuan Li, head of a Xi’an-based home furnishings company, immersed herself in Central Asian culture. She drew design inspiration from Kazakh embroidery to enrich her business options, saying that her company would invite artisans from both China and Kazakhstan to co-design a Silk Road-themed home collection.

    This train route is one of many vivid examples of enhanced regional connectivity between China and Central Asian countries. In December 2024, the commencement ceremony of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project was held in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan. The railway is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, serving as a strategic link between China and Central Asia.

    Once completed, the railway will become a strategic corridor benefiting all the three countries and their peoples, contributing to regional economic and social development and playing a significant role in promoting infrastructure connectivity, economic and trade exchanges, and high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

    On a broader scale, cooperation between China and Central Asia is bringing Asia and Europe closer together and at a faster pace, thanks to the China-Europe freight train service. This train service passes through cities like Almaty and Tashkent, transforming them into bustling transit hubs. It now reaches 229 cities in 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries.

    Central Asia serves as a hub connecting China with the Eurasian continent, and cooperation between China and Central Asian countries has promoted connectivity in infrastructure, energy and trade, said Xu Xiaotian, a researcher with Heilongjiang University in northeast China. “Through economic integration, security collaboration and cultural exchanges, China and Central Asian nations are establishing a tighter network of cooperation,” Xu said.

    “China’s cooperation with Central Asian countries contributes to mutual development and strengthens ties in science, education, culture and socio-economic fields, which are crucial for the stability, development, well-being and prosperity of the entire region,” said Rashid Yusupov, director of the Center for Belt and Road Studies of Kyrgyz State University.

    SHARED PROSPERITY

    In March, a shipment of 16,000 apple seedlings from the city of Weinan, Shaanxi Province, entered Tajikistan through the Karasu Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang. This marked the province’s first-ever export of apple saplings to Tajikistan. Historically, Central Asia is one of the regions from which apples migrated to China.

    According to Liu Zhanyuan, an official with Xi’an customs, these saplings will be planted in an apple orchard commemorating the friendship between China and Tajikistan. The orchard is a project to implement the outcomes of the 2023 China-Central Asia Summit.

    “By sharing advanced apple cultivation techniques and management expertise with Tajikistan, the project will help local farmers improve apple yields and quality,” Liu added.

    The apple orchard project exemplifies the deepening ties between China and Central Asia, where cooperation across various sectors is translating into tangible economic benefits.

    According to China’s General Administration of Customs, China-Central Asia trade reached 94.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, marking an increase of 5.4 billion year on year. In the first four months of this year, bilateral trade hit 173.05 billion yuan (about 24.13 billion U.S. dollars), a 37.3-percent surge compared to the same period last year.

    China and Central Asian countries have not only seen a significant increase in trade value but also expanded their economic cooperation into various sectors — creating a comprehensive and multifaceted mutually beneficial economic relationship, Xu said.

    Looking ahead to future cooperation between China and Central Asia, Li Ziguo, an expert with the China Institute of International Studies, said that driven by a new wave of technological revolution, digital economy and e-commerce are emerging as new growth areas for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

    Moving forward, a series of big data cooperation projects will provide a more efficient and stable network environment for information exchange and resource sharing between China and Central Asian countries, thereby further unlocking digital dividends in areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and e-commerce, Li added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: SHARC Energy Announces Convertible Debenture Financing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) (“SHARC Energy” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (each, a “Debenture”) with a principal amount of up to $1,500,000 (the “Offering”).

    The Offering will include an up to 15% Over-Allotment which equates to an additional 225 units and $225,000 (“Greenshoe”). If fully exercised, the total proceeds of the Offering will be an aggregate of 1,725 Units and gross proceeds of $1,725,000.

    The Debentures will bear interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum and mature on the date that is 24 months from the date of issuance (the “Maturity Date”). The holder will have the option to extend the Maturity Date for a period of 12 months and receive all accrued and unpaid interest in cash or in common shares in the capital of the Company (“Common Shares”) at a price of $0.15 per Common Share (the “Conversion Price”). Additionally, the outstanding principal amount owed under a Debenture may be converted into Common Shares at the Conversion Price at the option of the holder at any time on or prior to the last business day prior to the Maturity Date. The Company may from time to time, in its sole discretion, prepay all or a part of the principal amount and accrued interest without penalty.

    The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for working capital purposes as the Company continues to fulfil the shipment and delivery of SHARC and PIRANHA Wastewater Energy Transfer (“WET”) systems.

    The Company may pay a finder’s fee in connection with the Offering to eligible arm’s length finders in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

    The securities of the Company referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    About SHARC Energy  

    SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy recovery from the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy’s systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as “District Energy”.

    SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

    Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

    Fred Andriano
    Chairman

    The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information because of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SHARC Energy Announces Convertible Debenture Financing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) (“SHARC Energy” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (each, a “Debenture”) with a principal amount of up to $1,500,000 (the “Offering”).

    The Offering will include an up to 15% Over-Allotment which equates to an additional 225 units and $225,000 (“Greenshoe”). If fully exercised, the total proceeds of the Offering will be an aggregate of 1,725 Units and gross proceeds of $1,725,000.

    The Debentures will bear interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum and mature on the date that is 24 months from the date of issuance (the “Maturity Date”). The holder will have the option to extend the Maturity Date for a period of 12 months and receive all accrued and unpaid interest in cash or in common shares in the capital of the Company (“Common Shares”) at a price of $0.15 per Common Share (the “Conversion Price”). Additionally, the outstanding principal amount owed under a Debenture may be converted into Common Shares at the Conversion Price at the option of the holder at any time on or prior to the last business day prior to the Maturity Date. The Company may from time to time, in its sole discretion, prepay all or a part of the principal amount and accrued interest without penalty.

    The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for working capital purposes as the Company continues to fulfil the shipment and delivery of SHARC and PIRANHA Wastewater Energy Transfer (“WET”) systems.

    The Company may pay a finder’s fee in connection with the Offering to eligible arm’s length finders in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

    The securities of the Company referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    About SHARC Energy  

    SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy recovery from the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy’s systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as “District Energy”.

    SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

    Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

    Fred Andriano
    Chairman

    The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information because of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bilibili Inc. Announces Results of Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced that each of the proposed resolutions (the “Proposed Resolutions”) set out in the notice of the annual general meeting dated April 11, 2025 (the “AGM Notice”) has been adopted at its annual general meeting of shareholders held in Shanghai, China today.

    After the adoption of the Proposed Resolutions, all corporate authorizations and actions contemplated thereunder are approved, including, among other things, that (i) Ms. Ni Li, Mr. Yi Xu and Mr. Feng Li are re-elected as directors of the Company; and (ii) the directors are granted a general mandate to issue, allot, and deal with additional Class Z ordinary shares or equivalents and a general mandate to repurchase the Company’s own shares on the respective terms and in the respective periods as set out in the AGM Notice.

    About Bilibili Inc.

    Bilibili is an iconic brand and a leading video community with a mission to enrich the everyday lives of young generations in China. Bilibili offers a wide array of video-based content with All the Videos You Like as its value proposition. Bilibili builds its community around aspiring users, high-quality content, talented content creators and the strong emotional bonds among them. Bilibili pioneered the “bullet chatting” feature, a live comment function that has transformed our users’ viewing experience by displaying the thoughts and feelings of audience members viewing the same video. The Company has now become the welcoming home of diverse interests among young generations in China and the frontier for promoting Chinese culture across the world.

    For more information, please visit: http://ir.bilibili.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

    Bilibili Inc.
    Juliet Yang
    Tel: +86-21-2509-9255 Ext. 8523
    E-mail: ir@bilibili.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Helen Wu
    Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
    E-mail: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    E-mail: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landlord fined again for safety breaches on Derby property

    Source: City of Derby

    A landlord has faced prosecution for the second time this year due to neglecting safety standards at a property he owns in Derby.

    Ramazan Ali of Northdown Road, Nottingham was fined £10,000 for failing to comply with an Improvement Notice.

    The Notice was issued in July 2024 after Derby City Council’s Housing Standards Team conducted an inspection of the property on Eton Street, uncovering several serious safety concerns. Among these were three category 1 hazards and six category 2 hazards, which included issues such as damp and mould, excess cold, and risks related to fire safety and falls.

    As a result of significant leaks, the kitchen ceiling had partially collapsed.  Mr Ali failed to carry out any of the remedial actions outlined in the Notice.

    At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 9 June, he was found guilty in his absence. He was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2000 and costs of £2498.

    This followed a prosecution in March 2025, when Mr Ali was found guilty of failing to produce documents after tenants contacted the Council’s Housing Standards team with concerns about safety at the property.

    He was fined £2000 with costs and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £800.

    In a separate case, Ryan Jones was prosecuted by the Housing Standards Team following a referral from Derby Homes. The charges related to a property on Baker Street, where Mr Jones, 56, failed to provide official records of rental income and disclose the names of other people with a financial or legal interest in the property.

    The case was heard in Mr Jones’s absence at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court, where he did not enter a plea. The magistrates treated the matter as a single offence, finding Mr Jones guilty. He was fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264.

    Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services said:

    Ensuring our residents live in safe, well-maintained homes continues to be a priority for us.

    These prosecutions send a clear message that we will not tolerate landlords who compromise the safety and well-being of their tenants.

    We will continue to act in the best interests of the residents who are subjected to poor housing conditions, and we will take action against those responsible.

    I would encourage anyone with concerns about their rented property or their landlord to report this to our team.

    Tenants can contact the Housing Standards team via the Derby City Council website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates local measles infection case

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CHP investigates local measles infection case 
    The case involves a 28-year-old female. She sought treatment from a private doctor on June 11 for fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. She developed a skin rash on June 13 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital twice, once on the same day and again on the following day. She was admitted for treatment on June 14. Her blood sample tested positive for antibodies of measles virus upon laboratory testing. She remains hospitalised and is in stable condition.
     
    An epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient was uncertain whether she had received a measles vaccination. She had no travel history during the incubation period. Her six household contacts are currently asymptomatic. During the communicable period, the patient had visited the Kowloon City Baptist Church Kindergarten, located at 206 Argyle Street in Kowloon City. The CHP is conducting medical surveillance on approximately 170 staff members and students of the kindergarten concerned.

    As measles is highly infectious, the CHP will set up an enquiry hotline (2125 2372) for contact tracing of the case. The CHP appeals to those who visited the Kowloon City Baptist Church Kindergarten between 11.30am and 12.30pm on June 9 or 10 to call the hotline. Officers of the CHP will assess their conditions and offer health advice. The hotline will operate from 9am to 1pm tomorrow (June 21) and June 22, and from 9am to 5pm between June 23 and 27.
     
    The investigations are ongoing. 
    The number of measles cases in some overseas countries remains at a high level this year. The outbreaks in North America (including the United States and Canada), Europe and neighbouring areas (including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines) are ongoing due to the relatively low vaccination rate. Furthermore, an increasing number of measles cases have also been recorded in Japan and Australia this year. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, they should check their vaccination records and medical history as early as possible. If they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received a measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination.
    ???
    Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
     For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic pageIssued at HKT 19:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Magazine: Educating the Educators

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    It took only a few minutes for Lawrence Ward ’92 (BUS) and Andrea Chapdelaine ’91 MA, ’93 Ph.D. to develop a friendship over, of all things, the construction of Gampel Pavilion.

    As Huskies in the late ’80s to early ’90s, they didn’t know each other, but both lived close to the stadium and watched it being built prior to its 1990 grand opening. Chapdelaine describes watching construction workers eat lunch through the windows of her dorm. Ward vividly recalls chanting U-C-O-N-N with Big Red during the inaugural basketball game — when the UConn men beat St. John’s 72–58.

    “In those days you could walk into the games without a ticket,” Chapdelaine says, moving on to Memorial Stadium memories. “My friends and I always went to the football games — to be seen,” says Ward, laughing.

    In a fateful twist, these two higher education leaders returned to Connecticut to start new jobs last July. Ward left Babson College in Massachusetts to become president of the University of Hartford; Chapdelaine left the presidency of Hood College in Maryland to lead Connecticut College.

    Although they’d been introduced once at an event, this virtual interview is the first chance they’ve had to get to know each other, sharing their views of higher education from the top and the ways they try to balance tremendous responsibilities with some serious fun.

    Q: What drew you to Connecticut? Was it more than the job?

    Chapdelaine: I was in my ninth year as president at Hood and was committed to several more. But I had taught at Trinity in the past, and I loved the similarities at Connecticut College, and also the distinctions. I felt I could do well here, and coming to Connecticut was a bonus. I’m only about an hour from my hometown of Chicopee, Massachusetts, and my husband is from that area too. It’s really nice to be close to family again.

    Ward: There is something special about coming home. My family lived in Hartford since the 1940s. My father escaped the Klan in deep Georgia, and Hartford became his landing place. So for me, it is powerful to come back to the place that was a refuge for my father. The city provided refuge and new beginnings for both of my parents. My mother came to Hartford as a young girl after her father died. My grandmother worked for the Hartford Electric Company here as a chambermaid. I had some of my grandmother’s HELCO service pins made into cufflinks and wore them at my inauguration.

    Read on for more.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: All-India House Price Index (HPI) for Q4:2024-25

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Today, the Reserve Bank released its quarterly house price index (HPI)1 (base: 2010-11=100) for Q4:2024-25, based on transaction-level data received from the registration authorities in ten major cities2. Time series data on all-India and city-wise HPIs are available at the Bank’s database on Indian economy (DBIE) portal (https://data.rbi.org.in/DBIE/#/dbie/home> Statistics > Real Sector > Prices & Wages).

    Highlights:

    • All-India HPI increased by 3.1 per cent (y-o-y) in Q4:2024-25 as compared with 3.1 per cent growth in the previous quarter and 4.1 per cent growth a year ago; annual HPI growth varied widely across the cities – ranging from a high growth of 8.8 per cent (Kolkata) to a contraction of 2.3 per cent (Kochi).

    • On a sequential (q-o-q) basis, all-India HPI increased by 0.9 per cent in Q4:2024-25; Bengaluru, Jaipur, Kolkata and Chennai are the major cities recording a sequential rise in house prices during the latest quarter.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/573

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New supported living homes found to allow 16 disabled adults in Harpenden to live independently

    Source: St Albans City and District

    Publication date:

    Sixteen adults supported by Harpenden Mencap have been provided with new homes in the town by St Albans City and District Council.

    Most of the adults, who have learning disabilities, were living at Harpenden Mencap’s Stairways site, in Douglas Road. 

    This residential care home and supported living facility opened in 1991 and is now in need of redevelopment.

    The charity appealed to the Council for help in finding accommodation for the adults in its care while options for the building are examined.

    The Council responded by identifying seven of its modern houses in Harpenden which could be leased to Harpenden Mencap and made suitable for their residents. 

    All the homes were specially adapted to provide flexible support for the adults, who have now moved in, and allow them considerable independence.

    Hertfordshire County Council’s Community Commissioning for Disabled Adults team (CCDA) were also involved in the project.

    They helped to ensure the homes – located in a quiet cul-de-sac –  were converted into a place where disabled people can lead healthy, purposeful and self-supporting lives.

    One of the Harpenden Mencap tenants said:

    I’m really excited to move to a new home overlooking the countryside where I can see horses from my bedroom window!

    Councillor Paul De Kort, the Council’s Leader, said:

    I am delighted that we were able to step in and find a solution to a housing problem that Harpenden Mencap made us aware of.

    This is an excellent example of what organisations can achieve while working in partnership with a shared purpose.

    Together with Harpenden Mencap and the CCDA, we’ve ensured local people can remain in their community and be empowered to live fulfilling lives.

    Providing these homes involved much careful planning and preparation, ensuring that the adults’ needs and aspirations were at the heart of this transition. The new homes will provide a safe and supportive environment but also foster independence and community connections.

    Angela Duce, Harpenden Mencap’s Chief Executive, said:

    The provision of these new homes has unblocked the housing problem faced by Harpenden Mencap for the past 15 years. It has been so refreshing to work creatively with the Council and CCDA, thinking ‘outside of the box’ to make this happen. 

    As we approach Harpenden Mencap’s 70th anniversary, we are one step closer to our aim to create sustainable, affordable accommodation for people with learning disabilities in the Harpenden area.

    Kelly Amiran, CCDA’s Commissioning Manager, said:

    The CCDA team has a clear ambition to assist care providers to create a place where disabled people lead healthy, purposeful and self-supporting lives.

    Following the key principles of adult care services’ strength-based practice model, ‘connected lives’, this has been at the forefront of working with Harpenden Mencap to achieve immediate but different outcomes whilst the future offer is considered for the site known as Stairways is reviewed. 

    Partnership working with Harpenden Mencap, Adult Disability and Brokerage teams has enabled all to share the same vision to enable people to build supportive networks in their own communities and live fulfilling lives with support they require to do this. This has allowed for people to remain living locally and being supported by local people, allowing maximum independence and maintaining relationships that are important to them.

    CCDA has seen commitment, innovation, and flexibility throughout this work. This has included effective use of technology, re modelling of outdated service models and buildings and moving forward the aim is that this is built upon and expanded.

    This programme has led to reduced number of people being support in residential care; development of a wider range of accommodation options with the current supported living offer; and an increase in the use of Direct Payments and choice as to how care needs are met.

    Photo: Harpenden Mencap tenants George, Niall and Rebecca at their new home.

    Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council tax shake-up to deliver fairer billing and support

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Council tax shake-up to deliver fairer billing and support

    Changes to the administration of council tax will make life easier for working people

    • Changes to the administration of council tax will make life easier for working people  

    • 12 monthly payments by default, fairer treatment for those struggling and clearer support for vulnerable households being considered 

    • Part of wider reforms to drive efficiency in local councils, deliver better public services and value for money, as part of the Plan for Change. 

    Working families across the country are set to benefit from these changes to the administration of council tax as government unveils plans to modernise the billing process to make it fairer, simpler and more supportive. 

    More manageable 12 monthly billing by default, action to crack down on punitive punishment for missed payments and fairer treatment for the most vulnerable households are all being considered by the government in the biggest changes to the operation of the council tax system since 1993. 

    The revamp could see better protection for those falling behind on bills by stopping debts spiralling while potentially capping the fees added to debt when going to court and changing  when a household may become liable for a full-year’s bill.  

    The government is already reviewing debt enforcement practices more widely including the conduct of bailiffs, that can be deployed when council tax bills go unpaid, to deliver a fairer system for those in need. 

    Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE said:  

    As part of our Plan for Change, we’re putting working people first.  

    We are listening and taking action to make council tax fairer, more transparent and easier to manage. Under our plans, local government will be there to support, and not to punish, people who fall behind.

    Today’s move follows a long running campaign by MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis and his charity the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) which have called for action on the “outdated” escalation that can happen when someone falls behind with their Council Tax payments. 

    Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com and The Money & Mental Health Policy Institute Charity, said:

    Many parts of the Council Tax system are broken, and having called for some of these fixes for nearly 20 years, I’m delighted the government has listened and rapidly launched this long-due consultation, including many of the administration areas I hear the most complaints on.  “Council Tax rapid and aggressive debt collection methods currently hurt millions and disproportionately affect those with mental health problems. Within three weeks of missing a monthly payment many councils say you must pay for the whole year… ridiculous, how can people who can’t afford to pay for a month, suddenly pay for a year? After a further three weeks councils can call bailiffs in and rack up charges on charges. No commercial lender is allowed to behave like this, meaning constituents are treated worse than consumers. Worse, it’s counter-productive, can add to council’s costs and still doesn’t mean people can pay it back. The government has listened to our evidence, and this consultation thankfully looks at slowing it down, adding-in consideration, capping added costs, and pointing people towards help to pay.

    Plus, as council tax bands haven’t been revalued since the stop-gap drive-by valuations first done back in 1991 – while looking at that isn’t in the scope of this consultation – it’s only right that if people think they’re wrongly in too high a band, as 100,000s likely are, the government is consulting on making it easier to challenge, so people can pay the right price. The consultation is also proposing help for some of the most vulnerable – we’ve long campaigned on the horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount, which is underclaimed, overcomplex and underpublicised, and this gives an opportunity to move towards a simpler, more universal, less off-putting application process.

    To help vulnerable families manage bills, the government intends to move billing to 12 monthly payments by default, rather than the current 10 monthly, this will spread the annual cost across a longer period meaning lower monthly payments for the average Band D household’s bill by £38 per month. This consultation is part of wider action being taken to support the financial resilience of families in our Child Poverty Strategy. 

    The government plans to modernise support available, including updating the definition of the Severe Mentally Impaired exemption and reviewing  whether current disregards for care workers and apprentices could be improved. Providing more information on what council tax bills are paying for and how to increase awareness of the support available is also being explored to boost transparency.   

    Council tax is essential for funding over 800 vital public services delivered by local authorities daily – but it has failed to keep pace with the changing needs of taxpayers. A renewed, more supportive, council tax billing system will enable households to better manage their bills, keep up with payments and help councils deliver improved front-line services.  

    Further information  

    • Minister McMahon Written Ministerial Statement can be read here. 

    • The consultation can be viewed on Gov.uk here and will be open for 12 weeks. 

    • The Ministry of Justice is also consulting on the regulation of the debt enforcement sector (private bailiffs). Local authorities sometimes use bailiffs when council tax bills go unpaid. The consultation is open until the 21 July and can be found here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fairer funding for councils across the country in major reform

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Fairer funding for councils across the country in major reform

    An overhaul of the outdated and complex council system will bring fairer funding, more stability and improve lives of people across the county  

    • An overhaul of the outdated and complex council system will bring fairer funding, more stability and improve lives of people across the county   

    • New place-based, focussed formulas to target money to places most in need, replacing decade old data and outdated funding system 

    • Streamlined funding and multi-year settlements introduced in drive for council efficiency and improved public services as part of the Plan for Change  

     The local government funding system will be reformed to get councils back on stable footing, improve the lives for people across the country and deliver essential funding for better public services, delivering on the Plan for Change.   

     Working hand-in-hand with the sector, proposals will create a fairer system that reflects areas’ changing needs, differing delivery costs and the level of demand on front-line services that people rely on such as social care.  

    For too long, many residents have seen council tax hikes despite declining local services. This will be tackled by overhauling the decade old, outdated funding methodology currently used to fund councils, so allocations are made based on the latest and best available data and recognise the areas where demand for council services is greatest. As a result of these changes, left behind places will on balance see larger increases in available income. 

     It will also scrap existing competitive bidding processes councils often have to go through for small pots of money, simplifying the 300 grants that already exist to slash time waste in councils and Whitehall and prioritise value for taxpayer cash. This could help cut the almost 90,000 document pages historically required as part of the competitive processes.  This would be almost the equivalent of the drive from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, if laid end to end.  

     Targeting money to places in need, prioritising prevention and reforming public services as part of the government’s mission-driven agenda to deliver for working people, tackle poverty and drive growth across the country as part of a decade of renewal. These changes will deliver the Fair Funding Review launched by the previous government in 2017 but never actioned.  

    Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE said:

    We inherited a local government sector on its knees—councils pushed to the financial brink, facing rising demand, and working people not receiving the quality local services they rightly deserve. 

    There’s broad agreement across council leaders, experts, and parliamentarians that the current funding model is broken and unfair. This government is stepping up to deliver the fairer system promised in the 2017 Fair Funding Review but never delivered. 

    These reforms are urgently needed to put councils on a stable footing and ensure better services for residents — especially working people — right across the country. It’s a key part of our Plan for Change to deliver the outcomes people deserve.

     It follows last week’s additional funding announced in the Spending Review and the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement that saw £69 billion allocated for local authorities.  

    The eight-week consultation launched today sets out how the government will make funding allocations fairer for councils of all sizes and across all parts of England.   

    • Rural areas: proposals to recognise the remoteness of areas and account for the additional costs in delivering services in rural places;   

    • Urban areas: making sure that deprivation is properly recognised in the ‘assessment of need’ of councils, so that the vital services that support the poorest in communities are properly funded;  

    • Social care: updating the formula used to work out funding for local authorities that provide adult social care so it properly reflects the demands of our ageing population. We are also reforming children’s social care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including ensuring councils are properly funded to help support and protect the most vulnerable children. While these reforms are underway, the Dedicated Schools Grant Statutory Override, which helps councils manage SEND costs, will stay in place until the end of 2027/28 and in addition we will introduce a bespoke formula to recognise Home to School transport costs;   

    • Resetting the business rates retention system: so that it incentivises local authorities to help their local economies grow by better matching the system to local need; and   

    • Consolidating billions in grant funds: so that councils no longer waste time or money bidding for small pots of funding, replacing it with a streamlined grant system that promotes prevention and public service reform, and reflects key missions in the Plan for Change. The Department estimates councils shelled out almost £70million in administrative costs and consultancy fees on bidding for the Levelling Up Fund and other bidding schemes.  

     The first multi-year settlement in a decade will also be brought forward in 2026-27 to finally provide council leaders with security and certainty over their finances, ending short-termism to deliver meaningful change to their communities.   

    These reforms, together with the additional funding announced through the spending review will ensure the vast majority of upper-tier councils will see real-terms increases in available funding over the multi-year settlement.  

    Further information  

    Minister McMahon’s Written Ministerial Statement can be read here.

    The consultation can be viewed on Gov.uk here and will be open for 8 weeks  

    The response to the earlier consultation can be viewed on Gov.uk here. 

    The government is proposing a transitional approach to the new funding system over a three year period, to enable local authorities to plan for changes.   

    No allocations for local authorities have been announced or confirmed yet. This will be announced in the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 later this year – the same approach as with previous years.    

    Building on action already taken in the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, today’s announcement to streamline the grant system, local leaders will have more flexibility to spend on their voters’ priorities, drive efficiency in councils and deliver better value for taxpayer money.   

    Accountability and transparency over public spending will be bolstered through a greater focus on outcomes that reflect voters’ priorities.   

    Dr Ryan Swift, research fellow at IPPR North said: 

    “The last government implemented budget cuts that hammered local councils, especially in the most deprived areas, meaning fewer and poorer services for local people. 

    “But today things are looking up. Upping core funding, introducing multi-year funding settlements and ending competitive bidding processes will provide more stability so councils can plan for the future and improve. 

    “Today’s announcement is a step along the road to repairing council finances. Recognising demands on local services from factors like demographics and deprivation are crucial so that councils can deliver the services that people expect and deserve.” 

    Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, Chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) said: 

    “The significant reforms proposed by the government will deliver a fairer and more sustainable system and are a major and positive step forward.  

    “A decade of disproportionate cuts, outdated formulas and short-term settlements have left our members with shrinking resources, struggling to meet rising demand. It is therefore very welcome that there will now be a focus on delivering a funding system that supports the most deprived areas. This will build on the important work of the Recovery Grant.  

    “Simplifying the grant system and delivering a long-overdue multi-year settlement will bring about much-needed stability and certainty for councils. The government’s close engagement with the sector is testament to the reset in the relationship with local government, and we look forward to responding to the consultation and continuing to engage with the department.”  

    Cllr John Merry, Chair of Key Cities, said: 

    “Councils are central to national renewal. They must be valued, properly funded, and adequately resourced to deliver essential services – from social care to affordable housing – which are under increasing strain. Key Cities’ inaugural survey of council leaders found that many are already turning to financial reserves and service redesigns, with asset sales, salary reductions and redundancies under active consideration.    

    “As the largest and most diverse urban network outside the capital, with 24 members, we have long championed the need for a funding reset: one that empowers local authorities and channels resources to the communities that need them most, driving inclusive national growth.      “What’s needed now is long-term funding certainty, replacing piecemeal interventions and enabling councils to focus on meeting local needs. Key Cities welcomes the launch of the Government’s second consultation on local government funding reform. We remain committed to working with the Government to shape a brighter future for our communities.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom vows to keep fighting as federal court rejects Trump’s military overreach

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 19, 2025

    What you need to know: The Ninth Circuit rejected Trump’s sweeping claim that he can federalize the National Guard for any reason and avoid judicial scrutiny, even as it stayed an emergency district court order. This is a critical check on presidential overreach and confirmation that the President is not above the law.

    SAN FRANCISCO – Governor Gavin Newsom expressed disappointment that the Ninth Circuit is allowing the President to retain control of the California National Guard for now, but welcomed the Ninth Circuit’s rejection of Donald Trump’s sweeping claims that he could federalize the California National Guard as he alone sees fit and without having to answer to a court.  Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta remain committed to holding President Trump accountable for using the military as domestic law enforcement in violation of federal law.

    “The court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court. The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – With the onset of the rainy season, the situation of earthquake victims in Mandalay is becoming increasingly critical

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Mandalay (Agenzia Fides) – Three months after the devastating earthquake of March 28, 2025, the area around Mandalay in north-central Myanmar has been hit by heavy rains and thunderstorms for more than three weeks. Due to the persistent rains and aftershocks, some buildings already damaged by the earthquake have collapsed, causing further difficulties for the affected communities. This is according to a report by the Emergency Rescue Team for humanitarian assistance of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, sent to Fides, which states: “Many people are still spending the night outdoors or in makeshift shelters. Many houses have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquake, forcing families to sleep outdoors. In and around Mandalay, people are using tarpaulins, tents, or bamboo structures to protect themselves from the weather. Access to clean water, sanitation, and essential goods remains limited, and local assistance is barely sufficient to meet the urgent needs of the affected communities.”With the onset of the monsoon, the report states, the situation for earthquake victims is likely to become even more difficult: “The makeshift shelters, often made of tarpaulin or bamboo, will not be able to withstand heavy rains and winds. We fear that flooding and poor sanitation will increase the risk of waterborne diseases, especially for children and the elderly. Without urgent assistance in providing more permanent shelters and improving sanitation conditions, the safety and well-being of large segments of the population will be seriously threatened during the rainy season.”Meanwhile, the diocese has provided undamaged structures and church buildings or rooms to house the displaced. “Makeshift tents have been set up by earthquake victims at the St. Michael’s Parish complex in Mandalay. Among those affected are not only Catholics but also Buddhists. Their homes were severely damaged and have not yet been repaired,” the report states.Volunteers from the diocesan team are distributing humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims, others have taken charge of the repair of damaged church buildings, and still others are leading emergency relief teams. Priests and religious who share the fate of the refugees are still sleeping outside their usual residence, for example, in the courtyard of the archbishop’s complex. Fr. Peter Kyi Maung, secretary of the archdiocese, explains: “Our rooms were damaged by the earthquake and are not safe at the moment. We have made ourselves comfortable sleeping places with simple sheets and mosquito nets in the open areas of the complex. Until the necessary repairs are carried out, we have no choice but to continue living in these makeshift conditions. But all the volunteers and faithful are working hard every day to improve the situation bit by bit. The Lord gives us the strength to continue.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 19/6/2025)
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