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Category: Internet

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Dallas and North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announce results of Operation Soteria Shield in the Eastern District of Texas

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DALLAS, Texas – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas joined the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force to announce the conclusion of Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long collaborative enforcement effort conducted in April 2025 aimed at rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice. This operation was run in conjunction with the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and was jointly managed by the FBI Dallas Division, Dallas Police Department, Plano Police Department, Wylie Police Department, and Garland Police Department.

    More than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies joined forces throughout the month of April to combat the exploitation of children in the digital space. These agencies leveraged the expertise of highly skilled computer crimes investigators that worked around the clock to identify victims and apprehend offenders engaged in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

    Operation Soteria Shield resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 offenders. In addition to these enforcement actions, investigators seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices that were used in the commission of these crimes. These devices are undergoing forensic analysis and may lead to further arrests and the identification of additional victims.

    “The numbers of offenders arrested, and children rescued in this operation are stunning.  The numbers leave us breathless because, at some level, we understand that behind every statistic, every number, there is a child with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from sexual exploitation,” said Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs. “We are committed to teaming with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute these cases with urgency and ferocity in order to protect our children.”

    In the Eastern District of Texas, this Operation has led to the grand jury indictment of individuals for not only distributing child pornography, but also sexually exploiting children to produce child sexual abuse material.

    Operation Soteria Shield stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished with coordinated, interagency cooperation. It reflects the shared commitment of law enforcement professionals across Texas to relentlessly pursue those who prey on children and to ensure that survivors are no longer silenced or hiding in the shadows.

    The participating agencies also extend their gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their unwavering support. NCMEC analysts provided vital intelligence and case coordination that proved instrumental to the success of this operation.

    List of Participating Agencies:

    Abilene Police Department, Allen Police Department, Alvarado Police Department, Amarillo Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Army Criminal Investigative Division, Aubrey Police Department, Azle Police Department, Bartonville Police Department, Breckenridge Police Department, Cedar Hill Police Department, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Cleburne Police Department, Colleyville Police Department, Collin County District Attorney’s Office, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Cooke County Sheriff’s Office, Crowley Police Department, Dalhart Police Department, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dallas Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Elm Ridge Police Department, Ennis Police Department, Euless Police Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Fate Police Department, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI El Paso Field Office, FBI San Antonio Field Office, Fort Worth Police Department, Frisco Police Department, Garland Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Grand Saline Police Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Haltom City Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Honey Grove Police Department, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, Hurst Police Department, Irving Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Joshua Police Department, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, Kaufman Police Department, Lamesa Police Department, Lone Star Police Department, Lubbock Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Midlothian Police Department, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, North Richland Hills Police Department, Office of Inspector General, Plano Police Department, Prosper Police Department, Richardson Police Department, Richardson Police Department SWAT, Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwall Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Royse City Police Department, Sachse Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Snyder Police Department, Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Terrell Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, University of Texas System Police, White Settlement Police Department, Wilmer Police Department, and Wylie Police Department.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Plot to Molest a Young Girl Leads to 135 Months in Prison for a Virginia Woman

    Source: US FBI

                WASHINGTON – Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, 46, of Charlottesville, Va., was sentenced to 135 months in prison today for distributing child pornography in a plot to molest an eight-year-old girl.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro of the District of Columbia,  FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Emily Odom of the Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

                Hoppe pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on April 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. The terms of Hoppe’s plea agreement call for her to serve 135 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In addition, she will have to register as a sex offender for a minimum period of 25 years.

                According to court documents, in late February 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer encountered Hoppe on a social media site where individuals discuss their sexual interest in children and exchange child sexual abuse material. Hoppe distributed images of child pornography to the undercover officer and repeatedly expressed an interest in sexually abusing his purported 8-year-old daughter.

                On March 16, 2023, Hoppe arranged to have the undercover officer bring his daughter from D.C. to a motel in Warrenton, Va., where she would meet them to sexually abuse the child. Police arrested Hoppe when she arrived at the hotel.

                This case was investigated by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth and Family Services Division, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Burrell and Rachel Forman.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Dallas and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Announce the Results of Operation Soteria Shield

    Source: US FBI

    The North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and FBI Dallas’s North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force announce the conclusion of Operation Soteria Shield, a month-long collaborative enforcement effort conducted in April 2025 aimed at rescuing children from online sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice. This operation was run in conjunction with the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and was jointly managed by the FBI Dallas Division, Dallas Police Department, Plano Police Department, Wylie Police Department, and Garland Police Department.

    More than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies joined forces throughout the month of April to combat the exploitation of children in the digital space. These agencies leveraged the expertise of highly skilled computer crimes investigators that worked around the clock to identify victims and apprehend offenders engaged in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

    Operation Soteria Shield resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 offenders. In addition to these enforcement actions, investigators seized extensive volumes of digital evidence, including terabytes of illicit data stored on electronic devices that were used in the commission of these crimes. These devices are undergoing forensic analysis and may lead to further arrests and the identification of additional victims.

    “Operation Soteria Shield brought together over 70 agencies from across the state of Texas, including police departments, federal agencies, state and federal prosecutors, children’s advocacy centers, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. We had a common goal, which was to rescue children from abuse and exploitation,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “This was not an easy operation, but a necessary one. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the children in our communities, and we will hold child predators accountable for their crimes.”

    “Operation Soteria Shield was a massive team effort and a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we unite around one clear mission: protecting our kids and holding offenders accountable. I am proud that the Dallas Police Department is the lead agency for the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and am grateful for the many, many agencies who contributed to this successful operation,” said Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux.

    “Online exploitation of children is one of the most insidious crimes we face as a society. It reaches into every community, crosses every boundary, and leaves lasting harm on its youngest victims. Operation Soteria Shield brought together an unprecedented level of collaboration and resolve to confront this crisis head-on. Through this operation, we not only rescued children from unimaginable abuse, but we also sent a clear message: those who seek to harm our children online will be found and brought to justice. Our work is far from over, but this effort has made our communities safer and brought hope to those who need it most.” Said Plano Police Chief Ed Drain.

    “The coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in Operation Soteria Shield serve as a powerful demonstration of unwavering dedication in the battle against online child exploitation. By exposing the darkest corners of the Internet, this operation has targeted predators who seek to harm vulnerable children,” said Wylie Police Chief Anthony Henderson. “The trauma inflicted by these crimes runs deep, affecting not only the victims, but also their families and entire communities. With every arrest made and every child protected, the operation moves us closer to a safer community. Every step forward in this operation reflects a shared commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring those who seek to exploit children are brought to justice.”

    “The Garland Police Department is proud to stand alongside our local, state, and federal partners in the fight against those who exploit our most vulnerable, our children. Operation Soteria Shield was more than an enforcement effort; it was a mission to rescue, protect, and restore hope,” said Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan. “The scale of this operation sends a strong message: predators will be pursued, and survivors will never stand alone. We are grateful to the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and all the agencies involved for their tireless work. This operation demonstrates our shared commitment to the safety of every child in every community.”

    Operation Soteria Shield stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished with coordinated, interagency cooperation. It reflects the shared commitment of law enforcement professionals across Texas to relentlessly pursue those who prey on children and to ensure that survivors are no longer silenced or hiding in the shadows.

    The participating agencies also extend their gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their unwavering support. NCMEC analysts provided vital intelligence and case coordination that proved instrumental to the success of this operation.

    List of Participating Agencies:

    Abilene Police Department, Allen Police Department, Alvarado Police Department, Amarillo Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Army Criminal Investigative Division, Aubrey Police Department, Azle Police Department, Bartonville Police Department, Breckenridge Police Department, Cedar Hill Police Department, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Cleburne Police Department, Colleyville Police Department, Collin County District Attorney’s Office, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Cooke County Sheriff’s Office, Crowley Police Department, Dalhart Police Department, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Dallas Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Elm Ridge Police Department, Ennis Police Department, Euless Police Department, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Fate Police Department, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI El Paso Field Office, FBI San Antonio Field Office, Fort Worth Police Department, Frisco Police Department, Garland Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Grand Saline Police Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Haltom City Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Honey Grove Police Department, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, Hurst Police Department, Irving Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Joshua Police Department, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, Kaufman Police Department, Lamesa Police Department, Lone Star Police Department, Lubbock Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Midlothian Police Department, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, North Richland Hills Police Department, Office of Inspector General, Plano Police Department, Prosper Police Department, Richardson Police Department, Richardson Police Department SWAT, Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwall Police Department, Rowlett Police Department, Royse City Police Department, Sachse Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Snyder Police Department, Tarrant County Human Trafficking Task Force, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Terrell Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, University of Texas System Police, White Settlement Police Department, Wilmer Police Department, and Wylie Police Department

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: U.S. commercial insurance rates continue downward trend, dropping to 5.3% increase

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While U.S. commercial insurance rates demonstrated an increase of 5.3% in the first quarter, the rate continued a downward trajectory compared with the prior two quarters (increases of 5.8% and 5.6%), according to the latest findings from WTW’s Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS). The survey compares premiums for policies underwritten during the first quarter of 2025 to those for the same coverage lines in the respective quarter of 2024, demonstrating a year-over-year comparison. Carriers reported an aggregate price increase of 5.3% in the first quarter, down from 6.3% recorded in the first quarter of 2024.

    Some coverage lines stood out with respect to price change rates in the quarter. Notably, Commercial Auto maintained a double digit increase but lower than prior quarter, while Commercial Property continued a strong downward pricing trend, with just a slight increase for the first quarter, compared to double digit increase a year prior. Additionally, Professional Liability rates displayed a higher increase this quarter but is still relatively low compared to most of the other lines.

    Yi Jing, Senior Director, Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT) at WTW, commented, “In the first quarter, we witnessed some interesting trends. Overall, the continued reduction in rate increases is a positive sign for buyers. However, consistent double-digit rate jumps for areas like Commercial Auto signify continued pricing difficulty in the market. The only other coverage area maintaining double digit rate increases is Excess / Umbrella Liability.”

    CLIPS is a retrospective look at historical changes in Commercial Property & Casualty insurance (P&C) prices and claims cost inflation. A forward-looking analysis of Commercial P&C trends, outlook, and rate predictions can be found in WTW’s Insurance Marketplace Realities series. 

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

    About CLIPS

    CLIPS data are based on both new and renewal business figures obtained directly from carriers underwriting the business. CLIPS participants represent a cross-section of U.S. P&C insurers that includes many of the top ten commercial lines companies and the top 25 insurance groups in the U.S. This survey compared prices charged on policies written during the first quarter of 2025, with the prices charged for the same coverage during the same quarter of 2024. For this most recent survey, 41 participating insurers representing approximately 20% of the U.S. commercial insurance market (excluding state workers compensation funds) contributed data.

    Media Contact

    Douglas Menelly
    Douglas.Menelly@wtwco.com +1 (516) 972-0380

    Arnelle Sullivan
    Arnelle.Sullivan@wtwco.com +1 (718) 208-0474

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Anti-Scam Report Shows AI-Related Scams Drive $4.6B in Crypto Losses in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its 2025 Anti-Scam Research Report in partnership with blockchain security firms SlowMist and Elliptic. The report reveals that global crypto scam losses surged to $4.6 billion in 2024, with deepfake technology and social engineering emerging as the dominant tactics behind high-value thefts. The publication marks the official launch of Bitget’s Anti-Scam Month, a month-long initiative dedicated to security education and ecosystem-wide awareness.

    The report highlights how AI-powered scams have moved beyond phishing emails to include fake Zoom calls, synthetic videos of public figures, and Trojan-laced job offers. Among its key findings, the report identifies three primary scam categories—deepfake impersonation, social engineering schemes, and Ponzi-style projects cloaked in DeFi or NFT branding—as the leading causes of user loss. It also outlines how stolen funds are funneled through cross-chain bridges and obfuscation tools before reaching mixers or exchanges, complicating enforcement and recovery efforts.

    Additional insights include case studies from major scam incidents in Hong Kong, the rising use of Telegram and X (Twitter) comment sections as phishing entry points, and the continued growth of professionally run fraud rings operating across borders.

    “The biggest threat to crypto today isn’t volatility—it’s deception. That’s why Bitget has designated the entire month of June as Anti-Scam Month—an initiative to elevate industry standards and user awareness. This report is the flagship release within that effort. AI has made scams faster, cheaper, and harder to detect. At Bitget, we believe fighting back requires both technological rigor and ecosystem-wide collaboration. Our goal is to help users trade smarter, not just faster,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    The report also details how Bitget’s Anti-Scam Hub, innovative detection systems, and a $500M+ Protection Fund are being actively deployed to mitigate user risks. SlowMist provided detailed forensic insights into scam tactics, ranging from address poisoning to job offer Trojans, while Elliptic examined the laundering patterns of stolen cryptocurrency through cross-chain bridges and mixer platforms.

    “Criminals are constantly evolving their methods of attack, using AI and finding new ways to scale their activities. This means that reciprocally, we are also working to scale our technology and blockchain capabilities to track and identify the new methods criminals are using. Our work with Bitget reflects a shared urgency to expose these evolving threats and give users the tools to protect themselves,” said Arda Akartuna, Lead Crypto Threat Researcher, Elliptic, APAC.

    “This report reflects the real-world patterns we’re seeing on-chain every day. From phishing rings to fake staking dApps, the tactics may change—but the psychology is always the same. Users must be informed, skeptical, and security-minded at all times,” said Lisa, Security Operations Lead, SlowMist.

    The report closes with actionable recommendations for both users and institutions, including scam red flag indicators and best practices for avoiding common traps in DeFi, NFT, and Web3 environments.

    For the full report, please visit here.

    About Bitget

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

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c73d1c7-7419-4f43-a2ae-2e9c450fb8bd

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Launches Alpha Trading Zone, Ushering in New Era of Seamless On-Chain Asset Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially launched its Alpha Trading Zone, an innovative feature that seamlessly bridges centralized exchanges (CEX) with on-chain asset trading, offering users a convenient and efficient Web3 trading experience. To celebrate the launch, MEXC is introducing a special rewards event with exclusive benefits for users participating in Alpha Zone trading.

    MEXC Alpha Zone: Simplifying On-Chain Asset Trading

    With blockchain and DeFi rapidly evolving, users increasingly seek easy access to on-chain asset trading. To meet this demand, MEXC’s Alpha Trading Zone allows users to buy or sell on-chain assets including tokens on Solana and BNB Chain directly with their spot account assets such as USDT, eliminating the need for complex wallet management or cross-chain operations.

    The Alpha Trading Zone delivers four core advantages for users:

    • Seamless Trading Experience: Enables direct trading of on-chain tokens using Spot account assets without needing wallet management or cross-chain bridging.
    • Security and Efficiency: Powered by MEXC’s DEX+ technology, ensuring transparent pricing and secure execution of on-chain trades through system-managed addresses.
    • Multi-Chain Support: Supports trading across multiple blockchains including Solana, BNB Chain, TRX, and Base to meet diverse Web3 needs.
    • AI-Driven Token Selection: Utilizes AI to analyze real-time on-chain data daily, highlighting trending tokens and promising projects.

    Users can begin Alpha trading through three simple steps: log in to a MEXC account or register via the official MEXC website; navigate to the Alpha Zone from the MEXC homepage; select the desired on-chain asset trading pair and place orders using Spot account assets.

    Alpha Zone Launch Celebration Event

    MEXC is hosting a limited-time celebration event from June 10, 2025 – July 10, 2025. The event features four reward mechanisms:
    New User Reward: Qualified new users who join the event will receive a 20 USDT token airdrop, with a total prize pool limited to 50,000 USDT on a first-come, first-served basis.
    Leaderboard Reward: The top 1,000 qualified users by trading volume in the Alpha Zone will equally share a 20,000 USDT prize pool (20 USDT per person).
    Referral Reward: Invite friends to trade in the Alpha Zone and earn 10 USDT for each qualified referee.
    Points Reward: All users with over 100 USDT in Alpha Zone trading volume will receive 1.5x MEXC DEX+ Points for future DEX+ token airdrop redemptions.

    As a global leading cryptocurrency exchange, MEXC is committed to providing users with the most cutting-edge trading tools and premium service experiences. The successful launch of Alpha Zone further consolidates MEXC’s leadership position in the industry, and the platform will continue to deepen feature development to bring users more convenient and efficient trading solutions worldwide.

    To explore this innovative feature, users can log in to the MEXC official website and navigate to the Alpha Trading Zone from the homepage. For celebration event details and participation, please visit the event page.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, daily airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/097e837c-9066-4a1b-9b92-d29d7c7a2c3b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Madison County Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Offender Registration and Supervised Release Violations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – On May 28, 2025, Floyd Wood, 57, of DeRuyter, New York pled guilty in United States District Court to failure to register an email account in violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and also admitted violating conditions of his federal supervised release.   United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and United States Marshal David McNulty made the announcement. 

    Wood, a federally convicted sex offender, admitted that he created and maintained an email account without reporting it to the Sex Offender Registry, as required by law.  He also admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release by not reporting the email account, and falsifying reports about it, to the United States Probation Office.  Wood also admitted that he violated conditions of supervised release by possessing an unreported and unmonitored internet-capable phone, on which the email was discovered.

    The failure to register offense carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  Wood also faces up to an additional 5 years for violating the terms of his supervised release.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

    U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Sex offenders who surreptitiously use the internet in violation of law, and in violation of court-imposed conditions of supervision designed to mitigate their threat to society, will be prosecuted by my office to the fullest extent of the law.”

    The United States Marshals Service is investigating the case with assistance from the United States Probation Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York is prosecuting the case.

    Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Onondaga County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography and Supervised Release Violations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Edward McKeraghan, 59, of Syracuse, New York pled guilty last week in United States District Court to possession of child pornography, and also admitted violating conditions of his federal supervised release.  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement. 

    McKeraghan, a federally convicted sex offender on supervised release for a prior child pornography offense, admitted that he possessed child sexual abuse material on an unreported and unmonitored internet-capable phone that he obtained in violation of his conditions of federal supervision.  The phone was discovered by the United States Probation Office during a routine home visit.

    Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2025.  For the child pornography offense, McKeraghan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  He also faces up to an additional 2 years for violating the terms of his supervised release.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

    U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Repeat sex offenders pose a grave threat to society, particularly to our children.  My office will continue to vigorously prosecute all child exploitation offenses in the Northern District of New York.”

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated, “Mr. McKeraghan’s actions are especially disturbing, given he is a convicted predator on supervised release. Our children are among the most vulnerable members of our community, and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is committed to working together to protect them any way we can.

    The FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case with assistance from the United States Probation Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York is prosecuting the case.

    Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Scans Ahead at Solana Summit 2025 with QR-based Payment Rollout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial Web3 wallet, concluded an impactful showing at the Solana APAC Summit 2025, held in Da Nang, Vietnam from June 5 to 7. As a major sponsor of the summit, Bitget Wallet used the three-day event to debut its newest payment features, connect with builders from across the Solana ecosystem, and demonstrate how onchain tools can power real-world use cases across Asia and beyond.

    On the opening day, Bitget Wallet formally announced the integration of QR-based payment integrations, which includes Solana Pay and national QR payment systems, for seamless, multi-currency payments. This integration lives up to Bitget Wallet’s new identity of ‘Crypto for Everyone’, bridging the gap between blockchain and everyday commerce. Bitget Wallet also hosted a developer workshop showcasing the ease of integrating Solana dApps into the wallet’s infrastructure, including support for seamless swaps, staking, and native Solana trading via Jupiter DEX.

    Day 2 of the Summit saw Bitget Wallet’s Business Development Manager, Xavier Ow Yeong, take the stage to discuss how onchain finance is changing the way users spend, save, and access capital. That evening, Bitget Wallet co-hosted a meetup with Saros, previewing its upcoming VietQR payment feature in a live test environment. Over 150 community members attended the event, explored new Bitget Wallet integrations firsthand, and received exclusive merchandise alongside a live airdrop reward for early testers.

    The Solana APAC Summit marks a significant milestone in Bitget Wallet’s roadmap to turn crypto wallets from storage tools into everyday super apps. As part of a broader mission to scale real-world adoption, the event demonstrates how embedded payment infrastructure, cross-chain liquidity, and user-first design can unlock new crypto behaviors, whether in emerging markets or global hubs of Web3 development.

    Bitget Wallet’s participation in the Solana Summit is part of its ongoing initiative to expand crypto access across Asia, aligning ecosystem partners, developers, and communities around the next wave of practical, onchain tools.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, DApp exploration, and payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
    For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/91b54b94-4741-40ed-b89f-148168f60fdd
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/55eded33-ff2f-4c2e-8049-588eba6af3f6
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0687e900-51a8-4caf-bebd-b9b229aa8fcd
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4a31e7f-1fa4-46f5-83f3-dd3536d378bb
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa35936b-7656-4156-995e-211e4d503db5
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0fd5bd5b-c1ae-46db-af86-08a14f2f75a9
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/205bbae6-30c4-4605-9d97-de11d0109ccf
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2be5f55d-8911-4f2f-a0be-e09dec432a1b
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ff8c528-21a6-49ed-b61a-eef93d06febc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BEN Reports First Quarter 2025 Results and Business Highlights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brand Engagement Network Inc. (BEN) (NASDAQ: BNAI), an innovator in AI-driven customer engagement solutions, today announced its results and key business highlights for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    “Q1 marked a strong start to 2025, as we launched our iSKYE platform and deepened strategic partnerships that demonstrate the growing demand for secure, scalable AI solutions,” said Paul Chang, CEO of Brand Engagement Network. “We’ve enhanced our platform with features that deliver greater accuracy and relevance for users, while providing the control and engagement enterprise clients want. Looking ahead, iSKYE’s modular architecture positions us to easily support new industries and applications. This flexibility opens doors to larger opportunities and broader AI-powered engagement across diverse sectors.”

    Q1 2025 Key Business Highlights:

    • iSKYE AI Platform Launch: BEN has officially launched the iSKYE platform, offering businesses a customizable, scalable solution to integrate AI with existing business processes, inject a rules engine to manage the interactions, and provide full control of the user experience. Key capabilities include customizable 3D avatars, low-cost deployment, enterprise-grade security, and the ability to mitigate AI hallucinations while integrating seamlessly into existing systems.
    • Global AI Insurance Partnership with Swiss Life: BEN partnered with Swiss Life Global Solutions to deliver secure, scalable generative AI solutions that enhance digital health, mental health, and financial wellbeing services. The collaboration aims to streamline insurance sales, reduce call center volume, and improve member services with AI-powered tools.
    • Expanded Partnership with Vybroo and Grupo Siete: BEN expanded its partnership with Vybroo and Grupo Siete to deploy AI-powered brand ambassadors and voice agents across Latin America and Southern Europe, enhancing its digital media presence and unlocking new revenue opportunities in high-growth markets.
    • Advocating for Responsible AI Privacy Standards: BEN supported and advised on California Assembly Member Carl DeMaio’s proposed AI data privacy legislation bill, which aims to prevent the offshore storage of sensitive user data and underscores the Company’s commitment to secure, closed-loop AI systems focused on trust and compliance.

    Conference Call and Webcast Information
    The Company will host a conference call and webcast tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET. CEO Paul Chang and CFO and COO Walid Khiari will lead the call and provide an overview of the company’s financial performance, key business highlights, and strategic outlook.

    Participants can register here to access the live webcast of the conference call. Those who prefer to join the call via phone can register using this link to receive a dial-in number and unique PIN.

    The webcast will be archived for one year following the conference call and can be accessed on BEN’s investor relations website at https://investors.beninc.ai/.

    About Brand Engagement Network (BEN)
    Brand Engagement Network Inc. (NASDAQ: BNAI) innovates in AI-powered customer engagement, delivering safe, intelligent, and scalable solutions. Its proprietary Engagement Language Model (ELM™) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture enable highly personalized interactions supported by customers’ curated data in closed-loop environments. BEN develops AI-driven engagement solutions for the life sciences, automotive, and retail industries, featuring AI-powered avatars for outbound campaigns, inbound customer service, and real-time recommendations. With a global AI research and development team, BEN provides secure cloud-based or on-premises deployments, granting complete control of the technology stack and ensuring compliance with GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and SOC 2 Type 1 standards. The company holds 21 patents, with 28 pending, demonstrating its commitment to advancing AI-driven consumer engagement. For more information, visit www.beninc.ai.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of BEN to differ materially from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” or “would,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.
    These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside BEN’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: uncertainties as to the timing of the acquisition with Cataneo Gmbh (the “Acquisition”); the risk that the Acquisition may not be completed on the anticipated terms in a timely manner or at all; (the failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the consummation of the Acquisition, including the ability to obtain financing to fund the Acquisition on terms that are acceptable or at all; the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the Acquisition may not be satisfied or waived; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the purchase agreement; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by the purchase agreement on the Company’s ability to retain and hire key personnel, its ability to maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or its operating results and business generally; risks related to diverting management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; uncertainty as to the timing of completion of the Acquisition; risks that the benefits of the Acquisition are not realized when and as expected; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to BEN; uncertainty regarding and the failure to realize the anticipated benefits from future production-ready deployments; the attraction and retention of qualified directors, officers, employees and key personnel; our ability to grow our customer base; BEN’s history of operating losses; BEN’s need for additional capital to support its present business plan and anticipated growth; technological changes in BEN’s market; the value and enforceability of BEN’s intellectual property protections; BEN’s ability to protect its intellectual property; BEN’s material weaknesses in financial reporting; BEN’s ability to navigate complex regulatory requirements; the ability to maintain the listing of BEN’s securities on a national securities exchange; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations; the effects of competition on BEN’s business; and the risks of operating and effectively managing growth in evolving and uncertain macroeconomic conditions, such as high inflation and recessionary environments. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.
    BEN cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. BEN cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. BEN does not undertake nor does it accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, and it does not intend to do so unless required by applicable law. Further information about factors that could materially affect BEN, including its results of operations and financial condition, is set forth under “Risk Factors” in BEN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Media Contact 
    Amy Rouyer
    P: 503-367-7596
    E: amy@beninc.ai

    Investor Relations
    Susan Xu
    P: 778-323-0959
    E: sxu@allianceadvisors.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Electronics Maintains No. 1 Position in European Microwave Market for 10 Consecutive Years

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung Electronics today announced that it achieved the highest market share in the European microwave segment in 2024, maintaining its No. 1 position for the tenth consecutive year.1
     
    According to data analytics company Euromonitor International, Samsung was ranked as Europe’s No. 1 selling microwave brand based on microwave sales volume in 2024. With this result, Samsung has held the top spot every year since 2015.
     
    “Samsung’s success in the European microwave market comes from our ability to align with what consumers value — a balance of design and intuitive usability,” said Taehwan Hwang, EVP and Head of the Sales & Marketing Team for the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to lead the market by leveraging our strengths in smart connectivity and premium design.”
     

    Making Design and Innovation Central to the Kitchen
    Samsung has targeted the European market with products offering premium design, reflecting the interest of local consumers in kitchen interiors. Since 2019, the company has offered its Bespoke Microwave lineup, which features seven colors2 options and a glass finish, a combination that quickly gained popularity across the region.
     
    To further enhance everyday convenience, Samsung introduced the MW7300B All-in-one Microwave Oven in 2024. Thanks to its SmartThings3 compatibility, users can monitor and control the microwave remotely4 with their smartphones, even when they are not in the kitchen. It can also be operated using voice assistants5 such as Bixby,6 for a seamless, connected cooking experience.

     
    To find out more about Samsung’s microwave products, visit Samsung.com.
     
     
    1 Source Euromonitor International Limited; Consumer Appliances 2025ed, “microwaves” as per Passport definitions; Retail Volume Sales in Units, 2024 data
    2 The available colors may differ by country. Once the color of the panels has been selected it cannot be changed again.
    3 Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. The SmartThings Energy and SmartThings Home Care services are only available in certain countries.
    4 Only available when the Smart Control button on the microwave oven is turned on with hands.
    5 A Wi-Fi connection is required
    6 Bixby is Samsung’s Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on the country. Bixby recognizes certain accents/dialects of English (US, UK, Indian), Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. A Samsung account log-in and Wi-Fi connection are required.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it’s still illegal

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda H.A. Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University

    Solomon aligning the Starlink dish on the roof of his friend’s home in Vanuatu. Paul Basant

    In the past few years, Starlink’s satellite internet service has become available across much of the Pacific. This has created new challenges for regulators in Pacific Island countries: some have promoted Starlink while others have banned it.

    What is Starlink?

    Elon Musk founded the space technology company SpaceX in 2002, and owns about 44% of it.

    Among other projects, SpaceX has launched thousands of satellites into low-Earth orbit, where they circle the globe and enable internet connectivity at ground level. This service is offered through Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX.

    The first satellites were launched in 2019. Later the same year, Musk demonstrated the use of Starlink internet.

    It took a few years for access to be available in the Pacific region. The first known use was in Tonga in 2022, after a volcanic eruption and tsunami.

    Satellite internet in the Pacific

    Starlink is not the only company offering internet access via satellite technology. However, it is well known and has generated much interest in the Pacific.

    Other companies use satellites in low-Earth orbit, such as OneWeb. Another consumer offering comes from Kacific, which provides internet access via a geostationary satellite high above the Pacific. This type of satellite moves at the same speed as Earth spins, so it appears to stay in the same place from ground level.

    Starlink access is available in many of the 18 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum, such as Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. In several of those, there are both resellers and retailers.

    Authorised resellers can sell Starlink products and services, meaning customers can buy Starlink kits and pay their monthly Starlink charges through these companies. Authorised retailers can only sell Starlink equipment.

    Gateways and barriers

    Nauru and Kosrae (a state in the Federated States of Micronesia) have recently launched more powerful Starlink connections called community gateways to improve internet access for their communities.

    Nauru’s gateway, reportedly the first in the Pacific, went live in December 2024. Kosrae’s followed in February 2025.

    In Niue, the government has banned the use of Starlink, warning users of fines or imprisonment for unauthorised use. Satellite provider Kacific continues to operate legally on the island.

    In Papua New Guinea, Starlink licensing is before the courts.

    Education and disasters

    Remote schools across Fiji and Solomon Islands are using Starlink services to improve connectivity in the hope it will enable access to online learning and digital resources. In Fiji, six rural schools now have internet access.

    In Malaita, in the Solomon Islands, Starlink is being used in classrooms, funded and supported by an initiative to make education more accessible. Kacific’s satellite internet service has also been used to connect schools in the Pacific.

    Starlink has been used for disaster communications. It is proving to be a crucial backup for undersea cables, which are vulnerable to natural disasters and service disruptions.

    Immediately after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu on December 17 2024, causing an outage of the country’s sole submarine cable, Starlink was used to maintain communication. As traditional internet services failed, more than 300 Starlink units were quickly deployed, restoring connectivity for residents, businesses and emergency services.

    Fast-moving change

    Governance responses to Starlink have differed across the Pacific, impacting access for consumers.

    Where Starlink has been approved, people can buy equipment and pay monthly usage fees in local currency.

    In some countries, Starlink has been approved but no local resellers or retailers have been established yet. In these cases, people can access the service by ordering a kit directly from the official Starlink website, which offers international shipping to approved locations.

    Internet access options across the Pacific are changing rapidly. In several countries, Starlink has not yet officially launched.

    Further change is likely. For now, governance of Starlink among Pacific countries remains a mixed bag.

    Amanda H.A. Watson receives research funding from the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Pacific Research Program.

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

    – ref. Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it’s still illegal – https://theconversation.com/starlink-is-transforming-pacific-internet-access-but-in-some-countries-its-still-illegal-257905

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Memphis Man Sentenced to Seventeen Years for Trafficking 17-Year-Old Female to Perform Commercial Sex Acts

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DOMINIQUE PEEPLES (“PEEPLES”), age 28, from Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced on May 28, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(b)(2), 1594(a), and 2.

    According to court documents, PEEPLES brought a seventeen-year-old female (“Minor Victim”) from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Houston, Texas, and required her to engage in commercial sex acts.  During this time, PEEPLES was aware of Minor Victim’s age.  PEEPLES advertised Minor Victim on websites commonly used to advertise sexual services in exchange for money and kept all or most of the proceeds from her work.   PEEPLES waited in a vehicle and watched Minor Victim while she solicited commercial sex “dates.”  Minor Victim worked under PEEPLES’ supervision between August of 2020 and her escape in mid-January 2021.  After Minor Victim ran away, PEEPLES posted a video on social media in which he boasted about exploiting Minor Victim and pointed firearms at the screen.

    U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced PEEPLES to seventeen (17) years in prison.  PEEPLES was also sentenced to ten (10) years of supervised release after release from prison. Judge Vance further ordered PEEPLES to pay $120,000 in restitution to Minor Victim, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  PEEPLES will also have to register as a sex offender.

    This case was part of a broader investigation involving defendants JEREMY TALBERT and MACEO ROBERTS, both of whom have pleaded guilty for related sex trafficking crimes.  In February 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan sentenced ROBERTS to 22.5 years of imprisonment for conspiring to traffic three minors and two adults.  In March 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Lance Africk sentenced TALBERT to 18 years for trafficking a fourteen-year-old minor to New Orleans.

    These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit and Jordan Ginsberg, Supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Metairie Resident Sentenced for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that CARSON RIESS (“RIESS”), age 41, of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 27, 2025, to 60 months imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge  Jay C. Zainey after previously pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1).  Additionally, RIESS was ordered to pay $172,500 in restitution to numerous victims as well as a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, the case against RIESS stemmed from an online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  On May 20, 2024, HSI special agents, along with members of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, executed two federal search warrants at RIESS’ Metairie home.  HSI agents seized a computer from RIESS’ residence during the search, confirmed this laptop contained Child Sexual Abuse Material, and subsequently arrested RIESS and charged him with the receipt of CSAM.  HSI’s investigation revealed RIESS received images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Online open house for SR 167 Completion Project construction in Pierce County begins June 9

    Source: Washington State News 2

    Public can learn where, when and how construction will affect them

    PUYALLUP – Construction work on a new stage of the State Route 167 Completion Project in Pierce County will begin picking up steam in summer 2025. To help people in the Puyallup, Edgewood, Sumner and Milton areas understand how construction will affect them, the Washington State Department of Transportation is launching an online open house on Monday, June 9.

    People who visit the online open house will learn more about the project, which builds a portion of a new expressway between SR 410 and North Meridian Avenue in Puyallup. It also includes a new interchange at North Meridian Avenue, two new bridges, a section of the spuyaləpabš Trail, and ramp and surface street improvements. The online open house outlines the phases of construction and what people can expect if they live, work or travel through the area.

    SR 167 online open house information

    When:  Monday, June 9 – Saturday, Aug. 9

    Where:  engage.wsdot.wa.gov/sr-167-completion-project/

    Details:  The online open house will be available in Spanish, Russian, Korean and Tagalog. Visitors also can leave comments or ask questions.

    Internet access

    • Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service and wish to participate in the online open house:
    • Sumner Library, 1116 Fryar Ave., Sumner
    • WSU Puyallup Research Center, 2606 W. Pioneer Ave., Puyallup
    • Milton/Edgewood Library, 900 Meridian E., Suite 29, Milton
    • Fife Library, 6622 20th St. E., Fife
    • Bonney Lake Library, 18501 90th St. E., Bonney Lake

    SR 167 Completion Project information

    The SR 167 Completion Project builds 6 miles of new tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma. The new expressway will be built in stages. The first stage of work completed the new Wapato Way East bridge and SR 99 roundabout in Fife. The second stage builds the expressway between I-5 and the Port of Tacoma. It’s scheduled to open in 2026.  Work on the third stage between SR 161/North Meridian Avenue and SR 410 began in 2025. Construction of the last stage between North Meridian Avenue and I-5 will begin in 2026. The entire project is planned for completion by 2030. 

     Photos of construction work are available on the project’s Flickr page. A 3D video tour is also available on WSDOT’s YouTube page.

    Puget Sound Gateway Program overview

    The SR 167 Completion Project is part of WSDOT’s Puget Sound Gateway Program, which also includes the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County. Together, the two completion projects finish critical missing links in Washington’s highway and freight network.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FORMER BATON ROUGE CITY PARISH CONTRACTOR SENTENCED TO 86 MONTHS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Blake Joseph Steiner, age 37, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 86 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of child pornography. The Court further sentenced Steiner to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered him to complete sex offender treatment and register as a sex offender upon his release.

    According to admissions made during his plea, Steiner initiated a conversation on a mobile application group chat with an undercover agent (“UCA”). Steiner hoped to gain access to a group that was dedicated to sharing and trading child pornography. To gain access, Steiner first sent the UCA a video of himself and the date to verify his identity. In another effort to gain access to what he thought was an online child pornography group, Steiner sent a video of a girl under 12 years old being raped by an adult male.  Steiner further admitted to the UCA that he managed another child pornography group online and that he engaged in hands-on conduct involving a minor. 

    This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief.   

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Conducts 2025 Article IV Consultation and Reaches Staff-Level Agreement on the Fifth Review of the Extended Credit Facility with Zambia

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 9, 2025

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • The Zambian authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on the economic policies and reforms needed to conclude the Fifth Review under the 38-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.
    • Zambia’s economy proved resilient to the drought, and growth is projected at 5.8 percent in 2025. Rising fiscal pressures and external headwinds call for decisive domestic revenue mobilization and steadfast fiscal discipline to preserve fiscal and debt sustainability.
    • Sustaining reform momentum will consolidate gains of Zambia’s homegrown reform agenda to achieving higher and more inclusive growth, promoting job creation and building resilience amid a challenging external environment and declining official support.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Ms. Mercedes Vera Martin, IMF Mission Chief for Zambia, visited Lusaka from April 29 to May 13, 2025, to conduct discussions for the 2025 Article IV Consultation and the Fifth Review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). Discussions continued virtually subsequently.

    At the end of the discussions, Ms. Vera Martin issued the following statement:

    “The Zambian authorities and the IMF team reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies and reforms for the Fifth Review under the ECF arrangement. The agreement is subject to approval by IMF management and the Executive Board in the coming weeks. Once approved by the Executive Board, Zambia will gain access to SDR 139.9 million (about US$194 million) in financing.

    “The Zambian economy demonstrated resilience in 2024, despite a severe drought and global headwinds. Real GDP growth is estimated at 4 percent in 2024—up from 1.2 percent projected at the time of the Fourth Review—driven by stronger-than-projected mining and non-mining activity, especially in ICT, financial services and construction, as well as a less severe contraction in agriculture than initially envisaged. Fiscal performance in 2024 was tighter than initially planned, with a primary surplus of 2.9 percent of GDP, driven primarily by spending compression amid tight financing conditions. Social protection spending helped cushion the impact of the drought and rising prices on vulnerable households.

    “Growth momentum is expected to continue in 2025, with real GDP growth projected at 5.8 percent. Economic activity would be supported by a rebound in agricultural output, increased copper production, and a gradual recovery in electricity generation, although electricity shortages and reliance on energy imports are expected to persist. Driven by higher food prices and kwacha depreciation, inflation averaged 15 percent y/y in 2024 and peaked at 16.8 percent y/y in February. Inflationary pressures have started to show signs of easing since then, partly reflecting hikes in the policy rate, at 14.5 percent since February 2025. The current account deficit narrowed in 2024, while gross international reserves have continued to increase, to $4.7 billion by mid-May 2025 (4.1 months of prospective imports). The medium-term outlook remains favorable, but downside risks to the outlook dominate given increasing global uncertainty. Advancing the external debt restructuring would help lower risk premia and catalyze investment.

    “The overall fiscal balance is expected to widen to 5.3 percent of GDP, with the primary balance (cash basis, program target) projected at 1.1 percent in 2025. Higher-than-initially projected debt service and new social spending needs are adding fiscal pressures. To this end, the authorities have committed to revising the 2025 Budget, to include additional revenue measures and reprioritize expenditures to partly accommodate additional spending needs. Going forward, sustained revenue mobilization and stronger expenditure controls will be critical to safeguarding priority spending and supporting fiscal and debt sustainability. Continued efforts to strengthen tax administration and expenditure efficiency, broaden the tax base, and monitoring fiscal risks will help improve fiscal policy implementation.  

    “While inflation is projected to gradually decline in 2025 as food and fuel prices ease, continued vigilance is needed given elevated uncertainty and persistent inflationary pressures. Preserving a data-driven and forward-looking monetary policy stance will be essential to steer inflation toward the target band and support macroeconomic stability. Enhancing the monetary transmission will help develop interbank money markets. Strengthening the financial legal and regulatory framework in line with international best practices, including for bank resolution, and developing an effective deposit protection scheme, will support financial stability.  

    “Accelerating reform implementation is needed to lay the foundations for higher and more inclusive growth. Continued efforts to improve the business environment and strengthen governance are critical to boosting investor confidence, reducing the state footprint, particularly in agriculture, and fostering a level-playing field for private sector-led growth. These reforms are key to unlocking investment and creating job opportunities needed for Zambia’s rapidly growing youth population. While the open access regime in the fuel sector is being somewhat implemented, renewed efforts to enhance enforcement and transparency in fuel supply will further promote fair competition.

    “The IMF team met with His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema; Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane; Governor of the Bank of Zambia, Dr. Denny Kalyalya; Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Felix Nkulukusa; Deputy Governor, Dr. Francis Chipimo; senior government officials; and representatives from the private sector, civil society, and development partners. The IMF team extends its sincere gratitude to the Zambian authorities and stakeholders for their warm hospitality and constructive engagement throughout the mission.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/09/pr-25187-zambia-imf-conducts-2025-art-iv-consult-reaches-agreement-on-5th-rev-of-ecf

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sex Offender Who Approached 11-Year-Old Online Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a registered sex offender who possessed child sexual abuse material and initiated a sexual conversation with a 11-year-old girl via Facebook Messenger to 16 years in prison. 

    Seth Allen Barger, 42, of Jefferson County, Missouri, sent a friend request to the victim in 2023. Via Facebook Messenger on July 26, 2023, he sought to engage her in a sexual conversation. The victim’s mother contacted the St. Louis County Police Department, and a detective interviewed Barger. Barger said his account had been hacked. After Barger consented to a search of his phone, a detective with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office found 35 images containing child sexual abuse material.

    Barger pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography and one count of enticement of a minor.

    The St. Louis County Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester Central Library and Town Hall Extension to temporarily close for major ICT investment

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester Central Library, along with the Town Hall Extension, are closing temporarily in August for the replacement and upgrade of ICT networks and Wi-Fi systems.

    They will be closed for three weeks from 2- 24 August with no access for staff or the public as there will be no ICT network access available while cabling and upgrade work is carried out, which means no connectivity for laptops, PCs, printers and other digital infrastructure. 

    The ICT project will update the Local Area Network (LAN) and the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). It will ensure that the Central Library and the Town Hall Extension will have a flexible ICT network providing seamless connectivity for staff and the public using our buildings, as well as third parties including the NHS, GMP and other local authorities. 

    To date, more than 120 buildings have been completed with feedback from staff, library visitors and our partners highlighting its transformative impact. 

    Manchester’s 21 local libraries will be open as usual providing PCs, book lending and study space, all of which have already had successful LAN and Wi-Fi network updates.  

    Find further information on all Manchester Libraries services.  

    Staff hours will be increased in nine key libraries in the city, and we will continue to operate a visitor information service and accept books that are being returned.  

    Staff will be on hand at Central Library entrances to advise customers and residents of the closure and signpost to alternative libraries, places to sightsee, meet or enjoy a coffee in the city. 

    Find out everything you need to know about the temporary Manchester Central Library closure .

    The St Peter’s Square Generator enterprise hub will also be closed but all the services for businesses will be available at the Generator hub site at  Royal Mills Ancoats which opened in 2024. 

    The Town Hall Extension will be fully closed and affected staff will work remotely, while alternative arrangements are being made for in-person pre-booked appointments carried out in the Town Hall Extension, including alternative locations for in-person homelessness appointments and for taxi drivers to attend in-person to present legal documentation.

    Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said:  

    “We need to carry out important work to upgrade the network systems which were implemented during the major refurbishment works in 2013.   

    “Currently there is patchy network coverage in critical areas across the buildings, and the upgrade will give us a flexible ICT network that is more fitting to modern ways of working and our digital strategy goals.  

    “We are sorry for the inconvenience that these temporary closures may cause but we are making alternative plans for the services during this time, and we hope that people will understand that the end point of this critical work will be beneficial to everyone who uses the buildings for years to come.” 

     

    Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:

    “Although there is never a good time to shut Manchester Central Library, we cannot move forward in updating the network without this necessary closure. I can assure people that we will be working at pace to bring a better and faster Wi-Fi provision for our customers when we reopen. 

    “Our library staff will be relocated to our branch libraries during the closure to ensure they can continue to provide the vital services our residents have come to expect while the work is undertaken – and of course a range of library services are also available online.” 

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU has prepared a record number of winners and prize winners of the All-Russian competition of social advertising “Exit”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The results of the 18th All-Russian (with international participation) competition of social advertising “Exit” have been summed up. The competition has been held since 2007 on the basis of Lipetsk State Technical University. This year the festival was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the year of the Defender of the Fatherland.

    The competition received over 300 entries. Projects by students majoring in Advertising and Public Relations at the State University of Management won a record number of prizes in various competition nominations.

    Winning and prize-winning projects completed by student teams within the framework of the SUM project activities:

    Nomination “PR-project”: Subject – Healthy lifestyle 1st place – “Mental Help – for your health” Project team: Victoria Vlasova, Victoria Dudetskaya, Valeria Solodkova, Sofia Zhigalkina (RISSO in business 2-3), manager – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Valeriya Solodkova: “Our development is dedicated to the current topic of youth mental health. The target audience of our project is young people suffering from depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, stress disorders and other psychological problems. It is important for such people to monitor their health and condition. We have developed a concept and design solutions for a mobile application that is designed to support people with mental problems and improve their well-being.”

    Theme: Strong family – strong state 1st place – “Babylon – the door to the diversity of the world” Project team: Chaleleshvili Mariami, Basencyan Meri (RISSO in business 2-3), leader – Timokhovich Alexandra Nikolaevna.

    Basentsyan Meri: “In a modern multicultural society, people are not sufficiently informed about the culture and traditions of different nations and nationalities. The lack of a single platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience between representatives of different cultures makes it difficult to preserve and pass on cultural heritage to future generations. As part of the completed project solutions, we offer the audience not only to get acquainted with the culture of other peoples by providing information about traditions, languages, art, history, but also to exchange cultural samples, unite in communities of interest.”

    2nd place – “VUZ Directions – your chance!” Project team: Anna Antipa, Olga Lazarenko, Ekaterina Zamordueva, Veronika Kviring, Maria Rasskazova (RISSO in business 2-3), leader – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Olga Lazarenko: “In connection with the opening up of new technological opportunities, the structure of the labor market is changing. The problem of professional self-determination is becoming relevant. Teenagers often face the problem of choosing a future profession, since it is quite rare that young people in their youth are able to accurately determine in which professional field they would like to develop. Our project developments allow schoolchildren and their parents, as well as adults who want to change their profession, to choose a direction for study at a university or in additional professional education courses, and to decide on a future profession.”

    2nd place – “Profor” Project team: Veronika Aparina, Kira Bogatkina, Anna Vaslyaeva, Ksenia Ignatyeva, Sofia Mazeina, Anna Shorohova (RISSO in business 3-1), leader – Elena Vadimovna Dianina.

    Shorokhova Anna: “We thought for a long time about how to help schoolchildren with the choice of a university and profession, since we also faced this problem when entering. That’s why the idea arose to create a career guidance mobile application – “Profor”. We want the children to be able to understand their interests and find their favorite thing with the help of our mobile application.”

    Subject: We are against crime and corruption 2nd place – “Connectify – there is a solution!” Project team: Angelina Igoshina, Victoria Zobnina, Ruslana Bulakh, Polina Savina, Lolita Krasotina (RISSO in business 2-3), leader – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Bulakh Ruslana: “In the conditions of globalization of the labor market, the key factor of success is the ability to quickly find reliable business partners. We have developed a concept and solutions for a digital product that allows not only to quickly find the necessary professional contacts for business, but can be used as a network of professional connections necessary for career growth and professional self-realization.”

    Nomination “PR-project”: Subject – Doing good 1st place – “Helping the tails” Authors: Ulyana Eremina, Elizaveta Patorova, Alexandra Podganina (RISSO in business 2-2), manager – Elena Vadimovna Dianina.

    Topic — Live soberly! 3rd place — “Gambling is an irreversible choice” Authors: Violetta Vdovitsa, Alina Karpova, Shonia Sofiko (RISSO in business 3-1), leader — Elena Vadimovna Dianina.

    Subject: We are against crime and corruption 3rd place: “Don’t tolerate! Don’t be afraid! Don’t be silent!” Authors: Bulakh Ruslana, Dudetskaya Victoria, Peldiakova Darya (RISSO in business 2-3), leader: Dianina Elena Vadimovna.

    Topic — Social networks, or Where are you, our children? 2nd place — “Virtual shackles” Authors: Anastasia Lazinkova, Polina Pukhova, Maria Sineok (RISSO in business 2-3), leader — Elena Vadimovna Dianina.

    3rd place – “Leaving Online 2.0” Authors: Marina Zotkina (PRK 1-1), Svetlana Akimova (RISSO in Business 4-2), supervisor – Elena Vadimovna Dianina.

    Nomination “Audio Advertising”: Subject – Road Wars 1st place – “Faster Speed – Shorter Life” Authors: Daria Klyuzhina, Anastasia Morozova, Lyubov Savostyanova (Digital Marketing Communications 3-2), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    3rd place – “Safe Path” Authors: Veronika Aparina, Sofia Mazeina (RISSO in business 3-1), leader – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Topic: You need to live soberly 2nd place – “Every fifth” Authors: Egor Meshcheryakov, Violetta Evteeva, Artem Vozyakov (Digital Marketing Communications 3-2), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    3rd place – “Make a conscious choice” Authors: Valeria Gusarova, Dmitry Dzhafarov, Ekaterina Kalchenko (RISSO in business 3-2), leader – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Subject — Healthy lifestyle 1st place — “Beautiful jars are not for you” Authors: Ulyana Sorokina, Sofia Alekseeva (RISSO in business 3-3), leader — Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich

    2nd place – “The Key to a Happy Childhood” Authors: Elizaveta Chabanova, Sofia Petrova, Diana Shakurova (Promotion of New Business 3-1), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Topic: A strong family means a strong country 2nd place: “Take a step towards happiness” Authors: Daria Barinova, Kristina Kazakova, Linara Valeeva (RISSO in business 3-2), leader: Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Subject: Family and children’s problems 1st place – “It’s time to act” Authors: Elizaveta Ilyinichna Fedoseeva, Daria Aleksandrovna Yezhova (RISSO in business 3-1), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    2nd place – “Don’t forget your elders” Authors: Dmitry Denisov, Pavel Polyakov, Riad Faig oglu Gubatov, Viktor Lozovsky (Promotion of new business 3-1), leader – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Topic — Social networks, or Where are you, our children? 1st place — “Take a break” Authors: Anisimova Ioanna, Petrosyan Diana (Promotion of new business 3-1), supervisor — Timokhovich Alexandra Nikolaevna.

    2nd place – “Protect yourself on the Internet” Authors: Salnikova Sabina, Karpova Alina, Korotkaya Daria (RISSO in business 3-1), supervisor – Timokhovich Alexandra Nikolaevna.

    Subject: Ecoworld 1st place – “Take a pet from a shelter” Authors: Anna Badayeva, Ksenia Stavtseva (RISSO in business 3-1), leader – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    2nd place – “Don’t betray them” Authors: Elizaveta Zhazhina (Promotion of new business 3-1), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    2nd place – “Let’s help together” Authors: Ksenia Kalichkova, Maria Vanyakina (Digital Marketing Communications 3-2), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    3rd place – “Recycle for the sake of life” Authors: Ruslan Dasaev (RISSO in business 3-3), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    3rd place – “Find a friend today” Authors: Maria Sitnikova, Nikita Anufriev (Digital Marketing Communications 3-1), supervisor – Alexandra Nikolaevna Timokhovich.

    Nomination: “Outdoor and Print Advertising” Subject: Healthy Lifestyle 3rd place: “Live Here and Now” Authors: Stephanie Maria, Widow Violetta (RISSO in Business 3-1), manager: Timokhovich Alexandra Nikolaevna.

    Congratulations to the winning teams and scientific supervisors!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Hits 40M Users with 46% Growth in New Listing Token Trading Volume in May

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has released its May 2025 performance update, showcasing another strong month of growth across user acquisition, trading activity, and sectoral momentum. The platform’s global user base surpassed 40 million, up from 30 million in December 2024 — a 33% increase in just five months.

    Key Highlights:

    • User base exceeded 40 million (+33% since Dec 2024)
    • 214 new tokens listed in May (+33.7% MoM)
    • Average trading volume per user up 45.09%
    • Top 10 newly listed tokens averaged +2300.95% in peak gains
    • About 40,000 users joined Airdrop+ campaigns

    Listing Activity and Trading Volume Growth

    MEXC listed 214 new tokens in May, marking one of the most active listing months to date. Trading volume tied to these listings jumped by 46.7%, while average trading volume per user increased by 45.09% — signaling rising user engagement and growing confidence in MEXC’s early-stage project selection.
    MEXC’s total daily trading volume reached $4.1 billion according to CoinMarketCap, making it the second-largest platform by trading volume among leading crypto exchanges.

    Sector Momentum: AI, GameFi, Meme Coins

    Some of the strongest gains came from sectors that continue to define the next market cycle. AI infrastructure token AGT posted a peak gain of +3,770.10%, followed closely by blockchain gaming project NXPC (+3,756.30%) and PayFi protocol HUMA (+1,170.00%).
    Meme coins remained a major force in May, with retail-driven tokens from Solana and BNB Chain dominating charts. GOONC surged +3,400%, B gained +3,001.20%, and MOONPIG rallied +753.33%, demonstrating the power of meme communities in driving liquidity and excitement.

    User Incentives: Airdrops and Launchpools

    May also marked a record month for user rewards and event participation. MEXC hosted 58 Airdrop+ campaigns, more than doubling the number from April. The combined prize pool exceeded 3 million USDT, attracting nearly 40,000 users. Campaigns like AIOT (7,000+ participants, ~320 USDT value per user) and HUMA (100 USDT in tokens, followed by a 1,170% gain) stood out for their strong user response and post-listing performance.
    Launchpool events continued to deliver high returns. The ICEBERG pool offered an 8,488.44% APR, while the ongoing EIN Launchpool, open until July 17, remains attractive due to its high rewards and relatively low participation.

    Looking Ahead

    With momentum across listings, incentives, and user growth, MEXC continues to strengthen its position as a global launchpad for high-potential tokens. Strategic focus remains on trending verticals such as AI, Real World Assets (RWA), GameFi, and the TON ecosystem, where user demand and innovation are converging.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    For media inquiries, please contact MEXC PR Manager Lucia Hu: lucia.hu@mexc.com

    Source

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by MEXC. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c8de1c4e-5cd7-4c33-af92-9a1bbafb4335
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a50404fb-c5d7-499b-a6e6-6401155f9849

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NBPE – NB Private Equity Partners Announces Transaction in Own Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ITALY, DENMARK, JAPAN, THE UNITED STATES, OR TO ANY NATIONAL OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS

    St Peter Port, Guernsey 9 June 2025

    NB Private Equity Partners (“NBPE” or the “Company”) today announces details of Class A Shares bought back pursuant to general authority granted by shareholders of the Company on 12 June 2024 and the share buy-back agreement with Jefferies International Limited.

    Transaction on London Stock Exchange

    Date of purchase of Shares 6 June 2025
    Number of Shares purchased 3,000 Class A Shares
    Highest price/lowest price paid £14.50 / £14.34
    ISIN for the Shares GG00B1ZBD492

    All Class A Shares bought back will be cancelled. Following the cancellation, the number of outstanding Class A Shares is 45,533,911‬. The Company also has 3,150,408 Class A shares held in treasury. For reporting purposes under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules the market should use the figure of 45,533,911 voting rights when determining if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company.

    For further information, please contact:

    NBPE Investor Relations        +44 20 3214 9002
    Luke Mason        NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com

    Kaso Legg Communications        +44 (0)20 3882 6644

    Charles Gorman        nbpe@kl-communications.com
    Luke Dampier
    Charlotte Francis

    About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
    NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

    LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

    About Neuberger Berman

    Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $515 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last eleven years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of March 31, 2025.

    This press release appears as a matter of record only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any security.

    NBPE is established as a closed-end investment company domiciled in Guernsey. NBPE has received the necessary consent of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. This document is not intended to constitute legal, tax or accounting advice or investment recommendations. Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision. Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of NBPE’s investment manager. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Additionally, this document contains “forward-looking statements.” Actual events or results or the actual performance of NBPE may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such targets or forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Pop Culture Festival “Music and Laughs” Concert tickets on sale from June 10

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the “Music and Laughs” Concert, one of the highlights of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025. Curated by award-winning veteran producer Edward Chan, the concert will feature five popular singers or artists and accomplished musicians, delivering a delightful performance. With comedy and music as the main themes, the concert weaves together elements of drama, dance, and unique stage design, offering an unforgettable evening filled with laughter and joy.
     
         Edward Chan, who has arranged and produced songs for numerous renowned pop artists, will curate tailor-made performances for Jason Chan, Jay Fung, Cath Wong, Dee@ERROR, and FatBoy@ERROR, showcasing their distinct characteristics and strengths through diverse collaborations and presentation formats. Accompanied by the Symphonic Pops Orchestra under the baton of Fung Ka-hing and a live band of rising young musicians, the concert promises a surprising and whimsical musical spark.
     
         “Music and Laughs” Concert will be staged at 8pm on July 19 and 20 at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $388, $688, $888 and $1,088 will be available from tomorrow (June 10) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). Only Internet, mobile app and telephone (3166 1288) bookings are available on the first ticket sale day, while outlet and self-service ticketing kiosk bookings will be available from the second ticket sale day. A maximum of 10 tickets can be purchased per transaction per person on the first ticket sale day, and a maximum of 40 tickets can be purchased per transaction per person from the second ticket sale day.
     
         For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 3755 3359 or visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en/programmes/music-laughs-concert.
     
         This year, the LCSD presents the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, themed “More Than Joy”. Humour has been a trendsetter in Hong Kong’s pop culture scene. The Festival features a diverse range of formats including stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, and library and outreach activities. Offering insight into the multifaceted development of Hong Kong’s pop culture along the line of “happiness”, the Festival brings audiences not only joy and laughter but also an opportunity to appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch 399

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL9

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 399
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    830 PM CDT Sun Jun 8 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Far Southwest Arkansas
    Northwest Louisiana
    Southeast Oklahoma
    North-Central and Northeast Texas

    * Effective this Sunday night and Monday morning from 830 PM
    until 400 AM CDT.

    …THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION…

    * Primary threats include…
    Widespread damaging winds expected with scattered significant
    gusts to 100 mph likely
    Scattered large hail likely with isolated very large hail events
    to 3 inches in diameter possible
    A few tornadoes possible

    SUMMARY…Multiple intense clusters and supercells are expected to
    track east-southeast over southern Oklahoma and north-central/
    northeast Texas this evening into the early overnight hours.
    Widespread severe/damaging winds are anticipated with this activity,
    with peak gusts potentially reaching up to 80-100 mph in the more
    intense bowing clusters. Scattered large to very large hail also
    remains possible with embedded supercells, along with a few
    tornadoes.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 80
    statute miles north and south of a line from 50 miles west northwest
    of Mineral Wells TX to 10 miles north northeast of Shreveport LA.
    For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch
    outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 392…WW 393…WW
    394…WW 395…WW 396…WW 397…WW 398…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 85 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 600. Mean storm motion vector
    30035.

    …Gleason

    SEL9

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 399
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    830 PM CDT Sun Jun 8 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Far Southwest Arkansas
    Northwest Louisiana
    Southeast Oklahoma
    North-Central and Northeast Texas

    * Effective this Sunday night and Monday morning from 830 PM
    until 400 AM CDT.

    …THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION…

    * Primary threats include…
    Widespread damaging winds expected with scattered significant
    gusts to 100 mph likely
    Scattered large hail likely with isolated very large hail events
    to 3 inches in diameter possible
    A few tornadoes possible

    SUMMARY…Multiple intense clusters and supercells are expected to
    track east-southeast over southern Oklahoma and north-central/
    northeast Texas this evening into the early overnight hours.
    Widespread severe/damaging winds are anticipated with this activity,
    with peak gusts potentially reaching up to 80-100 mph in the more
    intense bowing clusters. Scattered large to very large hail also
    remains possible with embedded supercells, along with a few
    tornadoes.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 80
    statute miles north and south of a line from 50 miles west northwest
    of Mineral Wells TX to 10 miles north northeast of Shreveport LA.
    For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch
    outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 392…WW 393…WW
    394…WW 395…WW 396…WW 397…WW 398…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 85 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 600. Mean storm motion vector
    30035.

    …Gleason

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW9
    WW 399 SEVERE TSTM AR LA OK TX 090130Z – 090900Z
    AXIS..80 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    50WNW MWL/MINERAL WELLS TX/ – 10NNE SHV/SHREVEPORT LA/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 70NM N/S /58SSW SPS – 11SSE EIC/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..85 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 600. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 30035.

    LAT…LON 34219887 33749376 31439376 31909887

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU9.

    Watch 399 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (50%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (>95%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    High (90%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (50%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (>95%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch 396

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL6

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 396
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    400 PM CDT Sun Jun 8 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Southwest Oklahoma
    Western North Texas and Low Rolling Plains

    * Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 400 PM until
    1100 PM CDT.

    …THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION…

    * Primary threats include…
    Widespread damaging winds and scattered significant gusts to 105
    mph likely
    Widespread large hail likely with isolated very large hail
    events to 5 inches in diameter possible
    A few tornadoes likely

    SUMMARY…Increasing intense severe storm development is expected
    through late afternoon into evening. This will include initial
    supercells capable of very large hail with a tornado risk, but a
    prominent potential for widespread damaging winds should evolve this
    evening.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
    statute miles north and south of a line from 10 miles northwest of
    Lubbock TX to 40 miles southeast of Chickasha OK. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 391…WW 392…WW
    393…WW 394…WW 395…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 90 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 600. Mean storm motion vector
    29035.

    …Guyer

    SEL6

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 396
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    400 PM CDT Sun Jun 8 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Southwest Oklahoma
    Western North Texas and Low Rolling Plains

    * Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 400 PM until
    1100 PM CDT.

    …THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION…

    * Primary threats include…
    Widespread damaging winds and scattered significant gusts to 105
    mph likely
    Widespread large hail likely with isolated very large hail
    events to 5 inches in diameter possible
    A few tornadoes likely

    SUMMARY…Increasing intense severe storm development is expected
    through late afternoon into evening. This will include initial
    supercells capable of very large hail with a tornado risk, but a
    prominent potential for widespread damaging winds should evolve this
    evening.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
    statute miles north and south of a line from 10 miles northwest of
    Lubbock TX to 40 miles southeast of Chickasha OK. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 391…WW 392…WW
    393…WW 394…WW 395…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 90 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 600. Mean storm motion vector
    29035.

    …Guyer

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW6
    WW 396 SEVERE TSTM OK TX 082100Z – 090400Z
    AXIS..70 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    10NW LBB/LUBBOCK TX/ – 40SE CHK/CHICKASHA OK/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 60NM N/S /4NNW LBB – 32NNW ADM/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..90 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 600. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 29035.

    LAT…LON 34790194 35709747 33689747 32750194

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU6.

    Watch 396 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (90%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    High (80%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    High (80%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (50%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (>95%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 392

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL2

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 392
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    225 PM EDT Sun Jun 8 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    District Of Columbia
    Maryland
    Northern and Central Virginia
    Far Eastern West Virginia
    Coastal Waters

    * Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 225 PM until
    1000 PM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A couple tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible
    Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop and
    further increase through late afternoon and evening, with damaging
    winds, hail, and tornadoes possible, especially near a warm front.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 75 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 20 miles north of Martinsburg WV to 20
    miles southeast of Richmond VA. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 390…WW 391…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 55 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 25025.

    …Guyer

    SEL2

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 392
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    225 PM EDT Sun Jun 8 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    District Of Columbia
    Maryland
    Northern and Central Virginia
    Far Eastern West Virginia
    Coastal Waters

    * Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 225 PM until
    1000 PM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A couple tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible
    Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop and
    further increase through late afternoon and evening, with damaging
    winds, hail, and tornadoes possible, especially near a warm front.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 75 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 20 miles north of Martinsburg WV to 20
    miles southeast of Richmond VA. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 390…WW 391…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 55 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 25025.

    …Guyer

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW2
    WW 392 TORNADO DC MD VA WV CW 081825Z – 090200Z
    AXIS..75 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    20N MRB/MARTINSBURG WV/ – 20SE RIC/RICHMOND VA/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 65NM E/W /48WNW EMI – 18SE RIC/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..55 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 25025.

    LAT…LON 39687657 37297569 37297842 39687939

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU2.

    Watch 392 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (30%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (10%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Low (20%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (10%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (70%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ocean-friendly changes on Chinese island bring double benefits – ecological and economic

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    HANGZHOU, June 8 (Xinhua) — On a beach in Taizhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, 68-year-old Wang Zhongfu bends down to pick up discarded plastic bottles and torn fishing nets.

    Wang Zhongfu is one of thousands of participants in the Blue Circle marine plastic recycling program, which launched in 2020 and uses blockchain and the Internet of Things to track the full life cycle of marine plastic waste, from collection to remanufacturing and resale.

    The Blue Circle program, developed by the Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Ecology and Environment and Zhejiang Lanjing Technology Co., Ltd., is the largest of its kind in the country.

    In 2023, the program won the United Nations /UN/ Champions of the Earth 2023 Award for Entrepreneurial Vision for its efforts to combat marine plastic pollution. According to the UN Environment Programme, the award is the UN’s highest environmental honour.

    “We are reducing the amount of plastic waste in the ocean and helping people earn extra income from collecting trash,” said Kong Chen, who runs the Blue Circle plastic waste collection station, known as Little Blue Home, located on Dachen Island, about 29 nautical miles off the coast of Taizhou. He noted that the station has removed more than 20 tons of marine waste in 2024.

    Blue Circle pays 0.20 yuan (almost 3 US cents) for each plastic bottle collected, a price several times higher than the market average, in an effort to supplement the incomes of many local residents.

    “This initiative motivates people to participate in environmental protection and increase their income. People who fish can consciously collect plastic waste while working in the sea,” said Kong Chen, noting that participants like Wang Zhongfu can earn about 1,000 yuan a month this way.

    People can trace the path of recycled plastic by scanning QR codes on products such as car parts, suitcases and phone cases made from certified ocean-bound plastic. Plastic waste is cleaned and processed into pellets for industrial use at Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology /Zhejiang/ Co., Ltd.’s plant in Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

    “Since 2022, we have recycled tens of millions of plastic bottles collected through the Blue Circle program,” said Fu Xianwei, the company’s chief operating officer. He added that certified marine plastic pellets can sell for more than 1.3 times the price of regular recycled plastic, and products made from these pellets have higher added value.

    “Once fishermen make a profit and businesses are motivated, marine plastic waste management enters a virtuous cycle,” said Ye Zongsen, an official with the Jiaojiang District branch of Taizhou City’s Ecology and Environment Bureau.

    The initiative has expanded to all coastal areas of Zhejiang, and to date, about 1,360 residents, 10,000 vessels and seven recycling companies have joined in. In Zhejiang alone, the program has collected 15,000 tons of marine waste, including more than 2,900 tons of plastic waste. It has also expanded to seven other provinces, including China’s southernmost island province of Hainan.

    Dachen Island in Jiaojiang District is a model of green development. Dozens of wind turbines on the island’s mountain ridge generate an average of 60 million kWh of electricity per year, five times the island’s consumption, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 45,000 tons.

    Excess electricity is sent to the mainland via undersea power cables, according to Jiang Weijian, director of the Dachen power station of State Grid Zhejiang Power Co.

    Green energy has led to many changes, including all-electric buses, electric oxygen and ice production in fisheries, and the gradual introduction of electric stoves in guest houses on the island.

    In addition, thanks to Dachen’s low-carbon solid waste treatment plant and sewage treatment plant, the proportion of high-quality water in coastal areas has reached 98%.

    As the island’s environment improves, tourism is booming. Last year, Dachen welcomed 200,000 tourists and earned 170 million yuan in revenue.

    “As the situation improves, our hotel business is booming,” said Dachen resident Kong Qinglei, who opened his business on the island in 2020. In 2024, his revenue exceeded 1 million yuan.

    The island also benefits from its marine resources. The island, famous for its pink salmon plantations, has 14 pink salmon farms, and its output reached 10,005 tons last year, worth more than 1.1 billion yuan. The fishing industry has created jobs for nearly 300 people.

    Local authorities are currently encouraging the development of the sea travel and souvenir industry. Some guest house owners are even combining their business with yellow croaker farming.

    The island is also a pioneer in trading “blue carbon” and forest carbon. “The funds were channeled into a common prosperity fund to protect the marine environment, as well as for the island’s marine farmers and residents,” said Yang Haifei, a spokesman for the island’s administration. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese island’s ocean-friendly changes deliver dual gains in ecology, economy

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

    HANGZHOU, June 8 — On a stretch of beach in Taizhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Wang Zhongfu, 68, bends to pick up discarded plastic bottles and tattered fishing nets.

    Wang is one of thousands participating in Blue Circle, a marine plastic recycling program that, initiated in 2020, utilizes blockchain technology and the Internet of Things to track the full life cycle of marine plastic waste — from collection to remanufacturing and resale.

    Developed by Zhejiang Province’s Department of Ecology and Environment and Zhejiang Lanjing Technology Co., Ltd., Blue Circle is the country’s largest program of its kind.

    In 2023, it received the United Nations 2023 Champions of the Earth award in the category of Entrepreneurial Vision for its efforts to tackle marine plastic pollution. According to the UN Environment Programme, the award is the UN’s highest environmental honor.

    “We reduce plastic waste in the ocean and help people get additional income from waste collection,” said Kong Chen, who oversees a Blue Circle plastic waste station known as Little Blue Home, located on Dachen Island, some 29 nautical miles from Taizhou’s coast. He noted that the station transported over 20 tonnes of marine waste in 2024.

    Blue Circle pays 0.20 yuan (almost 3 U.S. cents) for every plastic bottle collected — a price several times higher than the market average. This is designed to supplement the incomes of many locals.

    “The initiative motivates people to join in on environmental protection and improve their incomes. People out fishing can consciously collect plastic waste while working on the sea,” Kong said, noting that participants like Wang can earn some 1,000 yuan this way each month.

    People can trace the journey of recycled plastic by scanning QR codes on goods, such as car parts, suitcases, and phone cases, made from certified plastic collected from the ocean. The plastic waste is cleaned and processed into granules for industrial use at Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. in Anji County, Zhejiang’s Huzhou City.

    “Since 2022, we have processed tens of millions of plastic bottles from Blue Circle,” said Fu Xianwei, the company’s operations director. Fu added that certified marine plastic granules can sell for over 1.3 times the price of regular recycled plastic, and products made from these granules have higher added value.

    “Once fishermen can profit and businesses are motivated, marine plastic waste management enters a virtuous cycle,” said Ye Zongsen, an official of the Jiaojiang district branch of the Taizhou Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau.

    The initiative has expanded across Zhejiang’s coastal areas, with approximately 1,360 residents, 10,000 vessels and seven recycling companies joining to date. In Zhejiang alone, the program has collected 15,000 tonnes of marine waste, including over 2,900 tonnes of plastic waste. It has also spread to seven other provinces, including China’s southernmost island province of Hainan.

    Dachen Island in Jiaojiang District is a model of marine-friendly development. Dozens of wind turbines atop the island’s ridge generate an average of 60 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which is five times the amount the island consumes, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 45,000 tonnes.

    Surplus electricity is delivered to the mainland via undersea power cables, according to Jiang Weijian, director of the Dachen Power Supply Station of State Grid Zhejiang Power Co., Ltd.

    Green power has spurred many changes, including all-electric buses, electric oxygen and ice production in fisheries, and the gradual use of electric stoves in guesthouses on the island.

    Additionally, Dachen’s low-carbon solid waste treatment station and wastewater treatment plant have increased the top water quality proportion in nearshore areas to 98 percent.

    As its environment improves, the island is seeing a tourism boom. Last year, Dachen welcomed 200,000 tourists and raked in 170 million yuan in related revenue.

    “As the scenery improves, our B&B business is thriving,” said Dachen resident Kong Qinglei, who started his B&B business on the island in 2020. Its revenue exceeded 1 million yuan in 2024.

    The island is also capitalizing on its marine resources. Famous for its yellow croaker, the island has 14 yellow croaker farming companies and its production hit 10,005 tonnes last year — an amount worth over 1.1 billion yuan. The industry has created fishing jobs for nearly 300 people.

    Local authorities are now encouraging the development of maritime leisure travel and souvenir industries. Some guesthouse owners are even combining their businesses with yellow croaker farming.

    The island is also pioneering the blue carbon and forest carbon trade. “Funds have been directed to a common prosperity fund for marine protection, and to marine farmers and island residents,” said Yang Haifei, a township official on the island.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Affordable communications for businesses and consumers – 06-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Information and communication technologies (ICTs), as well as data services, now surpass traditional telephone services in importance for both consumers and businesses. With the surge in on-demand content and 4G/5G growth, the EU has introduced a telecommunications regulatory framework. This encompasses all types of telecommunications, including broadcasting. Research indicates that telecommunications services, network equipment, content and applications contribute up to EUR 1 trillion to the EU’s GDP annually, representing about 4.7% of the EU’s GDP.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 383

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL3

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 383
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    605 AM CDT Sat Jun 7 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Central and Northern Arkansas

    * Effective this Saturday morning from 605 AM until NOON CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A couple tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Isolated large hail events to 1 inch in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of intense thunderstorms over northwest Arkansas
    and eastern Oklahoma will track eastward through the morning across
    the watch area. Damaging winds along the leading edge of the storms
    is the primary concern, although occasional tornadoes are also a
    possibility.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 50 miles west northwest of
    Russellville AR to 40 miles east southeast of Batesville AR. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 381…WW 382…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1 inch. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 28035.

    …Hart

    SEL3

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 383
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    605 AM CDT Sat Jun 7 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Central and Northern Arkansas

    * Effective this Saturday morning from 605 AM until NOON CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A couple tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Isolated large hail events to 1 inch in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of intense thunderstorms over northwest Arkansas
    and eastern Oklahoma will track eastward through the morning across
    the watch area. Damaging winds along the leading edge of the storms
    is the primary concern, although occasional tornadoes are also a
    possibility.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 50 miles west northwest of
    Russellville AR to 40 miles east southeast of Batesville AR. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 381…WW 382…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1 inch. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 28035.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW3
    WW 383 TORNADO AR 071105Z – 071700Z
    AXIS..65 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    50WNW RUE/RUSSELLVILLE AR/ – 40ESE BVX/BATESVILLE AR/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 55NM N/S /20ENE FSM – 36S ARG/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1 INCH. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 28035.

    LAT…LON 36469391 36459099 34579099 34589391

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU3.

    Watch 383 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (30%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (10%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (30%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (80%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –