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  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Launches Galaxy Hangouts: A Fresh, New Pop-Up Experience for Galaxy Fans and Mobile Tech Enthusiasts

    Source: Samsung

    Get ready, South Africa! Samsung is redefining the way you meet your tech. With the launch of its brand-new Galaxy Hangouts pop-up café experience, Samsung is inviting Galaxy fans, and the simply curious, to relax with a complimentary coffee, connect with friends, and get hands-on with the ground-breaking new Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, and Galaxy Watch8 Series devices. The first stop will be at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, from 25 to 27 July 2025. This is not just a product demo—it’s a new kind of hangout, where AI-powered innovation meets everyday lifestyle in the coolest way possible.
     
    Whether you’re a long-time Galaxy supporter or just want to know about the devices revealed at Galaxy Unpacked on July 9, this immersive experience is your invitation to hang out, play, explore, and win.
     
    Where Innovation Meets Everyday Chill
    Galaxy Hangouts is more than just a product showcase – it’s a whole vibe. Set in popular local hangout spots, these experiential locations are designed for visitors to unwind with their crew while getting hands-on with Samsung’s latest design-forward, AI-powered devices. From iconic public spaces to local lifestyle and business venues, Samsung is taking innovation to where people live, work, and play.
     
    “Galaxy Hangouts is a reflection of where we are today as a brand – dynamic, immersive, and deeply connected to how people actually experience technology,” says Kgomotso Mannya, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Africa. “With our new Galaxy Z Series and Galaxy Watch8 Series, all powered by Galaxy AI, we’re not just showcasing innovation, we’re placing it directly in the hands of the people, in places they already love.”
     
    Unfold the Ultra Level of Your Creativity
    At Galaxy Hangouts, visitors can experience Galaxy AI and try out Gemini Live, the personal AI assistant that seamlessly helps you stay organised across your calendar, messages, emails, and apps – without needing to app-hop. Whether you’re planning a trip, coordinating a perfect outfit from your wardrobe, or juggling business, Gemini understands your style and schedule. You can also explore next-gen cameras including the Galaxy Z Fold7’s new 200MP camera, as you capture your hangout in new ways with advanced photo and video features like Audio Eraser (that removes unwanted background noise) and Object Eraser (that cleans up your shot with a tap). You can also see for yourself how the Galaxy Watch8 Series is transforming wellness, style, and connectivity with intelligent design and health insights.
     
    Stand a Chance to Win Big
    Every visitor can complete fun and interactive challenges for the chance to win exciting prizes, including the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy Watch8, Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Fit3 (Terms and conditions apply).
     

     
    Where to Find Your Hangout
     
    Johannesburg

    25 – 27 July – Nelson Mandela Square
    1 – 3 Aug – Good Food and Wine Event
    02 Aug – Padel & Social Club James and Etholl Grey
    04 Aug – Vega Campus
    7 – 10 Aug – Melrose Arch
    8 Aug – Business Park Woodlands Woodmead
    12 Aug – Padel Lab Ruimsig Tournament
    20 Aug – Wits Campus
    22 – 24 Aug – Mall of Africa
    29 – 31 Aug – Rosebank – The Zone
    06 Sep – Galaxy Joburg Day

     
    Pretoria

    15 – 17 Aug – Menlyn Maine
    27 Aug – Tuks Gibbs Campus

     
    Cape Town

    11 – 12 Aug – Vega Campus
    12 – 14 Aug – Canal Walk Sports Scene Court
    19 – 21 Aug – Tygervalley Mall
    23 – 24 Aug – Stellenbosch University
    26 – 28 Aug – V&A Waterfront Silo District
    29 – 31 Aug – V&A Waterfront Pop-Up

     
    Durban

    31 July – Vega Campus
    08 – 10 Aug – Hilton Art Festival
    29 – 31 Aug – Midlands Mall
    02 Sep – Ballito Padel

    So whether you’re folding, flipping, or simply vibing, Galaxy Hangouts is your chance to try the tech everyone’s talking about in the places you love most.
     
    You don’t want to miss out!

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Proposals sought to raise funds for foreign currency borrowing programme 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Republic of South Africa, through the National Treasury, has called for eligible market participants to submit proposals that will raise a minimum amount of US$ 500 million for the country’s foreign currency borrowing programme.

    This as National Treasury is seeking to supplement its foreign currency borrowing programme for the 2025/26 fiscal year by exploring innovative and cost-effective financing mechanisms.

    “Proposals should raise, on a stand-alone or combined basis, a minimum amount of US$ 500 million. If funding is offered in another hard currency, the counterparty must commit to swapping the proceeds into US dollars at closing,” National Treasury said in a statement on Friday.

    This funding initiative aims to diversifying the sovereign’s hard currency funding toolkit beyond a traditional Eurobond; reduce execution risk and minimise the all-in cost of funds; and maintain flexibility for future liability management actions aligned with evolving market conditions.

    Government is expecting responses from primary dealers in South African government securities; internationally active arranging banks; multilateral institutions; institutional investors; and other regulated financial entities with capacity to fund at scale, either directly or through an arranging bank.

    Treasury will consider a range of instruments, including, but not limited to:
    •    bilateral term loans;
    •    private placements of floating rate notes;
    •    repurchase agreements against sovereign collateral;
    •    cross-currency or total return swaps with funding legs in US dollars, and
    •    other structured note formats.

    Proposals incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) or sustainability-linked features are encouraged, particularly if aligned with the National Treasury’s ESG framework.

    Proposals will be assessed on the basis of:
    •    overall cost of funds (spread over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) or equivalent benchmark);
    •    speed and certainty of execution;
    •    compatibility with the sovereign’s maturity profile and debt service peaks;
    •    operational simplicity; and resilience to market shocks, including currency volatility and rate spikes.

    Interested parties have been advised to submit a PDF term sheet, including proposed amount, tenor, pricing and indicative spread; settlement date; key covenants or conditions precedent; collateral requirements (if any); governing law and documentation platform; and any relevant ESG characteristics.

    Deadline for submission

    The deadline for the submission of proposals is Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at 12:00 South African Standard Time (SAST).
    The evaluation window will start on Thursday, 7 August 2025 – Friday, 29 August 2025.

    This request contains no material, non-public information and may be shared with public-side desks. All proposals and follow-up discussions will be treated confidentially and will comply with all applicable South African public finance regulations.

    Submission channel and contacts are as follows:
    •    Please email proposals to: debtissuanceandmanagement@treasury.gov.za

    Enquiries may be directed to:
    •    Terry Bomela Msomi Director: Treasury Funding Tel: +27 12 315 5135
    •    Wanga Cibi Chief Director: Liability Management Tel: +27 12 315 5132

    – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Notice to improve: Mowbray Education Trust Limited

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Notice to improve: Mowbray Education Trust Limited

    A notice to improve issued to Mowbray Education Trust Limited by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Letter to lift a notice to improve: Mowbray Education Trust Limited

    PDF, 103 KB, 2 pages

    Notice to improve: Mowbray Education Trust Limited

    PDF, 205 KB, 7 pages

    Details

    The notice to improve relating to financial management and governance for Mowbray Education Trust Limited was lifted on 25 July 2025.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Notice to improve: Langley Hall Primary Academy Trust

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Notice to improve: Langley Hall Primary Academy Trust

    A notice to improve issued to Langley Hall Primary Academy Trust by the Department for Education.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Notice to improve: Langley Hall Primary Academy Trust

    PDF, 680 KB, 12 pages

    Details

    This letter and its annex serve as a written notice to improve financial governance and financial management at Langley Hall Primary Academy Trust.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: GAD and the State Pension age review

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    GAD and the State Pension age review

    The Government Actuary is to analyse the latest life expectancy projections data and assess the impact of various aspects of the rules around pensionable age.

    Credit: Shutterstock

    The Government Actuary has been commissioned to prepare a report on the State Pension age as part of the third State Pension age review.

    State Pension age

    The current State Pension age is 66 years old for both men and women and is currently set to rise to age 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to age 68 between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to regularly review the State Pension age. Previous reviews concluded in 2017 and 2023 respectively.

    Third review

    The third State Pension age review will consider whether the rules around pensionable age are appropriate. This will be based on life expectancy data and evidence from 2 reports – an independent report led by Dr Suzy Morrissey, and a report from the Government Actuary to examine the latest life expectancy projections data.

    GAD’s involvement

    The Government Actuary’s report must provide advice on whether the rules about pensionable age mean that, on average, a person who reaches pensionable age within a specified period can be expected to spend a specified proportion of his or her adult life in retirement.

    The report should also include a commentary on trends in life expectancy data, an assessment of current legislative timings for the rise to 68 and sensitivity analysis.

    Pensions Commission

    The statutory review of the State Pension age will sit alongside the new Pensions Commission, which has been revived to look at the overall issue of retirement savings. The original Pensions Commission was established in 2002 and issued its final report in 2005. The Commission’s findings led to several policy changes across state and private pension saving, including reforms to the State Pension system and the introduction of automatic enrolment.

    Pensions Minister Torsten Bell MP said the role of the revived Pensions Commission will be to conduct a review of our pensions system as a whole and the retirement outcomes it delivers, with “a clear objective: building a strong, fair and sustainable pension system fit for the middle of the twenty first century”.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Man who assaulted and killed a dog walker has sentence increased

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Man who assaulted and killed a dog walker has sentence increased

    A man who sexually assaulted and murdered a woman walking her dog in a random attack has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.  

    Harrison Lawrence-Van Pooss (21), from Margate, Kent, has had his sentence increased after it was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP, under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.  

    The court heard that in August 2023, Claire Knights from Canterbury, went for a walk with her dog around the Minnis Bay area of Birchington.  
     
    As Claire was walking back to her car, she was pushed off the path by Lawrence-Van Pooss ,who then violently sexually assaulted her. 

    The offender beat Claire around the head and pushed her into a dyke where she drowned.  

    Claire’s body was concealed by the reeds and grasses and was not found for two days before her son and his friends discovered her body in the dyke.  

    During enquiries, investigators uncovered that Lawrence-Van Pooss attacked Claire a day after he had been caught upskirting a different woman.  

    He was confronted but went on the run before he could be arrested. Lawrence-Van Pooss then hid by the beach overnight before his attack on Claire the following afternoon.  

    When he was found and arrested by police, Lawrence-Van Pooss had Claire’s dog with him. He had earlier taken the dog to a shop to buy dog treats.  

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:  

    Lawrence-Van Pooss’ attack on Claire Knights was horrific. He assaulted and brutally murdered her, in a totally random attack. I welcome the court’s decision to increase Van-Poos’ sentence and I would like to express my deepest sympathies to Claire’s family and loved ones.  

    On 28 February 2025, Harrison Lawrence-Van Pooss was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years and 183 days after he pleaded guilty to murder and voyeurism offences at Canterbury Crown Court.  

    On 25 July 2025, Lawrence-Van Pooss’ sentence was quashed and substituted with a new sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years and 229 days after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two men prosecuted for dumping waste in village

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Two men prosecuted for dumping waste in village

    Muddy tracks led to nearby house where excavation work had taken place. Environment Agency prosecution resulted in fines and costs totalling £6,400.

    Farmer discovers dumped waste when looking to graze sheep on land.

    The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted two men for illegally dumping excavation waste at a site in West Haddon, Northamptonshire.

    At Leicester Magistrates Court on Wednesday 23 July 2025, Richard Allen, 59, of Capeleira, Obidos, in Portugal, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £400 to the victims of the offence.

    He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,000 and a victim surcharge of £800.

    At a previous hearing, on Wednesday 25 June 2025, David Thomas George Warden, 50, of Welland Avenue, Gartree, Market Harborough, was fined £350 and ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £350.

    Both pleaded guilty to knowingly causing and depositing controlled waste between 24 and 30 April 2024, on land off Ryehills Lane, West Haddon, without the necessary environmental permit.

    Both also admitted to charges relating to failing to comply with waste transfer regulations.

    Farmer discovered dumped waste

    The court was told that officers from the Environment Agency were alerted by a farmer who discovered the dumped waste when looking to graze sheep on the land off Ryehills Lane.

    The farmer found that the field had been covered in numerous mounds of excavation waste making it unsuitable for grazing.

    Due to the wet weather, muddy tyre tracks leading away from the site led officers to a nearby house where excavation work had taken place.

    That property was owned by Richard Allen’s daughter and son-in-law who informed officers that Allen had gained planning permission to build a house in the grounds of their property.

    Allen informed the investigation that he had employed Warden’s company Sky CFG to carry out the building works. He also alleged he had gained permission, some three years previously, to dump the top soil on the Ryehills’ site.

    However, Allen was unable to name the person from whom he had obtained permission.

    The owners of the land confirmed there was no such agreement in place for anyone to deposit waste onto their field. In any event, regardless of whether permission had been granted, there was no environmental permit in place at the site to allow waste to be deposited there. 

    Both Allen and Warden said they had little knowledge of the environmental regulations despite having experience of waste disposal as part of their day-to-day businesses.

    The court was told that some remediation work had taken place at the site albeit most of the soil had been spread across the field and that the land was now fit to graze animals.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    This case shows that operators in the waste sector should realise we will not tolerate illegal waste activities.

    We will take enforcement action to protect the environment, people and legitimate businesses. 

    Anyone with suspicions of waste crime can call our incident hotline, 0800 807060, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.

    Background information

    Charges

    Richard Allen

    • Between 24 April 2023 and 30 April 2023, knowingly cause controlled waste namely excavation waste consisting of sand and soil to be deposited on land off Ryehills Lane, West Haddon when there was not in force an environmental permit authorising such a deposit contrary to section 33(1) (a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended.

    • Between 1 August 2023 and 30 September 2023 failed to comply with the duty of care imposed by section 34(1)(c)(ii) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in that, being a person that is a waste broker of controlled waste, namely, a quantity of excavation waste consisting of sand and soil, did fail to take such measures as were reasonable in the circumstances to secure that, on transfer of the waste, that there was such a written description of the waste as to enable other persons to avoid any contravention of section 33 contrary to section 34(1)(c)(ii) and (6) Environmental Protection Act 1990.

    David Thomas George Warden

    • Between 24 April 2023 and 30 April 2023, did deposit controlled waste namely excavation waste consisting of sand and soil in or on land at Ryehills Lane, West Haddon when there was no environmental permit in force authorising such a deposit contrary to section 33 (1) (a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended.

    • Between 24 April 2023 and 30 April 2023 failed to comply with the duty of care imposed by section 34(1)(c)(ii) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in that, being a person that produces controlled waste, namely, a quantity of excavation waste consisting of sand and soil, did fail to take such measures as were reasonable in the circumstances to secure that, on transfer of the waste, that there was such a written description of the waste as to enable other persons to avoid any contravention of section 33 contrary to section 34(1)(c)(ii) and (6) Environmental Protection Act 1990.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Van-tastic! Clean green ice cream machines!

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Councillor Sally Haydon, ice cream seller Kelly Pitcher, Emily Bullimore, BID street operations
    and trading manager and Marie Wellington, street trading and event technical officer    .

    Cool running is all the rage on the waterfront with Plymouth’s ice cream vans now clean and green, thanks to a Council initiative.

    Plymouth City Council has installed five electric chargers at key points on Hoe Road so that ice cream vans can run on clean, green electricity rather than chugging out fumes from their engines.

    It means that the ice cream sellers who have concessions there not only save on fuel costs – as running freezers on their engines all day is expensive, but it also cuts the amount of fumes coming out of the exhaust – not a nice combination with your cone.

    The project has been warmly welcomed by the sellers, especially as the Council installed chargers that meant that some sellers could convert their vehicles with transformers rather than fork out around £150,000 for a new van.

    Cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Sally Haydon instigated the idea and the Council’s street trading team worked with the vendors and liaised with contractors to make it happen.

    The cabinet for the chargers

    The installation was a challenge as there were a number of services beneath the pavement, with one charger installed on a specially made build-out from the pavement.

    The Council employed a company called Kerbo Charge to install the cables and infrastructure – the first time the company has operated in the city. Metpow provided the submetering of energy use so that the Council can remotely monitor carbon emissions as well as charge for the energy used.

    It took a while to get the logistics sorted but with some Government lolly – £40,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – sprinkles of support from Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and a magnum of ingenuity from South West Highways to make it happen on a busy and popular road.

    Councillor Haydon said: “There’s nothing like an ice-cream on the Hoe in the summer. It is one of the great joys of Plymouth life. But diesel fumes is hardly the nicest topping with your 99.

    “Make no cones about it – we now have a greener waterfront overlooking our amazing Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and we are helping our ice cream sellers to save fuel and money!”

    Ice cream seller Kelly Pitcher welcomed the move, especially as it means the van is cooler on warm days. She said: “We don’t have to keep the engine running which means the van doesn’t get so hot inside – which is great for me.

    “It is definitely quieter to run and we have had regulars already commenting on how much quieter it is and less fumes. We’re really happy to see this happen.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Meets ASEAN Secretary General

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Horn in Beijing on Friday.

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, said China has always given priority to ASEAN in its neighbourhood diplomacy and supports ASEAN’s aspiration to play a more active role in international and regional affairs.

    Guided by the outcome of the Central Meeting on Neighboring Countries held in April this year, China is willing to work with ASEAN member states to build an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, he said.

    Under the current circumstances, China and ASEAN should focus on cooperation in three key areas, Wang said.

    First, the two sides should work together to uphold free trade and the multilateral trading system. Wang Yi noted that as the major forces of the Global South, China and ASEAN should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, oppose unilateralism, uphold WTO rules, and ensure the credibility and integrity of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

    Second, both sides should fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, building a new narrative of peace, friendship and cooperation in the South China Sea, Wang said.

    Third, the two sides should work together to maintain regional peace and stability. “The recent border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, which resulted in casualties, are regrettable and worrying,” Wang said, adding that China, as a mutual friend and neighbor of both countries, is willing to maintain an impartial stance and continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating tensions.

    Kao Kim Horn, for his part, expressed gratitude to China for its firm support for ASEAN’s centrality in regional cooperation and the building of the ASEAN Community.

    ASEAN hopes to use the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2026 as an opportunity to strengthen strategic alignment and deepen practical cooperation in all fields with China, he said.

    Speaking about the tension on the border between Cambodia and Thailand these days, Kao Kim Horn thanked China for its active efforts to promote reconciliation and peace talks. -0-

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UN chief welcomes China, EU commitment to strengthen cooperation on climate change

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    UNITED NATIONS, July 25 (Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the commitment of China and the European Union (EU) to strengthen cooperation on climate change and ensure a global just transition, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq said on Thursday.

    “The Secretary-General believes that it is critical for China and the European Union, as the world’s two largest economies, to continue working together to ensure that the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil becomes a major turning point in global efforts to tackle the climate crisis,” Hack said in a statement.

    “The Secretary-General reiterates his call for all G20 countries to submit NDCs [nationally determined contributions to combat climate change by 2035],” he said.

    On Thursday, leaders of China and the EU issued a joint statement on stepping up efforts to combat climate change following the 25th China-EU summit in Beijing. At the meeting, the two sides acknowledged that strengthening China-EU cooperation on climate change will benefit the well-being of both peoples and is of great and special significance to upholding multilateralism and advancing global climate governance. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s model for protecting cultural heritage presented in think tank report

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    ZHENGZHOU, July 25 (Xinhua) — The Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency, released a report on Friday detailing China’s innovative model of cultural heritage protection.

    China’s concept and practice of cultural heritage protection in the new era are best reflected in an innovative model called “OPEN”, the report said. It stands for original contribution, prioritizing protection, strengthening cooperation and necessary guarantees.

    The innovative model, according to the authors of the report, not only enriched the theory of cultural heritage protection during China’s modernization, but also contributed to the efforts of other countries in the world to protect, preserve and utilize cultural heritage.

    A new report, titled “Cooperatively Protecting the Treasures of Human Civilization: China’s Concept and Practice of Cultural Heritage Preservation in the New Era,” provides a detailed explanation of China’s vibrant and vibrant practice in this area. -0-

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese representative rejects US baseless accusations against Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    UNITED NATIONS, July 25 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Thursday rejected U.S. accusations against China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) at a Security Council meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

    “China firmly opposes and categorically rejects the groundless accusations made by the US representative regarding China’s Xinjiang region,” the Chinese diplomat said.

    At present, Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic prosperity, and people live in peace and contentment. It is the best period of development in its history. The United States has made great efforts to stir up the so-called Xinjiang issue in a vain attempt to interfere in China’s internal affairs and curb its development, but in doing so, it has only exposed its true nature of hegemonic ambitions and double standards, Fu Cong noted.

    Over the past six years, more than 100 countries, including many Islamic countries, have voiced their support for China’s just position at the general debate of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. They are unequivocally opposed to the politicization of human rights issues and the use of human rights as a pretext for interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, the Chinese envoy said.

    “This is a loud and clear signal that the US plan to contain China using the so-called Xinjiang issue has largely failed, and its sinister intention to provoke bloc confrontation by discrediting and suppressing China has failed completely,” he said.

    Fu Cong asked, “If the US really cares about Muslim rights, why does it turn a blind eye to the living hell in Gaza? Why does the US ignore the historical injustices suffered by the Palestinian people?”

    The United States, he said, ignores its own chronic problems at home, such as gun violence, racial discrimination, and the violation of the rights and dignity of its own citizens. Under the guise of protecting human rights, Washington unjustifiably interferes in the internal affairs of other countries and violates the rights of countless people in the developing world.

    “We call on the United States to examine its own vices and misdeeds, change course, and make greater efforts to take practical, positive action in the interests of international peace and security,” he said. –0–

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Iran, European countries resume nuclear talks in Istanbul

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    TEHRAN, July 25 (Xinhua) — Nuclear talks between Iran and the European “troika” of Germany, France and Britain began in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Friday morning, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

    The Iranian delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi.

    Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told the official IRNA news agency that the talks would be an opportunity for the three European countries to correct their attitude toward Iran and test their approach to the country’s nuclear program.

    Speaking earlier at a weekly press conference, Baghaei said the talks would focus on lifting sanctions and issues related to Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program, noting that Iran would seriously present its demands at the upcoming meeting.

    Since September last year, Iran and the EU three have held six rounds of talks on a range of issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions. The latest round took place in Istanbul in mid-May. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House GOP Passes 50 Trump Executive Orders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Six months into the Trump Administration, Republicans in the 119th Congress are delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda. With the historic passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and many more separate pieces of legislation, House Republicans have already voted to codify 50 of President Trump’s executive actions. 

    “The American people gave President Trump a clear mandate to enact his America First agenda – and House Republicans are answering that call. To date, we’ve voted to codify 50 of the President’s Executive Orders into law, from reining in waste, fraud, and abuse, to cutting bureaucratic red tape that has strangled America’s innovators, job creators, and entrepreneurs,” said Speaker Johnson. “The last four years under President Joe Biden made painfully clear how quickly progress can be undone unless Congress steps in. That’s why House Republicans are working around the clock to codify President Trump’s executive actions and enshrine his historic agenda into law.”

    Executive Actions Passed by the House in the 119th Congress listed below and can be found here:

    1.      Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections

    2.      Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

    3.      Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation

    4.      Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court

    5.      Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production

    6.      Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness

    7.      Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens

    8.      Small Business Administration Overhaul of the Reckless Biden-era Lending Program

    9.      Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders

    10.  Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful

    11.  Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Advancing United States Interests When Funding Nongovernmental Organizations

    12.  Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements

    13.  Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending

    14.  Withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization

    15.  Withdrawing the U.S. from and Ending Funding to Certain U.N. Organizations and Reviewing U.S. Support to All International Organizations

    16.  Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid

    17.  Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship

    18.  Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing

    19.  Securing Our Borders

    20.  Protecting Children from Surgical Mutilation

    21.  Expanding Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Full Capacity

    22.  Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization

    23.  Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance

    24.  Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the U.S.

    25.  Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry

    26.  Unleashing American Energy

    27.  Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential

    28.  Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday with the Garden of Heroes

    29.  Declaring a National Energy Emergency

    30.  Enforcing the Hyde Amendment

    31.  Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production

    32.  Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats

    33.  The Iron Dome for America

    34.  Clarifying The Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States

    35.  Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation

    36.  Unleashing American Drone Dominance

    37.  Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative

    38.  Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities

    39.  Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education

    40.  Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy

    41.  Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission

    42.  Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports

    43.  The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Tax Deal (Global Tax Deal)

    44.  Protecting America’s Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

    45.  Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos

    46.  Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology

    47.  Honoring Jocelyn Nungaray

    48.  Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media

    49.  Restoring America’s Fighting Force

    50.  Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC Publishes Enforcement Orders for June 2025

    Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

    CategoriesBusiness, Commerce, MIL-OSI, United States Federal Government, United States Government, United States of America, US Commerce, US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC, US Federal Government, US Insurance Sector, USA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEA President issues update on 2025 Representative Assembly

    Source: US National Education Union

    WASHINGTON — The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle: 

    “At the recent NEA 2025 Representative Assembly, a recommendation was sent to NEA’s Executive Committee that the National Education Association not partner with the Anti-Defamation League. As the NEA does not currently have a partnership with the ADL, this would have constituted a forward-looking declaration. 

    “Today, following the culmination of a thorough review process as governed by NEA rules, including a vote by NEA’s Executive Committee earlier this week, NEA’s Board of Directors—representing the broad and diverse membership of the NEA, including representatives from every state—voted not to implement this proposal. 

    “In our review, NEA considered multiple factors, including the rationale and concerns behind the proposal, its relationship to our policies and values, and how this would affect students, our members, our work, and our mission to champion excellence and justice in public education. We consulted with NEA state affiliates and civil rights leaders, including Jewish American and Arab American community leaders, and we also met with ADL leadership.

    “After consideration, it was determined that this proposal would not further NEA’s commitment to academic freedom, our membership, or our goals. Today’s vote by the NEA Board of Directors to not adopt this proposal completes NEA’s process.

    “There is no doubt that antisemitism is on the rise. Without equivocation, NEA stands strongly against antisemitism. We always have and we always will. Our Jewish students and educators deserve nothing less.  

    “As NEA members debated this issue on the floor of our Representative Assembly, they spoke about a variety of painful, frustrating, and dehumanizing experiences related to antisemitism and anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bigotry. We know antisemitism and anti-Arab bigotry are very real and urgent problems in this country and around the world. They are insidious forms of hate, which is why NEA and our members actively work to fight them in our classrooms, on our campuses, and in our communities. 

    “We have increased our efforts to combat all forms of hate because we know freedom and safety for any of us depend on the freedom and safety of all of us. As educators, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring our schools and campuses are safe and welcoming for all students, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or identity—with no exceptions. That is fundamental to who we are as educators and the core of who we are as a union.

    “At our core, NEA’s work and mission are rooted in social and racial justice, and we have a long, proud history of fighting against hate in all its forms. In this time of division, fighting antisemitism, anti-Arab racism, and other forms of discrimination will take more resources, not fewer. We are ready.

    “Public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity, and equality of every individual in our diverse society. Our democracy depends on freedom of speech, and a great education depends on academic freedom, and inclusive and respectful debate. NEA opposes efforts to shut down debate, to silence voices of disagreement, and intimidation. We recognize the underlying concerns of the authors and supporters of the proposal, and we are committed to ongoing discussion with our community.

    “Not adopting this proposal is in no way an endorsement of the ADL’s full body of work. We are calling on the ADL to support the free speech and association rights of all students and educators. We strongly condemn abhorrent and unacceptable attacks on our members who dedicate their lives to helping their students thrive. Our commitment to freedom of speech fully extends to freedom of protest and dissent, whether in the public square or on college campuses.

    “NEA will continue our work to combat discrimination against all people, pursue justice inside and beyond our schools, and we will always ensure our members are supported in these efforts. Along with this vote, we commit to continue our ongoing work to stand strong against oppression and hatred, a prerequisite for a thriving public education system consistent with our core values. Even with passionately held views on emotionally charged issues, the moment calls for us to use care and grace with each other and to ensure we refrain from actions that harm vulnerable communities. 

    “Going forward, the NEA will use a diverse and knowledgeable group of NEA practitioners to review materials that we use in relation to antisemitism curriculum and tools to combat antisemitism.

    “As a union, our diverse backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, and our interconnected safety comes only through solidarity. In light of the near-daily direct attacks being made against public education, our work together has never been more important. No amount of bullying can force us to abandon our commitment to our members and our values. And there is too much at stake to rest for even a moment.” 

    Follow us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/neapresident.bsky.social and https://bsky.app/profile/neatoday.bsky.social  

    # # #

    The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Swift Approaches Stage 1 Presale Deadline with $1 Token Price Set to Double in Next Phase

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AI-Enabled Blockchain Protocol Activates Proof-of-Yield Rewards Ahead of September Launch Schedule

    LUXEMBOURG, July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin Swift (BTC3), a programmable blockchain protocol that integrates artificial intelligence and decentralized identity, is nearing the final 24 hours of its Stage 1 presale. The project’s token remains fixed at $1.00 until the transition to Stage 2, at which point the price will increase to $2.00. Bitcoin Swift’s full 64-day presale period will conclude on September 18, 2025, with a confirmed launch price of $15.00.

    The conclusion of Stage 1 marks the first key milestone in the project’s presale cycle, offering early participants access to live staking rewards through the platform’s Proof-of-Yield (PoY) mechanism. According to project materials, PoY rewards are automatically distributed at the end of each presale stage, providing participants with functional utility prior to full network deployment.

    Programmable Infrastructure with AI Integration

    Bitcoin Swift is designed to serve as a modular financial infrastructure for decentralized finance (DeFi), combining smart contract adaptability, real-time governance, and compliance-friendly privacy.

    The protocol leverages a hybrid Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus model to secure network activity. In addition to this foundation, the system incorporates AI agents that manage contract logic, reward algorithms, and governance proposal validation.

    Technical features include:

    • Federated AI Oracles – Monitor chain activity and detect anomalies in reward cycles
    • Learning-Enabled Smart Contracts – Adjust behavior based on usage data and transaction types
    • Decentralized Identity (DID) – Enables user verification without exposing private data
    • Quadratic Voting with AI Oversight – Ensures balance in governance participation by weighting votes according to verified identity credentials

    These systems are supported by recent audits from Spywolf and Solidproof, and the project team has completed KYC verification to support transparency.

    Roadmap Highlights and Timelines

    Bitcoin Swift’s roadmap sets out a phased development and deployment strategy from mid-2025 through late 2026:

    • Q3–Q4 2025: Launch on Solana network with immediate PoY activation and on-chain governance beta
    • Q1 2026: Integration of AI-powered contract engine and smart reinforcement modules
    • Q2 2026: Deployment of zk-ledger for shielded transactions and privacy-enhanced DeFi features
    • Q3 2026: Expansion of DAO voting with AI-simulated governance tools
    • Q4 2026: Native chain mainnet release, institutional onboarding, and transition from Solana via 1:1 bridge

    Each milestone corresponds to a functional deliverable and is accompanied by developer documentation and user onboarding resources.

    Final Hours of Stage 1 Presale

    As of July 25, Bitcoin Swift’s Stage 1 presale is in its final day. Tokens are priced at $1.00 with an APY of 143% for staking rewards under the Proof-of-Yield model. When Stage 2 begins, the token price will rise to $2.00, and the staking terms will be recalibrated to reflect updated issuance and network participation.

    The presale is structured across multiple stages over 64 days, with each stage introducing incremental pricing and adjusted yield distribution. Participants in Stage 1 also gain early access to key features including staking dashboards, governance voting modules, and beta smart contract interfaces.

    Governance and Community Participation

    Bitcoin Swift offers users the ability to engage with governance mechanisms prior to mainnet launch. The governance model includes identity-weighted quadratic voting and AI-based proposal risk scoring. These tools aim to encourage responsible participation and reduce the impact of token-weighted centralization.

    The project’s compliance-focused structure also makes use of decentralized identifiers (DIDs) to facilitate KYC-compatible user onboarding without compromising data privacy. These systems are intended to support both retail and institutional use cases once the mainnet goes live in 2026.

    About Bitcoin Swift

    Bitcoin Swift (BTC3) is a decentralized blockchain protocol designed for adaptive finance. The project integrates artificial intelligence, modular smart contracts, zk-privacy, and governance by verified identity. It is built to support on-chain programmable staking, AI-based automation, and secure protocol-level participation through DID infrastructure.

    The BTC3 token serves as the native utility asset for staking, governance, and fee payments across the Bitcoin Swift ecosystem. Current presale participants gain early access to live features, with future milestones set across phased rollouts through 2026.

    To learn more and access the presale dashboard, visit:
    https://bitcoinswift.com

    Contact:
    Luc Schaus
    support@bitcoinswift.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Bitcoin Swift. 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/cd63504a-58a2-4ad1-bc23-f62015040ec7

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6ab4e95-7452-49f8-b1a2-fa71914a5303

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5fcd292-e354-44e4-8cfb-649e7021491e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: HTX Gives Away $500,000 Rewards to Celebrate Ethereum’s 10th Anniversary: Newcomers, Traders, and Loyal Users All Win

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PANAMA CITY, July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the Ethereum blockchain approaches its 10th anniversary on July 30, HTX, a leading global crypto exchange, is commemorating this significant milestone with a week-long global giveaway totaling $500,000 in rewards. Running from July 25, 10:00 to August 1, 10:00 (UTC), the campaign honors a decade of DeFi, NFT, and DAO innovations that Ethereum helped shape, while empowering its community to continue exploring value in the new crypto cycle.

    Diversified Trading and Referral Rewards for All Users

    Welcome Gift for New Users & First-Time Traders: Simply complete a spot or futures trade of any amount during the campaign to unlock a welcome gift. Eligible participants will receive either $3 in ETH or free ETH futures positions worth up to 1,000 USDT. Daily rewards are limited to the first 2,000 qualifying users. Please note that futures position claims require Level 1 KYC verification and a minimum net deposit of 100 USDT into your Futures account.

    Social Sharing & Referral Incentives: Share this exciting event on any social platform and invite a friend! If your friend registers and trades over 100 USDT on HTX, both of you can earn a 20 USDT Futures Trial Bonus. To qualify, both inviters and invitees must enroll in the event and complete Level 3 KYC verification. Rewards are available for the first 1,000 qualified participants.

    Comeback Bonuses for Inactive Users: Red carpet for returning friends!

    Spot Traders: Inactive spot traders who haven’t used HTX Spot since June 1, 2025, can receive a shot at winning up to 10 ETH through a lucky draw by simply restarting their spot trading.

    Futures Traders: For inactive futures traders (last active before July 10, 2025), HTX is offering APY Booster Coupons for SmartEarn, increasing APY by 3-8% based on net deposits to their Futures accounts. Combined with the current 2% base APY, users can enjoy up to 10% APY for SmartEarn!

    Special Offers for Ethereum’s Ecosystem Crypto Traders and HTX Earn Users

    $200,000 Trading Contest for Top Ethereum Ecosystem Cryptos: A dedicated trading contest is now live on HTX for top Ethereum ecosystem cryptocurrencies, including ETH, ETHFI, UNI, LINK, ENA, AAVE, CRV, LDO, MKR, and ENS. Users who register for the contest and trade at least 5,000 USDT in spot or 20,000 USDT in futures with these cryptos will be ranked by volume. The top traders will share a 200,000 USDT prize pool based on their ranking:

    • The top five traders will receive individual $HTX rewards ranging from $6,000 to $30,000.
    • Participants ranked sixth through twentieth will split $60,000.
    • The remaining $66,000 will be distributed proportionally among other eligible participants.
    • Additionally, margin traders whose margin trading volume hits 5,000 USDT or more can compete for a dedicated $HTX token prize pool worth $30,000.

    Exclusive ETH Earn Opportunities: ETH holders also have special opportunities:

    • First-time HTX Earn users can subscribe to a special ETH product offering a remarkable 100% APY! This is a one-time opportunity requiring Level 2 KYC verification.
    • Furthermore, all users can enjoy 6% APY on the ETH Flexible Earn product, featuring hourly compounding and instant withdrawals.

    Important Note: All participants must click “Register Now” on the campaign page to enroll. Only trades, deposits, and subscriptions completed after registration will be counted. Rewards will be distributed within seven business days following the campaign’s end.

    From 2015 to 2025, Ethereum has been the backbone of Web3 innovation. Now, HTX is proud to celebrate this milestone with a campaign designed to reward its community and fuel the future of decentralized finance. Register today on HTX and trade your way into the next decade of Ethereum.

    About HTX

    Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

    As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.

    To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord. For further inquiries, please contact glo-media@htx-inc.com.

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by HTX. 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. 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.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a59ff0b-12f0-495f-b6e1-4d6e56171fcb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Six months into Congo’s war, cholera is killing more than four people every day

    Source: Oxfam –

    • Aid cuts and humanitarian deadlock are fuelling a full-blown public health disaster. 

    • In Sake and Minova, 500 people are sharing a single water tap.   

    Six months since the renewed war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a full-blown public health emergency is accelerating, Oxfam warned today.  

    Since January, more than 35,000 suspected cholera cases and at least 852 related deaths have been reported – an average of more than four deaths every day and a 62 percent increase compared to 2024.  

    After M23 fighters seized Goma in January civilians were ordered to return to their villages within 72 hours. More than 3.16 million people have since returned back only to find their homes reduced to rubble, and aid system on the verge of collapse. 

    Water networks, including storage facilities have been obliterated, leaving families to drink from contaminated streams and stagnant lakes. Basic health services have crumbled, with hospitals out of medicine and sanitation systems in ruins. In some of the hardest-hit areas, like Sake and Minova, 500 people are now sharing a single water tap.  

    Dr. Manenji Mangundu, Oxfam’s Director in DRC said: 

    “This is a full-blown public health emergency. Families are returning to ruins—no shelters, no toilets, no clean water. In many areas, latrines have been flooded or stripped for firewood, forcing people to defecate in the open and contaminate the only water available. The air reeks of sewage. Hospitals are out of medicine, and we can’t reach cut-off communities with even the most basic aid.” 

    In South Kivu’s Uvira region, cholera is surging with 100 new cases being reported each day. Floodwaters from Lake Tanganyika routinely inundate homes and latrines overflow into the lake, even as families are forced to drink lake water.  

    The forced closure and destruction of more than 20 displacement sites in Goma alone has left 700,000 people without safe shelter, clean water or basic sanitation In Rusayo, Lushagal, and Bhimba —where Oxfam had been supporting over 100,000 people—entire sites have been razed or abandoned, including more than $700,000 worth of water and sanitation infrastructure, such as pipelines, latrines, and tanks. 

    “This is a full-blown public health emergency. Families are returning to ruins—no shelters, no toilets, no clean water. In many areas, latrines have been flooded or stripped for firewood, forcing people to defecate in the open and contaminate the only water available. The air reeks of sewage. Hospitals are out of medicine, and we can’t reach cut-off communities with even the most basic aid.” 

    Dr. Manenji Mangundu, Oxfam’s Director in DRC

    Oxfam

    Despite a US-brokered ceasefire, insecurity, roadblocks, and ongoing clashes have severed vital supply routes, cutting off communities from lifesaving food, clean water, and medicine. Aid agencies like Oxfam are now being forced to detour through Rwanda, severely hampering relief efforts. Cross-border access through Burundi has been entirely blocked, while illegal taxes and bureaucratic obstruction are further choking humanitarian deliveries.  

    Deep aid cuts since the start of 2025 have pushed the humanitarian response to the brink of failure. Only a fraction of the $2.54 billion needed this year as humanitarian aid in DRC has been received to date—forcing agencies like Oxfam to scale back or suspend life-saving operations. Even a UN investigation into possible war crimes has been frozen for lack of funding. 

    “People are suffering because we cannot reach them,” said Balume Loutre, Oxfam’s Public Health Engineering Team Leader in Eastern DRC. “They’re drinking from contaminated water sources, and we lack the resources to deliver even basic aid. In some villages, 15,000 families need help, but we can only support 500. We’re forced to make impossible choices, leaving thousands behind.”  

    The situation is particularly alarming for women and girls. Since the cuts to USAID funding, more than 8,200 people living with HIV have lost access to antiretroviral treatment. Emergency post-rape care kits are vanishing, even as a child is reported raped every half an hour in eastern DRC, according to UNICEF. 

    Despite the collapse of the aid system, Oxfam and its partners continue to deliver lifesaving assistance – constructing water systems, building latrines and distributing soap and hygiene kits, food and seed. But urgent funding is needed to reach 400,000 people in high-risk cholera zones.  

    “We need an immediate injection of funds, and all warring parties to commit to a permanent ceasefire and allow aid to flow freely. After six months of chaos, people need dignity and respite from relentless violence. The world cannot look away,” said Mangundu. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Plastic Greenpeace climbers abseil from Forth Bridge to block INEOS tanker in plastics protest An international team of Greenpeace activists has abseiled from Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge to block an INEOS tanker from delivering its cargo of fracked American gas to the Grangemouth petrochemical… by Graham Thompson July 25, 2025

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    An international team of Greenpeace activists has abseiled from Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge to block an INEOS tanker from delivering its cargo of fracked American gas to the Grangemouth petrochemical facility. 

    The Greenpeace protest is aimed at chemicals giant INEOS, owned by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which is opposing efforts by UN Member States to secure a Global Plastics Treaty to curb plastic pollution [1]. INEOS is the UK’s biggest plastics manufacturer, producing 30-35 billion nurdles (pellets) daily at its Grangemouth plant – enough to make 60 million plastic bottles.

    The action comes less than a fortnight before governments meet in Geneva, Switzerland, for the sixth and final round of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (5-14 August). Greenpeace is calling for these talks to agree to a cut in global plastic production of at least 75% by 2040, and for the UN to exclude lobbyists from INEOS and other fossil fuels companies from the treaty negotiations. Plastics producers including INEOS have collectively sent hundreds of lobbyists to exert their influence at every stage of the talks so far. Lobbyists have used tactics such as intimidation and harassment, to block an agreement that includes caps on plastic production.

    The 10 climbers are confronting the giant INEOS tanker ‘INDEPENDENCE’. The vessel spent the last 10 days crossing the Atlantic carrying 27,500 cubic metres of ethane bound for Grangemouth where it will be used by INEOS in the production of virgin plastic.

    Amy Cameron, Programme Director at Greenpeace UK said:

    “Plastic pollution has reached a crisis point: it’s poisoning our land, seas, air, even our bodies. The Global Plastics Treaty offers us a once in a generation chance to tackle the problem for good, so it’s no surprise INEOS and its billionaire boss, Jim Ratcliffe, are doing everything they can to stop it.

    Ratcliffe tries to distract us with sports teams and sponsorships, but we’re not going to let him fill our planet with plastic, so he can fill his pockets with profit. Ratcliffe is trying to block a strong Global Plastics Treaty, so today we’re blocking him.”

    An international team of Greenpeace activists abseil from Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge to block an INEOS tanker from delivering its cargo of fracked American gas to the Grangemouth petrochemical facility. The Greenpeace protest is aimed at chemicals giant INEOS, owned by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which is opposing efforts by UN Member States to secure a Global Plastics Treaty to curb plastic pollution. INEOS is the UK’s biggest plastics manufacturer, producing (pellets) daily at its Grangemouth plant – enough to make 60 million plastic bottles.© Luca Marino / Greenpeace

    The highly-trained Greenpeace climbers [2] abseiled from beneath the bridge’s service walkway, unfurling six giant ‘Plastics Treaty Now’ banners. They will remain suspended 25 metres above the main shipping lane of the River Forth [3], preventing the tanker from reaching port with its hazardous cargo. They are supported by a rescue crew on the bridge and a boat team in the river below. 

    The Greenpeace protest comes during Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland. Over the past three years, INEOS Energy has made investments exceeding $3bn in the US oil and gas sector, and the US petrochemicals industry is investing heavily in new chemical and plastics production projects. Like INEOS, US Fossil Fuel giants are attempting to weaken the Global Plastics Treaty to avoid caps on virgin plastic production. 

    ENDS

    Contact: 

    Greenpeace UK press office: press.uk@greenpeace.org / 020 7865 8255

    Greenpeace press officer on the ground at Forth Road Bridge: Kai Tabacek – 07984 127025

    Greenpeace spokespeople are available for interviews on the ground in Scotland and in London

    Please find all photos and videos of the protest HERE. Additional pictures and footage will be added as they become available.

    Notes to editors

    1. Speaking at the EFRA Parliamentary Committee on 8th July, on the UK Government’s priorities for the final plastics treaty negotiations, INEOS’s Technology Director, Peter Williams firmly opposed production caps because of potential “unintended consequences.”
    2. The international team of Greenpeace activists include climbers from: UK, Argentina, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands and Taiwan.
    3. The main span of the iconic Forth Road Bridge is a little over a kilometre long, around 50 metres above water level. The highly-trained Greenpeace climbers are spaced at intervals of around 20 metres in an attempt to block the INEOS tanker. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Committee on Agriculture Commends Improved Performance of Agricultural Research Council (ARC), National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) and Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) in the Fourth Quarter of 2024/25

    Source: APO


    .

    The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture welcomed the briefings it received yesterday from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), and the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) on their performance in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year and commended their notable performance.

    In welcoming the briefings from the three entities of the Department of Agriculture, the Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Dina Pule, said the committee was happy about the progress that the entities reported to the committee. She said the committee notes the hard work the entities have demonstrated and called for more improvement in all the areas of work that included implementation of the Auditor General’s recommendations on their last audit outcomes.

    The ARC reported that funding for building of the new Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine Facility is still a challenge and that, efforts to obtain the required funding for the new facility remains a priority. The entity reported that field assessment of the FMD vaccine in Mpumalanga and Limpopo is ongoing and the study on vaccine safety in pregnant cows and young calves has been initiated.

    In appreciating the performance of the NAMC, the committee called on the entity to do more on finding market access for the small-scale farmers as markets are alfa and omega for their growth, survival and meaningful contribution to the South African economy and for national food security.

    The Chairperson told the Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Ms Zoleka Capa, who led the departmental delegation, that the committee notes with appreciation the accountability of both the Minister and his Deputy that they demonstrate to the committee.

    The Chairperson also said that accountability is a critical starting point for the success of the department. “We deeply appreciate your availability to our meetings with the department. Your presence solidifies the accountability of the department to the committee and the oversight responsibility of the committee over the department,” emphasised the Chairperson.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mobilisation is urgently needed to avoid further deaths from northern Nigeria malnutrition crisis

    Source: APO


    .

    • In northern Nigeria, our teams are seeing an ever-increasing number of children in need of treatment for malnutrition.
    • We have begun a preventive campaign in Mashi local government area, distributing nutrition supplements for 66,000 children.
    • Urgent mobilisation is needed to save lives from this malnutrition crisis.

    Northern Nigeria is currently facing an alarming malnutrition crisis. In Katsina state, for instance, where Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been present since 2021, the teams are seeing an ever-increasing number of malnourished children in our therapeutic feeding centres, with increasingly severe conditions and higher mortality rates.

    In collaboration with the local authorities, we have begun distributing nutrition supplements for 66,000 children in the local government area of Mashi, as a method for emergency prevention. In the context of drastic cuts in international funding, the need for prevention and treatment of malnutrition is enormous in northern Nigeria, and urgent mobilisation is required.

    By the end of June 2025, nearly 70,000 children with malnutrition had already received medical care from our teams in Katsina state, including nearly 10,000 who were hospitalised in serious condition. Without taking into account the new healthcare facilities opened by MSF during the year in the state, this represents an increase of approximately one-third compared to last year.

    In addition, between January and June 2025, the number of children with nutritional oedema,1 the most severe and deadly form of malnutrition, rose by 208 per cent compared with the same period in 2024. Unfortunately, 652 children have already died in our facilities since the beginning of 2025 due to a lack of timely access to care.

    A worrying sign of the growing severity of this major public health emergency, is that adults—particularly women, including pregnant and breastfeeding women—are also affected. A screening carried out in July, in all five MSF malnutrition centres in Katsina state, on 750 mothers of patients, revealed that more than half of adult caregivers were acutely malnourished, including 13 per cent with severe acute malnutrition.

    To cope with the massive influx of children expected by the end of the lean season in October, we have increased our support to the local authorities in several states in north Nigeria where we provide care to communities. In Katsina state for instance, we opened a new outpatient therapeutic feeding centre in Mashi and an additional inpatient therapeutic feeding centre in Turai, to provide a total of 900 beds in two hospitals where MSF teams work.

    “The year 2024 marked a turning point in northern Nigeria’s nutritional crisis, with an increase of 25 per cent from the previous year,” says Ahmed Aldikhari, country representative of MSF in Nigeria. “But the true scale of the crisis exceeds all predictions. We are currently witnessing massive budget cuts, particularly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, which are having a real impact on the treatment of malnourished children.”

    Earlier this week, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced it will be forced to suspend all emergency food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria by the end of July due to “critical funding shortfalls”.2

    “At the same time, we observe ever-increasing needs, such as in Katsina state, where an increasing number of people cannot afford to buy food anymore, even though it is available in markets,” says Aldikhari.

    A food security survey carried out by humanitarian organisations in the local government area of Kaita, in Katsina state, before the lean season began at the start of 2025 revealed that over 90 per cent of households had reduced the number of meals they ate each day.

    Across the north, other factors worsening the malnutrition crisis include disease outbreaks, which are worsened by low vaccine coverage, availability, and accessibility of basic health services, and other socioeconomic indices complicated by insecurity and violence.

    “The most urgent way to reduce the risk of immediate death from malnutrition is to ensure families have access to food,” says Emmanuel Berbain, nutrition adviser at MSF. “This can be done through large-scale distribution of food or nutrition supplements, as we are currently doing in the Mashi area, or through cash distributions when and where it is possible.” 

    The capacity to care for and treat malnourished children must also be expanded, both by increasing the number of beds in health facilities, and by providing funding and access to ready-to-use therapeutic food. These actions must be undertaken as a priority in areas where the needs, such as the number of malnourished children, are greatest.

    People over the age of five, who are also increasingly affected by malnutrition but are currently not covered by any assistance, should also be included in prevention programmes.

    On 8 July, His Excellency Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima publicly sounded the alarm on the scale of malnutrition in Nigeria, warning that it deprives almost 40 per cent of children under the age of five of their full physical and cognitive potential. He described the situation as a national emergency requiring urgent and collective action.

    MSF treated over 300,000 children with malnutrition in seven northern states in 2024, a 25 per cent increase from 2023. In the northwest alone, where MSF tackles malnutrition in the states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Zamfara, we have already treated almost 100,000 children suffering from severe and moderate acute malnutrition in outpatient treatment centres in the first six months of 2025, and hospitalised around 25,000 malnourished children.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Boosting Growth with Inclusive Financial Development Crucial to Unlock Angola’s Poverty Alleviation Efforts

    Source: APO


    .

    Angola recorded the highest economic expansion since 2014, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth reaching 4.4% in 2024. According to the latest edition of the Angola Economic Update (AEU) published by the World Bank Group (WBG) today, titled Boosting Growth with Inclusive Financial Development, this growth was driven by the oil sector’s recovery and diamond extraction, along with strong expansion in commerce and fishing.

    The report highlights that despite a rebound in economic activity in 2024, Angola still struggles with the lasting impacts of prolonged stagnation. From 2016 to 2020, the economy contracted by approximately 10.4%, averaging a 2.1% annual decline. This sluggish growth stemmed from structural challenges and heavy dependence on the oil sector, making it susceptible to global price fluctuations. Real GDP growth is projected at an average of 2.9% from 2025 to 2027, but this is unlikely to significantly improve living standards. Increased global uncertainty, including falling oil prices, emphasizes the need for Angola to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on oil.

    “The Angolan economy is in urgent need of establishing a consistent pathway toward robust growth to address nearly a decade of stagnation and to improve conditions for poverty alleviation. There is optimism that the comprehensive economic reforms currently being implemented by the government will produce positive outcomes and unlock the country’s potential,” said Juan Carlos Alvarez, World Bank Country Manager for Angola. “The country must intensify its support for key sectors that can significantly contribute to the essential process of economic diversification. A deeper analysis of these sectors and the needed structural reforms are discussed in the Angola Country Economic Memorandum, also published today,” he added.

    The AEU emphasizes the importance of promoting inclusive financial development in Angola to address the existing significant inequality and exclusion, particularly in rural areas where access to formal banking services is limited. Women and older adults are particularly affected. Compared to other countries in the region, Angolan households have less access to credit, savings, and digital financial services. Advancing financial inclusion can boost economic participation and resilience, leading to sustainable growth and poverty reduction. Access to banking, credit, and insurance empowers small businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs, enhancing productivity and job creation. Moreover, financial inclusion can reduce income inequality by providing marginalized groups with opportunities to build assets and improve their well-being.

    The report highlights that implementing key reforms can create a more robust and inclusive financial sector in Angola, essential for diversifying the economy and fostering growth and job creation. It emphasizes the need for broader access to financial services beyond Luanda, especially as Angola focuses on economic activities in the Lobito Corridor and develops secondary cities. Additionally, the rise of digital banking and mobile payments offers a significant opportunity to reach underserved populations, enhancing economic resilience and promoting inclusive development.

    The report outlines essential reforms that Angola can implement to foster the growth of its financial sector and enhance accessibility in an inclusive manner. These reforms include:

    1. Developing digital payments to expand access to financial services in remote areas.
    2. Making digital payments more accessible and intuitive.
    3. Establishing a favorable regulatory framework to increase access to finance for Microcredit and Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
    4. Promoting lending to MSMEs and improving the transparency and market alignment of initiatives to finance MSMEs.
    5. Implementing the Financial Action Task Force action plan and addressing deficiencies in the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) Framework. 
    6. Increasing access to insurance for individuals and MSMEs, including weather-based-index insurance for agricultural activities.

    “While addressing financial inclusion in Angola has several challenges, particularly for low-income and rural communities, there are constructive opportunities to address these barriers. By implementing regulatory reforms, embracing digital innovations, and enhancing financial education, Angola can pave the way for a more diverse economy and unlock new avenues for growth and job creation,” said Benedicte Baduel, World Bank Senior Country Economist for Angola.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Over 7.23 crore Bihar electors participated in SIR process, 99.8% coverage achieved: ECI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bihar has achieved a major milestone in the State Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with 7.23 crore electors already covered in the process. This figure accounts for 99.8% of the state’s total electorate, indicating widespread participation and confidence in the electoral system.

    The forms submitted by these electors have been digitised and their names will be included in the Draft Electoral Roll set to be published on August 1, 2025. The digitisation of forms and the BLO reports for the remaining electors is also underway and is expected to be completed before the publication deadline.

    As part of the exercise, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar shared lists with all 12 recognised political parties in the state on July 20. These lists include details of electors who are deceased, have migrated permanently, or have not submitted their forms. The purpose is to ensure transparency and allow political parties to verify and rectify any discrepancies before the draft is published.

    Since the launch of the SIR process on June 24, 2025, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) have provided crucial updates. They reported the names of approximately 22 lakh deceased electors, around 7 lakh electors registered at multiple locations, and nearly 35 lakh electors who have either migrated permanently or could not be traced. Enumeration forms for about 1.2 lakh electors are still pending collection.

    The successful execution of the first phase of SIR has been credited to the coordinated efforts of the state’s electoral machinery. This includes the CEO of Bihar, 38 District Election Officers (DEOs), 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), nearly 3,000 Assistant EROs (AEROs), BLOs deployed across 77,895 polling booths, and the support of all 12 political parties. The contribution of their 38 district presidents and 1.60 lakh nominated BLAs has also been instrumental in the process.

    According to the SIR guidelines, the next phase will begin on August 1 and continue until September 1, 2025. During this period, electors or political parties may file claims and objections with the EROs. This includes the inclusion of eligible electors left out of the draft roll or the removal of any ineligible entries.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preston Parks awarded coveted Green Flag awards

    Source: City of Preston

    Preston Parks awarded coveted Green Flag Awards as they are officially recognised as some of the country’s best parks

    Preston City Council is delighted to have retained the following Green Flag Awards for the city’s green spaces this year:

    • Ashton Park
    • Avenham and Miller Parks
    • Fishwick Recreation Ground and Local Nature Reserve
    • Haslam Park
    • Winckley Square

    Winckley Square has also retained its Green Heritage accreditation, supported by Historic England, and Haslam Park has retained the Green Flag Community Award courtesy of the Friends Group.

    The sites are some of the 2,250 in the UK to achieve the award, which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

    Missing from the list this year is Preston’s oldest park, Moor Park, which is currently undergoing its own transformation. An important project includes de-silting and extending the historic lake, as well as the reinstatement of the Serpentine Bridge, alongside wider park enhancements to the play area and football pavilion. We’re hoping Moor Park will make the list for Green Flags again once the project is complete.

    Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet member for environment and community safety, said:

    “The news that Preston’s parks and green spaces have once again met the standards required for the accreditation is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for our parks and green spaces so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy them.”

    Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, added:

    “Congratulations to everyone involved in Preston who have worked tirelessly to ensure the high standards required for these Green Flag Awards.

    “Quality parks and green spaces make the country a healthier place to live and work in, and a stronger place in which to invest.

    “Crucially, Preston is offering vital green spaces for communities in residents to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise. It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”

    The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

    More information

    The Green Flag Award Scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

    Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award.  Awards are given on an annual basis, and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag Award status.  A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site Accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation. 

    Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We set the standard for the management of parks and beaches, inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and live more sustainably. We run campaigns and programmes including the Great British Spring Clean, Eco-Schools, Love Parks Week (25th July – 3rd August 2025), Buy Nothing New Month, Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces, the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches and blue spaces, and the Green Key for sustainable tourism and hospitality.

    About Historic England

    We are Historic England, the public body that protects and brings life to the heritage that matters to us all, so it lives on and is loved for longer. From the extraordinary to the everyday, our historic places and spaces matter. From community centres to cathedrals, homes to high streets, markets to mills – there are special places we all choose to hold onto, the legacy we want to pass on and the stories we continue to tell. That’s why we work together with people across England to discover, protect and bring new life to our shared historic environment, providing advice, knowledge, support and services

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mansion House reopens and residents invited for ‘behind-the-scenes’ tours

    Source: City of York

    York Mansion House, the 300-year-old Georgian landmark, is set to reopen its doors this August following the successful completion of the first phase of a major £1.3 million restoration project.

    To mark this milestone, ninety City of York residents will be offered the opportunity to explore the newly-restored areas through a series of exclusive, free ‘behind-the-scenes’ tours.

    Organised by Buttress Architects in partnership with City of York Council, the tours will take place on Tuesday 12 August, offering a unique glimpse into the craftsmanship and conservation efforts that have gone into preserving one of York’s most iconic civic buildings. The tours follow the Georgian Festival (7-11 August) and celebrate the Mansion House’s reopening in its 300th anniversary year.

    Led by Hannah Bellerby, Senior Architect at Buttress, and Richard Pollitt, Mansion House Manager and Curator, the tours will guide visitors through the building’s most significant spaces and will explain more about the repair work undertaken. Most of the restoration has focused on protecting the fabric of the building following a comprehensive inspection, as well as external repairs. The Mansion House is now even more accessible than before, and the experts will explain further what has been improved and restored behind the scenes.

    The tours will start in the state room before taking in the Lord Mayor’s drawing room, the principal staircase, the dining room, the butler’s pantry, the historic kitchen, the basement vault, external passageway, courtyard, and both the rear and front elevations.

    The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Martin Rowley BEM, said:

    “Work to build the house began in 1725 and was completed in 1732, making it one of the earliest civic buildings in England in the classical style.

    “As city’s civic hub, the Mansion House holds and displays an important collection of items which tell York’s history and we’re delighted to welcome you back.”

    Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, said:

    “These tours will give residents an exclusive insight into the essential maintenance, accessibility upgrades and safety improvements to secure the Mansion House’s future as a cultural and civic asset.

    “They’ll find out about how the building’s environmental performance and accessibility is now the best it’s ever been – that’s good for the environment and residents!

    “Working with our architects at Buttress and building contractor Birch, we’ve solved issues that this 300 year old building has presented so that it can reopen on 6 August ahead of the Georgian Festival. Please book your tickets for these special free tours now, or please book a regular visit at a time that suits you.”

    Hannah Bellerby from Buttress commented:

    “We’re excited to welcome local residents to see the results of our conservation works which help to ensure the longevity of the Mansion House for future generations to enjoy.

    “Our focus has been on preserving the building’s historical integrity while ensuring it remains accessible and sustainable. This is a much-loved civic treasure, and its reopening – 300 years after its completion in 1725 – is a truly special moment.”

    One of the most exciting discoveries during the restoration was made in the Lord Mayor’s drawing room, where seven layers of historic wallpaper were uncovered dating back to the 18th century. These layers, found on a narrow strip of wall, were then carefully removed and separated by wallpaper conservator Allyson McDermott and magnified to reveal the evolving decorative styles of the room over the centuries – providing invaluable insight for the restoration team.

    A paint analysis, undertaken by Hirst Conservation, also found what appears to be a full archaeological paint record to the interior spaces of the hallway and principal staircase which allowed for an informed decision to be made on the redecoration of the spaces based on physical evidence.

    Buttress Architects were appointed in October 2024 to lead the restoration, providing specialist heritage consultancy and conservation architecture. The second phase of works is expected to conclude in December 2025.

    Reserve a place on one of the free public tours.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FLORIDA MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF MACHINE GUNS AND ASSAULTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – John Caleb Allen, 26, of Bristol, Florida, has been charged by federal criminal complaint for assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a machine gun. The charges were announced today by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    Court documents allege that, on July 24, 2025, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives with the assistance of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, were executing a federal search warrant at the subject’s residence when Allen opened fire on law enforcement. After firing multiple rounds at the agents, Allen was arrested without the agents discharging their weapons. Agents suffered minor, non-critical injuries as a result of the assault.

    Allen is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick today, at 3:00 pm at the Federal Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.

    If convicted, Allen faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment on the assault of a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon count, a minimum of ten years up to life imprisonment on the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence count, and up to ten years’ imprisonment on the illegal possession of a machinegun count.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney James McCain is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation by a sworn affiant that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to due process, to include a fair trial, during which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

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

    BOSTON – A Boston-area man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.

    Wilter Rodrigues, 39, was sentenced on July 22, 2025 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Rodrigues pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.

    According to court documents, Rodrigues was identified as member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.

    Rodrigues worked with two co-defendants to allegedly distribute cocaine and cocaine base from an apartment in Somerville. Rodrigues has a lengthy criminal record, including a previous federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and two state court convictions for drug-distribution offenses.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien Charged With Unlawful Possession Of A Firearm And Illegal Reentry

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

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the  return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Aristeo Ceron-Morales (48, Sarasota) with unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal reentry. If convicted on all counts, Ceron-Morales faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Ceron-Morales that the United States intends to forfeit a Sig Sauer P226 firearm, a Savage 410 shotgun, Hornady 9 mm ammunition, and Remington .38 ammunition, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

    According to the indictment, Aristeo Ceron-Morales is a convicted felon and illegal alien. In 2002, he was convicted of “Sex Offense Against Child Fondling – Conduct by Person 18 Years of Age or Older.” Ceron-Morales possessed firearms and ammunition despite not being able to legally do so based on his status as a convicted felon and illegal alien. Additionally, Ceron-Morales was previously removed from the United States in 2003 and had returned to the United States illegally. 

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. 

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bradenton Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms, Including Sawed-Off Shotgun, Lands Mustang Felon in Federal Prison for More Than Seven Years

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

    OKLAHOMA CITY – MICHAEL LOWELL BONJOUR, 39, of Mustang, has been sentenced to serve 87 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after previous felony conviction, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of an unregistered firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    According to public record, Bonjour was arrested on state charges by officers with the El Reno Police Department in March 2024 when he was discovered to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Six months later, in September 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department arrested him after he was stopped driving a stolen vehicle and found to be in possession of three stolen firearms – including a sawed-off shotgun. 

    Prior to these arrests, Bonjour had been convicted of multiple felonies, including convictions in Canadian County District Court for bringing contraband into a jail/penal institution in case number CF-2023-232; possession of a stolen vehicle in case number CF-2023-298; and stalking in case number CF-2023-325, as well as a total of four misdemeanor convictions for violations of a protective order.

    On November 6, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Bonjour with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of an unregistered firearm.  On February 28, 2025, Bonjour pleaded guilty and admitted he knowingly possessed stolen firearms despite his previous felony convictions, and further admitted that one of the firearms was not properly registered to him despite its modified barrel.

    At a sentencing hearing on July 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Bonjour to serve 87 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the need to deter additional criminal conduct and to protect the public.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Edmond Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the El Reno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information. 

    MIL Security OSI –