NewzIntel.com

    • Checkout Page
    • Contact Us
    • Default Redirect Page
    • Frontpage
    • Home-2
    • Home-3
    • Lost Password
    • Member Login
    • Member LogOut
    • Member TOS Page
    • My Account
    • NewzIntel Alert Control-Panel
    • NewzIntel Latest Reports
    • Post Views Counter
    • Privacy Policy
    • Public Individual Page
    • Register
    • Subscription Plan
    • Thank You Page

Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO’s Digital Ocean Vision concludes three-day wargame

    Source: NATO

    From 10 to 13 June (2025), as part of its pioneering initiative Digital Ocean Vision, NATO offered participants the opportunity to test and compare next-generation systems alongside traditional naval platforms, in a digital wargame.

    During the event, participants from across the NATO structures, as well as wargaming experts from the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands, were able to test next-generation systems against traditional naval platforms such as frigates, corvettes, maritime patrol aircraft and submarines. The wargame was designed to measure and compare how emerging disruptive technologies perform, with findings directly supporting NATO’s Task Force X and enhancing the Alliance’s overall defensive posture.

    NATO’s Digital Ocean Vision initiative aims to enhance NATO’s maritime situational awareness from seabed to space, by strengthening coordination between national and Allied capabilities employed for maritime surveillance. It includes a broad range of assets from satellites to autonomous systems below, on, and above the sea.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Bitget’s May Report Highlights 21% increase in Futures Trading Volume Accelerating it to top #3 exchange

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its May 2025 Transparency Report, highlighting growth in trading activity, product innovation, global expansion, and social impact despite a consolidating crypto market.

    In May, the total crypto market cap fluctuated from a high of $3.6 trillion to close at $3.28 trillion, with daily trading volume averaging $84.44 billion. Despite broader market consolidation, Bitget’s trading volume surged by 21%, led by a 26% increase in futures trading. Spot trading reached $107 billion, ranking Bitget as the #3 crypto exchange globally by spot volume, just behind Binance and Bybit, and capturing an estimated 8.9% market share, according to Coingecko data.

    Bitget added over 500,000 new users in May alone, contributing to more than 2 million new users in Q2 2025. Bitget also recorded an industry-leading 192% Proof of Reserves ratio, and its Protection Fund hit an all-time high of $725 million, reflecting a long-term commitment to transparency, asset security, and user protection.

    May was a milestone month for Bitget Wallet, which rebranded under the “Crypto for Everyone” identity and rolled out major upgrades. Key launches included Paydify integration for seamless LATAM fiat onramps, a “Shop with Crypto” marketplace for spending at 300+ global brands, and Bitget Wallet Alpha, a mobile-native hub for token discovery and one-click trading across 130+ blockchains.

    Bitget forged key partnerships to drive adoption and education, teaming up with Sweat to expand crypto access in Southeast Asia, and collaborating with Cryptita to launch a blockchain encyclopedia for youth, promoting early crypto literacy.

    Product rollouts this month included the highly anticipated launch of Bitget Live, a real-time streaming feature designed to empower creators and expert traders to share their insights directly on the platform. The exchange also unveiled BGUSD, a USDC-pegged stablecoin backed by tokenized real-world assets including US Treasuries. Bitget Wallet became the official wallet for LINE’s Mini Dapp Portal, allowing LINE’s 196 million users to access Kaia chain games and tools via Bitget.

    Bitget continued to expand its listing of new digital assets, welcoming RLUSD, Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin, to its platform. Bitget also listed Shardeum, a scalable, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, allowing users to access high-performance DeFi protocols and smart contract applications. The addition of USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial and affiliated with the Trump family, signaled Bitget’s commitment to onboarding digital assets that aim to bridge fiat and crypto for broader user adoption.

    In May, Bitget advanced its social impact efforts through its Blockchain4Youth program, which marked two years with over 8,000 participants and global outreach across 70+ countries. It also supported Google’s “Build With AI” Hackathon, delivered emergency aid to earthquake-affected families in Myanmar, and expanded its Starlink Program in the Philippines to bring satellite internet to underserved islands, supporting long-term digital and blockchain inclusion.

    From its strong on-chain integrations to fiat-crypto innovation, Bitget continues to set new benchmarks in exchange trust, product utility, and real-world Web3 applications. Bitget’s sustained momentum positions it as a key driver in the next phase of crypto evolution.

    For the full transparency report, visit here.

    About Bitget

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

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5780c3bf-ff65-4550-a482-35cb88758332

    The MIL Network –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Hyperscale Data’s Subsidiary, Sentinum, Announces Anticipated Annual Bitcoin Mining Run Rate of Approximately $41 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company (“Hyperscale Data” or the “Company”), announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sentinum, Inc. (“Sentinum”) expects that starting in July 2025, it should be mining an aggregate of approximately 375.24 Bitcoin per year. Such operations would represent a current Bitcoin mining annual run rate of approximately $41 million worth of Bitcoin. The mining run rate is based upon a recent Bitcoin price of approximately $108,000.

    These projections are based upon the full time, year round usage of approximately (i) 9,100 miners currently operating at Sentinum’s data center in Michigan, (ii) 6,800 miners to be hosted by Montana OP LLC, which are anticipated to be delivered, installed and in operation by the end of June 2025 and (iii) 3,300 miners to be operating at Sentinum’s data center in Montana, of which 2,600 are anticipated to be in operation by the end of June 2025 with the remaining 700 to be in operation during July 2025.

    “We’re proud to reach this milestone,” said Milton “Todd” Ault III, Founder and Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. “Our anticipated annual run rate of $41 million a year in Bitcoin mining highlights the scale we’ve built and our team’s ability to execute in a highly competitive market. We are excited to capitalize on favorable Bitcoin prices and look forward to the Sentinum team placing into operation the 10,100 Bitcoin mining machines over the next month.”

    Hyperscale Data notes that all estimates and other projections are subject to the volatility in Bitcoin market price, the fluctuation in the mining difficulty level, the ability to deliver and provide the necessary power for miners, the obligation to deliver Bitcoin mined as payment towards fees and deposits until paid in full, full utilization of the miners for an entire year and other factors that may impact the results of Bitcoin mining production or operations. In addition, Hyperscale Data cautions that revenue will only be recognized to the extent that Bitcoin (or cash upon the sale of Bitcoin) is deposited into our account, which amount will be less than the value of all Bitcoin mined.

    For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data’s public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

    About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

    Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging artificial intelligence (“AI”) ecosystems and other industries. Hyperscale Data’s other wholly owned subsidiary, Ault Capital Group, Inc. (“ACG”), is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact.

    Hyperscale Data expects to divest itself of ACG on or about December 31, 2025 (the “Divestiture”). Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would solely be an owner and operator of data centers to support high-performance computing services, though it may at that time continue to mine Bitcoin. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data’s headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

    On December 23, 2024, the Company issued one million (1,000,000) shares of a newly designated Series F Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the “Series F Preferred Stock”) to all common stockholders and holders of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. The Divestiture will occur through the voluntary exchange of the Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of ACG (collectively, the “ACG Shares”). The Company reminds its stockholders that only those holders of the Series F Preferred Stock who agree to surrender such shares, and do not properly withdraw such surrender, in the exchange offer through which the Divestiture will occur, will be entitled to receive the ACG Shares and consequently be stockholders of ACG upon the occurrence of the Divestiture.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company’s business and financial results are included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company’s website at hyperscaledata.com.

    Hyperscale Data Investor Contact:
    IR@hyperscaledata.com or 1-888-753-2235

    The MIL Network –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Navatar Adds Automated LinkedIn Data Enrichment to Its Salesforce CRM Powered Intelligence Engine for Private Equity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK and LONDON, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Navatar, the CRM platform for alternative assets and investment banking, today announced a new LinkedIn integration that automates data enrichment within its Salesforce-based platform. This new capability allows deal teams to discover previously unknown contacts, track executive moves, and surface relevant news—all seamlessly within the CRM.

    This LinkedIn integration reinforces Navatar’s broader vision: delivering high-impact intelligence automatically—so dealmakers can focus on execution, not data entry. Navatar helps firms win by enabling thematic sourcing, staying close to the right companies, and building conviction early—before deals reach the market.

    This mission—to help dealmakers consistently bring their A-game—inspired the launch of Navatar’s A-Game podcast, which spotlights top private equity professionals sharing the principles, strategies, and insights that drive their edge in a competitive market.

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link.

    For many firms, their CRM is part of the problem—not the solution. Workflows are manual, fragmented, and frustrating. Intelligence is scattered across inboxes, spreadsheets, and conversations in partners’ heads. Most CRMs ultimately become little more than static lists of deals. By capturing insights from emails, calendars, notes, documents, and now LinkedIn, Navatar continuously connects the dots across firms’ most valuable relationships and investment conversations.

    Navatar flips the model—removing friction, connecting insights behind the scenes, and ensuring that institutional knowledge shows up where and when dealmakers need it. Navatar transforms Salesforce into a dealmaking intelligence engine that captures, connects, and activates firmwide knowledge—without high-touch data entry or rigid workflows.

    Navatar helps deal teams:

    • Stay close to the right companies, bankers, and signals
    • Maximize the value of internal and external relationships
    • Unlock firmwide intelligence—without manual input
    • Make better-informed investment decisions, faster

    Bringing Your A-Game: From Sourcing to Diligence

    1. Relationship & Context Mapping

    • Surfaces who knows who across your firm
    • Tracks who knows what, based on intelligence automatically captured
    • Uncovers hidden relationships among companies, investors, and bankers

    2. Top-of-Funnel Edge

    • Consolidates insights from every relationship
    • Surfaces context that helps you pre-position early
    • Organizes intelligence by company, contact, sector—without manual effort

    3. Thematic Sourcing at Scale

    • Build workspaces around investment theses and subsectors
    • Dynamically summarize intelligence in collaborative clipboards
    • Visualize ecosystems of deals, companies, and people
    • Continuously refine sourcing strategy based on real-time insights

    4. Smarter Deal Evaluation

    • Pull in expert insights and past deal history to sharpen evaluation
    • Surface internal knowledge to strengthen competitive positioning
    • Reduce diligence costs by avoiding duplicated research

    Why Private Equity Firms Have Struggled with Salesforce

    Private equity workflows are nuanced, long-cycle, and driven by relationships. Yet firms often hire professional services teams to “build out” Salesforce with linear deal stages and compliance flows.

    The result? Over-engineered systems packed with automation layers that don’t reflect how dealmakers actually work. CRMs that demand hours of manual input—and return little in actionable insight.

    Even a CRM that perfectly mirrors a firm’s process will fail—if dealmakers see no immediate value.

    Navatar’s Counter-Intuitive Fix: Simplify Everything

    With two decades of Salesforce expertise, Navatar took a bold approach: use the flexibility of Salesforce not to add complexity—but to eliminate it. Navatar brings intelligence to dealmakers without changing how they work.

    Here’s how:

    • No manual data entry — Notes and emails are automatically captured, categorized by company, deal, person, sector, and topic
    • Reveal hidden connections — Between sponsors, buyers, companies, and intermediaries
    • Unify the firm’s knowledge — Track and connect interactions at every stage
    • Collaborate seamlessly — Dynamic, flexible workspaces align the team in real time
    • Stay in sync — CRM, Outlook, LinkedIn, calendar, and third-party data are all connected

    The Bottom Line: Intelligence Wins Deals

    The new LinkedIn integration is now available to all Navatar clients using the Salesforce platform. In a market where speed, insight, and relationships drive returns, private equity firms can no longer afford to rely on static CRMs and scattered workflows. Navatar transforms Salesforce into a low-touch, high-impact intelligence engine—built for how dealmakers actually work. By capturing insights across every conversation and connection, Navatar empowers firms to act earlier, evaluate faster, and compete smarter.

    For more information on Navatar for Private Equity, visit:
    https://www.navatargroup.com/salesforce-for-private-equity-crm-software/

    About Navatar

    Navatar (@navatargroup), the CRM platform for alternative assets and investment banking firms, is a low-touch, high-impact intelligence engine purpose-built for investment workflows across private markets. Our platform delivers seamless intelligence capture, unifies firmwide relationships, and orchestrates complex deal processes—without requiring high-touch input or behavioral change from investment professionals. Backed by over two decades of CRM expertise, Navatar is used by hundreds of global private markets firms to drive institutional knowledge, create early access to opportunities and streamline execution.

    Sales Team
    Navatar
    sales@navatargroup.com

    The MIL Network –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [MARLOWE PLC – 12 06 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
    N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    MARLOWE PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    12 JUNE 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    NO

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 50p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 3,108,136 3.9583    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 3,108,136 3.9583    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    50p ORDINARY SALE 5,100 442.02p
    50p ORDINARY PURCHASE 5,100 442.5p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD
    Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
    Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.
    Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option
    Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion
    Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 13 JUNE 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press conference following Council of Ministers meeting no. 131

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    Vai al Contenuto Raggiungi il piè di pagina

    12 Giugno 2025

    Council of Ministers meeting no. 131 was held at Palazzo Chigi today. Following the meeting, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, Minister of Labour and Social Policies Marina Elvira Calderone and Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Maurizio Leo held a press conference to illustrate the measures adopted.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    June 13, 2025
  • Israel takes name of Iran operation from Bible verse

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel has called its military operation against Iran “Rising Lion”, taking the name from a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was photographed on Thursday putting a handwritten note into a crack of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, which in retrospect pointed to the looming strikes on Iran.

    His office on Friday released a photo of the note, which said “the people shall rise up as a lion”.

    The expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”

    This verse is part of the first oracle of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner, where he foretells the strength and power of Israel, comparing it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger.

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel’s strikes “satanic”.

    (Reuters)

    June 13, 2025
  • PM Modi condoles demise of former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in Ahmedabad air crash

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed deep grief over the demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad a day earlier.

    Rupani, 68, was travelling on board flight AI-171 to London when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of 241 passengers.

    In a post on X, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the late leader, describing his passing as “unimaginable” and recalling a long association with him that spanned decades.

    “I’ve known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times. Vijaybhai was humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party’s ideology,” PM Modi said in his post.

    He went on to highlight Rupani’s journey in public life, mentioning his early work in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, his tenure as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, and his leadership as President of the Gujarat BJP.

    “In every role assigned, he distinguished himself… as Gujarat BJP President and as Cabinet Minister in the State Government,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Rupani had made lasting contributions during his time as Chief Minister, particularly in initiatives aimed at improving ease of living for citizens.

    The Prime Minister also visited the late leader’s family to offer condolences in person. “Will always cherish the interactions we had. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” he said.

    Rupani served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021.

    June 13, 2025
  • Gautam Gambhir flies back home from England due to family emergency

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A week before India begins their five-match Test series against England in Leeds, head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back home due to a family emergency. Gambhir had been with the Indian team at Beckenham ahead of their intra-squad practice match starting on Friday.

    “Yes it came to the light yesterday that Gambhir would be flying back home due to an important family emergency related to his mother. As of now, we believe that Gambhir has already linked up with his family in New Delhi. Keeping in mind the current situation, it’s not known yet about when he would join the India team ahead of the Test series’ commencement,” said sources aware of development to IANS on Friday.

    In Gambhir’s absence, alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip will help the Indian team prepare for the upcoming Test series against Ben Stokes-led England, which starts at Headingley.

    The Test tour of England will also be right-handed batter Shubman Gill’s first assignment as the captain of the Indian team, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma last month. At 25 years and 258 days, Gill will also become the fifth-youngest cricketer to captain India in Tests.

    Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be India’s vice-captain on the all-important Test series, which runs from June 20 to August 4. India and England will also play matches at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s in London, Old Trafford in Manchester and The Oval in London.

    India are aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. The Test series in England will also be India’s first assignment in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.

    (IANS)

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Senior Police Call AGM cum Luncheon held (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Senior Police Call AGM cum Luncheon held  
    Speaking at the luncheon, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said the SPC has been established for over ten years, aiming at promoting safety, health and community participation of the elderly. The Government adopted measures to promote the silver economy last month to enhance the quality of life for the elderly. In line with the policy direction, the SPC has launched a wide range of activities and training programmes to help its members achieve physical, mental and spiritual health.
     
    In order to enhance the anti-deception awareness among senior citizens and to tackle the various and emerging deception tactics, the SPC launched the “IT Captain” training programme in May this year. This includes the education on the use of the one-stop scam and pitfall search engine “Scameter+”. Together with the “SPC Wealth Management and Anti-Investment Scam Ambassador” programme, the elderly get familiarised with the latest scam tactics and cyber traps, and are encouraged to spread the message of fraud prevention in the community. Trained “IT Captains” will guide elderly and citizens in the community to use the commonly-used mobile apps of the Government, assisting them to integrate into digital life.
     
    An increase of 28 per cent was recorded in the number of deception cases involving elderly victims, reaching 6 345 cases in 2024 compared to 4 929 cases in 2023. There was also an increase of approximately 20 per cent in related fraud cases from January to April this year compared to the same period last year, to over 1 700 cases. Of these, more than half were classified as online frauds, while around 40 per cent were related to telephone scams.
     
    At the AGM today, 44 SPC members were presented with the “Best SPC Captain” and “Most Active SPC Member” awards in recognition of their enthusiastic participation over the past year.
     
    The newly launched “PALS@SPC” initiative this year represents four key themes of the SPC’s activities, with “P” standing for “Participate”, “A” for “Alert”, “L” for “Learn” and “S” for “Safeguard”. The SPC will continue to collaborate with various organisations to roll out a broader range of programmes, encouraging more senior citizens to become SPC members, and to enhance themselves through recreation and sports activities as well as courses and seminars. Being crime-fighting partners of the Police, SPC members join hands to serve the community and achieve the SPC sprit – “Helping Oneself and Others”.

    Issued at HKT 18:11

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 15 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Contribute”, “Lightshadow” and “Twilight”, and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Windsand”, for four consecutive days from June 9 to yesterday (June 12). A total of 12 suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested.

    During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 81 target locations including commercial buildings, an industrial building, residential buildings, a massage parlour, restaurants and retail stores. Twelve suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised five men and seven women, aged 21 to 57. Among them, two men and one woman were holders of a recognisance form, which prohibits them from taking any employment. In addition, one woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card; one man was suspected of using and being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. One man and one woman, aged 30 and 63, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. One woman, aged 32, who was suspected of aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong, was also arrested.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30 
    Report on Currency Board Operations (25 December, 2024 – 16 April, 2025)
    ————————————————————————————
     
    The Currency Board Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) noted that the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) traded within a range of 7.7555 – 7.7927 against the US dollar (USD) during the review period. The HKD exchange rate moderated in early January 2025 as liquidity tightness subsided at the end of 2024 and global markets reacted to US tariff announcements, but strengthened in mid-February 2025, supported by strong performance of the local stock market amid Mainland China’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence and net inflows from the Southbound Stock Connect. In early April, in response to further US tariffs, the HKD strengthened further as long USD carry trades unwound amid a risk-off sentiment and southbound inflows continued. HKD interbank rates (HIBORs) continued to track the USD rates while shorter-tenor rates were also being affected by local supply and demand. Short-term HIBORs tightened briefly near the year-end but softened thereafter as funding demand faded. The Convertibility Undertakings were not triggered during the review period and the Aggregate Balance was stable at around HK$45 billion. No abnormality was noted in the usage of the Discount Window. Overall, the HKD exchange and interbank markets continued to trade in a smooth and orderly manner.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that the Monetary Base increased to HK$1,980.99 billion at the end of the review period. In accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.
     
    The Report on Currency Board Operations for the review period is at Annex.
     
    Monitoring of Risks and Vulnerabilities
    ——————————————
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that downside growth risks to the global economy had intensified following the US announcement of imposing reciprocal tariffs that exceeded market expectations. In response, global financial markets had gyrated, although they continued to operate smoothly with no sign of widespread funding stress. While the postponement of reciprocal tariffs had offered some reprieve for export-reliant Asian economies which generally faced higher rates, the prospect of tariffs being implemented further down the road still posed significant growth headwinds.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, the economy entered 2025 amid some green shoots and improved equity market sentiment. In particular, at the “two sessions” in March, the authorities sent strong pro-growth signals, including prioritising consumption and strengthening fiscal support. From April onwards, the Mainland economic outlook faced stiffer external headwinds due to the US reciprocal tariffs. It was expected that Mainland China would place increasing emphasis on supporting consumption.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, downside risks to the growth outlook heightened following the imposition of the US reciprocal tariffs. Yet, several factors might help alleviate some of the impact, including the Mainland’s pro-growth policies and its advancement in artificial intelligence, the prospective US rate cuts expected by the markets, and the ongoing recovery of inbound tourism. Meanwhile, housing market transactions gained momentum in March following the Government’s adjustment in stamp duties for lower-value properties, although market sentiment turned conservative in early April amid the global financial market volatility. The commercial real estate markets remained subdued, especially in the office segment.
     
    A Study on “Discount Window Stigma”
    ——————————————-
     
    The Sub-Committee noted a paper that examined the usage of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Discount Window and the associated “stigma effect” by banks over time. The results showed that the Discount Window was tapped more frequently and the associated stigma diminished in the current period of tight liquidity, compared with the previous period of tight liquidity in 2018 – 2020. This trend coincided with the HKMA’s proactive communication efforts with banks to alleviate concerns about the “stigma effect” during recent periods.
    Issued at HKT 16:36

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements 
         The offences of these 27 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (i.e. requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance). One of the landlords committed 16 offences under (1) and (2) and was fined $13,000.

         The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
     
         A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether they have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance.  
         The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html 
         For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD’s webpage (
    www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.htmlIssued at HKT 15:48

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong’s international gourmet hub status attracts Mainland coconut chicken hot pot chain to open first restaurant in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (June 13) that Runseason World Trade Catering Co Ltd (Runseason), a Mainland catering brand specialising in coconut chicken hot pot, has officially opened its first restaurant in Hong Kong, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.

         The new restaurant, located in Causeway Bay, will also serve as a regional office and a strategic launch pad for the company’s ambitions to enter European markets and elevate its brand on the global stage, according to Runseason co-founder Mr Huang Guangchun.

         Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “Runseason’s decision to establish its foothold in Hong Kong underscores the city as the premier choice for Mainland brands to go global. It also highlights Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a launch pad for food and beverage companies aiming to expand internationally. We are delighted to support Runseason in leveraging Hong Kong’s vibrant market and international connectivity to achieve its ambitious expansion goals.”

         Mr Huang said, “Hong Kong’s status as an international culinary hub, with its mature market and diverse consumers, makes it the ideal base for Runseason to refine its product offerings, strengthen its supply chain resilience, and enhance its digital services. Aligning with the company’s ‘family standards and conscientious quality’ philosophy, the Hong Kong restaurant will develop a replicable model for global expansion, showcasing its signature coconut chicken hot pot and innovative dishes to a global audience.”

         He added, “Hong Kong, as an international city where East meets West, provides an unparalleled opportunity for Runseason to introduce our coconut chicken – a delicacy rooted in Eastern dietary wisdom – to international markets. By leveraging Hong Kong’s diverse consumer base and its reputation for culinary excellence, we aim to transform this regional specialty into a global cultural symbol of healthy and sustainable dining.”

         Founded in 2009, Runseason is a subsidiary of Shenzhen Runyuan Four Seasons Catering Co Ltd, offering its signature coconut chicken hot pot, in which the brand sources fresh ingredients directly from its own coconut plantations and Wenchang chicken breeding farm in Hainan, ensuring a premium dining experience. It operates over 20 restaurants across Mainland China, bringing its beloved hot pot to an ever-growing customer base. 

         For more information about Runseason, please visit mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Cn8mevI9TxnrmaIT72fksA.

         For a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326792123.

            

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Charles Emogor, Schmidt Science Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

    Nigeria accounts for the largest volume of detected pangolin scales illegally traded from Africa. Between 2010 and 2021, 190,000kg of scales – representing nearly 800,000 African pangolins – were seized in shipments linked to Nigeria, despite a ban on international trade.

    Pangolins are scaly mammals found across Asia and Africa. They are considered the world’s most trafficked wild mammals and they are exploited in different ways on different continents.

    In Asia, mainly China, their scales are used in large-scale therapeutic medicines, despite not having known medicinal properties. Their meat is consumed as a delicacy, so it’s expensive and highly sought after.

    In Africa, pangolin scales are mainly used in small quantities to make traditional medicines and, like most other wildlife on the continent, their meat is sold and consumed locally. However, the decline in Asian pangolin populations has prompted the trafficking of African pangolin scales to Asia.

    Due to the relatively recent rise in international demand, the drivers of African pangolin exploitation remain unclear. However, some conservationists and researchers propose that this exploitation is primarily driven by overseas demand for pangolin scales used in traditional medicine.

    My new study challenges this view and suggests that African pangolin exploitation is motivated more by local demand for meat than international demand for scales.

    Having grown up in Nigeria, I developed personal connections with many of the hunters and vendors and have spent the past five years building a trustworthy relationship with them in order to research pangolin trade from within the industry.

    My colleagues and I sent an anonymous questionnaire to 590 hunters and 219 wild meat vendors in 33 locations in southeast Nigeria. We wanted to find out how many pangolins they caught annually and how they were captured. We also asked what their motivations for hunting were, how much they sold pangolin products for and the subsequent uses of meat and scales.

    Given that pangolin meat is eaten as food, we asked another group of 570 hunters, vendors, and other household members to score the palatability (perceived sensory qualities of meat flavour and texture) of 96 meat and fish dishes consumed in Nigerian communities.

    Of the approximately 21,000 white- and black-bellied pangolins, which we estimated were killed annually across the hunters in the landscape between 2020 and 2023, 97% were captured opportunistically (that is, while performing activities other than hunting) or during general hunting. Of those, were picked up by hand – these animals weigh just 2-3kg on average and are relatively slow-moving.

    Surprisingly, 98% of captured pangolins were caught for their meat, with 71% eaten by the hunters and 27% sold locally. This high rate of personal consumption compared to local sales is likely driven by their exceptional taste. In southeast Nigeria, the three pangolin species eaten scored highest in palatability among 96 wild meats assessed, and were comparable only with the African brush-tailed porcupine.

    By comparison, rural southeast Asian communities increasingly forego eating the pangolins themselves and instead sell them to urban centres because they get high prices for meat and scales.

    Most of the pangolin scales (70%) were discarded. Less than 30% were traded illegally. We also found that, on a per-animal basis, pangolin scales have been three to four times lower than meat since 2010, when Nigeria’s first pangolin scale seizure was documented.

    Beyond Nigeria

    While our study focused on pangolin trade in southeast Nigeria, our findings likely apply to other African forest regions where pangolins make up a similar proportion of the hunters’ total catch and where the price of scales is comparable.

    Our analysis only applies to white- and black-bellied pangolins; but this is still substantial as they make up approximately 98% of African pangolins trafficked internationally (based on seizure data) and 96% of pangolins caught by hunters across central and west Africa (based on hunter offtake data from six countries).

    Securing the future of African pangolins demands a bold shift if they are primarily being hunted for meat rather than scales, as appears to be the case in southeast Nigeria. Anti-trafficking measures alone won’t protect pangolins if hunting for local consumption remains unchecked.

    Promoting alternative protein sources or sustainable livelihoods for hunters could help reduce wild meat dependence. As current global trade bans don’t always reflect local hunting motivations, understanding why people hunt protected species and how they get traded both locally and globally will be crucial in developing conservation strategies that will tackle the root of the problem and encourage a transition to more sustainable practices.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.


    Charles Emogor receives funding from the British High Commission in Nigeria, National Geographic Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Network, Rufford Foundation, Conservation Leadership Programme, and Save Pangolins. He is the founder of Pangolin Protection Network (aka Pangolino).

    – ref. Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins – https://theconversation.com/why-anti-trafficking-measures-alone-wont-save-africas-pangolins-251744

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Netflix’s Dept Q. suggests that psychological trauma might help a detective investigate – neuroscience backs this up

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Edward White, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Kingston University

    Carl Morck is psychologically damaged. He’s socially insufferable. And he’s a departmental embarrassment. Yet this broken man becomes an incredibly effective investigator. Welcome to the brilliant paradox of Netflix’s Dept. Q, where mental trauma doesn’t disable – it supercharges.

    Detective Morck’s story begins with catastrophic failure. Ignoring protocol, he and his partner, James Hardy, rush headlong into what they think is a routine murder scene. It’s an ambush. Hardy ends up paralysed for life, a rookie officer dies and Morck survives with crushing survivor’s guilt and severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Most detectives would retire. Morck comes back more determined to get his man.

    Months later, Morck returns to work. He obsessively replays the rookie’s body camera video hundreds of times as well as the ballistics reconstruction. His colleagues flee his toxic presence. His commander ships him off to the basement with a stack of cold cases, hoping he’ll disappear into bureaucratic obscurity.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.


    Instead, she accidentally creates the perfect storm.

    Morck’s first basement case involves Merritt Lingard, a prosecutor who vanished from a ferry four years earlier. The official conclusion was she fell overboard and drowned. Case closed. But Morck can’t move on from anything anymore. His trauma-rewired brain won’t let him.

    He watches the ferry security footage with the same obsessive intensity he brings to replaying his shooting. Frame by frame. Over and over. The same compulsive attention to detail that torments him with endless replays of his failure becomes his investigative superpower. Where normal detectives see a tragic accident, Morck’s damaged neural pathways spot the inconsistencies everyone else missed.

    This isn’t nonsense, it’s neuroscience. Research shows that depression fundamentally rewires information processing, creating enhanced sensitivity to negative details and threats. What his therapist calls pathological rumination becomes detective gold.

    The banished misfits

    Morck is saddled with a team of misfits: Hardy (paralysed and bitter), Akram Salim (a Syrian refugee with mysterious combat skills), and Rose Dickson (battling her own demons). Together, they form a collection of damaged individuals that conventional policing would write off.

    But here’s the magic: their shared outsider status creates collective investigative superpowers.

    Take their interview with William Lingard, Merritt’s disabled brother. William draws pictures of “a man in a hat with a bird logo” — evidence that conventional investigators would probably set aside because it wouldn’t hold up in court. The series shows this attitude earlier when a young mother recants her witness statement. While other officers dismiss it as useless since it can’t help prosecute a case, Morck argues it’s still valuable investigative information.

    This reflects a fundamental difference in approach: most police focus on building prosecutable cases, but Dept. Q’s outsider status frees them to pursue any lead that might reveal truth, regardless of its courtroom value. Taking William’s drawings seriously as investigative intelligence, rather than dismissing them as legally inadmissible, eventually leads them to identify the crucial cormorant logo connection.

    Organisational psychology research shows that socially excluded groups are more willing to ask questions that insiders avoid due to workplace politics or social taboos. Operating from their basement exile, Department Q pursues theories that proper procedure would shut down. Their isolation becomes investigative freedom, unencumbered by institutional constraints.

    Department Q isn’t just entertainment, it’s a master class in psychological diversity’s investigative value. Real police departments might benefit from understanding how different types of cognitive processing can reveal different types of evidence. The systematic pessimism of depression, the hypervigilance of PTSD, the pattern recognition of anxiety – these aren’t just symptoms to medicate away, they’re investigative tools waiting to be properly deployed.

    The series suggests that our most psychologically damaged individuals might see truths that healthy minds systematically miss, which research backs up. It’s a provocative idea: maybe the people we consider “broken” are exactly who we need investigating the cases that have broken everyone else.

    Department Q proves that in the right circumstances, psychological damage doesn’t create victims. It creates visionaries.

    Edward White is affiliated with Kingston University.

    – ref. Netflix’s Dept Q. suggests that psychological trauma might help a detective investigate – neuroscience backs this up – https://theconversation.com/netflixs-dept-q-suggests-that-psychological-trauma-might-help-a-detective-investigate-neuroscience-backs-this-up-258638

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 13, 2025
  • Shadow of War Falls Over Strait of Hormuz After Israel Strikes Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

    Iran, which has denied such intentions, has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz for traffic in retaliation to Western pressure. Experts have said that any closure of the strait could restrict trade and impact global oil prices.

    Below are details about the strait:

    The strait lies between Oman and Iran and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond.

    It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.

    WHY DOES IT MATTER?

    About a fifth of the world’s total oil consumption passes through the strait. Between the start of 2022 and last month, roughly 17.8 million to 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels flowed through the strait daily, according to data from Vortexa.

    OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia.

    The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the strait.

    Around 2.6 million bpd of unused capacity from existing UAE and Saudi pipelines could be available to bypass Hormuz, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in June last year.

    Qatar, among the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, sends almost all of its LNG through the strait.

    Iran has threatened over the years to block the strait but has never followed through.

    The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the area.

    HISTORY OF TENSIONS

    In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia slapped an oil embargo on Western supporters of Israel in its war with Egypt.

    While Western countries were the main buyers of crude produced by the Arab countries at the time, nowadays Asia is the main buyer of OPEC’s crude.

    The United States more than doubled its oil liquids production in the last two decades and has turned from the world’s biggest oil importer into one of the top exporters.

    During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the two sides sought to disrupt each other’s exports in what was called the Tanker War.

    In July 1988, a U.S. warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard, in what Washington said was an accident and Tehran said was a deliberate attack.

    In January 2012, Iran threatened to block the strait in retaliation for U.S. and European sanctions. In May 2019, four vessels – including two Saudi oil tankers – were attacked off the UAE coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz.

    (Reuters)

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tens of thousands of people in Hainan have been evacuated to safe areas due to Typhoon Wutip

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    HAIKOU, June 13 (Xinhua) — More than tens of thousands of residents in south China’s Hainan Province have been evacuated to safe areas as Typhoon Wutip (Butterfly), the first typhoon of the year, approaches.

    As of 8:00 p.m. Thursday, a total of 16,561 people had been evacuated from construction sites, low-lying areas threatened by flooding and areas at risk from mountain torrents in the province.

    All 30,721 fishing vessels in the province have either returned to ports or taken shelter elsewhere, with more than 40,000 people working on them evacuated to shore.

    As Typhoon Wutip continues to intensify, the provincial meteorological office extended the typhoon alert to Level 3 at 11 a.m. Friday.

    Typhoon Wutip strengthened into a severe tropical storm at 8 p.m. Thursday. As of 10 a.m. Friday, its epicenter was located near Ledong Li Autonomous County on Hainan Island, with maximum wind speeds of about 28 meters per second near the epicenter. Heavy rainfall is expected in many parts of the province by 8 p.m.

    According to meteorologists’ forecasts, the typhoon is moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 5-10 km/h.

    On Friday, Wutip may make landfall or pass near the coastal area between Ledong County and Dongfang City as a severe tropical storm with wind gusts of 25 to 28 meters per second. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Scientists Discover 100-Million-Year-Old Parasitic Fungi

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NANJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — An international team of paleontologists led by Chinese scientists has discovered two previously unknown species of parasitic fungi preserved in two pieces of amber from Myanmar’s Kachin region, which are about 100 million years old, according to the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

    The new discovery provides important evidence for the study of fungi and insects’ coevolution. The study also suggests that the parasitic fungi group Ophiocordyceps evolved about 30 million years earlier than previously thought.

    As the head of the research project, senior researcher at the institute Wang Bo, explained, the fungi do not have a solid structure and are easily decomposed. Research into the origin and evolution of Ophiocordyceps is hampered by the extreme limitation of fossil evidence.

    The two pieces of amber have well-preserved mushroom structures, making it possible to compare them with modern analogues. Using computer microtomography, the researchers discovered their insect hosts.

    The scientists also obtained and analyzed genetic data on 120 modern Ophiocordyceps species. Using these fossils as a reference, they reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Ophiocordyceps and revised the data on the origin of this group of fungi.

    “The results suggest that the origin of Ophiocordyceps must have occurred around 130 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous, which is 30 million years earlier than previously thought,” he said.

    The results of the study were published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Judge orders Trump to give California back control of its National Guard

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    LOS ANGELES, June 13 (Xinhua) — A federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary order ordering U.S. President Donald Trump to return control of the state’s National Guard to California authorities.

    Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles was unlawful because it violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded the president’s statutory powers, according to the order, which will go into effect Friday at 12 p.m.

    US District Judge Charles Breyer said Trump overstepped his authority when he ordered about 4,000 National Guard troops to be deployed to Los Angeles, where immigration protests have erupted.

    California Governor Gavin Newsom challenged the measure in court. California later filed an emergency motion asking a judge to bar the National Guard from assisting immigration enforcement raids.

    Breyer’s injunction was “a sharp rebuke of President Trump’s efforts to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to the streets of an American city, which has led to nearly a week of political standoffs and protests across the country,” the New York Times writes.

    During an hour-long hearing in San Francisco, a Justice Department official said courts do not have the authority to review the president’s decisions regarding the National Guard and Marines, which Trump sent to Los Angeles despite objections from state and local officials.

    C. Breyer expressed doubt that D. Trump fulfilled the conditions of the law determining when National Guard units, which are usually commanded by the state governor, can be federalized.

    The judge stayed the order until Friday afternoon to allow an appeal, but he set a June 20 hearing on whether to make the restrictions permanent. The Trump administration has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping offers condolences to Indian leadership over plane crash

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday offered condolences to Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of many people in the crash of an Air India plane.

    In his message, Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the plane crash that claimed many lives. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he expressed deep condolences over the loss of life, sympathized with the victims and the families of the deceased, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolences to Modi on Friday. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Onchain Rolls Out Major Feature Upgrades to Empower Smarter Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced a series of powerful feature upgrades including limit order, smart position TP/SL, and new token alert, for its Onchain platform, aimed at providing users with more precision, control, and real-time insights into onchain trading.

    The latest updates introduce key enhancements to trading execution, risk management, market tracking, and user experience. Limit order functionality is now live, allowing traders to define their own execution prices with greater precision and efficiency. The Onchain platform also supports smart take-profit and stop-loss tools, enabling users to pre-set target profits or losses and automate position management with a single click. To give traders greater flexibility, gas and slippage settings can now be adjusted across multiple modes.

    Bitget Onchain has also improved its real-time market visibility. K-line candlestick charts are now updated live, ensuring users have access to the most current market data as prices move. A new chart overlay combines price data with market capitalization, offering a dual-layered perspective for more informed decision-making.

    The platform also introduced a new token subscription feature that sends instant alerts when new tokens are listed, helping users stay ahead of emerging opportunities. Search functionality has also been upgraded to support direct queries using contract addresses, making it easier to identify high-potential assets. In addition, Bitget Onchain has launched a new sharing feature that allows users to showcase their open positions and trading performance seamlessly across platforms.

    “At Bitget, we’re committed to building a seamless and intelligent onchain trading environment,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “With these new features, users gain more precision, better automation, and deeper visibility into the market—all essential to staying ahead in a fast-moving space and making smarter trading decisions.”

    Bitget Onchain was officially launched on April 7, 2025, as a frictionless onchain trading solution for all users. By combining the speed and simplicity of a CEX with direct access to onchain assets, it allows users to trade using USDT from their spot accounts across major chains such as Solana, BNB Chain, and Base. To date, Bitget Onchain has included over 230 trendy assets, recorded over 1 million cumulative trading actions, and facilitated over $200 million in total trading volume.

    With CEX-grade security and AI-powered token screening, Bitget Onchain makes DeFi trading simpler, safer, and more accessible, especially for new users seeking early opportunities in emerging markets.

    For more information on Bitget OnChain, please visit here.

    About Bitget

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

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e0f2ea8b-9246-40f2-a7f4-0805abd9cfd5

    The MIL Network –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Bilibili Inc. Announces Completion of the Repurchase Right of Its 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced that it has completed its previously announced repurchase right relating to its 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (CUSIP No. 090040AD8) (the “Notes”). The repurchase right expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Based on information from Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the paying agent for the Notes, US$66,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes were validly surrendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the repurchase right. The aggregate cash purchase price of these Notes is US$66,000. The Company has accepted all of the surrendered Notes for repurchase and has forwarded cash in payment of the same to the paying agent for distribution to the applicable holders.

    About Bilibili Inc.

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

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

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

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

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

    In the United States:

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

    The MIL Network –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Older South Africans need better support and basic services – and so do their caregivers

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Elena Moore, Professor of Sociology, University of Cape Town

    In South Africa, most long-term care for older people happens at home through the efforts of family members, largely female kin, not through government services.

    With South Africa’s population growing older, combined with reduced funding for community care, higher levels of disability in old age, and widespread poverty and unemployment, family care has become more important than ever and more challenging. But government and policy makers don’t know how it happens, and we can’t just assume it happens.

    The Family Caregiving Programme is the first major programme dedicated to understanding family care of older persons in southern Africa. As part of the research team for this programme we are looking at how family care works and how it can be better supported. The five-year programme aims to improve our understanding of how family care is experienced in South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana.

    For the latest research report, we worked with 103 caregivers and 96 older persons in 100 family units across seven locations in three South African provinces: the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. We worked in two rural areas, one peri-urban area and four urban areas including two townships.

    Three quarters of the sample of older persons required constant care or supervision.

    We found that all the care needs were being met – but at a significant cost for caregivers, older persons and society.

    Care needs go beyond physiological and cognitive issues and are shaped by the physical and social environment. The environment can make care more challenging and create more dependency. Lack of access to water, sanitation and electricity adds to care work.

    For care needs to be met, older persons need supported caregivers, access to care services and basic services.

    The gaps

    South Africa’s long term care policy encourages “ageing in place”, meaning older people should live in their homes, supported by community-based services. But the reality is that support is limited.

    Of the 5.5 million older people in South Africa, around 4 million receive the Older Person’s Grant, and at least 1.5 million need help with daily activities. Very few receive home-based care or subsidised meals. Even fewer receive assistive devices and materials such as wheelchairs or incontinence products.

    It’s a common assumption that if an older person lives with family, they’re being cared for. But this isn’t always true. Sometimes the available family member isn’t able – physically, emotionally, or financially – to provide proper care. Mental health support is also largely missing. Many older people experience loneliness and depression, but help is hard to find. In our study, one in five older persons experienced feelings of loneliness, anxiety and despair.

    Many older people don’t have running water, proper toilets, wheelchairs, or incontinence products. If basic services are missing, the older person needs more help. Older black people in rural areas and in under-resourced townships are most affected.

    Family Caregiving Programme

    Older people also need help accessing healthcare. High levels of diabetes, hypertension and arthritis in many cases lead to disability in later life. But getting help to access care isn’t always available.

    Mary Mwebu (we have used pseudonyms), who lives in the rural Eastern Cape and has TB of the spine and mobility challenges, has no running water in her home. She also has no accessible and affordable transport, so she hasn’t been to the clinic in 10 years and struggles to manage her pain.

    Care needs of older persons include basic provision of food. Our findings show that older persons and their households spend way below what is needed for a healthy diet.

    The older person’s grant, at R2,315 (US$130) a month in 2025 and similar to the cost of incontinence products for the month, is often the main income in the household and is used to cover the costs for everyone, especially in a context where 64% of people living with an older person are unemployed.

    Food is the biggest cost, often up to two thirds of income. It is the first thing to cut when there’s not enough money.

    Money is particularly tight in black low-income households. In many cases expenditure exceeds income, and older people are left vulnerable. If any unexpected costs like medical needs or hygiene products arise, the older person will often have to sacrifice food.

    Others will obtain loans and so many fall into debt. Borrowing from loan sharks is a way to buy food but high interest rates put people in a worse position the following month.

    Limiting spending, eating less, and limited help from family members are the only other ways to meet their needs.

    Why care is depleting

    The average older person household has five people in it. Large households have many care needs, not just elder care. We found that women – especially daughters and female relatives – are the main caregivers.

    But the findings show that due to HIV/Aids and migration, older people can’t always rely on their children. In such instances care is also provided by nieces, neighbours, and adult granddaughters.

    Looking after an older person often requires caregivers to relocate. Our findings showed that one in five caregivers had to move, often with young children or leaving spouses behind.

    Sometimes older persons need to move to get care. This happened in one in 10 older persons in our sample. Many are reluctant to move from their homes and the process can take years.

    The findings show that family caregiving is not an endless supply of “free” labour. It is physically, emotionally and financially costly, especially for black low-income women.

    Some answers

    The report proposes three key recommendations.

    Firstly, family caregivers and careworkers should be adequately compensated for their work.

    Secondly, we call for expanding home-based care services to ease the load and give caregivers breaks and mental health support.

    And thirdly, care-related items, such as wheelchairs, incontinence products and healthy food, should be made more easily available.

    Supporting family caregivers means supporting the wellbeing of millions of older South Africans. It’s time the country took elder and family care seriously and backed it with real investment and action.

    – Older South Africans need better support and basic services – and so do their caregivers
    – https://theconversation.com/older-south-africans-need-better-support-and-basic-services-and-so-do-their-caregivers-258409

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: IEC to host the first Symposium on Political Funding in SA

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    IEC to host the first Symposium on Political Funding in SA

    The Electoral Commission is preparing to host a symposium on Political Funding in South Africa. 

    This follows four years of implementing the Political Funding Act of 2018. This law took effect on 1 April 2021. 

    The symposium will be held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on 18 and 19 June 2025.

    The symposium will be held under the theme: “Sustaining Multi-Party Democracy through Enhancing Political Funding Regulation in South Africa”.

    The aim of the symposium is to foster informed dialogue on matters related to the use of money in politics, the required transparency and accountability models, as well as possible reforms to ensure an effective political finance regulatory regime in South Africa.

    The key highlights of the programme of the symposium include opening remarks by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mosotho Moepya.

    The Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, and the political funding unit will outline the experience of implementing the law since its promulgation. This aspect will involve the points of success and areas of challenge. 

    The Human Sciences Research Council will outline the preliminary outcomes of a research study which, amongst others, gathered the views and perspectives of stakeholders and the public on political financing in the country. Several scholars will also present their work in this area.

    The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, is also scheduled to address the symposium. The Minister is expected to provide a perspective on the public funding of elected representatives to enhance multi-party democracy.

    Highlights of the programme include the following:

    • A global perspective on political funding and campaign finance.

    • The role and mandate of the political funding framework in strengthening democratic governance.

    • Assessing the capacity and commitment of key stakeholders in improving the regulation of political funding.

    • Transparency in public and private political party funding.

    The symposium will convene a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from political parties, Members of Parliament, academia, civil society, media, the business sector, as well as international and intergovernmental organisations.

    Speaking ahead of the symposium, Mamabolo said a collective commitment to enhancing transparency in the political funding landscape is important to foster a vibrant system of multiparty democracy. 

    “By convening diverse stakeholders, we aim to critically assess our progress and explore avenues for strengthening the current regulatory framework and thus ensure that our democracy remains robust and resilient,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin
    Thu, 06/12/2025 – 15:29

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government works to boost the agricultural sector

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Government works to boost the agricultural sector

    Government is implementing comprehensive measures to support small-scale farmers, especially in rural and underdeveloped provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal. 

    This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile who outlined key strategies during a parliamentary question-and-answer session. At Thursday’s session, the Deputy President emphasised the importance of enhancing agricultural productivity and improving access to funding.

    Addressing the National Assembly, he stated that the government is improving agricultural productivity through the Agriculture Agro-Processing Master Plan (AAPP) and various support programmes, including the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and the Blended Finance Scheme.

    WATCH | Deputy President addresses the National Assembly

    He explained that the Master Plan aims to enhance agricultural products, promote agro-processing, and improve market access by building capacity, accelerating land reform, and providing financial assistance to farmers.

    “We need to support it to promote economic growth, ensure food security and employment creation, particularly in rural areas. 
    “Government is playing a crucial role in ensuring that small farmers become sustainable and thriving enterprises aligned to the country’s land reform and rural development objectives,” he said.

    He announced that government is assisting farmers by offering grants and loans through partnerships with financial institutions like the Land Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). 

    According to the Deputy President, the state is providing blended finance schemes targeting black-owned agricultural enterprises. 

    “We are enhancing collaboration between government and private entities to boost productivity, service delivery and sustainability growth. Infrastructure and technology adoption depend on these collaborations,” he said.

    He told Members of Parliament that efforts are being made to address the challenge of accessing funding from commercial banks by de-risking investments and mobilising Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

    Meanwhile, the Deputy President said government is also leveraging trade agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to boost regional trade. 

    “If we effectively utilise regional structures like the African Continental Free Trade Area, our smallholder farmers will have a platform to access larger regional markets and potentially benefit from increased demand for their products. 

    “In this regard, continuous industry consultation and reporting are taking place through the agricultural trade forum.” 

    Export opportunities

    He announced that South Africa is exploring export opportunities in strategic markets like Japan and focusing on products such as citrus fruits and avocados. 

    In the meantime, arrangements are currently in place with the European Union and the country’s BRICS partners to fast-track export protocols, enhance biosecurity to meet international standards and ensure international outreach is professional, responsive and strategic.

    BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

    Funding and market access 

    The country’s second-in-command also took the time to acknowledge the challenges, including commercial banks’ reluctance to fund small farmers due to a lack of collateral. 

    However, he stated that the government is intervening to reduce investment risks and encourage bank participation. 

    According to Deputy President Mashatile, government aims to transform small-scale farming into sustainable enterprises, which will promote economic growth, food security, and job creation in rural areas.

    “We are actively seeking to expand agricultural market access to countries like Japan, particularly for our citrus fruits and avocados.” 

    The Deputy President also took the time to extend his condolences to the families of the people affected by the severe weather conditions in the Eastern Cape. 

    “Our hearts are with you. Government will do everything in its power to assist you. The President will be visiting the Eastern Cape tomorrow,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile
    Thu, 06/12/2025 – 15:31

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Major progress in Southern Aqueduct project

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Major progress in Southern Aqueduct project

    EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cyril Xaba has welcomed significant progress on the Southern Aqueduct project, a vital initiative designed to meet the growing water demand in the southern and central parts of the city.

    Xaba conducted an oversight visit on Wednesday, to assess construction progress on a section of the pipeline at Mosely Park.

    Xaba said he was excited with the progress he has seen, highlighting the team’s commitment to work around the clock to ensure its completion.

    “This is one of the major water infrastructure projects we embarked on in 2024. Once completed, the 24-kilometre pipeline will substantially improve water supply to communities, including Shallcross, Chatsworth, Umlazi, Folweni, and Queensburgh,” Xaba said.

    The R1.2 billion Southern Aqueduct upgrade will serve approximately 1.2 million residents through 33 reservoirs.

    The project replaces a pipeline that is more than 70 years old and had exceeded its 50-year lifespan, and was frequently leaking, necessitating partial decommissioning.

    “We are now upgrading it to meet the growing population. This includes restoring it to be two pipelines which will allow us to continue to provide water, even if we conduct maintenance work on the other pipeline,” Xaba explained.

    The project upgrade involves the replacement of 975mm (millimetre) diameter concrete pipes with new steel pipes ranging from 1000mm to 1600mm in diameter.

    The project is split into eight work packages, with packages 1 and 2 already at 50% complete since they started in 2024.

    Work package 1 involves the construction of a new 1200mm steel watermain from Shallcross Road to the Chatsworth Reservoir, while package 2 includes the construction of 8 kilometres pipeline, ranging from 1200mm to 1400mm in diameter from Shallcross to Northdene.

    Work packages 3 to 6, which commenced in April this year, cover the construction of the pipeline running from Northdene through Paradise Valley Nature Reserve and Westville, ending at Durban Heights Water Treatment Works in Reservoir Hills.

    Xaba reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to uninterrupted water provision and pledged regular site visits to assess progress.

    “I want teams to meet their timelines so that my commitment to the community is honoured,” Xaba said- SAnews.gov.za
     

    GabiK
    Thu, 06/12/2025 – 15:42

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Multi-pronged approach to combat gang violence

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Multi-pronged approach to combat gang violence

    Government is embarking on a multi-pronged approach to address gang-related crime and its underlying socio-economic causes, Deputy President Paul Mashatile said.

    Speaking on the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cabinet Committee’s strategy, the Deputy President emphasised that combating crime requires more than traditional policing.

    He further highlighted several key points of the strategy, which include the development of a national anti-gang initiative, the enhancement of anti-gang units within the South African Police Service (SAPS), the implementation of Operation Shanela to focus on strategic law enforcement efforts, and an emphasis on community engagement and collaboration with stakeholders.

    The need for a multi-disciplinary approach involving various government departments to address crime effectively was also emphasised.

    “This strategy, supported by the anti-gang action plan, focuses on gangsterism through intelligence gathering, proactive policing, community engagement and stakeholder collaboration in this regard,” he said during a question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday.

    WATCH | Question and answer session in the National Assembly
     

    READ | Deputy President to respond to oral questions

    Additionally, the country’s second-in-command said the SAPS is working around the clock to investigate and finalise gang-related cases, including drug trafficking, shootings and murders.

    “As a result, according to the latest statement released by SAPS, ongoing operations, which are focusing on combating and preventing crime, including gender-based violence and femicide [GBVF], have led to the arrest of more than 13 000 suspects.”

    He believes that the latest statistics show a significant decrease in most crime categories compared to the previous financial year but added that more efforts are needed.

    As the Chair of the JCPS, he stated that he will continue to engage with the Minister of Police, the National Police Commissioner, and the MECs of Safety in all provinces. 

    Their goal is to enhance efforts in combating organised crime and gang-related killings, particularly in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, where these issues are prevalent.

    “Our goal is to eliminate immediate threats posed by crime and gangs in identified high crime areas, while fostering a safe and secure environment for long-term stability.”

    The Deputy President emphasised a multidisciplinary approach, engaging various government departments to tackle root causes such as poverty and unemployment.

    He noted that economic growth and job creation are crucial in preventing youth from turning to criminal activities.

    Water issues 

    The Deputy President discussed the Water Task Team’s efforts to address water shortages, with a focus on 105 non-performing municipalities and enhancing municipal service management. 

    The team was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa  last year under the leadership of the Deputy President to address water challenges in various areas in the country.

    The Deputy President told the Members of Parliament that the Department of Water and Sanitation has established oversight structures and a specialised unit for priority projects and that a comprehensive water debt management plan is recommended. 

    “We are going to carefully look at the resolutions of the Water Indaba because it does address, particularly these issues, because some of the municipalities can’t be water authorities,” he said. 

    READ | Call for national turnaround plan on water security

    In addition, he stated that consequence management for underperforming municipal managers is being considered. 
    “So, we are going to look at how we can, where possible, assist them to be effective in generating revenue. We have realised that poor maintenance of facilities is one of the biggest problems. 

    “If you visit many of our cities, you’ll find that there are problems with leakages and that non-revenue water is a significant issue. So, we’re going to work with them to try and deal with those challenges.” 

    HIV and AIDS

    Shifting focus to HIV and AIDS, he said the withdrawal of US$8 billion in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding for the HIV/AIDS programme will be offset by increased government spending and engagement with other markets. This as funding by the United States Government has been withdrawn. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 09:26

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Stapleton road bridge temporarily closed for urgent repairs

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Stapleton road bridge temporarily closed for urgent repairs

    The eThekwini Municipality has announced temporary closure of Stapleton Road Bridge in Pinetown, west of Durban, to facilitate urgent and accelerated repair work.

    The bridge serves as a key link between Sarnia Road and the King Cetshwayo Highway (M13), providing access to Pinetown and New Germany.

    In a statement, the municipality said the decision to close the bridge was made in the interest of public safety, and to enable the repair operations to proceed efficiently and without obstruction.

    “Following recent assessments, it was determined that a portion of the concrete structure has been compromised and requires immediate removal and reconstruction. The Municipality’s Structures Department has completed most of the repair design work and is fully mobilised on-site.

    “In addition to structural concerns, investigations revealed that the northern road embankment is being undermined, resulting in a narrowed and unstable roadway. Vibrations from heavy vehicles have worsened the condition, especially near the recently reconstructed water main,” the municipality said in a statement.

    The city warned that ongoing traffic presents a significant risk to both motorists and the construction workforce. It said full closure of the bridge will allow uninterrupted work to proceed without interruption, reducing the repair timeline, while ensuring maximum safety and quality standards.

    The municipality acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the closure and apologised to all affected residents, businesses, and commuters.

    “The municipality assures the public that teams are working round the clock to minimise the closure period, while upholding the highest standards of safety and engineering,” the municipality said.

    The bridge is expected to reopen within 21 days, or sooner if weather and site conditions remain favourable.

    Motorists have been advised to use the following alternative routes into Pinetown:
    •    Via Main Road (Underwood Road), or
    •    Via the M7 (Edwin Swales Drive) through Bellair.

    Power restoration underway after storm damage 

    Meanwhile, the municipality has reported significant progress in restoring power supply to areas affected by the recent strong winds, which caused widespread damage to infrastructure and interrupted power in several areas across the city.

    The municipality said the Electricity Unit has been attending to a high volume of electricity faults, with many areas already reconnected.

    “As teams work through these faults, common causes identified include fallen poles, trees falling on power lines, vegetation encroachments, blown roof sheets, and other foreign objects entangled in the power lines which have all contributed to the numerous outages. City teams are prioritising safety and efficiency as they work to restore power.

    “Teams are working round the clock to repair faults and progressively restore power in affected areas. Many areas have already had power restored. Restoration is being done in a phased and safe manner,” the municipality said on Thursday.

    Residents are encouraged to report outages via the city’s digital fault reporting platforms, including: 

    For the latest developments on reported area outages, visit the Electricity Unit’s online area outage tracker page https://webfaults.durban.gov.za/WebsiteFaultsEllip…/Outage
    This list is automatically updated as faults are logged and assigned to various fault teams until restoration. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    GabiK
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 10:50

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 13, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Director of mobile phone shops given suspended sentence for £150,000 Covid loan fraud 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Director of mobile phone shops given suspended sentence for £150,000 Covid loan fraud 

    Zahid Afzal, of Pembrokeshire, fraudulently claimed extra Covid Bounce Back loans for his phone sales and merchandise companies.

    • Zahid Afzal claimed £150,000 in Covid loans – most of which he moved to personal accounts.  

    • He had already received Bounce Back loans for his two companies when he applied for three more.  

    • He was handed a two-year suspended sentence, and 300 hours of unpaid work, at Swansea Crown Court on 12 June 2025.  

    The director of two companies which run mobile phone shops across the UK has been handed a two-year suspended sentence, after he fraudulently claimed £150,000 in Covid Bounce Back loans.  

    Zahid Afzal, the director of Phone Bits Ltd and Phones Onn Ltd, had already received Covid loans for both companies legitimately – totalling £52,500 – when he applied for three more.  

    The 37-year-old, from Haverfordwest, falsely claimed the applications were the first he had made and exaggerated the turnover of each company.  

    He received the three additional loans of £50,000 each – one for Phone Bits Ltd and two for Phones Onn Ltd – between May and November 2020. 

    Afzal was sentenced for three counts of fraud by false representation at Swansea Crown Court on 12 June 2025.   

    The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.   

    Insolvency Service Chief Investigator David Snasdell said:  

    It is clear from our investigations that Zahid Afzal felt he could continue to apply time and time again for loans he was not entitled to.  

    Not satisfied with the substantial funds he had legitimately received, he went on to lie on applications and exaggerate his companies’ turnovers. 

    His sentencing should serve as a reminder to those contemplating fraudulently pocketing taxpayers’ money to think again.

    Afzal’s companies ran mobile phone shops or kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover and North Devon. 

    The Insolvency Service investigation did not find any wrongdoing with the use of his initial loans for Phones Onn Ltd (£20,000) and Phone Bits (£32,500), which he was entitled to and were used entirely for business purposes. 

    But he moved the majority of the £150,000 he received from his second round of loans to personal accounts despite stating they were for business purposes.  

    The Bounce Back loan scheme helped small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, at a low interest rate, guaranteed by the Government.    

    The loans were made on the condition that they were not to be used for personal purposes, but could be used, for example, to purchase a company asset such as a vehicle, if it would provide an economic benefit to the business.  

    The money lent to a company had to be paid back, over six or 10 years, with payments starting 12 months after the company received the loan. 

    Further information:  

    • Zahid Afzal: DOB 09/03/1988 of Albert Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.  

    • Phone Bits Ltd Company number 10136495, registered in Andover. 

    • Phones Onn Ltd Company number 11771257, registered in London.  

    • Zahid Afzal was charged on three counts in relation to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. 

    • Read more about the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and the action the Insolvency Service can take if it finds misconduct.    

    • The Insolvency Service can investigate complaints about corporate abuse by live companies. This may include serious misconduct, fraud, scams or dishonest practice in the way the company operates. Further information on our live investigations can be found here   

    • Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

    Share this page

    The following links open in a new tab

    • Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)
    • Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 13, 2025
←Previous Page
1 … 1,434 1,435 1,436 1,437 1,438 … 5,912
Next Page→
NewzIntel.com

NewzIntel.com

MIL Open Source Intelligence

  • Blog
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Authors
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Patterns
  • Themes

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress