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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping calls on China, EU to bring greater stability and certainty to the world through stable and healthy bilateral relations

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Xinhua | 24.07.2025

    Keywords: China

    Source: Xinhua

    Xi Jinping calls on China, EU to bring more stability and certainty to the world through stable and healthy bilateral relations Xi Jinping calls on China, EU to bring more stability and certainty to the world through stable and healthy bilateral relations

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand joins fight against cybercrime

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New Zealanders will be better protected from cybercrime following legislation passing third reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. 

    “11 per cent of New Zealanders were victims of fraud and cybercrime in 2024, and the National Cyber Security Centre estimates $1.6 billion was lost to online threats.

    “The emotional and financial harm caused by cybercrime is significant, and such a quickly evolving threat warrants a coordinated response.

    “The Budapest Convention, also known as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, is the only binding international treaty on cybercrime. 

    “It aligns member countries’ laws and makes it easier for them to cooperate on criminal investigations.

    “By joining the convention, we are signalling to the other like-minded countries that we take cybercrime seriously and we are prepared to do our part to eliminate it.

    “It will help our law enforcement agencies to protect New Zealanders, by providing the tools they need to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal offending, even when it happens online.”

    The Bill contains provisions to ensure our domestic laws meet the requirements of the Convention. These include;

    • New ‘preservation directions’ in the Search and Surveillance Act, to enable law enforcement agencies to require companies to preserve records that could be evidence of offending.
    • Amendments to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to enhance our ability to seek assistance from foreign countries for criminal investigations, and to provide assistance in return.

    Minor amendments to the Crimes Act to ensure offences related to cybercrime and the use of computers are comprehensive and fully align with the Convention.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK fencer bags gold medal

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law today congratulated Hong Kong’s Ryan Choi on winning a gold medal in the Men’s Foil Individual event at the 2025 Fencing World Championships.

     

    Miss Law lauded the 27-year-old foil fencer for delivering an impressive performance in the competition, demonstrating Hong Kong athletes’ charm and perseverance.

     

    “We are thrilled by his achievement in winning Hong Kong’s first ever gold medal in the Fencing World Championships.

     

    “I hope the Hong Kong China fencing team will continue to strive for excellence. I have faith in them to perform spectacularly again in the 15th National Games to be held in November.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia says US beef will soon be welcome here again. It’s unlikely we’ll buy much of it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law and Taxation, Queensland University of Technology

    DarcyMaulsby/Getty

    The Albanese government has today confirmed it will lift biosecurity restrictions on beef imports from the United States. The timing of this decision has raised some eyebrows.

    Back in April, US President Donald Trump had singled out what he characterised as an Australian “ban” on US beef as he announced 10% baseline tariffs on imports from Australia.

    Responding to today’s announcement, Nationals leader David Littleproud said it appeared the restrictions have been “traded away to appease Donald Trump”.

    But Trade Minister Don Farrell said there was “nothing suspicious about this”. And some Australian industry groups have since expressed their confidence in the decision.

    So, has Australia’s beef industry been sold out for the benefit of a trade deal? Or is it just a poorly timed announcement at the end of a review into Australia’s restrictions?

    Biosecurity concerns

    Australia’s biosecurity rules, particularly around beef products, have long been a source of friction with the United States. These rules date back to the late 1990s and were strengthened following a US mad cow disease scare in 2003.

    In 2019, a ban was lifted on beef products from cattle that had been born, raised and slaughtered in the US. However, a ban remained on any products from cattle originating in Mexico or Canada that had been slaughtered in the US.

    This was a cause for some tension, because the traceability requirements in the US were not as stringent as in Australia. That meant it wasn’t always possible to determine the origins of US products. So the 2019 change effectively only applied to shelf-stable products – not fresh meat.

    Last month, the Albanese government made assurances Australia’s biosecurity rules wouldn’t be compromised in trade negotiations. But it also confirmed a review of the rules was underway.

    The National Farmers’ Federation acknowledged the government’s decision in a statement today:

    The report released today is the result of a long-standing, science-based review by the Australian Government into the biosecurity risks posed by cattle raised in Canada and Mexico, but processed in and exported from the US.

    Speaking on ABC Radio, Cattle Australia chief executive Will Evans acknowledged “a lot of people” may feel “blindsided” by the government’s decision, but expressed his confidence in the government’s process.

    Boom times for Australian beef

    Australians are some of the highest per-capita consumers of beef products in the world. But Australia is also the world’s second-largest beef exporter, trailing only Brazil.

    In contrast, the US is the world’s second-largest importer of beef, behind only China.

    That poses the question: how much do we actually need beef from the US? Is it even worth lifting this ban, if it will impact so few people?

    The beef industry might be fair to question whether this is for the benefit of their industry, when it seems the existing 10% baseline tariffs have had no impact on the volumes of beef being exported from Australia. Quite the opposite.

    In June, Australia’s beef exports broke an all-time monthly record, and the US continued to be our largest export market.

    In addition, it is important to recognise the US tariffs on beef would theoretically be absorbed by the consumer, rather than the exporter.

    The trade war rages on

    Theory suggests that international trade is a good thing (though not everyone is a “winner”). Where there is trade between nations, competitive pricing is encouraged and consumers may enjoy more product variety.

    Most restrictions on trade are viewed unfavourably by economists, but there are some notable exceptions. The health and safety of food products and assurance of biosecurity standards are such concerns.

    Overnight, comments from the Trump administration suggest the 10% tariffs on imports from Australia could be raised, with a new baseline tariff rate of 15%.

    To apply these to Australian beef is in direct conflict with the Australia and United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). This agreement progressively removed tariffs on Australian beef, with all tariffs eliminated by 2023.

    Consequently, any new US tariff would violate these terms, threatening a trade relationship that has seen beef exports to the US flourish.

    Is our reputation on the line?

    It is important to note that the biosecurity rules in Australia and the traceability requirements for our producers are a point of national pride.

    Central to Australia’s biosecurity framework is the Biosecurity Act 2015 and the National Livestock Identification System, which ensures traceability, food safety, disease control and animal welfare.

    This imposes strict requirements on Australian beef producers – and as a result, imposes costs. It also means Australian beef is considered a premium product in much of the world.

    Australians should hope the evidence from the government’s review fully supports this action.

    Given the unpredictability of the Trump administration, it remains to be seen whether lifting these restrictions will win Australia any concessions on trade anyway.

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

    – ref. Australia says US beef will soon be welcome here again. It’s unlikely we’ll buy much of it – https://theconversation.com/australia-says-us-beef-will-soon-be-welcome-here-again-its-unlikely-well-buy-much-of-it-261836

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Jet ski accidents are tragic but preventable. Here’s how to reduce the risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne

    Richard Hamilton Smith/Getty

    Two teenage boys were thrown from a jet ski during a ride on the Georges River in Sydney’s south this week. One died at the scene. The other lost an arm, and was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

    The exact cause of the crash is being investigated and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

    Sadly, this tragic incident is not isolated. While fatal jet ski crashes are relatively rare, serious injuries are not.

    Here’s what we know about jet ski accidents, who’s at risk, and how to prevent them.

    Jet skis are now more common

    Jet skis have become a familiar sight on Australian waterways, with sales peaking during the early years of the COVID pandemic. There are now almost 100,000 registered jet skis nationwide.

    So what was once a niche summer thrill has become a more mainstream recreational activity, particularly for young Australians.

    As the number of jet skis on our waterways grows, so too will the risks.

    How often do accidents happen?

    Most jet ski crashes occur in daylight hours, are twice as likely on weekends, and tend to spike during warmer months. Injuries typically happen close to shore (often within 50 metres) where crowded conditions increase the risk of colliding with other vessels, swimmers or fixed obstacles.

    Fatal jet ski accidents in Australia have claimed the lives of riders, passengers, swimmers and kayakers.

    Across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, there are up to three deaths per 100,000 licence holders. There are an estimated 19–26 serious injuries per 100,000 licence holders, depending on the state.

    But these figures likely understate the true picture as many non-fatal injuries go unreported unless hospitalised.

    For example, data from research sponsored by the United States Coast Guard suggest that for every moderate injury captured in accident reports, more than 30 actually occur. For every severe injury, it’s likely 1.65 actually occur.

    Who is at risk?

    Global jet ski statistics indicate about 85% of jet ski injuries involve male riders.

    Risk-taking behaviour and being an inexperienced rider are also risk factors, with young adults dominating injury statistics.

    One review found about 60% of jet ski crashes involved the rider drinking alcohol.

    What types of injuries?

    Recreational riders often typically travel at 60–80 kilometres per hour. But these machines can reach speeds above 100km/h. This can generate immense force in the event of a collision.

    In a crash, riders are ejected from the jet ski or collide directly with water, the craft, another vessel or fixed objects. So the leading causes of death and serious injury on jet skis are from these traumatic impacts.

    A study from a US trauma centre looked at 127 people injured in jet ski incidents and found most injuries involved broken bones. The legs were most commonly affected, followed by arms, spine and hips.

    Hitting the handlebars was a major cause of open fractures (when a broken bone pierces the skin), some of which later became infected.

    Women and children face particular risks

    However, there is a distinct and concerning injury pattern for female passengers.

    Women riding on the back of a jet ski (as a passenger) are especially at risk of serious injuries to the genital and anal area. This can happen if they fall off backwards and land directly on the powerful stream of water coming from the jet nozzle.

    Case reports describe incidents of vaginal lacerations, rectal injuries and pelvic floor damage. Such injuries are rare but can be devastating and life-threatening. Sometimes there are permanent complications, such as the risk of infertility or incontinence.

    Children also face unique and often severe risks. A US study looked at 66 children hospitalised in jet ski accidents. It found most were boys with the average age of around 12 years old, and nearly three-quarters operated the jet ski themselves. About 70% of injuries involved collisions with another vessel or object. Four children died, all from head trauma after crashing into stationary objects. More than 40% were left with some degree of disability.

    What now?

    The risks from jet skis are real and too often underestimated. But many injuries can be prevented:

    • we need public education campaigns to remind riders of the risks and to promote better behaviour. This would remind riders to slow down in congested areas, avoid reckless turns, and be especially careful with passengers. As alcohol is a common factor in crashes, drinking in moderation before riding should also be stressed

    • women are recommended to wear neoprene protective shorts, or wetsuits, instead of ordinary swimwear. A growing number of medical professionals are now backing this as essential safety gear, not optional, to reduce the risk of perineal injuries from water jets

    • manufacturers can redesign handlebars to reduce the severity of impact injuries. They can also build in safeguards that reduce jet pressure when no one is seated at the rear (to safeguard the health of a passenger who falls off backwards)

    • states also need consistent rules on minimum rider age, training and licensing. The laws vary widely. These inconsistent regulations create confusion and loopholes, especially when riders cross borders.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Jet ski accidents are tragic but preventable. Here’s how to reduce the risk – https://theconversation.com/jet-ski-accidents-are-tragic-but-preventable-heres-how-to-reduce-the-risk-261746

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Disease ripping through Gaza as Israel continues to deliberately block aid: Oxfam

    Source: Oxfam –

    Deadly diseases are now ripping through Gaza even as millions of dollars’ worth of humanitarian aid piles up in warehouses across the region, says Oxfam. 

    Water-borne diseases that are both preventable and readily treatable have increased by almost 150% inside Gaza over the past three months as Israel continues to deliberately block aid. 

    Available multi-agency health data shows that the numbers of Palestinians presenting to health facilities with acute watery diarrhea have increased by 150 per cent, bloody diarrhea by 302 per cent, and acute jaundice cases by 101 per cent. 

    Even these figures will be grossly under-reported because most of the two million people trapped by Israel’s continuing siege have little access to the few healthcare facilities that have managed to keep operating. 

    This surge of disease can quickly turn deadly especially as Palestinians living in Gaza have been deprived of enough food, water, shelter, and adequate healthcare for over 21 months.   Their community and family networks have been shattered, and people made more vulnerable by repeated forced mass displacements and continuing violence. 

    Israel has put Gaza under a near total blockade since March 2 of this year stopping all but a trickle of aid. There are no longer any humanitarian aid reserves held by international agencies inside of Gaza. 

    As a result, international humanitarian donors and agencies have been forced to accumulate more than 420,000 pallets of aid that now sit in limbo inside warehouses across the regions. This covers an area of around 75 hectares, or enough to cover 101 football fields. 

    “There is a grim and deliberate inevitability as to what Israel has created in Gaza. Each day that its siege continues and it denies aid, starvation becomes increasingly widespread and human deaths from entirely preventable diseases becomes an absolute certainty.” 

    Bushra Khalidi, Policy Lead

    Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel

    This aid includes shelters, food and supplements to combat malnutrition, and water equipment, sanitation items and medicines that would be vital to tackle diseases and   

    Oxfam alone has over 110,000 items of humanitarian aid in one warehouse including water bladders and tanks, hygiene, dignity and water testing kits, food parcels, soap, nappies, pipes and latrine slabs. 

    Oxfam is waiting for clearances and permissions to enter, however the Israeli authorities have recently denied water and sanitation items and food parcels. 

    Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel policy lead, said that time is running out to prevent an epidemic across Gaza and the mass death that would inevitably result. 

    “The conditions that Palestinians in Gaza are being forced to endure have created a petri dish for disease. These are diseases that thrive where people lack water – clean or otherwise – and are stuck in over-crowded unsanitary environments with almost no food,” Khalidi said.  

    “There is a grim and deliberate inevitability as to what Israel has created in Gaza. Each day that its siege continues and it denies aid, starvation becomes increasingly widespread and human deaths from entirely preventable diseases becomes an absolute certainty.” 

    “As Gaza bakes in the summer sun and the hottest month of the year looms, it is increasingly urgent that Israel’s siege must end. It is shameful Israel has been allowed to besiege Gaza and create this catastrophe. Nothing other than complete access to Gaza to deliver aid at scale can alleviate the conditions that people have been forced to live in.” 

    “Each day we wait for a ceasefire, more lives are lost through violence, hunger and disease. Palestinians in Gaza cannot wait a day longer for this hell to end. There must be a full and complete ceasefire, and all required aid must be able to enter via all crossings into Gaza so that Palestinians can finally begin to recover and rebuild.” 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed more than 135 people, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Hatim Sharif, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio

    A Kerrville, Texas, resident watches the flooded Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025. Eric Vryn/Getty Images

    Texas Hill Country is known for its landscapes, where shallow rivers wind among hills and through rugged valleys. That geography also makes it one of the deadliest places in the U.S. for flash flooding.

    In the early hours of July 4, 2025, a flash flood swept through an area of Hill Country dotted with summer camps and small towns about 70 miles northwest of San Antonio. More than 135 people died in the flooding. The majority of them were in Kerr County, including more than two dozen girls and counselors at one summer camp, Camp Mystic. Dozens more people were still unaccounted for a week later.

    The flooding began with a heavy downpour, with more than 10 inches of rain in some areas, that sent water sheeting off the hillsides and into creeks. The creeks poured into the Guadalupe River.

    A river gauge at Hunt, Texas, near Camp Mystic, showed how quickly the river flooded: Around 3 a.m. on July 4, the Guadalupe River was rising about 1 foot every 5 minutes at the gauge, National Weather Service data shows. By 4:30 a.m., it had risen more than 20 feet. As the water moved downstream, it reached Kerrville, where the river rose even faster.

    Flood expert Hatim Sharif, a hydrologist and civil engineer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, explains what makes this part of the country, known as Flash Flood Alley, so dangerous.

    What makes Hill Country so prone to flooding?

    Texas as a whole leads the nation in flood deaths, and by a wide margin. A colleague and I analyzed data from 1959 to 2019 and found 1,069 people had died in flooding in Texas over those six decades. The next highest total was in Louisiana, with 693.

    Many of those flood deaths have been in Hill County. It’s part of an area known as Flash Flood Alley, a crescent of land that curves from near Dallas down to San Antonio and then westward.

    The hills are steep, and the water moves quickly when it floods. This is a semi-arid area with soils that don’t soak up much water, so the water sheets off quickly and the shallow creeks can rise fast.

    When those creeks converge on a river, they can create a surge of water that wipes out homes and washes away cars and, unfortunately, anyone in its path.

    Hill Country has seen some devastating flash floods. In 1987, heavy rain in western Kerr County quickly flooded the Guadalupe River, triggering a flash flood similar to the one in 2025. Ten teenagers being evacuated from a camp died in the rushing water.

    San Antonio, at the eastern edge of Hill Country, was hit with a flash flood on June 12, 2025, that killed 13 people whose cars were swept away by high water from a fast-flooding creek near an interstate ramp in the early morning.

    Why does the region get such strong downpours?

    One reason Hill Country gets powerful downpours is the Balcones Escarpment.

    The escarpment is a line of cliffs and steep hills created by a geologic fault. When warm air from the Gulf rushes up the escarpment, it condenses and can dump a lot of moisture. That water flows down the hills quickly, from many different directions, filling streams and rivers below.

    As temperature rise, the warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, increasing the downpour and flood risk.

    A tour of the Guadalupe River and its flood risk.

    The same effect can contribute to flash flooding in San Antonio, where the large amount of paved land and lack of updated drainage to control runoff adds to the risk.

    What can be done to improve flash flood safety?

    First, it’s important for people to understand why flash flooding happens and just how fast the water can rise and flow. In many arid areas, dry or shallow creeks can quickly fill up with fast-moving water and become deadly. So people should be aware of the risks and pay attention to the weather.

    Improving flood forecasting, with more detailed models of the physics and water velocity at different locations, can also help.

    Probabilistic forecasting, for example, can provide a range of rainfall scenarios, enabling authorities to prepare for worst-case scenarios. A scientific framework linking rainfall forecasts to the local impacts, such as streamflow, flood depth and water velocity, could also help decision-makers implement timely evacuations or road closures.

    Education is particularly essential for drivers. One to two feet of moving water can wash away a car. People may think their trucks and SUVs can go through anything, but fast-moving water can flip a truck and carry it away.

    Officials can also do more to barricade roads when the flood risk is high to prevent people from driving into harm’s way. We found that 58% of the flood deaths in Texas over the past six decades involved vehicles. The storm on June 12 in San Antonio was an example. It was early morning, and drivers had poor visibility. The cars were hit by fast-rising floodwater from an adjacent creek.

    This article, originally published July 5, 2025, has been updated with the death toll rising.

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

    – ref. Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed more than 135 people, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding – https://theconversation.com/why-texas-hill-country-where-a-devastating-flood-killed-more-than-135-people-is-one-of-the-deadliest-places-in-the-us-for-flash-flooding-260555

    MIL OSI –

  • India’s global outreach continues: PM Modi begins UK visit, Maldives next

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    rime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation tour on Wednesday, visiting the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26, aiming to strengthen India’s global diplomatic engagements.

    At the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Modi will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom from July 23 to 24. This will be his fourth visit to the UK, reflecting the growing warmth and depth of the bilateral relationship.

    India and the United Kingdom share historical ties that have evolved into a robust and mutually beneficial partnership. A major milestone in the relationship was achieved during the India-UK virtual summit on 4 May 2021, when Prime Minister Modi and then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and adopted an ambitious India-UK Roadmap 2030. This roadmap continues to steer cooperation across various sectors including trade, security, education, technology, and climate change.

    The visit also comes in the wake of the recent general elections in the UK held on 4 July 2024, where the Labour Party returned to power after 14 years, winning 412 out of 650 seats. Keir Starmer assumed office as Prime Minister, and PM Modi extended his congratulations during a telephonic conversation on 6 July, also inviting him for an early visit to India.

    In its election manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to pursue a new strategic partnership with India, focusing on the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and deepening cooperation in critical sectors. The two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil in November 2024 and briefly interacted again during the G7 Summit in Canada in June 2025.

    Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, Prime Minister Starmer had spoken to PM Modi to convey his condolences and support. On 6 May 2025, both leaders held a telephonic conversation and announced the successful conclusion of the India-UK FTA and the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, marking a historic development in bilateral ties.

    High-level exchanges have been a consistent feature of India-UK relations. President Droupadi Murmu visited London in September 2022 to attend the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and met King Charles III during her visit. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar represented India at the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023 and engaged with global leaders during his visit. He also addressed members of the Indian community and interacted with Indian-origin UK MPs and students.

    Prime Minister Modi had earlier met former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on multiple occasions, including during the G20 Summit in India in September 2023 and at the G7 Summit in Italy in June 2024. Their discussions covered progress on the India-UK FTA and other key areas under the Roadmap 2030. Sunak’s official visit to India in 2023 and bilateral engagements in Japan and Bali further contributed to the growing momentum in the relationship. Notably, the Young Professionals Scheme was launched following their meeting in Bali in 2022, enhancing mobility for youth between the two countries.

    In April 2022, then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited India and held wide-ranging discussions with PM Modi. The visit saw the announcement of an ‘Open General Export Licence’ for Indian companies and the signing of MoUs in nuclear energy and global innovation, along with a joint statement on cyber cooperation.

    Earlier, in November 2021, Prime Minister Modi had visited the UK to attend the COP26 World Leaders’ Summit in Glasgow, where he and Prime Minister Boris Johnson jointly launched the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative under the International Solar Alliance and the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the UK in January 2025 and held bilateral talks with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, underscoring the strong parliamentary ties between the two democracies.

  • Indian diaspora in London gives PM Modi a grand welcome

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora as he arrived in London on Wednesday evening for a historic two-day visit aimed at strengthening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and finalising the long-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

    As PM Modi reached his hotel in the heart of the city, hundreds of Indian community members gathered outside with chants of “Modi, Modi,” “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and “Vande Mataram.” Dressed in traditional Indian attire, artists played dhols while others danced and waved posters welcoming the Prime Minister.

    “Touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in the UK. Their affection and passion towards India’s progress is truly heartening,” PM Modi shared on X.

    The atmosphere outside the hotel was electric, with many attendees expressing pride and emotion after meeting the Prime Minister. “We are so proud… I am still in tears. The happiness and joy he brought while shaking our hands is unforgettable,” said one member of the diaspora.

    Many in the crowd shared similar sentiments, praising the Prime Minister for his global stature, leadership, and commitment to India’s growth. “The aura I witnessed was simply amazing. He looked like a saint. That is why people like PM Modi a lot,” said another enthusiastic supporter.

    Scheduled for July 23–24, PM Modi’s visit comes at the invitation of newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and marks his fourth official trip to the United Kingdom. The visit follows recent meetings between the two leaders at the G20 Summit in Brazil and the G7 in June this year.

    “Leaving for the UK, a country with which our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has achieved significant momentum in the last few years. I look forward to my talks with PM Keir Starmer and my meeting with His Majesty King Charles III,” PM Modi posted before departing.

    According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit will focus on advancing collaboration across key areas such as trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate change, healthcare, education, and people-to-people ties.

    The centrepiece of the discussions will be the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, expected to significantly boost bilateral trade

    PM Modi is also expected to meet King Charles III during his stay in London, further deepening the diplomatic warmth between the two nations.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New SMSF? Here’s what you need to do by 31 October

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    If you have a new self-managed super fund (SMSF) you must lodge your SMSF annual return (SAR) by 31 October 2025.

    Contact a registered tax agent as soon as possible if you need help preparing your SMSF annual return. This allows time for them to include you in their lodgment program, giving you until 28 February 2026 to lodge your first return.

    However, some funds may still need to lodge by 31 October 2025, even with a tax agent so check your registration letter for details.

    If your new fund had no assets in the first year it was registered you must either lodge a return not necessary form or cancel your SMSF registration if you no longer intend to operate the fund.

    Remember each year, you must:

    For new SMSFs, the supervisory levy is $518, covering both the setup year and the following financial year.

    Stay compliant—act early and seek professional support if needed.

    Learn more by visiting Your obligations as an SMSF trustee or Help and support for SMSFs.

    You can also try our online education modulesExternal Link, which are interactive and enable you to build your knowledge.

    Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? – You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 23rd, 2025 Heinrich Blasts Trump Administration for Raising Electricity Costs on American Families Amidst Growing Energy Demand

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — In his opening statement during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on rising energy demand, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, raised the alarm on the energy affordability crisis facing working families and cited recent, irresponsible actions taken by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans that will raise energy costs on working families — including the passage of their Big, Bad Bill, their dismantling of our nation’s clean energy industry, and a recent directive from the Department of the Interior that will inevitably delay new generation additions to the grid and drive up costs further.

    VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) blasts Trump Administration for raising electricity prices on working families during a hearing on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, July 23, 2025.

    “As Mr. Gramlich points out in his testimony, electricity bills are starting to become unaffordable for too many Americans,” said Heinrich. “And recent actions by President Trump and the Republican reconciliation bill will only make it worse.”

    “The reconciliation bill alone is estimated to increase annual energy costs more than $16 billion in 2030 and more than $33 billion by 2035,” continued Heinrich. “This is because, at a time when we need every electron we can get, the reconciliation bill is causing many clean energy projects to be canceled.”

    Heinrich additionally noted his concerns on how a new directive from the Department of the Interior that requires Secretary Doug Burgum to personally review and sign off on wind and solar projects on federal lands will risk delaying new generation additions to the grid, subsequently driving up families’ energy costs.

    A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks can be found here.

    A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

    Thank you, Chairman Lee. Welcome to our witnesses, Mr. Gramlich, Mr. Huntsman, and Mr. Tench.

    As we’ll discuss today, the scale and drivers of today’s rising electricity demand are relatively unprecedented.

    It’s not just that electricity demand is reaching record highs, it’s that we’re entering a new era of a sustained load growth.

    The structural forces underlying today’s load growth are converging: the growth of AI data centers; the electrification of vehicles, buildings, industry; as well as a resurgence in domestic manufacturing.

    And meeting this load growth will require structural changes to how we permit and build our energy infrastructure.

    In his testimony, Mr. Tench states that Vantage would prefer to “source power from the grid” but the “system is out of sync.”

    From interconnection timelines that are too long, transmission lines that take too long to build, and permitting that is too fragmented, the challenges that Mr. Tench articulates are the same ones that this Committee has been trying to address for some time.

    As Mr. Tench noted in his testimony, “No single business or technical workaround can substitute for a coordinated, modern, responsive grid.”

    Fortunately, we sit on the Committee that can help make that happen.

    The urgency isn’t just about maintaining our edge in AI innovation, it’s about affordability.

    As Mr. Gramlich points out in his testimony today, electricity bills are becoming unaffordable for too many Americans.

    And recent actions by President Trump and by the ‘Big, Bad Bill’ will make this worse.

    The reconciliation bill alone is estimated to increase annual energy costs more than $16 billion in 2030 and more than $33 billion by 2035.

    This is because, at a time when we need every single electron we can get, the reconciliation bill is causing many clean energy projects to be canceled.

    And the President’s tariffs are driving up equipment costs—raising the cost of all energy generation resources. All of them.

    This is leading directly to Americans spending more on their utility bills.

    And on top of this, an aging electrical grid is causing many energy projects to be stalled for years in interconnection queues.

    In June 2025, Grid Strategies released a study that found that investing in well-planned, high-capacity transmission could save U.S. households between $6.3 and $10.4 billion annually—and that’s even after accounting for the cost of actually building those transmission lines.

    The amount of energy currently in U.S. interconnection queues substantially exceeds the existing electricity demands—if only the grid could integrate it.

    According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2024, the U.S. installed nearly 49 gigawatts of new grid capacity, 95% of which was from renewable resources.

    This year, the EIA estimates that developers will build 63 GW of new capacity, including 32.5 GW of new utility-scale solar, 7.7 GW of wind power, 18.2 GW of energy storage, and just 4.4 GW of natural gas-fired generation.

    Clean energy is the most affordable and it’s the fastest type of energy generation to deploy—outpacing natural gas, which is facing years-long backlogs in turbine availability.

    If you order a gas, combine cycle natural gas turbine today, you’ll be lucky if it puts its first electron on the grid before 2032.

    Meanwhile, states like Texas and California are demonstrating that high levels of renewable energy do not compromise grid reliability—in fact, they improve it.

    After Texas added 9,600 MW of clean energy, including 5,400 MW of solar, 3,800 MW of energy storage, and 253 MW of wind, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said that the risk of grid emergencies dropped to less than 1 percent, that’s down from 16 percent the previous year.

    NERC’s 2025 Summer Reliability Assessment confirmed this trend, showing that the risk of rolling blackouts in Texas fell from 15 percent to 3 percent as battery capacity came online.

    I’ll close by saying that I am deeply disturbed by the recent Department of Interior policy that requires Secretary Doug Burgum to personally review and sign off on wind and solar projects on federal lands.

    This nakedly political decision will risk delaying new generation additions to the grid when we need them the most.

    And consequently, will drive up costs.

    According to the Department of Energy, federal lands in the contiguous United States could support more than 7,700 GW of renewable energy capacity.

    And with that said, I look forward to discussing how we can meet the rise in electricity demand and lower energy costs for households by integrating the most affordable and rapidly deployable energy resources today, while also investing in long-term modernization.

    Thank you, Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Secures $49 Million for Louisiana in FY 2026 Appropriations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced that he successfully secured $49,102,00.00 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the first Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations bills advanced by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. These projects will support critical Louisiana priorities, from military construction and public safety to university research.
    “Whether it’s almost $1.4 million for Jefferson Parish to support criminal investigations, $500 thousand to the Northshore to address substance abuse and mental health issues, or multiple grants across the state to support first responders, this money works for the safety, security, and economic growth of Louisiana,” said Dr. Cassidy. Since taking office, Cassidy has emerged as one of the most effective U.S. Senators at directing federal dollars home to Louisiana, despite not serving on the Appropriations Committee. In FY2024, Roll Call reported that Cassidy was one of the top 20 senators in total funding secured for his state, and one of only five in that group who does not sit on the Appropriations Committee. That year, he secured a record $1.3 billion for Louisiana—the highest of any member of the state’s congressional delegation.
    See below for a list of the funding secured by Senator Cassidy.

    Funding Amount
    Recipient
    Project Description

    $30,000,000.00
    Fort Polk
    This funding will support construction of the Rotational Unit Billeting Area, Phase 1.

    $5,000,000.00
    University of Louisiana at Lafayette
    This funding will support purchase of equipment for the Silicon Bayou Semiconductor Technology Center.

    $4,000,000.00
    St. Bernard Parish
    This funding will support construction of a new fire station.

    $2,500,000.00
    Louisiana State University
    This funding will support LSU’s Electronic Microscopy Sight Initiative.

    $1,500,000.00
    City of Ruston Police Department
    This funding will support development of a Real Time Intelligence Crime Center.

    $1,395,000.00
    Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office
    This funding will support purchase of advanced forensic equipment.

    $1,350,000.00
    University of New Orleans
    This funding will support instrumentation upgrades in computing and chemical sciences.

    $1,250,000.00
    East Baton Rouge DA’s Office
    This funding will support the Gun Intelligence Center Program.

    $794,000.00
    West Monroe Police Department
    This funding will support purchase of safety equipment for officers.

    $500,000.00
    22nd Judicial District Court
    This funding will support specialty courts for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

    $300,000.00
    Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office
    This funding will support upgrades to local law enforcement services.

    $263,000.00
    Town of Farmerville
    This funding will support renovations to the fire department.

    $250,000.00
    Tensas Parish Police Jury
    This funding will support security equipment upgrades.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers Pre-Recorded Keynote Remarks at the ASEAN–India Forum 2025

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered pre-recorded keynote remarks at the ASEAN–India Forum 2025, held in Bangkok, Thailand. In his message, Dr. Kao reaffirmed ASEAN’s strong commitment to advancing the ASEAN–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through tourism. He also emphasized the importance of sustainable tourism, stronger transport connectivity, and collaborative destination marketing, highlighting the regional tagline “A Destination for Every Dream.”
     

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers Pre-Recorded Keynote Remarks at the ASEAN–India Forum 2025 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi meets European Council president, European Commission president in Beijing

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

    Xi meets European Council president, European Commission president in Beijing

    Updated: July 24, 2025 11:15 Xinhua

    BEIJING, July 24 — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Guidelines released for prescribing psilocybin

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming steps to provide medical practitioners with more tools to treat people with depression, with Medsafe publishing guidelines for experts wanting to prescribe Psilocybin. 

    “This is huge for people with depression who’ve tried everything else and are still suffering. If a doctor believes psilocybin can help, they should have the opportunity to do what’s best for their patient,” says Mr Seymour. 

    “Recent changes have put New Zealand’s settings in line with Australia, where authorised prescribers have been using psilocybin in clinical settings for some time.

    “Psilocybin remains an unapproved medicine, but one highly experienced psychiatrist has already been granted authority to prescribe it to patients with treatment-resistant depression. 

    “This is excellent news for their patients, but there are other Kiwis in need in different parts of New Zealand who might have an appropriate practitioner nearby. 

    “Practitioners must meet a series of requirements to gain approval, including being registered with the Medical Council with a current practicing certificate, a good understanding and experience of the medicines and the psychotherapeutic processes involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy, and a detailed proposal of how they will administer the treatment that has been peer reviewed and will be considered by Medsafe. 

    “Soon more practitioners will have the ability to use this medicine, meaning more patients will benefit.” 

    Note to editors: Guidelines can be found here. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Govt funding squeeze sees DOC cutting a further 71 roles – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The need to meet Government spending cut requirements means the Department of Conservation (DOC) will be cutting a net 71 support roles around the country, many in small rural towns.
    DOC confirmed to staff today that it will be disestablishing 143 support roles and creating 72 new positions, meaning a net reduction of 71 roles. Of the 72 new support roles, 25 are half-time.
    Removing support staff, who monitor the radios used by DOC staff working away from the office to stay safe, poses health and safety risks, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.
    “The current support staff have sizeable health and safety responsibilities, such as monitoring staff radio systems and helping to manage emergencies like fires. The loss of these team members will mean that these important duties will fall on others – and pose a significant health and safety risk.
    “DOC Rangers, contractors and volunteers rely on the radios to stay in regular contact with their offices and ensure they can get help if they run into trouble,” Fitzsimons says.
    “It’s one example of how the loss of business support staff will mean administrative work will have to be done by other DOC staff.
    “This will mean they have less time to focus on vital work like protecting threatened species, repairing tracks and pest control,” Fitzsimons says.
    The cuts also mean the public will no longer be able to access DOC offices, apart from Visitors’ Centres, because the loss of support staff will mean there will be no one to manage reception.
    “A farmer in town for errands will no longer be able to drop into the DOC office to talk with staff about matters of concern. A wealth of local knowledge and wisdom will be lost with the axing of support staff,” Fitzsimons says.
    “Downgrading 25 roles to half-time is a blow to the many workers who cannot make

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Axing same-day enrolment to vote exposes impact of Govt starving another key agency of enough funding

    Source: PSA

    The PSA is condemning proposed changes to New Zealand’s electoral laws as undemocratic and the result of a systematically underfunded public service.
    “We were shocked to see the Government propose several changes to electoral laws, especially the end to same-day voter enrolment,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.
    “They say that the system – in other words, the Electoral Commission – can’t handle the strain of same-day enrolment in the years to come.
    “Why has the Government chosen to build obstacles around people’s basic right to vote, instead of funding the Electoral Commission properly?”
    Like many other public service agencies, the Electoral Commission has been forced to tighten its budget by the National-led Government and restructured its staff last year.
    “At the time, we criticised that restructure process as rushed – and it eventually resulted in several highly skilled staff leaving the organisation.
    “New Zealanders are rightfully proud of our democracy. But we also know that to maintain our democracy, we need to care for it and invest into it.
    “New Zealanders want the public service to be given the tools – including the funding – to make sure voting is as easy as possible for everyone.
    “100,000 people used the same-day enrolment process at the 2023 election. This is not a nice-to-have – this is a basic function of our democracy.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bernadette Linn begins Beijing visit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn today began a visit to Beijing by calling on the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security.

    This morning, Ms Linn called on National Cultural Heritage Administration Deputy Administrator Qiao Yunfei. They discussed the organisation of artefact exhibitions, youth exchange activities and talent training, as well as research on antiquities, nominations for World Heritage status, and the application of technology in heritage conservation.

    Ms Linn then called on the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development, and briefed a team led by Vice Minister Qin Haixiang on developments in Hong Kong’s construction sector.

    The two parties exchanged views on the application of technology to reduce construction costs and enhance productivity, and on promoting the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Construction Standards.

    They also spoke about leveraging Hong Kong’s certification system and high degree of internationalism in the development of Modular Integrated Construction and other innovative construction technologies, and about the rehabilitation and redevelopment of old buildings.

    Afterwards, Ms Linn and her delegation had lunch with Minister Ni Hong, and compared experiences of construction and urban development in both places.

    In the afternoon, Ms Linn met Human Resources & Social Security Vice Minister Yu Jiadong to exchange views on talent development in the construction industry.

    Topics discussed included integrating Hong Kong construction professionals into the Mainland’s “Professional Title” evaluation mechanism, mutual recognition of various professional qualifications between the Mainland and Hong Kong, formulating Greater Bay Area skill standards and implementing the “One Examination, Multiple Certification” arrangement for skilled technicians and workers in the construction sector.

    Ms Linn thanked the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security for their strong support of the long-term development of Hong Kong’s construction industry.

    She also expressed hope that the construction and engineering sectors of the Mainland and Hong Kong can deepen exchanges and co-operation to jointly promote the high-quality development of the bay area’s construction industry, and to establish Hong Kong as an international infrastructure centre.

    The development chief later joined participants on a study tour looking at national water infrastructure, culture and technology. Together, they visited the Tuancheng Lake Regulating Pond, a terminal on the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

    She also had dinner with study tour participants and heard about their experiences.  

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Our Happy Place!: FSC Annual Poster Social Convened

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Our Happy Place!: FSC Annual Poster Social Convened

    Once a year USGS Flagstaff Campus employees steal away to a place of science discovery in our own neighborhood. On May 29, folks from the five science centers hung posters or pictures and shared current research with each other, showcasing the work they are doing on the Flagstaff Campus. For many of us, being available to connect annually, has become our happy place.

    Researchers from the Astrogeology Science Center (ASC), Arizona Water Science Center (AzWSC), Geology, Minerals, Energy and Geophysics Science Center (GMEGSC), Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC), and Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC) gather to share their ongoing research and recently published results. These gives us opportunities to develop new connections, exchange ideas and skillsets, and grow research areas in ways that we wouldn’t normally be provided access or exposure. Although we may work down the hall from each other, this annual event provides us the opportunity to cross-pollinate topics and build new collaborations.

    “It is a combination of in-reach (like out-reach but among five centers)  and social function (minus the adult beverages), said Dr. Tim Titus, Research Space Scientist, from the Astrogeology Science Center. 

    Dr. Titus, and Dr. Lori Pigue, Physical Scientist with ASC, ensured our happy place would be found again this year, helping to foster a sense of community on campus. 

    “There’s a bit of heavy lifting that goes into putting up the poster boards, making sure everyone knows that it’s happening and finding a poster or presentation from a past conference to recycle, but it’s worth it in the end.” Dr. Pigue shares.

    Another participant said, “Feeling that connection with our neighbors and our immediate surroundings in a relaxed environment, would be even greater if we had longer than a 2-hr visit.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters, Slotkin Respond to Federal Disaster Declaration Following Catastrophic Northern Michigan Ice Storm

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) responded to the approval of Michigan’s request for a major disaster declaration following the catastrophic ice storm that impacted communities throughout Northern Michigan and the Eastern Upper Peninsula in late March. In May, Peters and Slotkin sent a letter to President Trump urging his swift approval of this declaration to support areas affected by the storm. With this declaration, critical assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program will be available to communities in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Kalkaska and Mackinac Counties, as well as the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.
    “I’m pleased that funding is coming to Northern Michigan to bolster the ongoing recovery efforts following the ice storm this March,” said Senator Peters. “The State of Michigan and local emergency managers continue to work hard because this job is not finished, and I’ll keep fighting to help our communities get the resources they need to bounce back stronger.”
    “This is welcome news and a big step for the many Michiganders who are still recovering from the once-in-a-generation ice storm in Northern Michigan and the UP in March,” said Senator Slotkin. “There is still more work ahead, but my office is here to help Michiganders navigate the federal disaster process to rebuild and recover.”
    The National Weather Service has ranked this as one of the most significant ice storms ever recorded in Northern Michigan. State and federal officials estimate the storms caused more than $137 million in immediate response costs, and inflicted severe damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, including leaving residents without power for weeks. The long-term impacts to local government, industries, and residents remain to be seen.
    FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides assistance to eligible applicants, including local governments, to respond and recover from major disasters. In Michigan, the authorized funding can be used for debris removal and emergency protective measures such as eligible overtime work and permanent restoration of infrastructure. For additional information regarding the federal assistance, please contact the MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division at 517-243-0149.
    Peters and Slotkin have fought to aid Northern Michigan’s impacted communities from the start. In the days following this devastating storm, the lawmakers wrote to Governor Whitmer expressing their willingness to support any federal support needed as part of the State of Michigan’s response. In June, Peters and Slotkin called on the Small Business Administration to approve the State of Michigan’s Rapid Administrative Disaster Declaration request for eligible counties, which was later approved by SBA Administrator Loeffler.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: MARA Holdings, Inc. Announces Pricing of Upsized $950 Million Offering of 0.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2032

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Miami, FL, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) (“MARA” or the “Company”), a leading digital energy and infrastructure company, today announced the pricing of its upsized offering of $950 million aggregate principal amount of 0.00% convertible senior notes due 2032 (the “notes”). The notes will be sold in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). MARA also granted to the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase, within a 13-day period beginning on, and including, the date on which the notes are first issued, up to an additional $200 million aggregate principal amount of the notes. The offering is expected to close on July 25, 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    The notes will be unsecured, senior obligations of MARA. The notes will not bear regular interest, and the principal amount of the notes will not accrete. MARA may pay special interest, if any, at its election as the sole remedy for failure to comply with its reporting obligations and under certain other circumstances, each pursuant to the indenture. Special interest, if any, on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1, 2026 (if and to the extent that special interest is then payable on the notes). The notes will mature on August 1, 2032, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms. Subject to certain conditions, on or after January 15, 2030, MARA may redeem for cash all or any portion of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid special interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, if the last reported sale price of MARA common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for a specified period of time ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date MARA provides the notice of redemption. If MARA redeems fewer than all the outstanding notes, at least $75 million aggregate principal amount of notes must be outstanding and not subject to redemption as of the relevant redemption notice date.

    Holders of notes may require MARA to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their notes on January 4, 2030, if the last reported sale price of MARA’s common stock on the second trading day immediately preceding the repurchase date is less than the conversion price, or upon the occurrence of certain events that constitute a fundamental change under the indenture governing the notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid special interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase. In connection with certain corporate events or if MARA calls any note for redemption, it will, under certain circumstances, be required to increase the conversion rate for holders who elect to convert their notes in connection with such corporate event or notice of redemption.

    The notes will be convertible into cash, shares of MARA’s common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of MARA’s common stock, at MARA’s election. Prior to May 1, 2032, the notes will be convertible only upon the occurrence of certain events and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.

    The conversion rate for the notes will initially be 49.3619 shares of MARA common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.

    MARA estimates that the net proceeds from the sale of the notes will be approximately $940.5 million (or approximately $1,138.5 million if the initial purchasers exercise in full their option to purchase additional notes), after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions but before estimated offering expenses payable by MARA.

    MARA expects to use approximately $18.3 million of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to repurchase approximately $19.4 million in aggregate principal amount of its existing 1.00% convertible senior notes due 2026 (the “1.00% 2026 convertible notes”) in privately negotiated transactions with the remainder of the net proceeds to be used to pay the approximately $36.9 million cost of the capped call transactions (as described below), to acquire additional bitcoin and for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, strategic acquisitions, expansion of existing assets, and repayment of additional debt and other outstanding obligations.

    In connection with any repurchase of the 1.00% 2026 convertible notes, MARA expects that holders of the 1.00% 2026 convertible notes who agree to have their notes repurchased and who have hedged their equity price risk with respect to such notes (the “hedged holders”) will unwind all or part of their hedge positions by buying MARA’s common stock and/or entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to MARA’s common stock. The amount of MARA’s common stock to be purchased by the hedged holders or in connection with such derivative transactions may be substantial in relation to the historic average daily trading volume of MARA’s common stock. This activity by the hedged holders could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of MARA’s common stock, including concurrently with the pricing of the notes, resulting in a higher effective conversion price of the notes. MARA cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the notes or MARA’s common stock.

    In connection with the pricing of the notes, MARA entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions with certain of the initial purchasers or their respective affiliates and certain other financial institutions (the “option counterparties”). If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional notes, MARA expects to use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of such additional notes to enter into additional capped call transactions with the option counterparties. The capped call transactions will cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, the number of shares of common stock underlying the notes sold in the offering. The capped call transactions are generally expected to reduce potential dilution to the common stock upon any conversion of notes and/or offset any cash payments MARA is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap.

    The cap price of the capped call transactions is initially approximately $24.14 per share, which represents a premium of approximately 40.0% over the U.S. composite volume weighted average price of MARA’s common stock from 2:00 p.m. through 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, which was $17.2413, and is subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the capped call transactions.

    MARA has been advised that, in connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates expect to purchase shares of common stock and/or enter into various derivative transactions with respect to the common stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of the common stock or the notes at that time. In addition, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to the common stock and/or purchasing or selling the common stock or other securities of MARA in secondary market transactions from time to time prior to the maturity of the notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of the notes, in connection with any redemption of the notes, any fundamental change repurchase of the notes or any exercise of a holder’s optional repurchase right, and, to the extent MARA unwinds a corresponding portion of the capped call transactions, following any other repurchase of the notes). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of the common stock or the notes, which could affect the ability of noteholders to convert the notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of notes, it could affect the number of shares of common stock, if any, and value of the consideration that noteholders will receive upon conversion of the notes.

    The notes are being offered and sold to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The offer and sale of the notes and the shares of MARA’s common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and the notes and any such shares may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The offering of the notes is being made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the notes, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Nothing in this press release shall be deemed an offer to purchase MARA’s 1.00% 2026 convertible notes.

    About MARA 

    MARA (NASDAQ:MARA) deploys digital energy technologies to advance the world’s energy systems. Harnessing the power of compute, MARA transforms excess energy into digital capital, balancing the grid and accelerating the deployment of critical infrastructure. Building on its expertise to redefine the future of energy, MARA develops technologies that reduce the energy demands of high-performance computing applications, from AI to the edge.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the estimated net proceeds of the offering, the anticipated use of such net proceeds, including any repurchases of the Company’s existing convertible notes, the expected impact of the capped call transactions, and the anticipated closing of the offering. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the offering, uncertainties related to the satisfaction of closing conditions for the sale of the notes, the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of MARA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 3, 2025 and the risks described in other filings that MARA may make from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and MARA specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

    MARA Company Contact:
    Telephone: 800-804-1690
    Email: ir@mara.com

    MARA Media Contact:
    Email: mara@wachsman.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Voice2Me.ai Launches Industry’s Fastest, Most Secure AI Voice Agents Across Salesforce, PEGA, and ServiceNow Platforms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FAIRFAX, Va., July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Voice2Me.ai, the boutique firm driving innovation in enterprise AI voice intelligence, today announced major platform expansions that sets a new standard for AI voice automation with secure, production-grade agents now available across Salesforce, PEGA, and ServiceNow. Building on its success in the ServiceNow certified store, the company’s ultra-secured AI voice agents are now available across Salesforce and PEGA platforms, demonstrating how enterprises can deploy top AI voice agents that are ready to take your call across multiple enterprise ecosystems.

    Voice2Me.ai Customer Support

    Strategic Platform Expansion Beyond ServiceNow

    Voice2Me.ai’s expansion from its flagship ServiceNow integration to Salesforce and PEGA represents a significant milestone in making the best AI voice agents accessible across all major enterprise platforms. The company’s certified and approved ServiceNow apps in the ServiceNow store, has driven deeper trust and recognition in the industry, establishing Voice2Me.ai as the go-to provider for building AI voice agents for production-grade enterprise environments.

    “Our expansion beyond ServiceNow proves that organizations across all platforms are hungry for top AI voice agents that deliver both security and simplicity,” said Eva Karnaukh, CEO of Voice2Me.ai. “We’re not just building AI voice agents – we’re creating intelligent conversation platforms that transform how enterprises communicate across their entire technology stack.”

    Enterprise-Grade Security and Model-Agnostic Architecture

    Voice2Me.ai’s platform distinguishes itself through enterprise-grade security architecture combined with a large-model agnostic approach that delivers fast, secure, and scalable AI voice intelligence. This foundation ensures that AI voice agents are ready to take your call while maintaining the highest standards of data protection across all integrated platforms.

    “The question isn’t whether AI voice agents are ready to take your call – it’s whether your enterprise platform can deliver the conversational experiences your customers expect with military-grade security,” added Karnaukh. “Our model-agnostic approach ensures that regardless of your enterprise architecture, you can deploy the best AI voice agents that integrate seamlessly with your existing workflows.”

    Advanced Technical Innovation for Production Environments

    Voice2Me.ai goes beyond voice enabling multimodal resolution that lets midmarket – enterprise teams speak, see, and solve in real time. From voice to visual context, our agents understand inputs the way humans do. Built to scale across critical industries like healthcare, insurance, and government, the platform pairs advanced telephony with secure AI orchestration for end-to-end support.

    Key technical innovations include:

    • Enterprise-Grade Security Framework: Military-grade security with zero data persistence and comprehensive compliance readiness across all platforms
    • Large-Model Agnostic Architecture: Seamless integration with leading AI models for optimal performance and flexibility
    • Multi-Platform Native Integration: Direct deployment capabilities across ServiceNow, Salesforce, PEGA, with Appian and Workday integrations planned
    • Production-Ready Scalability: Fast, secure, and scalable infrastructure designed for enterprise-grade deployments
    • Advanced Telephony Integration: SIP integrations with major call center providers for enterprise-grade voice capabilities

    With zero data persistence, FedRAMP/HIPAA readiness, and human-in-the-loop controls, the platform is trusted by government, healthcare, and financial services alike.

    Future Roadmap and Platform Strategy

    Following successful deployments across ServiceNow, Salesforce, and PEGA, Voice2Me.ai is strategically planning its next integration with either Appian or Workday, depending on market priorities. This expansion strategy demonstrates the company’s commitment to making top AI voice agents available across all major enterprise platforms while maintaining the security and performance standards required for building AI voice agents for production.

    Global Operations and Professional Services Excellence

    With operations spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia, Voice2Me.ai has positioned itself as a global disruptor of enterprise platform capabilities. The company’s boutique professional services team ensures smooth and fast deployment, helping customers elevate their enterprise platform experience with modern development and AI-powered architecture.

    Voice2Me.ai’s approach focuses on three core principles:

    • Security-First Design: Enterprise-grade security architecture that enables building AI voice agents for production environments
    • Platform Enhancement: Enabling existing midmarket – enterprise platform capabilities with the best AI voice agents
    • Model Flexibility: Large-model agnostic architecture that adapts to evolving AI landscape

    Industry Impact and Market Leadership

    As enterprises increasingly seek solutions for building AI voice agents for production environments, Voice2Me.ai’s comprehensive approach addresses the full spectrum of conversational AI needs. From showing organizations how to deploy top AI voice agents that integrate natively with existing platforms to providing the infrastructure for AI voice agents that are ready to take your call with enterprise-grade security, the company has established itself as the definitive source for production-grade voice intelligence.

    The company’s commitment to ethical, secure, and responsible AI development ensures that all implementations maintain the highest standards of data protection and regulatory compliance while delivering the performance enterprises demand.

    Platform Availability and Enterprise Adoption

    Voice2Me.ai’s expanded platform integrations are available immediately, with enterprises able to deploy the best AI voice agents across ServiceNow (available in the certified store), Salesforce, and PEGA environments. The company’s model-agnostic architecture ensures that organizations can leverage the most advanced AI capabilities while maintaining the security and scalability required for production deployments.

    Organizations interested in learning more about building AI voice agents for production environments can access comprehensive resources and technical documentation through Voice2Me.ai’s platform. The company’s fast, secure, and scalable architecture enables rapid deployment of top AI voice agents that are ready to take your call across any enterprise platform.

    About Voice2Me.ai

    Voice2Me.ai is the leading boutique firm specializing in enterprise AI voice intelligence solutions. Founded in Fairfax, Virginia, the company delivers the best AI voice agents for production environments across major enterprise platforms including ServiceNow (certified store), Salesforce, PEGA, with planned expansions to Appian and Workday. With operations in the US, Europe, and Asia, Voice2Me.ai empowers organizations to build AI voice agents with enterprise-grade security and model-agnostic architecture, providing fast, secure, and scalable conversational AI solutions for enterprises worldwide.

    Media Contact: Eva Karnaukh, CEO Voice2Me.ai Email: press@voice2me.ai Website: voice2me.ai

    Learn More:

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8214011f-b8b3-4d8d-9dbe-9ad08e50e7be

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on July 23, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,03,403.84 5.73 4.75-6.75
         I. Call Money 17,346.55 5.73 4.75-5.85
         II. Triparty Repo 4,04,014.05 5.72 5.30-5.82
         III. Market Repo 1,79,687.94 5.75 5.20-5.90
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 2,355.30 5.91 5.85-6.75
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 131.54 5.46 5.00-5.82
         II. Term Money@@ 189.50 – 5.60-5.95
         III. Triparty Repo 795.00 5.57 5.50-5.70
         IV. Market Repo 470.68 5.55 5.55-5.55
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Wed, 23/07/2025 2 Fri, 25/07/2025 50,001.00 5.53
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Wed, 23/07/2025 1 Thu, 24/07/2025 820.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Wed, 23/07/2025 1 Thu, 24/07/2025 78,428.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -27,607.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 18/07/2025 7 Fri, 25/07/2025 2,00,027.00 5.49
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       10,403.21  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,89,623.79  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -2,17,230.79  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks          
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on July 23, 2025 9,68,804.65  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending July 25, 2025 9,63,288.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ July 23, 2025 50,001.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on June 27, 2025 5,79,904.00  

    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).

    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.

    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.

    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.

    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.

    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/772

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Deputy Commissioner of Police retires

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell today announced the retirement of statutory Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tania Kura.

    Ms Kura has served in the statutory Deputy Police Commissioner role since her appointment on 18 April 2023.

    Deputy Commissioner Kura notified the Governor-General yesterday of her intention to retire from the role and the New Zealand Police in November this year.  

    Ms Kura has served in the police for 37 years, graduating from the Royal New Zealand Police College in 1988. She started her career as a constable in Christchurch before working her way through the ranks to be Area Commander Hawkes Bay in 2012 and District Commander Eastern from 2017. She moved to Wellington in 2020 to be based at Police National Headquarters, taking up the role of Deputy Commissioner Leadership and Capability.

    “I wish to acknowledge Deputy Commissioner Kura for her service, and I wish her and her family the best for the future,” Mr Mitchell says. 

    Statutory Deputy Commissioners of Police are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Public Service Commission has started a recruitment process for both Deputy Commissioner positions

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace Statement – Gore ‘not out of the woods yet’- nitrate level linked to increased risk of preterm birth

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace Aotearoa has tested a sample collected from the Gore town supply, which returned a result above 5 mg/L nitrate (NO3-N), a level associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.
    Above this level of nitrate, the New Zealand College of Midwives recomm

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Muscatine Men Sentenced to Federal Prison Related to Events Surrounding Officer Involved Shooting

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

    DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Muscatine men were sentenced on July 22, 2025, to federal prison for drug and gun crimes, related to an officer involved shooting in Muscatine on May 29, 2024.

    According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on May 29, 2024, Juan Aldo Beltran Delgado, 34, and Isidro Barajas, Jr., 30, drove to a residence in Muscatine, Iowa, to await the delivery of a package they expected to contain more than 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement observed Beltran Delgado and Barajas pick up the package from the residence and attempted to stop their vehicle. Beltran Delgado was driving the vehicle and drove over 100 miles per hour through Muscatine, drove through multiple red lights, attempting to evade law enforcement. Ultimately, Beltran Delgado crashed into two other vehicles near Highway 61 and Cedar Street. After crashing, both Beltran Delgado and Barajas fled from the car on foot carrying firearms. Officers arrived in the area and Beltran Delgado shot at officers. Officers were able to take both Beltran and Delgado and Barajas into custody.

    Beltran Delgado was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, following his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and carrying and discharging a firearm during an in relation to his drug trafficking. Barajas was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release, following his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, carrying and displaying a firearm during an in relation to his drug trafficking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system.

    United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Johnson County Drug Taskforce, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: TALLAHASSEE MAN RECEIVES 42 MONTHS FOR POSSESSION OF A MACHINEGUN

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Artaviyon Cornel Williams, 24, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced in federal court for illegal possession of a machinegun. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our brave law enforcement officers are increasingly encountering violent criminals and seizing firearms that have been illegally modified to fire as fully automatic machineguns. My office is committed to staunchly supporting law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe from violent criminals.”

    Court documents reflect that law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Williams for an aggravated assault that had occurred on June 28, 2024, outside the Table Lounge in Tallahassee. Witnesses advised Williams broke up a fight involving his girlfriend by brandishing a firearm, firing a round into the air, and pointing the firearm at one woman and telling her “I’ll kill you.” Officers located Williams on July 6, 2024, outside the Table Lounge and arrested him on the outstanding warrant. When arrested, Williams had a stolen Glock pistol in his waistband which had been illegally modified to fire as a machinegun. Williams had a second, loaded, extended-round magazine in a pocket.

    Williams received a sentence of 42 months in prison, which will be followed by three years of supervised release.

    “The Tallahassee Police Department remains committed to removing illegal firearms from our streets,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Modifying a weapon to function as a machine gun is not only illegal, but also reckless and puts innocent lives at risk. We’re proud to work alongside our federal partners to ensure those who engage in this kind of violent behavior are held accountable.”

    The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.

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

    As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Dovey, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Melbourne

    Balinese officials have begun the demolition of more than 40 businesses at Bingin Beach, a popular tourist spot in the Uluwatu region.

    In June, the Balinese House of Representatives determined the settlement is on public land, and is therefore illegal and needs to be demolished. But I’d argue it doesn’t.

    The ‘illegal’ settlement

    The Bingin Beach coastal settlement began development in the 1970s as an informal surfer hub at the base of a steep escarpment. The beach is a few hundred metres long and largely disappears at high tide.

    Originally lined with a string of makeshift warungs (small food stores) and cheap accommodations, the settlement has grown incrementally over the decades, up and along the escarpment, with an intensive mix of surf shops, restaurants and small hotels.

    The steepness of the slope precludes vehicle access. The only public access is via two somewhat narrow pedestrian stairways.

    While it initially served the surfer community, the settlement now caters to a broader tourist market, with some rooms going for upwards of US$150 per night.

    But after more than 50 years of incremental development, the House of Representatives has declared the settlement was illegally constructed on state land, and has ordered the demolition of 45 buildings – effectively the entire settlement.

    While most of the buildings seem highly durable, the demolition order is based on illegality, and not durability. A spokesperson for the traders argues most of the businesses are locally owned, and livelihoods are at stake.

    The ‘legal’ settlement

    The former farmland at the top of the escarpment is also covered with tourist developments that mostly emerged since 2010, and now extend up to a kilometre inland. This is a much more familiar landscape for Bali: a mix of walled hotel compounds and private villas, with manicured gardens and swimming pools.

    However, one could scarcely call this larger settlement “planned”. Shops and restaurants emerge wherever they can find a market along the narrow roads. There are no sidewalks and pedestrians are constantly engaged in an anxious game of negotiated passing.

    The infrastructure of roads and lanes has also been designed incrementally, across the former farm fields, as the settlement developed. The resulting street network is convoluted and largely unwalkable. The most common street sign is “no beach access this way”.

    What is informality?

    I’m an academic, architect and urban planner who studies informal settlements and informal urbanism more generally. In this context “informal” can mean illegal, makeshift and unplanned, but it can also mean incremental, adaptive and inventive.

    Informal settlement is the means by which a large proportion of Indonesians produce affordable housing. It is also the most traditional form of indigenous housing globally.

    After many decades of governments trying to demolish such settlements, the overwhelming consensus across the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is that wholesale demolition is rarely an answer. On-site formalisation and upgrading is the more sustainable pathway.

    When engaging with informal settlements, we need to preserve the infrastructures that work and only demolish where necessary. The Bingin Beach escarpment settlement has proven sustainable and has become an integral part of the local heritage.

    Its demolition will destroy livelihoods and displace the surfing market, while feathering other nests.

    So why is it being demolished? Perhaps to clear the ground for the next round of up-market resorts – what urban studies research calls “accumulation by disposession”. Bingin is widely seen as a major real estate hotspot for investment.

    What is overdevelopment?

    One of the key dangers of informal settlement is “overdevelopment”. Without
    formal planning codes, density can escalate to destroy the very attraction that produced the settlement.

    Most buildings along the Bingin Beach escarpment are two to four storeys, and step back with the slope of the escarpment. The exception is the 2019 addition of the Morabito Art Cliff hotel that rises more than six storeys, obscuring the natural landscape, blocking views, and setting a precedent for more of the same.

    If everyone in the area built like this, the Bingin settlement would be replaced with a cliff of buildings. To demolish this one building would set a useful precedent of containing the settlement to a sustainable scale.

    The Impossibles dream

    A few hundred metres south-west of Bingin Beach, a different story unfolds near the beach known as Impossibles. Here, a precarious limestone cliff largely precludes access to the beach, and the clifftop has long been lined with low-rise tourist compounds.

    An aeriel view of the Uluwatu coast shows Bingin Beach and the Impossibles.
    Map data: Google, 2025 Maxar Technologies

    This earlier layer of development is now being demolished and replaced with larger, denser resorts as part of the Amali project which claims a “rare cliff-front location”. The location is “rare” because about half of the 50-metre-high cliff has been excavated to construct villa units quite literally in the cliff.

    This excavation was well underway when, in May 2024, it caused much of the remaining natural cliff face to collapse onto the beach and into the ocean. It remains unclear whether the excavation was formally approved. Either way, it prompts the question: what if everyone did that?

    The Bingin escarpment and the Impossibles cliff face represent very different kinds of development. One is incremental, irregular and geared to its social and environmental context, while the other is large-grain and environmentally destructive. It makes no sense to demolish the former in order to make way for the latter.

    It is imperative to not only save the Bingin Beach settlement, which is part of Bali’s surfing heritage, but also to awaken from the impossible dream of building more and more villas on this fragile and limited coastland.

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

    – ref. Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment – https://theconversation.com/bali-is-built-on-informal-and-illegal-settlements-bulldozing-bingin-beach-misses-the-real-threat-of-overdevelopment-261755

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Thai, Cambodian soldiers exchange shots in disputed border area

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Xinhua) — The Thai military said on Thursday that a clash broke out on the border with Cambodia after the Cambodian side opened fire.

    In turn, a spokesman for the Cambodian Defense Ministry said that Cambodian soldiers clashed with Thai soldiers in a disputed border area on Thursday. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ukraine has returned more than a thousand servicemen from Russian captivity

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    KYIV, July 24 /Xinhua/ — Ukraine has secured the release of more than a thousand servicemen as part of the agreements reached at peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported on Telegram on Wednesday.

    In total, Ukraine and Russia have conducted nine stages of prisoner exchanges under the Istanbul agreements. During the latest exchange, wounded and seriously ill servicemen were released.

    Among those released are reportedly representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Service, the National Guard and the National Police. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –