Category: KB

  • IMD strengthens India’s weather preparedness with accurate forecasts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As extreme weather events grow more frequent and unpredictable due to climate change, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is expanding its capabilities to make India a weather-resilient nation. With its legacy dating back to 1875, the IMD, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has become the backbone of the country’s weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and climate monitoring efforts.

    IMD has earned widespread recognition for its accurate monsoon predictions. From 2021 to 2024, it achieved 100% accuracy in forecasting all-India southwest monsoon rainfall within the permissible margin of error. Its seasonal forecasts—issued in April and updated in June—play a key role in supporting agriculture, water resource management, and economic planning.

    Beyond monsoon predictions, IMD has made major strides in cyclone forecasting. It accurately predicted cyclones like Fani, Amphan, Tauktae, and Biparjoy, helping reduce cyclone-related fatalities from 10,000 in 1999 to zero between 2020 and 2024. The department has also expanded its Doppler Weather Radar network from 15 in 2014 to 39 in 2023, enhancing real-time monitoring by 35%.

    Technology has also driven IMD’s success. Tools like the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model and the Electric Weather Research and Forecasting (EWRF) model are now being used for real-time rainfall and lightning forecasts. The launch of Mausamgram in January 2024—a public weather platform inaugurated by the Vice President—offers localized forecasts to users across India.

    To further modernize India’s climate forecast infrastructure, the government launched Mission Mausam in September 2024. This ambitious Central Sector Scheme aims to make Bharat a “weather-ready and climate-smart” nation by improving forecasting capabilities and disaster response.

    Mission Mausam utilizes advanced tools like AI, high-resolution weather radars, better satellite instruments, and powerful computing systems. It is structured around nine verticals—ranging from real-time data collection and air quality tools to early warning systems and public communication strategies.

    The scheme, which builds on the earlier ACROSS initiative, is being implemented in two phases: 2024–2026 and 2026–2031. By combining scientific research, cutting-edge technology, and inter-agency collaboration, IMD and Mission Mausam aim to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure from the growing risks of extreme weather.

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why Jane Austen is definitely not just for girls

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Shelley Galpin, Lecturer in Culture, Media and Creative Industries, King’s College London

    In my former life as a teacher, I once had a job interview in which I was asked how I dealt with the problem of teaching Jane Austen to boys.

    Having had experience of this situation, I confidently told my interviewer (a maths teacher) that the “problem” they were assuming didn’t actually exist, and that it was perfectly possible to teach Austen’s novels to mixed-sex classes with successful results. My answer was met by barely veiled scepticism – and suffice to say, I didn’t get the job.

    But where did this popular perception come from? Austen’s genius has been recognised from the earliest days of the development of a canon of English literature, and has never really fallen out of fashion. So it might seem odd that the suitability of her work for a co-educational class is the subject of genuine debate.


    This article is part of a series commemorating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Despite having published only six books, she is one of the best-known authors in history. These articles explore the legacy and life of this incredible writer.


    The increasingly intertwined associations of Austen’s literature with the many (often excellent) adaptations of her work may not help the matter, with screen retellings often foregrounding the love stories and losing much of the ironic tone that characterises Austen’s narrative style.

    The myriad repackaged editions of her novels that adorn bookshelves with pastel-toned floral designs, or images of anonymous portraits of passive young women, also do little to challenge the popular perception of these books as stories for women and girls.

    Finally, and perhaps most troublingly, is the still-commonly held notion that stories with a female protagonist do not have wide-ranging appeal and must be consigned to a “niche interest” bracket. Male-led stories, in contrast, have long been considered to hold universal relevance for audiences.

    This last point is a bigger issue concerning the publishing and entertainment industries, so I will largely park this one. But I will point out that, as others have argued in relation to Austen’s work, the classroom is an excellent place to start countering the assumptions of the “everyman” male experience, in contrast to the “special interest” attitude to female perspectives.

    With regards to the teaching of Austen’s novels, drawing on my experiences both as a scholar and as a teacher, I believe her novels can speak to young readers of different genders and from diverse backgrounds.

    Money, power and inequality

    Addressing the ways in which Austen’s novels tend to be packaged, I asked my students, typically aged 16-18, to explore the ideas at the heart of the novels by redesigning the book covers to better reflect these themes.

    The flowers and passive young women were gone. The redesigned book covers often focused on the idea of wealth, through pictures of differing piles of money, or power, such as the image of imbalanced scales to symbolise the unequal societies inhabited by Austen’s characters.

    Because, as much as they are love stories, Austen’s heroines typically achieve their “happy endings” against a backdrop of money worries, power struggles, familial tension and gendered social hierarchies. While her novels are rightly celebrated for highlighting the unequal treatment of the sexes during her lifetime, it is reductive to see this as their sole contribution to social commentary.

    Take Austen’s last completed novel, Persuasion. Here, Anne Elliot – over the hill at the ripe old age of 27 – begins the novel by rueing her broken engagement to Captain Wentworth, which she had been persuaded to break off eight years earlier due to his lack of fortune.

    While the narrative focus is on Anne, who is left to regret her choice and wonder whether she will ever be able to escape her odious father and siblings, the broken-hearted Wentworth, who reappears in Anne’s life shortly after the start of the novel, is at least as much a victim of the situation as Anne herself.

    At its heart, this is a story of a young woman who allowed herself to be persuaded to make a bad choice, and a young man who, through no fault of his own, was deemed not good enough due to his lack of wealth. The experiences of these characters, although they are older than the average school student, are highly relatable and sympathetic to many teenagers, who may well have experienced meddling family members or unfair judgments of their own.

    Take also Northanger Abbey, in which fanciful Catherine Morland mixes fact and fiction and imagines the titular abbey to be a site of gothic intrigue, only to discover that the real horror derives from a controlling patriarch and his sexually predatory oldest son.

    Here again, the novel cleverly makes the point that social inequalities, and the choices of those motivated by their love of money and power, are the real darkness at the heart of Austen’s society.

    In my experience, students of all genders have been able to appreciate and relate to Northanger Abbey’s depictions of the loss of innocence, class inequality, and the experience of being subject to the sometimes obscure decisions of more powerful individuals.

    Austen’s works, far from being the simple love stories of popular perception, are also razor-sharp satires of social and gendered inequalities. Full of witty observations and universally relatable experiences, there is a reason for the consistent popularity of her writing 250 years after her birth.

    To fail to recognise this in the classroom is to do a disservice to all our students, as well as to Austen herself.

    Shelley Galpin 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. Why Jane Austen is definitely not just for girls – https://theconversation.com/why-jane-austen-is-definitely-not-just-for-girls-259193

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Just back from holiday and not feeling well? Here are the symptoms you should take seriously

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

    What are you bringing back with you? The Picture Studio/Shutterstock

    Summer is synonymous with adventure, with millions flocking to exotic destinations to experience different cultures, cuisines and landscapes. But what happens when the souvenir you bring back isn’t a fridge magnet or a tea towel, but a new illness?

    International travel poses a risk of catching something more than a run-of-the-mill bug, so it’s important to be vigilant for the telltale symptoms. Here are the main ones to look out for while away and when you return.


    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.


    Fever

    Fever is a common symptom to note after international travel – especially to tropical or subtropical regions. While a feature of many different illnesses, it can be the first sign of an infection – sometimes a serious one.

    One of the most well-known travel-related illnesses linked to fever is malaria. Spread by mosquito bites in endemic regions, malaria is a protozoal infection that often begins with flu-like symptoms, such as headache and muscle aches, progressing to severe fever, sweating and shaking chills.

    Other signs can include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), swollen lymph nodes, rashes and abdominal pain – though symptoms vary widely and can mimic many other illnesses.

    Prompt medical attention is essential. Malaria is serious and can become life threatening. It’s also worth noting that symptoms may not appear until weeks or even months after returning home. In the UK, there are around 2,000 imported malaria cases each year.

    Travellers to at-risk areas are strongly advised to take preventative measures. This includes mosquito-bite avoidance as well as prescribed antimalarial medications, such as Malarone and doxycycline. Although these drugs aren’t 100% effective, they significantly reduce the risk of infection.

    Aside from malaria, other mosquito-borne diseases can cause fever. Dengue fever, a viral infection found in tropical and subtropical regions, leads to symptoms including high temperatures, intense headaches, body aches and rashes, which overlap with both malaria and other common viral illnesses.

    Most people recover with rest, fluids and paracetamol, but in some instances, dengue can become severe and requires emergency hospital treatment. A vaccine is also available – but is only recommended for people who have had dengue before, as it provides good protection in this group.

    Any fever after international travel should be taken seriously. Don’t brush it off as something you’ve just picked up on the plane – please see a doctor. A simple test could lead to early diagnosis and might save your life.

    Avoiding being bitten is a good defensive measure.
    Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock

    Diarrhoea

    Few travel-related issues are as common – or as unwelcome – as diarrhoea. It’s estimated that up to six in ten travellers will experience at least one episode during or shortly after their trip. For some, it’s an unpleasant disruption mid-holiday; for others, symptoms emerge once they’re back home.

    Traveller’s diarrhoea is typically caused by eating food or drinking water containing certain microbes (bacteria, viruses, parasites) or their toxins. Identifying the more serious culprits early is essential – especially when symptoms go beyond mild discomfort.

    Warning signs to look out for include large volumes of watery diarrhoea, visible blood in the stool or explosive bowel movements. These may suggest a more serious infection, such as giardia, cholera or amoebic dysentery.

    These conditions are more common in regions with poor sanitation and are especially prevalent in parts of the tropics.

    Some infections may require targeted antibiotics or antiparasitic treatment. But regardless of the cause, the biggest immediate risk with any severe diarrhoea is dehydration from copious fluid loss. In serious cases, hospital admission for intravenous fluids may be necessary.

    The key message for returning travellers: if diarrhoea is severe, persistent or accompanied by worrying symptoms, see a doctor. What starts as a nuisance could quickly escalate without the right care.

    And if you have blood in your stool, make sure you seek medical advice.

    Jaundice

    If you’ve returned from a trip with a change in skin tone, it may not just be a suntan. A yellowish tint to the skin – or more noticeably, the whites of the eyes – could be a sign of jaundice, another finding that warrants medical attention.

    Jaundice is not a disease itself, but a visible sign that something may be wrong with either the liver or blood. It results from a buildup of bilirubin, a yellow pigment that forms when red blood cells break down, and which is then processed by the liver.

    Signs of jaundice should be taken very seriously.
    sruilk/Shutterstock.com

    Several travel-related illnesses can cause jaundice. Malaria is one culprit as is the mosquito-borne yellow fever. But another common cause is hepatitis – inflammation of the liver.

    Viral hepatitis comes in several forms. Hepatitis A and E are spread via contaminated food or water – common in areas with poor sanitation. In contrast, hepatitis B and C are blood-borne, transmitted through intravenous drug use, contaminated medical equipment or unprotected sex.

    Besides jaundice, hepatitis can cause a range of symptoms, including fever, nausea, fatigue, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. A diagnosis typically requires blood tests, both to confirm hepatitis and to rule out other causes. While many instances of hepatitis are viral, not all are, and treatment depends on the underlying cause.

    As we’ve seen, a variety of unpleasant medical conditions can affect the unlucky traveller. But we’ve also seen that the associated symptoms are rather non-specific. Indeed, some can be caused by conditions that are short-lived and require only rest and recuperation to get over a rough few days. But the area between them is decidedly grey.

    So plan your trip carefully, be wary of high-risk activities while abroad – such as taking drugs or having unprotected sex – and stay alert to symptoms that develop during or after travel. If you feel unwell, don’t ignore it. Seek medical attention promptly to identify the cause and begin appropriate treatment.

    Dan Baumgardt 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. Just back from holiday and not feeling well? Here are the symptoms you should take seriously – https://theconversation.com/just-back-from-holiday-and-not-feeling-well-here-are-the-symptoms-you-should-take-seriously-260013

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo Members meet with Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: 

         A cocktail reception between the Legislative Council (LegCo) Members and the Consuls-General (CGs) as well as Honorary Consuls (HCs) in Hong Kong was held today (July 15) in the LegCo Complex, providing an opportunity for them to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

         Before the cocktail reception, the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, conducted a briefing for the attending CGs and HCs on the work of LegCo. He highlighted that the current-term LegCo has enacted a total of 117 bills, which is nearly double the amount compared to the same period of the previous term; and the amount of funding proposals approved exceed HK$650 billion. Mr Leung also emphasized LegCo’s efforts in collaborating with the Government to uphold the rule of law, attract investment and global talent to Hong Kong, advance the development of the Northern Metropolis, develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, support the development of fintech as well as innovation and technology industries, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, among other initiatives. The attending CGs and HCs then toured the Chamber of the LegCo Complex and the enhanced facilities of the LegCo Library. 

         A total of 30 Members attended the cocktail reception. Meanwhile, 37 CGs or their representatives and 11 HCs attended the briefing, guided tour and cocktail reception. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo Members meet with Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: 

         A cocktail reception between the Legislative Council (LegCo) Members and the Consuls-General (CGs) as well as Honorary Consuls (HCs) in Hong Kong was held today (July 15) in the LegCo Complex, providing an opportunity for them to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

         Before the cocktail reception, the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, conducted a briefing for the attending CGs and HCs on the work of LegCo. He highlighted that the current-term LegCo has enacted a total of 117 bills, which is nearly double the amount compared to the same period of the previous term; and the amount of funding proposals approved exceed HK$650 billion. Mr Leung also emphasized LegCo’s efforts in collaborating with the Government to uphold the rule of law, attract investment and global talent to Hong Kong, advance the development of the Northern Metropolis, develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, support the development of fintech as well as innovation and technology industries, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, among other initiatives. The attending CGs and HCs then toured the Chamber of the LegCo Complex and the enhanced facilities of the LegCo Library. 

         A total of 30 Members attended the cocktail reception. Meanwhile, 37 CGs or their representatives and 11 HCs attended the briefing, guided tour and cocktail reception. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo Members meet with Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: 

         A cocktail reception between the Legislative Council (LegCo) Members and the Consuls-General (CGs) as well as Honorary Consuls (HCs) in Hong Kong was held today (July 15) in the LegCo Complex, providing an opportunity for them to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

         Before the cocktail reception, the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, conducted a briefing for the attending CGs and HCs on the work of LegCo. He highlighted that the current-term LegCo has enacted a total of 117 bills, which is nearly double the amount compared to the same period of the previous term; and the amount of funding proposals approved exceed HK$650 billion. Mr Leung also emphasized LegCo’s efforts in collaborating with the Government to uphold the rule of law, attract investment and global talent to Hong Kong, advance the development of the Northern Metropolis, develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, support the development of fintech as well as innovation and technology industries, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, among other initiatives. The attending CGs and HCs then toured the Chamber of the LegCo Complex and the enhanced facilities of the LegCo Library. 

         A total of 30 Members attended the cocktail reception. Meanwhile, 37 CGs or their representatives and 11 HCs attended the briefing, guided tour and cocktail reception. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo Members meet with Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: 

         A cocktail reception between the Legislative Council (LegCo) Members and the Consuls-General (CGs) as well as Honorary Consuls (HCs) in Hong Kong was held today (July 15) in the LegCo Complex, providing an opportunity for them to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

         Before the cocktail reception, the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, conducted a briefing for the attending CGs and HCs on the work of LegCo. He highlighted that the current-term LegCo has enacted a total of 117 bills, which is nearly double the amount compared to the same period of the previous term; and the amount of funding proposals approved exceed HK$650 billion. Mr Leung also emphasized LegCo’s efforts in collaborating with the Government to uphold the rule of law, attract investment and global talent to Hong Kong, advance the development of the Northern Metropolis, develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, support the development of fintech as well as innovation and technology industries, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, among other initiatives. The attending CGs and HCs then toured the Chamber of the LegCo Complex and the enhanced facilities of the LegCo Library. 

         A total of 30 Members attended the cocktail reception. Meanwhile, 37 CGs or their representatives and 11 HCs attended the briefing, guided tour and cocktail reception. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government launches SEPs Consultation to Boost UK Innovation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government launches SEPs Consultation to Boost UK Innovation

    Businesses and stakeholders invited to respond by 7 October 2025

    Further details:

    • Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) are building blocks of our connected future, enabling our devices to communicate seamlessly. They help power our connected economy and deliver real technological change for real people

    • the Government is seeking views on proposed Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) measures to support the UK’s technology-driven economic growth

    • proposals aim to address challenges in transparency, dispute resolution and licensing efficiency

    • further evidence sought on ways to address knowledge and information gaps between parties in SEPs negotiations, helping avoid complex and costly litigation

    • interested parties from across the SEP ecosystem are invited to submit views and evidence by 7 October 2025

    The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has today launched a consultation on potential measures to address challenges in the UK’s Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) ecosystem.

    A patent that protects technology which is essential to implementing a technical standard (such as 5G) is known as a Standard Essential Patent (SEP). SEPs help our devices to communicate seamlessly – from smartphones to electric vehicles, smart manufacturing to innovations in healthcare. They are the building blocks of our connected future and help deliver real technological change.

    However, available evidence points to inefficiencies in the UK’s SEP ecosystem that may create barriers to innovation – particularly for smaller businesses when seeking to implement standardised technologies.

    These challenges include knowledge and information gaps between SEP holders and implementers, a lack of transparency in the SEPs licensing process, and a costly and often complex dispute resolution environment. Resolving disputes can be costly and time-consuming – one recently reported case cost £31.5 million.

    The Government is consulting on policy options to ensure the UK’s SEP framework operates more efficiently, supporting both patent holders and technology implementers. The proposals aim to reduce frictions in licensing, achieve greater efficiency in dispute resolution, and more effectively deal with knowledge and information gaps between parties.

    The proposed measures aim to enable businesses of all sizes, including start-ups and scale-ups, to navigate the SEP framework more confidently.

    Proposed measures include

    Specialist rate determination track: Introducing a specialist track to provide licence rates for SEP portfolios on a case-by-case basis. This could increase consistency and transparency in SEP pricing. It could give businesses of all sizes a more efficient and cost–effective route to obtain a SEP licence rate.

    Mandatory provision of searchable information: Requiring patent holders to disclose standard-related patent information to the IPO. This would help address the current lack of transparency around SEPs and licensing obligations.

    We are gathering further evidence on

    The use of pre-action protocols: We are seeking further evidence on pre-action protocols to establish if they work well in SEPs negotiations, by encouraging early disclosure of relevant information.  This will help establish if a specialist SEP pre-action protocol may be needed in cases where negotiations are less likely to reach agreement and may move towards litigation.

    Essentiality checking solutions: Conducting a landscape review of essentiality checking solutions, to establish whether they are accessible for all parties, and establish if there is a case for government to introduce an essentiality determination opinion service.

    SEP remedies:  We are seeking to better understand whether the patent framework provides adequate remedies for SEP disputes.

    Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) measures: We are also looking to understand the current provision of ADR services that can resolve SEP disputes, and the extent to which they are used and accessible for all businesses, especially smaller businesses.

    Minister for Intellectual Property Feryal Clark MP said:

    Intellectual property is central to the Government’s growth mission and underpins the technologies that power our connected future, from 5G and electric vehicles to smart manufacturing and healthcare.

    This consultation will help make the licensing of these technologies more straight forward and accessible – driving innovation, reducing costly litigation, and helping UK firms lead in developing the technologies of tomorrow.

    President of the IP Federation Sarah Vaughan said:

    The IP Federation welcomes the Government’s open and evidence-based approach in launching this consultation on standard essential patents (SEPs). As long-standing advocates for a balanced and effective IP framework, we support measures that enhance transparency, facilitate timely and fair licensing negotiations, and promote efficient dispute resolution.

    President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) Bobby Mukherjee said:

    The UK patent profession is one of the most skilled and experienced in the world in the SEP arena and we welcome the IPO’s energy and vision in initiating activity in a vital support area for our market leading offering. CIPA members welcome the opportunity to participate in this evidence-led consultation openly, reflecting the spectrum of views from SEP rights holders to implementers.

    Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office Adam Williams said:

    This consultation is a critical opportunity for all stakeholders to help build a SEP ecosystem that works for everyone. We particularly want to hear from businesses developing or using standardised technologies about how proposed measures could affect their innovation, investment and growth plans.

    The proposals outlined seek to address the diverse needs within our innovation ecosystem and take a balanced approach. By combining possible regulatory interventions with market-driven solutions, we want to create a framework that enhances the UK’s competitiveness while ensuring fairness and transparency across the technology value chain.

    The Government is encouraging responses from interested parties across the SEP ecosystem.  These include patent holders and innovators who develop standard-essential technologies, technology implementers who incorporate SEPs into their products, legal services and academia. We are also encouraging views from start-ups and scale-ups who may face particular challenges with the current licensing system.

    Industry bodies and standards organisations, intellectual property experts and research institutions involved in standardized technologies, and consumer groups representing end-users of SEP-enabled technologies are also encouraged to share their views.

    The evidence and insights gathered will help ensure our proposed measures address a broad set of needs across the innovation ecosystem and support balanced growth across the UK economy.

    The consultation is open until 7 October 2025. Full details and response information are available at the consultation page.

    END

    Additional information:

    1. The consultation document is available on GOV UK.

    2. A technical standard is an agreed or established technical description of an idea, product, service, or way of doing things, which enables the sharing of knowledge. Standards can encourage innovation, enable jobs and growth, and ensure the interoperability, safety and quality of products.

    3. The number of patents declared as essential (SEPs) worldwide has been estimated to have more than tripled over the last decade, growing from 82,000 in 2010 to around 305,000 in 2021.

    4. This number is expected to continue to increase. Standard development organisations (SDOs), like ETSI, publish thousands of new technical standard specifications every year. Standards are currently being developed for emerging technologies, such as 6G and artificial intelligence, to support interoperability.

    5. The telecommunications sector alone adds over £40 billion annually to UK GDP, with SEP-dependent technologies playing an essential role.

    6. The consultation follows extensive research since 2021 to establish if the current system of licensing SEPs is functioning effectively.

    7. In July 2024, the IPO launched the world’s first SEP resource hub to help UK businesses navigate the SEP ecosystem more confidently.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pedestrian priority at King Street junction10 July 2025 As part of ongoing improvements to the town centre, a key outcome of the recent public realm project is the creation of a continuous pedestrian-priority route across the King Street and New Street… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    10 July 2025

    As part of ongoing improvements to the town centre, a key outcome of the recent public realm project is the creation of a continuous pedestrian-priority route across the King Street and New Street junction. 

    The Minister for Infrastructure has signed a Ministerial Decision to change the previous traffic arrangements on New Street and New Cut for an initial 12-month trial period. The main changes from the previous arrangements is the removal of access across King Street for buses and taxis, along with a minor alteration to permitted access times for commercial unloading. 

    A recent traffic survey showed that during core retail hours, 10am-4pm, around 50% of vehicles using this route were taxis, with buses accounting for 8%. Removing taxi access southbound from New Street into Library Place and rerouting buses will support pedestrian safety and reduce congestion. 

    Only pedal cycles and essential commercial deliveries between 8pm and 10am will be permitted to cross King Street via New Cut. 

    Engagement with Liberty Bus and the taxi industry is ongoing, while work is also underway to identify new taxi rank locations in town to support better and more convenient access – for the avoidance of any confusion it should be noted that the rank at Library Place will remain. 

    Officers are working with disabled minibus services and the Parish of St Helier to ensure continued access for those who need it. The number of Blue Badge car parking spaces will not be affected. The number of spaces in the area has been increased and there is an ongoing piece of work to review how the Blue Badge facilities parking can be further improved. We will shortly be launching a new map of Blue Badge spaces across the Island to help improve accessibility. 

    This change supports the Public Realm Movement Strategy and the Sustainable Transport Policy, both of which aim to prioritise pedestrian access in the town centre.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Invitation to join the Cancer Advisory and Patient Strategy Group09 July 2025 Are you a cancer patient, survivor, or carer with lived experience of cancer services in Jersey? Would you like to help shape the future of cancer care on the island? We are inviting expressions of interest… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    09 July 2025

    Are you a cancer patient, survivor, or carer with lived experience of cancer services in Jersey? Would you like to help shape the future of cancer care on the island? 

    We are inviting expressions of interest from individuals who wish to join the new Cancer Advisory and Patient Strategy, CAPS, Group, a formal patient advisory sub-committee that will play a vital role in guiding the continued implementation of Jersey’s Cancer Strategy, Together

    Who can apply? 

    We welcome applications from: 

    • People currently living with cancer 
    • Cancer survivors 
    • Family members or carers of those affected by cancer.

    We are especially keen to ensure representation from all different backgrounds.

    About the CAPS Group: 

    The CAPS Group will consist of 11 members, the majority of whom will have lived experience. Members will work collaboratively with Health and Care Jersey, Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey, and Jersey Hospice Care to co-produce improvements in cancer services, from early diagnosis to palliative care. 

    What to expect: 

    • A meaningful opportunity to influence cancer care policy and service design 
    • Quarterly meetings (starting in September 2025) 
    • Support with accessibility, transport, and digital access 
    • A safe, inclusive, and respectful environment.

    How to apply: 

    To express your interest, please email e.gomesdossantos@health.gov.je​ or call Gemma Gouveia/Kerry Smith on 442661, deadline: 31st July 2025.

    We are also working with Macmillan Jersey and Jersey Hospice Care to share this invitation through their networks. If you know someone who might be interested, please help us spread the word. 

    Your voice matters. Help us build a cancer care system that truly reflects the needs and experiences of our community.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Islanders invited to have their say on Planning Service reform15 July 2025 Islanders are being invited to take part in a public consultation on proposed reforms to Jersey’s planning service, which opens on 15 July and will run for eight weeks. The consultation is part of the… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    15 July 2025

    Islanders are being invited to take part in a public consultation on proposed reforms to Jersey’s planning service, which opens on 15 July and will run for eight weeks. 

    The consultation is part of the Minister for the Environment’s commitment to reform the Island’s planning system to ensure it is more efficient and responsive. 

    This priority is reflected in both the Government Plan 2025-2028 and the Council of Ministers’ Common Strategic Policy, which includes a pledge to “reform the planning service to enable sustainable development in Jersey.” 

    The consultation will explore potential changes to the legal framework that underpins elements of the current planning system. It sets out a number of possible reform options within three key themes: 

    • Permitted Development Rights – considering whether a wider range of development could proceed without formal planning permission, helping to streamline the process for householders, businesses and developers. 
    • Planning Appeals System – reviewing how decisions are challenged then how appeals are handled and determined. 
    • Plan-Making Process – examining how the Island Plan is developed then revised to better reflect the needs of the community and future priorities. 

    The consultation will be staged to allow for both feedback from key stakeholders and from the public. The aim is to help shape a modernised planning system that supports Jersey’s growth and sustainability while remaining accessible to Islanders. 

    Deputy Steve Luce, Minister for the Environment said: “Islanders rightly expect a planning system that is clear, consistent and capable of responding to change. 

    “This consultation is an opportunity to explore how we can simplify the rules, improve decision making and create a service that better meets the needs of Islanders now and in the future.

    “I encourage everyone with an interest in how our Island develops to share their views and help us shape a better planning system for Jersey.” 

    Full details of the consultation and how to take part are available at Gov.je/PlanningServicesReform​.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Seaclose Park tennis and netball courts reopen ahead of schedule 15 July 2025 Seaclose Park tennis and netball courts reopen ahead of schedule

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Wimbledon may be over, but who says the rallies have to stop?

    Tennis is back on the agenda at Seaclose Park, where two of the three courts have now reopened.

    The reopening, following the Isle of Wight Festival, is thanks to a swift and well-coordinated effort by the Isle of Wight Council’s public realm, parks and open spaces team, ensuring the facilities are match-fit for players once again.

    But it’s not just tennis players who have reason to celebrate. The netball courts are back in action too, ready for training, matches, or a friendly game in the sun.

    And for those who prefer a scenic stroll or cycle, the much-loved shared-use pathway known as N120 — which follows the water’s edge from Seaclose Park toward Island Harbour — has also reopened.

    Each summer, Seaclose Park plays host to the iconic Isle of Wight Festival, a highlight of the Island’s cultural calendar that brings music, energy, and thousands of visitors to the Island.

    Naturally, such a large-scale event can leave its mark on the park’s infrastructure — but this year, thanks to improved planning and a coordinated response, the reinstatement of public facilities has been completed faster than ever.

    “We know how important these spaces are to the community, so getting them back up and running quickly was a top priority,” said Councillor Karen Lucioni, who chairs the council’s environment and community protection committee. 

    “Seaclose Park is more than just a green space — it’s where people come to play, train, relax, and connect. After a major event like the Isle of Wight Festival, there’s always a bit of work to do, but this year we were determined to get everything back in shape as quickly as possible.

    “Thanks to some forward planning and a brilliant team effort, we’ve been able to reopen the courts and the path earlier than expected. It’s been lovely to already see people out enjoying them again — it really makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

    Whether you’re looking to get active, meet up with friends, or simply enjoy the outdoors, now is the perfect time to visit Seaclose Park.

    Grab your racket, lace up your trainers, or hop on your bike and explore everything the park has to offer.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Island pupils find their sporting stride thanks to the PEACH Games 15 July 2025 Island pupils find their sporting stride thanks to the PEACH Games

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The West Wight Sports Centre played host to the Island’s fifth annual PEACH Games on Friday 3 July. The event saw 320 primary school children and 80 sports leaders from secondary schools across the Island, take part.

    The games, organised by the Isle of Wight Public Health team in collaboration with the School Games Organisers, marks the continued success for the Partnership for Education, Attainment and Children’s Health (PEACH) programme.

    Pupils participated in a variety of activities and rotated through team-based and individual games to experience the benefits of sport. Each helps to improve personal skills, cardiovascular fitness as well as coordination and balance.

    Alongside the sporting activities, pupils learned about physical activity options, and first aid while boosting confidence and self-esteem, all within the athlete’s village. The Island Games is an international programme held every two years for Island teams across the world. The flags designed by the schools will be taken to Orkney with the Island Games athletes.

    Simon Bryant, Director of Public health for the Island commented ‘The PEACH Games are important to promote physical activity, positive wellbeing and healthy competition. This supports young people to lead healthy lives with plenty of exercise and a good, balanced diet.

    Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, Councillor Ian Dore said ‘‘The Games are really important as they build team spirit among the children, who spent the whole day cheering on their friends. There was so much positivity, inspiration and collaborative working, all pushing each other to cross the line. There’s nothing better than young people getting out and being fit and healthy, and the great weather on the day only amplified that.’’

    The feedback received from participating schools has been positive. The secondary school sports leaders worked tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly and provided inspiration and leadership to the primary aged participants.

    The PEACH programme supports schools in improving the health and wellbeing of their pupils, staff and families. It is an award-based framework offered to schools, focussing on the four health domains of Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, PSHE and Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

    As well as the annual PEACH Games event the Schools Games Organisers make a big impact in schools, offering a series of inclusive festivals designed to get children moving, regardless of ability or experience. These events are delivered as part of the key tasks of the School Games Vision and Mission. The School Games Organisers make a positive and meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people through sport and physical activity. This is achieved by putting physical activity and school sport at the heart of schools.

    Over the academic year, children and young people have taken part in nine PEACH events, trying their hand at everything from rugby and gymnastics to basketball and hockey.

    The programme aims to support year 3 and 4 pupils who are less engaged in physical activity, year 5 and 6 pupils who may require support in transition from primary to secondary school and years 9-13 students to provide leadership opportunities for secondary school sport leaders.

    A heartfelt thank you goes out to the local organisations who helped make the PEACH Games extra special:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRUMP: Swinney meeting with extremist President is out of step with Scotland’s values

    Source: Scottish Greens

    Later this month when convicted criminal Donald Trump visits Scotland he will meet with SNP First Minister John Swinney in a move described as “out of step with Scotland’s values” by the Scottish Greens.

    The US President was found guilty of 34 felonies in 2023 relating to falsified business records, after he paid $130,000 in hush money to cover up an affair with an American porn star. Trump also has dozens of sexual assault allegations against him dating back to the 1970’s. Since his return to power he has pursued a dangerous and increasingly far right agenda.

    The Scottish Greens have long called for an investigation into Donald Trump’s finances in Scotland through an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO).

    A UWO is a power held by the Scottish Government to investigate the finances of politically active individuals who have gained wealth through suspicious means. Given Donald Trump’s Menie Estate golf course, which he is set to visit this month, was cited in one of his felony charges, it’s now clearer than ever that a UWO must be used.

    Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie MSP said:

    “Donald Trump is a convicted criminal and political extremist, there can be no excuses for trying to cosy up to his increasingly fascist political agenda.

    “We’ve all watched in recent months as the US President has sent troops to threaten their own citizens on the streets of Los Angeles, kidnapped innocent people under the guise of mass deportations and now they are constructing a concentration camp in Florida.

    “This is a man who has a complete lack of respect for human rights and democracy in America, and whose climate denial threatens everyone around the world.

    “The SNPs decision to meet with this convicted felon is a tragic one, and is out of step with Scotland’s values. Appeasing political extremists like Trump won’t save us from his misinformation and toxic rhetoric. His Vice President has already attacked our parliament by lying to international media about a bill passed by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay.

    “If the Scottish Government won’t make it clear to Trump, then I’m sure the people of Scotland on the streets protesting his every move will make it loud and clear. Donald Trump is not welcome here.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Birmingham fraudster spent part of Covid loan funds at safari park, restaurants and paying off personal credit card debt

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Birmingham fraudster spent part of Covid loan funds at safari park, restaurants and paying off personal credit card debt

    Money from the loans was only supposed to be used for the economic benefit of the business

    • Fitness company owner Junaid Dar dishonestly obtained £45,500 in Covid Bounce Back Loans during 2020 

    • Dar used some of the funds for legitimate purposes, but he also used money for personal spending at retailers, restaurants and leisure attractions 

    • The 34-year-old was handed a suspended sentence following investigations by the Insolvency Service 

    A Birmingham fraudster who secured three Covid loans for his company when businesses were only entitled to one used some of the funds for personal spending at restaurants and a safari park. 

    Junaid Dar, 34, made fraudulent applications to three separate banks for Bounce Back Loans worth a combined total of £45,500 during 2020 for his JDARPT Ltd fitness company. 

    Dar, of Stratford Road, Birmingham, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday 10 July. 

    He was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity, 180 hours of unpaid work, and pay costs of £2,400. 

    David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Junaid Dar deliberately made false representations to fraudulently receive three Bounce Back Loans when businesses were only entitled to one.  

    Instead of using this money to support his fitness business through the pandemic as intended, he diverted significant sums for personal spending.  

    Bounce Back Loans were designed to provide quick and simple financial support to businesses genuinely affected by Covid. The Insolvency Service will not tolerate abuse of the public purse and will continue to pursue fraudsters who exploited schemes designed to help legitimate businesses during a national crisis.

    JDAPRT was incorporated in March 2017 with Dar as its sole director. The company’s trading activities were recorded as fitness facilities on Companies House. 

    Dar’s first fraudulent application was for a £13,000 Bounce Back Loan in May 2020.  

    In the application, Dar claimed JDAPRT’s turnover was £55,000. 

    Just two days later, Dar made a second application to a different bank for a Bounce Back Loan of £15,000.  

    In this application, Dar said his company’s turnover was now £60,000. 

    Dar’s third and final fraudulent application in September 2020 was for a Bounce Back Loan of £17,500.  

    This time, Dar falsely claimed his company’s turnover was £70,000. Insolvency Service analysis of the bank account revealed the company’s turnover was closer to £61,000. 

    Dar used some of the Bounce Back Loan funds for legitimate purposes. However, several transactions were recorded which Insolvency Service investigators found to be for personal use. 

    Payments were made to Amazon and Argos, along with spending at restaurants and meat stores. Further spending was identified at West Midlands Safari Park and making credit card payments. 

    JDARPT went into liquidation in July 2021. 

    Dar was also disqualified as a company director for 11 years from April 2022 for his misconduct at JDARPT. 

    Further information  

    About us 

    The Insolvency Service is a government agency that helps to deliver economic confidence by supporting those in financial distress, tackling financial wrongdoing and maximising returns to creditors. 

    The Insolvency Service is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade

    Read more about what we do 

    Press Office 

    Journalists with enquiries can call the Insolvency Service Press Office on 0303 003 1743 or email press.office@insolvency.gov.uk (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). 

    Out of hours 

    For any out of hours media enquiries, please contact the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) newsdesk on 020 7215 2000.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Over 500,000 spectators visited Teatralny Boulevard in 1.5 months

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    More than 500 thousand spectators visited the International Open Festival “Theater Boulevard – 2025” during the first half of the project.

    “The festival started with a full house, and even now empty seats at the venues remain a rarity. In total, more than 500 thousand spectators visited it during the first half of the project, and about 1.6 thousand hours of the program have already been held on the five main stages. Thanks to the festival, the theater season in Moscow actually lasts the entire year, without a break for the summer holidays, and an equally rich program awaits guests ahead: performances by foreign artists and high-profile productions on the festival stages,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture

    Alexey Fursin.

    The festival includes classical dramatic productions, musical performances, circus shows, and experimental formats such as the theatre of taste and plastic theatre. There are also special programmes dedicated to memorable dates – Russia Day, A.S. Pushkin’s birthday, the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, and Youth Day.

    This year, Theatre Boulevard is attended by groups from 40 regions of Russia, from the Kaliningrad Region to the Altai Territory, including the State Drama Theatre on Vasilievsky Island (St. Petersburg), the Perm Academic Theatre-Theatre (Perm), and the F. Volkov Drama Theatre (Yaroslavl).

    Andrey Merzlikin and Darya Moroz, Kristina Babushkina, Anton Shagin, Yulia Peresild, Konstantin Raikin, Igor Mirkurbanov, Alexandra Rebenok, Anna Chipovskaya performed their projects at the festival venues. The parade of stars will continue in the second half of the festival.

    Particular attention is paid to children’s and family events. Now they are held on the main stages of the festival. Thus, in July, the “Family Conversations” section was opened, where the stories of theatrical dynasties were presented in a unique format. Among the heroes are Konstantin and Polina Raikin, Yulia and Anna Peresild, Igor and Grigory Vernik.

    The second half of the festival will be more diverse. High-profile premieres, immersive productions and master classes by leading directors are planned, as well as performances by artists from Serbia, Uruguay, Argentina, Iran, China, Italy and other countries.

    The Theatre Boulevard Festival is organized by the capital’s Department of Culture as part of Sergei Sobyanin’s Summer in Moscow project. https://leto.mos.ru/ It will last a record 92 days. More than 600 performances will be shown at 14 venues across the city, and three thousand artists from Russia and other countries will perform. In addition to theatrical productions, each venue will host creative workshops, patriotic programs with favorite actors, and interactive zones, including for children.

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports programs are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Shopping and business complexes will appear near city railway stations in the Northern Administrative District

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    As part of the implementation of large-scale investment projects (MaIP), the city provided investors in the Northern Administrative District with land for the construction of retail, business and other commercial facilities. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “Implementation of large-scale commercial investment projects allows for the development of territories, organizing business activity centers and jobs. This helps create favorable conditions for business and improve the quality of life of Muscovites. Currently, 10 MAIPs are at various stages of implementation in the Northern Administrative District, for which more than 10 hectares of land have been allocated near the city’s railway stations. There will be shopping, public, business and multifunctional complexes with a total area of about 500 thousand square meters,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    A large-scale investment project is a special status that can be granted to various objects, the construction of which is aimed at the development of the capital. For their construction, city plots are provided for rent.

    “The construction of commercial real estate in the north of Moscow stimulates economic activity in the district. New shopping centers, cafes, restaurants and company offices will expand opportunities for leisure and employment for local residents. For example, a multifunctional complex consisting of two buildings will appear between the Polezhaevskaya and Khoroshevskaya metro stations. In addition to office space, it will include space for shops, restaurants and service enterprises. A land plot of almost 1.4 hectares has been allocated for the implementation of this large-scale investment project,” she noted.

    Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of City Property.

    Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin said that it is planned to implement it by 2030 37 projects on land plots located near 32 Moscow city railway stations and metro stations.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    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: Rosneft uses domestic special equipment to improve the efficiency of power transmission line maintenance

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Orenburgneft, Rosneft’s key production asset in the Volga region, has increased the reliability of power supply to oil production facilities by servicing 6 (10) kV power lines with truck-mounted hydraulic lifts on high-traffic chassis.

    The unique tracked model has high technical and off-road capabilities. In particular, the driver of the special vehicle can automatically level the working platform and control the equipment remotely from the control panel.

    The equipment also allows for the safe delivery and lifting of people and large loads (metal structures, construction equipment), and the performance of transport and technological operations in particularly difficult road and climatic conditions of marshy terrain, afloat and virgin snow.

    The use of hydraulic lifts increases the speed of response to technological shutdowns of network infrastructure during periods of adverse weather conditions by reducing the time it takes for special equipment to arrive at the site of damage, which ensures uninterrupted operation of oil-producing wells and reduces transportation costs.

    The Company’s enterprises regularly replenish their fleets of specialized equipment with new models from domestic developers. Domestic all-terrain vehicles also help the enterprise maintain reliable power supply at any time of year on any site. Last year, the fleet of Orenburgneft’s special equipment was replenished with ten such high-traffic vehicles.

    Reference:

    JSC Orenburgneft, a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, carries out production activities in the Orenburg, Samara and Saratov regions. The company’s fields are supplied with electricity by 51 35-110 kV substations with a total length of 6-110 kV networks – more than 4,000 km. From 2019 to 2024, as part of the implementation of the program to improve the reliability of power supply to oil production facilities, Orenburgneft commissioned seven 35-110 kV electrical substations, 170 km of overhead lines of 35-110 kV voltage class were built.

    Department of Information and AdvertisingPJSC NK RosneftJuly 15, 2025

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Russia Intangible Cultural Heritage Fair Held in Border City of Heihe

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — The China-Russia Intangible Cultural Heritage Fair was held in Heihe, Heilongjiang Province, from July 12 to 14, showcasing the rich folk arts of the two countries, according to the city’s Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism.

    On the Chinese side, the event was attended by heirs of 11 intangible cultural heritage sites of various levels, while the fair brought together 24 artists engaged in decorative and applied arts from 12 regions of the Russian Federation, including Moscow, Kamchatka Krai, Magadan Oblast, the Republic of Buryatia and Amur Oblast.

    At the exhibition within the framework of the fair, visitors saw paintings made of fish skin, various birch bark products, stone microminiatures, etc., the manufacturing technique of which is related to the intangible cultural heritage in China. Meanwhile, Russian artisans presented unique wooden dolls, wood and stone carvings, ceramic dishes, sculpture, etc.

    At the fair, Russian artists opened several master classes, during which visitors were able to try making traditional Yakut amulets, textile folk dolls, etc. with their own hands.

    In addition, the heirs of intangible cultural heritage and invited guests from both countries conducted an in-depth exchange of experiences and organized a dialogue on the topic of preserving, inheriting and innovative development of traditional handicrafts.

    The three-day event, which aimed to promote intangible cultural heritage exchanges between China and Russia, attracted thousands of local residents as well as domestic and foreign tourists, promoting the sale of arts and crafts, the department said in a statement. -0-

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 17 people survive after boat capsizes off Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands, another remains missing

    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

    JAKARTA, July 15 (Xinhua) — A rescue team in Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands said on Tuesday that 17 people were found alive after a speedboat capsized in the Sipora Strait in West Sumatra province on Monday.

    According to preliminary reports, the speedboat, which was carrying 18 passengers, including several children, departed from Sikakap Island at around 08:00 local time and capsized around 11:00 while en route to Sipora Island in difficult weather conditions.

    Eleven people were initially reported missing after the crash. As of Tuesday morning, 10 of them had been found safe.

    Rudy Ihu, head of the Mentawai Islands Search and Rescue Agency, told Xinhua that most of the survivors managed to swim to the shores of nearby islands.

    “Currents, waves and winds helped them reach the coast,” he said.

    He noted that, judging by preliminary data and the words of survivors, the capsizing was caused by extreme weather conditions, when large waves hit the boat.

    Rescuers continue searching for missing person. –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 Africa: Senegal joins growing list of countries that have eliminated trachoma

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Senegal as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Senegal becomes the ninth country in WHO’s African Region to have achieved this feat.

    “I commend Senegal for freeing its population from this disease”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone is yet another sign of the remarkable progress being made against neglected tropical diseases globally, and offers hope to other countries still working to eliminate trachoma.”

    Trachoma has been known in Senegal since the early 1900s and was confirmed as a major cause of blindness through surveys in the 1980s and 1990s. Senegal joined the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma in 1998, conducted its first national survey in 2000, and completed full disease mapping by 2017 with support from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project and Tropical Data. Trachoma control was consistently integrated into national eye health programmed, first under the National Program for Blindness Prevention (PNLC) and later through the National Program for the Promotion of Eye Health (PNPSO) – maintaining its commitment to trachoma elimination.

    “Today we celebrate our victory against trachoma, 21 years after the one against dracunculiasis” said Dr Ibrahima Sy, Senegal’s Minister of Health and Social Action. “This new milestone reminds us that our overarching goal remains a Senegal free from neglected tropical diseases. We are fully committed to this, and we are making good progress, notably against human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and onchocerciasis”.

    Senegal implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma with the support of partners, reaching 2.8 million people who needed them across 24 districts. These activities included provision of surgery to treat the late blinding stage of the disease, conducting antibiotic mass drug administration of azithromycin donated by Pfizer through the International Trachoma Initiative, carrying out public awareness campaigns to promote facial cleanliness, and improvement in access to water supply and sanitation.

    Trachoma is the second neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Senegal. In 2004, the country was certified free of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) transmission. Globally, Senegal joins 24 other countries that have been validated by WHO for having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. These are Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ghana, India, Iraq, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. These countries are part of a wider of group of 57 countries that have eliminated one or more neglected tropical diseases.

    WHO is supporting Senegal’s health authorities to closely monitor communities in which trachoma was previously endemic to ensure there is no resurgence of the disease.

    “Trachoma has cast a shadow over communities in Senegal for more than a century. This long-awaited validation is not only a milestone for public health but a powerful tribute to the tireless dedication of frontline health workers, communities, government leaders, and partners who never gave up,” said Dr Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative in Senegal. “Today, we close a chapter that began over a hundred years ago, united with pride, gratitude and resolve. WHO remains committed to supporting Senegal as the country continues to lead in sustaining this hard-earned achievement.”

    Disease prevalence

    Trachoma remains a public health problem in 32 countries, with an estimated 103 million people living in areas requiring interventions against the disease. Trachoma is found mainly in the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Middle East. WHO’s African Region is disproportionately affected by trachoma, with 93 million people living in at-risk areas in April 2024, representing 90% of the global trachoma burden.

    Significant progress has been made in the fight against trachoma over the past few years and the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment for trachoma in the African Region fell by 96 million from 189 million in 2014 to 93 million as of April 2024, representing a 51% reduction.

    There are currently 20 countries (Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) in WHO’s African Region that are known to require intervention for trachoma elimination. A further 3 countries in the Region (Botswana, Guinea-Bissau and Namibia) claim to have achieved the prevalence targets for elimination.

    – on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mauritius’ Economy Depends on Sustainable Public Finances

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The island of Mauritius was once the native habitat of the dodo—a striking, flightless bird that went extinct in the face of unsustainable hunting by sailors. Today, the dodo is a national symbol for the country, representing the importance of conservation and sustainability efforts.  

    Economies are also shaped by human action, including fiscal policy. Mauritius has a strong policy track record that has engendered a transition from an agricultural economy to a diversified upper-middle-income country. 

    However, Mauritius now faces challenges from high public debt, significant public investment needs, low productivity, and an ageing society. To address them, fiscal policy would need to be recalibrated to preserve today’s dodo: inclusive economic prosperity.

    Fiscal sustainability measures 

    The Mauritian authorities recently announced their 2025-26 budget, which prioritizes reforms to support sustainable fiscal policy. These reforms aim to increase tax revenue by over two percent of GDP in 2025-26, while reducing government spending by over one percent of GDP in the same period. Overall, the authorities expect to reduce government debt from 87 percent of GDP in 2024 to 75 percent in 2030.  

    Our recent annual economic health check of the island nation—our Article IV Staff Report and Selected Issues Papers—offers policy options to achieve sustainable fiscal policy in Mauritius, including (i) strengthening revenue mobilization, (ii) reforming the pension system, and (iii) increasing spending efficiency. The announced budget is in line with many of our proposed policy options. 

    Increasing fiscal revenue 

    Given that tax exemptions are high—they accounted for 4.6 percent of GDP in 2024-25—the new budget aims to discontinue selected exemptions from VAT and excise duties, such as those for construction, real estate, and electric vehicles. The budget also lowers tax payment thresholds and raises new taxes. The implementation and sequencing of these reforms would need to limit any potential adverse impact on economic growth, while also protecting the most vulnerable.  

    Reforming pensions 

    On the expenditure side, there is room to make pension spending more sustainable. Benefits paid to individuals through the Basic Retirement Pension program (BRP)—received by all Mauritians aged 60 and older—have more than doubled since 2019. On top of higher benefits, fiscal pressures are mounting from a relative increase in the number of pensioners. As society ages, Mauritius is expected to face a doubling in the old-age dependency ratio over the next thirty years, resulting in a fast-growing pension bill.  

    Maintaining the present system would imply significant intergenerational redistribution from younger to older generations, as the (relatively small) younger cohort would likely face higher taxes to finance pensions for the (larger) older one. An option to help contain the growing cost of the BRP is a gradual alignment of the eligibility age from 60 to the official retirement age of 65. Given demographic trends, the alignment in the BRP eligibility age would help make the pension system more sustainable, while containing intergenerational inequalities and protecting the most vulnerable. The announced budget is a step in this direction.

    Spending efficiently 

    There is also scope for streamlining broadly targeted and regressive fiscal transfers. Social subsidies in Mauritius, in many cases, reach relatively few poor individuals. For example, only 11 percent of beneficiaries of the social aid program are defined as poor. The announced budget proposes savings by gradually unwinding some broadly targeted subsidies. The resulting savings will help create fiscal space to finance targeted schemes for the most vulnerable, while making fiscal policy more sustainable.  

    Unlike the dodo, now extinct, Mauritius’ economy will continue to thrive so long as fiscal sustainability is secured.

    – on behalf of International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Huge turnout at Western Cape youth career expo

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Huge turnout at Western Cape youth career expo

    The 2025 Western Cape Youth in Action Career Expo has been hailed a tremendous success, drawing more than 11 500 attendees, which doubles the number from the 2024 turnout.

    Organised by the Western Cape Education Department in partnership with the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) marketing team, the event served as a valuable platform for young people to explore various career paths and connect with potential opportunities.

    The expo, which was hosted early this month, aimed to create an inclusive and empowering environment where learners from underserved schools and communities, as well as people with disabilities, could access information and opportunities. 

    Senior Curriculum Planner for Life Orientation, Dr Ismail Teladia, highlighted the event’s alignment with the subject’s world of work component, providing vital exposure to industry partners and tertiary institutions.

    Key stakeholders, including the City of Cape Town and Gift of the Givers,  provided transportation for learners from as far as Toews River.

    “Despite inclement weather, parents and learners showed remarkable enthusiasm, keeping exhibitors busy for two days. More than 171 institutions participated, offering education, training, bursaries, and employment opportunities,” the Western Cape Education department said in a statement. 

    Institutions from outside the province, including North West University, the University of Free State, Rhodes University, and Focus Air, an aviation school in Durban, showcased their programmes. 

    The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including the Founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaaz Sooliman, Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli, and Western Cape Agriculture MEC, Dr Ivan Meyer. 

    “They praised the expo’s impact and potential to empower young people. Dr Teladia thanked all participants, exhibitors, and stakeholders for their contributions to the event’s success.” 

    Teladia said the planning for next year’s expo has already begun, promising another opportunity for young people to connect with their future. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister welcomes 15 year sentences in R30m plant poaching case

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Minister welcomes 15 year sentences in R30m plant poaching case

    The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has commended the conviction and sentencing of four foreign nationals involved in a major plant poaching case, valued between R6 million and R30 million.

    The Calvinia Regional Court sentenced the accused to 15 years direct imprisonment for the illegal harvesting of 303 specimens of the critically endangered Clivia mirabilis, a rare species endemic to parts of the Northern and Western Cape.

    The plants, commonly known as the miracle bush lily or Oorlogskloof bush lily, are highly sought after in the illicit global plant trade.

    The convicts, Mark Daddy (43), Raphael Mhashu (25), Simbarashe Charanelura (33), and Elton Ngwanati (34), were arrested on 20 April 2024 after being found in possession of the endangered specimens.

    The accused were convicted and sentenced on 3 July 2025 on charges related to the illegal harvesting of protected plant species and breaches of South Africa’s immigration legislation.

    The Minister said the case reflects a broader trend of organised criminal syndicates expanding their focus beyond succulents to exploit a wider range of South Africa’s rare flora, driven by high international demand, particularly in Asian markets.

    He warned that these crimes threaten biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and push already vulnerable species closer to extinction.

    “This conviction is a critical milestone in our fight against environmental crime. It sends a clear message: those who profit from exploiting our natural heritage will face serious consequences.

    “The department will continue to strengthen enforcement, build international partnerships, and work closely with police and prosecutors to stop the illegal trade in wildlife and plants,” George said.

    The Minister also commended the South African Police Service (SAPS), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and all involved officials in the case, in particular investigating officer Constable Danver Matthys and Prosecutor Darryl Bromkamp, for their dedication and professionalism in securing the conviction.

    George confirmed that the department is actively investigating related cases of illegal plant poaching.

    He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity and support efforts to protect South Africa’s natural heritage for future generations. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    GabiK

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI: YieldMax® Introduces Option Income Strategy ETF on DraftKings, Inc. (DKNG)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax® announced the launch today of the following ETF:

    YieldMax® DKNG Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSE Arca: DRAY)

    DRAY seeks to generate current income by pursuing options-based strategies on DraftKings, Inc. (“DKNG”). DRAY is managed by Tidal Financial Group. DRAY does not invest directly in DKNG.

    DRAY is the newest member of the YieldMax® ETF family and like all YieldMax® ETFs, aims to deliver current income to investors. With respect to distributions, DRAY will be a Group C ETF, and its first distribution is expected to be announced on August 20, 2025.

    Please see the table below for distribution information for all outstanding YieldMax® ETFs.

    ETF Ticker1 ETF Name Distribution
    Frequency
    Distribution
    Rate
    2,4
    30-Day
    SEC Yield3
    ROC5
    CHPY YieldMax® Semiconductor Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly 33.04% 0.04% 100.0%
    GPTY YieldMax® AI & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly 32.65% 0.00% 100.0%
    LFGY YieldMax® Crypto Industry & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly 62.17% 0.00% 100.0%
    QDTY YieldMax® Nasdaq 100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF Weekly 22.37% 0.00% 100.0%
    RDTY YieldMax® R2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF Weekly 33.92% 1.65% 100.0%
    SDTY YieldMax® S&P 500 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF Weekly 16.11% 0.07% 100.0%
    ULTY YieldMax® Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF Weekly 79.49% 0.00% 100.0%
    YMAG YieldMax® Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs Weekly 42.80% 63.17% 90.5%
    YMAX YieldMax® Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs Weekly 50.44% 82.40% 95.4%
    BIGY YieldMax® Target 12® Big 50 Option Income ETF Monthly 11.35% 0.07% 99.28%
    RNTY YieldMax® Target 12® Real Estate Option Income ETF Monthly 12.07% 0.05% 53.01%
    SOXY YieldMax® Target 12® Semiconductor Option Income ETF Monthly 12.67% 2.16% 93.72%
    ABNY YieldMax® ABNB Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 35.21% 2.85% 92.90%
    AIYY YieldMax® AI Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 46.98% 3.46% 93.73%
    AMDY YieldMax® AMD Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 72.42% 2.82% 96.14%
    AMZY YieldMax® AMZN Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 47.42% 2.86% 94.61%
    APLY YieldMax® AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 27.20% 3.38% 87.98%
    BABO YieldMax® BABA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 38.87% 3.22% 91.85%
    BRKC YieldMax® BRK.B Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 35.53%
    CONY YieldMax® COIN Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 69.74% 2.93% 96.71%
    CRSH YieldMax® Short TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 62.69% 3.08% 91.57%
    CVNY YieldMax® CVNA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 50.69% 2.71% 96.68%
    DIPS YieldMax® Short NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 52.24% 3.59% 93.01%
    DISO YieldMax® DIS Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 38.51% 2.97% 93.52%
    FBY YieldMax® META Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 41.34% 2.87% 93.05%
    FEAT YieldMax® Dorsey Wright Featured 5 Income ETF Every 4 weeks 51.31% 52.99% 0.00%
    FIAT YieldMax® Short COIN Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 65.40% 4.73% 92.85%
    FIVY YieldMax® Dorsey Wright Hybrid 5 Income ETF Every 4 weeks 33.17% 35.26% 0.00%
    GDXY YieldMax® Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 73.19% 3.22% 95.87%
    GOOY YieldMax® GOOGL Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 33.00% 3.29% 0.00%
    HOOY YieldMax® HOOD Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 116.73% 1.43% 99.92%
    JPMO YieldMax® JPM Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 21.19% 2.70% 87.32%
    MARO YieldMax® MARA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 62.54% 3.09% 96.21%
    MRNY YieldMax® MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 92.24% 3.07% 97.17%
    MSFO YieldMax® MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 35.03% 2.97% 92.03%
    MSTY YieldMax® MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 71.21% 1.80% 96.86%
    NFLY YieldMax® NFLX Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 30.60% 2.80% 90.80%
    NVDY YieldMax® NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 50.52% 2.78% 95.30%
    OARK YieldMax® Innovation Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 50.31% 2.88% 95.16%
    PLTY YieldMax® PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 61.93% 2.99% 96.50%
    PYPY YieldMax® PYPL Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 34.10% 3.48% 92.95%
    SMCY YieldMax® SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 103.53% 3.09% 97.25%
    SNOY YieldMax® SNOW Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 37.92% 2.27% 62.42%
    TSLY YieldMax® TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 64.59% 2.76% 82.33%
    TSMY YieldMax® TSM Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 52.10% 2.87% 95.76%
    WNTR YieldMax® Short MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 79.34% 3.19% 96.58%
    XOMO YieldMax® XOM Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 37.52% 3.62% 92.57%
    XYZY YieldMax® XYZ Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 58.52% 2.57% 97.95%
    YBIT YieldMax® Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 45.25% 1.54% 87.99%
    YQQQ YieldMax® Short N100 Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 weeks 21.80% 3.41% 84.56%


    Standardized Performance & Fund details can be obtained by clicking the ETF Ticker in the table above or by visiting us at
    www.yieldmaxetfs.com

    Performance data quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above. Performance current to the most recent month-end can be obtained by calling (866) 864-3968.

    Note: DIPS, FIAT, CRSH, YQQQ and WNTR are hereinafter referred to as the “Short ETFs.”

    Distributions are not guaranteed. The Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield are not indicative of future distributions, if any, on the ETFs. In particular, future distributions on any ETF may differ significantly from its Distribution Rate or 30-Day SEC Yield. You are not guaranteed a distribution under the ETFs. Distributions for the ETFs (if any) are variable and may vary significantly from period to period and may be zero. Accordingly, the Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant.

    Investors in the Funds will not have rights to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the underlying reference asset(s).

    1. All YieldMax®ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG, FEAT, FIVY and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX and FEAT have a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.99% for a gross expense ratio of 1.28%. YMAG has a management fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.83% for a gross expense ratio of 1.12%. FIVY has a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.59% for a gross expense ratio of 0.88%. “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies, namely other YieldMax®ETFs. ULTY has a gross expense ratio of 1.40%, and a net expense ratio after the fee waiver of 1.30%. The Advisor has agreed to a fee waiver of 0.10% through at least February 28, 2026
    2. The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on July 14, 2025. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recent distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing an ETF’s Distribution per Share and dividing such annualized amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent its total return. Distributions may also include a combination of ordinary dividends, capital gain, and return of investor capital, which may decrease an ETF’s NAV and trading price over time. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.
    3. The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended June 30, 2025, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period.
    4. Each ETF’s strategy (except those of the Short ETFs) will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF. Each Short ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset decreases in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset increases in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.
    5. ROC refers to Return of Capital. The ROC percentage indicates how much the distribution reflects an investor’s initial investment. The figures shown for each Fund in the table above are estimates and may later be determined to be taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), or return of capital. Actual amounts and sources for tax reporting will depend upon the Fund’s investment activities during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Your broker will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year to tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

    Each Fund has a limited operating history and while each Fund’s objective is to provide current income, there is no guarantee the Fund will make a distribution. Distributions are likely to vary greatly in amount.

    Important Information

    This material must be preceded or accompanied by the prospectus. For all prospectuses, click here.

    Tidal Financial Group is the adviser for all YieldMax® ETFs.

    THE FUND, TRUST, AND ADVISER ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNDERLYING REFERENCE ASSET.

    Risk Disclosures

    YMAX, YMAG, FEAT and FIVY generally invest in other YieldMax® ETFs. As such, these funds are subject to the risks listed in this section, which apply to all the YieldMax® ETFs they may hold from time to time.

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Referenced Index Risk. The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Index (or the Index ETFs). This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of companies that comprised the Index or an ETF that tracks the Index, even though it does not.

    Indirect Investment Risk. The Index is not affiliated with the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser, or their respective affiliates and is not involved with this offering in any way. Investors in the Fund will not have the right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the companies that comprise the Index but will be subject to declines in the performance of the Index.

    Russell 2000 Index Risks. The Index, which consists of small-cap U.S. companies, is particularly susceptible to economic changes, as these firms often have less financial resilience than larger companies. Market volatility can disproportionately affect these smaller businesses, leading to significant price swings. Additionally, these companies are often more exposed to specific industry risks and have less diverse revenue streams. They can also be more vulnerable to changes in domestic regulatory or policy environments.

    Call Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s call writing strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in the positive price returns of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold call options and over longer periods.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other Index (or ETFs that track the Index’s performance)holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary Index (or ETFs that track the Index’s performance) securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next. Additionally, monthly distributions, if any, may consist of returns of capital, which would decrease the Fund’s NAV and trading price over time.

    High Index (or Index ETF) Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings. A high Index (or Index ETF) turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of call option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in increases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Call Period.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security (ARKK, TSLA, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META, GOOGL, NFLX, COIN, MSFT, DIS, XOM, JPM, AMD, PYPL, SQ, MRNA, AI, MSTR, Bitcoin ETP, GDX®, SNOW, ABNB, BABA, TSM, SMCI, PLTR, MARA, CVNA, HOOD, BRK.B, DKNG), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GPTY)

    Artificial Intelligence Risk. Issuers engaged in artificial intelligence typically have high research and capital expenditures and, as a result, their profitability can vary widely, if they are profitable at all. The space in which they are engaged is highly competitive and issuers’ products and services may become obsolete very quickly. These companies are heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by loss or impairment of those rights. The issuers are also subject to legal, regulatory and political changes that may have a large impact on their profitability. A failure in an issuer’s product or even questions about the safety of the product could be devastating to the issuer, especially if it is the marquee product of the issuer. It can be difficult to accurately capture what qualifies as an artificial intelligence company.

    Technology Sector Risk. The Fund will invest substantially in companies in the information technology sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability.

    Risk Disclosure (applicable only to MARO)

    Digital Assets Risk: The Fund does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than the Fund. Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to BABO and TSMY)

    Currency Risk: Indirect exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

    Depositary Receipts Risk: The securities underlying BABO and TSMY are American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Investment in ADRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

    Foreign Market and Trading Risk: The trading markets for many foreign securities are not as active as U.S. markets and may have less governmental regulation and oversight.

    Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in securities of U.S. issuers, such as risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability, as well as varying regulatory requirements applicable to investments in non-U.S. issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to different regulatory, accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GDXY)

    Risk of Investing in Foreign Securities. The Fund is exposed indirectly to the securities of foreign issuers selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities.

    Risk of Investing in Gold and Silver Mining Companies. The Fund is exposed indirectly to gold and silver mining companies selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies.

    The Fund invests in options contracts based on the value of the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX®), which subjects the Fund to some of the same risks as if it owned GDX®, as well as the risks associated with Canadian, Australian and Emerging Market Issuers, and Small-and Medium-Capitalization companies.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YBIT)

    YBIT does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than YBIT.

    Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in Bitcoin, through holdings in one or more Underlying ETPs, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing Bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends.

    Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. As of the date of this Prospectus, there is only a single eligible Underlying ETP, and it is an investment company subject to the 1940 Act.

    Bitcoin ETP Risk: The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Bitcoin ETP. This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Bitcoin ETP, even though it does not. Bitcoin ETPs are subject, but not limited, to significant risk and heightened volatility. An investor in a Bitcoin ETP may lose their entire investment. Bitcoin ETPs are not suitable for all investors. In addition, not all Bitcoin ETPs are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Those Bitcoin ETPs that are not registered under such statute are therefore not subject to the same regulations as exchange traded products that are so registered.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to the Short ETFs)

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Price Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the value of the underlying reference asset. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the underlying reference asset, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, the Fund is subject to the risk that the value of the underlying reference asset increases. If the value of the underlying reference asset increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses.

    Put Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s put writing (selling) strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in decreases in the value of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold put options and over longer periods.

    Purchased OTM Call Options Risk. The Fund’s strategy is subject to potential losses if the underlying reference asset increases in value, which may not be offset by the purchase of out-of-the-money (OTM) call options. The Fund purchases OTM calls to seek to manage (cap) the Fund’s potential losses from the Fund’s short exposure to the underlying reference asset if it appreciates significantly in value. However, the OTM call options will cap the Fund’s losses only to the extent that the value of the underlying reference asset increases to a level that is at or above the strike level of the purchased OTM call options. Any increase in the value of the underlying reference asset to a level that is below the strike level of the purchased OTM call options will result in a corresponding loss for the Fund. For example, if the OTM call options have a strike level that is approximately 100% above the then-current value of the underlying reference asset at the time of the call option purchase, and the value of the underlying reference asset increases by at least 100% during the term of the purchased OTM call options, the Fund will lose all its value. Since the Fund bears the costs of purchasing the OTM calls, such costs will decrease the Fund’s value and/or any income otherwise generated by the Fund’s investment strategy.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

    High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in decreases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Put Period.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, for any Fund that focuses on an individual security (e.g., TSLA, COIN, NVDA, MSTR), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to CHPY)

    Semiconductor Industry Risk. Semiconductor companies may face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, and such competition may have an adverse effect on their profit margins. Semiconductor companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. Semiconductor companies’ supply chain and operations are dependent on the availability of materials that meet exacting standards and the use of third parties to provide components and services.

    The products of semiconductor companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Capital equipment expenditures could be substantial, and equipment generally suffers from rapid obsolescence. Companies in the semiconductor industry are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights would adversely affect the profitability of these companies.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YQQQ)

    Index Overview. The Nasdaq 100 Index is a benchmark index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, based on market capitalization.

    Index Level Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the Index level. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the Index, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the Index level, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Index level increases. If the Index level increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks: innovation and technological advancement; strong market presence of Index constituent companies; adaptability to global market trends; and resilience and recovery potential.

    Index Level Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will benefit from decreases in the Index level experienced over the Put Period. This means that if the Index level experiences a decrease in value below the strike level of the sold put options during a Put Period, the Fund will likely not experience that increase to the same extent and any Fund gains may significantly differ from the level of the Index losses over the Put Period. Additionally, because the Fund is limited in the degree to which it will participate in decreases in value experienced by the Index level over each Put Period, but has significant negative exposure to any increases in value experienced by the Index level over the Put Period, the NAV of the Fund may decrease over any given period. The Fund’s NAV is dependent on the value of each options portfolio, which is based principally upon the inverse of the performance of the Index level. The Fund’s ability to benefit from the Index level decreases will depend on prevailing market conditions, especially market volatility, at the time the Fund enters into the sold put option contracts and will vary from Put Period to Put Period. The value of the options contracts is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of component companies that comprise the Index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the Index and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. As the Index level changes and time moves towards the expiration of each Put Period, the value of the options contracts, and therefore the Fund’s NAV, will change. However, it is not expected for the Fund’s NAV to directly inversely correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns of the Index level. The amount of time remaining until the options contract’s expiration date affects the impact that the value of the options contracts has on the Fund’s NAV, which may not be in full effect until the expiration date of the Fund’s options contracts. Therefore, while changes in the Index level will result in changes to the Fund’s NAV, the Fund generally anticipates that the rate of change in the Fund’s NAV will be different than the inverse of the changes experienced by the Index level.

    YieldMax® ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not affiliated with Tidal Financial Group, or YieldMax® ETFs.

    © 2025 YieldMax® ETFs

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: House passes cryptocurrency bill, Bitcoin price surges, BTC cloud mining service launched

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Starting July 14, the US House of Representatives will launch “Crypto Week,” debating three industry-friendly bills poised to establish the clear regulatory framework the crypto sector has long awaited.

    Expectations for further positive news have driven the rise of Bitcoin. Bitcoin has risen 29% and hit a record high of $122,055 on Monday. The surge triggered a general rise in other cryptocurrencies, with Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, reaching a five-month high of $3,048.2 on Monday.

    In this cryptocurrency market boom, LET Mining launched a high-yield cloud mining service. As the price of the currency rises, the daily income of cloud computing power contract users will increase simultaneously, allowing users to achieve stable returns and asset appreciation through cloud computing power contracts.

    LET Mining Cloud Mining Service: A BTC income channel that everyone can participate in
    ●Zero technical threshold
    Users do not need to buy mining machines or maintain equipment, and can participate in mining by purchasing computing power remotely.

    ●Daily income, flexible withdrawal
    The platform settles mining income to the user’s account every day, which can be freely withdrawn or reinvested.

    ●Energy-saving green mining
    The mine is deployed in areas rich in hydropower resources, taking into account both efficiency and environmental protection.

    ●Multiple contracts available
    Provide short-term, high-yield and long-term stable mining plans to suit different user preferences.

    How to quickly use BTC to start cloud computing service with one click

    1. Register an account
    Visit the LET Mining official website: https://letmining.com/, quickly register an account, and register new users to get a $12 registration reward.

    2. Top up BTC
    Select “BTC Top up” in the account, the system will generate an BTC wallet address, copy the address and transfer it from the exchange or personal wallet. 

    3. Choose a contract plan
    The platform provides a variety of cloud mining contracts, including short-term stable, long-term compound interest and high-yield types, which can be freely selected.

    ●Experience Contract: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, expiration income: $100 + $8

    ●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $6, expiration income: $500 + $30

    ●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $1,800, contract period: 12 days, daily income of $23.76, expiration income: $1,800 + $285.12

    ●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $5,000, contract period: 29 days, daily income of $76.5, expiration income: $5,000 + $2,218.5

    ●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 43 days, daily income of $174, expiration income: $10,000 + $7,482

    (Click here to view more high-yield contract details)

    4. Start earning income
    After the contract is activated, the system will distribute mining income in proportion every day, and can be withdrawn to the BTC wallet address at any time, truly realizing “holding coins to make money” and easily enjoying digital passive income.

    With favorable policies, soaring coin prices and upgraded mining technology, Bitcoin ushers in a new cycle

    US legislation promotes the legalization of cryptocurrencies, and Bitcoin prices hit a record high. LET Mining cloud mining services, as a new way of participation, have also risen, providing users with fast and secure computing power access channels, allowing more people to share the dividends of the encryption era.

    It marks the entry of the encryption industry into a new cycle of “compliant growth + technological innovation”. For investors, LET Mining is the entrance to participate in the global currency strategy.

    Join the LET Mining cloud mining plan now and let Bitcoin bring you real benefits every day.

    Official website: https://letmining.com/
    Contact email: info@letmining.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Hyperscale Data Subsidiary askROI Surpasses 590,000 App Downloads on Apple App Store and Google Play

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company (“Hyperscale Data,” or the “Company”), today announced that the app of its wholly owned indirect subsidiary askROI, Inc. (“askROI”), has surpassed 590,000 cumulative app downloads between the Apple App Store and Google Play.

    “We believe that surpassing a half million downloads is a validation of the askROI platform and the demand for accessible, artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools,” stated Milton “Todd” Ault III, Founder and Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. “We are proud of the momentum and excited to continue expanding askROI’s capabilities to serve more users across multiple industries.”

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

    About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

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

    Hyperscale Data currently expects to divest itself of ACG (the “Divestiture”) on or about December 31, 2025, though there can be no assurance that the Divestiture will be completed during 2025. Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would solely be an owner and operator of data centers to support high-performance computing services, though it may at that time continue to operate in the digital asset space as described in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data’s headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

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

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

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

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

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: CECO Environmental to Release Second Quarter Earnings and Host Conference Call on July 29

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ADDISON, Texas, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CECO Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq: CECO), a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company whose solutions protect people, the environment and industrial equipment, today announced that it will report its second quarter of 2025 financial results on July 29, 2025, premarket. The Company will also host its earnings call starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. CT). The Company’s financial results and presentation will be posted on its website at www.cecoenviro.com.

    The details for the webcast are:

    When: Tuesday, July 29 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time

    Where: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ox29vy4b

    How: Live over the internet – Simply log on to the web at the address above

    Register to receive the dial-in info and a unique pin:
    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI97d5b1d01e0d42ad9f05df63ff2dda73

    A replay to the conference call will be available on the Company’s website shortly after the live webcast has concluded.

    ABOUT CECO ENVIRONMENTAL
    CECO Environmental is a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company, serving a broad landscape of industrial air, industrial water, and energy transition markets globally through its key business segments: Engineered Systems and Industrial Process Solutions. Providing innovative technology and application expertise, CECO helps companies grow their business with safe, clean, and more efficient solutions that help protect people, the environment and industrial equipment. In regions around the world, CECO works to improve air quality, optimize the energy value chain, and provide custom solutions for applications in power generation, petrochemical processing, refining, midstream gas transport and treatment, electric vehicle and battery production, metals and mineral processing, polysilicon production, battery recycling, beverage can production, and produced and oily water/wastewater treatment along with a wide range of other industrial applications. CECO is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “CECO.” Incorporated in 1966, CECO’s global headquarters is in Addison, Texas. For more information, please visit www.cecoenviro.com.

    Company Contact:
    Peter Johansson
    Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
    888-990-6670
            
    Investor Relations Contact:
    Steven Hooser and Jean Marie Young
    Three Part Advisors
    214-872-2710
    Investor.Relations@OneCECO.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Completed fish pass in Suffolk’s chalk stream help fish to thrive

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Completed fish pass in Suffolk’s chalk stream help fish to thrive

    A new £1.2 million fish pass on the River Lark in Mildenhall improves migration for trout, eels, and course fish.

    The new £1.2 million fish pass on the River Lark in Mildenhall that improves migration for trout, eels, and coarse fish.

    Thousands of fish will benefit from improved access to vital habitats following the installation of a new fish pass on a precious chalk stream.  

    The natural limestone fish passage at Turf Lock on the River Lark has replaced 2 weirs that were preventing wild brown trout, eels and coarse fish from migrating upstream.  

    Built as a rock ramp-style fish pass using natural materials, boulders were carefully placed to disrupt the flow. The new design allows fish to swim between boulders, as they move upstream, which provide shelter and creates better conditions for migration across varying water levels and flows.

    Lou Mayer, environment programme manager for the Environment Agency in Suffolk, said:

    It’s fantastic to see work completed on this important project and witness fish swimming up into Mildenhall for the first time in centuries. Chalk streams are a valuable natural resource that the Environment Agency and its partners are working hard to restore and protect. 

    Over time, there has been a gradual decline in both biodiversity and the overall health of the River Lark’s ecosystem. This project and other planned initiatives will help this river continue to recover and become more resilient to future challenges of climate change.

    Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for environment, communities and equality, said:

    Protecting and enhancing Suffolk’s environment is one the county council’s core ambitions, and the fish pass project is a great example of what can be achieved. 

    The Brecks is such a nationally unique area, and thanks to the hard work and care of all the partners involved, it is wonderful to know that fish are now accessing parts of the river for the first time in generations.

    This initiative forms part of the government’s Plan for Change commitment to restore nature and improve water quality across the country.

    The project is being delivered through the Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and hosted by Suffolk County Council in collaboration with local authorities, the Environment Agency, Anglian Water, Natural England and other partners.

    The Environment Agency invites residents to come and learn about the fish pass and the wider effort to restore the health of the River Lark. Friday July 18, 5pm – 7pm at the Mildenhall Cricket Club, Mildenhall IP28 7JU. No need to book.

    Background: 

    The Environment Agency is funding this project from the Water Environment Improvement Fund, which has been used to unlock £3million of National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers Landscape Partnership scheme, delivering heritage conservation projects on the Breck’s fenland fringe, key freshwater habitats and primary river corridors.   

    The River Lark’s catchment partnership objective is to make improvements to habitat and ecological status of the river. Find out more here:  The River Lark Catchment Partnership 

    The River Lark has been identified as a flagship river for The Chalk Stream Restoration Project nominated as a Flagship catchment by Anglian Water and supported by the River Lark Catchment Partnership.  

    Gov.uk blog about eel migration: Ancient mystery of European eel migration unravelled to help combat decline of critically-endangered species – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

    Anyone aged 13 or over needs a licence to fish for salmon, trout, eels or freshwater species, with the price as little as £6.60 for a day. Through buying a licence, anglers help protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries: https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/buy-a-fishing-licence.

    Contact us:

    Journalists only – 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Incoming CEO of the National Wealth Fund

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New Incoming CEO of the National Wealth Fund

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer has today announced the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Wealth Fund.

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer has today announced the appointment of Oliver Holbourn as the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Wealth Fund, to lead it through its next chapter.

    Oliver brings more than 25 years of experience across banking, strategy, and public financial investments including CEO roles at RBS International and, formerly, UK Financial Investments.

    The National Wealth Fund is the government’s principal investor and policy bank. It is at the forefront of investing public money and mobilising private capital to help deliver on the government’s growth and clean energy missions.

    Since its launch in October 2024, the National Wealth Fund has committed £2.5 billion, supporting 10,700 jobs. It also has expanded firepower, with £5.8 billion of additional capital to deploy. The NWF’s economic capital limit has been increased allowing it to take on greater risk, providing greater flexibility over its investments to support more projects to access private finance.

    The Chancellor recently set this government’s Strategic Priorities for the National Wealth Fund over this Parliament. Under Oliver Holbourn’s leadership, the National Wealth Fund will enter a new phase of delivering these priorities: significantly increasing the amount of capital it deploys; expanding into new sectors; and trialling Strategic Partnerships with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to develop richer pipelines for regional investment.

    This appointment followed a fair and open recruitment process, and he is expected to take up his post on 1 November.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    I would like to congratulate Oliver on his appointment as CEO of the National Wealth Fund.

    Oliver brings a wealth of private sector expertise and public service experience to this critical role. His expertise will be instrumental in delivering the government’s growth and clean energy missions.

    I would like to thank John Flint for his leadership in successfully transforming the UK Infrastructure Bank into the National Wealth Fund and for laying a strong foundation for its future growth.

    Incoming CEO of the National Wealth Fund, Oliver Holbourn said:

    The National Wealth Fund has an important role to play in the economic success of the UK; so I am deeply honoured to be taking the reins as Chief Executive at such a pivotal time.

    I am excited to get to work – using the NWF’s expertise and resources to partner with businesses, investors, mayoral combined and local authorities, and ministers and stakeholders to mobilise private investment alongside public sector finance. This will help drive sustainable economic growth across the UK and support the clean energy transition.

    Chair of the National Wealth Fund, Chris Grigg said:

    Oliver is the ideal person to lead the Fund into our next phase. He is passionately committed to our mission, brings a rare combination of senior leadership across both the public and private sectors, and has a background in banking, which is at the heart of what we do. 

    I look forward to working with Oliver to realise the full potential of our expanded mandate, delivering the Government’s ambitions for growth and clean energy, underpinned by the new Industrial Strategy.

    Biography

    Oliver Holbourn was until very recently the CEO of RBS International Holdings, a subsidiary of the NatWest Group, where he was on the Group Executive Committee for over four years.

    With over 25 years of experience across investment banking, government investments, and strategic leadership. Oliver brings deep expertise in managing capital to deliver public value having previously served as Chief Executive Officer of UK Financial Investments (UKFI), where he was responsible for managing the government’s shareholdings in RBS, Lloyds and UK Asset Resolution, overseeing complex, high-value shareholdings on behalf of the UK taxpayer.

    Earlier in his career, Oliver spent over a decade at Bank of America, latterly as Managing Director of Equity Capital Markets for the UK, Ireland, and South Africa. His career has been defined by a strong track record in financial leadership, capital markets, and public sector engagement.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom