NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – Day of Prayer for peace in Korea: “Everyone must strive for reconciliation and unity”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Archdiocese of Seoul

    Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – The plea for “authentic peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula” is at the heart of the initiative of the Korean Catholic Church, which annually celebrates June 25, the anniversary of the Korean War, as a “Day of Prayer for National Reconciliation and Unity.” At Myeongdong Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul, Msgr. Chung Soon-Taick, Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, and President of the “Committee for reconciliation” in the Archdiocese, presided over a Mass attended by over a thousand priests, consecrated persons, and faithful, who prayed together for peace on the Korean peninsula.In his homily, the Archbishop recalled that “this year marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and 80 years since the division of the country. North and South have lived in a state of division, nurturing hatred and hostility in a context of constant tension and confrontation.” He added: “North and South Korea have previously lived as one country, one nation, and one culture for centuries. To overcome conflict and division, we must first reach out, as Jesus told us: ‘Give them something to eat.’” Archbishop Chung also emphasized in this context that “a small but significant change has begun in inter-Korean relations.” He pointed out that “as soon as our government stopped broadcasting messages to North Korea over loudspeakers, North Korea immediately stopped broadcasting its messages over loudspeakers,” which he considers a reduction in tensions. “Peace on the Korean Peninsula and a new relationship between the two Koreas begins with the renunciation of hostility and hatred. Let us pray that each of us can be the one to bring about small changes.”Following the Mass, a symposium commemorating the 30th anniversary of the founding of the “Committee for Reconciliation in Korea” in the Archdiocese of Seoul was held at the Spirituality Center of Myeongdong Cathedral. Archbishop Chung Soon-Taick recalled the committee’s objectives and working methods: “The committee, established on March 1, 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, is intended to be the Church’s executive arm for national reconciliation and unity on the Korean peninsula and is committed to working on the basis of three main pillars: prayer, sharing and formation. “Since the first Mass for Reconciliation and Unity in Korea, celebrated on March 7, 1995, the Mass for Reconciliation has been celebrated every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. The foundation of every pastoral activity of the committee is prayer,” the Archbishop added. He recalled Pope Francis’s call in the ncyclical “Fratelli Tutti” to be “peacemakers” and the appeal of Pope Leo XIV, who “calls for peace and denounces all violence and horror in the world.” “Every single member of our Church,” the Archbishop hoped, “must remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in North Korea and feel part of the efforts toward reconciliation and unity by reinventing the sense of solidarity based on fraternity.” He concluded with the hope that “our Church will take the initiative to overcome hostilities and promote mutual respect and understanding.” The committee’s vice-chairman, Fr. Chung Soo-yong, said: “Over the past 30 years, we have taken two steps forward and one step back: With the Gospel in mind, we must therefore find the strength to overcome divisions and conflicts and work for peace on the Korean Peninsula.” He added: “In the international context, given the armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, and between Israel and Iran, it is fundamental that the Korean Peninsula, which has been divided for more than half a century, lays the foundations for peace.” Father Chung concluded with an appeal to the new generations: “Young people must now take the initiative, with discussions and activities on the practice of peace, also with regard to World Youth Day 2027.” In this spirit, the Archdiocese of Seoul organizes an annual youth pilgrimage to the demilitarized zone on the border between the two Koreas, entitled “The Wind of Peace.” Launched in 2012, the initiative, aimed at young people around the world, will take place next month as part of the Jubilee Year. Participants will walk along the border, also dedicating themselves to meditation and prayer. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 25/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/IRAQ – Patriarch Sako on the so-called “12-Day War”: “Regime change strategies can only worsen the situation”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Gianni ValenteBaghdad (Agenzia Fides) – The so-called “12-Day War” has also caused concern and fear in Iraq. This was confirmed by the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, in a brief interview with Fides. The Iraqi Cardinal sees recent events as a further sign of the crisis in the international order. Faced with the scenario of an “endless war” and the bombings justified as instruments to bring about regime change, the Cardinal recalls the Iraqi experience, emphasizing that “regime change is a matter for the citizens of the country” and that such “regime change” strategies “can only worsen the situation.”Bombs from Israel and the US on Iran, Iranian missiles against Israel and US military bases. Patriarch Sako, how do you view the events in neighboring countries or on the border with Iraq, and how are the Iraqi people experiencing all this?CARDINAL SAKO: What has happened is sad. We have all experienced difficult moments of worry and fear. The world has lost its international order. Now we must regain common sense and reject the discourse of hatred, violence, and war. It is a pity if we destroy life and what has been built. Peace is a gift; we must welcome it and preserve it with enthusiasm, making the defense of peace an authentic life commitment.In recent days, the bombing on Iran has been portrayed as an operation designed to weaken Iranian power and lead to the country’s collapse. What do you think of such hypothetical strategies, also in light of the experiences in Iraq?CARDINAL SAKO: The sovereignty of countries must be respected, and problems should be resolved through sincere and courageous dialogue. Regime change is a matter for the citizens of a country. Imposing another regime would only worsen the situation. Change must come from within, if the citizens deem it necessary. Twenty-two years after the fall of the regime in Iraq, there is still no true citizenship, no law, no security, and no stability. Corruption and sectarianism persist.What can Christians in Iraq place their hope in at this time and in the face of these scenarios?CARDINAL SAKO: Christians, like all Iraqis, have suffered greatly because of ISIS. Such suffering leads to exodus and emigration. To this day, we are marginalized, our villages are occupied by militias, and the parliamentary seats reserved for Christians are being usurped… For all these reasons, a better future for Christians seems elusive. But despite what we have suffered, we feel we have a vocation in this land, with our faith. Therefore, we can remain confident and look toward a better future. (Agenzia Fides, 25/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Join the Future Combat Air System programme at Dstl

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Join the Future Combat Air System programme at Dstl

    Play a pivotal role in safeguarding the UK’s future and shape the next generation of combat air technology, by joining the FCAS programme.

    The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) encompasses a series of highly integrated and aligned programmes and military capabilities.

    This system will have a crewed aircraft at its heart. It will network and collaborate with a range of wider air and broader domain capabilities, including F-35, and use information systems, weapons and uncrewed collaborative combat air platforms to complete the capability.

    Be part of a joint international programme

    The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a trilateral acquisition programme launched with Japan and Italy to develop the core platform (aircraft) which will be at the heart of the UK’s and our partners’ future Combat Air systems. This joint international programme is a jointly funded and delivered international programme to develop and deliver a new fighter aircraft.

    To put this challenge into context, when the current UK constructed fast jet, the Eurofighter (a fourth generation type) was being designed in the 1980s, the European car of the year was the Ford Escort. Our other current fast jet, the US-Built F-35 Lightning II (a fifth generation type) was designed in the 1990s, when the Fordo Mondeo was car of the year. The F-35 though has been described as a ‘Flying Software Testbed’ with significant PE and approximately 8 million lines of code.

    What’s at the core of FCAS and GCAP

    Programmable Elements (PE), especially software, are at the heart of FCAS and GCAP. The ability to perform frequent, sometimes rapid, software updates is also a critical part of achieving and sustaining operational effectiveness.

    What the MOD PE team do

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) PE team has wide ranging responsibility, covering:

    • artificial intelligence (AI) and data
    • applications
    • operating systems
    • virtualisation
    • complex electronic hardware

    Working with industry and international partner governments, they also strive to create and promote the environment in which quality PE are effectively delivered at pace.

    Be part of building the sixth generation fast jet

    GCAP will be a sixth generation fast jet, which will build on fifth generation properties, such as, low observability and systems integration, adding autonomy, but the key will be fast adaptability. And the only way to achieve this is through its PE quality to do so.

    If you are interested in a challenging opportunity to use your PE skills to benefit one of the MOD’s highest priority acquisition programs and help get the UK’s next manned and unmanned fast jets flying safely and securely, we want to hear from you.

    As part of the FCAS team, you’ll contribute to one of the most complex and fast-paced acquisition defence programmes to date. With the groundbreaking GCAP collaboration between the UK, Japan, and Italy, this initiative is set to deliver the state-of-the-art fighter jet, Tempest, by 2035.

    This is an unparalleled opportunity to be part of a programme that is revolutionizing the UK’s combat air industry, supporting national security and economic growth. You’ll work at the cutting edge of technology, surrounded by a passionate team committed to excellence.

    Apply to work for the (FCAS) programme

    We will keep this page updated and add links when roles are available to apply for.

    Sensing, Communications and Non-Kinetic Effects

    1 x Positioning & Timing Scientists & Engineers, L6

    Software

    1 x Deputy Chief Technologist, L7

    1 x Complex Electronic Hardware Lead, L7

    1 x Software Delivery Pipelines Lead, L6

    1 x Complex Electronic Hardware (CEH) Specialist L6

    2 x Software Engineers, L5

    Mission Systems (inc. Cockpit)

    1 x Aircrews Systems Engineer, L6

    Benefits of working at Dstl

    As well as a rewarding career in defence science and technology, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) offers a wide range of benefits and training opportunities in a supportive, encouraging and flexible environment.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A ‘Blueprint for Mass Cybercrime’

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A sweeping and deeply concerning leak of internet user credentials is making headlines around the globe, with cybersecurity analysts confirming that more than 16 billion usernames and passwords have been compromised in what’s being called the largest credential compilation ever discovered online.

    Although many of us have been desensitized to data breaches, this appears to be a much more sophisticated concentration of effort and information.

    This sprawling dataset has reportedly been compiled from more than 30 major data breaches and malware operations, includes logins to Apple, Facebook, Google, Telegram, GitHub, government portals, and countless other platforms.

    Stephen Fitzgerald (contributed photo)

    Unlike outdated credential dumps often circulated on the dark web, this breach appears to be fresh, well-organized, and primed for exploitation. Different from a singular, high-profile breach, this leak is a curated amalgamation of stolen credentials gathered through various types of infostealer malware—malicious programs that quietly harvest passwords, cookies, tokens, and session data from infected devices.

    The scale is staggering. Some of the individual datasets within the leak contain over 3.5 billion records; others range in the tens or hundreds of millions. While some overlap is expected, the sheer volume represents an expansive threat surface for both individuals and institutions.

    Cybersecurity researchers warn that this is not just another recycled breach. It is a “blueprint for mass cybercrime” as threat actors can use the stolen credentials to launch phishing attacks, hijack accounts, or impersonate users across platforms.  Many sophisticated campaigns require many different data points and accounts to be successful, and the discovery of a trove of information of this magnitude opens up possibilities previously thought unrealistic.

    Why It Matters

    It’s not just old data: Many of the credentials appear recently stolen and remain usable—posing an immediate threat.

    It spans nearly every major platform: Apple, Facebook, Google, Telegram, developer tools, and even government systems are implicated. If you’ve reused a password in the past few years, you could be at risk.

    A Need for Vigilance

    This incident underscores the evolving nature of cyber threats. Even without a direct breach of one’s account, malware can silently compromise login data and sell or release it in bulk. It is uncommon to know that an account’s information has been compromised before a breach happens; this should be considered a rare but welcome early warning for us all.

    Institutions rely on the diligence of the entire community to build a strong culture of security. Whether you’re a student accessing HuskyCT, a faculty member conducting research, or a staff member handling sensitive administrative information, credential protection is a shared responsibility.

    As students in the Analytics and Information Management (AIM) major in the UConn School of Business know, IT security is a multidimensional field that relies on people, processes, and technology.  To help satisfy student curiosity in the growing field of cybersecurity, our curricula include an IT Security concentration for majors and an Information Assurance minor for those outside of the major. For those interested in brushing up on their personal security, you can find suggestions below.

    What You Can Do Right Now

    Everyone should take proactive steps to safeguard their information. Here’s what you can do immediately:

    • Reset passwords—especially for anything sensitive such as email, banking, and privileged accounts.
    • Create long, unique passwords—aim for at least 16 characters using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Use a phrase instead of a word to help you remember it!
    • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every account that supports it.
    • Consider using passkeys or a trusted password manager to generate and store complex credentials securely.
    • Check if your credentials were exposed using free services like https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords or Google’s Password Checkup.
      1. Note: haveibeenpwned is a trusted source in the security community, but if you are skeptical then you are exercising appropriate scrutiny!
    • Stay alert—watch for unfamiliar login attempts, password reset emails you didn’t request, or strange behavior on your accounts.

    People are (and likely always will be) the weakest link in security, but this is an opportunity for us all to prevent a future data breach, solidify our own security, and to collectively strengthen our community against malicious actors.

    Stephen Fitzgerald is the Academic Director of the Analytics and Information Management (AIM) Program at the School of Business. He previously worked as a learning and development consultant at Evisions and as a risk assurance professional at PwC.

    The AIM program (formerly MIS) is part of the Operations and Information Management Department at the School of Business. This fast-growing major preparing students with managing information and technology to drive business performance. The AIM program’s Information Security course is part of the foundation of the program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    French President Emmanuel Macron has sent a formal invitation to “all New Caledonia stakeholders” for talks in Paris on the French Pacific territory’s political and economic future to be held on July 2.

    The confirmation came on Thursday in the form of a letter sent individually to an undisclosed list of recipients and June 24.

    The talks follow a series of roundtables fostered earlier this year by French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls.

    But the latest talks, held in New Caledonia under a so-called “conclave” format, stalled on  May 8.

    This was mainly because several main components of the pro-France (anti-independence) parties said the draft agreement proposed by Valls was tantamount to a form of independence, which they reject.

    The project implied that New Caledonia’s future political status vis-à-vis France could be an associated independence “within France” with a transfer of key powers (justice, defence, law and order, foreign affairs, currency ), a dual New Caledonia-France citizenship and an international standing.

    Instead, the pro-France Rassemblement-LR and Loyalistes suggested another project of “internal federalism” which would give more powers (including on tax matters) to each of the three provinces, a notion often criticised as a de facto partition of New Caledonia.

    Local elections issue
    In May 2024, on the sensitive issue of eligibility at local elections, deadly riots broke out in New Caledonia, resulting in 14 deaths and more than 2 billion euros (NZ$3.8 billion) in damage.

    In his letter, Macron writes that although Valls “managed to restore dialogue…this did not allow reaching an agreement on (New Caledonia’s) institutional future”.

    “This is why I decided to host, under my presidency, a summit dedicated to New Caledonia and associating the whole of the territory’s stakeholders”.

    Macron also wrote that “beyond institutional topics, I wish that our exchanges can also touch on (New Caledonia’s) economic and societal issues”.

    Macron made earlier announcements, including on 10 June 2025, on the margins of the recent UNOC Oceans Summit in Nice (France), when he dedicated a significant part of his speech to Pacific leaders attending a “Pacific-France” summit to the situation in New Caledonia.

    “Our exchanges will last as long as it takes so that the heavy topics . . . can be dealt with with all the seriousness they deserve”.

    Macron also points out that after New Caledonia’s “crisis” broke out on 13 May 2024, “the tension was too high to allow for a dialogue between all the components of New Caledonia’s society”.

    Letter sent by French President Emmanuel Macron to New Caledonia’s stakeholders for Paris talks on 2 July 2025. Image: RNZ Pacific

    A new deal?
    The main political objective of the talks remains to find a comprehensive agreement between all local political stakeholders, in order to arrive at a new agreement that would define the French Pacific territory’s political future and status.

    This would then allow to replace the 27-year-old Nouméa Accord, signed in 1998.

    That pact put a heavy focus on the notions of “living together” and “common destiny” for New Caledonia’s indigenous Kanaks and all of the other components of its ethnically and culturally diverse society.

    It also envisaged an economic “rebalancing” between the Northern and Islands provinces and the more affluent Southern province, where the capital Nouméa is located.

    The Nouméa Accord also contained provisions to hold three referendums on self-determination.

    The three polls took place in 2018, 2020 and 2021, all of those resulting in a majority of people rejecting independence.

    But the last referendum, in December 2021, was largely boycotted by the pro-independence movement.

    ‘Examine the situation’
    According to the Nouméa Accord, after the referendums, political stakeholders were to “examine the situation thus created”, Macron recalled.

    But despite several attempts, including under previous governments, to promote political talks, the situation has remained deadlocked and increasingly polarised between the pro-independence and the pro-France camps.

    A few days after the May 2024 riots, Macron made a trip to New Caledonia, calling for the situation to be appeased so that talks could resume.

    In his June 10 speech to Pacific leaders, Macron also mentioned a “new project” and in relation to the past referendums process, pledged “not to make the same mistakes again”.

    He said he believed the referendum, as an instrument, was not necessarily adapted to Melanesian and Kanak cultures.

    In practice, the Paris “summit” would also involve French minister for Overseas Manuel Valls.

    The list of invited participants would include all parties, pro-independence and pro-France, represented at New Caledonia’s Congress (the local parliament).

    But it would also include a number of economic stakeholders, as well as a delegation of Mayors of New Caledonia, as well as representatives of the civil society and NGOs.

    Talks could also come in several formats, with the political side being treated separately.

    The pro-independence platform FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) has to decide at the weekend whether it will take part in the Paris talks.

    FLNKS leader Christian Téin . . . still facing charges over last year’s riots, but released from prison in France providing he does not return to New Caledonia and checks in with investigating judges. Image: Opinion International

    Will Christian Téin take part?
     During a whirlwind visit to New Caledonia in June 2024, Macron met Christian Téin, the leader of a pro-independence CCAT (Field Action Coordination Cell), created by Union Calédonienne (UC).

    Téin was arrested and jailed in mainland France.

    In August 2024, while in custody in the Mulhouse prison (northeastern France), he was elected in absentia as president of a UC-dominated FLNKS.

    Even though he still faces charges for allegedly being one of the masterminds of the May 2024 riots, Téin was released from jail on June 12 on condition that he does not travel to New Caledonia and reports regularly to French judges.

    On the pro-France side, Téin’s release triggered mixed angry reactions.

    Other pro-France hard-line components said the Kanak leader’s participation in the Paris talks was simply “unthinkable”.

    Pro-independence Tjibaou said Téin’s release was “a sign of appeasement”, but that his participation was probably subject to “conditions”.

    “But I’m not the one who makes the invitations,” he told public broadcaster NC la 1ère on 15 June 2025.

    FLNKS spokesman Dominique Fochi said in a release Téin’s participation in the talks was earlier declared a prerequisite.

    “Now our FLNKS president has been released. He’s the FLNKS boss and we are awaiting his instructions,” Fochi said.

    At former roundtables earlier this year, the FLNKS delegation was headed by Union Calédonienne (UC, the main and dominating component of the FLNKS) president Emmanuel Tjibaou.

    ‘Concluding the decolonisation process’, says Valls
     In a press conference on Tuesday in Paris, Valls elaborated some more on the upcoming Paris talks.

    “Obviously there will be a sequence of political negotiations which I will lead with all of New Caledonia’s players, that is all groups represented at the Congress. But there will also be an economic and social sequence with economic, social and societal players who will be invited”, Valls said.

    During question time at the French National Assembly in Paris on 3 June 2025, Valls said he remained confident that it was “still possible” to reach an agreement and to “reconcile” the “contradictory aspirations” of the pro-independence and pro-France camps.

    During the same sitting, pro-France New Caledonia MP Nicolas Metzdorf decried what he termed “France’s lack of ambition” and his camp’s feeling of being “let down”.

    The other MP for New Caledonia’s, pro-independence Emmanuel Tjibaou, also took the floor to call on France to “close the colonial chapter” and that France has to “take its part in the conclusion of the emancipation process” of New Caledonia.

    “With the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, and the political forces, we will make offers, while concluding the decolonisation process, the self-determination process, while respecting New Caledonians’ words and at the same time not forgetting history, and the past that have led to the disaster of the 1980s and the catastrophe of May 2024,” he said.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Powering African Economies: African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 to Host Program Track on Power, Infrastructure Sectors

    African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies – taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town – will feature a Power Africa Track as part of its main conference program. The track, dedicated to addressing emerging opportunities across the continent’s power and infrastructure sectors, will examine the state of play of Africa’s power market. Government representatives, private sector investors, independent power producers and public utilities will come together to discuss Africa’s future power systems – laying the foundation for new deals to be signed. 

    While many developed nations prioritize renewable energy developments, African nations continue to face significant energy access challenges. Approximately 43% of the continent’s population lives without access to electricity, with rural and remote communities struggling to gain access to national grid networks. At the same time, Africa is also the continent most-effected by climate change impacts globally. This highlights a need – and emerging opportunity – for a coordinated approach by both the private and public sectors to develop infrastructure that meets the demands of both urbanized and rural communities. The AEW: Invest in African Energies Powering Africa Track offers a platform to discuss strategies for expanding energy access across the continent. Sessions will explore the role public-private collaboration plays, how market liberalization can bolster investments and the impact of integrated power pools. Panel discussions include: Energy Leaders Dialogue: Strengthening Public & Private Collaborations for Increased Energy Access; Empowering Africa’s Energy Future: Market Liberalization and Private Sector Leadership; Scaling Renewable Innovation: Bridging the Energy Access Gap with Off-Grid and Smart Technologies; and Connecting Africa: Advancing Regional Trade Through Integrated Power Pools.

    Many countries in Africa are pursuing investment to support sustainable energy developments, seeking to both strengthen and expand power systems. Challenges related to inadequate generating capacity, transmission disruptions and maintenance have plagued many countries, resulting in unreliable power supply that hinders economic growth. South Africa, for example, Africa’s largest economy, struggles with intermittent power, largely due to an ageing coal fleet. To address this, the country is leveraging policy such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer program and Integrated Resource Plan to incentivize private sector investment in alternative energy sources. To date, the country has introduced 6.4 GW of renewable energy capacity to the grid through 122 independent power producers. AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 sessions on Balancing Investment Strategies and the Integration of Renewable into the Energy Mix and The Role of African Energy in a World Where Climate is No Longer the First Priority will explore the role of renewable energy in Africa’s power systems and how Africa’s priorities have shifted to power expansion.

    Beyond renewables, Africa is well-positioned to leverage its natural gas and uranium resources to diversify its energy mix and strengthen power capacity. Wit over 620 trillion cubic feet of proven gas resources, the continent is turning to gas-based power to enhance access and support industrialization. Major projects include Angola’s 750 MW Soyo combined cycle power plant; Senegal’s 300 MW Cap des Biches power plant; Algeria’s 660 MW dual-fired Hassi Messaoud Gas Turbine plant, among others. In the nuclear sector, several African countries are pursuing power projects in collaboration with international partners. Projects are being planned in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, and more, all of which will complement the continent’s sole operating nuclear facility: South Africa’s Koeberg plant. Sessions on gas-to-power and nuclear at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will explore the emerging role these resources will play in Africa’s power sector. Sessions include Gas-to-Power: Meeting Africa’s Growing Domestic Energy Demand Now; Overcoming Infrastructure and Regulatory Hurdles to Nuclear Deployment; Energy Efficiency: The Cornerstone of Africa’s Sustainable Growth; and Powering Africa’s Industrial Revolution.

    “With over 600 million people living without access to electricity, there has never been a more imperative time to advance the development of integrated power systems in Africa. While the continent’s population continues to grow, securing power supply becomes critical. By investing in African resources, strengthening infrastructure and introducing off-grid power solutions, Africa will be able to both alleviate energy poverty while driving long-term, sustainable growth,” states Sergio Pugliese, President for the African Energy Chamber, Angola.

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: You can obtain permits in a comprehensive manner on “Gosuslugi”.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The State Services portal now offers the opportunity to obtain a set of permits through a single application. An entrepreneur only needs to select the type of activity, fill out the form, and the system will send his application to the relevant departments. The new approach to issuing permits was developed as part of the optimization of permitting activities in Russia.

    On the portal, permits are grouped according to the principle of conducting a certain activity. Each activity has its own set of permits. The first such comprehensive service available to organizations and individual entrepreneurs is “Opening a Pharmacy”. It includes permits that are necessary for carrying out pharmaceutical activities, a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion, and a sanitary and epidemiological examination. Previously, an application for each of them was submitted in turn. The entrepreneur had to independently monitor the readiness of each permit in order to apply for the next one. Now he can fill out one comprehensive application. This takes an average of 10 minutes, the system automatically sends it to the relevant departments. If approved, the entrepreneur receives the entire set of permits within three months.

    The list of such complex scenarios for filing applications is being expanded as part of the project to optimize and automate permitting processes.

    “We are working consistently to reduce the administrative burden on businesses, including in permitting activities. We have already halved the time it takes to issue permits and the number of documents requested. Our main task today is to combine various types of permits for a typical situation. That is, we are talking about the fact that through one application it is possible to obtain several types of permits at once,” commented Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko.

    The Government proposes to enshrine the possibility of obtaining comprehensive permits electronically through the State Services portal in legislation. To this end, a corresponding draft law was submitted to the State Duma in June. In addition, the document provides for the proactive provision of permit issuance services. It is planned that an entrepreneur will receive a notification from the state on the State Services portal with an offer to extend the permit. The application for extension will already be pre-filled.

    The bill also proposes to amend (approximately) 70 industry laws to consolidate the reduction in the timeframes and number of documents required to obtain permits for each type separately. On average, the number of documents required to be submitted for a permit has been reduced by 2 times – from 8 to 4. The timeframe for reviewing all types of permits has also been reduced by 2 times on average – from 43 to 19 days.

    More than 400 types of permits can now be obtained on “Gosuslugi”. In total, over 1 million applications were submitted through the government services portal in Russia in 2024, and over 408 thousand in the first five months of 2025.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans for UK to become sustainable finance capital of the world

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Plans for UK to become sustainable finance capital of the world

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband outlines plans to support banks and large companies in developing climate transition plans.

    • Government welcomes views on supporting banks and large companies to set out their climate transition plans  
    • Energy Secretary announces plans will “help unlock billions in clean energy investment” and grow the economy  
    • delivers on commitment to make the UK the “sustainable finance capital of the world” as part of the Plan for Change

    To help “unlock billions in clean energy investment”, the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has today outlined plans to support banks and large companies in developing climate transition plans when addressing the Climate and Innovation Forum as part of London Climate Action Week (25 June).  

    The UK is consistently ranked first in the world for sustainable finance, and 70% of FTSE 100 companies have already voluntarily developed many of the key elements of a transition plan. Widespread transition planning will help provide long-term certainty and clarity to help scale the sustainable finance industry as part of our modern industrial policy. 

    The government’s clean energy superpower mission is already delivering economic growth, with net zero sectors growing 3 times faster than the overall economy last year, according to CBI Economics. Since July, over £40 billion of private investment has also been announced into the UK’s clean energy industries – creating good jobs for working people and driving long-term growth.  

    As part of the government’s Plan for Change, the government wants to help stimulate billions of pounds a year of private investment to deliver the government’s clean energy superpower mission and make the UK the “sustainable finance capital of the world”.  

    To support this growth, the government will take forward recommendations from last year’s Transition Finance Market Review to consult on transition plan requirements in order to catalyse the growing transition finance market. The design of any future transition plan requirements will be aligned with the Prime Minister’s commitment to reduce regulatory compliance costs by 25%. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    This government is determined to make the UK the sustainable finance capital of the world as we seize the huge economic opportunities provided by clean energy. 

    Through our clean energy superpower mission and industrial strategy, we can win this global race and accelerate investment into these sectors – growing the economy, turbocharging the transition to net zero and delivering on our Plan for Change. 

    Our plans will transform our leading financial services sector into a global hub for green investment.

    Minister for Competition and Markets Justin Madders said:  

    We want to work with businesses to develop a “common sense” sustainable reporting framework that is transparent, clear and proportionate for those investing in the UK. 

    These measures will enhance competition in the sustainability assurance sector, helping to deliver on our Plan for Change and kickstart economic growth.

    Rt Hon Lord Alok Sharma KCMG, Chair of the UK Transition Finance Council said: 

    A clear message from the Transition Finance Market Review was that high quality disclosure and information are vital for investors and a pre-condition to a flourishing sustainable and transition finance market.  

    I therefore very much welcome the government taking forward recommendations from the Review to consult on corporate transition plan requirements.  

    The UK can become the pre-eminent global financial centre for raising transition finance, but this is a time-limited opportunity, and that is why it will be vital to move quickly from consultation to implementation.

    The government is publishing 3 consultations on: 

    • how to take forward the government’s commitment on transition planning to support the market to invest in sectors that will deliver the clean energy superpower mission
    • new UK Sustainability Reporting Standards to provide clear, comparable information for investors on sustainability related financial risks and opportunities to enable them to make informed investment decisions
    • the development of a voluntary registration regime for the providers of assurance of sustainability reporting, supporting growth in this important sector

    Transition planning means businesses set out a roadmap that outlines how they intend to adapt and transform their operations, strategies, and business models to align with their climate goals. 

    This is a vital part of the government’s commitment to secure Britain’s position as the sustainable finance capital of the world and will help businesses and investors seize the opportunities from the clean energy transition.  

    A recent survey of financial institutions conducted by South Pole found that 84% of UK-based financial institutions find companies with transition plans more attractive to invest in. 

    Supporting British industry and creating good, skilled jobs up and up down the country is core to the government’s industrial strategy and plan to grow the economy, ensuring businesses can take advantage of the transition to new low carbon technologies as they reduce their emissions. This will allow UK industry to remain competitive globally and support the millions of manufacturing jobs in regions across the UK – as well as future-proofing existing sectors, and increasing economic resilience to climate impacts. 

    Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive at SSE plc said: 

    SSE has long been a firm supporter of credible, transparent transition planning. As an early adopter of climate transition plans, we’ve seen first-hand how they can build investor confidence and accelerate progress toward net zero. 

    We welcome the UK Government’s ambition to become the sustainable finance capital of the world and fully support the work of the Transition Plan Taskforce and the Transition Finance Market Review. 

    As the UK’s clean energy champion, we want to see the UK remain the best place in the world to attract transition finance and deliver the investment needed for a just and ambitious energy transition.

    Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group, said: 

    The Aldersgate Group welcomes today’s announcement as a significant step forward in creating a first-in-class green regulatory framework. 

    Using the feedback from these consultations to develop clear financial guardrails will help strengthen the transparency, interoperability, and credibility of climate-related financial disclosures. This is essential to support the measures in the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, unlocking private sector investment in the UK’s low carbon economy.  

    We are particularly pleased to see the consultation on how best to take forward the government’s commitment on transition planning. Climate transition plans are a vital tool to help real economy companies integrate climate into strategic and operational decision-making, while also enabling financial institutions to align capital allocation, stewardship, and risk management with the transition to net zero.

    James Alexander, CEO of UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), said:  

    We welcome the government’s commitment to bringing forward the consultation on climate transition plans for banks and large companies. These are essential for enhancing growth and global competitiveness as the UK and other countries decarbonise.  

    Further dialogue between the government and industry on the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards is also very encouraging. We look forward to ministers taking forward these commitments, which will help future-proof our economy over the coming years.

    Heather McKay, Programme Lead, UK Sustainable and Resilient Finance at E3G, said:  

    The delivery of the government’s growth mission relies on ensuring Britain is a world-class destination for green and transition finance.  

    The clean economy is our ticket to a high-growth future, and credible transition plans – as part of a future-fit regulatory regime – are fundamental to unlocking the investment required to seize this opportunity.  

    The release of this highly anticipated consultation package is a welcome step towards turning this vision into reality.

    Claudine Blamey, Chief Sustainability Officer at Aviva, said:  

    We welcome this consultation as an important next step in understanding how transition planning is rolled out across the UK economy, helping businesses understand the steps needed to transition, supporting a greener, more prosperous future.

    Andrew Ninian, Director for Stewardship, Risk and Tax at the Investment Association, said:  

    We want the UK to remain at the forefront of sustainable finance. Ensuring that reporting standards are focused on the issues that impact the financial performance of companies is vital to achieve this.  

    Transition planning should enable investors to understand how climate risks and opportunities affect a company’s value and how they are adapting their business strategy to reduce their climate impact, in order to provide a sustainable future and grow the UK economy.  

    International comparability is also key, and with companies already preparing for reporting in line with ISSB, endorsing the standards will allow investors in UK companies to fully understand their long-term sustainability risks and simplify reporting expectations in the UK and globally.

    Ian Bhullar, Director, Sustainability Policy, UK Finance said: 

    The financial services industry backs proportionate, internationally aligned sustainability reporting. Many firms have already published transition plans and use their customers’ plans to make low-carbon financing decisions.  

    Better reporting by a range of companies will provide information that lenders and investors can use to increase green finance flows. UK Finance welcomes these consultations and will work with government to ensure they support growth in the UK economy.

    Faith Ward, Chief RI Officer, Brunel Pension Partnership said: 

    I hugely welcome the HMG announcements today. Having been deeply involved in supporting the International Sustainability Standards Board and Transition Plan Taskforce, I am delighted to see the UK take this vital step to regain its leadership role as global centre for green finance. 

    Investors want to allocate capital to growing businesses that are taking action to address climate and sustainability risks – and that are looking to business opportunities so that they deliver financially over the long term. They need globally consistent reporting on climate and sustainability actions, alongside critical insights into corporate plans for the transition.

    Bruno Gardner, Head of Climate Change and Nature, Phoenix Group said: 

    As a long-term investor, policy developments that provide greater certainty around the net zero transition enhance the UK’s role as the leading centre of sustainable finance.  

    Transition plans are critical to helping investors like Phoenix Group manage the risks of climate change and direct capital towards companies that are best equipped to navigate the transition to net zero, ensuring the best outcomes for our customers.  

    We welcome all three consultations and the government’s engagement with the private sector, which is a significant step towards giving investors greater policy certainty and enabling us to being net-zero by 2050.

    Notes to editors   

    DESNZ analysis of Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) data showed that global investment into low carbon sectors amounted to £1.6 trillion in 2024, with total investment in UK low carbon sectors representing 1.8% of GDP, the second highest share within the G7.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield Ltd engineers win IChemE Young Engineers Awards

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Sellafield Ltd engineers win IChemE Young Engineers Awards

    Graduate engineers at Sellafield Ltd have won a prestigious award at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Young Engineers Awards.

    Sellafield Ltd’s winning team at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Young Engineers Awards for Innovation and Sustainability 2025

    A team of design engineer graduates from Sellafield Ltd won the the Quality Education category at the prestigious Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Young Engineers Awards for Innovation and Sustainability.

    The IChemE awards celebrate groundbreaking ideas in chemical engineering and supports IChemE’s vision for a more sustainable world.

    The winning team—Joseph Carter, Alana Prior, Lara Hill, and Ben Hilton—were recognised for their project, A Novel Approach to Chemical Engineering Work Experience, which enhances Sellafield Ltd’s design engineering work experience programme.

    Since taking charge of the programme’s process engineering section last September, the team introduced a practical phase separation activity, improved guidance for volunteers, refined the volunteering process to cover all 10 annual work experience weeks, and developed new resources for West Cumbria’s newly established design engineering work experience.

    Their initiative aims to inspire future engineers by making chemical engineering more accessible, addressing skills shortages in the industry. Demand for chemical engineers in the UK has surged by 55% in the last five years, with an annual shortfall of up to 59,000 engineering professionals.

    Team member, Ben Hilton, said:

    We’re thrilled to have received this recognition from IChemE. Sellafield has great early careers programmes, and their work experience initiative is a fantastic way to get young people interested in engineering careers. We’ve been lucky to be part of the graduate programme, and it’s great to see young professionals getting the opportunity to shape and lead these schemes

    On behalf of the rest of the team, I’d like to thank all of the volunteers and colleagues who supported this initiative. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable in making the work experience programme as engaging and impactful as possible. Without their commitment, none of this would have been possible.

    Head of education, skills and social mobility, Michelle Lambon-Wilks, said:

    We are immensely proud to see this talented group of graduates receive recognition from IChemE. Their dedication and hard work have been truly outstanding, and this achievement is well deserved.

    At the heart of our mission is a commitment to delivering high-quality early careers programmes that provide a strong foundation for professional success. We actively listen to those taking part, value their insights, and continuously refine our initiatives based on their feedback—ensuring they are as impactful and effective as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Unknown details of the poet’s biography. The Strochenovsky lecture hall opened in the S.A. Yesenin Museum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Strochenovsky Lecture Hall has opened in the Moscow State Museum of S.A. Yesenin, where scholars talk about little-known pages of the poet’s biography. The first lecture by Professor Yaroslav Leontyev of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, which opens the cycle, is dedicated to Yesenin’s political quest in the 1910s.

    1918. At the height of the Civil War, Sergei Yesenin writes the poem “The Jordanian Dove,” which contains the following lines:

    The sky is like a bell,

    The moon is the language,

    My mother is my homeland,

    I am a Bolshevik.

    For many, such a statement comes as a surprise, but Professor Yaroslav Leontiev came to the conclusion that this was a peculiar attempt to obtain an indulgence from the victorious Bolsheviks.

    Unlike his peers, who were passionately interested in political ideas, Sergei Yesenin was not fanatical, but he did not escape the political temptations of the era. In his youth, he was close to the ideas of Leo Tolstoy, but this interest quickly faded away. Later, while working in the printing house of Ivan Sytin, the poet came into contact with social democrats, socialist revolutionaries, anarchists – and even came under police surveillance.

    Having moved to Petrograd, Yesenin found himself in the editorial office of Severnye Zapiski, a magazine with a liberal-populist orientation. Here he met Leonid Kannegiser, the publisher’s nephew, also an aspiring poet, who in 1918 would shoot the chairman of the Petrograd Extraordinary Commission, Moisei Uritsky. They became close friends – Kannegiser even came to visit Yesenin in Konstantinovo.

    Zinaida Reich is a career Socialist Revolutionary

    Another fateful meeting took place in the editorial office of the newspaper “Delo Naroda” (People’s Cause), the central organ of the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SRs). Here Yesenin met Zinaida Reich, a technical employee of the editorial office. But she was not just a typist – already in high school, Zinaida participated in the SR circle, and in 1917 she headed the party distribution society.

    Through his wife, Yesenin found himself in the very center of the party’s activities, met its leaders, Maria Spiridonova and Boris Kamkov, and also spoke at rallies and published in Socialist Revolutionary publications. In his 1923 autobiography, Yesenin claimed: “I worked with the Socialist Revolutionaries not as a party member, but as a poet.”

    An unexpected political turn

    After the armed conflict between the Left Socialist Revolutionaries and the Bolsheviks in July 1918, Yesenin abruptly changed course. The very line “I am a Bolshevik” appeared, and the poet began to get closer to the communists – for example, he spoke with Lev Kamenev at the opening of a monument to the poet A.V. Koltsov. Yesenin even wrote an application to join the RCP(b), to which the journalist Georgy Ustinov persistently persuaded him. But at the last moment, Sergei Alexandrovich changed his mind and annulled the application. “He claimed that he was to the left of the Communist Party,” notes Yaroslav Leontyev.

    Trotsky, Dzerzhinsky and others

    Thanks to his acquaintance with Yakov Blumkin (a former Left Socialist Revolutionary who had gone over to the Bolsheviks and who had murdered the German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach), Yesenin gained access to the highest echelons of power – he met with Lev Trotsky, Anatoly Lunacharsky, Mikhail Kalinin, Felix Dzerzhinsky, and the People’s Commissar of Food Alexander Tsyurupa.

    But the poet does not break old ties: he continues to perform in Left SR clubs, works on the poem “Pugachev”. Even abroad, traveling with Isadora Duncan, he clashes with representatives of the White émigrés, and in New York he visits an old friend – a member of the Central Committee of the Left SRs, Veniamin Levin.

    Decembrist parallel

    Of particular interest is Yesenin’s connection with the Decembrist theme. On December 14, 1917, he spoke at an evening in memory of the Decembrists, organized by the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. And his last visit, now to Leningrad, was in December 1925 – exactly 100 years after the uprising on Senate Square.

    “How can one not draw parallels between two national geniuses – Pushkin and his friendship with the Decembrists and Yesenin with his friends, who were actively involved in politics, and some of them even created it themselves,” Yaroslav Leontyev reasons.

    A New Look at the Poet

    The Strochenovsky Lecture Hall, named after the address of the house-museum on Bolshoy Strochenovsky Lane, is intended as a place where Yeseninists can share not only their knowledge of the poet, but also their Yesenin spirit. Museum director Oleg Robinov emphasizes: these are people for whom Yesenin is a guide in life.

    A poet understandable to everyone. The director of the S.A. Yesenin Museum talks about the updated main exhibition and immediate plans

    The poet’s political connections are just one of the pages of his biography that they plan to reveal in the new lecture hall. The next lectures will be devoted, for example, to his political contacts in the 1920s and other mysterious parallels with the Decembrists.

    You can attend the meetings of the Strochenovsky lecture hall with an entrance ticket to the museum. The first lecture will take place on June 26 at 19:00.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155824073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: For mining novices: PBKMiner launches free BTC, ETH, DOGE and XRP cloud mining services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The global cryptocurrency market has entered a new era of acceptance and legitimacy following the US government’s landmark decision to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve in March 2025. Riding on this momentum, UK-based PBK Miner has announced the official launch of its free cloud mining platform, supporting BTC, ETH, DOGE, XRP, and other major cryptocurrencies.
    In a rapidly changing regulatory environment, PBK Miner positions itself as the go-to solution for cryptocurrency novices and passive investors. Built on an AI-optimized cloud infrastructure and compliant with ESG regulations, the platform enables anyone to start earning cryptocurrency using only a mobile device and without any upfront costs.
    Explore cloud mining: https://pbkminer.com/

    What is the difference between PBK Miner cloud mining?
    PBK Miner offers a range of unique features designed to remove the complexity of traditional mining while maximizing profitability:
    – Cloud-based mining rental service,
    Users can remotely access ecologically certified mining power without purchasing or managing hardware. PBK Miner operates efficient and ESG-compliant mining centers in the UK, US and EU.
    – Newbie-friendly mining setup
    You can activate your mining contract in minutes using just your computer or mobile phone. No technical skills or wallet configuration required.
    – Daily mining, BTC, ETH, DOGE and XRP
    Enjoy 24/7 seamless mining without system downtime. All infrastructure is monitored by professionals to ensure uninterrupted earnings.
    – Instant withdrawals, no lock-in
    Unlike traditional mining setups, PBK Miner allows users to withdraw earnings at any time – with zero withdrawal fees.

    – New Users Start for Free
    First-time users will receive a $10 welcome bonus, enough to activate their first mining contract and start earning daily rewards right away.
    – Sustainable Blockchain Mining
    With ESG compliance at its core, PBK Miner incorporates green energy and reforestation initiatives as part of its broader commitment to environmental sustainability.
    PBK Miner mining performance (June 2025):
    5-day BTC mining contract: +7.15% ROI
    15-day DOGE mining contract: +21.7% ROI
    30-day XRP mining contract: +56.6% ROI
    These returns, coupled with the lowest entry barriers, have attracted a large number of retail investors to participate, especially young investors who are exploring cryptocurrency income for the first time.
    How to get started on the most trusted cloud mining platform in 2025
    1. Register here via PC or mobile device
    2. Get your free $10 welcome bonus
    3. Use your bonus to activate your first free cloud computing capacity
    4. See a breakdown of your expected earnings and monitor your rewards with real-time analytics tools
    5. Access your free withdrawals at any time
    “We built PBK Miner so that anyone, anywhere can profit from cryptocurrency without having to understand blockchain or manage hardware,” said PBK Miner CEO.
    About PBK Miner
    Founded in 2019, PBK Miner is a new generation digital asset mining platform that enables global users to mine Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Dogecoin and 10 other mainstream cryptocurrencies through AI-optimized cloud infrastructure. PBK Miner focuses on security, sustainability and accessibility, providing a legal, compliant and high-yield alternative to traditional cryptocurrency investments.
    Start mining smarter – visit https://pbkminer.com to claim your $10 bonus.
    Name: Alison Evans
    Position: PR Manager
    Official Email: info@pbkminer.com
    Company Address: 30 Colston Avenue, Carshalton, Surrey, UK

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: For mining novices: PBKMiner launches free BTC, ETH, DOGE and XRP cloud mining services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The global cryptocurrency market has entered a new era of acceptance and legitimacy following the US government’s landmark decision to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve in March 2025. Riding on this momentum, UK-based PBK Miner has announced the official launch of its free cloud mining platform, supporting BTC, ETH, DOGE, XRP, and other major cryptocurrencies.
    In a rapidly changing regulatory environment, PBK Miner positions itself as the go-to solution for cryptocurrency novices and passive investors. Built on an AI-optimized cloud infrastructure and compliant with ESG regulations, the platform enables anyone to start earning cryptocurrency using only a mobile device and without any upfront costs.
    Explore cloud mining: https://pbkminer.com/

    What is the difference between PBK Miner cloud mining?
    PBK Miner offers a range of unique features designed to remove the complexity of traditional mining while maximizing profitability:
    – Cloud-based mining rental service,
    Users can remotely access ecologically certified mining power without purchasing or managing hardware. PBK Miner operates efficient and ESG-compliant mining centers in the UK, US and EU.
    – Newbie-friendly mining setup
    You can activate your mining contract in minutes using just your computer or mobile phone. No technical skills or wallet configuration required.
    – Daily mining, BTC, ETH, DOGE and XRP
    Enjoy 24/7 seamless mining without system downtime. All infrastructure is monitored by professionals to ensure uninterrupted earnings.
    – Instant withdrawals, no lock-in
    Unlike traditional mining setups, PBK Miner allows users to withdraw earnings at any time – with zero withdrawal fees.

    – New Users Start for Free
    First-time users will receive a $10 welcome bonus, enough to activate their first mining contract and start earning daily rewards right away.
    – Sustainable Blockchain Mining
    With ESG compliance at its core, PBK Miner incorporates green energy and reforestation initiatives as part of its broader commitment to environmental sustainability.
    PBK Miner mining performance (June 2025):
    5-day BTC mining contract: +7.15% ROI
    15-day DOGE mining contract: +21.7% ROI
    30-day XRP mining contract: +56.6% ROI
    These returns, coupled with the lowest entry barriers, have attracted a large number of retail investors to participate, especially young investors who are exploring cryptocurrency income for the first time.
    How to get started on the most trusted cloud mining platform in 2025
    1. Register here via PC or mobile device
    2. Get your free $10 welcome bonus
    3. Use your bonus to activate your first free cloud computing capacity
    4. See a breakdown of your expected earnings and monitor your rewards with real-time analytics tools
    5. Access your free withdrawals at any time
    “We built PBK Miner so that anyone, anywhere can profit from cryptocurrency without having to understand blockchain or manage hardware,” said PBK Miner CEO.
    About PBK Miner
    Founded in 2019, PBK Miner is a new generation digital asset mining platform that enables global users to mine Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Dogecoin and 10 other mainstream cryptocurrencies through AI-optimized cloud infrastructure. PBK Miner focuses on security, sustainability and accessibility, providing a legal, compliant and high-yield alternative to traditional cryptocurrency investments.
    Start mining smarter – visit https://pbkminer.com to claim your $10 bonus.
    Name: Alison Evans
    Position: PR Manager
    Official Email: info@pbkminer.com
    Company Address: 30 Colston Avenue, Carshalton, Surrey, UK

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ARKO Corp. Unveils its First Enhanced Food and Beverage Pilot Store in Ashland, VA, Launches New Food Concept fascraves

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RICHMOND, Va., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO), a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest convenience store operators in the United States, proudly announces the opening of its first food-focused remodeled store in Ashland, Virginia, located at 10030 Sliding Hill Rd. This milestone location also marks the debut of fas craves, ARKO’s innovative new food brand that will be a key feature of future store remodels across its nationwide network.

    This flagship location is the first of eight initial sites—six remodels and two new-to-industry builds—launched as part of a pilot program focused on delivering a relevant and delicious menu of hot and cold grab-n-go items. The new concept debuts a crave-worthy prepared food and dispensed beverage concept designed for today’s on-the-go consumer. Whether it’s a quick breakfast, a convenient lunch, or an afternoon snack, fas craves offers flavorful, satisfying options throughout the day.

    The new menu includes Hot and Cold Grab-n-Go, Roller Grill, Bakery, and Dispensed Beverages, with standout offerings like crispy chicken biscuits, zesty potato wedges, mozzarella sticks, jumbo chicken wings, the Ultimate Chicken Tender, Tyson® chicken sandwiches and Pub burgers. Beverage selections are equally enticing, featuring nitro cold brew, bean-to-cup always fresh hot and iced coffee, iced teas, lemonades, Frazil Slush and Café Tango frozen coffee.

    “This new food concept remodel and the introduction of fas craves represent a bold step forward in how we serve our customers,” said Arie Kotler, President & CEO at ARKO Corp. “We’re focused on transforming the convenience experience — not just with updated stores, but with food offerings that truly resonate with today’s on-the-go consumer.”

    The remodeled store is designed to attract new customers, with a layout that’s easy to shop and a product assortment shaped directly by customer feedback. It includes modernized features such as digital menu boards and a brighter, more contemporary interior design, creating a seamless and elevated shopping experience.

    To celebrate the first day of operation on June 25th, customers can enjoy special food deals including two savory crispy Ultimate Chicken Tenders and a small side of potato wedges for just $4.99, and any fountain drink, tea, or lemonade for only 99 cents.

    While the store opens on June 25th, a formal grand opening celebration is planned for July 16–29, featuring additional promotions and community-focused events.

    fas craves will continue to roll out alongside store remodels throughout ARKO’s network, bringing delicious and crave-worthy options to more customers nationwide.

    While customers are enjoying our new delicious food and beverage menu, they can take advantage of our exciting Fueling America’s Future promotion and save up to $2 off a gallon of gas by enrolling in our fas REWARDS loyalty program, purchasing participating products, and entering their phone number at the pump to watch the price get reduced and the savings add up!

    About ARKO Corp.

    ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO) is a Fortune 500 company that owns 100% of GPM Investments, LLC and is one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesalers of fuel in the United States. Based in Richmond, VA, our highly recognizable Family of Community Brands offers delicious, prepared foods, beer, snacks, candy, hot and cold beverages, and multiple popular quick serve restaurant brands. We operate in four reportable segments: retail, which includes convenience stores selling merchandise and fuel products to retail customers; wholesale, which supplies fuel to independent dealers and consignment agents; fleet fueling, which includes the operation of proprietary and third-party cardlock locations, and issuance of proprietary fuel cards that provide customers access to a nationwide network of fueling sites; and GPM Petroleum, which sells and supplies fuel to our retail and wholesale sites and charges a fixed fee, primarily to our fleet fueling sites. To learn more about GPM stores, visit: www.gpminvestments.com. To learn more about ARKO, visit: www.arkocorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This document includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the Company’s expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying its expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as “accretive,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “guidance,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to, among other things, changes in economic, business and market conditions; the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and warrants on the Nasdaq Stock Market; changes in its strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; expansion plans and opportunities; changes in the markets in which it competes; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including those relating to environmental matters; market conditions and global and economic factors beyond its control; and the outcome of any known or unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings. Detailed information about these factors and additional important factors can be found in the documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable law.

    Media Contact
    Jordan Mann
    ARKO Corp.
    investors@gpminvestments.com

    Investor Contact
    Sean Mansouri, CFA
    Elevate IR
    (720) 330-2829
    ARKO@elevate-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Tech in stealth mode today’ might ‘change the world’ tomorrow.

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1xqTMadw490

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader welcomes positive outlook for Edinburgh’s economy

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Council Leader Jane Meagher writes in the Evening News today to welcome positive news for Edinburgh’s economy.

    Edinburgh has long been Scotland’s economic powerhouse and we’re now ahead of London for the first time.

    The value of goods and services produced here in Edinburgh per person has now surpassed London’s. That’s according to economic data recently published by the Office for National Statistics.

    The figures reveal gross domestic product per head of £69,809 in Edinburgh, compared to £69,077 in London. This steady growth of Edinburgh’s economy to outperform that of London’s is no small feat. Twenty-five years ago, this same data put London 19% ahead of Edinburgh, highlighting just how well we perform as a city.

    This is good news for our local businesses, and it shows that Edinburgh is an environment in which small, local enterprises can thrive. It also demonstrates the confidence global investors have in Edinburgh. In the last year alone, we’ve welcomed 27 instances of foreign direct investment, from shops like Søstrene Grene and MINISO to major renewable energy consultants PSC.

    This is impressive and is in part thanks to the city’s resilient business community and strong employment opportunities. The economy in the city has been driven forward by a combination of relying on established sectors such as, financial services and our universities, as well as embracing new and emerging opportunities in areas such as life sciences and technology.  

    Linked to this, we’ve seen the UK Chancellor commit up to £750 million for the city and the region for a next generation ‘Exascale super-computer’ at the University of Edinburgh. This will be a national asset supporting jobs and investment and reaffirms the region’s role as an economic powerhouse. This is in keeping with the eight growth-driving sectors identified in the new Industrial Strategy, placing Edinburgh and the region in a strong position to continue to receive investment and grow the local economy.

    On top of this, £410 million will be shared across the devolved nations for a Local Innovation Partnership Fund and it makes great sense for our City Region to lead on this in Scotland. From artificial intelligence to data and robotics, this money could unlock a huge amount of investment, building on the successful projects we’ve already delivered, including the National Robotarium, the Usher Institute and Easter Bush which is now the global location of ‘Agritech’ excellence.

    Given Edinburgh’s longstanding innovation capabilities it is fantastic that we will be able to reap the associated economic, social and environmental benefits. That said, our challenge is to manage Edinburgh’s success and growth, and ensure it is fair and sustainable. To keep thriving, we need to manage the pressures placed on our housing, environment and our residents. This is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with the population expected to increase by 60,000 over the next 20 years and over four million visitors every year.

    Everyone should be able to benefit from Edinburgh’s continued economic success. We are clearly contributing more than our share to the Scottish and UK economies and both governments should continue to take note.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Town Hall Bike Park to launch new membership scheme

    Source: City of Leicester

    A NEW annual membership scheme is being introduced at Leicester’s main bike park, in the city’s Town hall Square.

    From Monday 7 July, cyclists using the secure parking offered at the Town Hall Bike Park will need to have an Active Leicester Cycle Hub membership.

    Current Active Leicester members can simply add Cycle Hub membership to their existing account.

    Membership cards will need to be scanned when leaving a cycle at the Bike Park.

    Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “Secure and reliable bike parking is a really important element of encouraging more people to cycle into the city centre. The new membership scheme will make parking quicker and easier and will continue to provide excellent value for money.”

    Membership will cost £10 per year but will be free for 12 months for anyone signing up before Monday 7 July.

    There will no fee for daily parking for members.

     However, there will be a £5 per night charge for any bikes not collected on the same day.

    Joining is easy and can be done in the Bike Park or online at to www.leicester.gov.uk/cycleleicester

    Membership for the Bike Park can also be arranged at any city council leisure centre.

    It’s planned that the new membership scheme will be rolled out to all secure cycle parking hubs across the city, including St Margaret’s bus station, Park and Ride sites, the railway station and city leisure centres.

    Over 30,000 bikes were parked at the Town Hall Bike Park last year. It is expected that this will increase to over 35,000 this year.

    The Town Hall Bike Park is open between 8am to 6.30pm from Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 6pm on Saturdays, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Almost half a million people saw the museum’s exhibits on Red Square — Sobyanin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 472 thousand people visited immersive museum on Red Square. About this in his telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin reported.

    “The exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the 1945 Victory Parade consisted of several thematic zones. Each one told about the unwavering spirit of the people during the war years,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    Among the unique objects of the open-air museum was the Victory train “We are from Berlin”, consisting of two carriages and an open platform, where songs were performed and a fragment of a front-line performance was shown.

    In addition, the historical fountain of the Victors was recreated using modern technologies. An exhibition called “Moscow Meets Victory” was also organized here, which included personal belongings of military leaders who participated in the Victory Parade.

    “On Red Square, one could see various theatrical performances and retro cars from the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. The guests were accompanied by more than 300 volunteers,” added Sergei Sobyanin.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/1299505/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 June 2025 Departmental update Momentum builds to protect immunization post World Health Assembly

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Several high-level side events were convened, including on measles and rubella, meningitis, polio and outbreak response, to elevate the critical role of immunization in protecting public health and building resilient systems. The declaration of 17 November as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day also reinforced the global call to scale up HPV vaccination efforts. 

    The World Health Assembly also marked the midpoint of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). As highlighted in WHO’s latest progress report, the world is not on track to meet IA2030 targets. Too many children remain unreached, and the consequences are visible in rising outbreaks of measles, yellow fever, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Member States stressed the urgency of reaching “zero-dose” children and strengthening primary health care as the platform for integrated immunization services. 

    These challenges underscore the importance of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s upcoming high-level pledging summit on 25 June, co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation. The summit aims to raise at least US$ 9 billion to support the next phase of Gavi’s strategy (2026–2030), which seeks to protect 500 million more children and save at least 8 million lives. The Director-General will join global partners to advocate for robust and sustained support, particularly in the face of climate-related emergencies, conflict, and pandemic threats. 

    As WHO and partners reaffirm the value of immunization as a health and economic investment—with a return of US$ 54 for every dollar spent—this is a defining moment to align political will, resources, and innovation to close the immunization gap and deliver on our IA2030 vision. 

    Click here to subscribe to the Global Immunization Newsletter.

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-06-25T08:04:07.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://www.who.int/images/default-source/searo—images/countries/timor-leste/5s-timor-leste/child-happy-after-receiving-health-checkup.jpg?sfvrsn=916df625_1″,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”World Health Organization: WHO”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg”,”width”:250,”height”:60}},”dateModified”:”2025-06-25T08:04:07.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news/item/25-06-2025-momentum-builds-to-protect-immunization-post-world-health-assembly”,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”NewsArticle”};
    ]]>

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Hakem Energies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Spotlight Role of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Africa’s Economies at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Refilwe Sebothoma, Founder and CEO of South African-based gas company Hakem Energies, will speak at the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference. During the event, Sebothoma is expected to highlight South Africa’s clean cooking agenda and the role of women-led innovators in driving inclusive access to modern energy services across underserved communities.  

    Taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town, AEW: Invest in African Energies is the largest energy event in Africa, convening stakeholders under the theme: Positioning Africa as the Global Energy Champion. The event drives investment across the entire energy value chain in Africa, supporting broader continental goals of advancing energy access and clean cooking adoption. Sebothoma’s participation reflects Hakem Energies’ critical role in advancing South Africa’s LPG market and is set to create new pathways for collaboration and dialogue.   

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

    While Africa holds approximately 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, over 900 million people across the continent live without access to clean cooking solutions. Companies such as Hakem Energies seek to address this dilemma by enhancing access to sustainable and affordable fuels such as LPG. The company is accelerating LPG adoption as a practical and scalable pathway to reduce energy poverty, empower women and enhance energy resilience. Under her leadership, Hakem Energies is deploying innovative solutions such as the Hakem LPG Box and micro-distribution networks, which deliver affordable, reliable and safe LPG to rural areas and informal settlements. The company’s flexible “pay-for-what-you-fill” model is also tailored for low-income households, improving affordability and access. Beyond household LPG use, Hakem Energies offers bulk and packaged LPG supply for a variety of economic sectors, including mining, agriculture and hospitality. With robust infrastructure support for remote operations, the company supports LPG adoption across the country.   

    Hakem Energies’ solutions come as the country strives to accelerate the uptake of natural gas, leveraging policy to promote LPG expansion. South Africa’s Gas Strategy Vision for 2050 – published by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa in April 2025 – seeks to diversify supply and maximize gas use for inclusive growth. In this scenario, companies like Hakem Energies are essential in supporting both the adoption of LPG as well as the transition to gas-based fuels. The firm’s work directly supports the strategy’s objectives around energy equity, economic development and clean cooking scale-up. In 2024, Sebothoma was awarded the Women of the Year Award by the Women in LPG Global Network for her leadership in championing diversity and women’s empowerment through LPG use for energy access – a key pillar of AEW: Invest in African Energies. 

    At the event this September, Sebothoma will contribute to strategic dialogues and project showcases, spotlighting key investment and partnership opportunities to scale up clean cooking infrastructure and small-scale gas distribution.  

    “Sebothoma is championing a woman-powered, youth-led and community-built ecosystem for an inclusive energy transition in South Africa. As Africa drives towards energy resilience for sustainable development, women cannot continue to be left behind. LPG solutions offer a powerful tool to empower communities and close the energy access gap,” said Oré Onagbesan, Program Director for AEW: Invest in African Energies.  

    – on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: KZN Premier commends arrest in Umlazi mass murder case

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    KZN Premier commends arrest in Umlazi mass murder case

    KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has commended the arrest of a suspect in connection with the recent brutal mass murder that shocked the Umlazi community.

    This comes after the arrest of a 28-year-old man in connection with the murder of eight people on 16 May 2025, at Zama informal settlement in U-section, Umlazi, south of Durban.

    The victims, including six men and two women, aged between 22 and 40 years, were found lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds.

    According to the police report, the incident took place when unknown armed men entered an informal settlement and opened fire. Eight victims died on the scene.

    The mass killing, which left multiple lives lost and families shattered, drew national attention and widespread condemnation.

    Ntuli visited the affected area and called for a multi-agency response to restore peace and strengthen community policing.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Ntuli hailed the arrest as a significant breakthrough.

    “This arrest is a clear indication that our law enforcement agencies are capable, committed, and determined to restore safety and dignity in our communities. We commend the SAPS (South African Police Service), the Hawks, and all intelligence-led operations that worked relentlessly around the clock to ensure this progress,” Ntuli said.

    Ntuli emphasised that people of Umlazi and KwaZulu-Natal at large deserve to live without fear, and “no individual or group has the right to undermine the safety and security of our communities.”

    He added that the provincial government is intensifying its collaboration with the police and other safety structures to dismantle criminal syndicates, improve visibility in hotspots, and fast-track the installation of community-based crime prevention programmes.

    The Premier also appealed to community members to work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies.

    “Our fight against crime is a collective one. We urge residents to report any suspicious activities and to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations. It is only through unity and active citizenry that we can defeat crime and reclaim our communities.”

    As the case proceeds through the justice system, Ntuli assured that the provincial government will continue to provide the necessary psychosocial support to the victims’ families, and work to ensure that justice is served without delay. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    GabiK

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Operation Sindhu: IAF brings 224 Indian nationals back from Israel

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Air Force on Wednesday successfully evacuated 224 more Indian nationals from Israel, taking the total number of citizens brought back safely to 818, under Operation Sindhu.

    Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje greeted the Indian nationals upon their arrival in New Delhi.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on X, “Operation Sindhu update, MoS Ms. Shobha Karandlaje received 224 Indian nationals who returned to India from Israel on an IAF aircraft at 10:30 Hrs on 25th June. The safety and security of Indian nationals remain a priority for the government. To date, 818 Indian nationals have returned home from Israel as part of Operation Sindhu.”

    The IAF joined in the operations with its C-17 aircraft to evacuate the Indian nationals and the citizens of friendly nations, including Nepal and Sri Lanka, from war-hit Israel and bring them back home to safety.

    Earlier, the MEA had announced that the evacuation of Indian nationals from Israel under Operation Sindhu started on Monday, June 23, via Jordan, marking its first successful repatriation flight, with 161 citizens landing in New Delhi from Amman on Tuesday morning.

    Followed by a second flight on Tuesday itself, the IAF brought back 286 Indian nationals, who were residing in Israel, from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

    Meanwhile, a similar evacuation process continued in Iran with 282 more evacuees arriving in India. According to the MEA, so far 2,858 Indian nationals have been brought back home from Tehran and other affected regions.

    The Government of India launched Operation Sindhu, an evacuation mission Operation Sindhu following the hostilities between Iran and Israel.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Centre approves ₹417 crore Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Gautam Buddha Nagar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government has approved the establishment of a ₹417 crore Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The new cluster aims to significantly boost local manufacturing, encourage innovation, and attract substantial investments into the electronics sector.

    Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Minister of State, Jitin Prasada, reviewed the project on Wednesday and instructed officials to work closely with the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure faster implementation.

    About the Project

    To be developed by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), the EMC will span 200 acres and is projected to draw approximately ₹2,500 crore in new investments. Speaking on the occasion, Vaishnaw highlighted that the EMC will generate 15,000 new jobs and create world-class infrastructure, aligning perfectly with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting “Make in India” and “Viksit Bharat.”

    Industry Impact and Products

    The cluster is set to support a broad range of industries, including:

    * Consumer electronics

    * Automotive and industrial electronics

    * Medical devices

    * Computer hardware

    * Communication equipment

    Startups and MSMEs will benefit greatly from this EMC as it will offer world-class plug-and-play infrastructure along with shared amenities. Some key facilities include standard factory sheds, electricity and water provisioning, sewage treatment, skill development centres, health centres, hostels, and more — all of which will help reduce logistics and setup costs.

    Strategic Location

    Strategically located along the Yamuna Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Expressway — with proximity to the Palwal–Khurja Expressway — the EMC enjoys strong multimodal connectivity by road, rail, and air. Its position close to the Jewar International Airport and railway hubs, along with surrounding industrial areas like the Medical Device Park, MSME & Apparel Park, and the Aviation Hub, further enhances its accessibility and appeal for potential investors.

    About EMC 2.0 Scheme

    To date, about ₹30,000 crore have been invested across EMCs under the scheme, attracting 520 companies and creating over 86,000 jobs. The new EMC in Uttar Pradesh underscores India’s commitment to becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse and will help establish a robust foundation for electronics companies looking to set up their operations in India.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Legal routes for climate justice in Africa

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Anglia Ruskin University

    Climate change lawsuits have become a new way for countries to assert their rights against actions that degrade the environment. But African countries have yet to fully exploit this route.

    In the Netherlands, the court found that greenhouse gas emissions breached the rights to life and private and family life that are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.

    In Germany, the court found that the government had breached the Climate Protection Act by not setting out a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after 2030. This meant that future generations would unfairly bear the burden of trying to limit climate change.

    Africa is the continent that’s most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. At the same time, it has contributed least in the world to greenhouse gas emissions.

    However, African countries have not taken up many climate court cases, mainly because they lack resources. They are also hampered by weak climate laws, limited expertise to gather and present evidence in court, and their economic reliance on extractive industries which they may not want to sue in court.

    One of the few African climate lawsuits was brought by the South African environmental justice group EarthLife Africa Johannesburg. It took the country’s environment ministry to court to cancel the government’s approval of new coal-fired power plants. The Pretoria high court held that the approval was unlawful because it had failed to consider how new coal-fired power stations would make climate change worse.

    Another case was filed in 2020 by civil society groups that sued the governments of Uganda and Tanzania over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline for breaching human rights and damaging the environment. The East African Court of Justice dismissed the case after the activists missed the deadline to file documents. The groups have appealed against the dismissal, but this highlights some of the difficulties in bringing international climate litigation.

    In May 2025, the Pan African Lawyers’ Union asked the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for an advisory opinion (still to be issued) on the obligations of African states to protect human rights in a time of climate crisis. This case was brought in collaboration with the Africa Climate Platform, the Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa, Natural Justice, resilient40, and other environmental justice organisations.

    I am an environmental justice researcher who examines how ecocentrism (valuing the entire interests of ecosystems over human interests or individual companies interests) can be taken forward in African legal systems.

    I argue that Africa should use three key international legal routes to amplify its voice in litigating against climate change.

    1. The International Court of Justice

    In December 2024, the International Court of Justice agreed for the first time to provide an advisory opinion on what states are obliged to do to fight climate change and set out the legal consequences for states that do not meet these obligations.

    In late 2024, the court accepted inputs from countries that had already been affected by climate change. These included members of the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States and the African Union, and South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Senegal. The court will hand down the opinion in late 2025.

    Even though International Court of Justice advisory opinions are not legally binding, these proceedings were a milestone. They provided African countries with a good platform to raise their demands about the obligations of countries to protect the climate system in this time of global warming.

    2. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

    In June 2023, the African Union submitted a written statement in support of the request made by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. The island states had asked the tribunal to set out how governments were obliged by the international marine treaty to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

    This was the first time the tribunal had formally considered the impacts of climate change on the marine environment. The African Union relied on important international environmental legal principles in its statement. These include the duty to avoid polluting the atmosphere and to prevent harm that takes place across borders.

    These principles have been used by different countries in lawsuits previously. These cases form the legal basis for many climate lawsuits today.

    The tribunal’s advisory opinions are not legally binding, but they also contribute to the development of international law, and again, could be useful for Africa to assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.

    3. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    This 1992 convention has been ratified by many African states. It is a central international legal framework that guides global action on climate change. It has been the foundation for many international agreements on how governments will prevent climate change.

    African countries will need to include international climate change agreements into their laws and policies. Not all African countries have climate change laws. Countries with climate change laws include Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. More must follow.

    Africa lacks the resources to prevent the worst effects of climate change and recover from the damage caused by global warming.

    African countries must now take climate lawsuits forward to demand accountability, shape climate policies and safeguard the future.

    By embracing regional mechanisms like the African court, using international legal instruments, and developing national climate laws, Africa can assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.

    Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Lecturer in Law, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Housing Authority wins two awards at Asia Pacific GovMedia Awards 2025 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Housing Authority wins two awards at Asia Pacific GovMedia Awards 2025  
         The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (June 25) said that the HA won two prestigious awards for its innovative projects at the GovMedia Awards 2025 ceremony held in Singapore this month including the Hong Kong Public-Private Partnership of the Year – Housing and Hong Kong Public Sector Initiative of the Year – Youth. These accolades highlight the HA’s outstanding achievements in advancing construction robotics and supporting young entrepreneurs.
     
         Since 2020, the HA has introduced new requirements on the use of construction robot technology for tender assessments of new building contracts. Through collaborations with robotics firms and the Hong Kong Center for Construction Robotics, the HA has adopted a “pioneer and pilot” approach to improve robot efficiency in a context-specific manner, driving broader adoption of construction robotics. In addition, robotic applications have been expanded to estate management, from cleaning robots to smart patrol systems, providing residents with enhanced community services. By proactively adopting robotics in construction and housing, the HA has driven innovation in housing construction and management. The Hong Kong Public-Private Partnership of the Year – Housing award recognises the HA’s leadership and impact in adopting various robotics.
     
         The Hong Kong Public Sector Initiative of the Year – Youth award acknowledges the HA’s Well Being • Start-Up programme which supports young people in pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. Launched in July 2024, this initiative provides cost-reducing opportunities for young entrepreneurs to start their businesses. By offering rent-free retail spaces under the HA, the programme lowers the barriers to entrepreneurship and brings new vitality and creativity to the community. The programme has received widespread support since its inception. In April 2025, the HA announced Well Being • Start-Up 2.0 which has garnered responses from over 10 business enterprises, further expanding support for young entrepreneurs.
     
         The GovMedia Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of government projects and initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region and recognise public organisations that demonstrate leadership, creativity and impacts in public services.
    Issued at HKT 19:05

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: YieldMax® ETFs Announces Distributions on ULTY, CONY, AMDY, LFGY, YMAX, and Others

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax® today announced distributions for the YieldMax® Weekly Payers and Group C ETFs listed in the table below.

    ETF
    Ticker    1    		 ETF Name Distribution
    Frequency    		 Distribution
    per Share    		 Distribution
    Rate    2,4    		 30-Day
    SEC Yield3    		 ROC5 Ex-Date &
    Record
    Date    		 Payment
    Date
    CHPY YieldMax® Semiconductor
    Portfolio Option Income ETF    		 Weekly $0.3767 35.95%   0.38%   96.83%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    GPTY YieldMax® AI & Tech Portfolio
    Option Income ETF    		 Weekly $0.3140 34.48%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    LFGY YieldMax® Crypto Industry &
    Tech Portfolio Option Income
    ETF    		 Weekly $0.4836 63.08%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    QDTY YieldMax® Nasdaq 100 0DTE
    Covered Call ETF    		 Weekly $0.1188 14.23%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    RDTY YieldMax® R2000 0DTE
    Covered Call ETF    		 Weekly $0.2035 22.95%   0.89%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    SDTY YieldMax® S&P 500 0DTE
    Covered Call ETF    		 Weekly $0.1151 13.52%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    ULTY YieldMax® Ultra Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Weekly $0.0923 76.38%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    YMAG YieldMax® Magnificent 7 Fund
    of Option Income ETFs    		 Weekly $0.1574 53.77%   66.50%   94.21%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    YMAX YieldMax® Universe Fund of
    Option Income ETFs    		 Weekly $0.1548 59.01%   88.53%   94.96%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    ABNY YieldMax® ABNB Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.3232 35.66%   2.97%   92.90%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    AMDY YieldMax® AMD Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.4629 71.65%   3.09%   96.14%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    CONY YieldMax® COIN Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.5354 73.35%   3.53%   96.71%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    CVNY YieldMax® CVNA Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $1.7084 51.44%   2.81%   96.68%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    FIAT YieldMax® Short COIN Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.1536 54.32%   2.93%   92.85%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    HOOY YieldMax® HOOD Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $6.5030 –   –   99.92%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    MSFO YieldMax® MSFT Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.4848 34.76%   3.13%   92.03%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    NFLY YieldMax® NFLX Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.4303 29.37%   2.98%   90.80%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    PYPY YieldMax® PYPL Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.3297 33.10%   3.41%   92.95%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    Weekly Payers & Group D ETFs scheduled for next week: CHPY GPTY LFGY QDTY RDTY SDTY ULTY YMAG YMAX AIYY AMZY APLY DISO MSTY SMCY WNTR XYZY YQQQ

    Standardized Performance and 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).

    1All YieldMax® ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG, FEAT, FIVY and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX, 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. 
    2The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on June 24, 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`t 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. 
    3The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended May 31, 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. 
    5ROC 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 (applicable to all YieldMax ETFs referenced above, except the Short ETFs)

    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 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 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.

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

    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), 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.

    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.

    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: YieldMax® ETFs Announces Distributions on ULTY, CONY, AMDY, LFGY, YMAX, and Others

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax® today announced distributions for the YieldMax® Weekly Payers and Group C ETFs listed in the table below.

    ETF
    Ticker    1    		 ETF Name Distribution
    Frequency    		 Distribution
    per Share    		 Distribution
    Rate    2,4    		 30-Day
    SEC Yield3    		 ROC5 Ex-Date &
    Record
    Date    		 Payment
    Date
    CHPY YieldMax® Semiconductor
    Portfolio Option Income ETF    		 Weekly $0.3767 35.95%   0.38%   96.83%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    GPTY YieldMax® AI & Tech Portfolio
    Option Income ETF    		 Weekly $0.3140 34.48%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    LFGY YieldMax® Crypto Industry &
    Tech Portfolio Option Income
    ETF    		 Weekly $0.4836 63.08%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    QDTY YieldMax® Nasdaq 100 0DTE
    Covered Call ETF    		 Weekly $0.1188 14.23%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    RDTY YieldMax® R2000 0DTE
    Covered Call ETF    		 Weekly $0.2035 22.95%   0.89%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    SDTY YieldMax® S&P 500 0DTE
    Covered Call ETF    		 Weekly $0.1151 13.52%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    ULTY YieldMax® Ultra Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Weekly $0.0923 76.38%   0.00%   100.00%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    YMAG YieldMax® Magnificent 7 Fund
    of Option Income ETFs    		 Weekly $0.1574 53.77%   66.50%   94.21%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    YMAX YieldMax® Universe Fund of
    Option Income ETFs    		 Weekly $0.1548 59.01%   88.53%   94.96%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    ABNY YieldMax® ABNB Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.3232 35.66%   2.97%   92.90%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    AMDY YieldMax® AMD Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.4629 71.65%   3.09%   96.14%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    CONY YieldMax® COIN Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.5354 73.35%   3.53%   96.71%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    CVNY YieldMax® CVNA Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $1.7084 51.44%   2.81%   96.68%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    FIAT YieldMax® Short COIN Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.1536 54.32%   2.93%   92.85%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    HOOY YieldMax® HOOD Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $6.5030 –   –   99.92%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    MSFO YieldMax® MSFT Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.4848 34.76%   3.13%   92.03%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    NFLY YieldMax® NFLX Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.4303 29.37%   2.98%   90.80%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    PYPY YieldMax® PYPL Option
    Income Strategy ETF    		 Every 4
    weeks    		 $0.3297 33.10%   3.41%   92.95%   6/26/25 6/27/25
    Weekly Payers & Group D ETFs scheduled for next week: CHPY GPTY LFGY QDTY RDTY SDTY ULTY YMAG YMAX AIYY AMZY APLY DISO MSTY SMCY WNTR XYZY YQQQ

    Standardized Performance and 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).

    1All YieldMax® ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG, FEAT, FIVY and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX, 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. 
    2The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on June 24, 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`t 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. 
    3The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended May 31, 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. 
    5ROC 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 (applicable to all YieldMax ETFs referenced above, except the Short ETFs)

    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 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 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.

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

    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), 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.

    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.

    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: AGF Management Limited Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    • Reported quarterly adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.39
    • Total assets under management and fee-earning assets of $53.5 billion
    • Declared quarterly dividend per share to 12.5 cents

    AGF Management Limited (AGF or the Company) (TSX: AGF.B) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended May 31, 2025.

    AGF reported total assets under management and fee-earning assets1 of $53.5 billion compared to $53.8 billion as at February 28, 2025 and $47.8 billion as at May 31, 2024.

    “We remain focused and continue to deliver despite ongoing economic and political uncertainty, supported by a long-term perspective that has enabled us to stay resilient and strategically positioned for sustained growth across our three business lines,” said Kevin McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, AGF. “As we look to the second half of the year, we are confident that our disciplined approach will allow us to respond to market shifts, deliver consistent results and drive long-term success.”

    AGF’s mutual fund gross sales were $1,148 million for the quarter compared to $1,568 million in the previous quarter and $934 million in the prior year quarter. Retail mutual fund2 net sales were $65 million compared to $342 million in the previous quarter and net redemptions of $112 million in the prior year quarter.

    “Through a challenging environment, we experienced our fourth consecutive quarter of positive retail mutual fund and mutual fund net sales outpacing the industry,” said Judy Goldring, President and Head of Global Distribution, AGF. “These results and our recent Wealth Professional Award for Mutual Fund Provider of the Year are a testament to our evolving and innovative product lineup as well as our dedication to delivering exceptional value to our clients.”

    1 Fee-earning assets represents assets in which AGF has carried interest ownership and earns recurring fees but does not have ownership interest in the managers.
    2 Retail mutual fund net sales (redemptions) are calculated as reported mutual fund net sales (redemption) less non-recurring institutional net sales (redemptions) in excess of $5 million invested in our mutual funds.
       

    Financial and Key Business Highlights:

    • Adjusted EBITDA3 for the three months ended May 31, 2025 was $39.5 million, compared to $47.9 million for the three months ended February 28, 2025 and $37.0 million for the comparative prior year period.
    • Net management, advisory and administration fees3 for the three months ended May 31, 2025 was $83.8 million, compared to $85.2 million for the three months ended February 28, 2025 and $81.2 million for the comparative prior year period.
    • Adjusted revenue from AGF Capital Partners3 for the three months ended May 31, 2025 was $14.6 million, compared to $23.6 million for the three months ended February 28, 2025 and $12.0 million for the comparative prior year period. Revenue from AGF Capital Partners can be variable quarter to quarter and can be impacted by fair value adjustments, timing of monetizations and cash distributions as well as performance fees and carried interest.
    • Adjusted selling, general and administrative costs3 for the three months ended May 31, 2025 was $59.5 million, compared to $63.6 million for the three months ended February 28, 2025 and $60.0 million for the comparative prior year period. The decrease in adjusted SG&A from prior quarter is driven by lower performance-based compensation, timing of expenses and market environment.
    • Adjusted net income attributable to equity owners3 for the three months ended May 31, 2025 was $26.0 million ($0.39 adjusted diluted EPS), compared to $32.1 million ($0.48 adjusted diluted EPS) for the three months ended February 28, 2025 and $23.6 million ($0.35 adjusted diluted EPS) for the comparative prior year period.
    • At the 2025 Wealth Professional Awards, AGF was named Mutual Fund Provider of the Year. The firm was also honoured as an Excellence Awardee in the Employer of Choice category.
    • In May, AGF Investments Inc. announced proposed changes to the investment objectives of AGF Short-Term Income Class and AGF Global Sustainable Growth Equity Fund, subject to securityholder approval at special meetings to be held on or about June 26, 2025.
    • This quarter, AGF Investments Inc announced lower management and administration fees and risk ratings for certain funds. These changes build on the firm’s commitment to continually reviewing its product line-up to ensure its offerings are responsive to market trends and competitively priced.
                                 
      Three months ended Six months ended
        May 31,     Feb. 28,     May 31,     May 31,     May 31,
    (in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)   2025     2025     2024     2025     2024
                                 
    Revenues                            
    Management, advisory and administration fees $ 119.5   $ 122.8   $ 116.4   $ 242.3   $ 225.0
    Trailing commissions and investment advisory fees   (35.7)     (37.6)     (35.2)     (73.3)     (68.9)
    Net management, advisory and administration fees3 $ 83.8   $ 85.2   $ 81.2   $ 169.0   $ 156.1
    Deferred sales charges   1.0     1.2     1.9     2.2     3.9
    Adjusted revenue from AGF Capital Partners3   14.6     23.6     12.0     38.2     36.4
    Other revenue (loss)3   (0.4)     1.5     1.9     1.1     3.6
    Total adjusted net revenue3   99.0     111.5     97.0     210.5     200.0
                                 
    Selling, general and administrative   62.8     67.8     68.2     130.6     126.1
    Adjusted selling, general and administrative3   59.5     63.6     60.0     123.1     113.5
                                 
    EBITDA3   36.2     44.2     26.6     80.4     71.7
    Adjusted EBITDA3   39.5     47.9     37.0     87.4     86.5
                                 
    Net income – equity owners of the Company   24.3     30.9     18.1     55.2     48.6
    Adjusted net income – equity owners of the Company3   26.0     32.1     23.6     58.1     57.3
                                 
    Diluted earnings per share   0.36     0.46     0.27     0.82     0.73
                                 
    Adjusted diluted earnings per share3   0.39     0.48     0.35     0.87     0.86
                                 
    Free cash flow3   24.0     31.6     23.7     55.6     44.9
                                 
    Dividends per share   0.125     0.115     0.110     0.365     0.225
                                 
                                 
      Three months ended
        May 31,     Feb. 28,     Nov. 30,     Aug. 31,     May 31,
    (in millions of Canadian dollars)   2025     2025     2024     2024     2024
                                 
    Mutual fund assets under management (AUM)4 $ 30,975   $ 31,167   $ 30,662   $ 28,104   $ 26,961
    ETFs and SMA AUM   2,771     2,913     2,537     2,128     1,800
    Segregated accounts and sub-advisory AUM   6,448     6,529     6,977     6,430     6,313
    Total AGF Investments AUM   40,194     40,609     40,176     36,662     35,074
    AGF Private Wealth AUM   8,568     8,623     8,567     8,186     8,026
    AGF Capital Partners AUM   2,600     2,468     2,752     2,774     2,663
    Total AUM $ 51,362   $ 51,700   $ 51,495   $ 47,622   $ 45,763
    AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets5   2,112     2,142     2,111     2,080     2,081
    Total AUM and fee-earning assets5 $ 53,474   $ 53,842   $ 53,606   $ 49,702   $ 47,844
                                 
    Mutual fund net sales (redemptions)4   18     258     5     14     (112)
    Retail mutual fund net sales (redemptions)2   65     342     14     19     (112)
    Average daily mutual fund AUM4   29,770     30,853     29,173     27,542     26,604
    3 Net management, advisory and administration fees, adjusted revenue from AGF Capital Partners, total net revenue, adjusted selling, general and administrative, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and free cash flow are not standardized measures prescribed by IFRS. The Company utilizes non-IFRS measures to assess our overall performance and facilitate a comparison of quarterly and full-year results from period to period. They allow us to assess our investment management business without the impact of non-operational items. These non-IFRS measures may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other companies. These non-IFRS measures and reconciliations to IFRS, where necessary, are included in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis available at www.agf.com.
    4 Mutual fund AUM includes retail AUM and institutional client AUM invested in customized series offered within mutual funds.
    5 Fee-earning assets represents assets in which AGF has carried interest ownership and earns recurring fees but does not have ownership interest in the managers.
       

    For further information and detailed financial statements for the second quarter ended May 31, 2025, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which contains discussions of non-IFRS measures, please refer to AGF’s website at www.agf.com under ‘About AGF’ and ‘Investor Relations’ and at www.sedarplus.com.

    Conference Call

    AGF will host a conference call to review its earnings results today at 11 a.m. ET.

    The live audio webcast with supporting materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of AGF’s website at www.agf.com or at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/m4th2gij. Alternatively, the call can be accessed over the phone by registering here or in the Investor Relations section of AGF’s website at www.agf.com, to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN.

    A complete archive of this discussion along with supporting materials will be available at the same webcast address within 24 hours of the end of the conference call.

    About AGF Management Limited

    Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

    AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firm’s collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $53 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

    About AGF Investments

    AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). The term AGF Investments may refer to one or more of these subsidiaries or to all of them jointly. This term is used for convenience and does not precisely describe any of the separate companies, each of which manages its own affairs. AGF Investments entities only provide investment advisory services or offers investment funds in the jurisdiction where such firm and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    About AGF Capital Partners

    AGF Capital Partners is AGF’s multi-boutique alternatives business with Affiliate Managers across both private assets and alternative strategies across both private assets and alternative strategies. Clients benefit from the specialized investment expertise of Affiliate Managers1 combined with the organizational support and breadth of resources of AGF Management Limited (AGF). With over 18 years average experience, AGF Capital Partners Affiliate Managers including, Kensington Capital Partners Limited, New Holland Capital, LLC and AGF SAF Private Credit, manage approximately C$13.7 billion* in alternative AUM and fee earning assets on behalf of institutional and retail clients. Affiliate Manager AUM may not be consolidated into AGF Management Limited’s reported AUM.

    *U.S. AUM converted FX rate at May 31, 2025 (1.38)

    1 The term ‘Affiliate Manager’ refers to any partner regardless of relationship structures or revenue sharing agreements. The form of AGF’s structured partnership interests in Affiliate Managers differs from Affiliate Manager to Affiliate Manager. The structure of the relationship with a particular Affiliate Manager, or the revenue that AGF agrees to share in, may change. Affiliate Managers only provide investment advisory services or offer products in the jurisdiction where such firm, individuals and/or product is registered or authorized to provide such services.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

    AGF Management Limited shareholders, analysts and media, please contact:

    Nick Smerek
    VP, Financial Planning & Analysis
    416-865-4337, InvestorRelations@agf.com

    Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements about the Company, including its business operations, strategy and expected financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as ‘expects,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘intends,’ ‘plans,’ ‘believes’ or negative versions thereof and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘should,’ ‘would’ and ‘could.’ In addition, any statement that may be made concerning future financial performance (including income, revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, fund performance, and possible future action on our part, is also a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including expected growth, results of operations, business prospects, business performance and opportunities. While we consider these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our operations, economic factors and the financial services industry generally. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us due to, but not limited to, important risk factors such as level of assets under our management, volume of sales and redemptions of our investment products, performance of our investment funds and of our investment managers and advisors, client-driven asset allocation decisions, pipeline, competitive fee levels for investment management products and administration, and competitive dealer compensation levels and cost efficiency in our investment management operations, as well as general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally, interest and foreign exchange rates, global equity and capital markets, business competition, taxation, changes in government regulations, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings, technological changes, cybersecurity, the possible effects of war or terrorist activities, outbreaks of disease or illness that affect local, national or international economies, natural disasters and disruptions to public infrastructure, such as transportation, communications, power or water supply or other catastrophic events, and our ability to complete strategic transactions and integrate acquisitions, and attract and retain key personnel. We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, we are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors that may impact actual results, please refer to the ‘Risk Factors and Management of Risk’ section of the 2024 Annual MD&A.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Dutch government presents a coordinated strategy to tackle corruption

    Source: Government of the Netherlands

    News item | 20-06-2025 | 15:20

    The Netherlands cannot afford to be naive in tackling corruption, as criminal organisations depend on corruption to operate. By pressuring or bribing individuals, they gain access to valuable information and can influence and manipulate processes. For this reason, the Minister of Justice and Security and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations are presenting a government-wide, anti-corruption strategy, as announced in the coalition programme, which builds on existing initiatives that have already delivered proven results. This means that authorities, implementing organisations and businesses in high-risk sectors – such as transport and logistics – will identify and take active steps in relation to their vulnerable business processes and roles. The government is committed to preventing corruption at every level, both in the public and private sectors.

    Minister Van Weel of Justice and Security: ‘Criminals are often after information, data, access to a market or a means to launder money. To achieve that, they need inside help. So they recruit staff – and not in a subtle way. Everyone in a business or organisation needs protection against this. From the municipal officer who issues passports to the port worker checking containers or the haulage company exporting goods. This strategy pushes criminals out and tackles corruption and criminal subversion head-on.’

    Minister Uitermark of the Interior and Kingdom Relations: ‘Fighting corruption is an essential pillar to strengthen the resilience and integrity of public administration. Trust in our government depends on our ability to shield our civil servants and administrators from criminal influence. This anti-corruption strategy must contribute to a safer working environment and, by extension, to a safer society.’ 

    The strategy includes measures, such as designing processes to make it increasingly difficult to ‘do a job for a criminal’, act unethically or commit corruption offences. At flower auctions, for example, drug detection dogs are deployed at unpredictable times to deter drug traffickers from using staff to smuggle drugs through flower shipments. These dogs not only help detect drugs but also empower staff to adopt a firmer position when approached by criminals. Other measures include tighter authorisation controls for IT systems, greatly reducing the risk of access and limiting leaks of information to criminals.

    The Research and Documentation Centre (WODC) is examining where the greatest corruption risks exist in the Netherlands and assessing whether current practices are adequately aligned. The findings are expected early next year. In the meantime, the government is moving ahead with specific processes and sectors whose importance to national security and the economy is so great that we must address them decisively. These at least include central government operations, the issue of travel and identity documents, the resilience of local government officials, and the transport and logistics sectors.

    In addition to robust preventive measures, the government is making sustained investments in the National Police Internal Investigations Department, the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), the Public Prosecution Service and the judiciary to detect and punish corruption and criminal interference. The Netherlands is also working with other EU Member States on an EU anti-corruption directive. It includes various criminal offences, some of which are new, aligns the minimum maximum sentences and limitation periods for corruption across the EU, and contains preventive provisions, such as regular national risk assessments and anti-corruption training for all civil servants and government-affiliated organisations.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • June 25, 1975, Lest We Forget

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Fifty years ago, on this day, the Constitution of India was put in abeyance. The political leadership, trusted to usher a new social and economic future for the citizens, conflicted with the judiciary, and the Emergency was announced.

    Fundamental rights were taken away overnight. Political opposition was put behind bars. Young voices were chased away into oblivion, and the frightened citizens of India were left to reminisce about the ugly days of British rule, for such were the dictatorial and draconian measures of the government.

    The Emergency was a setback for a young republic, rediscovering its civilisational place in a rapidly transforming world.

    Even when the Indian citizens languished for basic necessities, they always had their fundamental rights; the right to express their opinions, the right to question their governments, the right to demand better facilities, the right to practice their religion, the right to access information via press, and the right to be critical of the government. With one proclamation, all those rights were discarded, leaving millions of citizens in a limbo.

    For the people, the period was plagued with uncertainty. Many leaders, who were indefinitely jailed, were refused trial. Some have confessed that they were not even allowed to meet their family members. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh once narrated how he could not meet his mother in her final days, because he was jailed. The press, unable to function on principle, printed blank pages as a mark of protest.

    The Emergency of 1975 is the story of India’s democratic character being strangled. Within this larger story, there were millions of stories, unheard, unacknowledged, and unfortunately forgotten.

    Even when people had nothing, they had their rights, and they snatched away at the whims and fancies of one party. In a world oscillating between communism and democracy of the west, India, under the political leadership of 1975, was forced to choose a path that would usher an irreversible stain on our history.

    A democracy flourishes because of people’s trust in the institutions. From the election commission to the judiciary, these are the pieces in the larger puzzle that come together for the country to function perfectly. The Emergency diluted the criticality of these institutions. Elections were delayed. The judgement of the Allahabad High Court was set aside. When mass sterilisations were carried out in the name of population control, people did not have an institution to turn to.

    Many defenders of the Emergency proclaim that the Emergency was announced to curb possible anarchy, but in hindsight, it ushered in an era of silent anarchy within the country.

    Fifty years later, the fourth largest economy of the world must not forget the lessons from the Emergency. When a political entity loses control and conviction, it turns to the institutions, even while in opposition. Some leaders blame the election commission when the results do not go in their favour. Some pin the blame on the judiciary, and if all else fails, the media is made the scapegoat. Such political entities must be discarded.

    Our democracy’s strength is derived from its institutions, for these empower our citizens as well. Today, a citizen, even if in disagreement with the government, can walk upto the Supreme Court if their fundamental rights are violated. Today, a citizen, irrespective of their place in the socio-economic pyramid, can voice their criticism against the government. Despite the election results, the political opposition continues to flourish in our country. This is what democracy is all about- a voice for all.

    The Emergency serves as a lesson in political governance as well. Leadership must not be used to trample upon people’s rights, but to uplift those who need it the most. A leader should be able to elevate everyone’s socio-economic status, be it through financial inclusion, better infrastructure, or more economic opportunities.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was a young RSS worker during the Emergency, has taken all the right lessons from the Emergency. In his policy pursuits, he has empowered the people through an array of welfare programmes. Not letting dissent or disagreement come in the way of welfare, the Prime Minister has ensured everyone moves along the path of welfare. Dissent can be an exception, but delivery has been made a routine exercise.

    Fifty years, lest we forget the horrors of the Emergency and the people who made the brave sacrifice. Many stories and people are forgotten, and their stories never surfaced, but they all were equal stakeholders in the cause of the country. They all were equally suffering under the tyranny of a government that violated its constitutional obligations and duties.

    (Tushar Gupta is a Delhi-based journalist and a political commentator)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Negotiations update on an enhanced UK-Switzerland FTA

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Negotiations update on an enhanced UK-Switzerland FTA

    The seventh round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Switzerland took place in London between 5 and 13 June 2025.

    Economic growth is our first mission in government and FTAs have an important role to play in achieving this. An enhanced trade agreement with Switzerland will support British businesses, back British jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets.

    Switzerland is the UK’s 10th biggest trading partner and the UK-Swiss trade relationship was worth more than £45 billion in 2024. Services exports account for more than £18 billion of this, making Switzerland the UK’s 6th largest services export partner. This included over £700 million from Scotland and £1 billion from the North West in 2022. The trading relationship supported 130,000 services jobs across the UK in 2020.    

    An enhanced FTA with Switzerland aims to deliver long-term certainty for UK services firms, by locking in access to the Swiss market, guaranteeing the free flow of data and cementing business travel arrangements.

    Provisional agreement was reached on a number of areas, including Rules of Origin, Dispute Settlement, Development, Consumer Protection, Anti-Corruption, and Animal Welfare.

    Round 8 of negotiations is set to take place in Switzerland in Autumn 2025.

    The government will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors, alongside protections for the National Health Service.

    Any organisations or individuals interested in speaking to the Department for Business and Trade about negotiations with Switzerland should do so by emailing ch.fta.engagement@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –