Category: Sport

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Draper, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canterbury

    The widely held view among rugby players, coaches and officials is that headgear can’t prevent concussion. If so, why wear it? It’s hot, it can block vision and hearing, and it can be uncomfortable.

    Headgear was originally designed to protect players from cuts and abrasions. But players still hope it will offer them a degree of protection against the collisions they experience in the game. Some players adopt it after previous concussions.

    We’re now seeing increasing numbers of professional players opting in. The Irish men’s team, for example, field up to five players each match sporting headgear. In Japan, it’s mandatory for juniors. And more parents in New Zealand are making their children wear it, too.

    The exact specifications for rugby match kit – boots, shorts, shoulder pads and
    headgear – are regulated through World Rugby’s Law 4 and Regulation 12. In 2019, the governing body launched a trial enabling players to wear headgear with new technical specifications in training and matches.

    The specifications have meant manufacturers can take advantage of novel “isotropic” materials that can potentially reduce the impact forces experienced by players.

    Conventional headgear is composed of soft foams that flatten when a player’s head collides with the ground or another player. As such, they can only minimally absorb those collision forces.

    Isotropic materials behave differently. They can absorb impacts from multiple directions and may offer a level of protection against the effects on a player’s head of a tackle or other collision event.

    Given these changes, and in light of recent research, we may need to change the narrative around rugby headgear: while it may not prevent concussion, it might reduce the total contact “burden” experienced by players in a game and over a whole season. And this could have benefits for long-term brain health.

    Impacts across seasons and careers

    Contact in rugby – through tackles, at the breakdown, and in scrums and lineouts – leads to players experiencing a number of collisions or “head acceleration events”. This contact is most commonly head to ground, head to body or head to head.

    By having players use “smart” mouthguards with embedded micro-accelerometers and gyroscopes to capture head movements, researchers can now measure each collision and each player’s contact load in a game – and potentially over a career.

    A player’s total contact load is found by adding together the magnitude of the impacts they experience in a game. These are measured as “peak linear accelerations” or “peak rotational accelerations”.

    While past research and media attention has focused on concussion, it has become clear the total contact burden in training and matches – the total “sub-concussive knocks” through head acceleration events – may be as important, if not more so.

    One of our own research projects involved following 40 under-16 players wearing smart mouthguards for all training and matches across one season. Peak Linear accelerations are measured as a g-force (g). Activities such as such as running, jumping and shaking the head would measure under 8g, for example, whereas heading a soccer ball might measure 31g.

    The results of our study showed the players differed greatly in their cumulative exposure over a whole season, from 300g to nearly 14,000g. These differences would be amplified further over an entire rugby career.

    Some of the variation is likely due to a player’s team position, with loose forwards having a greater burden than others. But it also seems some players just enjoy the contact aspects of the game more than others.

    Rugby is an impact sport: the Ireland and England women’s teams clash in 2025.
    Getty Images

    Potential benefits of new headgear materials

    Researcher Helen Murray at the University of Auckland has highlighted the need for more research into the burden of collisions, rather than just concussions, over a rugby career. In particular, we need to know more about its effect on future brain health.

    We hope to contribute to this by following our existing cohort of players through their careers. In the meantime, our research has examined the potential of existing rugby headgear and new isotropic materials to mitigate peak accelerations in rugby collisions.

    Using the field data collected from male and female players over the past four seasons, we have designed laboratory testing protocols to compare the conventional and newer materials.

    The results suggest the new forms of headgear do have the potential to reduce the impact burden for players.

    We found 55–90% of head acceleration events do involve direct contact with the head. As such, collision-mitigation headgear could be beneficial. And our laboratory testing produced an estimated 30% reduction in peak linear accelerations with the headgear compared to without.

    The nature of concussion is complex and related to the size of an impact as well as its direction and angle. For instance, we observed the concussions experienced by the junior players occurred between 12g and 62g – well below the male threshold of 70g requiring professional players to be removed from the field for a head injury assessment.

    Currently, it seems unlikely headgear can prevent concussion. But it does appear new headgear materials could significantly reduce the total impact burden for players during their careers. And this may help safeguard their future brain health.

    Nick Draper receives funding from the Health Research Council, Cure Kids, the Neurological Foundation, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, Pacific Radiology Group, the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, and the UC Foundation.

    ref. Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career – https://theconversation.com/rugby-headgear-cant-prevent-concussion-but-new-materials-could-soften-the-blows-over-a-career-258912

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Defends Religious Freedom in Football Game Prayer Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led an amicus brief today to protect Americans from religious discrimination by state governments. Senator Lee filed the brief to defend free speech and religious observance from infringement by government entities as part of the case Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Association.

    “When the government blocks Christian schools from praying before their own football games, something is very wrong,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Even after the Supreme Court has repeatedly warned about the dangers of expansive definitions of government speech, some lower courts are creating new loopholes and ignoring protections for freedom of speech and religion. This overstep represents a serious danger to even private expressions of faith, and must be overturned. I pray the Supreme Court grants this case, corrects the lower court’s error, and upholds the First Amendment.”

    Joining Senator Lee in filing the amicus brief are U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Tim Scott (R-SC), as well as U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO), John McGuire (R-VA), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Keith Self (R-TX), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).

    Background

    Cambridge Christian School was set to play another Christian high school in the Florida state football championship game. Both schools wished to begin their game with prayer over the loudspeaker, but the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) refused their request – despite allowing it three years prior.

    The FHSAA originally argued that the prayer might have been viewed as a government endorsement of religion. After realizing that defense failed under controlling precedent, they changed their tune. The FHSAA now argues that the prayer would have qualified as “government speech,” giving them the right to deny the request. The Eleventh Circuit accepted this argument despite countless instances of private, non-government speech occurring over the loudspeaker at these football games.

    The court essentially backdoored in a new way to silence Americans by allowing the government to reclassify speech whenever it sees fit.

    The Establishment Clause, Free Speech Clause, and Free Exercise Clauses are meant to work together to prevent the government from impinging on freedom of religion. But actors who are hostile to religion exploit the government-speech doctrine to undermine the constitutional rights of religious persons and groups. As Justice Samuel Alito has noted, that doctrine is “susceptible to dangerous misuse” and courts “must exercise great caution before extending government-speech precedents.” This decision by the Eleventh Circuit is one of those dangerous extensions.

    Senator Lee’s amicus brief argues:

    • The Eleventh Circuit erred in its application of the government-speech doctrine, thus creating a loophole for government to stifle private speech.
    • The Eleventh Circuit’s misclassification of the speech of private actors as government speech would (a) chill otherwise protected speech, and (b) cause confusion as to what is and is not government speech.  
    • The Supreme Court should adopt an analytical framework to resolve these types of disputes.

    Read the full text of the amicus brief here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 sets stage for India’s rise as a global sporting powerhouse

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    For generations, sports in India were seen as a pastime squeezed between schoolwork and exams — a hobby on dusty fields rather than a career to aspire to. Limited infrastructure and a societal focus on academics meant few dared to dream of donning the national colours. But over the years, that narrative has steadily transformed, and today, with the launch of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, India is set to redefine its sporting destiny.

    Launched under the vision ‘From Grassroots to Glory’, the landmark policy is poised to reshape the country’s sports ecosystem. Integrating with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Khelo Bharat Niti aims to bridge the gap between classrooms and playgrounds, recognizing sports as an essential component of holistic development. It prioritizes women’s empowerment, outreach to marginalized and tribal communities, and active engagement with the Indian diaspora.

    A Vision for the 2036 Olympics

    With its eyes set firmly on the global stage, India’s ambitious roadmap includes a strategic push to become a sporting powerhouse by the 2036 Olympics — and to stake its claim as a potential host. This vision is backed by substantial funding: for FY 2025–26, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been allocated ₹3,794 crore, marking a 130.9% increase from FY 2014–15. Of this, ₹1,000 crore is earmarked for the flagship Khelo India programme alone.

    Building the Sporting Ecosystem

    The policy focuses on talent identification at the grassroots level, competitive leagues, world-class training, and sports science support. It calls for significant private sector participation through public-private partnerships, corporate social responsibility, and innovative funding models, laying the groundwork for a sustainable sports industry.

    Sports are also being positioned as a major economic driver, with an emphasis on boosting sports tourism, hosting international events, and nurturing sports startups. The goal is to transform sports from a niche pursuit into a vibrant sector generating livelihoods and national pride.

    A Network of Opportunity

    Since its inception in 2016–17 and subsequent expansion in 2021, Khelo India has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of India’s sports revolution. The initiative has approved 326 sports infrastructure projects, committing over ₹3,124 crore to enhance athletic facilities across the nation. Furthermore, it has been instrumental in creating a robust support system for athletes by establishing 1,045 Khelo India Centres and 34 State Centres of Excellence, complemented by 306 accredited academies. This expansive network provides comprehensive support to nearly 2,850 athletes, covering their training needs, equipment, medical care, and stipends. Khelo India also organizes several annual flagship events, including the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, Para Games, and Winter Games. These 17 editions of events have collectively drawn over 50,000 athletes, showcasing a significant increase in participation and competitive opportunities within the Indian sports landscape.

    One of the programme’s standout initiatives is KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification), which scouts talent aged 9–18 through 174 Talent Assessment Centres. It aims to propel India into the top-10 sporting nations by 2036, and top-5 by 2047.

    Further, the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival is set to take place at Srinagar’s Dal Lake this August, featuring five sports and over 400 athletes — a testament to the policy’s vision of broadening India’s sporting horizons.

    Institutional Support for Excellence

    The National Sports University, established in Imphal in 2018, is another pillar supporting this vision. The university focuses on sports sciences, management, coaching, and research, training India’s next generation of elite athletes and sports professionals. With global partnerships and a motto of Sports Excellence through Education, Research and Training, it aims to bridge education with high-performance sport.

    Stories Beyond the Arena

    The impact of these initiatives is visible in countless inspiring journeys. Para-athlete Rohit Kumar, a PhD scholar in Delhi, credits government support for creating equal opportunities for athletes like him. “Progress is possible only when supported by the government and society,” he says. He sees Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 — especially its integration with the NEP — as a transformative step for athletes who wish to balance sports and education.

    Athlete Samantha Saver Siddi, from India’s historic Siddi community, echoes this optimism. Practising at Bengaluru’s Jay Prakash Narayan Sports Academy while pursuing her arts degree, Samantha dreams of winning medals for India and credits the policy for creating an environment where such dreams can thrive.

    Towards a Sporting Nation

    India’s medal tallies — from 57 at Incheon 2014 to 69 at Jakarta 2018, and a record 107 at Hangzhou 2023 — highlight a nation on the rise. As India aims to elevate its global standing, Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 is set to be the blueprint for nurturing talent, expanding opportunities, and building a culture where sports and academics stand shoulder to shoulder.

    With its youth population of over 65%, India has the numbers — and now, the resolve — to transform playground dreams into podium moments. The journey from dusty fields to Olympic podiums is no longer a distant dream, but a goal within reach.

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Firearms Convictions

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

     A woman who violated multiple federal firearms laws was sentenced July 9, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

    Maria Francisca Portalatin, age 53, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on February 7, 2025, to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, one count of making false statements during the purchase of firearms, one count of straw purchase of firearms, and one count of concealing a person from arrest.

     Evidence in the case showed that in April of 2023, Portalatin knowingly made false statements and representations on ATF forms to Dunham’s Sports Store in Sioux City in connection with her acquisition of multiple firearms.  Portalatin later admitted to law enforcement that she was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and purchased the firearms for Freddie Summerville who she knew was prohibited from possessing a firearm.  Evidence further showed, that in June of 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Portalatin’s residence and located the four firearms she had purchased.  During an interview with law enforcement, Portalatin admitted she lied on the ATF forms and that she was aware that Freddie Summerville was wanted on a federal warrant.  In July of 2024, Portalatin and Summerville were stopped in a vehicle near Sioux Falls.  Subsequently, in an interview with law enforcement she admitted they were smoking methamphetamine and that she had helped harbor and conceal Summerville.  
     
    Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Portalatin was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay $1,400 in fines and assessments.  She must also serve a 2 year term of supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  
    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kraig R. Hamit and Kevin C. Fletcher.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  
    The case file number is 24-CR-04053.   Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Firearms Convictions

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

     A woman who violated multiple federal firearms laws was sentenced July 9, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

    Maria Francisca Portalatin, age 53, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on February 7, 2025, to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, one count of making false statements during the purchase of firearms, one count of straw purchase of firearms, and one count of concealing a person from arrest.

     Evidence in the case showed that in April of 2023, Portalatin knowingly made false statements and representations on ATF forms to Dunham’s Sports Store in Sioux City in connection with her acquisition of multiple firearms.  Portalatin later admitted to law enforcement that she was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and purchased the firearms for Freddie Summerville who she knew was prohibited from possessing a firearm.  Evidence further showed, that in June of 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Portalatin’s residence and located the four firearms she had purchased.  During an interview with law enforcement, Portalatin admitted she lied on the ATF forms and that she was aware that Freddie Summerville was wanted on a federal warrant.  In July of 2024, Portalatin and Summerville were stopped in a vehicle near Sioux Falls.  Subsequently, in an interview with law enforcement she admitted they were smoking methamphetamine and that she had helped harbor and conceal Summerville.  
     
    Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Portalatin was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay $1,400 in fines and assessments.  She must also serve a 2 year term of supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  
    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kraig R. Hamit and Kevin C. Fletcher.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  
    The case file number is 24-CR-04053.   Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sioux City Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Firearms Convictions

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

     A woman who violated multiple federal firearms laws was sentenced July 9, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

    Maria Francisca Portalatin, age 53, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on February 7, 2025, to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, one count of making false statements during the purchase of firearms, one count of straw purchase of firearms, and one count of concealing a person from arrest.

     Evidence in the case showed that in April of 2023, Portalatin knowingly made false statements and representations on ATF forms to Dunham’s Sports Store in Sioux City in connection with her acquisition of multiple firearms.  Portalatin later admitted to law enforcement that she was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and purchased the firearms for Freddie Summerville who she knew was prohibited from possessing a firearm.  Evidence further showed, that in June of 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Portalatin’s residence and located the four firearms she had purchased.  During an interview with law enforcement, Portalatin admitted she lied on the ATF forms and that she was aware that Freddie Summerville was wanted on a federal warrant.  In July of 2024, Portalatin and Summerville were stopped in a vehicle near Sioux Falls.  Subsequently, in an interview with law enforcement she admitted they were smoking methamphetamine and that she had helped harbor and conceal Summerville.  
     
    Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Portalatin was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay $1,400 in fines and assessments.  She must also serve a 2 year term of supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  
    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kraig R. Hamit and Kevin C. Fletcher.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  
    The case file number is 24-CR-04053.   Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
     

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens call for safe and managed routes for asylum seekers

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    Responding to the new Anglo-French deal on small-boat crossings, Carla Denyer, Green Party Co-Leader, said:

    “The only way to stop people making dangerous journeys across the channel is to introduce safe and managed routes for people to seek asylum in the UK. Anything else – including the impractical and unrealistic deal announced today – is a distraction.

    “While our governments use migration as a political football, more people will lose their lives in the Channel fleeing violence, war or oppression because the only way for them to reach the UK is by putting their lives in the hands of people smugglers.

    “Earlier this year a committee of MPs published a detailed analysis of how to improve the UK’s refugee and asylum policy, and recommended sensible measures including improving family reunion, restoring the resettlement scheme, and introducing a pilot refugee visa.

    “Instead of scrambling to appear tough on migration with flawed scheme after flawed scheme, it’s time for the UK government to get practical about tackling small boat crossings, and urgently set up safe and managed routes for people to seek asylum in the UK.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Signs Legislation into Law Promoting Economic Development

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 10, 2025

     — Today, at bill signing ceremonies in St. Louis, Governor Mike Kehoe signed House Bills (HB) 199 and 1041 into law.

    Governor Kehoe joined St. Louis local business and community leaders and elected officials at Union Station to sign HB 199, which allows a special entertainment district to be established in downtown St. Louis. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Bill Falkner and Senator David Gregory, also modifies over 30 additional provisions relating to political subdivisions.

    • Allows the St. Charles Conventions and Sports Facilities Authority to receive a state tax incremental financing (TIF) district without first having a local TIF.
    • Allows Benton, Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties, as well as the City of Lake Ozark, to establish entertainment districts.
    • Extends eligibility to the St. Louis Port Authority for the Waterways and Ports Trust Fund.
    • Clarifies that the Kansas City Mayor must appoint commissioners to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority from candidate panels submitted by the Clay or Platte County Commissions when their respective seats on the board become vacant.
    • Enables the establishment of a Clay County Sports Complex Authority, with similar powers and processes to those of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

    “I’m proud to be born and raised in St. Louis and remain committed to revitalizing downtown,” said Governor Kehoe. “This special entertainment district marks a new chapter for business and community leaders to promote tourism, public safety, and economic growth in St. Louis.”

    At Anheuser-Busch’s St. Louis Brewery, Governor Kehoe joined Missouri brewers from across the state to sign Representative Dane Diehl’s and Senator Kurtis Gregory’s HB 1041, which modifies regulations for alcoholic beverages.

    • Reduces the malt liquor tax from $1.86 per barrel to $0.62 per barrel for all malt liquors produced at American Breweries.
    • Expands current law to allow wine, beer, malt liquor, and spirits to be donated by manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and unlicensed persons to charitable or religious organizations and educational institutions for auction or raffle.
    • Expands current law to allow cash rebate coupons for wine and liquor sales.
    • Increases revenues deposited into the Missouri Wine and Grape Fund from $0.12/gallon of wine sold to $0.21/gallon, allowing the Missouri Wine and Grape Board to use the additional revenue to support the University of Missouri’s Grape and Wine Institute.
    • Allows entities licensed to sell liquor by the drink for consumption on their licensed premises to be open 24 hours a day and serve alcohol from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. the following day during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    “We are proud to sign this legislation today, rightly branded as the American Beer Act, to help support and strengthen Missouri breweries, farmers, suppliers, and retailers who brew and sell American beer,” said Governor Kehoe. “Our state has a long history of being home to some of the best brewers in the nation, and by taking this action today to support breweries at a state level, Missouri is setting an example of supporting companies that are investing in American manufacturing, jobs, and communities.”

    For more information on the legislation and additional provisions signed into law, visit house.mo.gov and senate.mo.gov. Photos from the bill signing will be uploaded to Governor Kehoe’s Flickr page. Additional bill signings will continue to take place over the next several days. For more information on the bill signings, view Governor Kehoe’s schedule.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Wimbledon’s electronic line-calling system shows we still can’t replace human judgment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Feng Li, Chair of Information Management, Associate Dean for Research & Innovation, Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London

    The Wimbledon tennis tournament in 2025 has brought us familiar doses of scorching sunshine and pouring rain, British hopes and despair, and the usual queues, strawberries and on-court stardust. One major difference with this year’s tournament, however, has been the notable absence of human line judges for the first time in 147 years.

    In a bid to modernise, organisers have replaced all 300 line judges with the Hawk-Eye electronic line-calling (ELC) system powered by 18 high-speed cameras and supported by around 80 on-court assistants.

    It has been sold as a leap forward but has already caused widespread controversy. In her fourth-round match against Britain’s Sonay Kartal, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was forced to replay a point she had clearly won, because ELC had failed to register that a ball had landed out. Furious, Pavlyuchenkova told the umpire: “You took the game away from me … they stole the game from me.”

    British players Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have also voiced concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the technology.

    We have seen this before in business, government and elite sport (think VAR in football). Promising technologies fail, not necessarily because the systems are flawed – though some are – but because the institutions around them have not kept up. The belief that technology can neatly replace human judgement is seductive. It’s also deeply flawed.


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


    Systems like Hawk-Eye at Wimbledon offer measurable gains in accuracy, but accuracy is not the same as legitimacy. People don’t just want correct decisions, they also want understandable and fair ones. When human line judges made mistakes, they were visible and open to appeal. When a machine fails, with no explanation and no route for redress, it breeds confusion and frustration.

    Consider Formula 1. At the 2025 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, driver Oscar Piastri was handed a 10-second penalty by race stewards for erratic braking during a safety car restart. He called it inconsistent and harsh, and many fans agreed.

    The key difference? We knew who made the call. There was someone to question, and a process to scrutinise. With machines, however, there’s no one to challenge. You can’t argue with a black box, or hold it to account.

    Beyond performance

    Technology is usually introduced to improve performance or reduce costs, but the full story is rarely made explicit. Wimbledon’s adoption of the new system was framed as a move towards greater accuracy and consistency, but it was also likely driven by the desire to speed up matches, cut costs, and reduce reliance on human labour.

    Yet sport is not just about accuracy. It is entertainment. It thrives on emotion, tradition and theatre. For 147 years, line judges were part of Wimbledon’s identity. Their posture, uniforms, gestures, indeed even the drama of a close call, added to the spectacle. Removing them may have improved accuracy (and cut costs), but the atmosphere was also changed.

    Tradition is often dismissed as nostalgia, but in institutions like Wimbledon, tradition is part of what makes the experience legitimate and enjoyable. When it’s stripped away with only a token explanation, players and audiences can lose trust, not just in the change, but in the institution itself. It is a cultural change, which is never easy.

    One common solution is to combine human judgement with the technology especially during the transition period, but hybrids rarely work well in practice as responsibilities get blurred.

    In business, this is known as the “hybrid trap”: bolting new technologies onto old systems without rethinking or redesigning either. Instead of the best of both worlds, the result is often confusion, duplication and failure.

    Wimbledon did not seem to offer a formal challenge system or human override during matches. Although 80 former line judges were retained as on-court assistants, their role was not adjudicative. This might speed up play, but it leaves the system brittle. When something breaks, there is no immediate redress. We have seen this elsewhere.

    What this tells us about AI

    Wimbledon’s failure was a textbook case of poor tech adoption. Hawk-Eye did what it was designed to do, but the institution wasn’t ready, least of all the players, umpires and spectators.

    The same pattern is playing out with artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, from customer service bots to healthcare triage systems. These tools are being rolled out at speed, often with minimal oversight. When they hallucinate, embed bias or produce erratic results, there is rarely a clear route to appeal, and often no one to hold accountable.

    The real problem is not just technical but institutional. Most organisations aren’t ready for what they’re adopting. Instead of transforming themselves to harness new technologies, they bolt them onto legacy systems and carry on as before. Key questions go unanswered: Who decides? Who benefits? Who is accountable when things go wrong? Without clear answers, new technologies don’t solve dysfunction, they entrench it. Sometimes, they hardwire it.

    If we want technology to improve how the world works, we can’t just automate tasks, processes or jobs. We need to rethink and redesign the institutions these systems are meant to serve, using new capabilities these technologies make possible. Until then, even the best systems will continue to fall short, both quietly and occasionally spectacularly.

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

    ref. Wimbledon’s electronic line-calling system shows we still can’t replace human judgment – https://theconversation.com/wimbledons-electronic-line-calling-system-shows-we-still-cant-replace-human-judgment-260845

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Discover Nature During Saskatchewan Parks Week: July 13 to 19

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 10, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed July 13 to 19, 2025, as Saskatchewan Parks Week, an invitation to get out in nature and explore events and activities in any provincial park.

    The week will wrap up with free entry at all provincial parks on July 19 for Parks Day.  

    “Saskatchewan Parks Week is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, connect with nature and experience the vibrant events happening throughout our parks,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said. “We invite everyone to get out and discover all the ways our parks can inspire, rejuvenate and bring people together. This year we have added a special offer with free entry to any provincial park on July 19. It’s an invitation to everyone in Saskatchewan to explore the beauty of our provincial parks.”

    Activities During Parks Week

    Throughout the week enjoy a variety of events, activities and memorable experiences including:  

    • July 13 – Journey on Jackfish Canoe Tour at Duck Mountain Provincial Park.  
    • July 13 – SaskExpress: Lost in a Musical at Pike Lake Provincial Park.  
    • July 17 – “A Tree Falls in the Forest” amphitheater play at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.  
    • July 18 – Stabler Point Trail Hike at Makwa Lake Provincial Park.

    A full list of all Saskatchewan Parks Week activities can be found on SaskParks.com event calendar.

    Celebrate Parks Day on Saturday, July 19 with free entry at all Saskatchewan Provincial Parks.

    On July 19 for Parks Day there are themed crafts, Family Game Nights, hikes and more, to celebrate. Join Park Interpreters for a variety of programs such as:  

    • Hike the Dunes at Douglas Provincial Park.
    • Craft Club: Parks Day at most provincial parks and make your own painted park keepsake.
    • Hike Klinger Trail at Greenwater Lake Provincial Park.
    • Haunted Hike at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park.  
    • Night Caching: Ravine Rendezvous at Rowan’s Ravine Provincial Park.  
    • Haymeadow Hike and Meadow Lake.
    • Escape the Park at Pike Lake.
    • Summer Fun in the Park at Great Blue Heron Provincial Park: Join us for a full day of classic camping fun including crafts, campground games, songs and s’mores.
    • Cannington Manor, Fort Carlton and Wood Mountain Post Provincial Historic Parks are open for guided tours.

    To find your nearest provincial park go to SaskParks.com.

    For more information about programs and events happening throughout all summer, including Saskatchewan Parks Week, check out the events calendar.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • FIFA rankings: India men’s football team slips to 133, lowest in nine years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian men’s football team has slipped to its lowest FIFA ranking in nine years, falling six spots to 133rd in the latest update released on Thursday. The drop comes after back-to-back defeats in June — a 0-2 loss to Thailand in a friendly on June 4, followed by a 0-1 defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifier.

    These results also led to head coach Manolo Marquez parting ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). India last ranked lower in December 2016, when it stood at 135. The team’s all-time best ranking remains 94, achieved in February 1996.

    India now has 1,113.22 rating points, down from 1,132.03, and stands 24th among 46 Asian nations, with Japan leading the continent at 17th in the global rankings. It has been a rough stretch for the Indian men’s team, with the recent loss to Hong Kong severely denting its hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup.

    Among Asian Football Confederation (AFC) members, India is ranked 24th out of 47 member associations.

    Under head coach Manolo Marquez, the team managed just one win in its last eight outings — a victory over the Maldives in March. In 2025 so far, India has played four matches, recording one win, one draw, and two defeats.

    The string of poor results led to the return of legendary striker and former captain Sunil Chhetri to the squad, but his comeback has done little to change the team’s fortunes.

    India’s next international fixture is an away match against Singapore in October, as part of the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers.

    Meanwhile, reigning World Champion Argentina tops the FIFA rankings among 210 nations, followed by Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia, in that order to complete the top 10.

    Costa Rica is the biggest climber in the rankings with a 14-place jump, while Honduras gained the most points.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI USA: Announcing the Tariff Resource Guide

    Source: US State of New York

    mid the economic turmoil created by President Trump’s chaotic tariffs, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new tariff resource guide to keep New Yorkers up-to-date on programs available for business owners who have been impacted by tariffs. Additionally, the Governor announced a survey to allow business owners the opportunity to share how their businesses have been impacted by the federal government’s recently announced tariffs.

    “New Yorkers and business owners all across the state have felt a sense of uncertainty when it comes to the impacts of President Trump’s callous tariffs on our imported goods,” Governor Hochul said. “No business should have to close shop due to these unfair and unwanted taxes that were imposed on states by the Trump administration. This resource guide will help provide individuals with the guidance they need to lower potential risk to their businesses and give New Yorkers a better understanding of how tariffs can impact them.”

    Tariffs Impacts on the Economy and Tourism
    Governor Hochul has heard from small and mid-sized businesses across the state who are worried about rising costs and their future. A recent survey from the National Small Business Association found that the majority of small businesses are concerned about tariffs and one in three are very concerned. Examples include North Country manufacturer Alcoa, which took an estimated $20 million hit on imports from Canada, and North Country Golf Club which is facing declines in businesses due to the decline in tourism from Canada.

    Due to the tariff trade war with Canada, New York’s number one trade partner, and the rhetoric that Canada could be the “51st state,” impacts are widespread. Visitors from Canada are avoiding the U.S. and New York State. Overall, cross-border traffic from Canada has plummeted since Trump implemented his tariff policies. The most recent data shows that there were 400,000 fewer Canadian visitors in May compared to the same period in 2024. Bridge crossings over the Ogdensburg Bridge and the Champlain crossing in May were down 30 percent during that same time period from last year. In a recent North Country Chamber of Commerce survey, 66 percent of tourism businesses report a drop in Canadian customers and one in four businesses in the region may cut staff as a result. Reservations are down at hotels, campgrounds, local marinas, golf courses and other businesses that rely on visitors from Canada.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Announcing the Tariff Resource Guide

    Source: US State of New York

    mid the economic turmoil created by President Trump’s chaotic tariffs, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new tariff resource guide to keep New Yorkers up-to-date on programs available for business owners who have been impacted by tariffs. Additionally, the Governor announced a survey to allow business owners the opportunity to share how their businesses have been impacted by the federal government’s recently announced tariffs.

    “New Yorkers and business owners all across the state have felt a sense of uncertainty when it comes to the impacts of President Trump’s callous tariffs on our imported goods,” Governor Hochul said. “No business should have to close shop due to these unfair and unwanted taxes that were imposed on states by the Trump administration. This resource guide will help provide individuals with the guidance they need to lower potential risk to their businesses and give New Yorkers a better understanding of how tariffs can impact them.”

    Tariffs Impacts on the Economy and Tourism
    Governor Hochul has heard from small and mid-sized businesses across the state who are worried about rising costs and their future. A recent survey from the National Small Business Association found that the majority of small businesses are concerned about tariffs and one in three are very concerned. Examples include North Country manufacturer Alcoa, which took an estimated $20 million hit on imports from Canada, and North Country Golf Club which is facing declines in businesses due to the decline in tourism from Canada.

    Due to the tariff trade war with Canada, New York’s number one trade partner, and the rhetoric that Canada could be the “51st state,” impacts are widespread. Visitors from Canada are avoiding the U.S. and New York State. Overall, cross-border traffic from Canada has plummeted since Trump implemented his tariff policies. The most recent data shows that there were 400,000 fewer Canadian visitors in May compared to the same period in 2024. Bridge crossings over the Ogdensburg Bridge and the Champlain crossing in May were down 30 percent during that same time period from last year. In a recent North Country Chamber of Commerce survey, 66 percent of tourism businesses report a drop in Canadian customers and one in four businesses in the region may cut staff as a result. Reservations are down at hotels, campgrounds, local marinas, golf courses and other businesses that rely on visitors from Canada.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmark Devolution Bill brings new dawn of regional power

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Landmark Devolution Bill brings new dawn of regional power

    English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill delivers on manifesto commitment to de-centralise power and ignite regional growth with powers for mayors.

    Ambition for all regions to take the reins in driving growth receives its biggest boost as the landmark English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is introduced to Parliament today [Thursday 10th July]. 

    Local people will take back control of their regions, from bolstered rights to save cherished community assets, to a bigger voice in neighbourhood governance and increased powers to their directly elected leaders and mayors so they can unlock housing, transport and jobs in their regions through Local Growth Plans.  

    The Bill will deliver on the government’s manifesto commitment to unlock a generational shift in power from Westminster to those with skin in the game, and rebalance prosperity, deliver economic growth and a decade of national renewal across the nation as part of the Plan for Change. 

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: 

    We were elected on a promise of change, not just for a few areas cherry-picked by a Whitehall spreadsheet, but for the entire country. It was never going to be easy to deliver the growth our country desperately needed with the inheritance we were dumped with. 

    But that’s why we are opting to devolve not dictate and delivering a Bill that will rebalance decade old divides and empower communities. We’re ushering in a new dawn of regional power and bringing decision making to a local level so that no single street or household is left behind and every community thrives from our Plan for Change.”  

    Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP said:  

    For too long power and opportunity has been concentrated in Westminster and Whitehall while the local councils millions rely on have been frustrated and diminished. This failed approach has held back growth across our country for far too long. Local people see this in the job market, on the high street and in their own household security and prosperity.  

    Devolution begins the work of fixing that, with this Bill delivering freedom to local leaders to make decisions for their local areas in partnership with local communities, unleashing more growth and more opportunities for people as part of our Plan for Change.”  

    England has fallen behind from the rest of the globe in modernising how decisions are made, but devolution prioritises people and partnership over paperwork and politics. This Bill will deliver changes including 

    • Making more local ownership of pubs, shops and social hubs  easier through a new Community Right to Buy meaning communities will have the first opportunity to purchase local assets when they are put up for sale, and be given an extended 12-month period to raise funding. And more local sports grounds will be saved by introducing a new ‘Sporting’ category protection of local assets preserving local character, boosting tourism and keeping community spirit alive.  

    • Banning Upward Only Rent Reviews (UORR) clauses in commercial leases, which pit landlords against businesses and can make rents unaffordable and cause shops to shut. This will help keep small businesses running, boost local economies and job opportunities and help end the blight of vacant high streets and the unacceptable anti-social behaviour that comes with them.  

    • A stronger voice for communities with a new requirement for local authorities to put in place effective neighbourhood governance to give residents more of a say in shaping their local areas.  

    • Quicker action on the changes local people want to see with more rights for Mayors, elected by their communities, to take back control of delivering for their voters’, from new licensing powers for rental e-bikes to new planning powers to set the direction of growth across their areas.  

    • Boosting economic growth with mayors working across the country to turbocharge the national missions by developing tailor made Local Growth Plans to kickstart local economies and ultimately getting more money in people’s pockets.  

    • Streamlined powers for Mayors across England to speed up the development of new homes and infrastructure in their areas. This will include a new power to institute Mayoral Development Orders, as well as a streamlined process to establish Mayoral Development Corporations, so that we can replicate the success of projects such as the Olympic Park legacy and attract inward investment right across the country. 

    • Fixing the cracks in local government through rebuilding the sector from the ground up to be more efficient, local people will get the daily services they deserve and rely on from their Council, like bin collection, whilst also enabling areas to work together over larger areas to deliver the big changes, like integrated transport networks. This will be done through the creation of new ‘Strategic Authorities’ that will boost connectivity and collaboration between Councils.    

    • Restoring taxpayers’ trust in councils’ spending through fixing the local audit system with the establishment of the Local Audit Office, which will increase transparency, simplify and streamline the system.  

    Deepening devolution across the country is what delivers the change to the day-to-day services and opportunities on every region’s doorstep. From the new Anglia Ruskin University in Peterborough, to ticket caps for commuters on the Bee Network in Manchester and budding film and TV creatives flocking to Liverpool’s Littlewoods over Hollywood – devolution is what will bring this regeneration to all regions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Annual Trading Competition KCGI Launches With $6 Million Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading crypto exchange and Web3 company, has officially opened registration for KCGI 2025, the most anticipated trading competition of the year, featuring a massive 6 million USDT prize pool, brand-new segments, and early-bird rewards that make joining early a winning move.

    From team battles to bot duels, KCGI 2025 isn’t just a tournament — it’s a spectacle. This year’s edition takes competition to the next level with enhanced challenge modes, region-based leaderboards, and incentives for everyone from strategic captains to high-velocity newcomers. Whether you’re a pro with a polished strategy or a rookie with something to prove, the game is on. There is a spot with your name on it.

    “Every year during KCGI we witness traders across the globe strategize, synchronize and innovate,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “There’s a lot of community and teamwork involved, KCGI is our way of showing gratitude to our top traders. That said, we’re excited to kick off this year’s competition with 6 million USDT up for grabs and a range of dynamic challenges ahead. We’re inviting our community to lead, win, and shape the future of trading.”

    6 Million USDT Promotion Pool

    This year’s 6 million USDT promotion pool is packed with surprises. Top-performing participants may unlock VIP experiences with Bitget partners. Those partners include LALIGA matchday access, MotoGP circuit passes, and other premium rewards that go beyond the charts. It’s not just about who trades best. It’s also about who dares to play big, lead boldly, and win in style.

    KCGI 2025 introduces four high-stakes categories:

    • Team Battle – Form alliances, build your squad, and rise through the ranks together.
    • Copy Trading Showdown – Let your strategy do the talking, or ride with the best.
    • Bot Trading Competition – Code it. Launch it. Dominate the charts.
    • On-chain Arena – The ultimate test of decentralized skill and chain-savvy moves.

    Early registrants unlock exclusive perks like trading bonuses, entry into mystery prize draws, and first dibs on team captaincy slots. Participants from over 100 countries are expected to join. Thus, it has not only become the largest KCGI yet but also the most global, collaborative, and competitive.

    The official Team Battle segment begins July 24, but the smart money moves early. Traders who register now not only secure their seat, but they also set the tone for the event.

    Get in early. Build your team. Shape the leaderboard.

    KCGI 2025: This isn’t just trading, it’s a full-on battle with rewards.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin priceEthereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices.

    Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist), and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: WebsiteTwitterTelegramLinkedInDiscordBitget Wallet

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7165dcd-738c-44c1-a485-b90d3695b922

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Women’s Euro 2025: what players do to recover between matches — and how they prepare for their next game

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Hough, Lecturer Sport & Exercise Physiology , University of Westminster

    Recovery starts for England’s Lionesses as soon as the match ends. Romain Biard/ Shutterstock

    As with many competitions, competitors in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament face a gruelling match schedule. There are typically only three or four days between matches during the group stage of international tournaments – with some teams even facing tighter turnarounds depending on scheduling.

    This congested fixture schedule places a significant physical demand on players, increases injury risk and makes it challenging to sustain peak physical performance. This is why recovery strategies are put into action from the moment the match ends so players are in peak condition for the next match.

    The first recovery strategy happens as soon as players arrive in the changing room. There will be a buffet-style food selection with plenty of carbohydrate and protein-based snacks to begin refuelling. Players also typically consume a “recovery” drink. This consists of carbohydrates to restore muscle glycogen (which our body uses for energy), and around 20-30 grams of protein to aid muscle repair.


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


    Over the following days, players will follow a meticulously-planned diet with the correct balance of carbohydrates, protein, fats and nutrients (such as the polyphenols found in tart cherry juice) to support muscle repair and adaptation.

    Sweat loss during matches – particularly in summer tournaments – leads to significant dehydration. Players typically sweat around 1.5 litres or more during a match. Immediately after a match, players are given isotonic drinks to replace the water and electrolytes (specifically sodium) they’ve lost through sweating.

    To estimate fluid loss, players’ post-match weight is recorded to guide how much they should drink. A one kilogram reduction in body weight corresponds to roughly one litre of fluid lost through sweating. To re-hydrate, players drink around 1.5 litres per kilogram of weight lost.

    Physical recovery

    Some players might perform around 10-15 minutes of low-intensity aerobic activity immediately following the match – such as cycling. This light activity maintains blood flow to the muscles, which might reduce the feeling of muscle soreness in the following days, although the evidence for this is inconclusive.

    Players often use cold water immersion (ice baths) to reduce inflammation, swelling and muscle soreness. This involves standing or sitting in cold water (which is between 10–15°C) for around 10–15 minutes. Players may also take ice baths in the days between matches. Although there’s debate over whether ice baths speed up recovery, it remains a widely accepted practice in elite sport where rapid recovery is prioritised.

    Another option involves alternating between hot water (around 36°C) and cold water – a practice known as contrast water therapy. Contrast water therapy causes the blood vessels to constrict in the cold water, then dilate in the hot water. This practice may enhance blood flow, reduce swelling and decrease muscle soreness.

    Players often wear compression garments for several hours post-match and overnight. These garments enhance blood flow and reduce swelling. They’re also shown to reduce pain and muscle soreness.

    Recently, inflatable compression leg sleeves have become popular among athletes. These boots inflate and deflate cyclically to promote blood flow and lymphatic drainage. This works similar to a sports massage or contrast water therapy, helping clear inflammatory proteins from the body. This may reduce swelling and decrease the severity of muscle soreness.

    Sleep also plays a crucial role in a player’s physical and mental restoration between tournament matches. Players are encouraged to get eight to ten hours of quality sleep per night. Some players even take a 20-90 minute nap in the early afternoon to increase alertness, improve mood and potentially improve performance.

    Recovery will be tailored to each player.
    Jose Breton- Pics Action/ Shutterstock

    Good sleep hygiene can help players get a good night’s sleep even despite hectic tournament schedules. This involves ensuring their bedroom is cool and dark and minimising screen time before bed.

    Preparing for the next match

    The day after a match, players will perform a recovery session incorporating some sort of light activity – such as cycling, dynamic movements in the swimming pool and foam rolling (a type of self-massage that uses a foam cylinder to apply pressure to different muscles).

    Although light activity does not accelerate muscle recovery, it can offer psychological benefits – such as reducing the feeling of muscle soreness and stiffness. Players may also undergo targeted physiotherapy and massage to reduce muscle soreness, increase mobility and ease pain.

    Recovery time varies between players and the level of fatigue they experience. Fatigue will be influenced by the player’s age and their match demands – with players who run a greater distance or perform more sprints and changes of direction typically taking more time to recover between matches.

    Players’ fatigue is monitored between matches using various methods – including GPS data, biochemical markers of inflammation and muscle damage, and wellness questionnaires. This data is used to individualise training and recovery.

    Players showing elevated fatigue might perform light technical drills, tactical walkthroughs of different plays and strategies the player might use on the field and mobility-focused gym work to maintain sharpness without causing more fatigue. Whereas players whose fatigue levels have returned to close to normal will resume normal training.

    Performing on the world stage with the weight of national pride brings intense pressure. Players must contend with media scrutiny coupled with the expectations of coaches and fans. These factors can disrupt sleep and trigger a biological stress response, which may impair recovery.

    So to help manage mental stress, teams schedule structured downtime, encouraging players to connect with family or engage in hobbies that promote mental recovery and psychological detachment from football. Sports psychologists may also support players during tournaments, providing mental skills training and helping players develop strategies to cope with stress and pressure.

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

    ref. Women’s Euro 2025: what players do to recover between matches — and how they prepare for their next game – https://theconversation.com/womens-euro-2025-what-players-do-to-recover-between-matches-and-how-they-prepare-for-their-next-game-260248

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI: Odin Stem Cells Becomes First Nationwide In Home Stem Cell Company Infused with Love Through Groundbreaking Partnership with The World’s Greatest Experiment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a bold move set to redefine the future of wellness, Odin Stem Cells has announced a transformative partnership with The World’s Greatest Experiment—a global initiative known for uplifting communities in poverty by teaching them to meditate and send love to people, products, and organizations around the world. With this alliance, Odin becomes the first stem cell company in the world whose treatments and clients receive daily love meditations from a global network of meditators, many of whom are rising out of extreme poverty through their participation.

    Odin Stem Cells, co-founded by Nico Seedsman, is a leading regenerative teli-health company specializing in cutting-edge stem cell therapies that support healing, recovery, and overall vitality. Known for their science-backed, non-invasive treatments aimed at reducing inflammation, accelerating repair, and improving quality of life, Odin serves clients ranging from athletes and chronic pain sufferers to those seeking anti-aging and cellular rejuvenation solutions. Now, thanks to this partnership, each treatment comes with something no other clinic in the world offers: love.

    Love as a New Dimension of Healing

    At the heart of this partnership lies a revolutionary idea: that love is medicine. Every Odin client and treatment now receives daily love meditations from trained meditators in The World’s Greatest Experiment. These are not ordinary sessions—they are soulful, focused intentions of well-being, sent by individuals whose lives are being transformed through this very act of giving.

    “Science and spirit have long lived in separate worlds, but we believe they belong together,” said Nico Seedsman. “With The World’s Greatest Experiment, we are pioneering a new frontier of wellness where advanced medicine is complemented by love, intention, and global consciousness.”

    Transforming Lives on Both Ends

    This collaboration isn’t just transforming how healing is delivered—it’s changing lives around the world. Participants in The World’s Greatest Experiment are individuals who were once trapped in cycles of poverty, now empowered through access to food, education, clean water, and shelter. In return, they meditate daily to send love to Odin clients and the greater collective.

    “These are people who once had no hope,” said Aidan, founder of The World’s Greatest Experiment. “Now they are practicing daily meditation, receiving an income, and realizing their purpose in the world—not just surviving, but spiritually thriving. And the love they send is changing lives in clinics and homes around the world.”

    This regenerative cycle of giving and receiving is more than charity. It is a new economic and energetic model, where consciousness becomes a currency—and where healing becomes multidimensional.

    A Call to Conscious Companies

    Odin’s partnership is not just a milestone—it’s a movement. The collaboration signals to other businesses that it’s possible—and powerful—to integrate love and human upliftment into their core offerings.

    “We hope Odin will be the first of many,” said Aidan. “Any product or service can be infused with love. Imagine a world where your coffee, your clothing, your skincare—everything you consume—is connected to a web of people sending it love and lifting themselves out of poverty in the process.”

    The Invitation

    Odin Stem Cells is already seeing a groundswell of interest—not just from clients curious about the added dimension of healing, but from wellness practitioners, researchers, and conscious entrepreneurs eager to participate in this energetic revolution.

    As this partnership unfolds, it serves as a beacon: a new paradigm of commerce, healing, and shared humanity.

    To learn more, visit www.odinstemcells.com and www.theworldsgreatestexperiment.com. Businesses interested in partnering to infuse love into their offerings are encouraged to reach out.

    Media Contacts
    The Worlds Greatest Experiment Inc
    Aidan Uttinger
    connect@twge.org

    Odin Stem Cells
    Lance Paul
    Lance@odinstemcells.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Diane Winston, Professor and Knight Center Chair in Media & Religion, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

    Rev. Jimmy Swaggart preaches at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on March 29, 1987. AP Photo/Mark Avery, file

    Jimmy Swaggart, one of the most popular and enduring of the 1980s televangelists, died on July 1, 2025, but his legacy lives.

    Along with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, he drew an audience in the millions, amassed a personal fortune and introduced a new generation of Americans to a potent mix of religion and politics.

    Swaggart was an old-time evangelist whose focus was “saving souls.” But he also preached on conservative social issues, warning followers about the evils of abortion, homosexuality and godless communism.

    [Swaggart also denounced] what he called “false cults,” including Catholicism, Judaism and Mormonism. In fact, his denunciations of other religions, as well as his attacks on rival preachers, made him a more polarizing figure than his politicized brethren.

    As a reporter, I covered Swaggart in the 1980s. Now, as a scholar of American religion, I argue that while Swaggart did not build institutions like Falwell’s Moral Majority or Robertson’s 700 Club, he helped to spread right-wing positions on social issues, such as sexual orientation and abortion, and to shape the image of televangelists in popular culture..

    Swaggart’s cousins

    Born into a hardscrabble life in a small Louisiana town, Swaggart grew up alongside his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, the future rockabilly pioneer, and future country singer Mickey Gilley.

    All three loved music and singing. They polished their playing on an uncle’s piano and sneaked into African American nightclubs to hear the jazz and blues forbidden by their parents.

    Jimmy Swaggart delivering a sermon at the Flora Blanca Stadium in El Salvador.
    Cindy Karp/Getty Images

    While Gilley and Lewis turned their musical talent into recording and performing careers, Swaggart felt called to the ministry. He dropped out of high school, married at 17, began preaching at 20 and was ordained at 26.

    He was licensed by the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination that believes the Holy Spirit endows believers with spiritual gifts that include speaking in tongues and faith healing.

    The glory years

    Pentecostals were nicknamed Holy Rollers because of their tendency to shake, quake and roll on the floor when feeling the Holy Spirit. Their preachers excelled at rousing audiences’ ardor, and Swaggart commanded the stage better than most. He paced, pounced and poured forth sweat while begging listeners to turn from sin and accept Jesus.

    Starting small, he drew crowds while preaching on a flatbed trailer throughout the South. His following grew, and in 1969 he opened the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge.

    Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart leaves his office complex in Baton Rouge, La., on Jan. 7, 1977.
    AP Photo

    At capacity, the church held 10,000 worshippers, who represented a broad swath of America: young girls and grannies, white and Black, bankers and farmers. His sermons began calmly but built to a fever pitch. CBS newsman Dan Rather once called him the “country’s greatest speaker.”

    During services, Swaggart also sang and played piano. In 1982, Newsweek magazine noted his musical chops, naming him the “King of Honky Tonk Heaven.” His music crossed gospel, country and honky-tonk – songs with a strong rhythmic beat – and he sold 17 million albums over his lifetime.

    By 1975, Swaggart’s on-stage charisma powered the launch of a television ministry that would reach millions within a decade. Viewers were captivated by his soulful tunes and fire-and-brimstone sermons. At its height, Swaggart’s show was televised in 140 countries, including Peru, the Philippines and South Africa.

    His ministry also became the largest mail-order business in Louisiana, selling books, tapes, T-shirts and biblical memorabilia. Thanks to the US$150 million raised annually from donations and sales, Swaggart lived in an opulent mansion, possessed a private jet previously owned by the Rockefellers, sported a yellow gold vintage Rolex and drove a Jaguar.

    The downfall

    Swaggart disliked competition and had a history of humiliating rival preachers. Wary of the Rev. Marvin Gorman, a Pentecostal minister whose church also was in Louisiana, Swaggart accused the man of adultery. Gorman admitted his infidelity and was defrocked.

    Gorman had heard rumors about Swaggart’s own indiscretions, and he and his son decided to tail the famed evangelist. In 1988, they caught Swaggart at a motel with a prostitute, and Gorman reported the incident to Swaggart’s denomination. He also gave news outlets photos of Swaggart and the prostitute. In a tearful, televised apology, Swaggart pleaded for a second chance.

    While his fans were willing, the Assemblies of God had conditions: Swaggart received the standard two-year suspension for sexual immorality. Defying the ruling, Swaggart went back to work after three months, and the denomination defrocked him.

    A parishioner overcome with grief lies on steps to the altar after Jimmy Swaggart’s confession of sexual indiscretions.
    Thomas S. England/Getty Images

    Swaggart might have succeeded as an independent minister, but in 1991 the police stopped his car for driving on the wrong side of the road. Inside they found the preacher with a prostitute. This time, Swaggart did not ask for forgiveness. Instead, he informed his congregation, “The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business.”

    Afterward, Swaggart never regained his former standing. His mail-order business dried up, donations fell, and attendance at services cratered. But up until his death, he kept on, in his own words, as an “old-fashioned, Holy Ghost-filled, shouting, weeping, soul-winning, Gospel-preaching preacher.”

    Swaggart’s legacy

    Swaggart, like other 1980s televangelists, brought right-wing politics into American homes. But unlike Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, Swaggart was less interested in winning elections than saving souls. In fact, when Robertson considered a presidential run in 1988, Swaggart initially tried to dissuade him – then changed his mind and supported him.

    Swaggart’s calls for a return to conservative Christian norms live on – not just in Sunday sermons but also in today’s world of tradwives, abortion restrictions and calls to repeal gay marriage. His music lives on, too. The day before he died, the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame inducted him as a member.

    But his legacy also survives in popular culture. In recent years, both reality television and scripted series have starred preachers shaped in the image of Swaggart and his peers. Most exaggerate his worst characteristics for shock and comedic effect.

    Preachers of L.A.,” a 2013 reality show that profiled six Los Angeles pastors, featured blinged-out ministers whose sermons mixed hip-hop with the Bible. The fictional “Greenleaf” followed the scandals of an extended family’s Memphis megachurch, while “The Righteous Gemstones,” a dark spoof of Southern preachers, turned a family ministry into a site for sex, murder and moneymaking.

    But these imitations can’t match the reality. Swaggart was a larger-than-life minister whose story – from small-town wannabe to disgraced pastor, to preaching to those who would listen – had it all: sex, politics, music and religion.

    For those who want a taste of the real thing, The King of Honky Tonk Heaven lives on. You can see his old services and Bible studies streaming daily on his network.

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

    ref. Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism – https://theconversation.com/jimmy-swaggarts-rise-and-fall-shaped-the-landscape-of-american-televangelism-260377

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why recycling solar panels is harder than you might think − an electrical engineer explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Anurag Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University

    Broken and worn-out solar panels can be recycled, but it’s not easy. Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    It’s hard work soaking up sunlight to generate clean electricity. After about 25 to 30 years, solar panels wear out. Over the years, heating and cooling cycles stress the materials. Small cracks develop, precipitation corrodes the frame and layers of materials can start to peel apart.

    In 2023, about 90% of old or faulty solar panels in the U.S. ended up in landfills. Millions of panels have been installed worldwide over the past few decades – and by about 2030, so many will be ready to retire that they could cover about 3,000 football fields.

    As an electrical engineer who has studied many aspects of renewable energy, recycling solar panels seems like a smart idea, but it’s complicated. Built to withstand years of wind and weather, solar panels are designed for strength and are not easy to break down.

    All of these solar panels will need to be disposed of one day – perhaps by being recycled.
    David McNew/Getty Images

    The cost conundrum

    Sending a solar panel to a landfill costs between US$1 and $5 in the U.S. But recycling it can cost three to four times as much, around $18. And the valuable materials inside solar panels, such as silver and copper, are in small amounts, so they’re worth about $10 to $12 – which makes recycling a money-losing prospect. Improvements in the recycling process may change the economics.

    But for now, it’s even hard to reclaim the glass in solar panels. Many layers are glued together and need to be separated before they can be melted down for reuse. And if the separation is not precise enough, the glass that is recovered won’t be of high enough quality to use in making other solar panels or windows. It will be suitable only for lower-quality uses such as fill material in construction projects.

    Other panels, usually older ones, may contain small amounts of toxic metals such as lead or cadmium. It can be difficult to tell whether toxic materials are present, though. Even experts have trouble, in part because current tests, such as the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, can give inaccurate results. Therefore, many companies that own large numbers of solar panels just assume their panels are hazardous waste, which increases costs for both disposal and recycling. Clearer labels would help people know what a solar panel contains and how to handle it.

    If someone wants to recycle a solar panel, and is willing to bear the cost, there aren’t many places in the U.S. that are willing to do it and are equipped to be safe about it.

    Recycling solar panels can involve detailed manual labor.
    AP Photo/Gregory Bull

    Designing for a new life

    Despite the Trump administration’s cuts to subsidies for solar projects, millions of solar panels are already in use in the U.S., and millions more are expected to be installed worldwide in the coming years. As a result, the solar industry is working on ways to minimize waste and repeatedly reuse materials.

    Some ideas include sending used solar panels that still work at least a bit to developing nations, or even reusing them within the U.S. But there are not clear rules or processes for connecting reused panels to the power grid, so reuse tends to happen in less common, off-grid situations rather than becoming widespread.

    Future solar panels could also be designed for easier recycling, using different construction methods and materials, and improved processing systems.

    Making panels last longer – perhaps as long as 50 years – using more durable materials, weather-resistant components, real-time monitoring of panel performance and predictive maintenance to replace parts before they wear out would reduce waste significantly.

    Building solar panels that are more easily disassembled into separate components made of different materials could also speed recycling. Components that fit together like Lego bricks – instead of using glue – or dissolvable sealants and adhesives could be parts of these designs.

    Improved recycling methods could also help. Right now, panels are often simply ground up, mixing all of their components’ materials together and requiring a complicated process to separate them out again for reuse. More advanced approaches can extract individual materials with high purity. For example, a process called salt etching can recover over 99% of silver and 98% of silicon, at purity levels that are appropriate for high-end reuse, potentially even in new solar panels, without using toxic acids. That method can also recover significant quantities of copper and lead for use in new products.

    Crushing solar panels can make different materials easier to recover from various components.
    AP Photo/Gregory Bull

    A shared journey

    Increasing the practice of recycling solar panels has more than just environmental benefits.

    Over the long term, recovering and reusing valuable materials may prove more cost-effective than continually buying new raw materials on the open market. That could lower costs for future solar panel installations. If they are fully reused, the value of these recoverable materials could reach over $15 billion globally by 2050.

    In addition, recycling panels and components reduces American reliance on materials imported from overseas, making solar power projects less vulnerable to global disruptions.

    Recycling also keeps toxic materials out of landfills. That can help ensure a shift to clean energy doesn’t create new or bigger environmental problems. Also, recycling solar panels emits far less carbon dioxide than manufacturing panels from raw materials.

    There are already some efforts underway to boost solar panel recycling. The Solar Energy Industries Association trade group is working to collect and share information about companies that recycle solar panels.

    Governments can provide tax breaks or other financial incentives for using recycled materials, or ban disposing of solar panels in landfills. California, Washington, New Jersey and North Carolina have enacted laws or are studying ways to manage solar panel waste, with some even requiring recycling or reuse.

    These efforts are important steps toward addressing the growing need for solar panel recycling and promoting a more sustainable solar industry.

    Anurag Srivastava receives funding from the US Department of Energy and National Science Foundation to work on renewable energy integration into the grid. He is an IEEE Fellow and member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society and CIGRE working groups.

    ref. Why recycling solar panels is harder than you might think − an electrical engineer explains – https://theconversation.com/why-recycling-solar-panels-is-harder-than-you-might-think-an-electrical-engineer-explains-259115

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Protection Fund in June 2025 Hits $716 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its monthly report on Protection Fund which has reached a high of $716 million in June 2025, more than doubling its original benchmark of $300 million. The fund, designed to serve as a safeguard for users in extreme market conditions, maintained a consistent 6,500 BTC balance throughout the month. Its value fluctuated with market prices, with the average monthly valuation settling at around $687 million.

    The highest daily valuation was recorded on June 9, driven by BTC prices topping $110,000. At its lowest on June 22, the fund stood at approximately $655 million, still well above the pledged minimum. This level of reserve reflects a stable security buffer that operates independently of insurance or third-party guarantees.

    Since its launch, the fund has been monitored in real-time through publicly visible wallet addresses, offering full transparency into its assets. It is held entirely in BTC and USDT, allowing it to remain liquid and responsive to market shifts. Bitget has kept the fund for emergencies, positioning it strictly as a protective reserve in case of major incidents such as hacks, exploit attempts, or abnormal losses on the platform.

    Originally launched with a $300 million reserve, the fund has grown by over 140%, aligned with the appreciation of BTC holdings and Bitget’s strategic focus on market insurance. The fund’s value fluctuates in accordance with the price of Bitcoin, with May’s performance boosted by BTC trading above $110,000 on multiple occasions.

    June’s figures arrive at a time when crypto markets continue to move unpredictably, and user trust is tied more closely than ever to platform security. The Protection Fund has quietly grown into one of the largest exchange reserves of its kind, offering users reassurance without the need for claims or long settlement processes.

    In an industry where security promises are often tested after the fact, the Bitget Protection Fund remains one of the few safety nets that is not only pre-funded and on-chain but also well above its original target. The June 2025 update shows that user protection is not just an afterthought it’s a standing reserve, ready as needed.

    With monthly Merkle Tree audits verifying full asset backing and ISO 27001:2022 certification asserting best-in-class protocols, the platform integrates SSL encryption and an advanced risk control system that actively monitors suspicious activity. This combination of rigorous standards and real-time protection has kept Bitget breach-free since 2018 and contributed to its AAA security rating and helped reinforce user confidence to set a benchmark for transparency across the industry.

    For more information and monthly updates on the Protection Fund, visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin priceEthereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: WebsiteTwitterTelegramLinkedInDiscordBitget Wallet

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

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4912037-6e64-41b5-b8f6-27d998f661e4

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bb7ca57-9e45-4f79-8879-352cc552965f

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in Cotonou: a march for regional unity and solidarity

    Source: APO


    .

    As part of the celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the ECOWAS Representation in Benin, with the support of the Beninese Government, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone E, organised a commemorative march in Cotonou on Saturday 28th of June 2025.

    Titled the “Jubilee Walk”, the event brought together over 300 participants from state and diplomatic institutions, ECOWAS specialised agencies, project partners, West African communities, youth organisations, NGOs, students and teachers.

    The march set off from the Place de l’Amazone at 7.00am and took a looping route through the Place Bio Guéra, returning to its starting point at around 10.00am. It was led by a high-level delegation including Ambassador Amadou DIONGUE, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, the representative of the Minister for Sport, the Director of CMMC Zone E and the representative of the WAPP Secretary General. The presence of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, the Resident Representatives of UEMOA and UNFPA, as well as Ambassador Francis OKE, former Permanent Representative of the ECOWAS to the African Union, enhanced the solemnity of the event.

    In keeping with the theme of the golden jubilee, “Stronger together for a brighter future”. the march was punctuated by messages in favour of unity and solidarity, the essential foundations of successful regional integration.

    In his speech, the ECOWAS Resident Representative said: “This march symbolises our shared commitment to an ECOWAS of peoples, united and in solidarity. In the face of current challenges, it is imperative that we unite our voices on the international stage to defend the interests of our region and accelerate the implementation of our integration policies, in order to create opportunities for our peoples”.

    The ceremony ended with words of thanks and encouragement from Ambassador Francis OKE, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, the representative of the Minister for Sport and the Resident Representative of the ECOWAS. They all stressed that the support, solidarity and unity of the peoples are the foundation of West African political and economic integration. The morning ended in a convivial atmosphere, with refreshments and a family photo.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Kent farmers in innovative Chalk to Coast project

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Kent farmers in innovative Chalk to Coast project

    Farmer-led initiative to create vital nature network across Kent’s diverse landscapes. Project contributes to government’s Nature Recovery Network commitment

    Nightingale in nest – credit Ben Andrew (RSPB-images.com)

    An ambitious farmer-led initiative connecting Kent’s diverse landscapes from chalk downlands to coastal habitats has officially launched, bringing new hope for wildlife conservation across the region. 

    The Chalk to Coast project unites three established farm clusters, Hoo Peninsula, Swale and North Kent Downs and Medway Gap, forming a ‘super cluster’ that will create natural wildlife corridors across different habitats.

    A farm cluster is a plan to help farmers and partners work more cohesively together in their locality, enabling them to collectively deliver greater benefits for soil, water and wildlife at a landscape scale.

    Part of the project includes the creation of ‘natural corridors’ that will be placed strategically on strips of land and help connect fragmented wildlife habitats, allowing plants and animals to move freely and enhancing biodiversity. 

    These corridors are crucial for supporting wildlife movement, enabling them to find food, mates and suitable breeding grounds, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and thriving natural environment. 

    The creation of the nature corridors between the three farm clusters, including linking the new North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve in the countryside with Elmley National Nature Reserve by the sea, will link habitats together, creating a continuous ecological corridor for wildlife to travel between from ‘Chalk to Coast’ in Kent.  

    Barn owl in flight – credit Robert Canis

    Things that can be done to enable nature corridors includes:

    • Planting more trees and hedges and getting more woodland coppiced and back into healthy management use.
    • Planting more hedgerows to encourage the dispersal of the rare and endangered dormice simultaneously connecting woodlands.
    • And creating stepping stones of thick scrub to encourage wider populations of nightingale. Kent has the stronghold of nightingale, an incredibly rare species in the UK.

    James Seymour, Natural England deputy director for Kent, said:

    Nature’s recovery is core to delivering the Plan for Change with economic growth and a healthy environment. This project shows how Natural England provides expert advice that enhances ecosystems while supporting agricultural businesses.

    This collaborative approach demonstrates how agriculture and nature recovery can work together, delivering biodiversity gains while maintaining profitable farming businesses.

    Natural England has played a pivotal role in supporting this initiative, which forms part of the government’s commitment to a growing network of wildlife-rich places that supports nature recovery and sustainable farming practices nationwide. 
    With a new website now live at www.chalktocoast.co.uk, organisers are calling on more farmers and landowners across Kent to pledge their land to expand this vital nature network. 

     The three landowners and co-founders of the Chalk to Coast project explain more.

    Guy Nevill, of North Kent Downs and Medway Gap Farm cluster, said:

    This initiative shows how agriculture and nature recovery can work hand in hand. By connecting farm clusters, we’re creating wildlife corridors across Kent’s landscapes. We’re now encouraging more farmers to join this collaborative approach to land management.

    Tom Gore, from Hoo Peninsula Farm cluster, said:

    This is an exciting opportunity for both commercial farmers and environmental organisations to come together. Linking wildlife corridors and carrying out a large-scale biodiversity project, where both food production and nature work in harmony

    Gareth Fuller, of Swale Farm cluster, said:

    We are very excited to be part of Chalk to Coast. Over the last forty years, we have worked to restore abundant nature to the coastal wetlands of Elmley and Swale, and more recently to develop a sustainable nature-based economy though nature tourism and education.

    To do more we want to collaborate with others across a much larger area. Chalk to Coast offers the inspiration, ambition, opportunities, and scale to achieve a more connected, abundant landscape for nature and people. We are hugely grateful to Guy Nevill and the other founders for driving this initiative forwards.

    Boxing hares – credit Robert Canis

    The project contributes to the government’s Plan for Change through the development of a national Nature Recovery Network, helping wildlife thrive and respond to climate change while connecting people with nature, farming and food. 
     
    The initiative builds on existing farm clusters in Kent, enabling coordinated action on soil conservation, water management, habitat creation, and species recovery across property boundaries. 
     
    Land managers interested in joining can find information at www.chalktocoast.co.uk
     
    Background: 

    For more information about Chalk to Coast, visit www.chalktocoast.co.uk.
     
    For more information about Natural England’s work supporting nature recovery, visit www.gov.uk/natural-england.

    Contact us:

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Byrna Technologies Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Byrna Technologies Inc. (“Byrna” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BYRN), a personal defense technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions, today reported select financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended May 31, 2025.

    Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 and Recent Operational Highlights

    • Launched the Byrna Compact Launcher (CL), a 38% smaller launcher than the flagship Byrna SD that delivers the same force per square inch as the Byrna LE. The CL is now available for purchase on Amazon and is featured in Amazon’s Prime Day sales event from July 8-11, 2025.
    • Expanded Byrna’s store-within-a-store concept with Sportsman’s Warehouse, now operating in 12 stores with an additional 10 stores expected to open in the third quarter.
    • Successfully ramping company-owned retail locations launched earlier this year. Byrna’s five locations combined averaged $69,000 in sales during May. Notably, the Scottsdale location reached a sales run rate comparable to Byrna’s long-established Las Vegas store within just a few months of opening.
    • Added Tucker Carlson to the roster of celebrity influencers to amplify brand awareness and promote the normalization of less-lethal solutions.

    Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results
    Results compare the fiscal second quarter ended May 31, 2025 (“Q2 2025”) to the fiscal second quarter ended May 31, 2024 (“Q2 2024”) unless otherwise indicated.

    Net revenue for Q2 2025 grew 41% year-over-year to $28.5 million from $20.3 million in Q2 2024. The strong year-over-year growth was primarily attributable to the launch of the CL, increased dealer sales, and broader brand adoption.

    Gross profit for Q2 2025 increased to $17.6 million (62% of net revenue) from $12.6 million (62% of net revenue) in Q2 2024, reflecting the strong increase in sales. The introduction of the CL contributed to a favorable product sales mix that offset any decrease due to a change in channel mix which resulted in stronger dealer sales.

    Operating expenses for Q2 2025 were $14.2 million, compared to $10.6 million for Q2 2024. The increase was primarily due to higher variable selling expenses, payroll costs, and increased discretionary marketing spend.

    Net income for Q2 2025 was $2.4 million, an increase from $2.1 million for Q2 2024, driven by an overall increase in product sales which was partially offset with higher income tax expense for the quarter.

    Adjusted EBITDA1, a non-GAAP metric reconciled below, for Q2 2025 totaled $4.3 million, compared to $2.8 million in Q2 2024.

    Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at May 31, 2025 totaled $13.0 million compared to $25.7 million at November 30, 2024. The decrease reflects the planned increase in inventory ahead of the Compact Launcher release and normal seasonal working capital movements. Inventory at May 31, 2025 totaled $32.3 million, compared to $20.0 million at November 30, 2024. The Company has no current or long-term debt.

    Management Commentary
    Byrna CEO Bryan Ganz stated: “The launch of the Byrna CL in May helped us deliver a record $28.5 million in revenue for the second quarter. Despite overall softness in consumer spending, our focused marketing and retail expansion strategies allowed us to continue growing our total addressable market and reach new milestones. Looking ahead, we expect that the CL will be a larger part of our sales mix, especially now that it is available to customers on Amazon.

    “Our dealer channel is also becoming a larger percentage of total sales, increasing 106% in the second quarter, supported by our partnership with Sportsman’s Warehouse. We’ve successfully rolled out the first 12 store-within-a-store locations and plan to add another 10 stores in the third quarter in addition to 38 stores with a point of sale display.

    “Our company-owned stores continue to outperform expectations, with five locations collectively averaging $69,000 in sales during May. Our Scottsdale location, which has only been open for a few months, is already performing at levels similar to our longstanding retail store in Las Vegas. We believe our company-owned stores will continue to perform well and become strong contributors as we further increase local and national brand awareness.

    “On the marketing front, we continue to diversify our approach. We recently added Tucker Carlson to our roster of celebrity influencers, and while it is still early, initial web traffic trends have been encouraging. Additionally, we’ve begun integrating AI tools into our content production, which is already helping us accelerate creative testing and expand our marketing reach.

    “Operationally, we have adjusted production to align with current demand following the CL launch and elevated inventory build. Ahead of the CL debut, production was running heavy in an effort to prepare for the launch. We are now producing at a steady state pace of 15,000 units per month and have implemented a more efficient assembly structure that allows us to maintain output with a smaller, more agile workforce.

    “Looking ahead, we expect consumer sentiment to remain subdued, which may continue to limit near-term revenue upside. However, we are confident that the growing momentum of the CL and our expanding retail presence position us well to deliver strong year-over-year growth in the second half of the year. We also expect our cash position to increase as our heightened inventory levels normalize over the coming quarters. While the third quarter is typically a seasonally slower period for Byrna, we remain focused on executing against our operational priorities, expanding market awareness, and setting the stage for a strong finish to the year.”

    Conference Call
    The Company’s management will host a conference call today, July 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time (6:00 a.m. Pacific time) to discuss these results, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    Toll-Free Dial-In: 877-709-8150
    International Dial-In: +1 201-689-8354
    Confirmation: 13754369

    Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

    The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investor Relations section of Byrna’s website.

    About Byrna Technologies Inc.
    Byrna is a technology company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of innovative less-lethal personal security solutions. For more information on the Company, please visit the corporate website here or the Company’s investor relations site here. The Company is the manufacturer of the Byrna® CL, Byrna® LE and Byrna® SD personal security devices, state-of-the-art handheld CO2 powered launchers designed to provide a less-lethal alternative to a firearm for the consumer, private security, and law enforcement markets. To purchase Byrna products, visit the Company’s e-commerce store.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, are forward-looking. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” and “believes” and statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “might,” “occur,” or “be achieved,” or “will be taken.” Forward-looking statements include descriptions of currently occurring matters which may continue in the future. Forward-looking statements in this news release include but are not limited to our statements related to our expected sales during the second half of fiscal year 2025, the expected expansion of Byrna’s store-within-a-store partnership with Sportsman’s Warehouse, expected sales trends for the Byrna CL, Byrna’s expectations regarding sales at its retail stores, benefits from new marketing partnerships, the expected benefits from AI integration with manufacturing and testing, the expected benefits from a leaner workforce, expectations regarding consumer sentiment and seasonal sales variations, and potential increases in our cash position. Forward-looking statements are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates, and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the Company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied.

    Any number of risk factors could affect our actual results and cause them to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, disappointing market responses to current or future products or services; prolonged, new, or exacerbated disruption of our supply chain; the further or prolonged disruption of new product development; production or distribution disruption or delays in entry or penetration of sales channels due to inventory constraints, competitive factors, increased transportation costs or interruptions, including due to weather, flooding or fires; prototype, parts and material shortages, particularly of parts sourced from limited or sole source providers; determinations by third party controlled distribution channels, including Amazon, not to carry or reduce inventory of the Company’s products; determinations by advertisers or social media platforms, or legislation that prevents or limits marketing of some or all Byrna products; the loss of marketing partners; increases in marketing expenditure may not yield expected revenue increases; potential cancellations of existing or future orders including as a result of any fulfillment delays, introduction of competing products, negative publicity, or other factors; product design or manufacturing defects or recalls; litigation, enforcement proceedings or other regulatory or legal developments; changes in consumer or political sentiment affecting product demand; regulatory factors including the impact of commerce and trade laws and regulations and the implementation or change in tariffs; and future restrictions on the Company’s cash resources, increased costs and other events that could potentially reduce demand for the Company’s products or result in order cancellations. The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to indicate their relative importance or priority. We caution that these factors may not be exhaustive; accordingly, any forward-looking statements contained herein should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Investors should carefully consider these and other relevant factors, including those risk factors in Part I, Item 1A, (“Risk Factors”) in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A (“Risk Factors”) in the Company’s most recent Form 10-Q, should understand it is impossible to predict or identify all such factors or risks, should not consider the foregoing list, or the risks identified in the Company’s SEC filings, to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties, and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

    Investor Contact:
    Tom Colton and Alec Wilson
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    BYRN@gateway-grp.com

    -Financial Tables to Follow-

    BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
    (Amounts in thousands except share and per share data)
    (Unaudited)
                       
        For the Three Months Ended   For the Six Months Ended  
        May 31   May 31  
          2025       2024       2025       2024    
    Net revenue   $ 28,505     $ 20,269     $ 54,695     $ 36,923    
    Cost of goods sold     10,941       7,709       21,207       14,724    
    Gross profit     17,564       12,560       33,488       22,199    
    Operating expenses     14,238       10,647       28,466       20,450    
    INCOME FROM OPERATIONS     3,326       1,913       5,022       1,749    
    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)                  
    Foreign currency transaction loss     (135 )     (220 )     (215 )     (279 )  
    Interest income     116       323       303       604    
    Income from joint venture           62             20    
    Other income     18       2       17       3    
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES     3,325       2,080       5,127       2,097    
    Income tax expense     (898 )     (3 )     (1,038 )     (3 )  
    NET INCOME (LOSS)   $ 2,427     $ 2,077     $ 4,089     $ 2,094    
                       
    Foreign currency translation adjustment for the period     76       144       (54 )     29    
    Unrealized gain on marketable securities     17             77          
    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)   $ 2,520     $ 2,221     $ 4,112     $ 2,123    
                       
    Basic net income (loss) per share   $ 0.11     $ 0.09     $ 0.18     $ 0.09    
    Diluted net income (loss) per share   $ 0.10     $ 0.09     $ 0.17     $ 0.09    
                       
    Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding – basic     22,668,546       22,728,500       22,628,270       22,383,769    
    Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding – diluted     23,951,297       23,731,076       24,021,948       22,942,530    
     
    BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
               
        May 31   November 30,  
          2025       2024    
        Unaudited      
    ASSETS          
    CURRENT ASSETS          
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 7,001     $ 16,829    
    Marketable Securities     5,984       8,904    
    Accounts receivable, net     6,536       2,630    
    Inventory, net     32,286       19,972    
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     3,931       2,623    
    Total current assets     55,738       50,958    
    LONG TERM ASSETS          
    Deposits for equipment     1,981       2,665    
    Right-of-use-asset, net     2,262       2,452    
    Property and equipment, net     6,844       3,408    
    Intangible assets, net     3,215       3,337    
    Goodwill     2,258       2,258    
    Deferred tax asset     4,797       5,837    
    Other assets     355       1,007    
    TOTAL ASSETS   $ 77,450     $ 71,922    
               
    LIABILITIES          
    CURRENT LIABILITIES          
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 14,377     $ 13,108    
    Operating lease liabilities, current     652       539    
    Deferred revenue, current     335       1,791    
    Total current liabilities     15,364       15,438    
    LONG TERM LIABILITIES          
    Deferred revenue, non-current     15       17    
    Operating lease liabilities, non-current     1,935       2,098    
    Total liabilities     17,314       17,553    
               
               
    STOCKHOLDERS‘ EQUITY          
    Preferred stock              
    Common stock     25       25    
    Additional paid-in capital     134,739       133,029    
    Treasury stock     (21,308 )     (21,253 )  
    Accumulated deficit     (52,694 )     (56,783 )  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (626 )     (649 )  
               
    Total Stockholders’ Equity     60,136       54,369    
               
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 77,450     $ 71,922    
               

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), we provide an additional financial metric that is not prepared in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP) with presenting non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure, in addition to GAAP financial measures, to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for financial and operational decision making, for planning and forecasting purposes and to evaluate our financial performance. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure helps us to identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be masked by the effect of certain expenses that we exclude in the calculations of the non-GAAP financial measure.

    Accordingly, we believe that this non-GAAP financial measure reflects our ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis of trends in the business and provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects.

    This non-GAAP financial measure does not replace the presentation of our GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, our financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations in the use of non-GAAP measures, because they do not include all the expenses that must be included under GAAP and because they involve the exercise of judgment concerning exclusions of items from the comparable non-GAAP financial measure. In addition, other companies may use other non-GAAP measures to evaluate their performance, or may calculate non-GAAP measures differently, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measure as a tool for comparison.
             

    Adjusted EBITDA

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net (loss) income as reported in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income excluding the impact of (I) depreciation and amortization; (ii) income tax provision (benefit); (iii) interest income (expense); (iv) stock-based compensation expense, (v) impairment loss, and (vi) one time, non-recurring other expenses or income. Our Adjusted EBITDA measure eliminates potential differences in performance caused by variations in capital structures (affecting finance costs), tax positions, the cost and age of tangible assets (affecting relative depreciation expense) and the extent to which intangible assets are identifiable (affecting relative amortization expense). We also exclude certain one-time and non-cash costs. Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, is as follows (in thousands):

          For the Three Months Ended   For the Six Months Ended  
          May 31   May 31  
            2025       2024       2025       2024    
    Net Income (Loss)   $ 2,427     $ 2,077     $ 4,089     $ 2,094    
                         
    Adjustments:                  
      Interest income     (116 )     (323 )     (303 )     (604 )  
      Income tax expense     898       3       1,038       3    
      Depreciation and amortization     252       165       437       335    
    Non-GAAP EBITDA   $ 3,461     $ 1,922     $ 5,261     $ 1,828    
                         
    Stock-based compensation expense     723       858       1,562       1,796    
    Severance/Separation/Officer recruiting     116           246       175    
    Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA   $ 4,300     $ 2,780     $ 7,069     $ 3,799    
                         

    1 See non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release for a reconciliation and a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Capital City Bank Announces Appointment of William G. Smith III to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Capital City Bank is pleased to announce William G. Smith III has joined its board of directors, continuing a family legacy spanning four generations. Smith, who is now in his 18th year of service with Capital City Bank, is chief lending officer responsible for driving the lending strategies of the Bank.

    “We are pleased to welcome William to our board of directors,” said Tom Barron, Capital City Bank Group president and chairman of the Capital City Bank Board of Directors. “I have had the privilege of working alongside William throughout his entire career at Capital City Bank, and I have witnessed firsthand his growth, dedication and leadership. His experience, strategic vision and deep knowledge of our business will be invaluable as the Bank continues to grow and evolve.”

    With this appointment, Smith continues a proud family legacy, becoming the fourth generation of Smiths to serve on the Capital City Bank Board of Directors. The tradition began in 1919 with the appointment of William Henry Smith. In 1937, his widow, Fanny Smith, was elected to the board alongside her son, Godfrey Smith, who dedicated 62 years to Capital City Bank. The current Capital City Bank Group Chairman and CEO, William G. Smith Jr., began his career with Capital City Bank in 1978 and was elected to the board in 1995.

    Smith joined Capital City Bank in 2007 and has since developed expertise in a range of specialties, including small business, commercial banking, special assets and private banking. He has held several key leadership roles over his tenure, gradually expanding his sphere of responsibility. As a market president from 2020 until 2023, Smith led the revenue and lending functions for Leon County. In 2023, he was promoted to North Florida Region executive, overseeing an operational area that included Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties in Florida and Grady County in Georgia. In January of 2025, he was appointed to chief lending officer, where he now leads the Bank’s lending strategies and operations.

    About Capital City Bank Group, Inc.
    Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCBG) is one of the largest publicly traded financial holding companies headquartered in Florida and has approximately $4.5 billion in assets. We provide a full range of banking services, including traditional deposit and credit services, mortgage banking, asset management, trust, merchant services, bankcards, securities brokerage services and financial advisory services, including the sale of life insurance, risk management and asset protection services. Our bank subsidiary, Capital City Bank, was founded in 1895 and now has 62 banking offices and 105 ATMs/ITMs in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. For more information about Capital City Bank Group, Inc., www.ccbg.com.

    For Information Contact:
    Brooke Hallock
    Hallock.Brooke@ccbg.com
    850.402.8525

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43393291-5cbd-44e6-980e-af7a36f76ab9

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Codere Improves Position in Spain’s Brand Finance Ranking

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Madrid, Spain, July 10, 2025 – (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Codere Online (Nasdaq: CDRO / CDROW, the “Company”), a leading online gaming operator in Spain and Latin America, today announced that the Codere brand1 has improved its position to 77th, up from 85th in 2024, in a ranking of Spain’s most valuable brands, according to Brand Finance.

    Codere remains the only gaming brand on the list, marking its leadership in the sector, and maintains its record of consistently being named on the Top 100 list since 2010, putting it alongside household names such as Zara, Vueling and Movistar as titans in Spanish business.

    The last year has seen Codere Online continue to expand in its core markets of Spain and Mexico, as well as leverage partnerships with footballing giants Real Madrid and C.F. Monterrey to further boost its brand awareness, including activations around the FIFA Club World Cup.

    Alberto Telias, Chief Marketing Officer of Codere Online, said: “Our marketing and sponsorship efforts over the last 12 months have been reflected in the consolidation of our status as a market leading brand in Spain. We’re proud of the experiences we offer our customers, that truly allow them to connect with the Codere brand.”

    Codere Online started operations in Spain in 2014. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2025, the Company generated more than 87 million euros of net gaming revenue in Spain, with more than 50,000 average monthly active players in the country.

    About Codere Online
    Codere Online refers, collectively, to Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. and its subsidiaries. Codere Online launched in 2014 as part of the renowned casino operator Codere Group. Codere Online offers online sports betting and online casino through its state-of-the art website and mobile applications. Codere currently operates in its core markets of Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Panama and Argentina. Codere Online’s online business is complemented by Codere Group’s physical presence in Spain and throughout Latin America, forming the foundation of the leading omnichannel gaming and casino presence.

    About Codere Group
    Codere Group is a multinational group devoted to entertainment and leisure. It is a leading player in the private gaming industry, with four decades of experience and with presence in seven countries in Europe (Spain and Italy) and Latin America (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay).

    Contacts:

    Investors and Media
    Guillermo Lancha
    Director, Investor Relations and Communications
    Guillermo.Lancha@codere.com
    (+34) 628 928 152


    1 Pursuant to the terms of a relationship and license agreement, Codere Group granted Codere Online a license to use certain “Codere” trademarks.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ attends DoJ seminar to promote Hong Kong legal services in Paris (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, arrived in Paris, France, on July 8 (Paris time) to continue his European visit. He attended a Hong Kong legal services seminar organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and met with representatives of international organisations to introduce Hong Kong’s advantages in legal services and its arbitration system.
     
    In Paris, Mr Lam first met with the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Ms Elisa de Anda Madrazo. Noting that the FATF leads global action to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing, Mr Lam said that Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, has always supported the FATF’s work in maintaining the stability of the international financial system, and that the DoJ has actively participated in mutual evaluations among FATF member jurisdictions.
     
    Afterwards, Mr Lam visited the Paris Maritime Arbitration Chamber (Chambre arbitrale maritime de Paris) and met with the Secretary General of the Paris Maritime Arbitration Chamber, Mrs Pascale Mesnil, to learn about its operation and the situation in the French arbitration sector, as well as developments in resolving international maritime disputes through arbitration. Mr Lam said that Hong Kong has been committed to optimising its arbitration system through multi-pronged policy measures, enhancing and consolidating its status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Lam also expressed hope for deepening exchanges and co-operation with the French arbitration sector.
     
    On the morning of July 9 (Paris time), Mr Lam visited the office of the French National and Olympic Sports Committee (CNOSF) and met with representatives of the Chamber of Arbitration for Sport (Chambre Arbitrale du Sport) and the Conference of Conciliators of the CNOSF to learn about the committee’s services in sports arbitration and conciliation, and he introduced the DoJ’s work in promoting the development of sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong.
     
    At noon, Mr Lam attended a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the French Republic, Mr Deng Li, and briefed him on Hong Kong’s efforts in safeguarding national security, ensuring the implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems” by rule of law, and leveraging its unique advantages to promote development in various aspects.
     
    In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended the Paris Seminar entitled “Hong Kong Legal Services – Gateway to China and Beyond”, which was organised by the DoJ, sharing with about 130 guests and participants the unique advantages of Hong Kong’s legal services under the principle of “one country, two systems” with guests. In his keynote speech, Mr Lam said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China and the only jurisdiction in the world with a bilingual common law system in both Chinese and English. As an international legal and dispute resolution service centre, Hong Kong’s common law system is rigorous and mature, belonging to the same legal system as the world’s major economies and in line with international trade and business rules. Hong Kong’s legal services industry is professional and comprehensive, providing high-quality legal services to global financial and commercial activities. Two panel sessions were held afterwards to discuss the co-operation between Hong Kong and France in commercial law, as well as the latest developments in the mechanism of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.
     
    During the Paris Seminar, Mr Lam also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre and Jus Mundi, an AI-powered legal research platform based in Paris, to further enhance co-operation in legal and alternative dispute resolution between the two places.
     
    Mr Lam will depart for Rome, Italy, today (July 10, Paris time) to continue his visit programme.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI China: China edges Dominican Republic in five-set thriller in women’s VNL

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

    Players of China celebrate during the match between Dominican Republic and China at the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 in Arlington, the United States, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China came from behind to edge the Dominican Republic in a five-set thriller on Wednesday in a women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) match.

    Wu Mengjie scored 25 points and Gong Xiangyu added 18 as China secured a 25-22, 17-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13 victory, improving their overall record to 6-3 in the preliminary round.

    Nineteen-year-old middle blocker Chen Houyu sealed the match with a decisive block in the tie-breaker. She finished with 12 points from five kills, four blocks and three aces. Zhuang Yushan was also in double figures with 14 points.

    China’s head coach Zhao Yong credited the win to his team’s fighting spirit.

    “The four matches in Arlington are very important for us [to qualify for the Finals] and this time we fought until the end,” said Zhao. “Under pressure, our young players never gave up.”

    “Their serves were very aggressive, but we were able to make adjustment accordingly quick enough,” Chinese captain Gong added. “We were very determined in our receiving, especially in the fifth set.”

    Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez tallied a match-high 33 points, but the Dominican Republic slipped to a 4-5 record after being outblocked 15-10 by China.

    “I think if we look at the numbers, maybe the Dominican Republic had a better powerful attack than China, but China was better than us in blocking,” said Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, president of the Dominican Republic Volleyball Federation.

    Also on Wednesday, Germany outlasted Canada 24-26, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13, while the United States defeated Thailand 28-26, 21-25, 27-25, 25-15.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Toxic lead ammunition banned to protect Britain’s countryside

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Toxic lead ammunition banned to protect Britain’s countryside

    New ban on use of lead in ammunition to protect iconic wildlife and clean up the nation’s waterways

    Red kite perched in a tree

    Red kites and white-tailed eagles will receive greater protection thanks to new restrictions on the use of lead in ammunition, Environment Minister Emma Hardy announced today (Thursday 10 July 2025).

    To protect iconic British wildlife and clean up the nation’s waterways, new measures will ban shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets with a lead content of more than 3%. Beyond limited exemptions, these types of ammunition will no longer be sold to the public.

    The ban will prevent the release of an estimated 7,000 tonnes of the toxic metal into fields, forests and wetlands each year. Up to 100,000 wildfowl, including ducks, swans and waders, die from lead poisoning annually, with birds often confusing the scattered shot for grit and consuming it.

    Evidence from the Health and Safety Executive shows lead poses a risk to at least 1 million birds over the coming decades if usage continues at its current rate, while around 40,000 birds of prey such as red kites and white-tailed eagles are at risk from ingesting lead through carrion.

    Introducing restrictions will also stop lead from contaminating soil and leaching into rivers when guns are discharged and spread the harmful metal, ensuring ecosystems thrive for both wildlife and people alike.

    Environment Minister Emma Hardy said:

    Britain is a proud nation of nature lovers, but our rivers are heavily polluted, and majestic birds are declining at an alarming rate.

    This new ban on lead in ammunition for most uses will help reverse this – rejuvenating pride in our countryside by protecting precious birdlife and cleaning up rivers.

    Non-lead alternatives are readily available, and we’ll continue to work closely with the shooting sector throughout this transition.

    Following extensive public engagement, a three-year transition period will support the shooting and hunting sectors to shift to more environmentally friendly alternatives. There will also be a two-year period for outdoor shooting ranges where lead is used to implement measures that prevent pollution from entering the environment.

    Alternatives to lead shot have become more efficient and widely available in recent years, with steel and tungsten-based shot being two popular options. The government will continue to engage with the shooting industry to support the transition to alternative ammunition types.

    In December 2024, the Health and Safety Executive published their Final Opinion proposing restrictions on the supply and outdoor uses of lead in ammunition – and the government has now taken action to reduce toxic substances from entering the environment.

    As part of the restrictions, there will be exemptions in place for the military, police, elite athletes, outdoor target shooting ranges with risk management measures in place, museum collections and other minor uses. Small calibre bullets for live quarry shooting – the outdoor shooting of live animals – and airguns are not in scope of the restriction.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ attends legal seminar in Paris

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam arrived in Paris, France on Tuesday as he continued a trip spanning various European countries.

    Mr Lam attended a Hong Kong legal services seminar organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and briefed representatives of various international organisations on Hong Kong’s arbitration system and the advantages offered by its legal service sector.

    On meeting Financial Action Task Force (FATF) President Elisa de Anda Madrazo on Tuesday, Mr Lam remarked that as an international financial centre Hong Kong has always supported the FATF’s work to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing and to maintain the stability of the international financial system.

    He added that the DoJ has participated in mutual evaluations among FATF member jurisdictions.

    Mr Lam later visited the Chambre Arbitrale Maritime de Paris (the Paris Maritime Arbitration Chamber) and met its Secretary General Pascale Mesnil. He was briefed on the chamber’s operations, France’s arbitration sector, and developments in resolving international maritime disputes through arbitration.

    He highlighted that Hong Kong is committed to optimising its arbitration system through multi-pronged policy measures, and to enhancing and consolidating its status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Mr Lam also expressed hope for a deepening of exchanges and co-operation with the French arbitration sector.

    Yesterday morning, Mr Lam visited the office of the French National & Olympic Sports Committee (CNOSF) and met representatives of the Chambre Arbitrale du Sport (the Chamber of Arbitration for Sport) and the CNOSF Conference of Conciliators to learn about the committee’s sports arbitration and conciliation services.

    He also spoke about the DoJ’s work in promoting sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong.

    At noon, Mr Lam attended a lunch event hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the French Republic Deng Li.

    Mr Lam briefed Mr Deng on Hong Kong’s efforts in safeguarding national security, implementing the principle of “one country, two systems” by rule of law, and leveraging its unique advantages to promote development.

    In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended the seminar organised by in Paris by the DoJ: “Hong Kong Legal Services – Gateway to China and Beyond”.

    He outlined the unique advantages of Hong Kong’s legal services sector under the principle of “one country, two systems” to about 130 participants.

    Giving a keynote speech, Mr Lam stressed that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China and the only jurisdiction in the world with a bilingual common law system in Chinese and English.

    He said that Hong Kong’s common law system aligns with the legal systems of many major economies and with the rules of international trade and business, adding that the city’s professional and comprehensive legal services industry provides high-quality legal services to support global financial and commercial activities.

    During the seminar, Mr Lam also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre and Jus Mundi, an AI-powered legal research platform based in Paris, that will enhance co-operation in legal and alternative dispute resolution between Hong Kong and France.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ attends legal seminar in Paris

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam arrived in Paris, France on Tuesday as he continued a trip spanning various European countries.

    Mr Lam attended a Hong Kong legal services seminar organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and briefed representatives of various international organisations on Hong Kong’s arbitration system and the advantages offered by its legal service sector.

    On meeting Financial Action Task Force (FATF) President Elisa de Anda Madrazo on Tuesday, Mr Lam remarked that as an international financial centre Hong Kong has always supported the FATF’s work to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing and to maintain the stability of the international financial system.

    He added that the DoJ has participated in mutual evaluations among FATF member jurisdictions.

    Mr Lam later visited the Chambre Arbitrale Maritime de Paris (the Paris Maritime Arbitration Chamber) and met its Secretary General Pascale Mesnil. He was briefed on the chamber’s operations, France’s arbitration sector, and developments in resolving international maritime disputes through arbitration.

    He highlighted that Hong Kong is committed to optimising its arbitration system through multi-pronged policy measures, and to enhancing and consolidating its status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Mr Lam also expressed hope for a deepening of exchanges and co-operation with the French arbitration sector.

    Yesterday morning, Mr Lam visited the office of the French National & Olympic Sports Committee (CNOSF) and met representatives of the Chambre Arbitrale du Sport (the Chamber of Arbitration for Sport) and the CNOSF Conference of Conciliators to learn about the committee’s sports arbitration and conciliation services.

    He also spoke about the DoJ’s work in promoting sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong.

    At noon, Mr Lam attended a lunch event hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the French Republic Deng Li.

    Mr Lam briefed Mr Deng on Hong Kong’s efforts in safeguarding national security, implementing the principle of “one country, two systems” by rule of law, and leveraging its unique advantages to promote development.

    In the afternoon, Mr Lam attended the seminar organised by in Paris by the DoJ: “Hong Kong Legal Services – Gateway to China and Beyond”.

    He outlined the unique advantages of Hong Kong’s legal services sector under the principle of “one country, two systems” to about 130 participants.

    Giving a keynote speech, Mr Lam stressed that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China and the only jurisdiction in the world with a bilingual common law system in Chinese and English.

    He said that Hong Kong’s common law system aligns with the legal systems of many major economies and with the rules of international trade and business, adding that the city’s professional and comprehensive legal services industry provides high-quality legal services to support global financial and commercial activities.

    During the seminar, Mr Lam also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre and Jus Mundi, an AI-powered legal research platform based in Paris, that will enhance co-operation in legal and alternative dispute resolution between Hong Kong and France.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News