NewzIntel.com

Category: Switzerland

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: President Donald J

    Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana

    President Donald J

    Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana

    WASHINGTON — FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Indiana to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding from March 30 – April 9, 2025

    Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair and replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding in Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Decatur, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Harrison, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Marshall, Martin, Montgomery, Morgan, Orange, Owen, Perry, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick and Washington counties

    Joseph P

    Cirone has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area

    Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments

     
    erika

    suzuki
    Wed, 07/23/2025 – 20:01

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Holidaymakers heading to Europe urged to help protect British farmers by not bringing back meat and dairy products

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Holidaymakers heading to Europe urged to help protect British farmers by not bringing back meat and dairy products

    Call for holidaymakers to follow rules introduced to help protect farmers from Foot and Mouth

    UK holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer are being urged to help protect British farmers from Foot and Mouth disease by not bringing back meat and dairy products 

    Europe has seen a wave of cases impacting Hungary, Austria and Germany, and the UK Chief Vet is today (July 24th) urging the British public to comply with the rules, so we avoid a devastating outbreak like the one that was experienced in 2001. 

    Foot and Mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that can, in some cases, kill cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. It can be carried in animal products – including meat, dairy products and some processed food. The virus can remain viable for months and can rapidly spread through contaminated objects and the movement of people.  

    It is illegal for travellers entering GB to bring with them untreated meat or dairy products including lamb, pork, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all other products made from these meats or containing them – such as sandwiches and sausages – from the EU, regardless of whether they are packed, packaged or have been bought at duty free.     

    This includes products such as cheese, chorizo, salami, serrano ham, pâté, yoghurt, butter, milk, and sandwiches containing any of the banned meats.  

    These strict rules were introduced due to the toll Foot and Mouth can have on the farming industry . An outbreak could result in the culling of large numbers of the country’s livestock and cost the UK economy billions of pounds in production shortfalls, lost trade and disease control. The outbreak in GB in 2001 is estimated to have cost £15 billion (in current prices) in disease control costs alone.  

    Biosecurity Minister, Baroness Hayman, said: 

    Maintaining the integrity of our biosecurity against Foot and Mouth Disease is essential, and this updated control strategy reflects our strengthened approach to managing that risk. It reflects our clear determination to safeguard our borders. 

    We are asking the public to take this seriously. Do not bring prohibited animal or plant products into the country—doing so puts farmers livelihoods at risk.

    UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:  

    Foot and Mouth disease has been recently circulating on the continent. The disease presents a significant risk to Britain’s food security and economy. 

    This highly contagious disease causes considerable suffering to livestock and has a devastating economic and personal impact on farmers, who lose their prized animals.  I know it is disappointing not to be able to bring back produce from your holidays, but please avoid temptation – you will be doing your bit to help protect our hard-working farmers.

    To further strengthen the country’s response to foot and mouth disease, the Government has today updated the Foot and Mouth Control Strategy for GB which will support the UK’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to an outbreak, protecting the livestock industry and rural economy. This is the first update in over a decade. This comes ahead of an exercise later this year to test Government preparedness. The updated framework provides information to help farmers protect their business and outlines how government will respond effectively to outbreaks. 

    Last month, the Government announced £1bn funding for a new investment programme to build a new National Biosecurity Centre – a cutting-edge scientific campus in Surrey that will serve as the UKs foremost animal biosecurity facility. This will better protect the public and farmers from animal disease by enhancing the country’s detection, surveillance and control capabilities for high-risk animal diseases, such as avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, and African swine fever, and enhance our ability to manage concurrent disease outbreaks. 

    Foot and mouth disease is a notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect foot and mouth disease in your animals, you must report it immediately by calling:    

    • 03000 200 301 in England     

    • 0300 303 8268 in Wales     

    • your local  Field Services Office in Scotland 

    ENDS 

    Notes to editors – current restrictions  

    • Travellers are currently banned from bringing all dairy products and some meats from the European Union (EU) into GB. These restrictions aim to prevent the introduction of FMD and other harmful animal diseases such as ASF, PPR and LSD.   

    • It is illegal for travellers entering GB (not Northern Ireland) to bring with them lamb, pork, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all other products made from these meats or containing them – such as sandwiches and sausages – from the EU, regardless of whether they are packed, packaged or have been bought at duty free.     

    • This includes products such as cheese, chorizo, salami, serrano ham, pâté, yoghurt, butter, milk, and sandwiches containing any of the banned meats.  

    • The current restrictions were introduced in April in response to rising cases of FMD in Europe, and to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security. Restrictions on travellers bringing back certain meat and dairy products were already in place to curb the spread of ASF and PPR in Europe.   

    • Travellers are also banned from bringing any meat, meat products, milk or milk-based products into GB from countries outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.  

    • Border Force will check for prohibited goods as part of customs checks. Travellers found with prohibited items must surrender them at the border or have them seized and destroyed. In serious cases, those found with such may be fined up to £5,000 in England or prosecuted across GB.  

    • The government continues to work closely with ports, airports and travel operators to raise awareness of the ban, including via prominent signage.  

    • The measures will stay in place until the personal import of affected products no longer poses a significant biosecurity risk to GB.  

    • The restrictions do not apply to travellers arriving into GB from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.  

    • The measures apply only to personal imports, e.g. goods that travellers bring back with them from holiday. Commercial food imports must undergo other biosecurity requirements, including heat treatments and accompanying export health certificates signed by official veterinarians to mitigate the risk of diseases, such as FMD, ASF, PPR and LSD.  

    • More information for travellers arriving from the EU can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/bringing-food-into-great-britain/meat-dairy-fish-animal-products

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: MIG Capital leads CHF 7.75 million seed financing for ASTRA Therapeutics

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • MIG Capital, through its MIG Fonds, is investing 3 million Swiss Francs (CHF) in the Swiss start-up which designs precision drugs against eukaryotic pathogens.
    • Digitalis Ventures co-leads the round with additional investment from Borealis Ventures, Kickfund and Venture Kick.
    • Eukaryotic pathogens cause illness and death in animals, humans, and crops.

    MUNICH, Germany, and VILLIGEN, Switzerland, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MIG Capital AG, one of Germany’s leading venture capital firms, announced today that it is heading a seed financing of CHF 7.75 million for ASTRA Therapeutics with U.S. venture capital firm Digitalis Ventures as co-lead and Borealis Ventures, Kickfund and Venture Kick also participating in the round. MIG Fonds 17 and 18 have allocated CHF 3 million for the Swiss start-up, based at the Park InnovAARE innovation campus in Villigen, Switzerland.

    Founded in 2022, ASTRA Therapeutics AG designs and develops novel parasitic agents (parasiticides) that control parasites by inhibiting cell division in parasites while sparing hosts. The company generates species-specific drug leads targeting tubulin, known as Parabulins®, through its proprietary drug development platform ParaX®.

    Parabulins® are novel drugs (New Molecular Entities, NME) targeting important indications in the veterinary market. ASTRA’s pipeline includes over 15 patentable chemical classes featuring nanomolar-potent candidates for common parasites such as coccidia in farm animals and heartworm in dogs and cats. Initial in vivo proof of concept for multiple NMEs has been demonstrated.

    Natacha Gaillard, PhD, Founder and Co-CEO of ASTRA Therapeutics, said: “The animal health market is facing an ever-increasing need for novel anti-parasite drugs to combat the growing threat of drug resistance, ensure the health and welfare of our pets, and maintain healthy and efficient food production.”

    Ashwani Sharma, PhD, also Founder and Co-CEO of ASTRA Therapeutics, added: “Our platform is designed to exploit structural differences between essential proteins in parasites and the host animals, enabling creation of new drugs that should be both effective and safe.”

    The global parasiticide market is worth over 10 billion US dollars and is growing at a CAGR of 5.6%1. At the same time, established products are facing patent expiry, while increasing resistance is causing a dramatic need for new drugs – in some regions, up to 98% of heartworm cases are already resistant to standard therapies.

    ASTRA is strategically positioned to capture this opportunity: the company develops novel, patentable drugs that are highly potent and resistance-breaking. Target revenues are over 800 million US dollars per year for coccidiosis and 2.4 billion US-dollars per year for worm control – in the veterinary sector alone.

    “We see tremendous commercial potential for new drugs that control worms including heartworm in dogs and cats, and coccidiosis in poultry and swine production,” said Andreas Kastenbauer, Partner at MIG Capital. “With renowned structural biologists Dr. Natacha Gaillard and Dr. Ashwani Sharma in the lead and strong support from a team of market and business developers experienced in drug discovery, licensing and biotech financing, this is the right company to achieve success.”

    The new investment expands MIG Capital’s approach to engaging in the rapidly growing veterinary medicine market. In 2024, the VC investor already acquired a stake in HawkCell, a French start-up developing MRI and CT imaging for use in animals. ASTRA Therapeutics is MIG Capital’s first investment in Switzerland and its second new investment this year.

    _______________
    1 Stonehaven Cozmix Group, Animal Health Industry: Reflections on the Past Decade and Visions for the Future Report 2025. (Published at AHNTI Conference London 2025) [see page 23]

    About Astra Therapeutics

    ASTRA Therapeutics is a Swiss biotechnology company based in Villigen (CH) that designs novel precision drugs against eukaryotic pathogens based on its proprietary ParaX® platform. The company’s goal is to develop drugs that selectively target parasites while sparing hosts. ASTRA Therapeutics addresses medical and veterinary challenges characterized by increasing drug resistance, expiring patents, and a growing global parasiticide market.

    For more information, please visit www.astratherapeutics.com.

    About MIG Capital

    MIG Capital is one of the leading German VC investors. Through its MIG funds, MIG invests in young deep tech and life sciences companies in German-speaking Europe and beyond. To date, the company has invested over €770 million in approx. 60 start-ups. MIG portfolio companies develop innovations in areas including biopharmaceuticals, energy and environmental technologies, advanced computing, digitalization / IoT, medical technology, and digital health. The MIG investment portfolio currently consists of more than 30 companies.

    MIG’s investment team is made up of a dedicated group of engineers, scientists, physicians and entrepreneurs who use analytical and creative processes to assess the risks and opportunities of business models and technologies. Their reputation, experience and network provide excellent access to companies, institutions and decision-makers to support the growth of their portfolio companies.

    In recent years, MIG Capital has realized more than ten successful portfolio company sales, including Siltectra (to Infineon) and Hemovent (to MicroPort). It has placed several companies on the stock exchange including BRAIN, NFON, BioNTech, and Immatics.

    For further information, please visit: www.mig.ag, www.mig-fonds.de. LinkedIn: MIG Capital

    Contact

    MIG Capital
    Andreas Kastenbauer, Partner
    +49-89-94382680
    ak@mig.ag

    Media Inquiries

    MC Services
    Dr. Cora Kaiser, Catherine Featherston, Dr. Johanna Kobler
    +49-89-210228-0
    migag@mc-services.eu

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Fetterman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Art Market Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) today introduced the Art Market Integrity Act. The bipartisan legislation would require art dealers and auction houses to comply with existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.

    “For decades, criminal enterprises have used America’s multibillion-dollar art industry as a personal piggy bank for money laundering schemes, terrorist financing and other nefarious activities. By requiring our nation’s art market to comply with existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, this bipartisan legislation would keep art, and millions of dollars, out of the wrong hands,” Grassley said.

    “Art should be for art-lovers, not terrorists and criminals,” Fetterman said. “For too long, loopholes have allowed Russian criminal kingpins to evade sanctions and terrorists like Hezbollah to funnel money through art deals. I’m grateful to Senators Grassley, Whitehouse, and McCormick for working across the aisle to require art dealers and auction houses to perform basic due diligence. This needs to stop now.”

    The Art Market Integrity Act would:

    • Require art dealers and auction houses to maintain records and report on high-value art market transactions, exempting artists and businesses with under $50,000 in annual art transactions;
    • Align the United States with international standards adopted by the United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland and China; and
    • Protect the United States’ national security, economic integrity and multibillion-dollar art market from criminals, terrorists, cartels and other bad actors.

    Grassley and Fetterman are joined by Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.).

    Download the full bill text HERE.

    Background:

    The United States’ art industry is valued at around $25 billion and is the largest of its kind globally. Despite this, our art market is not currently bound by the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards set by the Bank Secrecy Act.

    In 2024, the Treasury Department identified America’s art market as being particularly susceptible to money laundering and sanctions evasion. High-profile cases have further highlighted the urgent need for art market reform, including the indictment of Hezbollah financier, Nazem Ahmad, who used art to evade terrorism-related sanctions to the tune of $160 million.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The prolonged suffering will have irreversible consequences that will last generations: Joint statement on conflict and hunger in Gaza

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    The prolonged suffering will have irreversible consequences that will last generations: Joint statement on conflict and hunger in Gaza

    A joint statement by the Permanent Missions to the UN of the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Guyana, Ireland, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

    It is unacceptable that man-made and avoidable conflict-induced hunger continues to afflict civilians in Gaza. The prolonged suffering will have irreversible consequences that will last generations.

    From the May IPC Special Snapshot, we know that the Gaza Strip is facing a critical risk of famine. The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 500,000 people facing starvation and more than 70,000 children set to require treatment for acute malnutrition. 

    The latest figures are even more disturbing, and we are witnessing increased deaths due to malnutrition. This follows sustained denial of essential humanitarian assistance to civilians by Israel.

    To address this crisis, we call on all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. In particular, we call on Israel as the occupying power to adhere to its obligations under international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2417. Israel must:

    • Lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid and facilitate immediate, safe, rapid, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access by the UN and humanitarian organisations that ensures relief supplies at scale to civilians in need throughout Gaza.
    • Facilitate the effective delivery of life-saving nutrition, health, water, sanitation and other essential services by the UN and humanitarian organisations, as well as the fuel needed to sustain them.
    • Protect objects necessary for food production and distribution and facilitate the restoration of essential commercial supplies and market systems at scale.
    • Urgently ensure the protection of civilians, including aid workers, UN and associated personnel, and medical personnel, and allow their unrestricted access.

    We urge all parties to do everything to support efforts to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal. While humanitarian assistance is essential, the answer to conflict-induced hunger is peace.

    We need to ensure accountability for actors who deliberately cause or prolong conflict-induced hunger in violation of international law. Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare may constitute a war crime.

    All Member States should use their influence to address conflict-driven hunger in Gaza and promote compliance by all parties to the conflict with international law.

    We call for rapid and full implementation of humanitarian commitments made by Israel including the steps agreed between Israel and the EU to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This is imperative. We will follow delivery measures by Israel closely.

    We must all support the work of the UN-coordinated humanitarian system in Gaza led by OCHA. It is best equipped to ensure aid is delivered to civilians, apply established strong aid diversion prevention systems and adhere with humanitarian principles.

    UNRWA remains crucial to the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services, despite increasing restrictions and attacks.

    The new Israel-approved aid delivery model is dangerous and is not operating in accordance with humanitarian principles. We condemn the killing of well over 800 Palestinians, including children, seeking water and food. 

    The 20 July incident where people came under Israeli fire beside a WFP convoy was terrible. Humanitarian action must be based on humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

    We condemn the heinous attack by Hamas on October 7 2023. Hamas must release all hostages unconditionally now.

    Immediate action is needed to address this debilitating suffering.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida Man Sentenced for Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Miami man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts and claiming to the IRS that those assets were not his and instead belonged to foreign nationals.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta, a dual Brazilian and U.S. citizen, hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, he nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS  audited him. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented the false evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that he owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that he controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also, as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from his Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. In an attempt to avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations could make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which might offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to him were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also falsely claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because that nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, that nominee had two children.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith for the Southern District of Florida ordered Rotta to serve three years of supervised release. The court will determine restitution at a later date.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, investigated the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly, Trial Attorney William Montague, and former Trial Attorney Patrick Elwell of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Man Sentenced for Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A Miami man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts and claiming to the IRS that those assets were not his and instead belonged to foreign nationals.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta, a dual Brazilian and U.S. citizen, hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, he nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS  audited him. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented the false evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that he owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that he controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also, as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from his Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. In an attempt to avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations could make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which might offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to him were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also falsely claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because that nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, that nominee had two children.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith for the Southern District of Florida ordered Rotta to serve three years of supervised release. The court will determine restitution at a later date.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, investigated the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly, Trial Attorney William Montague, and former Trial Attorney Patrick Elwell of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Freename Secures $6.5 Million Series A to Accelerate the Future of Domain Names and Digital Identity in the New Internet Era

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Zurich, Switzerland, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Freename, a leading domain registrar bridging DNS and Blockchain technologies, today announced the closing of a $6.5 million Series A funding round. The new capital will drive product innovation, expand Freename’s global footprint,  further unify Web2 and Web3 digital identity ecosystems and enable not just traditional IP addresses but also wallet addresses in a regulated manner. 

    The round was led by Entrée Capital with participation from Polymorphic Capital, as well as continued support from seed investors Sparkle Ventures, Blockchain Founders Fund, and Golden Record Ventures. Notable new angel investors joined the round, including Mike Lobanov (Co-Founder of Target Global), Rashwan family office, and Aaron Schnarch (former CEO of Coinbase Custody).

    With almost six billion people on the internet, and up to 20% using it for Web3 or decentralized purposes, there needs to be a bridge between the old and new online worlds. The number of Web3 wallets has already surpassed the total number of registered domain names, and the rapid adoption of blockchain is expected to expand this further over the next decade. Freename is building the technology and infrastructure that fixes issues associated with closing this gap, including mending IP and wallet addresses, resolving collisions and blockchain metadata issues. 

    Freename is redefining the domain space by merging traditional DNS infrastructure with Web3 capabilities, enabling wallets to natively interact with websites, services, and digital identities. As decentralized systems become more prominent, Freename offers a new paradigm for domains, where names are not only readable but also programmable, functional, and secure across blockchains.

    “In Web2, domains are static; they point to servers. In Web3, they become dynamic, pointing to wallets, smart contracts, and on-chain reputations. That shift unlocks an entirely new layer of digital identity.” said Davide Vicini, CEO and Co-Founder of Freename. “Freename is building the foundation for a unified Internet, where owning a domain means owning your online identity across both traditional and decentralized infrastructures.”

    Freename empowers individuals, businesses, and communities to create and monetize custom Top-Level Domains (TLDs), opening new revenue streams through second-level domain sales. Its proprietary DNS technology ensures compatibility across major blockchain networks including Polygon, Solana, Base, and BNB Chain, while remaining accessible from standard browsers like Chrome and Safari.

    Key innovations include a collision management system that resolves identical domain names across all major blockchains and Web3 registrars, and a proprietary resolution protocol licensed to traditional DNS providers ensuring seamless interoperability between Web2 and Web3 naming systems.

    “Freename is redefining how digital identities are managed and monetized in the Web3 era and in future,” said Avi Eyal, Managing Partner at Entrée Capital. “Freename’s multi-chain approach and strong regulatory posture makes the company true category leaders. We’re proud to support their next phase of growth. Coupled with their support for existing traditional domains and new products to be released soon, we believe they are the next generation of domain name providers.”

    “Freename was born from the belief that the next era of the Internet demands a unified, interoperable identity layer,” added Mattia Martone, COO and Co-Founder of Freename. “We’re not just creating a new asset class, we’re empowering everyone to participate in building a decentralized Internet where domains act as secure, multi-chain digital passports. This funding accelerates our mission to scale that vision globally.”

    In just three years, Freename has rapidly established itself as a leader in the domain space focusing on a $141 billion Total Addressable Market. It has launched the world’s first on-chain DNS capable of being read by traditional browsers like Safari and Chrome, a major step toward mainstream Web3 adoption, and became the first Web3 domain registrar to obtain an ICANN Registrar License, unlocking the ability to sell traditional domains.

    About Freename

    Freename AG is a Swiss-based ICANN-accredited technology company developing the most innovative domain registrar. By bridging DNS and blockchain, Freename is redefining how digital identities are created, managed, and monetized and how the Internet can embrace wallets worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.freename.com

    Media Contact: mattia@freename.com
    Website: www.freename.com
    Twitter (X): @freenamecom

    Mattia Martone
    COO and Co-Founder
    Freename

    mattia@freename.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Global Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial opens: Small businesses key constituency in global trade, say South African SME minister, International Trade Centre (ITC) head

    Source: APO


    .

    The inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting opened today, marking a milestone in recognizing small and medium-sized enterprises as a key constituency in global trade. 

    The high-level event is co-hosted by the South African Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), with main events taking place on 23-24 July. The Ministerial was preceded by the Trade Promotion Organizations Leadership Dialogue on 22 July, in which heads of national trade promotion organizations developed strategies to better engage with SME ministers to bring the voice of small business into policymaking.

    Watch the livestream of the Ministerial high-level opening.

    More than 700 delegates from more than 60 countries are participating in the Ministerial, including ministers, heads of delegation, heads of national trade promotion organizations, business leaders and entrepreneurs. Ministerial-level delegates convened from across the world, from Bangladesh to Brazil, from Cameroon to Costa Rica, from Senegal to Switzerland, from the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom.  

    In her welcome remarks, South African Minister of Small Business Development Stella Tembisa Ndabeni said: ‘Let this Ministerial Meeting mark the beginning of a bold new global compact for MSME development; one that expands access to markets, unlocks affordable finance, accelerates digital inclusion, and ensures that women, youth and underserved communities are not spectators, but architects of economic transformation.’

    She added: ‘Let us commit to practical, measurable actions that position MSMEs as central pillars of resilience, innovation and sustainability. Let us work towards a global enabling ecosystem, where no entrepreneur is left behind because of where they live, how much they earn, or who they are.’

    In her welcome remarks, ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton said: ‘Now, this Ministerial is no talk shop. This is no place for posturing or politics. This is a space for us to marshal our collective knowledge and our energy and find solutions across the three areas that will bring the benefits of trade within reach of more SMEs: access to finance, digital transformation and green competitiveness.’

    Addressing ministerial-level delegates, she said: ‘When you go back to your capitals, your ministries, your cabinet meetings and your meetings with heads of state and government, you’ll be taking back with you concrete solutions, with the evidence to back them up.’

    Expected outcomes include the endorsement of a call-to-action in which countries align on the three main areas that will harness the development of SMEs—access to finance, digital transformation and green competitiveness —and develop a roadmap for future Ministerial Meetings to take place every two years, to ensure discussions produce outcomes for countries. 

    See the latest information on the Ministerial on the Global SME Ministerial Meeting landing page.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Gaza: As starvation spreads, our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away – joint statement

    Source: Amnesty International –

    As the Israeli government’s siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families. With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes.

    Exactly two months since the Israeli government-controlled scheme, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, began operating, 109 organisations are sounding the alarm, urging governments to act: open all land crossings; restore the full flow of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items, and fuel through a principled, UN-led mechanism; end the siege, and agree to a ceasefire now.

    “Each morning, the same question echoes across Gaza: will I eat today?” said one agency representative. 

    Massacres at food distribution sites in Gaza are occurring near-daily. As of July 13, the UN confirmed 875 Palestinians were killed while seeking food, 201 on aid routes and the rest at distribution points. Thousands more have been injured. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have forcibly displaced nearly two million exhausted Palestinians with the most recent mass displacement order issued on July 20, confining Palestinians to less than 12 per cent of Gaza. WFP warns that current conditions make operations untenable. The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime. 

    Just outside Gaza, in warehouses – and even within Gaza itself – tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items and fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organisations blocked from accessing or delivering them. The Government of Israel’s restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death. An aid worker providing psychosocial support spoke of the devastating impact on children: “Children tell their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least heaven has food.” 

    Doctors report record rates of acute malnutrition, especially among children and older people. Illnesses like acute watery diarrhoea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and adults are collapsing on the streets from hunger and dehydration. Distributions in Gaza average just 28 trucks a day, far from enough for over two million people, many of whom have gone weeks without assistance.

    The UN-led humanitarian system has not failed, it has been prevented from functioning. 

    Humanitarian agencies have the capacity and supplies to respond at scale. But, with access denied, we are blocked from reaching those in need, including our own exhausted and starved teams. On July 10, the EU and Israel announced steps to scale up aid. But these promises of ‘progress’ ring hollow when there is no real change on the ground. Every day without a sustained flow means more people dying of preventable illnesses. Children starve while waiting for promises that never arrive. 

    Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions. It is not just physical torment, but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage. The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access.

    Governments must stop waiting for permission to act. We cannot continue to hope that current arrangements will work. It is time to take decisive action: demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire; lift all bureaucratic and administrative restrictions; open all land crossings; ensure access to everyone in all of Gaza; reject military-controlled distribution models; restore a principled, UN-led humanitarian response and continue to fund principled and impartial humanitarian organisations. States must pursue concrete measures to end the siege, such as halting the transfer of weapons and ammunition. 

    Piecemeal arrangements and symbolic gestures, like airdrops or flawed aid deals, serve as a smokescreen for inaction. They cannot replace states’ legal and moral obligations to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure meaningful access at scale. States can and must save lives before there are none left to save.

    Signatories: 

    1. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
    2. A.M. Qattan Foundation
    3. A New Policy
    4. ACT Alliance
    5. Action Against Hunger (ACF)
    6. Action for Humanity
    7. ActionAid International
    8. American Baptist Churches Palestine Justice Network
    9. Amnesty International
    10. Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz
    11. Associazione Cooperazione e Solidarietà (ACS)
    12. Bystanders No More
    13. Campain
    14. CARE 
    15. Caritas Germany
    16. Caritas Internationalis
    17. Caritas Jerusalem
    18. Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
    19. Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM)
    20. CESVI Fondazione
    21. Children Not Numbers
    22. Christian Aid
    23. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
    24. CIDSE- International Family of Catholic Social Justice Organisations
    25. Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (CISS)
    26. Council for Arab‑British Understanding (CAABU)
    27. DanChurchAid (DCA)
    28. Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
    29. Doctors against Genocide
    30. Episcopal Peace Fellowship
    31. EuroMed Rights
    32. Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
    33. Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V.
    34. Gender Action for Peace and Security
    35. Global Legal Action Network (GLAN)
    36. Global Witness
    37. Health Workers 4 Palestine
    38. HelpAge International
    39. Humanity & Inclusion (HI)
    40. Humanity First UK
    41. Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
    42. Insight Insecurity
    43. International Media Support
    44. International NGO Safety Organisation
    45. Islamic Relief
    46. Jahalin Solidarity
    47. Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
    48. Kenya Association of Muslim Medical Professionals (KAMMP)
    49. Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
    50. MedGlobal
    51. Medico International
    52. Medico International Switzerland (medico international schweiz)
    53. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
    54. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
    55. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
    56. Médecins du Monde France
    57. Médecins du Monde Spain
    58. Médecins du Monde Switzerland
    59. Mercy Corps
    60. Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
    61. Movement for Peace (MPDL)
    62. Muslim Aid
    63. National Justice and Peace Network in England and Wales
    64. Nonviolence International
    65. Norwegian Aid Committee (NORWAC)
    66. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
    67. Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
    68. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
    69. Oxfam International
    70. Pax Christi England and Wales
    71. Pax Christi International
    72. Pax Christi Merseyside
    73. Pax Christi USA
    74. Pal Law Commission
    75. Palestinian American Medical Association
    76. Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF)
    77. Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS)
    78. Peace Direct
    79. Peace Winds
    80. Pediatricians for Palestine
    81. People in Need
    82. Plan International
    83. Première Urgence Internationale (PUI)
    84. Progettomondo
    85. Project HOPE
    86. Quaker Palestine Israel Network
    87. Rebuilding Alliance
    88. Saferworld
    89. Sabeel‑Kairos UK
    90. Save the Children (SCI)
    91. Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
    92. Solidarités International
    93. Støtteforeningen Det Danske Hus i Palæstina
    94. Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER)
    95. Terre des Hommes Italia
    96. Terre des Hommes Lausanne
    97. Terre des Hommes Nederland
    98. The Borgen Project
    99. The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM)
    100. The Glia Project
    101. The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P)
    102. The Institute for the Understanding of Anti‑Palestinian Racism
    103. Un Ponte Per (UPP)
    104. United Against Inhumanity (UAI)
    105. War Child Alliance
    106. War Child UK
    107. War on Want
    108. Weltfriedensdienst e.V.
    109. Welthungerhilfe (WHH)

     

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: As mass starvation spreads across Gaza, our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away

    Source: Amnesty International –

    As the Israeli government’s siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families. With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes.

    Exactly two months since the Israeli government-controlled scheme, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, began operating, 109 organisations are sounding the alarm, urging governments to act: open all land crossings; restore the full flow of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items, and fuel through a principled, UN-led mechanism; end the siege, and agree to a ceasefire now.

    “Each morning, the same question echoes across Gaza: will I eat today?” said one agency representative. 

    Each morning, the same question echoes across Gaza: will I eat today?

    Humanitarian agency representative in Gaza

    Massacres at food distribution sites in Gaza are occurring near-daily. As of July 13, the UN confirmed 875 Palestinians were killed while seeking food, 201 on aid routes and the rest at distribution points. Thousands more have been injured. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have forcibly displaced nearly two million exhausted Palestinians with the most recent mass displacement order issued on July 20, confining Palestinians to less than 12 per cent of Gaza. WFP warns that current conditions make operations untenable. The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime. 

    Just outside Gaza, in warehouses – and even within Gaza itself – tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items and fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organisations blocked from accessing or delivering them. The Government of Israel’s restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death. An aid worker providing psychosocial support spoke of the devastating impact on children: “Children tell their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least heaven has food.” 

    Doctors report record rates of acute malnutrition, especially among children and older people. Illnesses like acute watery diarrhoea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and adults are collapsing on the streets from hunger and dehydration. Distributions in Gaza average just 28 trucks a day, far from enough for over two million people, many of whom have gone weeks without assistance.

    The UN-led humanitarian system has not failed, it has been prevented from functioning. 

    Humanitarian agencies have the capacity and supplies to respond at scale. But, with access denied, we are blocked from reaching those in need, including our own exhausted and starved teams. On July 10, the EU and Israel announced steps to scale up aid. But these promises of ‘progress’ ring hollow when there is no real change on the ground. Every day without a sustained flow means more people dying of preventable illnesses. Children starve while waiting for promises that never arrive. 

    Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions. It is not just physical torment, but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage. The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access.

    Governments must stop waiting for permission to act. We cannot continue to hope that current arrangements will work. It is time to take decisive action: demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire; lift all bureaucratic and administrative restrictions; open all land crossings; ensure access to everyone in all of Gaza; reject military-controlled distribution models; restore a principled, UN-led humanitarian response and continue to fund principled and impartial humanitarian organisations. States must pursue concrete measures to end the siege, such as halting the transfer of weapons and ammunition. 

    Piecemeal arrangements and symbolic gestures, like airdrops or flawed aid deals, serve as a smokescreen for inaction. They cannot replace states’ legal and moral obligations to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure meaningful access at scale. States can and must save lives before there are none left to save.

    Signatories: 

    1. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
    2. A.M. Qattan Foundation
    3. A New Policy
    4. ACT Alliance
    5. Action Against Hunger (ACF)
    6. Action for Humanity
    7. ActionAid International
    8. American Baptist Churches Palestine Justice Network
    9. Amnesty International
    10. Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz
    11. Associazione Cooperazione e Solidarietà (ACS)
    12. Bystanders No More
    13. Campain
    14. CARE 
    15. Caritas Germany
    16. Caritas Internationalis
    17. Caritas Jerusalem
    18. Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
    19. Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM)
    20. CESVI Fondazione
    21. Children Not Numbers
    22. Christian Aid
    23. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
    24. CIDSE- International Family of Catholic Social Justice Organisations
    25. Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (CISS)
    26. Council for Arab‑British Understanding (CAABU)
    27. DanChurchAid (DCA)
    28. Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
    29. Doctors against Genocide
    30. Episcopal Peace Fellowship
    31. EuroMed Rights
    32. Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
    33. Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V.
    34. Gender Action for Peace and Security
    35. Global Legal Action Network (GLAN)
    36. Global Witness
    37. Health Workers 4 Palestine
    38. HelpAge International
    39. Humanity & Inclusion (HI)
    40. Humanity First UK
    41. Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
    42. Insight Insecurity
    43. International Media Support
    44. International NGO Safety Organisation
    45. Islamic Relief
    46. Jahalin Solidarity
    47. Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
    48. Kenya Association of Muslim Medical Professionals (KAMMP)
    49. Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
    50. MedGlobal
    51. Medico International
    52. Medico International Switzerland (medico international schweiz)
    53. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
    54. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
    55. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
    56. Médecins du Monde France
    57. Médecins du Monde Spain
    58. Médecins du Monde Switzerland
    59. Mercy Corps
    60. Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
    61. Movement for Peace (MPDL)
    62. Muslim Aid
    63. National Justice and Peace Network in England and Wales
    64. Nonviolence International
    65. Norwegian Aid Committee (NORWAC)
    66. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
    67. Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
    68. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
    69. Oxfam International
    70. Pax Christi England and Wales
    71. Pax Christi International
    72. Pax Christi Merseyside
    73. Pax Christi USA
    74. Pal Law Commission
    75. Palestinian American Medical Association
    76. Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF)
    77. Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS)
    78. Peace Direct
    79. Peace Winds
    80. Pediatricians for Palestine
    81. People in Need
    82. Plan International
    83. Première Urgence Internationale (PUI)
    84. Progettomondo
    85. Project HOPE
    86. Quaker Palestine Israel Network
    87. Rebuilding Alliance
    88. Saferworld
    89. Sabeel‑Kairos UK
    90. Save the Children (SCI)
    91. Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
    92. Solidarités International
    93. Støtteforeningen Det Danske Hus i Palæstina
    94. Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER)
    95. Terre des Hommes Italia
    96. Terre des Hommes Lausanne
    97. Terre des Hommes Nederland
    98. The Borgen Project
    99. The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM)
    100. The Glia Project
    101. The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P)
    102. The Institute for the Understanding of Anti‑Palestinian Racism
    103. Un Ponte Per (UPP)
    104. United Against Inhumanity (UAI)
    105. War Child Alliance
    106. War Child UK
    107. War on Want
    108. Weltfriedensdienst e.V.
    109. Welthungerhilfe (WHH)

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: 21Shares Partners with Societe Generale to Expand Institutional Access to Crypto ETPs in Europe

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Societe Generale to act as market maker for 21Shares’ Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs on key German and Eastern Europe fund platforms, expanding institutional access to crypto

    Zurich, 23 July 2025 – 21Shares AG, one of the world’s leading issuers of cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs), is pleased to announce it has entered into an ETP market making fund platform agreement with Societe Generale, a leading institutional player in exchange traded products, to enhance liquidity across 21Shares ETPs on fund platforms for investors in Germany and Eastern Europe.

    As part of the agreement, Societe Generale will support the trading of 21Shares’ Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs (ABTC, CBTC, AETH, CETH) by providing over-the-counter liquidity on key fund platforms in Germany and Eastern Europe. These platforms, typically operated by major financial institutions, serve as critical infrastructure for institutional trading. By joining these platforms, where Societe Generale acts as a market maker, 21Shares’ flagship crypto products will now be accessible to a wider base of professional investors, expanding institutional reach across Germany and Eastern Europe.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Societe Generale, a major player in the European ETF space, as we continue to expand access to our ETPs,” said Alistair Byas-Perry, Global Head of Capital Markets & EMEA Investment at 21Shares. “By bringing liquidity to our Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs, Societe Generale is helping us advance our mission to deliver the most efficient and trusted crypto investment solutions to the market.”

    “Societe Generale is excited to partner with 21Shares, a leading provider of cryptocurrency ETPs, to support the trading of their Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs on fund platforms. This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing innovative liquidity solutions and enhancing access to a wide range of ETFs and ETPs for our clients,” said Martina Schroettle, Head of ETF Sales Trading UK at Societe Generale.

    The partnership is expected to enhance liquidity, execution quality, and ease of access for German and Eastern European institutional investors navigating the digital asset market.

    For more information on 21Shares’ full product suite, visit www.21shares.com.

    Notes to editors

    About 21Shares

    21Shares is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange traded product providers and offers the largest suite of crypto ETPs in the market. The company was founded to make cryptocurrency more accessible to investors, and to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. 21Shares listed the world’s first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018, building a seven-year track record of creating crypto exchange-traded funds that are listed on some of the biggest, most liquid securities exchanges globally. Backed by a specialised research team, proprietary technology, and deep capital markets expertise, 21Shares delivers innovative, simple and cost-efficient investment solutions.

    21Shares is a member of 21.co, a global leader in decentralized finance. For more information, please visit www.21Shares.com.

    Media Contact
    Matteo Valli
    matteo.valli@21shares.com

    DISCLAIMER

    This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

    This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

    This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

    Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

    Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

    The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

    This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2024 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with BX Swiss AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2024 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

    ###

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BAWAG Group publishes Q2 2025 results: Net profit € 210 million and RoTCE 27.6%, full year outlook reconfirmed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Austria – July 23, 2025 – Today, BAWAG Group released its results for the second quarter 2025, reporting a net profit of € 210 million, earnings per share of € 2.65, and a RoTCE of 27.6%. Pre-provision profits were at € 345 million and the cost-income ratio at 37.5%. This resulted in a net profit of € 411 million, earnings per share of € 5.19, and a RoTCE of 26.7% for the first half of 2025.

    The CET1 ratio was at 13.5% after deducting the share buyback of € 175 million and the dividend accrual of € 226 million for the first half 2025. The NPL ratio remained at a low level of 0.7% at the end of the second quarter, reflecting our consistently strong asset quality.

    The operating performance of our business remained solid during the second quarter 2025. The ECB policy rates have come down further with average 3-month Euribor down by 50 basis points in the second quarter compared to the prior quarter. We reconfirm our outlook across P&L lines as well as our full year and mid-term targets, as presented during the Investor Day on March 4, 2025.

    Anas Abuzaakouk, CEO, commented: “We delivered another strong quarter with net profit of € 210 million, EPS of € 2.65, and a return on tangible common equity of 28% while continuing to integrate our recent acquisitions, which are progressing well. The operating performance of our businesses across the Group was solid, but we continue to be patient and disciplined with € 15 billion cash, over 20% of our balance sheet, in a market environment where we believe credit is frothy. We also received regulatory approval for a share buyback of € 175 million, in line with our capital distribution target of over 13% through 2025, landing at a CET1 ratio of 13.5% after deducting the buyback in the second quarter. 

    As always, our success was not possible without our team members across BAWAG Group who work tirelessly on behalf of our customers, shareholders, and the communities we serve. Their dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence set us apart. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together – and even more excited about what lies ahead.”           

    The earnings presentation is available on https://www.bawaggroup.com.

    Delivering strong H1 2025 results as a larger group

    in € million Q2 ’25 Change vs prior year (in %) H1’25 Change vs prior year (in %)
    Core revenues 547.9 40 1,082.7 38
    Net interest income 457.6 45 903.4 43
    Net commission income 90.3 19 179.3 18
    Operating income 551.9 41 1,085.7 40
    Operating expenses (206.7) 62 (404.3) 59
    Pre-provision profit 345.2 31 681.4 31
    Regulatory charges (10.4) >100 (20.0) >100
    Risk costs (52.0) 86 (111.2) 92
    Profit before tax 283.9 22 551.9 21
    Net profit 210.2 20 411.2 20
             
    RoTCE 27.6% 3.3pts 26.7% 2.7pts
    CIR 37.5% 4.9pts 37.2% 4.4pts
    Earnings per share (€) 2.65 20% 5.19 20%
    Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) 237% 17pts 237% 17pts

    Earnings presentation
    BAWAG Group will host the earnings call with our CEO Anas Abuzaakouk and CFO Enver Siručić at 10 a.m. CEST on 23 July 2025. The webcast details are available on our website under Financial Results | BAWAG Group.

    About BAWAG Group
    BAWAG Group AG is a publicly listed holding company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, serving our over 4 million retail, small business, corporate, real estate and public sector customers across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Group operates under various brands and across multiple channels offering comprehensive savings, payment, lending, leasing, investment, building society, factoring and insurance products and services. Our goal is to deliver simple, transparent, and affordable financial products and services that our customers need.

    BAWAG Group’s Investor Relations website https://www.bawaggroup.com/ir contains further information, including financial and other information for investors.

    Forward-looking statement
    This release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding the financial condition, results of operations, business plans and future performance of BAWAG Group. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, the regulatory environment, loan concentrations, vendors, employees, technology, competition, and interest rates. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements as actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. Neither BAWAG Group nor any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its content or otherwise arising in connection with this document. This report does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities and neither it nor any part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. This statement is included for the express purpose of invoking “safe harbor provisions”.

    Financial Community:
    Jutta Wimmer (Head of Investor Relations)
    Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-22474

    IR Hotline: +43 (0) 5 99 05-34444
    E-mail: investor.relations@bawaggroup.com

    Media:
    Manfred Rapolter (Head of Corporate Communications & Social Engagement)
    Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-31210
    E-mail: communications@bawaggroup.com

    This text can also be downloaded from our website: https://www.bawaggroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BAWAG Group publishes Q2 2025 results: Net profit € 210 million and RoTCE 27.6%, full year outlook reconfirmed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Austria – July 23, 2025 – Today, BAWAG Group released its results for the second quarter 2025, reporting a net profit of € 210 million, earnings per share of € 2.65, and a RoTCE of 27.6%. Pre-provision profits were at € 345 million and the cost-income ratio at 37.5%. This resulted in a net profit of € 411 million, earnings per share of € 5.19, and a RoTCE of 26.7% for the first half of 2025.

    The CET1 ratio was at 13.5% after deducting the share buyback of € 175 million and the dividend accrual of € 226 million for the first half 2025. The NPL ratio remained at a low level of 0.7% at the end of the second quarter, reflecting our consistently strong asset quality.

    The operating performance of our business remained solid during the second quarter 2025. The ECB policy rates have come down further with average 3-month Euribor down by 50 basis points in the second quarter compared to the prior quarter. We reconfirm our outlook across P&L lines as well as our full year and mid-term targets, as presented during the Investor Day on March 4, 2025.

    Anas Abuzaakouk, CEO, commented: “We delivered another strong quarter with net profit of € 210 million, EPS of € 2.65, and a return on tangible common equity of 28% while continuing to integrate our recent acquisitions, which are progressing well. The operating performance of our businesses across the Group was solid, but we continue to be patient and disciplined with € 15 billion cash, over 20% of our balance sheet, in a market environment where we believe credit is frothy. We also received regulatory approval for a share buyback of € 175 million, in line with our capital distribution target of over 13% through 2025, landing at a CET1 ratio of 13.5% after deducting the buyback in the second quarter. 

    As always, our success was not possible without our team members across BAWAG Group who work tirelessly on behalf of our customers, shareholders, and the communities we serve. Their dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence set us apart. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together – and even more excited about what lies ahead.”           

    The earnings presentation is available on https://www.bawaggroup.com.

    Delivering strong H1 2025 results as a larger group

    in € million Q2 ’25 Change vs prior year (in %) H1’25 Change vs prior year (in %)
    Core revenues 547.9 40 1,082.7 38
    Net interest income 457.6 45 903.4 43
    Net commission income 90.3 19 179.3 18
    Operating income 551.9 41 1,085.7 40
    Operating expenses (206.7) 62 (404.3) 59
    Pre-provision profit 345.2 31 681.4 31
    Regulatory charges (10.4) >100 (20.0) >100
    Risk costs (52.0) 86 (111.2) 92
    Profit before tax 283.9 22 551.9 21
    Net profit 210.2 20 411.2 20
             
    RoTCE 27.6% 3.3pts 26.7% 2.7pts
    CIR 37.5% 4.9pts 37.2% 4.4pts
    Earnings per share (€) 2.65 20% 5.19 20%
    Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) 237% 17pts 237% 17pts

    Earnings presentation
    BAWAG Group will host the earnings call with our CEO Anas Abuzaakouk and CFO Enver Siručić at 10 a.m. CEST on 23 July 2025. The webcast details are available on our website under Financial Results | BAWAG Group.

    About BAWAG Group
    BAWAG Group AG is a publicly listed holding company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, serving our over 4 million retail, small business, corporate, real estate and public sector customers across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Group operates under various brands and across multiple channels offering comprehensive savings, payment, lending, leasing, investment, building society, factoring and insurance products and services. Our goal is to deliver simple, transparent, and affordable financial products and services that our customers need.

    BAWAG Group’s Investor Relations website https://www.bawaggroup.com/ir contains further information, including financial and other information for investors.

    Forward-looking statement
    This release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding the financial condition, results of operations, business plans and future performance of BAWAG Group. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, the regulatory environment, loan concentrations, vendors, employees, technology, competition, and interest rates. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements as actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. Neither BAWAG Group nor any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its content or otherwise arising in connection with this document. This report does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities and neither it nor any part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. This statement is included for the express purpose of invoking “safe harbor provisions”.

    Financial Community:
    Jutta Wimmer (Head of Investor Relations)
    Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-22474

    IR Hotline: +43 (0) 5 99 05-34444
    E-mail: investor.relations@bawaggroup.com

    Media:
    Manfred Rapolter (Head of Corporate Communications & Social Engagement)
    Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-31210
    E-mail: communications@bawaggroup.com

    This text can also be downloaded from our website: https://www.bawaggroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global investors more bullish on Chinese assets

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

    An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 4, 2024 shows a view of Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s capital markets are gaining increasing traction among global investors as foreign investment surged back in the first half of this year, supported by the country’s economic resilience, continuing opening-up policies and growing demand for more diversified and renminbi-denominated assets, officials and experts said on Tuesday.

    Net inflows of foreign investment in China’s securities market — including bonds and equities — reached approximately $33 billion in the first five months of the year, reversing a net outflow seen in the second half of last year, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said on Tuesday.

    The renewed confidence is particularly evident in the stock market, as foreign investors posted a net increase in holdings of $10.1 billion in onshore stocks and funds in the first half, ending a two-year trend of net outflows. During the May-June period, the net increase surged to $18.8 billion, the SAFE said.

    Driven by China’s sound economic fundamentals, large financial markets, improved market access and investors’ diversification demand, “we expect a continuing, gradual increase in foreign allocation to renminbi assets”, said Jia Ning, head of the administration’s Balance of Payments Department.

    Heightened volatility in global financial markets has led investors to seek more diversified asset portfolios. Renminbi-denominated assets — with currency stability and a relatively independent return profile — have become an important allocation target for global investors to diversify risks and enhance returns, Jia said.

    Citing a recent survey by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, an independent think tank concerned with central banking, economic policy and public investment, Jia said that 30 percent of central banks worldwide plan to increase their allocation to renminbi assets, while several international investment banks have upgraded their outlook on Chinese assets from neutral to overweight.

    Thomas Fang, head of China global markets at UBS, said that the Swiss global wealth manager also sees rising confidence among global investors in Chinese markets, both A and H shares, as the nation’s shining economic prospects help them diversify allocations from US dollar-denominated assets.

    UBS has upgraded its full-year GDP growth forecast for China to 4.7 percent after the country posted 5.3 percent economic growth in the first half.

    “We’ve been pounding the table that the overall underweight of the China assets would not be sustainable,” Fang said, adding that recent opening-up policies have offered overseas investors more instruments — ranging from commodity futures to listed options — to invest in China, facilitating their risk management and helping them take bigger positions there.

    Li Bin, deputy head of the SAFE, said that China’s steady opening-up, high-quality economic development and growing foreign exchange market resilience will continue to help keep the renminbi exchange rate generally stable within a reasonable and balanced range, while foreign exchange regulators are well-positioned to mitigate any external shocks.

    Li said that China’s foreign exchange market has performed better than expected with strong resilience this year, as the renminbi strengthened by 1.9 percent against the greenback in the first half with no signs of a one-way expectation for either appreciation or depreciation.

    Guo Kai, executive president of the CF40 Institute, a research center affiliated with the China Finance 40 Forum think tank, said that China should advance institutional financial opening-up in order to sustain foreign investors’ rising allocation in renminbi-denominated assets and lift the Chinese currency’s role as a global reserve currency.

    “The key lies in continuing to improve the clarity of rules, policy transparency, data quality, market communication and the rule of law, to which international investors attach great attention,” Guo said.

    SAFE announced more measures on opening-up on Tuesday, including a nationwide removal of registration requirements for the reinvestment of foreign direct investment and the expansion of pilot programs that allow banks to directly process external debt registrations under the Qualified Foreign Limited Partner mechanism, through which foreign investors participate in China’s private equity and venture capital markets.

    From January to May, the net inflow of equity-based direct investment into China reached $31.1 billion, up 16 percent year-on-year, the administration said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Innovation, solid supply chain attracting FDI

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

    This aerial photo taken on July 5, 2023 shows the Tianjin factory of Danfoss, a global refrigeration industry giant, in north China’s Tianjin. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China will remain a vital innovation hub and manufacturing base for foreign corporations despite global economic uncertainty, said government officials and business leaders.

    They noted that foreign firms are maintaining deep engagement with the Chinese market, capitalizing on their technological expertise alongside China’s well-developed industrial and supply chains — a synergy that enhances operational efficiency, fosters innovation and strengthens supply chain resilience.

    Foreign-invested companies in China saw their export and import value grow by 2.4 percent year-on-year to 6.32 trillion yuan ($881.2 billion) in the first half, marking growth for the fifth consecutive quarter, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.

    The number of foreign-invested businesses in the country with actual import and export activities amounted to 75,000 in the first six months, the highest level for the same period since 2021, said the administration.

    China’s evolving industrial ecosystem — combining cost, quality and speed with advanced infrastructure — is transforming into a collaborative innovation hub where multinationals co-develop and expand alongside local partners, said Mohamed Kande, global chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd, a London-based global accounting company.

    Reflecting on this shift, Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC’s department of statistics and analysis, said that among the major manufacturing categories involved in foreign company exports, industries such as specialized equipment, electrical machinery and electronic devices all posted robust growth between January and June.

    One such company — Global Electric Appliance (Nantong) Co Ltd, a manufacturer of household appliances in Nantong, Jiangsu province and a subsidiary of a Singapore-based industrial group — reported a 31.9 percent year-on-year increase in exports, reaching 343 million yuan in the first half, said Nanjing Customs.

    Chen Jinxin, head of the company’s foreign trade unit, said the company has shipped its products, including vacuum and steam cleaners, to over 90 overseas markets, backed by China’s innovative solutions and a highly integrated supply chain that enables rapid product development and efficient global distribution.

    Apart from investing 3 billion yuan in its Hangzhou plant in Zhejiang province over the past decade, Italian chocolate and confectionery maker Ferrero Group said that the factory now supplies 53 percent of its products to the Chinese market, with the remaining 47 percent exported to more than 20 countries and regions across the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North America.

    Yang Lianjun, general manager of Ferrero’s Hangzhou plant, said the Chinese market offers significant opportunities, and the company may introduce additional premium product categories in the future, such as ice cream.

    To bolster its local research and development capabilities, Ferrero established a food innovation center within its Hangzhou facility last year. The center focuses on developing chocolate, confectionery and bakery products tailored to regional preferences and shortening time-to-market cycles.

    The Ministry of Commerce said foreign direct investment in China’s manufacturing sector reached 109.06 billion yuan in the first half, while high-tech industries attracted 127.87 billion yuan. FDI inflows from Switzerland, Japan, the United Kingdom and Germany rose by 68.6 percent, 59.1 percent, 37.6 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

    Amid a turbulent and uncertain global trade landscape, the stability of China’s policy environment and the long-term orientation of its planning have grown increasingly valuable, said Li Xingqian, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

    Neutrik Technology (Ningbo) Co Ltd, a Ningbo, Zhejiang province-based manufacturer of electronic connectors and a subsidiary of the European company Neutrik AG, reported a 19 percent year-on-year rise in first-half sales to 68.45 million yuan, covering both domestic sales and exports, said Ningbo Customs.

    Dong Lanju, the company’s president, said that China’s well-integrated industrial ecosystem and pro-business environment will continue to empower foreign manufacturers to expand production, boost operational efficiency and better capture opportunities in global markets.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Programme Management Officer, P-4

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Apply here

    Org. Setting and Reporting

    Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

    This position is located in the UNDRR Office in Bonn, Germany. The Programme Officer will report to the Head of the UNDRR Bonn Office under the overall guidance of the Chief, Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity-Development Branch.

    Responsibilities

    Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: – 

    • Develops, implements and evaluates assigned systems programmes/projects of significant importance for the Department; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions. In particular, oversees and supports the management and updating of the online monitoring system to track progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Tracks and monitors project progress against plan, requirements, quality measures, standard processes; liaises with users on all aspects and during all phases.
    • Provides expert advice on complex systems analysis and design; identifies the need for new systems (or modifications to existing systems) or responds to requests from users; develops plans for feasibility assessment, requirements specification, design, development and implementation, including project plans, schedules, time and cost estimates, metrics and performance measures. –
    • Provides expert advice and coordinates the roll-out of the Disaster Tracking System in all Member States, liaising with the concerned regional offices. Keeps abreast of developments in the field and determines the need for testing and evaluating new products and technologies. –
    • Leads and coordinates the official reporting on Sendai Framework and SDGs, among others, and organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, technical reports, including advance analytics using AI-based tools.
    • Develops, implements and monitors application of standards and guidelines. Oversees the preparation of technical and user documentation for systems; prepares training materials and detailed technical presentations including technical guidelines to support the reporting against the indicators to assess progress towards the targets of Sendai Framework, as recommended by the open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on indicators and terminology. Works in close collaboration with the UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) in Incheon and contributes to the development of training modules on Sendai Framework Monitoring Process. Collaborates and coordinates closely with UNDRR Regional Offices in support of strengthening the capacity of Member States to use the online Sendai Framework Monitoring system and their ability to report against the indicators. –
    • Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. –
    • Participates in planning and preparation of the budget, work program and spending plan of the Section and of the Branch. Contributes to activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). Develops cost proposals for contractual services, oversees the technical evaluation of proposals received and manages the contract service. Provides professional leadership and work direction to assigned project team, and/or mentor and supervises the work of new/junior officers, contract staff, etc. – Performs other duties as required.

    Competencies

    Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 

    Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 

    Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

    Education

    An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in social sciences, management, economics, statistics or a related field is required. A first-level degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

    Work experience

    • A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project planning, implementation and monitoring or a related area is required.
    • Experience in disaster risk assessment and monitoring, and disaster risk reduction is required.
    • Experience in data management and statistics is desirable.

    Languages

    English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

    Assessment

    Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

    Special notice

    The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In line with the overall United Nations policy, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture which embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the organization, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies and standards of conduct. Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

    United Nations Considerations

    According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

    No Fee

    THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

    Apply here

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: OZ Studio, a Global Firm with Texas Roots, Showcases Ethical AI Governance Model at the United Nations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, AUSTRIA , July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OZ Studio, a global technology firm with offices in Austin, Texas; Geneva, Switzerland; and Monterrey, Mexico, presented a groundbreaking model for municipal governance and ethical artificial intelligence at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna. The presentation marks a significant milestone for the company, which, after 22 years of serving multinational corporations, has pivoted its focus since 2020 toward empowering governments, entrepreneurs, and small businesses with integrated digital platforms.

    Osuna attends sessions at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime that focus on data security and sovereignty.

    The firm, represented by its CEO Daniel Osuna, who also serves on the UN’s AI Council ethics committee, detailed its successful public-private partnerships in the municipalities of Escobedo and Santiago, Mexico. These collaborations showcase a new standard for applying AI ethically at the local government level, a core mission of OZ Studio’s government services division.

    For over two decades, OZ Studio built a reputation for providing high-level services to large multinational companies. However, recognizing a critical gap in the market, the company strategically shifted its focus in 2020. The new mission: to channel its extensive expertise into creating comprehensive digital ecosystems for those who form the backbone of local economies—small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the public institutions that serve them.

    This new direction is embodied by two of its flagship platforms: LINK360 and the OZZY AI system. LINK360 is a digital empowerment platform that provides local businesses with e-commerce tools and AI-powered marketing, ensuring economic value and data sovereignty remain within the community. OZZY AI is an open-source framework trained for municipal processes, designed with ethical principles like transparency, algorithmic fairness, and cultural adaptation at its core.

    The results of this approach are transformative. Under the leadership of Mayor Andrés Mijes, the city of Escobedo has become a 100% digitized municipality, a remarkable achievement that has streamlined public services and eliminated bureaucratic red tape. In Santiago, Mayor David de la Peña is leveraging the LINK360 program to foster a vibrant local entrepreneurial scene.

    The international community has taken notice. Following the conclusion of the UN activities on Monday, July 22, OZ Studio (https://www.oz.studio) has entered into strategic alliances to explore pilot programs with several nations, including: Spain, Egypt, Georgia, Austria, and Australia. This global interest validates OZ Studio’s model as a scalable solution for governments worldwide seeking to innovate responsibly.

    From its strategic locations in Austin, Geneva, and Monterrey, OZ Studio is now positioned to lead the charge in ethical AI for public service. The company’s evolution from a corporate service provider to a champion for local development demonstrates a powerful vision: leveraging top-tier technology to build self-sustaining, equitable, and prosperous communities from the ground up.

    Presenting the OZZI AI framework and the Public Private Partnership for ethical AI

    About OZ Studio

    At OZ Studio, we are your premier destination for transformative digital solutions, anchored in over two decades of innovation and expertise. We are proud to say that we’ve evolved from pioneering basic email marketing to mastering complex digital strategies and immersive creative experiences. Our comprehensive suite of services spans from state-of-the-art website development to advanced SEO strategies, engaging interactive videos, and cutting-edge AI tools. As true digital architects, we empower our clients by merging top-tier technology with unmatched creative prowess, ensuring every digital interaction is compelling and results-oriented. We revolutionized the traditional digital service model through our productized Creative-as-a-Service (CaaS), which guarantees transparency, efficiency, and scalability. Our subscription-based approach simplifies access to a holistic digital strategy, incorporating a full spectrum of expertly managed creative and technical services. Partner with us at OZ Studio, and let us help elevate your brand to new heights, optimizing every touchpoint in your digital journey for growth and transformation. 

    Press inquiries

    OZ Studio
    https://oz.studio
    Daniel Osuna
    oz@oz.studio
    +12123811969
    5900 Balcones Drive
    Austin, TX 78731

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A global treaty to limit plastic pollution is within reach – will countries seize the moment?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Winnie Courtene-Jones, Lecturer in Marine Pollution, Bangor University

    Bandung, Indonesia. Sony Herdiana/Shutterstock

    Representatives from 175 countries will gather in Geneva, Switzerland, in August for the final round of negotiations on a legally binding UN treaty to end plastic pollution. Non-governmental organisations, academics and industry lobbyists will also be in the room. They will all be hoping to influence what could be the world’s first truly global agreement on plastics.

    The summit, known as “INC-5.2”, follows a failed attempt to reach agreement in Busan, South Korea, late last year. That meeting ended without resolving important issues, despite hopes that it would conclude the treaty process. Now, it’s crunch time in Geneva.

    Either countries bridge their political divides, or risk the whole process falling apart.

    I’ve been researching the effects of plastic for more than a decade and have been involved in the UN treaty process since 2022. I’ve attended several of the negotiations and will be in Geneva next month. The science is clear: we need ambitious action which tackles every stage of the plastics lifecycle, from production through to disposal. But the question is, will countries deliver?

    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.

    In 2022, the UN Environment Assembly agreed to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Since then, progress has been slow. Negotiations have repeatedly stalled over issues such as whether the treaty should limit plastic production or regulate chemicals, how to define terms, and how to fund implementation.

    Industry lobbying has also played a powerful role throughout. At the last round of talks, lobbyists for the petrochemical and plastics industries made up the single largest delegation. They outnumbered representatives from the EU, all of Latin America, the Pacific islands, independent scientists and Indigenous communities. This imbalance threatens to weaken the science-based action that is urgently needed.

    Although countries failed to reach agreement in Busan, a foundation was laid. They agreed to continue negotiations using the “chair’s text”, which is a draft treaty with multiple options still on the table. That document forms the starting point in Geneva. But it remains uncertain whether enough common ground can be found to finalise the text.

    What’s at stake?

    This treaty is a once-in-a-generation chance to tackle one of the world’s most urgent environmental crises. More than 450 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year. That figure is expected to double by 2045 if current trends continue.

    Only around 9% of plastic is ever recycled. The rest is landfilled, incinerated or ends up polluting the environment.

    An estimated 139 million tonnes of plastics pollute marine and fresh water. But that could be significantly higher when considering leakages of plastics to land, and from microplastics, which are plastics smaller than 5mm in diameter.

    Plastic is found in the deepest oceans, the remotest mountains and inside the human body. While scientists are only beginning to understand the long-term implications for human health, biodiversity and climate, studies show harmful effects of plastics and their chemicals on animals and ecosystems.

    Plastic pollution doesn’t respect national borders. It moves through rivers, oceans and air, and gets carried across continents. Global supply chains and waste exports have made this a problem no country can solve alone. That’s why a global treaty is essential.

    Crossroads

    Despite this growing urgency, a disparity in positions has hindered progress and continues to divide delegations.

    Some, such as members of the High Ambition Coalition, a group of countries committed to progressive climate action, want strong rules to cap plastic production, phase out toxic chemicals and hold polluters accountable. Others, often with prominent petrochemical industries, argue for a weaker, voluntary approach focused mainly on recycling and waste management.



    Read more:
    A global plastic treaty will only work if it caps production, modelling shows

    If these divisions aren’t resolved, there’s a real risk the treaty will end up being too watered down to make a difference. A patchy, fragmented agreement would fail to curb rising plastic production and could undermine the integrity of global action.

    Between December’s meeting in Busan and next month’s talks, countries have been holding smaller meetings to try to find compromise. That momentum must now be carried into the final negotiations.

    Important articles in the draft treaty, including those on chemicals and products, plastic production and finance, remain contested. Whether those provisions are strengthened or diluted will shape the treaty’s effects for decades to come.

    Flexibility will be needed. But leadership is also crucial. Countries that support an ambitious outcome must stand firm and bring others with them.

    As we approach what may be the final negotiating round, we’re at a critical crossroads. The world has the chance to take meaningful action on plastic pollution. Let’s not waste it.

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

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

    Winnie Courtene-Jones is an unpaid member and working-group lead of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Treaty; an International network of independent scientific and technical experts contributing robust scientific evidence to the Treaty process.

    – ref. A global treaty to limit plastic pollution is within reach – will countries seize the moment? – https://theconversation.com/a-global-treaty-to-limit-plastic-pollution-is-within-reach-will-countries-seize-the-moment-261331

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace calls for drastic cut in plastic production as new report reveals millions at risk of toxic air pollution exposure

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Amsterdam, The Netherlands – A new Greenpeace International report released today reveals that over 50 million people in 11 countries [1] are at risk of exposure to hazardous air pollution from plastic linked petrochemical production. The findings intensify pressure on negotiators at the Global Plastics Treaty talks in Geneva to secure a treaty that tackles the problem at its source: plastic production.

    Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Campaign Lead for Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace Head of Delegation for the Global Plastics Treaty negotiation said: “What this report shows is that the plastics crisis is a public health emergency. The Global Plastics Treaty must deliver a 75% cut in plastic production by 2040 to reduce escalating threats to human and planetary health. People are being poisoned so fossil fuel and petrochemical companies can churn out more unnecessary plastic. Without a treaty that cuts production, the plastic crisis will only grow worse.”

    The report, Every Breath You Take: Air Pollution Risks from Petrochemicals Production for the Plastics Supply Chain, shifts the lens to midstream level plastic production—to the petrochemical plants that produce precursors to plastic and expose frontline communities living near to these facilities who are potentially facing exposure to dangerous air pollutants.

    During the production of feedstock, petrochemical facilities emit a suite of harmful airborne substances typically including Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and sulfur oxides (SOₓ) and particulate matter (PM). Studies report higher concentrations of these pollutants near petrochemical facilities, with proximity linked to increased illness—raising a serious cause for concern.

    Key findings from the report include:

    • Over 51 million people in the 11 countries studied live within 10 km of plastics-linked petrochemical facilities; 16 million live within 5 km. In every country studied, residential areas lie within 10 km of plastic-linked petrochemical plants.
    • The United States has the highest number of people living at a distance that is linked to elevated risk—13 million, especially in Texas and Louisiana.
    • One in four people in the Netherlands live at a distance that is linked to elevated risk of exposure to air pollution emissions, including toxic emissions, from petrochemical plants. It has the highest proportion of its population at risk with 4.5 million people or 25.6% of the entire population within the exposure zones assessed in the analysis. The country with the second highest proportion is Switzerland at 10.9% of the population.
    • The pollution created by some petrochemical plants in the regions reviewed for the report is transboundary. Several plants are located in border zones, affecting communities in Austria, Poland, Singapore, Belgium, France and Germany.[2]
    • In documented case studies, communities near petrochemical facilities suffer disproportionately from cancer, respiratory disease, and premature death. The UN has labeled some of these areas “sacrifice zones.”

    The report also warns of industry plans to expand global plastic production through 2050, which would create more sacrifice zones, more waste exported to low-income countries, and more short-lived products driving the climate, health and waste crisis.

    The global Greenpeace network is demanding that the Global Plastics Treaty must reduce plastic production by at least 75% by 2040 to protect people’s health, the climate and the environment. The next round of negotiations will happen on August 5 to 14, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

    ENDS

    Full report: Every Breath You Take: Air Pollution Risks from Petrochemicals Production for the Plastics Supply Chain

    Photos and videos can be accessed in the Greenpeace Media Library. 

    Interactive maps of petrochemical production zones

    Notes: 

    [1] The report, Every Breath You Take: Air Pollution Risks from Petrochemicals Production for the Plastics Supply Chain, identified the locations of petrochemical facilities linked to plastics in 11 countries: Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Canada, USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The countries were selected because of their significant petrochemical presence or association with major plastic-related concerns.

    [2] The transboundary zones include populations in Austria and Poland (from German facilities), Singapore (from Malaysian facilities) Belgium and Germany (from Dutch facilities) France and Germany (from Swiss facilities).

    Contacts:

    Angelica Carballo Pago, Global Plastics Campaign Media Lead, Greenpeace USA, +63 917 1124492, [email protected]

    Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: Press Release: GAM Strengthens European Presence with Appointment of Karim Carmoun to Lead France, Benelux and Monaco

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Zurich / Paris, 22 July 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    GAM Strengthens European Presence with Appointment of Karim Carmoun to Lead France, Benelux and Monaco

    GAM Investments (GAM) has appointed Karim Carmoun as Managing Director to lead its activities across France, Benelux and Monaco. Based in Paris, Karim will report directly to GAM’s incoming Group Chief Distribution Officer, Tim Rainsford, who will re-join the firm on 1 October. Tim returns to GAM after holding senior roles at Generali Investments Partners as CEO, and most recently as Chief Product and Distribution Officer at Generali Asset Management.

    Karim’s appointment marks a key moment in GAM’s growth strategy in Europe, supported by NJJ Holding SA, the private investment group of French entrepreneur Xavier Niel and GAM’s majority shareholder.   

    Under new leadership, GAM is sharpening its focus on its Specialist Active, Alternatives and Wealth Management capabilities, giving clients access to top-tier investment talent and differentiated strategies. Combining in-house expertise with high-quality partnerships, GAM’s model connects professional investors to distinctive sources of return, backed by a global distribution platform and a renewed commitment to local client service. 

    Karim brings over 20 years of experience in asset management and a deep understanding of the French and Benelux markets. He spent the past decade at Robeco, where he served as CEO of Robeco France, following senior roles at Fidelity, Crédit Agricole, and BNP Paribas. He is widely recognised for his client-centric approach and ability to navigate evolving market conditions. 

    “I am proud to join GAM at this pivotal moment in its growth strategy,” said Karim Carmoun. “With the strong support of NJJ, we are focused on re-establishing GAM’s presence in France, Benelux and Monaco. Investors increasingly seek access to specialist strategies, alternative solutions, and the highest-quality investment talent which are all areas where GAM has a distinctive proposition. I look forward to building this exciting business and working closely with professional clients across the region to help them with their investment needs.”   

    “France, Benelux and Monaco are strategically important for GAM, and Karim brings the experience, credibility and insight to help us build lasting relationships in the region,” said Rossen Djounov, GAM’s Global Head of Client Solutions. “His appointment reflects our belief in local expertise supported by global resources.” 

    GAM is a specialist asset manager focused on Specialist Active, Alternatives and Wealth Management, including high-conviction equity, multi-asset and fixed income strategies. Its capabilities span hedge funds, alternative credit, insurance-linked securities (ILS) and private markets, delivered through in-house expertise and high-quality partnerships with some of the world’s most respected investment teams. 

    Through this model, GAM connects professional investors to differentiated sources of return and specialist insights, offering a platform that is both future-ready and aligned with evolving portfolio needs. 

    To connect with Karim Carmoun regarding GAM’s plans in the region, please contact: 

    Karim Carmoun
    Managing Director
    Head of France, Benelux and Monaco
    Karim.Carmoun@gam.com

    Media Relations:
    Colin Bennett
    T +44 (0) 20 73 938 544        
    colin.bennett@gam.com
    Visit us: www.gam.com
    Follow us: X and LinkedIn  

    About GAM
    GAM Investments is a highly scalable global investment platform with strong global distribution capabilities focusing on three core areas, Specialist Active Investing, Alternative Investing and Wealth Management, that is listed in Switzerland. It delivers distinctive and differentiated investment solutions across its Investment and Wealth Management businesses. Its purpose is to protect and enhance clients’ financial future. It attracts and empowers brightest minds to provide investment leadership, innovation and a positive impact on society and the environment. Total assets under management were CHF 16.3 billion as of 31 December 2024. GAM Investments has global distribution with offices in 14 countries and is geographically diverse with clients in almost every continent. Headquartered in Zurich, GAM Investments was founded in 1983, and its registered office is at Hardstrasse 201 Zurich, 8005 Switzerland. For more information about GAM Investments, please visit www.gam.com.

    Other Important Information

    This release contains or may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “aim”, “project”, “forecast”, “risk”, “likely”, “intend”, “outlook”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “may”, “might”, “will”, “continue”, “plan”, “probability”, “indicative”, “seek”, “target”, “plan” and other similar expressions are intended to or may identify forward-looking statements.

    Any such statements in this release speak only as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions and contingencies subject to change without notice, as are statements about market and industry trends, projections, guidance, and estimates. Any forward-looking statements in this release are not indications, guarantees, assurances or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the person making such statements, its affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors and may involve significant elements of subjective judgement and assumptions as to future events which may or may not be correct and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such statements. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and no person accepts or assumes any liability in connection therewith.

    This release is not a financial product or investment advice, a recommendation to acquire, exchange or dispose of securities or accounting, legal or tax advice. It has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, legal, financial or tax situation and needs of individuals. Before making an investment decision, individuals should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own objectives, legal, financial and tax situation and needs and seek legal, tax and other advice as appropriate for their individual needs and jurisdiction.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • Meri Panchayat App secures WSIS Champion Award 2025 for Digital Governance Excellence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The “Meri Panchayat” mobile application, a transformative digital governance initiative by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has been honored with the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award. The accolade, awarded under the Action Line Category for Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity, and Local Content, was presented at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The WSIS Champion Certificate was formally handed over to Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, during a ceremonial event in New Delhi, attended by Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, and Secretary MoPR, Vivek Bharadwaj, among other senior officials.

    Rajiv Ranjan Singh praised the Meri Panchayat initiative for advancing citizen-centric governance through digital innovation. He highlighted the importance of leveraging such tools to enhance transparency, promote participatory democracy, and bridge the knowledge divide at the grassroots level. The app, recognized as a WSIS Prizes 2025 Champion Project, exemplifies India’s global leadership in digital governance.

    The WSIS+20 High-Level Event, held from July 7 to 11 in Geneva, marked two decades since the original WSIS. Co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation, and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, the forum served as a platform to evaluate progress and address challenges in building inclusive information societies. Sunita Jain, Senior Director, NIC/MoPR, accepted the Champion Award on behalf of the Government of India on July 10 during the event.

    The Meri Panchayat app empowers over 25 lakh elected representatives and approximately 950 million rural residents across India’s 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats. It provides real-time access to panchayat budgets, receipts, payments, and development plans, along with details of elected representatives, public infrastructure, and civic services. The app also offers access to Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), project tracking, weather forecasts at the Gram Panchayat level, social audit tools, fund utilization data, and grievance redressal with geo-tagged and geo-fenced features. Supporting over 12 Indian languages, the app ensures inclusivity through its multilingual interface. Citizens can propose new projects, review and rate implemented works, and access Gram Sabha agendas and decisions, fostering greater civic engagement and transparency in rural governance.

  • Meri Panchayat App secures WSIS Champion Award 2025 for Digital Governance Excellence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The “Meri Panchayat” mobile application, a transformative digital governance initiative by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has been honored with the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award. The accolade, awarded under the Action Line Category for Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity, and Local Content, was presented at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The WSIS Champion Certificate was formally handed over to Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, during a ceremonial event in New Delhi, attended by Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, and Secretary MoPR, Vivek Bharadwaj, among other senior officials.

    Rajiv Ranjan Singh praised the Meri Panchayat initiative for advancing citizen-centric governance through digital innovation. He highlighted the importance of leveraging such tools to enhance transparency, promote participatory democracy, and bridge the knowledge divide at the grassroots level. The app, recognized as a WSIS Prizes 2025 Champion Project, exemplifies India’s global leadership in digital governance.

    The WSIS+20 High-Level Event, held from July 7 to 11 in Geneva, marked two decades since the original WSIS. Co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation, and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, the forum served as a platform to evaluate progress and address challenges in building inclusive information societies. Sunita Jain, Senior Director, NIC/MoPR, accepted the Champion Award on behalf of the Government of India on July 10 during the event.

    The Meri Panchayat app empowers over 25 lakh elected representatives and approximately 950 million rural residents across India’s 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats. It provides real-time access to panchayat budgets, receipts, payments, and development plans, along with details of elected representatives, public infrastructure, and civic services. The app also offers access to Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), project tracking, weather forecasts at the Gram Panchayat level, social audit tools, fund utilization data, and grievance redressal with geo-tagged and geo-fenced features. Supporting over 12 Indian languages, the app ensures inclusivity through its multilingual interface. Citizens can propose new projects, review and rate implemented works, and access Gram Sabha agendas and decisions, fostering greater civic engagement and transparency in rural governance.

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Pumped up with poison: new research shows many anabolic steroids contain toxic metals

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Timothy Piatkowski, Lecturer in Psychology, Griffith University

    MilosStankovic/Getty Images

    Eighteen-year-old Mark scrolls Instagram late at night, watching videos of fitness influencers showing off muscle gains and lifting the equivalent of a baby elephant off the gym floor.

    Spurred on by hashtags and usernames indicating these feats involve steroids, soon Mark is online, ordering his first “steroid cycle”. No script, no warnings, just vials in the mail and the promise of “gains”.

    A few weeks later, he’s posting progress shots and getting tagged as #MegaMark. He’s pleased. But what if I told you Mark was unknowingly injecting toxic chemicals?

    In our new research we tested products sold in Australia’s underground steroid market and found many were mislabelled or missing the expected steroid entirely.

    Even more concerning, several contained heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium. These substances are known to cause cancer, heart disease and organ failure.

    What are anabolic steroids, and who is using them?

    Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs designed to mimic the effects of testosterone. Medical professionals sometimes prescribe them for specific health conditions (for example, hypogonadism, where the body isn’t making enough sex hormones). But they are more commonly taken by people looking to increase muscle size, improve athletic performance, or elevate feelings of wellbeing.

    In Australia, it’s illegal to possess steroids without a prescription. This offence can attract large fines and prison terms (up to 25 years in Queensland).

    Despite this, they’re widely available online and from your local “gym bro”. So it’s not surprising we’re seeing escalating use, particularly among young men and women.

    People usually take steroids as pills and capsules or injectable oil- or water-based products. But while many people assume these products are safe if used correctly, they’re made outside regulated settings, with no official quality checks.



    Read more:
    Get big or die trying: social media is driving men’s use of steroids. Here’s how to mitigate the risks

    Our research

    For this new study, we analysed 28 steroid products acquired from people all over Australia which they’d purchased either online or from peers in the gym. These included 16 injectable oils, ten varieties of oral tablets, and two “raw” powders.

    An independent forensic lab tested the samples for active ingredients, contaminants and heavy metals. We then compared the results against what people thought they were taking.

    More than half of the samples were mislabelled or contained the wrong drug. For example, one product labelled as testosterone enanthate (200mg/mL) contained 159mg/mL of trenbolone (a potent type of steroid) and no detectable testosterone. Oxandrolone (also known as “Anavar”, another type of steroid) tablets were sold claiming a strength of 10mg but actually contained 6.8mg, showing a disparity in purity.

    Just four products matched their expected compound and purity within a 5% margin.

    But the biggest concern was that all steroids we analysed were contaminated with some level of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium.

    While all of the concentrations we detected were within daily exposure limits regarded as safe by health authorities, more frequent and heavier use of these drugs would quickly see people who use steroids exceed safe thresholds. And we know this happens.

    If consumed above safe limits, research suggests lead can damage the brain and heart. Arsenic is a proven carcinogen, having been linked to the development of skin, liver and lung cancers.

    People who use steroids often dose for weeks or months, and sometimes stack multiple drugs, so these metals would build up. This means long‑term steroid use could be quietly fuelling cognitive decline, organ failure, and even cancer.

    What needs to happen next?

    Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium often contaminate anabolic steroid products because raw powders sourced from some manufacturers, particularly those in China, may be produced with poor quality control and impure starting materials. These metals can enter the supply chain during synthesis, handling, or from contaminated equipment and solvents, leading to their presence in the final products.

    Steroid use isn’t going away, so we need to address the potential health harms from these contaminants.

    While pill testing is now common at festivals for drugs such as ecstasy, testing anabolic steroids requires more complex chemical analysis that cannot be conducted on-site. Current steroid testing relies on advanced laboratory techniques, which limits availability mostly to specialised research programs such as those in Australia and Switzerland.

    We need to invest properly in a national steroid surveillance and testing network, which will give us data‑driven insights to inform targeted interventions.

    This should involve nationwide steroid testing programs integrated with needle‑and‑syringe programs and community health services which steroid-using communities are aware of and engage with.

    We also need to see peer‑led support through trusted programs to educate people who use steroids around the risks. The programs should be based in real evidence, and developed by people with lived experience of steroid use, in partnership with researchers and clinicians.

    Timothy Piatkowski receives funding from Queensland Mental Health Commission. He is affiliated with Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action as the Vice President. He is affiliated with The Loop Australia as the research lead (Queensland).

    – ref. Pumped up with poison: new research shows many anabolic steroids contain toxic metals – https://theconversation.com/pumped-up-with-poison-new-research-shows-many-anabolic-steroids-contain-toxic-metals-261470

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: Ripplecoin Mining launches XRP cloud mining contracts to help investors lock in daily crypto yields

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, California , July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As XRP breaks through $3.55, setting a new record high, Ripplecoin Mining announced the launch of a new XRP cloud mining service to provide cryptocurrency investors with a stable daily income channel. Users can directly start cloud mining contracts using mainstream currencies such as XRP and BTC, opening a truly “zero threshold, intelligent” asset appreciation model.

    XRP hits a new high, and the crypto market ushers in a new trend in asset allocation

    XRP rose by more than 36% in the past week, exceeding the increase in Bitcoin in the same period, becoming the leading asset in the rebound of altcoins. Analysts believe that the signing of the GENIUS Act, the settlement between Ripple and the SEC, and the expansion of the RLUSD stablecoin are the three core driving forces for XRP’s rise. As the market enters a new cycle where compliance and infrastructure are equally important, the strategy of “holding coins + passive income” has become the new normal for investors.

    Ripplecoin Mining: Converting XRP into daily cash flow

    Ripplecoin Mining is a technology platform focusing on “light mode mining” and is committed to turning idle digital assets into daily cash flow income. Its newly released XRP cloud mining service breaks the dependence of traditional mining on hardware, electricity and technology, allowing ordinary users to participate in mining at a low cost.

    Platform highlights:

    AI computing power scheduling: the system automatically selects the world’s best computing power node
    Mining on mobile: supports iOS and Android, easy to operate
    Daily income: automatic settlement, stable and visible income
    Green data center: 120+ green mines deployed globally
    Safety guarantee: multiple protection technologies to ensure the safety of user assets

    Quickly participate in cloud mining: start daily income in three steps

    Register an account: Click here to visit the official website to register and enjoy $15 free computing power experience

    Recharge XRP/BTC: Use your XRP or BTC to recharge your member account and start the contract

    Select a contract and start: A variety of contracts automatically settle income every day, no maintenance required
    The following contract explains the potential income you can get

    Contract Price Contract Duration Daily Earnings Total Revenue
    $100 2Days $5 $100 + $10
    $500 5Days $6 $500 + $30
    $1,300 9Days $16 $1,300 + $158
    $3,000 14Days $42 $3,000 + $588
    $7,800 21Days $117 $7,800 + $2,457
    $23,000 29Days $396 $23,000 + $11,472

    User feedback: Real praise, word-of-mouth communication

    “In the past, XRP could only wait for price increases, but now the income is automatically credited every day, and I feel that my assets are “working.”
    –Swiss user Daniel L.
    “I don’t understand technology, but this platform is as simple as using Alipay.”
    –Japanese user Miko T.

    About Ripplecoin Mining

    Founded in 2017 and headquartered in the UK, Ripplecoin Mining is the world’s leading AI-driven compliant cloud mining platform. The platform supports mainstream currencies including XRP, BTC, ETH, DOGE, SOL, etc., and combines green energy data centers with intelligent computing power scheduling algorithms to provide efficient, safe and sustainable mining services to more than 9.5 million users worldwide. Ripplecoin Mining is committed to lowering the threshold for mining, so that every crypto investor can easily realize the automatic appreciation of assets.

    Official website address: https://ripplecoinmining.com

    App download: https://ripplecoinmining.com/xml/index.html#/app

    Media contact: info@ripplecoinmining.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ripplecoin Mining launches XRP cloud mining contracts to help investors lock in daily crypto yields

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, California , July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As XRP breaks through $3.55, setting a new record high, Ripplecoin Mining announced the launch of a new XRP cloud mining service to provide cryptocurrency investors with a stable daily income channel. Users can directly start cloud mining contracts using mainstream currencies such as XRP and BTC, opening a truly “zero threshold, intelligent” asset appreciation model.

    XRP hits a new high, and the crypto market ushers in a new trend in asset allocation

    XRP rose by more than 36% in the past week, exceeding the increase in Bitcoin in the same period, becoming the leading asset in the rebound of altcoins. Analysts believe that the signing of the GENIUS Act, the settlement between Ripple and the SEC, and the expansion of the RLUSD stablecoin are the three core driving forces for XRP’s rise. As the market enters a new cycle where compliance and infrastructure are equally important, the strategy of “holding coins + passive income” has become the new normal for investors.

    Ripplecoin Mining: Converting XRP into daily cash flow

    Ripplecoin Mining is a technology platform focusing on “light mode mining” and is committed to turning idle digital assets into daily cash flow income. Its newly released XRP cloud mining service breaks the dependence of traditional mining on hardware, electricity and technology, allowing ordinary users to participate in mining at a low cost.

    Platform highlights:

    AI computing power scheduling: the system automatically selects the world’s best computing power node
    Mining on mobile: supports iOS and Android, easy to operate
    Daily income: automatic settlement, stable and visible income
    Green data center: 120+ green mines deployed globally
    Safety guarantee: multiple protection technologies to ensure the safety of user assets

    Quickly participate in cloud mining: start daily income in three steps

    Register an account: Click here to visit the official website to register and enjoy $15 free computing power experience

    Recharge XRP/BTC: Use your XRP or BTC to recharge your member account and start the contract

    Select a contract and start: A variety of contracts automatically settle income every day, no maintenance required
    The following contract explains the potential income you can get

    Contract Price Contract Duration Daily Earnings Total Revenue
    $100 2Days $5 $100 + $10
    $500 5Days $6 $500 + $30
    $1,300 9Days $16 $1,300 + $158
    $3,000 14Days $42 $3,000 + $588
    $7,800 21Days $117 $7,800 + $2,457
    $23,000 29Days $396 $23,000 + $11,472

    User feedback: Real praise, word-of-mouth communication

    “In the past, XRP could only wait for price increases, but now the income is automatically credited every day, and I feel that my assets are “working.”
    –Swiss user Daniel L.
    “I don’t understand technology, but this platform is as simple as using Alipay.”
    –Japanese user Miko T.

    About Ripplecoin Mining

    Founded in 2017 and headquartered in the UK, Ripplecoin Mining is the world’s leading AI-driven compliant cloud mining platform. The platform supports mainstream currencies including XRP, BTC, ETH, DOGE, SOL, etc., and combines green energy data centers with intelligent computing power scheduling algorithms to provide efficient, safe and sustainable mining services to more than 9.5 million users worldwide. Ripplecoin Mining is committed to lowering the threshold for mining, so that every crypto investor can easily realize the automatic appreciation of assets.

    Official website address: https://ripplecoinmining.com

    App download: https://ripplecoinmining.com/xml/index.html#/app

    Media contact: info@ripplecoinmining.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Pumped up with poison: new research shows many anabolic steroids contain toxic metals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Piatkowski, Lecturer in Psychology, Griffith University

    MilosStankovic/Getty Images

    Eighteen-year-old Mark scrolls Instagram late at night, watching videos of fitness influencers showing off muscle gains and lifting the equivalent of a baby elephant off the gym floor.

    Spurred on by hashtags and usernames indicating these feats involve steroids, soon Mark is online, ordering his first “steroid cycle”. No script, no warnings, just vials in the mail and the promise of “gains”.

    A few weeks later, he’s posting progress shots and getting tagged as #MegaMark. He’s pleased. But what if I told you Mark was unknowingly injecting toxic chemicals?

    In our new research we tested products sold in Australia’s underground steroid market and found many were mislabelled or missing the expected steroid entirely.

    Even more concerning, several contained heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium. These substances are known to cause cancer, heart disease and organ failure.

    What are anabolic steroids, and who is using them?

    Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs designed to mimic the effects of testosterone. Medical professionals sometimes prescribe them for specific health conditions (for example, hypogonadism, where the body isn’t making enough sex hormones). But they are more commonly taken by people looking to increase muscle size, improve athletic performance, or elevate feelings of wellbeing.

    In Australia, it’s illegal to possess steroids without a prescription. This offence can attract large fines and prison terms (up to 25 years in Queensland).

    Despite this, they’re widely available online and from your local “gym bro”. So it’s not surprising we’re seeing escalating use, particularly among young men and women.

    People usually take steroids as pills and capsules or injectable oil- or water-based products. But while many people assume these products are safe if used correctly, they’re made outside regulated settings, with no official quality checks.



    Read more:
    Get big or die trying: social media is driving men’s use of steroids. Here’s how to mitigate the risks

    Our research

    For this new study, we analysed 28 steroid products acquired from people all over Australia which they’d purchased either online or from peers in the gym. These included 16 injectable oils, ten varieties of oral tablets, and two “raw” powders.

    An independent forensic lab tested the samples for active ingredients, contaminants and heavy metals. We then compared the results against what people thought they were taking.

    More than half of the samples were mislabelled or contained the wrong drug. For example, one product labelled as testosterone enanthate (200mg/mL) contained 159mg/mL of trenbolone (a potent type of steroid) and no detectable testosterone. Oxandrolone (also known as “Anavar”, another type of steroid) tablets were sold claiming a strength of 10mg but actually contained 6.8mg, showing a disparity in purity.

    Just four products matched their expected compound and purity within a 5% margin.

    But the biggest concern was that all steroids we analysed were contaminated with some level of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium.

    While all of the concentrations we detected were within daily exposure limits regarded as safe by health authorities, more frequent and heavier use of these drugs would quickly see people who use steroids exceed safe thresholds. And we know this happens.

    If consumed above safe limits, research suggests lead can damage the brain and heart. Arsenic is a proven carcinogen, having been linked to the development of skin, liver and lung cancers.

    People who use steroids often dose for weeks or months, and sometimes stack multiple drugs, so these metals would build up. This means long‑term steroid use could be quietly fuelling cognitive decline, organ failure, and even cancer.

    What needs to happen next?

    Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium often contaminate anabolic steroid products because raw powders sourced from some manufacturers, particularly those in China, may be produced with poor quality control and impure starting materials. These metals can enter the supply chain during synthesis, handling, or from contaminated equipment and solvents, leading to their presence in the final products.

    Steroid use isn’t going away, so we need to address the potential health harms from these contaminants.

    While pill testing is now common at festivals for drugs such as ecstasy, testing anabolic steroids requires more complex chemical analysis that cannot be conducted on-site. Current steroid testing relies on advanced laboratory techniques, which limits availability mostly to specialised research programs such as those in Australia and Switzerland.

    We need to invest properly in a national steroid surveillance and testing network, which will give us data‑driven insights to inform targeted interventions.

    This should involve nationwide steroid testing programs integrated with needle‑and‑syringe programs and community health services which steroid-using communities are aware of and engage with.

    We also need to see peer‑led support through trusted programs to educate people who use steroids around the risks. The programs should be based in real evidence, and developed by people with lived experience of steroid use, in partnership with researchers and clinicians.

    Timothy Piatkowski receives funding from Queensland Mental Health Commission. He is affiliated with Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action as the Vice President. He is affiliated with The Loop Australia as the research lead (Queensland).

    – ref. Pumped up with poison: new research shows many anabolic steroids contain toxic metals – https://theconversation.com/pumped-up-with-poison-new-research-shows-many-anabolic-steroids-contain-toxic-metals-261470

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Pumped up with poison: new research shows many anabolic steroids contain toxic metals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Piatkowski, Lecturer in Psychology, Griffith University

    MilosStankovic/Getty Images

    Eighteen-year-old Mark scrolls Instagram late at night, watching videos of fitness influencers showing off muscle gains and lifting the equivalent of a baby elephant off the gym floor.

    Spurred on by hashtags and usernames indicating these feats involve steroids, soon Mark is online, ordering his first “steroid cycle”. No script, no warnings, just vials in the mail and the promise of “gains”.

    A few weeks later, he’s posting progress shots and getting tagged as #MegaMark. He’s pleased. But what if I told you Mark was unknowingly injecting toxic chemicals?

    In our new research we tested products sold in Australia’s underground steroid market and found many were mislabelled or missing the expected steroid entirely.

    Even more concerning, several contained heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium. These substances are known to cause cancer, heart disease and organ failure.

    What are anabolic steroids, and who is using them?

    Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs designed to mimic the effects of testosterone. Medical professionals sometimes prescribe them for specific health conditions (for example, hypogonadism, where the body isn’t making enough sex hormones). But they are more commonly taken by people looking to increase muscle size, improve athletic performance, or elevate feelings of wellbeing.

    In Australia, it’s illegal to possess steroids without a prescription. This offence can attract large fines and prison terms (up to 25 years in Queensland).

    Despite this, they’re widely available online and from your local “gym bro”. So it’s not surprising we’re seeing escalating use, particularly among young men and women.

    People usually take steroids as pills and capsules or injectable oil- or water-based products. But while many people assume these products are safe if used correctly, they’re made outside regulated settings, with no official quality checks.



    Read more:
    Get big or die trying: social media is driving men’s use of steroids. Here’s how to mitigate the risks

    Our research

    For this new study, we analysed 28 steroid products acquired from people all over Australia which they’d purchased either online or from peers in the gym. These included 16 injectable oils, ten varieties of oral tablets, and two “raw” powders.

    An independent forensic lab tested the samples for active ingredients, contaminants and heavy metals. We then compared the results against what people thought they were taking.

    More than half of the samples were mislabelled or contained the wrong drug. For example, one product labelled as testosterone enanthate (200mg/mL) contained 159mg/mL of trenbolone (a potent type of steroid) and no detectable testosterone. Oxandrolone (also known as “Anavar”, another type of steroid) tablets were sold claiming a strength of 10mg but actually contained 6.8mg, showing a disparity in purity.

    Just four products matched their expected compound and purity within a 5% margin.

    But the biggest concern was that all steroids we analysed were contaminated with some level of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium.

    While all of the concentrations we detected were within daily exposure limits regarded as safe by health authorities, more frequent and heavier use of these drugs would quickly see people who use steroids exceed safe thresholds. And we know this happens.

    If consumed above safe limits, research suggests lead can damage the brain and heart. Arsenic is a proven carcinogen, having been linked to the development of skin, liver and lung cancers.

    People who use steroids often dose for weeks or months, and sometimes stack multiple drugs, so these metals would build up. This means long‑term steroid use could be quietly fuelling cognitive decline, organ failure, and even cancer.

    What needs to happen next?

    Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium often contaminate anabolic steroid products because raw powders sourced from some manufacturers, particularly those in China, may be produced with poor quality control and impure starting materials. These metals can enter the supply chain during synthesis, handling, or from contaminated equipment and solvents, leading to their presence in the final products.

    Steroid use isn’t going away, so we need to address the potential health harms from these contaminants.

    While pill testing is now common at festivals for drugs such as ecstasy, testing anabolic steroids requires more complex chemical analysis that cannot be conducted on-site. Current steroid testing relies on advanced laboratory techniques, which limits availability mostly to specialised research programs such as those in Australia and Switzerland.

    We need to invest properly in a national steroid surveillance and testing network, which will give us data‑driven insights to inform targeted interventions.

    This should involve nationwide steroid testing programs integrated with needle‑and‑syringe programs and community health services which steroid-using communities are aware of and engage with.

    We also need to see peer‑led support through trusted programs to educate people who use steroids around the risks. The programs should be based in real evidence, and developed by people with lived experience of steroid use, in partnership with researchers and clinicians.

    Timothy Piatkowski receives funding from Queensland Mental Health Commission. He is affiliated with Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action as the Vice President. He is affiliated with The Loop Australia as the research lead (Queensland).

    – ref. Pumped up with poison: new research shows many anabolic steroids contain toxic metals – https://theconversation.com/pumped-up-with-poison-new-research-shows-many-anabolic-steroids-contain-toxic-metals-261470

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Arbitrators issue award in EU-China intellectual property dispute

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Arbitrators issue award in EU-China intellectual property dispute

    This is the second appeal arbitration conducted under the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) to which both China and the European Union are participants.
    Summary of key findings 

    Download:

    In pdf format:

    What is the MPIA?
    The MPIA was agreed upon among its original 18 participating members in April 2020 to provide the possibility of resorting to arbitration under Article 25 of the DSU in case of an appeal in disputes between any two or more participating members. Currently the following WTO members are parties to the MPIA: Australia; Benin; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; the European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Japan; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mexico; Montenegro; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; the Philippines; Singapore; Switzerland; Ukraine; the United Kingdom; and Uruguay.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Arbitrators issue award in EU-China intellectual property dispute

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Arbitrators issue award in EU-China intellectual property dispute

    This is the second appeal arbitration conducted under the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) to which both China and the European Union are participants.
    Summary of key findings 

    Download:

    In pdf format:

    What is the MPIA?
    The MPIA was agreed upon among its original 18 participating members in April 2020 to provide the possibility of resorting to arbitration under Article 25 of the DSU in case of an appeal in disputes between any two or more participating members. Currently the following WTO members are parties to the MPIA: Australia; Benin; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; the European Union; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Japan; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mexico; Montenegro; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; the Philippines; Singapore; Switzerland; Ukraine; the United Kingdom; and Uruguay.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –