NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Police thank public in Fort Hare murder arrests

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, thanked the media, social media community and community members for assisting police investigators to track down two hitmen linked to the murder of Mboneli Vesele.

    National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has expressed appreciation to the media, social media community, and members of the public for their assistance in tracking down two suspects linked to the murder of Mboneli Vesele. 

    Vesele was the bodyguard of University of Fort Hare Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu. 

    Vesele was shot and killed inside a vehicle while waiting for the Vice Chancellor outside the Principals home n Alice, Eastern Cape, on 6 January 2023.

    On 15 November 2024, the South African Police Service (SAPS) published the suspects’ pictures and a request to the public for assistance in tracking down the three wanted suspects after obtaining a J50 warrant of arrest for Bafana Chiliza, Nkosiyazi “Dipopoz” Maphumulo and Siphiwo “Spijojo “Jejane. 

    On 21 June 2025, a multi-disciplinary SAPS team, acting on intelligence provided by the public, tracked the suspects to Zakkariya Park in Johannesburg, where two of the alleged hitmen were arrested.

    The SAPS confirms the arrest of Bafana Chiliza and Nkosiyazi Maphumulo. Both suspects are currently in custody and will be charged accordingly. 

    The third suspect, Siphiwo “Spijojo” Jejane, is still at large, and the police are still searching for him.

    General Masemola commended the investigation team, which has been working around the clock to apprehend all those involved in the killings at Fort Hare University to justice.

    “Members of the public play a significant role in assisting the work of the police in apprehending wanted suspects. We thank all stakeholders for playing their part,” said Gen Masemola. 

    The total number of suspects arrested in connection with the Fort Hare murders, is now 12, with 10 arrests made since 2023, and some still in police custody.  

    Anyone with information on Siphiwo Jejane’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Warrant Officer Nkosi on 0825575789 or Sergeant Mokoena on 0818517758. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mpumalanga’s power and potential must fuel women’s empowerment, Chikunga

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has made an urgent call for inclusive economic transformation that places women at the centre of key value chains. 

    The Minister was delivering a keynote address at the Third Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG), currently underway in Skukuza Conference Centre, Kruger National Park, in Mpumalanga.  

    From the roar of coal turbines at Kusile and Kendal, to the citrus farms of Nkomazi and the tourism magnetism of Kruger National Park, the Minister painted a vivid picture of a province brimming with economic opportunity. 

    However, she cautioned that women who bear the invisible burden of care and subsistence work must be integrated meaningfully into these economic engines.

    “Our task is to ensure that the energy transition, the tourism boom and the manufacturing spine you see here translate into real ownership, decent jobs and fair returns for the women who already carry this province’s invisible labour on their shoulders.

    “When we speak of women’s economic empowerment over the next few days, let us remember: the dividends of energy reform and agro-processing must flow into the very hands that have long carried both unpaid care and subsistence farming,” the minister said. 

    The Minister asserted that this G20 moment belongs not just to South Africa, but to Africa and its people. She reaffirmed the country’s commitment to ensuring grassroots voices inform global policy.

    “South Africa may chair the process, but we view this moment as Africa’s G20 and the People’s G20,” she said. 

    Describing Mpumalanga as the province that “powers, feeds, and connects South Africa”, the Minister said the province was chosen deliberately, highlighting its strategic location along the Maputo-Gauteng corridor and its immense contribution to regional energy, agriculture, logistics and tourism.

    “Mpumalanga sits at the intersection of energy, agriculture, logistics and tourism, the very value chains in which women must now claim their full, equitable share,” she said.

    Driving a Global Agenda with local impact

    Under the banner of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” Minister Chikunga detailed the three priorities of the third Working Group as valuing the care economy – both paid and unpaid; unlocking genuine financial inclusion for women; and eradicating gender-based violence and femicide.

    The Minister highlighted that her department and the Provincial Government held a community engagement nearly two weeks ago in Mkhondo with the ordinary South African women.

    She emphasised that the voices of ordinary women – like those heard during the community engagements in Mkhondo, must echo in every session of the G20 deliberations.

    “Our conversations here mean little if they do not reflect the voices we heard in Mkhondo and those of citizens across all G20 nations and if they do not translate into real improvements in their daily lives,” she said. 

    Chikunga outlined concrete progress made since South Africa took the G20 reins:

    • A global conference on financial inclusion that pushed for gender-responsive land and credit policies and a redesign of the global financial architecture;
    • A C-suite roundtable with African banks to pilot inclusive financial products and link executive bonuses to gender-inclusion targets;
    • Provincial dialogues that birthed legacy projects such as solar-powered childcare centres and women-led agro-processing hubs.

    “These milestones confirm that our agenda is no longer a set of good ideas; it is a living programme of action poised for global scale,” she noted. 

    Care Economy: The backbone of real growth

    Calling the care economy the “hidden engine” that sustains the visible economy, the Minister urged G20 nations to take bold steps to quantify, invest in, and redistribute care work.

    “If we costed all paid and unpaid care work, it would equal about 40 percent of global GDP and 380 million jobs. Remove care and almost half the world’s economic value would evaporate overnight,” she warned.

    Outlining a three-part call to action, Minister Chikunga pressed for public investment in care as critical infrastructure, the regular measurement of unpaid care through time-use surveys, and legal reforms to support parental leave, living wages for carers, and equitable workplace policies. 

    “Treating care as peripheral is not a statistical error; it is an act of economic self-harm rooted in patriarchal thinking,” she said.

    From consensus to commitment

    As the G20 Working Group heads toward its Ministerial Declaration, Minister Chikunga urged delegates to leave Skukuza with a singular mandate: to turn consensus into costed, timeline-driven policy options that uplift women in tangible ways.

    “Our work will be measured by practical outcomes: a woman whose unpaid care burden is lighter; a girl who stays in school because a community crèche opened; a survivor who receives timely support and justice. These are the tests that matter,” she said.

    With its powerful blend of local insight and global ambition, South Africa’s G20 Presidency is charting a bold path toward women’s economic justice, anchored in the lived realities of its people and powered by the untapped potential of provinces like Mpumalanga. – SAnews.gov.za 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing issues rainstorm alert

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

    The Beijing Meteorological Service issued a rainstorm alert at 4 p.m. Tuesday, warning of heavy rainfall across the city from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning.

    Torrential rain is expected in some areas, with isolated locations experiencing hourly precipitation exceeding 30 mm, the service said, adding that thunderstorms may accompany the rainfall.

    The capital has seen frequent downpours this week, with meteorologists predicting rain will remain a persistent feature over the coming days. Despite stable temperatures, high humidity levels will sustain noticeably sultry weather.

    Authorities urged the public to stay updated on forecasts, carry rain gear, and avoid sheltering near high-rise buildings or billboards. Drivers were advised to exercise caution on slippery roads and steer clear of flooded sections.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Republicans Block Duckworth Effort to Protect Veterans and Other Americans from Going Hungry as a Result of Trump’s Big, Beautiful Betrayal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    June 30, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sought to protect Veterans and many other Americans from going hungry because of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” (BBB) that Senate Republicans are rushing to jam through tonight. Duckworth’s effort would have instructed the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee to change the BBB to ensure it would not reduce or terminate SNAP benefits for Veterans, homeless individuals, former foster youth 24 years of age or younger or for parents with children under 18 years of age, but her proposal was blocked by Senate Republicans on a vote of 49-51.

    “Back when I was in high school, my family struggled. We had no money and some days no food, teetering on the brink of homelessness, never sure what tomorrow would bring. I was only elected Senator… I was only able to become an Army pilot… I probably only was able to finish high school because of basic needs programs like SNAP.

    “Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are trying to snatch away these critical safety net programs like health care and SNAP from countless families—including Veterans, homeless people, former foster youth and many other Americans seemingly for no other reason than cruelty for cruelty’s sake—and to give a tax cut to Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies. I’m pissed off that they would look me in the eye on the Senate Floor and then block this critical proposal to help protect so many Americans from going hungry. It’s shameful.”

    In Fiscal Year 2023, an average of 42.2 million individuals—and about 1 in 5 children—in 22.3 million households participated in SNAP each month. Monthly benefits are already insufficient, and averaged only $211.65 per person and $400.15 per household.

    Under current SNAP rules, most adults aged 18 through 54 without children in their household can receive food benefits for just three months in a three-year period unless they show compliance with a 20-hour-per-week work requirement or prove they qualify for an exemption, such as having a disability—though Veterans, homeless individuals and former foster youth 24 years of age or younger have been exempt from those requirements.

    The Senate bill eliminates these exemptions, terminating SNAP benefits for nearly 300,000 people in these populations. In addition, the SNAP program has long exempted parents from work requirements, but the Senate bill eliminates these exemptions for parents with kids over the age of 13.

    Despite those exemptions continuing under even the House-passed BBB, Senate Republicans are seeking to remove them and limit SNAP benefits to these currently-protected populations. The Senate Republican bill would terminate SNAP benefits for at least 2.87 million people—including 1.2 million Veterans—and reduce benefits for tens of millions more.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: As Vote-A-Rama On Republican Budget Betrayal Hits 24 Hours, Luján Standing Strong for New Mexicans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    WATCH: Luján Holds Senate Floor During Midnight Session 

    WATCH: Luján Introduces Amendment to Save SNAP

    Washington, D.C. – As the Senate vote-a-rama on the Republican Budget Betrayal hits 24 hours, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) has been on the Senate floor throughout the night fighting for New Mexicans.

    KEY MOMENTS:

    24 Hour Mark of the Vote-A-Rama: Good morning from the Senate steps. We’ve been voting on amendments for nearly 24 hours straight. Senate Republicans still haven’t called a final vote on their budget betrayal because they don’t have the votes. @SenateDems aren’t backing down. No matter how long this takes.

    Standing Up for New Mexicans in the Dark of Night: It’s almost midnight in Washington and we’re still voting on GOP budget amendments. Senate Republicans are flying completely blind — still scrambling to finalize a bill they’ve been rewriting all day (and for months) to meet President Trump’s demands. This process is messy, but this bill is going to be even messier.

    Standing Up Against the Republican Budget Betrayal With Senator Smith: We’re fighting back against this Republican budget betrayal because it’s downright terrible — and devastating for families in New Mexico, Minnesota, and across the country.

    Leading Charge to Save SNAP: Senator Luján delivered a speech on the Senate floor offering an amendment to the Republican budget bill to save the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – to protect food assistance for kids, seniors, and veterans. All but two Republicans voted to keep these devastating cuts in the bill.

    Highlighting Impacts of Republican Betrayal Bill on New Mexicans: Senator Luján took to the Senate floor to deliver a floor speech detailing how the Republican budget bill would devastate New Mexico’s families, farmers and ranchers, and children and seniors.

    LOCAL COVERAGE:

    Source NM: New Mexico Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján offered a motion to commit the bill back to committee in order to remove all changes related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. It was rejected following a 49-51 vote, though Alaska Republican Sens. Dan Sullivan and Murkowski voted in favor.

    KSFR: According to Lujan, the bill’s cuts to the Affordable Care Act would take health care away from 17 million Americans. New Mexico’s junior senator argued that the bill would also force rural hospitals and grocery stores to close…and said that it would add three trillion dollars to the national debt.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Countdown to Euro 2025 as Government gives advice to travelling fans

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Countdown to Euro 2025 as Government gives advice to travelling fans

    Ahead of Euro 2025 kicking off tomorrow, the Foreign Office is providing fans with the information and advice they need for a safe and enjoyable tournament.

    • With the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro football tournament kicking off tomorrow, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working closely with the Football Associations of England and Wales to provide information and advice to travelling fans
    • Ahead of Women’s Summer of Sport, the UK Government continues to drive progress in women’s sport to improve access and boost the nation’s economy

    With thousands of supporters expected to follow reigning champions England and major-tournament newcomers Wales when the Women’s Euro 2025 kicks off tomorrow, the Foreign Office has issued top tips to help fans have a safe and enjoyable tournament in Switzerland.

    Advice for fans travelling to the eight different stadiums hosting matches across the country includes: checking travel advice, signing up to email alerts for the latest developments, ensuring your passport meets entry requirements and getting travel insurance before you go. The UK will also have a consular presence in Switzerland throughout the tournament, to support those British nationals requiring help or advice.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

    The Women’s Euros promises to be a spectacular event with legions of fans travelling to multiple locations across Switzerland to enjoy the matches. Together with in-country consular support, we’ve put together some practical advice to help people have a safe and enjoyable trip and get behind our home teams.

    Lionesses Head Coach Sarina Wiegman said:

    We know thousands of you will be planning on travelling to Switzerland. Trips like this are a really big commitment and we understand the sacrifices our travelling support will be making. We thank you and please know your loyalty and passion will never be taken for granted by myself and the players.

    We wish everyone a fantastic experience and hope it is a summer to remember.

    Specifically fans travelling to Switzerland are advised to:

    In 2024, UK Women’s Sport attracted audiences of over 44.17 million, an increase of nearly 40% in just two years, with global revenues predicted to have risen by 240% in 4 years.

    The Government is driving progress across women’s sport, which in addition to improving access for women and girls across the country is also helping to boost economic growth and deliver on Our Plan for Change. On 21 March, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced an investment of £100 million to fund grassroots facilities throughout the UK. £98 million of this will support projects in 2025/26.

    Wales Office Minister and Equalities Minister Nia Griffith said:

    Along with hundreds of other supporters across Wales I will be travelling to Switzerland this month to cheer on our fantastic women’s team as they take part in a major tournament for the very first time.

    I wish the squad and staff the very best of luck and Wales fans should follow advice and prepare for their trip so they can fully enjoy this historic and ground-breaking moment for Welsh football.

    Fan Engagement Executive at Football Association of Wales, Macsen Jones said:

    As Cymru prepare to make history with our first-ever appearance at the UEFA Women’s EURO, thousands of our supporters will be travelling to Switzerland to cheer them on.

    The FAW has been working closely with the FCDO to provide up-to-date travel advice, helping ensure that our fans stay safe and well-informed while supporting Cymru this summer.

    As a Euro match ticket holder, fans can travel from anywhere in Switzerland to the stadium and back on the day of your match for free, with the offer valid for the entire Swiss public transport network. Additionally, every host city will host a Fan Zone to provide entertainment beyond the 90 minutes of football.

    Background:

    • Travelling England and Wales fans will be able to contact the FCDO by phone 24/7 on +44 (0)20 7008 5000 or by calling the Embassy locally on +41 31 359 77 00. Fans in Switzerland can access the Swiss emergency services by dialling 112.
    • Fans planning to travel elsewhere in the region should check Travel Advice for each location they plan to visit or transit through.
    • Globally, Deloitte predicts that revenue generated by women’s elite sports will reach at least $2.35 billion, or £1.8 billion, in 2025, with revenues predicted to have risen by 240% in 4 years.
    • The event guide for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 can be found here: www.uefa.com/womenseuro/event-guide/

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM meeting with President Ruto of Kenya: 1 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    Press release

    PM meeting with President Ruto of Kenya: 1 July 2025

    The Prime Minister welcomed the President of Kenya, William Ruto, to Downing Street today. 

    The Prime Minister welcomed the President of Kenya, William Ruto, to Downing Street today. 

    The leaders began by celebrating the new UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, which will see both countries work together to drive economic growth and strengthen regional security. 

    Turning to migration, the Prime Minister and President welcomed a new UK-Kenya security agreement to disrupt organised immigration crime and human trafficking in Kenya to prevent onward migration to Europe. 

    On trade and investment, the leaders discussed the Nairobi Railway City project, which has been inspired by London’s Kings Cross and will enable opportunities for UK businesses, driving growth and delivering on our Plan for Change. 

    The Prime Minister and President agreed on the need for peace and stability in the region.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IAEA Holds Rays of Hope Forum To Increase Access to Cancer Care

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death on the continent, claiming around 2,000 lives every day.

    Three years ago, to close the global cancer care gap, we launched the IAEA’s #RaysOfHope initiative at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

    Today, we returned to take stock:

    • More than 90 countries have joined
    • Over €90 million mobilized
    • Hospitals upgraded
    • PET/CTs, SPECTs, mammography units and LINACs delivered
    • Radiotherapy centres coming online across several countries
    • Staff trained and networks developed

    Building on this momentum, we signed a $4.5 million partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – the largest contribution from a non-traditional partner to our cancer care work to date. We also launched a new nuclear medicine service at Black Lion Hospital – one of four radiotherapy centres supported by the IAEA in Ethiopia. The hospital now has SPECT/CT scanners, a linear accelerator, trained staff, and a mammography unit on the way.

    Learn more: Rays of Hope IAEA Flagship Initiative →

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration for Slashing Youth Mental Health Funding

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and 15 other attorneys general sued the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon for unlawfully terminating more than $1 billion in bipartisan federal funding for school-based mental health services. Attorney General James and the coalition are challenging ED’s abrupt decision to discontinue funding for two mental health grant programs – the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP) and the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SBMH) – which Congress created in response to the worsening youth mental health crisis and a series of tragic school shootings, including in Parkland, Florida and Uvalde, Texas. The attorneys general argue that ED’s terminations are unconstitutional and ideologically driven, and are urging the court to reinstate the funding and protect the critical youth mental health infrastructure schools have built under these programs.

    “By cutting funding for these lifesaving youth mental health programs, the Department of Education is abandoning our children when they need us most,” said Attorney General James. “These grants have helped thousands of students access critical mental health services at a time when young people are facing record levels of depression, trauma, and anxiety. To eliminate these grants now would be a grave disservice to children and families in New York and nationwide, and my office is fighting back to preserve these much-needed programs.”

    “SUNY is grateful to Attorney General James for protecting New Yorkers, including critical resources for mental health support,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “At a time when school-based mental health services are more important than ever, SUNY is proud that our campuses play a vital role in training mental health providers and we will vigorously defend this important work.”

    In 2018, following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Congress established and funded MHSP to address a shortage of mental health professionals in high-need public schools. Two years later, Congress expanded these efforts with SBMH, which provided funding to help schools hire, train, and retain school-based mental health staff. In the wake of the devastating 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Congress dramatically increased funding for both programs, appropriating more than $100 million annually to each program through 2026 and requiring ED to submit detailed spending plans and biweekly updates. Each program was designed as a five-year initiative, with the goal of placing 14,000 new mental health professionals in schools, particularly those in low-income and rural areas.

    In the lawsuit, the attorneys general highlight the broad, bipartisan support behind these programs. As Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn noted, Congress “crafted this landmark law with a simple purpose: to reduce violence and save lives.” He explained that the law contains “commonsense measures to improve how our schools address mental health,” noting that “too often, adolescents with untreated mental health conditions become the very same perpetrators who commit acts of violence.”

    Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize that these programs have already demonstrated measurable success. In the first year alone, nearly 775,000 students received mental or behavioral health services. More than 1,200 school-based mental health professionals were hired and 95 percent retained. Student wait times dropped by 80 percent. Grantees reported a 50 percent reduction in suicide risk at high-need schools, lower absenteeism and behavioral incidents, and stronger student-staff relationships.

    Despite these successes, on April 29, 2025, the administration abruptly notified dozens of grantees that their funding would be discontinued, claiming that these program were no longer aligned with “current administration priorities.” The boilerplate notices included vague justifications with no specific findings or performance issues. In statements to Congress and the media, ED acknowledged that it targeted grants for discontinuation based on the programs’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals, despite the fact that such efforts were required under longstanding federal law and were part of the announced criteria used to evaluate and award the grants. 

    As a result of the administration’s decision to discontinue mental health funding, Attorney General James and the coalition assert that, starting this fall, public schools nationwide will no longer reliably be able to offer critical mental health services. The attorneys general argue that if allowed to move forward, these terminations will force the layoffs of hundreds of school-based mental health professionals, abruptly end services for thousands of vulnerable students, dismantle graduate training pipelines that were helping to address nationwide shortages, and destroy projects that have been years in the making.

    New York stands to lose at least $19 million in previously approved funding as a result of these cuts, including over $7.6 million for the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Unless the terminations are reversed, SUNY Binghamton will be forced to pull mental health professionals from schools serving more than 9,000 rural students, laying off 10 full-time staff and several part-time employees and graduate assistants. SUNY Buffalo would be forced to end a fellowship program training school social workers to serve students in Western New York, jeopardizing care for an estimated 3,000 students. Several New York school districts and private institutions have also had their funding discontinued, jeopardizing mental health services for students in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Central New York, and other communities throughout the state.

    Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the cancellation of this funding is both unlawful and unconstitutional, as it undermines Congress’ authority and equity directive and violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because of the lack of notice. The attorneys general also contend that the administration breached the grant agreements and violated federal regulations that govern the continuation of grant awards. Under these regulations, once a multiyear grant is awarded, the decision to continue funding must be based on the grantee’s performance. In this case, ED failed to offer any evidence that the grantees failed to meet performance standards and instead applied an ideological litmus test after the fact, leaving schools and students to suffer the consequences.

    The attorneys general are asking the court to declare these grant terminations unlawful, reinstate the funding for the full intended term of the awards, and prevent ED from imposing similar ideological conditions moving forward.

    Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Autobrush: How This U-Shaped Toothbrush Is Changing the Way Adults Clean Their Teeth – Read Autobrush Report 2025!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Bethlehem, PA, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The future of adult oral hygiene is undergoing a bold transformation, and one name is leading that shift—Autobrush. Recognized for its distinct U-shaped design and ADA acceptance, Autobrush is redefining what it means to practice effective at-home dental care in just 30 seconds.

    Unlike conventional brushing routines, which often fall short of dentist-recommended coverage and consistency, Autobrush’s automated technology delivers a complete clean that fits seamlessly into modern lifestyles. As personal wellness and preventative care take center stage across the U.S., Autobrush has quickly become more than a product—it’s a movement toward smarter oral health.

    Inside the Technology: 360° Coverage with Medical-Grade Precision

    At the core of Autobrush is an innovation that eliminates guesswork. The device features a mouthpiece-style brush head crafted from soft, antibacterial silicone that conforms to the natural shape of adult teeth. This allows all surfaces—front, back, and biting edges—to be cleaned simultaneously in a fraction of the time.

    The hands-free operation is powered by auto-cleaning sonic vibrations calibrated to provide optimal plaque removal without damaging enamel. With pre-filled, mess-free foaming toothpaste pods and modes for whitening and gum care, the technology supports a dentist-level clean tailored to busy adult routines.

    Visit Official Website To get More Information

    ADA Acceptance: A Milestone in Hands-Free Dental Innovation

    Autobrush’s acceptance by the American Dental Association (ADA) has reinforced its credibility in clinical circles. The ADA seal signifies that the brush meets rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness—a particularly important milestone for a hands-free, U-shaped model.

    Experts emphasize that the ADA’s recognition marks a turning point in the toothbrush category, validating the move toward automated, full-arch cleaning systems for adult users. In an age where convenience often competes with effectiveness, Autobrush offers both—without compromise.

    Designed for the Adult Lifestyle: Speed, Simplicity, and Compliance

    In today’s fast-paced world, adult routines demand efficiency—especially when it comes to personal care. Autobrush responds to this reality with a dental care solution that values both time and results. The device’s standout feature is its hands-free, full-mouth cleaning in just 30 seconds, offering a seamless fit into morning and evening rituals without disrupting a busy schedule.
    Unlike traditional brushing, which can be inconsistent or rushed, Autobrush promotes compliance by making oral hygiene feel automatic. Its U-shaped mouthpiece design, pre-loaded foaming toothpaste pods, and multiple cleaning modes (including whitening and gum massage) eliminate the hassle and guesswork often associated with brushing. For adults juggling work, family, and wellness goals, it simplifies the process down to a single press of a button.
    Its cordless build and travel-friendly profile allow users to maintain consistent oral hygiene habits on the go. Whether preparing for a meeting or winding down at night, Autobrush adapts to real-world adult behavior. By prioritizing ease of use without compromising effectiveness, Autobrush aligns with the growing demand for low-effort, high-reward health tools—proving that speed and simplicity can still deliver dentist-level cleaning.

    Dentist and Hygienist Insights: Shifting Perceptions in Clinical Practice

    Autobrush is not only turning heads in consumer circles—it’s also changing minds within the professional dental community. Many hygienists and general dentists who initially viewed hands-free brushes with skepticism are now acknowledging the evidence-based value Autobrush brings to daily care routines. With its ADA acceptance and focus on full-mouth coverage, the device offers an alternative for patients who struggle with consistency or manual dexterity.
    Dental professionals particularly highlight the benefits for adults with orthodontic appliances, mobility limitations, or inconsistent brushing habits. By automating brushing and ensuring all tooth surfaces receive uniform attention, Autobrush addresses long-standing concerns around missed areas and plaque buildup.
    “Autobrush has become a conversation starter in our practice,” shares Dr. Andrea Patel, a practicing DDS in Chicago. “We’ve had patients improve their oral hygiene scores in weeks just by switching to it. It’s an excellent support tool for preventative care.”
    The shift is especially important as dental offices begin embracing patient-friendly tech that reinforces compliance at home. Rather than replacing dental visits, Autobrush complements professional cleanings by filling the daily care gap. The result is a more informed, engaged user—and a cleaner, healthier mouth in between check-ups.
    Visit Official Website To get More Information

    How Autobrush Works: Inside the 30-Second Cleaning System

    At the heart of Autobrush’s innovation is its ability to streamline brushing into a simple, timed routine. Rather than relying on manual strokes and guesswork, Autobrush uses a U-shaped mouthpiece lined with rows of soft, antibacterial silicone bristles that conform to the adult dental arch. This unique structure ensures simultaneous coverage of all tooth surfaces, something that even meticulous manual brushing rarely achieves.
    Once the device is placed in the mouth, users select their preferred vibration mode, ranging from standard cleaning to gum massage and whitening. The motor then delivers up to 30,000 sonic pulses per minute, removing plaque and buildup efficiently—without the risk of applying too much pressure.
    Complementing this is the use of foam-based toothpaste pods, which distribute evenly throughout the mouth during use. These pods eliminate the need to squeeze tubes or lather manually, simplifying the process even further.
    The built-in 30-second auto timer ensures users clean long enough to meet basic hygiene standards—without wasting time or overthinking technique. This fully automated approach makes Autobrush ideal for adults looking to maintain consistent care, especially during busy mornings or late-night routines.

    Why Autobrush Fits the Preventative Health Movement

    Preventative health is no longer a trend—it’s a way of life. As adults seek to avoid chronic conditions and maintain overall wellness, daily habits have become the first line of defense. Autobrush aligns with this mindset by offering a proactive, time-efficient oral care solution that helps prevent cavities, gingivitis, and plaque accumulation before they start.
    Unlike reactive treatments or intensive cleanings after dental issues arise, Autobrush empowers users to take control of their oral health at home. Its clinically-supported vibration modes and mouth-conforming silicone bristles ensure that even hard-to-reach areas are addressed consistently. This kind of thorough daily cleaning supports long-term gum and enamel health—critical to preventing more costly or invasive dental work later on.
    In the broader landscape of personal wellness—where wearable trackers, hydration apps, and gut health supplements dominate—Autobrush finds its place as an essential oral hygiene companion. It reflects a shift from symptom-focused care to daily, tech-enabled routines that promote longevity and health span.
    As part of a well-rounded wellness approach, Autobrush complements diet, sleep, and fitness habits. It proves that something as simple as toothbrushing can carry real weight in the prevention conversation—and do so in a way that fits real life.
    Visit Official Website To get More Information

    Autobrush in the Media: Growing Momentum in 2025

    National media outlets and tech-forward dental publications are increasingly spotlighting Autobrush for its role in modernizing oral hygiene. From parenting blogs to tech podcasts, the conversation has shifted from novelty to necessity.

    Influencers and health advocates are incorporating Autobrush into morning and evening rituals, often emphasizing the time savings, clean feel, and whitening results reported within weeks. This visibility has contributed to a groundswell of trust and social proof in 2025.

    User Experience in Real Life: What Adults Are Saying About Autobrush Use at Home

    Across the U.S., Autobrush is quietly becoming a household name—not just in dental offices, but in real-life homes where routines matter. Adult users report a range of benefits that go beyond traditional brushing, with consistency, convenience, and cleanliness topping the list.
    For many, the appeal starts with time savings. “I used to rush through brushing every morning,” says Anthony D., a New Jersey-based sales executive. “Now, I pop in the Autobrush while making coffee. It’s done before the kettle’s even hot.”
    Others point to the sensory experience. The soft silicone bristles and gentle vibrations provide a clean, polished feel without abrasiveness. Adults with sensitivity or receding gums appreciate the lack of harsh scraping, which can sometimes make traditional brushing uncomfortable.
    Parents of teens and caretakers of elderly adults are also finding value in Autobrush. The hands-free model helps ensure proper cleaning with minimal effort—ideal for individuals who struggle with mobility, dexterity, or forgetfulness.
    Overall, real-world usage confirms what the data suggests: Autobrush transforms brushing from a chore into a ritual. And with visible improvements in freshness, plaque control, and even surface stains, users are more inclined to stick with it long-term.

    Autobrush and the Rise of AI in Personal Health Tech

    The personal health tech landscape has witnessed a surge in automation, and Autobrush sits comfortably within this shift. While not powered by artificial intelligence in the traditional sense, its design reflects a larger trend: using smart engineering and automated systems to replace manual health routines with optimized alternatives.
    Autobrush’s pre-programmed cleaning modes, intelligent pressure calibration, and universal mouthpiece mirror the functionality often attributed to AI—simplifying decisions, enhancing precision, and ensuring repeatable, high-quality outcomes. As more consumers adopt hands-free health tools like posture trainers, hydration trackers, and sleep monitors, oral hygiene is finally getting its tech-forward counterpart.
    Industry experts see Autobrush as part of the next evolution in daily care devices: tools that eliminate human error while boosting compliance and consistency. Rather than requiring users to learn better technique, Autobrush automates it, delivering results that match or exceed traditional methods—without added time or effort.
    This movement toward tech-assisted self-care is particularly relevant for adult users balancing packed schedules, long commutes, or physical limitations. Autobrush provides a glimpse of how oral care will continue to evolve: automated, intelligent, and seamlessly integrated into daily life.

    Where to Buy Autobrush in 2025: Official Access and Safety Tips

    With the growing popularity of Autobrush across the U.S., ensuring secure and authentic access to the latest models has never been more important. In 2025, consumers are encouraged to purchase directly through the official Autobrush website to guarantee product authenticity, warranty eligibility, and access to updated features and accessories.
    The official online store offers the full lineup of adult Autobrush models, including the latest Pro and ADA-accepted designs. Buyers can also find custom-fit mouthpieces, foaming toothpaste refills, and bundle discounts that are often unavailable through third-party platforms.
    Due to rising demand, Autobrush products have begun appearing on unauthorized e-commerce sites and social marketplaces. However, experts strongly caution against purchasing from unverified sources, as counterfeit or outdated units may not deliver the safety, hygiene, or effectiveness of genuine devices

    Final Word: The Future of Toothbrushing Is Already Here

    Autobrush is not just an alternative to the manual toothbrush—it’s a leap forward in how adult oral hygiene is understood and practiced. With ADA recognition, expert endorsements, and a user-first design, the device is reshaping expectations around what a “clean mouth” means.

    As adults prioritize efficiency, wellness, and clinical results, Autobrush has earned its place at the intersection of health tech and personal care. For those ready to upgrade how they protect their teeth, this innovation offers a future-facing solution—already in the present.

    For more information, educational content, and direct purchasing, visit the official Autobrush website.

    Company: Autobrush
    Hanoverville Road Bethlehem,
    PA, 18020
    Ph – 1-888-468-7404
    Email: customercare@autobrush.com
    Website – https://tryautobrush.com/

    Disclaimer 

    The information provided in this review is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your physician or another qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement, dietary change, or health program—especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have existing health conditions, or are taking medications. Results may vary among individuals. 

    The statements made regarding Autobrush have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Autobrush is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Any claims made within this article about symptom relief, hearing improvement, or related health benefits are based on the product’s formulation and individual testimonials and not on conclusive clinical evidence. This content does not constitute professional health or medical advice and should not be interpreted as such. Readers should always perform their own due diligence and consult medical professionals before making decisions related to health products.

    No responsibility is assumed for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the content, nor any consequences arising from the use of the information contained in this article. The publisher and its affiliates do not endorse or guarantee any product mentioned herein. All trademarks, service marks, and brand names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Innovator Launches Industry’s First Dual Directional Buffer ETFs™

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WHEATON, Ill., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Innovator Capital Management, LLC (Innovator), the pioneer of Defined Outcome ETFs™, builds on its track record of category-defining innovation with the launch of the industry’s first Dual Directional Buffer ETFs™. These first-of-their-kind funds are designed to offer the potential for positive returns in both up or down equity markets over a one-year outcome period.

    New ETFs:

    • Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF™ – July (DDTL)
    • Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF™ – July (DDFL)

    The Funds have characteristics unlike many other traditional investment products and may not be suitable for all investors. For more information regarding whether an investment in the Funds is right for you, please see “Investor Suitability” in the prospectus.

    Key Features:

    • Return potential in up or down markets – Provide 1:1 upside when the reference asset is positive, to a cap, and provide positive returns in negative markets, within the inverse performance threshold, before fees and expenses.
    • Defined outcome structure – Investors have known upside potential and built-in buffers prior to investing.
    • ETF benefits – Delivering options strategies within an ETF wrapper provides daily liquidity, full pricing transparency, tax efficiency1, and no credit risk2.

    How They Work

    In the case of the Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF™ – July (DDFL), the market could finish the annual period down 15%, while DDFL is designed to be up 15% gross of fees and expenses.

    Defined Outcome ETFs™ use options to mirror the performance of the underlying asset. Dual Directional Buffer ETFs™ build upon that innovation with an additional layer of options that enable the fund to deliver positive returns in negative markets, in exchange for capped upside return potential. Similar strategies have previously been locked behind high fees and illiquid investment vehicles, such as structured notes.

    “In their search for risk mitigation and diversification, investors have pinned their hopes on alts, bonds, or active management to provide positive returns in up or down markets, but few of these strategies deliver. Dual Directional Buffer ETFs™ offer a transparent alternative,” said Graham Day, Chief Investment Officer at Innovator. “These funds put consistent, knowable positive returns within reach. In fact, a 15% Dual Directional Buffer would have delivered positive returns in 75% of negative historical markets3.”

    Market Scenario: Sought-After Return Profile:
    Positive Market Tracks SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust (SPY) return 1:1, up to a predetermined cap.
    Negative Market Delivers inverse SPY return 1:1, up to an inverse cap.
    Very Negative Market A built-in buffer protects against deep market declines.
       

    Fund Overview

    Ticker Fund Name Upside Cap Inverse Cap Buffer Level Exposure Expense Ratio
    DDTL Innovator Equity Dual Directional 10 Buffer ETF™ – July 12.59% 10% 10% SPY 0.79%
    DDFL Innovator Equity Dual Directional 15 Buffer ETF™ – July 8.79% 15% 15% SPY 0.79%

    The upside cap, inverse cap, and buffer are shown gross of each Fund’s fees and expenses.

    A Proven Track Record

    Innovator made history in 2018 with the world’s first Buffer ETF™, and since then has built the largest suite of Defined Outcome ETFs™. Currently, Innovator has over 150 offerings with more than $25 billion in AUM as of May 31, 2025. Dual Directional Buffer ETFs™ are a natural evolution, delivering legacy options strategies within the transparency and accessibility of the ETF wrapper.

    “Our clients understand the value of defined outcomes,” Day added. “With Dual Directional Buffer ETFs™, we’re enabling them to aim for upside in positive and negative scenarios, while knowing their downside risk.”

    About Innovator Capital Management, LLC
    Founded by Bruce Bond and John Southard—pioneers behind the PowerShares ETF family—Innovator has revolutionized Defined Outcome investing since 2018. Innovator continues to drive innovation in risk‑managed equity exposure through proprietary, Defined Outcome ETF™ strategies.

    Contact:
    Frank Taylor / Stephanie Dressler
    (646) 808‑3647 / (949) 269‑2535
    innovator@dlpr.com

    1 ETFs use creation units, which allow for the purchase and sale of assets in the Funds collectively. Consequently, ETFs usually generate fewer capital gain distributions overall, which can make them somewhat more tax-efficient than mutual funds.

    2 ETFs are not backed by the faith and credit of an issuing institution, so they are not exposed to credit risk.

    3 Source: Bloomberg, Innovator. Data from 12/31/1957 – 3/31/2025. Rolling one year performance of the S&P 500 Price Return Index (SPX) was analyzed for all periods resulting in a loss. 75% percent represents the portion of 12-month periods during which SPX returns were between 0 – -15%. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. One cannot invest directly in an index. Index performance does not account for fees and expenses.

    The Outcomes may only be realized by investors who continuously hold shares from the commencement of the Outcome Period until its conclusion. Investors who purchase shares after the Outcome Period has begun or sell shares prior to the Outcome Period’s conclusion may experience investment returns that are very different from those that the Funds seek to provide.

    The Funds face numerous risks including buffered loss risk, capped upside return risk, inverse performance risk, Outcome Period risk, upside cap change risk, upside participation risk, liquidity risk, management risk, non-diversification risk, operation risk, trading issues risk, and valuation risk, among others. For a detailed list of Fund risks see each prospectus.

    Fund shareholders are subject to an upside return cap (the “Cap”) that represents the maximum percentage return an investor can achieve from an investment in the Fund for the Outcome Period, before fees and expenses. If the Outcome Period has begun and the Fund has increased in value to a level near the Cap, an investor purchasing shares at that price has little or no ability to achieve gains but remains vulnerable to downside risks. The Cap may rise or fall from one Outcome Period to the next. The Cap, and the Fund’s position relative to it, should be considered before investing in the Fund. The Funds’ website, www.innovatoretfs.com, provides important Fund information as well information relating to the potential outcomes of an investment in a Fund on a daily basis.

    The Funds seek to provide positive returns equal to the absolute value of the reference asset’s price decreases (Inverse Performance) if the reference asset experiences negative returns that are less than or equal to the Inverse Performance Threshold. If the reference asset decreases in value beyond the Inverse Performance Threshold over the course of the Outcome Period, the Funds will not provide any positive returns. Accordingly, each Fund’s value could drop significantly as a result of its Inverse Performance Threshold being exceeded at the end of the Outcome Period whereby any gains experienced by the Fund will be lost, and the buffer will be provided to shareholders. Furthermore, if the Outcome Period has begun and the reference asset has decreased in value below its initial value at the start of the Outcome Period, an investor purchasing shares at this point may not experience Inverse Performance to the extent of the Inverse Performance Threshold and will remain vulnerable to downside risks.

    If the reference asset experiences losses over the course of the Outcome Period that exceed the Inverse Performance Threshold, the Funds seek to provide a buffer, up to each Fund’s respective buffer level, against reference asset losses during the Outcome Period.

    If an investor is considering purchasing shares during the Outcome Period, and the Fund has already decreased in value by an amount that exceeds the Inverse Performance Threshold, an investor purchasing shares at that price will have increased gains available prior to reaching the Upside Cap but may not benefit from the buffer that each Fund seeks to provide for the remainder of the Outcome Period as any subsequent losses will be experienced on a one-to-one basis. Conversely, if an investor is considering purchasing shares during the Outcome Period and the Funds have already increased in value, then a shareholder may experience losses that exceed their buffer, which is not guaranteed.

    The Funds will not terminate after the conclusion of the Outcome Period. After the conclusion of the Outcome Period, another will begin. There is no guarantee that the Outcomes for an Outcome Period will be realized.

    FLEX Options Risk. The Funds will utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the OCC (Options Clearing Corporation). In the unlikely event that the OCC becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to meet its settlement obligations, the Funds could suffer significant losses. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than standard options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Funds may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices.

    The Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses should be considered before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contains this and other important information, and it may be obtained at innovatoretfs.com. Read it carefully before investing.

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Innovator ETFs® are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

    The following marks: Accelerated ETFs®, Accelerated Plus ETF®, Accelerated Return ETFs®, Barrier ETF®, Buffer ETF™, Defined Income ETF™, Defined Outcome Bond ETF®, Defined Outcome ETFs™, Defined Protection ETF®, Define Your Future®, Enhanced ETF™, Floor ETF®, Innovator ETFs®, Leading the Defined Outcome ETF Revolution™, Managed Buffer ETFs®, Managed Outcome ETFs®, Step-Up™, Step-Up ETFs®, 100% Buffer ETFs™ and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are the trademarks of Innovator Capital Management, LLC, its affiliates or licensors. Use of these terms is strictly prohibited without proper written authorization.

    Copyright © 2025 Innovator Capital Management, LLC. All rights reserved.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Test Boost Max: This Legal Testosterone Supplement For Men Now Available in USA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In an era where men’s health is at the forefront of the wellness conversation, Test Boost Max by Sculpt Nation has rapidly emerged as one of the most talked-about natural testosterone support supplements in the U.S. market. With consumers increasingly seeking solutions that enhance vitality, energy, and hormonal balance without synthetic ingredients, the growing momentum behind Test Boost Max marks a significant shift in how testosterone support is being approached.

    Positioned as a plant-powered formula that targets the body’s natural testosterone production, Test Boost Max has gained traction not through hype, but by aligning its formulation with scientific findings and time-tested herbal components. The supplement’s blend of botanicals, adaptogens, and minerals has drawn attention not only from fitness-minded consumers, but also from physicians, wellness professionals, and clinical nutritionists who are witnessing increased demand for natural alternatives to hormone therapy.

    Addressing a Quiet Epidemic: The Testosterone Decline in Modern Men

    According to the official product website (https:://sculptnation.com/) Testosterone levels in men have been gradually declining over the past few decades. While aging remains a natural factor, modern lifestyle stressors—ranging from chronic sleep deprivation and poor dietary habits to environmental toxins and sedentary routines—have exacerbated hormonal imbalances across age groups. According to recent data published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, men today produce significantly less testosterone than men of the same age just 30 years ago.

    In this context, Test Boost Max is not marketed as a quick fix, but as part of a larger wellness framework that prioritizes stress management, movement, and nutritional support. Sculpt Nation emphasizes that the product was never designed to mimic synthetic testosterone or replace hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Instead, the supplement supports endocrine function by addressing the upstream mechanisms that influence testosterone levels.

    Inside the Formula: A Science-Grounded Approach

    The proprietary blend behind Test Boost Max is built around a core belief: the body’s hormonal systems respond best to natural compounds that have evolved alongside human biology. The formulation includes ingredients such as Ashwagandha root extract (KSM-66), Longjack (Tongkat Ali), Tribulus Terrestris, Epimedium, American Ginseng, Cordyceps, and Hawthorn Berry.

    Each ingredient was selected based on peer-reviewed research that supports its individual ability to affect stress, energy, libido, muscle performance, or hormonal signaling. For example, Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce cortisol levels—a known antagonist of testosterone—while also increasing serum testosterone in male subjects undergoing strength training. Tongkat Ali, meanwhile, has earned recognition in both Western and Southeast Asian medical communities for its potential to increase free testosterone and enhance energy metabolism.

    “What’s unique about Test Boost Max is the synergy,” explained Dr. Brandon Carr, an integrative health specialist not affiliated with the company. “These ingredients don’t just operate in isolation. Together, they create a broader effect—lowering stress, improving sleep quality, optimizing metabolic function—that all converge on hormonal health.”

    Sculpt Nation’s research and development team worked with clinical advisors to calibrate dosages to align with those tested in human trials. The aim, they say, was to balance safety with physiological efficacy—something often overlooked in overcrowded supplement categories where ingredient stuffing is more common than scientific restraint.

    View official website for latest pricing and promotions

    Natural Doesn’t Mean Passive: Results Without the Risks

    One of the reasons Test Boost Max has attracted attention in 2025 is because it operates within a unique space in men’s health: powerful enough to support results, yet gentle enough to respect the body’s own regulatory systems. With no synthetic hormones, banned substances, or pharmaceutical additives, it avoids many of the risks associated with testosterone replacement therapy, which can include fertility disruption, acne, mood instability, and cardiovascular strain.

    Early consumer data collected by Sculpt Nation suggests a favorable profile:

    • Men using the supplement for 60 days or more reported noticeable improvements in energy, sexual performance, strength, and lean muscle development.
    • Anecdotal feedback has highlighted a sense of renewed motivation and physical resilience, particularly in individuals aged 35 and above.

    Still, the company remains cautious not to overpromise. “We’re not here to sell magic pills,” said Dimond. “Test Boost Max is most effective when combined with movement, nutrition, and lifestyle adjustments. It’s a catalyst—not a cure-all.”

    Navigating a Crowded Market

    The U.S. supplement industry surpassed $60 billion in annual revenue in 2024, with male performance and hormonal health categories among the fastest growing segments. With competition from legacy brands and newer digital-first startups, it’s difficult for any one product to cut through the noise.

    However, Test Boost Max appears to be achieving just that—not by reinventing the wheel, but by refining it. The formula doesn’t overwhelm with dozens of unproven ingredients. It doesn’t rely on influencer gimmicks. It doesn’t bombard the body with megadoses. Instead, it does something rare: it respects the intelligence of the modern consumer.

    Its rising success may also be partially due to Sculpt Nation’s larger ecosystem. As the supplement arm of V Shred, a digital fitness brand known for personalized training programs, Sculpt Nation has access to an existing audience of millions already tuned into strength, performance, and transformation. For many of these customers, Test Boost Max serves as a natural extension of the lifestyle changes they’ve already adopted.

    No Gimmicks, Just Guarantees

    Perhaps the most striking move by Sculpt Nation was its decision to back Test Boost Max with a 100% lifetime money-back guarantee. Unlike the standard 30- or 60-day windows, this policy removes the pressure for immediate results and encourages long-term use, which aligns with how natural supplements often work.

    “We’re confident in what we’ve built,” said CEO Vinnie Fisher in a previous statement. “If someone doesn’t feel a meaningful difference, even after months or years, they deserve a refund. It’s that simple.”

    The gesture has been well received across industry forums, with many seeing it as a bold but welcome pivot toward accountability in the wellness supplement space.

    How Does Test Boost Max Work?

    According to the official product website, Test Boost Max is formulated to support the body’s endogenous testosterone production by enhancing the signaling pathways and physiological conditions that naturally encourage hormone synthesis. Instead of introducing synthetic testosterone, the product seeks to optimize the environment in which the body produces its own.
    The formula primarily works through several complementary mechanisms:
    Reducing Cortisol and Stress Load: Ingredients like Ashwagandha have been clinically shown to lower cortisol levels. Since cortisol has an inverse relationship with testosterone, reducing stress hormones helps preserve and potentially elevate testosterone levels.
    Improving Sleep Quality and Recovery: Many users of Test Boost Max report better sleep. Since testosterone is primarily produced during deep sleep, improving sleep quality can have a measurable effect on hormonal output.
    Stimulating Leydig Cell Activity: Longjack and Tribulus Terrestris are thought to stimulate the Leydig cells in the testes—the very cells responsible for testosterone synthesis—thereby nudging the body to produce more testosterone naturally.
    Supporting Circulation and Nutrient Delivery: With adaptogens like Epimedium and circulation-enhancing herbs like Hawthorn Berry, the formula helps improve blood flow, ensuring key nutrients are effectively delivered to the endocrine system.
    Enhancing Free Testosterone Availability: Some ingredients work by reducing the action of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), a protein that binds to testosterone and makes it unavailable. By reducing SHBG’s effects, more testosterone remains bioavailable.
    Together, these mechanisms enable Test Boost Max to create an internal environment conducive to hormonal balance and performance, rather than forcing an artificial response.

    View official website for more information

    Consumer Caution & Professional Guidance

    Despite its natural composition, Test Boost Max isn’t designed for everyone. Men with hormone-sensitive conditions, those on medication, or individuals with a history of endocrine disorders should consult a medical professional before using any testosterone-related supplement. Sculpt Nation includes this guidance on its packaging and insists that responsible supplementation starts with awareness.

    “We always recommend people consult their doctors—not because we doubt our product, but because every person’s health landscape is different,” said Dimond.

    Healthcare professionals, including naturopaths and performance dietitians, have echoed this stance. Some practitioners are beginning to integrate products like Test Boost Max into broader protocols, particularly in cases where patients seek natural alternatives to traditional hormone therapies.

    Looking to the Future

    With a growing body of data, increasing consumer awareness, and positive early outcomes, Test Boost Max seems well positioned for longevity in an otherwise trend-heavy market. Sculpt Nation has hinted at possible clinical collaborations in 2026 to study the supplement’s long-term effects in controlled populations—a move that could further solidify its credibility and differentiate it from opportunistic copycats.

    As wellness trends evolve in the post-pandemic era, the importance of hormone health is being redefined. Where testosterone was once whispered about behind closed doors, it is now part of a larger conversation about mood, motivation, metabolic resilience, and quality of life. Products like Test Boost Max are stepping into that conversation not as magic bullets, but as tools—respectful of science, rooted in nature, and oriented around sustainable results.

    About Sculpt Nation

    Sculpt Nation is a premium supplement brand founded by the creators of V Shred, a digital fitness platform with over 10 million users globally. Focused on science-driven formulations and high-quality ingredients, Sculpt Nation develops performance supplements that support fat loss, muscle building, hormonal balance, and total wellness. All products are manufactured in the USA and third-party tested for purity and safety. With a mission to bring transparency, accountability, and real results to the supplement space, Sculpt Nation is redefining the way people approach performance nutrition.

    For more information, educational content, and direct purchasing, visit the official Test Boost Max website.

    Contact:

    https:://sculptnation.com/
    V Shred
    4530 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89103
    support@vshred.com

    Disclaimer The information provided in this review is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your physician or another qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement, dietary change, or health program—especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have existing health conditions, or are taking medications. Results may vary among individuals.
    The statements made regarding Test Boost Max have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Test Boost Max is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Any claims made within this article about symptom relief, hearing improvement, or related health benefits are based on the product’s formulation and individual testimonials and not on conclusive clinical evidence. 
    This content does not constitute professional health or medical advice and should not be interpreted as such. Readers should always perform their own due diligence and consult medical professionals before making decisions related to health products.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Toxic fungus from King Tutankhamun’s tomb yields cancer-fighting compounds – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University

    Miro Varcek / Shutterstock.com

    In November 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter peered through a small hole into the sealed tomb of King Tutankhamun. When asked if he could see anything, he replied: “Yes, wonderful things.” Within months, however, Carter’s financial backer Lord Carnarvon was dead from a mysterious illness. Over the following years, several other members of the excavation team would meet similar fates, fuelling legends of the “pharaoh’s curse” that have captivated the public imagination for just over a century.

    For decades, these mysterious deaths were attributed to supernatural forces. But modern science has revealed a more likely culprit: a toxic fungus known as Aspergillus flavus. Now, in an unexpected twist, this same deadly organism is being transformed into a powerful new weapon in the fight against cancer.

    Aspergillus flavus is a common mould found in soil, decaying vegetation and stored grains. It is infamous for its ability to survive in harsh environments, including the sealed chambers of ancient tombs, where it can lie dormant for thousands of years.

    When disturbed, the fungus releases spores that can cause severe respiratory infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. This may explain the so-called “curse” of King Tutankhamun and similar incidents, such as the deaths of several scientists who entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland in the 1970s. In both cases, investigations later found that A flavus was present, and its toxins were probably responsible for the illnesses and deaths.

    Despite its deadly reputation, Aspergillus flavus is now at the centre of a remarkable scientific finding. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that this fungus produces a unique class of molecules with the potential to fight cancer.

    These molecules belong to a group called ribosomally synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs. RiPPs are made by the ribosome – the cell’s protein factory – and are later chemically altered to enhance their function.

    While thousands of RiPPs have been identified in bacteria, only a handful have been found in fungi – until now.

    The process of finding these fungal RiPPs was far from simple. The research team screened a dozen different strains or types of aspergillus, searching for chemical clues that might indicate the presence of these promising molecules. Aspergillus flavus quickly stood out as a prime candidate.

    The researchers compared the chemicals from different fungal strains to known RiPP compounds and found promising matches. To confirm their discovery, they switched off the relevant genes and, sure enough, the target chemicals vanished, proving they had found the source.

    Purifying these chemicals proved to be a significant challenge. However, this complexity is also what gives fungal RiPPs their remarkable biological activity.

    The team eventually succeeded in isolating four different RiPPs from Aspergillus flavus. These molecules shared a unique structure of interlocking rings, a feature that had never been described before. The researchers named these new compounds “asperigimycins”, after the fungus in which they were found.

    The next step was to test these asperigimycins against human cancer cells. In some cases, they stopped the growth of cancer cells, suggesting that asperigimycins could one day become a new treatment for certain types of cancer.

    The team also worked out how these chemicals get inside cancer cells. This discovery is significant because many chemicals, like asperigimycins, have medicinal properties but struggle to enter cells in large enough quantities to be useful. Knowing that particular fats (lipids) can enhance this process gives scientists a new tool for drug development.

    Further experiments revealed that asperigimycins probably disrupt the process of cell division in cancer cells. Cancer cells divide uncontrollably, and these compounds appear to block the formation of microtubules, the scaffolding inside cells that are essential for cell division.

    Tremendous untapped potential

    This disruption is specific to certain types of cells, so this may in turn reduce the risk of side-effects. But the discovery of asperigimycins is just the beginning. The researchers also identified similar clusters of genes in other fungi, suggesting that many more fungal RiPPs remain to be discovered.

    Almost all the fungal RiPPs found so far have strong biological activity, making this an area with tremendous untapped potential. The next step is to test asperigimycins in other systems and models, with the hope of eventually moving to human clinical trials. If successful, these molecules could join the ranks of other fungal-derived medicines, such as penicillin, which revolutionised modern medicine.

    The story of Aspergillus flavus is a powerful example of how nature can be both a source of danger and a wellspring of healing. For centuries, this fungus was feared as a silent killer lurking in ancient tombs, responsible for mysterious deaths and the legend of the pharaoh’s curse. Today, scientists are turning that fear into hope, harnessing the same deadly spores to create life-saving medicines.

    This transformation, from curse to cure, highlights the importance of continued exploration and innovation in the natural world. Nature has in fact provided us with an incredible pharmacy, filled with compounds that can heal as well as harm. It is up to scientists and engineers to uncover these secrets, using the latest technologies to identify, modify and test new molecules for their potential to treat disease.

    The discovery of asperigimycins is a reminder that even the most unlikely sources – such as a toxic tomb fungus – can hold the key to revolutionary new treatments. As researchers continue to explore the hidden world of fungi, who knows what other medical breakthroughs may lie just beneath the surface?

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

    – ref. Toxic fungus from King Tutankhamun’s tomb yields cancer-fighting compounds – new study – https://theconversation.com/toxic-fungus-from-king-tutankhamuns-tomb-yields-cancer-fighting-compounds-new-study-259706

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From Roman drains to ancient filters, these artefacts show how solutions to water contamination have evolved

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rosa Busquets, Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University

    Thirst: In Search of Freshwater, an exhibition at Wellcome Collection. Benjamin Gilbert., CC BY-NC-ND

    A new exhibition in London (open until February 2026) called Thirst: In search of freshwater highlights how civilisations have treasured – and been intrinsically linked to – safe, clean water.

    As a chemist, I research how freshwater is polluted by modern civilisation. Common contaminants in rivers include pharmaceuticals,
    microplastics
    (which degrade further when exposed to sunlight and wave power), and forever chemicals or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (some of which are carcinogenic).

    Synthetic toxic chemicals are introduced into the environment from the products we make, use and dispose of. This wasn’t a problem centuries ago, where we had a totally different manufacturing industry and technologies.

    Some, such as PFAS from stain-resistant textiles or nonstick materials such as cookware, can be particularly difficult to remove from wastewater. PFAS don’t degrade easily, they resist conventional heat treatments and can easily pass through wastewater treatments, so they contaminate rivers or lakes that are sources of our drinking water.

    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.

    Testing for pollutants is even more critical in developing nations that lack sanitation and face drought or flooding.
    Having to protect and conserve drinking water and its sources is as relevant today as it always has been.

    For this exhibition, curator at the Wellcome Collection in London, Janice Li, has selected 125 historical objects, photographs and feats of engineering that link to drought, rain, glaciers, rivers and lakes. These three artefacts from Thirst illustrate how our relationship with water contamination has evolved:

    1. Ancient water filters

    Made from natural materials such as clay, water jug filters have been used for hundreds of years in every continent by ancient civilisations. They show that purifying water for drinking was commonplace. The sand and soil particles that naturally get suspended in water and removed by these filters would have carried microbes.

    Water jug filters with Arabic inscription, found in Egypt, dating back to 900-1,200.
    Victoria and Albert Museum London/Wellcome Collection, CC BY-NC-ND

    But in ancient times, pharmaceuticals and other drugs, pesticides, forever chemicals and microplastics would not have been a problem. Those filters could work relatively well despite being made of simple materials with wide pores.

    Today, those ancient filters would no longer be effective. Modern water filters are made using more advanced materials which typically have small pores (called micropores and mesopores). For example, filters often include activated carbon (a highly porous type of carbon that can be manufactured to capture contaminants) or membranes that filter water. Only then is it safe for people to drink.



    Read more:
    Forever chemicals are in our drinking water – here’s how to reduce them

    2. Roman water pipes

    Lead water pipes (known as fistulae) were useful parts of a relatively advanced plumbing system that distributed drinking water throughout Roman cities. They are still common in water systems in our cities today. In the US, there are about 9.2 million lead service lines in use. Exposure to lead causes severe human health problems. Lead exposure, not necessarily from drinking water only, was attributed to more than 1.5 million deaths in 2021.

    A Roman lead water pipe that dates back to 1-300CE.
    Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/Science Museum Group., CC BY-NC-ND

    It’s now understood that lead is neurotoxic and it can diffuse or spread from the pipes to drinking water. Lead from paints and batteries, including car batteries, can also contaminate drinking water.

    To protect us from lead leaching or flaking off from pipes, some government agencies are calling for the replacement of lead pipes with copper or plastic pipes. Water companies routinely add phosphates (mined powder that contains phosphorus) to drinking water to help capture potential lead contamination and make it safe to drink.

    3. The horror of unhealthy water

    One caricature titled The Monster Soup by artist William Heath (1828) is part of the Wellcome Trust’s permanent collection. The graphics read “microcosms dedicated to the London Water companies” and “Monster soup, commonly called Thames Water being a correct representation of the precious stuff doled out to us”. The cartoon shows a lady so terrified at the sight of microbes in river water from the Thames that she drops her cup of tea.

    Monster Soup by William Heath.
    Courtesy of the Wellcome Collection., CC BY-NC-ND

    Even today, many people remain shocked at the toxic contamination in rivers and sewage pollution prevents people from swimming.

    By 2030, 2 billion people will still not have safely managed drinking water and 1.2 billion will lack basic hygiene services. Drinking water will still be contaminated by bacteria such as E. coli and other dangerous pathogens that cause waterborne diseases. So advancing technologies to filter out contamination will be just as crucial in the future as it has been in the past.

    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.

    Rosa Busquets receives funding from UKRI/ EU Horizons MSCA Staff exchanges Clean Water project 101131182, DASA, project ACC6093561. She is affiliated with Kingston University, UCL, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, UNEP EEAP.

    – ref. From Roman drains to ancient filters, these artefacts show how solutions to water contamination have evolved – https://theconversation.com/from-roman-drains-to-ancient-filters-these-artefacts-show-how-solutions-to-water-contamination-have-evolved-253876

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Trump plays with new media says a lot about him – as it did with FDR, Kennedy and Obama

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sara Polak, University Lecturer in American Studies, Leiden University

    There is a strange and worrying parallel between the breakneck speed at which Donald Trump has operated in the first few months of his presidency and the ever-accelerating pace at which information moves on social media platforms. Where in his first term he used Twitter, now, the 47th US president is using his own platform, TruthSocial, to announce changes of direction that are sometimes so fundamental that they change decades of US policy.

    Social media has become a key tool of governing for Trump’s administration. He uses it both to make announcements and to drum up support for those announcements. His social media posts can move the markets and make or break careers. They can even, it seems, stop wars.

    So when he used TruthSocial to announce a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 23, giving the two countries a deadline to stop firing missiles, it appears that neither of the antagonists were fully aware of the situation, given they carried on attacking each other. So an all-caps message followed: “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS,” he posted. “BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!” – adding, just in case anyone had any doubt he was serious: “DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.”

    Trump’s use of his TruthSocial platform began as he sought to re-establish himself from the political wilderness after the insurrection of January 6 2021. It has now become a tool of his extreme power and his willingness to use (and abuse) it – globally as well as domestically.

    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.

    He’s the latest in a string of US presidents known for their adroit use of whichever is the medium most guaranteed to connect with the greatest number of people. From Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt’s adept cultivation of print journalists in the early 20th century through Franklin D. Roosevelt’s comforting use of radio as it gained popularity and John F. Kennedy’s mastery of the rising medium of television, presidents have expanded their reach and influence through adept use of media.

    FDR’s “fireside chats”, broadcast on the radio throughout the US in the 1930s, reached an estimated 80% of the population, showing he understood the key media principle of reach. Roosevelt would address his listeners as “my friends” and Americans came to understand them as seemingly intimate conversations with their president.

    FDR dominated the airwaves at a time when many Americans hardly understood the important role that the federal government played in their own lives – and millions of households were only just getting mains electricity (thanks to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936). But radios were becoming a common mass medium and FDR perfectly understood how to use it. If you listen to the fireside chats, FDR may sound patrician – and at times formal – but his tone is also friendly, thoughtful and reassuring.

    In Germany at around the same time, Adolf Hitler’s massive stadium speeches were very effective for people who were in the stadium and being lifted by the intensity of the crowd and all the carefully thought out visual cues. But when broadcast on radio, Hitler had nothing like Roosevelt’s ability to connect with people on a personal level.

    Roosevelt was hardly the first leader – or even the first US president – to speak on the radio. But he was the first to master the medium. He figured out how to use its potential to deliver a key implicit message: that his government should and did take on a central role in people’s lives.

    Equally, John F. Kennedy can be said to have “discovered” political television. Not just as a medium for political campaigns, debates and speeches – but also for putting across to a mass audience his role as the embodiment of American decency, beauty and masculinity: JFK’s White House as Camelot.

    JFK was considered a master of the fast-growing medium of television.

    Both Roosevelt and Kennedy were in several ways physically disabled and lived with chronic illness, yet through the “new medium” of their time were able to project an image of quintessentially American strength and trustworthiness. In part this was their own doing – but it’s also a testament to the power of the media they used for their time.

    Mastering the medium

    These possibilities of a medium used to its best advantage – for example, to be heard around the US, but still to project a sense of intimacy – have become known as the “affordances” of a medium. The medium afforded Roosevelt space to be authentic without showing his disability. Kennedy appeared young, fit and handsome – even when dependent on painkillers.

    When a new medium is introduced, people start to play around with its affordances – and this applies to politicians too. Political leaders who develop a special aptitude for using the new medium to emphasise their unique style can become particularly successful, as has Donald Trump with his use of social media.

    The US president rose to power helped by his adept use of many of Twitter’s attributes – the imposed brevity of his messages, the ease of retweeting, the tendency for other users to “pile on” (and the user anonymity, which tends to encourage pile-ons) to polarise American public debate.

    Trump was forced off Twitter after the Capitol Hill insurrection of January 6 2021. So he came back with his own platform, TruthSocial, where he can also make the rules. And now he uses the platform to make foreign policy, trumpeting his positions (which can change with bewildering speed) on TruthSocial well before they can be announced by the White House press team, which often has to scramble to catch up.

    When Canadian communication theorist Marshall McLuhan penned his famous phrase: “The medium is the message” in his groundbreaking 1964 study, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, he meant to say that media form and content are not as distinct from one another as one might think and that the form of a medium of communication can shape society as much as its content. In Donald Trump’s use of social media, we are seeing this idea at work.

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

    – ref. How Trump plays with new media says a lot about him – as it did with FDR, Kennedy and Obama – https://theconversation.com/how-trump-plays-with-new-media-says-a-lot-about-him-as-it-did-with-fdr-kennedy-and-obama-248923

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Asos should be wary of banning customers returning unwanted goods

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nic Sanders, Senior Lecturer in Management and Marketing, University of Westminster

    ‘Now where’s that returns label?’ Cast of Thousands.Shutterstock

    Shopping for clothes online is a risky business. How do you know if that top will be a good fit, or those shoes will definitely be the right colour? One popular solution to this predicament is to order lots of tops and lots of shoes, try them on at home, and send back all the ones you don’t want – often at no cost.

    But that tactic can be expensive for the fashion retailer, which needs to pay for all those deliveries and returns. And now Asos, which sends millions of shipments every month, has started banning some customers for over-returning items – prompting something of a backlash.

    The response by the retail giant, which says it wants to maintain a “commitment to offering free returns to all customers across all core markets”, also raises questions about the sustainability of the online fashion business model which Asos helped to create.

    Many online retailers rely on the emotional highs of shopping. The excitement of placing an order, the anticipation of delivery, and the dopamine hit of unpacking a purchase is central to its popular customer experience.

    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.

    Online shopping generally has thrived on impulsive buying, with the option of returning items treated as a normal part of the process. Of course, even in the days before online shopping there would be customers who routinely returned items.

    But by digitising and simplifying the process, the likes of Asos have helped this to happen on a massive scale. Shoppers have become completely used to ordering multiple sizes or styles with the express intention of returning most of the items they receive. Their homes effectively become fitting rooms.

    And those customers could reasonably argue that online retailers often use digital strategies which encourage multi-item purchases.

    Some sites remind shoppers of recently viewed products and provide suggestions of similar items, for example. There may be are prompts and nudges towards clothes which are frequently bought together.

    Items are then sometimes temporarily reserved in a shopper’s basket for 60 minutes, creating a sense of urgency. Targeted emails and limited time offers drive bulging shopping baskets, encouraging more risk purchases and returns.

    Yet returned items carry a significant cost. They may be unfit for resale and ultimately disposed of, which beyond the financial burden, has an environmental price.

    In addition to creating landfill, each delivery and return has a carbon footprint. And although many younger consumers express support for sustainable practices, their buying behaviour continues to prioritise price and convenience.

    But free returns have become part of the online fashion industry landscape. Research suggests that customers are simply more likely to buy something if returns are free.

    And today’s tricky financial climate, marked by inflation and rising living costs will surely have made consumers even more cautious. Many will be reluctant to buy items that incur delivery and return costs.

    Shopping around

    Frustrations can then arise from unclear return policies, often buried in lengthy terms and conditions documents. Some of those banned by Asos say they were confused about the rules.

    Automated customer service systems offering generic responses may then leave shoppers with no clear way to challenge these decisions.

    Perhaps the wider issue here is that online shopping cannot fully replicate the benefits of shopping in store. In physical shops, customers can try on items before deciding.

    But online, this can’t happen, so returns become fundamental to the decision-making process. For cost-conscious shoppers, avoiding unnecessary spending is essential. But if returns policies become harder to access, they may turn to other retailers which offer more certainty.

    Return to sender?
    A08/Shutterstock

    For example, retailers such as Zara and H&M, with a business model which mixes online convenience with a high street (or shopping mall) presence, offer the option to order online and then return in person.

    This hybrid (or “omni-channel”) model appears to be driving consumers to physical shops for a blended experience which provides convenience and helps reduce return costs.

    For Asos, doing something similar would require major investment (in bricks and mortar) and increased operational costs – so is perhaps an unlikely solution for the company.

    But to balance sustainability, cost and customer satisfaction, Asos could explore other options. These might include clearer, more visible communication regarding “fair use” policies and their consequences. It could aim for more human interactions and better dialogue with customers it plans to ban.

    Offering physical retail locations or return collection points to simplify the process and reduce the environmental impact and costs will provide customer flexibility. Overall, these areas will help create a better customer service experience.

    Ultimately, Asos and other similar online clothing retailers must evolve. With changing consumer expectations, a challenging economic climate and rising operational costs, the model that defined these retailers’ early success cannot remain unchanged.

    If they make adjustments, they may emerge stronger. If they do not, they risk sparking a customer exodus that would be hard to reverse.

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

    – ref. Why Asos should be wary of banning customers returning unwanted goods – https://theconversation.com/why-asos-should-be-wary-of-banning-customers-returning-unwanted-goods-259952

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Humans and animals can both think logically − but testing what kind of logic they’re using is tricky

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Olga Lazareva, Professor of Psychology, Drake University

    For some mental processes, humans and animals likely follow similar lines of thinking. Catherine Falls Commercial/Moment via Getty Images

    Can a monkey, a pigeon or a fish reason like a person? It’s a question scientists have been testing in increasingly creative ways – and what we’ve found so far paints a more complicated picture than you’d think.

    Imagine you’re filling out a March Madness bracket. You hear that Team A beat Team B, and Team B beat Team C – so you assume Team A is probably better than Team C. That’s a kind of logical reasoning known as transitive inference. It’s so automatic that you barely notice you’re doing it.

    It turns out humans are not the only ones who can make these kinds of mental leaps. In labs around the world, researchers have tested many animals, from primates to birds to insects, on tasks designed to probe transitive inference, and most pass with flying colors.

    As a scientist focused on animal learning and behavior, I work with pigeons to understand how they make sense of relationships, patterns and rules. In other words, I study the minds of animals that will never fill out a March Madness bracket – but might still be able to guess the winner.

    Logic test without words

    The basic idea is simple: If an animal learns that A is better than B, and B is better than C, can it figure out that A is better than C – even though it’s never seen A and C together?

    In the lab, researchers test this by giving animals randomly paired images, one pair at a time, and rewarding them with food for picking the correct one. For example, animals learn that a photo of hands (A) is correct when paired with a classroom (B), a classroom (B) is correct when paired with bushes (C), bushes (C) are correct when paired with a highway (D), and a highway (D) is correct when paired with a sunset (E). We don’t know whether they “understand” what’s in the picture, and it is not particularly important for the experiment that they do.

    In a transitive inference task, subjects learn a series of rewarded pairs – such as A+ vs. B–, B+ vs. C– – and are later tested on novel pairings, like B vs. D, to see whether they infer an overall ranking.
    Olga Lazareva, CC BY-ND

    One possible explanation is that the animals that learn all the tasks create a mental ranking of these images: A > B > C > D > E. We test this idea by giving them new pairs they’ve never seen before, such as classroom (B) vs. highway (D). If they consistently pick the higher-ranked item, they’ve inferred the underlying order.

    What’s fascinating is how many species succeed at this task. Monkeys, rats, pigeons – even fish and wasps – have all demonstrated transitive inference in one form or another.

    The twist: Not all tasks are easy

    But not all types of reasoning come so easily. There’s another kind of rule called transitivity that is different from transitive inference, despite the similar name. Instead of asking which picture is better, transitivity is about equivalence.

    In this task, animals are shown a set of three pictures and asked which one goes with the center image. For example, if white triangle (A1) is shown, choosing red square (B1) earns a reward, while choosing blue square (B2) does not. Later, when red square (B1) is shown, choosing white cross (C1) earns a reward while choosing white circle (C2) does not. Now comes the test: white triangle (A1) is shown with white cross (C1) and white circle (C2) as choices. If they pick white cross (C1), then they’ve demonstrated transitivity.

    In a transitivity task, subjects learn matching rules across overlapping sets – such as A1 matches B1, B1 matches C1 – and are tested on new combinations, such as A1 with C1 or C2, to assess whether they infer the relationship between A1 and C1.
    Olga Lazareva, CC BY-ND

    The change may seem small, but species that succeed in those first transitive inference tasks often stumble in this task. In fact, they tend to treat the white triangle and the white cross as completely separate things, despite their common relationship with the red square. In my recently published review of research using the two tasks, I concluded that more evidence is needed to determine whether these tests tap into the same cognitive ability.

    Small differences, big consequences

    Why does the difference between transitive inference and transitivity matter? At first glance, they may seem like two versions of the same ability – logical reasoning. But when animals succeed at one and struggle with the other, it raises an important question: Are these tasks measuring the same kind of thinking?

    The apparent difference between the two tasks isn’t just a quirk of animal behavior. Psychology researchers apply these tasks to humans in order to draw conclusions about how people reason.

    For example, say you’re trying to pick a new almond milk. You know that Brand A is creamier than Brand B, and your friend told you that Brand C is even waterier than Brand B. Based on that, because you like a thicker milk, you might assume Brand A is better than Brand C, an example of transitive inference.

    But now imagine the store labels both Brand A and Brand C as “barista blends.” Even without tasting them, you might treat them as functionally equivalent, because they belong to the same category. That’s more like transitivity, where items are grouped based on shared relationships. In this case, “barista blend” signals the brands share similar quality.

    How researchers define logical reasoning determines how they interpret results.
    Svetlana Mishchenko/iStock via Getty Images

    Researchers often treat these types of reasoning as measuring the same ability. But if they rely on different mental processes, they might not be interchangeable. In other words, the way scientists ask their questions may shape the answer – and that has big implications for how they interpret success in animals and in people.

    This difference could affect how researchers interpret decision-making not only in the lab, but also in everyday choices and in clinical settings. Tasks like these are sometimes used in research on autism, brain injury or age-related cognitive decline.

    If two tasks look similar on the surface, then choosing the wrong one might lead to inaccurate conclusions about someone’s cognitive abilities. That’s why ongoing work in my lab is exploring whether the same distinction between these logical processes holds true for people.

    Just like a March Madness bracket doesn’t always predict the winner, a reasoning task doesn’t always show how someone got to the right answer. That’s the puzzle researchers are still working on – figuring out whether different tasks really tap into the same kind of thinking or just look like they do. It’s what keeps scientists like me in the lab, asking questions, running experiments and trying to understand what it really means to reason – no matter who’s doing the thinking.

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

    – ref. Humans and animals can both think logically − but testing what kind of logic they’re using is tricky – https://theconversation.com/humans-and-animals-can-both-think-logically-but-testing-what-kind-of-logic-theyre-using-is-tricky-253001

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel starts operation

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

    Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel starts operation

    Updated: July 1, 2025 21:12 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2025 shows vehicles passing through the toll station of the Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel in Wuhu, east China’s Anhui Province. The 6-kilometer-long Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel, the province’s first tunnel crossing the Yangtze River, started operation on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on June 30, 2025 shows a view of the Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel before operation in Wuhu, east China’s Anhui Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2025 shows vehicles passing through the toll station of the Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel in Wuhu, east China’s Anhui Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2025 shows a view of the Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel before operation in Wuhu, east China’s Anhui Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 1, 2025 shows vehicles passing through the toll station of the Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel in Wuhu, east China’s Anhui Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Vehicles pass through the toll station of the Wuhu Longwan Yangtze River tunnel in Wuhu, east China’s Anhui Province, July 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New train schedule takes effect in China

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

    New train schedule takes effect in China

    Updated: July 1, 2025 21:16 Xinhua
    Passengers check in at Tianjin West Railway Station in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, July 1, 2025. A new train schedule took effect in China on July 1, 2025, starting this year’s 62-day summer travel season, according to the railway operator. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Passengers wait to board a train at Luoyang Longmen Railway Station in Luoyang, central China’s Henan Province, on July 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Passengers are seen at Wuxi Railway Station in Wuxi City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, on July 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Passengers check in at Xuzhou East Railway Station in Xuzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, on July 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Passengers check in at Huzhou Railway Station in Huzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on July 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A passenger is pictured at Shijiazhuang Railway Station in Shijiazhuang, north China’s Hebei Province, on July 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Holds Rays of Hope Forum To Increase Access to Cancer Care

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death on the continent, claiming around 2,000 lives every day.

    Three years ago, to close the global cancer care gap, we launched the IAEA’s #RaysOfHope initiative at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

    Today, we returned to take stock:

    • More than 90 countries have joined
    • Over €90 million mobilized
    • Hospitals upgraded
    • PET/CTs, SPECTs, mammography units and LINACs delivered
    • Radiotherapy centres coming online across several countries
    • Staff trained and networks developed

    Building on this momentum, we signed a $4.5 million partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – the largest contribution from a non-traditional partner to our cancer care work to date. We also launched a new nuclear medicine service at Black Lion Hospital – one of four radiotherapy centres supported by the IAEA in Ethiopia. The hospital now has SPECT/CT scanners, a linear accelerator, trained staff, and a mammography unit on the way.

    Learn more: Rays of Hope IAEA Flagship Initiative →

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Holds Rays of Hope Forum To Increase Access to Cancer Care

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death on the continent, claiming around 2,000 lives every day.

    Three years ago, to close the global cancer care gap, we launched the IAEA’s #RaysOfHope initiative at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

    Today, we returned to take stock:

    • More than 90 countries have joined
    • Over €90 million mobilized
    • Hospitals upgraded
    • PET/CTs, SPECTs, mammography units and LINACs delivered
    • Radiotherapy centres coming online across several countries
    • Staff trained and networks developed

    Building on this momentum, we signed a $4.5 million partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – the largest contribution from a non-traditional partner to our cancer care work to date. We also launched a new nuclear medicine service at Black Lion Hospital – one of four radiotherapy centres supported by the IAEA in Ethiopia. The hospital now has SPECT/CT scanners, a linear accelerator, trained staff, and a mammography unit on the way.

    Learn more: Rays of Hope IAEA Flagship Initiative →

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kansas City Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fentanyl Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

    Jose Amparan, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

    On Nov. 20, 2024, Amparan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    Amparan was a source of supply of fentanyl pills for co-defendant Tiger Draggoo.  Based upon text messages from seized cell phones and Cash App records, it was determined that Tiger Draggoo purchased at least 22,364 pills from co-defendants, including Amparan.  Tiger Draggoo paid $34,363 through Cash App and an unknown amount via cash.  Of this amount, Amparan sold at least 3,000 pills to Tiger Draggoo over 15 separate transactions, between approximately Dec. 10, 2022, through approximately Jan. 14, 2023.  Amparan was paid approximately $4,835 through Cash App and an additional amount via cash for these transactions.  Amparan and Tiger Draggoo conspired to conceal and disguise the nature of the transfer of funds through Cash App by referring to the payments being for items such as “groceries,” “reimbursement,” and “car work.”

    On Jan. 10, 2023, a confidential informant purchased 500 counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl for $1,750 from Amparan and another.

    Amparan and his co-defendants have all pleaded guilty in this case, with only, Tiger Draggoo, left to be sentenced at a later date.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Belton, Mo., Police Department, the Raymore, Mo., Police Department, the Cass County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Status of the Chagos Archipelago –  Part II: United Kingdom’s Agreement with Mauritius

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The following is a guest post by Clare Feikert-Ahalt, a senior foreign law specialist at the Law Library of Congress covering the United Kingdom and several other jurisdictions. Clare has written numerous posts for In Custodia Legis, including Revealing the Presence of Ghosts; Weird Laws, or Urban Legends?; FALQs: Brexit Referendum; 100 Years of “Poppy Day” in the United Kingdom; and Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office Spurs Possible Law Change.

    Yesterday’s post described the historic status of the Chagos Archipelago and the United Kingdom’s (UK) power over the territory. Today’s post describes the new agreement, which returns sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and allows for the continued use of the UK-US military base.

    On May 22, 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement that “recognis[es] the wrongs of the past” with regards to the Chagos Archipelago. The agreement transfers sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) from the UK to Mauritius, while providing the UK with “rights and authorities [over Diego Garcia] that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base.”

    The agreement, which took over two years and 13 rounds of negotiations to achieve, secures British interests in Diego Garcia, including an area of 12 nautical miles surrounding the island, for 99 years. The agreement provides the UK with the right to access, maintain, and invest in the base, along with the ability to use it for defense purposes. It places a binding obligation on both parties to ensure the secure and effective operation of the base. The UK’s secretary of state for defence notes the agreement achieves the “secured unrestricted access to, and use of, the base, as well as control over movement of all persons and all goods on the base and control of all communication and electronic systems.”

    Any activities on the wider islands of the Chagos Archipelago, such as the construction of any structure, artificial island, sensor, or barrier within 24 nautical miles, must be approved through a joint decision process between the UK and Mauritius, which serves as an “effective veto” of development in the islands surrounding Diego Garcia as the UK does not want other countries, particularly those hostile to the UK, to have a presence near this facility.

    The 99 years can be extended for a further 40 years if both parties agree, and it may be extended again thereafter. The estimated cost to UK for 99 years “is £101 million [annually] and the net present value of payments under the treaty is £3.4 billion” (approximately US$136 million and US$4.6 billion respectively) accounting for approximately 0.2% of the defense budget. The government has stated this is less than the cost of running an aircraft carrier, without aircraft, for a year.

    The agreement provides for the resettlement of the residents of Diego Garcia, known as the Chagossians, on the islands of the Chagos Archipelago, with the exception of Diego Garcia. It also provides for the establishment of a trust fund of £40 million (approximately US$54 million) to benefit Chagossians and an annual grant of £45 million (approximately US$61 million) for 25 years to fund projects that promote economic development and welfare in Mauritius. Article 11 of the agreement states that it “constitutes the full and final settlement of all claims by Mauritius in relation to the Chagos Archipelago.”

    The treaty was laid before both Houses of Parliament on May 22, 2025, and either of the Houses of Parliament may object to its ratification until July 3, 3035.

    The Defense Facility on Diego Garcia

    The secretary of state for defence for the UK stated “[t]he importance of Diego Garcia cannot be overstated” and a government press release announcing the agreement notes that the base is central to both the UK and US’s emergency planning and operations, with the base serving as:

    “a critical logistics hub at a strategic location, with a full range of facilities that acts as a key refueling and resupply station for naval and air operations. This enables power projection and global reach, allowing for rapid and flexible deployment of our forces across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia.”

    While most of the work on, and capabilities of, Diego Garcia are not disclosed, the secretary of state for defence and the UK prime minister have publicly acknowledged that the base supports operations, including those related to counter-terrorism, in the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia. Public statements detail that the base houses:

    • an airfield enabling strike operations and the rapid deployment of the military in this area, “… creat[ing] real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific;”
    • a deep-water port that, among other uses, “supports missions from nuclear-powered submarines to [the UK’s] carrier strike group;”
    • advanced communications, which includes management of the electromagnetic spectrum satellite;
    • surveillance capabilities;
    • facilities that support the global operation of GPS, notably one monitoring station and one of four ground antennas;
    • Ground-Base Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) System, which “provides situational awareness of objects in Earth’s orbit, helping to track space debris that pose a risk to space systems”; and
    • “three pieces of critical Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty monitoring equipment”, including seismic monitoring equipment that checks for indicators of nuclear testing, helping to secure compliance with the nuclear test ban treaty.

    The presence of the base in the center of the Indian Ocean also helps to safeguard an important trade route, through which “a third of the world’s bulk cargo and two-thirds of global oil shipments are transported.”

    The US Navy describes the facility on Diego Garcia as “the tip of the spear” and states that it “provides logistic support to operational forces forward deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf areas of responsibility in support of national policy objectives.”

    The prime minister stated that the agreement is vital to the UK’s defence and intelligence, and for securing the safety and security of the British people at this time. He stated “… the base was under threat” from legal challenges by Mauritius, and the government believes there is no viable alternative to protect the base and secure the islands surrounding it.

    The prime minister further noted that if the UK disregarded any future legal judgements, “international organisations and other countries would act on them. And that would undermine the operation of the base.” The UK was particularly concerned at the prospect of other countries establishing a presence in the islands surrounding Diego Garcia, or conducting training exercises nearby, which could impact the operation of the base, and that it would be unable to prevent this without an agreement.

    The prime minister has described the base as “one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States.” The UK foreign secretary stated the US was unhappy with the uncertainty created by the situation and “strongly encouraged [the UK] to strike a deal.” It was against this background that negotiations were commenced and the treaty was made.

    Reaction to the Agreement

    The opposition conservative party has been critical of the agreement, stating that the government “prioritised heeding the most pessimistic legal advice” concerning the potential of legal judgments. The opposition further stated that the agreement puts the defense facility at risk due to Mauritius’ ties to Russia and China. The UK shadow secretary of state said in parliament that “[t]he Government should not be surrendering strategically vital sovereign territory, especially when we face such threats, and they certainly should not be paying billions for the privilege”, noting further that the agreement does not offer any protection to the Chagossians.

    Internationally, the agreement has been backed by the UK’s “Five Eyes” partners, which include the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Japan, India, and the African Union have also welcomed the agreement. US President Donald Trump expressed his support for the agreement and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated that while the administration is not a party to the agreement, it “remain[s] responsible for operating the U.S. Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia, which continues to play a vital role in supporting forward-deployed operational forces and advancing security across the region.”

    The US secretary of state stated:

    “The Trump Administration determined that this agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia. This is a critical asset for regional and global security.”

    While the agreement has been welcomed by the UK and several of its allies, the United Nations has condemned the agreement, issuing a press release stating:

    “By maintaining a foreign military presence of the United Kingdom and the United States on Diego Garcia and preventing the Chagossian people from returning to Diego Garcia, the agreement appears to be at variance with the Chagossians’ right to return, which also hinders their ability to exercise their cultural rights in accessing their ancestral lands from which they were expelled.”

    The UN has urged the UK to “apply a human rights-based approach in addressing historical injustices against the Chagossian people.”

    Additional Law Library of Congress Resources on the Laws of Mauritius and the UK

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/THAILAND – National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies on the suspension of the Prime Minister: “We proceed according to the rule of law”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 1 July 2025

    Caritas Thailand

    Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) – “The street protests lasted one day, and now calm has returned to Bangkok. I believe that the process of replacing the Prime Minister will continue in accordance with the rule of law and the rules of democracy. The hope of the Thai people is to quickly resolve the border issues with Cambodia and return the situation to the sphere of good relations between the two nations,” said Fr. Peter Piyachart Makornkhanp, parish priest in Bangkok and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (POM) in Thailand, in an interview with Fides.The country has been shaken by the recent ruling of the Constitutional Court suspending Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was accused of “ethical violations” in managing relations with Cambodia. The suspension, it was announced, is in effect “until the decision of the Constitutional Court,” which could take several weeks or months. The court responded to a petition from 36 senators after a telephone conversation between the head of government and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was made public, in which Shinawatra referred to the Thai army chief as an “enemy.” At a political level, the 38-year-old prime minister – daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra – was already weakened after the main party in the governing coalition, Bhumjaithai (“Thai Pride”), withdrew its support two weeks ago. A government reshuffle followed. Recently, the territorial dispute with Cambodia resurfaced, leading to cross-border clashes in which a Cambodian soldier was killed (see Fides, 24/6/2025). The Prime Minister is now accused of weakening the army and violating constitutional provisions requiring “integrity” and “ethical standards.” Fr. Piyachart Makornkhanp told Fides: “In relations between Thailand and Cambodia, very old mutual prejudices sometimes surface. But in the lives and minds of ordinary people, there are no problems today; good relations are maintained, generating strong economic and social ties, especially in the border areas. Some of the hostilities are about the relationship between some political leaders, not about the people.” The National Director further reports that “at the ecclesial level, there are excellent relations and fruitful pastoral cooperation between the Churches of Cambodia and Thailand: we currently have several Thai priests and religious living and working in Cambodia. We hope that tensions will subside and the situation will normalize with the reopening of the borders.” The Bangkok priest also points out that “many Thai people and organizations, including Caritas, are doing their best to care for the Cambodians stranded in Thailand as displaced persons and unable to return to Cambodia due to the border closure. This is a very beautiful sign of solidarity that expresses the essence of the relationship between the two peoples,” he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/7/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/THAILAND – National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies on the suspension of the Prime Minister: “We proceed according to the rule of law”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 1 July 2025

    Caritas Thailand

    Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) – “The street protests lasted one day, and now calm has returned to Bangkok. I believe that the process of replacing the Prime Minister will continue in accordance with the rule of law and the rules of democracy. The hope of the Thai people is to quickly resolve the border issues with Cambodia and return the situation to the sphere of good relations between the two nations,” said Fr. Peter Piyachart Makornkhanp, parish priest in Bangkok and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (POM) in Thailand, in an interview with Fides.The country has been shaken by the recent ruling of the Constitutional Court suspending Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was accused of “ethical violations” in managing relations with Cambodia. The suspension, it was announced, is in effect “until the decision of the Constitutional Court,” which could take several weeks or months. The court responded to a petition from 36 senators after a telephone conversation between the head of government and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was made public, in which Shinawatra referred to the Thai army chief as an “enemy.” At a political level, the 38-year-old prime minister – daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra – was already weakened after the main party in the governing coalition, Bhumjaithai (“Thai Pride”), withdrew its support two weeks ago. A government reshuffle followed. Recently, the territorial dispute with Cambodia resurfaced, leading to cross-border clashes in which a Cambodian soldier was killed (see Fides, 24/6/2025). The Prime Minister is now accused of weakening the army and violating constitutional provisions requiring “integrity” and “ethical standards.” Fr. Piyachart Makornkhanp told Fides: “In relations between Thailand and Cambodia, very old mutual prejudices sometimes surface. But in the lives and minds of ordinary people, there are no problems today; good relations are maintained, generating strong economic and social ties, especially in the border areas. Some of the hostilities are about the relationship between some political leaders, not about the people.” The National Director further reports that “at the ecclesial level, there are excellent relations and fruitful pastoral cooperation between the Churches of Cambodia and Thailand: we currently have several Thai priests and religious living and working in Cambodia. We hope that tensions will subside and the situation will normalize with the reopening of the borders.” The Bangkok priest also points out that “many Thai people and organizations, including Caritas, are doing their best to care for the Cambodians stranded in Thailand as displaced persons and unable to return to Cambodia due to the border closure. This is a very beautiful sign of solidarity that expresses the essence of the relationship between the two peoples,” he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/7/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SUDAN – Insecurity and lack of services worsen the situation in the capital: teachers disagree in the reopening of schools

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 1 July 2025

    Internet

    Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – Most areas of Khartoum are without electricity and water, exacerbating the country’s already precarious security situation and the lack of other services such as internet and telecommunications.Recently, the humanitarian organization LIZENFO raised the alarm which reported that a large number of people in the Sudanese capital have been forced to return to displacement areas, with the exception of areas of Omdurman. According to the director of the organization, several civilians from Khartoum have returned to the United States after facing great difficulties during the conflict in the capital.Against a backdrop of general insecurity, the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee has voiced its disagreement with a decision by the Khartoum state government’s decision to reopen schools, saying that the move ignores the deteriorating security, health, and economic reality, and post a direct threat to the lives of education workers and their families. Furthermore, telecommunications networks are fluctuating, and the internet is not available most of the time. The teachers pointed out that they are forced to charge their phones, at great expense, at shops that rely on solar energy, and warned of a terrible deterioration in the humanitarian situation, and the high cost of food.Furthermore, civilians in the south and west of Khartoum are being detained and taken to unknown locations without giving reasons. Most neighborhood markets remain closed, and the public are forced to go to the central market, in addition to traveling long distances to get drinking water. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 1/7/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – On the 100th anniversary of the beatification of the Korean martyrs, a report on the persecutions of Gihae and Byeong-o

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 1 July 2025

    Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – A report to learn about the data of the persecutions that struck Catholics on the Korean peninsula in the 19th century. The centenary of the Eucharistic liturgy celebrated on July 5, 1925, in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, during which the first Korean martyrs were proclaimed blesseds, will also be commemorated, through the publication of documents and official records useful for reconstructing this period of witness and martyrdom.These were 79 Catholics who were killed “in odium fidei” for their faith during the persecutions of Gihae (1839) and Byeong-o (1846). In the 19th century (religious freedom was not granted to Catholics in Korea until 1895), the Korean Church estimates that approximately 16,000 Catholics were killed.To commemorate this event, the Committee for Honoring the Martyrs of the Archdiocese of Seoul has organized a series of events, beginning with a Eucharistic celebration on July 5. At 3 p.m., Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek will preside over Mass at the Shrine of the Martyrs of Seosomun, the church built on the site where executions were carried out during the Joseon Dynasty. A total of 41 of the 79 martyrs beatified in the Vatican on July 5, 1925, died at this site, which is considered “the greatest place of martyrdom in the Korean Church.”At the end of the mass, the “Data on the persecution of Gihae and Byeong-o” will be presented. This report contains official data and documents on the persecution of Gihae and Byeong-o. These are official documents from the “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” the “Diary of the Royal Secretariat,” and the “Declaration of the Office of Military Affairs.”The entire report was compiled based on communications and reports exchanged between the Ministry of Justice and the Police Office, which differentiates it from existing historical materials, as it focuses almost exclusively on the testimonies of those who lived through that time. Furthermore, in addition to the original texts, the study also includes translations into contemporary Korean, making the collection easy to consult for researchers.To conclude the initiatives, an exhibition entitled “Anima Mundi” will open on the evening of July 5. “Anima Mundi” is also the name of the section of the Vatican Museums that collects the legacy of the World Missionary Expo that Pope Pius XI wanted to create in the Vatican Gardens on the occasion of the Jubilee of 1925 (see Fides 28/3/2025). The Korean Church also participated in this event and presented itself to the world for the first time. The exhibition, modeled on the pavilion erected in the Vatican Gardens one hundred years ago, traces the situation of the Korean Church at that time. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 1/7/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: CarGurus Launches a Summer of Giveaways Alongside New ‘Big Deal’ Video Series Celebrating Life’s Biggest Moments

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    “The Big Deal Show” brings together fan-favorites in sports and entertainment to share their defining moments — and help CarGurus celebrate “big deals” with three car giveaway winners

    BOSTON, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CarGurus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CARG), the No. 1 visited site for shopping, buying, and selling new and used cars1, today launched “The Big Deal Show,” a new campaign celebrating life’s biggest moments behind the wheel and beyond. In recognition of the big deal decisions and memories that come with a car purchase, the content series taps familiar faces across entertainment and sports to share their big deal moments and help CarGurus give away three new Nissans.

    The three-part series — released each month through the end of summer — kicks off today with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and professional snowboarder Zeb Powell. The duo reflects on everything from their first cars to the biggest moments that defined their careers. The trailblazing sports icons share candid memories from their time on the road and the big deal moments they’re looking forward to on the road ahead.

    Upcoming celebrity duos will be announced later this summer, continuing the series with unfiltered conversations about early career moments, big professional wins, and personal milestones. In tandem with the release of each episode, CarGurus will give drivers an opportunity to win a new Nissan through a limited-time sweepstakes on the CarGurus website. Each month, a winner will be selected to receive a brand-new car (approximately $50,000 in value), along with funds to cover related expenses.

    “CarGurus understands the fact that it’s a big deal to buy a car. It’s a major, emotional purchase, and for many of us, our cars become the backdrop for life’s biggest moments,” said Dafna Sarnoff, Chief Marketing Officer at CarGurus. “That’s why we’re bringing together personalities who are big deals in their own right and reflect our shoppers in having a connection to their cars and the big roles they’ve played in their lives. Through these stories and our giveaway, we’re shining a spotlight on the big moments that give a deeper meaning to big deals like car buying.”

    “The Big Deal Show” is an extension of CarGurus’ national brand campaign, “Big Deal,” which pays tribute to the big decisions drivers make along the buy/sell journey to reach their ideal outcome. The campaign underscores CarGurus’ role in helping consumers find the best deal on their big deal, providing shoppers the largest selection of new and used vehicles in the U.S.2 on the No. 1 most visited car-shopping site1.

    “It was a privilege to bring these fun and extremely relatable stories to life with the help of CarGurus,” said Paul Scheer, Director of The Big Deal Show. “Turns out, no matter how famous you are, we all remember our first car.”

    To follow each episode of “The Big Deal Show” and enter the giveaway, visit: https://www.cargurus.com/about/big-giveaway

    About CarGurus, Inc.
    CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG) is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles that is building upon its industry-leading listings marketplace with both digital retail solutions and the CarOffer online wholesale platform. The CarGurus platform gives consumers the confidence to purchase and/or sell a vehicle either online or in-person, and it gives dealerships the power to accurately price, effectively market, instantly acquire, and quickly sell vehicles, all with a nationwide reach. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms, and data analytics to bring trust, transparency, and competitive pricing to the automotive shopping experience. CarGurus is the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S. 1

    CarGurus also operates online marketplaces under the CarGurus brand in Canada and the U.K. In the U.S. and the U.K., CarGurus also operates the Autolist and PistonHeads online marketplaces, respectively, as independent brands.

    To learn more about CarGurus, visit www.cargurus.com, and for more information about CarOffer, visit www.caroffer.com.

    CarGurus® is a registered trademark of CarGurus, Inc., and CarOffer® is a registered trademark of CarOffer, LLC. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    1Similarweb: Traffic Report [Cars.com, Autotrader, TrueCar, CARFAX Listings (defined as CARFAX Total
    visits minus Vehicle History Reports traffic)], Q1 2025, U.S.
    2Compared to Autotrader.com, Cars.com, TrueCar.com (YipitData as of December 31, 2024),
    and CarFax (Joreca as of December 31, 2024)

    Media Contact:
    Maggie Meluzio
    Director, Public Relations & External Communications
    pr@cargurus.com

    Investor Contact:
    Kirndeep Singh
    Vice President, Head of Investor Relations
    investors@cargurus.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a93636c-9637-482f-a51c-a413f5ee8356

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FINDMINING launches free cloud mining service with zero threshold, taking advantage of the bull market of BTC, DOGE and XRP

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, California, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin (BTC) returning to above $108,000 recently, and Dogecoin (DOGE) and Ripple (XRP) reaching new highs in market activity, the cryptocurrency mining track has once again attracted the attention of retail and institutional investors around the world. Against this backdrop, UK-certified FINDMINING is rapidly rising, becoming a new outlet for retail investors to participate in crypto mining with its secure, flexible, and zero upfront cost cloud mining solutions.

    For a long time, traditional crypto mining has been regarded as a “game of capital and technology”. The high investment in mining machines, complex configuration and huge electricity consumption have discouraged ordinary users.The emergence of FINDMINING, with its new model of “0 equipment investment, free trial and stable income”, has lowered the threshold for participation for ordinary investors, making mining a truly popular passive income channel.

    Key highlights of FINDMINING:

    ✅ Double security escort：
    FINDMINING integrates McAfee® and Cloudflare® protection to defend against hackers and network attacks in real time, ensuring the safety of user data and mining assets.

    ✅ Free trial, zero management fee:
    Unlike traditional mining pools that often start with hundreds of dollars FINDMINING provides new users with a $15 registration bonus and $0.6 in free mining income per day, without charging any hidden fees or management fees, truly achieving transparent operations.

    ✅100% uptime, 24/7 support:
    FINDMINING promises uninterrupted cloud computing operation throughout the year and provides 24/7 technical support, allowing users to keep abreast of mining trends and easily manage their earnings.

    ✅ Multi-currency support, keeping up with market trends:
    In addition to BTC, DOGE, and XRP, FINDMINING also supports 13 mainstream digital currencies such as Litecoin (LTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Users can flexibly switch mining currencies according to market conditions and seize hot bonuses.

    It only takes three steps to register for mining and catch up with the bull market bonus

     1️⃣ Register an account：All you need is an email address, 1 minute to sign up and get a $15 starter bonus.

     2️⃣ Select the hash rate contract：Flexible short-term and long-term contracts are available for users to choose from, with a minimum investment of as low as $100. Profits are settled daily and can be reinvested or withdrawn at any time.

    3️⃣ Real-time monitoring and withdrawal：Through the FINDMINING dashboard, you can keep track of the computing power status and income details at any time, support daily fast withdrawals, and truly realize passive income flow.

    Examples of popular computing power contracts (latest as of 2025):

    • LTC, DOGE basic computing power: starting from $100, 2-day contract, daily income of $4, expiration income of $108
    • DOGE stable computing power：Starting from $500, 5-day contract, daily profit of $6.5, expiration profit of $532.5
    • BTC, XRP, LTC advanced computing power：$5,000, 25-day contract, daily profit $66, expiration profit $6,650
    • BTC high-quality computing power：$12,000, 40-day contract, daily profit $157.2, expiration profit $17,816

    More flexible contracts can be found on the FINDMINING official website（https://findmining.com）to view.

    Following the market trend, FINDMINING may become the next “dark horse of cloud mining”

    Since 2025, the continued influx of Bitcoin ETFs around the world and the clarification of blockchain regulatory frameworks by central banks around the world have brought cryptocurrencies back into the public eye.With the recovery of institutional demand and the superposition of retail investors’ FOMO sentiment, the on-chain activity of mainstream currencies such as BTC, DOGE, and XRP has reached new highs, and the potential profit space for mining has also increased accordingly.

    In this context, FINDMINING takes compliance, flexibility and sustainability as its core strengths:

    • As a platform registered and certified in the UK, FINDMINING’s compliance endorsement provides strong protection for the security of user funds.
    • Its “zero equipment investment and free trial” model significantly reduces the user’s trial and error costs, and is particularly suitable for crypto novices who are just entering the market.
    • The cloud computing center adopts a green energy power supply solution, which is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than traditional high-energy consumption mining machines, and is in line with the current global policy orientation towards a low-carbon economy.

    Conclusion

    As Bitcoin once again reaches its all-time high and the trading volume of popular currencies such as DOGE and XRP soars, more and more users are beginning to regard cloud mining as part of their crypto asset portfolio.The emergence of FINDMINING not only lowers the entry threshold, but also provides a flexible, secure and predictable profit model, and is expected to occupy a place in the new round of changes in the crypto mining industry in 2025.

    Visit the official website now https://findmining.com Or download the FINDMINING mobile app https://findmining.com#app , get computing power for free and start your passive mining journey!

    Contact Details：info@findmining.com

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Morgan Auto Group Adopts Point Predictive’s BorrowerCheck and IEValidate at 77 dealerships to Combat Fraud And Costly Buybacks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Point Predictive, the leader in artificial intelligence solutions for consumer lending, today announced a strategic partnership with Morgan Auto Group, one of the nation’s largest automotive dealer groups with 77 dealerships across Florida. The collaboration integrates Point Predictive’s BorrowerCheck™ and IEValidate™ solutions, giving Morgan Auto Group comprehensive fraud detection capabilities and frictionless income and employment validation.

    The partnership comes as dealers face an alarming surge in identity, income, and employment fraud schemes over the past year alone. Point Predictive’s 2025 analysis reveals dealers increasingly bear the financial burden of $9.2 million in auto loan fraud annually. With the typical fraud-related buyback now averaging $27,500 per incident, dealers who haven’t updated their fraud prevention tools face potentially significant financial exposure that market leaders are already protecting against.

    “BorrowerCheck gives us unprecedented protection against fraud schemes that traditionally lead to costly buybacks,” said Brett Morgan, CEO of Morgan Auto Group. “With red flags and alerts that cover identity, income, and employment, we can use the expanded data insights to service our car buyers more efficiently and safely. This technology helps us confidently get legitimate buyers the financing they need faster while significantly reducing our exposure to fraud.”

    The implementation of these solutions delivers three transformative benefits to Morgan Auto Group:

    • Slash Fraud Losses – Prevents 90% of fraud typically missed by traditional methods, dramatically reducing costly buybacks from lenders.
    • Accelerates Customer Verification – Replaces 5-minute knowledge-based surveys with 20-second SMS verification, eliminating friction that drives customers away.
    • Eliminates Income & Employment Documentation Hassles – Validates income and employment against data containing over 23 million+ employers and 312 million+ income reports instantly without paystub requirements, while screening against 14,000+ known fake employers.

    “This partnership with Morgan Auto Group demonstrates our commitment to protecting dealerships from the growing wave of fraud affecting the auto industry,” said Tim Grace, CEO of Point Predictive. “By combining BorrowerCheck’s comprehensive fraud detection with IEValidate’s frictionless income verification, we’re providing Morgan with the tools to significantly reduce buyback risk while creating a seamless experience for legitimate buyers.”

    BorrowerCheck transforms the car buying process through a comprehensive fraud detection platform. The solution identifies potential fraud across multiple dimensions—including identity theft, synthetic identities, and income misrepresentation—while replacing cumbersome knowledge-based surveys with a simple one-time passcode sent directly to the customer’s phone.

    IEValidate eliminates the need for dealers to collect and verify paystubs. IEValidate instantly validates income, occupation, and employment history by cross-referencing Point Predictive’s proprietary database of more than 312 million income reports and 23 million employers. These solutions allow dealers to simultaneously reduce fraud losses while removing the friction points that traditionally drive customers away.

    As one of the automotive industry’s most forward-thinking leaders, Morgan Auto Group continues to set the benchmark for running a profitable and safe dealership operation. While many dealers still rely on outdated fraud detection methods developed decades ago, Morgan Auto Group’s approach is positioning them to capture market share safely from other dealerships. This strategic investment in fraud prevention technology not only protects their impressive 77-dealership operation but also reaffirms their reputation as the dealership group that others look to for tomorrow’s best practices.

    About Point Predictive

    Point Predictive powers a new level of lending confidence and speed through artificial intelligence, powerful data insight from our proprietary data repository, and decades of risk management expertise. The company’s data and technology solutions quickly and accurately identify truthful and untruthful disclosures on loan applications. As a result, lenders can fund most loans without requiring onerous documentation, such as pay stubs, utility bills, or bank statements, improving funding rates while reducing early payment default losses. Subsequently, borrowers get loans faster, and lenders realize a more profitable bottom line. For more information, please visit www.pointpredictive.com.

    About Morgan Auto Group

    Morgan Auto Group is one of the largest automotive dealer groups in the nation, with dealerships across Florida offering a wide selection of new and pre-owned vehicles. The group is committed to providing exceptional customer service and creating a streamlined, enjoyable car-buying experience. Morgan Auto Group’s dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction has established it as a leader in the automotive retail industry. For more information, please visit www.morganautogroup.com.

    The MIL Network –