Category: Transport

MIL-OSI USA: Impact of the ‘Big Ugly Bill’ on Food Security
Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today sounded the alarm on how the Republican budget reconciliation bill will affect the nation’s largest food assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), undermining a program that millions of New Yorkers rely on to put food on the table every single day. Estimates indicate the reconciliation bill would shift exorbitant costs to states across the country, including New York, where up to an additional $2.1 billion annually would be forced on State and local county governments.

“Every New Yorker deserves to eat every day – plain and simple.” Governor Hochul said. “I’m calling on our congressional leaders to join me and step up to the plate to protect the SNAP funding that families with children, seniors, New Yorkers with disabilities, local farmers, and shop owners rely on to survive.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally funded program overseen by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and administered by local departments of social services. In New York, SNAP helps over 1.7 million households and 2.9 million recipients – most of whom are children, older adults or disabled – afford the cost of purchasing healthy, nutritious food. SNAP benefits are already relatively modest, with an average benefit of $7 per day, but this support is a vital lifeline for households. Over 14 percent of New York’s population, or 1 out of every 7 New Yorkers, relies on SNAP. As a result, SNAP is New York’s most effective tool in combating hunger and food insecurity, which are core priorities of Governor Hochul’s administration.

In addition to supporting individuals and families and fighting hunger, SNAP also provides vital support to local economies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) own research has shown that investments in SNAP have significant multiplier effects, with every SNAP dollar generating $1.54 in economic activity as recipients spend their benefits in communities, including at grocery stores, farmers markets, small businesses, and more. A total of approximately $7.8 billion in SNAP benefits are issued annually in New York, which means $12 billion in economic activity is generated annually across the state, in urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner, and Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) Co-Chair Barbara C. Guinn said, “The cuts and policy changes proposed by Congress to SNAP would weaken the program and make it harder for low-income families in New York to afford groceries, worsening food insecurity and economic hardship in communities across our state. These proposals pose a grave threat to an effective and efficient program, which research consistently and clearly shows reduces hunger, supports work, and stimulates the economy – goals with national importance that justify continued federal investment. We encourage congressional leaders to act responsibly and not walk away from what has long been a federal commitment to fully funding SNAP benefits for all who are eligible.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner, and CPRAC Member Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is one of the most powerful tools we have to address chronic hunger across New York State, where more than one in seven New Yorkers is facing food insecurity. The proposed federal cuts to this program are unfathomable – that children and families will lack basic needs such as food will have catastrophic implications. Governor Hochul has championed the overall health, well being and economic security through multiple investments; yet, she cannot do this alone. We implore our Congressional leaders to oppose these cuts and preserve the funding that is vital to enabling the most vulnerable members of our community to keep food on the table.”

By The Numbers: Shifting Exorbitant Costs onto States and Local Governments

The proposals in the Republican reconciliation bill, supported by all of New York’s Republican Congressional delegation, threaten an effective and efficient program, which research consistently and clearly shows reduces hunger, supports work and stimulates the economy, by imposing exorbitant, unsustainable costs on states:
- The federal government has always funded 100 percent of SNAP benefits. For the first time in the history of the program, under the GOP bill, the federal government is walking away from that commitment by shifting significant portions of the cost onto states, forcing difficult state budgetary decisions. For New York State, Republicans would shift between 15 percent and 25 percent of the benefit cost, totaling up to $1.9 billion annually in additional costs for the State and local governments.
- The federal government and states have historically evenly split the administrative costs of the program. For the first time in the history of the program, under the GOP’s reconciliation bill, the federal government would require states to contribute significantly more for administrative costs, increasing the state share to 75 percent. For New York State, more than $200 million in additional administrative costs would be shifted annually on to the State and local governments.
- The GOP bill also eliminates funding for SNAP education programs that teach recipients how to get the greatest fiscal and nutritional value from their SNAP benefits. This would strip roughly $29 million from New York State and our SNAP recipients.
- In total, the SNAP-related cost shifts put forward by the GOP will cost New York State and local county governments up to $2.1 billion a year, which cannot be absorbed at the state or local level and would cause significant state and local budgetary impacts.
By The Numbers: Changes to SNAP Work Requirements:

Beyond the proposed cost shifts, Republicans also target SNAP recipients by significantly expanding the populations who are subject to overly punitive and administratively complex work reporting requirements without any additional support to those recipients:
- Certain recipients would be required to prove that they work 80 hours per month, with limited qualifying work options and regardless of other factors such as economic conditions. Recipients who are unable to meet this requirement after three months, regardless of the circumstances or reasons why, would then be cut off and prohibited from receiving SNAP for three years.
- Republicans would extend these reporting requirements, harsher time limits, and related prohibitions to more groups, including to families with children as young as seven and to individuals as old as 64. The bill provides no additional funding to support states in assisting these new populations to connect to jobs or training or to provide necessary supportive services such as child care and transportation.
- State flexibility to administer the program would be severely curtailed by limiting states’ ability to request waivers for areas with high unemployment, where residents may be having difficulty finding work due to broader economic factors
- These requirements create barriers for people with unstable jobs, caregiving responsibilities, or health conditions. Enforcing these rules adds complexity, increases the risk of errors, and takes needed resources that would be better used to support beneficiaries and administer the program. In fact, research published on the USDA’s own website shows that increased work requirements reduced SNAP enrollment for those subject to the time limit and found no evidence that they increase employment or annual earnings.
It is estimated that over 300,000 households, including families with children, seniors, youth aging out of foster care, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, and veterans would be impacted by these changes, losing all or a portion of their SNAP benefits, resulting in a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in SNAP benefits for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers on an annual basis.

By The Numbers: Impact on New York Farmers and Retailers:

Beyond worsening food insecurity and malnutrition, cuts to the program would hurt local businesses and weaken SNAP’s ability to boost local economies in every state. Slashing families’ grocery budgets would reduce revenue for thousands of businesses in every state, with ripple effects throughout the food supply chain.
- Cascading impact leading to job losses, small business closures, and lost revenue for businesses across the state of all shapes and sizes, from independent grocers to chain retailers
- Lost sales and matching dollars having critical impact on over 18,000 retailers that accept SNAP in New York State and local economies. This includes grocery stores, local shops, and hundreds of SNAP-authorized local farmers, farmers’ markets, and farm stands that can be found in every county in New York selling New York agricultural products to the people in their local community. SNAP sales in the farming community have dramatically increased since 2019, providing New York consumers access to healthy, farm fresh foods and providing our farm communities additional economic development dollars. As the State matches SNAP dollars spent at farm markets through the Fresh2You FreshConnect program, the hit to farms of decreased SNAP funding is doubled.
Combating Food Insecurity in New York State

Governor Hochul has prioritized increasing access to food for all New Yorkers, supporting several groundbreaking programs that focus on improving access to locally grown foods including through SFY 2026 Budget, including the 30 Percent NYS Initiative for school meals, the Farm-to School program, the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grants Programs, and the Nourish NY program, which helps New York’s network of emergency food providers purchase food from New York farmers to give to families in need.

This year’s Budget also provides $340 million for school meals, a $160 million (89 percent) year-to-year increase, and requires all school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that participate in the national school lunch and breakfast program to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all students regardless of their families’ income, thereby reducing costs for families and ensuring that no student goes hungry at school. Additionally, the Budget included the third round of funding as part of the Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides $50 million over five years to support regional cooking facilities that will facilitate the use of fresh New York State farm products in meal preparation for K-12 school children.

Senator Charles Schumer said, “The Republican ‘Big Ugly Bill’ will be the largest and cruelest cuts to food assistance in American history – all to pay for tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. If this Congressional Republican plan goes through, it would deal New York State a $2 billion blow, taking food from hungry kids and seniors. Local governments would carry the burden in a way they’ve never had to before, forced to make impossible decisions about who gets to keep their food benefits and who will be forced to go hungry. The GOP must step up and protect over 300,000 New York families and seniors in danger of losing their food benefits instead of pushing through tax cuts for the rich and powerful special interests.”

Representative Jerry Nadler said, “The Republican reconciliation bill is a direct attack on food security in New York. It would gut billions from SNAP and other essential lifelines, forcing states to either absorb the cost or leave families without the support they need. In my district alone, one in seven households relies on SNAP to put food on the table. Under this bill, the average benefit would fall to less than five dollars a day. No one can feed themselves with dignity on that. These cuts are not only cruel and shortsighted, they are economically reckless. When families have less to spend on food, the entire community feels the impact. From neighborhood bodegas to upstate farmers, over 18,000 New York retailers could face lost sales, job cuts, or closures. SNAP dollars support small businesses, strengthen local economies, and enable people to purchase fresh, healthy food in their communities. I am fighting to stop this bill from becoming law because in the United States of America, no one should ever go hungry, especially so that billionaires can receive another tax break.”

Representative Adriano Espaillat said, “For nearly a century, America has extended a lifeline to its most vulnerable families to ensure no child goes hungry, no matter their race, religion, or economic background. Today, however, Republicans are seeking to break that sacred agreement by cutting food stamps and other benefits that nearly 300,000 families in my district and more than 1.6 million across New York rely on. Families receive SNAP assistance because they need it, not because they want it. Those who pretend otherwise threaten to bankrupt state and local governments, upend vulnerable communities, and set back the generations of progress we have made to strengthen food security around our nation.”

Representative Nydia M. Velázquez said, “The Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a direct attack on the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including working families, children, people with disabilities, and seniors who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. This bill guts a program that nearly 3 million New Yorkers depend on and that drives billions in local economic activity, all to fund tax breaks for billionaires. It is a disaster for our state, and I will keep fighting to make sure it never becomes law.”

Representative Paul Tonko said, “The GOP’s ‘big ugly bill’ is an outrageous assault on the most vulnerable in our communities. By slashing critical food assistance programs like SNAP, this legislation would rip away earned benefits from families, children, and seniors — leaving millions of Americans to go hungry while billionaires enjoy trillions in tax breaks. These cuts will not only deepen poverty and hardship across our state and our nation, they’ll also shift crushing costs onto state and local governments, forcing states and municipalities to choose between drastic tax hikes or devastating service cuts. In the coming weeks, I’ll be working tirelessly to defeat this cruel, backward agenda and protect the programs that keep our communities healthy and strong.”

Representative Joe Morelle said, “President Trump’s plan to cut funding for essential programs like SNAP would leave millions of working families struggling to put food on the table. I’m proud to support legislation that protects SNAP and Medicaid and keeps these lifeline programs fully funded. While Congressional Republicans continue to back the President’s cruel and chaotic agenda, I’ll keep fighting to protect working families and the services they count on because no child should ever have to wonder where their next meal is coming from.”

Representative Tom Suozzi said, “Every individual deserves access to a meal every day. This is not just a privilege; it is a fundamental necessity that must be recognized and advocated for to ensure the dignity and well-being of all. If federal cuts to SNAP are enacted, it will lead to a preventable crisis and constitute the most significant reduction in food assistance in history. Americans young and old will go hungry. Simply put, SNAP benefits help put food on the table for our most vulnerable communities.”

Representative Pat Ryan said, “Hardworking Hudson Valley families are feeling the pressure to make ends meet – the last thing folks need is to have food literally taken off of their plates. In my district alone, more than 74,000 people – including children, seniors, and veterans – rely on SNAP for consistent access to nutritious foods. It is unconscionable and cruel for this administration to rip that away. I’m going to keep fighting with everything I’ve got to stop these cuts – the lives of my constituents depend on it.”

Representative George Latimer said, “The reckless Republican reconciliation bill, which lays out hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to SNAP, is unacceptable. I voted against these cuts each time that they came to the House floor because of the devastating impact they would have on vulnerable New Yorkers who rely on SNAP for their survival. In NY-16, covering parts of Westchester and the Bronx, we have 74,000 people who depend on SNAP. While the GOP focuses on securing tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of struggling Americans, my Democratic colleagues and I will continue to stand in opposition to these actions and do everything we can to address food insecurity for the millions of Americans who count on SNAP benefits to put food on the table, as every American deserves to be able to do.”

Representative Timothy M. Kennedy said, “In communities across Western New York, we continue to see an increased need for food assistance as families struggle to make ends meet and inflation raises grocery prices. Food is a basic human right, and we have the tools to eradicate hunger in America. The absolute last thing we should be doing to families that are teetering on the edge is to rip the rug out from under them by cutting SNAP benefits. The Republican reconciliation bill is an affront to working families and must be rejected.”

Representative John W. Mannion said, “I voted against this bill because it’s cruel and immoral to take food assistance away from children, seniors, and veterans. In NY-22, over 50,000 households rely on SNAP—and food insecurity is higher today than it was during the pandemic. This bill threatens our families, burdens our local governments, and pulls support from the people who need it most. I’ll continue to reject these devastating cuts and advocate for the better path forward – a five-year farm bill that supports farmers and everyone who depends on American agriculture.”

Representative Josh Riley said, “I grew up believing every kid deserves a full belly and a fair shot — that’s not negotiable. This bill would rip food away from families in need and gut the small-town stores and farms that feed our communities. I’ll fight it with everything I’ve got, because nobody in Upstate New York should ever go hungry while billionaires get another tax break.”

Acting Co-Chair of CPRAC Peter Hatch said, “SNAP helps feed our families, fund our grocery stores, and support our farmers, with decades of research showing how it improves children’s long-term health, reduces poverty, and boosts local economies as recipients spend their benefits. The Republican budget bill would increase hunger and poverty among children, reduce economic activity in communities, and force immense costs onto states and counties that we cannot afford, just as New York is making progress reducing child poverty. On behalf of New York’s CPRAC, we strongly oppose any action that would take SNAP away from the millions of children across the country who rely on it, and urge the Senate to protect this essential program, so that children can continue to receive the sustenance they need to thrive.”

New York State Council on Children and Families Executive Director, and CPRAC Member Vanessa Threatte said, “When children and families experience hunger, it has severe and sweeping negative consequences on their physical and mental health, cognitive development, academic outcomes, family functioning, and overall well-being. By recognizing the intersectionality of food insecurity, and ensuring continued access to critical food programs, such as SNAP, all New York children and families can live their healthiest lives and communities can thrive.”

Robin Hood CEO and CPRAC Member Rich Buery said, “Cutting SNAP is not just a moral failure—it’s an economic disaster that would set us back in the fight against child poverty. The data is clear: for every dollar we take away from families trying to put food on the table, we lose up to twenty dollars in future health, education, and economic productivity nationwide, according to an analysis by Columbia University. These cuts would harm our children, burden our healthcare and legal systems, and stall the progress we’ve made. We’ve come too far to pull the rug out from under children and families of New York State. Their well-being is the foundation of our shared future.”

United Way of New York City President and CEO, and CPRAC Member Grace Bonilla said, “Funding for SNAP is a critical part of how New Yorkers maintain dignified access to nutritious food. We know from United Way of New York City’s True Cost of Living Report that 50 percent of working-age people in New York City are struggling to cover their basic needs—including food. SNAP represents the promise that despite having wages that do not keep up with the cost of living, our country cares and invests in our seniors, our children, and all vulnerable Americans so that they should not have to go hungry in the richest country in the world. The reconciliation bill is a dagger on that promise and on the precarious budgets of our most vulnerable and the budgets of cities and states across the country. It is the responsibility of every congressional leader to do what is in the best interest of the people they serve — safeguard funding for SNAP.”

Regional Economic Development Council Mohawk Valley Executive Director and CPRAC Member Shelly Callahan said, “SNAP is not just a lifeline — it’s a foundation for long-term stability, public health, and economic mobility. Cuts to SNAP would not only harm vulnerable families, but they would also undermine local economies, like that of the Mohawk Valley, that depend on a healthy, stable population. We can’t build a stronger New York by taking food off the tables of those working hardest to achieve self-sufficiency. At our refugee center, we witness every day the resilience of families rebuilding their lives after fleeing unimaginable hardship. SNAP is not just a safety net — it’s a bridge to stability, health and dignity.”

Guthrie Lourdes Hospital President and CEO, and CPRAC Member Kathy Connerton said, “SNAP is more than a budget line item. It’s a vital safety net that upholds the fundamental human right to nutritious food. When we protect SNAP funding, we affirm that every New Yorker deserves the dignity and security of knowing where their next meal will come from. This essential program forms the bedrock of daily life for our children, seniors and residents with disabilities ensuring they can not only survive but thrive. Compromising SNAP puts our most vulnerable neighbors in crisis and undermines the collective well-being of our entire community.”

New York City Human Resources Administration Administrator and CPRAC Member Scott French said, “SNAP serves as a lifeline for 1.8 million New York City residents and fuels economic growth across our local communities. We absolutely cannot afford the magnitude of cuts being proposed in the budget reconciliation bill. We urge leaders in Congress to recognize what’s at stake for working class New Yorkers who keep the city running, vulnerable seniors and children who rely on this critical anti-hunger program to survive, and local farmers and businesses that benefit from SNAP spending. As part of our mandate to strengthen pathways to economic mobility for low-income New Yorkers, we will continue to sound the alarm to ensure that no child goes hungry, and families aren’t forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying the rent.”

Community Action Organization of Western New York President and CEO, and CPRAC Member Dr. Marie Cannon said, “At the Community Action Organization of Western New York, we see firsthand how vital SNAP is for families striving toward self-sufficiency. These proposed federal cuts would not only strip essential food resources from our most vulnerable neighbors—they would undercut the very progress we’ve made in fighting multigenerational poverty. We urge our federal leaders to reject these changes and protect the safety net that gives hope and dignity to millions of Americans.”

No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella said, “With food prices continuing to climb and New Yorkers’ incomes not keeping pace, SNAP remains one of our most powerful tools to fight hunger and keep kids nourished and healthy. Meanwhile, budget proposals from both the U.S. House and Senate would unnecessarily hurt working families and states trying to administer SNAP while needlessly punishing retailers and farmers in New York and across the country, pushing fragile local economies to their limits. In a recent poll of New Yorkers, 91% told No Kid Hungry that ending childhood hunger should be a bipartisan goal. We need the entire New York congressional delegation to reject these proposed cuts to SNAP and protect programs that are proven to reduce hunger, support families, and strengthen local economies.”

Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy President and CEO, and CPRAC Member Kate Breslin said, “New York State is working to create a future where every child has what they need to thrive. By erecting barriers to food access, Congress is making it harder for families who are struggling to eat every day and limiting opportunities to thrive. Our federal leaders must preserve food security for our children and families – without additional barriers or cuts that hurt families and create problems for states and local communities.”

The Children’s Agenda CEO Larry Marx said, “More than 360,000 children in the state of New York are fed in families relying on SNAP and the proposed cuts in the federal reconciliation will compromise their access to food. SNAP is a lifeline for children whose families are experiencing financial hardships. Hunger has devastating impacts on a child’s health, learning, and well-being. Nourishing our most vulnerable and precious population, our children, should not be a partisan issue. Congress should reject the proposals to cut SNAP.”

Food Industry Alliance of New York State President and CEO Mike Durant said, “Reducing SNAP dollars in New York will not only threaten this essential program, but also have a cascading impact leading to job losses, decreased revenue, and further strain on state and local services. The retail food industry encourages lawmakers in Congress to work toward a solution which preserves SNAP without negatively impacting our communities and economy.”

Farmers Market Federation of New York Executive Director Jack Riffle said, “SNAP plays a critical role in supporting food security for New Yorkers and an increasingly larger role for New York State farms, farmers’ markets, and local economies. With the help of New York’s generous SNAP incentive program, FreshConnect, SNAP benefit purchases now exceed $10 million annually at authorized farmers’ markets around the state. As an organization representing New York farmers’ markets and farmers, our federation urges NY lawmakers to consider the value of funding SNAP for NY farm vendors, NY customers, and NY communities.”

Westchester Children’s Association Executive Director and CPRAC Member Allison Lake said, “Feeding all our children should be a baseline for our country. SNAP ensures some of our most vulnerable families can put food on the table. The proposed cuts and administrative burdens by the reconciliation bill will directly impact the health and wellbeing of children. The growing need is everywhere, in one of the wealthiest counties in the country, Westchester County, NY, our latest data publication shows the Child Feeding program provides 80,000 meals on average to children per month. Congress can and should do better by the hardworking families of Westchester County, New York State, and the nation.”

Context Matters Strategy Group Partner and CPRAC Member Dr. Dia N. Bryant said, “Cuts to SNAP aren’t just budget decisions—they are moral decisions. When we reduce access to food assistance, we’re signaling that some families, some children, are less deserving of dignity and nourishment. In New York, where disparities already run deep, these changes will push more families into crisis and more children into classrooms hungry. We cannot build a just and thriving state by taking from those who have the least.”

MIL OSI USA News –
June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory: Lanes Narrowed on Brief Span of I-95 in Providence

Source: US State of Rhode Island

As part of the I-95 15 Bridges Project, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will need to narrow lanes on a short part of I-95 north and southbound in Providence starting Friday, June 27, 2025.

The lanes between approximately 1,500 feet north of the Elmwood Avenue exit (33B) and the existing work zone at the Elmwood Avenue Bridge both north and south will be reduced to 11 feet and shifted slightly to the left. There will no reduction in the number of lanes and no exit closures for this operation.

The new configuration will be in place until at least the end of the year. Travelers are asked to slow down until they get used to the new pattern.

As part of this work, Melrose Street at Cadillac Drive in Providence will be closed starting June 23 for about six weeks.

The I-95 15 Bridges design-build project is the largest ever undertaken by the RIDOT and will remove 15 bridges from the state’s backlog of poor and fair, but nearing poor, condition bridges along I-95 and Route 10 between Providence and Warwick � a critical corridor which carries 185,000 vehicles daily.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unlicensed scrap metal trader found guilty in court

Source: City of Canterbury

Home » Latest News » Unlicensed scrap metal trader found guilty in court

A man from London who was running a business as a scrap metal dealer in Canterbury district when not authorised to do so has been found guilty of the offence.

Varsile Marius Nicutu, 33, from Leonard Robins Park, London, was also found guilty of not holding a valid waste carrier licence to transport controlled waste on the highway.

Mr Nicutu failed to attend Margate Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 12 June and was convicted in his absence for offences Under Section 1 of the Scrap Metal Dealers and Section 5 of the Control of Pollution Act 1989.

The court heard Mr Nicutu was stopped in Shipman Avenue, Canterbury, in May 2024 by officers from Kent Police Rural Task Force and Environmental Crime Officers from Canterbury City Council whilst driving his vehicle full of scrap metal.

He was advised of the need to apply for a licence to transport scrap, but he failed to do so and no response was received from him.

The council took the matter to court, where Mr Nicutu was fined £1,000, with a £200 surcharge and £200 in council costs, adding up to a total fine of £1,400 to be paid in full within 28 days.

This was a third success in court that day, following another similar case and a flytipping case.

Published: 20 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s message on World Refugee Day [scroll down for French version]

Source: United Nations secretary general

Download the video:
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+WORLD+REFUGE+DAY+21+MAY+25/3399099_MSG+SG+WORLD+REFUGE+DAY+21+MAY+25.mp4

Today, we recognize the millions of refugees forced to flee war, persecution, and disaster.

Every individual carries a story of profound loss – of a family uprooted and a future upended.

Many face closed doors and a rising tide of xenophobia.

From Sudan to Ukraine, from Haiti to Myanmar, a record number of people are on the run for their lives – while support is dwindling.

And host communities, often in developing countries, are shouldering the greatest burden.

This is unfair and unsustainable.

But even as the world falls short, refugees continue to show extraordinary courage, resilience and determination.

And when given the chance, they contribute meaningfully – strengthening economies, enriching cultures, and deepening social bonds.

On this World Refugee Day, solidarity must go beyond words.

Solidarity must mean boosting humanitarian and development support, expanding protection and durable solutions such as resettlement, and upholding the right to seek asylum – a pillar of international law.

It must also mean listening to refugees and ensuring they have a voice in shaping their futures.

And it must mean investing in long-term integration through education, decent work, and equal rights.

Becoming a refugee is never a choice.

But how we respond is.

So let us choose solidarity. Let us choose courage. Let us choose humanity.

***

Aujourd’hui, nos pensées vont aux millions de réfugiés contraints de fuir les guerres, les persécutions et les catastrophes.

Chaque personne réfugiée porte en elle l’histoire d’une perte insondable, d’une famille déracinée et d’un avenir bouleversé.

Beaucoup se heurtent à des portes closes et font face à une montée de la xénophobie.

Du Soudan à l’Ukraine, d’Haïti au Myanmar, un nombre record de personnes fuient pour sauver leur vie, alors même que l’aide s’amenuise.

Ce sont les communautés d’accueil, souvent dans les pays en développement, qui supportent le plus lourd fardeau.

Une telle situation est aussi injuste qu’intenable.

Bien que le monde ne soit pas à la hauteur des circonstances, les réfugiés continuent de faire preuve d’un courage, d’une résilience et d’une détermination extraordinaires.

Et lorsqu’on leur en donne la possibilité, ils apportent une contribution notable – en renforçant les économies, en enrichissant les cultures et en approfondissant les liens sociaux.

En cette Journée mondiale des réfugiés, la solidarité doit aller au-delà des mots.

Elle doit se traduire par un renforcement de l’aide humanitaire et de l’aide au développement, par l’élargissement de la protection et la fourniture de solutions durables telles que la réinstallation, et par le respect du droit de demander l’asile, qui est l’un des piliers du droit international.

Elle passe également par l’écoute des réfugiés, qui doivent pouvoir s’exprimer sur la façon dont ils conçoivent leur avenir.

Elle implique d’investir dans une intégration à long terme par l’éducation, le travail décent et l’égalité des droits.

Devenir un réfugié n’est jamais un choix.

Mais nous avons le choix de la réponse à apporter.

Faisons donc le choix de la solidarité. Faisons le choix du courage. Faisons le choix de l’humanité.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Competition Bureau issues a revised bulletin on private access to the Competition Tribunal

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

Canadians are invited to provide their feedback on the Bureau’s views

June 20, 2025 – GATINEAU (Québec), Competition Bureau

The Competition Bureau has published a revised information bulletin presenting its perspective on private access to the Competition Tribunal following recent changes to the Competition Act that expanded access.

This amended guidance explains the Bureau’s views on private access to the Tribunal and clarifies when it may take certain actions that impact proceedings.

Private access to the Competition Tribunal complements the enforcement work carried out by the Competition Bureau by allowing individuals and businesses to take action themselves.

Canadians are invited to submit their feedback by e-mail at cb.PAconsultation-bc.consultationPA@cb-bc.gc.ca by August 19, 2025. Each submission received will be published on the Bureau’s website unless the provider requests that it be kept confidential.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Guilty of Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that DAMERON CARMON (“CARMON”), age 45, of New Orleans, pled guilty on June 12, 2025 to Conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846 before U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier. Judge Barbier scheduled sentencing for September 25, 2025. At sentencing CARMON faces up to twenty years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

According to the indictment, CARMON conspired with others to maintain multiple residences on Harmony Street as drug-involved premises where fentanyl and heroin were trafficked. CARMON acted as security, and assisted others in the distribution of fentanyl and heroin from these residences. He was arrested by law enforcement as he attempted to flee one of these residences. Firearms and fentanyl were later located in the residence from which CARMON fled.

This case was part of Operation Big Easy. Operation Big Easy was a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) enforcement initiative of collected firearm casings for the time period of August 1, 2023 to January 31, 2023 that produced data points of high-density shootings and homicides in seven areas of New Orleans related to individuals engaged in criminal activity.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, New Orleans Police Department, and Louisiana State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballisticinformation-network-nibin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

MIL Security OSI –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Brockton Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Cocaine and Firearms Trafficking

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trafficking cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston area.

Malcolm Desir, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first year of probation to be served in home detention. In February 2025, Desir pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, aiding and abetting; four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of firearms trafficking; and one count of knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Desir was arrested and charged in November 2023 along with co-conspirators Cordell Miller and Alan Robinson.

Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area. Over a three-month investigation beginning in August 2023, Miller sold several firearms to a cooperating witness during controlled purchases and coordinated multiple sales of distribution-weight cocaine, which were handled by Desir. During one controlled purchase, Desir also sold the cooperating witness a firearm he had purchased from Miller two years prior. More than 1.5 kilograms of powdered and crack cocaine, unknown prescription pills, indicia of distribution and two illegal firearms were recovered during a search at Desir’s residence.

In April 2025, Robinson was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Miller pleaded guilty in February 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2025.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Come on in, the water’s safe!

Source: European Union 2

Press releasePublished 20 Jun 2025

Imagephoty by Karli Cumber on Unsplash

From Europe’s coastal waters to its inland bathing sites, a large majority of Europe’s waters are safe to swim in, according to the latest European bathing water assessment for the 2024 bathing season, published today. It found that over 85% of monitored locations met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing water quality standards last year, while 96% of all officially identified bathing waters in the EU met the minimum quality standards.

The assessment and the interactive map, put together by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in cooperation with the European Commission, highlight where swimmers can find well managed bathing sites in Europe. The assessment inspects water suitability for bathing, focusing on monitoring bacteria which can cause potentially serious illnesses.

Overall, over 22,000 bathing water sites across all 27 EU Member States, plus Albania and Switzerland were assessed. In five countries — Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, Austria and Croatia — 95% or more of bathing waters were of excellent quality. Only 1.5% of the EU’s bathing waters were found to be of poor quality.

The quality of coastal bathing waters is generally better than that of rivers and lakes. In 2024, around 89% of coastal bathing waters in the EU were classified as excellent, compared with 78% of inland bathing waters.

Enjoying time at the beach or swimming in lakes and rivers is for many a symbol of holidays and relaxation, as we look forward to the approaching summer. The results published today show that Europeans can confidently bathe in the vast majority of the EU’s bathing sites that meet the EU’s bathing quality standards. I am committed to continuing to work to ensure high quality water for people and the environment, as part of our EU Water Resilience Strategy.

Jessika Roswall,
Commissioner for Environment,
Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

We can all be glad that a vast majority of our bathing waters are clean enough to swim in. This is thanks to systematic work under EU rules which has steadily improved the health of our waters. It shows that monitoring and coordination at the European level benefits every one of us. Of course, there is more to do to improve the cleanliness of our waters and their resilience to withstand new challenges posed by climate change and over-use.

Leena Ylä-Mononen,
EEA Executive Director

Steady improvements over recent decades

Bathing water quality in Europe has improved markedly over recent decades largely thanks to EU legislation. The combined effect of systematic bacteriological monitoring pursuant to the EU’s Bathing Water Directive and large investments in urban wastewater treatment plants led to a drastic reduction in pathogens that were previously being released. Thanks to these continued efforts, bathing is now also possible in many urban areas.

While most of Europe’s bathing waters are in excellent condition from a bacteriological perspective, chemical pollution of surface and groundwaters remains significant and may be exacerbated by the changing climate. Improving water resilience for people and for the environment is therefore crucial.

Other challenges to water quality like toxic cyanobacterial blooms, which are not part of monitoring prescribed by EU bathing water rules, frequently result in bathing warnings and restrictions.

Background

Overall water quality is monitored and assessed under the EU’s Water Framework Directive and covers a broad spectrum of chemical pollutants in surface and groundwater. Chemical pollutants are not covered by bathing water monitoring even when they exceed legal thresholds that are in place to prevent environmental damage.

The assessment for today’s briefing is based on the monitoring of bathing sites across Europe that were reported to the EEA for the 2024 season. This includes sites in all EU Member States, Albania and Switzerland.

Alongside this year’s Bathing Water Briefing, the EEA has also released an updated interactive map showing the performance of each bathing site. Updated country fact sheets are also available, as well as more information on the implementation of the Directive in assessed countries.

For more information

Our latest press releases

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MIL OSI Europe News –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Come on in, the water’s safe!

Source: European Union 2

Press releasePublished 20 Jun 2025

Imagephoty by Karli Cumber on Unsplash

From Europe’s coastal waters to its inland bathing sites, a large majority of Europe’s waters are safe to swim in, according to the latest European bathing water assessment for the 2024 bathing season, published today. It found that over 85% of monitored locations met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing water quality standards last year, while 96% of all officially identified bathing waters in the EU met the minimum quality standards.

The assessment and the interactive map, put together by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in cooperation with the European Commission, highlight where swimmers can find well managed bathing sites in Europe. The assessment inspects water suitability for bathing, focusing on monitoring bacteria which can cause potentially serious illnesses.

Overall, over 22,000 bathing water sites across all 27 EU Member States, plus Albania and Switzerland were assessed. In five countries — Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, Austria and Croatia — 95% or more of bathing waters were of excellent quality. Only 1.5% of the EU’s bathing waters were found to be of poor quality.

The quality of coastal bathing waters is generally better than that of rivers and lakes. In 2024, around 89% of coastal bathing waters in the EU were classified as excellent, compared with 78% of inland bathing waters.

Enjoying time at the beach or swimming in lakes and rivers is for many a symbol of holidays and relaxation, as we look forward to the approaching summer. The results published today show that Europeans can confidently bathe in the vast majority of the EU’s bathing sites that meet the EU’s bathing quality standards. I am committed to continuing to work to ensure high quality water for people and the environment, as part of our EU Water Resilience Strategy.

Jessika Roswall,
Commissioner for Environment,
Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy

We can all be glad that a vast majority of our bathing waters are clean enough to swim in. This is thanks to systematic work under EU rules which has steadily improved the health of our waters. It shows that monitoring and coordination at the European level benefits every one of us. Of course, there is more to do to improve the cleanliness of our waters and their resilience to withstand new challenges posed by climate change and over-use.

Leena Ylä-Mononen,
EEA Executive Director

Steady improvements over recent decades

Bathing water quality in Europe has improved markedly over recent decades largely thanks to EU legislation. The combined effect of systematic bacteriological monitoring pursuant to the EU’s Bathing Water Directive and large investments in urban wastewater treatment plants led to a drastic reduction in pathogens that were previously being released. Thanks to these continued efforts, bathing is now also possible in many urban areas.

While most of Europe’s bathing waters are in excellent condition from a bacteriological perspective, chemical pollution of surface and groundwaters remains significant and may be exacerbated by the changing climate. Improving water resilience for people and for the environment is therefore crucial.

Other challenges to water quality like toxic cyanobacterial blooms, which are not part of monitoring prescribed by EU bathing water rules, frequently result in bathing warnings and restrictions.

Background

Overall water quality is monitored and assessed under the EU’s Water Framework Directive and covers a broad spectrum of chemical pollutants in surface and groundwater. Chemical pollutants are not covered by bathing water monitoring even when they exceed legal thresholds that are in place to prevent environmental damage.

The assessment for today’s briefing is based on the monitoring of bathing sites across Europe that were reported to the EEA for the 2024 season. This includes sites in all EU Member States, Albania and Switzerland.

Alongside this year’s Bathing Water Briefing, the EEA has also released an updated interactive map showing the performance of each bathing site. Updated country fact sheets are also available, as well as more information on the implementation of the Directive in assessed countries.

For more information

Our latest press releases

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MIL OSI Europe News –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK-Bahrain agree £2bn investment partnership in huge boost for UK economy
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

UK-Bahrain agree £2bn investment partnership in huge boost for UK economy

The UK and Bahrain have signed a partnership agreement which will deliver £2 billion of investment into key growth sectors in a huge boost to the economy.
UK has signed a new partnership with Bahrain, which will see £2 billion investment into key growth sectors.

Agreement will increase investment in financial services, clean energy, manufacturing and tech – all growth sectors in Government’s modern Industrial Strategy.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds: investment is ‘major vote of confidence’ that will increase jobs and create growth across UK as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

UK becomes member of the US-Bahrain Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement which supports economic growth at home.

The UK government and Bahrain have signed a new investment and collaboration partnership that will unlock £2 billion of investment into Britain, boosting economic growth and driving forward the Government’s Plan for Change.

The Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership (SIP) is double the £1 billion commitment made in 2023 and will focus on investing in key growth sectors including financial services, technology and decarbonisation – as the Government prepares to publish the upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.

The Partnership is a sign of a strengthened bilateral relationship with Bahrain and will help create new jobs and boost growth across the UK. It will also provide British companies opportunities to take advantage of Bahrain’s business environment, providing support on innovation, productivity and development in the country.

Yesterday [Thursday 19 June], the Prime Minister met with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, where the deal was formally signed.

At a time of great importance for regional stability both leaders reaffirmed the strength of the relationship between the two countries, as the UK became a full member of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) after announcing its intention to join in December 2024. This demonstrates the UK’s continued efforts to strengthen security cooperation with key partners in Bahrain and the US and together, to foster long-term regional stability across the Middle East while bolstering economic growth at home through new security and defence partnerships.

The UK and Bahrain leaders yesterday reiterated their commitment to defence relations and continuing the already strong cooperation between our Armed Forces and those of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This includes our strong naval partnership, which has seen Bahrain host the UK’s largest naval base outside of the UK and training offered by UK Armed Forces to Bahrain military personnel.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

In a changing world, Britain is increasingly seen as a place for investment and growth – thanks to the stability we have brought to the economy and our pro-business approach.

This £2 billion investment into the growth-driving sectors where Britain thrives will create good jobs paying decent wages in all corners of our country, putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

This £2 billion commitment is yet another major vote of confidence in the UK economy, backing the key growth sectors we’ve identified in our upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.

We have the most open, stable and connected economy in the world – and our Plan for Change will encourage more countries to invest here, delivering long-term growth that supports good, skilled jobs across the country.

During their visit to the UK, a delegation of Bahraini investors visited growth projects and business in Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield, in order to explore opportunities to support the UK Government’s growth agenda.

This government is committed to driving economic growth, and growing trade and investment with the Gulf is pivotal to this mission, delivering higher wages, supporting increased investment and economic opportunity, and strengthening relationships with important partners.

Notes to editors:

The UK announced its intention to join C-SIPA during the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa’s visit to Manama in December 2024. UK joins US-Bahrain agreement to build security across the Middle East – GOV.UK

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Published 20 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Around the Air Force: AFAS Expands Support, DoD Child Care Initiative, Microreactor Pilot Project

Source: United States Air Force

Headline: Around the Air Force: AFAS Expands Support, DoD Child Care Initiative, Microreactor Pilot Project

In this week’s look Around the Air Force, the Air Force Aid Society announces new aid categories to support DAF families; DoD is expanding child care initiatives to provide more options to military families; and Eielson AFB reaches a groundbreaking milestone for U.S. energy security.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Maris-Tech Unveils Peridot: A New AI-Powered Observation System for Comprehensive Threat Detection

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New Solution Combines AI, Thermal Imaging, and Multi-Sensor Stitching to Create a Seamless View for Defense and Security Operations

Rehovot, Israel, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maris-Tech Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTEK, MTEKW) (“Maris-Tech” or the “Company”), a global leader in video and artificial intelligence (“AI”)-based edge computing technology, is proud to announce the completion of the first prototype of Peridot – an AI-based passive observation system designed for comprehensive situational awareness.

Peridot integrates multiple high-definition day and thermal video sensors with advanced stitching algorithms to create a panoramic view, both horizontally and vertically. The result is uninterrupted coverage and early detection of conventional and modern threats, including drones and unmanned vehicles.

This breakthrough technology is designed for border and strategic site protection, offering a fully integrated, standalone solution to monitor, detect and enable quicker response to aerial and ground-based risks. In addition to its observation capabilities, Peridot can serve as a trigger system for passive or active threat defeating mechanisms – making it an ideal part of layered defense strategies.

“Peridot represents a significant technological leap and a major milestone for Maris-Tech,” said Israel Bar, Chief Executive Officer of Maris-Tech. “We’re proud of the team that brought this concept to life. As a standalone solution, Peridot positions us higher in the defense technology value chain, and we believe the industry will benefit greatly from its introduction.”

About Maris-Tech Ltd.

Maris-Tech is a global leader in video and AI-based edge computing technology, pioneering intelligent video transmission solutions that conquer complex encoding-decoding challenges. Our miniature, lightweight, and low-power products deliver high-performance capabilities, including raw data processing, seamless transfer, advanced image processing, and AI-driven analytics. Founded by Israeli technology sector veterans, Maris-Tech serves leading manufacturers worldwide in defense, aerospace, Intelligence gathering, homeland security (HLS), and communication industries. We’re pushing the boundaries of video transmission and edge computing, driving innovation in mission-critical applications across commercial and defense sectors.

For more information, visit https://www.maris-tech.com/

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect”,” “may”, “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the potential capabilities and applications of the Peridot system, including its integration into layered defense strategies, its ability to provide early detection and comprehensive situational awareness and the Company’s belief that Peridot represents a significant technological advancement and will positively impact the defense industry. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: its ability to successfully market its products and services, including in the United States; the acceptance of its products and services by customers; its continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for its products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; its ability to successfully develop new products and services; its success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; its ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Relations:

Nir Bussy, CFO
Tel: +972-72-2424022
Nir@maris-tech.com

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces More Than $52 Million of Investment in Rural Communities
Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Governor Stein Announces More Than $52 Million of Investment in Rural Communities

Governor Stein Announces More Than $52 Million of Investment in Rural Communities
lsaito
Fri, 06/20/2025 – 08:04

Raleigh, NC
Governor Josh Stein today announced that the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved nine grant requests for local governments totaling $2,941,000. The grants include commitments creating a total of 137 jobs. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $52 million in additional private and public investment.

“North Carolina’s rural communities are excellent places to live, work, and do business,” said Governor Josh Stein. “The latest rural infrastructure grants strengthen these communities even more by helping to create jobs, access to health care, and strengthen downtowns.”

The RIA is supported by the rural economic development team at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. RIA members review and approve funding requests from local communities. Funding comes from a variety of specialized grant and loan programs offered and managed by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, which is led by Assistant Secretary for Rural Development Reginald Speight. Grants support a variety of activities, including infrastructure development, building renovation, expansion and demolition, and site improvements.

“We are excited by the opportunities to partner with our state’s rural communities through these infrastructure grant projects,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “These investments will help rural North Carolina grow jobs, expand opportunity, and improve people’s quality of life.”

The RIA approved five grant requests under the state’s Building Reuse Program in three categories:

Vacant Building Category 
- Rockingham County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 216,086-square-foot building in Reidsville. The facility is set to be occupied by Joyalways Corporation, a manufacturer of wet wipes including baby wipes and non-alcoholic variants. The company plans to create 44 jobs while investing $10,757,500 in this project.
- Transylvania County: A $75,000 grant will support the reuse of a 4,100-square-foot building in Brevard. This facility will be occupied by Nature Trails NC, LLC, an outdoor recreation business that fabricates structures used in outdoor trails such as benches, kiosks, and bike ramps. With this project, the company is expected to create 16 jobs while investing $80,745.
Existing Business Building Category 
- Hertford County: A $280,000 grant will support the expansion of a building in Cofield that is occupied by Structural Coating Hertford, LLC. The company, which provides technologically advanced processes for blast cleaning and coating steel plates, plans to add 5,026 square feet to the existing facility. The project is expected to create 35 jobs with a private investment of $1,674,659.
Rural Health Building Category
- City of Rocky Mount (Edgecombe County): A $375,000 grant will support the reuse of a 13,330-square-foot former Memorial Hospital building as a facility for the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Rocky Mount. Through its Family Medical Center, OIC provides a variety of affordable health services and is the medical home to approximately 14,000 patients. The center plans to create 30 jobs and invest $13,426,500 in this project.
- Town of Pembroke (Robeson County): A $150,000 grant will support the construction of a 29,000-square-foot building, where Robeson Health Care Corporation plans to expand their existing operations. The health care provider plans to serve 1,000 additional patients yearly at this new facility, which will include a new eye care center and additional exam rooms to create a functional, patient-friendly environment. With this project, the organization expects to create 12 jobs while investing $11,442,615.
The Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments to renovate vacant buildings, renovate and/or expand buildings occupied by existing North Carolina companies, and renovate, expand, or construct health care facilities that will lead to the creation of new jobs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, as well as rural census tracts of Tier 3 counties.

The RIA approved four grant requests under the state’s Rural Downtown Economic Development program in two categories:

Public Buildings Category
- Town of Williamston (Martin County): A $200,000 grant will support the Town’s Old Police Department Reuse Project, which is intended to rehabilitate and repurpose property that is connected to Town Hall. The 3,304-square-foot building will undergo renovations to create a public space for meetings and become a hub for community events. Renovations include ADA compliance and updates to the space, including updating an existing kitchen. The project is expected to leverage an investment of $11,364.
- Town of Stoneville (Rockingham County): A $200,000 grant will support the town’s Fidelity Building Revitalization/Reuse Project, which aims to rehabilitate a vacant building for a fully operational financial institution. Improvements include HVAC, electrical, roofing, plumbing, ADA upgrades, and interior/exterior renovations, while also restoring the original brickwork and repairing damaged masonry. This project is expected to leverage an investment of $12,500.
Public Infrastructure Category 
- Town of Pembroke (Robeson County): A $311,000 grant will help the town transform a vacant property into a vibrant public space at the intersection of W. 3rd and Vance Streets. The project includes site preparation, a brick paver walkway, electrical upgrades, and tree grates and is a direct result of the town’s participation in the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Community Capacity program. The town will leverage an investment of $15,550 with this project.
- Town of Boone (Watauga County): An $850,000 grant will assist the town in prioritizing pedestrian safety by converting the westbound lane of Howard Street from Appalachian Street to Burrell Street into a pedestrian and bicycle-only corridor. Phase Two of the project includes water, sewer, and stormwater improvements, as well as burying utilities. The project is expected to leverage an investment of $15,111,703.
The Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants program provides grants to local governments to support downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives. These grants are intended to help local governments grow and leverage downtown districts as assets for economic growth, economic development, and prosperity by providing public improvements to help retain businesses and leverage main street assets for community-wide use.

In addition to reviewing and approving funding requests, the N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority formulates policies and priorities for grant and loan programs administered by the Commerce Department’s Rural Economic Development team. Its 17 voting members are appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President Pro Tem. The North Carolina Secretary of Commerce serves as a member of the authority, ex officio.

Visit the Rural Economic Development Division webpage for more information.
Jun 20, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –
June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Antalpha to Hold Extraordinary General Meeting on July 21, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Antalpha Platform Holding Company (NASDAQ: ANTA) (“Antalpha” or the “Company”), a leading fintech platform serving the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, today announced that it will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “EGM”) at 2:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time) on July 21, 2025 at 42nd Floor, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong.

A proposal to increase the Company’s authorized share capital will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the authorized share capital of the Company will be increased from “US$50,000 divided into 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each” to “US$62,500 divided into 62,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each” by the creation of an additional 12,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each to rank pari passu in all respects with the existing shares.

A proposal to re-designate the Company’s ordinary shares into Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by a special resolution of the shareholders, (a) 59,375,000 authorized Ordinary Shares (including the 23,677,500 issued Ordinary Shares) of a par value of US$0.001 each in the capital of the Company will be re-designated as Class A Ordinary Shares, and (b) 3,125,000 authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each in the capital of the Company will be re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares (the “Share Re-designation”), such that immediately following the Share Re-designation, the authorized share capital of the Company will be US$62,500 divided into 62,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each, comprising of (i) 59,375,000 Class A Ordinary Shares (including 23,677,500 issued Class A Ordinary Shares) of a par value of US$0.001 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), and (ii) 3,125,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”).

A proposal to amend and restate the Company’s existing memorandum and articles of association to reflect the variation of the Company’s authorized share capital will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by a special resolution of the shareholders, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association will be amended and restated by their deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association in the form as attached to the EGM notice as Exhibit A (the “Amended M&AA”), and the authorized share capital of the Company will be US$62,500 divided into 62,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each comprising of (i) 59,375,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each, and (ii) 3,125,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each, with the rights attaching to such shares as set out in the Amended M&AA, including that each Class A Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote, and is not convertible into Class B Ordinary Share under any circumstances, and each Class B Ordinary Share is entitled to twenty (20) votes, subject to certain conditions, and is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof.

A proposal to grant the Chairperson of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “Founder”), one or more awards under the Company’s 2024 Share Incentive Plan will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the Company will be authorized to grant the Founder awards under the Company’s 2024 Share Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time), in the form of options, restricted share units or other types, to acquire an aggregate of up to 1,500,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, of which the first 750,000 Class B Ordinary Shares shall vest only upon the Company achieving a market capitalization of at least US$1 billion, and the remaining 750,000 Class B Ordinary Shares shall vest only upon the Company achieving a market capitalization of at least US$2 billion, as an incentive for his continued service and to align his interests with those of the Company and its shareholders.

A proposal for the Company to adopt a treasury management plan will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the Company will adopt the treasury management plan in the form as attached to the EGM notice as Exhibit B for the purposes of improving the treasury management of the Company, and the Company and its board of directors be authorized to take all actions as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out such treasury management plan, including issuing ordinary shares or other securities to raise funds to acquire digital gold, or acquiring digital gold through its subsidiaries and/or investees, which may include publicly listed companies, from time to time for purposes of carrying out such treasury management plan.

The Board has fixed the close of business on June 20, 2025 (Eastern Standard Time) as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of, to attend, and to vote at, the EGM or any adjourned or postponed meeting thereof. Holders of record of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.001 per share, at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the EGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The notice of the EGM, which sets forth the resolutions to be submitted to shareholder approval at the meeting and includes the Amended M&AA and treasury management plan as exhibits, is available on the Company’s website at ir.antalpha.com.

About Antalpha

Antalpha is a leading fintech company specializing in providing financing, technology, and risk management solutions to institutions in the digital asset industry. As the primary lending partner of Bitmain, Antalpha offers Bitcoin supply chain and margin loans through the Antalpha Prime technology platform, which allows customers to originate and manage their digital assets loans, as well as monitor collateral positions with near real-time data.

Contacts

Investor Relations: ir@antalpha.com

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Canadian Banc Corp. At-The-Market Equity Program Renewed

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Banc Corp. (the “Company”) announces it has renewed its at-the-market equity program (“ATM Program”) that allows the Company to issue shares of the Company to the public from time to time at the Company’s discretion, effective until July 19, 2027 unless terminated prior to such date by the Company. This ATM Program replaces the prior program established in January 2024 that has terminated. Any Class A Shares or Preferred Shares sold in the ATM Program will be sold through the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) or any other marketplace in Canada on which the Class A Shares and Preferred Shares are listed, quoted or otherwise traded at the prevailing market price at the time of sale. Sales of Class A Shares and Preferred Shares through the ATM Program will be made pursuant to the terms of an equity distribution agreement dated June 19, 2025 with National Bank Financial Inc. (the “Agent”).

Sales of Class A Shares and Preferred Shares will be made by way of “at-the-market distributions” as defined in National Instrument 44-102 Shelf Distributions on the TSX or on any marketplace for the Class A Shares and Preferred Shares in Canada. Since the Class A Shares and Preferred Shares will be distributed at the prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, prices may vary among purchasers during the period of distribution. The ATM Program is being offered pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated June 19, 2025 to the Company’s short form base shelf prospectus dated June 18, 2025. The maximum gross proceeds from the issuance of the shares will be $350,000,000. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the short form base shelf prospectus may be obtained from your registered financial advisor using the contact information for such advisor, or from representatives of the Agent and are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

The volume and timing of distributions under the ATM Program, if any, will be determined at the Company’s sole discretion. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the ATM Program in accordance with the investment objectives and investment strategies of the Company, subject to the investment restrictions of the Company.

The Company invests in a portfolio of six publicly traded Canadian Banks as follows:

Bank of Montreal Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Royal Bank of Canada

The Bank of Nova Scotia National Bank of Canada The Toronto-Dominion Bank

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions “expect”, “intend”, “will” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Investors should read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the Company’s publicly filed documents which are available at www.sedarplus.com.

Investor Relations:
1-877-478-2372
Local: 416-304-4443
www.canadianbanc.com
info@quadravest.com

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Dividend 15 Split Corp. II At-The-Market Equity Program Renewed

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dividend 15 Split Corp. II (the “Company”) announces it has renewed its at-the-market equity program (“ATM Program”) that allows the Company to issue shares of the Company to the public from time to time at the Company’s discretion, effective until July 19, 2027 unless terminated prior to such date by the Company. This ATM Program replaces the prior program established in May 2023 that has terminated. Any Class A Shares or Preferred Shares sold in the ATM Program will be sold through the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) or any other marketplace in Canada on which the Class A Shares and Preferred Shares are listed, quoted or otherwise traded at the prevailing market price at the time of sale. Sales of Class A Shares and Preferred Shares through the ATM Program will be made pursuant to the terms of an equity distribution agreement dated June 19, 2025 with National Bank Financial Inc. (the “Agent”).

Sales of Class A Shares and Preferred Shares will be made by way of “at-the-market distributions” as defined in National Instrument 44-102 Shelf Distributions on the TSX or on any marketplace for the Class A Shares and Preferred Shares in Canada. Since the Class A Shares and Preferred Shares will be distributed at the prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, prices may vary among purchasers during the period of distribution. The ATM Program is being offered pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated June 19, 2025 to the Company’s short form base shelf prospectus dated June 18, 2025. The maximum gross proceeds from the issuance of the shares will be $350,000,000. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the short form base shelf prospectus may be obtained from your registered financial advisor using the contact information for such advisor, or from representatives of the Agent and are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

The volume and timing of distributions under the ATM Program, if any, will be determined at the Company’s sole discretion. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the ATM Program in accordance with the investment objectives and investment strategies of the Company, subject to the investment restrictions of the Company.

The Company invests primarily in a high quality portfolio of leading Canadian dividend-yielding stocks as follows: Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, National Bank of Canada, CI Financial Corp., BCE Inc., Manulife Financial Corporation, Enbridge Inc., Sun Life Financial Inc., TELUS Corporation, Thomson Reuters Corporation, TransAlta Corporation, TC Energy Corporation.

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions “expect”, “intend”, “will” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Investors should read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the Company’s publicly filed documents which are available at www.sedarplus.com.

Investor Relations: 1-877-478-2372
Local: 416-304-4443
www.dividend15.com
info@quadravest.com

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Donald De Lucca Joins Advisory Board of Alternative Ballistics Corporation to Enhance Law Enforcement Growth Strategy

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Las Vegas, Nevada, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alternative Ballistics Corporation, an innovative public safety technology company, is proud to announce that Donald De Lucca, former President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and a seasoned law enforcement executive, has joined the company’s Advisory Board.

Chief De Lucca brings over three decades of distinguished law enforcement experience, including leadership roles as Chief of Police for the cities of Doral, Golden Beach, and Miami Beach, Florida. He is currently a partner at V2 Global, where he leads domestic and international risk consulting and crisis management initiatives, in addition to heading the firm’s Law Enforcement Advisory Group.

Throughout his career, Chief De Lucca has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing law enforcement strategies, professional development, and community engagement. His tenure as the 104th President of the IACP – representing 33,000 police leaders in over 170 countries – underscores his global influence and dedication to modern policing. Under his leadership, agencies he commanded earned national recognition for implementing best practices from the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

“I am honored to join the Advisory Board of Alternative Ballistics Corporation,” said Chief De Lucca. “I believe deeply in the mission to provide law enforcement with tools that enhance officer and public safety while supporting responsible and effective use of force. The Company is advancing a critical innovation, and I look forward to helping guide its growth and impact.”

Steve Luna, CEO of Alternative Ballistics Corporation, welcomed the appointment: “Chief De Lucca’s unmatched leadership and experience in policing, both in the U.S. and internationally, will be instrumental as we continue expanding our reach and delivering mission-critical technology to law enforcement agencies. We are excited to have his insight and guidance on our Advisory Board.”

About Alternative Ballistics Corporation

Alternative Ballistics Corporation (“ABC”) produces The Alternative^®, a patented less-lethal device designed to help law enforcement de-escalate potential lethal threats and reduce fatalities. The device attaches quickly to a service weapon and uses bullet capture technology to convert a live round into a non-penetrating impact projectile that can temporarily incapacitate an individual, allowing officers the opportunity to safely effect an arrest. It is intended for use when confronting non-compliant individuals who are in possession of a non-firearm weapon, oftentimes involving a person in crisis. After deployment, the firearm instantly reverts to standard use. A commercial version for civilian home-defense may also be available in the future.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to advance the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.

Company Contact:
info@alternativeballistics.com
www.alternativeballistics.com

For Investor Inquiries, please contact:
Hanover International, Inc.
Kathy Cusumano, President
ka@hanoverintlinc.com

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget PRO Program Launches Limited-Time PRO+2 Upgrade to Supercharge High-Volume and Institutional Traders

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, and Web3 company, has announced a limited-time PRO+2 Level Upgrade Promotion alongside the announcement of Bitget PRO, an upgraded program designed to support the needs of institutional clients and high-frequency traders. Meant for eligible users, the promotion reinforces Bitget’s commitment to empowering professional traders with better rates, priority infrastructure, and exclusive perks.

The Bitget PRO program introduces a dynamic tiered system built to streamline institutional access to lower fees, optimized API limits, exclusive loan and custody services, and expanded withdrawal limits. With the rise of algorithmic and institutional trading, Bitget PRO serves as a dedicated infrastructure layer that facilitates complex strategies and capital efficiency.

“Institutional traders are shaping the future of digital finance through precision and scale. Bitget PRO is built to support their ambitions—offering advanced infrastructure and seamless access to tailored financial tools,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Our time-limited PRO+2 upgrade is our way of welcoming top-tier participants into the program with minimal friction—unlocking superior benefits and showing our ongoing commitment to supporting institutional growth in crypto.”

The PRO+2 Level Upgrade Promotion will run from July 2 to August 31, 2025, instantly boosting trading power for both new and existing users. Traders will be upgraded by two levels based on their June trading volume, while new users can apply for the same boost by submitting proof of past trading activity or asset holdings before August 15, 2025 (GMT+8). For example, approved traders currently tiered as PRO3, will get upgraded to receive PRO5 fee rates and benefits. This promotion allows eligible users to unlock up to PRO6-level benefits earlier than ever, including top-tier fee discounts, deeper liquidity, and personalized institutional support. Additional perks include improved fee structures on spot and futures, higher API rate limits, increased withdrawal caps, flexible sub-account management, and direct access to Bitget’s API team for real-time support.

The Bitget PRO program is automatically assigned daily at 9:00AM (UTC+8), with qualification based on a user’s 30-day API trading volume. PRO1 and above require at least 20% of trades via API. Those who do not meet the criteria will revert to VIP tiers. This structure allows seamless mobility while rewarding activity and technical engagement.

Earlier this year, Bitget strengthened its institutional offering with the launch of Institutional Lending, enabling up to 5x leverage on spot trading. Additional upgrades, including Unified Accounts and enhanced OTC services, reflect Bitget’s commitment to supporting professional traders with flexible, secure solutions.

For more details on the Bitget PRO+2 Level Upgrade Promotion, visit here. For details on the Bitget PRO program in general, visit the official Bitget PRO Program page and direct inquiries to institution@bitget.com.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform. Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

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

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a6da46e-0407-43bb-b236-a93a5188d971

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: FV Bank Redefines Institutional-Grade Client and Tax Reporting Efficiency with Bitwave

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FV Bank, a globally regulated digital asset custodian and banking platform, announced a landmark partnership with Bitwave to streamline and automate digital asset tax and financial reporting, setting a new institutional standard for compliance and operational scalability.

As digital asset adoption continues to mature, so do the expectations for institutional accountability, tax transparency, and audit-readiness. With a customer base spanning over 70 countries and operations in one of the most stringently regulated environments in finance, FV Bank has taken a bold step forward to modernize its infrastructure and ensure compliance without compromising efficiency.

Operational Innovation Meets Regulatory Excellence

Leading custodians – like FV Bank – face unique reporting challenges when managing customer assets under the FBO (“For the Benefit Of”) accounting model. This structure requires financial teams to track assets and liabilities both at the institution level and for individual customers.

By integrating Bitwave’s industry-leading financial platform, FV Bank has successfully automated the dual-layered reporting structure, creating both client-facing tax forms (such as 1099s) and detailed internal books that meet institutional audit standards.

“At FV Bank, we take pride in offering secure, compliant, and forward-thinking financial services. Partnering with Bitwave allows us to push the envelope on what’s possible with digital asset reporting efficiency with global scale,” said Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank.

“We’re not just solving a tax problem, we’re setting a new benchmark for operational excellence.”

Solving Tax Complexity at Scale

Tax reporting in digital assets is notoriously complex, especially for high-throughput financial institutions.

With Bitwave, FV Bank has streamlined its tax workflows to automatically generate accurate, auditable gain/loss data for every client account. This eliminates the need for fragmented spreadsheets, manual reconciliations, and error-prone calculations.

“FV Bank is a true leader in operational compliance and financial innovation,” said Pat White, CEO of Bitwave.

“Their embrace of Bitwave for both internal and customer-facing reporting proves that institutions can lead the way in digital asset transparency and integrity.”

Driving Scalable Compliance for the Future of Finance

Bitwave’s robust platform is designed to meet the needs of enterprise-grade finance teams, enabling institutions like FV Bank to remain audit-ready, regulator-friendly, and technologically agile.

This partnership represents a scalable solution that other neobanks, trust companies, and crypto-forward enterprises can emulate.

As regulators and policymakers focus increasingly on transparency and accountability in crypto finance, FV Bank is not waiting to react, it’s leading.

About FV Bank

FV Bank is a fully licensed and regulated U.S. digital bank offering a vertically integrated suite of digital asset and traditional banking services. With a focus on innovation, security, and compliance, FV Bank is Banking the Future by providing USD banking, digital asset custody services, money market accounts, Visa debit cards, and stablecoin deposits and conversions, all accessible via a single, unified platform.

For more information about FV Bank, please visit www.fvbank.us.

About Bitwave

Bitwave is the #1 digital asset subledger and on-chain finance platform for businesses.

Built for enterprises and institutions, Bitwave simplifies digital asset tax, accounting, and payment workflows for global finance teams – all with a comprehensive, audit-ready platform.

Trusted by Fortune 100 leaders, Bitwave delivers the reliability, security, and control demanded by today’s leading finance teams. We enable the digital asset economy with scalable financial operations.

For more, visit bitwave.io.

Media Contact:
Kaleb Leija
VP of Marketing, Bitwave
marketing@bitwave.io

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e55433b-f39c-4295-b904-12b7ba085cab

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: FV Bank Redefines Institutional-Grade Client and Tax Reporting Efficiency with Bitwave

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FV Bank, a globally regulated digital asset custodian and banking platform, announced a landmark partnership with Bitwave to streamline and automate digital asset tax and financial reporting, setting a new institutional standard for compliance and operational scalability.

As digital asset adoption continues to mature, so do the expectations for institutional accountability, tax transparency, and audit-readiness. With a customer base spanning over 70 countries and operations in one of the most stringently regulated environments in finance, FV Bank has taken a bold step forward to modernize its infrastructure and ensure compliance without compromising efficiency.

Operational Innovation Meets Regulatory Excellence

Leading custodians – like FV Bank – face unique reporting challenges when managing customer assets under the FBO (“For the Benefit Of”) accounting model. This structure requires financial teams to track assets and liabilities both at the institution level and for individual customers.

By integrating Bitwave’s industry-leading financial platform, FV Bank has successfully automated the dual-layered reporting structure, creating both client-facing tax forms (such as 1099s) and detailed internal books that meet institutional audit standards.

“At FV Bank, we take pride in offering secure, compliant, and forward-thinking financial services. Partnering with Bitwave allows us to push the envelope on what’s possible with digital asset reporting efficiency with global scale,” said Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank.

“We’re not just solving a tax problem, we’re setting a new benchmark for operational excellence.”

Solving Tax Complexity at Scale

Tax reporting in digital assets is notoriously complex, especially for high-throughput financial institutions.

With Bitwave, FV Bank has streamlined its tax workflows to automatically generate accurate, auditable gain/loss data for every client account. This eliminates the need for fragmented spreadsheets, manual reconciliations, and error-prone calculations.

“FV Bank is a true leader in operational compliance and financial innovation,” said Pat White, CEO of Bitwave.

“Their embrace of Bitwave for both internal and customer-facing reporting proves that institutions can lead the way in digital asset transparency and integrity.”

Driving Scalable Compliance for the Future of Finance

Bitwave’s robust platform is designed to meet the needs of enterprise-grade finance teams, enabling institutions like FV Bank to remain audit-ready, regulator-friendly, and technologically agile.

This partnership represents a scalable solution that other neobanks, trust companies, and crypto-forward enterprises can emulate.

As regulators and policymakers focus increasingly on transparency and accountability in crypto finance, FV Bank is not waiting to react, it’s leading.

About FV Bank

FV Bank is a fully licensed and regulated U.S. digital bank offering a vertically integrated suite of digital asset and traditional banking services. With a focus on innovation, security, and compliance, FV Bank is Banking the Future by providing USD banking, digital asset custody services, money market accounts, Visa debit cards, and stablecoin deposits and conversions, all accessible via a single, unified platform.

For more information about FV Bank, please visit www.fvbank.us.

About Bitwave

Bitwave is the #1 digital asset subledger and on-chain finance platform for businesses.

Built for enterprises and institutions, Bitwave simplifies digital asset tax, accounting, and payment workflows for global finance teams – all with a comprehensive, audit-ready platform.

Trusted by Fortune 100 leaders, Bitwave delivers the reliability, security, and control demanded by today’s leading finance teams. We enable the digital asset economy with scalable financial operations.

For more, visit bitwave.io.

Media Contact:
Kaleb Leija
VP of Marketing, Bitwave
marketing@bitwave.io

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e55433b-f39c-4295-b904-12b7ba085cab

The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Quietum Plus 2025: Exploring the Science and Safety behind a Popular Natural Hearing Supplement
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Aurora, Colorado, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a significant advancement within the natural health supplement industry, Quietum Plus has emerged as a frontrunner in auditory wellness. As hearing health gains prominence among aging populations and wellness-conscious consumers alike, Quietum Plus is positioning itself as a transformative solution—bringing renewed attention to natural alternatives in an era increasingly reliant on pharmaceutical intervention and electronic aids.

Over the past year, the conversation around hearing support has evolved beyond conventional devices. Where traditional approaches have centered largely on amplification through hearing aids or temporary symptom relief, Quietum Plus introduces a foundational rethinking of ear health: addressing potential root causes through targeted nutrition and internal balance. This shift marks a notable moment for both the supplement sector and the broader hearing wellness market.

The formulation behind Quietum Plus has been carefully developed to support the auditory system’s function and longevity. The company behind the supplement emphasizes that its research has focused not merely on masking hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms, but instead on fostering the internal conditions that enable long-term auditory clarity. While Quietum Plus is not positioned as a medical treatment or cure, its natural formula has sparked attention among professionals in wellness and alternative health domains.

Quietum Plus draws on the principles of plant-based and neuro-nutritional science. By utilizing a blend of botanicals, vitamins, and minerals sourced from clean environments and manufactured under stringent standards, the product aims to restore harmony between the ear, brain, and circulatory system. According to the brand’s creators, the inner workings of the ear require not only mechanical support, but also nourishment to maintain auditory processing efficiency over time. The supplement was designed with this philosophy at its core.

The growing visibility of Quietum Plus reflects a broader cultural pivot toward proactive health maintenance. Rather than reacting to the onset of serious symptoms with hardware-based solutions or invasive clinical measures, more consumers are seeking early intervention via natural supplementation. This aligns with data indicating rising demand for alternative hearing health strategies—particularly among individuals in their 40s and 50s who are beginning to experience subtle declines in auditory sharpness.

In the competitive market of wellness supplements, Quietum Plus has distinguished itself by focusing on a singular goal: comprehensive auditory system nourishment. Its formulation reportedly supports blood flow to the inner ear, promotes healthy inflammation response, and helps maintain nerve signaling vital to sound interpretation. Each of these mechanisms, according to the developers, plays a role in how effectively the ear and brain communicate under daily life stressors.

The product’s emergence also coincides with shifting public perceptions of aging and sensory wellness. Hearing loss, once seen as an unavoidable consequence of growing older, is now being examined as a potentially manageable condition when addressed through supportive daily habits. Quietum Plus leverages this perspective, presenting itself not just as a supplement, but as part of a broader lifestyle movement rooted in longevity and preventative care.

Industry observers have noted that Quietum Plus is helping shape a new narrative around hearing support—one that reframes the condition not as a stigma or limitation, but as a call for more thoughtful self-care. This fresh framing has appealed particularly to mid-life adults who want to maintain control of their health without relying on external devices or prescriptions.

The product’s branding also reinforces this shift in mindset. Rather than adopting the clinical tone often associated with hearing treatments, Quietum Plus presents itself with a message of empowerment and renewal. The name itself—derived from the Latin word for “quiet”—evokes serenity, control, and balance, themes echoed in its visual identity and educational materials.

Beyond branding, the Quietum Plus organization has expressed commitment to consumer transparency. The supplement is produced in FDA-registered and GMP-compliant facilities, a factor that has been emphasized in its marketing and packaging. Furthermore, each batch undergoes rigorous third-party testing to ensure ingredient integrity and safety—practices that reflect the brand’s ongoing efforts to align with evolving industry standards.

While Quietum Plus is not intended to replace medical treatments, it has gained attention from holistic practitioners and integrative health coaches as a supportive tool. As alternative health gains traction within mainstream discourse, products like Quietum Plus are bridging the gap between traditional wellness disciplines and modern consumer expectations.

In addition to its internal development efforts, the company has also focused on education and outreach. Throughout 2024 and into 2025, Quietum Plus has launched a series of digital awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging regular hearing check-ups, promoting noise exposure reduction, and supporting dietary habits known to benefit cognitive and neurological function. These initiatives signal the brand’s aspiration to position itself as not only a product provider, but a thought leader in hearing wellness.

The product’s current market availability is managed exclusively through its official website. This direct-to-consumer model has allowed the brand to maintain tighter control over quality, pricing, and customer service—a strategy that aligns with broader trends across the supplement industry. The official website offers bundled purchasing options and informational resources designed to help users understand the supplement’s role within a larger health framework.

Looking ahead, Quietum Plus plans to expand its educational outreach while continuing to refine its core offering. Though the company has not announced additional product lines, its leadership has indicated interest in further research collaborations and clinical studies to deepen its understanding of auditory nutrition. This focus on science-backed development could provide new momentum for natural hearing solutions across the global health marketplace.

As the broader wellness industry continues to evolve, Quietum Plus represents a growing interest in preventative sensory care—particularly in areas that have traditionally been underserved by the supplement category. By bringing focus to an issue that often goes unnoticed until it becomes disruptive, the brand is helping reshape how individuals approach and prioritize their hearing.

In an increasingly noisy world, Quietum Plus arrives with a message that resonates: that hearing, like any other element of health, deserves proactive attention, natural nourishment, and thoughtful support. As the health-conscious consumer of 2025 seeks options that go beyond temporary fixes, the emergence of Quietum Plus signals a new direction—one where hearing support can be both natural and effective, personal and preventative, scientific and sustainable.

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

Company: Quietum Plus
Website – https://quietumplus.com/
Address: 19655 E 35th Dr. #100,
Aurora,
CO 80011 USA
Email: contact@quietumplus.com Order
Phone Support: 1-800-390-6035 or +1 208-345-4245

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 Quietum Plus have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Quietum Plus 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
- Quietum Plus
The MIL Network –
June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Qatar Permanent Mission in Geneva Organizes Side Event on Role of Media in Enhancing Human Rights

Source: Government of Qatar

Geneva, June 20, 2025

The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, in cooperation with the permanent missions of Austria, Greece, and France, organized a side event today om the role of media in promoting human rights, on the sidelines of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Among the speakers were HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN in Geneva Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Director of the Department of Media and Communication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, HE Austria’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Desiree Schweitzer, HE Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ioannis Ghikas, HE UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Expression Irene Khan, representative from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michael Camilleri, Executive Director of Fondation Hirondelle Caroline Vuillemin, Callum Birch, Senior UN Advocacy Officer at ARTICLE 19, and Advocacy Director at the International Press Institute (IPI) Amy Brouillette. The event was moderated by CEO of Investigativ.ch Eva Hirschi.

The event was attended by more than 80 participants, including diplomats, international and regional organizations, media institutions, and civil society organizations focused on human rights, peace, and development.

HE Dr. Al Muftah emphasized that media is a foundational pillar of contemporary society, playing a crucial role not just in shaping public opinion and facilitating information flow, but also in defending democratic values, human rights, dignity, equality, and justice. She said that media also helps bridge divides by promoting our shared humanity.

Her Excellency highlighted that Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression including the right to seek receive, and impart information regardless of frontiers. She stressed that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are interlinked and essential for an informed and engaged society.

She noted that in the face of rising misinformation and polarization in a rapidly changing world, it has become more urgent than ever to understand and strengthen the relationship between media and human rights. She stressed that when media adheres to ethical standards and truth, it doesn’t just reflect reality, but becomes a powerful force for positive change, raising awareness, empowering individuals, and advancing global human rights.

She added that journalists serve as the first line of defense for transparency and accountability in the information age, yet they face increasing threats, harassment, arrests, and even death for doing their jobs. She underscored that governments have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure a safe environment for journalists and media professionals to operate without fear of violence or retaliation.

She also called for renewing collective commitment and joint efforts to protect press freedom, defend truth-tellers, and safeguard the essential role of media in promoting and protecting human rights.

For his part, Al Hashmi said that the State of Qatar’s media model is based on supporting strong and credible media institutions in a secure environment that enables them to fulfill their vital role. He said the government respects journalists and maintains open, transparent engagement with them, while also actively working through diplomatic and multilateral channels to empower the media and provide necessary protections.

He affirmed the State of Qatar’s ongoing sponsorship of major global initiatives, highlighting its role in promoting UN Security Council Resolution 1738 (2006) on protecting journalists in armed conflicts during Qatar’s presidency of the council.

He also referred to the State of Qatar’s hosting of the 2012 International Conference on the Protection of Journalists in Dangerous Situations, and the 2016 launch of the Doha Declaration on the Protection of Journalists, which outlined core principles for journalist protection and clarified the responsibilities of states, organizations, media entities, and journalists themselves.

Al Hashmi noted that Qatar’s Media City hosts many local, regional, and international media outlets that operate freely in a secure and strong media environment.

UN Special Rapporteur Khan said that killing even one journalist is not just a loss of life, it sends a chilling message to others and fosters silence. She warned that lack of safety for journalists creates a climate of self-censorship, reinforcing the need for accountability for those who attack or kill journalists.

She also drew attention to the serious violations journalists face in Gaza, the restrictions on media access to the territory, and the heightened risks for female journalists, especially in the digital realm. She pointed out that online gender-based violence is spilling over into real-life consequences for women in journalism.

Khan warned that such smear campaigns can seriously endanger journalists by legitimizing violence against them, particularly when they are covering protests or operating in hazardous areas. She noted that this also undermines public trust in journalism.

In the same context, speakers emphasized the critical role media plays in promoting and protecting human rights. They acknowledged the growing challenges faced by journalists, especially amidst rising hate speech, misinformation, and restrictions on free expression.

They stressed the importance of empowering media to operate freely and independently, seeing it as a core tool for raising awareness, exposing abuses, and upholding justice and accountability.

They underlined that combating impunity for crimes against journalists is vital to safeguarding media freedom and ensuring a safe environment where journalists can carry out their work without fear. Repeated targeting of journalists, they warned, undermines public trust and threatens society’s right to know.

They also stressed that states have a legal and moral obligation to provide a safe environment for the press and protect journalists from threats or intimidation. They highlighted the importance of sustainable funding for media institutions to allow them to function independently of political or financial pressures.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Constitutional Court a beacon of justice and national unity

Source: South Africa News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the Constitutional Court for its critical role in deepening democracy, advancing human rights, and promoting national cohesion and reconciliation over the past three decades.

Speaking at a special event marking the 30-year anniversary of the court’s establishment on Friday in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa described the apex court as not only a legal institution but a “noble symbol of our democratic order; both immortal and legal compass”.

“This moment calls not only for celebration, but also for reflection, for recommitment, and for a renewed vision of constitutionalism in action in South Africa,” the President said.

Reflecting on the court’s founding in 1994, the President noted its symbolic location, built on the ruins of the infamous Old Fort prison in Braamfontein as a reminder of South Africa’s painful past and a testament to the transformative promise of constitutional justice.

“This court was established on the ruins of an oppressive legal system and was built on the grounds of a former prison, embodying the hope that law could become an instrument of justice rather than repression,” he said.

Recalling the adoption of the Constitution on 8 May 1996, President Ramaphosa, who then chaired the Constitutional Assembly, likened the document to “our new nation’s birth certificate”, describing it as a legal foundation that affirms dignity, equality, and freedom for all South Africans.

“Just like a person cannot enjoy their rights without a birth certificate, without the Constitution our country would be cast adrift, and be vulnerable to the excesses of unchecked power.

“We celebrate the existence of this court over the 30 years in which it has defended our democratic vision as set out in our birth certificate, our Constitution. This court has been the guardian, watching over our nation’s legal health just as a parent would attend to the health of their growing child,” he said.

Building a culture of rights

The President credited the court for cultivating a rights-based culture by issuing transformative and far-reaching judgments, including in S v Makwanyane that abolished the death penalty; the Grootboom case that centred on the right to housing; and Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign that dealt with the right to healthcare and access to HIV/Aids treatment.

“The Constitutional Court has developed a rich and transformative jurisprudence. These judgements are not merely legal decisions – they are decisions that have changed lives, shaped our society, and strengthened our democracy,” he said.

He praised the court’s jurisprudence for affirming the rights of the vulnerable, including same-sex couples, women in traditional marriages, children, the poor, and the infirm.

“The court’s judgments have advanced the rights of same-sex couples, of women in traditional marriages, of the sick and infirm, of children, of voters, and of the most marginalised members of society. They have affirmed that dignity, equality and freedom are not reserved for the powerful, but guaranteed to all,” he said.

He acknowledged the international legal influences that helped shape South Africa’s Constitution, with insights drawn from jurisdictions such as Canada, Germany, India and the United States.

Quoting former Justice Albie Sachs, President Ramaphosa said: “We borrowed ideas, concepts and structures from Canada, Germany, India and the United States, but made them South African.”

Challenges and shortcomings

While lauding the court’s role, President Ramaphosa also acknowledged ongoing challenges in realising the full promise of constitutionalism, particularly in the delivery of socio-economic rights.

“It will forever remain a blight on our democracy that the applicant in the ground-breaking Grootboom judgment, Ms. Irene Grootboom, died in 2008 without her dream of a decent house being fulfilled,” he said.

He stressed that citizens should not have to resort to litigation to claim rights that the state is obligated to fulfil.

“There is a disconnect between the promise of our Constitution and the lived realities of South Africans. Persistent inequality, threats to judicial independence, lack of implementation of court orders, and erosion of trust in institutions remain pressing challenges,” he warned.

Commitment to the judiciary

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting the judiciary and upholding its independence. He cited budget allocations to improve court services, judicial education, and infrastructure as part of efforts to bolster the judiciary’s effectiveness.

“To ensure that the judiciary execute their duties independently, effectively, and with dignity – government must and will provide a range of institutional, infrastructure, financial, administrative, and legal support. The support is crucial to maintaining judicial independence, which is a cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law,” he said.

He confirmed that a joint committee between the executive and judiciary will finalise an action plan in the coming weeks to strengthen the judicial system and institutional independence.

Tribute to pioneers

The President paid tribute to current and former Constitutional Court Justices, legal clerks, scholars, and practitioners who have contributed to the court’s legacy.

Among those honoured were retired Justices Albie Sachs and Kate O’Regan, who were part of the inaugural bench. He also recalled stories shared by his legal advisor, Advocate Nokukhanya Jele, who clerked for the court in its early days, sharing memories of operating in cramped temporary offices, and of rain leaking onto legal papers during the Court’s relocation to its current premises in 2004.

“For all who had the privilege of being part of those early days working at the court, there was a sense of elation at being part of history in the making. Of being part of something far greater; something that all one’s years of legal training had prepared one for.

“As a nation we can be nothing short of immensely proud of the constitutional court, of what it has achieved, and of its ongoing and pre-eminent role in our society,” he said.

Looking ahead

President Ramaphosa called on legal professionals, government leaders and citizens alike to recommit to the Constitution and its values of accountability, ethics, and public service.

“Thirty years on, the Constitutional Court remains a beacon of democracy. A compass for our future journey. May it continue to stand as a testament to justice, accountability, and the resilience of the South African people,” the President said.

He added that the country faces many challenges including poverty, inequality, joblessness and under-development.

“Yet we move forward as a collective with confidence, fortified by the knowledge that that you, the guardians of our constitutional order, are with us, alongside us, guiding us.

“As we look to the next 30 years, let us ensure that the Constitutional Court remains a living institution—responsive, principled, and deeply rooted in the values of ubuntu, accountability, and human dignity. We wish the court well on this auspicious occasion, and into the future,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

June 21, 2025
Amit Shah inaugurates Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University, hails blend of healthcare and education

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today inaugurated the Bengaluru campus of Adichunchanagiri University (ACU) in Karnataka, hailing it as a milestone in the pursuit of affordable healthcare and education for all.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Shah praised the efforts of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt in upholding the cultural ideal of “Sarva Jan Hitaya, Sarva Jan Sukhaya” — the welfare and happiness of all. He commended the Mutt’s initiatives in running health centres in rural areas, offering free medical treatment to the underprivileged, and setting up educational institutions for children.

The newly inaugurated campus, constructed at a cost of ₹200 crore, spans 20 lakh square feet over 16 acres and is designed to accommodate 4,000 students. It houses a modern 1,000-bed hospital that offers comprehensive healthcare facilities, including free and affordable treatment for the poor. In his address, the Home Minister said this establishment would emerge as a true centre of service through its integration of education and healthcare.

Shah paid tribute to Jagadguru Dr. Balagangadharanatha Swamiji for preserving and enhancing the 1,800-year-old spiritual heritage of the sacred Adichunchanagiri Hills by intertwining it with service and education. He also lauded the continued efforts of Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji in carrying forward this legacy.

He noted that the Mutt’s work has fostered a deep connection with thousands of families, especially from poor and middle-income backgrounds, by promoting spirituality and Karma Yoga through community service. The Mutt’s holistic outreach is based on nine key pillars — Anna (food), Akshara (education), Arogya (health), Adhyatmika (spirituality), Aashraya (shelter), Aranya (environment), Aakaalu (disaster relief), Anukampa (compassion), and Anubandh (social connection). According to Shah, this inclusive approach has significantly strengthened social unity and serves as a model for other religious and cultural institutions.

Highlighting the university’s role in combining tradition with innovation, he emphasized its efforts in reconnecting the youth with India’s cultural roots while equipping them with cutting-edge education. He credited Mahaswami Ji with ensuring that students not only receive quality education but also free accommodation, giving them an opportunity to lead dignified lives. The university, he said, has become one of the country’s premier institutions, offering advanced medical care at low cost. The 1,500-bed hospital includes facilities for critical care, cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology, and complex transplants like kidney, liver, and cornea.

Shah further highlighted the Modi Government’s commitment to healthcare reform. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remarks that illness and its related expenses are among the leading causes of poverty, he stated that Modi’s vision had materialized through initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which now provides free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh to 60 crore citizens.

He elaborated on other major health and welfare initiatives launched under PM Modi’s leadership, including the construction of nearly 12 crore household toilets, the Fit India Movement, the celebration of International Day of Yoga, and the Mission Indradhanush vaccination campaign for children up to 15 years of age. He also mentioned the Poshan Abhiyan, which addresses maternal and child nutrition, and the Jan Aushadhi Yojana, through which essential medicines are available at just 20% of market prices at over 15,000 locations.

In addition, Shah pointed to the dramatic expansion of medical education infrastructure in the country. Since 2014, the number of AIIMS institutions has increased from 7 to 23, medical colleges from 387 to 780, MBBS seats from 51,000 to 1,18,000, and postgraduate medical seats from 31,000 to 74,000.

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lurgan entrepreneur’s skincare brand thrives with help from Go Succeed programme

Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

Claire Geddis, pictured with Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray and Lady Mayoress Mrs Moutray, at the recent Lurgan Show.

A Lurgan based entrepreneur is on a mission to bring the luxury spa experience directly into boutique hotel rooms as the artisan producer invests in a major expansion.

Claire Geddis, founder of Wild Shore, has developed a unique organic spa collection designed to help people experience the healing power of nature, whether at home or while staying in a hotel that doesn’t have a spa.

The business whose products have already been shipped as far afield as China, Australia, and the United States, is now targeting hotels and high-end B&Bs across Ireland and beyond, after receiving assistance from the government-backed enterprise support service, Go Succeed.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Alderman Stephen Moutray, said:

“Claire’s journey is a fantastic example of the innovation and ambition we see in our local business community. Go Succeed is proud to support entrepreneurs like Claire who are taking bold steps to grow their business and represent Northern Ireland on the global stage.”

Claire selling her products at the Artisan Market in Dromore.

A former biologist and beauty therapist with 15 years’ experience, Claire combines her scientific background and hands-on knowledge of skincare to handcraft a collection that includes artisan soap, soaking salts, hand and body cream, and a soy candle – all infused with a bespoke blend of five essential oils: lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress and thyme.

“Every element is organic and made by hand using certified ingredients sourced from across the world,” said Claire. “At the heart of Wild Shore is a desire to let nature do what it does best. I’ve seen a rise in skin sensitivity, psoriasis and eczema, and I wanted to create something healing and luxurious, without the chemicals.”

Now scaling up her business, Claire is focusing her efforts on the boutique hotel market, offering a bespoke in-room guest experience.

“I’m working with boutique hotels to create a special welcome: a small gift box with a mini soap, soak and cream, and a booklet that shares the story behind the products. It instantly elevates the experience, giving guests that spa feeling from the moment they walk in the door – even if the hotel doesn’t have its own spa.”

Since launching, Claire has showcased her products at events across the UK and Ireland including the Gifted Fair in Dublin’s RDS, the Belfast Holiday Show and will attend the European Horse Championships at Blenheim Palace later this year.

To take the next step, Claire turned to Go Succeed – Northern Ireland’s free business support service delivered through all 11 councils – for mentoring and practical support.

“I initially approached Go Succeed to explore financial advice, but the real value was in the mentoring,” she said. “They helped me refocus my business plan and dig deep into the numbers – what was really needed to scale for export. I wouldn’t be where I am now without that support.”

Go Succeed offers free mentoring, peer networks, business planning support and access to funding opportunities, all designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

Funded by the UK Government, Go Succeed is delivered via each of Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils and provides entrepreneurs with access to mentoring, events, grant funding, planning tools and business networks. Visit www.go-succeed.com to learn more.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Festival of the Sea ship-shape and ready for launch

Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

With the Tall Ships on the horizon, art, heritage, sport and leisure organisations across Aberdeen are set to present a raft of maritime-themed events for local people and visitors to the city.

The Festival of the Sea takes place from 12 to 27 July, the two weeks either side of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen (19-22 July). From sports camps to singing and storytelling, theatre and dancing to sea dragons and coastal discovery tours, and from exhibitions and creative writing to watercolour workshops, there’s something for all ages to discover and enjoy. Twenty organisations are presenting around 40 free and paid-for events in indoor and outdoor locations across the city.

This is the second Festival of the Sea and it is hoped that it will become an annual event, creating a legacy for the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen.

Highlights of the programme include

Pirates! Scottish Dance Theatre at His Majesty’s Theatre
Saturday 19, Sunday 20 July, 2pm and 7pm
Join best friends Tom and Daisy as they are swept away into the world of Captain Sandy Rogers and her rowdy crew! This unforgettable adventure features a bunch of slippery zombies, strange underwater creatures and a final, all-out duel with the wicked Captain O’Greed!

Coastal Discovery Day at the Greyhope Bay Centre
Monday 21 July, 10am-4pm
Meet organisations connected to the coast and local area to learn about their work protecting the Aberdeen coast and species that call it home, take part in a beachcombing acvitity and a litter pick.

Viktor Wynd and the Museum of Curiosities at Aberdeen Art Gallery
Thursday 17 July, 7pm-8pm
Artist and writer Viktor Wynd offers a glimpse of his extraordinary, not to say infamous, curiosity museum in London’s West End. We may hear stories about mermaids, mandrakes, and monsters as well as travellers tales from his adventures

Citymoves Dance Agency: Creatures of the Deep Summer Youth Camp
Monday 21-Friday 25 July, ages 5-12
Enjoy a high-energy creative camp that uses dance and creative expression to explore nautical topics, along with the funky routines, singing, and crafting activities.

Deemouth Artist Studios Workshop Weekender
Wednesday 23 – Sunday 27 July, 10am-5pm
A long weekend of workshops hosted by DAS creative residents, from pottery and jewellery, to weaving, screen printing and more, there’s something for everyone.

Fittie Arts and Crafts Fair
Saturday 19 July, 10am-4pm
Stalls include sea-themed jewellery, handmade candles and rustic charm creations for the home. Fittie themed merchandise is also on offer along with a fundraising stall for the RNLI.

Fish ‘n’ Ships
Saturday 12 July–Wednesday 23 July
Aberdeen Young Ambassadors will be popping up, in and around the city, to trade artworks in exchange for non-recyclable plastics.

Ben Torrie, Director of Programming and Creative Projects at Aberdeen Performing Arts, said: “No Festival of the Sea would be complete without some swashbuckling pirate fun. Scottish Dance Theatre’s energetic and vibrant production at His Majesty’s Theatre is the perfect event for families to take in whilst visiting the city for the Tall Ships Races. Tickets are on SAIL now!”

Lesley-Anne Rose, Creative Director of Open Road, said: “The Festival of the Sea is a perfect fit for Aberdeen and its harbourside communities. We’re excited to build on the success of last year and offer a programme of free family events, artist workshops, storytelling and music.”

Hayley Durward, CEO of Citymoves Dance Agency, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in the Festival of the Sea with our children’s summer camp, Shaper/Caper pop up dance performances, What Moves You performance at Balnagask care home and intergenerational street performance in Torry. The Festival of the Sea programme will help extend the Tall Ships reach into communities and across generations.”

Frances Coombey, Programmes at Operations Manager at Greyhope Bay Centre, said: “We’re really lucky to live in a city such an incredible and diverse coastline. The Festival of the Sea is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our connections to the coast through nature, heritage or creativity. We’re really excited to be working with our volunteers, local experts and artists to deliver a mix of fun and inspiring events for the Festival of the Sea programme.”

Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said: “Tall Ships Races Aberdeen is set to be Scotland’s biggest free family event this summer. I’m delighted that so many of Aberdeen’s art, culture, heritage and leisure organisations are supporting it with Festival of the Sea activities which are extending the impact of this major event for local people and visitors to the city.”

Organisations taking part in the Festival:
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen Arts Centre
Aberdeen City Libraries
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Aberdeen Sports Village
Aberdeen Young Ambassadors
Citymoves Dance Agency
Clan Cancer Support
Deemouth Artist Studios
Fittie Community Development Trust
Greyhope Bay Centre
Harbour Voices Choir
His Majesty’s Theatre
Music Hall
Old Aberdeen Library
Open Road
Pushing Out the Boat
Stonehaven Folk Festival
Torry Community Library
University of Aberdeen

For full programme details and booking information visit
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/festivalofthesea

Image L-R: Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, Lesley-Anne Rose of Open Road, Hayley Durward of Citymoves, Frances Coombey of Greyhope Bay Centre

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry Very Light Rail welcomes Simon Lightwood, Minister for Local Transport

Source: City of Coventry

As part of Better Transport Week, Simon Lightwood MP visited the CVLR track in the city centre.

Better Transport Week began on Monday, 16 June, and will run until 22 June. The annual event celebrates the importance of sustainable transport, which brings people together and connects communities.

Simon Lightwood was welcomed by Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Mayor Richard Parker, and Ben Plowden, CEO, Campaign for Better Transport. He was introduced to CVLR and the track installation process, followed by a visit and ride on the innovative vehicle.

Simon Lightwood, Minister for Local Transport, said: “I think it’s a fantastic innovation by the local authority, a really smooth, light, and airy ride. I can really see the benefits that it could bring, not only here in Coventry, but potentially to the rest of the world.”

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “There is no better place to celebrate Better Transport Week than in Coventry, where our innovation and manufacturing skills have enabled us to create a new very light rail system that has the potential to change how people move around small to medium sized cities. We are pleased to welcome Simon Lightwood, so we cannot only show him how brilliantly it works but also discuss the potential – that’s what’s really exciting.

“This system will create jobs for local people, and this is just the beginning of our plans to put Coventry Very Light Rail at the heart of the growing green economy here in Coventry.”

An interview with Simon Lightwood and Councillor O’Boyle is available to watch on YouTube.

Published: Friday, 20th June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: At least nine killed in car-truck collision in eastern India

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

NEW DELHI, June 20 (Xinhua) — At least nine people were killed on Friday when a car collided head-on with a truck in India’s eastern West Bengal state, local police said.

The accident took place on National Highway 18 near Namshola in Balarampur police station area of Purulia district, about 284 km west of the state capital Kolkata.

The car collided head-on with a truck traveling at high speed in the opposite direction. The incident killed all nine people in the car, a local police spokesman said. They were immediately taken to the nearest hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that the driver of the vehicle lost control, causing a collision with a truck. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Around the Air Force: AFAS Expands Support, DoD Child Care Initiative, Microreactor Pilot Project

Source: United States Air Force

In this week’s look Around the Air Force, the Air Force Aid Society announces new aid categories to support DAF families; DoD is expanding child care initiatives to provide more options to military families; and Eielson AFB reaches a groundbreaking milestone for U.S. energy security.

MIL Security OSI –

June 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear and the Namibian Government Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Develop Namibian Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Infrastructure

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York, N.Y., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) to explore collaborative opportunities focused on developing the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain infrastructure within the Republic of Namibia.

The MoU represents a shared vision between NANO Nuclear and NIDA to add significant value to the country’s uranium resources, support industrial development, and create new opportunities for Namibian citizens within the global nuclear energy market. With Namibia already ranked among the world’s top uranium producers, the collaboration aims to help position the country as a key player in the emerging secure and diversified global nuclear fuel supply chain.

Figure 1 -NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Chief Executive Officer James Walker and Richwell Lukonga, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency following the signing of the MoU.

“This first step with NIDA reflects our long-term commitment to helping NIDA build a stable, localized, and internationally respected nuclear fuel supply chain in Namibia,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “We are proud to work alongside Namibia to ensure that its natural resources can power not only domestic progress but also global energy resilience.”

Under the MoU, NANO Nuclear and NIDA will work together to evaluate opportunities related to the development of infrastructure, technology transfer, education, job creation, and local workforce development in support of Namibia’s national nuclear energy development goals. NIDA will help coordinate government and stakeholder engagement, while NANO Nuclear will lead assessments related to industrial capability, fuel logistics, and potential international nuclear fuel supply contracts for NIDA.

“This collaboration with Namibia highlights our mission to position the Company as a leader in the global clean energy transition and reinforces our strategic intent to secure the resources necessary to fuel the future of nuclear energy in the United States and abroad,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear. “NANO Nuclear brings the advanced nuclear expertise and commercial vision that align well with NIDA’s development mandate. Through education, infrastructure, and responsible industrial development, this collaboration will unlock meaningful opportunities for the Namibian people while supporting NANO Nuclear’s broader strategy to de-risk and decentralize the nuclear fuel supply chain.”

Figure 2 – NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Chief Executive Officer James Walker and Richwell Lukonga, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency at the signing of the MoU.

As the world accelerates toward low-carbon energy solutions, the nuclear industry is experiencing a renaissance. By establishing Namibia as a trusted link in the global nuclear fuel supply chain, this collaboration will support energy security, economic diversification, and scientific advancement in southern Africa and beyond.

Initial work under the MoU will focus on identifying viable areas for investment, conducting feasibility studies, and facilitating engagements with other government bodies, technical institutions, and international stakeholders. The MoU also envisions expanding the collaboration into areas of training, joint venture development, and nuclear-ready industrial site planning.

NANO Nuclear and NIDA will also work to negotiate and enter into definitive agreement related to the collaboration in the future.

About Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA)

The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) is a commercial state-owned enterprise under Namibia’s Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade. NIDA’s mission is to drive inclusive and sustainable industrial development through investment facilitation, infrastructure development, and support for key growth sectors aligned with Namibia’s national development plans.

About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR^™Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR^™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR^™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include those regarding NANO Nuclear’s plans to collaborate with NIDA, and the goals of such collaboration, as described in this press release. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions or risks related to operations in Namibia, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the enacted ADVANCE Act and the May 23, 2025 presidential executive orders seeking to support nuclear energy, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

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The MIL Network –

June 21, 2025

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Steady improvements over recent decades

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