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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Business leaders back the UK Government’s Small Business Plan

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Business leaders back the UK Government’s Small Business Plan

    Business leaders from across business representative organisations, small and large businesses have endorsed the launch of the UK Government’s new Small Business Plan.

    Business leaders from across business representative organisations, small and large businesses have endorsed the launch of the UK Government’s new Small Business Plan.

    Small businesses across the UK will benefit from the most comprehensive support package in a generation. From faster payments and easier access to finance, to cutting red tape and launching a new Business Growth Service, we’re backing businesses to thrive.

    Business Groups 

    Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie, said: 

    Making sure businesses are paid on time, that our high streets thrive, and creating conditions in which everyone can start and succeed in business are crucial priorities for small businesses, communities and the economy. It’s very welcome that the Prime Minister has today made them his Government’s priorities. 

    I’m pleased that FSB and the Government have been able to work in lockstep on the bold and ambitious measures needed to tackle the scourge of late payment through legislation, and other pro-growth, pro-small business measures.  

    Today’s plan is an encouraging commitment from the Government to take the side of small businesses in the great growth challenge ahead. 

    Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder, Small Business Britain, said:  

    I am thrilled to see the Small Business Plan launched today, putting the nation’s smallest businesses at the heart of Government strategy where it should be. These job creators and economy builders will benefit from a huge boost to funding through the British Business Bank, a boost to skills, support for high streets and a long hoped for legislative backing for getting paid on time. We will not see economic growth without small business growth, so I am eager to get on and help the Government deliver on this agenda – and help small businesses regardless of their background start, grow and thrive. 

    Daniel Woolf, Enterprise Nation’s Head of Policy & Government Relations, said: 

    We welcome the Government’s new Small Business Plan as a serious attempt to reset the relationship between small firms and Government. Many of the commitments like digital adoption and access to affordable finance reflect the everyday challenges our members experience, and several directly align with recommendations Enterprise Nation has set out in recent policy work.   

    We’re particularly pleased to see a comprehensive approach to late payment reform, including shorter payment terms and stronger enforcement through the Small Business Commissioner. 90-day payment terms stop small businesses from investing and growing. 

    This is a strong foundation. Enterprise Nation looks forward to working with government to help ensure these policy ambitions turn into measurable outcomes for small businesses across the UK.  

    Philip Salter, Founder of The Entrepreneurs Network, said: 

    Small businesses are where opportunity begins – new jobs, new skills and new ideas. Practical help, such as being paid on time, easy access to advice and finance, and less administrative burden, makes a real difference. 

    In a world where online banking, accounting software and e-invoicing exist, it’s completely unacceptable that so many burgeoning startups see their growth stall due to late payments. At its worst, they can send perfectly good businesses to the wall – leaving Britain’s economy less dynamic and competitive. Founders in our network will hope the measures outlined today mean it is the beginning of the end for late payments.  

    Fiona Graham, Chief Operating Officer for Family Business UK said:  

    Family Business UK welcomes today’s publication of the Small Business Plan as a positive step towards creating a fairer and more resilient environment for small family-run firms.  We are pleased to see many of the areas highlighted by our members addressed in this plan. 

    Family businesses make up over 85% of all private sector firms in the UK and are deeply rooted in their communities. But like many small businesses, they are held back by red tape and limited access to finance and support – challenges that this plan rightly seeks to address. 

    The announcement of a Business Growth Service will give small family-run businesses the tools they need to grow, scale up and expand into international markets, as well as streamlining essential advice and support into one national platform. This will give small businesses peace of mind that support is readily available and easily accessible when they are looking to invest and grow. 

    We look forward to continuing to support small businesses as the initiatives in this plan are developed and rolled out.  We are also committed to working with DBT in the development of a future strategy to ensure that mid-sized businesses are also getting the bespoke support they need. 

    Liz Barclay, IoD Special Advisor for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and former Small Business Commissioner, said: 

    We welcome this commitment to ensuring that small businesses are paid on time and that larger suppliers are prevented from imposing unfair contractual payment terms beyond 60 days. This will give small and micro firms the certainty they need to invest, increase productivity, and grow.   

    We look forward to working with the government as the legislation takes shape, ensuring that there are no unintended consequences for businesses.  

    Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive Officer, Make UK, said: 

    Manufacturers across the country will welcome the Government’s decisive action to tackle late payments. For too long, delayed invoices have drained cashflow, delayed innovation, and damaged businesses, particularly the thousands of small and medium-sized firms for whom late payments are one of the most consistent challenges to their survival and success. 

    Today’s announcement rightly recognises that supporting manufacturing SMEs is essential to unlocking wider economic growth. The introduction of the toughest late payment laws in the G7 sends a clear signal that poor payment practices will no longer be tolerated. 

    These reforms, combined with new powers for the Small Business Commissioner, will help create a culture of fairness and accountability across supply chains. Coupled with real enforcement, this Small Business Plan will give manufacturers the confidence and certainty they need to innovate, grow, and create even more high-skill, high-paying jobs in the UK. 

    Alan Vallance, ICAEW Chief Executive, said:  

    The UK’s economy is made up of small businesses, with 99 per cent of the total business population, two-fifths of all private sector employment and over half of the nation’s business turnover. Small businesses are key to growth, and it’s important that they can operate in the best environment to propel them into the business stars of the future, creating more growth, employment and prosperity for all parts of the UK. 

    Chartered accountants are central to this story. As trusted business advisers, they provide expertise and acumen to allow small businesses to thrive and scale up, and often set up small businesses of their own. About 80 per cent of chartered accountancy firms are small businesses themselves, employing four employees or fewer. 

    The publication of the Small Business Strategy is an important development to help small businesses realise their potential. With its ambition on entrepreneurship, business advice, late payments and export potential, as well as its close links to the UK Modern Industrial Strategy and Professional and Business Services Sector Plan, it is clear that chartered accountants will make a strong contribution to its success. 

    Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, said:  

    We welcome the Government’s Small Business Plan and the steps that it has put forward to support SMEs across the UK. The wider measures announced today on late payments and access to additional finance sit alongside a raft of new licensing measures that will slash red tape and support the hospitality sector, making it easier to open and operate hospitality venues, create jobs and grow the economy. 

    I’m personally very happy to have worked with Government to move us toward a new and improved licensing system that includes modernised planning and licensing rules, hospitality zones, and protections for existing venues. These can provide a real boost to the nation’s pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels. 

    We’ve worked on some of these issues for more than two decades so we now need swift implementation, while we keep up the momentum on outstanding issues, to deliver a bold, long term plan for the high streets and hospitality. 

    Vicks Rodwell, Managing Director at IPSE, The Self-Employed Association, said: 

    Late payments can force freelancers out of business, but obscenely long payment terms for work can put just as much of a strain on the self-employed. It’s hugely encouraging that the Prime Minister is determined to tackle both these issues with the measures in today’s plan” 

    It’s not right that freelancers can fall behind on their own bills, and even into debt, whilst the money they’ve earned sits in a bank account for months on end. 

    By clamping down on late invoices and long payment terms, government can tear down one of the biggest barriers to growth for freelancers and sole traders. 

    Millie Kendall MBE, CEO of British Beauty Council, said:  

    The beauty industry – encompassing hair, beauty, nails, barbering, spa and wellness – is made up of 95% small businesses and 78% micro-businesses, contributing more than £30bn to the UK GDP. The British Beauty Council welcomes the Government’s Small Business Plan which sees policy-makers put our businesses first. For years, the beauty sector has faced unique challenges when it comes to growth, this plan is a much needed step towards ensuring our industry – which bolsters social mobility and opportunities for underrepresented communities – can sustain growth. 

    Small Businesses  

    Elizabeth Vega OBE DUniv, Group CEO, Informed Solutions: 

    This Small Business Plan is the strongest and clearest we’ve seen in over a decade. It is a compelling way forward for the UK’s economy. 

    The Strategy reflects a truly collegiate and collaborative effort between government, policy experts, and the over 1,000 SMEs that contributed. 

    Having advocated for SME policy that supports economic growth and resilience for over 15 years, it’s been a pleasure to work alongside Minister Gareth Thomas, DBT policy teams, and the Small Business Growth Forum to shape a strategy with clear aims, ambitious objectives, and a holistic integrated approach to policy development. 

    I’m excited to now turn the shared ambitions in this Strategy into action, helping realise the UK’s full economic potential through SME growth and international trade. 

    Simon Groom, CEO of MagnifyB, said:  

    MagnifyB welcomes the UK Government’s action to tackle late payments, which will give small businesses the cash flow stability they need to thrive. Alongside this, there is a clear need to provide micro and small businesses with far more than just a repository of information, including a practical digital toolset to strengthen their operations and improve their chances of long-term success. We hope that the new Small Business Commissioner can be instrumental in bringing together ideas and championing the initiatives needed to make this support a reality. 

    Julianne Ponan MBE, Founder of Creative Nature, a small business that exports top 14 Allergen Free Baking Mixes and Snacks to 16 countries, said:  

    I’m delighted to see the government’s new SME Strategy recognising the critical role small businesses play both at home and globally. 

    From tackling late payments to simplifying access to growth advice and support, these measures are a lifeline for SMEs like mine who often face disproportionate challenges with limited resources. 

    I’m especially encouraged by the commitment to reduce administrative burdens by 25% and improve access to finance both are major barriers to growth for underrepresented founders, including women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs. The focus on revitalising the high street, digital skills, and exporting support shows that the government is listening to the needs of small businesses. 

    Charlie Shaw, owner of Flock and Herd butchers, said: 

    We’re proud to pay every supplier on time and once we receive an invoice, so it’s fantastic to see the government put the Small Business Plan into place tackling the big issue of late payments. We believe this is a fair and honest way to conduct business. It gives us a clear and current understanding of how our business is performing. Our relationships with our suppliers have been amazing and truly beneficial to all parties. 

    Richard Marshall, Founder and CEO of Pall Mall Barbers, said: 

    Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy — and they need access to affordable finance and a fairer tax system to plan and grow. That’s why I look forward to working with the Government to drive down costs on the high street, extend business rates relief, and improve access to finance so SMEs can invest, hire, and build with confidence.  

    Today’s announcement is about backing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to thrive — not just for today, but for the long term. 

    Large Businesses  

    Nick Mackenzie, CEO of Greene King and co-chair of the Licensing Taskforce commented on the licensing response published today. He said:  

    As an industry we welcome the licensing proposals and see this as a positive and necessary step towards updating a planning and licensing system that, for too long, has limited hospitality’s ability to drive economic growth across the UK. I thank the industry and the Taskforce for the serious and meaningful recommendations that we have put forward to bring these proposals to fruition.

    It’s encouraging to see how the Government has worked at pace to take forward the proposals, particularly in areas that matter the most, including the introduction of a new National Licensing Policy Framework.

    Whilst licencing reform won’t offset the significant layered cost of doing business that the industry bears, they form part of wider changes to back the sector, which will support in unlocking opportunities for pubs to further invest in growth across the country.

    Steve Hare, Chief Executive Officer at Sage, said:  

    Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy – they drive growth, create jobs, and fuel innovation. But running a small business isn’t easy. From rising costs and late payments to time-consuming admin, the challenges are real and persistent. Today’s Strategy is a welcome step in the right direction. Giving small businesses better access to finance, helping them break into new markets, and supporting them to adopt the latest technology will go a long way in helping them grow and succeed. 

    Leigh Thomas, Vice President EMEA, Intuit, said:  

    Today’s Small Business Plan is a welcome and much needed initiative for entrepreneurs. Our data shows that with an average of £21,000 owed in unpaid invoices, more than half of our country’s small businesses are now facing cash flow pressures. These pressures can quickly escalate, forcing many small business owners to make difficult financial decisions to keep operations running. Improving payment practices will play a key role in strengthening small business stability, creating the conditions for growth. We look forward to collaborating on this to power prosperity for all. 

    James Holian, Head of Business Banking, NatWest, said:  

    We welcome the Government’s renewed focus on tackling late payments for small businesses. This is a long-standing challenge that we know can hold back growth and innovation, and NatWest is proud to have been recognised for several consecutive years by Good Business Pays for being a leading business in making fast payments to our suppliers.  

    As a leading lender to UK SMEs, we’re committed to playing our part—whether that’s through prompt payment practices, tailored financial support, or initiatives like our accelerator hubs – where this year we’re aiming to support 10,000 businesses for the first time. Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, and we’re proud to support them in building resilience and unlocking their full potential. 

    Tom Wood, Head of Business Banking, HSBC UK, said:  

    We welcome the additional support the Small Business Plan provides, SMEs are key to a strong and resilient economy and we must equip them with the tools to succeed at every stage of their growth journey. It is vital we all work together to deliver long-term, practical solutions, including more transparent and accessible financing to ensure long-term growth and economic stability. Recognising the challenges SMEs face, HSBC UK recently launched the Small Business Growth Programme, providing business owners with resources to help early-stage businesses grow with confidence. 

    Wider Civil Society Organisations 

    Terry Corby, Founder and CEO, Good Business Pays, said:  

    This is what we have been waiting for. The legislative changes the government are planning to tackle our late payment culture are a game-changer. It is no longer seen as good business practice to be making your suppliers wait for a long time to get paid. At Good Business Pays we have been asking for legislative action for five years and it’s great to see these changes to unfair practices being set out in laws. 

    Anthony Impey MBE, CEO of Be the Business, said:  

    A strategic approach is essential to unlock the huge potential of small and medium-sized businesses, and it’s key to driving the country’s productivity and growth. The Small Business Plan is an important step in achieving this.  

    Business Support Services 

    Nicki Clark, Chief Executive of UMi, said:  

    At UMi, we see first-hand the incredible impact small businesses have, but also the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.  This Small Business Plan, including the launch of the Business Growth Service, is a positive step towards making it easier for small businesses to find and access the support and finance they need to survive and thrive.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Youth Leader Fund for World without Nuclear Weapons Announces New Group of Youth to Receive Training in Disarmament, Leadership, Storytelling

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    NEW YORK, 31 July 2025 (Office for Disarmament Affairs) – One hundred young participants from 61 countries around the world have been selected to join the second phase of the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons, an interactive learning programme funded by the Government of Japan and managed by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.  Through online courses, meetings with diplomats and other experts and the development of creative projects, the Youth Leader Fund will equip these young leaders with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to contribute to the global effort to eliminate nuclear weapons — the most dangerous weapons on Earth.

    The 100 selected leaders, aged 18 to 29, were chosen from over 8,400 applications — an overwhelming response that speaks to the increasing interest, passion and commitment of youth to peace and disarmament efforts.

    The new cohort of youth leaders was announced and celebrated during the launch event for the second phase of the Programme, held on 31 July 2025 at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations in New York City.  The hybrid-format event featured a video message from the Government of Japan, followed by in-person remarks by Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.  The newly selected youth participants, members of the first phase of Youth Leader Funder, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs staff, as well as delegates from other Member States also attended the event online and in-person.  Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, delivered a closing remark.

    “In challenging times, the creative and transformative power of youth offers renewed hope for change.  Through the YLF programme, we reaffirm our commitment to young people as architects of the future, building peace upon the foundations laid by the past:  the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki reminds us of the urgent need to keep nuclear disarmament at the heart of the United Nations’ efforts, as it has been since its inception,” stated Ms. Nakamitsu.

    “I would like to congratulate all of you who were selected from among the many applicants to participate in this second cohort.  As the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) are ageing, the role of the younger generations, such as yourselves, is becoming even more significant in passing on the realities of the atomic bombings and in conveying them broadly throughout the world,” stated Iwaya Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, in a video message.

    The event featured an intergenerational dialogue between Youth Leader Fund participants and a hibakusha from Nagasaki, highlighting the crucial role of youth in carrying forward the legacy of survivors.  This was followed by a panel discussion, focusing on youth, education and disarmament in the context of the eightieth anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the adoption of the UN Charter.

    Through the Youth Leader Fund programme, participants will gain a fundamental understanding of key issues related to disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control.  Following successful completion of the e-learning component, 50 participants will be selected for a fully funded study tour to Japan, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where they will engage with hibakusha and international and local youth in Japan, with whom they will organize a conference to foster meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas.

    In this second phase of the Youth Leader Fund, young people will explore subjects such as the human cost of nuclear weapons, the role of the United Nations in multilateral disarmament efforts and the impact of nuclear armament on gender and on the environment.  Participants will also engage in skills workshops on leadership and negotiation and a new creative component focusing on journalism and storytelling to communicate about nuclear disarmament in impactful, effective and human-centred ways.

    Under the Youth4Disarmament umbrella, the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs aims to promote youth engagement, education and capacity-building to advance in disarmament and non-proliferation goals.  This includes connecting geographically diverse young people with experts to learn and exchange ideas about current international security challenges, the work of the United Nations and ways to actively participate, building the path towards a secure common future.

    To learn more about the Youth Leader Fund, please visit: disarmamenteducation.org/ylf.

    Contact:  youthleaderfund@un.org.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools to Hold First Meeting

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (July 31, 2025) — On Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., the Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools, chaired by Sen. John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), will hold its first hearing.

    EVENT DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
    • Time: 1:00 p.m.
    • Location: Mercer University, President’s Dining Room – 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA, 31207
    • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

    ABOUT THE MEETING:         

    The Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools, created through Senate Resolution 217, will examine the root causes and long-term impacts of chronic absenteeism among Georgia students. This bipartisan committee will work with educators, parents, policymakers, and community leaders to explore effective, research-backed strategies, such as early intervention and targeted support programs, that can help reduce absenteeism and improve student success.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Zach Pishock at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.  

    # # # #

    Sen. John F. Kennedy represents the 18th Senate District, which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston County. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Nearly $11 Million for Great Trails State Program Projects in the Piedmont

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces Nearly $11 Million for Great Trails State Program Projects in the Piedmont

    Governor Stein Announces Nearly $11 Million for Great Trails State Program Projects in the Piedmont
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has awarded nearly $11 million to trail development and restoration projects in the Piedmont. The General Assembly authorized these funds as part of the Great Trails State Program. 

    “The Piedmont is known for its cities and world-class universities, but from Pilot Mountain to the Haw River, it’s also home to some of our state’s most amazing wildlife and natural wonders,” said Governor Stein. “This funding will spur local tourism and encourage more people to explore North Carolina’s incredible beauty.”

    “Trails bring outstanding benefits to both urban and rural communities, boosting tourism and economic development,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “This generous funding, made possible by the N.C. General Assembly, will help transform the state trails system in the Great Trails State.”

    The General Assembly established the Great Trails State Program in 2023, representing a historic investment of $25 million in North Carolina trails. The program offers matching grants to North Carolina local governments, public authorities, NC Regional Councils of Government, and nonprofit organizations. 

    These awards include projects at more than 70 local trails throughout the state, helping to solidify North Carolina as the Great Trails State. In the Piedmont, 37 local trail projects will benefit from $10,923,111 in Great Trails State Program funding, including improvements to the Haw River State Trail and maintenance on the American Tobacco Trail. Governor Stein previously announced more than $13 million in funding to create and restore trails in western and eastern North Carolina.

    “The 125 member organizations of the Great Trails State Coalition thank the North Carolina General Assembly for creating and funding the Great Trails State Program,” said Palmer McIntyre, director of the N.C. Great Trails State Coalition. “This visionary investment in all types of trails across the state will deliver transformative economic, health, and quality-of-life benefits for communities of all sizes. The Coalition will continue to work alongside N.C. State Parks to support this program.” 

    Local communities applied for grants to fund new trail development or to extend existing trails. This includes paved trails or greenways, natural surface trails, biking trails, equestrian trails, and any other type of trail the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources recognizes. Projects could include planning and feasibility studies, design and engineering, acquisition of land for trail development, trail construction, and maintenance of existing trails. Applicants were required to provide matching funds, based on their county tier designation. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation received 89 applications requesting $28 million, and 79 projects were selected. More than $44.5 million was provided in matching funds for a total trails investment exceeding $69.3 million.

    Piedmont North Carolina grant recipients and amounts: 

    • Alamance County: Alamance County, $150,000 for HRST – Riverwide Enhancements
    • Alamance County: Alamance County, $190,000 for Shallow Ford Expansion and Enhancements
    • Cabarrus County: City of Concord, $500,000 for Concord McEachern Greenway Extension
    • Cabarrus County: City of Kannapolis, $145,000 for Irish Buffalo Creek Greenway Phase 2
    • Chatham County: Chatham County, $251,294 for Haw River State Trail Pegg Tract Improvements
    • Chatham County: Chatham County, $75,000 for Deep River State Trail Feasibility Study for Chatham County
    • Davidson County: City of Thomasville, $100,000 for Memorial Park Drive Greenway Expansion Design & Engineering
    • Durham County: City of Durham, $500,000 for American Tobacco Trail Maintenance
    • Durham County: Durham County, $500,000 for Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Corridor Acquisition
    • Durham and Wake County: Triangle Land Conservancy, $137,092 for Old Creedmoor Trail System
    • Forsyth County: Piedmont Triad Regional Council, $500,000 for Piedmont Greenway: Triad Park/Reedy Fork Segment – Phases 1 and 2
    • Franklin County: Town of Franklinton, $500,000 for Franklinton Nature Preserve
    • Franklin County: Town of Louisburg, $100,000 for Joyner Park Trail Project
    • Granville County: Town of Butner, $500,000 for East Lyon Station Greenway Extension
    • Guilford County: Town of Summerfield, $500,000 for Bandera Farms Park Trails: Piedmont Greenway + Equestrian Trails
    • Harnett County: Harnett County, $230,538 for South River Road Greenway – Phase 1
    • Hoke County: City of Raeford, $175,480 for City Pond Trails and Park Design and Engineering
    • Johnston County: Town of Selma, $500,000 for Selma MST Nature Preserve Trail Phase I
    • Johnston County: Johnston County, $225,000 for Neuse River Trail – Talton Property
    • Orange County: Town of Chapel Hill, $399,000 for Construction of Tanyard Branch Trail Neighborhood Connector
    • Orange County: Orange County, $101,178 for Seven Mile Creek Natural Area Mountains-to-Sea Trail Expansion
    • Randolph County: City of Asheboro, $134,000 for North Asheboro Greenway Design and Engineering
    • Randolph County: Randolph County, $175,000 for DRST Harlan Creek Bridge Design/Engineering
    • Randolph County: Randolph County, $172,000 for Randleman Dam to Randleman Blueway/Paddleway
    • Randolph County: City of Archdale, $143,250 for Hope Valley Road Trail Extension
    • Rockingham County: Town of Mayodan, $251,185 for Farris Memorial Park Trail
    • Rockingham County: Rockingham County Tourism Development Authority, $298,872 for Hogan’s Creek Trail
    • Rowan County: Town of Spencer, $460,000 for Stanback Educational Forest – Rocky Branch Loop Trail
    • Union County: Village of Marvin, $491,925 for Marvin Loop Greenway Completion Project
    • Union County: Town of Waxhaw, $250,000 for Twelve Mile Creek Greenway – Prescot Connector
    • Wake County: Town of Holly Springs, $300,000 for Middle Creek to Camp Branch Greenway
    • Wake County: City of Raleigh, $350,000 for Forest Ridge Park Mountain Bike Trail Extension Project
    • Wake County: City of Raleigh, $400,000 for Marsh Creek Trail Corridor Planning & Feasibility Study
    • Wake County: Town of Apex, $200,000 for Design and Engineering for Reedy Branch Greenway
    • Wake County: Town of Wendell, $500,000 for Buffalo Creek Greenway Phase I
    • Wake County: Town of Morrisville, $417,297 for Sawmill Creek Greenway
    • Warren County: Warren County, $100,000 for Buck Spring Trail Accessibility Improvements 
    Jul 31, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: “We support the efforts currently being led by the United States in the region to get an immediate ceasefire”

    Source: France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development

    Published on July 31, 2025

    Excerpts from the interview given by M. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, to France 24 (New York, July 29, 2025)

    You consider the two-state solution to be the only way of achieving peace. So you’re confirming Emmanuel Macron’s desire to recognize a Palestinian State. Why do so only now? What’s changed?

    THE MINISTER – Because the two-state solution, which is the only one likely to bring peace and stability to the region, is in mortal danger, and the conditions had to be created for it to become credible again. That’s why around nine months ago we decided, with Saudi Arabia, to undertake an initiative to create momentum leading those involved – the Palestinian Authority and the region’s Arab countries, but also the whole international community – to make commitments. These commitments are crystallizing in New York today with a statement by the participating countries, which is historic and unprecedented in that the Arab countries – the countries of the region, of the Middle East – are, for the first time, condemning Hamas, condemning 7 October [attacks], calling for the disarmament of Hamas, calling for it to be excluded from participating in any way in Palestine’s governance and clearly voicing their intention to have normalized relations with Israel in the future and be part of a regional organization on the lines of ASEAN in Asia or the OSCE in Europe, alongside Israel and the future State of Palestine. This is a decisive step being taken, made possible by President Macron’s decision, among other things.

    And a moment ago, the United Kingdom announced that it’s going to recognize Palestine as well, if Israel doesn’t make certain commitments. Do you welcome this decision by Prime Minister Keir Starmer? Has momentum been created?

    THE MINISTER – I welcome it. Indeed, the United Kingdom has become part of the movement created by France to recognize the State of Palestine. With these crucial decisions announced by France and the UK, with the combined efforts of the whole international community gathered here in New York, we want to counter the cycle of violence and war and reopen the prospect of peace in the Middle East.

    The United States isn’t participating in the conference taking place in New York at the moment. Regarding your initiative to advocate for a two-state solution, it’s denouncing an unproductive, ill-timed initiative resembling a publicity stunt. Donald Trump also reckoned that the statement by President Macron a little earlier, last Thursday, doesn’t carry any weight. What’s your reply to him?

    THE MINISTER – Firstly, we support the efforts currently being led by the United States in the region to get an immediate ceasefire, the release of all Hamas’ hostages and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance. But to secure a ceasefire, we still have to sketch out what happens after the war and the political horizon that goes with it. That’s the goal of this UN conference that France is chairing with Saudi Arabia. And in the document we’ve just adopted, with the countries that were part of it, we’re mapping out a credible prospect that’s going to make a positive contribution to a ceasefire being reached in Gaza. Moreover, these efforts we’ve led, these concessions the various parties have made will, at some point, enable the United States to resume the Abraham Accords process that it began during President Trump’s first term. We hope this time will come. But in the meantime, it was obviously unthinkable to stand by and do nothing. (…)

    You said in New York that the two-state solution is the only possibility, that there’s no alternative. Given the situation on the ground for the moment, the two-state solution, as you’ve said yourself, is virtually dead. Isn’t there an alternative, though: for this Israeli Government gradually to bring the idea of any Palestinian State to a definitive end, annex the West Bank – in short, make “Greater Israel” a reality?

    THE MINISTER – You’re right, the alternative to the two-state solution is a state of permanent war. And what we’re seeing today is the two-state solution being threatened, on the one hand, by supporters of “Greater Israel”, who want to deny Palestinians the right to self-determination, and attacked, on the other, by supporters of Hamas or others, who believe Palestine extends from the River Jordan to the sea. Through the historic decision President Macron took, which the British Prime Minister has just taken and others will take, through the commitments being made in New York by the Arab countries today, we’re agreeing with everyone else, the side of peace against the side of war. We’re reopening the possibility of a peace that will involve the two States living side by side in peace and security, with security for Israel and the right of the Palestinians to have their own State.

    Yesterday, for the first time, two Israeli NGOs used the term genocide to refer to what’s happening in Gaza. Several countries have described what’s happening in the Palestinian enclave in that way. That’s the case with Spain and South Africa in particular. What’s France’s position today?

    THE MINISTER – The French Government has no position to take on the legal description of the facts. That’s up to the international courts. What I can say is that the situation in Gaza is disastrous. Gaza is now a death trap where, as I said yesterday from the United Nations General Assembly rostrum, bodies bear the scars of famine and minds are ravaged by terror. It’s unacceptable that in humanitarian distribution queues, women and children are targeted and shot down in cold blood. It’s outrageous and it must stop. That’s why the meeting which was held in Brussels today – or will be held in a few minutes’ time – is so important. It will lead the European Union to speak out so that the Israeli Government finally hears our expectations: access for humanitarian aid and an end to the militarized aid-distribution system, payment by the Israeli Government of the €2 billion due to the Palestinian Authority, an end to, and the abandonment of, the pernicious settlement plans in the West Bank, and in particular the E1 plan for 3,400 housing units, which would cut the West Bank in two and strike a fatal blow to the prospect of two States and to the emergence of a State of Palestine./.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ithaca Man Arrested for Enticement of a Minor and Distribution of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David Pastorello was Pending Sentencing on State Charges for Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – David Pastorello, age 44, of Ithaca, New York, was arrested Tuesday evening and had his initial appearance on Wednesday on charges of enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    The complaint alleges that Pastorello sent text messages to a girl under the age of 12, repeatedly requesting that the child have sex with him. Pastorello also sent the victim indecent images of himself, in addition to two images constituting child pornography under federal law. Later, Pastorello entered the victim’s apartment without permission before fleeing. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Prior to this offense, in May 2025, Pastorello was arraigned in Tompkins County Court for the New York State offense of possessing a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old. In July 2025, just a few days prior to the incident that gave rise to the federal charges, Pastorello pled guilty in Cortland County Court to the New York State offense of disseminating indecent material to a minor. The Cortland County case was reset for sentencing. Pastorello was out on bond in both pending state cases.

    Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Thanks to the quick work of federal, state, and local law enforcement, children have been protected and a dangerous predator has been apprehended. Despite having committed other crimes relating to child sexual abuse, Pastorello was allowed by state authorities to be out of custody. His new crimes demonstrate how dangerously unwise that decision was. Pastorello will be held fully accountable for the federal offenses he has committed.”

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Pastorello, a repeat offender with an alarming criminal history, is a dangerous predator who is now facing serious federal charges. These charges would not have been possible without the incredible assistance and coordination provided by our partners from the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca Police Department, and New York State Police. Our communities should know the FBI is committed to leveraging these strong partnerships to bring the full weight of the federal government down on these disturbing predators looking to harm our children.”

    Following the initial appearance, Pastorello was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further proceedings.

    If convicted of enticement of a minor, Pastorello faces a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and for distribution of child pornography, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Pastorello would also be required to register as a sex offender if convicted.

    The FBI and New York State Police are conducting this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hogback Man Charged After Violent Altercation Involving Firearm Leaves Woman Injured

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Hogback man is facing federal charges after an argument escalated into violence in front of multiple witnesses

    According to court documents, on June 19, 2025, Renaldo Descheny, 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted Jane Doe by strangling her and striking her in the face with a firearm. The assault resulted in a laceration requiring hospital treatment. During the altercation, Descheny also pointed the firearm at multiple individuals and discharged the weapon several times, including firing towards the vehicle as the victims attempted to flee.

    Descheny is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Descheny faces up to 10 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: TAB Bank Q2 Loans Fund Growth for 218 Companies Totaling $66 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OGDEN, Utah, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TAB Bank funded growth for 218 companies in Q2 2025 with loans totaling $66 million. Companies signed with TAB Bank for working capital, cash flow management through factoring, equipment purchases and small business lines of credit. Businesses in the manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, food, fintech and toy/game industries selected TAB Bank as their financial partner.

    Highlights of some of the largest Q2 2025 deals include:

    • $8 million—A leader in global sourcing, supply chain management, manufacturing and nearshoring solutions in Ohio.
    • $5 million—Package Steel Systems, of Massachusetts, the premier builder of metal buildings in the Northeast.
    • $5 million—An exotic and collector car financing dealer in Utah.
    • $5 million—A toy, puzzle and gaming company based in California.
    • $2.5 million— Ryan Transportation, Inc., a Michigan-based truckload transportation provider.

    Additionally, in Q2, TAB Bank provided equipment financing to 140 companies, with a combined value of $15.2 million. Nine companies in the transportation sector—the core industry of the bank’s beginnings—received term loans and accounts receivable lines of credit ranging from $40,000 to $300,000. TAB also funded 55 small- to medium-sized businesses.

    “TAB Bank is a key financial partner, whether a company is looking for creative ways to manage cash flow or to leverage cash or assets to maximize growth,” said Justin Hatch, Chief Lending Officer at TAB Bank. “Our expertise in financing, along with our experience in many industries, allows us to take a comprehensive, creative and strategic view of the business goals and then structure the deal that best meets those needs. We are with our companies every step of the journey, even in some of their most difficult times.”

    The bank’s services include working capital, equipment financing, term loans, lines of credit and commercial real estate loans. TAB Bank’s specialists ensure each client is matched with the right financial product for their industry and growth stage. The bank supports businesses with stellar credit and those without, requiring alternative assessments. To determine creditworthiness, the bank considers various factors, such as income and operational history.

    For more information on TAB Bank’s capital financing and credit solutions, visit TABBank.com.

    About TAB Bank
    At TAB Bank, our mission is to unlock dreams with bold financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses nationwide. We are committed to building value in all we do through our innovative banking products.   Our dedication drives us to continuously improve, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our clients with excellence and agility. For over 25 years, we have remained steadfast in offering tailored, technology-enabled solutions designed to simplify and enhance the banking experience. 

    For more information about how we can help you achieve your financial dreams, visit www.TABBank.com.

    Contact Information:
    Trevor Morris
    Director of Marketing
    801-710-6318
    trevor.morris@tabbank.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As protesters condemn Western media ‘complicity’, Gaza journalists struggle for survival

    Asia Pacific Report

    Protesters demonstrated outside several major US media outlets in Washington this week condemning their coverage of the genocide in Gaza, claiming they were to blame over misinformation and the worsening catastrophe.

    Banging pots and pans to spotlight the starvation crisis, they accused the media of “complicity in genocide”.

    Banners and placards proclaimed “Stop media complicity in genocide” and “US media manufactures consent for Israel’s crimes”, as the protesters demonstrated outside media offices that included NBC News and Fox News.

    But the irony was that while the protests appeared to have been ignored or overlooked by national media in the US – and certainly in New Zealand, they were strongly reported by at least one global news agency, Turkey’s Anadolu Agensi.

    The protests echoed a series of statements by various news media organisations, such as Agence France-Presse concerned about the safety of their journalists from both under fire and the risk of starvation, and media freedom advocacy groups.

    The Doha-based global television news network Al Jazeera, that has been producing arguably the best and most honest news coverage of Gaza and the occupied West Bank – which earned it being banned last year by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority from reporting inside their territory — called for global action to protect Gaza’s journalists.

    It said in a statement that Isael’s forced starvation of the besieged enclave that threatened Gaza’s entire population, including those “risking their lives to shed light on Israel’s atrocities”.

    Death toll passes 60,000
    On Tuesday this week, the world noted a grim milestone in Gaza, with the Health Ministry announcing that the death toll had surpassed 60,000 (this does not include the tens of thousands of people buried under the rubble and missing, presumed dead).

    Put in perspective, that is one in every 36 people in Gaza killed, and more than 90 people on average slaughtered every day.

    Also, 1157 people have been killed near the notorious Israel and US-backed Gaza “Humanitarian” Foundation food depots condemned as “death traps”, while 154 people have died from starvation, 89 of them children with the numbers rising.


    Israel’s genocide – ‘Everyone in Gaza is starving’       Video: Al Jazeera

    An episode of the weekly media watch programme, The Listening Post, took up the theme as well, criticising the failure of many high profile Western news services from adequately reporting the horror of Israel’s devastating and cruel policies.

    “When trying to stave off starvation becomes part of the job. What it means to be a Palestinian journalist in Gaza. The stories they are determined to tell, the incredible risks they are prepared to take,” said host Richard Gizbert when introducing the programme. He wasted no time firing a few caustic shots.

    Metropolitan police on watch for the pro-Palestinian protesters outside Fox News offices in Washington DC this week. Image: AA screenshot APR

    “What is unfolding in Gaza now has the appearance of a final solution, orchestrated by Israel and the United States, Israel’s other ally: The transformation of parts of the Gaza strip into starvation and concentration camps, a place where famine has been turned into a weapon of war,” he said.

    “Reporting on the reality of this genocide can amount to a death sentence. Palestinian journalists can easily identify with the suffering they are documenting since they too are going hungry.

    “They have been targeted because for [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu, like other genocidal leaders before him, starving a population is much easier to do when no one is watching.

    An Al Jazeera reporter ducks for cover as bombs hit a building behind her in a live broadcast from Gaza . . . featured in The Listening Post’s starvation report. Image: AA screenshot APR

    Perpetrator ‘left out’
    “Across Western mainstream media, news outlets have been unable to ignore this story of mass starvation in Gaza. But in report after report, they have made a habit of leaving out a key detail – naming the perpetrators of the famine, Israel.

    “The missing actors, the sanitised language, the use of the passive grammatical voice, it is all part of the playbook for far too many international news outlets and that is exactly what the few Palestinian journalists still standing are out to tell the world.”

    Gizbert explained that “journalists in Gaza already have the world’s toughest assignment”:
    “Job one for almost 22 months now has been survival; job two, telling heartbreaking stories; documenting a genocide while under fire.”

    Hossam Shabat reports on his colleague Anas al-Sharif’s experience at Al Shifa hospital and the starvation of babies in Gaza. Image: Instagram/@hossam_shbat

    Like, for example, Al Jazeera Arabic’s Anas al-Sharif who was reporting live from outside Al Shifa medical complex when a woman behind him collapsed at the hospital’s gate.

    Al-Sharif, who had reported on the genocide of his own people for more than 650 days without rest or complaint, through Israeli occupation airstrikes, drone attacks, and countless “scenes resembling hell”, suddenly could not take it anymore.

    He broke down: “People are falling to the ground from the severity of hunger,” al-Sharif said through his tears. “They need one sip of water. They need one loaf of bread.”

    Al-Sharif has also been threatened by the Israeli military, accusing him of being a “Hamas militant”, an accusation strongly denied by Al Jazeera, denouncing what it called Tel Aviv’s “campaign of incitement” against its reporters in the Gaza Strip.

    Discredited for bias
    Many Western mainstream media – including BBC, CNN, Sky, ITN, and Australia’s public broadcaster ABC — have been repeatedly discredited for their “pro-Israel bias” by scores of journalists who have acted as whistleblowers about the actions of their own news organisations.

    According to a Declassified UK report, for example, the journalists working for a range of outlets from across the political spectrum have “painted a consistent picture of the obstacles faced by reporters who want to humanise Palestinians or scrutinise Israeli government narratives”. The US media is also under attack and has been putting up a lame defence.

    Last week, more than 100 aid groups warned of “mass starvation” throughout Gaza — predictably denied by Israeli government in the face of overwhelming evidence — with their staff severely impacted by shortages and serious implications for journalists already being threatened with targeting by the Israeli military.

    Israel faces growing global pressure over the enclave’s dire humanitarian crisis, where more than two million people have endured 22 months of war. UN Security Council member France has led a group of countries announcing that they plan to recognise the Palestinian state at the UN in September, with United Kingdom, Canada, Malta and Finland among those following with the total number now almost 150 of the 193 UN member states.

    A statement with 111 signatories, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Save the Children and Oxfam, warned that “our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away”. The groups called for an immediate negotiated ceasefire, the opening of all land crossings and the free flow of aid through UN-led mechanisms.

    Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh reported from Amman that the Israeli government had accused the UK of supporting the establishment of a “jihadi” state and of derailing efforts to reach a ceasefire.

    “But really,” she said, “the Israeli media, for example, is describing this as a political tsunami, a realisation of how significant the tide is, and how improbable it is to turn it back to countries withholding recognition because Israel said it doesn’t want it.”

    Calling for sanctions
    She also noted how 31 high-profile Israelis, including the former speaker of the Knesset, a former attorney general, and several recipients of Israel’s highest cultural award, were calling on world governments to impose crippling sanctions on Israel to stop the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza and their expulsion

    “This was taboo just a few days ago and has never really been done before, certainly not at this level of prominence of the signatories,” Odeh added.

    “Israel is starving Gazan journalists into silence,” says the CPJ. Image: CPJ screenshot APR

    The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) added its voice to the appeal by aid agencies to call for an end to Israel’s starvation of journalists and other civilians in Gaza, backing the plea for states to “save lives before there are none left to save.”

    In a statement on its website, the CPJ accused Israel of “starving journalists into silence”.

    “Israel is starving Gazan journalists into silence. They are not just reporters, they are frontline witnesses, abandoned as international media were pulled out and denied entry,” said CPJ regional director Sara Qudah.

    “The world must act now: protect them, feed them, and allow them to recover while other journalists step in to help report. Our response to their courageous 650 plus-days of war reporting cannot simply be to let them starve to death.”

    ‘Bearing witness’ videos
    Also, last week the CPJ launched a “bearing witness” series of videos from Gaza giving voice to the challenges the journalists have been facing. In the first video, Moath al Kahlout described how his cousin had been shot dead while awaiting humanitarian aid.

    As Israel partially eased its 11-week total blockade of Gaza that began in May, CPJ published the testimony of six journalists who described how “starvation, dizziness, brain fog, and sickness” had threatened their ability to report.

    Among highlights cited by the CPJ:
    • On June 20, Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al Sharif — the journalist cited earlier in this article — posted online: “I am drowning in hunger, trembling in exhaustion, and resisting the fainting that follows me every moment . . .  Gaza is dying. And we die with it.”
    • Sally Thabet, correspondent for Al-Kofiya satellite channel, told CPJ that she fainted consciousness after doing a live broadcast on July 20 because she had not eaten all day. She regained consciousness in Al-Shifa hospital, where doctors gave her an intravenous drip for rehydration and nutrition. In an online video, she described how she and her three daughters were starving.
    • Another Palestinian journalist, Shuruq As’ad said Thabet had been the third journalist to collapse on air from starvation that week, and posted a photograph of Thabet with the drip in her hand.
    • During a live broadcast on July 20, Al-Araby TV correspondent Saleh Al-Natour said: “We have no choice but to write and speak; otherwise, we will all die.”

    Little of this horrendous state of affairs has made it onto the pages of newspapers, websites of the television screens in the New Zealand mainstream media which seems to have a pro-Israel slant and rarely interviews Palestinian journalists or analysts for balance.

    “Stop media complicity in genocide” says the protest banner in Washington DC. Image: AA screenshot APR

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Committee on Health Welcomes Findings of Health Ombud

    Source: APO


    .

    The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, notes and welcomes the report issued by the Health Ombudsman into the treatment and deaths of psychiatric patients at two Northern Cape hospitals.

    Dr Dhlomo said, the report tabled on Wednesday by the Health Ombud, Dr Taole Mokoena is concerning and disturbing as it reveals a deep lack of care at Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital, and Robert Sobukwe Hospital. “The findings of the report are unacceptable, they exposed patients did not receive the quality care that they duly deserve,” said Dr Dhlomo.

    Mental healthcare is of paramount importance and must always remain under public scrutiny, especially in the light of the tragic event at Life Esidimeni, stated Dr Dhlomo. The report highlights the necessity of ensuring that mental health should always be placed under the microscope as it affects vulnerable people.

    The committee commends the proactive steps initiated by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi who lodged a complaint to the Health Ombud. “This demonstrates a commitment of accountability by the Minister and the department to uncover challenges within psychiatric hospitals and the healthcare system,” added Dr Dhlomo.

    In ensuring that the committee provides adequate oversight, the committee will schedule a meeting and invite the Department of Health so that Members of the committee receive a comprehensive briefing. “The transformation of mental health needs to be safeguarded so that patients are treated with dignity,” emphasised Dr Dhlomo

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Museveni’s Leadership Praised in the House

    Source: APO


    .

    Members of Parliament have backed a motion thanking President Yoweri Museveni for the State of the Nation Address, delivered to the House and country on June 5, 2025.

    Hon. Faith Nakut (NRM, Napak district) who moved the motion during the House sitting on Thursday, 31 July 2025, highlighted the President’s achievements, including support for small businesses and increased national revenue. Legislators including Hon. Dicksons Kateshumbwa (NRM, Sheema Municipality) and Hon. Jane Avur (NRM, Pakwach district), seconded the motion, citing economic growth, job creation, and macroeconomic stability.

    Annually, Parliament debates and passes a motion appreciating the President for the clear and precise exposition of government policy as contained in the address.

    The members praised the government’s initiatives, such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, for transforming lives and boosting the economy. The MPs also commended the President’s efforts in promoting women’s leadership and stabilizing fuel prices.

    “These interventions increased Ugandan participation in production and trade. More Ugandans are into business now,” Nakut said.

    She added that national revenue has grown from Shs5 billion in 1986 to Shs31.9 trillion, while electricity generation has increased from 156 to 2,052 megawatts. She also praised the stabilisation of fuel prices and investment in mineral processing, which she said had created jobs and boosted the economy.

    Hon. Dicksons Kateshumbwa (NRM, Sheema Municipality), highlighted the country’s economic growth.

    “In 1986, our economy was US$3.92 million. It is now projected to hit US$ 60.4 billion,” he said, noting that Uganda is expected to grow at 7 percent in the coming financial year.

    He credited the government’s wealth creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and the Youth Livelihood Project for transforming lives.

    “Some people have touched a million shillings for the first time in their lives,” he said. On tourism, he cited growth in receipts from US$ 562 million in 2020 to US$ 1.4 billion in 2024, attributing the improvement to peace, infrastructure, and Uganda Airlines’ new international routes.

    Hon. Jane Avur (NRM, Pakwach District Woman Representative) also seconded the motion, commending the President for maintaining macroeconomic stability.

    “The Ugandan shilling has appreciated by 6.1 percent over the past year, and inflation is under control. Uganda has Africa’s second-lowest inflation rate over the past decade,” she said.

    Avur emphasised the importance of price stability, calling it a “crucial enabler of investment and economic predictability.”

    She also applauded export growth, noting a 26 percent increase to US$ 9.3 billion, and highlighted the impact on sectors like cosmetics, which employ over two million Ugandans, mostly women and youth.

    Speaker Anita Among welcomed the contributions, saying, “We have a stable economy. We have peace. And when you look at the development that is coming up, it is out of the exports and services that are creating jobs.”

    Hon. Hope Grania Nakazibwe (NRM, Mubende District) thanked the President for his role in promoting women’s leadership, noting that many women now hold key positions in government. “That came as a result of affirmative action,” she said, prompting applause from female MPs.

    Speaker Anita Among welcomed the contributions, emphasizing the importance of a stable economy and peace in driving development.

    The debate on the motion was deferred pending a statement in response to the President’s address from the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Fifth Annual Regional Economic Communities (RECs) Dialogue Advances Fisheries Governance in Africa

    Source: APO


    .

    Recognizing the critical role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in driving the implementation of continental fisheries policies and addressing region-specific priorities, AU-IBAR is hosting the Fifth Annual Dialogue with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) from 30th July to 1st August 2025 in Naivasha, Kenya. This critical gathering has brought together fisheries experts, policymakers and development partners to review progress on the Fisheries Governance Project Phase 2 (FishGov2) and chart the way forward for sustainable fisheries management across the continent.

    In her opening address, the Director of AU-IBAR, Dr Huyam Salih (represented by Mrs Hellen Guebama, AU-IBAR Fisheries Officer), emphasized the pivotal role of RECs in implementing continental fisheries policies while addressing regional priorities. She acknowledged the European Union’s continued support through FishGov2, which is currently in its final extension phase running until October 2026. The Director highlighted the project’s achievements in policy harmonization, capacity building, and the development of regional Blue Economy strategies, while stressing the need to modernize outdated legal frameworks that still govern fisheries in some member states.

    Participants at the dialogue are focusing on key recommendations to strengthen fisheries governance, including deeper involvement of RECs in decision-making processes, adaptation of continental policies to local contexts, and sustained financial and technical support for regional initiatives. The discussions are laying the groundwork for a potential third phase of the FishGov project, with RECs advocating for continued investment in Africa’s fisheries sector.

    The meeting is reinforcing the African Union’s commitment to collaborative governance, recognizing RECs as essential platforms for coordinating fisheries management across the continent. As the Director notes, this annual dialogue serves not only as a procedural requirement but also as a vital space for joint reflection and planning to ensure Africa’s fisheries are governed sustainably and equitably.

    Looking ahead, stakeholders focus on finalizing the FishGov2 extension phase, developing proposals for a potential third phase and scaling up regional Blue Economy initiatives to enhance food security and coastal livelihoods. The dialogue will conclude with a renewed commitment to transforming Africa’s fisheries sector through strengthened regional cooperation and governance. This gathering marks another important step in Africa’s journey toward sustainable fisheries management and blue-economic development.

    The dialogue is part of annual meetings held with RECs to strengthen project implementation on Fisheries Governance issues. Read about similar meetings on AU-IBAR’s work with Regional Economic Communities on fisheries governance:

    https://www.au-ibar.org/resources/dialogue-regional-economic-communities-recs-implementation-fisheries-governance-project
    https://www.au-ibar.org/news/latest-news/dialogue-recs-held-strengthen-implementation-fisheries-governance-2-project

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President John Dramani Mahama Partakes in the 178th Independence Day Celebrations in Monrovia

    Source: APO


    .

    President John Dramani Mahama, on Saturday, joined President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the people of Liberia to celebrate their 178th Independence Day celebration in Monrovia. The event held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, Montserrado County, was attended by heads of states from the subregion including the Presidents of Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau. There were also representatives of the governments of Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Gambia. Liberia used the occasion to recognise ECOWAS member states that contributed troops to the multinational peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, which played a key role in ending the civil war as well as securing humanitarian corridors during the Liberian war. President Mahama received Ghana’s honour from the Liberian President on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces and the people of Ghana for the contribution of its gallant soldiers. President Boakai in a spirit of national reconciliation said Liberia must heal itself, unite for a common purpose and inspire all for a faster development of the country. He called on all his citizens to leverage on technology to transform Liberia. The celebration as on the theme “One people, one destiny, healing the past and building the future the ceremony reflected on the past, need for stock taking, reconciliation, a united national identity to rebuild a peaceful Liberia, endowed with rich natural resources”. The President was accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lt. General William Agyapong and Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Stanislav Xoese Dogbe.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Ghana in Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Sprouting Ceremony marks new beginning for urban Indigenous Peoples in Halifax

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 31, 2025 — Halifax Regional Municipality, Traditional Unceded Mi’kmaw Territory, Nova Scotia —Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre and Indigenous Services Canada

    Today, the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre hosted a Sprouting Ceremony to mark the start of early site work for its new centre, the Wije’winen Centre. This moment marks a significant step forward in creating a safe, permanent, and culturally grounded space for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people living in or transitioning to urban centres in Halifax. 

    Pamela Glode-Desrochers, Executive Director of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, was joined at the Sprouting Ceremony by the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West and Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, joining on behalf of the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services. The construction was supported by a $28.8 million investment provided in 2022 by Indigenous Services Canada through the Major Infrastructure funding stream of the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP) program and additional funding through the National Association of Friendship Centres. 

    For over 50 years, the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre has been a central hub for urban Indigenous people in Halifax. It delivers more than 55 programs and services, including early childhood education, employment and housing supports, harm reduction, justice programs, and cultural revitalization. The new centre will expand this work and serve more than 7,000 urban Indigenous clients annually in a space designed by and for the community. 

    The Wije’winen centre will provide a purpose-built space for the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre to continue and grow its essential services, including education, employment, housing, harm reduction, cultural programming, and justice supports. More than just a building, Wije’winen will stand as a visible and lasting reflection of Mi’kmaw culture in the heart of downtown Halifax. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 3767, Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 3767 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue employment contracts to participants in the Health Professionals Scholarship Program within 90 days of their completion of the program. The bill would also require VA to report to the Congress semiannually through 2027 on the implementation of that employment requirement. Because VA is already required to employ people who complete the scholarship program, CBO estimates that implementing the provision would not increase staffing levels. Satisfying the reporting requirement would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period, CBO estimates. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The bill also would prohibit smoking on the premises of any Veterans Health Administration facility. According to VA, the department already maintains a smoke-free policy at all such facilities. Thus, CBO estimates that enacting this provision would not affect the federal budget.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Noah Callahan. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Latest Release of Quark Publishing Platform® Delivers Accelerated AI- Powered Content Automation at Scale for Highly Regulated Industries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quark Software, the global provider of content automation, intelligence and design software, today announced the July 2025 release of Quark Publishing Platform® (QPP), its enterprise content lifecycle management platform designed to revolutionize how highly regulated industries manage, author, and deliver complex content.

    Built to address the documentation challenges of sectors such as financial services, life sciences, manufacturing, and public sector organizations, the SaaS platform offers unparalleled levels of automation, compliance, and personalization — specifically for use cases like client investment reports, drug safety reports, SOPs, technical data sheets, policy documents, and legislative reports.

    Next-Level Automation with Strict Regulatory Guardrails and Governance

    The July 2025 release introduces powerful new capabilities that enable enterprise content teams to:

    • Achieve 80–100% batch automation of recurring content through data-driven personalization powered by Content Variables
    • Convert unstructured content into structured, reusable, tagged components for compliant output, reducing onboarding costs by 50–80%
    • Leverage AI-powered Repeatable Accelerator Packs (RAPs) for sector-specific use cases, cutting onboarding cycles by 25–30%
    • Seamlessly reuse brand-compliant, design-rich content in Microsoft PowerPoint, drastically improving presentation workflows
    • Gain access to workflow enhancements including agile content strategy, smarter authoring workflows, enhanced usability, and enhanced Microsoft 365 Office desktop app integration

    The result is a smarter, faster, and more scalable way to manage regulated content across global teams — without compromising on compliance, accuracy, or brand consistency.

    Executive Insight
    “This release is a game-changer for content teams facing complex, regulatory data integration and workflow demands,” said Amit Sood, SVP Enterprise Products at Quark. “By combining powerful AI with structured content models, we’ve created a platform that accelerates use case deployment and transforms unstructured content into reusable, audit-ready components to drive enterprise-grade AI. It’s about faster outcomes, better compliance, and enabling teams to do more with less.”

    Built for the Industries That Can’t Afford to Get Content Wrong
    From automating client-facing investment communications to streamlining drug safety reporting, policy documentation, and manufacturing SOPs, QPP is built to support high-stakes content processes where speed and accuracy are critical.

    Use cases include:

    • Financial Services: Fund factsheets, ESG disclosures, regulatory filings
    • Life Sciences: PSURs, CSRs, PADERs, and labeling updates
    • Manufacturing: Technical guides, data sheets, SOPs
    • Public Sector: Legislative documents, policy updates, legal frameworks

    Enterprise-Grade Integration and Security
    The new platform is powered by Microsoft Azure Cloud Services and integrates directly with Microsoft 365 desktop applications — ensuring security, scalability, and accessibility across regulated ecosystems. Advanced permissions, traceable workflows, and Automated Content Validations features ensure trust and accountability across every step of the content lifecycle.

    About Quark
    Quark is a leading provider of AI-powered content automation solutions for highly regulated industries. QPP enables organizations to transform how they create, manage, and distribute content by combining intelligent automation, data integration, and compliance frameworks. With customers worldwide, Quark empowers teams to accelerate enterprise content lifecycle management while ensuring accuracy and regulatory readiness. Visit quark.com for more information.

    Media Contacts:
     Emerson Welch
    Quark
    ewelch@quark.com

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/emerson-welch/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The Payden Securitized Income Fund Offers Timely Strategy for Today’s Income Investors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With investors increasingly seeking income and diversification amid shifting monetary policy and market volatility, the Payden Securitized Income Fund (PYSFX) offers a compelling approach. The Fund provides access to a wide range of securitized assets—including agency and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), asset-backed securities (ABS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs).

    Designed to offer attractive yield potential while seeking limited interest rate sensitivity, the Payden Securitized Income Fund navigates changing market conditions through active management. The Fund seeks to capitalize on market inefficiencies and spread opportunities while maintaining a high degree of liquidity and risk awareness.

    “The Payden Securitized Income Fund is designed with an aim to help investors earn more income, enhance diversification beyond traditional bonds, and maintain flexibility in a changing interest rate environment,” said Gary Greenberg, CFA, Director and Co-Manager.

    Recent market dynamics have favored securitized credit, with CMBS and residential credit offering strong relative value. A resilient U.S. economy and a Federal Reserve nearing the end of its tightening cycle create favorable conditions for active managers seeking differentiated sources of income.

    The Fund’s diversified structure and risk-conscious portfolio management strategy make it a timely solution for investors looking to complement traditional fixed income holdings.

    PAYDEN & RYGEL

    With $160 billion under management, Payden & Rygel is one of the largest privately-owned global investment advisers focused on the active management of fixed income and equity portfolios. Payden & Rygel provides a full range of investment strategies and solutions to investors around the globe, including Central Banks, Pension Funds, London, and Milan. Visit www.payden.com for more information about Payden’s investment offerings, including US mutual funds and Irish-domiciled funds (subject to investor eligibility).

    Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate, so investors’ shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. For the most recent month-end performance, which may be higher or lower than that quoted, visit our website at payden.com or call 800 572-9336.

    For more information and to obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus, visit payden.com or call 800 572-9336. Before investing, investors should carefully read and consider investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other important information about the Fund, which is contained in these documents. Interest Rate Risk: As with most funds that invest in debt securities, the income on and value of your shares in the Fund will fluctuate along with interest rates. When interest rates rise, the market prices of the debt securities the Fund owns usually decline. When interest rates fall, the prices of these securities usually increase. Extension Risk: Rising interest rates can cause the average maturity of the Fund’s holdings of mortgage-backed securities to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in prepayments. This would increase the sensitivity of the Fund to rising rates, and could cause certain of the Fund’s investments to decline in value more than they would have declined due to the rise in interest rates alone. The Payden Funds are distributed through Payden & Rygel Distributors, member FINRA.

    This material reflects the firm’s current opinion and is subject to change without notice. Sources for the material contained herein are deemed reliable but cannot be guaranteed. This material is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or buy any security. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

    CONTACT

    Kate Ennis
    ennis@daipartnerspr.com
    (301) 580-6726

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Bill to Ban Chinese and Iranian Nationals from Studying in the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is taking aggressive action to prevent students from countries that hate the U.S. from getting their foot in the door at American colleges and universities with his introduction of the Student Visa Integrity Act. Students from adversarial countries—such as China and Iran—would be prohibited from studying in the United States altogether. Senator Tuberville announced his new legislation on Mornings with Maria.

    “I was recently shocked to learn how many students from hostile countries like China and Iran are studying at our American universities—including in my home state of Alabama,” said Senator Tuberville. “We need to go on offense against countries who hate us and are desperate to try to take us down—as we saw with the violent, anti-American protests on our college campuses over the past few months. There is zero reason why we should be allowing students from countries that hate us to take the spot of a law-abiding American citizen at our elite colleges and universities. I’m proud to introduce the Student Visa Integrity Act to crack down on rampant abuse of student visas and to make our American Universities Prioritize Americans Again.”

    Complete text for the Student Visa Integrity Act can be found here. Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Immigration Accountability Project, and Heritage Action endorsed Senator Tuberville’s legislation.

    “The Student Visa Integrity Act makes it clear: a student visa is a privilege, not a right.  Visas provide foreign nationals a special opportunity to study in the United States before returning home – not a free pass to exploit our laws or remain indefinitely in the country. FAIR is proud to support this bill and applauds Senator Tuberville for fighting to prevent student visa abuse, uphold our laws, and keep American communities safe,” said Joe Chatham, Director of Government Relations for FAIR.

    “The student visa program has been plagued with fraud and abuse for decades, and reforms are long overdue. The Student Visa Integrity Act of 2025 would help restore integrity to the program, ending open-ended ‘duration of status’ for foreign students, increasing penalties for program abuse, and closing significant national security loopholes exploited by our foreign adversaries. The Immigration Accountability Project is thankful to Senator Tuberville for introducing this vital effort,” said Grant Newman, Director of Government Relations for Immigration Accountability Project.

    “China and other adversarial countries pose a direct threat to the United States, our schools, educators, and our students. The Student Visa Integrity Act would protect American educational institutions from foreign influence. Heritage Action has worked tirelessly to promote legislation that protects our education system from destructive foreign adversaries. We are committed to this goal and applaud Senator Tuberville for introducing the Student Visa Integrity Act,” said Steve Chartan, Vice President of Government Relations for Heritage Action.

    BACKGROUND:

    Foreign students are currently tracked and monitored using the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This system was mandated by Congress after the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing where one of the people responsible was in the United States on an expired student visa. The system was finally implemented in 2003 and has received minimal updates since.

    Recent data shows that approximately 1.5 million international students are studying in the United States using F-1 or M-1 visas, which is more than DOUBLE the amount in 2012. Data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also showed that during Fiscal Year 2023, an estimated 50,000 student or exchange visitor visa holders overstayed the completion of their program.

    The Student Visa Integrity Act would: 

    • Prohibit citizens from adversarial countries from studying in the U.S.
    • Require schools to disclose any dealings with the Chinese government
    • Prohibit foreign students from transferring schools or changing their major/program of study
    • Increase penalties for schools and officials found engaging in visa fraud by making convicted offenders eligible for prison time or to be disqualified from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program altogether
    • Require that foreign students have a definitive end date to prevent visa overstays and also require in-person interviews for some foreign students


    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Iranian president says country is on brink of dire water crisis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned against excessive water consumption which he said was untenable for the country and could leave Tehran facing severe shortages by September, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

    Faced with resource mismanagement and over-consumption, Iran has faced recurrent electricity, gas and water shortages during peak demand months.

    “In Tehran, if we cannot manage and people do not cooperate in controlling consumption, there won’t be any water in dams by September or October,” Pezeshkian said on Thursday.

    The country has faced drought conditions for the last five years according to the director of the Environmental Protection Organisation Sheena Ansari and the Meteorological Organisation recorded a 40% drop in rainfall over the last four months compared to a long-term average.

    “Neglecting sustainable development has led to the fact that we are now facing numerous environmental problems like water stress,” Ansari told state media on Thursday.

    Excessive water consumption represents a major challenge for water management in Iran, with the head of Tehran province’s water and wastewater company Mohsen Ardakani telling Mehr news agency that 70% of Tehran residents consume more than the standard 130 litres a day.

    Natural resource management has been a chronic challenge for authorities, whether it is natural gas consumption or water use, as solutions require major reforms, notably in the agricultural sector which represents as much as 80% of water consumption.

    On Wednesday, Pezeshkian rejected a government proposal to impose a day-off on Wednesdays or having a one-week holiday during the summer, saying that “closing down is a cover-up and not a solution to the water shortage problem”.

    In the summer of 2021, protests took place against water shortages in southwestern Iran.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Habib Noorbhai, Professor (Health & Sports Science), University of Johannesburg

    If you were to walk through the corridors of some of the world’s leading cricket schools, you might hear the crack of leather on willow long before the bell for the end of the day rings.

    Across the cricketing world, elite schools have served as key feeder systems to national teams for decades. They provide young players with superior training facilities, high-level coaching and competitive playing opportunities.

    This tradition has served as cricket’s most dependable talent pipeline. But is it a strength or a symptom of exclusion?

    My recent study examined the school backgrounds of 1,080 elite men’s cricketers across eight countries over a 30-year period. It uncovered telling patterns.

    Read more: Cricket: children are the key to the future of the game, not broadcast rights

    Top elite cricket countries such as South Africa, England and Australia continue to draw heavily from private education systems. In these nations, cricket success seems almost tied to one’s school uniform.

    I argue that if cricket boards want to promote equity and competitiveness, they will need to broaden the talent search by investing in grassroots cricket infrastructure in under-resourced areas.

    For cricket to be a sport that anyone with talent can succeed in, there will need to be more school leagues and entry-level tournaments as well as targeted investment in community-based hubs and non-elite school zones.

    Findings

    South Africa is a case in point. My previous study in 2020 outlined that more than half of its national players at One-Day International (ODI) World Cups came from boys-only schools (mostly private).

    These schools are often well-resourced, with turf wickets, expert coaches and an embedded culture of competition. Unsurprisingly, the same schools tend to produce a high number of national team batters, as they offer longer game formats and better playing surfaces. Cricket’s colonial origins have influenced the structure and culture of school cricket being tied to a form of privilege.

    Read more: Elite boys’ schools still shape South Africa’s national cricket team

    In Australia and England, the story is not very different. Despite their efforts to diversify player sourcing, private schools still dominate. Even in cricketing nations that celebrate working-class grit, such as Australia, private school players continue to shape elite squads.

    The statistics say as much; for example: about 44% of Australian Ashes test series players since 2010 attended private schools, and for England, the figure is 45%. That’s not grassroots, it could be regarded as gated turf…

    Proportion of elite male cricketers by school type. Habib Noorbhai

    Yet not all countries follow this route. The West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka reflect very different models. Club cricket, informal play and community academies provide their players with opportunities to rise. These countries have lower reliance on private schools. Some of their finest players emerged from modest public schooling or neighbourhood cricketing networks.

    India provides an interesting hybrid. Although elite schools such as St. Xavier’s and Modern School contribute players, most national stars emerge from public institutions or small-town academies. The explosion of the Indian Premier League since 2008 has also democratised access, pulling in talent from previously overlooked and underdeveloped cities.

    In these regions, scouting is based on potential, not privilege.

    So why does this matter?

    At first glance, elite schools producing elite cricketers might appear logical. These institutions have the resources to nurture talent. But scratch beneath the surface and troubling questions appear.

    Are national teams truly reflecting their countries? Or are they simply echo chambers of social advantage?

    Read more: Cricket inequalities in England and Wales are untenable – our report shows how to rejuvenate the game

    In South Africa, almost every Black African cricketer to represent the country has come through a private school (often on scholarship). That suggests that talent without access remains potentially invisible. It also places unfair pressure on the few who make it through, as if they carry the hopes of entire communities.

    I found that in England, some county systems have started integrating players from state schools, but progress is slow. In New Zealand, where cricket is less centralised around private institutions, regional hubs and public schools have had more success in spreading opportunities. However, even there, Māori and Pasifika players remain underrepresented in elite squads.

    Four steps that can be taken

    1. One solution lies in recognising that schools don’t have a monopoly on talent. Cricket boards must increase investment in grassroots infrastructure, particularly in under-resourced areas. Setting up community hubs, supporting school-club partnerships and more regional competitions could discover hidden talent.

    2. Another step is to improve the visibility and reach of scouting networks. Too often, selection favours players from known institutions. By diversifying trial formats and leveraging technology (such as video submissions or performance-tracking apps), selectors can widen their net. It’s already happening in India, where IPL scouts visit the most unlikely of places.

    3. Coaching is another stumbling block. In many countries, high-level coaches are clustered in elite schools. National boards should consider optimising salaries as well as rotating certified coaches into public schools and regional academies. They should also ensure coaches are developed to be equipped to work with diverse learners and conditions.

    4. Technology offers other exciting possibilities too. Virtual simulations, motion tracking and AI-assisted video reviews are now common in high-performance centres. Making simplified versions available to lower-income schools could level the playing field. Imagine a township bowler in South Africa learning to analyse their technique using only a smartphone and a free app?

    Fairness in sport

    The conversation about schools and cricket is not just about numbers or stats. It is about fairness. Sport should be the great leveller, not another mechanism of exclusion. If cricket is to thrive, it needs to look beyond scoreboards and trophies. It must ask who gets to play and who never gets seen?

    Read more: Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?

    A batter from a village school in India, a wicket-keeper from a government school in Sri Lanka or a fast bowler in a South African township; each deserves the chance to be part of the national story. Cricket boards, policymakers and educators must work together to make that possible.

    The game will only grow when it welcomes players from all walks of life. That requires more than scholarships. It requires a reset of how we think about talent. Because the next cricket superstar may not wear a crest on their blazer. They may wear resilience on their sleeve.

    – Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport
    – https://theconversation.com/crickets-great-global-divide-elite-schools-still-shape-the-sport-261709

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Michael E Odijie, Associate Professor, University of Oxford

    When historians and the public think about the end of domestic slavery in west Africa, they often imagine colonial governors issuing decrees and missionaries working to end local traffic in enslaved people.

    Two of my recent publications tell another part of the story. I am a historian of west Africa, and over the past five years, I have been researching anti-slavery ideas and networks in the region as part of a wider research project.

    My research reveals that colonial administrations continued to allow domestic slavery in practice and that African activists fought this.

    In one study I focused on Francis P. Fearon, a trader based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. He exposed pro-slavery within the colonial government through numerous letters written in the 1890s (when the colony was known as the Gold Coast).

    In another study I examined the Lagos Auxiliary, a coalition of lawyers, journalists and clergy in Nigeria. Their campaigning secured the repeal of Nigeria’s notorious Native House Rule Ordinance in 1914. That ordinance had been enacted by the colonial government to maintain local slavery in the Niger Delta region.

    Considered together, the two studies demonstrate how local campaigners used letters, print culture, imperial pressure points and personal networks to oppose practices that had kept thousands of Africans in bondage.

    The methods Fearon and the Lagos Auxiliary pioneered still matter because they show how marginalised communities can compel power‑holders to close the gap between laws and lived reality. They remind us that well‑documented local testimony, amplified trans-nationally, can still overturn official narratives, compel policy change, and keep institutions honest.

    Colonial ‘abolition’ that wasn’t

    West Africa was a major source of enslaved people during the transatlantic slave trade. The transatlantic trade was suppressed in the early 19th century, but this did not bring an end to domestic slavery.

    One of the principal rationales for colonisation in west Africa was the eradication of domestic slavery.

    Accordingly, when the Gold Coast was formally annexed as a British colony in 1874, the imperial government declared slave dealing illegal. And slave-dealing was criminalised across southern Nigeria in 1901. On paper these measures promised freedom, but in practice loopholes empowered slave-holders, chiefs and colonial officials who continued to demand coerced labour.

    On the Gold Coast, the 1874 abolition law was never enforced. The British governor informed slave-owners that they might retain enslaved persons provided those individuals did not complain. By 1890, child slavery had become widespread in towns such as Accra. According to the local campaigners, it was even sanctioned by the colonial governor. This led to some Africans uniting to establish a network to oppose it.

    The Niger Delta region of Nigeria had a similar experience. The colonial administration enacted the Native House Rule Ordinance to counteract the effects of the Slave-Dealing Proclamation of 1901 which criminalised slave dealing with a penalty of seven years’ imprisonment for offenders. The Native House Rule Ordinance required every African to belong to a “House” under a designated head. It went on to criminalise any person who attempted to leave their “House”. In the Niger Delta kingdoms such as Bonny, Kalabari and Okrika, the word “House” never referred to a single dwelling. Rather, it denoted a self-perpetuating, named corporation of relatives, dependants and slaves under a chief, which owned property and spoke with one voice. By the 1900s, “Houses” had become the primary units through which slave ownership was organised.

    Therefore, the Native House Rule Ordinance compelled enslaved people in Houses to remain with their masters. The masters were empowered to use colonial authority to discipline them. District commissioners executed arrest warrants against runaways. In exchange, the House heads and local chiefs supplied the colonial administration with unpaid labour for public works.

    African campaigners in Accra and Lagos organised to challenge what they perceived as the British colonial state’s support for slavery.

    Fearon: an undercover abolitionist in Accra

    Francis Fearon was an educated African, active in the Accra scene during the second half of the 19th century. He was highly literate and part of elite circles. He was closely associated with the journalist Edmund Bannerman. He regularly wrote to local newspapers, often expressing concerns about racism against Black people and moral decay.

    On 24 June 1890, Fearon sent a 63-page letter, with ten appendices, to the Aborigines’ Protection Society in London. That dossier would form the basis of several further communications. He alleged that child trafficking continued.

    As evidence, he transcribed the confidential court register of Accra and claimed that Governor W. B. Griffith had instructed convicted slave-owners to recover their “property”.

    Fearon’s tactics were audacious. He remained anonymous, relied on court clerks for documents, and supplied the Aborigines’ Protection Society with evidence. He pleaded with the society to investigate the colonial administration in the Gold Coast.

    Although the society publicised the scandal, subsequent narratives quietly effaced the African source.

    Lagos elites organise – and name the problem

    Like Fearon, Nigerian campaigners also wrote to the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines’ Protection Society. They denounced the colonial government in Nigeria for promoting slavery, but they did not remain anonymous.

    By this time, the Native House Rule Ordinance had prompted some enslaved people to flee the districts in which it was enforced. They sought refuge in Lagos. Through these arrivals, Lagosian elites learned of the ordinance. They unleashed a vigorous campaign against the colonial state.

    The principal figures in this movement included Christopher Sapara Williams, a barrister, and James Bright Davies, editor of The Nigerian Times. Others included politician Herbert Macaulay, Herbert Pearse, a prominent merchant, Bishop James Johnson and the Reverend Mojola Agbebi. Unlike Fearon’s lone-wolf strategy, they mounted a coordinated assault on the colonial administration. They drafted petitions, briefed sympathetic European organisations, and inundated local newspapers with commentary.

    Their arguments blended humanitarian indignation with constitutional acumen. They insisted that the ordinance contravened both British liberal ideals and African custom.

    After years of pressure the law was amended and then quietly repealed in 1914.

    Why these stories matter now

    Contemporary scholarship on abolition is gradually shifting from asking “what Britain did for Africa” to examining the role Africans played in ending slavery.

    Many African abolitionists who fought and lost their lives in the struggle against slavery have long gone unacknowledged. This is beginning to change.

    The two articles discussed here highlight the creativity of Africans who, decades before radio or civil-rights NGOs, used transatlantic information circuits. They exposed colonial governments that continued to rely on forced-labour economies long after slavery was supposed to have ended.

    They remind us that grassroots documentation can overturn official narratives. Evidence-based advocacy, coalition-building, and the strategic use of global media remain potent instruments.

    – The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast
    – https://theconversation.com/the-african-activists-who-challenged-colonial-era-slavery-in-lagos-and-the-gold-coast-261089

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Michael E Odijie, Associate Professor, University of Oxford

    When historians and the public think about the end of domestic slavery in west Africa, they often imagine colonial governors issuing decrees and missionaries working to end local traffic in enslaved people.

    Two of my recent publications tell another part of the story. I am a historian of west Africa, and over the past five years, I have been researching anti-slavery ideas and networks in the region as part of a wider research project.

    My research reveals that colonial administrations continued to allow domestic slavery in practice and that African activists fought this.

    In one study I focused on Francis P. Fearon, a trader based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. He exposed pro-slavery within the colonial government through numerous letters written in the 1890s (when the colony was known as the Gold Coast).

    In another study I examined the Lagos Auxiliary, a coalition of lawyers, journalists and clergy in Nigeria. Their campaigning secured the repeal of Nigeria’s notorious Native House Rule Ordinance in 1914. That ordinance had been enacted by the colonial government to maintain local slavery in the Niger Delta region.

    Considered together, the two studies demonstrate how local campaigners used letters, print culture, imperial pressure points and personal networks to oppose practices that had kept thousands of Africans in bondage.

    The methods Fearon and the Lagos Auxiliary pioneered still matter because they show how marginalised communities can compel power‑holders to close the gap between laws and lived reality. They remind us that well‑documented local testimony, amplified trans-nationally, can still overturn official narratives, compel policy change, and keep institutions honest.

    Colonial ‘abolition’ that wasn’t

    West Africa was a major source of enslaved people during the transatlantic slave trade. The transatlantic trade was suppressed in the early 19th century, but this did not bring an end to domestic slavery.

    One of the principal rationales for colonisation in west Africa was the eradication of domestic slavery.

    Accordingly, when the Gold Coast was formally annexed as a British colony in 1874, the imperial government declared slave dealing illegal. And slave-dealing was criminalised across southern Nigeria in 1901. On paper these measures promised freedom, but in practice loopholes empowered slave-holders, chiefs and colonial officials who continued to demand coerced labour.

    On the Gold Coast, the 1874 abolition law was never enforced. The British governor informed slave-owners that they might retain enslaved persons provided those individuals did not complain. By 1890, child slavery had become widespread in towns such as Accra. According to the local campaigners, it was even sanctioned by the colonial governor. This led to some Africans uniting to establish a network to oppose it.

    The Niger Delta region of Nigeria had a similar experience. The colonial administration enacted the Native House Rule Ordinance to counteract the effects of the Slave-Dealing Proclamation of 1901 which criminalised slave dealing with a penalty of seven years’ imprisonment for offenders. The Native House Rule Ordinance required every African to belong to a “House” under a designated head. It went on to criminalise any person who attempted to leave their “House”. In the Niger Delta kingdoms such as Bonny, Kalabari and Okrika, the word “House” never referred to a single dwelling. Rather, it denoted a self-perpetuating, named corporation of relatives, dependants and slaves under a chief, which owned property and spoke with one voice. By the 1900s, “Houses” had become the primary units through which slave ownership was organised.

    Therefore, the Native House Rule Ordinance compelled enslaved people in Houses to remain with their masters. The masters were empowered to use colonial authority to discipline them. District commissioners executed arrest warrants against runaways. In exchange, the House heads and local chiefs supplied the colonial administration with unpaid labour for public works.

    African campaigners in Accra and Lagos organised to challenge what they perceived as the British colonial state’s support for slavery.

    Fearon: an undercover abolitionist in Accra

    Francis Fearon was an educated African, active in the Accra scene during the second half of the 19th century. He was highly literate and part of elite circles. He was closely associated with the journalist Edmund Bannerman. He regularly wrote to local newspapers, often expressing concerns about racism against Black people and moral decay.

    On 24 June 1890, Fearon sent a 63-page letter, with ten appendices, to the Aborigines’ Protection Society in London. That dossier would form the basis of several further communications. He alleged that child trafficking continued.

    As evidence, he transcribed the confidential court register of Accra and claimed that Governor W. B. Griffith had instructed convicted slave-owners to recover their “property”.

    Fearon’s tactics were audacious. He remained anonymous, relied on court clerks for documents, and supplied the Aborigines’ Protection Society with evidence. He pleaded with the society to investigate the colonial administration in the Gold Coast.

    Although the society publicised the scandal, subsequent narratives quietly effaced the African source.

    Lagos elites organise – and name the problem

    Like Fearon, Nigerian campaigners also wrote to the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines’ Protection Society. They denounced the colonial government in Nigeria for promoting slavery, but they did not remain anonymous.

    By this time, the Native House Rule Ordinance had prompted some enslaved people to flee the districts in which it was enforced. They sought refuge in Lagos. Through these arrivals, Lagosian elites learned of the ordinance. They unleashed a vigorous campaign against the colonial state.

    The principal figures in this movement included Christopher Sapara Williams, a barrister, and James Bright Davies, editor of The Nigerian Times. Others included politician Herbert Macaulay, Herbert Pearse, a prominent merchant, Bishop James Johnson and the Reverend Mojola Agbebi. Unlike Fearon’s lone-wolf strategy, they mounted a coordinated assault on the colonial administration. They drafted petitions, briefed sympathetic European organisations, and inundated local newspapers with commentary.

    Their arguments blended humanitarian indignation with constitutional acumen. They insisted that the ordinance contravened both British liberal ideals and African custom.

    After years of pressure the law was amended and then quietly repealed in 1914.

    Why these stories matter now

    Contemporary scholarship on abolition is gradually shifting from asking “what Britain did for Africa” to examining the role Africans played in ending slavery.

    Many African abolitionists who fought and lost their lives in the struggle against slavery have long gone unacknowledged. This is beginning to change.

    The two articles discussed here highlight the creativity of Africans who, decades before radio or civil-rights NGOs, used transatlantic information circuits. They exposed colonial governments that continued to rely on forced-labour economies long after slavery was supposed to have ended.

    They remind us that grassroots documentation can overturn official narratives. Evidence-based advocacy, coalition-building, and the strategic use of global media remain potent instruments.

    Research for these articles was funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 885418).

    – ref. The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast – https://theconversation.com/the-african-activists-who-challenged-colonial-era-slavery-in-lagos-and-the-gold-coast-261089

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Habib Noorbhai, Professor (Health & Sports Science), University of Johannesburg

    If you were to walk through the corridors of some of the world’s leading cricket schools, you might hear the crack of leather on willow long before the bell for the end of the day rings.

    Across the cricketing world, elite schools have served as key feeder systems to national teams for decades. They provide young players with superior training facilities, high-level coaching and competitive playing opportunities.

    This tradition has served as cricket’s most dependable talent pipeline. But is it a strength or a symptom of exclusion?

    My recent study examined the school backgrounds of 1,080 elite men’s cricketers across eight countries over a 30-year period. It uncovered telling patterns.



    Read more:
    Cricket: children are the key to the future of the game, not broadcast rights

    Top elite cricket countries such as South Africa, England and Australia continue to draw heavily from private education systems. In these nations, cricket success seems almost tied to one’s school uniform.

    I argue that if cricket boards want to promote equity and competitiveness, they will need to broaden the talent search by investing in grassroots cricket infrastructure in under-resourced areas.

    For cricket to be a sport that anyone with talent can succeed in, there will need to be more school leagues and entry-level tournaments as well as targeted investment in community-based hubs and non-elite school zones.

    Findings

    South Africa is a case in point. My previous study in 2020 outlined that more than half of its national players at One-Day International (ODI) World Cups came from boys-only schools (mostly private).

    These schools are often well-resourced, with turf wickets, expert coaches and an embedded culture of competition. Unsurprisingly, the same schools tend to produce a high number of national team batters, as they offer longer game formats and better playing surfaces. Cricket’s colonial origins have influenced the structure and culture of school cricket being tied to a form of privilege.



    Read more:
    Elite boys’ schools still shape South Africa’s national cricket team

    In Australia and England, the story is not very different. Despite their efforts to diversify player sourcing, private schools still dominate. Even in cricketing nations that celebrate working-class grit, such as Australia, private school players continue to shape elite squads.

    The statistics say as much; for example: about 44% of Australian Ashes test series players since 2010 attended private schools, and for England, the figure is 45%. That’s not grassroots, it could be regarded as gated turf…

    Yet not all countries follow this route. The West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka reflect very different models. Club cricket, informal play and community academies provide their players with opportunities to rise. These countries have lower reliance on private schools. Some of their finest players emerged from modest public schooling or neighbourhood cricketing networks.

    India provides an interesting hybrid. Although elite schools such as St. Xavier’s and Modern School contribute players, most national stars emerge from public institutions or small-town academies. The explosion of the Indian Premier League since 2008 has also democratised access, pulling in talent from previously overlooked and underdeveloped cities.

    In these regions, scouting is based on potential, not privilege.

    So why does this matter?

    At first glance, elite schools producing elite cricketers might appear logical. These institutions have the resources to nurture talent. But scratch beneath the surface and troubling questions appear.

    Are national teams truly reflecting their countries? Or are they simply echo chambers of social advantage?



    Read more:
    Cricket inequalities in England and Wales are untenable – our report shows how to rejuvenate the game

    In South Africa, almost every Black African cricketer to represent the country has come through a private school (often on scholarship). That suggests that talent without access remains potentially invisible. It also places unfair pressure on the few who make it through, as if they carry the hopes of entire communities.

    I found that in England, some county systems have started integrating players from state schools, but progress is slow. In New Zealand, where cricket is less centralised around private institutions, regional hubs and public schools have had more success in spreading opportunities. However, even there, Māori and Pasifika players remain underrepresented in elite squads.

    Four steps that can be taken

    1. One solution lies in recognising that schools don’t have a monopoly on talent. Cricket boards must increase investment in grassroots infrastructure, particularly in under-resourced areas. Setting up community hubs, supporting school-club partnerships and more regional competitions could discover hidden talent.

    2. Another step is to improve the visibility and reach of scouting networks. Too often, selection favours players from known institutions. By diversifying trial formats and leveraging technology (such as video submissions or performance-tracking apps), selectors can widen their net. It’s already happening in India, where IPL scouts visit the most unlikely of places.

    3. Coaching is another stumbling block. In many countries, high-level coaches are clustered in elite schools. National boards should consider optimising salaries as well as rotating certified coaches into public schools and regional academies. They should also ensure coaches are developed to be equipped to work with diverse learners and conditions.

    4. Technology offers other exciting possibilities too. Virtual simulations, motion tracking and AI-assisted video reviews are now common in high-performance centres. Making simplified versions available to lower-income schools could level the playing field. Imagine a township bowler in South Africa learning to analyse their technique using only a smartphone and a free app?

    Fairness in sport

    The conversation about schools and cricket is not just about numbers or stats. It is about fairness. Sport should be the great leveller, not another mechanism of exclusion. If cricket is to thrive, it needs to look beyond scoreboards and trophies. It must ask who gets to play and who never gets seen?



    Read more:
    Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?

    A batter from a village school in India, a wicket-keeper from a government school in Sri Lanka or a fast bowler in a South African township; each deserves the chance to be part of the national story. Cricket boards, policymakers and educators must work together to make that possible.

    The game will only grow when it welcomes players from all walks of life. That requires more than scholarships. It requires a reset of how we think about talent. Because the next cricket superstar may not wear a crest on their blazer. They may wear resilience on their sleeve.

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

    – ref. Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport – https://theconversation.com/crickets-great-global-divide-elite-schools-still-shape-the-sport-261709

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Speed camera trial for Victoria Road

    Source: City of Plymouth

    A speed enforcement camera is to be trialled on Victoria Road in St Budeaux, following concerns raised by local residents and ward councillors.

    The static camera, which will be installed near the tennis club and play area, will be used to enforce the existing 30mph speed limit in both directions over a six-month period.

    It is one of two being loaned free of charge to Devon and Cornwall Police by a new supplier on a temporary basis to test their operation.

    Victoria Road has been chosen as a suitable site to deploy one of the cameras as it has seen a number of collisions in recent years, some involving serious and fatal injuries and residents have been pressing the Council to introduce measures to tackle speeding and improve safety.

    It is hoped the camera will encourage greater speed limit compliance, as well as help reduce traffic noise along this busy route.

    Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “Victoria Road is part of our major road network and runs through a densely populated residential area. There have been a number of collisions there in recent years, some of which were speed-related and some that have resulted in fatalities.

    “Local residents have been raising their concerns about speeding traffic for some time and we are pleased to have been given the opportunity to trial this camera enforcement free of charge. I hope it helps to remind drivers of the limit in place and deter the more deliberate ‘racing’ we often see along this road.”

    The camera is expected to installed next week and will be fixed to a lamp column that will have yellow reflective banding. There will be warning signs on both approaches and it will operate in the same way as other standard speed cameras across the city (not as an average speed camera).

    If the trial is successful the police hope to purchase the camera, which will then remain on Victoria Road.

    The Council does not make any money from speed camera fines. Once police operating costs are met, any surplus from fines goes to Vision Zero and, by law, has to go into road safety measures.

    Vision Zero brings together local councils, emergency services, health trusts, National Highways, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. Its vision is to cut the number of deaths and serious injuries to zero.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jersey resident jailed for importing thousands of Ecstasy tablets via the post31 July 2025 A man has been sentenced in the Royal Court today in relation to the importation of a commercial quantity of Class A drugs in 2023. In April 2023, a parcel was sent via international post from Germany… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    31 July 2025

    A man has been sentenced in the Royal Court today in relation to the importation of a commercial quantity of Class A drugs in 2023. 

    In April 2023, a parcel was sent via international post from Germany addressed to Michael Veloso at his business address in St Saviour. During a subsequent examination of the parcel by Jersey Customs & Immigration Service, JCIS, Officers, over 5,500 tablets were found in foil packets within the parcel. 

    Closer examination revealed there were 4,628 MDMA or Ecstasy tablets and 925 2C-B tablets. Both are Class A drugs, 2C-B is a synthetic drug similar to MDMA and has similar effects to MDMA. 

    JCIS Officers arrested and interviewed Veloso, he initially denied any involvement or knowledge of the importation. JCIS Officers undertook extensive investigation into the case and Veloso later admitted being knowingly concerned in the importation. 

    The maximum street value of these tablets is £167,000. Veloso was sentenced today to six years in prison. 

    JCIS Senior Manager Luke Goddard said: “This is a very large seizure of Class A drugs by anyone’s standard and had the potential to cause serious harm to users. Diligent work by JCIS Border Officers and their meticulous investigation has resulted in the successful prosecution of the intended recipient who otherwise would have profited from their drug trafficking activity. 

    “This seizure demonstrates the ongoing efforts by JCIS to seize dangerous drugs at the border, convict those responsible and disrupt the syndicates trying to profit from drug trafficking.” 

    Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Talks are to be held to bring back the successful Tall Ships Races

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Negotiations are to start with the organisers of the Tall Ships Races to bring the event back to Aberdeen after its success last weekend.

    The event, which returned to Aberdeen after 28 years, brought more than 400,000 visits and was hailed by local businesses for increasing turnover.

    A special meeting of Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee today agreed a joint motion to engage with Sail Training International on the options to bring back the event, working with the Port of Aberdeen and Aberdeen Inspired.

    Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “The Tall Ships Races was a huge success for Aberdeen bringing in people from far and wide to enjoy everything our city had to offer.”

    “Aberdeen City Council is committed to working with partners to see the Tall Ships return in the not-too-distant future.”

    Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of Aberdeen’s Tall Ships Committee, said: “The Tall Ships visit was a massive, historic celebration for everyone in the city. People of all ages joined in the amazing opportunities to meet visitors from around the world, find out about the ships and enjoy the music and entertainment. It is important to express sincere thanks to the staff, volunteers, businesses and especially the young people who made this event such a success. Their enthusiasm and commitment turned this into a genuine community festival for all to enjoy. Their contribution is truly appreciated.”

    The committee also noted an evaluation report is being prepared to allow partners to fully understand the positive impact the Tall Ships has had on Aberdeen. This report will be prepared for November’s Finance and Resources Committee. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The need for specialist foster carers

    Source: City of Derby

    Understanding the need for specialist foster care

    In England, as of 31 March 2024, there were over 83,000 children in care, a number that has steadily increased over the past decade (Department for Education, 2024). While many children thrive in general foster placements, a significant proportion require specialist care due to complex emotional, behavioural, or psychological needs. These young people may have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or multiple placement breakdowns.

    Specialist foster care provides a structured, therapeutic environment for these children and young people, helping them begin to recover and build a positive future. It is a tailored approach that demands more intensive training and support for carers, but also offers greater impact.

    Case study: Jordan’s Story

    Jordan is 15 years old. He loves science fiction and is fascinated by technology and space exploration. But behind his bright curiosity is a young person who has faced trauma and disrupted attachments. Jordan has difficulty trusting adults and managing his emotions, which has led to several failed placements.

    Yet, in the right environment, one that is safe, consistent, and understanding Jordan begins to open up. He becomes more confident at school, engages in hobbies, and starts building meaningful relationships.

    Jordan’s story illustrates what many children in care need not just a home, but a specialist foster placement that supports healing and personal growth.

    (The above is a representation of a young person in foster care)

    What is specialist fostering?

    Specialist fostering is designed for children and young people with more complex needs who may not be suited to standard foster care. These placements require carers with advanced training and the emotional resilience to manage challenging behaviours, trauma responses, or mental health issues.

    Key features of specialist fostering include:

    • Therapeutic care models and trauma-informed approaches
    • Enhanced financial allowances reflecting the intensity of care required
    • Access to professional supervision and ongoing training
    • Close collaboration with social workers, therapists, and education professionals

    Specialist carers often come from backgrounds in health, education, social care, or emergency services, but individuals from all walks of life who are emotionally mature, patient, and motivated can be successful.

    The impact of specialist foster care

    Specialist foster care can have a profound and measurable impact on the lives of children and young people with complex needs. 

    Young people in specialist foster care often experience:

    • Fewer school exclusions, indicating improved behaviour and engagement in education
    • Better emotional regulation, supported by consistent routines and therapeutic approaches
    • Greater placement stability, with fewer breakdowns compared to standard foster placements
    • Improved long-term mental health, including reduced anxiety and trauma-related symptoms over time

    In addition to the positive outcomes for young people, specialist carers frequently report a stronger sense of purpose and job satisfaction. Many describe the role as demanding but deeply rewarding, especially as they witness meaningful changes in a child’s wellbeing, confidence, and ability to form healthy relationships.

    Specialist fostering isn’t easy, but it is critically important. It offers a second chance for young people like Jordan to thrive, academically, emotionally, and socially. With the right support, foster carers can provide life-changing stability and make a lasting difference.

    If you believe you have the capacity to offer consistent care and emotional support to a vulnerable young person, specialist fostering could be a meaningful path for you.

    How to learn more or get involved

    Foster for East Midlands Councils is actively recruiting specialist foster carers, and our recruitment team are here to talk through the process and support anyone interested in finding our more. Call 03033 132 950, email hello@fosterforeastmidlands.org.uk or visit Foster for East Midlands Councils specialist carers web page. 

    Throughout August, September, and October, the team are hosting a number of foster information events. These sessions are open to anyone interested in fostering and provide opportunities to speak with fostering professionals and ask questions. The sessions are available online using Zoom or come along and meet us in person. 

    To register or find out more, visit the Foster for East Midlands Councils web page. 

    Online Events (via Zoom):

    • Thursday 7 August, 6:30pm–7:30pm
    • Wednesday 20 August, 12:00pm–1:00pm
    • Tuesday 9 September, 6:30pm–7:30pm
    • Thursday 25 September, 12:00pm–1:00pm
    • Wednesday 8 October, 6:30pm–7:30pm
    • Tuesday 21 October, 12:00pm–1:00pm

    In-Person Events:

    • Wednesday 17 September, 6pm–8pm, The Pride Shop, Nottingham, LGBTQ+ event
    • Sunday 28 September, 12pm–4pm, Chesterfield FC Community Trust – this is a drop in session, so just call in at any point during this time.
    • Tuesday 30 September, 6pm–8pm, Curzon Street, Derby, LGBTQ+ event
    • Wednesday 29 October, 6:30pm–7:30pm, Tesco Bulwell, Nottingham

    Visit the website for future events, more dates added each month. 

     

     

     

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Penalty issued for breach of Russia Sanctions

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Penalty issued for breach of Russia Sanctions

    The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has imposed a £300,000 monetary penalty against Markom Management Limited (MML)

    The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has imposed a £300,000 monetary penalty against Markom Management Limited (MML) for a breach of UK financial sanctions imposed against Russia following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

    The breach relates to MML’s involvement in the making of a payment of £416,590.92 to a designated person, who remains subject to an asset freeze under current Russia sanctions. This payment was in breach of the UK sanctions in force at the time in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

    MML gave instructions to make the payment from another company’s bank account with the knowledge that the recipient was a designated person, showing a disregard for proper sanctions and failure to have in place adequate compliance and controls procedures.

    As a result of this breach, OFSI imposed a penalty of £300,000 on MML.

    The imposition of this penalty highlights some key lessons for industry. All firms, regardless of their size, should take appropriate steps to understand and address their exposure to sanctions risks; have adequate sanctions processes to ensure compliance including to promptly identify as well as report suspected breaches of financial sanctions to OFSI; and be alert to the risks of making payments in haste. 

    The UK considers financial sanctions to be a vital foreign policy tool. They remain central to the UK’s efforts to hold Russia to account, place Ukraine on the strongest footing possible, and deter malign activity around the world.

    To date western sanctions have resulted in Russia’s oil and gas revenues falling every year since 2022 – losing over a third of its value in three years. Sanctions and the cost of Putin’s barbaric war are causing the Russian economy to stall – with the wealth fund hollowed out, inflation rising and government spend on defence and security spiralling.  

    This case is the latest in a series of monetary penalties announced over the past year. The UK will continue to prioritise sanctions enforcement, through public actions, such as monetary penalties, as well as actions which are not made public, such as warning letters and referrals to partner agencies and regulators.

    On the 22 July, OFSI launched a consultation on proposed changes aiming to improve the effectiveness of its enforcement processes. These proposals, if implemented, will double the value of penalties for the worst sanctions breaches, and potentially speed up the resolution of certain penalty cases.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian and Syrian Foreign Ministers Discuss Bilateral Relations

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 31 /Xinhua/ — Moscow and Damascus discussed bilateral relations and agreed to maintain regular political dialogue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani.

    “During the conversation, issues of developing Russian-Syrian relations were discussed, including maintaining regular political dialogue and establishing bilateral practical cooperation in various areas,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on the agency’s website.

    The Russian side “emphasized the importance of resolving all problems on the domestic agenda by the Syrians themselves through a broad dialogue aimed at strengthening civil peace and national harmony, ensuring the protection of rights and taking into account the interests of all representatives of the multi-confessional Syrian society.”

    During the talks, as noted in the statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, “a common position was expressed in favor of intensifying collective efforts in the interests of achieving sustainable stabilization of the situation” in the Middle East and North Africa.

    At a joint press conference following the talks, S. Lavrov said that the parties had agreed to conduct an “inventory of all existing agreements.” According to him, this process should be put on a regular basis. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: President of Kyrgyzstan meets with Uzbek Foreign Minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BISHKEK, July 31 (Xinhua) — Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov met with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul region, on Thursday, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported.

    During the meeting, issues of bilateral cooperation in all key areas, including economics, investment and culture, were discussed. Particular attention was paid to interaction within the framework of joint projects for the construction of the Kambarata HPP-1 and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

    S. Japarov emphasized that the official visit of the head of the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan is yet another clear proof of the high level of strategic partnership and fraternal relations between the two countries.

    B. Saidov, in turn, conveyed greetings and best wishes to S. Japarov from the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and also confirmed his readiness to make every effort to implement the tasks set by the presidents of the two countries. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –