NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Filipino community calls for cultural centre

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    A recently released What We Heard report highlights that B.C.’s Filipino community shares a vision for a provincial cultural centre dedicated to community spirit, recognition and representation, and programming that supports people in British Columbia to learn about Filipino culture and heritage. 

    The contributions of the Filipino Canadian community in B.C. are an important part of the province’s history, culture and success. That’s why government launched a public engagement survey on May 31, 2024, that invited people in British Columbia, especially those of Filipino heritage, to share their vision for a provincial Filipino cultural centre. The 10-question survey was open until Dec. 31, 2024, and received more than 1,200 survey responses.

    “We are proud to recognize Filipino Canadians’ heritage and their vital contributions to B.C.’s success,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “We’re grateful to the many people who completed the survey and the communities who contributed to the roundtable discussions. We’re heartened to know that our work going forward will be community informed and community-led.”

    As part of the engagement and to ensure meaningful collaboration, the Province hosted roundtable discussions with key representatives from Filipino community organizations in August 2023, September 2023 and February 2024. These roundtables provided an open forum for community leaders to discuss government’s commitment, the engagement process and the steps needed to advance the development of a cultural centre.

    “This survey and report help ensure that we recognize Filipino Canadians’ impactful contributions to B.C. in a way that honours their needs and desires,” said Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives, mental health and addictions. “We look forward to continuing to work alongside the community to realize their vision and move forward in our collective goal of building a province that is more inclusive and representative.”

    The Province did this work in collaboration with Mabuhay House Society, which helped in community engagement planning and raising awareness. The society formed partnerships with more than 30 community organizations and engaged in more than 30 events for this engagement.

    With the community’s vision for a cultural centre reflected in the What We Heard report, government will continue to work with local Filipino Canadian organizations and communities to advance this project.

    Quotes:

    Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington –

    “The What We Heard report clearly shows the Filipino community’s dedication to the spirit of ‘kapwa,’ to embrace our shared identity, as participants expressed their need for a cultural centre that fosters connection and feels like home. I’m so proud of the Filipino community for how many people contributed to this engagement, and I’m looking forward to watching this project advance with the voices of the Filipino community leading the way.”

    Lester de Guzman, chair, Mabuhay House Society –

    “This report represents more than data; it reflects our dreams, our pride and our shared identity as Filipino Canadians. We commend the Province for its commitment to listening to our voices and making space for our stories. Through the incredible work and support of our volunteers, community members and organization, this report is a testament to a strong Filipino value of Bayanihan spirit, a spirit of communal unity and co-operation.”

    Quick Facts:

    • Filipino Canadians are the fourth largest visible minority in B.C. and are expected to more than double by 2041.
    • The majority of B.C.’s Filipino population live and work in the Lower Mainland.
    • Metro Vancouver has the second largest Filipino population in Canada, with significant communities in Surrey, Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby.
    • Filipinos have the highest labour force participation amongst all Canadians, with four out of five individuals above the age of 15 employed.

    Learn More:

    To read the What We Heard report, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/121/2025/07/Provincial-Filipino-Cultural-Centre-What-We-Heard-Report-July-2025.pdf

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: $1 Million Investment Helps Regional Parks Expand in Saskatchewan

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 25, 2025

    Saskatchewan’s Regional Parks can now access funding to create new seasonal campsites through a $1 million investment from the provincial government. 

    “Regional parks are wonderful gathering places for families and communities,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said. “They attract visitors, generate tourism dollars and promote healthy outdoor activities. This investment will help our parks grow and better serve the needs of residents and tourists alike.”

    The Saskatchewan Regional Parks Association (SRPA) will run the new program and distribute the grants to successful projects. Up to $5,000 per campsite is available. Applications for up to 200 qualifying campsites will be accepted in 2025. 

    Almost 80 accredited regional parks are eligible for funding. The initiative is expected to support dozens of local construction and maintenance jobs, while also helping communities capitalize on Saskatchewan’s thriving tourism economy.

    The SPRA welcomes the announcement, noting that regional parks hosted around 250,000 visitors last year. 

    “The Saskatchewan Regional Parks Seasonal Site Program is more than just expanding campsites,” Saskatchewan Regional Parks Association Executive Director Madison Giesbrecht said. “It is about expanding opportunities for families, friends, and communities to reconnect with nature and with each other.”

    Regional parks can apply for funding beginning July 25, 2025. Full program details are available at saskregionalparks.ca/new-seasonal-sites.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters’ Statement on Administrator Zeldin’s Visit to Mexico

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Washington, DC –  Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement regarding Administrator Zeldin’s visit to Mexico City:

    “Today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin held a news conference to announce that the United States and Mexico have signed a new memorandum of understanding that further commits Mexico to completing the projects agreed to in the Minute 328 Treaty. I very much appreciate the consistent, persistent focus that the EPA and the International Boundary and Water Commission continue to give the cross-border sewage crisis that plagues South San Diego County and our coast. In particular, I thank both agencies for their ongoing work with the design and engineering consulting team to find ways to shorten the timeline for progress. I’ll continue to work with anyone and everyone who wants to help us fix this mess.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grand Opening of Wilkeson Pointe on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Hochul also announced while she was in Buffalo that Victory Cruise Lines, Inc., which operates two 200-passenger ships on the Great Lakes, has sent a commitment letter to the state stating it intends to include Buffalo in its 2027 and beyond cruise itineraries. The Governor previously announced the state is moving forward with plans to bring Great Lakes cruises to Buffalo. Victory Cruise Lines’ commitment is pending the completion of the terminal facilities in Buffalo, as well as satisfactory terms concerning Victory Cruise Line’s use of the seawall mooring. At a June 2025 Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation board meeting, the board approved a $1.65 million contract for architectural and engineering design and construction administration for a terminal on the Outer Harbor. Construction work on the new cruise ship terminal is set to begin by early next year and completion by mid-2027.

    With the opening of Wilkeson Pointe, Perro & Poni will feature a menu offering bold, Tex-Mex flavors and dishes served fresh at the lakeside counter-service eatery. Perfect for a quick bite for visitors, Perro & Poni also will have a full bar with selections including signature tequila, frozen and beer cocktails, a rotating selection of local craft beers, and refreshing non-alcoholic options. See menu here.

    Announced by Governor Hochul in 2022 as one of several significant Buffalo waterfront projects being accelerated for completion, the Wilkeson Pointe renovations began in September 2023. In addition to the new food service building, the improvements made to the 7-acre site include:

    • Visitor safety measures, such as relocated parking areas at a distance from the water and from the site’s pedestrian trail
    • Restrooms and storage for the operations management team
    • A new outdoor seating area
    • Relocated and elevated trails near the water’s edge
    • Improved landscaping, integrating of natural species and creating meadows, grasslands, and pollinator fields

    Recreational activities have returned to the park with volleyball courts, an open lawn area, and a new park golf location, as well as kayak and bicycle rentals and programming throughout the summer. Buffalo Waterfront coordinated a full activities calendar including volleyball games, fitness events, and a live music series in addition to the day-to-day amenities in the park, that will complement Perro & Poni’s arrival. More information can be found at www.buffalowaterfront.com.

    Now, whether you’re meeting up with friends, enjoying an outdoor stroll or taking in the sunset, this new restaurant and expanded waterfront access, make Wilkeson Pointe an unparalleled outdoor destination.”

    Governor Hochul

    Dog & Pony Saloon General Manager Suzanne Shatzel said, “We’re thrilled to build on the success of Dog & Pony Saloon in South Buffalo and open Perro & Poni at Wilkeson Pointe. Perro & Poni will bring fresh, Tex-Mex flavors to the Outer Harbor and offer visitors an exciting new dining experience at one of the best stops along Buffalo’s scenic waterfront.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “With fresh options for dining, recreation, and relaxation, the improved Wilkeson Pointe is an exceptional space to enjoy Buffalo’s Outer Harbor vistas and natural beauty. This project upgrades a longtime favorite spot for Western New York residents and transforms it into a must-visit destination for all, furthering the state’s efforts to revitalize Buffalo’s magnificent waterfront.”

    Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Chairperson Joan Kesner said, “As we cut the ribbon on the Wilkeson Pointe improvements, we did the near-impossible: made one of the best places in Western New York, even better. Governor Hochul made this project one of her priorities, and the outcome is another waterfront spot to be proud of. Make sure coming down to the Outer Harbor — for a refreshing drink, to try your hand at park golf, rent a kayak, or for one of the many other activities — is on your Summer 2025 bucket list.”

    Funding for this project is from the New York Power Authority, through relicensing agreements tied to the operation of the Niagara Power Project.

    New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “Buffalo’s Outer Harbor has always been one of the best places to enjoy the region’s stunning vistas and natural beauty. Through nearly $155 million in Power Authority funding support to ECHDC, including $38 million for the Outer Harbor, Wilkeson Pointe now includes world-class amenities that elevate the visitor experience, offering new opportunities for dining, recreation and relaxation in a scenic waterfront setting.”

    Wilkeson Pointe was first established in 2013 in an area just south of Times Beach, on lands that were once used to store the New York Power Authority (NYPA) ice boom, along with a former private welding and ship repair establishment. A $5 million state capital investment placed a soil cap on areas of the site to open the property to public use for the first time in the parcel’s history, with a network of bicycle and pedestrian pathways, a kayak launch and fishing pier, playground, comfort station, event lawn, parking facilities, and regenerative landscaping using native plants and green infrastructure such as bioswales. The property’s edge was also reinforced with heavy stone to repair earlier seiche damage, while wind sculptures were placed on the “pointe” to celebrate the site’s year‐round breezes.

    State Senator April N.M. Baskin said, “In 12 years, the transformation of Wilkeson Point is noteworthy and impressive. Residents and visitors alike can be proud of the improved access to the waterfront, the innovative ways that former industrial sites are turned into recreational uses, and the expanded entertainment, activities, and dining options. I look forward to bringing my family here and sharing the experience with the community and tourists who discover our beautiful region.”

    Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “Through the last decade, and with effectual state leadership, we’ve taken great strides in reconnecting Buffalo communities with our waterfront, and the transformation of Wilkeson Pointe stands out as a shining example of what thoughtful, community-focused investment can achieve. These improvements not only expand public access and enhance safety, but they also reimagine the Outer Harbor as a dynamic destination for recreation, relaxation, and small business. With these additions and improvements, visitors now have even more reason to gather, explore, and enjoy all that this remarkable shoreline has to offer.”

    Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, “Wilkeson Pointe provides opportunities for incredible views and will become a favorite spot for people seeking active as well as passive recreational opportunities. I thank Governor Hochul for advocating for the funding for this project so that Erie County residents and visitors to our region can benefit from improved access at this waterfront destination.”

    Buffalo Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon said, “Wilkeson Pointe has become one of Buffalo’s most iconic waterfront destinations, and these new upgrades represent a major step forward in our city’s waterfront transformation. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, the investment from the New York Power Authority, and the dedicated efforts of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, we’re giving residents and visitors even more reasons to explore and enjoy the Outer Harbor. With enhanced recreational amenities, natural landscaping, and the exciting addition of Perro & Poni, this project reflects our shared vision of a vibrant, inclusive, and accessible waterfront that celebrates Buffalo’s natural beauty and economic resurgence.”

    About Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation

    The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is governed by a nine-member board consisting of seven voting directors and two non-voting, ex-officio directors. The seven voting directors are recommended by the New York State Governor and are appointed by the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development as sole shareholder of ECHDC. The two non-voting, ex-officio director positions are held by the Erie County Executive and the City of Buffalo Mayor.

    As a subsidiary of Empire State Development, the state’s chief economic development agency, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation supports and promotes the creation of infrastructure and public activities at Canalside, the Ohio Street corridor and the Outer Harbor that is attracting critical mass, private investment and enhance the enjoyment of the waterfront for residents and tourists in Western New York. Its vision is to revitalize Western New York’s waterfront and restore economic growth to Buffalo based on the region’s legacy of pride, urban significance, and natural beauty. For more information, visit here.

    About Buffalo Waterfront

    Buffalo’s Waterfront is a growing regional destination and entertainment district encompassing Canalside and Outer Harbor. The Buffalo Waterfront hosts large events and daily activities of all types and strives to provide public access to the land and waterways on the Lake Erie shoreline. Operated by the Buffalo Waterfront Management Group, part of Rich Entertainment Group — a subsidiary of Rich Products, the Buffalo Waterfront is the go-to place for locals and out-of-towners of all ages to learn, play and relax. For more information, visit www.buffalowaterfront.com.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory: Two Night Exit Closure in Pawtucket Scheduled Next Week to Install a Wrong Way Driving System

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is scheduled to close Exit 41A off I-95 North in Pawtucket on Wednesday and Thursday nights, July 30 and 31, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to install a wrong way driving system. Motorists are advised to follow the signed detour using Exit 41B.

    The exit closure is part of an ongoing $1 million statewide traffic safety improvement contract, set to conclude this summer. Through a mix of state and federal funds, RIDOT is addressing 11 locations throughout the state by upgrading existing crosswalks, speed feedback signing, and pedestrian crossings.

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom celebrates four years of connecting education and workforce insights thanks to Cradle-to-Career

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 25, 2025

    What you need to know: California is celebrating the fourth anniversary of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System, which connects datasets from multiple state entities to deliver information on education and workforce outcomes and help students reach their life and career goals. 

    Sacramento, California – In July 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to establish the California Cradle-to-Career (C2C) Data System within the Government Operations Agency. In the four years since, C2C has achieved exciting milestones, launching a first-of-its-kind informational tool to help students better understand their options for education and career planning in April 2025. 

    “Over the last four years, Cradle-to-Career has made massive strides in their work to connect available data and existing information to the students who can use it to leverage their careers. I look forward to what comes next and the achievements California’s future leaders will accomplish.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “In just four years, California’s official data system became a model for inclusive decision-making, meaningful community engagement, and unprecedented collaboration,” said Mary Ann Bates, Executive Director at the California Cradle-to-Career Data System. “Californians deserve tools for their education and career planning that reflect their experiences. We started by listening first, and then building a dashboard based on what people said they needed. We continue to learn from the input people are sharing as they explore the Student Pathways data dashboard.” 

    Cradle-to-Career

    The system is overseen by a 21-member governing board representing perspectives across the state, along with processes that ensure substantial public representation. The Cradle-to-Career Data System links existing education, workforce, financial aid and social service information to better equip policy makers, educators and the public to close opportunity gaps and improve outcomes for all students throughout the state. Public dashboards and other tools provide transparency into how students are educated and enter the workforce, along with corresponding insights into how policies and programs can better serve more students and families. 

    What comes next

    Cradle-to-Career is providing timely, accurate, and reliable information on education and workforce outcomes. Hearing from researchers who are eager to dive deeper into the dashboard, C2C will launch the first phase of its Query Builder tool by the end of 2025. The Query Builder complements the Student Pathways Dashboard by providing users with the ability to explore the information powering the dashboard. The Query Builder rollout will occur in phases, with new features building on previous releases. You can learn more about that work HERE.

    How we got here

    Over the course of 2020 and the first half of 2021, more than 200 people from 15 state agencies and many educational institutions, research and policy organizations, and community groups worked together to design a blueprint for the California Cradle-to-Career Data System. You can learn more about their work HERE. 

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    What they’re saying: 

    • Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, original author of the Mental Health Services Act: “Twenty years ago, I never could have dreamed that we would have the strong leadership we have today, committing billions and making courageous policy changes that question the conventional wisdom on mental health. Now, with the passage of Proposition 1. California is delivering on decades old promises to help people living with brain-based illnesses, to live better lives, to live independently and to live with dignity in our communities. This is a historic moment and the hard work is ahead of us.“
    • Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), author of Senate Bill 326: “Today marks a day of hope for thousands of Californians who are struggling with mental illness – many of whom are living unhoused. I am tremendously grateful to my fellow Californian’s for passing this important measure.  And I am very appreciative of this Governor’s leadership to transform our behavioral health care system!”
    • Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of Assembly Bill 531: “This started as an audacious proposal to address the root cause of homelessness and today, Californians can be proud to know that they did the right thing by passing Proposition 1. Now, it’s time for all of us to get to work, and make sure these reforms are implemented and that we see results.”

    Bigger picture: Transforming the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act and building more community mental health treatment sites and supportive housing is the last main pillar of Governor Newsom’s Mental Health Movement – pulling together significant recent reforms like 988 crisis line, CalHOPE, CARE Court, conservatorship reform, CalAIM behavioral health expansion (including mobile crisis care and telehealth), Medi-Cal expansion to all low-income Californians, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (including expanding services in schools and on-line), Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Veterans Mental Health Initiative, Behavioral Health Community Infrastructure Program, Behavioral Health Bridge Housing, Health Care Workforce for All and more.

    More details on next step here

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jul 24, 2025

    News Governor Newsom praises the State Water Board for incorporating the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program into the Bay-Delta Plan What you need to know: The Newsom Administration’s innovative Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program, which improves environmental…

    Jul 24, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today on a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit striking down California’s ammunition background check law, which was passed by voters in 2016: Strong…

    Jul 23, 2025

    News What you need to know: Through Governor Newsom’s support of local government efforts and state investments, California is reversing decades of inaction on homelessness. Last year’s 2024 point-in-time count showed California had outperformed the nation by slowing…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Announces Agreement by License Plate Surveillance Tech Company to Protect Oregonians’ Data from Immigration and Abortion-Related Abuses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    July 25, 2025

    Senator says commitment he sought from Flock will protect Oregonians from abusive queries of data by out-of-state law enforcement agencies of data collected from cameras in Oregon

    Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that Flock, a license plate surveillance technology company, has agreed to his request that it protect Oregonians’ data from abusive access by out-of-state law enforcement agencies as part of their states’ anti-abortion investigations, and to assist federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    “Oregonians should never be driving in fear that automatic license plate reader cameras installed by police departments could be abused by anti-abortion forces in other states, or by Donald Trump’s authoritarian deployment of immigration agents,” Wyden said. “When I learned that Flock had adopted stronger privacy protections for other states, I demanded that Oregonians get the same protections too. I’ll keep watchdogging this company’s commitment to make sure it’s carried out throughout our state.”

    Wyden said he contacted Flock after confirming with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Oregon State Police that there is no statewide policy on license plate reader technology nor a statewide policy requiring Oregon police departments contracting with Flock to lock down their sharing settings so as to prevent out-of-state abuses covered by this new policy.

    The senator’s staff then asked Flock officials to implement in Oregon similar privacy filters that the company has already adopted in Illinois to prevent out-of-state police searches related to abortion or immigration. The company agreed to his request, and confirmed that Oregonians’ license plate data will be protected from such abusive queries as of July 25, 2025.

    Police departments in other states will still be able to search license plate data that Oregon police departments have chosen to share for other legitimate law enforcement purposes. The new policy by Flock will not affect searches conducted by police departments in Oregon.

    “I want to thank Senator Wyden for his work to get these additional privacy protections in place for Oregonians,” Rayfield said. “This change helps ensure that data collected here can’t be used to target people for things that are legal in Oregon, like accessing reproductive health care or simply living here without fear. It’s a meaningful step in the right direction, and as we continue looking at how to strengthen Oregon’s own data privacy laws, this gives us a stronger foundation to build on.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen Johnson Requests Records on Former President Biden’s Declining Mental and Physical Health

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent a letter to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requesting documents and communications about former President Biden’s declining mental and physical health over the course of his presidency. This letter follows Chairman Johnson’s requests to former Biden cabinet officials to voluntarily appear for interviews before his Subcommittee to discuss the former president’s mental and physical health.  

    A recent news report indicated that NARA provided “more than 27,000 records” to the White House Counsel’s Office, which is reviewing the effect of the former president’s health on official decisions.

    “These allegations, which received renewed interest following the publication of a book detailing the former president’s mental and physical decline, raise serious questions about who was making key presidential decisions if the former president was incapable of doing so. One of these key decisions may have involved the presidential power to grant clemency or pardons — a matter that the White House Counsel’s Office, among other entities, are currently investigating,” Chairman Johnson wrote.

    Chairman Johnson requested all records that NARA provided to the White House Counsel’s Office referring or relating to former President Biden’s mental or physical health decline, or the alleged coverup. Also requested were communications between White House officials, members of the cabinet, and staff referring or relating to former President Biden’s mental or physical health. 

    Read more about Chairman Johnson’s letter in Fox News.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Qatar and Egypt affirm the continuation of their tireless efforts over the Gaza mediation file

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Cairo – July 25, 2025

    The State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt affirm the continuation of their intensive efforts in the mediation file of Gaza Strip, aiming to reach an agreement that brings an end to the war, alleviates the humanitarian suffering in the enclave, ensures the protection of civilians, and facilitates the exchange of detainees and prisoners.

    The two countries indicate that some progress has been achieved during the most recent intensive round of negotiations, which lasted for three weeks. They affirm that the suspension of negotiations with a view to holding consultations before resuming dialogue once again is a normal procedure within the context of these complex negotiations.

    The two states call for refraining from being swayed by leaks circulated by certain media outlets in attempts to undermine these efforts and influence the course of the negotiation process. They emphasize that such leaks do not reflect reality and originate from parties uninformed about the progress of the negotiations.

    The two countries call on international media outlets to act responsibly and uphold the ethics of journalism, by highlighting the unprecedented suffering taking place in the Gaza Strip, rather than playing a role in undermining efforts aimed at ending the war on the Strip.

    The two countries, in partnership with the United States of America, reaffirm their commitment to continuing efforts toward reaching a comprehensive agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

    The two countries, in partnership with the United States of America, reiterate their commitment to continuing efforts toward reaching a comprehensive agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 25, 2025 Rep. Mullin’s Statement on the Closure of Two Planned Parenthood Clinics in CA-15 “I am outraged that two Planned Parenthood clinics in my district have been forced to close due to President Trump and Republicans’ cuts to Medicaid. Their Big Ugly Bill cuts Medicaid reimbursements to health care organizations like Planned Parenthood. Now,… Read More

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Kevin Mullin California (15th District)

    “I am outraged that two Planned Parenthood clinics in my district have been forced to close due to President Trump and Republicans’ cuts to Medicaid. Their Big Ugly Bill cuts Medicaid reimbursements to health care organizations like Planned Parenthood. Now, we’re witnessing the real-world ramifications of the shameful extremism embodied by the Republican House majority.

    The San Mateo and South San Francisco Planned Parenthood clinics have long served as a lifeline for thousands of patients in our community, many of whom are low-income, uninsured, or unable to access quality health care elsewhere. Without these clinics, vulnerable populations are left without access to critical health care, such as cancer screenings, contraception, and general health services.

    These closures represent a coordinated effort to erode the right to reproductive health care in every state, red or blue. All to bankroll tax cuts for billionaires, who are the primary beneficiaries of these inhumane health care cuts.

    This is a dark day for our district and the country. I demand that Republican leadership bring the Restoring Essential Health Care Act to the House floor immediately, which would repeal these devastating cuts. I stand with Planned Parenthood, today and always, and I will continue to fight to protect reproductive health care despite these despicable attacks from the far-right. “

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/24/2025 Blackburn Sounds the Alarm on Tennessee Universities’ Employees Concealing DEI Programs to Skirt Trump Order

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) probed three Tennessee universities – the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Belmont University –after staff members were caught on camera admitting to rebranding and concealing their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs to skirt the Trump administration’s executive actions to end these divisive, woke programs. A staffer at Belmont University also admitted to hiding illegal aliens on campus.

    Click here to download video of Senator Blackburn’s remarks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about DEI.

    Below are excerpts from Senator Blackburn’s letters urging these Tennessee universities to comply with President Trump’s executive action.

    UTK Employee Says University is Still “Fully Committed to the Work of DEI”

    “Leaked footage shows UTK employees discussing how the University is concealing woke DEI programs by renaming them while continuing to push the harmful content. In one video, a UTK employee said that the DEI programs had not been abandoned and, ‘[They have] been fully committed to the work of DEI.’ He goes on to say, ‘these committees and task forces were built back in 2020 and they’re still up and running… it’s just in terms of some of these bills… they know how to navigate the language within the bills to ensure that DEI is protected.’”

    Vanderbilt Employee Says DEI “Naming” Changed Because Different Universities Were Under Investigation

    “Leaked video footage shows Vanderbilt employees discussing how the University is concealing woke DEI programs by renaming them while continuing to push this harmful content. In the video, a Vanderbilt employee can be heard saying, ‘different universities were under investigation for their DEI practices… so that’s why I think the naming has changed… we have things that clue people in and let people know.’ Later in the video, when asked if they are engaged in DEI initiatives, she responded affirmatively. And, in another video, one employee exhibited blatant political bias, which raises questions about the extent to which such bias is forced onto the student body by certain activist employees.”

    Belmont Employee Admits University Is Concealing Both Illegal Aliens and DEI Programs

    “Earlier this month, leaked video footage shows a Belmont official explaining how your institution has schemed to reframe its DEI initiatives under different names in violation of President Trump’s executive order. In the video, In the video, the Belmont official can be heard saying, ‘we always try to just adapt to what’s happening around us, but that does not mean, like, what we’re focusing on completely stops, we definitely have to navigate very carefully and just cautiously.’ Later in the video, the Belmont official can be heard referencing enforcement operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities, stating, ‘we do have undocumented students here,’ and ‘we don’t communicate to anybody externally who is undocumented.’ This administration has been very clear: postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens—not illegal aliens.”

    Click here to read the full letter to the University of Tennessee.

    Click here to read the full letter to Vanderbilt. 

    Click here to read the full letter to Belmont.

    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/25/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn, Economist Dr. Laffer Discuss Roaring Economy Under President Trump on ‘Unmuted with Marsha’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a new episode of ‘Unmuted with Marsha’ with American economist and author, Dr. Arthur Laffer, where they discussed the roaring economy under President Trump and how the One Big Beautiful Bill supports working-class Americans.

    Click here to watch this episode of ‘Unmuted with Marsha.’

    “Sometimes you will hear the Democrats say, ‘Oh, this is just a bill for the rich.’ But it’s blue-collar wages, hardworking American workers, their wages that are going to benefit the most. I know the Council of Economic Advisers had expected as much as $10,000 more in take-home pay,” said Senator Blackburn.

    “Within this Big Beautiful Bill, there’s a lot of good spending cuts and good spending programs involved so we’re moving towards the North Star on spending… I have never been more optimistic in my life as I am right now about the prospects for the U.S. economy,” said Dr. Laffer.

    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investigation into Grande Prairie RCMP shooting continues

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Beefing Up’ Nebraska’s Ranching Industry

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    ‘Beefing Up’ Nebraska’s Ranching Industry

    Governor Jim Pillen

     

    Built by generations of hard work and innovation, Nebraska’s ranchers are known worldwide for raising the highest quality, most nutritious, safest, and best tasting protein in the world.

    Blessed by God to be home of the most productive farms and ranches in history thanks to our people, land, and water – our calling is to feed the world. It’s a big job, but we love answering the call. Frankly, it’s part of what makes Nebraska the best place to live and raise a family.

    That’s a good life, and it’s worth defending.

    Government doesn’t have many answers, but it can do the important work of protecting consumers by prohibiting unproven, blatantly dishonest products that are marketed as something they aren’t. That’s why I am proud we signed LB 246 into law, which bans ‘bioreactor,’ lab-grown fake meat from being made here in Nebraska or put on our grocery shelves. Recently, we celebrated the victory during a ceremonial bill signing at Shamrock Locker in O’Neill.

    Other than not sounding appetizing, what is lab-grown meat? It’s a product created in a lab to mimic the attributes of real meat. We’re talking about companies taking cells from an animal, nourishing them with a “cocktail” of nutrients, and “coaxing” them into growing into a product that resembles protein.

    That’s not meat. That’s a science experiment. It’s unproven, dishonestly labeled, and it won’t be for sale here in Nebraska.

    I’m grateful to have partnered with Senator Barry DeKay, a farmer and rancher from north-central Nebraska, to get this legislation across the finish line. This is a big, big win for Nebraska producers – and a common sense, straightforward action that is good for our state.

    Having spent my career raising pigs – and as the first Nebraska Governor to come from agriculture in over 100 years – this stuff hits close to my heart. We aren’t going to let the people of our state be duped into putting this junk meat onto our plates or into our stores. As one of the first states to lead this charge, we’re also showing the rest of the country what can be done to help protect consumers and our farming and ranching families.

    This isn’t about limiting choices or sticking it to vegans. In fact, we aren’t at all talking about alternatives like patties made out of black beans or other plants. And we aren’t talking about products like almond ‘milk.’ While we know that these products aren’t the real deal, at least we know where they come from and how they’re made.

    Simply, the age of ‘Making America Healthy Again’ doesn’t start with fake meat – it’s getting back to basics and starts by incorporating a balanced diet mainly of protein, fruits, and vegetables.

    We can’t let our kids – in any part of the state – starve in the midst of plenty. Data show how important a healthy diet is for our youth to boost immunity, support brain development, and promote overall well-being.

    On her visit to Nebraska, President Trump’s Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins approved a first-in-the-nation Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver to remove pop and energy drinks from government-funded food programs. This is common sense stuff. 

    Research and technology have both changed a lot about how we eat and the way agriculture operates. That’s good news. But we must be proactive – and careful – about new products, especially foods, that haven’t stood the test of time.

    Our agriculture industry supports countless families, jobs, and communities – both rural and urban. By signing LB 246 into law, we took a step to help defend our way of life here in Nebraska and are making sure we keep playing to our strengths. 

    We aren’t going to let lab work and misleading marketing undermine the legacy or the future of our state. We have been battling fringe ideas and groups that want a vegan society and claim all Nebraska agriculture is destroying our future. Truth is, we’re doing the exact opposite. 

    We feed the world – and save the planet. It’s time we stand up, defend our work, and keep buying the best meat that Nebraska – and the world – has to offer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Stack Capital Group Inc. Announces Upsize to Its Previously Announced Best Efforts Private Placement Now Combined With the Non-Brokered Private Placement for Gross Proceeds of Up to $35,000,000

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    TORONTO, July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stack Capital Group Inc., (the “Company”) (TSX:STCK & TSX:STCK.WT.A) is pleased to announce that, as a result of strong investor demand, the Company has doubled the size of its previously announced “best efforts” private placement to up to 1,454,545 units of the Company (the “Units”) and up to $20,000,000 in gross proceeds (the “LIFE Offering”). After giving effect to the upsize of the LIFE Offering, the Company now expects to raise up to $35,000,000 in total gross proceeds under the combined LIFE Offering and Concurrent Private Placement (as defined herein).

    Each Unit will be issued at a price of $13.75 per Unit (the “Offering Price”) and will be comprised of one common share (a “Common Share” and the Common Shares comprising the Units being the “Unit Shares”) and one-quarter of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant shall be exercisable by the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) at an exercise price of $17.00 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustment in certain events.

    In connection with the upsize of the LIFE Offering, the Company has entered into an amended agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., RBC Capital Markets and TD Securities Inc., to act as co-lead agents and joint bookrunners (collectively, the “Joint Bookrunners”), for and on behalf of a syndicate of agents (together with the Joint Bookrunners, the “Agents”).

    As previously announced, the Company also intends to complete a concurrent non-brokered private placement of up to 1,090,909 Units at the Offering Price to certain investors that have been identified to the Joint Bookrunners, for gross proceeds of up to $15,000,000, or such higher number as determined by the Company in its discretion (the “Concurrent Private Placement” and, together with the LIFE Offering, the “Offering”). The terms of the Concurrent Private Placement remain the same and the closing of the LIFE Offering is not conditional upon the closing of the Concurrent Private Placement.

    In addition, the Company has applied to the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) for the listing of the Unit Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares under the Offering.

    The LIFE Offering is being made to purchasers resident in all provinces of Canada, except Québec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption from the prospectus requirement available under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions and Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption of the Canadian Securities Administrators (collectively, the “LIFE Exemption”). Subject to compliance with the terms of the LIFE Exemption, the Unit Shares and Warrants offered under the LIFE Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. In addition, the Agents may offer the Units for sale on a private placement basis pursuant to available exemptions from the registration or prospectus requirements to investors resident in the United States and certain other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States, in each case, as agreed to by the Company and the Joint Bookrunners; provided it is understood that the Company will not be required to register or make any filings (other than reports on sales of securities in the United States and Canada) in such jurisdictions.

    In connection with the upsize of the LIFE Offering, there is an amended and restated offering document related to this LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company’s website at www.stackcapitalgroup.com. Prospective investors should read this amended and restated offering document before making an investment decision.

    All Units issued under the Concurrent Private Placement will be issued in accordance with applicable securities laws pursuant to available exemptions from the prospectus requirements. It is anticipated that all Units issued to investors outside of Canada under the Concurrent Private Placement will be issued pursuant to Ontario Securities Commission Rule 72-503 – Distributions Outside Canada and will therefore not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

    The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for investments in accordance with the Company’s investment principles and general corporate and working capital purposes.

    The Offering is expected to close on or about August 8, 2025, or such other date or dates as may be agreed to by the Company and the Joint Bookrunners (each such date, a “Closing Date”) and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX.

    At the closing of the Offering, the Company will pay to the Agents a cash fee equal to 5.0% of the gross proceeds raised in connection with the Offering.

    The Company anticipates certain insiders of the Company will participate in the Offering. Any participation in the Offering by insiders constitutes a “related party transaction” as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). However, the Company expects to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 based on the fact neither the fair market value of the Units subscribed for by the insiders, nor the consideration for the Units paid by such insiders, is expected to exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization as at the date of this news release.

    No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. This news release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities of the Company in the United States of America. The Units, Unit Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction or for the account or for the benefit of U.S. Persons (as defined under applicable securities laws) or persons in the United States unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

    About Stack Capital Group Inc.

    The Company is an investment holding company and its business objective is to invest in equity, debt and/or other securities of growth-to-late-stage private businesses. Through the Company, shareholders have the opportunity to gain exposure to the diversified private investment portfolio; participate in the private market; and have liquidity due to the listing of the Common Shares on the TSX. At the same time, the public structure also allows the Company to focus its efforts on maximizing long-term performance through a portfolio of high growth businesses, which are not widely available to most Canadian investors. SC Partners Ltd. has taken the initiative in creating the Company and acts as the Company’s administrator and is responsible to source and advise with respect to all investments for the Company.

    Forward looking and other cautionary statements

    Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities law. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions. Forward-looking information contained or referred to in this news release includes, but may not be limited to, the details of the Offering, the completion of the Offering, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX, the business of the Company and the proposed use of proceeds of the Company.

    Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The material assumptions supporting these forward-looking statements include, among others, that the Company will receive the necessary approval for the Offering from the TSX, will satisfy the terms of the LIFE Exemption and any other applicable securities exemptions or safe harbours and will satisfy the commercial closing conditions of the Offering. Additional risk factors that may impact the Company or cause actual results and performance to differ from the forward looking statements contained herein are set forth in the Company’s most recent annual information form under the heading “Risk Factors” (a copy of which can be obtained under the Company’s profile on www.sedarplus.com).

    Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    For more information, please visit our website at www.stackcapitalgroup.com or contact:
    Brian Viveiros
    VP, Corporate Development, and Investor Relations
    647.280.3307
    brian@stackcapitalgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: How to reduce the hidden environmental costs of supply chains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benjamin Selwyn, Professor of International Relations and International Development, Department of International Relations, University of Sussex

    Me dia/Shutterstock

    Global supply chains account for 70% of world trade. They are the arteries of global capitalism, moving goods and services across borders multiple times before reaching consumers.

    Since the early 1990s — as part of economic globalisation — these networks have enabled mass consumption by delivering cheap goods made using cheap labour and shipped globally at minimal cost. But this convenience comes at a catastrophic environmental price.

    The infrastructure that supports global supply chains — ports, highways, railways, data servers — has expanded dramatically, increasing the distance goods travel from production to consumption to disposal. These “supply chain miles” are a major contributor to ecological degradation.

    Worse still, managing these sprawling networks depends on energy-intensive digital technologies, produced and distributed through global supply chains. Electronic waste is soaring, reaching 62 million tonnes in 2022 and projected to increase to 82 million tonnes by 2030.

    Global supply chains have also driven the expansion of global markets. Argentina’s soy industry is a case in point: production surged from under 30,000 tonnes in 1970 to over 60 million tonnes in 2015, largely to feed the world’s growing livestock population.

    Consequently, much of the Argentinian pampas region – previously renowned for its rich biodiversity – has been decimated by soy monocultures.

    As an expert on global supply chains, I study what can be done to remedy this environmentally damaging situation. My research shows that this problem runs deeper than logistics.

    Global supply chains are a key part of the capitalist system that thrives on endless economic growth. Competitive capital accumulation (where profits are reinvested to generate more profits) drives this cycle.

    The global economy is forecast to more than double by 2050. This entails an accelerated use of resources and waste generation, in a world that has already transcended an increasing number of planetary boundaries or safe limits of consumption.



    Read more:
    Society needs a systems update to cope with climate crisis – my new film explains why

    While green technologies can hypothetically make supply chains more efficient, enhanced efficiency under capitalism often leads to more production, not less. Efficiency gains can reduce costs, make goods more profitable and stimulate greater investment. Energy-saving lightbulbs and digital tools, for example, have led to broader adoption and higher overall energy use, rather than a decrease in energy demand.

    Better tech alone won’t reduce environmental harm. We need a shift toward a low-energy economy that prioritises human and ecological wellbeing over profit.

    Public transport, healthcare, open-source software and urban food systems are examples of social provision that are often cheaper, more inclusive and more environmentally sustainable than their profit-orientated alternatives.

    Greening supply chains

    I’ve identified five practical steps that can reduce the environmental footprint of supply chains.

    First, accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewables is essential. The Danish Island of Samsø went from fossil fuel dependence to 100% renewable energy by the early 2000s in the space of a decade by constructing and deploying on- and off-shore wind-power and biomass boilers. Scaling up such transitions could power cleaner supply chain infrastructure.

    Second, the electrification of shipping means that battery-powered shipping is no longer science fiction. The Yara Birkeland, the world’s first fully electric cargo ship, recently launched with a 100-container capacity. One study suggests that 40% of container traffic could be electrified this decade using existing technology.

    Third, by designing for durability and repair, digital and electronic products can be built to last and easy to repair. The “right to repair” movement advocates for consumer rights to fix and repair products rather than having to buy new ones and is gaining traction.

    It is challenging corporate control over who can fix what. Six US states have passed laws giving consumers the right to repair their own devices. In the UK, a community initiative called the Restart Project is pushing for stronger regulations and promoting community-based repair initiatives and digital technology sharing.

    Designing products that last and can easily be repaired helps create a more circular and less wasteful economy.
    Natali Ximich/Shutterstock

    Fourth, urban transport needs a rethink. Road transport accounts for about 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That sector could be streamlined by shifting supply chains from manufacturing millions of cars to investing in efficient and affordable bus, train and bike networks. Car-free cities and expanded electric public transport networks could slash emissions from road transport. This is already happening in places like Ghent in Belgium, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Lamu Island in Kenya and Fes el Bali in Morocco.

    Fifth, supply chains can be shortened by shifting diets. Reducing meat consumption could shrink the global feed-livestock chain the vast complex of animal feed production (such as soy) underpinning the burgeoning world cattle population and its associated transport emissions.

    Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have already seen declines in meat consumption over the past decade as plant-based diets have gained popularity. The UK is also experiencing a fall in per capita meat consumption

    These strategies are all tiny steps in the right direction. But, as the US author and environmentalist Bill McKibben says, “winning slowly is the same as losing”. We need much greater and more rapid transformations.

    So, while parts of supply chains can become more sustainable, any efforts will be counterproductive as long as governments and firms continue chasing endless economic growth. What’s needed now is the political and cultural will to prioritise people and the planet over profit.

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

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

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

    – ref. How to reduce the hidden environmental costs of supply chains – https://theconversation.com/how-to-reduce-the-hidden-environmental-costs-of-supply-chains-259595

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: How poetry can help to fight polarisation and misinformation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Hubbard, Associate lecturer in English Literature and Creative Writing, Aberystwyth University

    Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    People are becoming more divided and ill informed. In January 2024, a report by the World Economic Forum identified misinformation and disinformation as “the most severe global risk anticipated over the next two years”.

    As a result, it predicted “perceptions of reality are likely to also become polarised” – and that unrest resulting from unreliable information may cause “violent protests … hate crimes … civil confrontation and terrorism”. Many people would agree that something is needed to bridge the ever-widening gaps between ourselves.

    In my view, this is not just a problem of alternative sets of facts, but a failure to perceive and empathise with that which is outside of our own experiences.

    While the smartphone, with its capacity to provide users with sources from across the world, can provide endless opportunity to learn about other perspectives and experiences, research suggests social media increasingly cocoons users within their own interests.

    This algorithmically encouraged self-importance means we are stuck in a feedback loop – the echo chamber – where our own experiences, values and desires are seen as the norm.

    In contrast, by encouraging people to imagine beyond their own experience, reading poetry can serve as an exercise in seeing things from a different perspective.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Poetry has always been political. The writer and civil-rights activist Audre Lorde argued it produces “a revelatory distillation of experience”. In other words, by distilling aspects of an experience, poetry can reveal powerful truths about reality.

    Lorde’s poem Afterimages (1981) records her memory of turning 21 in the same year that 14-year-old Emmett Till was lynched in Mississippi. The poem’s revelation is a simple one. For black Americans, coming of age means coming to terms with the constant threat of extreme racial violence.

    Poetry’s success often relies upon showing people aspects of the world which they might otherwise have ignored, repressed or simply missed.

    Some poetry experiments with form itself to produce this revelatory effect. Estate Fragments (2014) is a long poem written by Gavin Goodwin, exploring the Bettws council estate in Newport. It juxtaposes quotations from academic writing alongside interviews with residents – a practice referred to as “found poetry”.

    Goodwin attempts to consider the effect that seemingly abstract political decision-making and discussions have on a particular place and community. Take this stanza:

    Increased inequality

    ups the stakes

    ‘People that were younger than you

    were more dangerous.’

    The first two lines quote Common Culture by Paul Willis (1990), a sociological study in the cultures of young people. The latter are from an interview with a resident of the Bettws estate. Together, they tell a story: national economic inequality causes people in a working-class community to fear each other.

    Looking closer and looking deeper

    More conventional lyric poetry can still reveal sociopolitical realities. Canadian Métis Nation writer katherena vermette’s collection North End Love Songs (2012) explores the North End in Winnipeg, Canada. In a CBC interview, vermette discussed how the local community are:

    The people that get picked on [and] blamed … but what I’m trying to do in my work is to go into looking closer and looking deeper … and seeing that they’re not what they seem.

    Misinformation and polarisation cause social tension, as particular groups are generalised and blamed. Vermette’s poem indians explicitly explores the devastation caused by preconceptions of peoples and places.

    Red River in Winnipeg.
    Teng Guan/Shutterstock

    The poem recalls vermette’s brother going missing, before being found in the Red River, a powerful body of water that moves through Winnipeg. It focuses on the apathy of Winnipeg’s police service, who tell the family that there is “no sense looking”, as the man will return when “he gets bored/or broke”. The authorities come to this conclusion not through investigation, but by reducing the speaker’s brother to racist stereotypes.

    This is then contrasted with what the family “finds out”. Not only has the brother drowned, but the “land floods/with dead indians”. The speaker discovers the fate of her brother is also the fate of many other Métis people in Winnipeg. This personal experience of loss comes to speak for many other loses:

    indians get drunk

    don’t we know it?

    do stupid things

    like being young

    like going home alone

    like walking across a frozen river

    not quite frozen

    Vermette links grief to struggles against systematic apathy and oppression. The poem’s sense of politics, people and place are a central part of its poetics.

    Audre Lorde in 1980.
    Wiki Commons, CC BY

    Such explicitness means the poem meaningfully connects to important political issues – drawing attention to the startlingly high number of missing people found and suspected to be in the Red River. As such, it can also link to important grassroots initiatives like Drag the Red, which aims to “find answers about missing loved ones” which might lie in the river.

    While North End Love Songs was published two years before Drag the Red’s formation, the poem and initiative are clearly formed by the same kind of traumatic, sociopolitical events.

    Newsfeeds increasingly silo us into comfortable ways of thinking and perceiving. Forty years on, Lorde’s declaration that poetry “is not a luxury” takes on a whole new meaning. Now, it might be a political necessity.

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

    Alex Hubbard is formerly affiliated with the Labour Party, and Aber Food Surplus, a community hub.

    – ref. How poetry can help to fight polarisation and misinformation – https://theconversation.com/how-poetry-can-help-to-fight-polarisation-and-misinformation-255567

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Cuban government scrambling to deal with outrage about country’s economic crisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emily Morris, Research Associate, Institute of the Americas, UCL

    Cuba doesn’t have any beggars, according to the country’s minister of labour, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera. In a speech to the national assembly on July 15, she denied the existence of destitution in the communist country, claiming the problem was actually people “disguised as beggars”.

    Her words were greeted by public outcry on social media. They also prompted a swift rebuke from her peers and the president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, who said leadership could not “act with condescension”. The next day, the Cuban government published an official note saying Feitó Cabrera had resigned.

    The political vulnerability of the Cuban government explains the urgent need to respond to missteps such as Feitó Cabrera’s. The country is enduring an acute economic crisis, which has seen living standards plummet and over 1 million Cubans leave the country since 2020.

    Cubans are leaving en masse:

    A severe economic crisis in Cuba has prompted a mass exodus from the island.
    Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas e Información

    The recession has severely strained the system of social protection that the government points to as one of its main achievements since taking power more than 60 years ago. Despite food subsidies and the efforts of welfare services, a growing number of people are now going hungry.

    Public confidence in the government has been severely weakened as a result, particularly among young Cubans. The risk of escalating popular protest is magnified by the proliferation of social media channels, emanating from inside and outside the country.

    These channels air the many complaints about daily frustrations in Cuba and highlight any failings or signs of hypocrisy on the part of officials. So when Feitó Cabrera’s speech went viral, it was met with inevitable public outrage.

    Díaz-Canel’s reaction can be seen as urgent damage limitation. But it is also consistent with his broader approach to managing the crisis facing his country. He has worked tirelessly to try and defuse anger through engagement, touring Cuba for local meetings to search for solutions.

    In his comments after Feitó Cabrera’s speech, he insisted that officials should acknowledge the scale of hardship being suffered, and “help, support and show solidarity” with the disadvantaged and most vulnerable.

    This need to reach out was all the more important given the grim tone of the national assembly meeting where Feitó Cabrera made her remarks. Ministers appeared one after the other to present dismal reports on the state of almost all sectors of the Cuban economy.

    The electricity system remains plagued by breakdowns caused by chronic underinvestment as well as difficulties in obtaining fuel and spare parts. The resulting daily power outages ensure that the sense of crisis is ever-present and frustrate all efforts to boost production.

    Doubting official data

    While full official national income data for 2024 has not yet been released, Cuba’s economy ministry estimates that real national income contracted by 1.1% in 2024. This leaves it more than 10% below its pre-pandemic level, and 2025 is not expected to show much improvement.

    The decline in real disposable income for Cuban households since 2021 has, in reality, been far greater. The official inflation rate indicates that consumer prices have risen fourfold over the past five years. At this rate, living costs would have increased broadly in line with salaries.

    Consumer prices have risen fourfold since 2020:

    Official inflation data for Cuba. The spike in early 2021 was the result of a monetary reform, which involved a big jump in wages in December 2020 followed by a currency reform in January 2021.
    Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas e Información

    But official figures systematically understate the actual increase in prices faced by Cuban households, due to the weightings used. In 2021, for example, research estimated the inflation rate to be between 174% and 700% – well above the government’s estimate (77.3%).

    The rising market prices have put many essential goods beyond the reach of most people who depend on state incomes. This has forced many households to depend on remittances or the informal economy to survive.

    Thanks to tight fiscal restraint, the official annual rate of inflation eased to 15% in June. But the wide gap between the increase in the actual cost of living and official inflation index continues to compound distrust of the government and the perception that the country’s leaders are out of touch.

    A lack of transparency and long delays in the publication of economic data, together with restrictions on the scope for private enterprise, are widely attributed to the government’s incompetence and reluctance to enact liberalising reforms.

    Recovery blocked by US sanctions

    For these reasons, the government’s insistence that US sanctions are to blame for limiting the possibilities for economic recovery is increasingly regarded with scepticism. However, the constraint on economic growth imposed by US measures is real and severe.

    It is also the deliberate aim of US policy. The unilateral sanctions not only block trade, as well as financial and international travel between the US and Cuba. They also severely hamper all kinds of transactions between Cuba and the rest of the world.

    Every branch of the Cuban economy has been affected, including the health service, social safety nets, agriculture and industry. And the lack of hard currency has, in turn, limited the scope for the investments and reforms needed for economic recovery.

    The easing inflation rate, together with some new investments in renewable energy, an improved fiscal balance and a recent small increase in pensions, may signal that the end of the economic downturn may be approaching. But neither the government nor the population have any confidence that the crisis will come to an end this year.

    No one is expecting US sanctions to be lifted while Donald Trump is president. Before Trump first stood for the presidency he hadn’t given Cuba his attention, but as president he has aligned himself firmly with hardliners.

    In his first term, Trump reversed the opening with Cuba initiated by Barack Obama. And his current secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is one of the architects and leading proponents of economic sanctions against Cuba. Trade and investment will thus remain depressed, while shortages, power cuts, a lack of transport and crumbling public services will persist.

    But by demanding the resignation of the minister of labour, perhaps Díaz-Canel hopes to demonstrate that his government understands what that the economic asphyxiation means for a majority of Cubans struggling to survive.

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

    Emily Morris 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. Cuban government scrambling to deal with outrage about country’s economic crisis – https://theconversation.com/cuban-government-scrambling-to-deal-with-outrage-about-countrys-economic-crisis-261702

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Cuban government scrambling to deal with outrage about country’s economic crisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emily Morris, Research Associate, Institute of the Americas, UCL

    Cuba doesn’t have any beggars, according to the country’s minister of labour, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera. In a speech to the national assembly on July 15, she denied the existence of destitution in the communist country, claiming the problem was actually people “disguised as beggars”.

    Her words were greeted by public outcry on social media. They also prompted a swift rebuke from her peers and the president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, who said leadership could not “act with condescension”. The next day, the Cuban government published an official note saying Feitó Cabrera had resigned.

    The political vulnerability of the Cuban government explains the urgent need to respond to missteps such as Feitó Cabrera’s. The country is enduring an acute economic crisis, which has seen living standards plummet and over 1 million Cubans leave the country since 2020.

    Cubans are leaving en masse:

    A severe economic crisis in Cuba has prompted a mass exodus from the island.
    Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas e Información

    The recession has severely strained the system of social protection that the government points to as one of its main achievements since taking power more than 60 years ago. Despite food subsidies and the efforts of welfare services, a growing number of people are now going hungry.

    Public confidence in the government has been severely weakened as a result, particularly among young Cubans. The risk of escalating popular protest is magnified by the proliferation of social media channels, emanating from inside and outside the country.

    These channels air the many complaints about daily frustrations in Cuba and highlight any failings or signs of hypocrisy on the part of officials. So when Feitó Cabrera’s speech went viral, it was met with inevitable public outrage.

    Díaz-Canel’s reaction can be seen as urgent damage limitation. But it is also consistent with his broader approach to managing the crisis facing his country. He has worked tirelessly to try and defuse anger through engagement, touring Cuba for local meetings to search for solutions.

    In his comments after Feitó Cabrera’s speech, he insisted that officials should acknowledge the scale of hardship being suffered, and “help, support and show solidarity” with the disadvantaged and most vulnerable.

    This need to reach out was all the more important given the grim tone of the national assembly meeting where Feitó Cabrera made her remarks. Ministers appeared one after the other to present dismal reports on the state of almost all sectors of the Cuban economy.

    The electricity system remains plagued by breakdowns caused by chronic underinvestment as well as difficulties in obtaining fuel and spare parts. The resulting daily power outages ensure that the sense of crisis is ever-present and frustrate all efforts to boost production.

    Doubting official data

    While full official national income data for 2024 has not yet been released, Cuba’s economy ministry estimates that real national income contracted by 1.1% in 2024. This leaves it more than 10% below its pre-pandemic level, and 2025 is not expected to show much improvement.

    The decline in real disposable income for Cuban households since 2021 has, in reality, been far greater. The official inflation rate indicates that consumer prices have risen fourfold over the past five years. At this rate, living costs would have increased broadly in line with salaries.

    Consumer prices have risen fourfold since 2020:

    Official inflation data for Cuba. The spike in early 2021 was the result of a monetary reform, which involved a big jump in wages in December 2020 followed by a currency reform in January 2021.
    Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas e Información

    But official figures systematically understate the actual increase in prices faced by Cuban households, due to the weightings used. In 2021, for example, research estimated the inflation rate to be between 174% and 700% – well above the government’s estimate (77.3%).

    The rising market prices have put many essential goods beyond the reach of most people who depend on state incomes. This has forced many households to depend on remittances or the informal economy to survive.

    Thanks to tight fiscal restraint, the official annual rate of inflation eased to 15% in June. But the wide gap between the increase in the actual cost of living and official inflation index continues to compound distrust of the government and the perception that the country’s leaders are out of touch.

    A lack of transparency and long delays in the publication of economic data, together with restrictions on the scope for private enterprise, are widely attributed to the government’s incompetence and reluctance to enact liberalising reforms.

    Recovery blocked by US sanctions

    For these reasons, the government’s insistence that US sanctions are to blame for limiting the possibilities for economic recovery is increasingly regarded with scepticism. However, the constraint on economic growth imposed by US measures is real and severe.

    It is also the deliberate aim of US policy. The unilateral sanctions not only block trade, as well as financial and international travel between the US and Cuba. They also severely hamper all kinds of transactions between Cuba and the rest of the world.

    Every branch of the Cuban economy has been affected, including the health service, social safety nets, agriculture and industry. And the lack of hard currency has, in turn, limited the scope for the investments and reforms needed for economic recovery.

    The easing inflation rate, together with some new investments in renewable energy, an improved fiscal balance and a recent small increase in pensions, may signal that the end of the economic downturn may be approaching. But neither the government nor the population have any confidence that the crisis will come to an end this year.

    No one is expecting US sanctions to be lifted while Donald Trump is president. Before Trump first stood for the presidency he hadn’t given Cuba his attention, but as president he has aligned himself firmly with hardliners.

    In his first term, Trump reversed the opening with Cuba initiated by Barack Obama. And his current secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is one of the architects and leading proponents of economic sanctions against Cuba. Trade and investment will thus remain depressed, while shortages, power cuts, a lack of transport and crumbling public services will persist.

    But by demanding the resignation of the minister of labour, perhaps Díaz-Canel hopes to demonstrate that his government understands what that the economic asphyxiation means for a majority of Cubans struggling to survive.

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

    Emily Morris 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. Cuban government scrambling to deal with outrage about country’s economic crisis – https://theconversation.com/cuban-government-scrambling-to-deal-with-outrage-about-countrys-economic-crisis-261702

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Warner Reintroduce Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) recently reintroduced the Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act, legislation to create a tax credit that will incentivize the capture and repurposing of methane emissions from active and abandoned mines.

    “I’m proud to help reintroduce the Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act, which will help capture and utilize mine methane emissions as a fuel source from coal mines. This legislation will result in positive environmental and economic impacts, and create another step for West Virginia to continue to lead the nation in an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy approach,” Senator Capito said.

    “This legislation takes a critical step in boosting Virginia’s efforts to address the harmful impact of methane when emitted into the atmosphere while simultaneously creating good-paying jobs and supporting economic growth,” Senator Warner said. “By incentivizing the reduction of methane emissions, we’re not only protecting the environment but also strengthening our energy independence, I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation.”

    BACKGROUND:

    The Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act would amend Section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code – which houses an existing tax credit for carbon capture and sequestration – to create a Mine Methane Capture Incentive Credit. The new credit would be attributed to taxpayers based on the amount of qualified methane that is captured and injected into a pipeline or is otherwise used for producing heat or energy. Qualified methane includes methane which:

    • Is captured from mining activities, including underground mines, abandoned or closed mines, or surface mines;
    • Would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as industrial greenhouse gas emission; and
    • Is measured at the source of capture and verified at the point of injection or utilization.

    A copy of the bill text can be found here.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Kansas Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents June Storms and Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents in Kansas of the Aug. 26, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the severe storms, torrential rain and flooding occurring June 3-7.

    The disaster declaration covers the Kansas counties of Butler, Chase, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harvey, Marion, Sedgwick and Sumner.

    Small businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is Aug. 26.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Oregon Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by the Harney County Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents in Oregon of the Aug. 25, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the Harney County flooding occurring March 12-April 15.

    The disaster declaration covers the Oregon counties of Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Lake and Malheur as well as the Nevada counties of Humboldt and Washoe.

    Small businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their disaster readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is Aug 25.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Oregon Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by March Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents in Oregon of the Aug. 25, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring March 13-20.

    The disaster declaration covers the Oregon counties of Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lane.

    Small businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is Aug. 25.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Omar Introduce Legislation to Repeal Corporate Welfare for Fossil Fuels in Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ End Giveaways That Destroy the Planet

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    BURLINGTON, Vt., July 25 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) reintroduced the End Polluter Welfare Act, legislation to eliminate President Trump’s enormous new handouts to the fossil fuel industry contained in the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” along with existing polluter welfare for the fossil fuel industry. First introduced by Sanders in 2012, the bill eliminates more than $190 billion in tax loopholes and federal subsidies for the fossil fuel industry over the next 10 years. That total includes approximately $20 billion in new subsidies for coal, oil drilling, methane emissions, pipelines and other false climate solutions. The bill would also prevent the Trump administration from handing out hundreds of millions of acres of public lands and waters for drilling. 
    In addition to Sanders and Omar, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with 20 members of the House of Representatives, have cosponsored the bill. More than 170 organizations have endorsed the legislation.  
    “Donald Trump has sold out the young people of America and future generations,” Sanders said. “Big Oil spent $450 million to elected Donald Trump and Republicans during the last election cycle. In return, the president has directed the full regulatory, legal and financial weight of the federal government toward helping his fossil fuel executive friends get rich at the expense of a healthy and habitable planet for our kids and grandkids. The fossil fuel industry, with the support of Trump, is more concerned about their short-term profits than the wellbeing of the planet. No more polluter welfare for an industry that is making billions every year destroying the planet.” 
    “We are done letting fossil fuel executives write the rules while our communities pay the price,” Omar said. “For decades, Big Oil has raked in billions in taxpayer handouts while destabilizing our climate. The End Polluter Welfare Act will finally hold polluters accountable and eliminate these harmful subsidies once and for all. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation with Senator Sanders because our planet can’t wait, and neither can we.” 
    Just four private fossil fuel corporations — ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron and Shell — have accounted for about 10% of global fossil fuel emissions since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Over the past three decades, these four companies have made more than $2 trillion in profit off the backs of people all around the world have borne the brunt of climate disasters. Last year alone, these companies made $84 billion in profit, and their CEOs made more than $95 million. 
    As if these obscene profits weren’t enough, the Republican reconciliation bill passed earlier this month by a single vote in the Senate includes enormous new subsidies to the fossil fuel industry: 
    More than $1.48 billion in tax cuts for metallurgical coal;
    More than $14 billion in tax cuts for carbon capture and enhanced oil recovery;
    Up to $3 billion in tax cuts for owners of power plants and pipelines that transport carbon and dirty hydrogen;
    Up to $447 million in tax cuts that help oil and gas drillers avoid the 15 percent corporate minimum tax;
    $1.5 billion in tax cuts for fossil fuel producers who emit methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide;
    A “pay-to-play” scheme that will allow polluters to buy environmental reviews; and
    Opening up hundreds of millions of acres of our public lands and waters for drilling.
    Instead of handing out new taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil, Congress must take on the greed of the tremendously profitable fossil fuel industry by passing the End Polluter Welfare Act, which would: 
    Eliminate all giveaways, tax preferences and loopholes to the fossil fuel industry;
    Prohibit taxpayer-funded fossil fuel research and development;
    Update below-market royalty rates for oil and gas production on federal lands;
    Recoup royalties from offshore drilling in public waters;
    Ensure competitive bidding and leasing practices for coal developments on federal lands; and
    End support for international oil, gas and coal projects to help the international community move away from dirty fossil fuels to clean sources of power.
    Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently asked: “If an energy source needs subsidies to stay afloat, how truly reliable, or affordable is it?” The secretary is right: The American people can no longer afford to rely on the most subsidized form of energy in American history. Failure to address the climate crisis by taking on the fossil fuel industry puts the planet and future generations at risk. 
    Read the bill text here. 
    Read a summary here. 
    Read the section-by-section here. 
    Read a letter of support from endorsing organizations here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Ricketts Introduces the THINK TWICE Act to Combat Chinese Arms Sales

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Tracking Hostile Industry Networks and Kit while Thwarting Weapons Imports from Chinese Entities (THINK TWICE) Act of 2025.  The THINK TWICE Act would require an assessment of arms sales by Communist China and a strategy to dissuade countries from buying Chinese weapons systems and defense equipment.  The legislation was also sponsored by Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO).
    “Communist China has emerged as a major weapons supplier. This is particularly true in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia,” said Ricketts.  “This development has major implications for American defense companies, our military operations, and our global security partnerships.  The recent Pakistan-India clash saw significant use of Chinese-made weapons. This should be a major wake-up call that we must do more to combat these arms sales.  That’s why I’ve introduced the THINK TWICE Act. This act requires a coordinated strategy to dissuade new purchases of Chinese-made weapons. It will also ensure our defense industrial base is better equipped to provide alternatives to prospective buyers.”
    “As China wields arms sales to reshape the international system in Beijing’s image, the United States must reassert its role as a security partner of choice,” said Bennet.  “This legislation is an essential step toward countering China’s expanding military footprint and geopolitical influence.”
    The THINK TWICE Act would:
    Requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to report on arms sales facilitated by entities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  The report requires inclusion of:
    The specific weapons systems, technical aspects, and capabilities of those weapons;
    The countries mostly likely to procure weapons systems; 
    The weapons that present the greatest security risks regarding the potential to collect intelligence on or compromise U.S. platforms;
    The factors that incentivize countries to procure Chinese weapons; 
    And the PRC’s strategy regarding arms sales.

    Requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to develop a strategy to dissuade purchases of new weapons systems and defense equipment from the PRC.  The strategy would include:
    An information campaign to warn countries interested in procuring weapons systems and defense equipment originating from China about risks; 
    A description of actions the U.S. can take, including FMS reforms, commercial sales, and foreign military financing; 
    An analysis of whether sanctions or economic restrictions targeting potential buyers could be used as an effective deterrent; 
    A plan to ensure sufficient representation of defense firms of the U.S. or trusted allies at defense trade shows; 
    And a plan to combat Chinese disinformation campaigns targeting the performance of Western weapons.

    BACKGROUND:
    Communist China is now the fourth largest arms exporter behind the U.S., Russia, and France.  In recent years, Chinese-made drones, missiles, and fighter jets have been exported to 44 countries.  All around the world, Communist China uses arms sales to promote strategic interests, improve its military’s image and reputation, acquire performance data of Chinese-made weapons in contested environments, exacerbate tensions between the U.S. and traditional security partners, and gain a foothold for further defense and security cooperation.  With Russia unable to facilitate arms sales given its war of aggression in Ukraine, an opportunity has arisen for Communist China to fill the void.
    Bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ivey Announces Appointment of Deborah Tillman as Mobile County District Judge

    Source: US State of Alabama

    MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Friday announced the appointment of Deborah Denise Tillman as Mobile County District Judge.

    “Deborah Tillman possesses a tremendous background in the law spanning 35 years, beginning with her service as a Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force to subsequent decades of experience in the Mobile County District Attorney’s office,” said Governor Ivey. “As a former state, federal and military prosecutor, her legal knowledge will serve the Court and the people of Mobile County well.”

    “I am extremely honored, humbled and grateful to Governor Ivey for appointing me to be the next District Court Judge in Mobile County,” said Tillman. “While my role will change in the courtroom, my commitment to the rule of law and to serve the great people of Mobile County with honor and integrity will not. I look forward to joining the distinguished group of Judges who comprise the 13th Judicial Circuit of Mobile County.”

    Tillman will fill the vacancy on the Court left after the resignation of District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis.

    Tillman began her legal career in the U.S. Air Force rising to the rank of Captain and was Honorably Discharged in 1995. Afterward, she devoted several decades as Assistant District Attorney and Chief District Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Mobile County. She also held the position of Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Florida. Over her extensive career, she prosecuted thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases in state and federal courts. Additionally, she taught criminal law, contracts and civil procedure as an adjunct professor in the paralegal studies division at the University of South Alabama.

    A Mobile native, Tillman is a 1985 graduate of Spring Hill College. She received her Juris Doctorate from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in Macon, Georgia in 1989.

    Tillman’s appointment is effective immediately.

    Tillman’s official photo is attached.

    Governor Ivey made 36 other appointments. A list of those appointments is attached.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Honoring East Branch Assistant Fire Chief Jason McGlone

    Source: US State of New York

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    July 25, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Flags To Be Flown at Half-Staff Across New York State on Saturday, July 26

    Governor Kathy Hochul today directed flags on all State government buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of East Branch Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Jason McGlone, who passed away on July 17 in the line of duty while responding to a motor vehicle accident. Flags will be at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, July 26.

    “Chief McGlone served his community with courage and selflessness for 25 years — a true representation of New York’s hardest working public servants,” Governor Hochul said. “His loss will be felt deeply by his East Branch Fire Department crew, his community, and his friends and loved ones. As Governor of New York, I extend my deepest sympathy to those affected during this difficult time.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Eric Burlison Reintroduces Freights First Act to Strengthen America’s Supply Chain

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) reintroduced the Freights First Act, legislation to reduce rail congestion near critical supply-chain hubs by prioritizing freight movement over passenger service within key logistics corridors.

    Currently, under federal law (49 U.S.C. § 24308(c)), Amtrak enjoys statutory preference over freight railroads on shared tracks. This rule often creates unnecessary bottlenecks near ports and major rail yards.

    “The backbone of America’s economy is a strong and reliable supply chain,” said Congressman Burlison. “When freight rail is forced to wait for passenger trains near critical infrastructure, our entire economy suffers. My Freights First Act removes this barrier and ensures goods arrive on time and without costly delays.”

    Specifically, the Freights First Act:

    • Eliminates Amtrak’s track preference within 50 miles of a port or rail yard to prevent congestion and keep freight moving efficiently.
    • Improves supply chain resilience by prioritizing freight over passenger service in the areas where the movement of goods is most critical.

    The Freights First Act puts America’s economy first by clearing bottlenecks, strengthening the supply chain, and ensuring goods move at the speed of commerce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sen. Markey Lead Push to End Solitary Confinement in Federal Detention Facilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    WASHINGTON, DC  – Yesterday, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37)and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) reintroduced the End Solitary Confinement Act, legislation that would end solitary confinement in federal prisons, jails, and detention centers, with limited exceptions. This bill would create minimum standards for incarceration, including by requiring that facilities give detainees access to out-of-cell interaction and recreation and by capping the length of solitary confinement at four hours. 

    Individuals held in solitary confinement can be isolated in a small, concrete, windowless cell for 22 hours or longer. Placement in solitary for any length of time, whether days or even hours, can cause severe, long-term harm. Individuals held in solitary confinement may suffer serious adverse effects on their mental and physical health, including an increased risk of suicide, heart disease, anxiety, and depression. Solitary confinement is also disproportionately inflicted on Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as on vulnerable populations, including persons with preexisting mental health illnesses.   

    “Solitary confinement is torture, period,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “This outdated practice, dating back to the 1800s, does nothing to promote rehabilitation. Research consistently shows it causes severe mental health issues, intensifies existing barriers to recovery, and disproportionately harms incarcerated Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We must abolish solitary confinement entirely—and I’m proud to lead the charge with this bill that will finally end its use in the United States.” 

    “Solitary confinement is a cruel and unnecessary practice that has no place in our country. This practice isn’t rehabilitation, it’s torture,” said Senator Markey. “Forcing people, including those from vulnerable groups, into small, cramped, concrete prison cells without human interaction for hours, days, weeks, and even months on end is inhumane. I am proud to introduce this legislation, alongside Representative Kamlager-Dove, to move us closer to ending solitary confinement, once and for all.”  

    “Solitary confinement is torture and should never be used,” said Congresswoman Tlaib.“It takes a devastating toll on mental health, heightens the risk of self-harm and suicide, increases recidivism, and can lead to severe psychological trauma. It is disproportionately inflicted on Black and brown people and other marginalized communities. We need to lead with restorative justice and recognize the human dignity of incarcerated people by abolishing this inhumane practice once and for all.”

    “Solitary confinement causes irreversible harm to individuals, yet we continue to use this form of torture across the American criminal justice system,” said Congressman Espaillat. “These harms, while well documented, have been shown to lead to increased mental health risks and heightened rates of suicide. Solitary confinement is inhumane and a form of torture that should never be used, period. I am proud to join my colleagues to reintroduce the End Solitary Confinement Act during the 119th Congress to ban this practice across our justice system in its entirety.”

    “Most Americans agree that the extensive use of solitary confinement is morally indefensible,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. The use of solitary confinement has been shown to significantly harm to the incarcerated individual’s mental health leading to self-mutilation, anxiety, depression, psychosis, mental deterioration, and suicide. The United States is currently going through a significant mental health crisis to which the Federal government should not be contributing through its extensive use of solitary confinement. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove’s bill to end the extended use of solitary confinement is a step in the right direction towards our goal of rehabilitation and mental health.”

    “Solitary confinement is a cruel, inhumane punishment that is detrimental to a person’s mental health and does nothing to promote rehabilitation,” said Congresswoman Lee.“This legislation is about protecting human rights, upholding accountability, and ending a practice rooted in systemic racism and trauma. I fully support Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove’s End Solitary Confinement Act. We must choose care and compassion over punishment and isolation.” 

    Specifically, the End Solitary Confinement Act would:   

    • End solitary confinement in federal prisons, jails and other detention settings with limited exceptions, including a 4-hour maximum for emergency de-escalation;
    • Protect vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals and pregnant persons, from placement in solitary confinement;
    • Ensure detainees have meaningful access to out-of-cell time, group programming, and basic needs and services;
    • Impose strict due process protections, including access to representation and neutral decision-makers;
    • Create oversight and enforcement mechanisms, including mandatory reporting, a private cause of action, oversight by a community monitoring body, and enhanced media access; and 
    • Incentivize states and municipalities to adopt similar bans on solitary confinement. 

    In the House, the End Solitary Confinement Act was co-led by Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Summer Lee (PA-12). Cosponsors in the Senate include Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore).  

    This legislation is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Constitutional Rights, Vera Institute of Justice, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Unlock the Box Campaign, the #HALTsolitary Campaign, and Zealous.  

    Bill Text (PDF)

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Donalds Announces Scam Awareness Workshop In Bonita Springs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)

    Donalds Announces Scam Awareness Workshop In Bonita Springs

    Washington, July 25, 2025

    BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has released the following information announcingan in-person, scam awareness workshop in collaboration with regional F.B.I. partners. Congressman Donalds is co-hosting this free, scam awareness workshop, to offer constituents of Florida’s 19thCongressional District an opportunity to stay informed regarding common scams and elder fraud.

    WHO:

    • Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL)
    • Constituents of Florida’s 19th Congressional District

    WHERE:

    • Bonita Springs Library – 10560 Reynolds St, Bonita Springs, FL 34135

    WHEN:

    • Monday, July 28th, 2025
    • Event begins: 11:30 AM
    • Event ends: 1:00 PM

    HOW:

    • No RVSP required
    • Suitable for all ages
    • For additional information, call (239) 599-6033 or (239) 252-6225

    MIL OSI USA News –