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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen Art Gallery welcomes one millionth visitor

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Aberdeen Art Gallery has welcomed its one millionth visitor since re-opening in November 2019 following its landmark redevelopment.  
    Eleanor Watson of Giffnock was visiting with her sister and nephew. They were met by Helen Fotherghill, Service Manager – Archives Gallery & Museums, who presented Dorothy with a certificate for an artwork which will be ‘adopted’ in her name – A Ground Swell, Carradale, by William McTaggart, which is on display in the French Impressions gallery. Eleanor also received a goody bag of Tall Ships commemorative items.  
     
    Visitor numbers to the Art Gallery swelled during the Tall Ships Races weekend, with the Gallery offering extended opening hours until 8pm during the event for visitors to enjoy the Monsters of the Deep exhibition and Festival of the Sea events. 
     
    Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said, “The re-imagined Art Gallery, with its outstanding collection, is the city’s flagship cultural venue. I’m delighted to share the news of this major milestone and offer my congratulations to Eleanor Watson on being the millionth visitor. The Art Gallery is a safe, accessible, public space in the heart of the city where you can see great art for free. We want everyone to feel welcome here and we look forward to inspiring and delighting the next million visitors.”  
     
    Commenting on being the millionth visitor, Eleanor said, “I’m thrilled and honoured to be the one millionth visitor. This is my first visit to the Gallery, but my nephew Eoin, who lives in Aberdeen, is a regular visitor, and he suggested we come today. I’m delighted to have this beautiful painting by William McTaggart adopted in my name to commemorate the milestone. I’m looking forward to finding out more about the artist and to visiting again when we’re next in Aberdeen.”  
     
    Eleanor’s nephew, Eoin, said, “The Gallery has been a very important place for me. I visited with my mother from early childhood. I lost both my parents to cancer at a young age and have been away from Aberdeen for some 30 years. Recently returning to the city I am extremely grateful I rediscovered the Gallery. I have faced a number of personal challenges this year and the Saturday morning Artroom sessions at the Gallery run by Elaine from Grampian Hospitals Art Trust, which I have attended for a couple of months, have shone a light in my life. It is so apt and somewhat overwhelming that walking through the door with my Aunts, showing them where Mum and I spent time together, that Eleanor should be singled out as the millionth visitor since reopening.” 
     
    Aberdeen City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund were the major funders of the Art Gallery redevelopment, with support from many other trusts, foundations, corporate and individual donors. The much-loved building, which was designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and originally opened in 1885, was completely re-imagined by internationally-acclaimed Hoskins Architects and exhibition designers Studioarc.  
     
    Notable milestones and successes since the re-opening include: 

    2020 – joint winner of Art Fund Museum of the Year 
    2021 – only Scottish venue for the prestigious British Art Show 9; named Building of the Year by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland  
    2022 – shortlisted for European Museum of the Year 
    2023 – presented the major special exhibitions Galloway Hoard – Viking Age Treasures (on loan from National Museums Scotland) and Book of Deer, one of the principle antiquities of Celtic Scotland (on loan from Cambridge University Library); named Best Visitor Attraction – Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Thistle awards  
    2024 – acquired a ceramic pot by celebrated British Artist Sir Grayson Perry 
    2025 – offered new experiences for visitors – All Fired Up interactive display of studio ceramics and the McBey reference library, supported by volunteers; achieved Gold level Green Tourism Award  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 50 years on from the signing of the Helsinki Final Act Russia fails to live up to its promises: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    50 years on from the signing of the Helsinki Final Act Russia fails to live up to its promises: UK statement to the OSCE

    Ambassador Holland commits to continuing to highlight and condemn Russia’s attacks against Ukraine for as long as Russia insists on carrying them out. Doing so is necessary because of the obvious humanitarian imperative but it is also a question of living up to our promises to one another when we signed the Helsinki Final Act.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Mr Chair, there have been 120 Permanent Councils and 46 Special and Reinforced Permanent Councils since Russia launched its illegal full scale war of aggression on Ukraine in February 2022.  The UK has spoken on each of these occasions, highlighting Russia’s violation of the Helsinki principles and the Final Act.

    Next week we gather in Helsinki to mark 50 years of the signature of the Final Act. This should have been a moment to reflect on its positive and historic legacy; alongside the UN and Paris Charters, it has set the standards by which we should treat each other and our citizenry. Instead we are travelling to Finland with drones still pummelling Ukrainian civilian targets indiscriminately and an unapologetic Russia refusing to take the outstretched hand of peace offered to them by the victim of their aggression, Ukraine.

    The UK deeply regrets that there is still no sign of a let up in these attacks on civilians. One of the latest of these was an attack on the entrance to a metro station providing shelter to Ukrainian civilians escaping Russian bombardment. The Russian State evidently want as many Ukrainian people to be terrorised as possible. The UK will continue to highlight and condemn them for as long as Russia insists on carrying them out. As well as an obvious humanitarian imperative, doing so is also a question of living up to our promises to one another when we signed the Helsinki Final Act.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China hopes Thailand and Cambodia can properly resolve dispute through dialogue, MFA says

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) — China is deeply concerned about the ongoing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia and hopes the two countries can properly resolve the dispute through dialogue and consultation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Thursday.

    Calling Thailand and Cambodia China’s friendly neighbors and important members of ASEAN, the Chinese diplomat noted that good-neighborliness and proper settlement of differences are in the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides.

    In view of the common interests and concerns of countries in the region, China, in a fair and impartial position, continues to make efforts to promote reconciliation and peace talks, thereby playing a constructive role in easing tensions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed. -0-

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China publishes report on research into building SCO community of common destiny

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    ZHENGZHOU, July 24 (Xinhua) — A research report on building a community with a shared future for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was released by a think tank in China on Thursday, calling for a closer regional community with a shared future and focusing on expanding dialogue among civilizations and people-to-people cooperation.

    The document was released by the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, central China.

    The report notes that building a community of shared destiny for the SCO is an important step in line with the flow of history and a significant conceptual innovation in contemporary international relations. It is necessary to formulate a framework for action aimed at promoting regional cooperation through stability and achieving regional prosperity through development.

    In order to fully realize the high-quality platform function of the SCO, all member states should accumulate collective strength while taking into account their own interests, the document added.

    According to the report, the SCO member states have different cultural traditions. They should attach great importance to organizing a broad dialogue among civilizations and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, sports, expand exchanges between different groups of people, especially between the media and youth, and continue to hold high-level forums of people’s diplomacy, media forums, youth forums and women’s forums.

    The report emphasizes that in order to improve the regional governance system and make joint efforts to implement modernization, it is necessary to clearly understand the differences between the current major tasks and long-term goals for the future. A series of small-scale but effective projects for improving the people’s well-being of the member states of the organization should be implemented to demonstrate the most significant signs of building a community of common destiny of the SCO. -0-

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Flash: Xi Jinping sends condolence telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Russian passenger plane crash

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Xinhua | 24.07.2025

    Key words: China-Russia

    Source: Xinhua

    Flash: Xi Jinping sends telegram of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Russian passenger plane crash Flash: Xi Jinping sends telegram of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Russian passenger plane crash

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Explosion in northwest Syria, casualty toll under investigation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    DAMASCUS, July 24 (Xinhua) — A powerful explosion rocked northwestern Syria’s Idlib province on Thursday, causing casualties and causing fires near the town of Maarat Misreen, Syrian state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV reported.

    Idlib’s Disaster Management Authority confirmed that the blast, whose cause has not yet been determined, killed and injured people. Private Syria TV reported that the blast likely occurred at an ammunition depot in the area.

    The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported an unidentified aircraft flying over the region at the time of the explosion, although no official statement has confirmed the airstrike.

    The number of victims and the cause of the explosion are being determined. –0–

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Yellowstone has been a ‘sacred wonderland’ of spiritual power and religious activity for centuries – and for different faith groups

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Thomas S. Bremer, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, Rhodes College

    Beehive Geyser, in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. Thomas S. Bremer

    Nearly 5 million travelers come to Wyoming to visit Yellowstone National Park each year, most in the summer months. They come for the geysers, wildlife, scenery and recreational activities such as hiking, fishing and photography.

    However, few realize that religion has been part of Yellowstone’s appeal throughout the park’s history. My 2025 book “Sacred Wonderland” documents how people have long found holiness in Yellowstone: how a landscape once sacred to Native Americans later inspired Christians and New Age communities alike.

    Native reverence – and removal

    Long before European Americans “discovered” the Yellowstone region in the 19th century, numerous Indigenous peoples were aware of its unique landscape – particularly geysers, hot springs and other hydrothermal wonders. Several tribal groups engaged in devotional practices long before it became a park. These included the Tukudika, or Sheep Eaters, a band of mountain Shoshone. They lived year-round within the boundaries of what would become the national park.

    Anthropologists know relatively little about the specific beliefs that Native Americans held about Yellowstone during this era. However, it’s clear most of the Indigenous groups who frequented Yellowstone considered it, as historian Paul Schullery concludes, “a place of spiritual power, of communion with natural forces, a place that inspired reverence.”

    Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park.
    Thomas S. Bremer

    After the Civil War, more Euro-Americans entered the region. In 1872, the U.S. government created Yellowstone as the first national park, setting a precedent for others in the United States and around the world.

    Yellowstone and other U.S. national parks established in the 19th century were products of manifest destiny: the Christian idea that Americans had a divinely ordained right to expand their country across the continent. The nation’s westward expansion included turning supposedly wild, “uncivilized” areas into parks.

    The park system’s creation, though, came at the cost of Indigenous communities. In Yellowstone, the Tukudika were forcibly removed in the 1870s to two reservations in Idaho and Wyoming, as anthropologists Peter Nabokov and Lawrence Loendorf discuss in their book “Restoring a Presence.”

    Christian ministry

    In addition to the concept of manifest destiny, Christians brought their own religious practices to Yellowstone National Park.

    The U.S. Army was responsible for protecting and managing the park from 1886 to 1918. It operated from Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs in the northern part of the park. The last building it erected at the fort was a chapel, which has been in continuous use as a worship space – mostly for Christian groups – since its completion in 1913.

    The Yellowstone National Park Chapel at Mammoth Hot Springs, finished in 1913, was the last building constructed by the U.S. Army at Fort Yellowstone.
    Thomas S. Bremer

    One group that has used the chapel consistently since the 1950s is ACMNP, A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, an evangelical Protestant parachurch ministry founded in Yellowstone. Its volunteers conduct worship services and proselytize among employees and visitors.

    ACMNP began as the brainchild of Presbyterian minister Warren Ost, who had worked as a bellhop at the Old Faithful Inn during summer breaks in seminary. Upon graduation, he formed the ministry, hoping to capitalize on the awe people experience in the parks to affirm believers’ faith and bring new souls to Christ.

    ACMNP’s mission involves placing seminarians and other students in national parks as “worker-witnesses.” They work as paid employees in secular jobs and conduct religious activities after their regular working hours. Additionally, they are encouraged to talk about religion with their fellow workers on the job.

    ACMNP experienced rapid growth in the 1950s and 1960s, boosted by support from National Park Service leadership. Cooperation included reduced-cost housing for their volunteers, and in some parks the superintendents or other high-level officials served on local ACMNP committees.

    At its peak in the 1970s, ACMNP had nearly 300 volunteers working in over 50 locations. However, a federal lawsuit in the 1990s challenged its relationship with the government on the grounds of church-state separation and ended some of the privileges ACMNP had enjoyed. Not long after the legal action, Ost announced his retirement.

    Although the organization has scaled back operations, the ministry in Yellowstone has experienced few changes. ACMNP volunteers continue to offer religious services to park employees and visitors throughout the summer.

    Spiritual fortress

    Another religious group has a very different interpretation of Yellowstone. The Church Universal and Triumphant, which had several thousand members at its height, was founded by Elizabeth Clare Prophet in the 1970s, based on the teachings of her late husband, Mark Prophet.

    The Church Universal and Triumphant is an heir to the “I AM” movement, which flourished in the U.S. during the 1930s. Most prominent among I AM’s influences were theosophy, which promotes esoteric knowledge gleaned from Asian religious traditions as a universal wisdom underlying all religions; new thought, which advocates a mind-over-matter spirituality; and spiritualism, which involves communicating with spirits.

    In the 1980s, Prophet’s followers relocated from California to Montana, where they purchased a large ranch adjacent to Yellowstone National Park’s northwest boundary. With them, they brought an eclectic New Age theology that combines elements of Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism with belief in “ascended masters,” spiritual beings who guide the church. The group’s tradition teaches that beneath Yellowstone are two underground caverns, hidden from human view, that contain a cache of sacred stones with spiritual powers.

    The Church Universal and Triumphant gained attention in the ‘90s when its believers in Montana built underground bunkers. Members believed that their ascended masters had predicted a nuclear war and had instructed the community to prepare to survive underground. When the prophecy of a nuclear attack did not materialize, many members became disillusioned.

    The group struggled to rebuild its reputation and establish goodwill with Montana neighbors, including the National Park Service. Elizabeth Clare Prophet retired in 1999, and since then the church has concentrated more on its publishing and educational enterprises. However, a core community of the faithful still live and worship on their Royal Teton Ranch adjacent to Yellowstone.

    The main church sanctuary at Church Universal and Triumphant headquarters, just outside Yellowstone National Park.
    Thomas S. Bremer

    Although the community teaches that its Montana ranch is a sacred location of the ascended masters, followers’ holiest place in the Western Hemisphere is roughly 35 miles south of Yellowstone, in Grand Teton National Park. They believe humanity began at Grand Teton Mountain and that the faithful will find their destiny there.

    Accordingly, members believe that Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are brimming with spiritual powers, sacred sources of light and energy for the entire world.

    In my conversations with people in the park, I found that very few knew anything about Yellowstone’s religious history at all – especially Native American practices. The ongoing practices of religious communities in the park remain invisible to nearly all visitors. Still, many vacationers interpret Yellowstone’s wonders as evidence of God’s handiwork.

    Thomas S. Bremer received funding in the past to conduct historical research for the National Park Service at Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois.

    – ref. Yellowstone has been a ‘sacred wonderland’ of spiritual power and religious activity for centuries – and for different faith groups – https://theconversation.com/yellowstone-has-been-a-sacred-wonderland-of-spiritual-power-and-religious-activity-for-centuries-and-for-different-faith-groups-261045

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: As Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community battles for inclusion, two drag performers have become internet stars – with more than 2 million TikTok followers

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Francisco Tijerina, PhD Candidate in Hispanic Studies, Washington University in St. Louis

    Turbulence Queen, left, and Burrita Burrona perform at the Mexico City Pride Parade in June 2024. Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media via Getty Images News

    In January 2022, Erick Martínez, also known as Turbulence Queen, introduced a guest on his YouTube channel: Ivan “Momo” Guzmán, with the stage name Burrita Burrona, a drag performer wearing a cartoonish donkey costume topped by a wig.

    During their interview, Turbulence and Burrita shared stories, gossiped and threw shade at Mexican actors, newscasters and performers. Soon after, their careers took off.

    Before Burrita’s first appearance, Turbulence’s YouTube channel had fewer than 5,000 subscribers. Now, after the rebranding of the show to include Burrita’s name, their channel has about 375,000. More than 2 million subscribe to them on TikTok – Turbulence, with 600,000 followers and 16 million likes; Burrita with 1.5 million followers and 28 million likes. Their “El Podcast del Momento” has more than 225,000 subscribers.

    The two proved so popular that corporate sponsors started getting in on the action. Soriana, a large supermarket chain in Mexico, splashed their images on a line of cakes. Netflix Latin America had them hosting a series of videos promoting its new South Korean dramas. The media giant Televisa included Turbulence and Burrita as part of their comedic coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Over the past 3 ½ years, the YouTube show has added some new characters, including Burrita’s mom and an on-and-off love interest, a butch lesbian wolf. Along with the interviews, the characters do comedic cooking segments and sketches. Even in today’s fragmented and cluttered media environment, the program regularly gets around 250,000 views, with some episodes reaching more than 1 million.

    While drag performers are not new in Mexico, Burrita is something of a novelty: a drag mascot. Although long a part of Mexico’s commercial culture – mascots promote everything from soccer teams to pharmacies and are a staple at children’s birthday parties – Burrita is the first to do it in drag.

    A clip from an episode of ‘El Podcast del Momento.’

    Discrimination and violence

    As a Mexican scholar who specializes in the study of gender and sexuality, I’m struck by how these LGBTQ+ characters have become enormously popular in what I consider a relatively conservative and deeply religious country. However, that too is changing: Today’s Mexico is sometimes called a conservative country with liberal laws. Still, in a country where about 5% of the population self-identify as LGBTQ+, the battle for inclusion – and more diverse representation of gender and sexuality – is far from over.

    In 2023, conservative groups pressured the International Book Fair of Monterrey to cancel a public short-story reading by drag queens. In 2024, a social media influencer’s misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic remarks ran live on national television. Also in 2024, San Nicolás de los Garza, a city of more than 400,000 people, banned public performances by drag queens. Ironically, San Nicolás is in the state of Nuevo Leon, which has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in Mexico.

    Indeed, national policies protecting the LGBTQ+ community don’t always apply equally; some states are more restrictive than others. For example, although Mexico’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, three states have yet to ratify it in their state constitutions.

    Turbulence Queen is interviewed on local TV at a 2023 red carpet event in Mexico.
    Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media via Getty Images Entertainment

    In May 2025, Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography reported these findings: 60% of the LGBTQ+ community say they’ve been subjected to some form of violence. Nearly 30% have had suicidal thoughts or have attempted suicide. Just over 37% say they experienced some form of discrimination during the past year. From 2020 to 2025, 25% said they were denied access to health care, education or social support. Hate crimes are on the rise, with 672 reported over a five-year period, including 141 in 2024, a significant jump from the 92 reported in 2023. The 2024 statistic includes 55 murders of transgender women.

    Taking off the mask

    Turbulence and Burrita’s swift success is impressive, but not all LGBTQ+ citizens in Mexico enjoy the same level of recognition and privilege. And as the fight for equal treatment continues, the country’s politics over the past decade has shifted. In 2018, leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected president. His successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and a close ally of López Obrador’s, was elected in 2024.

    But although both López Obrador and Sheinbaum are more progressive than previous administrations, neither has been particularly vocal about their support for the LGBTQ+ community. For instance: Although Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female and Jewish president, mentioned her support for the LGBTQ+ community during her campaign, she has largely ignored LGBTQ+ issues since taking office.

    Until recently, there were few openly LGBTQ+ people pitching products or appearing on television. But Guzmán, who’s the first mascot to perform in drag, is not hiding his sexuality, despite the costume. Rather, he can be read as a symbol of Mexico’s ongoing pursuit of equality. And perhaps his character’s visibility will allow more in the community to be able to shed their masks and come out.

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

    – ref. As Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community battles for inclusion, two drag performers have become internet stars – with more than 2 million TikTok followers – https://theconversation.com/as-mexicos-lgbtq-community-battles-for-inclusion-two-drag-performers-have-become-internet-stars-with-more-than-2-million-tiktok-followers-241552

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why 2025 became the summer of flash flooding in America

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Jeffrey Basara, Professor of Meteorology, UMass Lowell

    Rescuers searched for survivors after a flash flood in Texas Hill Country on July 4, 2025, that killed more than 130 people. Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

    The National Weather Service has already issued more than 3,600 flash flood warnings across the United States in 2025, and that number is increasing as torrential downpours continue in late July. There’s a good chance the U.S. will exceed its yearly average of around 4,000 flash flood warnings soon.

    For communities in Texas, New Mexico, West Virginia and New Jersey, the floods have been deadly. And many more states have seen flash flood damage in recent weeks, including New York, Oklahoma, Kansas, Vermont and Iowa.

    What’s causing so much extreme rain and flooding?

    Much of the central and eastern U.S. has had above-normal precipitation over the three months from April 23 through July 24, 2025. Blues are 150% to 200% of normal. Purples are even higher.
    NOAA National Water Prediction Service

    I study extreme precipitation events along with the complex processes that lead to the devastating damage they cause.

    Both the atmosphere and surface conditions play important roles in when and where flash floods occur and how destructive they become, and 2025 has seen some extremes, with large parts of the country east of the Rockies received at least 50% more precipitation than normal from mid-April through mid-July.

    Excess water vapor, weaker jet stream

    Flash floods are caused by excessive precipitation over short periods of time. When rain accumulates too fast for the local environment to absorb or reroute it, flooding ensues, and conditions can get dangerous fast.

    Flooding from heavy rain in the Boston area on July 10, 2025, shut down an interstate and filled streets and garages with water.
    John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    During the warm season, intrusions of tropical air with excessive water vapor are common in the U.S., and they can result in intense downpours.

    In addition, the jet stream and westerly winds – which move storm systems from west to east across the U.S. – tend to weaken during summer. As a result, the overall movement of thunderstorms and other precipitation-producing systems slows during the summer months, and storm systems can remain almost stationary over a location.

    The combination of intense rainfall rates and extended precipitation increases the likelihood of flash flooding.

    The surface rain falls on makes a difference, too

    Local surface characteristics also play important roles in how flash floods develop and evolve.

    When intense precipitation is combined with saturated soils, steep slopes, urban areas and sparse vegetation, runoff can quickly overwhelm local streams, rivers and drainage systems, leading to the rapid rise of water levels.

    When the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit the mountains of North Carolina in October 2024, the intense rainfall on steep slopes quickly filled streams and then rivers that washed away homes in their narrow valleys.
    Sean Rayford/Getty Images

    Because the characteristics of the surface can vary significantly along a stream or river, the timing and location of a heavy downpour pose unique risks for each local area.

    What’s driving flash floods in 2025?

    During the horrific flooding in Texas Hill Country on July 4, 2025, that killed more than 135 people, atmospheric water vapor in the region was at or near historic levels. The storm hit at the headwaters of the Guadalupe River, over streams that converge in the river valley.

    As thunderstorms developed and remained nearly stationary over the region, they were fueled by the excessive atmospheric water vapor. That led to high rainfall rates. Hours of heavy rainfall early that morning sent the river rising quickly at a summer camp near Hunt, Texas, where more than two dozen girls and staff members died. Downstream at Kerrville, the river rose even faster, gaining more than 30 feet in 45 minutes.

    Overall, a persistent atmospheric pattern in late spring and summer 2025 has included a shift of the jet stream farther to the south than normal and, along with lower atmospheric pressures, has supported excessive rainfall across the central and eastern U.S.

    While the West Coast has experienced dry conditions in early summer 2025 due to a ridge of high pressure, the U.S. east of the Rockies has seen an active storm track with frontal boundaries and disturbances that produced thunderstorms and intense downpours across the region.

    Warmer-than-normal ocean water can also boost rainfall. The Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean are source regions for atmospheric water vapor in the central and eastern U.S. In summer 2025, that water vapor has created extremely humid conditions, which have produced very high rainfall rates when storms develop.

    The result has been flash floods in several states producing catastrophic destruction and loss of life.

    Looking to the future

    The U.S. has seen devastating flash floods throughout its history, but rising global temperatures today are increasing the risk of flooding.

    As ocean and air temperatures rise, atmospheric water vapor increases. Higher ocean temperatures can produce more atmospheric water vapor through evaporation, and a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, fueling downpours. In some high-risk areas, meteorologists, aware of the risks, say they are becoming more proactive about warnings.

    Currently, evidence shows that atmospheric water vapor is increasing in the overall global climate system as temperatures rise.

    Jeffrey Basara receives funding from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and NOAA.

    – ref. Why 2025 became the summer of flash flooding in America – https://theconversation.com/why-2025-became-the-summer-of-flash-flooding-in-america-261650

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why do MAGA faithful support Trump if his ‘big beautiful bill’ will likely hurt many of them?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Alex Hinton, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology; Director, Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, Rutgers University – Newark

    Supporters of President Donald Trump demonstrate near his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla., on July 17, 2025. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump signed the wide-ranging One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4, 2025. It focuses on cutting taxes, mainly for households that earn US$217,000 or more each year, as well as increasing funding for military and border security and revamping social programs.

    Republicans tout it as providing “an economic lifeline for working families” and “laying a key cornerstone of America’s new golden age.”

    Democrat lawmakers argue that, in reality, Trump’s act “steals from the poor to give to the ultra-rich.”

    The act is estimated to increase the country’s debt by more than US$3 trillion over 10 years, while knocking more than 10 million people off Medicaid.

    About 41.4 million adults in the U.S. receive Medicaid. And 49% of Medicaid recipients who voted in the 2024 election backed Trump.

    While 94% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said in a May 2025 survey that they are worried Medicaid cuts will lead to more adults and children losing their health insurance, 44% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents expressed concern about this, according to the KFF Health Tracking Poll.

    Why, then, do Trump’s Make America Great Again supporters – especially those who will be hit hard by cuts to food assistance programs and health care, including hospitals – continue to support him even as he enacts policies that some think go against their interests? Indeed, over 78% of Republicans or Republican-leaning voters say they support the measure Trump signed.

    As an anthropologist who studies MAGA and American political culture, I understand that many of the MAGA faithful believe that Trump is a once-in-a-lifetime leader who is catapulting the U.S. into a new golden age.

    Sure, their reasoning goes, bumps in the road are expected. But they think that most of the criticism of Trump and this latest bill is ultimately fake news spread by radical leftists who have what some call Trump Derangement Syndrome, meaning anti-Trump hysteria.

    President Donald Trump holds up the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that he signed into law on July 4, 2025, at the White House.
    Alex Brandon − Pool/Getty Images

    Trump alone can fix it

    In the eyes of the MAGA faithful, Trump is no ordinary politician. To them, he is a savior who can help ward off the threat of radical left socialism. They believe Trump’s proclamation: “I alone can fix it.”

    Some see Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, as evidence he is divinely chosen to lead the country. Trump himself claimed during his second inaugural address, “I was saved by God to make America great again.”

    As I have repeatedly observed firsthand at Trump rallies and MAGA gatherings and heard in my conversations with Trump supporters, many Trump supporters – even those whom Democrats contend will be hurt by the bill – see the bill as a key step to making America great again. Doing so will not be easy and may cause some pain.

    But as Trump himself has noted about policies such as tariffs, “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.”

    ‘Fake news!’

    Even if the bill may cause some short-term pain, MAGA stalwarts contend, the apocalyptic claims of critics of massive health cuts are hoaxes spread by the radical left media. White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, for example, dubbed the Medicare cut claims “a big fake news story.”

    This view, based on my research and observations, is unsurprising. Trump has been pushing the “fake news conspiracy” theory, which holds that the media is part of the deep state, since his first term. He even dubbed the press “the enemy of the people.”

    Trump’s fake news rhetorical strategy has been successful in helping him maintain support. Trump supporters take it for granted that negative news coverage of the president is most likely fake news.

    The Trump administration frequently invokes this conspiracy theory, including statements with headlines like “100 Days of HOAXES: Cutting Through the Fake News.”

    The White House is taking the same approach with the new legislation. In June 2025, the Trump administration issued a statement stating “Myth vs. Fact: The One Big Beautiful Bill” and “MYTHBUSTER: The One Big Beautiful Bill Cuts Spending, Deficit – and That’s a Fact.”

    There is already evidence that this depiction is resonating in places such as rural Nebraska, where many residents do not blame Trump for a health clinic that claims it is shutting down due to Medicaid cuts. “Anyone who’s saying that Medicaid cuts is why they’re closing is a liar,” said one woman of the clinic’s closure.

    President Donald Trump holds a rally in July 2024 in Harrisburg, Pa.
    Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    ‘Crushing it’ in the Golden Age

    More broadly, the MAGA faithful contend, the bill’s critics miss the bigger picture. For the most part, Trump has been “crushing it” while putting “‘W’ after ‘W’ on the board.”

    From their perspective, Trump has assembled an all-star Cabinet team that is implementing key pillars of the MAGA agenda, such as restricting immigration, blocking unfair trade and avoiding drawn-out wars.

    Trump supporters underscore the president’s accomplishments on immigration. Attempted unauthorized border crossings of migrants have plummeted in 2025, amid a rise in arrests of immigrants.

    “Our message is clear,” stated Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, “criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.”

    Gas prices are also down. Trump has followed through on his pledge to supporters to purge what he calls the deep state, by downsizing or gutting entire government departments and agencies.

    Trump has clamped down on woke universities that brainwash students, as MAGA supporters see it.

    He withheld funding from the University of Pennsylvania until it agreed to ban transgender women from playing on women’s sports teams. Trump also cut $400 million in funding for Columbia University because the administration said it did not sufficiently protect Jewish students from harassment during Palestinian rights protests.

    And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in July for his diplomatic work in the Middle East.

    Recounting Trump’s foreign policy achievements, one conservative commentator gushed that Trump “promised we would win so much we’d get tired of winning. Instead, the wins keep coming – and America isn’t tired at all.”

    Trumpism = Trump

    Yet, Trump faces challenges.

    A June 2025 KFF Health Tracking Poll found that support for the new legislation decreased when people were informed about its negative health care impact, for example.

    Republicans could also face backlash in 2028 after the full impact of the act takes effect and people lose health insurance and other public benefits.

    Regardless, I believe MAGA faithful will likely continue to support Trump.

    They may argue over parts of his bill, the airstrikes on Iran or the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

    But, in the end, they will circle the wagons around Trump for a simple reason. Trump created the MAGA movement. He dominates the Republican Party. And there is no Trumpism without Trump.

    Alex Hinton receives receives funding from the Rutgers-Newark Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America, Rutgers Research Council, and Henry Frank Guggenheim Foundation.

    – ref. Why do MAGA faithful support Trump if his ‘big beautiful bill’ will likely hurt many of them? – https://theconversation.com/why-do-maga-faithful-support-trump-if-his-big-beautiful-bill-will-likely-hurt-many-of-them-260766

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank to avail $75 million to Central Bank of The Gambia in a cross-currency swap

    Source: APO

    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has signed an agreement to avail a US$75-million five-year cross-currency swap to the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) for the financing of strategic projects undertaken in The Gambia by the Government, through the National Roads Authority (NRA).

    The agreement, signed in Abuja, Nigeria, as part of activities to mark the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2025) held from 25 to 28 June, provides for Afreximbank to use the local currency proceeds to purchase NRA-issued bonds, which will serve as the swap securities for the transaction, to finance strategic projects undertaken by the Agency.

    Signing the agreement for Afreximbank was Mr. Haytham Elmaayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank, while Mr. Buah Saidy, Governor of Central Bank of The Gambia, signed for his organisation.

    Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Elmaayergi said that the transaction reflected Afreximbank’s commitment to driving trade finance in Africa by supporting its member countries to achieve much needed liquidity to enable them finance trade-enabling infrastructure in their countries.

    “Through this facility, Afreximbank is using its resources to leverage financing to Africa by unlocking capital and creating additional capacity in support of trade transactions into Africa,” he explained. He noted that this partnership comes at a pivotal time in The Gambia’s development trajectory, as the country intensifies efforts to upgrade its transport infrastructure to meet growing trade and connectivity needs. The cross-currency swap is expected to support the construction and rehabilitation of both rural and urban road networks, reinforcing the Gambia’s commitment to building a more connected, productive and inclusive economy.

    According to him, this initiative will enable more efficient movement of goods and services, reduce travel times for commuters and businesses, and improve road safety. Over the long term, these developments will contribute to a more reliable and extensive national road network, helping to deepen regional integration, enhance agricultural and industrial output, and promote sustainable, broad-based economic growth across the country. This transaction underscores Afreximbank’s ongoing commitment to supporting African countries in mobilizing innovative financing tools to unlock development and trade potential.

    On his part, Governor Buah Saidy acknowledged the need for development financing to address supply-sided constraints to development in The Gambia.  This swap, he said “will relax the binding constraint of a challenging transport network, by enabling NRA to build many more roads that H.E. President Adama Barrow has instructed them to build to ease the movement and lives of Gambians”.

    Governor Saidy noted that the financing made available through the swap will allow NRA to build roads that will open up the economy by connecting the production areas in the rural parts of the country to the markets in the urban centres.

    CBG is a founding shareholder of Afreximbank while NRA, established in 2006, is responsible for the administration, control, construction and maintenance of all roads in The Gambia.

    Oakwood Green Africa served as transaction adviser to the NRA and CBG for the transaction, providing them guidance on the structure and facilitating the swap.

    AAM2025, which attracted an estimated 7,000 participants, including Heads of States, Prime Ministers, ministers and business leaders, from across Africa, the Caribbean and beyond, ended with the Annual General Meeting of Afreximbank Shareholders where Dr. George Elombi was appointed the incoming President of the Bank to replace Prof. Benedict Oramah whose tenure is ending after two five-year terms at the helm.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Media Contact:
    Vincent Musumba
    Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
    Email: press@afreximbank.com

    Follow on Social Media:
    X: https://apo-opa.co/4lLZIKU
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    About Afreximbank:
    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

    For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Mortgage Rate and Home Price Growth Forecasts Revised Lower

    Source: Fannie Mae

    WASHINGTON, DC – Mortgage rates are expected to end 2025 and 2026 at 6.4 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively, downward revisions compared with last month’s forecast of 6.5 percent and 6.1 percent, according to the July 2025 Economic and Housing Outlook from the Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. The ESR Group also updated its home price growth forecast this month and now projects annual home price growth, on a Q4/Q4 basis, of 2.8 percent in 2025 and 1.1 percent in 2026. These are downward revisions compared with the previously projected 4.1 percent and 2.0 percent. Total home sales are forecast at 4.85 million units in 2025 and 5.35 million units in 2026.

    Visit Fannie Mae’s Data and Insights page to read the full July 2025 Economic and Housing Outlook, including the Economic Developments Commentary, Economic Forecast, and Housing Forecast. To receive email updates with other housing market research from Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, please click here.

    Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views of Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae’s business prospects or expected results, are based on assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR Group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current, or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views published by the ESR Group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

    About the ESR Group
    Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, led by Chief Economist Mark Palim, studies current data, analyzes historical and emerging trends, and conducts surveys of consumers and mortgage lenders to inform forecasts and analyses on the economy, housing, and mortgage markets.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU sends firefighting planes to Cyprus

    Source: European Union 2

    The EU has mobilised 2 Canadair airplanes from the EU’s joint firefighting fleet in response to a request for assistance from Cyprus, following a major fire in its Limassol district. The EU has already responded to several wildfire emergencies in Albania and North Macedonia this summer.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement

    Source: European Central Bank

    Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB,
    Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB

    Frankfurt am Main, 24 July 2025

    Good afternoon, the Vice-President and I welcome you to our press conference.

    The Governing Council today decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. Inflation is currently at our two per cent medium-term target. The incoming information is broadly in line with our previous assessment of the inflation outlook. Domestic price pressures have continued to ease, with wages growing more slowly. Partly reflecting our past interest rate cuts, the economy has so far proven resilient overall in a challenging global environment. At the same time, the environment remains exceptionally uncertain, especially because of trade disputes.

    We are determined to ensure that inflation stabilises at our two per cent target in the medium term. We will follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach to determining the appropriate monetary policy stance. In particular, our interest rate decisions will be based on our assessment of the inflation outlook and the risks surrounding it, in light of the incoming economic and financial data, as well as the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission. We are not pre-committing to a particular rate path.

    The decisions taken today are set out in a press release available on our website.

    I will now outline in more detail how we see the economy and inflation developing and will then explain our assessment of financial and monetary conditions.

    Economic activity

    In the first quarter the economy grew more strongly than expected. This was partly because firms frontloaded exports ahead of expected tariff hikes. But growth was also bolstered by stronger private consumption and investment.

    Recent surveys point to an overall modest expansion in both the manufacturing and services sectors. At the same time, higher actual and expected tariffs, the stronger euro and persistent geopolitical uncertainty are making firms more hesitant to invest.

    The robust labour market, rising real incomes and solid private sector balance sheets continue to support consumption. Unemployment stood at 6.3 per cent in May, close to its lowest level since the introduction of the euro. Easier financing conditions are underpinning domestic demand, including in the housing market. Over time, higher public investment in defence and infrastructure should also support growth.

    More than ever, the Governing Council considers it crucial to urgently strengthen the euro area and its economy in the present geopolitical environment. Fiscal and structural policies should make the economy more productive, competitive and resilient. Governments should prioritise growth-enhancing structural reforms and strategic investment, while ensuring sustainable public finances. It is important to complete the savings and investments union and the banking union, following a clear and ambitious timetable, and to rapidly establish the legislative framework for the potential introduction of a digital euro. The Governing Council welcomes the Eurogroup’s commitment to improve the effectiveness, quality and composition of public spending and supports the efforts by European authorities to preserve the mutual benefits of global trade.

    Inflation

    Annual inflation stood at 2.0 per cent in June, after 1.9 per cent in May. Energy prices went up in June but are still lower than a year ago. Food price inflation eased slightly to 3.1 per cent. Goods inflation edged down to 0.5 per cent in June, whereas services inflation ticked up to 3.3 per cent, from 3.2 per cent in May.

    Indicators of underlying inflation are overall consistent with our two per cent medium-term target. Labour costs have continued to moderate. Year-on-year growth in compensation per employee slowed to 3.8 per cent in the first quarter, down from 4.1 per cent in the previous quarter. Combined with stronger productivity growth, this led to slower growth in unit labour costs. Forward-looking indicators, including the ECB’s wage tracker and surveys on wage expectations of firms, consumers and professional forecasters, point to a further decline in wage growth.

    Short-term consumer inflation expectations declined in both May and June, reversing the uptick observed in previous months. Most measures of longer-term inflation expectations continue to stand at around 2 per cent, supporting the stabilisation of inflation around our target.

    Risk assessment

    Risks to economic growth remain tilted to the downside. Among the main risks are a further escalation in global trade tensions and associated uncertainties, which could dampen exports and drag down investment and consumption. A deterioration in financial market sentiment could lead to tighter financing conditions and greater risk aversion, and make firms and households less willing to invest and consume. Geopolitical tensions, such as Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine and the tragic conflict in the Middle East, remain a major source of uncertainty. By contrast, if trade and geopolitical tensions were resolved swiftly, this could lift sentiment and spur activity. Higher defence and infrastructure spending, together with productivity-enhancing reforms, would add to growth. An improvement in business confidence would also stimulate private investment.

    The outlook for inflation is more uncertain than usual, as a result of the volatile global trade policy environment. A stronger euro could bring inflation down further than expected. Moreover, inflation could turn out to be lower if higher tariffs lead to lower demand for euro area exports and induce countries with overcapacity to reroute their exports to the euro area. Trade tensions could lead to greater volatility and risk aversion in financial markets, which would weigh on domestic demand and would thereby also lower inflation. By contrast, inflation could turn out to be higher if a fragmentation of global supply chains pushed up import prices and added to capacity constraints in the domestic economy. A boost in defence and infrastructure spending could also raise inflation over the medium term. Extreme weather events, and the unfolding climate crisis more broadly, could drive up food prices by more than expected.

    Financial and monetary conditions

    Market interest rates have increased since our last meeting, especially at longer maturities. At the same time, our past interest rate cuts continue to make corporate borrowing less expensive. The average interest rate on new loans to firms declined to 3.7 per cent in May, from 3.8 per cent in April. The cost of issuing market-based debt also came down, falling to 3.6 per cent in May. While the growth rate of loans to firms moderated to 2.5 per cent in May, corporate bond issuance was stronger, growing at a rate of 3.4 per cent in annual terms.

    Credit standards for business loans were broadly unchanged in the second quarter, as reported in our latest bank lending survey for the euro area. While banks’ concerns about the economic risks faced by their customers had a tightening impact on credit standards, this was broadly offset by stronger competition among lenders. Meanwhile, firms’ demand for credit increased slightly, benefiting from lower interest rates, but they remained cautious because of global uncertainty and trade tensions.

    The average interest rate on new mortgages has barely changed since the start of the year and stood at 3.3 per cent in May. Growth in mortgage lending edged up to 2.0 per cent in May, in the context of a strong increase in demand, while credit standards tightened slightly in the second quarter.

    Conclusion

    The Governing Council today decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. We are determined to ensure that inflation stabilises at our two per cent target in the medium term. We will follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach to determining the appropriate monetary policy stance. Our interest rate decisions will be based on our assessment of the inflation outlook and the risks surrounding it, in light of the incoming economic and financial data, as well as the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission. We are not pre-committing to a particular rate path.

    In any case, we stand ready to adjust all of our instruments within our mandate to ensure that inflation stabilises sustainably at our medium-term target and to preserve the smooth functioning of monetary policy transmission.

    We are now ready to take your questions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Understanding the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Understanding the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill

    This factsheet aims to help immigration advisers and organisations understand the proposed powers and prepare for upcoming changes.

    The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) has published a factsheet to help immigration advisers and organisations understand the proposed changes under the UK Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2025.

    The factsheet provides a clear summary of the new powers for the IAA being introduced by the Bill and explains what they could mean for advisers and organisations, their clients, and the wider immigration advice sector.

    The Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, aims to strengthen the UK’s border controls and improve the efficiency of immigration enforcement. It introduces new provisions related to entry and detention, digital documentation, enforcement powers, and penalties for non-compliance with immigration rules.

    Key topics covered in the factsheet include:

    • overview of the proposed new enforcement powers for the IAA
    • public engagement
    • impact on vulnerable groups and small businesses
    • support for advisers and organisations

    Heather Laing, Chief Executive, said:

    We know advisers and organisations are working hard to support people navigating the immigration system. With new legislation on the horizon, it’s vital that the sector is equipped with accurate, timely information.

    This fact sheet is part of our commitment to supporting advisers, so that they can give high-quality, informed immigration advice.

    The IAA will continue to monitor the progress of the Bill and provide updates as more details become available. We encourage all registered advisers and stakeholders to read the fact sheet and share it within their networks.

    Read the factsheet

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Business leaders welcome the UK-India Free Trade Agreement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Business leaders welcome the UK-India Free Trade Agreement

    Business leaders have strongly welcomed the signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

    Business leaders have strongly welcomed the signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, as Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds and India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, signed the landmark trade deal.

    The £4.8bn trade deal will unlock economic growth for each region and nation of the UK, and is widely backed by large and small businesses across aerospace, financial and professional services, food and drink, and the automotive sector.

    Business Groups  

    Rain Newton-Smith, CEO, CBI said: 

    In an era of rising protectionism, today’s announcement sends a powerful signal that the UK is open for business and remains resolute in its commitment to free and fair trade.  

    A trade agreement with India – one of the world’s fastest-growing economies – is a springboard for long-term partnership and prosperity. UK firms can take advantage of this new platform to scale, diversify and compete on the global stage.  

    The CBI looks forward to working closely alongside the Confederation of Indian Industry to turn ambition into action and negotiation into real-world impact. Ensuring this agreement delivers tangible benefits for businesses on both sides will be critical to meeting the UK’s growth ambitions.

    William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: 

    The signing of this agreement is a clear signal of the UK’s continuing commitment to free and fair trade. It will open a new era for our businesses and boost investment between two of the world’s largest economies.    

    Currently around 16,000 UK companies are trading goods with Indian companies, and there is high interest in our Chamber Network to grow that.  This deal will create new opportunities in the transport, travel, creative and business support sectors alongside traditional strengths in finance and professional services.

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

    India is the fourth largest economy in the world, and today’s trade deal provides exciting growth potential for UK small businesses. 

    Already one-in-seven (14%) of our members who export have India among their overseas markets, and this deal opens the way for that number to grow. It’s welcome that the agreement includes a specific small business chapter. 

    Encouraging more small firms to trade internationally, and making it easier for those who already do to increase their international trade, is an important flank in the quest for economic growth. Reducing barriers is key to achieving that.

    Richard Heald OBE, Chair, UK-India Business Council, said:  

    The UK-India FTA marks a historic milestone in the bilateral relationship.

    Businesses across both countries have long called for an agreement that reduces barriers, enhances market access, and creates a clear framework for long-term, sustainable growth. We congratulate both governments for their commitment and ambition in bringing this complex negotiation to fruition. Success in the FTA will support further economic growth for the world’s 5th and 6th largest economies. It will catalyse collaboration into other areas too.

    Aerospace  

    Tufan Erginbiligic, Rolls-Royce CEO, said: 

    India is an important market for our business, with over 90 years of partnership with Indian industry and the Indian Government.

    We welcome the provisions in this Free Trade Agreement, including those that bring closer alignment with international standards for trade in civil aerospace.

    These agreements will benefit Rolls-Royce and our customers, paving the way for future aerospace growth in India.

    Financial and professional services 

    Ian Stuart, CEO of HSBC UK, said: 

    Today’s signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement marks an important milestone for both countries.

    This is a vibrant and fast-growing corridor and will bring huge opportunities for both British and Indian businesses as they seek to grow internationally.  

    As the world’s largest trade bank with deep roots in both countries, we look forward to supporting our clients to take advantage of the full benefits of this historic agreement. 

    Bill Winters CBE, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered and Co-Chair of the UK-India Financial Partnership, said: 

    This landmark agreement between the UK and India – two of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies – is a tremendous achievement.

    It will drive greater innovation, unlock growth, and build prosperity across this long-established corridor of trade, capital and investment.

    As one of the largest and oldest international banks in India, we welcome the certainty the FTA provides for UK services and the meaningful opportunities that lower tariffs will create for businesses large and small in both markets.

    Rohan Malik, EY EMEIA and UK & Ireland Government & Public Sector Managing Partner, said:   

    Over the past decade, total trade value between the UK and India has more than doubled from £16.6bn to £40bn and this agreement will further strengthen the flourishing economic relationship between the two countries. 

    Enhanced access to one of the world’s largest markets should offer considerable advantages for financial and professional services businesses, unlocking commercial opportunities and supporting growth across two strategically significant sectors of the UK economy.

    Adam Gagen, Global Head of Government Affairs at Revolut, said:  

    As a UK fintech with significant business in India, we welcome the announcement of this UK-India FTA.

    It is an important partnership to bring these two vital economies closer together and to foster improved trade links, better investment flows and more jobs.

    Revolut looks forward to working with the UK Government to maximise the value of this FTA and we strongly congratulate the hard work of DBT for getting this over the line.

    Nicola Watkinson, Managing Director for International, TheCityUK, said:  

    India is a market with huge growth potential and a strong FTA between our two markets will open up valuable new trade and investment opportunities for UK businesses.

    The UK financial and related professional services industry is well placed to support India’s growth ambitions through the provision of services in areas such as green finance, risk management and capital market development, as well as benefit from India’s digital innovations.

    We welcome the formal signing of the FTA and look forward to continuing to build on its foundations to forge a strong and lasting partnership with India.

    Automotives  

    Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:  

    The UK-India trade agreement represents a significant achievement, partially liberalising the Indian automotive market for the first time.

    While the highly complex deal confirms some compromises, its entry into force will provide commercial opportunities for UK manufacturers who will be able to access vastly reduced tariffs on internal combustion vehicles from day one, and on electrified vehicles and parts in the longer term.

    To ensure maximum and timely benefit, we now need rapid ratification and renewed efforts to agree fair and workable solutions on tariff-rate-quotas administration.

    A JLR spokesperson said:  

    We welcome this free trade agreement between the UK and India, which over time will deliver reduced tariff access to the Indian car market for JLR’s luxury vehicles.

    India is an important market for our British built products and represents significant future growth opportunities.

    Food and drink 

    Nik Jhangiani, Interim Chief Executive, Diageo, said: 

    This agreement marks a great moment for both Scotch and Scotland, and we’ll be raising a glass of Johnnie Walker to all those who have worked so hard to get it secured. 

    Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO, said: 

    Signature of the UK-India FTA is a sign of hope in challenging times for the spirits industry. 

    India is the world’s biggest whisky market by volume and greater access will be an eventual game changer for the export of our Scotch whisky brands, such as Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s.

    The deal will support long term investment and jobs in our distilleries in Speyside and our bottling plant at Kilmalid and help deliver growth in both Scotland and India over the next decade.

    Let’s hope that both governments will move quickly to ratification so business can get to work implementing the deal!

    Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the SWA said:  

    The Scotch Whisky industry has long championed a free trade agreement between the UK and India.

    The signing of the FTA is an historic moment and is an important milestone to reducing tariffs on Scotch Whisky in a growing market.

    This will contribute to the government’s growth objective, by laying the foundations for further investment and jobs.

    George Hyde, Head of Trade, The Food and Drink Federation: 

    We’re pleased to see the details of the new Free Trade Agreement with India, with tariffs for iconic British products, including chocolate, breakfast cereals and biscuits set to be phased out over the next decade.

    We also welcome that this agreement protects the UK’s sugar and rice milling sectors, reflecting the vital role these industries play in boosting local economies. 

    With exports of UK food and drink to India already worth nearly £300 million annually, improved access to this growing market will help strengthen the competitiveness of our sector and help future-proof the nation’s food security.

    We look forward to working with government to help businesses make the most of this opportunity.

    Nick Spencer, Export and Travel Retail Manager at Southwestern Distillery Ltd, said: 

    There are tremendous hurdles for UK spirits producers in terms of entering and succeeding in the Indian market.

    The extremely high import tariffs are probably the most significant barrier to entry we have experienced anywhere internationally.

    The FTA is a fabulous step forward. Since its announcement, we have already received significant new interest from Indian importers and the prospect of success in the Indian market now looks much brighter.

    Stephen Davies, Chief Executive of Penderyn Distillery, said:  

    We are developing our business and brand awareness in both domestic and travel retail sectors in India. It’s an exciting and developing market for us.

    The agreement to reduce tariffs will provide a better platform for us and our industry to develop links and build business over the next five years.

    These are exciting times. 

    Medtech  

    Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, said:  

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is more than a policy document it’s a foundation for action. 

    India’s deep scientific talent, clear ambition and growing global influence make it one of the most exciting places in the world to build long-term partnerships in science and healthcare.

    And this moment, with the FTA in place, gives companies like ours the confidence to invest, to scale and to co-create in ways that weren’t possible before.

    Deepak Nath, Chief Executive Officer, Smith+Nephew, said: 

    Given the size of the Indian economy and its healthcare system, India is an important location for Smith+Nephew. The Free Trade Agreement offers the potential to build trading links in the healthcare sector. 

    We hope that the Free Trade Agreement will enable Smith+Nephew’s innovative medical technologies to support more healthcare professionals to return their patients to health and mobility.

    Philip McKee, Sales Manager at Biopanda, a Belfast-based medtech manufacturer which exports in vitro test kits for clinical laboratories, veterinary practice, and food safety laboratories, said:   

    Biopanda have been supplying a range of diagnostic products to the Indian market throughout the past ten years. We value the business we have done already throughout India and with the introduction of the UK-India FTA this should benefit in increased trade with the removal of export barriers.  

    This will hopefully increase the market access, allowing our distributors throughout India to provide a larger range of our highly accurate clinical diagnostic products at a lower price to the consumer. 

    Manufacturing 

    Graeme Macdonald, JCB Chief Executive, said:  

    India is a great country in which to do business. JCB has been manufacturing machines there since 1979. So, we know India very well and the opportunity for British businesses in that huge market is significant.  

    It’s the fifth largest economy in the world and is tipped to become the third largest by 2028. This Free Trade Agreement should give British businesses the confidence they need to enter the market, trade more easily and benefit from the massive opportunity.

    Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE, Chairman Coltraco Ultrasonics Limited & Director-General The Durham Institute of Research, Development & Invention, said: 

    Coltraco Ultrasonics is strongly supportive of the India FTA Trade Agreement and proud to have modestly contributed to and advising the British negotiating team on various chapters. 

    The UK private sector can now, because of the India FTA, the Windsor Framework CPTPP, and a variety of other UK FTAs, look out to the world, balancing our exporting and investment opportunities between the USA, the EU and Asia Pacific. 

    It is a tremendous success and we thank British and Indian Civil Servants for their public service in the UK-India FTA.

    Mark Ridgway OBE DL, CEO of Rhodes Group, said: 

    As a manufacturer of advanced metalforming machinery used in the forming and lightweighting of aircraft, India is a strong market for Group Rhodes and offers significant growth potential. The recent UK-India trade deal not only sets the scene for reduced tariffs on machinery but also serves to both enhance our competitiveness as a UK exporter and reduce the complexity of trade with this fast-growing market. 

    Importantly, the UK-India FTA recognises UK origin content of at least 20% as qualification as a ‘local supplier’ in India. This provides equal treatment in the Indian government procurement process and the opportunity for Group Rhodes to build on its existence reference sites within the Indian aerospace sector.

    Idir Boudaoud, Founder and CEO at Sensoteq, said: 

    India is a key growth market for Sensoteq — its vast and rapidly evolving manufacturing sector aligns perfectly with our mission to improve machine reliability through smarter monitoring. This trade deal is a real breakthrough for us. 

    Simplified and transparent customs procedures, modernised rules of origin, and stronger IP protections mean we can enter the market with greater speed, confidence, and security. 

    This agreement gives businesses like ours the access and assurance needed to thrive in one of the world’s most important industrial markets.

    William Crawford, Director of Concrete Canvas Ltd, said:  

    India is a dynamic and vibrant economy and an increasingly important market for Concrete Canvas products. A UK-India FTA will help to accelerate our plans for growth by reducing trade barriers and making us more competitive. 

    This is welcome news for both UK and Indian businesses!

    Creative Industries 

    Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, said: 

    India continues to be incredibly important to the Premier League and our clubs. It is a vibrant country that presents exciting opportunities and significant potential. The opening of our office in Mumbai earlier this year was a significant milestone for the Premier League, demonstrating our commitment to build on longstanding work to engage local fans, develop grassroots and elite football and further promote the game in India.   

    The continued growth of the Premier League and UK businesses in India will have a positive impact on our domestic economy. We welcome the signing of this new trade deal which will support UK businesses operating in India.

    Richard Pring, Co-Founder at Wales Interactive, said: 

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement has the potential to strengthen creative partnerships and streamline production across borders. With India’s vast film and television industry, it creates new opportunities for studios like ours to collaborate with international talent and share our interactive stories and games with even wider audiences. 

    Digital and Tech 

    Simon Hansford, Chief Commercial Officer at Civo, a cloud provider founded in Hertfordshire, said:  

    The UK-India trade deal is a game-changer for UK businesses. Significant tariff reductions on our exports will mean our products can be more competitive and accessible in India’s rapidly growing market. Guaranteed access to India’s public procurement market and simplified customs processes could be transformational for many.  

    This deal offers substantial benefits, boosting confidence and creating new avenues for growth in areas that were previously challenging to navigate, making it easier for UK SMEs to trade and thrive internationally.

    Clean Energy  

    Neil Spann, CEO of Power Roll, said: 

    As a UK clean energy company committed to fostering global impact, the UK-India trade agreement marks a significant milestone for us.  It lowers barriers to entry and enhances our ability to collaborate with Indian partners in one of the world’s most dynamic renewable energy markets. India’s ambitious solar targets and drive for domestic innovation align perfectly with our flexible solar technology and long-term growth strategy.  

    As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a key player in the global renewable energy transition, India presents a major opportunity for UK clean energy technology. This trade deal enables us to position UK flexible solar as a key solution to India’s energy goals. We are excited to continue to build upon our existing relationships with valued collaborators by expanding our presence in India following a successful visit earlier this year.

    Transport 

    Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport Managing Director, said:  

    We are proud this new route with IndiGo will deliver growth here in the North, and for the UK as a whole. 

    Boosted by the new UK-India FTA, the direct connectivity it provides will unlock opportunities for the region’s businesses to trade with India and will facilitate investment into the UK. 

    That will help turbo charge the Government’s Industrial Strategy by boosting innovation and productivity in the sectors that will sit at the heart of the country’s future prosperity.

    Textiles  

    Bill Leach, Global Sales Director, John Smedley Ltd, said: 

    India is one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world, and we are very excited about the UK- India Free Trade Agreement coming to fruition. 

    John Smedley knitwear is already sold in over 50 countries around the world, and now that the FTA has been signed, we shall very much look forward to ensuring that an ever-increasing number of discerning luxury consumers in India will enjoy greater access to The World’s Finest Knitwear. 

    We are thankful to DBT for their significant efforts in bringing this FTA to successful conclusion.

    Cosmetics 

    Dr Emma Meredith OBE, Director-General, CTPA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association), said:  

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) represents a significant opportunity for the cosmetics and personal care industry.  Tariff reduction and the commitments to ongoing cooperation will enhance market access and create new opportunities for growth for UK brands and manufacturers.  CTPA welcomes the strengthening of the bilateral ties through the negotiation process, a great first step in the delivery of substantial benefits for our sector.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Hajdu represents Canada at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 24, 2025                    New York City, New York                  Employment and Social Development Canada

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, concluded a series of engagements at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York City from July 21 to 23, 2025. The Forum is an opportunity for UN countries to gather and discuss progress made toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are a collective call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and build a just, peaceful and inclusive world for all. 

    Minister Hajdu presented Canada’s National Statement on the SDGs, reaffirming our country’s work towards international collaboration and in advancing the 2030 Agenda. Minister Hajdu emphasized our collective duty to work with national and international partners to drive meaningful change and build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world, for the next generations. 

    On July 22, Minister Hajdu participated in the High-Level Dialogue on Adequate Housing for All, alongside Bob Rae, Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, in his capacity as President of the UN Economic and Social Council. This session highlighted Canada’s focus on housing as a key strategy for reducing poverty, promoting equity, and fostering an inclusive society.

    On the Forum’s final day, Minister Hajdu hosted Canada’s official side event on inclusive and sustainable jobs. This event brought together diverse stakeholders to explore how digital education, disability inclusion, and private sector engagement can help build more inclusive economies. 

    While at the UN, Minister Hajdu and Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection for the Republic of Moldova, also signed a Declaration of Intent to establish a Canada-Moldova Social Security Agreement. This marks a key step in strengthening bilateral ties and advancing shared goals of inclusion, equity and resilience.

    Canada is focused on advancing the 2030 Agenda both domestically and internationally. While the Government of Canada leads this initiative, partnerships with other orders of government, stakeholders, Indigenous Peoples, and the public are crucial for our collective success.   

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Child protection guide launched

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun today announced the official launch of a guide for mandated reporters’ reference on child protection.

    The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which mandates 25 categories of specified professionals from the social welfare, education and healthcare sectors to report serious child abuse cases, will commence on January 20, 2026, to create a wide and effective protection web for children.

    As such, the Government formed three professional consultative panels in each of these sectors in early 2024 for formulating the guide.

    Addressing the guide’s launch ceremony, Mr Sun said that the three professional consultative panels comprise cross-disciplinary professionals.

    He noted that their professional exchanges on different cases not only have assisted in establishing a list of key factors that mandated reporters should take into consideration before deciding whether a report is necessary under different scenarios, but also laid an important foundation for the decision trees in the guide, which further helps mandated reporters make reporting decisions and serves as a practical reference for mandated reporters.

    The welfare chief said that an electronic system of the decision trees has also been specially developed by the Social Welfare Department to assist mandated reporters in making an analysis of the case scenarios in a swift and convenient manner only by answering simple questions.

    He added that the electronic system will also direct those cases that need mandatory reporting to the reporting page to ensure mandated reporters can make a report as soon as practicable.

    The features of the guide were introduced at the ceremony. A demonstration of the workflow of the electronic version of the decision trees to be rolled out was also featured.

    While formulating the guide, the professional consultative panels discussed 650 case scenarios and questions collected from their sectors in 33 focus group meetings.

    The valuable advice gathered from the 540 frontline professionals participating in these focus group meetings became a helpful and important reference for the professional consultative panels to finalise the details of the guide.

    The Government will roll out Module 2 of the online learning course for specified professionals in phases starting from next week, covering basic knowledge on the legal and reporting matters related to the ordinance, including the key content of the ordinance, a brief introduction to the guide, analysis of common scenarios, reporting procedures and post-reporting follow-up.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKMoA to stage first exhibition of Chinese art master Wu Guanzhong in Korea (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    HKMoA to stage first exhibition of Chinese art master Wu Guanzhong in Korea       
         The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and jointly organised by the SAC and the HKMoA. The exhibition is made possible by the Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship. This exhibition in Seoul is a continuation of the popular thematic exhibition of Wu, held at the HKMoA from March 2024 to March 2025, which achieved great success and attracted more than 570 000 visitors during the exhibition period. Accompanied by insightful excerpts from the artist’s writings, the exhibition allows visitors to explore the art master’s distinctive chromatic aesthetics as well as the countless passions and flights of imagination evoked from the interplay between black and white. There will be opportunities to appreciate iconic paintings such as “Two Swallows”, “Reminiscences of Jiangnan”, “Waterway” and more. 
          
         Wu’s works perfectly fuse Eastern and Western aesthetics. He dedicated his entire life to exploring the integration of Chinese and Western art, studied traditional Chinese ink painting and also ventured into the colourful world of oil painting in his early years. After studying in France, he returned to China. His works are noted for his masterful integration of the emotional depth of traditional Chinese ink painting with Western modernist and abstract composition. In 1992, Wu was among the first living Chinese artists to be honoured with a solo exhibition at the British Museum, and his works are also widely exhibited in Asia, Europe and the United States.
          
         Wu had deep connections with Hong Kong, and held multiple exhibitions and participated in various art events in the city. Over the years, Wu and his family have continuously made donations of Wu’s works and archives to the HKMoA, making up a substantial collection of over 450 items. The HKMoA has become the institution with the largest and most diverse collection of Wu’s works. With the support of the Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship, the HKMoA is bringing the museum collection and the research and curatorial insights of the art of Wu overseas, and will continue to promote Wu and modern Chinese art to audiences in different regions and at various levels through comprehensive and diversified perspectives.
          
         In addition, an immersive installation from the “Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship Cross-disciplinary Series: Wu Guanzhong x Chris Cheung” will also be on display overseas for the first time, complementing the exhibition. Processed by AI, “Sentient Pond – Seoul Edition” created by Hong Kong artist Chris Cheung generates exclusive paintings by visitors that embody Wu’s brushstrokes and artistic style through machine learning over hundreds of Wu’s paintings from the museum collection, to carry on the unconventional creations and spirit of Wu with a contemporary twist.
          
         Hong Kong Week is an annual arts festival organised by the LCSD, celebrating Hong Kong’s creative excellence worldwide and fostering cultural exchanges and artistic collaboration. This year, the festival will arrive in Seoul for the first time. Beginning on September 26, a total of 14 programmes will feature stage performances, film screenings, outdoor shows, visual art exhibitions, comic creations, fashion designs as well as other fringe activities. 
     
    For details of the exhibition and HK Week@Seoul, please visit the HKMoA’s website at hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/overseas-wgz-bnw.htmlIssued at HKT 19:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: EU-Japan Summit

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    On July 23, 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, along with European Council President António Costa, visited Tokyo for the 30th EU-Japan Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Security and trade were the key points of discussion, with both sides emphasizing their commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas like defense, economic security, and trade rules.

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NsZgsf2S7Mc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nelson Mandela Bay, UNISA forge groundbreaking library partnership

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has launched a pioneering partnership with the University of South Africa (UNISA) to dramatically expand access to library services for students and the broader public within the metro.

    Launched on Tuesday at New Brighton Library, the collaboration aims to enhance educational opportunities by transforming municipal libraries into resource hubs that support both UNISA students and lifelong learners.

    Under the agreement, municipal libraries will provide free internet and computer access, designated study spaces, and serve as convenient delivery and collection points for UNISA library materials.

    Through this collaboration, the municipality’s libraries will offer internet and computer facilities, provide study spaces, and serve as convenient delivery and collection points for UNISA library materials.

    As part of the agreement, the following areas of collaboration were outlined:
    •    Reciprocal participation in annual events and programmes.
    •    ICT training and support, primarily facilitated by UNISA.
    •    Distribution of UNISA brochures, posters, and event announcements in municipal libraries, and vice versa.
    •    Free internet access and usage of electronic resources for students, including Wi-Fi, databases, electronic reserves, journals, and books.
    •    Collaboration on courier services and information dissemination.
    •    Provision of study spaces for UNISA students.
    •    Joint efforts in marketing and communication to assess student satisfaction.
    •    Collaboration on sponsorships, such as provision of computers.
    •    Sharing of reports, statistics, and information.

    Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, hailed the initiative as a transformative moment for the metro’s education agenda.

    “We are not only opening library doors, but we are opening pathways to opportunity, to education, and to a better future for all. By extending the access to knowledge and technology, especially in our undeserved communities, we are affirming that education is the foundation of dignity, progress, and equality. This fits well in our efforts to build a people-centred and inclusive metro,” Lobishe said.

    UNISA Executive Director for Library Services, Professor Mpho Ngoepe echoed the mayor’s sentiments, saying the initiative marks the beginning of a journey and contributing to closing the inequality gap that leads to poverty, through knowledge and empowerment.

    “In this digital era, libraries must take intentional steps to reach users where they are. We are moving towards a time when UNISA library services will be accessible to everyone, including those who are not enrolled with UNISA.

    “This is the end of the era where universities were seen as inaccessible ivory towers. Through this partnership, we will also explore the dissemination of research outputs,” Ngoepe said.

    Member of the Mayoral Committee for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Sinesipho Kwatsha, emphasised the broader social impact of the initiative.

    “This partnership is about more than logistics, it is a social contract and a clear commitment that every learner matters, “no matter where they come from. Through this collaboration, learners from disadvantaged communities, who might not otherwise have access to conducive learning spaces and resources, will now be supported through our network of municipal libraries across the metro,” Kwatsha said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India–UK CETA to strengthen global footprint of Indian SMEs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), aimed at enhancing access to goods and services between the two countries.

    The agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is set to give a major boost to India’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the country’s economy. SMEs contributed around 30.1% to India’s GDP in 2022–23 and accounted for 45.8% of India’s total exports in 2024–25.

    SMEs benefit from various provisions of the CETA, including through provisions on faster processing at customs, agreements to recognise and facilitate digital systems and paperless trade, and a dedicated chapter to help SMEs. A contact point for SMEs will be established under the ambit of the CETA, facilitating communication and coordination benefiting SMEs.

    In addition to lower tariffs and better market access, SMEs will also benefit from the cooperation between India and the UK on best practices regarding trade education and finance, digital skills, business infrastructure and other important areas, facilitating business opportunities for SMEs.

    The Working Group on Government Procurement and on Innovation enable cooperation to address the issues of SMEs and facilitate participation in government procurement and innovation.

  • India–UK CETA to boost employment, gender equality and youth opportunities

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), aimed at enhancing access to goods and services between the two countries.

    The agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will generate tangible employment gains and create brighter futures for Indian workers across multiple sectors. It also focuses on fostering inclusive economic growth by creating meaningful opportunities for women and youth across both nations.

    The immediate removal of duties on Indian products from labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles, leather and footwear, and food processing will not only boost employment but also directly benefit Indian workers in these industries.

    The CETA offers a range of protections to workers by endorsing internationally recognized labour rights. Workers will benefit from increased public awareness of labour laws and access to impartial and independent tribunals and proceedings for the enforcement of their rights in an accessible and transparent manner.

    Expanding opportunities for women and youth

    India’s youth, aged 15 to 29, make up approximately 27.3% of the population and are key drivers of social and economic change. The CETA is poised to expand high-quality employment pathways for this demographic by easing access to services markets, securing mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and facilitating short-term mobility for talent in sectors such as IT, healthcare, finance, and the creative industries.

    By fostering cooperation on gender-responsive standards, sharing best practices in financial services, and improving digital inclusion, the CETA ensures that women business owners, entrepreneurs, and young professionals can access new markets, acquire valuable information, and participate equitably in global, regional, and domestic economies.

    Dedicated working groups under the CETA will promote activities that address discriminatory practices, encourage diversity, and further gender equality. Lower tariffs on inputs and advanced manufacturing equipment can spur MSME supply-chain integration, creating skilled vocational jobs beyond metros.

    Additionally, the CETA will promote cooperative activities between the Parties that will enable capacity and skill development of workers.

    The CETA also provides enhanced market access for workers which include better mobility access to the UK for Indian workers engaged in maintenance and repair and tourist guides, among others. The CETA and its enhanced market access will create job opportunities for a wide range of workers across various sectors.

  • Parliament Monsoon Session: Both Houses adjourned till Friday amid Opposition protest

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Thursday following continued protests by Opposition members demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar.

    The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will reconvene at 11 a.m. on Friday.

    In the Lok Sabha, uproar broke out during a discussion on the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024. Amid the commotion, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was chairing the session, adjourned the House for the day.

    Earlier in the day, the Lower House had faced repeated disruptions. The House was initially adjourned till 2 p.m. shortly after convening at 11 a.m., following loud sloganeering by Opposition members. Speaker Om Birla appealed for decorum, expressing concern over the members’ conduct.

    “Such behaviour lowers the dignity of the House,” Birla said, urging members not to raise slogans or carry banners inside the chamber. In a veiled remark directed at the Congress party, the Speaker said, “This is not in a party’s ‘sanskar’, but the new generation is setting a different example for the nation to see.”

    Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill was under discussion when disruptions resumed. Chairing the House, MP Bhubaneshwar Kalita adjourned the session after Opposition members raised slogans over the SIR issue.

    Speaking to reporters, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “The Lok Sabha can function if the government agrees to discuss the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in Bihar. That is our only demand.

    As Parliament heads into another day of the Monsoon Session, tensions between the Treasury and Opposition benches continue to dominate proceedings.

    (With ANI inputs) 

  • India–UK CETA paves global pathways for Indian businesses

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), aimed at enhancing access to goods and services between the two countries.

    The agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is poised to offer wide-ranging benefits for Indian businesses, enabling them to expand their global footprint and deepen their presence in the UK market.

    Beyond lower tariffs and broader market access for Indian goods and services, the agreement promotes ease of doing business with the UK through simplified and streamlined customs and trade facilitation processes. This includes established systems like a Single Window and the Authorised Economic Operator framework.

    Moreover, the provision of non-discriminatory treatment for Indian businesses and exporters across goods, services, and government procurement will strengthen their competitive position within the UK market.

    The CETA serves as a strategic catalyst for Indian enterprises operating within the UK, facilitating the optimal deployment of skilled personnel to deliver competitively benchmarked services aligned with UK market expectations.

    Prominent service sector entities, particularly in information technology with an established presence in the UK, stand to benefit from enhanced regulatory certainty regarding visa provisions for the assignment of Indian professionals. This framework is expected to strengthen bilateral economic ties and support the sustained growth of India’s services exports to the UK.

    Businesses will also benefit from the cooperative efforts enshrined in various chapters of the CETA, like the Innovation Working Group and cooperation on digital identities and trade, that will help promote connectivity, digital trade growth, collaboration on best practice principles and innovative opportunities; and responsible business conduction and corporate responsibility practices.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CW3 cost extension forms updated

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    CW3 cost extension forms updated

    Updates to Controlled work forms (CW3) for extension requests on hourly rates and standard fee cases in immigration & asylum matters

    Which forms are affected?

    Changes have been made to the CW3 forms that immigration providers use when seeking an extension to a cost limit in a Controlled Work matter.

    How have the forms been changed?

    Changes have been made to the PDF versions:

    • to update the contract references to include the 2024 Standard Civil Contract
    • to ensure that terminology matches that used in the Standard Civil Contract
    • to help clarify the use of the forms in different case types

    We have also removed the electronic (Excel) versions as these are rarely used.

    Will old forms still be accepted?

    Previous versions of the application forms will continue to be accepted until 27 October 2025 so providers have time to adjust and to allow software vendors time to update their case management systems.

    If providers have any queries as to which form to use, they should contact cw3@justice.gov.uk

    Why is it happening now?

    Forms have been reviewed to ensure they support the current 2024 Standard Civil Contract.

    Further information

    Updated forms CW3: extension of upper cost limit in controlled work cases – GOV.UK

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Policy paper: India-UK Vision 2035

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

    Policy paper

    India-UK Vision 2035

    The Prime Ministers of India and the UK endorsed the new ‘India-UK Vision 2035’ during their meeting in London on 24 July 2025.

    Documents

    India-UK Vision 2035

    PDF, 1.36 MB, 22 pages

    India-UK Vision 2035

    HTML

    Details

    The Prime Ministers of India and the United Kingdom, during their meeting on 24 July 2025 in London, endorsed the new ‘India-UK Vision 2035’ that reaffirms their shared commitment to unlocking the full potential of a revitalised partnership.

    This ambitious and future-focused agreement underscores the 2 nations’ resolve to work together for mutual growth, prosperity and to shape a prosperous, secure, and sustainable world in a time of rapid global change.

    Increased ambition: since elevating the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, India and the UK have catalysed significant partnerships and growth across all sectors. The new vision builds on this momentum, setting ambitious goals to deepen and diversify bilateral cooperation.

    Strategic vision: by 2035, flagship partnerships will redefine the India-UK relationship delivering transformative opportunities and tangible benefits for both countries. The India-UK Vision 2035 sets clear strategic goals and milestones, tracking a path for sustained future collaboration and innovation.

    Comprehensive outcomes: the pillars of the India-UK Vision 2035 are designed to reinforce one another, creating a partnership that is greater than the sum of its parts across a wide and deep range of outcomes including:

    • growth and jobs in the UK and India, building on an ambitious trade deal that unlocks markets and opportunities for both countries
    • an education and skills partnership to nurture the next generation of global talent, deepening transnational education collaborations between UK and Indian universities, including the establishment of campuses of leading universities in each other’s countries
    • develop cutting-edge technology and research, building on the Technology Security Initiative, focused on future telecoms, AI and critical minerals, laying the ground for future collaboration on semi-conductors, quantum, bio-technology and advanced materials
    • a transformative climate partnership focussed on accelerating clean energy, mobilising climate finance at scale, and strengthening resilience
    • defence and security cooperation, including a common commitment to peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wall of Shame – July 2025

    Source: City of Coventry

    The latest episode of the Wall of Shame is out now.

    Fly-tippers continue to plague the city. We continue to expose them. We need you to help us catch them. 

    Watch this month’s episode below or on YouTube now. 

    If you recognise anyone on this video, please email flytipping-cctv@coventry.gov.uk so we can take action.

    You can also look at previous episodes to see if you recognise anyone. 

    Thursday, 24th July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The expert group of the State University of Management has developed recommendations for interdepartmental cooperation in the implementation of youth policy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On July 23, 2025, a public discussion of by-laws prepared as part of the implementation of the updated provisions of the Federal Law “On Youth Policy in the Russian Federation” took place in the House of Unions. Specialists from the State University of Management took part in the development of these by-laws.

    The public discussion was attended by: Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy, GUU graduate Artem Metelev, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy Mikhail Kiselev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Ekaterina Kharchenko, Deputy Head of Rosmolodezh Yuri Leskin and other experts.

    The agenda was outlined by the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy, Artem Metelev: “We have accumulated an agenda of three blocks, which we propose to discuss together today. The first: a set of measures for the patriotic education of youth and the spiritual and moral education of youth in the Russian Federation. The second: recommendations for the implementation of the main directions of youth policy in Russia, including the logistical support for its implementation. And the third: recommendations for the organization of interdepartmental interaction between the executive bodies of the country’s constituent entities in the implementation of youth policy.”

    Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova noted the activity of universities participating in the development and discussion of documents: “For our part, we have also sent all the necessary materials for consideration to the expert community of the Government of Russia and plan to present the documentary results within the next month.”

    At the initiative of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, the Department of State and Municipal Administration, together with the Department of Youth Policy and Educational Work of the State University of Management, developed a draft of recommendations for organizing interdepartmental interaction between executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in implementing youth policy to ensure consistency, eliminate duplication of powers, and ensure the effectiveness and systematicity of the work of government bodies at all levels.

    The project team included: – Advisor to the rector of the State University of Management, head of the department of state and municipal management Sergey Chuev; – Professor of the department of state and municipal management, doctor of economic sciences Vladimir Zotov; – Professor of the department of state and municipal management, doctor of pedagogical sciences Tatyana Korosteleva; – Professor of the department of state and municipal management, doctor of economic sciences Mikhail Shatokhin; – Associate Professor of the department of state and municipal management, candidate of economic sciences Mikhail Polyakov; – Deputy Director of the Institute of Social and Cultural Policy and Culture for educational work, candidate of psychological sciences Svetlana Grishaeva.

    Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Pavel Pavlovsky reported to the public council: “As for the mechanism of interdepartmental cooperation, here we have a number of specific points: establishing a clear procedure for exchanging information and recommendations, obliging regional departments to prepare and implement comprehensive measures to support young specialists aimed at their professional growth and career. Here we also include the development of measures for the professional self-determination of young people, support for gifted children, the creation and implementation of educational programs for patriotism and civic responsibility among young people, the organization of internships and practice for graduates of educational institutions, ensuring their participation in real work projects.”

    The expert group of the State University of Management also proposed to develop a system of joint participation of different branches of government, institutions and organizations in the implementation of youth projects, to ensure openness and accessibility of information about all existing support measures and possible events, for which it is necessary to create one-stop services and digital platforms where young people could resolve any issues that arise.

    At the end of the meeting, Artem Metelev noted that if the recommendations are accepted and regulations are developed on their basis, this will seriously simplify the work of government bodies, which will have a clear line in working with young people.

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Consultation deadline extended by three weeks

    Source: Isle of Man

    The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has extended the deadline for responses to its public consultation on the Financial Services (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

    Feedback on the proposals aimed at enhancing the Island’s regulatory framework can now be submitted up to Monday 1 September 2025. The draft Bill includes plans to revise measures within the:

    • Collective Investment Schemes Act 2008
    • Designated Businesses (Registration and Oversight) Act 2015
    • Financial Services Act 2008
    • Insurance Act 2008

    The consultation documents are available to view on the Isle of Man Government Engagement Hub. Comments should be sent to Policy@iomfsa.im or to Casey Houareau, Policy Adviser, Isle of Man Financial Services Authority, PO Box 58, Finch Hill House, Bucks Road, Douglas, IM99 1DT.

    MIL OSI Economics –