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  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Unprecedented Attacks on Veterans and Rising National Security Concerns, Congressmen Chris Deluzio, Pat Ryan, Ted and Lieu Lead 18 Democratic Members of Congress to Launch Veterans Caucus

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Ted Lieu (CA-36) led 18 House Democratic colleagues in launching the first-ever Democratic Veterans Caucus. 

    Chaired by Congressman Ryan, an Army veteran; Congressman Ted Lieu, an Air Force veteran; and Congressman Chris Deluzio, a Navy veteran, the Democratic Veterans Caucus is composed of members from across the country. The caucus’ formation comes amidst unprecedented security breaches at the Department of Defense, threats to veterans’ health care, and growing national security threats across the globe. 

    Uniting these voices is especially important and timely given the reconciliation fight. President Trump, aided by House Republicans, is trying to push through massive cuts to both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 10% of all veterans rely on Medicaid for health care, and there are 1.2 million veterans living in households – alongside seniors and children – who utilize SNAP benefits. 

    “I love this country, and I am proud to join with my fellow veterans and Democrats in the U.S. House. The Democratic Veterans Caucus is a powerful space to do that,” said Congressman Deluzio. “My fellow veterans and I in Congress are ready to go to the mat for America’s veterans and servicemembers and our country’s national security. We swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and America needs us now more than ever.” 

    “I refuse to let our draft-dodging President lecture us about what it means to be a Patriot while he cuts veterans’ health care, insults Gold Star families, and installs an incompetent loyalist who is dangerously politicizing the Department of Defense. It’s our duty, as those who have borne the battle, to fight for our fellow veterans and for the country we love so dearly,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Our loyalty is to no man. It is to the Constitution we swore an oath to protect and defend. Our mission is to deliver for our men and women in uniform and every freedom-loving American.” 

    “Our veterans deserve our gratitude. That is why it is despicable that the Trump Administration is leaving veterans behind,” said Congressman Ted Lieu. “From harmful DOGE cuts at the VA to attempts at rolling back benefits for veterans exposed to toxins, our nation’s heroes are experiencing unprecedented attacks on their care. We’re standing up this Caucus to fight for our veterans and uphold the oath we all took to defend the constitution. I am grateful to work with Reps. Deluzio and Ryan and all the Members in our Caucus to uplift veteran and service member voices.” 

    “Veterans served this country with honor and sacrifice. They kept their promises to defend our freedom, and now it’s our duty to keep our promises to them,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “As a former Navy helicopter pilot, I am disgusted by the Trump Administration’s decision to cut their health care and food assistance to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It is a betrayal not just of our veterans, but of the values this nation stands for. This caucus was formed to unite those of us who have worn the uniform and to fight back against these attacks. I will continue to stand in the breach to protect the care and services our veterans have earned.” 

    “America is the land of the free because we are home to generations of brave veterans. We have a sacred obligation to fight for these patriots in the face of the Trump Administration’s cruel and senseless cuts to critical healthcare and lifesaving services,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), who served as an intelligence officer for more than a decade in the Navy Reserve. “Veterans from New Hampshire and across the country deserve fighters in the United States Congress, and that is what this caucus is all about.” 

    “As an Army Ranger and paratrooper, I learned the ethos of servant leadership. True leaders jump out of the plane first, and always eat last. But that’s not the leadership we’re seeing from President Trump. Instead, we’re seeing Republicans cut veterans benefits and take away health care and food assistance in order to give the wealthiest Americans a massive tax break. It’s wrong for working families and our servicemembers. As a veteran and now a Democratic Member of Congress, I’m fighting back,” said Congressman Crow. 

    “Veterans need a united front to protect the benefits that they have earned,” said Rep. Panetta.  “At a time when we have an Administration that is cutting benefits, this caucus brings together Members who have served in uniform to ensure that the federal government upholds its commitment to defending the rights, benefits, and dignity of our fellow veterans. Fortunately, we know how to fight those who threaten our values and veterans’ services because we are committed to serving those who served our country.” 

    “Our veterans have given so much to our country, and for this Administration to cut and dismantle programs that benefit them and their families is simply disgraceful,” said Congressman Conaway. “While my Republican colleagues stand by and watch, this caucus serves as a coalition of former service members ready to push back. Every member of this caucus knows what it means to serve, and we will use our voices to ensure that promises made to veterans are promises kept.” 

    “When I joined the U.S. Army, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. As a member of Congress, I am honored to represent the 72,000 veterans in the Seventh District. Sadly, we have a Commander-in-Chief whose incompetence and chaos put American lives at risk and hurts our veterans,” said Vindman. “That’s why my Democratic colleagues who’ve worn the uniform and I are standing together and speaking out. We have a duty to defend the values and people that make America the greatest country in the world — and to ensure that no one, not even the President, gets away with undermining them.” 

    “I joined the Army Reserves when I was 18 because I felt it was my duty to give back to the country that gave me and my family so much. My parents fled communist Vietnam in search of freedom and democracy, and because America welcomed them, our family could not only survive but thrive. I am proud to join my fellow Veterans in the House Democratic caucus to stand up for all Veterans at a time when they are seeing their benefits cut, their expertise ignored, and their federal jobs terminated,” said Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45). “I was proud that the first bill I introduced as a Member of Congress was the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, to protect the livelihoods of Veterans who have served our country honorably and who continue to do so through civilian service. Our veterans have always had our backs, the Democratic Veterans Caucus will always step up to have theirs.” 

    “As a Marine, I will not stand by while Donald Trump insults our veterans and dismantles the services and benefits they rightfully earned,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal. “We have a responsibility to care for the heroes who defended our rights and freedoms. This Administration has abandoned this sacred duty through reckless actions, like rolling back the PACT Act and allowing DOGE to attack the VA. It’s heartless, cruel, and un-American. That’s why I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to launch the Democratic Veterans Caucus.” 

    “President Trump is not a veteran but that hasn’t stopped him from creating chaos and uncertainty in the lives of those who are. From threatening veterans’ health care to pushing reckless cuts to the benefits they’ve earned, the Trump administration has treated our community like collateral damage in a partisan agenda,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan. “As a veteran, a Member of Congress, and a proud advocate for those who’ve worn the uniform, I believe we have a sacred obligation to protect and honor our veterans—not undermine their health, dignity, or security. The launch of the Democratic Veterans Caucus couldn’t come at a more urgent moment. We are stepping up and stepping in to ensure veterans receive the care, respect, and support they’ve rightfully earned.” 

    “In the Marines, we were taught that you can fail a run and come back the next day—but if you lie, you’re out. Veterans, and all Americans, deserve leaders who tell the truth, and who respect service and sacrifice,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “Yet Donald Trump and his Republican allies lie every day about their commitment to the military and the veteran community. Democratic veterans in Congress aren’t afraid to call out the hypocrisy—and fight to make sure no one who served this country is left behind. I’m proud to be part of this new caucus and I’m looking forward to getting started.” 

    “As a combat veteran with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam and as a Purple Heart recipient, I know our nation’s responsibility to our men and women in uniform,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “Make no mistake: by firing over 80,000 VA staff, many of them veterans, this Administration isn’t just hurting us and our families — they are making every American worse off. Proud to join the Democratic Veterans Caucus as a founding member to continue our fight to protect those who have served our nation.” 

    “As a Navy veteran, I’m appalled by the President’s assault on veterans and their families,” said Congressman Gil Cisneros. “I’ve seen firsthand the detrimental effects of this administration on our veteran community. From cutting health care and veteran benefits to disparaging the honor of those who have served, the attacks from the President are un-American and vile. I stand firmly with my colleagues in the Democratic Veterans Caucus and know we will fight to protect the honor of veterans, their health care, mental health care, and their families.” 

    “I am proud to represent one of the largest veterans’ populations in the country,” said Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03). “As a veteran of the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, I look forward to continuing my work protecting America’s veterans, especially their health care, with the launch of the Democratic Veterans Caucus.” 

    Members of the Democratic Veterans Caucus Include: 

    1. Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA) – Marine Corps Reserve 
    2. Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA) – Navy 
    3. Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ) – Air Force 
    4. Rep. Jason Crow (CO) – Army 
    5. Rep. Don Davis (NC) – Air Force 
    6. Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA) – Navy 
    7. Rep. Jared Golden (ME) – Marine Corps 
    8. Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH) – Navy Reserve
    9. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA) – Air Force 
    10. Rep. Ted Lieu (CA) – Air Force 
    11. Rep. Seth Moulton (MA) – Marine Corps 
    12. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA) – Navy Reserve 
    13. Rep. Pat Ryan (NY) – Army 
    14. Rep. Bobby Scott (VA) – Army 
    15. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ) – Navy
    16. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA) – Army 
    17. Rep. Derek Tran (CA) – Army 
    18. Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA) – Army 

    Congressman Deluzio is a U.S. Navy veteran, deployed to Iraq and at sea, and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • India’s youth driving innovation and nation-building: L Speaker Om Birla at IIT Jodhpur

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday emphasized the pivotal role of Indian youth in shaping the nation’s progress, stating that India is emerging as a global leader in addressing contemporary challenges through the strength of its young talent and technological innovation.

    Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jodhpur, Birla lauded the contribution of India’s youth in propelling social, economic, and technological advancement, and urged them to continue harnessing cutting-edge technology for the betterment of the nation.

    Birla noted that the youth of India are increasingly transitioning from job seekers to job creators, with IITs playing a crucial role in this transformation. “Graduates from IITs have significantly contributed to strengthening the country’s startup ecosystem and economic development,” he said.

    Birla added that the global demand for skilled and innovative Indian youth is a testament to their growing impact, and encouraged them to become active stakeholders in the journey towards a Viksit Bharat.

    During his visit, the Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurated the state-of-the-art Lecture Hall Complex – II at IIT Jodhpur. He emphasized the importance of integrating modern scientific advancements with India’s rich spiritual heritage, stating that this balanced approach promotes ethical, inclusive, and sustainable growth. “India is moving forward by combining its scientific capabilities with spiritual wisdom, charting a path toward holistic national advancement,” Birla said.

    The LS Speaker also highlighted India’s strides in achieving self-reliance across various sectors — from manufacturing toys to producing defence equipment — and said that the country’s robust digital ecosystem has further fueled the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    Praising the contribution of IITs in advancing technical education, Birla asserted that every college and university in India should strive to become a hub of innovation and excellence. He called upon higher education institutions to move beyond conventional teaching and foster creativity, research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration to drive India’s growth in science and technology.

    “IIT students have enhanced India’s global stature by combining modern technology with Indian thinking and a fresh perspective,” he noted. Birla added that academic spaces should evolve into dynamic ecosystems where ideas are nurtured, talents are shaped, and future leaders are created.

    Referring to IIT Jodhpur’s transformative journey, Birla commended the institute for its pioneering role in global research, innovation, and cultivating scientific temper. He praised the efforts of Director Prof. Avinash K. Agarwal and the institute’s contributions in areas like defence technology and sustainable development in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

    Despite being located in a geographically challenging region, the institute has emerged as a beacon of progress, empowering young minds with access to world-class education and innovative thinking, Birla added.

    Birla also distributed ‘Research Initiative Grants’ to support innovation-related projects at the institute. Additionally, he launched IIT Jodhpur’s new official website and planted a sapling on the campus as a symbolic gesture of sustainable growth.

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canning — RCMP seeking information to identify a person involved in sexual assault against a youth

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Kings District RCMP is seeking information from the public to identify a person involved in a sexual assault against a youth victim in Canning.

    On June 6, at approximately 3:40 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of a sexual assault that occurred on a walking trail between Northeast Kings Education Centre and the Glooscap District Arena.

    Responding officers learned that approximately 10 minutes prior, a male assaulted then sexually assaulted a youth victim who was walking to the arena from the school.

    A search of the area, assisted by RCMP Police Dog Services, was not successful in locating the suspect.

    At this time, the male, who approached the victim from behind, is believed to be a youth. He is described as white, 5-foot-5 and heavy build. At time of the incident, he was wearing a ski mask, a red shirt and winter gloves.

    “I want to assure everyone in our communities that this investigation is a top priority for us. We have engaged various specialized units to assist our committed local investigators”, says S/Sgt. Ed Nugent, King District RCMP. “We encourage anyone who may have information about the incident to contact us. You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.”

    Kings District RCMP: 902-679-5555

    Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers: toll-free, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or the P3 Tips app.

    If you have experienced sexual violence, you are not alone. The elimination of gender-based and sexual violence continues to be a priority for the Nova Scotia RCMP, and the RCMP employs a trauma-informed approach. Survivor support is available and you can contact us and discuss an incident before deciding to further participate in the investigation and court process.

    File: 2025-784797

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hedgehog poo could hold important secrets about local biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Research fellow in Ecology and Conservation, University of Oxford

    Jayne Morgan

    Biodiversity, the rich variety of life found on Earth, is vanishing. I’m a conservation scientist keen to monitor this loss to better understand where efforts to reverse it will be most effective. And I might have hit on a novel solution.

    I study European hedgehogs, the popular spiky mammals that inhabit our gardens. Hedgehog populations are declining massively, with an estimated loss of up to 75% in the rural areas of the UK during the past 25 years.

    Thanks to insights gained in my research, I, Dr Hedgehog, believe that this species could be helpful for mapping wider biodiversity. More specifically, its poo.

    One probable cause of the decline in hedgehogs is a decline in insects, which form a major part of their diet. During my many nights of radio-tracking hedgehogs, I came up with the idea of analysing environmental DNA (eDNA) contained in samples of hedgehog poo to discover what the hedgehogs are eating and through that, what’s living locally.

    The eDNA method could reveal genetic traces of all organisms present in the samples in a single analysis. And, as we’ll see, these prickly mammals have a surprisingly liberal diet.

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    Due to the loss of natural habitats, hedgehogs are increasingly living in gardens, and this is where the battle to save the hedgehog will take place. My research showed that European hedgehogs in residential areas normally visit ten to 14 gardens a night.

    Here, they eat a wide selection of prey, primarily insects, snails, slugs and worms, but also birds’ eggs (from ground-nesting birds – they don’t climb trees). They are scavengers too, and will munch on all sorts of dead animals.

    What most people don’t realise is that these adorable little creatures are also ferocious predators. If they can get their paws (or perhaps more correctly, their jaws) on live prey, they will eat chicks that have fallen out of nests or amphibians such as salamanders, newts and frogs. They are excellent swimmers and sometimes catch fish in garden ponds.

    I have seen hedgehogs taking on adult pigeons or full-sized chickens, and winning. Hedgehogs also sometimes chew on the faeces of foxes and lick the saliva onto their spines, probably with the purpose of masking their scent against predators.

    Prickly, but not picky.
    Nojafoto/Shutterstock

    We are not sure whether hedgehogs eat fruit and plants intentionally, or if they are actually after the worms or insects living on them – hedgehogs are officially categorised as “insectivores” – but vegetation shows up in the stomachs of dead hedgehogs too. The DNA from plants ingested by the insects, worms and snails eaten by hedgehogs, will also show up in an analysis of hedgehog poo.

    In terms of a guide to local biodiversity, hedgehogs are the full package.

    Hedgehogs live and forage in a small area. They poop a lot, and their faeces are easy to recognise and collect. If we keep the hedgehog population going, we won’t run out of sample material any time soon.

    Before DNA analysis was invented, it was very difficult to determine the diet of a hedgehog, because a slug is reduced to nothing after a trip through its digestive tract, and it’s hard to identify a species from a chewed-off beetle leg. In contrast, it only takes a tiny fragment of a species to show up in an eDNA analysis of hedgehog faeces, so imagine what we could discover.

    In these times of drastic biodiversity loss, we need to establish good and reliable methods for monitoring biodiversity. An analysis of a hedgehog poo could even reveal elusive species which may have been categorised as extinct in the area.

    My idea of biodiversity monitoring through hedgehog poo has spawned ridicule and numerous rejection letters for funding applications. I refused to let it stop me. So I have created a crowdfunding campaign where you can support the research by purchasing a hedgehog poo and getting a certificate. I have 800 hedgehog faecal samples collected from all over Denmark, England and Scotland, stored in a freezer ready to be analysed.

    The work has begun, and my colleagues and I have found some very interesting results already. One is the remarkable scarcity of bird DNA in hedgehog faecal samples collected from islands, where hedgehogs are accused of posing a threat to ground-nesting birds by eating their eggs. We are confident that our method works as we tested it beforehand by feeding quail eggs to hedgehogs, and found lots of bird DNA in the samples.

    When I have managed to raise the remaining funds, we will continue the investigation.

    This is the story of how I discovered that hedgehog droppings are gold. If you would like to know more, watch my talk on the subject here.

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

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

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

    – ref. Hedgehog poo could hold important secrets about local biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/hedgehog-poo-could-hold-important-secrets-about-local-biodiversity-256644

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why wind farm developers are pulling out at the last minute

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas York, Postgraduate Researcher in Human Geography, University of Leicester

    ShutterDesigner/Shutterstock

    The UK government’s strategy for tackling climate change received a major blow in May when Danish developer Ørsted announced that adverse economic developments had halted its 2.4 gigawatt (GW) Hornsea 4 wind farm in the North Sea.

    The government aims to generate at least 43GW of offshore wind power (current capacity is 14.7GW) and 95% of all energy from renewable sources by 2030.

    These targets are now in jeopardy. The cancellation of Hornsea 4 follows a similar decision by Swedish developer Vattenfall, which stopped work on its 1.4GW Norfolk Boreas wind farm in 2023.

    What is forcing renewable energy developers to pull out when they are due to make their final investment decision?

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

    The offshore wind industry is exposed to fluctuations in the prices of raw materials necessary to meet rising global demand for renewable energy. This vital part of the energy transition, alongside the phaseout of fossil fuels, has been impeded by inflation caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

    Building a wind turbine requires significant amounts of steel, copper and aluminium, all of which doubled or tripled in price between 2020 and 2023. Turbine manufacturers have raised prices in an effort to recover recent losses. This affects the profitability forecasts of wind energy developers like Ørsted and the viability of each of their projects.

    Impending national and international net zero targets also mean that developers globally are having to make earlier investments in transmission infrastructure. An exponential increase in demand for scarce high-voltage cabling has already led to high-profile cancellations of offshore wind farms in the US.

    Electricity network operators are scrambling to update power grids.
    Esbobeldijk/Shutterstock

    Rising demand for rare earth metals used to make magnets in turbine generators has also been snared by geopolitical issues. The mining, processing and refining of these metals is dominated by China, which manufactures over 90% of these magnets.

    A shortage of boats

    Developers need boats to build offshore wind farms. Here lies another strain on the timescales of developers.

    Ørsted ceased work on its 2.2GW Ocean Wind development zone off the coast of New Jersey in 2023, citing a vessel delay in its decision to cancel the project.

    According to the advocacy group WindEurope, demand for vessels capable of installing foundations and turbines and laying cables will outstrip availability within the next five years. The gap between the two is forecast to skyrocket between 2028 and 2030. This will make it harder to commission the wind farms that the UK government is relying on to reach its 43GW target by the end of the decade.

    Delays caused by these issues can result in a problem known as “contract erosion”. In their contracts, developers have a commissioning window within which turbines have to start generating. If they are not operational within this time, they lose their subsidies on a day-by-day basis.

    Rising costs mean that even one of the world’s biggest wind farms, Dogger Bank in the North Sea, will not be profitable for its developer, Equinor. As a prospect for generating financial returns, renewable energy still cannot compete with oil and gas.

    This is the key argument of economic geographer Brett Christophers in his recent book The Price is Wrong. Christophers argues that, if national governments continue to rely so heavily on private sector investment to build renewable energy, decarbonisation is unlikely to proceed as fast as it needs to. It is simply not profitable enough.

    Misguided planning reform

    How might the UK defy difficult global conditions and meet its 43GW target by 2030? So far, the government’s main proposal has been to relax timelines for the planning process of wind farms.

    Earlier in 2025 it opened a consultation on reforms to the contracts for difference process, which is how developers bid for long-term energy generation contracts, prior to an auction round in summer 2025.

    The main proposed change was to allow developers of fixed-bottom offshore wind projects to bid in the auction before receiving a development consent order, or a DCO. A DCO defines the approved scope of a development, taking into account environmental surveys, land rights and developer proposals.

    It can take more than two years for a DCO to be awarded. The government hopes that fast-tracking fixed-bottom developments will result in more contracts being awarded in the latest auction, but will this work?

    The government is aware of the risks. Planning permission could be refused after a contract has been awarded, and projects without consent face even greater uncertainty over costs than developments that already have a DCO.

    The government might be able to get more projects into the pipeline, but the supply chain is already stretched to its limits. Through the state-owned investment body GB Energy, the government has pledged £300 million to bolster the domestic supply chain for components required for offshore wind, like platforms and cabling.

    However, this investment largely focuses on new technologies for floating offshore wind, leaving fixed-bottom projects like Hornsea 4 at the mercy of vessel delays and raw material price rises. If something does not change to mitigate costs and increase returns for developers, the government’s 2030 target is in doubt.

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

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

    Thomas York receives funding from the University of Leicester’s Future 50 doctoral training pathway.

    – ref. Why wind farm developers are pulling out at the last minute – https://theconversation.com/why-wind-farm-developers-are-pulling-out-at-the-last-minute-256842

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Edmund White was my friend – I know first-hand why his writing meant so much to queer readers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hugh Stevens, Senior Lecturer Department of English Language & Literature, UCL

    When I was 19 years old, I visited New York for ten days on the way to London. I was flying from New Zealand, that small island nation in the South Pacific where all sexual acts between men were still illegal. My body was naive and innocent, but my mind had somehow (partly through conversations with older, less naive students at Auckland University) absorbed essential knowledge about gay life happening elsewhere.

    Gay life happened in London, in Paris, in San Francisco. But more than anywhere else, it happened in New York. I was terrified. What would happen to me, in those sinful cities of the plain? With any luck I would be corrupted, and thoroughly de-moralised.

    It was November 1982, and Manhattan was freezing, especially after sub-tropical Auckland. On my first day, I walked ten or so blocks south from my hostel in Chelsea to Greenwich Village. My knees trembled, but still they carried me towards my goal. The theme tune from Sesame Street went through my mind: “Come and play, everything’s A-OK, friendly neighbours there, that’s where we meet, can you tell me how to get, how to get to Christopher Street?”

    It wasn’t difficult – you just walked south on Seventh Avenue. Where Seventh met Christopher, if you turned right, you passed an improbable number of gay bars and seedy bookstores until you reached the infamous, nefarious Christopher Street pier. I turned left. I walked past the Stonewall Inn, and soon I came to a not-so-seedy bookstore, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, where Christopher Street met Gay Street. Intrigued by the name – how could I not be? – I went inside.

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    I was the only customer in the shop. Behind the counter, piled with books, were a woman, and a man. They started talking to me. The man, Edmund White, told me that he was a writer, and the books were copies of his new novel, A Boy’s Own Story (1982). A real novelist! I looked at the book, at the beautiful boy in a lilac vest on its cover – a new hardback. It was too expensive for me.

    Sensing that my hesitation was financial, the woman told me that another book by the author, States of Desire: Travels in Gay America (1980), was much cheaper. By the time I left the shop I had a copy of States of Desire, and two invitations. One to join Ed for tea at the New York Institute for the Humanities, and another to hear him read from a novel-in-progress.

    He was billed alongside the painter Joe Brainard, who was reading from his own wonderful book, I Remember (1975). “I remember how much, in high school, I wanted to be handsome and popular. I remember when, in high school, if you wore green and yellow on Thursday it meant that you were queer.”

    I remember that Edmund’s voice, reading from his book Caracole (1985), was fluent and mellifluous. But I found his prose much more difficult to follow than Brainard’s poetry. After the reading there was a party, with biscuits, rounds of Brie and grapes. Among these confident Americans I was shy, and I thought the Brie was impossibly sophisticated – I had grown up with New Zealand Tasty Cheddar.

    Enchanted worlds

    I met Ed at the New York Institute for the Humanities on a cold, grey afternoon, and walked with him to his apartment on Lafayette Street. We chatted as we drank tea. “What authors do you like?” he asked me. “What music do you listen to?” He gave me a copy of A Boy’s Own Story, which he signed: “For Hugh, at the beginning of a friendship.”

    This was indeed the beginning of a friendship, although I haven’t seen Ed since 1998. I introduced him when he read from yet another novel, The Farewell Symphony (1997), at the University of York. Ed was extrovert and gregarious, whereas I am introverted, often painfully shy – and not good at keeping in touch.

    But over the years I have read and reread Ed’s work. His autobiographical novels, his memoirs, his short stories, his travel writing, his criticism, his biography of the French writer Jean Genet, his utilitarian guide to criminal pleasures, The Joy of Gay Sex (1977).

    Why does his writing mean so much to me – and to many other queer readers? Ed may have been confident, gregarious, never afraid to speak or to write about his own queer life, and the queer lives of others. But his writing also charted the anxieties, the anguish, the remorse, the self-loathing that were probably a part of every “gay” life in America in the 50s and 60s. And many gay lives in New Zealand in the 80s, for that matter.

    In A Boy’s Own Story the narrator remembers the enchantment of a marionette troupe performing Sleeping Beauty at his third birthday party. The performance transported him to a world in which “evil was defeated and love crowned”, in which “things devolved with the logic of art, not life”. Ed himself was such an enchanter: his art may have imitated life, but it also created magical worlds for his readers, enabling them to defeat evil and to find love.

    Our lives can imitate art. His art gives us the thrill of articulating what may not be articulated, of speaking the names that dare not be spoken, as when, on the last page of A Boy’s Own Story, the “boy” (now a remembering man) tells us how “scandalised” he was when Mr Beattie, the teacher he is seducing, “asked me to lick the bright red head, to roll my tongue around the head of his penis”. How scandalised and thrilled I was reading those words.

    Now Edmund is gone – he passed away on June 3 age 85 – but his enchanted worlds remain. They are there for us to read, and to reread, to inspire us to remember, remember, remember.

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

    – ref. Edmund White was my friend – I know first-hand why his writing meant so much to queer readers – https://theconversation.com/edmund-white-was-my-friend-i-know-first-hand-why-his-writing-meant-so-much-to-queer-readers-258504

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sinead McEneaney, Senior Lecturer in History, The Open University

    Violence has erupted on the streets of cities across southern California over the weekend, as protesters clashed with agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency detaining people they suspected to be illegal immigrants. The US president, Donald Trump, took the unusual decision on Saturday to deploy 2,000 troops from California’s national guard, despite not being requested to by the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.

    Newsom has threatened to sue Trump over what he has called “an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act”. Other California officials have also denounced the move, with Senator Adam Schiff calling it a “dangerous precedent for unilateral misuse of the guard across the country”.

    Raids by ICE agents have increased significantly since mid-May when the Trump administration threatened to fire senior ICE officials if they did not deliver on higher arrest quotas. Several high-profile wrongful arrests of US citizens have further inflamed tensions.

    Protests have escalated in California, a Democratic stronghold and a “sanctuary state” where local law enforcement does not cooperate with ICE to detain illegal immigrants.

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    At around 24,000 troops, California’s national guard is the largest in the United States. Each state has its own national guard unit, a reserve force under the control of the governor which can be called upon in times of crisis – often to help out during natural disasters or other emergencies. For example, in January, Newsom activated several thousand troops to aid relief work during the devastating fires that threatened Los Angeles.

    In 1992, the then president, George H.W. Bush, backed the call of the then governor of California, Pete Wilson, call to deploy national guard members to quell the South Central LA riots.

    Now troops are back on the streets of LA. But this time not at the behest of the governor. Trump’s unilateral decision to take federal control over the national guard pits the president against the state of California – and importantly, against a state that has constantly resisted his anti-immigrant agenda. Newsom is seen by many as a possible contender for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 2028 presidential election.

    Historical precedents

    Is there a precedent for this? Yes and no. The Insurrection Act (passed in 1807, but revised several times) authorises the president to call on the national guard in times of crisis or war to supplement state and local forces. This has been codified in title 10 of the US Code, which details the laws of the land.

    In 1871, the law was revised to specifically allow for the national guard to be used in the protection of civil rights for black Americans. Legal experts have long called for reform of the Insurrection Act, arguing that the language is too vague and open to misuse.

    In the past, former US presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson all invoked different sections of the Act to protect civil rights, particularly against segregationist states. While the act implies consent between governor and president, it does not require it.

    Two examples stand out. On June 11 1963, John F. Kennedy issued executive order 11111 mobilising the national guard to protect desegregation of the University of Alabama, against the wishes of Alabama governor George Wallace.

    Wallace’s determination to block the registration of two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, produced a produced a sensational media moment when Wallace physically blocked the entrance of the university. Local law enforcement stood by the governor. With the state of Alabama in defiance of federal law, Kennedy saw no alternative but to deploy the guard.

    Less than two years later, in March 1965 Lyndon B. Johnson again deployed the guard in Alabama, bypassing Governor Wallace. In February, a state trooper in the town of Marion killed a young voters-rights activist, Jimmie Lee Jackson.

    This shooting, along with several violent attacks by the local police on voter registration activists in Selma, inspired a series of marches in support of the 1965 voting rights bill. On the eve of the march from Selma to Montgomery, tensions between local police and civil rights protesters were at a high.

    Civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr, lead a march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, March 1965, to support the right to safe voter registration.
    Wikimedia Commons

    In response, Johnson bypassed Wallace and called in the national guard to ensure, as he put it, the rights of Americans “to walk peaceably and safely without injury or loss of life from Selma to Montgomery”.

    Before last Saturday, this was the last time a president circumvented the authority of the state governor in deploying the guard. But even in this instance, there was an implied request from Wallace, who explicitly requested federal aid in the absence of state resources.

    The subtext here is that Wallace did not want to be seen to call up the national guard himself, so he forced Johnson to make that decision, allowing him to claim that the president was trampling on state sovereignty.

    Insurrection Act

    This is not the current situation in California. The LAPD is the third largest police force in the US, with over just under 9,000 sworn officers. While its ranks have shrunk in recent years, it has been responding to the recent protests and unrest. There is no reason to think that Newsom would hesitate to call in the national guard if warranted.

    In reality, Trump has invoked the Insurrection Act to protect ICE agents. Indeed, the national guard has a complicated history of responding to civil unrest. The current situation is in stark contrast with the past, and faces serious questions of legitimacy.

    It is difficult not to see this as the latest move by the Trump administration to subjugate California. In early January Trump threatened to withhold federal aid to rebuild after the wildfires. In past months he threatened to withdraw all of the state’s federal funding to punish it for its stance on campus protests and the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

    Unlike his predecessors, Trump has not mobilised the national guard to protect civil rights against a hostile police force. Instead, he appears to be using this as leverage to undermine a political opponent he views as blocking his agenda. Circumventing gubernatorial powers over the national guard in this way has no precedent and heralds the next stage in an extended conflict between the president and the state of California.

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

    – ref. Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents – https://theconversation.com/trumps-use-of-the-national-guard-against-la-protesters-defies-all-precedents-258486

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Diverticular disease: the surprisingly common gut condition you’ve probably never heard of

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Davies, Lecturer in Nutrition & Dietetics, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    It’s not something people often talk about at the dinner table, but your gut health plays a huge role in your overall wellbeing. And one of the most common conditions affecting the large intestine is diverticular disease.

    Diverticular disease or diverticulosis is where small bulges or pouches (called diverticula) form in the wall of the colon, often due to a weakening in the muscle layer. These pouches are usually harmless, but in some cases they can become inflamed or infected – a condition known by the slightly different name of diverticulitis.

    Around 70% of people in western countries will have developed diverticular disease by the time they reach 80. It’s also increasingly showing up in younger adults, which may be linked to the low-fibre, highly processed nature of many modern diets. UK dietary surveys show that people are currently consuming only 60% of their recommended daily fibre intake.

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    The reasons some people develop diverticular disease and others don’t aren’t fully understood. However, several factors have been identified as contributors, including the structure and movement of the colon, diet, fibre intake, obesity, physical activity and genetics.

    Most people with diverticular disease don’t experience symptoms. However, some may report pain or discomfort in the lower left side of the abdomen – often worse after eating – as well as bloating, diarrhoea or constipation. These symptoms can mimic other digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), making diagnosis more complex.

    Despite how common it is, diverticular disease is often misunderstood. Many people have no symptoms at all, while others experience ongoing digestive discomfort.

    Diverticulitis (when diverticula in the colon become inflamed or infected) is usually marked by more severe symptoms, including constant abdominal pain, a high temperature, nausea, and in some cases, changes in bowel habits. These symptoms warrant urgent medical attention, as untreated diverticulitis can lead to complications.

    Thankfully, small changes in diet and lifestyle can make a big difference and outdated advice is quickly being replaced by evidence based recommendations. Historically, people with diverticular disease were told to avoid foods like nuts, seeds and popcorn out of fear that they might get stuck in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, this idea has now been debunked.

    Updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence confirms there is no need to avoid these foods unless specifically advised to do so by a healthcare professional.

    What does help is a high-fibre diet. Fibre softens stools and makes them easier to pass, which helps reduce pressure in the colon and prevent constipation – one of the known risk factors for diverticulitis. When stools are small and hard, they may become lodged in the diverticula, increasing the chance of inflammation or infection.

    In addition to eating more fibre, staying well hydrated and being physically active also support healthy digestion. Water helps fibre do its job, while regular movement can encourage normal bowel function and reduce the risk of complications.

    If you’re unable to meet fibre targets through food alone, your doctor or dietitian may recommend fibre supplements or mild laxatives.

    Official UK guidance advises adults to eat at least 30g of fibre per day. Some simple ways to do this include starting your day with a high-fibre breakfast cereal and adding fresh or dried fruit. Switching to wholemeal or granary breads, choosing wholewheat pasta or brown rice, and including more lentils, chickpeas, beans and vegetables in your meals can all help.

    For example, grated carrot, red lentils or kidney beans can easily be added to mince-based dishes, while raw vegetables such as peppers or carrots work well with dips like hummus or guacamole.



    Read more:
    Some vegetables are pretty low in fibre. So which veggies are high-fibre heroes?

    When increasing your fibre intake, it’s best to do so gradually. A sudden jump in fibre can cause bloating or gas, so give your digestive system time to adapt.

    By making small, sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle – like eating more fibre, staying hydrated and moving your body – you can reduce your risk of discomfort and complications. With up-to-date medical advice and a balanced approach to nutrition, it’s entirely possible to keep your gut happy, healthy and functioning well for years to come.

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

    – ref. Diverticular disease: the surprisingly common gut condition you’ve probably never heard of – https://theconversation.com/diverticular-disease-the-surprisingly-common-gut-condition-youve-probably-never-heard-of-256922

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Animals can’t talk like humans do – here’s why the hunt for their languages has left us empty-handed

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anna Jon-And, Director of Centre for Cultural Evolution, Senior Lecturer in Portuguese, Stockholm University

    No matter how much you want to believe it … Patrick Rolands

    Why do humans have language and other animals apparently don’t? It’s one of the most enduring questions in the study of mind and communication. Across all cultures, humans use richly expressive languages built on complex structures, which let us talk about the past, the future, imaginary worlds, moral dilemmas and mathematical truths. No other species does this.

    Yet we are fascinated by the idea that animals might be more similar to us than it seems. We delight in the possibility that dolphins tell stories or that apes can ponder the future. We are social and thinking creatures, and we love to see our reflection in others. That deep desire may have influenced the study of animal cognition.

    Over the past two decades, studies of thinking and language in animals, especially those highlighting similarities with human abilities, have flourished in academia and attracted extensive media coverage. A wave of recent studies reflects a growing momentum.

    Two recent papers, both in top-tier journals, focus on our closest relatives: chimpanzees and bonobos. They claim these apes combine vocalisations in ways that suggest a capacity for compositionality, a key feature of human language.

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    In simple terms, compositionality is the capacity to combine words and phrases into complex expressions, where the overall meaning derives from the meanings of the parts and their order. It is what allows a finite set of words to generate an infinite range of meanings. The idea that great apes might do something similar has been presented as a potential breakthrough, hinting that the roots of language may lie deeper in our evolutionary past than we thought.

    But there is a catch: combining elements is not enough. A fundamental aspect of compositionality in human language is that it is productive. We do not just reuse a fixed set of combinations; we generate new ones, effortlessly. A child who learns the word “wug” can instantly say “wugs” without having heard it before, applying rules to unfamiliar elements.

    That flexible creativity gives language its vast expressive power. Yet while animal calls can be combined, nobody has observed animals doing this to create new meanings in an open-ended productive manner. They don’t scale into the layered meanings that human language achieves. In short: there are no wugs in the wild.

    The sequence hypothesis

    Rather than chasing grammar in animals, a more grounded approach asks what cognitive difference might explain the gap we observe between humans and other animals. One such idea is the sequence hypothesis, developed by researchers at the Centre for Cultural Evolution in Stockholm, to which we are both connected. It proposes that humans have a unique ability to recognise and remember the exact sequential order of events or elements – including words in language.

    Studies over the past few years provide strong evidence that non-human animals, including our closest relatives, represent order only approximately. For example, recent experiments with bonobos, including the world-famous Kanzi, show that in 2,400 trials, these apes did not learn to distinguish a sequence of yellow and blue from a sequence of blue and yellow on a screen.

    Humans, on the other hand, instantly grasp this difference. This capacity enables us to understand unknown compositional linguistic expressions like “wug killer” and “killer wug”, a shift in sequence that flips meaning entirely.

    Recent theoretical studies using artificial intelligence (AI) have shown that recognising and remembering sequences may allow not only for distinguishing short expressions like “killer wug” and “wug killer”, but also for extracting the hierachical structures and grammatical categories that enable open-ended compositionality from linguistic input during learning.

    This kind of mental precision does not just power language. It changes how we see the world, breaking experience into far more distinct situations. But a richer world is also a more complex one to learn because the number of possible combinations explodes.

    This may have resulted in the co-evolution of human mental capacities and our unusually long childhood. The learning costs that come with sequence memory may explain why no other animal has taken this path.

    This isn’t to exclude all other species entirely here. The similarities observed between neanderthals and our prehistoric culture implies that the two groups were mentally quite alike. We cannot exclude that cultural and linguistic abilities evolved before the common ancestor of modern humans and neanderthals, more than half a million years ago.

    Animal communication

    If the sequence hypothesis is correct, then grammar, planning and abstract thought in non-human animals are often being inferred from behaviours that may be explained by simpler well-studied learning mechanisms. If so, a bonobo combining gestures or a bird eliciting a sequence of calls reflect clever learning and instinct, but not true compositional meaning.

    If animals cannot represent sequences faithfully – and we see no evidence that they can – many apparent parallels with human language fall apart. The temptation to see ourselves in animals is strong, especially when their behaviour seems familiar. But surface resemblance does not necessarily imply the same underlying mechanisms.

    If animals have more language-like capacities than suggested here, a relevant question is why these similarities are so difficult to detect. After decades of research on dolphin intelligence and communication in larger whales, for instance, we still cannot communicate with them using any language-like code.

    Why no talking dolphins?
    F Photography R

    None of this means animals are not intelligent or that their communication is not sophisticated. Some frogs use hollow trees to broadcast their mating calls more efficiently. Honeybees transmit information about the direction, distance to and quality of nectar sources. Ground squirrels have an elaborate system for communicating about various predatory threats.

    Animals have evolved rich and effective ways to interact and survive in a hostile world. As a matter of fact, theoretical work suggests that in a world without language, non-human great apes and pigeons would learn more efficiently and thus have greater chances of survival than a human.

    Nonetheless, we see no signs of their communication stretching flexibly across time and space or building up networks of abstract concepts in the way human language does. If we want to reach a better understanding of the fascinating communication systems of other animals, perhaps humans are not the best model.

    Anna Jon-And receives funding from from the Swedish Research Council and has received funding from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

    Johan Lind has received funding from the Swedish Research Council and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

    – ref. Animals can’t talk like humans do – here’s why the hunt for their languages has left us empty-handed – https://theconversation.com/animals-cant-talk-like-humans-do-heres-why-the-hunt-for-their-languages-has-left-us-empty-handed-258321

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Shoemaker Clarks is turning 200. Its Quaker roots made it a pioneer of ethical business

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicholas Burton, Professor, Department of Leadership and Human Resource Management, Northumbria University, Newcastle

    DELBO ANDREA/Shutterstock

    For many, the Clarks brand is a byword for sturdy school shoes and functional footwear for those of more mature years. The manufacturing and retailing company was set up two centuries ago in Somerset, England, in the shadows of Glastonbury Tor, by brothers Cyrus and James Clark. In 2025, it is celebrating its 200th anniversary and remains a formidable force both on the high street and online.

    Less well known is that the Clark brothers, like chocolatier families Cadbury and Rowntree, were Quakers. This small religious community has produced a remarkable and disproportionate number of scientists, thinkers and campaigners for justice, peace and human rights. In addition, its contribution of ethical businesses has dominated many industries in the UK.

    The Lloyds and Barclays of the banking dynasties were Quakers. The Jacobs (of biscuits and crackers fame) were Quakers. So were the Rathbones (fund management), the Penroses (founders of Waterford Crystal) and the Waterhouse family (accountancy), to name just a few.

    The Quakers – more formally known as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) – have a history of nearly 400 years in Britain and the US. While Quakerism has Christian foundations, Quakers also emphasise moral commitments to peace, truth, integrity, simplicity and equality – the five testimonies in Quaker theology. These came to define how Quakers approach the world, and their businesses.

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    As early Quakers were deemed radical and challenged the established church, they became persecuted by the state during the 17th century. They were excluded from political and public life, as well as from universities. Perhaps as a direct consequence, Quakers became highly active entrepreneurs and came to dominate many industries through a combination of their testimonies and outward entrepreneurial action.

    This led to the reputation that Quaker firms had for trustworthiness and integrity. Their impact was perhaps so acute as to represent a distinctive form of ethical entrepreneurship.

    While not all Quakers were engaged in commerce, and not all those who were succeeded, a disproportionate number did. Such commercial success is all the more intriguing, as the Quakers were a very small (and, from the mid-18th century, declining) minority of the UK population (about 20,000 in total today).

    Zero-waste beginnings

    Quaker values and the entrepreneurial spirit are woven through the history of Clarks. For example, the original business idea by James in 1825 to produce sheepskin slippers was born of a desire to eliminate waste, with slippers produced from off-cuts of sheepskin rugs.

    Like many Quaker businesses, Clarks has always supported social and environmental causes. Family members took a central role in the anti-abolitionist movement and in women’s suffrage.

    It also invested a proportion of its profits in local community amenities, such as building homes, constructing classrooms, funding a theatre, a library, an open-air swimming pool, a town hall and playing fields near the company’s base in Street, Somerset.

    Today, Clarks continues to play an active community role. It champions corporate responsibility and high sustainability criteria in its business operations and supply chains. This focus draws interesting parallels with the modern social enterprise sector, and ethical, purpose-driven business accreditation schemes such as B Corporation status, which assesses profit-making firms on their environmental, social and governance credentials.

    The moral commitments of the members of the Clarks family in these formative years of the firm have left their mark and shaped its later development. The 200-year history of the firm represents a close affinity between the values of the company and the values of Quakers.

    A classic – the Clarks Wallabee shoe.
    Rushay/Shutterstock

    However, all firms from time to time face challenges to the way they do business. The balance between economics and ethics can be a fine line to tread. It’s no different for Clarks. Struggling to survive the impact of the COVID pandemic in 2020, and with losses mounting, the Clark family sold its stake to a private equity firm.

    Within 12 months, Clarks workers accused the new owners of betraying the company’s philanthropic roots by threatening them with dismissal if they did not accept significant pay cuts. Clarks said at the time that renegotiating workers’ terms would be a “very last resort” and that almost half of the workers in the distribution centre in question would receive a pay rise.

    The dispute involved strike action and mediation, eventually leading to a resolution. Afterwards, Clarks said in a joint statement with the Community union that the resolution had protected workers’ livelihoods and recognised their loyalty to the firm.

    This demonstrated how firms can face repeated cycles of crises, including competitive, financial and economic shocks that bring debates about ethics into focus. These crisis events are typically more acute when a founder, CEO or family departs, and especially when those involved with the company honour its tradition and legacy. Rathbones, the fund management company with Quaker origins, was faced with similar challenges when the family was no longer actively involved.

    Yet despite the economic and financial pressures that Clarks faced in this exceptional period, the firm is also attempting to protect the core of its moral backbone. It echoes an affinity – albeit a more distant one – with the Quakerism of the founding family.

    This stance can potentially be fragile, however. Businesses must remain viable as businesses – and only last year Clarks was facing up to a difficult trading environment by cutting 150 office staff. Indeed, the previous conversation within the firm and the community about betrayal clearly expresses a strong moral view, shaped by the links to Quaker values. It is also a conversation about the future strength of those ties, and one that places values at the heart of its future.

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

    – ref. Shoemaker Clarks is turning 200. Its Quaker roots made it a pioneer of ethical business – https://theconversation.com/shoemaker-clarks-is-turning-200-its-quaker-roots-made-it-a-pioneer-of-ethical-business-258323

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Keir Starmer says migrants should learn English to integrate. Is he being fair?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Huw Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Aberystwyth University

    Pressmaster/Shutterstock

    The UK government’s proposed immigration reforms emphasise the need for migrants to learn English in order to integrate successfully.

    Some of the new measures announced include raising the level of English language skills required from migrants that wish to work in the UK.

    Those who wish to settle permanently will also need to demonstrate a stronger grasp of English. In the future they may also be asked to demonstrate how their command of the language has improved since they arrived.

    Since the New Labour years, successive UK governments have justified the link between learning English and integration by appealing to British values, social mobility or even national security and anti-extremism.

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    Yet in a press conference to launch the reforms, Keir Starmer adopted a different line. He argued that linguistic integration should be viewed as a matter of “fairness”.

    “When people come to our country, they should also commit to integration, to learning our language, and our system should actively distinguish between those that do and those that don’t,” Starmer said. “I think that’s fair.”

    In linking learning English with fairness, Starmer seems to be making a claim about the ethics of linguistic integration. However, his remarks frame this as a one-sided deal. Migrants must meet English language requirements to earn the right to stay in the UK.

    No mention is made of the possibility that fairness in this context may also entail an obligation on government, or society more broadly, to take steps to ensure that learning English is a practical option for all migrants.

    The government’s proposed reforms related to learning English adopt a similar approach. They include a series of steps that will be taken to increase the level of English competence expected from those settling in the UK.

    But aside from a vague commitment to improve access to English language classes, the government has not proposed detailed measures to help migrants to meet these language demands.

    This is despite the fact that researchers and practitioners working in the field of language education for migrants have long argued that access to learning English for speakers of other languages is highly uneven and chronically underfunded.

    It is not unreasonable for a society to set out certain broad obligations for migrants as part of the integration process, such as learning a common public language. This is now relatively common across many European democracies.

    What’s more, for those who settle in the UK from countries where English is not spoken, acquiring the language will support efforts to enter the labour market and simplify the challenge of navigating new health, social security, housing and education systems.

    Access to language learning can help people enter the job market.
    Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

    However, if Keir Starmer is concerned with fairness, then he should arguably consider how integration can be understood as a two-way process. This would mean acknowledging that there are roles and responsibilities for the government and citizens of the host society, as well as for migrants.

    This is particularly relevant when considering the role of language in integration because applied linguistic research shows that second-language acquisition can be a difficult task. Success varies according to factors that are not necessarily within the control of individual learners, such as age, level of education and wealth.

    Inclusive integration

    More nuanced understandings of linguistic integration also stress that the process should not be viewed as one where the aim is for migrants simply to not stand out linguistically.

    Rather, the aim should be to help migrants – many of whom may already be multilingual – to adjust their linguistic repertoires in a way that allows them to settle in their new communities.

    Alongside opportunities to acquire languages deemed essential for employment and engagement with public bodies, this may also entail opportunities to access other languages that play a role in the social life of the host society.

    For example, including the Welsh language as part of provision for speakers of other languages in Wales has been seen as a way to develop a distinct sense of belonging.

    Furthermore, the process of linguistic integration should acknowledge the languages that migrants bring with them. As they build a new life, they should be afforded space to reflect on what role these languages will play in their social interactions.

    This type of approach potentially offers a more inclusive route to linguistic integration. It affirms newcomers as valued members of society, not just as learners but also as contributors to the social and cultural life of their new communities.

    Huw Lewis is currently contributing to a Leverhulme-funded research project entitled The Ethics of Linguistic Integration

    Gwennan Higham is currently contributing to a Leverhulme-funded research project entitled The Ethics of Linguistic Integration

    Leigh Oakes is currently the Principal Investigator on a Leverhulme-funded research project entitled the Ethics of Linguistic Integration

    – ref. Keir Starmer says migrants should learn English to integrate. Is he being fair? – https://theconversation.com/keir-starmer-says-migrants-should-learn-english-to-integrate-is-he-being-fair-256743

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Blackburn Cheer Senate Passage of Bipartisan American Music Tourism Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Marsha Blackburn cheered the Senate passage of their bipartisan American Music Tourism Act, which would support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors. The bill now awaits passage from the House of Representatives before being signed into law by the President. 

    “Colorado’s vibrant music scene attracts artists and fans from around the world,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill will help our local music venues thrive and expand.”

    “The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to experience – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,” said Blackburn. “Music tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee’s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world can continue to celebrate our state’s rich history of music for generations to come. The Senate’s passage of the American Music Tourism Act gets us closer to that by promoting and supporting the fast-growing music tourism industry.”

    Music tourism is projected to bring in over $11.3 billion in revenue nationwide by 2032. The United States boasts one of the world’s largest music industries that generates over $43 billion in revenue each year and benefits from international interest in music tourism.

    Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would:

    • Require the Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors.
    • Require a report to Congress on the findings and achievements of the Assistant Secretary’s efforts to promote travel and tourism.

    This legislation is supported by the Colorado Creative Industries Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Denver Arts & Venues, the Recording Academy, the Recording Industry Association of America, Live Nation Entertainment, the National Independent Venues Association, the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Colorado Chamber Players, Youth on Record, Underground Music Showcase, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Swallow Hill Music, and eTown Music.

    Full text available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Secure Energy Grid, Boost National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Jim Risch introduced the bipartisan Energy Threat Analysis Program Act to help modernize and better protect the U.S. energy grid from cybersecurity threats.

    “Our national security depends on a resilient and secure energy grid,” said Hickenlooper. “We need to address our vulnerabilities and modernize our grid to protect our energy future.”

    “Increased risk of cyberattacks requires more diligent information sharing to effectively monitor and mitigate threats to America’s energy sector,” said Risch. “Idaho is already leading the way in combatting cyber threats through the Idaho National Lab. My Energy Threat Analysis Program Act will support these efforts and better protect the U.S. from future cyberattacks.”

    The legislation directs the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy threat analysis program and create an Energy Threat Analysis Center (ETAC) to coordinate information sharing on threat assessments and mitigation measures between the DOE, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the intelligence community, and the private sector.

    Full text of the legislation available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • India now seen as global problem solver, says Dr Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said on Monday that the world increasingly views India as a key partner in addressing global challenges, attributing the shift to the country’s growing capabilities and the stable leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past 11 years.

    Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which saw the participation of over 150 countries including heads of state, ministers, scientists, and policymakers, Dr Singh noted a visible enthusiasm among global delegates to engage with India. He said that the perception of India on the global stage has undergone a substantial change since 2014, with decisive policy interventions and consistent governance driving the transformation.

    The Minister described it as a “pleasant coincidence” that the Modi government was completing 11 years in office at a time when India’s global stature was rising. “There is a huge surge of interest among representatives of other countries who are keen to benefit from India’s strengths and capacities,” he said, adding that over the last two days, members of the Indian delegation had observed “how much expectation the world now has from India.”

    On the subject of ocean-related challenges, Dr Singh said India had taken a leading role in addressing issues such as ocean warming, rising sea levels, and pollution. He emphasised that Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to ocean health was underlined by his mention of the Deep Ocean Mission in two consecutive Independence Day speeches. The mission, launched to explore marine resources and develop deep-sea technologies, is being implemented with the support of ISRO and several national research institutions.

    Dr Singh underlined the need for collective global action on ocean concerns, pointing out that oceans cover nearly 70% of the Earth’s surface and transcend political boundaries. “Issues such as rising ocean temperatures and water levels, oil spills, and plastic pollution affect humanity as a whole,” he said.

    India, he added, was among the first nations to officially ban single-use plastic and is following a “whole-of-government and whole-of-science” approach to address marine and environmental issues.

    The Minister also noted that several countries had sought one-on-one meetings with the Indian delegation, a development he said underscores India’s growing importance in shaping global conversations on climate, clean energy, and sustainable development.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Premier of the State Council of China calls for improving the implementation of scientific and technological achievements

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang has stressed the need to overcome barriers to the application of scientific and technological achievements and promote the integrated development of scientific, technological and industrial innovation.

    Li Qiang made the remarks on Monday at the 14th Thematic Study of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. Vice Premiers Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong also attended the event.

    The introduction of scientific and technological achievements links innovation and production chains and is the “last mile” of technological innovation, the Premier of the State Council noted, adding that this process contributes to the emergence of new products, new industries and impulses, as well as the formation of productive forces of new quality.

    According to Li Qiang, it is necessary to improve the planning of all types of innovation resources, deepen the reform of institutions and mechanisms, ensure the smooth operation of supply and demand channels, and more effectively promote the integrated development of scientific and technological and industrial innovation through the introduction of scientific and technological achievements.

    He stressed that more attention should be paid to the real value of scientific and technological achievements in serving social and economic development. It is necessary to further strengthen the leading role of enterprises in innovation activities and support qualified enterprises in leading or participating in national scientific and technological innovation projects, the head of the Chinese government added.

    In addition, Li Qiang pointed out the need to promote the continuous replacement and renewal of independently developed breakthrough technologies and products in the process of their large-scale application.

    The Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China also stressed that a favorable environment is needed to implement scientific and technological achievements, and therefore support measures and market services should be improved. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Since the start of the swimming season in Mongolia, 8 people have died in the water

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    ULAN BATOR, June 9 (Xinhua) — Eight people have died in water accidents in Mongolia since the start of the swimming season, the General Administration of Emergency Situations of Mongolia said on Monday.

    “Most of these accidents occurred in large rivers and lakes,” the department said in a statement.

    Tragic water accidents in the country are more common in the summer and holiday seasons due to a sharp increase in the number of people traveling to Mongolian regions, the department said, warning citizens to take water safety precautions and not leave children unattended.

    In 2024, 77 people, including 14 children, died in water accidents in Mongolia. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Belt and Road Initiative Provides Opportunities to Boost Global Economic Growth, Promote Shared Prosperity – Chinese Ambassador to Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, June 9 (Xinhua) — The Belt and Road Initiative offers opportunities to boost global economic growth and promote common prosperity, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in an article titled “High-Quality Joint Construction of the Belt and Road Brings More Development Opportunities to the World,” published recently in the Russian newspaper Trud.

    “The joint construction of the Belt and Road is an important initiative put forward by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping, who views the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind from a strategic height. It provides important opportunities for driving global economic growth and promoting global common prosperity,” the publication said.

    As the Chinese diplomat noted, for 12 years, the Belt and Road Initiative has consistently adhered to the “principles of joint discussion, joint construction and joint use, constantly expanding the scope and areas of cooperation, and raising its level.” He emphasized that within the framework of the initiative, a global partnership network has been created, including more than 150 countries, thousands of projects are being implemented – both large infrastructure projects and small ones that are effective in terms of improving the well-being of the people. “This truly promotes ‘hard connectivity’ in the field of infrastructure, ‘soft connectivity’ in the field of rules and standards, as well as ‘cordial connectivity’ in people-to-people exchanges between countries,” the article states.

    Zhang Hanhui cited data showing that in the first quarter of 2025, the share of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative in China’s foreign trade turnover reached 51.1 percent. In April, construction of key facilities of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway began, and in May, Colombia officially joined the large family of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, which, according to the ambassador, once again demonstrated “the attractiveness, influence and inspiring power of this initiative.”

    The article emphasizes that the world is currently entering a new turbulent and volatile period, accompanied by a revival of anti-globalist sentiments and protectionism. “The United States openly violates the rules of the World Trade Organization, goes against the basic laws of economics and market principles, acts contrary to common sense, shifts internal problems to external partners and seeks to benefit at the expense of the entire world. They brazenly unleash tariff and trade wars, which seriously damage the multilateral trading system and the existing economic order, harming the interests of the international community, especially the countries of the Global South,” the publication says.

    At the same time, as the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation noted, China, raising high the “banner” of mutual benefit and common gain, joint development and opposition to hegemony, relying on a solid foundation, high stability and powerful development potential of a super-large economy, unites like-minded people advocating for justice and equality in international trade, and firmly responds to the “mirror duties” of the United States.

    “The high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road has always adhered to the principle of openness in cooperation and mutual benefit through cooperation. China has been steadily expanding openness, removing barriers, increasing market access, promoting the construction of Silk Road e-commerce pilot cooperation zones, and concluding free trade and investment protection agreements with more and more countries,” Zhang Hanhui explained, stressing that the initiative has become a key force in safeguarding multilateralism and free trade.

    Speaking about the development of the digital economy and artificial intelligence, which are increasingly becoming an important engine of global economic growth every day, the ambassador noted that China insists on stimulating industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovations and accelerating the formation of productive forces of new quality. In an effort to eliminate the digital divide, China will promote the formation of an open, fair, impartial and non-discriminatory global environment for innovative development, so that together with the countries of the Global South, we can board the “high-speed train” of the digital economy and green development, the author of the article assured.

    As Zhang Hanhui pointed out, China welcomes Russia’s continued participation as a supporter and important cooperation partner in the Belt and Road Initiative. “We highly appreciate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s three-time participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and his repeated important statements in support of the initiative,” he added.

    In May of this year, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia, a number of new important agreements were reached on the development of Chinese-Russian relations. In a joint statement, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to linking the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as promoting the coordinated development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Eurasian Partnership.

    “The Chinese side will take advantage of the implementation of the agreements reached by the heads of state to deepen China-Russia cooperation and coordination, and continuously expand the space for mutually beneficial development at a higher level and with greater sustainability and vitality, which will open up new opportunities for global prosperity and make new contributions to advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” Zhang Hanhui assured, adding that the joint construction of the Belt and Road stands on the right side of history, is in line with the logic of the era’s progress, and follows the true path of human development. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Death of an inmate from Stony Mountain Institution

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 9, 2025 – Stony Mountain, Winnipeg – Correctional Service Canada

    On June 7, 2025, Gordon Kornelson, an inmate from Stony Mountain Institution, died while in our custody of apparent natural causes.

    At the time of death, the inmate was 80 years old and had been serving a sentence of four years since May 5, 2025.

    The inmate’s next of kin have been notified.

    As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will review the circumstances. CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces the Governor’s Residence Will Be Open for Public Tours on Saturday as Part of Connecticut Open House Day

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Governor’s Residence will be open to the public for tours on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., as part of the annual Connecticut Open House Day festivities.

    Located at 990 Prospect Avenue in Hartford, the Governor’s Residence is used as a site for many official functions of Connecticut’s governor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built in 1909 and has hosted every governor since Governor Raymond E. Baldwin, who moved into the home in September 1945.

    Neither tickets nor reservations are needed to participate in the tours, and there is no admittance fee. Visitors will be able to tour the first floor of the house, as well as the outdoor garden near the pool. Artwork will be on display that is on loan from the New Britain Museum of Art and the Wadsworth Museum, as well as pieces from the Lamont family’s personal collection. Floral arrangements have been provided by the West Hartford Garden Club and the Garden Club of Hartford. Additionally, ice cream from the Ice Cream Depot, located on Main Street in Stafford Springs, will be served on the patio.

    Volunteer docents will be on site to answer any questions. The Governor’s Residence is ADA accessible. There is no parking on the grounds, and all visitors are encouraged to park on Belknap Road, directly across the street from the Governor’s Residence. For security reasons, items such as bags, briefcases, and packages will be subject to inspection.

    Visitors will be able to purchase the annual Governor’s Residence holiday ornaments that have been created over the years to celebrate the holidays. Money raised from those purchases benefits the nonprofit Governor’s Residence Conservancy.

    Connecticut Open House Day is an annual celebration organized by the Connecticut Office of Tourism showcasing destinations and experiences the state has to offer. More than 170 attractions across the state are participating, including museums, arts and cultural venues, historical sites, farms, and restaurants, and many of them are offering visitors free or discounted admission or other types of special offers for the day.

    To view the list of more than 170 attractions that are participating in Connecticut Open House Day, visit CTvisit.com.

    For more information on the history of the Governor’s Residence, click here.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Leads Federal Push to Support Increased Pay, Workplace Protections, and Opportunities for Incarcerated Firefighters

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

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, during a press conference hosted at the Los Angeles City Stentorians, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) announced the introduction of the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters (FIRE) Act. Rep. Kamlager-Dove was joined by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), who represents a district that was heavily impacted by the Eaton Fire, and advocates from the Forestry Fire Recruitment Program, Vera Institute of Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, and the entertainment industry.

    The FIRE Act is a response to the involvement of over 1,000 incarcerated firefighters in combating the devastating wildfires in southern California at the beginning of 2025, despite making $5-$10 dollars per day. This legislation supports incarcerated firefighters by establishing fair labor standards, providing occupational protections, and expanding opportunities for both current and formerly incarcerated individuals in firefighting.

    “Earlier this year, over 1,000 incarcerated firefighters quite literally saved our city. Yet, they were only compensated $5 to $10 per day for their heroic efforts—and despite demonstrating their commitment to serving our community, will face barriers to employment and service when returning to society,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “I’m proud to introduce the FIRE Act, which honors the dignity and service of our incarcerated firefighters by establishing fair labor standards, providing career training opportunities, and creating a clear pathway to expungement for those who have already demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation. The American dream is about second chances—and the FIRE Act offers exactly that.”

    “In my district, the Eaton Fire scorched 14,000 acres, destroyed 9,500 structures, displaced 20,000 residents, and claimed 18 lives. The devastation was heartbreaking, but if not for the heroic efforts of our firefighters, it could have been even worse. And the reality is that hundreds of these firefighters were face-to-face with these fires using nothing but hand tools, while earning just a few dollars per day, just because they are incarcerated,” said Congresswoman Chu. “I’m proud to join Rep. Kamlager-Dove in introducing the FIRE Act legislation that ensures incarcerated firefighters can continue serving our communities with dignity by receiving fair wages, labor and safety protections, and a pathway to full-time firefighting careers upon re-entry.”

    “The FIRE Act is a necessary step toward fairness and inclusion in the fire service,” said Robert Hawkins, President of The Los Angeles City Stentorians. “We’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication of incarcerated firefighters protecting our communities. This legislation honors their service and promotes the equity our profession stands for.”

    “Thank you to Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove for recognizing the contributions of incarcerated individuals who are serving our communities as wildland firefighters,” said Royal Ramey, Co-Founder and CEO of The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. “She has stood by us ever since she was a State Senator, and the FIre Act ensures that our government cares for these individuals while they are incarcerated and expands the career opportunities available to them when they return home.”

    “As a former incarcerated firefighter, I know firsthand the risks these workers take, the challenges they face upon release, and the care they have for the communities they protect.” said Andony Corleto, program associate for Vera California at the Vera Institute of Justice. “It’s time to honor these heroes with fair wages, safety on the job, and the chance to keep protecting California upon their release.”

    “The FIRE Act will help incarcerated firefighters carry out their emergency responsive work and pursue meaningful and rewarding careers upon release. It is far past time for the nation to recognize and support the safety, labor, and re-entry needs of incarcerated people who risk it all to protect our communities,” said Summer Lacey, criminal justice director at the ACLU of Southern California.

    To support both currently and formerly incarcerated firefighters, the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters (FIRE) Act would: 

    • Expand occupational safety coverage to incarcerated firefighters in state and federal correctional facilities.
    • Require annual safety reports from all relevant facilities.
    • Recognize incarcerated firefighters as employees entitled to wage protections.
    • Provide $20 million annually for states to adopt safety and wage protections and enforce compliance.
    • Fund job training, placement, and mentoring programs to help formerly incarcerated firefighters secure long-term employment.
    • Establish a pathway for expungement for incarcerated firefighters upon successful completion of probation and reentry.

    The FIRE Act was cosponsored by Reps. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Judy Chu (CA-28), John Garamendi (CA-08), Eleanor Holmes-Nortion (DC-AL), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Cleo Fields (LA-06).

    This legislation is endorsed by the ACLU, National Urban League, Prison Policy Initiative, Brennan Center for Justice, Reentry Working Group, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Center for Employment Opportunities, National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Amity Foundation, Anti-Recidivism Coalition.

    Bill text is available here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Video Recap of Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s Tour of Community Clinic At Risk of Closing Due to Republican Medicaid Cuts

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

    IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

    On Friday, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined St. John’s Community Health President & CEO Jim Mangia for a tour of St. John’s Avalon Health and Access Center to highlight the devastating ripple effects of Republican-led Medicaid cuts on Los Angeles communities.

    California’s 37th District ranks fourth highest in the nation for Medicaid enrollment, with over 400,000 residents relying on Medicaid. Located in CA-37, this clinic offers a comprehensive ecosystem of care for low-income patients, providing services that extend beyond healthcare, including a counseling center, food bank, laundry facilities, and a computer lab—all of which are at risk due to the Medicaid cuts included in the budget reconciliation package passed by House Republicans.

    Check out a video recapping Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s visit here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Statement on Brutal Arrest of SEIU-USWW President

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

    LOS ANGELES — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove released the statement below following the brutal arrest of SEIU-USWW President Huerta at the Roybal Federal Building:

    “I’m outraged by DHS’ violent arrest of SEIU-USWW President David Huerta at the Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles.

    “Huerta was tased and brutalized for attempting to visit his union members—asylum applicants going through the immigration process legally who have been unjustly, indefinitely detained and are being held in inhumane conditions.

    “These actions, including today’s ICE raids in LA, are not about targeting criminals. They’re about terrorizing immigrant communities—and I won’t stand for it.

    I’m demanding answers from DHS. They will not deny this Member of Congress the right to her Constitutionally-mandated oversight duties.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Statement on ICE Raids in Los Angeles

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

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) shared the following statement to social media as ICE raids unfolded across Los Angeles, including in California’s 37th District, on Friday:

    “I am closely monitoring the ICE raids that are currently happening across Los Angeles, including at a Korean American-owned store in my district. LA has long been a safe haven for immigrants. Trump claims he’s targeting criminals, but he’s really just tearing families apart and destabilizing entire communities.

    “If you are a constituent of the 37th District and your family member has been detained, please reach out to my office and we can help locate your family member and provide you with a list of government-approved attorneys.

    “In these disturbing times, it’s important for you to know your rights and how to protect yourself. For more information, head to my website.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Expand Access to Palliative Care, Hospice Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus, joined her colleagues in introducing a pair of bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative and hospice care. The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act and Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act would put critical care for Wisconsinites’ aging and sick loved ones within reach for more families. Palliative care focuses on relieving and preventing patients’ suffering and improving their quality of life.

    “Having served as my grandmother’s primary caretaker as she got old, this issue is deeply personal for me and countless Wisconsinites who have had similar experience caring for a loved one,” said Senator Baldwin. “I know the challenges both patients and caregivers face, and we need to better support both of them. I am proud to work with Democrats and Republicans to expand and improve palliative care for American families because everyone deserves to know that if they need it, compassionate and affordable care is within reach.”

    The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act would better allow families to access that critical service as early as possible by establishing a demonstration project through Medicare to expand access to palliative care at the time of diagnosis of serious illness or injury. Currently, patients on Medicare can only access palliative care through hospice. This legislation would provide comprehensive palliative care services much earlier in the course of illness, improving quality of life for the patient and their family and often also improving outcomes.

    The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act would carve out payment for transfusion services within the Medicare hospice benefit, allowing for separate billing to Medicare for transfusions. Patients needing this care would be able to continue to receive it outside of the hospice bundle, while still receiving full hospice benefits. Currently, many patients needing transfusions to maintain quality of life (due to conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma) often wait much longer to opt into hospice because they can lose access to transfusion care when they do so, given that such care currently is paid for out of a capped hospice benefit amount. Hospices are allowed to cover transfusions, but it is very costly, so few patients can afford to do so on a regular basis when in hospice care.  

    Medical research shows that palliative and hospice care have been associated with enhanced quality of life for patients, reduced hospital expenditures and lengths of stay, and longer patient survival time.

    “The reintroduction of the Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act is a meaningful step toward ensuring patients and families can receive high-quality care when and where they need it. Building on the success of the Medicare Care Choices Model, we believe a concurrent care approach within hospice should be developed for national dissemination,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home. “We also appreciate Senator Rosen’s leadership on the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act, which addresses a key access challenge. The Alliance is proud to support these efforts to expand person-centered, community-based care.”

    “The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) has long championed a Medicare payment model designed to close the gaps in care for individuals with serious illness, as well as their families and caregivers. This model aims to support palliative care teams of all sizes, structures, and regions in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care,” said Kristina Newport, MD FAAHPM, HMDC, AAHPM Chief Medical Officer. “We are proud to endorse the bipartisan Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act, which proposes testing a community-based palliative care model. We commend Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer—co-chairs of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus—for their leadership in introducing this vital legislation and their dedication to expanding access to palliative care. This effort will help align treatments with patients’ unique goals and preferences, enabling more care to be delivered in the settings where patients live.”

    “We commend Sens. Rosen, Barrasso, and Baldwin for the introduction of the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act,” said Belinda R. Avalos, MD, president of the American Society of Hematology. “This bill will support critical access to transfusions for patients with blood cancers in hospice and will make great strides in guaranteeing comprehensive palliative care.” 

    “The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies applauds Senators Rosen, Barrasso, and Baldwin for reintroducing the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act,” said Debra BenAvram, FASAE, CAE, AAB CEO. “The Association is committed to advancing patients’ access to safe blood transfusions throughout the continuum of care, and this bill addresses an important barrier for patients receiving care under the Medicare hospice benefit.”

    “Blood transfusions are a proven palliative measure that can significantly enhance the quality of life for many patients,” said Kate Fry, CEO of America’s Blood Centers. “This legislation bridges a gap in care, ensuring patients can receive transfusions while also benefiting from the holistic support provided under the Medicare hospice benefit. It’s a compassionate step forward in patient-centered care that recognizes the complex needs of those navigating serious illnesses.”

    Senator Baldwin has championed efforts to expand access to palliative care and grow our palliative care and hospice workforce. Senator Baldwin previously introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) to help build the palliative care workforce through enhanced training, improved education and increased funding for palliative care research.

    The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act is led by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

    The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act is also led by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and co-sponsored by Senator Barrasso (R-WY).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Celebrates Committee Passage of Legislation to Counter Adversary Nuclear Energy Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, celebrated the committee’s passage of his International Nuclear Energy Act.

    The bill aims to support the U.S. domestic energy industry’s leadership and offset China and Russia’s growing influence on international nuclear energy development. Senator Risch’s legislation now awaits consideration on the Senate floor.

    “Nuclear energy is America’s creation. We cannot allow authoritarian aggressors like China and Russia to take our place as the world’s nuclear energy supplier,” said Risch. “My International Nuclear Energy Act will ensure the U.S. is at the forefront of nuclear leadership, and I urge the Senate to take up this important legislation.”

    The International Nuclear Energy Act aligns with key provisions in four executive orders signed by President Trump to promote American nuclear energy. It is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

    Senator Risch has long advocated for domestic nuclear energy production and the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies. In a recent Washington Times editorial, Senator Risch underscored the critical role of nuclear energy in powering America’s current and future energy needs.

    Idaho is home to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which is the flagship laboratory for civil nuclear research and the first place in the world to generate electricity with a nuclear reactor. INL is driving significant progress in new nuclear research by collaborating with industry to demonstrate advanced technologies like small modular reactors, microreactors, and safer, more efficient nuclear fuels. These efforts, made possible through public-private partnerships at INL, will contribute to the nation’s energy independence and strengthen U.S. leadership in civil nuclear energy around the world. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons celebrates passage of five bills out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) celebrated the passage of five of his bills focused on strengthening U.S. national security and international engagement out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a markup session Thursday. Senator Coons is a member of the committee.

    “From opposing hostage diplomacy to expanding our access to global sources of critical minerals, these bipartisan bills will strengthen our alliances, keep Americans safe, and advance our standing in the world,” said Senator Coons. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support, and to Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen for their leadership in holding last week’s markup. All five of these bills are commonsense pieces of legislation that protect our citizens and better position our nation for the future, and I hope the full Senate will swiftly take up and pass these bills.”

    The following bills written by Senator Coons passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week:

    • Defending International Security by Restricting Unlawful Partnerships and Tactics (DISRUPT) Act of 2025: The DISRUPT Act was introduced alongside Senator David McCormick (R-Pa.) to address “adversary alignment,” the growing cooperation between U.S. adversaries that threatens our nation’s interests. Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have intensified their cooperation, threatening global stability through increased technology and arms transfers, joint operations, and combined efforts to evade sanctions and export controls. The DISRUPT Act highlights the need for the U.S. to counter these threats and prepare for simultaneous challenges across regions, and requires the executive branch to craft a whole-of-government strategy to approach this phenomenon.
    • Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience (COUNTER) Act: The COUNTER Act, introduced with Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), would combat the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) attempts to strengthen its global reach by building and expanding military bases in strategically important locations. The PRC has intensified its efforts to establish an overseas network of military bases, which would allow the People’s Liberation Army to project and expand military power. The bill would mitigate this threat by requiring an intelligence assessment of these activities and a strategy from the State Department and Department of Defense. It would also create an interagency task force to implement the strategy and identify proactive measures to counteract both current and future Chinese attempts to add military bases in strategic locations.
    • Countering Wrongful Detention Act: Originally introduced last year alongside Senator James Risch (R-Idaho) to combat “hostage diplomacy,” the legislation would create new tools for the U.S. government to deter states from wrongfully detaining Americans abroad and support wrongful detainees upon their return home. The bill would create a U.S. State Department designation called the “State Sponsor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention” to hold foreign governments accountable for wrongfully detaining Americans abroad. It aims to refine existing U.S. government responses to wrongful detentions, enhance awareness of travel advisories for Americans in high-risk countries, and establish an advisory council on wrongful detention consisting of survivors, family members, and experts to provide policy recommendations to the executive branch. Seven of the 10 provisions contained in the Countering Wrongful Detention Act were passed into law as part of the FY 2025 NDAA.
    • Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration (Finding ORE) Act: The Finding ORE act, introduced with Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) would strengthen U.S. critical mineral security and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Critical minerals are essential to producing technologies in the defense, semiconductor, automotive, and energy sectors—industries that will shape America’s economic future and global standing. This bill aims to utilize the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) expertise in mapping critical mineral reserves while giving U.S. companies an advantage in responsibly developing mineral resources globally.
    • International Nuclear Energy Act: Introduced alongside Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), this bill aims to strengthen the U.S. nuclear industry and offset China’s and Russia’s influence on international nuclear energy development. The bill would create an office to coordinate nuclear export strategies and financing, promoting regulatory harmonization and standardization, and enhancing safeguards and security. The act also would form programs to promote international collaboration and hold cabinet-level biennial summits. Senator Coons is a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Premier’s Response to Prime Minister Carney’s Defence Announcement

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    NOTE: The following is a statement from Premier Tim Houston.

    Our government welcomes Prime Minister Carney’s commitment to invest in Canada’s armed forces. This will better protect our country.

    Nova Scotia is ready to step up to help protect Canada while creating good-paying jobs through manufacturing, technology and the development of the critical minerals and raw materials needed to rebuild our military right here.

    We have a proud history of military service, with the most military members per capita across Canada.

    Our province is home to a significant portion of Canada’s military assets, including the country’s most populated military base, CFB Halifax, the regional office of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), and the Canadian Coast Guard College in Westmount.

    I look forward to hearing from Prime Minister Carney details for Nova Scotia’s involvement in Canada’s renewed focus on defence.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jimmy Gomez Demands Answers From DHS Sec. Noem After Being Illegally Denied Entry To ICE Facility In Los Angeles

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

    LOS ANGELES – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) is demanding immediate accountability from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after he and Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46), Luz Rivas (CA-29), and Norma Torres (CA-35) were unlawfully denied entry to the ICE detention facility inside the Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on June 7.

    “What happened on June 7 was a flagrant, unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. This is not a gray area. This is black letter law—and your department broke it,” wrote Rep. Gomez in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

    Gomez reminded DHS of federal law, which explicitly prohibits the Department from denying Members of Congress access to any DHS detention facility, without requiring prior notice. He also raised urgent concerns about reports that asylum seekers and families are being held in basement holding cells for up to 24 hours without food, water, or sunlight.

    “These conditions are not only inhumane—they are morally bankrupt and legally indefensible. …Detaining human beings under these conditions has no place in this country—and I will not stand for it. I expect an immediate response,” said Rep. Gomez.

    Rep. Gomez outlined three immediate demands from DHS and ICE:

    • Full and unimpeded access to the Roybal facility for Members of Congress, including walkthroughs and interviews with detainees.
    • A written explanation of who authorized the illegal denial of entry and why.
    • Full compliance with oversight laws at all DHS facilities nationwide.

    You can read the full letter HERE.

    Rep. Gomez’s district includes downtown LA and the Roybal Federal Building where the detentions occurred. As the son of immigrants, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) has been a strong advocate for immigrant families. Rep. Gomez filed an amicus brief earlier this year urging the court to uphold the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship. He’s a proud supporter of the Dream and Promise Act of 2025, which would provide a clear path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. He has called on the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately halt efforts to misuse confidential taxpayer data for immigration enforcement. He is also leading the effort to reinstate the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program, which supports organizations that help legal residents become U.S. citizens.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks at the Crypto Task Force Roundtable on Decentralized Finance

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Thank you and good afternoon.[1] It is a great pleasure to be with you today. Let me begin by thanking Commissioner Peirce and the Crypto Task Force for their organizing today’s event, and Commissioner Crenshaw and Commissioner Uyeda for their participation.  Of course, I very much thank the roundtable panelists and our moderator, Troy Parades, for their voluntary contribution of time and talent to our endeavor.

    Today’s roundtable is titled “DeFi and the American Spirit.” This is an apt title because the American values of economic liberty, private property rights, and innovation are in the DNA of the DeFi, or Decentralized Finance, movement.

    Blockchains, of course, are a very creative and potentially revolutionary innovation that have us rethinking evidence of ownership and transfer of intellectual and economic property rights.  They are shared databases that enable ownership of a type of digital property called crypto assets without reliance on an intermediary or central party. Instead, these peer-to-peer networks incorporate an economic mechanism to encourage participants to validate and maintain the database in accordance with the network’s rules. These are free market systems where users pay demand-based fees to network participants to have their transactions included within a so-called “block” of data with finite storage capacity.

    The prior U.S. government administration discouraged Americans from participating in these market-based systems by asserting through lawsuits, speeches, regulation, and threatened regulatory action that participants and staking-as-a-service providers may be engaged in securities transactions. I am grateful to the Division of Corporation Finance staff for clarifying its view that voluntary participation in a proof-of-work or proof-of-stake network as a “miner,” “validator,” or “staking-as-a-service” provider is not within the scope of the federal securities laws.[2]  As happy as I am over that step, it is not a duly promulgated rule with the force of law, so we cannot stop there.  The Securities and Exchange Commission must adopt a regulation based on the authority that Congress has given us.

    Another core feature of blockchain technology is the ability for individuals to have self-custody of crypto assets in a personal digital wallet. The right to have self-custody of one’s private property is a foundational American value that should not disappear when one logs onto the internet. I am in favor of affording greater flexibility to market participants to self-custody crypto assets, especially where intermediation imposes unnecessary transaction costs or restricts the ability to engage in staking and other on-chain activities.

    The prior President’s administration undermined innovation in self-custodial digital wallets and other on-chain technologies by asserting through regulatory actions that the developers of such software may be conducting brokerage activity. Engineers should not be subject to the federal securities laws solely for publishing this type of software code. As one court put it, it would be irrational to hold the developer of a self-driving car liable – here, quoting from the court’s decision – “for a third-party’s use of the car to commit a traffic violation or to rob a bank. In those circumstances, one would not sue the car company for facilitating the wrongdoing; they would sue the individual who committed the wrong.”[3]

    Many entrepreneurs are developing software applications that are designed to function without administration by any operator. The idea of self-executing software code that is accessible to everyone, but controlled by no one, and that enables private, peer-to-peer transactions may sound like science fiction. But, blockchain technology makes possible an entirely new class of software that can perform these functions without an intermediary. I do not believe that we should allow century-old regulatory frameworks to stifle innovation with technologies that could upend and most importantly improve and advance our current, traditional intermediated model.  We should not automatically fear the future.

    These on-chain self-executing software systems have proven to be resilient in the face of crises. While centralized platforms waivered and failed under recent stresses, many on-chain systems continued to operate as designed pursuant to open-source code.[4]

    Most current securities rules and regulations are premised upon the regulation of issuers and intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, advisers, exchanges, and clearing agencies. The drafters of these rules and regulations likely did not contemplate that self-executing software code might displace such issuers and intermediaries. I have asked the Commission staff to explore whether further guidance or rulemaking may be helpful for enabling registrants to transact with these software systems in compliance with applicable law.

    I also am excited about the use of on-chain software systems by issuers and intermediaries to eliminate economic frictions, increase capital efficiency, enable new types of financial products, and enhance liquidity. Current securities regulations already contemplate the use of new technologies by issuers and intermediaries, but I have asked the staff to consider whether amendments to the Commission’s rules and regulations would be better suited to provide needed accommodation for issuers and intermediaries who seek to administer on-chain financial systems.

    While the Commission and its staff work to propose fit-for-purpose rules of the road for on-chain financial markets, I have directed the staff to consider a conditional exemptive relief framework or “innovation exemption” that would expeditiously allow registrants and non-registrants to bring on-chain products and services to market. An innovation exemption could help fulfill President Trump’s vision to make America the “crypto capital of the planet”[5] by encouraging developers, entrepreneurs, and other firms that are willing to comply with to certain conditions to innovate with on-chain technologies in the United States.

    Thank you for your attention. I look forward to the discussions to follow.

    [1]    These remarks reflect my individual views as Chairman of the Commission and do not necessarily reflect the views of the full Commission or my fellow Commissioners.

    [3]    Risley v. Universal Navigation Inc., 690 F. Supp. 3d 195, 217 (S.D.N.Y. 2023), aff’d in part, vacated in part, remanded, No. 23-1340-CV, 2025 WL 615185 (2d Cir. Feb. 26, 2025) (internal citations omitted).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Oklahoma Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by May Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Oklahoma small businesses, private nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding occurring May 19. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Kevin Stitt on June 4.

    The declaration covers the Oklahoma counties of Atoka, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, McIntosh, Pittsburg and Pushmataha.

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

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

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

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

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.81% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “At these centers, SBA specialists assist business owners and residents with disaster loan applications and provide information on the full range of recovery programs available.”

    Beginning Tuesday, June 10, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

    The DLOC hours of operations are listed below.

    PITTSBURG COUNTY

    Disaster Loan Outreach Center

    Pittsburg Public School

    Old Gymnasium

    200 West Grand St.

    Pittsburg, OK  74560

    Opens at 12 p.m., Tuesday, June 10

    Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Closes at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 2

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

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is Aug. 5, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 6, 2026.

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    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –