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  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Immigrants in Europe and North America earn 18% less than natives – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Are Skeie Hermansen, Professor of Sociology, University of Oslo

    F Armstrong Photography/Shutterstock

    As many countries grapple with ageing populations, falling birthrates, labour shortages and fiscal pressures, the ability to successfully integrate immigrants is becoming an increasingly pressing matter.

    However, our new study found that salaries of immigrants in Europe and North America are nearly 18% lower than those of natives, as foreign-born workers struggle to access higher-paying jobs. To reach this conclusion, we analysed the salaries of 13.5 million people in nine immigrant-receiving countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United States. Data was taken from the period of 2016 to 2019.

    Immigrants in these countries earned less primarily because they were unable to access higher-paying jobs. Three-quarters of the migrant pay gap was the result of a lack of access to well-paid jobs, while only one-quarter of the gap was attributed to pay differences between migrant and native-born workers in the same job.

    Spain has the largest gap, while Sweden’s is the smallest.
    Author’s own elaboration

    The high-income countries we examined in Europe and North America all face similar demographic challenges, with low fertility rates resulting in an ageing population and labour shortages. Pro-natalist policies are unlikely to change this demographic destiny, but sound immigration policies can help.

    Across these countries with vastly different labour market institutions and immigrant populations, a common theme emerged: countries are not making good use of immigrants’ human capital.

    Stark regional differences

    We found that immigrants earn 17.9% less than natives on average, although the pay gap varied widely by country. In Spain, a relatively recent large-scale receiver of immigrants, the pay gap was over 29%. In Sweden – a country where many employed immigrants find work in the public sector – it was just 7%. These results don’t include immigrants who are unemployed or in the informal economy.

    Where immigrants were born also mattered. The highest average overall pay gaps were for immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa (26.1%) and the Middle East and North Africa (23.7%). For immigrants from Europe, North America and other Western countries, the difference in average pay compared to natives was a much more modest 9%.

    Migrant pay gaps according to region of origin. The minus sign (−) before figures indicates that immigrants earn less than natives. Note that data for second-generation immigrants is unavailable in France, Spain and the US.
    Author’s own elaboration

    Our results suggest that the children of immigrants faced substantially better earning prospects than their parents. For the countries where second-generation data was available – Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden – the gap narrowed over time, and the children of immigrants had a substantially smaller earnings gap, earning an average of 5.7% less than workers with native-born parents.

    The struggle to access higher-paying jobs

    Beyond quantifying the gap, we wanted to understand the roots of pay disparities. To create better policies, it is important to know whether immigrants are paid less than natives when they’re doing the same job in the same company, or whether these differences arise because immigrants typically work in lower-paying jobs.

    By a wide margin, we found that immigrants end up working in lower-paying industries, occupations and companies; three-quarters of the gap was due to this type of labour-market sorting. The pay gap for the same work in the same company was just 4.6% on average across the nine countries.

    These differences represent a failure of immigration policy to incorporate immigrants, as immigrants are relegated to jobs where they cannot contribute to their full potential. Our analyses rule out that the lack of access to higher-paying jobs simply reflects a difference in skill between immigrants and native-born workers. We also found that the size of the pay gap and the key role of unequal access to well-paid jobs is similar for immigrants with and without a university education.

    This means that the immigrant-native pay gap in large part represents a market inefficiency and policy failure, with significant social consequences for both immigrants and immigrant-receiving countries.



    Leer más:
    What Britons and Europeans really think about immigration – new analysis

    Policy implications

    Although equal pay for equal work policies may seem like a viable solution, they won’t close the immigrant pay gap. This is because they only help those who have already secured work, but immigrants face barriers to employment that begin long before even applying for a job. This includes convoluted processes to validate university degrees or other qualifications, and exclusion from professional networks.

    The policy focus should therefore be on improving access to better jobs.

    To make this happen, governments should invest in programmes such as language training, education and vocational skills for immigrants. They should ensure immigrants have early access to employment information, networks, job-search assistance and employer referrals. They should implement standardised and transparent recognition of foreign degrees and credentials, helping immigrants to access jobs matching their skills and training.

    This is particularly important for Europe as it races to attract – and retain – skilled immigrants who may be having second thoughts about the US in the Trump era. In the European Union, around 40% of university-educated non-EU immigrants are employed in jobs that do not require a degree, an underutilisation of skills known as brain waste.

    Some countries are already taking steps to remedy this. Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act – which took effect in 2024 – allows foreign graduates to work while their degrees are being formally recognised. In 2025, France reformed its Passeport Talent permit to attract skilled professionals and address labour shortages, especially in healthcare.

    These kinds of policies help ensure that foreign-born workers can contribute at their full capacity, and that countries can reap the full benefits of immigration in terms of productivity gains, higher tax revenue and reduced inequality.

    If immigrants can’t get access to good jobs, their skills are underutilised and society loses out. Smart immigration policy doesn’t end at the border – it starts there.

    Are Skeie Hermansen has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s
    Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 851149), the Research Council of Norway (grant 287016), and the Center for Advanced Study at The Norwegian Academy of Science
    and Letters (Young CAS grant 2019/2020).

    Marta M. Elvira receives funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, grant PID2020-
    118807RB-I00/AEI /10.13039/501100011033

    Andrew Penner no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoría, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y ha declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado.

    – ref. Immigrants in Europe and North America earn 18% less than natives – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/immigrants-in-europe-and-north-america-earn-18-less-than-natives-heres-why-261188

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Chimamanda’s Lagos homecoming wasn’t just a book launch, it was a cultural moment

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Assistant Professor, Harvard University

    When the announcement of Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi’s latest novel Dream Count was made, it was regarded as a major event in African literature. The internationally celebrated Nigerian writer had not published a novel in the past 12 years, and her long-awaited return stirred both anticipation and speculation. In the post-COVID context in which the book comes, so much has changed in the world.

    The first leg of her three city homecoming book tour coincided with my stay in Lagos as a curatorial fellow at Guest Artist Space Foundation, dedicated to facilitating cultural exchange and supporting creative practices. After Lagos, Chimamanda took the tour to Nigeria’s capital city Abuja and finally Enugu, where she was born and grew up.



    Read more:
    Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s new book Dream Count explores love in all its complicated messiness

    As a scholar of African literature, I arrived here in search of literary Lagos. But my attachment to the city may also just be romantic, a nostalgia born out of years of reading about it in fiction. No doubt, Lagos is a city of imagination and creativity.

    Chimamanda’s book event was a reminder that literary celebrity, when it happens in Africa, can exist on its own terms. It’s rooted in a popular imaginary that embraces both the writer and the spectacle.

    Lagos superstar

    The launch in Lagos took place at a conference centre on the evening of Friday 27 June. The MUSON is a multipurpose civic auditorium located in the centre of Lagos Island which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. And on this night, the auditorium was packed.

    When I arrive, the scene outside is buzzing. A crowd gathers in front of a large canvas banner bearing a radiant image of the author. It’s more than just decoration; it’s a backdrop. It is an occasion for the selfie, a digital marker that you were there. There is even a hashtag for this: #dreamcountlagos. People take turns posing in front of it, curating their presence in the frame of Chimamanda’s aura.

    The atmosphere is festive, electric. And yet beneath the surface shimmer is something more urgent: a hunger for story, for presence, for return. Perhaps that explains why people come not just to witness, but to be counted.

    Inside the lobby, piles of Chimamanda’s books are neatly arranged on long tables. People are not just buying a copy. They are buying several in the hope that the author will autograph them. The sight is striking, almost surreal. In many parts of the continent, a book launch is often a quiet affair. Writers are lucky to sell a handful of copies. But this is something else entirely. This is not just a book launch, it is a cultural moment.

    It would have been easy to mistake the event for a political townhall. There was a VIP section reserved for the who’s who of Lagos, but those class distinctions easily dissolved into the collective energy of the room. The auditorium was filled with genuine enthusiasm.

    Even after a delay of more than an hour, when Chimamanda finally walked in, she was met with rapturous applause. She wore a bright yellow dress, an Instagrammable outfit, suited for the many fans who rushed forward to take selfies with her. Chimamanda, no doubt, is as much a fashion icon as she is a literary figure.

    On stage, she was joined by media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, widely known as the host of the reality TV show Big Brother Africa. But here, he was also something more intimate: the author’s friend. Chimamanda even credited him with being a “great reader”. This is a rare compliment in a literary world that often separates celebrity from critical engagement.

    Their conversation was relaxed and full of laughter, offering the audience both intimacy and insight. Chimamanda addressed the question that had lingered for years: her decade-long silence. She spoke candidly of writer’s block, of the grief that came with losing both her parents in quick succession, and how that loss eventually reignited her desire to write.

    Dream Count, she explained, is shaped by that rupture. It is one of the major post-COVID novels from Africa, and centres on the lives of four women. It is a book about love, friendship and independence.

    Africans do read

    When she spoke about her characters on stage, it was as though she was talking about relatives that the audience recognised. They responded by shouting out the characters’ names, to the delight of the author.

    When I asked people about the launch afterwards, many said that it was a very Nigerian event – big, colourful, exuberant, festive. It was indeed a celebration that felt communal, even joyous. It was also a public demonstration of how literature can still command space and attention, not just in private reading rooms or crammed bookstores, but on a civic scale.



    Read more:
    Lagos fashion: how designers make global trends uniquely Nigerian

    This was a remarkable event because it defied the tired cliché that Africans do not read. People, mostly young, came out in their hundreds. They bought books, they took selfies with their “favourite” author, they screamed the names of fictional characters as though greeting friends.

    But more significant was Chimamanda’s choice to work with a local publisher, Narrative Landscape Press, which produced the Nigerian edition of Dream Count that is now available and accessible locally, at the same time as its release in Europe and North America. That alone is a radical act.

    In returning to Nigeria to launch her book, Chimamanda also disrupts the assumption that African literary prestige must only be validated abroad. Even though she belongs to a cohort of African writers shaped by the diaspora, she actively insists on presence – on homecoming – not as simply nostalgia, but as active engagement.

    Of course, Chimamanda is an exception. Her stature as a global literary figure, combined with her deep connection to home, allows her to move between worlds with remarkable ease. Few writers command the kind of multigenerational, cross-class attention she does. I found myself wishing though that more book launches could carry this same sense of occasion, of meaning, of return. That they could gather people in such numbers, not just to celebrate the writer, but to affirm the African book as something still worth gathering for.

    And perhaps that is what made this book launch unforgettable: not just the celebrity or the spectacle, but the sense that literature still matters here, and that it belongs to the people.

    Tinashe Mushakavanhu 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. Chimamanda’s Lagos homecoming wasn’t just a book launch, it was a cultural moment – https://theconversation.com/chimamandas-lagos-homecoming-wasnt-just-a-book-launch-it-was-a-cultural-moment-261112

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Connie Francis was the voice of a generation and the soundtrack of post-war America

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Leigh Carriage, Senior Lecturer in Music, Southern Cross University

    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Connie Francis dominated the music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hits like Stupid Cupid, Pretty Little Baby and Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You.

    The pop star, author and actor has died at 87, and will be remembered for recording the soundtrack songs of post-World War II America.

    Francis photographed around 1963.
    Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

    An early life of music

    Francis was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents. At a very early age, Francis was encouraged to take accordion and singing lessons, compete in talent shows, and later she would perform occasionally on the children’s production Star Time Kids on NBC, remaining there until she was 17.

    Within these early recordings you can hear her style begin to develop: her tone, great pitching, her versatility in vocal range. Her vocal delivery is technically controlled and stylistically structured, often nuanced – and even at this early stage demonstrating such power coupled with an adaptability for a broad range of repertoire.

    At 17, Francis signed a contract with MGM Records.

    One of her early recordings was the song Who’s Sorry Now?, written by Ted Snyder with lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby in 1923. Her version was released in 1957 and struggled to get noticed.

    The following year, Francis appeared with the ballad on American Bandstand. This performance exposed Francis’ talent for interpretation and her ability to bridge the teen and adult fanbase.

    The song would become a hit.

    It’s useful to listen to the original version to gain more insight into Francis’ vocal approach and styling. The original is an instrumental song of its time, with light whimsical call and response motives in a foxtrot feel.

    But in Francis’ version, she demonstrates her ability to revitalise a late 1950s pop music aesthetic. In an emotional delivery she croons her own rendition, with the country styling elements of Patsy Cline.

    Connie Francis performing in Milan in 1961.
    Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    The voice of a generation

    Following Who’s Sorry Now?, Stupid Cupid (1958), Where The Boys Are (1960, the titular song of a feature film starring Francis) and Lipstick on Your Collar (1959) became the soundtrack songs of post-war America.

    Francis was supported with songs penned by the some of the best songwriters from the Brill Building, a creative collective in Manhattan that housed professional songwriters, working with staff writers Edna Lewis and George Goehring.

    In 1960, Francis released her hit Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield. It was a teeny-bopper classic, and she became the first women to top the Billboard Hot 100.

    Francis records in the studio with Freddy Quinn at MGM in 1963 in New York.
    PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

    Styled after some of the other greats of the time – such as Frank Sinatra (1915–98), Dean Martin (1917–95) and Louis Prima (1910–70) – Francis’ performance on the Ed Sullivan show highlighted her connection to her Italian heritage and ability to draw from a broad repertoire.

    On the show, she performed Mama and La Paloma. Each performance is very carefully styled, a thoughtful approach to dynamics, sung in both English and Italian.

    Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You, a number one hit from 1962, features Francis’ gorgeous crooning harmonies. Then, the song breaks down into an earnest spoken part and finishes with a powerful belted vocal part of long notes.

    The song is full of confidence and hope.

    Away from the microphone

    Francis had two key roles in films, starring in Where the Boys Are (1960) and the comedy Follow the Boys (1963).

    She was an author of two books. The second, Who’s Sorry Now?, became a New York Times bestseller.

    Francis was involved with humanitarian causes. She was particularly involved with Women Against Rape, following her own violent rape in 1974, and the Valour Victims Assistance Legal Organisation, dedicated to supporting the legal rights of crime victims. A lesser known song in her repertoire, fitting to include here, is her version of Born Free from 1968.

    As a singer, Francis worked at her craft and transitioned effortlessly from one genre to another, performing for over five decades. She will be remembered as a trailblazing solo artist, leaving a strong legacy in popular music culture.

    She was the voice of one generation when she was a star. And in her final year she became the voice of a new generation as Pretty Little Baby, released in 1962, went viral on TikTok, with more than 1.4 million videos using her voice to share stories of their lives.

    Francis performs in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 2009.
    Bobby Bank/WireImage

    Leigh Carriage 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. Connie Francis was the voice of a generation and the soundtrack of post-war America – https://theconversation.com/connie-francis-was-the-voice-of-a-generation-and-the-soundtrack-of-post-war-america-261467

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why did the government hide a data leak about Afghans working with British forces and why did the courts finally reveal it?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alexandros Antoniou, Senior Lecturer in Media Law, University of Essex

    William Barton/Shutterstock

    When thousands of Afghans were quietly flown to the UK under a secret relocation scheme, few knew it was triggered by an error. A defence official had accidentally leaked the personal data of nearly 19,000 Afghan nationals who had worked with British forces and were at risk of Taliban reprisals.

    It has now also been revealed that the leaked list contained the identities of UK special forces and spies.

    Even fewer knew that this misstep was being kept from the public by a rare and powerful legal device: a superinjunction. Now, after nearly two years of legal wrangling, the High Court has lifted that order, reopening the conversation about when secrecy in the justice system goes too far.

    What is a superinjunction?

    An injunction is a court order that stops someone from doing something (like publishing a story) or requires them to do something (like taking down an online post or handing back confidential documents).

    A superinjunction goes one step further and does two things: it bans the publication of certain information (usually to protect privacy, safety or national security) and also bans anyone from revealing that the court order even exists.

    In essence, it is a tool that provides legal invisibility: the story is hidden and so is the fact that it is being hidden. While an injunction works like a padlock on a filing cabinet, a superinjunction means you cannot even tell anyone the cabinet is even there.

    Superinjunctions are exceptionally rare and controversial, precisely because they run counter to the principle of open justice. This is the idea that courts must operate in public, and that their decisions can be seen, scrutinised and questioned. Any derogation from open justice must be continuously justified and treated with considerable caution, especially where media freedom is curtailed.

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    Historically, superinjunctions have been used sparingly in cases involving blackmail, risks of violence against witnesses, the protection of children or to prevent tipping-off a subject before an order can be served (such as in fraud investigations), always with the aim of preventing harm or ensuring that justice is done.

    The superinjunction committee (which was established in 2010 by Lord Neuberger to review growing concerns about such orders) made clear that the use of these legal tools must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality. And, that they are only granted where serious harm (for example to life, safety or the administration of justice) is credibly at stake.

    Why was a superinjunction granted in the Afghan data breach case?

    In this case, the government argued that revealing the data leak could put lives in danger. The leaked spreadsheet contained names, contact details and, in some cases, family information of Afghan nationals who had applied to resettle in the UK. Many feared Taliban retaliation.

    So, in September 2023, the Ministry of Defence asked the High Court for an injunction to stop media outlets from reporting on the leak. The judge did not just grant that request, he escalated it to a superinjunction, banning any mention of the case or the fact of the order.

    It was described at the time as “unprecedented” in its scope. Journalists, even those who had already discovered the breach, were effectively gagged. The public had no idea any of it was happening.

    Why did the court later decide to lift the secrecy?

    After multiple hearings and appeals, High Court judge Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled on July 15 2025 that the superinjunction should be discharged once and for all. A government-commissioned review found that the leak may not have spread as widely as initially feared, and that Taliban reprisals were unlikely to be triggered solely by someone appearing on the leaked list.

    The judge concluded that while the leak was deeply serious, continued secrecy was no longer necessary, and that the harm of suppressing public debate and scrutiny now outweighed the risks of disclosure. To put it plainly, the balance tipped.

    Protection v cover-up

    Superinjunctions are not inherently wrong. There are situations where short-term secrecy is essential, for instance for the purposes of shielding vulnerable parties like children or genuinely guarding national security.

    But the Afghan case exemplifies the dangers of allowing secrecy to persist too long or too broadly. For nearly two years, the public was kept in the dark about a data breach involving tens of thousands of lives – including British citizens – and a government response that may ultimately cost the taxpayer “several billion pounds”.

    In this context, secrecy risked becoming a form of institutional self-protection, shielding the Ministry of Defence and the government from political fallout, legal scrutiny and accountability, rather than safeguarding people from actual harm.

    The principle of open justice is at the heart of democratic life. Superinjunctions, by their nature, run directly against that principle. There are times when secrecy might be seen as necessary, but it must always be tightly scoped and justified with evidence while serving the public interest; not convenience or image. By lifting this superinjunction, the courts affirmed that the British public has a right to know not only what went wrong, but that something went wrong at all.

    Alexandros Antoniou 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. Why did the government hide a data leak about Afghans working with British forces and why did the courts finally reveal it? – https://theconversation.com/why-did-the-government-hide-a-data-leak-about-afghans-working-with-british-forces-and-why-did-the-courts-finally-reveal-it-261437

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Scroll, watch, burn: sunscreen misinformation and its real‑world damage

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachael Kent, Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education, Department of Digital Humanities, King’s College London

    Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

    On a sunny afternoon, I was scrolling through social media when I came across a video of a young woman tossing her sunscreen into a bin. “I don’t trust this stuff anymore,” she said to the camera, holding the bottle up like a piece of damning evidence.

    The clip had been viewed over half a million times, with commenters applauding her for “ditching chemicals” and recommending homemade alternatives like coconut oil and zinc powder.

    In my research on the effect of digital technology on health, I’ve seen how posts like this can shape real-world behaviour. And anecdotally, dermatologists have reported seeing more patients with severe sunburns or suspicious moles who say they stopped using sunscreen after watching similar videos.

    Sunscreen misinformation created by social media influencers is spreading and this isn’t just a random trend. It’s being fuelled by the platforms designed to host influencer content.

    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.

    In my book, The Digital Health Self, I explain how social media platforms are not neutral arenas for sharing information. They are commercial ecosystems engineered to maximise engagement and time spent online – metrics that directly drive advertising revenue.

    Content that sparks emotion – outrage, fear, inspiration – is boosted to the top of your feed. That’s why posts questioning or rejecting science often spread further than measured, evidence-based advice.

    Health misinformation thrives in this environment. A personal story about throwing out sunscreen performs well because it’s dramatic and emotionally charged. Algorithms reward such content with higher visibility: likes, shares and comments all signal popularity.

    Each second a user spends watching or reacting gives the platform more data – and more opportunities to serve targeted ads. This is how health misinformation becomes profitable.

    In my work, I describe social media platforms as “unregulated public health platforms”. They influence what users see and believe about health, but unlike public health institutions, they’re not bound by standards for accuracy or harm reduction.

    If an influencer claims sunscreen is toxic, that message won’t be factchecked or flagged – it will often be amplified. Why? Because controversy fuels engagement.



    Read more:
    Misinformation lends itself to social contagion – here’s how to recognize and combat it

    I call this environment “the credibility arena”: a space where trust is built not through expertise, but through performance and aesthetic appeal. As I write in my book: “Trust is earned not by what is known, but by how well one narrates suffering, recovery, and resilience.”

    A creator crying on camera about “toxins” can feel more authentic to viewers than a calm, clinical explanation of ultraviolet radiation from a medical expert.

    This shift has real consequences. Ultraviolet rays are invisible, constant and damaging. They penetrate cloud cover and harm skin even on cool days.

    Decades of research, especially in countries like Australia with high skin cancer rates, show that regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreen dramatically reduces risk. And yet, myths spreading online are urging people to do the opposite: to abandon sunscreen as dangerous or unnecessary.

    This trend isn’t driven solely by individual creators. It’s embedded in how content is designed, framed and presented. Algorithms prioritise short, emotionally-charged videos. Interfaces highlight trending sounds and hashtags. Recommendation systems push users toward extreme or dramatic content.

    These features all shape what we see and how we interpret it. The “For You” page isn’t neutral. It’s engineered to keep you scrolling, and shock value outperforms nuance every time.

    That’s why videos about “ditching chemicals” thrive, even as posts on other aspects of women’s health are shadowbanned or suppressed. Shadowbanning refers to when a platform limits the visibility of content – making it harder to find, without informing the user – often due to vague or inconsistently applied moderation rules.

    The system rewards spectacle, not science. Once creators discover that a particular format, like tossing products into a bin, boosts engagement, it’s replicated over and over again. Visibility isn’t organic. It’s manufactured.

    Those who throw away their sunscreen often believe they’re doing the right thing. They’re drawn to creators who feel relatable, sincere and independent — especially when official health campaigns seem cold, patronising or out of touch. But the consequences can be serious. Sun damage accumulates silently, raising skin cancer risk with every hour spent unprotected.

    Sunscreen isn’t perfect. It needs to be reapplied properly and paired with shade and protective clothing. But the evidence for its effectiveness is clear and robust.

    The real danger lies in a system that not only allows misinformation to spread, but also incentivises it. A system in which false claims can boost an influencer’s reach and a platform’s revenue.



    Read more:
    Four ways you can design social media posts to combat health misinformation

    To resist harmful health trends, we need to understand the systems that promote them. In the case of sunscreen, rejecting protection isn’t just a personal decision – it’s a symptom of a digital culture that turns health into content, and often profits from the harm it causes.

    Rachael Kent 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. Scroll, watch, burn: sunscreen misinformation and its real‑world damage – https://theconversation.com/scroll-watch-burn-sunscreen-misinformation-and-its-real-world-damage-261137

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Scroll, watch, burn: sunscreen misinformation and its real‑world damage

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachael Kent, Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education, Department of Digital Humanities, King’s College London

    Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

    On a sunny afternoon, I was scrolling through social media when I came across a video of a young woman tossing her sunscreen into a bin. “I don’t trust this stuff anymore,” she said to the camera, holding the bottle up like a piece of damning evidence.

    The clip had been viewed over half a million times, with commenters applauding her for “ditching chemicals” and recommending homemade alternatives like coconut oil and zinc powder.

    In my research on the effect of digital technology on health, I’ve seen how posts like this can shape real-world behaviour. And anecdotally, dermatologists have reported seeing more patients with severe sunburns or suspicious moles who say they stopped using sunscreen after watching similar videos.

    Sunscreen misinformation created by social media influencers is spreading and this isn’t just a random trend. It’s being fuelled by the platforms designed to host influencer content.

    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.

    In my book, The Digital Health Self, I explain how social media platforms are not neutral arenas for sharing information. They are commercial ecosystems engineered to maximise engagement and time spent online – metrics that directly drive advertising revenue.

    Content that sparks emotion – outrage, fear, inspiration – is boosted to the top of your feed. That’s why posts questioning or rejecting science often spread further than measured, evidence-based advice.

    Health misinformation thrives in this environment. A personal story about throwing out sunscreen performs well because it’s dramatic and emotionally charged. Algorithms reward such content with higher visibility: likes, shares and comments all signal popularity.

    Each second a user spends watching or reacting gives the platform more data – and more opportunities to serve targeted ads. This is how health misinformation becomes profitable.

    In my work, I describe social media platforms as “unregulated public health platforms”. They influence what users see and believe about health, but unlike public health institutions, they’re not bound by standards for accuracy or harm reduction.

    If an influencer claims sunscreen is toxic, that message won’t be factchecked or flagged – it will often be amplified. Why? Because controversy fuels engagement.



    Read more:
    Misinformation lends itself to social contagion – here’s how to recognize and combat it

    I call this environment “the credibility arena”: a space where trust is built not through expertise, but through performance and aesthetic appeal. As I write in my book: “Trust is earned not by what is known, but by how well one narrates suffering, recovery, and resilience.”

    A creator crying on camera about “toxins” can feel more authentic to viewers than a calm, clinical explanation of ultraviolet radiation from a medical expert.

    This shift has real consequences. Ultraviolet rays are invisible, constant and damaging. They penetrate cloud cover and harm skin even on cool days.

    Decades of research, especially in countries like Australia with high skin cancer rates, show that regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreen dramatically reduces risk. And yet, myths spreading online are urging people to do the opposite: to abandon sunscreen as dangerous or unnecessary.

    This trend isn’t driven solely by individual creators. It’s embedded in how content is designed, framed and presented. Algorithms prioritise short, emotionally-charged videos. Interfaces highlight trending sounds and hashtags. Recommendation systems push users toward extreme or dramatic content.

    These features all shape what we see and how we interpret it. The “For You” page isn’t neutral. It’s engineered to keep you scrolling, and shock value outperforms nuance every time.

    That’s why videos about “ditching chemicals” thrive, even as posts on other aspects of women’s health are shadowbanned or suppressed. Shadowbanning refers to when a platform limits the visibility of content – making it harder to find, without informing the user – often due to vague or inconsistently applied moderation rules.

    The system rewards spectacle, not science. Once creators discover that a particular format, like tossing products into a bin, boosts engagement, it’s replicated over and over again. Visibility isn’t organic. It’s manufactured.

    Those who throw away their sunscreen often believe they’re doing the right thing. They’re drawn to creators who feel relatable, sincere and independent — especially when official health campaigns seem cold, patronising or out of touch. But the consequences can be serious. Sun damage accumulates silently, raising skin cancer risk with every hour spent unprotected.

    Sunscreen isn’t perfect. It needs to be reapplied properly and paired with shade and protective clothing. But the evidence for its effectiveness is clear and robust.

    The real danger lies in a system that not only allows misinformation to spread, but also incentivises it. A system in which false claims can boost an influencer’s reach and a platform’s revenue.



    Read more:
    Four ways you can design social media posts to combat health misinformation

    To resist harmful health trends, we need to understand the systems that promote them. In the case of sunscreen, rejecting protection isn’t just a personal decision – it’s a symptom of a digital culture that turns health into content, and often profits from the harm it causes.

    Rachael Kent 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. Scroll, watch, burn: sunscreen misinformation and its real‑world damage – https://theconversation.com/scroll-watch-burn-sunscreen-misinformation-and-its-real-world-damage-261137

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The impact of lost evidence on criminal cases

    Source: Mayor of London

    According to the BBC more than 30,000 criminal cases collapsed between October 2020 and September 2024 due to lost, damaged or missing evidence.[1] It found that around one in 20 prosecutions by the Met had been dropped due to missing evidence between 2020 and 2024, compared to one in 50 across England and Wales.
     
    Following a FOI request from the BBC and University of Leicester, the number of cases reported as missing evidence were found to be increasing: in 2020, 7,484 prosecutions collapsed due to lost, missing or damaged evidence, compared to 8,180 in 2024, a 9 per cent increase. 
     
    The BBC reported that the cases recorded included: 

    • Physical evidence, including forensic evidence, being lost, damaged or contaminated during storage
    • Lost digital evidence, including victim interview footage or body worn camera footage
    • Witness statements or pathology reports not being provided by the police
    • Key evidence not collected from the crime scene.

    Tomorrow, the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet to question the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the Met’s ability to safely store and collect evidence.

    The Committee will also question the Deputy Mayor about online radicalisation, the Met’s recruitment pathways and the Met’s Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Directorate.
     
    The guests are:

    • Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime 
    • Kenny Bowie, Director of Strategy and MPS Oversight, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)

    The meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 July 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
     
    Follow us @LondonAssembly.
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: With the support of Rosneft, a Summer Project School has opened at the Moscow State University Gymnasium

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The ceremonial opening of the annual Summer Project School for students of Rosneft Classes took place at the University Gymnasium of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov. The training will involve 80 tenth-graders from 15 regions of Russia – they passed a competitive selection, which included multi-stage testing and a distance learning course.

    The Summer Project School is a joint project of Rosneft and Moscow State University, created to support talented youth. The event is being held for the fourth time. The training helps schoolchildren acquire basic knowledge in the field of project and research activities, as well as practical skills in team development and implementation of projects, including in key areas of the Company’s activities.

    For two weeks, schoolchildren will work in project groups in four areas: mathematics, engineering, geology and natural science. To get acquainted with the activities of Rosneft, schoolchildren will visit the Arctic Research Center, as well as the laboratories of the Company’s Joint Research and Development Center. Specialists will tell schoolchildren about Rosneft’s key scientific projects. In addition, the program includes visits to specialized faculties and museums of Lomonosov Moscow State University and Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas.

    For the participants of the Summer School, trainings on the development of professional and personal skills, creative master classes, as well as sports and entertainment events will be organized.

    Career guidance events will help high school students decide on their future profession. Based on the results of their studies at the Summer School, students will present their own projects.

    Reference:

    In order to form an external personnel reserve and a constant influx of highly educated young specialists into the Company, in 2005 Rosneft created a corporate system of continuous education “School – College/University – Enterprise”.

    Today, with the Company’s support, 2.7 thousand schoolchildren in 20 regions of Russia study in Rosneft Classes. The training is conducted according to programs with in-depth study of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science with the involvement of the best teachers.

    Department of Information and AdvertisingPJSC NK RosneftJuly 18, 2025

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing woman in Yuen Long (2) (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police today (July 18) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Yuen Long.

    Lo Siu-ying, aged 86, went missing after she was last seen on Ma Tong Road yesterday (July 17). Her family then made a report to Police.
        
    She is about 1.5 metres tall, 41 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and short white hair. She was last seen wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, black shoes, a pair of black sunglasses, carrying a black shoulder bag and a light-coloured long umbrella.

    Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Drugs with Intent to Distribute While on Parole

    Source: US FBI

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison and, upon release, will serve five years on supervised release, for possessing drugs with the intent to distribute them following a refusal of a routine search of his residence while on parole.

    According to court documents, on Oct. 20, 2022, two Alaska Department of Corrections parole officers visited Andrew Lee, 42, at his residence for a routine search pursuant to Lee’s conditions of parole release in a state criminal case where he was convicted of second-degree murder. Lee shared this residence with multiple family members.

    Lee led the parole officers to a bedroom he claimed he shared with his father. During a search of this bedroom, the parole officers found no material evidence that Lee stayed in the bedroom The parole officers searched his vehicle and located two cell phones and a “tooter” straw, both of which are consistent with drug paraphernalia.

    When parole officers attempted to determine who resided in the other three bedrooms in the residence, Lee claimed that two of the three were occupied by his aunt and mother, respectively, while the final bedroom was occupied by a different individual. Lee stated that this room was locked, and the parole officers were not allowed to enter. The parole officers spoke on the phone with the individual who allegedly lived in that bedroom. That individual said he was the owner of the residence, that he lived in Georgia and that the bedroom was Lee’s.

    The parole officers asked Lee about inconsistencies in his statements and Lee immediately began yelling at his father in a different language. The parole officers informed Lee he was being detained and handcuffed him for their own safety. When the parole officers attempted to unlock the bedroom door, Lee’s father stopped them. The parole officers asked Lee whether we would comply with the search, and he started yelling at his father in a different language again. The parole officers decided to arrest Lee for refusing to submit to the search.

    The parole officers remanded Lee to the Anchorage Correctional Complex. During in-processing, correctional officers located roughly $1,500 in cash and over 57 grams of pure methamphetamine, over 28 grams of heroin and nearly 5 grams of fentanyl packaged in multiple baggies on his person.

    On Jan. 18, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Lee, and on April 11, 2024, Lee pleaded guilty to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute.

    “Mr. Lee participated in the dangerous drug trade while on parole for a violent felony—and will now spend 10 years behind bars for it,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Let this sentence serve as a clear message: our office, in partnership with law enforcement, will pursue drug traffickers and seek harsh penalties for those who threaten the safety of our communities.” 

    “While on parole, the defendant continued to threaten the safety of our communities by committing federal drug trafficking crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Following a collaborative investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, this sentencing reflects our continued commitment to hold drug traffickers accountable, while protecting Alaska’s communities from the dangers of illicit drug activity.”

    The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the Alaska Department of Corrections.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • India reaffirms commitment to ‘Pact for Future’ at UN dialogue

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India reiterated its strong commitment to the Pact for the Future and its annexes, the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the Declaration on Future Generations, during the third interactive informal dialogue held to review the pact.

    Describing the initiative as a vital step in the global community’s collective efforts to address emerging and long-term challenges, India emphasised the importance of inclusive, forward-looking international cooperation.

    The informal interactive dialogue on Thursday aimed to provide a platform for member States to exchange ideas and share practices, looking ahead to 2028 in the implementation of the pact.

    At the Summit of the Future on 22 September 2024, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future and its annexes: the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations. This historic agreement is the culmination of years of inclusive dialogue and collaboration aimed at modernising international cooperation to address today’s realities and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.

    “India believes the 2028 review should be results-oriented and forward-looking. We must particularly ensure dedicated attention to critical reform areas, especially UN Security Council expansion and international financial architecture reform, where progress has been insufficient,” said Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, addressing the session.

    “As regards Security Council reforms, the majority agree that the body should be reflective of the current geopolitical realities. This would be critical to enhance the Council’s credibility, legitimacy and efficacy. During the 79th session, the IGN has concluded without any concrete progress. Member states need to redouble the efforts to achieve real reforms and resist efforts by a group of countries to maintain the status quo. Negotiations based on a text need to commence at the earliest,” he added.

    He asserted that India strongly supports strategic alignment to maximise impact and avoid duplication.

    “Ideally, UN@80 goals should have been part of the Pact framework and pursued as part of negotiations among member states last year. However, moving forward, we should ensure that implementation and review of the Pact should be aligned with UN@80 initiative,” Harish stressed.

    Emphasising that the review should be linked with the 2027 SDG Summit outcomes to create a unified narrative on sustainable development progress, the Ambassador said, “we should also build on sectoral reviews including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Social Summit, the WSIS+20 Review and Peacebuilding Architecture Review while leveraging existing mechanisms like the High-Level Political Forum and ECOSOC for reporting.”

    India also called for coherence and complementarities with ongoing processes within the G20, WTO, World Bank and IMF, particularly in the context of sustainable financing and fair and equitable global financial architecture.

    “India believes that these ongoing reviews and processes, as mentioned above, must inform the design and content of the 2028 Pact review. The 2028 review must not only be a stock-taking exercise but should deliver concrete next steps for the implementation cycle ahead. We particularly need clear benchmarks for Security Council reform with timelines for text-based negotiations,” Harish noted.

    He further said that an important outcome of the implementation of GDC is the decision to establish an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance within the UN Framework.

    “We look forward to a fruitful conclusion of the on-going negotiations and adoption of the modalities resolution on the basis of consensus. India remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Pact and its annexes and look forward to continued dialogue and briefings in this regard,” he concluded.

    (IANS)

  • Right reforms to spur investment, credit and GDP growth in India: HSBC

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At a time when global supply chains are getting rejigged, if India can do the right reforms, it could become a meaningful producer and exporter of goods, which could spur investment, credit and GDP growth, an HSBC report said on Friday.

    In the chicken-and-egg debate of who rises first, GDP growth or credit growth, we thankfully, have a new contender – reforms, said the report by HSBC Global Investment Research.

    “The reforms include lowering tariff rates, signing trade deals, welcoming FDI inflows, and improving ease of doing business. A start has been made. But for impact, reforms need to run deep,” it added.

    The report said that market memory can be short.

    “Same time last year, we were fretting about weak deposit growth. Today, we are fretting about weak credit growth. We believe one thing is common across both episodes. That while all eyes are on the RBI to resolve the situation, the central bank can only partly address the problem using the monetary policy levers at its disposal,” it further stated.

    Instead, the root of the problem, and the real solution, in both instances, lies elsewhere – the real economy and the composition of GDP growth.

    Last year’s deposit drag was a two-fold problem – concerns on tepid deposit growth and compositional shifts (too few sticky deposits). Once inflation started to fall, the RBI loosened monetary policy, pushing base money growth up.

    “Real deposit growth started to rise in early 2025. But did the RBI solve the entire problem? Perhaps not. Some rise in deposits would have happened anyway (the credit-deposit ratio tends to mean revert). And the deposit composition problem persists,” the report mentioned.

    Can the RBI help? Yes, it can, and it has, by cutting the repo rate by 100bp, and infusing large amounts of domestic liquidity.

    “Will it solve the entire credit slowdown problem? Likely not. Because just as the deposit composition issue had its roots in the real economy, the credit softness issue does too,” said the report.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Costa to travel to Japan and China for high-level Summits

    Source: Council of the European Union

    The President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Japan and China, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to represent the EU in the EU-Japan Summit on 23 July and EU-China Summit on 24 July.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OLAF played key role in Ukraine’s uncovering of massive underground pesticide production

    Source: European Anti-Fraud Offfice

    Press release 20/2025 
    PDF version

    A far-reaching investigation coordinated by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has played a central part in uncovering a sophisticated criminal network in Ukraine which engaged in mass production and counterfeiting of agrochemical products. These were falsely labelled under some of the leading agrochemical brands in Europe and the USA. As a result, Ukrainian authorities conducted 89 searches across the country that led to the seizure of hundreds of tons of illicit products worth over 2.3 million EUR. 

    Ukrainian authorities recently dismantled a large-scale criminal network producing and selling illicit pesticides on an industrial scale. Police raids uncovered several underground workshops and resulted in the confiscation of more than 175 tons of counterfeit agrochemicals as well as raw materials for their production. These were ordered from China and contained potent and poisonous substances. 

    In addition, a separate production of packaging for these products was discovered, together with fake labels, plastic packaging, holographic security elements of various trademarks and seals of business entities. Part of the seized products are believed to have been intended for European market, posing a significant threat to food security, environmental safety and legitimate agrochemical companies. You can read more about the operation in the press release of the Ukrainian State Customs Service here and the National Police of Ukraine here.

    OLAF’s role in the operation focused on strategic gathering, analysis and sharing of intelligence as well as cross-border coordination that led to the setting up of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) between Romania, Ukraine and OLAF under the umbrella of EUROJUST. The investigation started in 2023 with a 2024 to the seizure of additional 1000 litres of counterfeit crop protection products in Romania and in the end helped to identify and later dismantle the source: an illegal large-scale manufacturing operation in Ukraine. 

    National Police of Ukraine, Department for Combating Smuggling and Violations of Customs Rules of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, Office of the Prosecutor General in Ukraine as well as Financial and economic Police Bihor county in Romania and Public Prosecution office Oradea in Romania provided critical support during the operation. 

    Ville Itälä, Director-General of OLAF, said: “This is a textbook example of how operational actions unfold across borders. What started like isolated seizures in Bulgaria and Romania turned out to be the surface of a much deeper operation in Ukraine. Thanks to the methodical investigation and strong cooperation with our partners, we were able to trace the supply chain all the way to the source. This way, we help to protect not only European markets but also legitimate businesses, farmers and the environment.”

    OLAF remains committed to tackling cross-border crime and protecting the European Union from the dangers posed by counterfeit products. 

    OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
    OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

    OLAF fulfils its mission by:
    •    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
    •    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
    •    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

    In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
    •    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
    •    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
    •    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

    Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

    For further details:

    Pierluigi CATERINO
    Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
    Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    X: x.com/EUAntiFraud
    Bluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social

    If you’re a journalist and you wish to receive our press releases in your inbox, please leave us your contact data.
     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • PM Modi flags off four new Amrit Bharat trains in poll-bound Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Amrit Bharat trains in Bihar’s Motihari on Friday and also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 7,200 crore.

    The Amrit Bharat will runs between Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna) and New Delhi, Bapudham Motihari and Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal), Darbhanga and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar), and Malda Town and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur.

    PM Modi also handed over keys to some beneficiaries as part of the Griha Pravesh ceremony for 12,000 beneficiaries and released over Rs 160 crore to 40,000 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin.

    He also released Rs 400 crore to around 61,500 Self-Help Groups in Bihar under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). With a special focus on women-led development, over 10 crore women have been connected to Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

    The visit by PM Modi comes ahead of the Assembly elections, which are set to be held in the state later this year.

    In line with his commitment to boost connectivity and infrastructure, PM Modi dedicated multiple rail projects to the nation. It includes automatic signalling between the Samastipur-Bachhwara rail line that will enable efficient train operations in this section. The doubling of the Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur rail lines is part of the Darbhanga-Samastipur doubling project, worth over Rs 580 crore, which will enhance the capacity of train operations and reduce delays.

    Another rail project includes the development of infrastructure for maintaining Vande Bharat trains at Patliputra. Automatic signalling on the Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin rail line (114 km) to enable streamlined train operations. Upgradation of the traction system in the Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin section to enable higher train speeds by strengthening the traction system infrastructure and optimising energy efficiency.

    The Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj rail line doubling project is worth approximately Rs 4,080 crore, aimed at increasing sectional capacity, enabling the operation of more passenger and freight trains, and strengthening connectivity between North Bihar and the rest of the country.

    (ANI)

  • INS Nistar, India’s first indigenous diving support vessel, commissioned in Visakhapatnam

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a boost to India’s maritime capabilities, INS Nistar, the country’s first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), was commissioned into the Indian Navy on Friday in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony took place in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, senior naval officials, and representatives from Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), the shipbuilder.

    INS Nistar is the first of two DSVs being built by HSL and is equipped for complex deep-sea saturation diving and submarine rescue operations, a capability limited to a few global navies. It features cutting-edge equipment including Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), a Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboat, and Diving Compression Chambers, enabling salvage operations up to 300-metre deep. The vessel also serves as a mother ship for the Indian Navy’s deep submergence rescue vessel.

    Speaking at the ceremony, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth hailed the induction as a major milestone in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, noting that all 57 warships currently under construction for the Navy are being built indigenously. He praised the Navy and the Indian shipbuilding industry for their innovation and commitment to self-reliance.

    Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi described INS Nistar as both a “technological asset” and an “operational enabler.”

    “Nistar will provide critical submarine rescue support to the Indian Navy as well as our regional partners. This will enable India to emerge as a ‘Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner’ in this region. The commissioning of Nistar is testimony to the growing capability and maturity of our maritime industrial base, and another shining example of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

    With over 80% indigenous content and the participation of 120 MSMEs, the 118-meter vessel -displacing more than 10,000 tons – marks a leap forward in India’s undersea warfare and rescue capabilities. It replaces the erstwhile INS Nistar, a Soviet-origin ship decommissioned in the 1980s.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Have your say on early designs for key city centre gateway

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Cleveland Road connects the city centre to the newly transformed Royal Quarter.

    The consultation is urging people to have their say on how it can best be used as an active travel corridor with improved walking and cycling facilities, and connectivity across the Ring Road.

    Public drop in sessions have been arranged where people can see the illustrative designs and find out more – attendees can even enjoy a virtual walkthrough using a VR headset.

    The project team will be at the Urban Room in Queen Square (WV1 1TH) between 11am and 3pm on Monday (July 21) and the YMCA in Cleveland Road (WV2 1BJ) on Wednesday (July 23) between 12pm and 4pm.

    If you are unable to attend either session, you can view the illustrative views at Cleveland Road Early Design Options and leave your feedback online.

    City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Transport, Councillor Qaiser Azeem, said: “The Royal Quarter has undergone significant regeneration in recent years, with hundreds of homes delivered and the iconic Royal Hospital building being brought back into use to create a thriving new neighbourhood.

    “It is now important we hear from the community about what they think Cleveland Road can best serve them as a key gateway to the city centre.

    “I urge people to have their say on the early design options in person or online so we can build a clear picture of how we can best develop proposals.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More schools to benefit from solar panels

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Thirteen maintained city schools are to benefit from the installation of solar panels (PV) over the next six months.

    The City Council successfully applied for £345,000 from the Mayoral Renewable Energy Fund in a partnership with the North East Combined Authority (NECA).

    The Mayoral Renewable Energy Fund is a £10m fund for Mayoral Strategic Authorities and forms part of the Government’s Great British Energy early delivery phase for 2025/26 

    The schools were chosen based on a requirement to deliver community benefits where financial savings from the solar panels could be used to help provide wider activities to support the local community. This community benefit could take many forms and will be at the discretion of each school but could include, books, IT equipment or additional support to clubs or days out for children.

    Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Michael Mordey said: “Rising energy costs have been a major financial pressure in schools for several years now. This is great news about the panels and a great opportunity to lower costs and release further funding into school budgets.

    “Funding that previously went on energy bills can now go to where it really matters and where it benefits pupils, the community and our city. The council will be working with the schools in coming months to assist with panel installation and seeing a switch-on that is going to bring many financial, social and environmental benefits.”

    The 13 sites benefiting from the Great British Energy scheme are in addition to a £500,000 investment programme of solar panels at 25 city schools. This scheme was agreed earlier this year as part of the council’s budget to also help schools reduce their energy costs in the coming years.

    The full list of school sites in the energy scheme announcement is:

    Name

    Area

    Barmston Village Primary School

    Washington

    Castletown Primary School

    Sunderland

    Easington Lane Primary School

    Houghton

    Grangetown Primary School

    Sunderland

    Grindon Infant School and Nursery

    Sunderland

    Hudson Road Primary School

    Sunderland

    Hylton Castle Primary School

    Sunderland

    Marlborough Primary School

    Washington

    Shiney Row Primary School

    Houghton

    Southwick Primary School

    Sunderland

    The Link School

    Sunderland

    Wessington Primary School

    Washington

    Willow Wood Primary School

    Sunderland

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City scoops £490k lottery funding to improve residents’ access to nature

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Sunderland has secured £490,000 lottery funding to help communities across the city get back to nature.

    The City Council’s bid to the Nature Towns and Cities Programme is one of only 19, benefitting 40 towns and cities nationally, to be awarded funding.

    Nature Towns and Cities is a coalition of organisations united by the ambition to enable millions more people to experience nature in their daily lives, particularly those places and communities currently lacking access to quality green space.

    The first of its kind, the new programme announced by Natural England, National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund aims to help at least 100 places across the UK to become greener, healthier, happier places for people to live and work over the next 10 years. 

    Welcoming the grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Councillor Michael Mordey, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this funding which is all about improving our residents’ access to nature and helping them to enjoy some of the fantastic greenspaces, coastline and riverbanks on their doorstep.

    “As we all know, getting out into the fresh air can really help us to clear our minds and take time for ourselves 

    “This funding will help us to support our communities, making it as easy as possible to access nature, which in turn will help to create a real sense of pride in the local environment.”

    “So, we’ll be looking to work with residents and partners over the coming weeks and months to help us develop the plans further and make sure that we’re making the most of this grant funding to support our residents to enjoy the nature on their doorstep.” 

    Sunderland’s project will bring organisations across the city together to better connect residents with local greenspaces.  The funding secured will also help communities to improve their health and wellbeing by making it easier to access nature.

    Led by Sunderland City Council in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust and the voluntary sector, the project will also be supported by other key partners within the city.

    Plans include a focus on linking community greenspaces, parks, transport routes and the city’s coastline and riverbanks, connecting people and creating a sense of pride in the local environment.

    The project will bring together organisations citywide to work in partnership to increase understanding of the benefits of the natural environment via volunteering opportunities, outdoor activities, training and nature-based social prescribing.

    This will include:

    • The creation of new education courses in conservation and horticulture
    • Undertaking ecological surveys and preparing management plans for the city’s precious Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) sites which include Tunstall Hills and Claxheugh Rocks to ensure that the city continues to preserve its natural heritage.
    • Working with public health commissioned services, social prescribers and anti-social behaviour organisations and supporting communities to engage in and deliver nature based activities
    • Distributing small grants, once the delivery stage of the project is underway, to support communities across Sunderland to develop the skills and capacity to conserve nature sustainably

    The City Council will be looking to work with residents and partners over the coming weeks and months to further develop the plans and take them forward.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Road Closure and Diversions for Slessor Concerts

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    18/07/25

    A number of major road closures and diversions will be in place in Dundee City Centre and Waterfront for the forthcoming Discovery Festival at Slessor Gardens on Friday July 25, Saturday July 26 and Sunday July 27. 

    Motorists and people visiting the city centre are being advised that key routes including Thomson Avenue will be affected, with a diversion around the city centre ring road for traffic travelling from west to east at certain times. 

    Meanwhile, Nethergate between West Marketgait and Whitehall Street will only be available for buses and taxis at certain times. 

    Some city centre bus stops will be relocated during the closures. Please refer to operators for up-to-date information. 

    Dundee City Council has produced a map to show the closures and diversions which is available on its website here 

    Details of closures are  

    Friday, July 25 Ocean Colour Scene – Closures between 4pm and midnight 

    Saturday, July 26 80s Calling!  Closures from 11.30am to midnight  

    Sunday, July 27 Tom Jones Closures from 2pm to midnight 

    • Alternative routes for vehicles are available via South Marketgait / West Marketgait / North Marketgait / East Marketgait

      In addition, the following roads as well as Slessor Gardens will be closed for five working days from Tuesday July 22 until Monday July 28 to allow set up and then clearing of the site. 

    • Earl Grey Place East 

    • Earl Grey Place West 

    • South Castle Street 

    • South Crichton Street 

    The Discovery Festival is being organised by the Liz Hobbs Group. 

    Jimmy Discovers Employment

    Jimmy Discovers Employment

    A Dundee man has set sail on a new career after receiving all hands on deck support from the Council’s employability service.Jimmy Moran, 60, was previously a training instructor at Michelin for…

    17/07/25

    Accreditation Secured to Support Dundee’s Living Wage City Campaign

    Accreditation Secured to Support Dundee’s Living Wage City Campaign

    A local security system supplier has signed up to be the latest business in the city to become Living Wage accredited.SPG Integrated, based in the Dundee Technology Park, are a firm who specialise in…

    15/07/25

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coming up next week at the London Assembly W/C 21 July

    Source: Mayor of London

    PUBLICATIONS

    Wednesday 23 July

    Blue light status of emergency response vehicles

    Transport Committee

    The Transport Committee will write to Transport for London and the British Transport Police about their decision to take away the blue light status of emergency response unit vehicles, which was one of the key recommendations of the London Assembly 7/7 Review Committee’s 2006 report on the response to the tube and bus bombings.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Hunt on 07763 252 310/ [email protected]

     

    PUBLIC MEETINGS

    Tuesday 22 July

    Capital funding and delivery

    Budget and Performance Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    Transport for London (TfL) has proposed an extension of the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle, to Lewisham, including the potential for a further extension beyond Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction.

    The project is estimated to cost between £5.2 billion to £8.7 billion (at 2021 prices), with an additional £800 million to £1.9 billion required to extend the line further to Hayes.

    The London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee will hear from experts and TfL on the potential funding options for the Bakerloo line extension, and other new and future capital projects.

    Guests are:

    • Professor Tony Travers, Professor in Practice and Associate Dean, the London School of Economics
    • John Kavanagh, Programme Director, Infrastructure, Business LDN 
    • Chris Whitehouse, Technical Director, WSP 
    • Maurice Lange, Analyst, Centre for Cities 
    • Manish Gupta, Corporate Finance Director, TfL 
    • Lucinda Turner, Director of Spatial Planning, TfL

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 / [email protected]

     

    Wednesday 23 July

    Paying for and building transport projects at low cost

    Budget and Performance Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    According to reports, Madrid tripled the length of its metro system in just 12 years — faster and cheaper than almost any other city in the world. The 35-mile (56 kilometre) program of expansion between 1995 and 1999 cost around $2.8 billion (in 2024 prices). London’s Jubilee Line Extension, built at the same time as Madrid’s expansion, cost nearly ten times more per mile than Madrid’s program.

    The London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee will hear from experts on why the cost for building transport infrastructure in the UK is much higher than neighbouring countries.

    Guests are:

    • Ben Hopkinson, Head of Housing & Infrastructure, Centre for Policy Studies
    • Dr Alexander Budzier, Chief Executive Officer, Oxford Global Projects 
    • Gareth Dennis, Railway Engineer and writer, Railnatter

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 / [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 2024 Progress report: UN Plan of Action on disaster risk reduction for resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The 2024 Progress Report of the United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience summarizes progress towards achieving the three UN Plan of Action commitments, based on the Results Framework. It reflects on collective achievements, opportunities, challenges, and the UN system’s capacity to deliver high-quality support to countries on disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation and resilience building.

    The United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience (UN Plan of Action) is the contribution by the United Nations to ensure the implementation of the Sendai Framework contributes to a risk-informed and integrated approach to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.​

    View the 2024 achievements in digital format and the overall progress of the UN Plan of Action.

    Download

    Links last checked: 18 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Global: AI-powered early-warning systems under the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    This case study was collected through a Call for Good Practices on Reducing Risk across SDG Transitions, launched by the UN DRR Focal Points Group in 2024.

    SDGs addressed: 13 | 11 | 9 (digital transformation theme)

    The UN-backed Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative aims to cover everyone on Earth with timely, life-saving alerts by 2027. Its AI Sub-Group, convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with WMO, UNDRR and IFRC, integrates artificial-intelligence tools across the four pillars of early-warning systems-risk knowledge, detection & forecasting, warning dissemination and preparedness. Working with governments, tech firms and communities, the group pilots machine-learning models that fuse satellite, radar, social-media and IoT data to sharpen hazard forecasts and send population-specific alerts in near real time.

    Innovation & success factors

    • AI fusion of complex datasets-weather, exposure, mobility-raises forecast accuracy.
    • Optimised message routing chooses channels, languages and geofences for each group.
    • Multi-stakeholder governance (UN agencies + private tech + civil society) ensures ethical, equitable deployment.

    Key impacts

    • Improved lead times for tropical-cyclone and flash-flood warnings in pilot countries (e.g., +30 min average).
    • Targeted reach-algorithms tailor SMS, radio or app alerts to last-mile users, increasing timely action.
    • Policy influence-15 governments adopt AI guidelines for DRR under EW4All technical-assistance tracks.

    Lessons learned for replication or adaptation

    1. Equity first: AI roll-outs must bridge, not widen, the digital divide.
    2. Cross-sector partnerships accelerate innovation and scaling.
    3. Ethical frameworks & data privacy are non-negotiable for public trust.
    4. Continuous training keeps models accurate amid climate-system change.
    5. Local language & culture matter as much as algorithmic performance.

    Organisations involved

    • UN entities: ITU (lead), WMO, UNDRR, IFRC
    • Government partners: National meteorological & telecom agencies in pilot countries (e.g., India, Fiji, Kenya)
    • Private sector: AI cloud providers, mobile-network operators
    • Civil society & academia: Local DRR NGOs, research labs developing ethical-AI frameworks

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Moldova: Disaster-resilience scorecards guide urban planning and budgeting in five cities

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    This case study was collected through a Call for Good Practices on Reducing Risk across SDG Transitions, launched by the UN DRR Focal Points Group in 2024.

    SDGs addressed: 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities) | 13 (Climate Action)

    Chișinău, Leova, Anenii Noi, Sîngera and Căușeni joined UNDRR’s Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) network to tackle limited finance, data gaps and centralised decision-making. Through participatory workshops in 2020-24, municipal staff, emergency services and partners completed the Disaster Resilience Scorecard, identifying weaknesses in governance, data management and inclusive planning. The findings fed four city reports (two co-facilitated by IOM and UN Women) and catalysed the Chișinău Resilience Strategy 2024-2030, which embeds Leave-No-One-Behind principles.

    Innovation & success Factors

    • Structured diagnostics – scorecards translate complex resilience gaps into concrete priorities.
    • Participatory approach – workshops engage mayors, finance, health & education staff, boosting ownership.
    • Systems thinking – links planning, budgeting and data-sharing across departments.

    Key impacts

    • 4 city resilience reports endorsed (Leova, Anenii Noi, Sîngera, Căușeni).
    • Chișinău Resilience Strategy 2024-2030 adopted by council.
    • Raised awareness – mayors connect resilience goals to annual budgets.
    • Gender & inclusion – Căușeni workshop analysed gender-budgeting gaps.

    Lessons learned for replication or adaptation

    1. Scorecards simplify risk analysis for resource-constrained cities.
    2. Mayor buy-in is critical for policy adoption and financing.
    3. Peer-to-peer learning helps small cities overcome capacity gaps.
    4. Medium-term wins keep political interest alive beyond election cycles.

    Organisations involved

    • Lead UN entity: UNDRR
    • Supporting UN agencies: IOM, UN Women (one workshop each)
    • Local partners: City mayors & departments (health, education, finance), General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU)
    • Beneficiaries: Entire populations of the five participating cities (≈ 700 000), with a focus on women, the elderly and low-income groups.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Export Awards – Trimax Mowing Systems wins Exporter of the Year at ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards

    Source: EMA

    Trimax Mowing Systems, a manufacturer and exporter of premium mowing equipment, has won the ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Exporter of the Year Award at a gala event this evening held at the Mercury Baypark arena in Mount Maunganui.
    Kiwi-made lawn mowers used by groundskeepers at Windsor Castle
    Trimax has sold more than 33,000 lawn mower decks worldwide from its base in Tauranga, with revenue having tripled in the last five years. The New Zealand-made lawn mowers are trusted by groundskeepers in locations as varied as Windsor Castle in the UK to multiple PGA golf courses in the United States.
    High-precision control devices sold to alternative fuel markets globally
    Oasis Engineering, a manufacturer of high-pressure control devices for gases, won the Excellence in Innovation Award. The company first rose to fame in the 1980s by developing a ball valve for CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) tanks, which became the industry standard.
    Today, Oasis Engineering operates a specialist high-precision turning and machining factory in Tauranga, from where it exports control devices to more than 40 countries. The company is recognised as an exemplar in the use of automation and robotics, and for outstanding product development in the global alternative fuel market.
    Providing cloud-based workspaces for US healthcare professionals
    The Best Emerging Business Award was won by Carepatron, a provider of secure, cloud-based healthcare workspaces for clinicians to manage clients, appointments and payments.
    The company uses technology, and AI in particular, in its customer support and product development. Founded in 2021, today Carepatron is hyperscaling exports into the US market, where it is growing rapidly.
    Individuals making significant contributions to export success
    There were two joint winners of the Export Achievement Award, which recognises an individual who has made a material contribution to the export success of a business. These were Sarah Webb of LawVu and Karl Stevenson of Bluelab.
    Sarah Webb has been a founding force behind LawVu, which provides cloud-based legal workspaces for in-house legal teams. Currently, the Chief Operating Officer, Webb has been instrumental in transforming LawVu into a globally recognised legal tech platform.
    Karl Stevenson is the Head of Product at Bluelab, a manufacturer of precision instruments for measuring pH, electrical conductivity and temperature in controlled agricultural environments.
    Stevenson is recognised as a champion of design thinking in New Zealand’s export sector. He has also made a lasting impact on the Tauranga business community, having co-founded local Design Thinking Meetups, which foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, and are open to everyone from entrepreneurs to engineers.
    Tauranga entrepreneur Steve Saunders recognised with Services to Export Award
    Finally, the Services to Export Award was presented to Steve Saunders for his outstanding contribution to the exporting success of the Bay of Plenty region. The co-founder of Robotics Plus, and numerous other exporting businesses, Saunders has served for 12 years on Priority One, the economic development organisation for the Western Bay of Plenty.
    He co-founded the Newnham Park Innovation Centre, as well as Mount Pack & Cool, one of the largest and most technologically advanced packhouses in the Bay of Plenty.
    Saunders champions Māori investment in agriculture and innovation, and is a long-time supporter of the Young Innovators Awards for Year 7-13 students.
    Celebrating the Bay of Plenty exporting community
    The awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of Bay of Plenty businesses and individuals who export goods and services to markets around the world.
    The event is proudly supported by principal sponsor ASB, as well as Sharp Tudhope, Air NZ Cargo, Page Macrae, Zespri, and Orbit Travel, and supporting partners NZTE, Comvita and Port of Tauranga.
    The awards are organised by the EMA on behalf of ExportNZ. EMA Chief Executive John Fraser-Mackenzie says, “The EMA is an integral part of the Bay of Plenty business community, so we’re delighted these awards showcase the inspiring businesses and individuals from the region who are succeeding in offshore markets. Well done to all the winners!
    “The awards are more than just recognition, they’re a platform for sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the network of export-focused companies that drive the region’s economic success.”
    Chair of the ExportNZ BoP Executive Committee Warwick Downing says, “This year’s winners exemplify the innovation, resilience, and global ambition that define the Bay of Plenty’s export community.
    “Their success is a testament to the region’s ability to compete, and thrive, on the world stage.”
    Head of Trade Finance at ASB Bank Mike Atkins says, “We congratulate all the winners; they are true export champions of the Bay of Plenty region.
    “At ASB, we are passionate about enabling exporters to scale up, be it through working capital funding or other advisory initiatives across productivity, sustainability, clean tech, and food and fibre. Our partnership with ExportNZ in celebrating these awards underscores that commitment.”
    Executive Director of ExportNZ Josh Tan says, “These awards showcase the significant contribution this region makes to New Zealand’s exporting success.
    “Congratulations to all the winners on their outstanding achievements, which highlight the export sector’s strong start to the year and reinforce our nation’s well-earned reputation for quality in products and services.”
    Complete list of winners and full judges’ citations –  ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards
    1. Exporter of the Year – in partnership with Sharp Tudhope
    Winner: Trimax Mowing Systems – a designer and manufacturer of tractor-powered rotary and flail mowers for commercial use.
    Highly Commended: LawVu
    This award recognises the outstanding success of a business that is established in its international growth journey, with more than five years of international operations and total annual revenue above $5 million.
    Judges’ citation: The judges were impressed by Trimax’s continued commitment to innovate and grow in their niche but hugely valuable market. The company has built up extensive dealer networks in the United States, the UK and Australia, and Trimax mowers are trusted by groundmen in locations as varied as England’s Windsor Castle to PGA golf courses in the United States.
    The company’s leadership has embedded innovation and product development throughout the enterprise, and their growth in recent times shows that this is paying divid

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cheung Kwok-kwan meets SZ official

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan met President of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration Liu Xiaochun in Shenzhen today to discuss bilateral collaboration in sports dispute resolution.

     

    Mr Cheung said that the Department of Justice is committed to promoting the diversified development of sports dispute resolution services in Hong Kong and is actively promoting co-operation with the Mainland and other overseas regions in this field, so as to build the city into a sports dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.

     

    He highlighted that Hong Kong has been recognised and trusted by the international community for its arbitration and mediation services and that it maintains a rich pool of talent in sports dispute resolution services.

     

    Noting that Shenzhen has long been Hong Kong’s close partner in arbitration and has been actively participating in the national development of sports arbitration, Mr Cheung stated that he hopes both places can strengthen co-operation in sports dispute resolution, giving full play to the Greater Bay Area’s advantages of “one country, two systems and three jurisdictions” and promoting the sports dispute resolution services in both places with innovative thinking.

     

    The Deputy Secretary for Justice added that the department is taking forward the pilot scheme on sports dispute resolution as announced in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address at full steam.

     

    The invitation for the industry to submit proposals for the pilot scheme’s operation has begun to identify a suitable administering body and a technology service provider to provide a fast, reliable and neutral resolution mechanism for sports disputes.

     

    The period for submission of proposals will close on July 31 and the scheme is expected to be launched in the second half of the year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Appointed Judge Ignores Biological Reality and the Rule of Law, Orders Illegal Alien Released

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Appointed Judge Ignores Biological Reality and the Rule of Law, Orders Illegal Alien Released

    WASHINGTON – Biden-appointed U

    S

    District Judge Amy Baggio recently ordered the release of Odalis Jhonatan Martinez-Velasquez, a male illegal alien from Mexico, after caving to pressure from immigration and transgender activists—ignoring the rule of law and promoting gender ideology fanaticism

    Velasquez illegally entered the country in 2023 and released under the Biden administration

    He was lawfully detained on June 2, 2025, and processed for expedited removal

    Velasquez was placed into ICE’s male detention center in accordance with the President’s Executive Order and for the safety of women in ICE custody

    “Velasquez—a biological male—was placed in a men’s facility in alignment with the President’s Executive Order and for the safety of women in ICE custody

    The President made it clear on Day One: DHS will not buy into radical gender ideology when detaining illegal aliens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

      “An immigration judge, not a district judge, has the authority to decide if Odalis Jhonatan Martinez-Velasquez should be released or detained

    The activist judge is ignoring the biological reality of sex, undermining ICE’s commitment to promoting safe, secure, and humane environments for women in custody, and subverting the American people’s mandate to restore commonsense to our immigration system and reject extreme gender fanaticism

    ” 

    Image

    On January 20, President Donald J

    Trump signed Executive Order of Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, prohibiting DHS from detaining males in women’s detention centers

    Velasquez is no exception

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mexican Illegal Alien Charged for Orchestrating ‘Kidnapping’ Hoax

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Mexican Illegal Alien Charged for Orchestrating ‘Kidnapping’ Hoax

    WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after the Department of Justice, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, arrested and filed charges against Mexican illegal alien Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon for fabricating a false story to smear federal law enforcement

    Earlier this month, legacy media ran with a false story that ICE agents and bounty hunters “kidnapped” Calderon at gunpoint and held her hostage in a warehouse

    After her family held a press conference orchestrated by their attorney, ICE spent days investigating the kidnapping claims and searching for her — at times, literally detention cell to detention cell

    “Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was never arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from removing the worst of the worst from Los Angeles communities

    Politicians and activist media peddled these smears that were designed to demonize law enforcement and evade accountability

    Calderon will now face justice and the media and politicians who swallowed and pushed this garbage should be embarrassed

    ”

    Calderon is charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers and if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Axes Wasteful, Misdirected Grants, Saves Taxpayers $18.5M

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS Axes Wasteful, Misdirected Grants, Saves Taxpayers $18

    5M

    lass=”text-align-center”>The Department of Homeland Security is gutting dozens of partisan and wasteful grants that failed to counter terrorism threats, saving taxpayers $18

    5 Million

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is slashing waste at the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), cutting $18

    5 million in misappropriated spending that do not meet the stated goal of CP3 to prevent terrorism or targeted violence

    CP3, a minor DHS Policy sub-office, with no operational role in monitoring or preventing terrorist attacks, had become a cash cow for radical activists under the Biden Administration—funneling taxpayer dollars to push woke, partisan agendas and silencing dissent

    After a strategic review, DHS is discontinuing the funding of grants that have no legitimate nexus to protecting the homeland from the threat of terrorism

    Terminated Grants Include:

    $209,406

    70 to the “Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders” group, which promoted radical gender ideology in K–12 schools, targeting students as young as kindergartners and flagging parental concerns as risks

    $288,760

    66 to CenterLink, a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ issues, not terrorism prevention

    $851,836

    13 to the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, a DEI organization focused on silencing ideological opposition

    $206,260

    00 to the United States Esports Association, which targeted gamers with “woke” content under the pretext of violence prevention

    $479,816

    00 to the One World Strong program, which labeled traditional male behaviors as extremist and stigmatizing young males

    $651,311

    81 to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and Strong Cities Network, which promoted biased anti-extremism initiatives, LGBTQ+ propaganda, and prioritized radical groups over broader community concerns

    “These cancellations reflect DHS’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and national security,” said a Senior DHS official

    “By eliminating wasteful and ideologically driven programs, we are redirecting resources to initiatives that uphold American values, respect the rule of law, and effectively combat terrorism and violence

    ”
    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opens July 18 in Georgetown

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens July 18 in Georgetown

    Disaster Recovery Center Opens July 18 in Georgetown

    AUSTIN, Texas – A Disaster Recovery Center will open Friday, July 18, in Williamson County to offer face-to-face help to survivors who had damage or losses from the severe storms and flooding in Central Texas

    Homeowners, renters and eligible non-residents may receive FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

    Survivors with homeowners’ or renters’ insurance should first file a claim with their insurance company as soon as possible

    If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance

    The Disaster Recovery Center is located at:Williamson County EMS North Campus, Classroom A & B3189 SE Inner Loop, Suite AGeorgetown, TX 78626Hours: 8 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    dailyFEMA and the U

    S

    Small Business Administration are supporting the Texas Division of Emergency Management, which is leading efforts to help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance

    Center specialists can also identify potential needs and connect survivors with local, state and federal agencies as well as nonprofit organizations and community groups

     Disaster Recovery Centers are accessible to people with disabilities and those with access and functional needs

    They are also equipped with assistive technology

    If you need a reasonable accommodation or an American Sign Language interpreter, call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish)

    Survivors may visit any Disaster Recovery Center

    No appointment is needed

    You have until Thursday, Sept

    4, to apply for FEMA disaster assistance

    Here’s how: Visit DisasterAssistance

    govUse the FEMA mobile appCall the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

     Lines are open from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT daily

    If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service

    Helpline specialists speak many languages

    Press 2 for Spanish

    Visit any Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance

    Two recovery centers are open in Kerrville and San Angelo

     To find one close to you, use your ZIP code to search FEMA

    gov/DRC

    For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance, go to Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

     For the latest information about the Texas recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4879

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6
    toan

    nguyen
    Thu, 07/17/2025 – 21:07

    MIL OSI USA News –