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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Warren and Wyden demand info on SSA reassignments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    July 14, 2025
    SSA workers say the recent decision to involuntarily reassign 1,000 field office employees to man the 1-800 number flies in the face of leadership’s rosy pronouncements and further degrades service.
    A pair of Democratic senators on Monday fired a bevy of questions to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano about the agency’s decision last week to reassign 1,000 field office employees to help answer calls to the agency’s 1-800 number, despite purported gains in customer service metrics.
    Bisignano has spent much of his first two months on the job heralding the advent of automated service options on both the Social Security Administration’s website and through its 1-800 customer service number. But last week, the agency involuntarily and with little notice reassigned 1,000 customer service representatives from the agency’s already understaffed field offices to help answer calls to the 1-800 number.
    The agency said the reassignments reflect new capabilities thanks to the new technology, though it recently removed tranches of real-time performance data initially published by former Commissioner Martin O’Malley. But union officials said the reassignments belie the fact that the agency’s recent changes aren’t working—and the changes at field offices are actually degrading service delivery.
    In a letter to Bisignano, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., questioned the provenance of the agency’s remaining public performance metrics and demanded information about the decision to reassign field office staff to supplement the agency’s teleservice centers alongside detailed metrics about the teleservice centers’ performance in the week prior to the reassignments.
    “In June, Senator Warren released the results of her investigation of SSA’s phone wait time, showing that phone wait times on SSA’s AI-driven 1-800 number average over 1.75 hours—despite SSA’s claim of just 19.2 minutes,” they wrote. “These long wait times reveal the truth: the Trump administration’s cuts to the SSA workforce are disastrous—and any further staffing reductions will further degrade SSA and make it harder for seniors to get their monthly Social Security check or address other problems they may have with their benefits.”
    The senators accused Bisignano of using the reassignments to “cover up the mess” of his addition of AI assistants to the 1-800 number and the aspirational 7,000-employee headcount reduction this fiscal year.
    “The [reassignment] ‘pilot program’ would increase the number of staff answering calls to the 1-800 number by 25%,” they wrote. “But the employees you reassigned—with just a few days’ notice—were frontline customer service representatives who directly assisted recipients visiting offices. Reassigning customer service representatives left field offices short-staffed—forcing the backroom employees who are responsible for actually processing claims to pick up the in-person customer service responsibilities.”
    By:  Erich WagnerSource: GovExec
    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA:  Warren, Murray, Sanders, Baldwin, 20+ Senators Demand Trump Admin Stop Blocking Funds for Afterschool Programs, K-12 Schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    July 14, 2025
    The lawmakers blasted the administration for its abrupt notice and illegal freeze of the funds, which has sent school districts and programs nationwide scrambling. 
    “We are shocked by the continued lack of respect for states and local schools evidenced by this latest action by the administration… This rash decision will only worsen school working conditions and teacher shortages.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), along with 28 of their colleagues, in demanding the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon immediately release the nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs across America that is currently being illegally withheld by the Trump administration. 
    The abrupt decision by the Trump administration to withhold this funding has left school districts nationwide struggling to find ways to fill the massive budget hole. School districts have made clear they will have to end after-school programs and have already told parents to prepare backup options, while adult literacy programs have already been forced to lay off staff. 
    The members note that the 10,000 school programs benefited approximately 1.4 million students across the nation, and the latest report by ED showed significant improvements in student attendance, grades, and teacher reports of student engagement in learning. 
    “These centers also help working parents by providing a safe and productive place for their children to be after the school day ends and during the summer months,” wrote the lawmakers. “It is beyond comprehension why the administration would want to jeopardize these outcomes.”
    The Trump administration has confirmed it is blocking funding for the following programs, all of which are programs President Trump has requested to eliminate in his budget request, raising serious concerns about this administration’s intentions to simply impound the funding:

    Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (Title II-A), which support professional development and other activities to improve the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders, including reducing class sizes.

    21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV-B), which support high-quality before- and after-school programs focused on providing academic enrichment opportunities for students.

    Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (Title IV-A), which provide flexible funding for school districts for a wide range of activities, including supporting STEM education, accelerated learning courses, college and career counseling, school-based mental health services, and improving school technology, among many others.

    English Language Acquisition (Title III-A), which supports language instruction to help English language learners become proficient in English.

    Migrant Education (Title I-C), which supports the educational needs of migratory children, including children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

    Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants (including Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education State Grants), which support adult education and literacy programs to provide the basic skills to help prepare adults and out-of-school youth for success in the workforce.

    The letter was also signed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
    Senator Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign in a coordinated effort to fight back against President Trump’s attempts to abolish the Department of Education:

    On July 3, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in submitting an amicus brief for NAACP v. US, arguing to the United States District Court District of Maryland that President Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) violate separation of powers and lack constitutional authority.

    On June 10, 2025, Senator Warren met with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and delivered over 1,000 letters to McMahon that the senator had received from people in all 50 states who were worried about the Secretary’s efforts to dismantle ED.

    On June 9, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in pushing the Acting Inspector General of ED to open an investigation into new information obtained by her office revealing that DOGE may have gained access to two FSA internal systems, in addition to sensitive borrower data.

    On May 20, 2025, Senator Warren and 27 other senators pushed for full funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid.

    On May 14, 2025, Senator Warren led a Senate forum entitled “Stealing the American Dream: How Trump and Republicans Are Raising Education Costs for Families,” highlighting the consequences of Secretary Linda McMahon’s reckless dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) and President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” for working- and middle-class students and borrowers.

    On May 13, 2025, Senator Warren agreed to meet with Education Secretary Linda McMahon and promised to bring questions and stories from Americans across the country to highlight how the Trump administration’s attacks on education are hurting American families.

    On May 6, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted the consequences of President Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon’s reckless dismantling of the Department of Education for American families in a Senate forum.

    On April 24, 2025, Senator Warren launched a new investigation into the harms of President Trump’s attacks on the Department of Education, seeking information on the impact of the Trump administration’s actions from the members of twelve leading organizations representing schools, parents, teachers, students, borrowers, and researchers.

    On April 10, 2025, following a request led by Senator Warren, the Department of Education’s Acting Inspector General agreed to open an investigation into the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.

    On April 2, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Department of Government Efficiency’s proposed plan to replace the Department of Education’s federal student aid call centers with generative artificial intelligence chatbots.

    On April 2, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) and highlight the consequences for every student and public school in America.

    On March 27, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a letter to Acting Department of Education Inspector General (IG) René Rocque requesting that the IG conduct an investigation of the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.

    On March 20, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders led a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to slash the capacity of Federal Student Aid to handle student aid complaints.

    On February 24, 2025, in a response to Senator Warren, Secretary McMahon gave her first public admission that she “wholeheartedly” agreed with Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education.

    On February 11, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim sent Linda McMahon, Secretary-Designate for the U.S. Department of Education, a 12-page letter with 65 questions on McMahon’s policy views in advance of her nomination hearing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch for Fox News: I’m a Democrat and we need to fix FEMA with local control 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this morning published an opinion in Fox News entitled: “I’m a Democrat and we need to fix FEMA with local control.” 
    Read Senator Welch’s op-ed and view an excerpt below:   
    SENATOR PETER WELCH: I’m a Democrat and we need to fix FEMA with local control By U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) 
    Published July 14, 2025, by Fox News  

    “When disaster strikes, it is an all-hands-on-deck moment. The federal government has the unique ability to surge resources and personnel, and it’s critical they show up.  

    “As long as there is destructive weather, there must be a fully functioning FEMA. Communities from Vermont, to Texas, to North Carolina, to New Mexico know this reality.   

    “But, the agency is far from perfect. FEMA must be reformed.   

    “FEMA is too slow, too bureaucratic and too bloated. Administrative costs outweigh direct disaster assistance. Recovery is hindered by red tape.   

    “That’s why I introduced new legislation July 10 to fix FEMA’s broken long-term recovery process.   

    “The “Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act” has a simple premise: local leaders know their local community best. They should be empowered to make decisions.” 

    Read Senator Welch’s full opinion piece in Fox News. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch for Fox News: I’m a Democrat and we need to fix FEMA with local control 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this morning published an opinion in Fox News entitled: “I’m a Democrat and we need to fix FEMA with local control.” 
    Read Senator Welch’s op-ed and view an excerpt below:   
    SENATOR PETER WELCH: I’m a Democrat and we need to fix FEMA with local control By U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) 
    Published July 14, 2025, by Fox News  

    “When disaster strikes, it is an all-hands-on-deck moment. The federal government has the unique ability to surge resources and personnel, and it’s critical they show up.  

    “As long as there is destructive weather, there must be a fully functioning FEMA. Communities from Vermont, to Texas, to North Carolina, to New Mexico know this reality.   

    “But, the agency is far from perfect. FEMA must be reformed.   

    “FEMA is too slow, too bureaucratic and too bloated. Administrative costs outweigh direct disaster assistance. Recovery is hindered by red tape.   

    “That’s why I introduced new legislation July 10 to fix FEMA’s broken long-term recovery process.   

    “The “Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act” has a simple premise: local leaders know their local community best. They should be empowered to make decisions.” 

    Read Senator Welch’s full opinion piece in Fox News. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 14 July 2025 Departmental update WHO issues first-ever guidance to support countries in staying malaria-free

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guidance on preventing the re-establishment of malaria ‒ a vital resource for countries that have succeeded in eliminating the disease or are approaching that milestone.

    To date, 47 countries or territories have been officially certified malaria free by WHO. Another 60 appear on a WHO supplementary list of countries where malaria never existed or disappeared without specific measures.

    Historically, most countries that have eliminated malaria have managed to maintain their malaria-free status. Many of these are situated in temperate climatic zones and achieved elimination during the WHO-led Global Malaria Eradication Programme (1955–1969).

    More recently, countries in tropical and subtropical regions have made notable progress, with several achieving elimination certification from WHO. The latest example is Suriname, which was officially certified malaria-free in June 2025.

    Despite these successes, malaria remains endemic in 83 countries and territories. The movement of people from endemic to malaria-free areas continues to pose a threat ‒ particularly if conditions allow for local transmission to resume. Preventing the re-establishment of malaria is critical to safeguarding progress.

    “Achieving malaria elimination is a tremendous accomplishment ‒ but the journey doesn’t end there. Countries must remain vigilant to keep malaria at bay,” said Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director a.i. of the Malaria & Neglected Tropical Diseases Department at WHO. “This new guidance offers the practical tools and strategies countries need to protect their hard-won gains and prevent malaria from returning.”

    While relevant to all malaria-free countries, the guidance is targeted to those in tropical and subtropical zones ‒ where the risk of re-establishment is highest.

    With increasing travel, migration, and climate variability, the challenges to sustaining malaria elimination are likely to grow. WHO’s new guidance provides a timely and essential tool for national malaria programmes as they navigate this evolving landscape.

    The guidance was launched today at a regional meeting for Middle East and North African countries on the prevention of re-establishment of local transmission of malaria.

    Malaria elimination is defined as the interruption of local transmission (reduction to zero incidence of indigenous cases) of a specified malaria parasite in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate activities. Continued measures to prevent re-establishment of transmission are required.

    Re-establishment of malaria transmission is the occurrence of indigenous malaria cases (cases of second-generation local transmission) in a country or area where the disease had previously been eliminated. WHO’s operational definition of re-establishment of malaria transmission is the occurrence of at least 3 indigenous cases of the same species in the same focus for 3 consecutive years. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • President Droupadi Murmu addresses 5th annual convocation of AIIMS Bhubaneswar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, addressed the 5th Annual Convocation Ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar today.

    Addressing the graduating students and faculty, the President noted that AIIMS Bhubaneswar, established under the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003, has emerged as a trusted centre for quality healthcare and social welfare not just in Odisha but also in neighbouring states like West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

    Highlighting the institute’s achievements, the President stated that in the last year alone, AIIMS Bhubaneswar treated over 10 lakh outdoor patients, conducted 17 lakh diagnostic tests and carried out 25,000 surgeries. She added that the institute’s specialty and super-specialty services have enabled it to deliver holistic healthcare across departments.

    President Murmu lauded the institute’s recognition by the World Health Organization under the Asia Safe Surgical Implant Consortium Quality Improvement Programme for its standards in surgical instrument and implant reprocessing. She also mentioned the National Kayakalp Award that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has won for five consecutive years for excellence in sanitation and hospital services.

    Appreciating the dedication of the faculty and students, the President described doctors as “representatives of God” and urged the graduating students to continue serving society with commitment and compassion.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Governor of Odisha, Hari Babu Kambhampati, said that the establishment of AIIMS institutions was a visionary step towards building an equitable healthcare system. He underlined that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has emerged as a leading centre for medical education and research in eastern India, second only to AIIMS New Delhi. He also commended the institute’s contribution during the pandemic as a centre for testing, treatment and vaccination.

    Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the Prime Minister’s focus on digital transformation and modernization of healthcare services. He mentioned that initiatives like e-payment facilities at AIIMS Bhubaneswar align with the vision of a Digital India.

    He further said that the recognition of AIIMS Bhubaneswar as a centre of excellence for tackling diseases like sickle cell anaemia reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare. He urged the students to “heal with empathy” and assured continued support for quality healthcare through strengthened infrastructure and schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, covering over 3.5 crore people in the state.

    Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his address, described good health as the foundation of human progress. Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, he expressed hope that Odisha would contribute by becoming a developed state by 2036.

    Highlighting the institute’s ranking — 15th overall in NIRF, 12th among medical colleges and 2nd among emerging AIIMS — Shri Pradhan said that Bhubaneswar has the potential to become a global MedTech hub. He called on the young doctors to take up the responsibility of addressing health challenges in vulnerable communities.

    A total of 643 students were awarded degrees during the convocation, including 196 MBBS graduates, 158 MS, 49 MDs, 116 post-doctoral fellows, 62 B.Sc. Nursing and 41 M.Sc. Nursing graduates. Fifty-nine gold medals were also awarded to meritorious students across disciplines.

  • President Droupadi Murmu addresses 5th annual convocation of AIIMS Bhubaneswar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, addressed the 5th Annual Convocation Ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar today.

    Addressing the graduating students and faculty, the President noted that AIIMS Bhubaneswar, established under the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003, has emerged as a trusted centre for quality healthcare and social welfare not just in Odisha but also in neighbouring states like West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

    Highlighting the institute’s achievements, the President stated that in the last year alone, AIIMS Bhubaneswar treated over 10 lakh outdoor patients, conducted 17 lakh diagnostic tests and carried out 25,000 surgeries. She added that the institute’s specialty and super-specialty services have enabled it to deliver holistic healthcare across departments.

    President Murmu lauded the institute’s recognition by the World Health Organization under the Asia Safe Surgical Implant Consortium Quality Improvement Programme for its standards in surgical instrument and implant reprocessing. She also mentioned the National Kayakalp Award that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has won for five consecutive years for excellence in sanitation and hospital services.

    Appreciating the dedication of the faculty and students, the President described doctors as “representatives of God” and urged the graduating students to continue serving society with commitment and compassion.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Governor of Odisha, Hari Babu Kambhampati, said that the establishment of AIIMS institutions was a visionary step towards building an equitable healthcare system. He underlined that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has emerged as a leading centre for medical education and research in eastern India, second only to AIIMS New Delhi. He also commended the institute’s contribution during the pandemic as a centre for testing, treatment and vaccination.

    Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the Prime Minister’s focus on digital transformation and modernization of healthcare services. He mentioned that initiatives like e-payment facilities at AIIMS Bhubaneswar align with the vision of a Digital India.

    He further said that the recognition of AIIMS Bhubaneswar as a centre of excellence for tackling diseases like sickle cell anaemia reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare. He urged the students to “heal with empathy” and assured continued support for quality healthcare through strengthened infrastructure and schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, covering over 3.5 crore people in the state.

    Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his address, described good health as the foundation of human progress. Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, he expressed hope that Odisha would contribute by becoming a developed state by 2036.

    Highlighting the institute’s ranking — 15th overall in NIRF, 12th among medical colleges and 2nd among emerging AIIMS — Shri Pradhan said that Bhubaneswar has the potential to become a global MedTech hub. He called on the young doctors to take up the responsibility of addressing health challenges in vulnerable communities.

    A total of 643 students were awarded degrees during the convocation, including 196 MBBS graduates, 158 MS, 49 MDs, 116 post-doctoral fellows, 62 B.Sc. Nursing and 41 M.Sc. Nursing graduates. Fifty-nine gold medals were also awarded to meritorious students across disciplines.

  • President Droupadi Murmu addresses 5th annual convocation of AIIMS Bhubaneswar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, addressed the 5th Annual Convocation Ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar today.

    Addressing the graduating students and faculty, the President noted that AIIMS Bhubaneswar, established under the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003, has emerged as a trusted centre for quality healthcare and social welfare not just in Odisha but also in neighbouring states like West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

    Highlighting the institute’s achievements, the President stated that in the last year alone, AIIMS Bhubaneswar treated over 10 lakh outdoor patients, conducted 17 lakh diagnostic tests and carried out 25,000 surgeries. She added that the institute’s specialty and super-specialty services have enabled it to deliver holistic healthcare across departments.

    President Murmu lauded the institute’s recognition by the World Health Organization under the Asia Safe Surgical Implant Consortium Quality Improvement Programme for its standards in surgical instrument and implant reprocessing. She also mentioned the National Kayakalp Award that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has won for five consecutive years for excellence in sanitation and hospital services.

    Appreciating the dedication of the faculty and students, the President described doctors as “representatives of God” and urged the graduating students to continue serving society with commitment and compassion.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Governor of Odisha, Hari Babu Kambhampati, said that the establishment of AIIMS institutions was a visionary step towards building an equitable healthcare system. He underlined that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has emerged as a leading centre for medical education and research in eastern India, second only to AIIMS New Delhi. He also commended the institute’s contribution during the pandemic as a centre for testing, treatment and vaccination.

    Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the Prime Minister’s focus on digital transformation and modernization of healthcare services. He mentioned that initiatives like e-payment facilities at AIIMS Bhubaneswar align with the vision of a Digital India.

    He further said that the recognition of AIIMS Bhubaneswar as a centre of excellence for tackling diseases like sickle cell anaemia reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare. He urged the students to “heal with empathy” and assured continued support for quality healthcare through strengthened infrastructure and schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, covering over 3.5 crore people in the state.

    Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his address, described good health as the foundation of human progress. Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, he expressed hope that Odisha would contribute by becoming a developed state by 2036.

    Highlighting the institute’s ranking — 15th overall in NIRF, 12th among medical colleges and 2nd among emerging AIIMS — Shri Pradhan said that Bhubaneswar has the potential to become a global MedTech hub. He called on the young doctors to take up the responsibility of addressing health challenges in vulnerable communities.

    A total of 643 students were awarded degrees during the convocation, including 196 MBBS graduates, 158 MS, 49 MDs, 116 post-doctoral fellows, 62 B.Sc. Nursing and 41 M.Sc. Nursing graduates. Fifty-nine gold medals were also awarded to meritorious students across disciplines.

  • Centre to issue new guidelines to promote first-time exporters: Piyush Goyal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The government will soon issue new guidelines on how to promote new markets, new products, and new exporters, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. He added that the Ministry and districts can work together to promote One District One Product (ODOP) items in newer markets and support first-time exporters.

    He said the Commerce Ministry will collaborate with districts to help first-time exporters reach new markets.

    Goyal highlighted that 773 districts across various states have contributed to India’s success story.

    “India is like an oasis in a desert in a tumultuous world and is the fastest-growing large economy in the world today,” said the minister, adding that India is set to become the third-largest economy in 2027.

    He noted that India’s diverse products have the potential to reach global markets.

    Goyal cited examples such as Wayanad’s coffee, Ratnagiri mangoes, and saffron from Pulwama, saying these illustrate the wide range of products that can take India’s name worldwide.

    He emphasised that One District One Product is a unique initiative, unmatched by any other country. “Each district brings a different kind of legacy,” he said.

    Goyal also mentioned that sometimes two products must be recognised under ODOP and stressed that local products are now going global.

    The minister said that 64 out of 87 products are covered under the Industrial Investment Promotion Policy. He informed that all 38 districts of Bihar have achieved 100 per cent coverage of products under ODOP, and the state has prioritised the initiative.

    Goyal stated that all these products are integrated into the state’s economic system and included in the industrial policy. Bihar has been categorised as Category A in this regard. He urged everyone to take a pledge to make ODOP a driving force for prosperity in their districts through their unique products.

    –IANS

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: UNICEF mourns seven children killed queuing for water

    Source: United Nations 2

    The incident occurred in central Gaza on Sunday, according to media reports, which said that four other people also lost their lives due to the Israeli airstrike. 

    The Israeli military said it had been targeting a terrorist but a “technical error” saw the munition stray off course.

    Uphold protection of children

    UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell noted that the incident came just days after several women and children were killed while lining up for nutritional supplies.

    “The Israeli authorities must urgently review the rules of engagement and ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law, notably the protection of civilians, including children,” she wrote in a statement posted on X.

    The UN has repeatedly deplored the killing of Palestinians seeking food aid amid the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where food security experts have warned that the entire population is not getting enough to eat.

    Stockpiles of food available

    Meanwhile, “truckloads of food and medical supplies are waiting in warehouses” just outside the enclave, UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA said in a tweet.

    It included a quote from one of its health workers who said that “in the past, I only saw such cases of malnutrition in textbooks and documentaries.  Today, I am treating them face to face in the health centre.”

    UNRWA appealed for starvation of civilians to stop and for the siege to be lifted.  

    “Let the UN, including UNRWA, do its lifesaving work,” the tweet said.

    West Bank annexation ‘well underway’

    Separately, UNRWA also highlighted the situation of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.

    Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini told an international conference in Switzerland on Monday that “annexation is well underway.”

    UNRWA said “this is not just destruction: it is part of systematic forced displacement, a violation of international law, and a form of collective punishment.”

    In January, Israeli forces launched operations in Tulkarm and Jenin in the West Bank, which UNRWA has previously said are the most extensive in two decades.

    Humanitarians reported last week that the operations are causing massive destruction and displacement while attacks by Israeli settlers have intensified.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Pathways to end gender-based violence

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Early Planning Underway for Brighton and Aspen Ridge Joint Use Elementary Schools

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 14, 2025

    Early planning has begun for two new joint-use elementary schools in Saskatoon as the Government of Saskatchewan released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage a consultant team to provide design services for both schools. 

    The procurement for design services is for two joint-use schools in Saskatoon, one in the Brighton neighbourhood and the other in the Aspen Ridge neighbourhood.

    “I am very pleased that we are advancing these two joint-use schools,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said. “These projects reflect our ongoing commitment to support growing communities and ensuring that high-quality education is locally accessible.”

    The new Brighton elementary school will be a Kindergarten to Grade 8 joint-use school of approximately 22,000 square metres, with an integrated 90-seat child care centre, accommodating a maximum student enrollment of 2,050. The future site is in Saskatoon’s Brighton neighbourhood, adjacent to Brighton Core Park.

    “It is exciting to see these new schools progress as they begin the early planning process,” Education Minister Everett Hindley said. “The Brighton and Aspen Ridge joint-use elementary schools will be a significant addition to the communities and families they serve and will provide students with a positive and high-quality learning experience for generations to come.”

    The Aspen Ridge Kindergarten to Grade 8 joint-use school is anticipated to be of similar size and scope as the Brighton School. The future site is adjacent to the future Aspen Ridge core park. 

    “We are pleased that new elementary schools in rapidly growing parts of Saskatoon are progressing,” Board of Education Chair for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Diane Boyko said. “Education has changed a lot over the decades, so designing schools that meet the needs of today’s students and staff is an important part of the construction process.”

    “These new school buildings will empower us to serve students and families as Saskatoon grows,” Director of Education for Saskatoon Public Schools Shane Skjerven said. “We are excited to see these projects continue as we look forward to the rich learning that will take place in these future schools.”

    The Request for Proposal is available on SaskTenders at sasktenders.ca.

    There are now 11 new or replacement schools underway in Saskatoon, which builds on the 11 new schools already completed in Saskatoon since 2008. 

    Provincewide, since 2008, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed approximately $2.8 billion toward school infrastructure which includes 74 new schools, 31 major renovation projects and 10 minor renovation projects.

    -30-

     For more information, contact:
    Media Desk
    SaskBuilds and Procurement
    Regina
    Phone: 306-520-3607
    Email: media.sbp@gov.sk.ca

    Media Relations
    Education
    Regina
    Phone: 306-533-6391
    Email: mediaed@gov.sk.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Early Planning Underway for Brighton and Aspen Ridge Joint Use Elementary Schools

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 14, 2025

    Early planning has begun for two new joint-use elementary schools in Saskatoon as the Government of Saskatchewan released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage a consultant team to provide design services for both schools. 

    The procurement for design services is for two joint-use schools in Saskatoon, one in the Brighton neighbourhood and the other in the Aspen Ridge neighbourhood.

    “I am very pleased that we are advancing these two joint-use schools,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said. “These projects reflect our ongoing commitment to support growing communities and ensuring that high-quality education is locally accessible.”

    The new Brighton elementary school will be a Kindergarten to Grade 8 joint-use school of approximately 22,000 square metres, with an integrated 90-seat child care centre, accommodating a maximum student enrollment of 2,050. The future site is in Saskatoon’s Brighton neighbourhood, adjacent to Brighton Core Park.

    “It is exciting to see these new schools progress as they begin the early planning process,” Education Minister Everett Hindley said. “The Brighton and Aspen Ridge joint-use elementary schools will be a significant addition to the communities and families they serve and will provide students with a positive and high-quality learning experience for generations to come.”

    The Aspen Ridge Kindergarten to Grade 8 joint-use school is anticipated to be of similar size and scope as the Brighton School. The future site is adjacent to the future Aspen Ridge core park. 

    “We are pleased that new elementary schools in rapidly growing parts of Saskatoon are progressing,” Board of Education Chair for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Diane Boyko said. “Education has changed a lot over the decades, so designing schools that meet the needs of today’s students and staff is an important part of the construction process.”

    “These new school buildings will empower us to serve students and families as Saskatoon grows,” Director of Education for Saskatoon Public Schools Shane Skjerven said. “We are excited to see these projects continue as we look forward to the rich learning that will take place in these future schools.”

    The Request for Proposal is available on SaskTenders at sasktenders.ca.

    There are now 11 new or replacement schools underway in Saskatoon, which builds on the 11 new schools already completed in Saskatoon since 2008. 

    Provincewide, since 2008, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed approximately $2.8 billion toward school infrastructure which includes 74 new schools, 31 major renovation projects and 10 minor renovation projects.

    -30-

     For more information, contact:
    Media Desk
    SaskBuilds and Procurement
    Regina
    Phone: 306-520-3607
    Email: media.sbp@gov.sk.ca

    Media Relations
    Education
    Regina
    Phone: 306-533-6391
    Email: mediaed@gov.sk.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada’s new government implements Interim Reciprocal Procurement to protect Canadian businesses from unfair trade practices

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 14, 2025 – Gatineau (Quebec)                                        

    As Canada’s new government negotiates a new economic and security partnership with the United States, it is also taking action to protect Canadian workers and businesses from unfair trade practices.  

    Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement announced that the government has implemented a new Interim Policy on Reciprocal Procurement. Under this new policy, suppliers from countries that limit Canadian access to their own government contracts can be restricted from bidding on Canadian federal contracts. This measure will prioritize suppliers from Canada and from our reliable trading partners that provide reciprocal access to suppliers from Canada through trade agreements.

    The policy applies to all federal departments and agencies and will be implemented in two phases:

    • Phase 1, the interim policy, will focus on applying the policy based on the location of suppliers, started with the roll-out of training and tools on June 30, 2025, to support implementation. The interim policy is effective as of July 14, 2025.
    • Phase 2, the complete policy, will determine supplier eligibility based on the origin of goods and services being offered, and will be introduced at a later date.

    As shared earlier this year, the government is also exploring additional ways to maximize the use of Canadian steel and aluminum in government-funded projects, including in coordination with Canadian provinces and territories.

    By enforcing fair and reciprocal procurement access, the government will protect Canadian innovation, jobs, and economic growth, and ensure that Canadian suppliers remain competitive in the global marketplace.  We will defend the interests of Canadians, safeguard Canada’s workers and businesses, and build one Canadian economy – the strongest economy in the G7.  

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada’s new government implements Interim Reciprocal Procurement to protect Canadian businesses from unfair trade practices

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 14, 2025 – Gatineau (Quebec)                                        

    As Canada’s new government negotiates a new economic and security partnership with the United States, it is also taking action to protect Canadian workers and businesses from unfair trade practices.  

    Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement announced that the government has implemented a new Interim Policy on Reciprocal Procurement. Under this new policy, suppliers from countries that limit Canadian access to their own government contracts can be restricted from bidding on Canadian federal contracts. This measure will prioritize suppliers from Canada and from our reliable trading partners that provide reciprocal access to suppliers from Canada through trade agreements.

    The policy applies to all federal departments and agencies and will be implemented in two phases:

    • Phase 1, the interim policy, will focus on applying the policy based on the location of suppliers, started with the roll-out of training and tools on June 30, 2025, to support implementation. The interim policy is effective as of July 14, 2025.
    • Phase 2, the complete policy, will determine supplier eligibility based on the origin of goods and services being offered, and will be introduced at a later date.

    As shared earlier this year, the government is also exploring additional ways to maximize the use of Canadian steel and aluminum in government-funded projects, including in coordination with Canadian provinces and territories.

    By enforcing fair and reciprocal procurement access, the government will protect Canadian innovation, jobs, and economic growth, and ensure that Canadian suppliers remain competitive in the global marketplace.  We will defend the interests of Canadians, safeguard Canada’s workers and businesses, and build one Canadian economy – the strongest economy in the G7.  

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson: America First is No Longer Just an Agenda, It is the Law of the Land

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson appeared on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the historic One Big Beautiful Bill and how House Republicans are keeping their foot on the gas after President Trump signed it into law. 

    Watch the full interview here

    On the One Big Beautiful Bill adding jet fuel to the US economy:

    The big beautiful bill, people call it a spending bill. It wasn’t. The only increases in spending were for those two priorities, border and national defense. Everything else was carving back and saving money from the budget, which is why you call it a reconciliation bill. So we would have actually achieved, and we will, in excess of $1.6 trillion in savings. That is an historic number. No congress, no legislative body in the history of planet Earth has ever saved so much in a bill. Now, it’s just the first step though, Maria, as we point out, we have a $37 trillion federal debt. You and I talk about this all the time. We all do. And we have to have a combination of reduced spending and greater economic growth. 

    We put jet fuel into the economy with the one big beautiful bill. It will be that. Extraordinary growth, we’re projecting 3% going forward and $4 trillion in new revenue, just out of the legislation. But more is ahead. And the tariff policy and the other policies of the Trump administration have been wildly successful. In fact, we had a budget surplus, as you know, in the month of June, the first time since 2017 when President Trump was last in the White House. So more of that is ahead. Every American will feel it. And the big beautiful bill was geared and written for lower- and middle-class earners in the country. They’re going to be feeling really good as we go into that midterm election in 2026.

    On House Republicans legislative agenda going forward:

    We’re implementing a playbook that we designed well over a year ago, about 15 months ago. We began this process understanding and believing that we would win unified government, that we’d have the White House, the Senate, and the House in Republican hands, and that we would not want to waste this historic opportunity with President Trump coming back to the White House and us having the responsibility of fixing every metric of public policy that Biden and Harris and the Democrats destroyed over the previous four years. So, the big beautiful bill was the first big step in that. But we have multiple steps ahead of us. We have long planned for at least two, possibly three reconciliation bills, one in the fall and one next spring that would continue to allow us to do this on a partisan basis, where we only need Republican votes and we don’t have to drag Democrats along. They are in no appetite to fix any of the mess. We have to do it ourselves. So yes, that’s next. 

    In addition to that, we will continue to get the country back on a path to fiscal responsibility by rescissions packages that will come from the White House that we’ll enact, and claw back spending and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in the multiple reconciliation packages, and in appropriating at lower levels of funding. All these things will be done while we’re codifying more of President Trump’s executive orders. He’s been very busy. We will be as well. We have a lot more work ahead of us.

    On codifying President Trump’s executive orders:

    Almost 30 of them were included in the big beautiful Bill. So that was a lawmaking exercise; the president has now signed them into law and they’re codified. So it’s not a temporary thing, they’ll be permanent in the law. And we’ve done a number, about 15 or 20 additional executive orders that we’ve already codified in the House. We’ll continue that process. We wanted to get as many of them as we could into the reconciliation package because we knew that we were certain that that would actually be signed into law and it wouldn’t just be a feelgood exercise. So more of that will continue going forward. The president’s been one of the most prolific, I think arguably the most successful president in the first six months of this term than any previous president. Look how many things have been accomplished? A lot of it has been done through executive order, so Congress has its role to play now as well.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson: America First is No Longer Just an Agenda, It is the Law of the Land

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson appeared on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the historic One Big Beautiful Bill and how House Republicans are keeping their foot on the gas after President Trump signed it into law. 

    Watch the full interview here

    On the One Big Beautiful Bill adding jet fuel to the US economy:

    The big beautiful bill, people call it a spending bill. It wasn’t. The only increases in spending were for those two priorities, border and national defense. Everything else was carving back and saving money from the budget, which is why you call it a reconciliation bill. So we would have actually achieved, and we will, in excess of $1.6 trillion in savings. That is an historic number. No congress, no legislative body in the history of planet Earth has ever saved so much in a bill. Now, it’s just the first step though, Maria, as we point out, we have a $37 trillion federal debt. You and I talk about this all the time. We all do. And we have to have a combination of reduced spending and greater economic growth. 

    We put jet fuel into the economy with the one big beautiful bill. It will be that. Extraordinary growth, we’re projecting 3% going forward and $4 trillion in new revenue, just out of the legislation. But more is ahead. And the tariff policy and the other policies of the Trump administration have been wildly successful. In fact, we had a budget surplus, as you know, in the month of June, the first time since 2017 when President Trump was last in the White House. So more of that is ahead. Every American will feel it. And the big beautiful bill was geared and written for lower- and middle-class earners in the country. They’re going to be feeling really good as we go into that midterm election in 2026.

    On House Republicans legislative agenda going forward:

    We’re implementing a playbook that we designed well over a year ago, about 15 months ago. We began this process understanding and believing that we would win unified government, that we’d have the White House, the Senate, and the House in Republican hands, and that we would not want to waste this historic opportunity with President Trump coming back to the White House and us having the responsibility of fixing every metric of public policy that Biden and Harris and the Democrats destroyed over the previous four years. So, the big beautiful bill was the first big step in that. But we have multiple steps ahead of us. We have long planned for at least two, possibly three reconciliation bills, one in the fall and one next spring that would continue to allow us to do this on a partisan basis, where we only need Republican votes and we don’t have to drag Democrats along. They are in no appetite to fix any of the mess. We have to do it ourselves. So yes, that’s next. 

    In addition to that, we will continue to get the country back on a path to fiscal responsibility by rescissions packages that will come from the White House that we’ll enact, and claw back spending and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in the multiple reconciliation packages, and in appropriating at lower levels of funding. All these things will be done while we’re codifying more of President Trump’s executive orders. He’s been very busy. We will be as well. We have a lot more work ahead of us.

    On codifying President Trump’s executive orders:

    Almost 30 of them were included in the big beautiful Bill. So that was a lawmaking exercise; the president has now signed them into law and they’re codified. So it’s not a temporary thing, they’ll be permanent in the law. And we’ve done a number, about 15 or 20 additional executive orders that we’ve already codified in the House. We’ll continue that process. We wanted to get as many of them as we could into the reconciliation package because we knew that we were certain that that would actually be signed into law and it wouldn’t just be a feelgood exercise. So more of that will continue going forward. The president’s been one of the most prolific, I think arguably the most successful president in the first six months of this term than any previous president. Look how many things have been accomplished? A lot of it has been done through executive order, so Congress has its role to play now as well.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson: America First is No Longer Just an Agenda, It is the Law of the Land

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson appeared on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the historic One Big Beautiful Bill and how House Republicans are keeping their foot on the gas after President Trump signed it into law. 

    Watch the full interview here

    On the One Big Beautiful Bill adding jet fuel to the US economy:

    The big beautiful bill, people call it a spending bill. It wasn’t. The only increases in spending were for those two priorities, border and national defense. Everything else was carving back and saving money from the budget, which is why you call it a reconciliation bill. So we would have actually achieved, and we will, in excess of $1.6 trillion in savings. That is an historic number. No congress, no legislative body in the history of planet Earth has ever saved so much in a bill. Now, it’s just the first step though, Maria, as we point out, we have a $37 trillion federal debt. You and I talk about this all the time. We all do. And we have to have a combination of reduced spending and greater economic growth. 

    We put jet fuel into the economy with the one big beautiful bill. It will be that. Extraordinary growth, we’re projecting 3% going forward and $4 trillion in new revenue, just out of the legislation. But more is ahead. And the tariff policy and the other policies of the Trump administration have been wildly successful. In fact, we had a budget surplus, as you know, in the month of June, the first time since 2017 when President Trump was last in the White House. So more of that is ahead. Every American will feel it. And the big beautiful bill was geared and written for lower- and middle-class earners in the country. They’re going to be feeling really good as we go into that midterm election in 2026.

    On House Republicans legislative agenda going forward:

    We’re implementing a playbook that we designed well over a year ago, about 15 months ago. We began this process understanding and believing that we would win unified government, that we’d have the White House, the Senate, and the House in Republican hands, and that we would not want to waste this historic opportunity with President Trump coming back to the White House and us having the responsibility of fixing every metric of public policy that Biden and Harris and the Democrats destroyed over the previous four years. So, the big beautiful bill was the first big step in that. But we have multiple steps ahead of us. We have long planned for at least two, possibly three reconciliation bills, one in the fall and one next spring that would continue to allow us to do this on a partisan basis, where we only need Republican votes and we don’t have to drag Democrats along. They are in no appetite to fix any of the mess. We have to do it ourselves. So yes, that’s next. 

    In addition to that, we will continue to get the country back on a path to fiscal responsibility by rescissions packages that will come from the White House that we’ll enact, and claw back spending and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in the multiple reconciliation packages, and in appropriating at lower levels of funding. All these things will be done while we’re codifying more of President Trump’s executive orders. He’s been very busy. We will be as well. We have a lot more work ahead of us.

    On codifying President Trump’s executive orders:

    Almost 30 of them were included in the big beautiful Bill. So that was a lawmaking exercise; the president has now signed them into law and they’re codified. So it’s not a temporary thing, they’ll be permanent in the law. And we’ve done a number, about 15 or 20 additional executive orders that we’ve already codified in the House. We’ll continue that process. We wanted to get as many of them as we could into the reconciliation package because we knew that we were certain that that would actually be signed into law and it wouldn’t just be a feelgood exercise. So more of that will continue going forward. The president’s been one of the most prolific, I think arguably the most successful president in the first six months of this term than any previous president. Look how many things have been accomplished? A lot of it has been done through executive order, so Congress has its role to play now as well.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Op-ed: The True Meaning of The Separation of Church and State

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson published an op-ed on X titled, “The True Meaning of ‘The Separation of Church and State.’”

    “As we approach the 250th birthday of our great nation, it has never been more important to defend truth on every front, repair our foundations, and hold fast to who we are and what we stand for,” Speaker Johnson wrote.

    Read Speaker Johnson’s full op-ed on X here or below:

    Amid all the other big news this week, a landmark development in a federal court in Texas drew less attention than expected. On Monday, the IRS agreed to a consent judgment that will restore the First Amendment rights of churches and religious non-profit organizations to speak freely without losing their tax-exempt status. The court should quickly approve that proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed by the National Religious Broadcasters and Texas churches, which was brought to overturn a 1950s-era provision in the tax code known as “the Johnson Amendment.”

    As a former constitutional law litigator, I – along with many of my former colleagues – have long argued that the Johnson Amendment is unconstitutional. President Trump understands this well, and in his speech to the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast, he resolved to “get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.” Resolving the Texas case will be key to ensuring that people of faith are no longer censored and silenced because of the tax code – and hopefully it will serve as a teachable moment about one of the most misunderstood subjects in our culture.

    Most people today who insist upon a rigid “separation between church and state” are unaware the phrase derives not from the Constitution, but from a personal letter that President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802.

    He explained that because “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God,” the language of the First Amendment is a vital safeguard for our “rights of conscience.” Jefferson said he revered “that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”

    Jefferson clearly did not mean that metaphorical “wall” was to keep religion from influencing issues of civil government. To the contrary, it was meant to keep the federal government from impeding the religious practice of citizens. The Founders wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.

    The majority of the Founders, having personally witnessed the abuses of the Church of England, were determined to prevent the official establishment of any single national denomination or religion. However, they very deliberately listed religious liberty (the free exercise of religion) as the first freedom protected in the Bill of Rights **because they wanted everyone to freely live out their faith – as that would ensure a robust presence of moral virtue in the public square and the free marketplace of ideas.**

    Volumes written on this topic can be summarized by reference to the sentiments of our first two presidents. In his historic Farewell Address, “the Father of our Country,” George Washington, declared: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” John Adams warned directly: “Our Constitution is made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

    What these two Founders and their fellow patriots all understood from history was that there are many important rules and practices that can help build and sustain a healthy republic. But the key – and the essential foundation – of a system of government like ours must be a common commitment among the citizenry to the principles of religion and morality.

    The Founders acknowledged in the Declaration the self-evident truths that all men are created equal, and that God gives all men the same inalienable rights. However, they knew that in order to maintain a government “of the people, by the people and for the people,” as Lincoln articulated, in “this nation, under God,” those inalienable rights must be exercised in a responsible manner. They thus believed in liberty that is legitimately constrained by a common sense of morality – and a healthy fear of the Creator, who granted all men our rights.

    The Founders understood that all men are fallen and that power corrupts. They also knew that no amount of institutional checks and balances or decentralization of power in civil authorities would be sufficient to maintain a just government if the men in charge had no fear of eternal judgment by a power HIGHER than their temporal institutions.

    A free society and a healthy republic depend upon religious and moral virtue- not only because they help prevent political corruption and the abuse of power – but also because those convictions in the minds and hearts of the people make it possible to preserve their essential freedoms by emphasizing and inspiring individual responsibility, self-sacrifice, the dignity of hard work, the rule of law, civility, patriotism, the value of family and community, and the sanctity of every human life. Without those virtues, “indispensably supported” by religion and morality, every nation will ultimately fall.

    Inscribed on the third panel of the Jefferson Memorial here in Washington, D.C., is his sobering reminder to every American: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

    The experience of history teaches that these principles are universal and timeless, and they certainly apply to our nation today. Alexis de Tocqueville is credited with the keen observation that “America is great because she is good, and if she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” That has been the key to our exceptionalism. Our republic depends upon it now more than ever, and it is our job to instill and preserve it.

    As we approach the 250th birthday of our great nation, it has never been more important to defend truth on every front, repair our foundations, and hold fast to who we are and what we stand for. Anyone who has been misled to believe that religious principles and viewpoints must be separated from public affairs should be reminded to review their history. Let us hope the federal court in Texas accepts the IRS consent judgment as yet another acknowledgment of these essential truths.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Op-ed: The True Meaning of The Separation of Church and State

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson published an op-ed on X titled, “The True Meaning of ‘The Separation of Church and State.’”

    “As we approach the 250th birthday of our great nation, it has never been more important to defend truth on every front, repair our foundations, and hold fast to who we are and what we stand for,” Speaker Johnson wrote.

    Read Speaker Johnson’s full op-ed on X here or below:

    Amid all the other big news this week, a landmark development in a federal court in Texas drew less attention than expected. On Monday, the IRS agreed to a consent judgment that will restore the First Amendment rights of churches and religious non-profit organizations to speak freely without losing their tax-exempt status. The court should quickly approve that proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed by the National Religious Broadcasters and Texas churches, which was brought to overturn a 1950s-era provision in the tax code known as “the Johnson Amendment.”

    As a former constitutional law litigator, I – along with many of my former colleagues – have long argued that the Johnson Amendment is unconstitutional. President Trump understands this well, and in his speech to the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast, he resolved to “get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.” Resolving the Texas case will be key to ensuring that people of faith are no longer censored and silenced because of the tax code – and hopefully it will serve as a teachable moment about one of the most misunderstood subjects in our culture.

    Most people today who insist upon a rigid “separation between church and state” are unaware the phrase derives not from the Constitution, but from a personal letter that President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802.

    He explained that because “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God,” the language of the First Amendment is a vital safeguard for our “rights of conscience.” Jefferson said he revered “that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”

    Jefferson clearly did not mean that metaphorical “wall” was to keep religion from influencing issues of civil government. To the contrary, it was meant to keep the federal government from impeding the religious practice of citizens. The Founders wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.

    The majority of the Founders, having personally witnessed the abuses of the Church of England, were determined to prevent the official establishment of any single national denomination or religion. However, they very deliberately listed religious liberty (the free exercise of religion) as the first freedom protected in the Bill of Rights **because they wanted everyone to freely live out their faith – as that would ensure a robust presence of moral virtue in the public square and the free marketplace of ideas.**

    Volumes written on this topic can be summarized by reference to the sentiments of our first two presidents. In his historic Farewell Address, “the Father of our Country,” George Washington, declared: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” John Adams warned directly: “Our Constitution is made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

    What these two Founders and their fellow patriots all understood from history was that there are many important rules and practices that can help build and sustain a healthy republic. But the key – and the essential foundation – of a system of government like ours must be a common commitment among the citizenry to the principles of religion and morality.

    The Founders acknowledged in the Declaration the self-evident truths that all men are created equal, and that God gives all men the same inalienable rights. However, they knew that in order to maintain a government “of the people, by the people and for the people,” as Lincoln articulated, in “this nation, under God,” those inalienable rights must be exercised in a responsible manner. They thus believed in liberty that is legitimately constrained by a common sense of morality – and a healthy fear of the Creator, who granted all men our rights.

    The Founders understood that all men are fallen and that power corrupts. They also knew that no amount of institutional checks and balances or decentralization of power in civil authorities would be sufficient to maintain a just government if the men in charge had no fear of eternal judgment by a power HIGHER than their temporal institutions.

    A free society and a healthy republic depend upon religious and moral virtue- not only because they help prevent political corruption and the abuse of power – but also because those convictions in the minds and hearts of the people make it possible to preserve their essential freedoms by emphasizing and inspiring individual responsibility, self-sacrifice, the dignity of hard work, the rule of law, civility, patriotism, the value of family and community, and the sanctity of every human life. Without those virtues, “indispensably supported” by religion and morality, every nation will ultimately fall.

    Inscribed on the third panel of the Jefferson Memorial here in Washington, D.C., is his sobering reminder to every American: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

    The experience of history teaches that these principles are universal and timeless, and they certainly apply to our nation today. Alexis de Tocqueville is credited with the keen observation that “America is great because she is good, and if she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” That has been the key to our exceptionalism. Our republic depends upon it now more than ever, and it is our job to instill and preserve it.

    As we approach the 250th birthday of our great nation, it has never been more important to defend truth on every front, repair our foundations, and hold fast to who we are and what we stand for. Anyone who has been misled to believe that religious principles and viewpoints must be separated from public affairs should be reminded to review their history. Let us hope the federal court in Texas accepts the IRS consent judgment as yet another acknowledgment of these essential truths.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Op-ed: The True Meaning of The Separation of Church and State

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson published an op-ed on X titled, “The True Meaning of ‘The Separation of Church and State.’”

    “As we approach the 250th birthday of our great nation, it has never been more important to defend truth on every front, repair our foundations, and hold fast to who we are and what we stand for,” Speaker Johnson wrote.

    Read Speaker Johnson’s full op-ed on X here or below:

    Amid all the other big news this week, a landmark development in a federal court in Texas drew less attention than expected. On Monday, the IRS agreed to a consent judgment that will restore the First Amendment rights of churches and religious non-profit organizations to speak freely without losing their tax-exempt status. The court should quickly approve that proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed by the National Religious Broadcasters and Texas churches, which was brought to overturn a 1950s-era provision in the tax code known as “the Johnson Amendment.”

    As a former constitutional law litigator, I – along with many of my former colleagues – have long argued that the Johnson Amendment is unconstitutional. President Trump understands this well, and in his speech to the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast, he resolved to “get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.” Resolving the Texas case will be key to ensuring that people of faith are no longer censored and silenced because of the tax code – and hopefully it will serve as a teachable moment about one of the most misunderstood subjects in our culture.

    Most people today who insist upon a rigid “separation between church and state” are unaware the phrase derives not from the Constitution, but from a personal letter that President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802.

    He explained that because “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God,” the language of the First Amendment is a vital safeguard for our “rights of conscience.” Jefferson said he revered “that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”

    Jefferson clearly did not mean that metaphorical “wall” was to keep religion from influencing issues of civil government. To the contrary, it was meant to keep the federal government from impeding the religious practice of citizens. The Founders wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.

    The majority of the Founders, having personally witnessed the abuses of the Church of England, were determined to prevent the official establishment of any single national denomination or religion. However, they very deliberately listed religious liberty (the free exercise of religion) as the first freedom protected in the Bill of Rights **because they wanted everyone to freely live out their faith – as that would ensure a robust presence of moral virtue in the public square and the free marketplace of ideas.**

    Volumes written on this topic can be summarized by reference to the sentiments of our first two presidents. In his historic Farewell Address, “the Father of our Country,” George Washington, declared: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” John Adams warned directly: “Our Constitution is made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

    What these two Founders and their fellow patriots all understood from history was that there are many important rules and practices that can help build and sustain a healthy republic. But the key – and the essential foundation – of a system of government like ours must be a common commitment among the citizenry to the principles of religion and morality.

    The Founders acknowledged in the Declaration the self-evident truths that all men are created equal, and that God gives all men the same inalienable rights. However, they knew that in order to maintain a government “of the people, by the people and for the people,” as Lincoln articulated, in “this nation, under God,” those inalienable rights must be exercised in a responsible manner. They thus believed in liberty that is legitimately constrained by a common sense of morality – and a healthy fear of the Creator, who granted all men our rights.

    The Founders understood that all men are fallen and that power corrupts. They also knew that no amount of institutional checks and balances or decentralization of power in civil authorities would be sufficient to maintain a just government if the men in charge had no fear of eternal judgment by a power HIGHER than their temporal institutions.

    A free society and a healthy republic depend upon religious and moral virtue- not only because they help prevent political corruption and the abuse of power – but also because those convictions in the minds and hearts of the people make it possible to preserve their essential freedoms by emphasizing and inspiring individual responsibility, self-sacrifice, the dignity of hard work, the rule of law, civility, patriotism, the value of family and community, and the sanctity of every human life. Without those virtues, “indispensably supported” by religion and morality, every nation will ultimately fall.

    Inscribed on the third panel of the Jefferson Memorial here in Washington, D.C., is his sobering reminder to every American: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

    The experience of history teaches that these principles are universal and timeless, and they certainly apply to our nation today. Alexis de Tocqueville is credited with the keen observation that “America is great because she is good, and if she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” That has been the key to our exceptionalism. Our republic depends upon it now more than ever, and it is our job to instill and preserve it.

    As we approach the 250th birthday of our great nation, it has never been more important to defend truth on every front, repair our foundations, and hold fast to who we are and what we stand for. Anyone who has been misled to believe that religious principles and viewpoints must be separated from public affairs should be reminded to review their history. Let us hope the federal court in Texas accepts the IRS consent judgment as yet another acknowledgment of these essential truths.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Seattle Businessman Convicted of Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax Returns

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury convicted a Washington man on Friday for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to a scheme to conceal income received from his commercial property business.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Steven Loo, of Seattle, controlled and operated eight companies that owned commercial real estate. Each was managed by independent property management companies, which were responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the real estate. Loo diverted the income he earned from his real estate by instructing the property management companies to issue checks, categorized as asset management fees, to two other entities that Loo controlled. Loo knew that the funds deposited into these bank accounts, totaling more than $4.8 million, were income to him and that he was required to report and pay tax on the funds. Nevertheless, Loo filed tax returns for 2015 through 2020 that did not report or pay tax on these funds.

    Evidence presented at trial showed that Loo owes $1.6 million in taxes on his unreported income.

    Loo is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the false tax return charges and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the tax evasion charges for which he was convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Seattle Businessman Convicted of Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax Returns

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury convicted a Washington man on Friday for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to a scheme to conceal income received from his commercial property business.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Steven Loo, of Seattle, controlled and operated eight companies that owned commercial real estate. Each was managed by independent property management companies, which were responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the real estate. Loo diverted the income he earned from his real estate by instructing the property management companies to issue checks, categorized as asset management fees, to two other entities that Loo controlled. Loo knew that the funds deposited into these bank accounts, totaling more than $4.8 million, were income to him and that he was required to report and pay tax on the funds. Nevertheless, Loo filed tax returns for 2015 through 2020 that did not report or pay tax on these funds.

    Evidence presented at trial showed that Loo owes $1.6 million in taxes on his unreported income.

    Loo is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the false tax return charges and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the tax evasion charges for which he was convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Seattle Businessman Convicted of Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax Returns

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury convicted a Washington man on Friday for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to a scheme to conceal income received from his commercial property business.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Steven Loo, of Seattle, controlled and operated eight companies that owned commercial real estate. Each was managed by independent property management companies, which were responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the real estate. Loo diverted the income he earned from his real estate by instructing the property management companies to issue checks, categorized as asset management fees, to two other entities that Loo controlled. Loo knew that the funds deposited into these bank accounts, totaling more than $4.8 million, were income to him and that he was required to report and pay tax on the funds. Nevertheless, Loo filed tax returns for 2015 through 2020 that did not report or pay tax on these funds.

    Evidence presented at trial showed that Loo owes $1.6 million in taxes on his unreported income.

    Loo is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the false tax return charges and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the tax evasion charges for which he was convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ISSUES RFP TO ADVANCE CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ON CONTAMINATED LANDS

    Source: US State of Maine

    July 14, 2025

    Hallowell, Maine– The Maine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the sale of energy or renewable energy credits (RECs) to promote the economic reuse of contaminated land through clean energy development, in accordance with 35-A M.R.S. 3210-J (statute).

    The RFP seeks proposals for energy or RECs from eligible Class IA renewable resources. Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM on July 25, 2025. The Commission seeks to procure up to 1,573,026 MWh in this solicitation.

    “This RFP demonstrates Maine’s strong commitment to both advancing clean energy and supporting the reuse of contaminated land for economic benefit,” said Commission Chair Philip L. Bartlett II. By prioritizing projects on PFAS-contaminated agricultural land, were helping communities turn environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable development and cost savings for ratepayers.

    To be eligible, a Class IA resource must:

    -Qualify as a Maine RPS Class IA resource;

    -Begin commercial operations on or after September 19, 2023; and

    -Have either an executed interconnection agreement or a system impact study underway, if required by the applicable regional transmission organization, independent system operator, or administrator.

    Proposals will be evaluated based on the requirements of the statute, and the criteria detailed in the RFP. To be selected, a project must demonstrate that it is likely to produce net benefits to ratepayers that exceed its costs.

    In accordance with the statute, the Commission will give primary preference to projects located on contaminated land-specifically agricultural land contaminated by PFAS. Projects sited on contaminated land will be awarded contracts before other qualifying projects that are not sited on contaminated land. To qualify for this preference, at least 90% of the project footprint must be located on such land.

    For more information, please visit the Commissions website at:

    CONTACT: Susan Faloon, Media Liaison CELL: 207-557-3704 EMAIL: susan.faloon@maine.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seattle Businessman Convicted of Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax Returns

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    A federal jury convicted a Washington man on Friday for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to a scheme to conceal income received from his commercial property business.

    The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Steven Loo, of Seattle, controlled and operated eight companies that owned commercial real estate. Each was managed by independent property management companies, which were responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the real estate. Loo diverted the income he earned from his real estate by instructing the property management companies to issue checks, categorized as asset management fees, to two other entities that Loo controlled. Loo knew that the funds deposited into these bank accounts, totaling more than $4.8 million, were income to him and that he was required to report and pay tax on the funds. Nevertheless, Loo filed tax returns for 2015 through 2020 that did not report or pay tax on these funds.

    Evidence presented at trial showed that Loo owes $1.6 million in taxes on his unreported income.

    Loo is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the false tax return charges and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the tax evasion charges for which he was convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The anatomy of a flash flood: Why the Texas flood was so deadly

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Hossein Bonakdari, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    Between July 3 and 6, Texas Hill Country experienced catastrophic flash flooding along the Guadalupe River system. The floods claimed at least 130 lives, with over 96 fatalities in Kerr County alone. More than 160 people were missing as of July 12, including children attending camps along the river.

    Preliminary economic losses are estimated at US$18–22 billion, reflecting both residential and infrastructure damages.

    Understanding the anatomy of this flash flood, and unravelling the complex interplay of meteorological, geomorphological and hydrological forces, forms the foundation for a comprehensive assessment of what happened. This information is vital to help prevent future similar tragedies from occurring.



    Read more:
    What is a flash flood? A civil engineer explains

    Atmospheric conditions

    The July 2025 flood event in central Texas was triggered by a rare and potent meteorological configuration.

    Atmospheric anomalies are weather conditions that differ from what’s expected. Analysis of the July 2025 atmospheric anomalies reveals exceptional thermodynamic conditions that directly contributed to the flood’s severity.

    The total precipitation over the core impact zone in the Hill Country during July 3 to 6 is estimated to have delivered more than 15 billion cubic metres of water — an extraordinary volume.

    This deluge was supported by persistent temperature anomalies ranging from 5.4 to 6.9 degrees Celsius above the mean. Such elevated temperatures increased the atmosphere’s capacity to retain moisture.

    At these anomaly levels, the air mass could store 35 to 50 per cent more water vapour than normal.

    Simultaneously, specific humidity anomalies reflected a 60 to 70 per cent increase over July baselines for central Texas. Specific humidity, which quantifies the actual mass of water vapour per kilogram of air, provides a more direct metric of latent moisture available for precipitation.

    The convergence of these extreme thermodynamic variables created an ideal environment for deep, moisture-laden convection, supporting prolonged intense rainfall.

    This map of Texas highlights the core impact zone in Hill Country, where rainfall totals exceeded 430 millimetres, more than four times the regional July average.
    (H. Bonakdari/GSMaP), CC BY

    Terrain impacts

    While meteorological extremes initiated the July 2025 flood event, the morphology of the Guadalupe River — its shape, behaviour and flows — was pivotal in transforming heavy rainfall into a catastrophic flash flood.

    The upper basin’s physical geography, drainage configuration and valley structure contributed to the rapid concentration and propagation of floodwaters.

    Known as “Flash Flood Alley,” the terrain of the upper Guadalupe River basin amplified the July 2025 flood through a combination of steep slopes, shallow soils and karstic geology.

    These steep slopes limited infiltration and led to rapid soil saturation under intense rainfall. The predominance of karstic limestone — limestone that has been shaped by water creating plains and sinkholes — further reduced storage below the surface, resulting in minimal delay between rainfall and discharge.

    Additionally, narrow valley sections created hydraulic bottlenecks, accelerating flow and increasing flood depth, particularly affecting residential areas and campsites.

    A map showing the relationships between steep headwaters, tributary confluences and vulnerable downstream communities.
    (H. Bonakdari/NASA), CC BY

    In contrast, broader valleys allowed for the water to spread laterally; there was still destructive momentum due to upstream forcing. These geomorphic traits, compounded by the extreme atmospheric moisture, created an environment where floodwaters accumulated rapidly and struck with devastating force, especially along confluence zones and densely occupied riverfronts.

    Excessive runoff

    Prior to the July 2025 event, central Texas had already experienced elevated soil moisture conditions due to above-average rainfall during June and early July. Antecedent moisture indices that measure how wet the ground is before rainfall approached 90 to 100 per cent saturation, meaning that the ground was effectively primed for rapid runoff generation.

    The region’s karst terrain — characterized by shallow, rocky soils — offered less than five per cent effective porosity, severely limiting absorption into the ground. Simultaneously, regional groundwater tables had risen underground, further reducing the ground’s capacity to absorb water.

    This set the stage for an outsized response to the incoming deluge. When intense rainfall arrived, the ground was quickly and completely saturated, resulting in immediate and rapid surface runoff.

    The time of concentration is how long it takes rainwater from the farthest part of a watershed to reach its outlet, like a river or stream. In central Texas Hill Country (known for its steep slopes and rocky, shallow soils), that time is just one to two hours. This means that heavy rain can lead to dangerous river rises very quickly.

    Water flows fast down the slopes and through underground limestone channels, leaving little time for it to soak into the ground. As a result, rivers such as the Guadalupe can swell rapidly, rising several feet in a short time, which causes fast-moving flood impacts in narrow valleys and low-lying communities.

    Multiple forces

    The July floods in Texas were devastatingly deadly. A confluence of various meteorological and topographical factors were to blame.

    An overheated atmosphere, saturated with water vapour, unleashed record-breaking rainfall. The unique terrain of Texas Hill Country funnelled that rain swiftly into the river system, while the region’s hydrology, already primed by previous storms, converted nearly all of it into runoff.

    By understanding how these atmospheric, geographic and hydrological elements combined, we can better anticipate future risks in “Flash Flood Alley” and improve early warning systems to save lives.

    Hossein Bonakdari 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. The anatomy of a flash flood: Why the Texas flood was so deadly – https://theconversation.com/the-anatomy-of-a-flash-flood-why-the-texas-flood-was-so-deadly-260695

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A robot stole my internship: How Gen Z’s entry into the workplace is being affected by AI

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Melise Panetta, Lecturer of Marketing in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

    For years, the expression “the robot took my job” has brought to mind visions of machines replacing workers on factory floors. But Gen Z is facing a new challenge: the loss of internships and other entry-level positions to AI.

    Internships and junior roles have historically provided a predictable ladder into the workforce by providing new workers with the experience and skills needed for long-term career development.

    But as artificial intelligence (AI) spreads to every corner of the modern workplace, these roles are susceptible to being replaced by automation.

    Entry-level roles traditionally involve low-complexity, high-frequency tasks such as data entry, scheduling or drafting reports — tasks that generative AI can do significantly cheaper and faster than a human. This almost certainly means fewer traditional bottom rungs on the career ladder.

    We are already seeing the impact of this: entry-level jobs are becoming scarcer, with candidates competing against a 14 per cent hike in applications per role, according to LinkedIn.

    No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

    Read more from Quarter Life:

    AI is changing the workplace

    The integration of AI across industries is fundamentally reshaping the job market.

    Nearly half of professionals worry AI will replace their jobs. There is good reason for this: by 2030, it’s estimated that nearly 30 per cent of work could be automated by generative AI.

    Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of executives say they are willing to use AI tools to drive up productivity at the expense of losing staff. Conversely, only one in three executives are willing to keep their staff at the expense of higher expected productivity.

    It is also projected that declines in traditional entry-level or junior roles in sectors such as food services, customer service, sales and office support work could account for nearly 84 per cent of the occupational shifts expected by 2030.

    Talent and entry-level role shortages in the future

    Data on AI and the future of work also points to another potential problem: a talent shortage for certain skill sets. A 2024 report from Microsoft and LinkedIn found that leaders are concerned with shortages in areas such as cybersecurity, engineering and creative design.

    Though this data might appear contradictory, it signals that in addition to fewer entry level positions being available, changes to job roles and skill sets are also on the horizon.

    As a result, competition for entry-level roles is expected to increase, with greater value put on candidates who can use AI tools to improve their productivity and effectiveness.

    Rather than simply eliminating jobs, many roles are evolving to require new capabilities. There is also growing demand for specialized talent where AI cannot yet fully augment human abilities.

    AI literacy is the new entry requirement

    As AI becomes more prevalent in the workforce, “entry-level” roles are no longer just about completing basic tasks, but about knowing how to work effectively with new technologies, including AI.

    Employers are beginning to place immense value on AI literacy. Two-thirds of managers say they wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills and 71 per cent say they would prefer a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced one without them.

    With fewer entry-level positions available, young workers will need to figure out how to stand out in a competitive job market. But despite these challenges, Gen Z may also be the best-positioned to adapt to these changes.

    As digital natives, many Gen Z are already integrating AI tools into their work. A report from LinkedIn and Microsoft found 85 per cent are bringing AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot into the workplace, indicating they are both comfortable and eager to make use of this technology.

    This trend mirrors broader trends across the workforce. One report found 76 per cent of professionals believe they need AI-related skills to remain competitive. That same Microsoft and LinkedIn report found there has been a 160 per cent surge in learning courses for AI literacy.

    This growing emphasis on AI skills is part of a wider shift toward “upskilling” — the process of enhancing skill sets to adapt to the changing conditions of the job market. Today, upskilling means leaning how to use AI to enhance, accelerate and strengthen your performance in the workplace.

    A new kind of entry-level job

    Since AI literacy is becoming a core career skill, being able to present yourself as a candidate with AI skills is important for standing out in a crowded entry-level job market. This includes knowing how to use AI tools, evaluate their outputs critically and apply them in a workplace context. It also means learning how to present AI skills on a resume and in interviews.

    Employers also have a role to play in all this. If they want to attract and retain employees, they need to redesign entry-level roles. Instead of eliminating entry-level roles, they should refocus on higher-value activities that require critical thinking or creativity. These are the areas where humans outperform machines, and where AI can act as a support rather than a replacement.

    But to make this work, employers need to re-evaluate their hiring practices to prioritize AI literacy and transferable skills over outdated experience requirements.

    The future of work isn’t about humans being replaced by robots, but about learning how to use the technology to enhance skills and creating new entry points into the professional world.

    Melise Panetta 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. A robot stole my internship: How Gen Z’s entry into the workplace is being affected by AI – https://theconversation.com/a-robot-stole-my-internship-how-gen-zs-entry-into-the-workplace-is-being-affected-by-ai-260381

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran could fuel a new wave of nuclear proliferation

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Saira Bano, Assistant Professor in Political Science, Thompson Rivers University

    In the wake of recent strikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian cities, military sites and nuclear facilities, a troubling paradox has emerged: actions intended to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons may actually be accelerating its pursuit of them and encouraging other countries to follow suit.

    On June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. The operation began with a series of co-ordinated strikes targeting Iran’s top nuclear scientists, senior military officials and key members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

    Despite establishing air dominance, Israel did not possess the capability to destroy Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear facilities — especially the Fordow enrichment site, which is buried deep within a mountain.



    Read more:
    Why Israel and the U.S. are sure to encounter the limits of air power in Iran

    On June 21, the U.S. carried out major airstrikes targeting Iran’s critical nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Using B-2 stealth bombers equipped with bunker-busting bombs, the operation aimed to cripple Iran’s deeply fortified nuclear infrastructure.

    Three days later, Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire, bringing the 12-day conflict to an end. While both sides declared aspects of the campaign successful, the war marked a dangerous escalation in regional tensions and raised renewed concerns over the future of nuclear nonproliferation and security in the Middle East.

    History of nuclear negotiations

    The U.S. has consistently asserted that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. In 2006, Iran was subjected to international sanctions after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported the government was not in compliance with its nuclear energy obligations.

    Under former president Barack Obama, the U.S. government pursued a diplomatic path, culminating in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67 per cent and allow intrusive IAEA inspections. In exchange, it received relief from some international sanctions.

    In 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, despite IAEA reports confirming Iran’s compliance. This decision undermined diplomatic trust and prompted Iran to scale back its commitments under the deal.

    The Biden administration sought to revive the JCPOA, but Iran demanded binding guarantees that future U.S. governments would not again withdraw — an assurance Biden could not provide.

    In the aftermath, Iran significantly escalated its nuclear activities. According to IAEA reports, Iran has more than 400 kilograms of enriched uranium to 60 per cent — an amount that, if further refined to 90 per cent, could be sufficient to produce 10 to 12 nuclear weapons.

    Iran has long used its nuclear program as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the U.S. While Iranian officials have maintained their program is purely peaceful, the country produces more highly enriched uranium than it needs for domestic power generation. Enriching uranium has been a way for Iran to raise pressure on the U.S. to lift sanctions.

    The second Trump administration resumed negotiations for a new nuclear deal aimed at imposing stronger constraints on Iran’s nuclear program.

    Although five rounds of negotiations were held, a sixth round scheduled for June 15 was disrupted when Israel conducted a military strike on Iran two days earlier. The attack escalated tensions and derailed the diplomatic process, further complicating the possibility of reaching a renewed agreement.

    Strikes could lead to nuclear proliferation

    Although Trump claimed the U.S. strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, initial intelligence assessments were more cautious, noting significant damage but not total destruction.

    Although it maintains ambiguity about its nuclear program, Israel is seen to be the only country in the Middle East to possess nuclear weapons. It has taken military action to prevent other countries in the region from developing nuclear programs.

    In 2007, Israel bombed a suspected nuclear reactor under construction in Syria. In 1981, Israeli fighter jets bombed a nuclear reactor in Iraq.

    The Israeli government may have calculated that airstrikes could also effectively work against Iran. However, the difference is that Iran’s nuclear program is far more advanced than Syria or Iraq’s were. While the recent strikes may have set the program back by two years, Iran retains the knowledge and capacity to rebuild.

    Ironically, the Israeli and U.S. strikes, which aimed to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, may instead encourage Iranian officials to accelerate their efforts. Following the war, Iran ended all co-operation with the IAEA, expelling inspectors and cutting off access to its nuclear sites. Without IAEA personnel on the ground, it has become extremely difficult to monitor or verify the scope of Iran’s nuclear activities.

    Bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities each time it advances its nuclear program is not a sustainable strategy. Israel had hoped that a decisive military strike would trigger widespread unrest and potentially lead to the Iranian government’s collapse.

    Instead, the opposite occurred: the Iranian public rallied around the flag, perceiving the attack as a blatant violation of national sovereignty. As a result, the government strengthened its domestic legitimacy and further suppressed political opposition.

    For now, Iranian officials have maintained that they do not intend to develop a nuclear weapon. However, the Iranian parliament is preparing legislation to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, of which Iran is currently a signatory.

    Exiting the treaty would remove a major legal and diplomatic constraint on Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. Should Iran decide to go down that path, it would likely trigger a nuclear arms race in the region.

    Saudi Arabia has indicated that if Iran builds a nuclear weapon, it will seek to do the same.

    The most effective way to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is through sustained diplomacy and a renewed nuclear agreement. A credible deal that includes robust verification mechanisms and IAEA inspections and sanctions relief remains the most viable solution.

    Military strikes, by contrast, tend to backfire, and will likely reinforce the belief in Iran — and elsewhere — that only a nuclear deterrent can shield them from external threats.

    Saira Bano 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. U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran could fuel a new wave of nuclear proliferation – https://theconversation.com/u-s-and-israeli-strikes-on-iran-could-fuel-a-new-wave-of-nuclear-proliferation-260897

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Feeling confident and in control when they’re active boosts children’s wellbeing

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michaela James, Research Officer at Medical School, Swansea University

    Anna Kraynova/Shutterstock

    The wellbeing of children is under the spotlight in the UK, after a 2025 report from Unicef ranked the UK at 21 out of 36 wealthy countries on child wellbeing. With growing concerns about mental health, rising screen time, and fewer chances to play – as well as the well-known links between physical activity and better mood – one solution seems obvious. Get kids moving more.

    But our new research suggests that it’s not just about more activity. It’s about better experiences. Feeling safe, capable and free to choose matters is more important for children than just the number of minutes they spend running around.

    Our findings from a national study of over 16,000 children aged seven to 11 across Wales found that while physical activity is clearly important, its benefits for mental health were more connected to how children felt while moving than to how much they moved.

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    We found that children who thought that they had control over how they were active, felt confident taking part in physical activity and believed they were good at it scored higher on wellbeing scales. These factors – autonomy, confidence and competence – were stronger predictors of wellbeing than more traditional measures like deprivation (normally we’d expect deprivation to positively or negatively affect wellbeing) or even total time spent being active.

    We also found that children who felt safe where they lived, no matter how wealthy or deprived the area, were more likely to feel happy and well.

    Yet too often, their chances to play and move are limited. Sometimes it’s because adults worry about safety, and so don’t permit children to roam or play in the potentially risky ways they might prefer. Other times, it’s because the places around them just aren’t built with children in mind.

    Rethinking what we tell children

    Interestingly, we found that knowledge of why activity is good for you – often taught in schools or health campaigns – was associated with lower wellbeing. This suggests that top-down, adult-led messaging that focuses on why physical activity leads to physical fitness or maintaining a healthy weight might be missing the mark.

    For some children, it could even feel like pressure. Messaging from schools and organisations may be harmful if they focus on outcomes rather than experience.

    The feeling of control or choice was strongly associated with better mental health and fewer behavioural issues. These findings echo what young people have previously told us: they want more opportunities to play, to choose how they move, and to enjoy being active without pressure.

    Being able to choose how they are active matters for children’s wellbeing.
    chomplearn/Shutterstock

    That’s not to say movement doesn’t matter. Children who moved more and sat less generally felt better about themselves. Less sedentary time was consistently associated with better wellbeing and lower emotional and behavioural difficulties.

    But again, it wasn’t just the behaviour — it was the feeling behind it that mattered. Our analysis showed that the most significant predictor of low emotional difficulties was feeling safe. For behavioural difficulties it is feelings of autonomy and competence that played a key role.

    We also found that girls were more likely to report emotional difficulties (trouble controlling emotions or acting on feelings), while boys were more likely to experience behavioural ones (trouble controlling behaviour). This suggests a gendered difference in how wellbeing challenges show up.

    This tells us that supporting wellbeing isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The more we can listen to and work with children to shape activity around their needs, the more likely we are to reach those who might otherwise miss out.

    How we move matters

    For schools and youth organisations, this means rethinking how physical activity is promoted. Rather than more sports, more drills and more rules, children need inclusive, safe spaces where they feel confident to participate and free to choose.

    A simple solution to this could include longer breaks between lessons and more free time to play, or varied activities that cater to different interests and skill levels.

    It also means listening to what children say they need. In our previous research during the pandemic, children consistently asked for more time, safer spaces and permission to be active in ways that feel good to them.

    If we want to support children’s wellbeing, we must shift from performance to participation. It’s not just about how fast they can run or how long they can play. It’s about whether they feel safe, capable, and in control.

    Michaela James receives funding from ADR Wales.

    Mayara Silveira Bianchim receives funding from Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

    – ref. Feeling confident and in control when they’re active boosts children’s wellbeing – https://theconversation.com/feeling-confident-and-in-control-when-theyre-active-boosts-childrens-wellbeing-258327

    MIL OSI Analysis –