NewzIntel.com

    • Checkout Page
    • Contact Us
    • Default Redirect Page
    • Frontpage
    • Home-2
    • Home-3
    • Lost Password
    • Member Login
    • Member LogOut
    • Member TOS Page
    • My Account
    • NewzIntel Alert Control-Panel
    • NewzIntel Latest Reports
    • Post Views Counter
    • Privacy Policy
    • Public Individual Page
    • Register
    • Subscription Plan
    • Thank You Page

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ezell Leads Bipartisan Coalition Requesting Funding for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)

    Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS) and Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) led a letter with four other Members of Congress to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development asking them to provide at least $7.5 million for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMRCMS) in the next fiscal year. The study aims to provide recommendations for a range of issues related to navigation, flood risk management, water quality, recreation, and ecosystem restoration needs within the Mississippi River and Tributaries system.

    “For nearly a century, the management of the Mississippi River has remained mostly unchanged despite evolving commerce and environmental issues. This study is a pivotal opportunity to align navigation efficiency and safety, flood control systems, and restoration efforts to foster a healthier, safer river system that benefits all stakeholders and river communities,” the Members wrote.

    The USACE sought to complete the $25 million study in five years to provide updated recommendations to Congress and the government by December 2027. Recent extreme high and low water events are creating stressors on the system. This study will propose solutions for the future dynamic operation of structures within the system for successful flood risk management, navigational security, and ecosystem protection. Delays in completing this study can lead to obsolete analysis and cost overruns. Resources are now urgently needed to restart and advance this work.

    The study addresses specific Gulf Coast issues of concern, including saltwater intrusion, which threatens the drinking water supplies of the New Orleans metro region in 2023, and shipping concerns along America’s most important maritime transportation lanes. Other regional issues of concern include addressing agricultural run-off that has led to a 5,500 square mile “dead zone” in the Gulf of America.

    “Funding for the remainder of this study is critical to improving water quality and the long-term health of fisheries and wildlife in the lower Mississippi River Basin,” said Chris Macaluso, director of fisheries and the Mississippi River Program at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The Corps has been working closely with anglers and hunters throughout this process and our concerns about water and habitat management are being taken seriously. We cannot afford to lose the progress that’s already been made.”

    “This study can provide us with the opportunity to revitalize and reimagine how we manage the Lower Mississippi River to better serve both people and nature. After 85 years of largely unchanged management, the study will provide recommendations that can modernize flood control, navigation, recreation and restoration,” said Elizabeth Crow, director of government relations for the Mississippi River Basin at the Nature Conservancy. “These solutions will strengthen local economies while also making the lower river safer, healthier and more resilient. Congress needs to fulfill its obligation under the 2020 Water Resources Development Act and restart funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the study. It’s time for the lower river’s management to evolve and meet the needs of today.”

    “This study will provide critically important information to bring the management of the Mississippi River into the 21st Century and find win-win solutions that can protect life and property from flooding and preserve American seafood production in the estuaries of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama affected by distribution of the “fresh” River water. It makes no sense to waste the money already spent by ending this study before it is complete. Many thanks to these Congressmen for their leadership,” said Gerald Blessey, Counsel for the Mississippi Sound Coalition.

    Background:

    The letter was signed by 6 Members of Congress, including Reps. Mike Ezell (R-MS), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and André Carson (D-IN).

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “We are ready to accept talents in Russia”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The site may not display correctly in older browser versions. For optimal site experience, we recommend using a modern browser.

    We use cookies to improve the HSE website and make it more convenient to use. More detailed information about the use of cookies can be foundHere, our rules for processing personal data are –Here. By continuing to use the site, you confirm that you have been informed of the use of cookies by the HSE website and agree with our rules for processing personal data. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.

    ABC ABC ABC A A A A A

    Regular version of the site

    Date

    July 18

    Headings

    The article mentions

    Persons

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Releases Black Youth Suicide Action Plan to Tackle Rising Number of Suicides Among Black Youth, Young Adults

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Releases Black Youth Suicide Action Plan to Tackle Rising Number of Suicides Among Black Youth, Young Adults

    NCDHHS Releases Black Youth Suicide Action Plan to Tackle Rising Number of Suicides Among Black Youth, Young Adults
    jawerner
    Fri, 07/18/2025 – 10:15

    In response to a sharp increase in suicide rates among young Black youth, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announces the NC Black Youth Suicide Prevention Action Plan. Coinciding with the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this effort sheds light on communities which have been marginalized, where mental health challenges persist, and outlines initiatives to be implemented over the next five years to reduce injury and save the lives of Black youth and young adults.

    “A community-led, ground-up approach is essential to address the increase in suicide rates among Black youth and young adults,” said Kelly Crosbie MSW, LCSW NCDHHS Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. “NCDHHS wants to ensure everyone has the support they need before, during, and after a personal crisis, especially groups that are disproportionately affected.”

    A review of 2023 data showed an urgent need for action and indicated Black populations were over-represented in emergency department visits for suicidal thoughts or self-injury, particularly among the 10-24 age group. Additionally, research shows Black youth are over-represented in suicides and attempts but are under-represented in calls to 988, particularly in urban counties. Data showed from 2013-22 more than half of Black youth and young adults who died by suicide used firearms.

    Black families also experience significant barriers to accessing medical and mental health services, due to a variety of socio-economic factors, including effective cultural communication from providers and a lack of access to a provider with a shared identity.

    The action plan was developed by NCDHHS in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the UNC Suicide Prevention Institute and several community-based organizations and includes feedback from members of the public.

    The plan identifies six objectives to improve the health and well-being of Black youth and young adults:

    1. Establish the Community of Practice and Education (COPE) initiative to lead, develop and champion suicide prevention efforts at the community level, targeting Black youth and young adults in North Carolina.
    2. Strengthen supportive mental health services for Black youth, incorporating both peer support specialists and peer-to-peer support systems.
    3. Enhance awareness and training for suicide prevention, specifically for Black youth.
    4. Reduce access to lethal means among Black youth.
    5. Strengthen protective factors for Black youth to support mental well-being.
    6. Establish a comprehensive understanding of the suicide prevention needs of Black youth through data analysis and reporting to inform targeted interventions and increase awareness.

    Each objective includes a series of goals to guide policy-making decisions.

    The plan includes many culturally relevant strategies to address the issue. These include expanded training efforts among trusted community partners, such as barbers, with specific attention to key programs: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), and information about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

    DHHS will also support a statewide event on Sept. 20 in Rocky Mount: the Stronger Together Conference. This unique conference is a free one-day, interactive experience centered on cultural connection, creative expression and community care. The event will bring together youth, young adults and advocates for a day of learning, healing and community building. Registration is open and available on the website. NCDHHS will provide more details about the event in the coming weeks. 

    ###

    If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or need someone to talk to, you are not alone. Resources are available on the NCDHHS Suicide Prevention website for social or family situations, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, alcohol or drug use, or if you just need someone to talk to. Our Crisis Services Communications Toolkit includes free flyers, posters and other resources to promote and explain crisis services in your community in English and Spanish.

    • For those in a mental health crisis, NCDHHS provides somewhere to go, someone to talk to and someone to respond. The 988 Lifeline Chat and Text – 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone 24/7 by call, text, or chat. Educational resources include 988 materials specifically designed for people who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
    • North Carolinians can call the Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC [855-733-7762]) 24/7 to speak with a Peer Support Specialist. Peer Support Specialists (or “peers”) are people living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder who provide support to others who may have similar life experiences and can benefit from their lived experiences.
    • NCDHHS crisis services include mobile crisis teams that can come to you and community crisis centers, which are safe places where you can get help from a licensed clinician, without needing to go to the emergency room.

    En respuesta a un fuerte aumento en las tasas de suicidio entre los jóvenes negros, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anuncia el Plan de Acción para la Prevención del Suicidio entre los Jóvenes Negros de Carolina del Norte. Coincidiendo con el Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre la Salud Mental de las Minorías Bebe Moore Campbell, este esfuerzo hace énfasis en las comunidades que han sido marginadas, donde persisten los desafíos de salud mental, y describe las iniciativas que se implementarán en los próximos cinco años para reducir las lesiones y salvar las vidas de los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros.

    “Un enfoque basado en la comunidad es esencial para abordar el aumento de las tasas de suicidio entre los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros”, dijo Kelly Crosbie MSW, LCSW NCDHHS directora de la División de Servicios de Salud Mental, Discapacidades de Desarrollo y Uso de Sustancias. “El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte quiere asegurarse de que todos tengan el apoyo que necesitan antes, durante y después de una crisis personal, especialmente los grupos que se ven afectados de manera desproporcionada”.

    Una revisión de los datos de 2023 mostró una necesidad urgente de acción e indicó que las poblaciones negras estaban sobrerrepresentadas en las visitas al departamento de emergencias por pensamientos suicidas o autolesiones, particularmente entre el grupo de edad de 10 a 24 años. Además, la investigación muestra que los jóvenes negros están sobrerrepresentados en suicidios e intentos de suicidio, pero están subrepresentados en las llamadas a la línea 988, particularmente en los condados urbanos. Los datos mostraron que entre el 2013 y 2022 más de la mitad de los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros que murieron por suicidio usaron armas de fuego.

    Las familias negras también experimentan barreras significativas para acceder a los servicios médicos y de salud mental, debido a una variedad de factores socioeconómicos, incluida la comunicación cultural efectiva de los proveedores y la falta de acceso a un proveedor con una identidad compartida.

    El plan de acción fue desarrollado por el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) en colaboración con el Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte, el Instituto de Prevención del Suicidio de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte (UNC, por sus siglas en inglés) y varias organizaciones comunitarias, e incluye comentarios de miembros del público.

    El plan identifica seis objetivos para mejorar la salud y el bienestar de los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros:

    1. Establecer la iniciativa Comunidad de Práctica y Educación (COPE) para liderar, desarrollar y defender los esfuerzos de prevención del suicidio a nivel comunitario, dirigidos a jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros en Carolina del Norte.
    2. Fortalecer los servicios de salud mental de apoyo para los jóvenes negros, incorporando tanto especialistas en apoyo entre pares como sistemas de apoyo entre pares.
    3. Mejorar la conciencia y la capacitación para la prevención del suicidio, específicamente para los jóvenes negros.
    4. Reducir el acceso a medios letales entre los jóvenes negros.
    5. Fortalecer los factores de protección para los jóvenes negros para apoyar el bienestar mental.
    6. Establecer una comprensión integral de las necesidades de prevención del suicidio entre los jóvenes negros a través del análisis de datos y la presentación de informes para guiar las intervenciones específicas y aumentar la conciencia.

    Cada objetivo incluye una serie de metas para guiar las decisiones de desarrollo de políticas.

    El plan incluye muchas estrategias culturalmente relevantes para abordar el problema. Estos incluyen una expansión de esfuerzos de capacitación entre socios comunitarios de confianza, como barberos, con atención específica a programas clave: Asesoramiento sobre el acceso a medios letales (CALM, por sus siglas en inglés), Primeros Auxilios de Salud Mental (MHFA, por sus siglas en inglés) e información sobre la Línea 988 de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis.

    El DHHS también apoyará un evento en todo el estado el 20 de septiembre en Rocky Mount: la conferencia Stronger Together (Más fuertes juntos). Esta conferencia única es una experiencia interactiva gratuita de un día, centrada en la conexión cultural, la expresión creativa y la atención comunitaria. El evento reunirá a jóvenes, adultos jóvenes y defensores para un día de aprendizaje, sanación y creación de comunidad. La inscripción está abierta y disponible en el sitio web. El NCDHHS proporcionará más detalles sobre el evento en las próximas semanas.

    ###

    Si usted o alguien que conoce está luchando con su salud mental o necesita a alguien con quien hablar, no está solo. Los recursos están disponibles en el sitio web de Prevención del Suicidio del NCDHHS para situaciones sociales o familiares, depresión, ansiedad, ataques de pánico, pensamientos de suicidio, consumo de alcohol o drogas, o si solo necesita a alguien con quien hablar. Nuestro Kit de herramientas de comunicaciones de servicios de crisis incluye volantes gratuitos, carteles y otros recursos para promover y explicar servicios de crisis en su comunidad en inglés y español.

    • Para aquellos en una crisis de salud mental, el NCDHHS proporciona un lugar a donde ir, alguien con quien hablar y alguien que responda. La Línea 988 de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis es gratuita, confidencial y está disponible para todos, las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, por llamada, mensaje de texto o chat. Los recursos educativos incluyen materiales del 988 diseñados específicamente para las personas que asisten a Colegios y universidades históricamente negros.
    • Los habitantes de Carolina del Norte pueden llamar a la línea de ayuda entre pares Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC [855-733-7762]) las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, para hablar con un especialista en apoyo entre pares. Los especialistas en apoyo entre pares (o “pares”) son personas que viven en recuperación con enfermedades mentales y/o trastornos por uso de sustancias que brindan apoyo a otras personas que pueden tener experiencias de vida similares y pueden beneficiarse de sus experiencias vividas.
    • Los servicios de crisis del NCDHHS incluyen equipos móviles de respuesta a crisis que pueden acudir a usted y centros comunitarios de respuesta crisis, que son lugares seguros donde puede obtener ayuda de un médico con licencia, sin necesidad de ir a la sala de emergencias.
    Jul 18, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon Sends Letter to Officials Expressing Concern Over Delay of Federal Education Funding for 2025-2026

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon Sends Letter to Officials Expressing Concern Over Delay of Federal Education Funding for 2025-2026

    Washington – Rep. Don Bacon recently sent a letter to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russell Vought, urging the release of federal funds already appropriated by Congress and issued by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for federal formula grants. On June 30, OMB notified the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) that these funds remain under review. Yet, they are typically made available on or around July 1.

    Local school districts and educational service units (ESU’s) have already incorporated these essential resources into staffing plans and contractual obligations for the upcoming school year budget.

    Rep. Bacon states in the letter, “Schools across Nebraska made hiring decisions this spring based on projected allocations and are finalizing budgets for the 2025-2026 academic year, which begins in a matter of weeks. Delays in these awards place them in the impossible position of revisiting hiring and programming decisions with little time to adjust—decisions that are foundational to academic success and student support.”

    Every public school district and the majority of nonpublic schools in Nebraska are touched by the nearly $40 million in frozen federal funding. 

    “For example, if the grant funding is not released, Millard Public Schools in Omaha would face an unexpected burden of nearly $900,000—costs that would fall to local taxpayers due to the timing and contractual obligations already in place. This instability jeopardizes the continuity of services and, ultimately, student outcomes,” Rep. Bacon also noted in the letter. 

    The funding affects the following programs: Title II-A (Supporting Effective Instruction), Title III-A (English Language Acquisition State Grants), Title IVA and IV-B (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program; 21st Century Community Learning Centers), and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA).

    The text of the full letter can be read here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Automatic voter registration: a huge step forward for democracy – and a chance to bring missing millions into elections

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Toby James, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of East Anglia

    Shutterstock/Melinda Nagy

    The UK government has announced planned changes to elections which it claims to be “the boldest and most ambitious change to our democracy for decades”. This includes extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds at parliamentary elections – but also other important reforms such as automatic voter registration.

    At the moment, everyone needs to fill in an individual voter registration application at least 12 days before an election. Automatic registration would enable electoral officials to update the electoral rolls without people having to make an application to register to vote. They could use other reliable data to make the electoral register as accurate and complete as possible.

    Electoral officials would then write to the potential voter to inform them that they had been added to the register. They would have the opportunity to make any corrections needed.

    The details are still to be worked out and the change would not come overnight. The process may be semi-automated to begin with – with the individual process sitting alongside some automation.

    Why is automatic registration needed?

    Many people don’t register in time for elections. Some don’t intend to vote, but others assume that they’re already registered. Some are also just busy.

    The result is that there are around 7-8 million people who are not correctly registered when the polling stations open on election day. A significant number are then turned away. The problem is getting worse as the number of people who are not registered is also rising at an alarming rate.

    Estimated number of people missing from the electoral register at UK general elections, 1945-2024.

    The number of people missing from the voter .
    James, Bernal and Berry, CC BY-ND

    What is especially troubling is that there are large gaps in registrations by age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Nearly all over-65-year-olds are on the register, but younger people are increasingly missing. Only 60% of 18-to-19-year-olds are on the electoral rolls – and 16% of the soon-to-be-enfranchised 16- to 17-year-olds (you can currently register to vote at 16).

    Automatic registration will therefore be crucial to making votes at 16 a success. Asking and reminding young people to register would inevitably involve an enormous administrative effort. But if data could be transferred from schools and government departments to election officials to put them straight onto the roll, it would save both time and money – and bring about a higher participation rate.

    Does automatic voter registration work?

    Roughly half of countries around the around the world use automatic voter registration – including Germany, the Netherlands, Iceland and Finland. Countries which have historically not had automatic registration, such as the US, Malta, Canada and Australia, have all moved to at least partially implement it over recent years.

    The UK is thought have one of the more difficult voter registration systems compared to other countries. The evidence is that automatic voter registration leads to more accurate and complete electoral registers. It can therefore reduce the opportunity for fraud and increase convenience for citizens.

    What data might be used?

    In a recent report with colleagues, I set out how this can be implemented and suggested a range of datasets that could be securely used.

    Electoral rolls could be updated when people apply for a passport, register to pay council tax, update their driving licence details, register at university or claim benefits. Electoral officials could also be authorised to update the electoral rolls with data such as council tax data and information held by the Department for Work and Pensions.

    One option would be to register people to vote when they apply for a passport.
    Shutterstock/ClimbWhenReady

    Data sharing is already used in electoral registration. Every time a voter registration application is made, it is checked against another government dataset. There is therefore already the data infrastructure to enable automatic registration to work.

    Electoral officials already use such data to register, remove or re-register people. This has enabled a lot of savings and less administrative hassle for many people.

    Voter identification changes

    The government’s election bill proposals will also extend the forms of identification that voters can present at polling stations to include bank cards. It clears the path for future digital forms of ID to be accepted.

    The last government introduced a requirement for everyone to provide photographic identification at polling stations at UK general elections and some local elections. Accepted forms of identification include passports and driving licences but also a range of other options. If citizens don’t have identification, then they can apply for a free voter authority certificate, provided that they do so before the deadline.

    However, our research found that many people were turned away in polling stations as they did not have required identification. Poll workers reported that the impact particularly affected some groups, such as students and women.

    The UK is now ranked in the bottom half of countries in the UK by election quality. The proposed changes to electoral law are therefore urgent, important and will strengthen elections in areas where they are weak.

    They may not, however, go far enough. The previous government restricted the independence of the Electoral Commission and these changes have not been reversed by the Labour government. The Electoral Commission will play an important role in automatic registration, so the government could renew its independence to help build confidence and trust in elections.

    Nonetheless, the move to automatic registration would be a major step forward for a changing democracy – as long as the government now puts on the afterburners to power the effort needed to make these changes work effectively in time for the next election.

    Toby James has previously received funding from the AHRC, ESRC, Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, Electoral Commission, Nuffield Foundation, the McDougall Trust, Unlock Democracy, International IDEA and the Canadian SSHRC.

    – ref. Automatic voter registration: a huge step forward for democracy – and a chance to bring missing millions into elections – https://theconversation.com/automatic-voter-registration-a-huge-step-forward-for-democracy-and-a-chance-to-bring-missing-millions-into-elections-261489

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE University Educational Programs for Top AI and IT Specialists

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The site may not display correctly in older browser versions. For optimal site experience, we recommend using a modern browser.

    We use cookies to improve the HSE website and make it more convenient to use. More detailed information about the use of cookies can be foundHere, our rules for processing personal data are –Here. By continuing to use the site, you confirm that you have been informed of the use of cookies by the HSE website and agree with our rules for processing personal data. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.

    ABC ABC ABC A A A A A

    Regular version of the site

    Date

    July 18

    Headings

    The article mentions

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 19, 2025

  • India-UAE Partnership Eyes Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technology as Next Breakthrough Sectors

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United Arab Emirates are solidifying their strategic partnership, setting their sights on nuclear energy and advanced technology as the next frontiers for collaboration. This move comes as bilateral trade has already surged past the $100 billion mark, five years ahead of schedule, cementing the UAE’s position as India’s third-largest trade partner. Speaking at an Observer Research Foundation Middle East event in Dubai, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, highlighted how both nations are leveraging their unique strengths to forge resilient supply chains and foster sustainable growth, moving beyond traditional trade ties.

    Intensified high-level diplomatic engagement since September 2024, including visits from Sheikh Khalid and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan to India, has focused on substantive economic cooperation. Discussions during Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan’s visit with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal underscored the significant role of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in accelerating bilateral trade, particularly progress on the Virtual Trade Corridor, a foundational element of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). UAE investments in India have reached $23 billion, with a notable $4.5 billion committed in 2024 alone, following the finalization of the Bilateral Investment Treaty last year. Furthermore, local currency trade settlement now accounts for 10 percent of all bilateral transactions, reducing dependence on dollar-denominated exchanges.

    A significant stride in financial technology integration is the UAE’s Jaywan card, built entirely on India’s rupee card stack. Plans are also underway to connect banking messaging systems, offering an alternative to SWIFT networks, and to integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UAE’s Aani platform by November 2025, enabling Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) interoperability. Educational cooperation has also seen tangible results with the launch of IIT Abu Dhabi’s PhD program this year, alongside IIM Ahmedabad’s Dubai campus and IIFT Dubai. Defense collaboration has been elevated to the secretary level, featuring joint exercises such as Desert Cyclone, Desert Flag, and the India-France-UAE Trilateral Exercise, and extends to participation in major defense exhibitions like IDEX and Dubai Airshow, with 25 Indian companies actively involved. Hardware integration initiatives include components for the Tejas fighter aircraft and the development of drone and anti-drone systems.

    Nuclear cooperation is emerging as a transformative area, with the UAE currently generating 25 percent of its energy from nuclear sources (5.6 GW capacity) and aiming to double this by 2030. The Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) initiative involving the US, UAE, , coupled with synergies with France, positions nuclear energy as a key growth sector. The advanced technology partnership gained momentum at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.

    Discussions are also underway for collaboration in critical minerals and the space sector, including polar initiatives. The IMEEC project envisions a comprehensive connectivity corridor for containers, data, and energy through connected grids and subsea cables. The I2U2 framework (India, Israel, UAE, US) is expanding its focus to food security, with plans for two food parks in Gujarat and renewable energy projects targeting 60 GW capacity in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Ambassador Sudhir emphasized the potential benefits for India from the UAE’s 25 other Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), which could provide diversified market access and manufacturing advantages, particularly for energy-intensive industries. The UAE’s recent inclusion in BRICS further enhances its role as a strategic gateway for India’s engagement with Africa through initiatives like Bharat Africa Setu. The legal predictability and stable environment in the UAE also make it an attractive destination for Indian manufacturing investments requiring significant energy inputs.

    Culturally, the BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi stands as a powerful symbol of the shared ethos, religious tolerance, and cultural inclusivity underpinning the broader strategic relationship, a testament to the graciousness of the Abu Dhabi government. As both nations navigate global economic uncertainties, their partnership exemplifies how complementary strengths can foster resilient supply chains and sustainable growth models, with nuclear energy and advanced technology at the forefront of their expanding cooperation.

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: New axolotl study gives researchers a leg up in work towards limb regeneration

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Researchers supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation have discovered that it is not how much of a key molecule that allows axolotls to regenerate limbs properly, it is how little. This new knowledge moves researchers closer to enabling tissue repair and, possibly, limb regeneration in humans.

    “Axolotls are a species of salamander that have the ability to regrow limbs and repair organ tissue,” said Anna Allen, a program officer in the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences. “Based on previous work, researchers knew that a particular molecule told cells to start the process of regrowth but how cells knew where they were along a limb and, therefore, what structure to build in that location remained a mystery.”

    The new work, led by James Monaghan, a professor of biology and director of the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems at Northeastern University, shows that the key is how that critical molecule, retinoic acid, degrades. An enzyme whose only job is to destroy retinoic acid is extremely prevalent at the far end of the limb (the wrist) but much less prevalent at the shoulder, meaning the reverse for retinoic acid. It is this decreasing amount of retinoic acid that allows the cells to know if they are at the shoulder, mid-limb, or wrist.

    Building on their findings, the researchers used CRISPR technology to turn off certain genes to help identify which genes were involved in various aspects of limb regeneration. They found one gene, Shox, which has a role in human height, was critical in directing the shaping of parts of a limb near the shoulder. Other genes are important in shaping further out portions. When these genes were deactivated, limbs still regenerated but not to the proper length. Because axolotls and humans share these same genes and it is only whether or not they can be accessed at the right time, this information provides a genetic and molecular instruction manual that moves scientists closer to enabling tissue repair — and, maybe, limb regeneration — in humans.

    “We are still a long way from humans regrowing limbs,” added Allen. “But, while that may still be science fiction, we are now one step closer to repairing lost or damaged tissue rather than just having it scar over.”

    NSF has funded other work looking at the regenerative properties of axolotls, including to understand the function of genes involved in regeneration in the species and fish that can regrow their fins and how cells convert stimuli into electrochemical activity during regeneration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • Why India’s True Freedom Lies in the Strength of Local Languages and Culture, Reveals New Book

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a linguistically diverse country like India, disputes over language are commonplace. Yet, intriguingly, resistance to English education and the resulting sense of “Englishness” is almost nonexistent—perhaps never existent. What lies at the root of this? A new book by scientist Amitabh Satyam, titled *The Hindi Medium Types*, delves into this question, unraveling the hollow “Englishness” entrenched in Indian society, particularly among the elite.

    Originally from Sheohar, Bihar, Amitabh Satyam, an IIT Kanpur graduate with an MBA from Fisher University, USA, shares his journey from Bihar to America. Through experiences spanning student life to professional endeavors, he illustrates how English in India is not just a language but a mindset. Despite India’s independence, colonial notions and Western cultural concepts remain firmly rooted in the Indian psyche.

    Satyam highlights experiences that many Indians, especially those who speak local languages, may find relatable. Though published in English and Hindi, the book champions every Indian local language, culture, and its values. From viewing traditional attire like dhoti-kurta as inferior to dismissing Ayurveda as unscientific, Satyam underscores aspects that reveal the hollowness of “Englishness” in certain societal sections. He notes how English medicine has deemed expensive fruits like apples essential, while local and seasonal fruits are equally beneficial.

    Striking at the mindset of English supremacy, Satyam writes: “Today, people don’t even consider that English is the language of foreigners who forcibly ruled and exploited us. Millions of Indians—once pioneers in science, engineering, literature, medicine, philosophy, and art—were declared illiterate overnight. By the decree of English-speakers, India’s greatness was dismissed, and English language and culture were imposed as superior. Jobs went only to those who spoke English and followed their ways. Governance was in their hands.”

    Satyam observes that English culture so deeply influences Indian systems that parents prefer schools named after Western “saints.” He recounts how merely changing a school’s name in his hometown led to a surge in admissions. Remarkably, the notion that English is supreme follows Indians even to America. Satyam shares: “In the USA, my English accent and pronunciation were American-like. Most Indians speak English with an Indian accent, having learned it in India. But I learned proper English in America, so it sounded like theirs. My American accent earned me praise from Indians there: ‘You’re from India? You sound like you were born here!’”

    The book, divided into nine chapters, is a treasure trove of anecdotes exposing the colonial mindset ingrained in Indian society. It challenges the notion of venerating the language and culture of former oppressors, suggesting that a large part of India’s population is gripped by a form of “Stockholm Syndrome.” This book is essential reading for anyone who senses the excesses of Western civilization and colonial thinking in India.

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes First Package of DOGE Cuts, Bill Headed to President Trump’s Desk

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed an amended version of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025. Representative Riley M. Moore voted “Yes” on the legislation, which eliminates approximately $9 billion in wasteful spending for partisan media organizations and certain foreign aid programs.

    Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

    “The American people know waste, fraud, and abuse when they see it, and this package represents the worst of the worst. I’m proud to have voted ‘Yes’ on this legislation, which finally eliminates funding for leftist propaganda networks and significantly cuts back on woke and weaponized foreign aid programs.

    “As the leader of the Republican Study Committee’s Rescissions Task Force, I’m committed to building support amongst my colleagues to codify more of these DOGE cuts. Doing so will ensure every taxpayer dollar advances America’s strategic interests.”

    Congressman Moore leads the Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) Rescissions Task Force, which serves as the tip of the spear for codifying President Trump’s DOGE cuts. He recently hosted the RSC’s Right to the Point Podcast to discuss this first rescissions package with Wade Miller, Senior Advisor at the Center for Renewing America.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes First Package of DOGE Cuts, Bill Headed to President Trump’s Desk

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed an amended version of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025. Representative Riley M. Moore voted “Yes” on the legislation, which eliminates approximately $9 billion in wasteful spending for partisan media organizations and certain foreign aid programs.

    Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

    “The American people know waste, fraud, and abuse when they see it, and this package represents the worst of the worst. I’m proud to have voted ‘Yes’ on this legislation, which finally eliminates funding for leftist propaganda networks and significantly cuts back on woke and weaponized foreign aid programs.

    “As the leader of the Republican Study Committee’s Rescissions Task Force, I’m committed to building support amongst my colleagues to codify more of these DOGE cuts. Doing so will ensure every taxpayer dollar advances America’s strategic interests.”

    Congressman Moore leads the Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) Rescissions Task Force, which serves as the tip of the spear for codifying President Trump’s DOGE cuts. He recently hosted the RSC’s Right to the Point Podcast to discuss this first rescissions package with Wade Miller, Senior Advisor at the Center for Renewing America.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Increase Access to Affordable Childcare in Maine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is joining legislation to lower childcare costs and address the nationwide shortage of affordable childcare. The Child Care for Working Families Act is comprehensive legislation that would put a cap on childcare costs for working families, address childcare deserts by providing grants to open new facilities, support higher wages for childcare workers, provide comprehensive funding for Head Start to provide full-day, full-year programming, and expand access to pre-K programs.
    Included in the legislation is a provision that would enable the typical family in America to pay less than $15 a day for childcare—with many families paying nothing at all—and no eligible family paying more than 7% of their income on childcare.
    “Affordable and accessible childcare is one of the most pressing needs for working families in Maine and across the nation, and it presents a huge hurdle to mothers and fathers who want to enter the workforce,” said Senator King. “The Child Care for Working Families Act would provide ample resources for communities across the country to support childcare options that are open for the full day and don’t break the bank. When families have access to care, they can succeed as parents and professionals.”
    The average cost of childcare is now $13,128—a 29% increase since 2020 that outpaces inflation. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, the average annual costs of child care for two children exceeds median rent—and in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the cost of care for one infant exceeds in-state university tuition. The crisis costs the U.S. economy over $100 billion each year. An estimated 18,000 people in Maine are currently out of the labor force due to a lack of child care, while the child care crisis costs Maine nearly $403 million in annual costs.
    More specifically, the Child Care for Working Families Act will:
    Make childcare affordable for working families.
    The typical family earning the state median income will pay less than $15 a day for childcare.
    No working family will pay more than seven percent of their income on childcare.
    Families earning below 85% of state median income will pay nothing at all for childcare.
    If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
    Improve the quality and supply of childcare for all children and expand families’ childcare options by:
    Addressing childcare deserts by providing grants to help open new childcare providers in underserved communities.
    Providing grants to cover start-up and licensing costs to help establish new providers.
    Increasing childcare options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours.
    Supporting childcare for children who are dual-language learners, children who are experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
    Support higher wages for childcare workers.
    Childcare workers would be paid a living wage and achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience.
    Childcare subsidies would cover the cost of providing high-quality care.
    Dramatically expand access to high-quality pre-K.
    States would receive funding to establish and expand a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
    States must prioritize establishing and expanding universal local preschool programs within and across high-need communities.
    If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
    Better support Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increasing wages for Head Start workers.
    In addition to King, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-MN), Corey Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    Senator King has long worked to expand access to childcare. He secured millions to improve child care services in the 2022 and 2023 omnibus appropriations bills, and worked to authorize the planning and development of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He is also the cosponsor of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit that helps households offset their childcare costs. Most recently, he joined bipartisan legislation to lower childcare costs and address the nationwide shortage of affordable childcare. The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would provide competitive grants for states to train childcare workers and build or renovate childcare facilities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry’s revolutionary Very Light Rail system to take centre stage at national UK event

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry’s innovative Very Light Rail (CVLR) system is to showcase its pioneering technology at a prestigious national conference next week.

    CVLR is designed to create an affordable rail-based travel system that can be delivered at less than half the cost and in half the time of conventional light rail systems.

    It will now be showcased at next week’s UK Light Rail conference in Leeds. From 22 July, the two-day convention is the UK’s premier event dedicated solely to the advancement of light rail, featuring over 50 expert speakers and bringing together key decision-makers, manufacturers, operators and innovators from across the sector.

    Coventry will present to the conference on Wednesday 23 July with a dedicated session titled: CVLR: Coventry’s first On Road Test installation and operation.  The CVLR team will also participate in a discussion panel called Smarter moves in light rail, demonstrating the breadth of expertise and innovation the project represents.

    The recognition represents a significant milestone for the project, which has achieved remarkable success during its recent on-road testing phase.

    The 220-metre track was laid in the city centre of Coventry in just eight weeks – a timeframe unmatched anywhere in the world. Over six weeks, more than 3,000 members of the public experienced the future of urban transport first-hand through test rides, providing overwhelmingly positive feedback.

    Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “Being invited to showcase Coventry’s Very Light Rail at the UK’s premier light rail conference is testament to the ground-breaking innovation we’ve achieved here in Coventry.

    “Our successful on-road testing, which saw over 3,000 people experience this revolutionary transport system, proves that we can deliver affordable, sustainable rail solutions at unprecedented speed and cost.

    “The fact that we laid our 220-metre track in just eight weeks – faster than anywhere else in the world – demonstrates how CVLR can transform the way cities approach public transport infrastructure.

    “Crucially, this isn’t just a transport system – it’s designed and built right here in Coventry, creating jobs and establishing a whole new industry for our city.

    “As we begin work on our next 800-metre section connecting the railway station to University Technology Park, we’re not just building a transport system for Coventry – we’re pioneering a solution that could revolutionise urban mobility across the UK and beyond while positioning Coventry as the home of this innovative technology and the skilled jobs it brings.”

    The Very Light Rail system addresses the critical challenge facing many UK cities seeking sustainable transport solutions. Where conventional light rail systems can cost upwards of £25 million per kilometre to install and as much as £100 million per kilometre in city centres, CVLR delivers a solution that provides the benefits of a conventional tram but at a significantly reduced installation cost.

    Key innovations that set CVLR apart:

    Revolutionary Vehicle Design: The battery-powered vehicle eliminates the need for overhead wires and features an innovative turning system, enabling it to handle 15m radius curves. This allows for installation in tight corners within the existing highway. The vehicle has a capacity of 56, is comfortable and has low floors to enable passengers to embark and disembark easily.

    Ultra-Thin Track Technology: The new track is laid just 30cm within the road’s surface, minimising the need to relocate pipes and cables, which is time-consuming and expensive. It achieves this by leveraging cutting-edge materials science, while still utilising standard rail parts to ensure ease of manufacture.

    Sustainable Impact: Transport is responsible for nearly 30% of carbon emissions. The CVLR system will help improve air quality, reduce congestion, support housing development, and provide jobs and skills while securing local investment and putting Coventry at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.

    The project represents a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, including the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, WMG at the University of Warwick and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.

    Recent months have seen significant progress, with Simon Lightwood, Minister for Local Transport, visiting the CVLR track during Better Transport Week, demonstrating growing government interest in the technology’s potential. Work has also started on the next stage, which will see an 800-metre section laid from the railway station to the University Technology Park on Puma Way.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Solodev Achieves Latest AWS Government Competency, Powering Citizen Experiences with AI and Cloud Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Solodev, the AI Content Management Platform for AWS, announced today that it has achieved the latest Amazon Web Services (AWS) Government Competency, with validated specializations in Citizen Services and Public Safety. The announcement follows the recent launch of Solodev Public Sector, a cloud-first platform built for government agencies and community infrastructure that serves citizens with AI and cloud technologies to help ensure mission-critical uptime and compliance.

    Solodev was recognized at the AWS Public Sector Summit in Washington, DC, in June, alongside a select group of partners—including Accenture, Datadog, Okta, and other leading technology vendors—for delivering secure, scalable, and innovative solutions to government agencies.

    The achievement of this latest AWS Government Competency marks a significant milestone for Solodev. The recognition validates continued leadership and expertise in supporting AI and cloud solutions across the public sector, helping agencies modernize infrastructure, shift from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operational expenditure (OpEx), and deliver next-generation citizen experiences.

    The timing is critical. According to industry research, by 2030, a significant portion of government operations is expected to be cloud-based, with the global cloud computing market projected to reach $1.614 trillion. Agencies are migrating legacy workloads and designing new, cloud-native applications to meet public demand. As such, governments require the best products and services to make their AI and cloud journey successful.

    With its cloud-native platform and API-first content management capabilities, Solodev enables governments to evolve beyond static websites into fully composable digital experiences. Through integrations with AI-powered tools, Solodev empowers agencies to automate service delivery, support citizens through intelligent AI assistants, and deliver dynamic content across channels and devices. These capabilities are essential as digital services become the front line of citizen engagement.

    Solodev’s specializations within the AWS Government Competency include:

    • Citizen Services: Supporting cities, counties, and transportation agencies with secure, scalable solutions for online services, licensing, permitting, and community engagement. Solodev helps organizations reduce infrastructure complexity and rapidly deploy cloud-first experiences that meet the needs of today’s digital citizens – including AI-powered search and chat that makes it easier to seek accurate answers via a secure, scalable, fully-automated UX.
    • Public Safety: Delivering resilient, mission-critical websites and communication tools for sheriff’s offices, emergency management agencies, and first responders. With disaster-ready infrastructure built on AWS, Solodev ensures the public has uninterrupted access to vital information during hurricanes, wildfires, and other emergencies.

    “This recognition is more than a milestone—it’s a mandate,” said Shawn Moore, CTO of Solodev. “Government agencies are under increasing pressure to innovate and respond faster, especially in areas like public safety and citizen engagement. With AWS, we’re helping our customers build that future with cutting-edge technologies like AI—securely, reliably, and at scale. Above all, it’s about trust. Citizens expect it, and we’re proud to help government deliver on it.”

    Solodev supports public sector organizations with a marketplace of apps and services, helping government agencies tap the power of AI, cloud, blockchain, and more. With a majority of organizations adding AI to their stacks, Solodev is currently deploying easy-to-use apps and AI agents powered by AWS and Amazon Bedrock, including:

    • AI Site Search
    • AI Enterprise Chat
    • AI App Copilot with HTML Vision™

    For public sector CIOs, CTOs, and digital leaders interested in testing these AI services on their websites, Solodev offers a three-month AI pilot project for government agencies. To get started, click here.

    For more information about Solodev’s public sector solutions, visit www.solodev.com/public-sector.

    About Solodev

    Solodev helps developers and organizations around the globe build amazing customer experiences, from code to cloud. The Solodev Platform provides the most complete ecosystem for developing apps and launching brands powered by cutting-edge AI and cloud technologies, reinforced by world-class consulting, training, managed services, and 24/7 human support. An Amazon Web Services Advanced Technology Partner, Solodev has achieved AWS competencies in Government, Education, and Advertising & Marketing Technology. Solodev products and services can be purchased at www.solodev.com or in the AWS Marketplace.

    For media inquiries:
    Matt Garrepy
    press@solodev.com

    For sales inquiries:
    Jonathan Morgan
    sales@solodev.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Merck Foundation CEO, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, emphasizes the transformative power of creativity in driving social change on the occasion of World Art Day 2025

    Source: APO

    Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, marks ‘World Art Day 2025’ through their Pan African ‘Art and Fashion with Purpose’ Community, established by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. Through this dynamic community, Dr. Kelej continues to raise awareness on critical health and social issues while empowering artists across Africa and beyond to use their creativity as a powerful tool for advocacy, education, and fostering a cultural shift within their communities.

    Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of 100 Most Influential Africans 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 emphasized, “I am delighted to mark ‘World Art Day 2025’ as I strongly believe that art, fashion, and media hold immense power in raising awareness and addressing critical social and health issues—ultimately creating a culture shift in the communities. Art and fashion, to me, go far beyond aesthetics or entertainment, they serve as meaningful tools for education and advocacy. With this vision, we have launched many initiatives including our first-ever pan-African TV program, Our Africa by Merck Foundation, which uniquely highlights pressing issues across the continent through the voices of our ‘Fashion and Art with Purpose’ community. Through this one-of-a-kind show and our other unique initiatives, we continue to raise awareness about critical social issues such as Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Ending Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation, Stopping Gender-Based Violence, Women’s Empowerment, and also about health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and much more.”

    ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ is a pan African TV program that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa. The program has captured the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across Africa.

    The TV program has been broadcasted on prime TV stations of many countries like KTN HOME (Kenya), GH One & TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Uganda), BTV (Botswana) Mashariki TV (Burundi), QTV (The Gambia), KTN (Kenya), LNTV (Liberia), Mibawa TV (Malawi), Deffi Media (Mauritius), AYV (Sierra Leone), NTV (Uganda), ZNBC (Zambia), ZTN (Zimbabwe), NTV (Namibia) and more.

    “Our Africa” TV Program is currently on social media handles of Social Media handles of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/46RQTdN), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4lTPOXP), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4kMZJNc) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/44STkKp)] and Merck Foundation [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3GvgIG0), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/46Az9nl), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4eTMSYd) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4o1OJ1A)].

    Watch the Promo of the Program here: https://apo-opa.co/4nXnAMX

    Beyond Our Africa TV Program, Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa announces annually 8 important Awards, under two themes, for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers and Musicians/ Singers, and potential young African talents in these fields. The themes of the two categories of awards are: 1) Breaking Infertility Stigma, Support Girls’ Education, End Child Marriage, End FGM, Stopping GBV and/ or Women Empowerment at all levels and 2) promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. The 2025 editions were announced during the 11th edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary held in Tanzania in October 2024.

    Dr. Kelej emphasized, “It is very well known that Africa’s creativity reflects its rich heritage, expressed in the form of art, fabrics, music, and storytelling and is carried forward through generations. Hence, we launch these awards annually, with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies who are also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”. Through our Awards, we aim to inspire the continent’s youth to use their innate talents to address our important and critical social and health issues, by raising awareness through their creative work at all levels.”

    Entries for the Awards can be sent to: submit@merck-foundation.com

    Also, as a part of the Community Awareness Programs, Merck Foundation has created over 30 songs with many African Artists, in English, French, Portuguese and also local African languages to address critical issues like breaking infertility stigma, empowering women, supporting girl education, ending child marriage, diabetes awareness, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and more.

    Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa has also launched 8 Children’s Storybooks in three languages: English, French and Portuguese. Additionally, Merck Foundation has adapted these storybooks to create interesting animation films with the purpose of reaching out to the communities to raise awareness on the important issues with an aim of instilling change at grassroot levels.

    To listen to the Merck Foundation songs, read Merck Foundation storybooks and watch Merck Foundation animation films, click on the below links:  

    https://apo-opa.co/44Q8BvC

    https://apo-opa.co/46iSl90 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

    Contact:
    Mehak Handa
    Community Awareness Program Manager 
    Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
    Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

    Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3GvgIG0
    X: https://apo-opa.co/4eTMSYd
    YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4o1OJ1A
    Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/46Az9nl
    Threads: https://apo-opa.co/44Dc6H2
    Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/44USpcs
    Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
    Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/3GwUMKD

    About Merck Foundation:
    The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3GvgIG0), X (https://apo-opa.co/4eTMSYd), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/46Az9nl), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4o1OJ1A), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/44Dc6H2) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/44USpcs).

    The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign – African Union’s International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA) Field Visit in Seychelles

    Source: APO


    .

    The African Union’s International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA) has begun a 3-day field visit to Seychelles as part of its monitoring and evaluation efforts for the implementation of the #AfricaEducatesHer Campaign. This visit, which takes place from 16th – 18th July 2025, in Victoria, aims to gauge the status of girls’ education, assess the effectiveness of re-integration mechanisms, including policies and programs for Out-of-school girls and evaluate the implementation status of the #AfricaEducatesHer campaign, highlighting its impact, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

    AU CIEFFA delegates will also utilise the opportunity to examine the impact of national investments on girls’ education and the sustainability of #AfricaEducatesHer campaign initiatives and provide technical assistance to address harmful socio-cultural norms and gender-based violence (GBV), notably school-related GBV.

    The Minister of Education, H.E. Dr Justin Valentin, while officially welcoming the AU CIEFFA delegation, expressed his appreciation for the timely visit. He commended the work of CIEFFA in promoting girls and women’s education on the continent. He renewed Seychelles’ commitment to providing education opportunities for all children across all levels in the country, including STEAM opportunities. “Seychelles is working towards an inclusive education while tackling the issue of dropouts of boys from the education system”, he stated.

    Seychelles joined the second phase of the #AfricaEducatesHer campaign in October 2024. The campaign was launched by the Ministry of Education to reaffirm the country’s engagement to ensuring inclusive and equitable education for girls. Challenges identified include school dropouts, mental health issues, and teenage pregnancies, which the Campaign seeks to address. During the visit, the Minister of Education for Seychelles, H.E. Dr Valentin, was handed the trophy of recognition for being one of the countries that have successfully launched and are implementing programmes under the Campaign.

    The #AfricaEducatesHer has now been launched in 14 AU Member States, with other Member States pledging to launch the campaign in their respective countries.

    The AU CIEFFA delegation was also received by the Principal Secretary from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family. As part of the visit, the team visited several schools and conducted a workshop on Gender-Responsive Education Planning and Policy Analysis, engaging key education stakeholders in Seychelles to strengthen national efforts toward inclusive and equitable education for girls.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Britain’s ban on lead ammunition could save tens of thousands of birds from poisoning

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Deborah Pain, Visiting Academic, University of Cambridge; Honorary Professor, University of East Anglia, University of Cambridge

    CHUYKO SERGEY/Shutterstock

    The UK’s environment minister Emma Hardy has announced a ban on toxic lead ammunition to protect Britain’s countryside. This ban includes the sale and use for hunting of both lead shotgun ammunition (each cartridge of which contains hundreds of small lead pellets called “shot”), used mainly for hunting small game animals like gamebirds, and large calibre lead bullets, used for hunting large game animals like deer.

    This is great news for Britain’s birds because the ban will eventually prevent the deaths and suffering of the vast numbers affected by lead poisoning each year after ingesting lead from ammunition.

    Most shot fired do not hit their targets and thousands of tonnes of lead shot are scattered in the environment every year.

    Waterbirds and land-based gamebirds mistakenly eat these because they look like food or the grit they ingest to help grind up their food. Shot are retained in their gizzards (a muscular part of the stomach), ground up, and the lead dissolved and absorbed into the bloodstream.

    Lead poisoning kills an estimated 50,000-100,000 waterbirds annually in the UK. These birds suffer considerably before they die. Many more birds are poisoned, but not killed.

    While this additional “sublethal” poisoning does not kill birds directly, they may be more likely to die of other causes. This is because lead poisoning affects the immune system and behaviour.

    Gamebirds will no longer be able to be killed using lead shot under a new ban in Britain.
    AdamEdwards/Shutterstock

    The use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl and over certain wetlands is already banned in England and Wales. It is also banned for shooting over all wetlands in Scotland.

    However, compliance with the regulations in England is only about 30%, and is also low in Scotland, although has not been measured in Wales. This new comprehensive ban should dramatically improve the situation across all habitats throughout Britain.

    Birds of prey, including eagles, common buzzards and red kites ingest lead fragments when they scavenge flesh from animals killed by lead ammunition, or prey on animals wounded by lead ammunition. The acidic conditions in their stomachs help dissolve the lead.

    Our research shows that while fewer birds of prey than waterbirds are estimated to die of lead poisoning, it can have a far greater effect on their populations, especially for species that first breed at a later age, produce fewer young, and would otherwise have higher annual adult survival rates.

    The lead ban will benefit birds that live in Britain permanently or for just part of the year. But it will not entirely solve the problem for migratory species. If lead shot continues to be used elsewhere, these species may still ingest it on migration or on their breeding or wintering grounds.

    Beyond borders

    To protect all species, lead ammunition needs to be replaced by non-lead alternatives everywhere. The use of lead shot is already banned in many wetlands globally. Across the EU, a ban on the use of lead shot in or close to wetlands came into force in February 2023.

    Denmark was the first country to ban lead ammunition across all habitats. In 1996, it banned the use of lead shot and in April 2024, it banned lead bullets. Our research shows that the lead shot ban in Denmark has been very effective, with good levels of compliance.

    Now, Britain is set to become the second country to ban most uses of lead ammunition. This has been made possible by the increasing availability of safe, efficient and affordable non-lead ammunition alternatives, primarily steel shot and copper bullets.

    In February 2025, the European Commission published a draft regulation banning most uses of lead ammunition and fishing weights. This awaits approval under EU processes – if successful, it will represent a major step forward.

    Beyond birds

    Birds are particularly susceptible to the effects of ingested lead from ammunition due to their muscular gizzards and stomach acidity. But it also puts the health of many other animals at risk, including pets and people.

    In the UK, we found average lead concentrations in raw pheasant dog food from three suppliers to be tens of times the legal maximum residue limit for lead in animal feed.

    The UK government based its decision to ban lead ammunition on a report by the Health and Safety Executive which highlighted risks to the health of young children and women of pregnancy age if they frequently eat meat from game hunted with lead ammunition. Children’s developing nervous systems are particularly sensitive to the effects of lead.

    We recently urged the EU’s committee of member states for Reach (the chemicals regulation), the European parliament and council to fully support the European Commission’s proposal to restrict lead ammunition.

    We also encouraged the European Food Safety Authority to recommend that the European Commission set a legal maximum level for lead in game meat marketed for human consumption. This maximum level should be similar to the one already set for meat from most farmed animals.

    Until this happens, and more countries follow suit by banning all use of lead ammunition for hunting, the health of wildlife, domestic animals and vulnerable groups of people will continue to be threatened by the toxic effects of lead from ammunition.

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

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

    Deborah Pain is an Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia (Biological Sciences) and a Visiting Academic in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. She has been an independent scientist since April 2018. She has received no remuneration for research on lead poisoning since that time, but, along with colleagues, has received funding for the costs of research and chemical analysis from a number of sources, as acknowledged in published papers. She was a member of the UK REACH Independent Scientific Expert Pool (RISEP) and within this the Challenge Panel on Lead in Ammunition and received payment for that work. However, her published research on lead poisoning was independent of that process.

    Rhys Green has received funding for research from several organisations including the RSPB, where he was principal conservation scientist until 2017. He is now retired. He is an unpaid volunteer research scientist at RSPB and Emeritus Honorary Professor of Conservation Science in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. He is a member of the UK REACH Independent Scientific Expert Pool (RISEP), which is an expert group set up by a UK government agency, the Health & Safety Executive. He receives occasional payments for work done on behalf of RISEP. He is on the Board of Trustees of Chester Zoo.

    Niels Kanstrup 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. Britain’s ban on lead ammunition could save tens of thousands of birds from poisoning – https://theconversation.com/britains-ban-on-lead-ammunition-could-save-tens-of-thousands-of-birds-from-poisoning-260958

    MIL OSI –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Lions rugby tour: why visual training, including juggling, can be a secret weapon in elite sports

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Zoe Wimshurst, Senior Lecturer of Sport Psychology, Health Sciences University

    Odua Images/Shutterstock

    Much of the pre-series attention on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia has been on injuries, player omissions and personal rivalries.

    One of those rivalries involves the Australian sensation Joseph-Akuso Suaalii facing Lions centre player, Sione Tuipulotu, with whom he had a fiery encounter in a match last year.

    Suaalii only switched codes from rugby league to rugby union in 2023 and has just five international caps to his name. But despite his lack of union experience, he has been catching attention lately for more than just his powerful runs and physicality. In recent weeks, Suaalii’s unusual pre-match warm-up has also sparked curiosity, most notably, his use of juggling and peripheral awareness drills to prepare his visual system.

    For many spectators, seeing a player showing off their juggling skills is more suited to a circus performance than international rugby. But there is science behind his bizarre approach. This preparation could be giving him an edge the Lions should fear.

    Growing evidence

    Visual performance in elite sport remains an under-applied area of sport science, yet the evidence for its effectiveness is growing.

    My own research has found that a county cricket team which underwent six weeks of visual training improved their basic cricket skills more than a control group which did extra cricket skills exercises. This demonstrates that we need to be looking beyond the confines of the sport itself to bring about maximal performance.

    Visual skill in sport is about more than just 20/20 vision. Each sport has its own specific demands, and rugby requires skills such as peripheral awareness, depth perception, rapid eye movement, reaction speed, dynamic visual acuity and eye-body coordination.

    Joseph-Akuso Suaalii.
    wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    Combining these visual skills will allow the most accurate information to be sent to the brain for processing – helping players to make the best decisions, even under intense pressure and high levels of fatigue.

    By using exercises such as juggling, Suaalii is training several of these visual skills at once. Juggling requires excellent eye-body coordination, the use of the peripheral system and reaction speed. These are all skills which are also used in rugby for catching high balls kicked by opponents, reading attacking threats and spotting the movement of teammates and opposition players.

    Juggling has also been shown to bring about positive structural changes in the human brain – particularly in areas linked to processing visual information – and integrating this with motor control.

    This demonstrates that this relatively simple exercise can lead to improvements not only in the eyes, but also the brain. In rugby, the visual array will be constantly changing. A shift in the defensive line, a looping support run, a player slightly slow to recover from a ruck, or a spiralling high kick – the ability to spot, process and respond to these visual cues can be the difference between success and failure.

    Suaalii is by no means the first rugby player to train his visual system. Former coach Clive Woodward famously brought in a visual performance coach to work with the England team – and they went on to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

    I also worked with the Harlequins rugby team in the English Premiership as a visual performance coach. We won three trophies in my first three seasons with the team, which is known for free flowing, creative play. This style of play places extremely high demands on the players’ visual systems.

    Lions test series

    So what particular visual skills can you look out for over this Lions test series and how might they impact the outcome?

    When defending close to their own try line, players should be scanning across the width of the pitch to ensure that they do not become outnumbered on either side of the field. Conversely, the attackers should be making rapid scans to quickly identify any mismatch (for example, a slow front row forward versus a swift and agile winger) they can take advantage of.

    In these situations, players can often focus too much on the ball, allowing opposition players to craftily reposition themselves unseen. The best players will, wherever possible, be looking at everything, everywhere, all at once, improving their spatial awareness and enabling them to maintain an overview of the game in their minds.

    To catch a kicked spiralling highball, a fullback or winger needs exceptional tracking ability and depth perception. Players in this situation are sometimes let down by “convergence issues”, where as the eyes track an object moving towards them, they can drift outwards or become misaligned. This can cause players to mistime their jump, or for the ball to hit their chest before being caught, wasting vital milliseconds. Training these convergence issues has been shown to bring about improvements in sports performance.

    As a scrum-half is collecting the ball from a breakdown, they need quickly to scan the positions of teammates on either side of them, and be aware of the depth of the defensive line. Having this visual information will lead to better decisions and creating faster attacking opportunities.

    A crunching tackle may seem like a purely strength-based skill. But to ensure it is both perfectly timed and legal, a defender must perfectly anticipate the speed and direction of the oncoming player. They can then use this information to precisely position their own body to impart their full momentum, while using their reaction speed to make last-second adjustments to ensure they do not put their opponent in danger.

    Subtle visual advantages, honed through practice, can influence these moments. During this test series, they may well be the difference between winning and losing. Suaalii’s juggling may seem better suited to the circus, but it could be the secret weapon Australia need to secure the series.

    Zoe Wimshurst is the owner and director of Performance Vision Ltd, a company which provides visual training and consultancy services.

    – ref. Lions rugby tour: why visual training, including juggling, can be a secret weapon in elite sports – https://theconversation.com/lions-rugby-tour-why-visual-training-including-juggling-can-be-a-secret-weapon-in-elite-sports-261424

    MIL OSI –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Afghan data leak: how selective state secrecy and cover-ups can harm civilians

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Victoria Canning, Professor of Criminology, Lancaster University

    In 2022, somebody in the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) mistakenly shared a spreadsheet containing the personal information associated with 18,714 Afghans and their family members. This data breach, and the efforts to cover it up, raises serious questions about state secrecy, blame-shifting and accountability.

    After discovering the mistake in August 2023, the government covered up their spectacular error with an unprecedented injunction “contra mundum” (against the world). This “superinjunction” prohibited journalists and others in the know – like one author of this article (Professor Sara de Jong) – from reporting the breach and even the very existence of the injunction.

    When the superinjunction was finally lifted on July 15, John Healey, the defence secretary, revealed that the MoD had operated a secret resettlement scheme for Afghans whose data had been leaked at risk from the Taliban. To date, 900 Afghans and 3,600 family members have been flown to Britain or are currently in transit via this scheme. A further 600 people and their immediate family members are still in Afghanistan, being promised evacuation. Many thousands of others on the list were already resettled in the UK via two other official routes.

    The spectacular nature and impact of this data leak should not distract from the fact that it is not entirely unique. The personal data of Afghan applicants had already been exposed by the MoD in an earlier series of data breaches in September 2021.

    The superinjunction is only the latest in a string of silences that have prevented accountability on Afghanistan and other issues to do with national security.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    In the wake of the dramatic Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, the foreign affairs select committee was dependent on whistleblowers to get to the truth about then prime minister Boris Johnson’s prioritisation of an animal charity for evacuation, over others at acute risk. Political accountability over the chaos of the evacuation was compromised by the foreign office who, according to then committee chair Tom Tugendhat, “repeatedly has given us answers that, in our judgement, are at best intentionally evasive, and often deliberately misleading”.

    The Ministry of Defence – including Healey in his statement on the data breach – routinely cites the deaths of 457 British soldiers as the “costs of war” in Afghanistan. But the department only released the data on how many Afghan interpreters died alongside them after a freedom of information request by Sara de Jong. The MoD, even after several freedom of information Requests and appeals, refuses to provide further details about the circumstances of their deaths.

    Even the latest shocking revelations didn’t end with the lifting of the superinjunction. A secondary injunction was lifted on July 17, revealing that the leaked list also contained the identities of dozens of British officials, including spies and special forces.

    Selective secrecy

    In the wider context of government leaks and secrecy, critical questions need to be asked about which secrets are kept, by whom and why.

    In his judgement lifting the superinjunction, Mr Justice Chamberlain credited media organisations and individual journalists involved with the fact that they had kept the leak confidential. Like Sara, some had become aware of the breach several months before Healey (the then-shadow defence secretary was informed in December 2023). But all kept quiet to keep Afghans at risk safe, not to cover up their own errors.

    The government invests in secrecy when it also has its own embarrassment to hide, whether it is an extraordinary superinjunction or secrecy about the prioritisation of a pet charity during the Afghanistan evacuation.

    Appeals to national security routinely obstruct media, legal and public access to information to hold the government to account. Meanwhile, many Afghans are left wondering why their and their loved ones’ data was on a spreadsheet that could be emailed around with a click of the wrong button.

    Effects on Afghans

    The consequences of the cover-up will be felt most acutely by Afghans – those on the leaked list still waiting for evacuation, including family members of Afghans already in the UK, whose own presence may be complicated further by anti-immigration sentiment.

    Following the revelations, Healey announced that the secret relocation scheme was now closed, following the sudden decision to close the two official Afghan resettlement schemes.

    The decision to shut down the two publicly known resettlement schemes, he claimed, was based on “policy concerns about proportionality, public accountability, cost and fairness”, as well as a commissioned report on the impact of the leak.

    He defended his decisions saying that “the taxpayer should be paying £1.2 billion less over the next few years, and that around 9,500 fewer Afghans will come to this country”. In the context of ongoing anti-immigration rhetoric, the mention of costs combined with refugees is as unsurprising as it is inflammatory.

    On the day of announcement, affected Afghans were sent a notice by the MoD and a link where they could find out if their data had been compromised. The email said very little about what the MoD could offer, and said a lot about what measures Afghans were now supposed to take: use a virtual private network, limit who can see your social media profiles.

    Afghans unlucky enough to be Afghanistan were simply advised that, “If you are outside the UK, please do not try to travel to a third country without a valid passport and visa. If you do so, you will be putting yourself at risk on the journey, and you may face the risk of being deported back to Afghanistan”.

    It is almost impossible for Afghans to travel legally without international assistance. And, since the Taliban are not recognised as a legitimate government, embassies are closed for citizens to even obtain legal travel documentation.

    Given that the British government recognises the real risk of rights violations in Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing assault on women’s rights by the Taliban, it seems contradictory – and a remarkable abdication of responsibility – to close routes to safety.

    Victoria Canning has received funding from UKRI and British Academy.

    Sara de Jong has received funding from the British Academy (Mid-Career Fellowship 2022) for research on Afghan interpreters and their claims to protection and rights. She is the chair of the board of trustees of the Sulha Alliance CIO, which advocates for and supports Afghan interpreters employed by the British Army.

    – ref. Afghan data leak: how selective state secrecy and cover-ups can harm civilians – https://theconversation.com/afghan-data-leak-how-selective-state-secrecy-and-cover-ups-can-harm-civilians-261394

    MIL OSI –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Going on holiday? What you need to know about taking your meds with you

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

    YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock

    As summer holidays begin, many travellers are packing more than just swimsuits and sunscreen – for millions, medicines are essential. But taking them abroad isn’t always simple. From legal pitfalls to temperature-sensitive drugs, here’s how to travel safely and legally with your medication.

    Know the law

    Medicines that are legal in the UK can be restricted or even banned in other countries. Having a valid prescription doesn’t guarantee you can take a medicine into another country.

    For example, Nurofen Plus, which contains codeine (an opioid painkiller), is prohibited in countries like Egypt, Indonesia and the UAE.

    Even common cold remedies containing decongestants like pseudoephedrine can land you in trouble in places like Japan and South Korea. This is because pseudoephedrine can be used to make methamphetamine (“speed”). Likewise, many stimulant ADHD drugs are also banned from these countries.

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

    Some countries have restrictions on the amount of medication that you are allowed to bring into the country – usually a maximum of three months supply.

    Travellers often overlook how strict customs regulations can be regarding medications. Even if prescribed for a valid medical reason, carrying a prohibited drug can lead to confiscation (leaving you without essential treatment), fines (especially in countries with tough drug laws) and detention or arrest in rare but serious cases.

    If you’re travelling with certain controlled drugs – such as opioids, stimulants or psychotropic substances – you may need to apply for an export licence from the UK Home Office. This is typically required when carrying a supply of three months or more. Examples of controlled drugs include diazepam (for anxiety and muscle spasms), codeine and morphine (for pain), amphetamines (for ADHD) and temazepam (for insomnia).

    Before you travel, check whether your medicine is affected by any of these restrictions. Use the country’s embassy website or the UK government’s travel advice to check the rules of your destination country.

    This should provide guidance on whether you simply need a copy of your prescription, a doctor’s letter or a special import certificate (some countries require official documentation even for personal use).

    The UK government advises carrying controlled drugs or any drugs that might be restricted in your hand luggage. You should take along a prescription or a signed letter from your doctor detailing your medication, dosage and travel dates.

    Ensure you take sufficient supplies for the duration of your trip and include extras for unexpected delays, damage or loss.

    Even some over-the-counter medicines can fall foul of the law.
    olesea vetrila/Shutterstock.com

    Store your medication properly

    It might be tempting to save space by transferring pills or liquids into smaller containers or pill organisers. While this can be convenient, it’s not always advisable. Customs officials may not recognise unlabelled containers, increasing the chance of delays or confiscation.

    Some medications are sensitive to light, air or temperature, and must remain in their original packaging to stay effective. For example, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) sprays like Lenzetto must not be decanted.

    These products rely on precise metered dosing and specialised packaging to deliver the correct amount of hormone. Transferring them to another container could result in incorrect dosing or loss of potency.

    Similarly, GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) tablets, used to treat angina, should always be stored in their original glass bottle. The active ingredient can evaporate if exposed to air, reducing the tablets’ effectiveness.

    You might be worried about the 100ml liquid in hand luggage restriction – with a doctor’s letter certifying the need for this medicine, you should be able to take larger amounts of liquid medicine through security.

    Medicines should always be kept in their original packaging with labels intact. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist whether your medication can be safely repackaged for travel.

    It’s also important to split your supply of medicines between bags (if more than one is used) in case one is lost. Tablets and capsules can sometimes be placed in a pill organiser for daily use, but always carry the original box or prescription label as backup.

    Some medicines require refrigeration – like Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide) injections for weight loss or insulin.

    Usually, unopened Wegovy pens and insulin preparations should be stored between 2°C and 8°C in a fridge. Once out of the fridge, they can be kept at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to 28 days, but must be protected from heat and sunlight. High temperatures, such as in direct sunlight or a hot car, can damage insulin.

    When travelling, use an insulated travel case or cool pack, but avoid placing pens or other medicines directly next to ice packs to prevent freezing.

    Airlines generally do not provide refrigeration or freezer storage for passenger items, including medicines, due to space and liability concerns, but it’s worth contacting them to see if they can help with arrangements for storage. Inspect insulin for crystals after flying – if any are present, it should be discarded.

    You can bring needles and injectable medicines like EpiPens (for allergies), insulin or Wegovy in your hand luggage. But it’s important to carry a doctor’s note stating your medical condition and the necessity of the medication, and a copy of your prescription.

    You should also declare them at airport security. Security officers may inspect these items separately, so allow for extra time going through security.

    Contact your airline for any specific rules on needles and injectable medicines. Always carry such medicines and medical devices in your hand luggage – checked bags can be lost or exposed to extreme temperatures.

    Don’t skip doses

    Tempting as it may be to leave your medication behind for a short trip, doing so can be risky. Stopping treatment – even temporarily – can lead to relapse or worsening of symptoms (especially for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension or depression).

    For medicines like antidepressants or opioids, people may start feeling withdrawal effects. You’re also at risk of reduced effectiveness if you miss doses of medicines that require consistent levels in your bloodstream.

    If you’re considering a break from your medication, consult your doctor first. They can advise whether a short pause is safe or help you plan a travel-friendly regimen.

    Take the right documents

    While showing your NHS app to border officials may help demonstrate that a medicine is prescribed to you, it’s not always sufficient – especially when travelling with restricted or controlled drugs and injectable medicines.

    Most countries require a copy of your prescription, and a doctor’s letter confirming the medication is for personal use. Your doctor is not legally obliged to issue this letter, but most will do so upon request.

    It’s best to ask at least one to two weeks in advance, as some practices may charge a fee or require time to prepare the documentation.

    Travelling with medication doesn’t have to be stressful, but it does require planning. With the right preparation, you can enjoy your holiday without compromising your health or running afoul of foreign laws.

    Dipa Kamdar 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. Going on holiday? What you need to know about taking your meds with you – https://theconversation.com/going-on-holiday-what-you-need-to-know-about-taking-your-meds-with-you-261018

    MIL OSI –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Going on holiday? Here’s how to make sure your trip is sustainable

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sayed Elhoushy, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Queen Mary University of London

    Anna Om/Shutterstock

    With the rise of sustainable tourism (travelling in a way that minimises harm to the environment, and benefits local communities), words such as “sustainable”, “”eco” and “green” appear on countless holiday brochures. From five-star hotels promoting “eco luxury” to airlines pledging to reduce carbon emissions and destinations making various green claims, sustainability is increasingly being used as a marketing tool.

    But with so many green claims floating around, it’s hard to know who is really providing sustainable travel and who is just greenwashing. A recent report shows that 53% of green claims are vague, misleading, or unfounded – and half of all green labels offer weak or non-existent verification.

    So, how can travellers distinguish genuine sustainability from greenwash that exaggerates environmental claims to attract eco-conscious travellers?

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

    Sustainability certification is a voluntary, third-party assessment that verifies a product, service, or organisation meets certain environmental, social, or ethical standards. These certifications provide a structure to manage, improve and communicate sustainability performance.

    More than 100 sustainable certifications promise that they have vetted tourism businesses so you can have a satisfying and guilt-free holiday.

    Yet, not all certifications are made equal, as our recent research shows. Most certification schemes audit actions taken, rather than assessing how effective these are.

    They assure you that the hotel you are staying in has an environmental policy or that it is progressively reducing some of its negative effects on the environment, but not that their energy or water consumption is well below that of its competitors, for example.

    Choosing a sustainable holiday involves more than just travel to your destination.
    PhotoSunnyDays/Shutterstock

    One major challenge is that consumers are not using these labels to inform their buying decisions. Next time you travel, select businesses certified by an organisation with a proven track record of verification and transparency. There are several things a strong certification should do:

    First, it should be third-party verified. This ensures that the green claims are independently checked.

    Second, it needs specific and clear criteria. Beware of vague sustainability claims, such as “eco-friendly”. Look for certifications that require transparent reporting on performance for specific environmental actions, such as waste management, or responsible sourcing.

    Third, it should go beyond eco-savings. Reducing energy and water consumption saves the hotel money. They should not get a prize for that. Seek evidence of the certification promoting best practice in complex issues like biodiversity conservation and dignity in the workplace.

    Examples of sustainable tourism certifications to keep an eye on include Green Key (the largest label in Europe); B Corp (which measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact); The Long Run (a promoter of nature conservation); and Fair Trade Tourism (a promoter of fair working conditions). These certifications require businesses to undergo regular audits to maintain them.

    In case you are thinking it’s not your responsibility to find out who is any good – you are right. The EU Green Claims Directive (due to be implemented by 2026) is a new legislation that requires companies to prove their environmental claims and labels, and ensure they are credible and trustworthy. This directive recognises the greenwash problem and will require certification to be based on assessment of actual performance – in tourism, and every other sector of the economy. The directive applies to any business anywhere in the world that sells to consumers from the EU. Expect fewer, but more respected and recognisable labels, that reduce consumer confusion.

    Buying locally produced souvenirs supports artisans.
    studiolaska / Shutterstock.com

    Beyond eco-labels

    Certification is only part of the picture. Your next holiday can make a greater contribution to local communities while minimising its harm to the environment. Take the time to consider how your trip can be part of a larger, positive contribution. Here are more ways to ensure that your holiday supports local communities and the environment:

    Make sure you travel shorter and stay longer. Research shows that transport is a major part of the carbon footprint of your trip. Fly less (if at all). Choose flights with lower carbon footprints – various booking sites now tell customers the carbon footprint for each flight at the time of purchase. And stay longer so you spend more locally, for that same flight.



    Read more:
    Five ways to make aviation more sustainable right now

    Choose tour operators that prioritise locally owned and small suppliers. Buy souvenirs that are made locally, and you can only find in that country. Travel slow – soak in where you are. Hike, cycle, use local transport. You will see more of the real place you are in.

    Choose buses and trains over private cars. Rent electric vehicles and select accommodation that provides charging facilities. And enjoy local and seasonal rather than imported food. Eat everything in your plate, rather than create food waste.

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

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

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Going on holiday? Here’s how to make sure your trip is sustainable – https://theconversation.com/going-on-holiday-heres-how-to-make-sure-your-trip-is-sustainable-255037

    MIL OSI –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Bluetongue outbreak endangers UK livestock – what you need to know about the virus

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cate Williams, Knowledge Exchange Fellow at Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University

    Bluetongue causes illness and death in cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants. Juice Flair/Shutterstock

    A tiny midge, no bigger than a pinhead, is bringing UK farming to its knees. The culprit? A strain of the bluetongue virus that’s never been seen before.

    As of July 1, the whole of England has been classed as an “infected area” due to bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3).

    There are movement restrictions and testing in place in Scotland, Wales and the island of Ireland. No animals from England – or that have passed through England – are allowed to attend this year’s Royal Welsh Show on July 21-24, for example.

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

    The virus, which causes illness and death in sheep, cattle, goats and other ruminants, is spread by biting midges. Although it poses no risk to humans and can’t be transmitted from one animal to another, the latest outbreak is more severe than previous ones. And it could cause lasting damage to UK farming.

    Bluetongue isn’t new to the UK, however. A different strain, BTV-8 was detected in 2007 and contained. But BTV-3 is a different story. First detected in the Netherlands in late 2023, it was quickly spotted in the UK, where an early containment effort initially appeared successful.

    But the virus made a comeback in autumn 2024 – and this time it spread. On its second attempt, the virus was able to circulate and caused an outbreak. With little existing immunity, BTV-3 has now established itself, prompting concerns about animal welfare, food production and farming livelihoods.

    What does the disease do?

    Sheep tend to be the most severely affected, though all ruminants are at risk. Clinical signs are species-specific but can include swelling of the face, congestion, nasal discharge, ulcers in the mouth and nose, difficulty breathing and abortion or birth deformities.

    Bluetongue can cause the animal’s tongue to swell. It can also turn blue from lack of blood flow – although this is somewhat rare.

    Bluetongue disease causes suffering in animals, and while there is a vaccine, there is no treatment for the disease once it’s contracted.

    BTV-3 appears to be more lethal than earlier strains. In the Netherlands, vets report that BTV-3 is causing more severe symptoms than BTV-8 did.

    Vets in England reported that in some herds 25-40% of cows failed to get pregnant, and there was a high rate of birth defects and stillborn calves. One farm in Suffolk started the calving season with 25% of their cows not pregnant and ended with just 48 calves from 97 cows.

    Belgium has seen a fall in calf births, reduced milk deliveries and higher mortality in small ruminants compared to the previous three years.

    How is it spread?

    Bluetongue virus is transmitted by midges from the Culicoides genus. These are tiny, biting insects that thrive in mild, wet conditions.

    Multiple midges can bite the same animal, and it only takes one of them to carry BTV before that animal becomes a host for further transmission. When animals are transported long distances, infected individuals can be bitten again and introduce the virus to previously uninfected midge populations.

    Climate change is making outbreaks like this more likely. Milder winters and cooler, wetter summers are ideal for midges, increasing both their numbers and their biting activity.

    While there’s no danger to human health, the consequences of BTV-3 are far-reaching. Limitations on movement, exports and imports are being imposed to help prevent the spread of the disease, but this could also hamper farming practices and trade.

    The disease and its associated restrictions pose another source of stress for farmers, 95% of whom have ranked mental health as the biggest hidden problem in farming.

    Genetic pick and mix

    One of the reasons bluetongue is so tricky to manage is its ability to evolve. It has a segmented genome, meaning its genetic material, in this case RNA, is split into ten segments. This characteristic is exclusive to “reassortment viruses” and means that they can easily exchange segments of RNA. It’s like a genetic pick and mix with ten different types of sweets that come in an unlimited number of flavours.

    This allows BTV to create new, genetically distinct “serotypes”, which may have a selective advantage or a disadvantage. Those with an advantage will emerge and spread successfully, while those with a disadvantage will not emerge at all. This process, known as “reassortment”, is partly responsible for the numerous influenza pandemics throughout history and has even allowed diseases to jump the species barrier.

    Although bluetongue doesn’t affect humans directly, its spread poses a growing threat to the UK’s livestock sector and food supply. It’s important to learn from other countries that are further along in the BTV-3 outbreak so that the likely effects can be anticipated in the UK.

    Cate Williams 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. Bluetongue outbreak endangers UK livestock – what you need to know about the virus – https://theconversation.com/bluetongue-outbreak-endangers-uk-livestock-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-virus-260229

    MIL OSI –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How to understand the row between Angela Rayner and Unite – and what it means for Labour’s relationship with the unions

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Eric Shaw, Honorary Research Fellow in Politics, University of Stirling

    At its recent conference in Brighton, the union Unite voted overwhelmingly to expel deputy prime minister Angela Rayner from membership.

    The successful motion denounced the way Birmingham’s Labour council has handled a pay dispute with the city’s bin workers, which, it claimed, involved large pay cuts. The motion also condemned the Labour government for supporting the council.

    Rayner was suspended because, in the words of Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, she had “backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts”.

    The resolution called upon the union leadership to “re-examine” its relationship with the Labour party. Graham added: “People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on and coming up with the answer, not workers”.

    Rayner’s suspension seems an extraordinary move. The soft-left deputy PM is the most senior pro-union voice in the government and has a long history in the union movement. Crucially, when in opposition, Rayner was primarily responsible for hammering out a package of measures with the unions that was designed to bolster employee rights. These measures are now in the process of being codified in the employment rights bill that is making its way through parliament.

    Why Rayner (along with some Birmingham Labour councillors) was selected for expulsion is unclear. Perhaps the union was simply lashing out. The impact of its decision was lessened by the fact that Rayner says she had already resigned from Unite and remains a member of Unison, a union in which she once served as an official.

    Unite and Labour

    The more significant move was (or appeared to be) the pledge to “re-examine” Unite’s relationship with the party. This should be placed in the context both of recent controversies over attempts to means-test winter fuel payments and cut disability benefits, and of reports of moves to form a new leftwing party under the putative leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana..

    Might Unite disaffiliate from Labour and rally behind the new party? Given that Unite, with its 1.2 million members, is Britain’s second largest union (after Unison), and, over the years, has been a generous donor to Labour, such a move would be significant. Support from Unite could give the new leftwing party real heft and allow it to pose a worrying threat to Labour’s electoral prospects.

    Unite’s recent history might suggest this as a possibility. With a long tradition stretching back over three quarters of a century, Unite (and its precursor, the TGWU) has been a stalwart of the Labour left. Under its leftwing general secretary, Len McCluskey, Unite made a major contribution to Ed Miliband’s election as party leader in 2010. McCluskey subsequently attacked Miliband for drifting too far to the right.

    The union then played a crucial role in sustaining Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership: indeed, without its support, Corbyn might not have survived so long. And as it became evident that Keir Starmer was determined to wrench the party to the right, Unite once more became the centre of leftwing dissent.

    McCluskey retired in 2021, but neither of the two candidates affiliated to his “Unite left” faction won the election to succeed him. Unexpectedly, they were both defeated by Graham, another leftwinger who believed that Unite had become too embroiled in internal Labour party matters and was determined to divert resources away from funding the Labour party to industrial activities.

    The dog that hasn’t barked

    However, Graham’s desire to divest from Labour should not be taken as a sign that she wants to reinvest in another party. The whole thrust of Graham’s leadership is to give much higher priority to industrial than to political concerns.

    Even had she not been so explicit about this, union leaders are, above all, realists. They are concerned with the practicalities of protecting the interests of their members and hence averse to risky political experimentation.

    And, however contentious a role Unite has played in the Labour party, multiple ties, in terms of history, tradition, ethos and interest, still bind the two together.

    The row between Unite and Labour shouldn’t lead us to overlook the fact that, despite all the controversies and disappointments, the other major union affiliates, including Unison, GMB and USDAW, have largely refrained from public criticism of the government.

    This is a sign of loyalty. The unions do not wish to add to the massive problems the Starmer government already faces. But it’s also evidence that, however undersold, the Labour government is delivering on the issues that matter to unions. Its employment rights bill promises the most significant enhancement of individual and collective worker rights in a generation. The unions will allow nothing to jeopardise this.

    But for Starmer, there is no room at all for complacency. With a stuttering economy, greatly overstretched public services, a cost of living crisis and very difficult public sector pay negotiations, even the most sympathetic union leaders will come under great pressure from a disgruntled rank and file to take a tougher line with the government. The road ahead will be rocky.

    Eric Shaw is a member of the Labour party

    – ref. How to understand the row between Angela Rayner and Unite – and what it means for Labour’s relationship with the unions – https://theconversation.com/how-to-understand-the-row-between-angela-rayner-and-unite-and-what-it-means-for-labours-relationship-with-the-unions-261340

    MIL OSI –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Celebrates Career, Legacy of Outgoing WVU President Gordon Gee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s remarks.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivered a speech on the Senate floor celebrating the career and legacy of West Virginia University’s (WVU) outgoing president Dr. Gordon Gee.

    Dr. Gee, who retired this week, dedicated nearly two decades of his life to the service of West Virginia, where he saw the university through many victories and challenges. Dr. Gee worked tirelessly to make education in West Virginia more accessible and obtainable, partnered with Marshall University president Brad Smith to keep the best and brightest students in West Virginia after graduation, and oversaw the addition of 20 hospitals under the WVU Medicine umbrella.

    Senator Capito’s remarks as prepared for delivery: 

    “Mr. President, 

    “I rise today to honor a dear friend of mine, who has dedicated nearly two decades of his life to the service of our great state of West Virginia, and, to the betterment of our students seeking higher education.

    “The man who has been president of more universities than anyone else in the entire world!

    “Doctor E. Gordon Gee, President of West Virginia University, who retired this week.

    “Dr. Gee, or Gordon as we call him, was fortunate to serve two tenures as President of WVU,

    “First from 1981 to 1985, and again from 2013 to 2025.

    “Where he brought his strong desire for community, and love of education, to our Home Among the Hills in Morgantown.

    “I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we will miss his signature bow tie—I believe he has thousands, his love for athletics and impact within the NCAA—he even offered to suit up for the WVU football team, although he’s quick to admit he isn’t much of an athlete—his infectious energy, and his thoughtful guidance.

    “His legacy will be felt at WVU for generations to come.

    “To understand the impact that Gordon has made on West Virginia, I must expand on what WVU means to our state and people far outside our borders.

    “WVU was established in 1867, initially named the Agricultural College of West Virginia, and became our state’s first public land-grant university.

    “Since then, individuals from across our state, country, and world have become Mountaineers – including many members of my own family.

    “There are a couple things that I must note about WVU:

    “First, Mountaineers are everywhere.

    “There isn’t a town across West Virginia, or an airport across our country, where you won’t see the trademark blue and gold flying WV logo.

    “The Mountaineers serve as a point of pride for our state and bring recognition to the wonderful people, passion, culture, and history that we have in West Virginia.

    “Second, Mountaineers are changing the world.

    “Across WVU’s thirteen colleges and schools, whether it be engineering, agriculture, law, or medicine, Mountaineers are making a difference.

    “WVU is our state’s only institution to hold the title of an R-1 University, the benchmark that recognizes exceptional research capacity.

    “This is a status that WVU received in 2016 under Gordon’s leadership.

    “Gordon’s connection to West Virginia isn’t just a professional one. It’s a personal one too.

    “He chose to return to West Virginia not once, but twice, because he believes in West Virginia, our people, and WVU.

    “When he speaks of his love and passion for our state, it is unmistakenly heartfelt.

    “Gordon believes in the power of education, and that belief has left its mark not only on Morgantown, but across every corner of our great state, and honestly, across our entire nation.

    “When Gordon became President of WVU the first time in 1981, he was only 37 years old.

    “When he returned to Blaney House in 2013, he came back seasoned, with the experience and perspective that WVU needed.

    “Through the foundation of his four pillars—education, health care, prosperity, and purpose—Gordon has guided WVU through times both successful and tumultuous—including through a global pandemic—made education for our children in West Virginia more accessible and obtainable, and moved our state towards one of his principles that West Virginians should not have to leave our state’s borders to receive the health services they deserve.

    “The impact that Gordon has made is apparent in many areas, but particularly noteworthy is the impact he has made through the continued expansion of WVU Medicine.

    “As the Chairman of the WVU Medicine Board of Directors, Gordon oversaw the addition of 20 hospitals under the WVU Medicine umbrella that span across our state,

    “And increased the capacity and research support for WVU’s world class facilities like the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Cancer Institute, Heart and Vascular Institute, and the new Children’s hospital.

    “As West Virginia’s Senator, I’ve had the privilege to work with the wonderful and incredibly impressive people of WVU Medicine and visit these facilities many times.

    “Let me tell you, they are on the cutting edge of medical advancements that will saves live and change our world.

    “Gordon’s leadership has been a critical part of this success, and it’s fitting that his recently finished portrait will live on the WVU Medicine campus.

    “Although Gordon was born in Utah, he is the first to tell you that he is a ‘born-again’ West Virginian.

    “He has made our state his home, and the effort and energy he puts toward benefiting the lives of his fellow West Virginians is evident.

    “Two of Gordon’s four pillars that I mentioned earlier—purpose and prosperity—relate directly to economic development in our state.

    “Along with Marshall President Brad Smith, Gordon was central to developing the ‘First Ascent’ program in West Virginia,

    “This program connects recent WVU and Marshall graduates with workforce opportunities within our state that launch their professional careers, and keep our best and brightest home, contributing to our communities.

    “The duo also worked together to establish ‘Ascend West Virginia,’ which has been a successful effort to attract remote workers to West Virginia’s mountains, highlighting the wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities our state offers to young professionals and their families.

    “Additionally, Gordon has made it a priority to visit and spend time in all 55 of West Virginia’s counties, showing the excellent work of the WVU Extension services, designed to build prosperity, enhance educational opportunities, improve health, and create purpose in communities across the entirety of our state.

    “While Gordon’s presence as WVU President will be missed, we know that he will continue to make a difference in West Virginia.

    “And, as I said when I started this speech, the legacy he has built will continue to be felt for generations to come.

    “I know that I join Gordon and our state when I say we look forward to leadership and experience that the new WVU president, Michael Benson, brings to Morgantown.

    “In a recent article published by WVU Magazine, I found the advice that Gordon gave to his successor to be wise, true, and eloquent:

    “’If you love the state and its people, they will love you back.’

    “That has certainly been the case for Doctor E. Gordon Gee, and the time he has spent in Morgantown.

    “On a personal note, Charlie and I have been the recipients of emails, texts, and letters from Gordon that have lifted us up in tough times, and in good times as well.

    “I have leaned on Gordon’s counsel as I’ve made difficult decisions, and he has always taken the time to give me thoughtful advice.

    “Both Charlie and I can safely say that our lives have been touched by Gordon, and by the friendship we have fostered with him and Laurie.

    “Here in the U.S. Senate, there are members who may have Gordon on speed-dial, but I am eternally grateful that the West Virginians are the ones who get to claim him!

    “Gordon, I wish you the best in your next chapter, and I hope you enjoy the well-deserved time to now spend with your Laurie, who has made an unbelievable mark on our state and the university alongside you, as well as your daughter Rebekah, and your twin granddaughters that you love so dearly.

    “Thank you for all you have done for West Virginia University— for your leadership, your vision, your heart, and all you’ve done for our state and the people who call it home.

    “With that, I yield the floor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Notice to improve: South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Notice to improve: South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust

    A notice to improve issued to South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust by the Department for Education.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Notice to improve: South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust

    PDF, 147 KB, 8 pages

    Details

    This letter and its annex serve as a written notice to improve governance, financial governance and financial management at South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 July 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Advances $9 Million for Key Nebraska Safety Upgrades

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced more than $9 million for critical Nebraska safety priorities through the Senate Appropriations Committee. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Act, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.

    “Nebraska’s police officers and first responders work around the clock to keep our communities safe, which is why it’s important they have the tools at their disposal to carry out their duties effectively. I’m proud to champion efforts through the Appropriations Committee to bring federal dollars back to Nebraska to support our law enforcement, upgrade our emergency communication systems, and support child trafficking prevention efforts. I will always support our men and women in blue, and I look forward to seeing these important provisions advance through the legislative process,” Fischer said.

    Funding projects advanced by Fischer for Nebraska are listed below:

    Child Trafficking Prevention Project
    Project Description: Implementing and assessing the Missing and Anti-Trafficking Youth Services Program to protect children from exploitation.
    Project Location: University of Nebraska—Omaha
    Amount: $2,000,000

    Communications Modernization Project
    Project Description: System-wide upgrades for emergency communications.
    Project Location: Otoe County
    Amount: $2,700,000

    Emergency Radio System Improvements
    Project Description: Equipment upgrades for emergency radio communications interoperability.
    Project Location: Thayer County
    Amount: $327,000

    Nebraska Online Child Exploitation Prevention Technology Project
    Project Description: Nebraska State Patrol task force technology upgrades to support investigations for the arrest of child predators.
    Amount: $176,000

    Police Public Safety Equipment
    Project Description: Public safety equipment upgrades for the Omaha Police Department.
    Project Location: City of Omaha
    Amount: $1,000,000

    Sheriff’s Office Equipment & Body-Worn Cameras
    Project Description: Acquisition of equipment, including body-worn cameras, for the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
    Project Location: Lancaster County
    Amount: $1,200,000

    Sheriff’s Office Technology Systems Upgrades
    Project Description: Equipment and technology upgrades for law enforcement information systems.
    Project Location: Douglas County
    Amount: $639,000

    Southeast Communications 911 Center Equipment Upgrades
    Project Description: Emergency communications equipment upgrades at the Southeast Communications 911 Center.
    Project Location: City of Beatrice
    Amount: $782,000

    Region 26 Communications Center Radio Update
    Project Description: Equipment upgrades to support fire, rescue, and law enforcement emergency communications.
    Project Location: Region 26 Council: Thomas, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Greeley, Valley, and Sherman Counties
    Amount: $415,000

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: 150 NY Districts Plan Smartphone-Free Schools

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today highlighted growing momentum for New York’s implementation of distraction-free schools this fall, as nearly 150 school districts statewide have already submitted their plans for bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions – well in advance of the State’s August 1 deadline. This wave of early submissions came just one week after the New York State Education Department (NYSED) sent a survey prompting school district leaders to send in their district’s distraction-free policy by August 1, in accordance with New York State law. These early submissions also came following Governor Hochul’s launch of a State website for distraction-free schools, which provides a policy FAQ, external informational toolkit and other resources to help districts as they finalize their policy.

    “As August 1 approaches, more and more districts across New York are thinking creatively about how to implement a bell-to-bell smartphone restriction policy that works best for their unique school community,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage all schools to learn from these additional examples and resources on our website to develop a plan suited for their students, teachers and families by the deadline.”

    This new requirement will take place in the 2025-26 School Year and applies to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).

    Governor Hochul’s cellphone policy creates a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York including:

    • Prohibits unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods
    • Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students
    • Secures $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free
    • Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary
    • Requires teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy
    • Prevents inequitable discipline

    Governor Hochul’s policy clarifies that students will have authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.

    Additionally, the Governor’s policy includes several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies.

    Governor Hochul pursued this initiative after engaging in a statewide listening tour with teachers, parents, and students. Her report “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools” underscores the following:

    • Smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity
    • Phone-free environments do not compromise student safety
    • Phone-free environments support the mental health of students and teachers
    • Open communication and direct guidance for all stakeholders is key for successful implementation
    • Schools must address any parent concerns about staying in contact with their children during the day
    • An effective distraction-free policy must focus on the entire school day, rather than solely on time in the classroom
    • Schools can strengthen their distraction-free environment by connecting more students with in-person engagement like clubs, sports, arts and other programming

    State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “As we near the start of the school year, it is important that school districts find the bell-to-bell implementation plan that works best for their school district, students, and teachers – with the viewpoints of students, parents, teachers, and administrators at the forefront of the discussion. I am pleased to see that so many school districts have already finalized their plans for next year and am optimistic that with the bell-to-bell cell phone policy, students will face fewer distractions and more opportunities.”

    State Senator John Liu said, “This wave of early submissions shows just how eager our school districts are to get phones out of the classrooms and back to the basics of a focused, in-person learning environment. Not only is this new statewide standard responsive to the wants and needs of teachers and students for phone-free schools, but it marks a new era for learning and education that puts our kids’ concentration, mental health, and academic achievement first.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Next phase of transformative St George’s city centre programme set to be agreed

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Since autumn last year, the social impact developer has been working closely with the council to progress the winning design, produced by Mikhail Riches and Periscope architects’ practices, to turn the 5 acre former Sainsbury’s site and historic St George’s Church into a new neighbourhood.

    A completed masterplan is now in place and, subject to approval by the council’s Cabinet on 23 July and Heads of Terms being agreed, Capital&Centric will develop RIBA 4 design drawings ready for the submission of a full planning application early next year, as well as construction drawings to support market engagement and procure a main works contractor.

    If planning approval is secured, the proposal is for Capital&Centric to be appointed – through a conditional Development Agreement – to purchase and develop the site.

    Capital&Centric are aiming to replicate the approach they have successfully delivered in other cities, attracting investment into imaginative and creative communities that feature restored historic buildings alongside contemporary new builds, as well as lush green public gardens.

    The intention for the former Sainsbury’s supermarket site is for a neighbourhood of hundreds of homes, community spaces and green streets, centred around a repurposed Grade II listed church. It is anticipated to feature shops, workspaces and commercial space, adding a vibrant new quarter to Wolverhampton’s city centre, with links to the £61 million City Learning Quarter, which is set to open in autumn 2025.

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “St George’s is a fantastic opportunity to create a game changing neighbourhood of which the city can be proud.

    “It’s a critical part of our citywide plan to unlock investment in considered development that delivers much needed homes and new opportunities for our communities.

    “Capital&Centric have an excellent track record in delivering complex urban regeneration schemes and agreeing Heads of Terms with them will enable us to make a significant step towards progressing this exciting brownfield scheme so we can work together to get it to the point of delivery.”

    John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “We’re buzzing to be taking the next big step at St George’s. This is a proper opportunity to do something bold, turning a tired corner of the city into a neighbourhood full of life, creativity and community.

    “We’ve worked closely with the council and brilliant design team to cook up plans that bring together new homes, green streets, spaces to work and hang out, all centred around the stunning Grade II listed church. We’re doing something innovative here by repurposing a supermarket into new homes, something that’s not been done in the UK before. The revamp of St George’s will give Wolverhampton a new destination that feels distinctly its own, one that locals can be proud of and visitors want to explore.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Helping families get ahead with a more generous Canada Child Benefit

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 18, 2025                 Peterborough, Ontario                   Employment and Social Development Canada

    As families raising children across the country receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) today, the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), announced that the benefit amounts have increased for 2025–26. Families can now receive up to $7,997 per child under the age of 6 and $6,748 per child aged 6 through 17. This represents approximately a $200 increase from the previous year and will help parents manage everyday expenses like groceries, clothing or child care, providing added support as they raise their children.

    Beyond the CCB, the Government of Canada is advancing other initiatives to make life more affordable and support families’ well-being:

    • the National School Food Program, backed by a $1 billion investment over five years, is expanding and enhancing access to nutritious food for children across Canada; and
    • the Canadian Dental Care Plan is transforming access to oral health care by helping make the cost of dental care more affordable for eligible Canadians.

    These efforts, combined with investments in affordable child care, housing and health care, reflect the Government of Canada’s commitment to bringing down costs for Canadians and helping them to get ahead.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    July 19, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Booker Washington Institute (BWI) automotive students restore and donate vehicle to enhance hands-on training

    Source: APO


    .

    Senior automotive students at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) have restored and donated a fully functional vehicle to their department, strengthening hands-on training for future students. As part of their final project, the class raised $800, purchased a non-running car, and successfully repaired it over four months, showcasing practical skills, teamwork, and leadership.

    The project complements an existing training vehicle previously donated by the European Union (EU) through the Youth Rising project, addressing a major gap in practical resources. With 42 students in the senior automotive class, one vehicle was insufficient to provide adequate hands-on training. The student-led initiative to acquire and restore an additional car significantly boosts the department’s capacity to deliver real-world technical skills.

    “As senior students, we are expected to leave behind a meaningful project as our legacy,” said Julie M. Soe, a member of the class. “We came together, discussed our options, and decided to buy and repair a vehicle. It wasn’t easy. The car had major issues with the engine, lights, oil system, and brakes. But we stayed focused, worked as a team, and today we’re proud to hand it over to the department.”

    “During our first year, we had no proper workshop and worked outside in the sun,” added Samuel P. Borbor, senior student and chair of the class project committee. “Now, with EU support, we have a workshop, tools, and a brand-new vehicle. This motivated us to take on our own project. Having two vehicles instead of one makes a huge difference. It allows us to actually practice what we learn, and I even got to use the electronic fault scanning machine for the first time.”

    Instructors praised the students for their initiative and commitment. “The confidence I had in these students has been fully justified,” said John Charlie, an automotive instructor at BWI. “Seeing them select, plan, and execute this project on a live engine is a dream come true. It shows they are ready for the industry.”

    “This project clearly demonstrated teamwork, problem-solving, and responsibility, qualities every good technician needs,” added Worlubah Mulbah, another instructor. “Their cooperation and willingness to share ideas were impressive.”

    Since 2018, the European Union (EU), through its Youth Rising project implemented by UNIDO, has supported Liberia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. The project focuses on renovating facilities, training instructors, providing tools and equipment, and updating curricula to deliver high-quality, market-relevant technical education. At BWI, this support included renovated workshops, new training vehicle, modern hand tools/equipment, and electronic diagnostic equipment, creating a strong foundation for practical learning.

    With this additional student-restored vehicle, BWI’s automotive department is now better equipped to prepare graduates for the job market. Instructors plan to replicate similar student-led projects with future classes, ensuring continuous improvement of hands-on learning and fostering a culture of initiative and innovation among Liberia’s future technicians.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 19, 2025
←Previous Page
1 … 46 47 48 49 50 … 1,010
Next Page→
NewzIntel.com

NewzIntel.com

MIL Open Source Intelligence

  • Blog
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Authors
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Patterns
  • Themes

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress