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Category: Farming

  • WaveX launches ‘Kalaa Setu’ challenge to boost AI-driven multilingual content generation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a significant step towards strengthening inclusive digital communication, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched the ‘Kalaa Setu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat’ initiative under its WaveX Startup Accelerator Platform. The programme invites India’s leading AI startups to develop innovative solutions for real-time multilingual and multimedia content generation aimed at enhancing public outreach in governance.

    As India’s digital governance ecosystem expands, the need for prompt, effective, and localised communication with citizens has become increasingly important. Traditional content creation processes often struggle to meet the demands of scale and linguistic diversity across the country. In this context, the ‘Kalaa Setu’ challenge seeks to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to bridge language barriers and deliver information to the last mile.

    Under this initiative, startups have been invited to develop indigenous, scalable solutions capable of generating audio, video, and graphic content from text inputs in multiple Indian languages. The challenge focuses on three key areas: text-to-video generation for creating contextualised video content, text-to-graphics generation for producing infographics and illustrations, and text-to-audio generation using advanced voice synthesis technology to deliver regionally relatable speech content.

    Officials said the solutions developed under ‘Kalaa Setu’ will help public communication bodies to dynamically convert official information into locally relevant formats, such as infographic visuals, video explainers, and audio news capsules, in real time. This will benefit various sections of society, including farmers, students, and senior citizens, by providing them timely updates in languages they understand best.

    Startups can submit their applications for the challenge through the WAVEX portal (https://wavex.wavesbazaar.com) under the ‘Kalaa Setu’ category. Applicants must submit a working Minimum Viable Concept by 30th July, 2025. Shortlisted teams will present their solutions before a national jury in New Delhi. The winning team will receive support for full-scale development, pilot opportunities with All India Radio, Doordarshan, and PIB, as well as incubation under the WaveX Innovation Platform.

    Earlier, the Ministry had also launched the ‘Bhasha Setu’ challenge on 30th June, 2025, aimed at real-time language translation. Startups can apply for the ‘Bhasha Setu’ challenge till 22nd July, 2025 through the same portal.

    These initiatives are part of the Government of India’s larger push to promote AI-driven technologies for inclusive and effective governance. By supporting home-grown innovations in multilingual communication and translation, the government aims to ensure that every citizen, regardless of language or region, has timely access to information.

    WaveX, launched under the Ministry’s WAVES initiative, serves as a dedicated startup accelerator to encourage innovation in media, entertainment, and language technologies. Earlier this year, the platform provided over 30 startups an opportunity to pitch their ideas at the WAVES Summit in Mumbai. 

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to Urban Forestry Advisory Panel

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (July 8) the appointment of 16 individuals as non-official members to the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) for a term of two years from July 1, 2025. 

    The new non-official members are Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun, Professor Huang Songyi, Professor Jim Chi-yung, Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo, Dr Peter Yau and Dr Allen Zhang Hao. The reappointed non-official members are Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king, Professor Wendy Chen Yan, Professor Chu Lee-man, Dr Dong Hui, Professor Anthony Leung Kwan, Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin, Dr Shi Shulin, Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet, Professor Charles Wong Man-sing and Mr Yiu Vor. 

    A spokesman for the DEVB said, “The UFAP comprises local and overseas experts from different fields including urban forestry, plant science, engineering and landscape architecture related academics, professionals and experts, and provides advice on urban forestry policies and initiatives from multiple perspectives.”

    Appointed by the Secretary for Development, members of the UFAP advise the DEVB on management strategies, applied research and development in respect of urban forestry, as well as positive capacity building initiatives for the urban forestry related industries. 
    ​
    The membership of the new term of the UFAP is set out below:  

    Chairman
    ————
    Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, DEVB

    Non-official members
    —————————
    Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king
    Professor Wendy Chen Yan
    Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun*
    Professor Chu Lee-man
    Dr Dong Hui
    Professor Huang Songyi*
    Professor Jim Chi-yung*
    Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo*
    Professor Anthony Leung Kwan
    Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin
    Dr Shi Shulin
    Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet
    Professor Charles Wong Man-sing
    Dr Peter Yau*
    Mr Yiu Vor
    Dr Allen Zhang Hao*

    Official members
    ———————
    Head of Tree Management Office, DEVB
    Representative of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
    Representative of Highways Department
    Representative of Housing Department
    Representative of Leisure and Cultural Services Department

    * New non-official members

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eritrea: Extensive Water and Soil Conservation Program

    Source: APO


    .

    Extensive water and soil conservation activities are being carried out with strong public participation in the Molqui sub-zone.

    Mr. Melake Woldemicael, Head of the Agriculture Office in the sub-zone, stated that the program aims to construct terraces over 2,365 hectares, and so far, 70% of the target has been completed.

    Mr. Melake also noted the exemplary participation of residents in the administrative areas of Adi-Gemi’a, Adi-Mihret, Endabasimon, and Tikul. He called for continued and reinforced public engagement to ensure better outcomes.

    Participants in the campaign, recognizing the impact of the program on improving their agricultural yields, expressed commitment to further strengthen their involvement.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The growing case for trees on farms Land managers, farmers, foresters, researchers, and policy makers will gather in Aberdeen for a landmark event to explore how integrating more trees into farmland could play a pivotal role in tackling climate change, improving biodiversity, and supporting resilient rural economies.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Tree planting at Glensaugh farm (James Hutton Institute)

    Land managers, farmers, foresters, researchers, and policy makers will gather in Aberdeen for a landmark event to explore how integrating more trees into farmland could play a pivotal role in tackling climate change, improving biodiversity, and supporting resilient rural economies.
    Agroforestry—the practice of integrating trees into crop or livestock systems—offers a range of benefits from improved water cycling and the enrichment of soil health to carbon sequestration and a reduction in erosion.
    Trees can also provide shade and shelter for animals, act as windbreaks and create habitats for pollinators and wildlife.
    The Farm Woodland Forum Annual Meeting, organised in partnership with the University of Aberdeen and The James Hutton Institute, will be held in Aberdeen for the first time in 30 years.
    Themed ‘The role of agroforestry in integrated land management’, the eventwill highlight how trees can work alongside farming to deliver both economic and environmental benefits.
    Dr Josie Geris, Reader in Hydrology at the University and lead host of the conference said: “Farmland trees have often been overlooked in traditional agricultural models, this event will shine a spotlight on their increasing importance in addressing the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and food production.
    “In addition to increasing environmental and farm resilience, well-planned tree planting can deliver wide-ranging benefits, including timber, fruit, fodder and biomass production, alongside other alternative income and energy sources.”
    The conference will take place July 9–10, 2025, starting with a full day of talks and poster sessions at King’s College Conference Centre, followed by a field visit to Glensaugh Research Farm, home of the James Hutton institute’s climate-positive farming initiative where participants will explore long-term agroforestry trials and tree-based climate resilience measures in action.
    Highlights include first-hand insights from farmers integrating trees into livestock and arable systems, research on the role of trees in reducing flooding, improving soil health, and enhancing biodiversity, updates on policy and payment schemes supporting farm woodland expansion and a look at decision-support tools helping farmers plan tree planting to fit their land and business goals.
    Dr Julie Rostan, whose UKRI Treescapes programme funded research with colleagues at the University of Aberdeen and James Hutton Institute has looked at balancing socio-economic and environmental factors of the potential for agroforestry across Scotland, will showcase her work at the event.
    She said: “The research has developed farmed based knowledge and practical tools that can help with decision making about integrating trees into farms for a more strategic approach to planting which can be tailored to individual needs whether it is improving benefits for livestock or farm ecosystem health.”
    “Understanding of the importance and challenges to integrate tree planting into farmland is gaining momentum and this conference is an opportunity to hear from practitioners already seeing the benefits, as well as scientists developing the tools and knowledge to support wider adoption, and third sector organisations that facilitate this.
    “Agroforestry is not about choosing between trees and food production. It’s about designing systems where both thrive.”
    Glensaugh Research Farm has several areas of mature agroforestry which were planted in 1988 to explore the production benefits of integrating trees within a livestock farming system. These were planted as part of a National Network of seven UK research sites, co-ordinated by the Farm Woodland Forum (then the UK Agroforestry Forum). Three species were selected (Scots Pine, Hybrid Larch and Sycamore) and planted at a range of different densities, which allowed comparison of these differences on a range of factors including tree growth, grass production and livestock output. Findings from this have contributed significantly to advancing agroforestry research and knowledge.
    The project continues to provide a living demonstration of the longer-term practicalities of agroforestry management as well as wider environmental benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation and biodiversity. Currently, several research projects associated with the farm, including the UKRI-funded ‘FARM TREE’ project in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, which is part of the Future of UK Treescapes Programme. The ‘FARMTREE’ project concerns balancing farm and landscape-scale demands for integrating trees on agricultural land and is developing practical tools for farmers to enhance the expansion of trees on agricultural land.
    Building on lessons learned from these original research plots, as well as from agroforestry studies elsewhere, Hutton researchers planted a new design of silvopastoral agroforestry in early 2024. This integrates oak, a range of other amenity trees and grazing pasture, aiming to maximise the multiple potential benefits and minimise any disbenefits from such a system.
    Professor Alison Hester, who heads up the Climate-Positive Farming Initiative at Glensaugh, said, “We’re delighted to host day two of this year’s farm Woodland Forum Annual Meeting at Glensaugh. Glensaugh has been a core site for agroforestry research since the 1980s and it is wonderful to see the bourgeoning enthusiasm for greater integration of trees into farming systems with all the multiple benefits that this can bring.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • ‘No palm oil’ label is misleading marketing tactic, says IFBA

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Food and Beverage Association (IFBA) has termed the growing trend of “No Palm Oil” labels on consumer products as misleading and described it as a marketing gimmick rather than a scientifically backed health claim.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, the association expressed concern that selective branding tactics were creating confusion among consumers, despite palm oil being widely used and consumed in India since the 19th century.

    “Palm oil has a recognised role in a healthy and balanced diet. Despite this, labels such as ‘No Palm Oil’ mislead consumers by prioritising marketing over science,” said Deepak Jolly, Chairperson of the IFBA, citing the Ministry of Health’s dietary guidelines.

    The association pointed out that palm oil is among the most affordable and versatile edible oils, used extensively by leading global brands due to its long shelf life and nutritional stability.

    It also cautioned that the rise of such labelling practices is encouraging consumers to make food choices based on social media trends rather than verified scientific evidence. “These narratives distract from the importance of overall nutritional balance and can undermine India’s efforts towards self-reliance, ultimately harming farmers, producers, consumers and the national economy,” Jolly said.

    India consumes about 26 million tonnes of edible oil every year, of which nearly 9 million tonnes is palm oil.

    Shilpa Agrawal, Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at IFBA, noted that the Dietary Guidelines for Indians–2024, released by the ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition, recognise the role of tocotrienols found in palm oil in lowering cholesterol and supporting heart health. The guidelines recommend a rotation of edible oils, including palm oil, to maintain a balanced fatty acid profile, she added.

    The association also lauded the government’s National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹11,040 crore, which aims to expand oil palm cultivation and reduce India’s dependence on edible oil imports.

    “Consumers should be cautious of influencers who exaggerate claims without understanding nutrition science. Marketing tactics such as ‘Palm Oil Free’ labels are no substitute for balanced dietary advice,” the IFBA said.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI Video: Minister of Agriculture Steenhuisen Tables Budget Vote

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Minister of Agriculture, Hon. John Steenhuisen Tables Budget Vote

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV5r0TLY7bI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Minister of Agriculture, Hon. John Steenhuisen Tables Budget Vote

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen Tables Budget Vote Speech

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8d9_OnRrBE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen Tables Budget Vote Speech

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen Tables Budget Vote Speech

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDFCleTRxRA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Polish parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Horbatowski, announces Taiwan to open market to fresh blueberries from Poland

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Polish parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Horbatowski, announces Taiwan to open market to fresh blueberries from Poland

    • Date：2025-07-01
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    July 1, 2025  

    No. 227  

    On July 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon for visiting deputies of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland—Łukasz Horbatowski, Marek Chmielewski, and Iwona Krawczyk—who also serve on the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentarian Group. The two sides exchanged views on issues such as bilateral relations, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges.

     

    In his remarks, Minister Lin pointed out that the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentarian Group was the largest group of its kind in the Sejm. He thanked members of the Polish parliament for their long-term support of Taiwan through concrete actions. Minister Lin said that cooperation between Taiwan and Poland in economics, trade, higher education, judicial matters, technology, and other domains had continued to deepen in recent years. He expressed hope that, building on the existing foundations, the two countries would further work together to strengthen interactions and exchanges. 

     

    Furthermore, Minister Lin announced that Taiwan had recently approved the import of fresh blueberries from Poland. Once final administrative procedures were completed, he said, the people of Taiwan would have the opportunity to enjoy high-quality Polish blueberries, benefiting both Polish farmers and Taiwanese consumers. Minister Lin also noted that Taiwan possessed a world-leading ICT sector while Poland had outstanding professional talent and production capacity, which presented opportunities for bilateral collaboration in artificial intelligence, drones, and advanced chips. Minister Lin said he looked forward to continued collaboration between the two countries to build resilient and democratic non-red supply chains.

     

    Mr. Horbatowski, who was visiting Taiwan for the first time, expressed his appreciation for Minister Lin’s invitation and said that he was impressed with Taiwan’s advanced political and economic development. He added that Poland, as a major exporter of agricultural products, welcomed Taiwan’s decision to approve fresh blueberry imports and added that he looked forward to continued cooperation in the agricultural and high-tech sectors to enhance the welfare of the people of both countries.

     

    Taiwan and Poland share the universal values of freedom and democracy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to promote cooperation between the two nations in various fields so as to deepen their resilient partnership, create sustainable prosperity and well-being for the people of Taiwan and Poland, and uphold their hard-earned democratic achievements. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Epiq Bolsters its Leadership of Class Action Administration in the UK and Europe with the Acquisition of Case Pilots

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Epiq announced today that it has acquired Case Pilots, one of the UK’s leading claims administration companies.

    Epiq is the world’s leading class actions and claims administrator and the largest in North America. The firm’s stellar reputation is evidenced through the successful management and distribution of some of the largest settlements in history. With over 30 years’ experience, clients rely on the deep bench of Epiq experts for guidance in driving cases forward and helping to deliver positive outcomes in the highest-profile and most-complex collective actions in the world.

    Epiq has been supporting Class Representatives and law firms bringing collective actions in the UK since the Consumer Rights Act was passed in 2015. In addition to building on the expertise and technology solutions delivered to clients, this acquisition expands Epiq’s offering in the market to include the administration of group litigation, reinforcing its position as a global leader in the space.

    Case Pilots employees have joined Epiq, including Co-founder and CEO Clare Ducksbury, who will now serve as Senior Vice President, Epiq Class Action Solutions Europe, and Co-founder and Chief Information Officer Clinton Smith, who will join Epiq’s product development team in a leadership role. The Case Pilots team has a solid track record of providing strategic consulting advice to law firms tackling the challenges posed by collective actions in the UK and Continental Europe.

    Nicole Hamann, President of the Class Action, Remediation, and Mass Tort business at Epiq, said, “The acquisition of Case Pilots marks a significant milestone and reinforces and expands the ability of Epiq to deliver claims management services to clients across the globe by strengthening our foothold in the UK and Europe. The excellent reputations of Clare, Clinton, and the Case Pilots team in the UK market is well-earned and we look forward to what we will accomplish together for our clients.”

    Commenting on the acquisition, Clare Ducksbury said, “We are delighted to be joining forces with Epiq, who is the global leader in this space, and we look forward to expanding the breadth of technology solutions and expertise that we can offer to our much-valued clients. Our team has a strong track record of supporting group and collective actions in the UK and Europe, and we are all very excited about what’s ahead.”

    Epiq Class Action and Claims Solutions operates globally including in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Europe. Epiq has been ranked first among claims administrators by Institutional Shareholder Services Securities Class Action Services for the last seven years, having administered most of the largest US class actions settlements exceeding a total of $35 billion in value. Leveraging advanced technology and rigorous data security protocols, Epiq works with the Courts, settling parties and class members to efficiently and securely manage and distribute class action and mass tort settlements.

    About Epiq
    Epiq, a technology and services leader, takes on large-scale and complex tasks for corporate legal departments, law firms, and business professionals by integrating people, process, technology, and data. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline legal and compliance, settlement, and business administration workflows to drive efficiency, minimize risk, and improve cost savings. With a presence in 19 countries, our values define who we are and how we partner with clients and communities. Learn how Epiq and its 6,100 people worldwide create meaningful change at www.epiqglobal.com.

    Press Contact
    Carrie Trent
    Epiq, Senior Director of Communications and Public Relations
    Carrie.Trent@epiqglobal.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9540abc1-aa7c-4424-ad45-209f74f2fefc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Polish parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Horbatowski, announces Taiwan to open market to fresh blueberries from Poland

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Polish parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Horbatowski, announces Taiwan to open market to fresh blueberries from Poland

    Date：2025-07-01
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    July 1, 2025  
    No. 227  

    On July 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon for visiting deputies of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland—Łukasz Horbatowski, Marek Chmielewski, and Iwona Krawczyk—who also serve on the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentarian Group. The two sides exchanged views on issues such as bilateral relations, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges.
     
    In his remarks, Minister Lin pointed out that the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentarian Group was the largest group of its kind in the Sejm. He thanked members of the Polish parliament for their long-term support of Taiwan through concrete actions. Minister Lin said that cooperation between Taiwan and Poland in economics, trade, higher education, judicial matters, technology, and other domains had continued to deepen in recent years. He expressed hope that, building on the existing foundations, the two countries would further work together to strengthen interactions and exchanges. 
     
    Furthermore, Minister Lin announced that Taiwan had recently approved the import of fresh blueberries from Poland. Once final administrative procedures were completed, he said, the people of Taiwan would have the opportunity to enjoy high-quality Polish blueberries, benefiting both Polish farmers and Taiwanese consumers. Minister Lin also noted that Taiwan possessed a world-leading ICT sector while Poland had outstanding professional talent and production capacity, which presented opportunities for bilateral collaboration in artificial intelligence, drones, and advanced chips. Minister Lin said he looked forward to continued collaboration between the two countries to build resilient and democratic non-red supply chains.
     
    Mr. Horbatowski, who was visiting Taiwan for the first time, expressed his appreciation for Minister Lin’s invitation and said that he was impressed with Taiwan’s advanced political and economic development. He added that Poland, as a major exporter of agricultural products, welcomed Taiwan’s decision to approve fresh blueberry imports and added that he looked forward to continued cooperation in the agricultural and high-tech sectors to enhance the welfare of the people of both countries.
     
    Taiwan and Poland share the universal values of freedom and democracy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to promote cooperation between the two nations in various fields so as to deepen their resilient partnership, create sustainable prosperity and well-being for the people of Taiwan and Poland, and uphold their hard-earned democratic achievements. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Guinea: One year after the enforced disappearance of Front National de Défense de la Constitution (FNDC) activists, abductions increase in a ‘climate of terror’

    Source: APO


    .

    Guinean authorities must urgently reveal the fate and whereabouts of National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (Front national de défense de la Constitution – FNDC) activists Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah, who were forcibly disappeared a year ago, and ensure that those suspected to be responsible for the abductions and enforced disappearances in Guinea are brought to justice in fair trial and victims and family members of victims are provided with access to justice and effective remedies, said 25 Guinean and international human rights organizations.

    “We call on the Guinean authorities to break their unbearable silence regarding the fate of the two FNDC activists. There is no indication that they have carried out investigations to find the two activists who have been missing for a year,” the human rights organizations said today.

    Mamadou Billo Bah and Oumar Sylla, known as Foniké Menguè, were arrested on 9 July 2024 at the latter’s home in Conakry by armed men, before allegedly being taken by special forces to the Loos archipelago. They were interrogated and tortured, according to a third member of FNDC who was abducted with the two others and released the day after. The authorities have denied holding them and their fate remains unknown to this day.

    The FNDC, a civil society movement calling for a return to civilian rule, was disbanded in 2022. Oumar Sylla, its national coordinator had called for demonstrations on 11 July 2024 against, among other things, repression of the media and the high cost of living.

    Since the Prosecutor General’s announcement on 17 July 2024 of the opening of ‘thorough and complete’ investigations into several abductions, including those of Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah, no information has been made public about their progress.

    Multiplication of cases of abductions and disappearances

    Journalist Habib Marouane Camara, managing director of Le Révélateur news website, was abducted in Lambanyi, a commune of Conakry, on 3 December 2024 by men in uniform, according to witnesses. On 6 December 2024, the Dixinn public prosecutor’s office declared that the ‘arrest was carried out without orders from the constituted authorities and outside the cases provided for by law’, announcing that an investigation was underway. To date, there has been no news of the journalist’s whereabouts.

    “Since these announcements, no information has been made public by the authorities. We call on them to shed full light on the cases of abductions and disappearances in the country by conducting prompt, independent, and transparent investigations into these cases. We also call on the authorities to ratify without reservation the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,” said the human rights organizations.

    In addition to these cases, there have been abductions followed by acts of torture on individuals known for their critical views. On 19 February 2025, the national coordinator of the Forum of Social Forces of Guinea (Forum des forces sociales de Guinée), Abdoul Sacko, was abducted and found the same day, according to his lawyers ‘in a critical state, tortured and abandoned by his abductors in the bush’.

    Lawyer Mohamed Traoré suffered the same fate in June 2025. The former President of the Guinean Bar Association has testified that he was ‘subjected to abuse’ after being abducted from his home on the night of 20 to 21 June by armed men. The Bar Association reported that he had been found ‘with his back covered in wounds’. On 23 June, the public prosecutor again announced the opening of an ‘in-depth investigation into the facts’.

    ‘A climate of terror’

    Following the abduction of Abdoul Sacko, the Bar Association denounced ‘the climate of terror that is gradually taking hold and […] the total lack of reaction from the judicial authorities’.

    Our organizations spoke to lawyers and political actors who say they have been threatened.

    A leader of an opposition party has been in hiding for several months, after receiving threats by phone and after people in plain clothes went to his home in his absence, making threats. Another politician said that he frequently changed his residence and route after receiving threats.

    A lawyer said: ‘Since I started defending certain people critical of the government, I have received at least four calls confirming that I am on the list of people whose abduction is planned’.

    A human rights defender said he had been alerted after his statements denouncing the abduction of Mohamed Traoré: “I have received two calls from people I know in the judicial system urging me to leave my home because I would be next on the list according to their information. I take this very seriously, I make sure I’m never alone”.

    “We call on the Guinean authorities to respect their international human rights obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of everyone in the country, as they have undertaken to do before the United Nations Human Rights Council in April 2025 during the Universal Periodic Review, in particular the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and the rights of human rights defenders,” said the Guinean and international human rights organizations.

    Signatories

    • Action pour des Personnes Vulnérables (APV)
    • Alliance des Femmes Leaders pour la Parité en Guinée (AFLPAG)
    • Alliances des Médias pour les Droits Humains en Guinée (AMDH)
    • Amnesty International
    • Assistance Justice Aux Droits des Enfants et Femmes (AJDEF)
    • Association des Blogueurs de Guinée (ABLOGUI)
    • Association des Victimes, Parents et Amis des évènements du 28 septembre 2009 (AVIPA)
    • Avocats Sans Frontières Guinée (ASF Guinée)
    • Centre Africain de Formation et d’Information sur les Droits de l’Homme et de l’Environnement (CAFIDHE)
    • Conseil Consultatif des Enfants et Jeunes de Guinée (CCEJG)
    • Coalition des ONG de protection et de promotion des Droits de l’Enfant, Lutte contre la Traite  (COLTE/CDE)
    • Convention Guinéenne des Droits de l’Homme (COGUIDH)
    • Convergence des Jeunes Leaders pour la Paix et la Démocratie (COJELPAID)
    • Coordination des Jeunes Cadres Volontaires pour le Futur (CJCVF)
    • Fédération Guinéenne pour la Promotion des Associations des Personnes Handicapées (FEGUIPAH)
    • Fédération internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH), dans le cadre de l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseur.es des droits humains
    • Forum Civil Guinéen
    • Jeune Action pour la Santé et le Développement (JASD)
    • Leadership Jeunes pour la Paix et le Développement en Afrique (LEJEPAD)
    • Organisation Guinéenne de Défense des Droits de l’Homme et du citoyen (OGDH)
    • Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT), dans le cadre de l’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseur.es des droits humains
    • Organisation Secours aux Handicapés de Guinée (OSH Guinée)
    • Union pour le Bien-Être des Personnes Atteintes d’Albinisme (UBPAAG)
    • Women of Africa (WAFRICA Guinée)
    • Women Hope Guinée (WHP)

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Partner meets with farm communities, immigrant support groups in the Inland Empire

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 7, 2025

    Perris, California — On June 18, 2025, the First Partner visited the Inland Empire to meet with California communities impacted by the Trump Administration’s federal immigration raids. 

    The First Partner visited TODEC, a local nonprofit organization that’s become a lifeline for immigrant families, offering legal support, food distribution, social services, and mental health resources for those in need. Staff and families impacted by the federal immigration raids gathered to share their stories. Later in the day, the First Partner and the TODEC team dropped food donations to farmworkers fearful of leaving their homes due to ongoing and indiscriminate ICE raids.

    “I listened to accounts from grandmothers, mothers, and children—of families afraid of leaving their homes, fathers who committed suicide because they were unable to work. This is a campaign of terror on American soil—aimed at some of the hardest working people on earth—and the farms who supply our nation’s food. In addition to being morally unconscionable, the actions of the federal administration are economically disastrous. California is the world’s fifth largest producer of agricultural products. That doesn’t happen without the hands, the hearts, and the labor of immigrant workers.”

    Jennifer Siebel Newsom

    “We’re grateful for the First Partner’s compassion and for showing up for this community. She listened and saw firsthand the suffering these families are enduring, but also saw their resilience. At a time when too many are turning away from what is happening here, she is leaning in.”

    Luz Gallegos, Executive Director, TODEC.

    For almost 40 years, TODEC has been a hub for healing, organizing, advocacy, and community transformation led by the people who live and work in rural Inland communities. TODEC has operated a 24/7crisis hotline for the past 30 years and provides connection to mental health supports, home-based deliveries of groceries, medicine, other essential needs, financial assistance for families in dire need, and more.

    In addition to supporting local residents with affirmative immigration remedies and other legal services, the organization has been a longtime supporter of commonsense immigration reforms dating back to the Reagan Administration—advocating for legal pathways that allow people to safely live, work, and continue contributing in California.

    The First Partner is an advocate for California’s farmers and agricultural communities. She helped architect California’s nation-leading Farm to School program, which now provides healthy meals to nearly half of the state’s school children by working with local organic farms. She also championed the Universal Meals program, which ensures that all Californian students have access to two free school meals each day that are delicious, nutritious, and locally-sourced. 

    The First Partner is a leading advocate for the mental health and well-being of all Californian children. Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California has invested billions in the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative to ensure that mental health services are available, affordable, and accessible to youth whenever they need support, wherever they may be. Through this initiative, children and their families can access free online behavioral health services (BrightLife Kids, Soluna, Mirror), video and print resources (California Positive Parenting, Thriving Kids and California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids), and online training to recognize and respond to trauma and stress in kids (Safe Spaces). These resources are available at no-cost in Spanish and English language.

    First Partner, Press releases

    Recent news

    Jul 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members to Texas to assist with ongoing response efforts related to severe flooding impacts. “California stands with all those who have lost loved ones,…

    Jul 7, 2025

    News What you need to know: California added area the equivalent of Glacier National Park to its conserved lands and coastal waters in just the last year – marking significant progress toward its goal of 30% conservation by 2030. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom…

    Jul 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments: Thanne Berg, of Albany, has been appointed Deputy Director of Site Mitigation and Restoration Program at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Berg has been Acting…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Partner meets with farm communities, immigrant support groups in the Inland Empire

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 7, 2025

    Perris, California — On June 18, 2025, the First Partner visited the Inland Empire to meet with California communities impacted by the Trump Administration’s federal immigration raids. 

    The First Partner visited TODEC, a local nonprofit organization that’s become a lifeline for immigrant families, offering legal support, food distribution, social services, and mental health resources for those in need. Staff and families impacted by the federal immigration raids gathered to share their stories. Later in the day, the First Partner and the TODEC team dropped food donations to farmworkers fearful of leaving their homes due to ongoing and indiscriminate ICE raids.

    “I listened to accounts from grandmothers, mothers, and children—of families afraid of leaving their homes, fathers who committed suicide because they were unable to work. This is a campaign of terror on American soil—aimed at some of the hardest working people on earth—and the farms who supply our nation’s food. In addition to being morally unconscionable, the actions of the federal administration are economically disastrous. California is the world’s fifth largest producer of agricultural products. That doesn’t happen without the hands, the hearts, and the labor of immigrant workers.”

    Jennifer Siebel Newsom

    “We’re grateful for the First Partner’s compassion and for showing up for this community. She listened and saw firsthand the suffering these families are enduring, but also saw their resilience. At a time when too many are turning away from what is happening here, she is leaning in.”

    Luz Gallegos, Executive Director, TODEC.

    For almost 40 years, TODEC has been a hub for healing, organizing, advocacy, and community transformation led by the people who live and work in rural Inland communities. TODEC has operated a 24/7crisis hotline for the past 30 years and provides connection to mental health supports, home-based deliveries of groceries, medicine, other essential needs, financial assistance for families in dire need, and more.

    In addition to supporting local residents with affirmative immigration remedies and other legal services, the organization has been a longtime supporter of commonsense immigration reforms dating back to the Reagan Administration—advocating for legal pathways that allow people to safely live, work, and continue contributing in California.

    The First Partner is an advocate for California’s farmers and agricultural communities. She helped architect California’s nation-leading Farm to School program, which now provides healthy meals to nearly half of the state’s school children by working with local organic farms. She also championed the Universal Meals program, which ensures that all Californian students have access to two free school meals each day that are delicious, nutritious, and locally-sourced. 

    The First Partner is a leading advocate for the mental health and well-being of all Californian children. Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California has invested billions in the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative to ensure that mental health services are available, affordable, and accessible to youth whenever they need support, wherever they may be. Through this initiative, children and their families can access free online behavioral health services (BrightLife Kids, Soluna, Mirror), video and print resources (California Positive Parenting, Thriving Kids and California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids), and online training to recognize and respond to trauma and stress in kids (Safe Spaces). These resources are available at no-cost in Spanish and English language.

    First Partner, Press releases

    Recent news

    Jul 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members to Texas to assist with ongoing response efforts related to severe flooding impacts. “California stands with all those who have lost loved ones,…

    Jul 7, 2025

    News What you need to know: California added area the equivalent of Glacier National Park to its conserved lands and coastal waters in just the last year – marking significant progress toward its goal of 30% conservation by 2030. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom…

    Jul 7, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments: Thanne Berg, of Albany, has been appointed Deputy Director of Site Mitigation and Restoration Program at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Berg has been Acting…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Announces Plans for Eight-for-One Forward Stock Split

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, today announced that on July 1, 2025 the Diginex Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted resolutions recommending that its shareholders approve an eight-for-one (8:1) forward stock split. 

    The Board has scheduled an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders to be held on July 29, 2025 (the “EGM”) for shareholders of record as of July 3, 2025 (the “Record Date”) to vote on the forward stock split and the filing of a second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Proposals”). Should the Proposals be approved by shareholders the forward stock split will be effective from August 1, 2025. 

    Should the Proposals be approved at the EGM, (i) each ordinary share of US$0.00005 par value shall be subdivided into eight (8) ordinary shares of US$0.00000625 par value each; (ii) each preferred share of US$0.00005 par value shall be subdivided into eight (8) preferred shares of US$0.00000625 par value each; and (iii) the authorized share capital of the Company shall become US$50,000 divided into 7,680,000,000 ordinary shares of par value US$0.00000625 each and 320,000,000 preferred shares of par value US$0.00000625 each. Any fractional shares, as a result of the forward stock split, will be rounded up. There will be no cash in lieu shares payments.

    The forward stock split is intended to make Diginex’s shares more accessible to a wider range of investors while maintaining the company’s market capitalization.

    “We are pleased to propose this forward stock split, which reflects our commitment to enhancing shareholder accessibility and liquidity,” said Miles Pelham, Chairman and Founder of Diginex. “This move aligns with our strategic goals to broaden our investor base and support the long-term growth of our business.” 

    The forward stock split will not affect the total value of an investor’s holdings of Diginex shares at the time of the forward split. The Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card has been mailed on or about July 7, 2025, to all shareholders of the Company as of the Record Date. Shareholders can review copies the Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card at www.sec.gov in the Company’s Form 6-K and at https://www.cstproxy.com/diginex/2025. 

    About Diginex

    Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044), headquartered in London, is a sustainable RegTech business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. 

    The award-winning diginexESG platform supports 17 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website:

    https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com 

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de 

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global 

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Financial Relations Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Announces Plans for Eight-for-One Forward Stock Split

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, today announced that on July 1, 2025 the Diginex Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted resolutions recommending that its shareholders approve an eight-for-one (8:1) forward stock split. 

    The Board has scheduled an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders to be held on July 29, 2025 (the “EGM”) for shareholders of record as of July 3, 2025 (the “Record Date”) to vote on the forward stock split and the filing of a second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Proposals”). Should the Proposals be approved by shareholders the forward stock split will be effective from August 1, 2025. 

    Should the Proposals be approved at the EGM, (i) each ordinary share of US$0.00005 par value shall be subdivided into eight (8) ordinary shares of US$0.00000625 par value each; (ii) each preferred share of US$0.00005 par value shall be subdivided into eight (8) preferred shares of US$0.00000625 par value each; and (iii) the authorized share capital of the Company shall become US$50,000 divided into 7,680,000,000 ordinary shares of par value US$0.00000625 each and 320,000,000 preferred shares of par value US$0.00000625 each. Any fractional shares, as a result of the forward stock split, will be rounded up. There will be no cash in lieu shares payments.

    The forward stock split is intended to make Diginex’s shares more accessible to a wider range of investors while maintaining the company’s market capitalization.

    “We are pleased to propose this forward stock split, which reflects our commitment to enhancing shareholder accessibility and liquidity,” said Miles Pelham, Chairman and Founder of Diginex. “This move aligns with our strategic goals to broaden our investor base and support the long-term growth of our business.” 

    The forward stock split will not affect the total value of an investor’s holdings of Diginex shares at the time of the forward split. The Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card has been mailed on or about July 7, 2025, to all shareholders of the Company as of the Record Date. Shareholders can review copies the Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card at www.sec.gov in the Company’s Form 6-K and at https://www.cstproxy.com/diginex/2025. 

    About Diginex

    Diginex Limited (Nasdaq: DGNX; ISIN KYG286871044), headquartered in London, is a sustainable RegTech business that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. The Company utilizes blockchain, AI, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance. Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. 

    The award-winning diginexESG platform supports 17 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). Clients benefit from end-to-end support, ranging from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement, report generation and an ESG Ratings Support Service.

    For more information, please visit the Company’s website:

    https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com 

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de 

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global 

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Financial Relations Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Vast pair-up program powers modern makeover of NW China’s Xinjiang

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

    Inside a brand-new workshop at a buzzing textile factory in Hotan, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Zulaya Tursuntohti deftly handled the whirring spinning frames to produce fine cotton threads. Just months ago, this job, and her 3,500-yuan (about 489 U.S. dollars) monthly paycheck, did not exist.

    Hundreds of kilometers away, meanwhile, in Kashgar’s saline wastelands, farmer Turghun Yasen marveled at seedlings of silage corn springing up from once-barren soil.

    These snapshots reveal glimpses of the quiet engine powering China’s vast western region, namely a pair-up program where 18 provincial-level regions and the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen have been creating jobs, improving skills and promoting unity in this northwestern frontier of the country.

    Workers arrange fabrics at a workshop of an industrial park in Hotan, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China has been implementing the “pairing assistance” program in Xinjiang since 1997. In 2010, a new round of pairing assistance was launched, involving central and state organs, centrally administered state-owned enterprises, and 18 provinces, municipalities and the city of Shenzhen.

    This cross-regional endeavor, which sees those involved channeling 80 percent of their annual assistance funds to county-level and grassroots projects dedicated to livelihood improvement, has become a national strategy vital for prosperity and stability in economic backwaters.

    Seeding self-sufficiency 

    “Providing money is good, but building a solid industry is better,” said a veteran aid official, capturing the essence of pairing assistance for Xinjiang — transitioning from dependency on external support to fostering endogenous growth momentum.

    Although Xinjiang is a major cotton-producing region known for its high-quality cotton, its textile industry faces several challenges due to its weak technological capacity and limited industrial upgrading.

    When the Beijing assistance team invited a Guangdong-based textile industrial internet company to Hotan last August, they brought more than just machinery. The company from south China instead fostered an integrated supply ecosystem, spanning e-commerce, fabric weaving and dyeing, as well as facilitating high-quality fashion garment production.

    Tursuntohti is among some 700 new employees for the first phase of the project. “I saw the job posting in February and decided to apply,” she said. Once fully operational, the project is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs, support over 200 apparel firms, and boost regional industrial output by more than 3 billion yuan annually, Huang Haoming, executive of the project, revealed.

    In 2024, the region’s cotton and textile industry had generated an output value of 220 billion yuan and provided jobs for over 1 million people.

    Meanwhile, agricultural scientists have targeted Kashgar’s highly saline-alkali wasteland. Faced with a desolate landscape, they introduced customized soil treatments — which have resulted in 200 mu (approximately 13.3 hectares) of silage corn springing to life via a seedling success rate of 95 percent, proving a lifeline for farmers like Yasen.

    “We used to watch seedlings die, but now our green fields yield corn, and we can even plant winter wheat to enrich the soil,” he said.

    A technician (2nd R) trains locally recruited agricultural workers at a smart workshop for plant cultivation in Aksu, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Ren Gengpo, a member of Shanghai’s assistance team who currently serves as deputy director of Kashgar’s bureau of industry and information technology, credited 29,000 local jobs to such locally-grounded projects capitalizing on regional strengths, including a “Chief Service Officer” system matching coastal expertise to Xinjiang’s resources.

    “More locals are securing steady jobs right in their neighborhoods,” Ren noted.

    Nurturing homegrown talent 

    At the remote county hospital of Habahe in Xinjiang’s Altay Prefecture, orthopedic scans now reveal fractures in precise 3D detail, while high-resolution color ultrasound makes for clearer and more intuitive diagnosis of pediatric conditions.

    “Smart diagnosis facilitates real-time data sharing between doctors, thus enabling cross-regional diagnosis that enhances medical care accessibility, upskills local clinicians, and cuts patient costs,” said Zhang Jing, a medical assistance practitioner from Jilin Province in northeast China, whose team has delivered many intelligent medical equipment items.

    Xinjiang’s development has long benefited from nationwide talent exchange endeavors. Today, notably, digital tools are transforming traditional aid models into scalable, tech-driven partnerships.

    When an aid team from east China’s Hangzhou, the country’s e-commerce, livestreaming, fintech and AI heartland, noticed youth in Aksu in Xinjiang hawking fruit on social media, they built an e-commerce incubator and partnered with top multi-channel network (MCN) agencies to train local talent.

    Mirzat Kamil, who returned home after seeing that many there were selling farm goods via live-streaming, joined the “Dandelion Project,” which enabled him to learn digital marketing skills and become a top regional e-commerce influencer within a year. “These training programs opened new doors for me,” he said.

    Mirzat Kamil promotes local agricultural products via live-streaming at a logistics park in Aksu, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    “Local e-commerce talents like Kamil are planting seeds of prosperity across our region,” said Yang Zhe, Aksu’s e-commerce director. With Hangzhou’s support, Aksu has partnered with Alibaba and social e-commerce firm Yowant Technology to launch training programs. By 2024, more than 9,500 professionals had been trained — creating 30,000 jobs.

    Even classrooms have been transformed via “teacher studios.” Ni Yuan, a teacher from Tianjin Municipality in north China, who was posted to the first primary school of Qira County in Hotan to serve as its deputy principal, mentored local teachers like Sadinisa Abdulla while also launching art programs.

    “She raised our teaching quality through professional excellence,” Abdulla noted. “We’ve learned a lot from her.”

    Over the past five years, teachers in Xinjiang have received training on a total of more than 200,000 occasions.

    Henan Province in central China also deserves a mention here, having deployed scientists and engineers across multiple sectors, while providing skills training for more than 78,000 people in fields such as logistics and law.

    Weaving stronger bonds 

    In recent years, partnerships between Xinjiang and supporting provinces and cities have expanded from government projects to business and cultural exchanges. Beyond bricks, mortar and jobs, the pair-up program has strengthened ethnic unity — with all ethnic groups striving together like pomegranate seeds.

    When Abudushuqur Nurahmat, a middle school student from Kashgar’s Yecheng County, joined a study trip to Beijing last summer, Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and other places he’d only seen in textbooks came to life in vivid detail. “Watching the flag-raising at Tian’anmen Square made me feel incredibly proud,” he recalled.

    Since 2023, provinces and cities supporting Xinjiang have organized tens of thousands of local residents and youth from various ethnic groups to visit historical sites and top universities across China.

    Grassroots bonds have also flourished. Tianjin schools partnered with Hotan counties, Jiangxi in east China hosted football exchanges for ethnic minority juveniles from Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu, while Henan built 100 libraries in Hami honoring national role model Jiao Yulu, a county cadre known for his selfless devotion to the people.

    An aerial drone photo taken on July 4, 2025 shows a high school supported by Taizhou of east China’s Jiangsu Province, in Zhaosu, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    In addition to such cultural exchanges, improved logistics have also helped to strengthen daily connections. At a Xinjiang product exhibition and sales center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in south China, premium Xinjiang goods like walnuts, fruits and mutton flew off shelves. Meanwhile, in Kashgar, located 5,000 km away, customers can easily order Cantonese dishes, appliances and clothing online through the same cross-regional trade platform.

    Supporting provinces and cities have even pooled resources beyond assigned pairings. Musicians of the Cixi Celadon Ou Music Troupe from east China’s Zhejiang Province performed ancient melodies in Beijing-supported Hotan this June, an artistic bridge thrilling locals like Ibrahim Hamit. “The show was both an artistic treat and a profound experience of China’s rich cultural diversity,” he said, while adding that he was hoping for more such exchanges.

    Shandong Province, in east China, landed a 300,000-tonne titanium dioxide project in Shanghai-supported Bachu County, while Jiangsu, also in east China, paired with Ili in northern Xinjiang and helped launch 21 textile enterprises in southern Xinjiang. This innovative collaboration model combines funding, technology and expertise from supporting provinces with Xinjiang’s resources and policies — creating mutual benefits.

    “We’re helping Xinjiang grow its own future,” said a veteran aid official. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Honors Elaine McLeod of Troy as July “Veteran of the Month”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring U.S. Army Corporal Elaine McLeod as the July “Veteran of the Month.”
    Excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, and complete remarks can be found here.
    “Veterans are the very heartbeat of the Wiregrass, and they bond together to support many great causes in the region. Among those leading the way is Corporal Elaine McLeod of Troy.
    The daughter of a Korean War veteran, Elaine joined the Army after graduating from high school in 1974. She served as a military police officer, doing everything from guarding Air Force One to scrubbing floors of the barracks. Elaine says the Army gave her the discipline that was missing in her early years. In 2000, Elaine returned home to Troy where she quickly began getting involved with local veteran organizations—including the Montgomery Chapter of Vietnam Veterans for America, AMVETS, and the Ozark American Legion Post where she now serves as the Commander. Elaine has worked tirelessly to address needs in the veteran community—including homelessness and food insecurity.
    […]
    Alabama is grateful for Elaine’s willingness to take on challenges to improve quality of life for our heroes. It’s my honor to recognize her as the July ‘Veteran of the Month.’”
    Senator Tuberville recognizes a different Alabama veteran each month for their service and contribution to their community. Constituents can nominate an Alabama veteran and submit their information to Senator Tuberville’s office for consideration by emailing press_office@tuberville.senate.gov. 
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Joins U.S. Cabinet, Congressional Leadership and Governors in Announcement of National Farm Security Action Plan

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Joins U.S. Cabinet,  Congressional Leadership and Governors in  Announcement of National Farm Security Action Plan

    LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen will join top leaders from President Donald Trump’s administration, members of Congress and other governors in announcing the rollout of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Farm Security Action Plan. The aim of this initiative is to protect American agriculture from foreign threats. The news conference will start at 8:00 a.m. (CT) tomorrow from the USDA Whitten Building in Washington D.C.

    In addition to Gov. Pillen, event participants include Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pet Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

    ***Media Note*** This event is scheduled to broadcast on YouTube. An update will be provided with the link prior to the event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hainan’s Baisha County: Orchid Industry Boosts Rural Revitalization

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    In recent years, Da’an Township, located in Baisha Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province, has been implementing the “government-enterprise-farmer” cooperation mechanism based on local advantages. At present, the township has built 12 large orchid growing bases with a total area of 500 mu (1 hectare = 15 mu).

    It is reported that the orchid industry has become an important engine for rural revitalization in Da’an Township. The establishment of orchid cultivation bases has provided jobs to more than 94,000 people in the surrounding areas.

    Photos by Xinhua News Agency correspondent Yang Guanyu.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Lawler, Riley, and McDonald Rivet Introduce CROP For Farming Act to Support Conservation and Agriculture

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 7/7/25… Today, Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17), joined by Josh Riley (NY-19) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) introduced the Conservation and Regenerative Optimization Practices for Farming Act, or the CROP for Farming Act, a targeted, bipartisan proposal to strengthen conservation efforts and equip farmers with new tools to improve soil health, enhance productivity, and reduce harmful emissions through voluntary practices.

    The bill updates the Food Security Act of 1985 to recognize and support farming efforts to reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions, while promoting carbon storage in soil and vegetation, all through existing conservation incentive contracts under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    Through commonsense updates to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the bill encourages practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and improved grazing management —strategies that enhance soil fertility, improve water retention, and support long-term farm resilience.

    “Our farmers are the backbone of our economy and the original conservationists,” said Congressman Mike Lawler. “The CROP for Farming Act empowers them to continue adopting responsible land management practices that protect natural resources and ensure long-term viability, not just for their farms, but for our food supply and our environment. This bill ensures federal policy reflects the realities on the ground and supports producers who are making smart, forward-looking decisions.”

    “Upstate farmers are leading on climate-smart ag—using cover crops, rotational grazing, and precision fertilizer to cut emissions and rebuild the soil. The CROP for Farming Act makes sure USDA conservation funding supports those efforts. It directs more resources to practices that fight climate change and strengthen rural economies. It’s practical, it’s bipartisan, and I’m proud to sponsor it,” said Congressman Josh Riley.

    “The success of our farmers and protecting the environment go hand in hand,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “I hear from farmers all the time whose families have worked their land for generations and who want to conserve that same land for future generations. Through the CROP Farming Act, I am working with both parties to make that easier to achieve.”

    “Our farmers need federal conservation programs that support the soil management practices essential for addressing today’s environmental and economic challenges. The CROP for Farming Act takes an important step by formally recognizing carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reductions as conservation priorities. This legislation affirms the role of farmers in increasing carbon sequestration while stewarding healthy landscapes for soil health and water quality. We applaud Representatives Lawler and McDonald Rivet for advancing this bipartisan legislation that invests in the economic and environmental sustainability of both our farmers and their future,” said Daphne Yin, Director of Land Policy at Carbon180.

    The following organizations have endorsed the CROP for Farming Act:

    • Environmental Working Group
    • Carbon180
    • CleanEarth4Kids.org
    • Climate Action Now
    • Friends Committee on National Legislation
    • Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
    • Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY)
    • Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ)
    • CT NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association of CT)
    • Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
    • Organic Farming Research Foundation
    • Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action
    • Waterkeepers Chesapeake
    • Sierra Club
    • Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
    • Center for Environmental Health
    • Women, Food, and Agriculture Network (WFAN)
    • Jewish Earth Alliance- PA
    • Fair Start Movement 
    • Santa Cruz Climate Action Network
    • Louisiana Food Policy Council
    • Green America
    • Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Continues Enforcement of Reciprocal Tariffs and Announces New Tariff Rates

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    KEEPING AMERICA IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order determining that certain tariff rates, which were initially set to expire on July 9, will expire on August 1, 2025. President Trump also sent tariff letters to many countries informing them of their new reciprocal tariff rates, which will take effect on August 1.
    President Trump took these actions based on information and recommendations from senior officials, including information on the status of trade negotiations.
    Since President Trump modified the tariff rates roughly 90 days ago, dozens of countries have agreed or offered to lower their tariff rates and eliminate non-tariff barriers to move toward a more balanced trade relationship with the United States.
    Notwithstanding this significant and historic progress, the U.S. trade deficit remains severe.
    While the United States is open to additional trade discussions and deals, President Trump is taking action to establish trade relations going forward.

    President Trump sent letters to many countries explaining that, starting August 1, they will be subject to new reciprocal tariff rates designed to make the terms of our bilateral trade relationships more reciprocal over time and to address the national emergency caused by the massive U.S. goods trade deficit.
    In some instances, countries will be subject to a revised reciprocal tariff rate that is lower than the rate initially announced on April 2.
    For others, the reciprocal tariff rate may be higher than the previous rate.

    The President may send more letters in the coming days and weeks. The countries he sent letters to today include:
    Japan (25%)
    Korea (25%)
    South Africa (30%)
    Kazakhstan (25%)
    Laos (40%)
    Malaysia (25%)
    Myanmar (40%)
    Tunisia (25%)
    Bosnia and Herzegovina (30%)
    Indonesia (32%)
    Bangladesh (35%)
    Serbia (35%)
    Cambodia (36%)
    Thailand (36%)

    TAKING BACK OUR ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY: Today’s Order, combined with letters sent to trading partners, underscores President Trump’s commitment to take back America’s economic sovereignty by addressing many nonreciprocal trade relationships that threaten our economic and national security.
    President Trump is the best trade negotiator in history. His strategy has focused on addressing systemic imbalances in our tariff rates that have tilted the playing field in favor of our trading partners for decades. 
    Countries that aren’t serious about addressing the tariff and non-tariff trade barriers that impede American exports and harm American workers, farmers, and businesses are facing the consequences.
    President Trump welcomes the business of our trading partners on American soil: as these countries are aware, there will be no tariff if they decide to build or manufacture products in our country.
    President Trump has committed that the United States will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely to bring back manufacturing jobs for Americans.

    President Trump is using tariffs as the necessary and powerful tool to put America First after many years of unsustainable trade deficits that threaten our economy and national security. 
    LIBERATING AMERICA FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES: Since Day One, President Trump challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged them for decades and contributed to our historic trade deficit.
    On April 2, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the large and persistent U.S. goods trade deficit caused by a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers, and U.S. trading partners’ economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption.
    President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people by calling on trading partners to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers and expanding market access for American exporters.
    Today’s announcement, based on reciprocity and fairness, will help usher in a Golden Age for the American People.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Action plan on responsible treatment of animals approved

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Order of June 27, 2025 No. 1706-r

    The government has approved an action plan for the comprehensive implementation of the President’s instructions and directions on responsible treatment of animals. The order to this effect has been signed.

    Document

    Order of June 27, 2025 No. 1706-r

    We are talking about improving regulatory frameworks in the area of animal welfare.

    In particular, the plan envisages the development and submission to the Government of a number of draft federal laws. They will provide for the regulation of activities related to the maintenance and breeding of domestic and wild animals, the introduction of a system for responding to citizens’ requests about animals causing harm to life and health or the threat of causing it, mechanisms for stimulating voluntary sterilization, vaccination and marking by owners of their domestic animals.

    In addition, the draft federal laws will concern the specifics of ownership and disposal of stray animals by organizations and municipalities, including issues of their transfer to new owners, the procedure for transferring animals to shelters when it is impossible to keep them any longer, and in the case of improper treatment of animals, their removal from owners and placement in shelters.

    The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will work on the development of the draft laws together with the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Digital Development, and Rosprirodnadzor. The deadline for implementing this work is July 2025 – May 2026.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger: The One Big Beautiful Bill is a commonsense, pro-growth solution that locks in President Trump’s tax cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Pfluger: The One Big Beautiful Bill is a commonsense, pro-growth solution that locks in President Trump’s tax cuts

    Washington, June 30, 2025

    WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) penned an op-ed in the Odessa American outlining why the One Big Beautiful Bill is good for Texas’s 11th Congressional District.

    In the op-ed, Rep. Pfluger wrote in part, “The One Big Beautiful Bill is a commonsense, pro-growth solution that locks in President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, protecting hardworking Texans from devastating tax hikes. What Democrats won’t tell you about the bill is that if Congress fails to pass this legislation, families, farmers, and small businesses inTX-11will be hit with the largest tax increase in history. To put this into perspective, over 475,000 taxpayers inTX-11are at risk, with the average taxpayer facing a 26% tax increase if this bill is not passed. In practical terms, an average family of four inTX-11, making the median income of $67,226, would see their taxes rise by $1,293—roughly the cost of seven weeks’ worth of groceries.”

    You can read the full op-ed here or by clicking the image below.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Fly-By: July 3, 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Pfluger Fly-By: July 3, 2025

    Washington, July 3, 2025

    July 3, 2025

    Friend,

    Welcome back to the weekly Pfluger Fly-By, a roundup of events and updates to keep you informed about everything I’m doing week by week to represent you in Congress.

    This week was one for the history books. The House officially passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, a major step forward in delivering on President Trump’s agenda and keeping our promises to the American people. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk and is set to be signed into law on July 4th — a fitting way to begin the celebrations of the 250th year of the greatest nation on earth.

    As we mark six months of the 119th Congress today, I’ve included a special mid-year report below highlighting our accomplishments so far. You’ll also find information on how my office can assist you with any federal issues you may be facing. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact my office if we can ever be of assistance.

    Best,

    Happy Independence Day, Texas-11

    On the eve of Independence Day, I want to take a moment to wish everyone in Texas-11 a very Happy 4th of July!

    As we prepare to gather with family and friends tomorrow to celebrate, I am reminded of the incredible privilege it is to be an American and to live in the greatest country on earth. This day marks the birth of our great nation, and it is a time to reflect on our history, honor the sacrifices made by countless individuals, and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the values that make the United States a beacon of hope and liberty.

    I had the honor of serving nearly two decades as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, flying combat missions against ISIS over Syria and Iraq, and defending our country against foreign and domestic threats. Those years shaped my deep appreciation for America and the immense responsibility we all share to protect it. Every mission reminded me of what’s at stake—and of the courage it takes to defend freedom.

    I am a proud Texan and a staunch conservative. I believe in the founding principles that have guided our nation since its inception. Our Constitution, our freedoms, and our way of life are worth defending with every ounce of our strength. That is what drives me each day in Congress.

    This Independence Day, let us celebrate the freedoms we enjoy while remembering the duty we each have to protect them. This year also marks the beginning of America’s 250th year—a historic time to be alive. The United States of America is the greatest country the world has ever known, and it is our responsibility to keep it that way.

    Happy Independence Day, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

    My Statement on the Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill

    The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill today is a big, beautiful win for Texas families, workers, seniors, and small businesses. This legislation locks in President Trump’s historic tax cuts — protecting taxpayers in my district from a devastating 26% tax increase, which would have been the largest in American history. It also delivers $13.5 billion in border reimbursements for states like Texas, and makes the most significant investments in border security ever seen.

    This bill reclaims America’s energy independence — lowering energy costs for families, creating high-paying jobs in the Permian Basin, and reversing President Biden’s disastrous energy policies. I fought to make sure Texas values were reflected in this package: from much-needed support through strategic investments for farmers and ranchers, to ending forced taxpayer funding of abortion, to nearly $150 billion in military investments that will directly support the incredible men and women serving at Goodfellow Air Force Base and Fort Hood.

    The American people are tired of business as usual in Washington. They demanded that we secure the border, eliminate wasteful spending, and make life genuinely affordable for hardworking American families – and this bill does exactly that.

    6-Month Report on the 119th Congress

    Serving the incredible men and women of Texas’s 11th District in Congress is the honor of my lifetime. I’m proud of the meaningful progress we’ve achieved during the first six months of the Republican trifecta, and I remain committed to delivering real results that bring Texas values to Washington and implement the priorities of my district—the greatest district in America.

    You can read my mid-year report here or by clicking the image below.

    Telephone Town Hall on the One Big Beautiful Bill

    I also hosted a Telephone Town Hall this week ahead of the vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill to discuss why this historic legislation is great news for TX-11. Thank you to everyone who tuned in!

    REMINDER: If you are in need of assistance with a federal agency, my office is here to help. For more information, please visit our website HERE.

    Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) for daily updates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Virginia Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought and Excessive Heat

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Virginia of the July 15 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought and excessive heat occurring on April 16, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Virginia counties of Accomack, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford City,  Bedford County, Bland, Botetourt, Bristol, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Buena Vista, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Danville, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Emporia, Essex, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin City, Franklin County, Fredericksburg, Galax, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hampton, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Hopewell, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, Louisa, Lunenburg, Lynchburg, Madison, Martinsville, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Norton, Nottoway, Orange, Patrick, Petersburg, Pittsylvania, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Radford, Rappahannock, Richmond City, Richmond County, Roanoke County, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Smyth, South Boston City, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Suffolk, Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach, Washington, Westmoreland, Williamsburg, Wise, Wythe and York; Harlan, Letcher, and Pike in Kentucky; Charles, Somerset, St. Mary’s, and Worcester in Maryland; Alleghany, Ashe, Camden, Caswell, Gates, Granville, Hertford, Northampton, Person, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Vance, and Warren in North Carlina; Johnson and Sullivan in Tennessee; as well as McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe and Summer in West Virginia.

    Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

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

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 15, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Urges Court to Halt Unconstitutional ICE Raids in Los Angeles

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 17 other attorneys general in supporting the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) lawsuit challenging the federal government’s use of unlawful immigration enforcement tactics in Los Angeles, California. In an amicus brief filed today in Perdomo v. Noem, Attorney General James and the coalition urge the court to grant a temporary restraining order halting the raids, which have upended the community, harmed local economies, and undermined public trust in law enforcement.

    “In Los Angeles and nationwide, we are seeing immigration enforcement officers deploy dystopian tactics that are deeply harmful,” said Attorney General James. “No one should fear being questioned, detained, or deported by unidentified masked agents while taking their child to school, going to work, or attending church. These mass raids are tearing families apart, threatening public safety, and turning once-lively neighborhoods into ghost towns. Federal agents are sowing fear in entire communities, which is why we are urging the court to intervene and stop these unconstitutional raids at once.”

    In the brief, Attorney General James and the coalition detail how the federal government’s current immigration enforcement efforts have “shattered the rhythms of everyday life” in Los Angeles. In recent months, masked agents conducting unannounced and unmarked operations in neighborhoods, churches, schools, and local businesses have left people afraid to leave their homes. Residents, including U.S. citizens, have been unlawfully detained, questioned, and harassed, often without any reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. Local businesses have closed and farmers markets have shut down due to fear of enforcement. Hospitals and health clinics report soaring appointment cancellation rates, which presents alarming concerns for public health. Students are skipping school and graduation ceremonies, days that are supposed to be among the most joyous of their lives. Houses of worship have also seen a dramatic decline in attendance.

    The attorneys general highlight the long history of discriminatory and militarized immigration enforcement campaigns in California, including “Operation Wetback,” a 1954 mass deportation campaign that took its name from an ethnic slur, as well as the La Placita raids during the Great Depression. The attorneys general note that at the time, Mexican farmworkers were indiscriminately blamed for job shortages and shrinking public benefits, and ultimately, the campaign resulted in the deportation of nearly two million Mexican Americans, more than half of whom were U.S. citizens, without due process. Families were separated, and many children never again saw their parents. Historians and scholars have widely condemned these discriminatory raids as inhumane terror campaigns.

    Attorney General James and the coalition draw parallels between those shameful chapters of American history and the current actions under the Trump administration, which seemingly prioritize maximizing the quantity of arrests over the right to due process. They highlight the president’s past remarks, in which he praised “Operation Wetback” as an enforcement model and hailed the Eisenhower administration for setting the record for deportations, a record he said his administration would break. The attorneys general emphasize that the administration’s recent immigration raids, including in Los Angeles, appear to bear many of the same hallmarks as the earlier mass deportation efforts that are now shameful chapters of American history.

    The attorneys general argue that the federal government’s conduct creates confusion and fear that also directly impedes local law enforcement. Numerous incidents have been reported in which plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents driving unmarked vehicles were mistaken for criminals, leading to false reports of kidnappings and assaults. This, too, erodes the culture of trust between immigrant communities and the police. ICE’s secretive approach has even led to a rise in copycat crimes in which masked perpetrators imitate ICE agents in order to abduct or harass others.

    In their filing, Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize that while the ACLU’s lawsuit is specifically focused on ICE enforcement tactics in Los Angeles, the federal government has been engaging in widespread raids in cities throughout the country, including New York. Arrests at immigration courts in Manhattan and on farms upstate have contributed to a culture of fear for many immigrant New Yorkers. The attorneys general are asking the court to immediately intervene and stop the unlawful immigration enforcement tactics in Los Angeles, arguing that the culture of fear that these raids have created permeates well beyond city and state borders and has had an overwhelming chilling effect on communities nationwide.

    The attorneys general are supporting the plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order, in which they argue ICE is not stopping people based on any reasonable, individualized suspicion, and instead is engaging in racial profiling. 

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Releases Statement on Budget Reconciliation Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    07.02.25
    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today released the following statement on H.R. 1, the budget reconciliation bill:
    “This was one of the hardest votes I have taken during my time in the Senate.
    “My goal throughout the reconciliation process has been to make a bad bill better for Alaska, and in many ways, we have done that. In addition to extending pro-growth tax cuts, a larger child tax credit, and no tax on tips or overtime, we made a historic investment and modernization of the Coast Guard; enhanced our border security and national defense; funded aviation safety, including AWOS/VWOS systems that will save lives; and provided tax-exempt status for the Community Development Quota Program to help western Alaska communities establish a sustainable economy, among other provisions.
    “We have advanced new opportunities for resource development in the NPR-A, the Coastal Plain, and Cook Inlet that will help us create jobs and increase the share of revenues our state receives. I also co-led the Senate effort to restore a slightly longer phase-out for wind and solar tax credits while deleting a punitive excise tax targeting them.
    “Those provisions will benefit our economy, but it is the people of Alaska that I worry about the most, especially when it comes to the potential loss of social safety net programs—Medicaid coverage and SNAP benefits—that our most vulnerable populations rely on.
    “To address the bill’s shortcomings, we have helped our communities through a $50 billion rural health fund. This will mean hundreds of millions of dollars for Alaska hospitals, community health centers, and other providers. We secured commitments from the CMS Administrator to continue to address longstanding priorities which will directly help Bartlett, Fairbanks Memorial, Central Peninsula, and other hospitals in Alaska.
    “In the SNAP program, we have added tribal exemptions for work requirements, delayed cost-share penalties to help Alaska get benefits to the people who need them, and included work requirement waivers that align with our Medicaid policies. We also secured commitments from the Secretary of Agriculture to provide additional flexibilities to Alaska for SNAP.
    “But, let’s not kid ourselves. This has been an awful process—a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution. While we have worked to improve the present bill for Alaska, it is not good enough for the rest of our nation—and we all know it.
    “My sincere hope is that this is not the final product. This bill needs more work across chambers and is not ready for the President’s desk. We need to work together to get this right.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville on The Will Cain Show: Senate Must Deliver on President Trump’s Tax Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined The Will Cain Show to discuss the urgent need for the Senate to pass President Trump’s tax cuts.
    Read excerpts from the interview below or watch here.
    CAIN: “Senator, thanks for being with us here today. I believe you have already called for the firing of the Parliamentarian?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, first of all, Will, thanks for me on and also, keep winning. President Trump’s winning right and left. We’re gonna win on this bill no matter what the Parliamentarian does. Two-thirds of it is the tax cuts, as President Trump said, and the $150 billion for the border. So that being said, yes, we’re playing a home game here, but we’ve got the officials from the other team, which is the Parliamentarian. That’s how I look at it. The Parliamentarian is hired by the majority. We’re the majority, but we left Harry Reid’s Parliamentarian in place—been there for 12 years. I don’t like some of the things she did to this bill. She took out the provision that we blocked illegals from being on Medicaid, blocked illegals from getting student loans, blocked taxpayers from having to pay for these mutilated transition surgeries for minors, you can’t do that. I mean, but at the end of the day, you know, these are big things, but they’re really minor when it comes to saving the taxpayers money in this Big Beautiful Bill. We will pass it in the Senate this weekend sometime, but again, the House has to pass it.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO RELEASE: Tuberville Celebrates 65th Anniversary of Marshall Space Flight Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video celebrating the 65th Anniversary of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
    Senator Tuberville and U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) also introduced a resolution in the Senate recognizing the 65thAnniversary of MSFC. U.S. Representative Dale Strong (R-AL-05) led the resolution in the House of Representatives.
    Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s video remarks can be found below, and the full video can be viewed here. 
    “Everywhere I go, people brag to me about Huntsville, Alabama.  And that’s because your talent and hard work has put the Rocket City—and the State of Alabama—on the map. From helping put the first man on the moon to making the SLS the backbone of space exploration, Marshall has made Alabama proud. Thank you to the engineers, scientists, technicians, and support staff—both past and present—who have made this possible.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –