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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI: Primech A&P, a Subsidiary of Primech Holdings, Secures Major Contract Extension Worth Over $8.3 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech A & P, a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PMEC), an established technology-driven facility services provider in the public and private sectors operating mainly in Singapore, today announced a 2-year contract extension valued at S$10,650,000 (US$8.3 million) providing comprehensive cleaning services at a renowned institution in Singapore.

    This contract renewal, a significant revenue contribution for Primech Holdings’ award-winning facility services subsidiary, reinforces Primech A & P’s competitive positioning in Singapore’s institutional cleaning market. Primech A & P’s proven track record of delivering reliable, high-touch facilities services enabled the Company to retain major institutional clients and generate predictable, recurring revenue streams.

    Ken Chang, Head of Operations at Primech A & P, stated, “This S$10.65 million contract extension validates our strategic focus on high-value institutional partnerships and demonstrates the strength of our service delivery model. The client’s decision to renew for an additional two years provides us with strong revenue visibility and reflects our ability to exceed performance expectations consistently. Primech A & P is a trusted partner in Singapore’s premium facility services market, and contract wins such as this support our continued growth trajectory.”

    About Primech Holdings Limited
     
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.    

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. 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. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” 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 that such expectations will be correct. 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 in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
     Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:        
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Primech A&P, a Subsidiary of Primech Holdings, Secures Major Contract Extension Worth Over $8.3 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech A & P, a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PMEC), an established technology-driven facility services provider in the public and private sectors operating mainly in Singapore, today announced a 2-year contract extension valued at S$10,650,000 (US$8.3 million) providing comprehensive cleaning services at a renowned institution in Singapore.

    This contract renewal, a significant revenue contribution for Primech Holdings’ award-winning facility services subsidiary, reinforces Primech A & P’s competitive positioning in Singapore’s institutional cleaning market. Primech A & P’s proven track record of delivering reliable, high-touch facilities services enabled the Company to retain major institutional clients and generate predictable, recurring revenue streams.

    Ken Chang, Head of Operations at Primech A & P, stated, “This S$10.65 million contract extension validates our strategic focus on high-value institutional partnerships and demonstrates the strength of our service delivery model. The client’s decision to renew for an additional two years provides us with strong revenue visibility and reflects our ability to exceed performance expectations consistently. Primech A & P is a trusted partner in Singapore’s premium facility services market, and contract wins such as this support our continued growth trajectory.”

    About Primech Holdings Limited
     
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.    

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. 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. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” 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 that such expectations will be correct. 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 in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
     Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:        
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Primech A&P, a Subsidiary of Primech Holdings, Secures Major Contract Extension Worth Over $8.3 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech A & P, a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PMEC), an established technology-driven facility services provider in the public and private sectors operating mainly in Singapore, today announced a 2-year contract extension valued at S$10,650,000 (US$8.3 million) providing comprehensive cleaning services at a renowned institution in Singapore.

    This contract renewal, a significant revenue contribution for Primech Holdings’ award-winning facility services subsidiary, reinforces Primech A & P’s competitive positioning in Singapore’s institutional cleaning market. Primech A & P’s proven track record of delivering reliable, high-touch facilities services enabled the Company to retain major institutional clients and generate predictable, recurring revenue streams.

    Ken Chang, Head of Operations at Primech A & P, stated, “This S$10.65 million contract extension validates our strategic focus on high-value institutional partnerships and demonstrates the strength of our service delivery model. The client’s decision to renew for an additional two years provides us with strong revenue visibility and reflects our ability to exceed performance expectations consistently. Primech A & P is a trusted partner in Singapore’s premium facility services market, and contract wins such as this support our continued growth trajectory.”

    About Primech Holdings Limited
     
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.    

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. 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. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” 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 that such expectations will be correct. 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 in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
     Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:        
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Primech A&P, a Subsidiary of Primech Holdings, Secures Major Contract Extension Worth Over $8.3 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech A & P, a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PMEC), an established technology-driven facility services provider in the public and private sectors operating mainly in Singapore, today announced a 2-year contract extension valued at S$10,650,000 (US$8.3 million) providing comprehensive cleaning services at a renowned institution in Singapore.

    This contract renewal, a significant revenue contribution for Primech Holdings’ award-winning facility services subsidiary, reinforces Primech A & P’s competitive positioning in Singapore’s institutional cleaning market. Primech A & P’s proven track record of delivering reliable, high-touch facilities services enabled the Company to retain major institutional clients and generate predictable, recurring revenue streams.

    Ken Chang, Head of Operations at Primech A & P, stated, “This S$10.65 million contract extension validates our strategic focus on high-value institutional partnerships and demonstrates the strength of our service delivery model. The client’s decision to renew for an additional two years provides us with strong revenue visibility and reflects our ability to exceed performance expectations consistently. Primech A & P is a trusted partner in Singapore’s premium facility services market, and contract wins such as this support our continued growth trajectory.”

    About Primech Holdings Limited
     
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.    

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. 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. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” 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 that such expectations will be correct. 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 in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
     Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:        
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Top Las Vegas Loan Officer Leaves CrossCountry Mortgage, Boomerangs Back to Rate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leading fintech company, today announced the return of top-producing Las Vegas loan originator Jia Mei Wang, who has officially boomeranged back to the company after a stint at CrossCountry Mortgage.

    A seasoned mortgage professional since 2003, Wang originally spent six years with Rate before exploring other platforms. She now returns, citing the company’s unmatched technology and end-to-end support.

    “After spending over half a decade at Rate in years prior, I was confident returning would be the right move,” said Wang. “The company’s technology platform makes it easier to close loans efficiently, which is critical when you’re focused on building long-term client relationships.”

    In addition to her career as a loan originator, Wang is also President of the North America Shanghai Chamber of Commerce. Her decision to rejoin reflects the company’s continued strength in attracting and retaining top-tier talent focused on growth, service, and community leadership.

    “Jia Mei is one of the top-producing loan officers in Las Vegas, and we’re excited to have her back,” said John Stewart, Rate Chief Production Officer, West. “She’s sharp, experienced, and deeply committed to her clients. She knows what it takes to deliver, and we’re proud to support her as she serves clients in Las Vegas and beyond.”

    Her return expands Rate’s presence in Las Vegas and reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting high-performing originators with the tools, coaching, and infrastructure to thrive.

    About Rate

    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans, refinances, and home equity loans. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service. Recent honors and awards include: a Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 by Fortune; Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for First-Time Homebuyers by Forbes; a Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for FHA Loans, Home Equity Loans, and Lower Credit Scores by NerdWallet; Best Mortgage Lender of 2025 for Digital Experience and Down Payment Assistance by Motley Fool; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years. Visit rate.com for more information.

    Contact

    press@rate.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d70400a2-ae37-4214-a50b-87ba39f77f09

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities in every state care for congressional papers that document US political history − federal cuts put their work at risk

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Katherine Gregory, Assistant Professor, University Libraries, Mississippi State University

    The papers of members of Congress are fertile ground for research into Congress’ role in shaping U.S. history. cunfek, iStock/Getty Images Plus

    In 1971, the president of Mississippi State University, Dr. William L. Giles, invited President Richard Nixon to attend the dedication of U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis’ papers to the university library’s archives.

    Nixon declined, but the Republican president sent a generous note in support of the veteran Democrat Stennis.

    “Future students and scholars who study there will … familiarize themselves with the outstanding record of a U.S. Senator whose … judgment in complex areas of national security have been a source of strength and comfort to those who have led this Nation and to all who are concerned in preserving the freedom we cherish.”

    Nixon’s prediction came true, perhaps ironically, considering the legal troubles over his own papers during the Watergate crisis. Congress passed the Presidential Records Act of 1978 after Nixon resigned.

    Stennis’ gift to his alma mater caused a windfall of subsequent congressional donations to what is now the Mississippi Political Collections at Mississippi State University Libraries.

    Now, 55 years later, Mississippi State University holds a body of records from a bipartisan group of officials that has positioned it to tell a major part of the state’s story in national and global politics. That story is told to over 100 patrons and dozens of college and K-12 classes each year.

    The papers are fertile ground for scholarly research into Congress’ role in shaping U.S. history, with its extraordinary powers over lawmaking, the economy and one of the world’s largest militaries.

    Mississippi State University, where I work as an assistant professor and director of the Mississippi Political Collections, is not alone in providing such a rich source of history. It is part of a national network of universities that hold and steward congressional papers.

    But support for this stewardship is in jeopardy. With the White House’s proposed elimination of independent granting agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it is unclear what money will be available for this work in the future.

    A 1963 letter from Sen. John Stennis to a constituent about agricultural legislation and also Russians in Cuba.
    Mississippi State University

    From research to public service

    Mississippi State University’s building of an expansive political archive is neither unique nor a break from practices by our national peers:

    • The Richard Russell Library for Political Research and Studies at the University of Georgia – named after the U.S. senator from Georgia from 1933 to 1971 – has grown since its founding in 1974 into one of America’s premier research libraries of political history, with more than 600 manuscript collections and an extensive oral history collection.

    • Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin donated his papers to Drake University to form The Harkin Institute, which memorializes Harkin’s role as chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act through disability policy research and education.

    • Sens. Robert and Elizabeth Dole’s papers are the bedrock of the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University.

    • In 2023, retiring Sens. Richard Shelby and Patrick Leahy donated their archives – Shelby to the University of Alabama and Leahy to the University of Vermont.

    By lending their papers and relative political celebrity, members of Congress have laid the groundwork for repositories like these to promote policy research to enable local and state governments to shape legislation on issues central to their states.

    More complete history

    When the repositories are at universities, they also provide educational programming that encourages public service for the next generations.

    At Mississippi State University, the John C. Stennis Institute for Government and Community Development sponsors an organization that allows students to learn about government, voting, organizing and potential careers on Capitol Hill with trips to Washington, D.C.

    Depositing congressional papers in states and districts, to be cared for by professional archivists and librarians, extends the life of the records and expands their utility.

    When elected officials give their papers to their constituents, they ensure the public can see and use the papers. This is a way of returning their history to them, while giving them the power to assemble a more complete, independent version of their political history. While members of Congress are not required by law to donate their papers, they passed a bipartisan concurrent resolution in 2008 encouraging the practice.

    Users of congressional archives range from historians to college students, local investigative journalists, political memoirists and documentary filmmakers. In advance of the 2020 election, we contributed historical materials to CNN’s reporting on Joe Biden’s controversial relationship with the Southern bloc of segregationist senators in his early Senate years.

    A copy of a letter from U.S. Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma, who ultimately became the 46th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections, University of Oklahoma

    Preserving the archives

    While the results contribute to the humanities, the process of archival preservation and management is as complex a science as any other.

    “Congressional records” is a broad term that encompasses many formats such as letters, diaries, notes, meeting minutes, speech transcripts, guestbooks and schedules.

    They also include ephemera such as campaign bumper stickers, military medals and even ceremonial pieces of the original U.S. Capitol flooring. They contain rare photographs of everything from natural disaster damage to state dinners and legacy audiovisual materials such as 8 mm film, cassette tapes and vinyl records. Members of Congress also have donated their libraries of hundreds of books.

    Archival preservation is a constantly evolving science. Only in the mid-20th century was the acid-free box developed to arrest the deterioration of paper records. After the advent of film-based photographs, archivists later learned to keep them away from light and heat, and they observed that audiovisual materials such as 8mm tape decompose from acid decay quickly if not stored in proper conditions.

    Alongside preservation work comes the task of inventorying the records for public use. Archivists write finding aids – itemized, searchable catalogs of the records – and create metadata, which describes items in terms of size, creation date and location.

    Future congressional papers will include born-digital content such as email and social media. This means traditional archiving will give way to digital preservation and data management. Federal law mandates that digital records have alt-text and transcription, and they need specialized expertise in file storage and data security because congressional papers often contain case files with sensitive personal data.

    With congressional materials often clocking in at hundreds or thousands of linear feet, emerging artificial intelligence and automation technologies will usher this field into a new era, with AI speeding metadata and cataloging work to deliver usable records for researchers faster than ever.

    No more funding?

    All of this work takes money; most of it takes staff time. Institutions meet these needs through federal grants – the very grants at risk from the Trump administration’s proposed elimination of the agencies that administer them.

    For example, West Virginia University has been awarded over $400,000 since 2021 from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the American Congress Digital Archives Portal project, a website that centralizes digitized congressional records at the university and a growing list of partners such as the University of Hawaii and the University of Oklahoma.

    Past federal grants have funded other congressional papers projects, from basic supply needs such as folders to more complex repair of film and tape.

    The Howard Baker Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee used National Endowment for the Humanities funds to purchase specialized supplies needed to store the papers of its namesake, the Republican senator who also served as chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan.

    National Endowment for the Humanities funds helped process U.S. Rep. Pat Williams’ papers at the University of Montana, resulting in a searchable finding aid for the 87 boxes of records documenting the Montana Democrat’s 18 years in Congress.
    President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “I have an unshaken conviction that democracy can never be undermined if we maintain our library resources and a national intelligence capable of utilizing them.”

    With the current threat to federal grants – and agencies – that pay for the crucial work of stewarding these congressional papers, it appears that these records of democracy may no longer play their role in supporting that democracy.

    Katherine Gregory received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and is a member of the Society of American Archivists.

    – ref. Universities in every state care for congressional papers that document US political history − federal cuts put their work at risk – https://theconversation.com/universities-in-every-state-care-for-congressional-papers-that-document-us-political-history-federal-cuts-put-their-work-at-risk-256053

    MIL OSI –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities in every state care for congressional papers that document US political history − federal cuts put their work at risk

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Katherine Gregory, Assistant Professor, University Libraries, Mississippi State University

    The papers of members of Congress are fertile ground for research into Congress’ role in shaping U.S. history. cunfek, iStock/Getty Images Plus

    In 1971, the president of Mississippi State University, Dr. William L. Giles, invited President Richard Nixon to attend the dedication of U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis’ papers to the university library’s archives.

    Nixon declined, but the Republican president sent a generous note in support of the veteran Democrat Stennis.

    “Future students and scholars who study there will … familiarize themselves with the outstanding record of a U.S. Senator whose … judgment in complex areas of national security have been a source of strength and comfort to those who have led this Nation and to all who are concerned in preserving the freedom we cherish.”

    Nixon’s prediction came true, perhaps ironically, considering the legal troubles over his own papers during the Watergate crisis. Congress passed the Presidential Records Act of 1978 after Nixon resigned.

    Stennis’ gift to his alma mater caused a windfall of subsequent congressional donations to what is now the Mississippi Political Collections at Mississippi State University Libraries.

    Now, 55 years later, Mississippi State University holds a body of records from a bipartisan group of officials that has positioned it to tell a major part of the state’s story in national and global politics. That story is told to over 100 patrons and dozens of college and K-12 classes each year.

    The papers are fertile ground for scholarly research into Congress’ role in shaping U.S. history, with its extraordinary powers over lawmaking, the economy and one of the world’s largest militaries.

    Mississippi State University, where I work as an assistant professor and director of the Mississippi Political Collections, is not alone in providing such a rich source of history. It is part of a national network of universities that hold and steward congressional papers.

    But support for this stewardship is in jeopardy. With the White House’s proposed elimination of independent granting agencies such as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it is unclear what money will be available for this work in the future.

    A 1963 letter from Sen. John Stennis to a constituent about agricultural legislation and also Russians in Cuba.
    Mississippi State University

    From research to public service

    Mississippi State University’s building of an expansive political archive is neither unique nor a break from practices by our national peers:

    • The Richard Russell Library for Political Research and Studies at the University of Georgia – named after the U.S. senator from Georgia from 1933 to 1971 – has grown since its founding in 1974 into one of America’s premier research libraries of political history, with more than 600 manuscript collections and an extensive oral history collection.

    • Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin donated his papers to Drake University to form The Harkin Institute, which memorializes Harkin’s role as chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act through disability policy research and education.

    • Sens. Robert and Elizabeth Dole’s papers are the bedrock of the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University.

    • In 2023, retiring Sens. Richard Shelby and Patrick Leahy donated their archives – Shelby to the University of Alabama and Leahy to the University of Vermont.

    By lending their papers and relative political celebrity, members of Congress have laid the groundwork for repositories like these to promote policy research to enable local and state governments to shape legislation on issues central to their states.

    More complete history

    When the repositories are at universities, they also provide educational programming that encourages public service for the next generations.

    At Mississippi State University, the John C. Stennis Institute for Government and Community Development sponsors an organization that allows students to learn about government, voting, organizing and potential careers on Capitol Hill with trips to Washington, D.C.

    Depositing congressional papers in states and districts, to be cared for by professional archivists and librarians, extends the life of the records and expands their utility.

    When elected officials give their papers to their constituents, they ensure the public can see and use the papers. This is a way of returning their history to them, while giving them the power to assemble a more complete, independent version of their political history. While members of Congress are not required by law to donate their papers, they passed a bipartisan concurrent resolution in 2008 encouraging the practice.

    Users of congressional archives range from historians to college students, local investigative journalists, political memoirists and documentary filmmakers. In advance of the 2020 election, we contributed historical materials to CNN’s reporting on Joe Biden’s controversial relationship with the Southern bloc of segregationist senators in his early Senate years.

    A copy of a letter from U.S. Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma, who ultimately became the 46th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Carl Albert Center Congressional and Political Collections, University of Oklahoma

    Preserving the archives

    While the results contribute to the humanities, the process of archival preservation and management is as complex a science as any other.

    “Congressional records” is a broad term that encompasses many formats such as letters, diaries, notes, meeting minutes, speech transcripts, guestbooks and schedules.

    They also include ephemera such as campaign bumper stickers, military medals and even ceremonial pieces of the original U.S. Capitol flooring. They contain rare photographs of everything from natural disaster damage to state dinners and legacy audiovisual materials such as 8 mm film, cassette tapes and vinyl records. Members of Congress also have donated their libraries of hundreds of books.

    Archival preservation is a constantly evolving science. Only in the mid-20th century was the acid-free box developed to arrest the deterioration of paper records. After the advent of film-based photographs, archivists later learned to keep them away from light and heat, and they observed that audiovisual materials such as 8mm tape decompose from acid decay quickly if not stored in proper conditions.

    Alongside preservation work comes the task of inventorying the records for public use. Archivists write finding aids – itemized, searchable catalogs of the records – and create metadata, which describes items in terms of size, creation date and location.

    Future congressional papers will include born-digital content such as email and social media. This means traditional archiving will give way to digital preservation and data management. Federal law mandates that digital records have alt-text and transcription, and they need specialized expertise in file storage and data security because congressional papers often contain case files with sensitive personal data.

    With congressional materials often clocking in at hundreds or thousands of linear feet, emerging artificial intelligence and automation technologies will usher this field into a new era, with AI speeding metadata and cataloging work to deliver usable records for researchers faster than ever.

    No more funding?

    All of this work takes money; most of it takes staff time. Institutions meet these needs through federal grants – the very grants at risk from the Trump administration’s proposed elimination of the agencies that administer them.

    For example, West Virginia University has been awarded over $400,000 since 2021 from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the American Congress Digital Archives Portal project, a website that centralizes digitized congressional records at the university and a growing list of partners such as the University of Hawaii and the University of Oklahoma.

    Past federal grants have funded other congressional papers projects, from basic supply needs such as folders to more complex repair of film and tape.

    The Howard Baker Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee used National Endowment for the Humanities funds to purchase specialized supplies needed to store the papers of its namesake, the Republican senator who also served as chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan.

    National Endowment for the Humanities funds helped process U.S. Rep. Pat Williams’ papers at the University of Montana, resulting in a searchable finding aid for the 87 boxes of records documenting the Montana Democrat’s 18 years in Congress.
    President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “I have an unshaken conviction that democracy can never be undermined if we maintain our library resources and a national intelligence capable of utilizing them.”

    With the current threat to federal grants – and agencies – that pay for the crucial work of stewarding these congressional papers, it appears that these records of democracy may no longer play their role in supporting that democracy.

    Katherine Gregory received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and is a member of the Society of American Archivists.

    – ref. Universities in every state care for congressional papers that document US political history − federal cuts put their work at risk – https://theconversation.com/universities-in-every-state-care-for-congressional-papers-that-document-us-political-history-federal-cuts-put-their-work-at-risk-256053

    MIL OSI –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUAA COI report highlights challenging transition in post-Assad Syria

    Source: European Asylum Support Office

    The EUAA has just published a Country of Origin Information (COI) report on Syria. The report provides an update on the situation in Syria following the ouster of Bashar Al-Assad, with a focus on developments between March and May 2025. It examines the security and socio-economic situation in the country and reviews the latest political and human rights developments, including the treatment of specific population groups.

    Following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader was appointed Syria’s interim President. He signed a constitutional declaration covering a five-year transitional period until a permanent constitution and elections are established. The declaration introduced a strong presidential system and designated Islamic jurisprudence as the main source of legislation. In March 2025, a new transitional government was formed, composed of ministers from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, though largely dominated by figures with close ties to HTS.

    Syria’s security landscape remains fragmented, with numerous armed groups operating with varying degrees of autonomy, despite the caretaker authorities’ efforts to integrate all armed groups into the Syrian government’s army. Notably, negotiations were still ongoing regarding the implementation of a March agreement between the caretaker authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) —a Kurdish-led group controlling most of northeastern Syria’s—aimed at integrating the SDF’s civilian and military structures into Syria’s state institutions.

    The security situation remains volatile, with the new authorities struggling to assert full control in certain areas of the country. Incidents of lawlessness, criminality and retaliatory violence are reported to be prevalent in central and western Syria. Large-scale sectarian violence targeting Alawite communities in the coastal areas and Druze communities in southern Syria was reported between March – May 2025. Israel has also continued to launch airstrikes on military facilities and conduct military incursions into southern Syria.

    Between March and May 2025, together with the United States of America, the European Union took steps to aid in the economic recovery of the country by lifting almost all Assad-era sanctions. However, according to United Nations sources, 90 % of the population are living in poverty and 16.5 million require humanitarian assistance. Although returns from abroad, as well as of internally displaced persons, increased following Assad’s removal, key challenges to sustainable returns included worsening economic conditions, unemployment, limited access to basic services and widespread infrastructure destruction.
     

    EU Asylum situation for Syrian nationals

    Syrian asylum applications have been on a downward trend since November 2024, with a sharp drop in December reflecting the changed circumstances following the fall of the Assad regime, but have been relatively stable since March. In May 2025, Syrians lodged just under 3 100 applications. Between December 2024 and May 2025 Syrian applications (31 000) decreased by over three fifths compared to the previous six months. The main EU+ receiving countries were Germany, Greece and Austria.

    Since December 2024 most EU+ countries have suspended (fully or partially) decision making on Syrian cases, which led to a notable drop in first instance decisions: from a monthly average of 12 000 over the preceding six months to 4 200 in December, falling further in January. Since then, the numbers have fluctuated, averaging around 2 600 between March and May 2025. As a result, the number of pending first instance cases were high, standing at 111 000 at the end of May.

    Background

    The EUAA regularly updates its Country of Origin Information reports, which aim to provide accurate and reliable up-to-date information on third countries to support EU+ asylum and migration authorities in reaching accurate and fair decisions in asylum procedures, as well as to support national policymaking.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUAA COI report highlights challenging transition in post-Assad Syria

    Source: European Asylum Support Office

    The EUAA has just published a Country of Origin Information (COI) report on Syria. The report provides an update on the situation in Syria following the ouster of Bashar Al-Assad, with a focus on developments between March and May 2025. It examines the security and socio-economic situation in the country and reviews the latest political and human rights developments, including the treatment of specific population groups.

    Following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader was appointed Syria’s interim President. He signed a constitutional declaration covering a five-year transitional period until a permanent constitution and elections are established. The declaration introduced a strong presidential system and designated Islamic jurisprudence as the main source of legislation. In March 2025, a new transitional government was formed, composed of ministers from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, though largely dominated by figures with close ties to HTS.

    Syria’s security landscape remains fragmented, with numerous armed groups operating with varying degrees of autonomy, despite the caretaker authorities’ efforts to integrate all armed groups into the Syrian government’s army. Notably, negotiations were still ongoing regarding the implementation of a March agreement between the caretaker authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) —a Kurdish-led group controlling most of northeastern Syria’s—aimed at integrating the SDF’s civilian and military structures into Syria’s state institutions.

    The security situation remains volatile, with the new authorities struggling to assert full control in certain areas of the country. Incidents of lawlessness, criminality and retaliatory violence are reported to be prevalent in central and western Syria. Large-scale sectarian violence targeting Alawite communities in the coastal areas and Druze communities in southern Syria was reported between March – May 2025. Israel has also continued to launch airstrikes on military facilities and conduct military incursions into southern Syria.

    Between March and May 2025, together with the United States of America, the European Union took steps to aid in the economic recovery of the country by lifting almost all Assad-era sanctions. However, according to United Nations sources, 90 % of the population are living in poverty and 16.5 million require humanitarian assistance. Although returns from abroad, as well as of internally displaced persons, increased following Assad’s removal, key challenges to sustainable returns included worsening economic conditions, unemployment, limited access to basic services and widespread infrastructure destruction.
     

    EU Asylum situation for Syrian nationals

    Syrian asylum applications have been on a downward trend since November 2024, with a sharp drop in December reflecting the changed circumstances following the fall of the Assad regime, but have been relatively stable since March. In May 2025, Syrians lodged just under 3 100 applications. Between December 2024 and May 2025 Syrian applications (31 000) decreased by over three fifths compared to the previous six months. The main EU+ receiving countries were Germany, Greece and Austria.

    Since December 2024 most EU+ countries have suspended (fully or partially) decision making on Syrian cases, which led to a notable drop in first instance decisions: from a monthly average of 12 000 over the preceding six months to 4 200 in December, falling further in January. Since then, the numbers have fluctuated, averaging around 2 600 between March and May 2025. As a result, the number of pending first instance cases were high, standing at 111 000 at the end of May.

    Background

    The EUAA regularly updates its Country of Origin Information reports, which aim to provide accurate and reliable up-to-date information on third countries to support EU+ asylum and migration authorities in reaching accurate and fair decisions in asylum procedures, as well as to support national policymaking.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Buffalo investigation leads to arrest of Jamestown man charged with threatening to kill a Homeland Security agent

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BUFFALO, N.Y. — An investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo has resulted in the July 1 arrest of 43-year-old Matthew White. White, of Jamestown, New York, was charged by criminal complaint with communicating interstate threats for allegedly making social media posts threatening to kill ICE personnel. In one post, he allegedly threatened to target an individual’s children.

    ICE HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan and U.S. Attorney U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, of the Western District of New York, announced the charges.

    “The defendant stands accused of making vile threats against officers and agents who risk their lives every day to uphold an oath they swore to protect the public — even those who wish them harm. There is no place in our community for such hate against any human beings, including and especially innocent children,” said Keegan. “Let it be known, HSI Buffalo is unflinchingly committed to finding and investigating any individuals who threaten, or who are intent on hurting, members of our law enforcement community.”

    According to the investigation and outlined in the complaint:

    On April 30, HSI Buffalo personnel learned that an X account, believed to be operated by White, was engaged in publicly posting threats to federal immigration agents and administrators employed by the Department of Homeland Security.

    On June 4, White voluntarily spoke with investigators and allowed them to extract and copy the contents of his phone. Investigators recovered a number of threatening posts on X, including:

    • On April 18, White posted, “Kill them all, ICE is the new age gestapo, stop them.”
    • On April 29, White shared a video clip of Border Czar Tom Homan posted by an X user “America,” and commented, “Then understand that if your ICE agents don’t show proof of identity and a signed warrant, we will kill them.”
    • In late April, White posted multiple threatening and violent public comments in response to coverage of several ICE arrest operations, including an ICE arrest operation inside a Virginia courthouse that occurred in April 2025. White posted, “I can’t wait to put a bullet into this guy’s brain, but first his children.”

    White made an initial appearance on the afternoon of July 1 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was released on conditions.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Buffalo investigation leads to arrest of Jamestown man charged with threatening to kill a Homeland Security agent

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BUFFALO, N.Y. — An investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo has resulted in the July 1 arrest of 43-year-old Matthew White. White, of Jamestown, New York, was charged by criminal complaint with communicating interstate threats for allegedly making social media posts threatening to kill ICE personnel. In one post, he allegedly threatened to target an individual’s children.

    ICE HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan and U.S. Attorney U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, of the Western District of New York, announced the charges.

    “The defendant stands accused of making vile threats against officers and agents who risk their lives every day to uphold an oath they swore to protect the public — even those who wish them harm. There is no place in our community for such hate against any human beings, including and especially innocent children,” said Keegan. “Let it be known, HSI Buffalo is unflinchingly committed to finding and investigating any individuals who threaten, or who are intent on hurting, members of our law enforcement community.”

    According to the investigation and outlined in the complaint:

    On April 30, HSI Buffalo personnel learned that an X account, believed to be operated by White, was engaged in publicly posting threats to federal immigration agents and administrators employed by the Department of Homeland Security.

    On June 4, White voluntarily spoke with investigators and allowed them to extract and copy the contents of his phone. Investigators recovered a number of threatening posts on X, including:

    • On April 18, White posted, “Kill them all, ICE is the new age gestapo, stop them.”
    • On April 29, White shared a video clip of Border Czar Tom Homan posted by an X user “America,” and commented, “Then understand that if your ICE agents don’t show proof of identity and a signed warrant, we will kill them.”
    • In late April, White posted multiple threatening and violent public comments in response to coverage of several ICE arrest operations, including an ICE arrest operation inside a Virginia courthouse that occurred in April 2025. White posted, “I can’t wait to put a bullet into this guy’s brain, but first his children.”

    White made an initial appearance on the afternoon of July 1 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was released on conditions.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Over €3 billion from EU emissions trading revenues to be invested in cleaner energy systems

    Source: European Union 2

    The European Commission and the European Investment Bank will jointly support 34 energy-related projects in nine EU countries. Funded by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, the €3.66 billion investment will help modernise energy systems in the EU to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major boost for Sizewell C nuclear plan as French energy giant EDF confirms investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Major boost for Sizewell C nuclear plan as French energy giant EDF confirms investment

    Thousands of UK jobs will be created as French energy firm EDF confirms today it will take a 12.5% stake in Sizewell C – in a major boost for UK growth and energy security.

    • French company EDF confirms it will take a 12.5% stake in Sizewell C nuclear plant, supporting thousands of UK jobs and boosting UK’s energy security.
    • Follows £14.5 billion funding confirmed by UK government last month and takes Britain closer to ‘golden age’ of nuclear power.
    • Prime Minister Keir Starmer to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Steet tomorrow to make progress on shared priorities and deliver for British people.

    Thousands of UK jobs will be created as French energy firm EDF confirms today it will take a 12.5% stake in Sizewell C – in a major boost for UK growth and energy security.  

    EDF is the first shareholder to announce its backing for the nuclear plant alongside the UK government, who confirmed £14.2 billion of funding into the project in last month’s Spending Review.  

    Today’s announcement takes Sizewell C one step closer to being given the green light, when it will help to deliver the UK’s ‘golden age’ of nuclear and see clean power supplied to millions of homes. 

    Further investors and details on the project’s financing will be confirmed at the point of the Final Investment Decision, targeted for this summer. 

    Nuclear energy is crucial to a mixed power supply – providing a backbone of low-carbon power alongside renewables, which is the only way to bring down bills for good by ending the UK’s dependence on fossil fuel markets.

    At peak construction, Sizewell C will support 10,000 jobs, and thousands more in the nationwide supply chain, and create 1,500 apprenticeships. 

    It comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK ahead of the UK-France Summit on Thursday, which will drive forward co-operation with one of our closest neighbours on shared priorities – energy, growth, defence and security, and migration.  

    Since taking office last year, the Prime Minister has been determined to bolster the UK’s position on the world stage and improve our relationship with our closest partners in order to deliver for the British people.  

    Today’s announcement marks another vote of confidence in that approach, cementing the UK as an increasingly attractive investment destination and a reliable partner.  

    Previous governments had shied away from making real progress on Sizewell C – leaving the UK exposed when Putin’s illegal invasion into Ukraine created major shocks in the international oil and gas market.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    I’ve been clear there will be no more dithering and delay on Sizewell C – and this investment takes us a step closer to the benefits it will bring to the British people. 

    Lower energy bills, thousands more jobs and apprenticeships, and better energy security – this is not only a vote of confidence in the UK as an investment destination, it is our Plan for Change in action.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    This investment goes hand in hand with the £14.2 billion set aside at last month’s Spending Review to deliver the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation.

    It is part of the new confidence we’re seeing in the UK as an investment destination and will create thousands of high-skilled, high-paid jobs to help deliver on our Plan for Change.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:  

    Thousands of jobs and clean power for millions of homes are one step closer today as we welcome this investment into Sizewell C – delivering a golden age of new nuclear to protect family finances and boost energy security. 

    This agreement is a landmark moment in the UK and France’s long-standing partnership in civil nuclear, and a testament to our countries’ strong relationship.

    In addition, Bpifrance, France’s export credit agency, is set to provide a £5 billion debt guarantee to the power station.  

    This supports lending to the project from a number of leading commercial banks and is enabled by Sizewell C’s innovative funding model that spreads costs between consumers, taxpayers and private investors.  

    The UK Government will remain a significant shareholder in the project – ensuring we have oversight of the progress and limiting delays.  

    The government’s nuclear programme is now the most ambitious for a generation – once small modular reactors and Sizewell C come online in the 2030s, combined with Hinkley Point C, this will deliver more new nuclear power to the grid than over the previous half century combined. 

    In another important step forward for UK–France energy collaboration, UK company Urenco have signed a 15-year deal with EDF to produce fuel for nuclear power stations, helping to deliver clean power and enhanced energy security in Europe.

    This multi-billion euro contract, with significant value for the UK, will support Urenco UK’s workforce of more than 1,400 people and support the company’s important contribution to UK economic growth, which represented more than £256 million in 2023. 

    French engineering company Assystem has also announced plans to double its nuclear workforce in the UK, creating 1,000 new engineering, digital and management jobs by 2030 across 10 UK sites, including in Sunderland, Blackburn, Derby, Bristol and London.

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    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Anxiety, paranoia, fear’: The consequences of digital violence against women

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    During the event, held as part of the Commission on the Status of Women, the world’s biggest gender equality conference, delegates from the region outlined the many forms of digital violence, warned of the chilling effect that online harassment and discrimination are having on women’s participation in political life and shared some of the most effective ways to create safe digital spaces for women.

    After the meeting, UN News caught up with some of the speakers, who included politicians and rights advocates, to hear first-hand about the consequences of digital violence in their countries and how to deal with it.

    ‘We must remain united’

    UN News/Conor Lennon

    Anaís Burgos is a politician in the Mexican parliament. She won a round of applause after proudly holding up a doll representing Claudia Sheinbaum, the first woman president of Mexico.

    “Digital violence affects all women who are dedicated to public affairs, both at work and in our personal relationships. It leaves very important traces, because it affects your mental and physical health, creating anxiety, discrimination, paranoia and fear.

    I can’t publish anything personal on social media, because people will search for anything to attack me, such as my family, my origins or my skin colour. Some of my colleagues have thought about leaving politics altogether, so that they are no longer the targets of attacks and violence.

    However, I believe that we have to continue. I have to make this violence visible; I have to denounce it. And as a politician, I have to change it. If it happens to me, someone with a public voice to denounce it, what does it do to a young girl who doesn’t have such a platform? Or Afro-Mexican women, indigenous women and women living with disabilities?

    We need more legislation to punish this type of violence in all its forms. It has advanced so quickly, and artificial intelligence is not even regulated in some of the countries of our region.

    We must remain united. The rights women have acquired so far would not have been won without a collective voice. And we need men to understand that, for violence to end, we need their participation and support.”

    ‘Pre-bunking’ and ‘inoculating’ against disinformation

    UN News/Conor Lennon

    Roberta Braga is the founder and Executive Director of the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas (DDIA), a hub for research and initiatives aimed at strengthening trust between communities and democracy.

    “Polarisation and distrust are amplified through social media. There is a silver lining, though. We are now able to identify what we call “meta narratives”, stories that get recycled and used in different contexts in different countries to attack women, which means that we have the information and the tools we need to both prepare and counter them ahead of time.

    We call it “pre-bunking” or “inoculation”, which is essentially explaining to people the tactics of manipulation and the narratives that get used against them online so they can recognise them when they see them and become a little more resilient.

    There is very little space between our online and offline worlds now, and digital violence can definitely become real world violence. It can lead to groups of people sitting outside your home, propagating hatred against you and even attacking you in person.

    I have been very lucky in that I have not been the target of coordinated attacks, but I know a lot of women who have been subjected to abuse. For example, a friend of mine who was about to serve on a US Government board to counter disinformation, received a huge onslaught of online attacks. It was so bad that they cancelled the initiative in its entirety. She was pregnant at the time, and her husband, even her baby, were also targets. It can get very toxic”.

    ‘Time and again, technology is used against women’

    Marcela Hernández is the co-founder of the Latin-American network of Digital Defenders, an organization promoting comprehensive legislation to address and punish digital violence.

    “Currently we have documented more than 700 policies by different government entities throughout Mexico, including police, prosecutors’ offices and courts to counter digital violence. In the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico City, there is even a specialized agency to prosecute crimes of digital violence.

    I remember the first time I knew of a girl who committed suicide because of a video of her being sexually abused was circulated online. Even though I didn’t know her, it marked me. I knew at that moment that more things like this were going to happen.

    When a new technology reaches the mass market, it is used time and time again as a tool to commit violence against women, to subordinate and objectify us. When artificial intelligence became widespread in 2024, there were immediately cases of boys in universities and schools in different parts of the world taking images of their classmates to create sexually explicit material, without their consent.

    This is why we need to appropriate technology ourselves; women creating online tools for the benefit of other women”.

    These interviews have been translated from Spanish and edited for clarity and length.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Aid cuts threaten to roll back progress in ending maternal mortality

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Furthermore, unprecedented aid cuts are putting global progress to end maternal deaths at risk, UN agencies have warned in a new report that calls for greater investment in midwives and other health workers.

    The Trends in maternal mortality report was published by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA, in observance of World Health Day on 7 April.

    It shows that maternal deaths declined by 40 per cent between 2000 and 2023, largely due to improved access to essential health services.

    However, the pace of improvement has slowed significantly since 2016, and an estimated 260,000 women died in 2023 due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, or roughly one death every two minutes.

    Deadly peril in Sudan

    Frontline health workers have long raised alarms about the perils of giving birth in conflict settings.

    In Sudan’s Al Jazirah State, a midwife named Awatef told UNFPA that she helped four women deliver babies while fleeing violence: “I delivered them in the bush, with only very basic sterilization – I had nothing but water and soap.”

    One woman, Amina, had to give birth by Caesarean section – on the floor of a stranger’s home where a local doctor was assisting deliveries – while listening to the drum of gunfire just outside. “I had to start walking again just six hours later, carrying my baby while my wounds were still fresh and painful,” she said.

    Urgent action needed

    As aid funding cuts force countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health, the UN agencies appeal for urgent action to prevent maternal deaths, particularly in humanitarian settings where numbers are already alarmingly high.

    “While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today – despite the fact that solutions exist to prevent and treat the complications that cause the vast majority of maternal deaths,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

    “In addition to ensuring access to quality maternity care, it will be critical to strengthen the underlying health and reproductive rights of women and girls – factors that underpin their prospects of healthy outcomes during pregnancy and beyond.”

    Pregnancy and the pandemic

    The report also provides the first global account of the coronavirus“>COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on maternal survival.

    An estimated 40,000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth in 2021, rising to 282,000 in 2022, and to 322,000 the following year.

    This increase was linked not only to direct complications caused by COVID-19 but also widespread interruptions to maternity services, highlighting the importance of ensuring that this care is available during pandemics and other emergencies.

    Invest in midwives

    “When a mother dies in pregnancy or childbirth, her baby’s life is also at risk. Too often, both are lost to causes we know how to prevent,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

    With global funding cuts putting more mums-to-be at risk, especially in the most fragile settings, “the world must urgently invest in midwives, nurses, and community health workers to ensure every mother and baby has a chance to survive and thrive,” she added.

    Inequalities and slowdowns

    The report also highlights persistent inequalities between regions and countries, as well as uneven progress.

    With maternal mortality declining by around 40 per cent between 2000 and 2023, sub-Saharan Africa achieved significant gains. It was also among just three UN regions to see significant drops after 2015, with the others being Australia and New Zealand, and Central and Southern Asia.

    Yet, sub-Saharan Africa still accounted for approximately 70 per cent of the global burden of maternal deaths in 2023 due to high rates of poverty and multiple conflicts.

    Meanwhile, five regions saw progress stagnate after 2015: Northern Africa and Western Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

    UNFPA Sudan

    A midwife visiting pregnant women in a shelter for internally displaced persons in Sudan.

    A global responsibility

    Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director, upheld that access to quality maternal health services is a right, not a privilege.

    She stressed the urgent responsibility to build well-resourced health systems that safeguard the lives of pregnant women and newborns.

    “By boosting supply chains, the midwifery workforce, and the disaggregated data needed to pinpoint those most at risk, we can and must end the tragedy of preventable maternal deaths and their enormous toll on families and societies,” she said.

    Childbirth in crisis settings

    The report also highlighted the plight of pregnant women living in humanitarian emergencies, who face some of the highest risks globally.  Nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by fragility or conflict.

    Beyond ensuring critical services during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, the report emphasized the importance of efforts to enhance women’s overall health by improving access to family planning services, as well as preventing underlying health conditions that increase risks, such as anaemia, malaria and noncommunicable diseases.

    Furthermore, it is also vital to ensure that girls stay in school, and that they and women have the knowledge and resources to protect their health.

    Source: WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA/World Bank/UN Population Division

    Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) trends by region.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The US has high hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, but Israel’s long-term aims seem far less peaceful

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ali Mamouri, Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University

    US President Donald Trump has hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner at the White House, where he has declared talks to end the war in Gaza are “going along very well”.

    In turn, Netanyahu revealed he has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying:

    he is forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region, after the other.

    Despite all the talk of peace, negotiations in Qatar between Israeli and Palestinian delegations have broken up without a breakthrough. The talks are expected to resume later this week.

    If an agreement is reached, it will likely be hailed as a crucial opportunity to end nearly two years of humanitarian crisis in Gaza, following the October 7 attacks in which 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas-led militants.

    However, there is growing scepticism about the durability of any truce. A previous ceasefire agreement reached in January led to the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

    But it collapsed by March, when Israel resumed military operations in Gaza.

    This breakdown in trust on both sides, combined with ongoing Israeli military operations and political instability, suggests the new deal may prove to be another temporary pause rather than a lasting resolution.

    Details of the deal

    The proposed agreement outlines a 60-day ceasefire aimed at de-escalating hostilities in Gaza and creating space for negotiations toward a more lasting resolution.

    Hamas would release ten surviving Israeli hostages and return the remains of 18 others. In exchange, Israel is expected to withdraw its military forces to a designated buffer zone along Gaza’s borders with both Israel and Egypt.

    The agreement being thrashed out in Doha includes the release of Israeli hostages, held in Gaza for the past 22 months.
    Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock

    While the specific terms of a prisoner exchange remain under negotiation, the release of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons is a central component of the proposal.

    Humanitarian aid is also a key focus of the agreement. Relief would be delivered through international organisations, primarily UN agencies and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

    However, the agreement does not specify the future role of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, which has been distributing food aid since May.

    The urgency of humanitarian access is underscored by the scale of destruction in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians. The offensive has triggered a hunger crisis, displaced much of the population internally, and left vast areas of the territory in ruins.

    Crucially, the agreement does not represent an end to the war, one of Hamas’s core demands. Instead, it commits both sides to continue negotiations throughout the 60-day period, with the hope of reaching a more durable and comprehensive ceasefire.

    Obstacles to a lasting peace

    Despite the apparent opportunity to reach a final ceasefire, especially after Israel has inflicted severe damage on Hamas, Netanyahu’s government appears reluctant to fully end the military campaign.

    There is scepticism a temporary ceasefire would lead to permanent peace.
    Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock

    A central reason is political: Netanyahu’s ruling coalition heavily relies on far-right parties that insist on continuing the war. Any serious attempt at a ceasefire could lead to the collapse of his government.

    Militarily, Israel has achieved several of its tactical objectives.

    It has significantly weakened Hamas and other Palestinian factions and caused widespread devastation across Gaza. This is alongside the mass arrests, home demolitions, and killing of hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank.

    And it has forced Hezbollah in Lebanon to scale back its operations after sustaining major losses.

    Perhaps most notably, Israel struck deep into Iran’s military infrastructure, killing dozens of high-ranking commanders and damaging its missile and nuclear capabilities.

    Reshaping the map

    Yet Netanyahu’s ambitions may go beyond tactical victories. There are signs he is aiming for two broader strategic outcomes.

    First, by making Gaza increasingly uninhabitable, his government could push Palestinians to flee. This would effectively pave the way for Israel to annex the territory in the long term – a scenario advocated by many of his far-right allies.

    Speaking at the White House, Netanyahu says he is working with the US on finding countries that will take Palestinians from Gaza:

    if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave.

    Second, prolonging the war allows Netanyahu to delay his ongoing corruption trial and extend his political survival.

    True intentions

    At the heart of the impasse is the far-right’s vision for total Palestinian defeat, with no concession and no recognition of a future Palestinian state. This ideology has consistently blocked peace efforts for three decades.

    Israeli leaders have repeatedly described any potential Palestinian entity as “less than a state” or a “state-minus”, a formulation that falls short of Palestinian aspirations and international legal standards.

    Today, even that limited vision appears to be off the table, as Israeli policy moves towards complete rejection of Palestinian statehood.

    With Palestinian resistance movements significantly weakened and no immediate threat facing Israel, this moment presents a crucial test of Israel’s intentions.

    Is Israel genuinely pursuing peace, or seeking to cement its dominance in the region while permanently denying Palestinians their right to statehood?

    Following its military successes and the normalisation of relations with several Arab states under the Abraham Accords, Israeli political discourse has grown increasingly bold.

    Some voices in the Israeli establishment are openly advocating for the permanent displacement of Palestinians to neighbouring Arab countries such as Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This would effectively erase the prospect of a future Palestinian state.

    This suggests that for certain factions within Israel, the end goal is not a negotiated settlement, but a one-sided resolution that reshapes the map and the people of the region on Israel’s terms.

    The coming weeks will reveal whether Israel chooses the path of compromise and coexistence, or continues down a road that forecloses the possibility of lasting peace.

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

    – ref. The US has high hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, but Israel’s long-term aims seem far less peaceful – https://theconversation.com/the-us-has-high-hopes-for-a-new-gaza-ceasefire-but-israels-long-term-aims-seem-far-less-peaceful-260286

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Submissions: President Trump’s tug-of-war with the courts, explained

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Paul M. Collins Jr., Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, UMass Amherst

    The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg

    The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a big win on June 27, 2025, by limiting the ability of judges to block Trump administration policies across the nation.

    But Trump has not fared nearly as well in the lower courts, where he has lost a series of cases through different levels of the federal court system. On June 5, a single judge temporarily stopped the administration from preventing Harvard University from enrolling international students.

    And a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked Trump on May 28 from imposing tariffs on China and other nations. The Trump administration has appealed this decision. It will be taken up in July by all 11 judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

    After that, the case can be appealed to the Supreme Court.

    I’m a scholar of the federal courts. The reasons why some courts have multiple judges and others have a single judge can be confusing. Here’s a guide to help understand what’s going on in the federal courts.

    Federal District Courts

    The U.S. District Courts are the trial courts in the federal system and hear about 400,000 cases per year. A single judge almost always presides over cases.

    This makes sense for a jury trial, since a judge might make dozens of spur-of-the-moment decisions during the course of a trial, such as ruling on a lawyer’s objection to a question asked of a witness. If a panel of, say, three judges performed this task, it would prolong proceedings because the three judges would have to deliberate over every ruling.

    A more controversial role of District Courts involves setting nationwide injunctions. This happens when a single judge temporarily stops the government from enforcing a policy throughout the nation.

    There have been more than two dozen nationwide injunctions during Trump’s second term. These involve policy areas as diverse as ending birthright citizenship, firing federal employees and banning transgender people from serving in the military.

    President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on June 27, 2025, after the Supreme Court curbed the power of lone federal judges to block executive actions.
    Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump and Republicans in Congress argue that the ability to issue nationwide injunctions gives too much power to a single judge. Instead, they believe injunctions should apply only to the parties involved in the case.

    On June 27, the Supreme Court agreed with the Trump administration and severely limited the ability of District Court judges to issue nationwide injunctions. This means that judges can generally stop policies from being enforced only against the parties to a lawsuit, instead of everyone in the nation.

    In rare instances, a panel of three District Court judges hears a case. Congress decides what cases these special three-judge panels hear, reserving them for especially important issues. For example, these panels have heard cases involving reapportionment, which is how votes are translated into legislative seats in Congress and state legislatures, and allegations that a voter’s rights have been violated.

    The logic behind having three judges hear such important cases is that they will give more careful consideration to the dispute. This may lend legitimacy to a controversial decision and prevents a single judge from exercising too much power.

    There are also specialized courts that hear cases involving particular policies, sometimes in panels of three judges. For instance, three-judge panels on the U.S. Court of International Trade decide cases involving executive orders related to international trade.

    The federal Court of Appeals

    The U.S. Court of Appeals hears appeals from the District Courts and specialized courts.

    The 13 federal circuit courts that make up the U.S. Court of Appeals are arranged throughout the country and handle about 40,000 cases per year. Each circuit court has six to 29 judges. Cases are decided primarily by three-judge panels.

    Having multiple judges decide cases on the Court of Appeals is seen as worthwhile, since these courts are policymaking institutions. This means they set precedents for the judicial circuit in which they operate, which covers three to nine states.

    Supporters of this system argue that by having multiple judges on appellate courts, the panel will consider a variety of perspectives on the case and collaborate with one another. This can lead to better decision-making. Additionally, having multiple judges check one another can boost public confidence in the judiciary.

    The party that loses a case before a three-judge panel can request that the entire circuit rehear the case. This is known as sitting en banc.

    Because judges on a circuit can decline to hear cases en banc, this procedure is usually reserved for especially significant cases. For instance, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has agreed to an en banc hearing to review the Court of International Trade’s decision to temporarily halt Trump’s sweeping tariff program. It also allowed the tariffs to remain in effect until the appeal plays out, likely in August.

    The exception to having the entire circuit sit together en banc is the 9th Circuit, based in San Francisco, which has 29 judges, far more than other circuit courts. It uses an 11-judge en banc process, since having 29 judges hear cases together would be logistically challenging.

    Cargo ships are seen at a container terminal in the Port of Shanghai, China, in May 2025. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked Trump from imposing tariffs on China and other nations.
    CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

    The US Supreme Court

    The U.S. Supreme Court sits atop the American legal system and decides about 60 cases per year.

    Cases are decided by all nine justices, unless a justice declines to participate because of a conflict of interest. As with other multimember courts, advocates of the nine-member makeup argue that the quality of decision-making is improved by having many justices participate in a case’s deliberation.

    Each Supreme Court justice is charged with overseeing one or more of the 13 federal circuits. In this role, a single justice reviews emergency appeals from the District Courts and an appellate court within a circuit. This authorizes them to put a temporary hold on the implementation of policies within that circuit or refer the matter to the entire Supreme Court.

    In February, for example, Chief Justice John Roberts blocked a Court of Appeals order that would have compelled the Trump administration to pay nearly US$2 billion in reimbursements for already completed foreign aid work.

    In March, a 5-4 majority of the high court sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, who subsequently ordered the Trump administration to release some of the funds.

    The federal judicial system is complex. The flurry of executive orders from the Trump administration means that cases are being decided on a nearly daily basis by a variety of courts.

    A single judge will decide some of these cases, and others are considered by full courts. Though the nine justices of the Supreme Court technically have the final say, the sheer volume of legal challenges means that America’s District Courts and Court of Appeals will resolve many of the disputes.

    Paul M. Collins Jr. does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. President Trump’s tug-of-war with the courts, explained – https://theconversation.com/president-trumps-tug-of-war-with-the-courts-explained-258234

    MIL OSI –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: What “Haute Couture” Really Means in French Law

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Today’s post is a guest post by a foreign law specialist at the Law Library of Congress, Louis Gilbert. Louis previously wrote “Wait, It Is Not About Wigs?” – The Story of Faso Dan Fani Court Robes in Burkina Faso for In Custodia Legis. 

    We throw around the term “haute couture” a lot these days: on runways, in fashion blogs, and in brand campaigns, but in France, it is not just a fancy way to say “high fashion.” It is a legally protected label with very specific rules, history, and meaning.

    Haute Couture: More Than Just Clothes

    At its core, haute couture is the art of creating luxurious, made-to-measure clothing for a private and very exclusive clientele. But it is more than that, it is also a creative playground where designers push boundaries, take risks, and influence the future of fashion far beyond the small circle of people who actually wear these clothes.

    Even though only a few clients ever purchase couture, its impact is global. The media attention surrounding haute couture shows means that ideas born in couture houses trickle down into ready-to-wear collections and even pop culture.

    A Wartime Origin Story

    The story begins during World War II. With fabric shortages affecting the entire country, the French government needed a way to support the couture industry. Until the outbreak of the second World War, haute couture professionals operated independently. With the onset of the war and resulting shortages in the textile industry, Parisian couture unions requested an official designation from the government granting haute couture houses privileged access to the raw materials needed for production.

    So, in 1945, the government officially stepped in. First, the Comité Général d’Organisation de l’Habillement et du Travail des Étoffes (the General Committee for the Organization of Clothing and Fabric Work) under the authority of the Ministry of Industry, issued a decision on January 23, 1945, distinguishing “couture” companies from mass-market producers. Then, on April 6, 1945, a ministerial order laid out the exact legally enforceable criteria a fashion house had to meet to qualify as haute couture. Those rules are still the foundation of the system today.

    Since then, only a select group of fashion houses, approved each year by a special commission under the Ministry of Industry, can legally use the title. The process is overseen by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, which sets the standards and reviews applications. They can even conduct audits and investigations before granting the prestigious status.

    Christian Dior – Couturier de Rêve. Exhibition at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, 2017. Photo by Flickr user Claudia Schillinger. Used under Creative Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    What Really Makes a Brand “Haute Couture”

    So what exactly makes a house “haute couture”? According to the order of April 6, 1945, to earn and keep the title, a fashion house must:

    • design and create custom garments made to a client’s exact measurements, entirely in-house, with multiple fittings,
    • present two collections a year in Paris, one in January for spring-summer, and one in July for autumn-winter, each featuring at least 25 original looks,
    • produce only original work, no buying designs from outside sources, and
    • be approved by a special commission under the Ministry of Industry, overseen by the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (now part of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode).

    Once a house is approved, it gets added to an official list updated annually. And only those on that list can legally call themselves haute couture. The presentations showing off the spring-summer and autumn-winter collections are elaborate productions, comparable to theatrical performances, and are central to the identity and visibility of haute couture.

    Prestige Over Perks

    Back in the 1940s, being on the haute couture list came with real perks: easier access to materials, more pricing freedom, and prestige. As postwar shortages faded in the early 1950s, the practical advantages disappeared. What remained, and still holds incredible power, is the status. Haute couture became less about economic benefit and more about cultural prestige. It was, and still is, a mark of excellence, craftsmanship, and artistry.

    Historically, couture houses have also used high-profile figures for promotional purposes. In the 1930s, for example, Chanel dressed the Countess de Montgomery, while Lanvin dressed the Countess Jean de Polignac, both free of charge.

    CHANEL – 215 [1938]. Black lace strapless dress with faille ribbon outlining the décolletage and ruffle of the same lace above it. 1938. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b46035.

    The Shrinking World of Couture

    While the prestige has held steady, the number of official haute couture houses has dropped sharply. There were 106 accredited houses in 1946. By 1967, that number was down to 19. As of 2020, only 16 remained.

    That decline mirrors a shrinking client base. In 1943, it was estimated that 20,000 people regularly bought haute couture. By 1990, that number had fallen to just 200. Why? The rise of luxury ready-to-wear collections gave clients more options and fewer reasons to wait weeks or months for one-of-a-kind garments.

    Still, haute couture is not going anywhere. It remains the pinnacle of fashion, a world where imagination, skill, and tradition come together in pieces that are as much art as clothing.

    A 2020 decision by the Ministry of the Economy, which was extended until July 31, 2025, by another decision, designates the following 16 houses that hold the haute couture label:

    • Adeline André,
    • Alexandre Vauthier,
    • Alexis Mabille,
    • Bouchra Jarrar,
    • Chanel,
    • Christian Dior,
    • Franck Sorbier,
    • Giambattista Valli,
    • Givenchy,
    • Jean Paul Gaultier,
    • Julien Fournié,
    • Maison Margiela,
    • Miason Rabih Kayrouz,
    • Maurizio Galante,
    • Schiaparelli, and
    • Stéphane Rolland.

    For more on clothing and fabric rationing in the 1940s, see this

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Disaster Relief Still Available to Michigan Residents, Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, homeowners and renters in Michigan of the Aug. 8 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset losses from physical damage caused by affected by the severe winter storms occurring March 28-30, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers the Michigan counties of Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Otsego and Presque Isle.

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

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

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for PNPs, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

    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 filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 8, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 9, 2026.

    ###

    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 –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Titan Network Launches IP Leasing Browser Extension to Turn Idle IPs into Passive Income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Titan Network has unveiled a browser-based IP leasing extension designed to turn everyday internet connections into secure, enterprise-ready infrastructure. This product marks a significant step in Titan’s broader mission to decentralize the cloud by mobilizing the untapped potential of user-owned digital resources.

    Developed in response to rising enterprise demand for trusted, distributed IP access, the extension allows individuals to contribute their unused residential IPs to real-world applications in AI, cybersecurity, and e-commerce – all with just a lightweight browser install.

    Unlike conventional Web3 projects, Titan’s infrastructure is built around commercial utility. The IP leasing extension lowers the barrier for users to participate while meeting the stringent requirements of enterprise clients, positioning Titan as a pioneer in practical, real-world adoption of DePIN architecture.

    Addressing the Demand for Reliable IP Resources

    In today’s digital landscape, enterprises face increasing challenges in sourcing trustworthy, geographically diverse IP addresses essential for operations like AI model training, e-commerce analytics, and fraud prevention. Traditional solutions often involve opaque methods, posing risks to both users and clients. Titan’s new browser extension offers a transparent and secure alternative, aligning with enterprise standards and ensuring user privacy.

    How It Works: Secure and User-Friendly Integration

    The lightweight extension is designed for ease of use. Once installed, it securely connects the user’s device to the Titan Network, securely enabling IP sharing without compromising privacy. Titan’s unique container architecture ensures each task is sandboxed, isolating network activity from a user’s local environment.

    Ready to join? Get started with the Titan IP extension here.

    Key features include:

    • Container-based isolation for secure task execution
    • On-chain contribution tracking for transparency and accountability
    • Automated task routing driven by verified enterprise needs

    Real-World Applications and Adoption

    Titan’s infrastructure is already live, supporting commercial clients such as TikTok, Tencent, iQIYI, and emerging AI platforms. Example applications include:

    • AI and data services: Facilitating region-specific IP access for training data collection
    • E-commerce monitoring: Enabling dynamic price tracking and ad verification
    • Security operations: Assisting in defense against DDoS and other threats

    Technological Innovation for Scalability

    Titan’s dual-layer container system reduces reliance on centralized relays, lowering risk and supporting secure, high-performance workloads. This architecture also enables direct communication between clients and contributors, minimizing the need for costly data rerouting and enhancing overall system security. As a result, more value can be retained within the network and distributed to node operators. This design allows Titan to deliver stable, enterprise-grade infrastructure that scales across diverse use cases. By addressing real-world demand through accessible, browser-native infrastructure, Titan is helping redefine how internet infrastructure is sourced, shared, and monetized.

    About Titan Network

    Titan Network builds decentralized cloud infrastructure by aggregating idle resources from global users. By aligning infrastructure growth with enterprise demand, Titan aims to deliver a resilient, equitable, and user-powered digital future.

    For more information, visit Titan Network’s official website.

    Media Contact Name: Neo Ge
    Email: media@titannet.io
    Website: https://titannet.io/

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Titan Network. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/47756f1b-1b88-4077-adae-5b4b5591e614

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36795b47-3d78-47dc-8f23-a028d7de160e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da6ae21f-e93e-4efe-9dbb-ae117aa06a3c

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Reliance Global Group Closes Sale of Fortman Insurance for $5 Million in Cash

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAKEWOOD, NJ, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reliance Global Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: RELI) (“Reliance,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) today announced it has completed an asset sale of Fortman Insurance Services (“Fortman”), a wholly owned subsidiary, for $5 million in cash. The transaction marks the successful execution of a strategic initiative to monetize a non-core asset and further strengthen the Company’s financial position.

    Following its acquisition by Reliance, Fortman continued to enhance its operational efficiency, financial stability, and market competitiveness. The finalized sale, at a value above the initial purchase price Reliance purchased Fortman for in 2019, reflects Reliance’s commitment to prudent capital deployment and its continued focus on maximizing shareholder returns.

    The Company also reaffirmed its expectation that the acquisition of Spetner Associates, Inc. (“Spetner”) will be completed. Spetner has built significant momentum in recent years, with consistent growth and healthy cash flow contributions across its operations. The transaction is expected to complement Reliance’s existing business model and align with its OneFirm strategy, creating opportunities to expand operational scale and drive long-term value.

    “Closing the Fortman transaction marks a key milestone in our strategic roadmap and reflects the disciplined approach we take to identifying, enhancing, and monetizing value within our portfolio,” commented Ezra Beyman, CEO of Reliance. “From the outset, Fortman was a compelling acquisition, and through targeted operational improvements, we positioned the business for long-term success. Selling the asset at a premium demonstrates the strength of our execution and adds meaningful capital to our balance sheet, increasing our flexibility to advance strategic priorities. This transaction reinforces our commitment to executing initiatives that strengthen our platform, support sustainable growth, and accelerate our transformation into a streamlined, tech-enabled insurance organization. I remain confident in our ability to deliver lasting value to our shareholders.”

    About Reliance Global Group, Inc.

    Reliance Global Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RELI) is an InsurTech pioneer, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based technologies, to transform and improve efficiencies in the insurance agency/brokerage industry. The Company’s business-to-business InsurTech platform, RELI Exchange, provides independent insurance agencies an entire suite of business development tools, enabling them to effectively compete with large-scale national insurance agencies, whilst reducing back-office cost and burden. The Company’s business-to-consumer platform, 5minuteinsure.com, utilizes AI and data mining, to provide competitive online insurance quotes within minutes to everyday consumers seeking to purchase auto, home, and life insurance.  In addition, the Company operates its own portfolio of select retail “brick and mortar” insurance agencies which are leaders and pioneers in their respective regions throughout the United States, offering a wide variety of insurance products. Further information about the Company can be found at https://www.relianceglobalgroup.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding:

    • Our ability to successfully deploy the $5 million in proceeds from the Fortman sale to support our strategic and financial objectives;
    • Our expectation that the acquisition of Spetner Associates, Inc. will be completed on commercially reasonable terms, including obtaining any necessary regulatory or shareholder approvals;
    • The anticipated benefits of the Spetner acquisition to our business model, operational scale, and long-term value creation strategy;
    • Our continued execution of initiatives to streamline operations, enhance financial flexibility, and pursue accretive growth opportunities in the InsurTech and insurance agency sectors; and
    • Other statements of our plans, intentions, and expectations regarding future financial performance, operations, and strategic initiatives.

    These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, including that the Spetner acquisition will proceed as expected; that projected revenue and EBITDA contributions from Spetner are achievable; that integration risks can be effectively managed; and that there will be no material adverse developments in market, economic, or regulatory conditions impacting our business. There can be no assurance that these assumptions will prove correct.

    Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: delays or failure to complete the Spetner acquisition; unanticipated integration challenges or liabilities associated with the acquisition; our inability to achieve expected financial results or operational synergies; increased competition in the InsurTech and agency brokerage industries; adverse regulatory or market developments; and other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 and our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    You should carefully review our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as amended, and our other SEC filings for a more complete discussion of these and other risks. Except as required by law, Reliance Global Group, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    Tel: +1 (212) 671-1020
    Email: RELI@crescendo-ir.com 

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Reliance Global Group Closes Sale of Fortman Insurance for $5 Million in Cash

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAKEWOOD, NJ, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reliance Global Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: RELI) (“Reliance,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) today announced it has completed an asset sale of Fortman Insurance Services (“Fortman”), a wholly owned subsidiary, for $5 million in cash. The transaction marks the successful execution of a strategic initiative to monetize a non-core asset and further strengthen the Company’s financial position.

    Following its acquisition by Reliance, Fortman continued to enhance its operational efficiency, financial stability, and market competitiveness. The finalized sale, at a value above the initial purchase price Reliance purchased Fortman for in 2019, reflects Reliance’s commitment to prudent capital deployment and its continued focus on maximizing shareholder returns.

    The Company also reaffirmed its expectation that the acquisition of Spetner Associates, Inc. (“Spetner”) will be completed. Spetner has built significant momentum in recent years, with consistent growth and healthy cash flow contributions across its operations. The transaction is expected to complement Reliance’s existing business model and align with its OneFirm strategy, creating opportunities to expand operational scale and drive long-term value.

    “Closing the Fortman transaction marks a key milestone in our strategic roadmap and reflects the disciplined approach we take to identifying, enhancing, and monetizing value within our portfolio,” commented Ezra Beyman, CEO of Reliance. “From the outset, Fortman was a compelling acquisition, and through targeted operational improvements, we positioned the business for long-term success. Selling the asset at a premium demonstrates the strength of our execution and adds meaningful capital to our balance sheet, increasing our flexibility to advance strategic priorities. This transaction reinforces our commitment to executing initiatives that strengthen our platform, support sustainable growth, and accelerate our transformation into a streamlined, tech-enabled insurance organization. I remain confident in our ability to deliver lasting value to our shareholders.”

    About Reliance Global Group, Inc.

    Reliance Global Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RELI) is an InsurTech pioneer, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based technologies, to transform and improve efficiencies in the insurance agency/brokerage industry. The Company’s business-to-business InsurTech platform, RELI Exchange, provides independent insurance agencies an entire suite of business development tools, enabling them to effectively compete with large-scale national insurance agencies, whilst reducing back-office cost and burden. The Company’s business-to-consumer platform, 5minuteinsure.com, utilizes AI and data mining, to provide competitive online insurance quotes within minutes to everyday consumers seeking to purchase auto, home, and life insurance.  In addition, the Company operates its own portfolio of select retail “brick and mortar” insurance agencies which are leaders and pioneers in their respective regions throughout the United States, offering a wide variety of insurance products. Further information about the Company can be found at https://www.relianceglobalgroup.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding:

    • Our ability to successfully deploy the $5 million in proceeds from the Fortman sale to support our strategic and financial objectives;
    • Our expectation that the acquisition of Spetner Associates, Inc. will be completed on commercially reasonable terms, including obtaining any necessary regulatory or shareholder approvals;
    • The anticipated benefits of the Spetner acquisition to our business model, operational scale, and long-term value creation strategy;
    • Our continued execution of initiatives to streamline operations, enhance financial flexibility, and pursue accretive growth opportunities in the InsurTech and insurance agency sectors; and
    • Other statements of our plans, intentions, and expectations regarding future financial performance, operations, and strategic initiatives.

    These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, including that the Spetner acquisition will proceed as expected; that projected revenue and EBITDA contributions from Spetner are achievable; that integration risks can be effectively managed; and that there will be no material adverse developments in market, economic, or regulatory conditions impacting our business. There can be no assurance that these assumptions will prove correct.

    Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: delays or failure to complete the Spetner acquisition; unanticipated integration challenges or liabilities associated with the acquisition; our inability to achieve expected financial results or operational synergies; increased competition in the InsurTech and agency brokerage industries; adverse regulatory or market developments; and other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 and our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    You should carefully review our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as amended, and our other SEC filings for a more complete discussion of these and other risks. Except as required by law, Reliance Global Group, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    Tel: +1 (212) 671-1020
    Email: RELI@crescendo-ir.com 

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Jackery Offers Its Biggest Deals of the Year for Amazon Prime Day 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jackery, a global leader in innovative solar generators and green off-grid energy solutions, is turning up the heat this summer with its biggest savings of the year during Amazon Prime Day. From July 8-11, shoppers can score nearly 65% off Jackery’s best-selling portable power stations and solar generator bundles—perfect for summer camping trips, outdoor get-togethers, and emergency backup needs.

    Whether you’re planning summer adventures or preparing for power outages, these Prime Day deals offer unbeatable value on reliable, clean energy solutions.

    Best selling Jackery solar generators that will be available up to 65% off include:

    • Jackery Solar Generator HomePower 3000
      • The Best Advanced Essential Home Backup
        • Power a fridge for up to 2 days (or more with solar panels)
        • 3072Wh Capacity, 3600W Output
        • 10+ Years Lifespan
        • Smallest, Lightest 3kWh LFP Portable Power Station
      • 3+2 Year Warranty
    • Jackery Solar Generator 2000 v2
      • The Best Entry-level Essential Home Backup
        • Essential Device: Powers a fan for up to 2 Days (or more with solar panels).
        • 2042Wh Capacity, 2200W Output
        • 10+ Years Lifespan
        • The Smallest and Lightest 2 kWh LFP Portable Power Station.
        • 1.7-hour Emergency Super Charge
    • Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2
      • The Best Value for Essential Home Backup
        • Essential Device: Powers a Wi-fi router for up to 4 days (or more with solar panels)
        • 1070Wh Capacity, 1500W Output
        • 10+ Years Lifespan
        • The Smallest and Lightest 1 kWh LFP Portable Power Station
        • 1 hour Emergency Super Charge
    • Jackery Explorer 300 Plus
      • Best Mobile Device Essential Backup
        • Essential Device: Charges your iPhone 16 times (or more with solar panels)
        • 293Wh Capacity, 300W Output
        • 10+ Years Lifespan
        • Lightweight and Stylish
        • Supports 6 smart devices at once

    More deals and bundles will be available exclusively on Jackery’s Amazon Storefront and on Jackery.com.

    Jackery has established itself as the trusted choice for portable power, with over 3 million units sold worldwide. The company’s products feature industry-leading lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery technology, providing over 4,000 charge cycles and a 10-year lifespan. All Jackery power stations are backed by comprehensive warranties and 24/7 customer support.

    The brand’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond products, with initiatives supporting renewable energy adoption and environmental conservation. Jackery’s solar generators provide clean, quiet power without emissions, making them ideal for emergency preparedness, outdoor enthusiasts, and environmentally conscious consumers.

    Deals will go live starting July 8 and are available while supplies last exclusively to Amazon Prime members with additional Prime Day celebratory deals extending to Jackery.com. For more information on Jackery, please visit www.jackery.com. Be sure to follow Jackery on social media at @JackeryUSA for the latest updates in real time.

    About Jackery
    Founded in California in 2012, Jackery is a leader in innovative solar generators and renewable energy solutions. Offering a diverse range of products—from compact 100W units to essential home backup systems, all the way to robust 123kWh energy storage solutions for whole-home use—Jackery combines cutting-edge technology with a steadfast commitment to sustainability. Designed in the USA based on customer usability and the diverse energy needs of the United States, Jackery is dedicated to providing reliable, renewable energy solutions, prioritizing convenience, trust, energy independence, and environmentally responsible practices. With over 150,000 five-star reviews, Jackery has earned the trust of customers worldwide. To learn more, check out Jackery on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    MEDIA CONTACT
    ICR
    jackery@icrinc.com 

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: 1-Hour Payday Loans with No Credit Check & Guaranteed Approval Announced as Key Feature in Wizzay’s Instant Loan Program for Bad Credit in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Wizzay has rolled out an efficient 1 hour payday loan product, providing instant access to emergency cash throughout the U.S. Built for speed and ease of use, the site fills the financial gaps of consumers whose purchases have been hit by inflation, unexpected expenses, or income shortfalls.

    In contrast to banks that demand forms and credit checks, Wizzay enables borrowers to apply online, get approved in seconds, and possibly access funds in one business day. The site connects consumers with licensed lenders — several of whom accept borrowers with low or no credit.

    The procedure is quick and discreet. A brief application gathers rudimentary information, and decisions are made on the basis of income verification as opposed to credit reports. This method makes Wizzay an available solution for individuals with bad credit who need immediate financial assistance.

    With the increasing cost of living, Wizzay’s 1 hour payday loans prove to be a convenient option for paying off unexpected bills, repairing the car, or renting. With the removal of conventional lending obstacles, Wizzay enables borrowers to receive money at short notice and with minimal hassle.

     <<< Learn how to navigate urgent financial needs with limited credit history >>>

    Wizzay Introduces Rapid 1-Hour Payday Loan Access for Time-Sensitive Borrowers

    Financial pressure has fueled the need for fast, convenient, and easily accessible payday loans. Wizzay addresses this need by providing an online platform where a payday loan can be applied for and promptly decided by licensed lenders.

    These 1 hour payday loans are built for speed. Traditional lenders take days and perform hard credit checks, but Wizzay’s partners review applications on the basis of income and employment rather than credit history.

    Most qualified borrowers who pass simple requirements — such as consistent income and U.S. residency status — can expect loan approval within minutes and cash as early as the next business day, frequently through direct deposit.

    Wizzay’s entirely online process mirrors users’ desire for online and mobile financial services. For immediate users, it’s quicker than bank loans, credit cards, or overdrafts.

    Wizzay is not a lender but a loan-matching website that refers applicants to state-sanctioned, licensed lenders. This maintains legal soundness while providing access to instant no credit check payday loans when they are available.

    Key Features of Wizzay’s 1-Hour Payday Loans with No Credit Check

    Wizzay has an optimized process designed for speed and ease. These are the top advantages of using this portal:

    • Instant Approval: Your request is processed by automated systems within minutes.
    • No Credit Check: Only a soft check is performed, which will not affect your FICO score.
    • Direct Lender Access: Only you and the authenticated lenders will interface with no third-party delays or brokers.
    • Mobile Friendly: Complete the application, e-sign, and check the status of your loan on any smartphone or tablet.

    This format provides quick funding, which makes Wizzay a reliable option for sudden financial needs.

    <<< Understand your short-term loan options without added pressure >>>

    How the 1-Hour Loan Process Works on Wizzay’s Platform

    Here’s a brief guide on how the Wizzay loan process works:

    • Submit Your Online Application – This takes around 2–3 minutes.
    • Soft Credit Check – Utilized to evaluate eligibility, not affecting your credit score.
    • Lender Match and Approval – The approval outcome is back in less than one hour.
    • E-Signature & Funding – View terms, sign electronically, and receive funds directly into your account the same day.

    This process is streamlined to cut down on delays while keeping borrowers involved at all times.

    Understanding Same-Day Payday Loan Options Through Wizzay

    Wizzay’s interface offers same day pay day loan access to borrowers who are qualified. Although same-day funding is not guaranteed to all users, the system prioritizes quick loan processing for those who qualify.

    Considerations for same day loans are:

    • Eligibility: Borrowers are required to qualify with lender-specific requirements like verified income, U.S. residence, and checking account activity status.
    • Timing: Earlier-in-the-day submitted applications are more likely to be funded the same day. Lender processing times differ by state.
    • Loan Amounts: Most of the lenders will allow lending amounts from $100 to $1,000. Personal lending limits will really depend on the jurisdiction.
    • Approval Process: Time is of the essence! Soft credit inquiries documents sent electronically with no collateral means the lender will be able to get back to you quickly.
    • Online No Credit Check Access: These loans are handled all online, and most involve no standard credit checks.

    Compared to bank loans the old-fashioned way — which can take days or weeks — Wizzay’s same day loans online help borrowers with a quicker response to their needs for immediate cash.

     <<< Explore how Wizzay’s process works for borrowers with low credit >>>

    Inside Wizzay’s Same-Day Online Payday Loan Offering

    Wizzay’s online same day payday loans product indicates a trend toward speed and digitalization within the industry. Most sites engage in manual verification and hold up disbursal, while Wizzay connects borrowers with lenders that have automated underwriting powers.

    These loans work through:

    • Fully Digital Processing
    • Credit Score Flexibility
    • Guaranteed Approval Caution
    • Online Same Day No Credit Impact
    • Real-Time Approval Decisions

    This process minimizes human intervention and provides emergency funding more conveniently to people who might not otherwise qualify through conventional means.

    Guaranteed $100 Loan No Credit Check via Wizzay: What’s Realistic?

    One of the most popular requests borrowers make is for a guaranteed $100 loan with no credit check. Although the term “guaranteed” is loosely used, Wizzay’s system does improve the odds of approval for eligible borrowers — particularly for smaller loan amounts like $100.

    Here’s why:

    • $100 Loan Minimums: Most lenders on the platform provide microloans starting at $100. These are generally the least difficult to qualify for.
    • No Hard Credit Check: There isn’t a full credit report pulled out, which decreases the risks of rejection for low-credit applicants.
    • Income First Verification: Lenders prefer stable income and regular banking history to FICO scores.
    • Loan Approval: No loan is guaranteed in general, but the platform allows applicants to be matched to lenders who have high approval rates.

    For bad credit or no credit borrowers, this type of short-term lending provides a ready substitute for mainstream financial institutions, where such amounts are not usually extended.

     <<< Get clarity on what emergency financial support might look like >>>

    Wizzay’s Function as a Direct Lender Connector for Payday Loans

    Wizzay acts as an intermediary linking borrowers to certified direct lenders — positioning it apart from third-party aggregators or unregulated loan marketplaces.

    The distinguishing characteristics of its connector model are:

    • Loan No Credit Check Direct Access
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • No Broker Fees
    • Credit Check from Direct Lenders Only
    • Loan Term Disclosure

    Such a direct path ensures transparency, compliance, and improved results for borrowers looking for quick, responsible payday loan alternatives.

    Emergency Payday Loan Solutions via Wizzay’s Fast Online Application Model

    Wizzay also offers prompt cash access for immediate expenses such as doctor’s bills, auto repairs, or unexpected utility shutoffs. The system is designed to give you access to money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (also on holidays and weekends), allowing borrowers to address emergencies and immediate urgent expenses without worry. The application to the funding process can take as little as 1-3 hours, depending upon your bank processing time.

    Wizzay Offers Payday Loans for Bad Credit With Fast Approvals

    Wizzay is designed to support borrowers with poor credit using soft credit checks and alternative eligibility factors. This makes it possible to introduce borrowers with restricted credit, charge-offs in the past, or recent hardship into the system. Matching users they then can see loan details without a commitment, meaning they have full control over their financial choices.

     <<< See how timing and credit requirements impact short-term solutions >>>

    Setting Realistic Expectations with Wizzay’s Guaranteed Loan Approval in 1 Hour

    Although Wizzay facilitates quick loan processing, the phrase “guaranteed approval in 1 hour” must be read carefully. The platform facilitates quick matching and immediate decisions, but final approval is subject to lender requirements.

    However, for successful applicants, Wizzay frequently provides:

    • 1 Hour Payday Loan Matching
    • Same Day Approval Potential
    • Guaranteed Approval Terms
    • 1 Hour Loan Online Instant Decisioning

    This feature supports realistic expectations for urgent users while emphasizing the platform’s effectiveness in matching borrowers with instant lending decisions.

    Online Payday Loans From Wizzay: A Digital Alternative to Traditional Lending

    Wizzay’s digital-only model eliminates the friction in traditional storefront lending. Everything from application to payment is done online. No paperwork is required, no visits necessary, and no faxing. Borrowers can fill out their requests, confirm employment electronically, and sign documents via their smartphone, making it a quicker and more convenient lending option.

    Direct Lender Payday Loans from Wizzay: No Third Parties, More Clarity

    Wizzay’s marketplace stands out by connecting borrowers solely with direct lenders — without third-party resellers or lead generators. This direct strategy reduces unnecessary handling of data, incurs fewer costs, and fosters borrower-lender transparency.

    The benefits of this model are:

    • Secure Handling of Data
    • No Brokerage Fees
    • Transparency of Clear Terms from the Lenders
    • Less Risk of Misinformation

    Borrowers who prefer dealing directly with financial institutions — instead of opaque third-party networks — might find Wizzay’s direct-lender model more reliable and easier to use.

     <<< Understand next steps for borrowers seeking same-day assistance >>>

    Final Thoughts: Meeting Urgent Needs with Wizzay’s 1-Hour Payday Loan Service

    Wizzay’s 1 hour payday loans are a major breakthrough in the accessibility of short-term lending. By harnessing digital infrastructure, instant decision-making capabilities, and income-driven approval frameworks, Wizzay allows a broad range of borrowers — even those with bad or no credit — to access capital within hours, not days.

    With economic instability and financial crises persisting in American homes, Wizzay’s business model presents a pragmatic solution to mainstream banks. Whether it is emergency car repairs, surprise bills, or emergency rent payments, the platform provides a smooth, secure, and transparent experience.

    Without hard credit checks, immediate approval avenues, and direct lender access, Wizzay makes it possible for lenders to manage fiscal hardships without the complications and waiting periods typical of traditional lending. For borrowers looking for guaranteed, same day cash loans with minimal hassle, Wizzay is a punctual, tech-based solution designed for the needs of today’s finances.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: 1-Hour Payday Loans with No Credit Check & Guaranteed Approval Announced as Key Feature in Wizzay’s Instant Loan Program for Bad Credit in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Wizzay has rolled out an efficient 1 hour payday loan product, providing instant access to emergency cash throughout the U.S. Built for speed and ease of use, the site fills the financial gaps of consumers whose purchases have been hit by inflation, unexpected expenses, or income shortfalls.

    In contrast to banks that demand forms and credit checks, Wizzay enables borrowers to apply online, get approved in seconds, and possibly access funds in one business day. The site connects consumers with licensed lenders — several of whom accept borrowers with low or no credit.

    The procedure is quick and discreet. A brief application gathers rudimentary information, and decisions are made on the basis of income verification as opposed to credit reports. This method makes Wizzay an available solution for individuals with bad credit who need immediate financial assistance.

    With the increasing cost of living, Wizzay’s 1 hour payday loans prove to be a convenient option for paying off unexpected bills, repairing the car, or renting. With the removal of conventional lending obstacles, Wizzay enables borrowers to receive money at short notice and with minimal hassle.

     <<< Learn how to navigate urgent financial needs with limited credit history >>>

    Wizzay Introduces Rapid 1-Hour Payday Loan Access for Time-Sensitive Borrowers

    Financial pressure has fueled the need for fast, convenient, and easily accessible payday loans. Wizzay addresses this need by providing an online platform where a payday loan can be applied for and promptly decided by licensed lenders.

    These 1 hour payday loans are built for speed. Traditional lenders take days and perform hard credit checks, but Wizzay’s partners review applications on the basis of income and employment rather than credit history.

    Most qualified borrowers who pass simple requirements — such as consistent income and U.S. residency status — can expect loan approval within minutes and cash as early as the next business day, frequently through direct deposit.

    Wizzay’s entirely online process mirrors users’ desire for online and mobile financial services. For immediate users, it’s quicker than bank loans, credit cards, or overdrafts.

    Wizzay is not a lender but a loan-matching website that refers applicants to state-sanctioned, licensed lenders. This maintains legal soundness while providing access to instant no credit check payday loans when they are available.

    Key Features of Wizzay’s 1-Hour Payday Loans with No Credit Check

    Wizzay has an optimized process designed for speed and ease. These are the top advantages of using this portal:

    • Instant Approval: Your request is processed by automated systems within minutes.
    • No Credit Check: Only a soft check is performed, which will not affect your FICO score.
    • Direct Lender Access: Only you and the authenticated lenders will interface with no third-party delays or brokers.
    • Mobile Friendly: Complete the application, e-sign, and check the status of your loan on any smartphone or tablet.

    This format provides quick funding, which makes Wizzay a reliable option for sudden financial needs.

    <<< Understand your short-term loan options without added pressure >>>

    How the 1-Hour Loan Process Works on Wizzay’s Platform

    Here’s a brief guide on how the Wizzay loan process works:

    • Submit Your Online Application – This takes around 2–3 minutes.
    • Soft Credit Check – Utilized to evaluate eligibility, not affecting your credit score.
    • Lender Match and Approval – The approval outcome is back in less than one hour.
    • E-Signature & Funding – View terms, sign electronically, and receive funds directly into your account the same day.

    This process is streamlined to cut down on delays while keeping borrowers involved at all times.

    Understanding Same-Day Payday Loan Options Through Wizzay

    Wizzay’s interface offers same day pay day loan access to borrowers who are qualified. Although same-day funding is not guaranteed to all users, the system prioritizes quick loan processing for those who qualify.

    Considerations for same day loans are:

    • Eligibility: Borrowers are required to qualify with lender-specific requirements like verified income, U.S. residence, and checking account activity status.
    • Timing: Earlier-in-the-day submitted applications are more likely to be funded the same day. Lender processing times differ by state.
    • Loan Amounts: Most of the lenders will allow lending amounts from $100 to $1,000. Personal lending limits will really depend on the jurisdiction.
    • Approval Process: Time is of the essence! Soft credit inquiries documents sent electronically with no collateral means the lender will be able to get back to you quickly.
    • Online No Credit Check Access: These loans are handled all online, and most involve no standard credit checks.

    Compared to bank loans the old-fashioned way — which can take days or weeks — Wizzay’s same day loans online help borrowers with a quicker response to their needs for immediate cash.

     <<< Explore how Wizzay’s process works for borrowers with low credit >>>

    Inside Wizzay’s Same-Day Online Payday Loan Offering

    Wizzay’s online same day payday loans product indicates a trend toward speed and digitalization within the industry. Most sites engage in manual verification and hold up disbursal, while Wizzay connects borrowers with lenders that have automated underwriting powers.

    These loans work through:

    • Fully Digital Processing
    • Credit Score Flexibility
    • Guaranteed Approval Caution
    • Online Same Day No Credit Impact
    • Real-Time Approval Decisions

    This process minimizes human intervention and provides emergency funding more conveniently to people who might not otherwise qualify through conventional means.

    Guaranteed $100 Loan No Credit Check via Wizzay: What’s Realistic?

    One of the most popular requests borrowers make is for a guaranteed $100 loan with no credit check. Although the term “guaranteed” is loosely used, Wizzay’s system does improve the odds of approval for eligible borrowers — particularly for smaller loan amounts like $100.

    Here’s why:

    • $100 Loan Minimums: Most lenders on the platform provide microloans starting at $100. These are generally the least difficult to qualify for.
    • No Hard Credit Check: There isn’t a full credit report pulled out, which decreases the risks of rejection for low-credit applicants.
    • Income First Verification: Lenders prefer stable income and regular banking history to FICO scores.
    • Loan Approval: No loan is guaranteed in general, but the platform allows applicants to be matched to lenders who have high approval rates.

    For bad credit or no credit borrowers, this type of short-term lending provides a ready substitute for mainstream financial institutions, where such amounts are not usually extended.

     <<< Get clarity on what emergency financial support might look like >>>

    Wizzay’s Function as a Direct Lender Connector for Payday Loans

    Wizzay acts as an intermediary linking borrowers to certified direct lenders — positioning it apart from third-party aggregators or unregulated loan marketplaces.

    The distinguishing characteristics of its connector model are:

    • Loan No Credit Check Direct Access
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • No Broker Fees
    • Credit Check from Direct Lenders Only
    • Loan Term Disclosure

    Such a direct path ensures transparency, compliance, and improved results for borrowers looking for quick, responsible payday loan alternatives.

    Emergency Payday Loan Solutions via Wizzay’s Fast Online Application Model

    Wizzay also offers prompt cash access for immediate expenses such as doctor’s bills, auto repairs, or unexpected utility shutoffs. The system is designed to give you access to money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (also on holidays and weekends), allowing borrowers to address emergencies and immediate urgent expenses without worry. The application to the funding process can take as little as 1-3 hours, depending upon your bank processing time.

    Wizzay Offers Payday Loans for Bad Credit With Fast Approvals

    Wizzay is designed to support borrowers with poor credit using soft credit checks and alternative eligibility factors. This makes it possible to introduce borrowers with restricted credit, charge-offs in the past, or recent hardship into the system. Matching users they then can see loan details without a commitment, meaning they have full control over their financial choices.

     <<< See how timing and credit requirements impact short-term solutions >>>

    Setting Realistic Expectations with Wizzay’s Guaranteed Loan Approval in 1 Hour

    Although Wizzay facilitates quick loan processing, the phrase “guaranteed approval in 1 hour” must be read carefully. The platform facilitates quick matching and immediate decisions, but final approval is subject to lender requirements.

    However, for successful applicants, Wizzay frequently provides:

    • 1 Hour Payday Loan Matching
    • Same Day Approval Potential
    • Guaranteed Approval Terms
    • 1 Hour Loan Online Instant Decisioning

    This feature supports realistic expectations for urgent users while emphasizing the platform’s effectiveness in matching borrowers with instant lending decisions.

    Online Payday Loans From Wizzay: A Digital Alternative to Traditional Lending

    Wizzay’s digital-only model eliminates the friction in traditional storefront lending. Everything from application to payment is done online. No paperwork is required, no visits necessary, and no faxing. Borrowers can fill out their requests, confirm employment electronically, and sign documents via their smartphone, making it a quicker and more convenient lending option.

    Direct Lender Payday Loans from Wizzay: No Third Parties, More Clarity

    Wizzay’s marketplace stands out by connecting borrowers solely with direct lenders — without third-party resellers or lead generators. This direct strategy reduces unnecessary handling of data, incurs fewer costs, and fosters borrower-lender transparency.

    The benefits of this model are:

    • Secure Handling of Data
    • No Brokerage Fees
    • Transparency of Clear Terms from the Lenders
    • Less Risk of Misinformation

    Borrowers who prefer dealing directly with financial institutions — instead of opaque third-party networks — might find Wizzay’s direct-lender model more reliable and easier to use.

     <<< Understand next steps for borrowers seeking same-day assistance >>>

    Final Thoughts: Meeting Urgent Needs with Wizzay’s 1-Hour Payday Loan Service

    Wizzay’s 1 hour payday loans are a major breakthrough in the accessibility of short-term lending. By harnessing digital infrastructure, instant decision-making capabilities, and income-driven approval frameworks, Wizzay allows a broad range of borrowers — even those with bad or no credit — to access capital within hours, not days.

    With economic instability and financial crises persisting in American homes, Wizzay’s business model presents a pragmatic solution to mainstream banks. Whether it is emergency car repairs, surprise bills, or emergency rent payments, the platform provides a smooth, secure, and transparent experience.

    Without hard credit checks, immediate approval avenues, and direct lender access, Wizzay makes it possible for lenders to manage fiscal hardships without the complications and waiting periods typical of traditional lending. For borrowers looking for guaranteed, same day cash loans with minimal hassle, Wizzay is a punctual, tech-based solution designed for the needs of today’s finances.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Women in Bani Walid: “Our voices are not heard”

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    To hear women’s voices in the political process, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Political Affairs (DSRSG-P), Stephanie Koury, held a dedicated meeting with women community leaders in Bani Walid last Saturday.  

    Participants underscored that presidential elections are essential to resolving the political impasse and called for the dissolution of all armed groups, asserting that unified security forces in the western region are crucial for enabling credible elections. 

    “As women in Bani Walid, we suffer from marginalization; our voices are not heard,” said one participant. They noted the absence of women’s empowerment offices at all levels, including within the municipality where the person responsible for social affairs is a man. The Social Affairs officer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of family compensation and addressing issues related to women and children.  

    DSRSG-P Koury took note of the concerns raised by women during the meeting. She also discussed the importance of meaningful engagement of all Libyan women in the political process. 

    Ms. Koury briefed participants on the four options put forward by the Advisory Committee in May to move the political process forward. As outlined in the  Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee’s report,  the options include:  

    1. Conducting presidential and legislative elections simultaneously;  
    2. Conducting parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution;  
    3. Adopting a permanent constitution before elections; or  
    4. Establishing a political dialogue committee, based on the Libyan Political Agreement to finalize electoral laws, executive authority and permanent constitution.  

    Participants shared local initiatives to promote women’s empowerment, emphasizing the need for representation, inclusion, and meaningful participation of women across Libya. They also expressed a strong demand for the unification of state institutions.  

    Additionally, participants raised pressing socioeconomic issues, especially in the education and health sectors, noting the ongoing toll on women and children. “We want to end the injustice of war for the next generation,” said one woman. 

    Throughout the public consultations in Bani Walid, participants expressed deep frustration over the absence of national reconciliation and human rights violations.  

    While acknowledging that customs and tribal structures continue to shape local governance, participants stressed the need for greater public awareness around elections and civic responsibility.  

    “The social and security situation is deteriorating,” said one participant. “While we value preserving our traditions and norms, but this must go hand in hand with empowering women in public life and allow them to assume leadership roles.”

    – on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Malawi’s Mining Minister to Speak at African Mining Week (AMW) as Global Investor Interest in Country Surges

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    Malawi’s Minister of Mining, Ken Zikhale Reeves Ng’oma, has confirmed his participation as a speaker at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders. Minister Ng’oma will feature in the Ministerial Forum, showcasing policy frameworks and investment incentives aimed at accelerating mineral exploration, production and beneficiation in Malawi and across the continent.

    Malawi – under the leadership of Minister Ng’oma – is attracting attention from major investors targeting its rare earths, uranium, titanium, graphite and downstream value chains. In June, Minister Ng’oma signed a $7 billion deal with China’s Hunan Sunwalk, marking the largest-ever foreign investment in the country’s mining sector. The deal covers the development of titanium extraction and processing facilities in Salima, alongside major commitments to skills development, technology transfer and community investment. The country also secured $5 billion at China’s Xidian International Stock Exchange to develop a Special Economic Zone in Chipoka. Up to $1 billion worth of mining, infrastructure and agri-industrial projects will be deployed within the first year as part of the deal. The China-Africa Cooperation on Critical Minerals Roundtable at AMW provides an ideal platform for Minister Ng’oma to forge new investment partnerships with Chinese investors.

    African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    In addition to Chinese investors, major financial institutions across the globe are also supporting cornerstone projects. Malawi’s Ecobank has proposed a $30 million loan, the European Investment Bank a $40 million facility and Gerald Group a $50 million loan to fund the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project. Operated by Australia’s Lindian Resources, the project will be one of the world’s largest rare earths production facilities once operational in 2026.

    In the uranium sector, Lotus Resources secured $38.5 million from South African banks First Capital Bank and Standard Bank to advance the Kayelekera Uranium Project, with first production scheduled for Q3 2025. Additionally, Sovereign Metals raised $40 million in March to support the Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project, home to the world’s largest known rutile deposit and second-largest graphite reserve. With projected annual outputs of 245,000 tons of rutile and 288,000 tons of graphite over 25 years, the project will position Malawi as a major player in global critical minerals supply.

    Amid this surge in investment, Malawi’s mining sector has the potential to generate up to $30 billion in mineral exports between 2026 and 2040. Against this backdrop, AMW 2025 provides a timely platform for Minister Ng’oma to engage global investors, spotlight Malawi’s growing mining sector and drive new partnerships. Held under the theme From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa’s Mineral Wealth, AMW will feature high-level panel discussions and strategic project showcases amplifying Malawi’s role in the continent’s mining future.

    – on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Analysis: What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US?

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Art Jipson, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Dayton

    People pray before Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance at a town hall hosted by Lance Wallnau on Sept. 28, 2024, in Monroeville, Pa. AP Photo/Rebecca Droke

    Vance Boelter, who allegedly shot Melissa Hortman, a Democratic Minnesota state representative, and her husband, Mark Hortman, on June 14, 2025, studied at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas. The group is a Bible school linked to the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR.

    The NAR is a loosely organized but influential charismatic Christian movement that shares similarities with Pentecostalism, especially in its belief that God actively communicates with believers through the Holy Spirit. Unlike traditional Pentecostalism, however, the organization emphasizes modern-day apostles and prophets as authoritative leaders tasked with transforming society and ushering in God’s kingdom on Earth. Prayer, prophecy and worship are defined not only as acts of devotion but as strategic tools for advancing believers’ vision of government and society.

    After the shooting, the Christ for the Nations Institute issued a statement “unequivocally” denouncing “any and all forms of violence and extremism.” It stated: “Our organization’s mission is to educate and equip students to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through compassion, love, prayer, service, worship, and value for human life.”

    But the shooting has drawn attention to the school and the larger Christian movement it belongs to. One of the most important aspects of NAR teachings today is what is called “the Seven Mountain Mandate.”

    The Seven Mountain Mandate calls on Christians to gain influence, or “take dominion,” over seven key areas of culture: religion, family, education, government, media, business and the arts.

    With over three decades of experience studying extremism, I offer a brief overview of the history and core beliefs of the Seven Mountains Mandate.

    ‘Dominion of Christians’

    The Seven Mountains concept was originally proposed in 1975 by evangelical leader Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. Now known as “Cru,” the Campus Crusade for Christ was founded as a global ministry in 1951 to promote Christian evangelism, especially on college campuses.

    United by a shared vision to influence society through Christian values, Bright partnered with Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission, a major international missionary training and outreach organization, in the 1970s.

    The Seven Mountains Mandate was popularized by theologian Francis Schaeffer, who linked it to a larger critique of secularism and liberal culture. Over time, it evolved.

    C. Peter Wagner, a former seminary professor who helped organize and name the New Apostolic Reformation, is often regarded as the theological architect of the group. He developed it into a call for dominion. In his 2008 book “Dominion! How Kingdom Action Can Change the World,” he urged Christians to take authoritative control of cultural institutions.

    For Wagner, “dominion theology” – the idea that Christians should have control over all aspects of society – was a call to spiritual warfare, so that God’s kingdom would be “manifested here on earth as it is in heaven.”

    Bill Johnson.
    Doctorg via Wikimedia Commons

    Since 1996, Bill Johnson, a senior leader of Bethel Church, and Johnny Enlow, a self-described prophet and Seven Mountains advocate, among others, have taken the original idea of the Seven Mountains Mandate and reshaped it into a more aggressive, political and spiritually militant approach. Spiritual militancy reflects an aggressive, us-vs.-them mindset that blurs the line between faith and authoritarianism, promoting dominion over society in the name of spiritual warfare.

    Their version doesn’t just aim to influence culture; it frames the effort as a spiritual battle to reclaim and reshape the nation according to their vision of God’s will.

    Lance Wallnau, another Christian evangelical preacher, televangelist, speaker and author, has promoted dominion theology since the early 2000s. During the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Wallnau, along with several prominent NAR figures, described Donald Trump as anointed by God to reclaim the “mountain” of government from demonic control.

    In their book “Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountains Mandate,” Wallnau and Johnson explicitly call for Christian leadership as the only antidote to perceived moral decay and spiritual darkness.

    The beliefs

    Sometimes referred to as Seven Mountains of Influence or Seven Mountains of Culture, the seven mountains are not neutral domains but seen as battlegrounds between divine truth and demonic deception.

    Adherents believe that Christians are called to reclaim these areas through influence, leadership and even, if necessary, the use of force and to confront demonic political forces, as religion scholar Matthew Taylor demonstrates in his book “The Violent Take It By Force.”

    Diverse perspectives and interpretations surround the rhetoric and actions associated with the New Apostolic Reformation. Some analysts have pointed out how the NAR is training its followers for an active confrontation. Other commentators have said that the rhetoric calling for physical violence is anti-biblical and should be denounced.

    NAR-aligned leaders have framed electoral contests as struggles between “godly” candidates and those under the sway of “satanic” influence.

    Similarly, NAR prophet Cindy Jacobs has repeatedly emphasized the need for “spiritual warfare” in schools to combat what she characterizes as “demonic ideologies” such as sex education, LGBTQ+ inclusion or discussions of systemic racism.

    In the NAR worldview, cultural change is not merely political or social but considered a supernatural mission; opponents are not simply wrong but possibly under the sway of demonic influence. Elections become spiritual battles.

    This belief system views pluralism as weakness, compromise as betrayal, and coexistence as capitulation. Frederick Clarkson, a senior research analyst at Political Research Associates, a progressive think tank based in Somerville, Massachusetts, defines the Seven Mountains Mandate as “the theocratic idea that Christians are called by God to exercise dominion over every aspect of society by taking control of political and cultural institutions.”

    The call to “take back” the culture is not metaphorical but literal, and believers are encouraged to see themselves as soldiers in a holy war to dominate society. Some critics argue that NAR’s call to “take back” culture is about literal domination, but this interpretation is contested.

    Many within the movement see the language of warfare as spiritually focused on prayer, evangelism and influencing hearts and minds. Still, the line between metaphor and mandate can blur, especially when rhetoric about “dominion” intersects with political and cultural action. That tension is part of an ongoing debate both within and outside the movement.

    Networks that spread the beliefs

    This belief system is no longer confined to the margins. It is spread widely through evangelical churches, podcasts, YouTube videos and political networks.

    It’s hard to know exactly how many churches are part of the New Apostolic Reformation, but estimates suggest that about 3 million people in the U.S. attend churches that openly follow NAR leaders.

    At the same time, the Seven Mountains Mandate doesn’t depend on centralized leadership or formal institutions. It spreads organically through social networks, social media – notably podcasts and livestreams – and revivalist meetings and workshops.

    André Gagné, a theologian and author of “American Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and the End Times,” writes about the ways in which the mandate spreads by empowering local leaders and believers. Individuals are authorized – often through teachings on spiritual warfare, prophetic gifting, and apostolic leadership – to see themselves as agents of divine transformation in society, called to reclaim the “mountains,” such as government, media and education, for God’s kingdom.

    This approach, Gagné explains, allows different communities to adapt the action mandate to their unique cultural, political and social contexts. It encourages individuals to see themselves as spiritual warriors and leaders in their domains – whether in business, education, government, media or the arts.

    Small groups or even individuals can start movements or initiatives without waiting for top-down directives. The only recognized authorities are the apostles and prophets running the church or church network the believers attend.

    The framing of the Seven Mountains Mandate as a divinely inspired mission, combined with the movement’s emphasis on direct spiritual experiences and a specific interpretation of scripture, can create an environment where questioning the mandate is perceived as challenging God’s authority.

    Slippery slope

    These beliefs have increasingly fused with nationalist rhetoric and conspiracy theories.

    The ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flags symbolize the belief that people have the right to appeal directly to God’s authority when they think the government has failed.
    Paul Becker/Becker1999 via Flickr, CC BY

    A powerful example of NAR political rhetoric in action is the rise and influence of the “Appeal to Heaven” flags. For those in the New Apostolic Reformation, these flags symbolize the belief that when all earthly authority fails, people have the right to appeal directly to God’s authority to justify resistance.

    This was evident during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, when these flags were prominently displayed.

    To be clear, its leaders are not calling for violence but rather for direct political engagement and protest. For some believers, however, the calls for “spiritual warfare” may become a slippery slope into justification for violence, as in the case of the alleged Minnesota shooter.

    Understanding the Seven Mountains Mandate is essential for grasping the dynamics of contemporary efforts to align government and culture with a particular vision of Christian authority and influence.

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

    – ref. What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-seven-mountains-mandate-and-how-is-it-linked-to-political-extremism-in-the-us-260034

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The aftermath of floods, hurricanes and other disasters can be hardest on older rural Americans – here’s how families and neighbors can help

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Lori Hunter, Professor of Sociology, Director of the Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder

    Edith Schaecher, center, and her daughter and granddaughter look at a photo album recovered from her tornado-damaged home in Greenfield, Iowa, in May 2024. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

    Hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme weather do not distinguish between urban and rural boundaries. But when a disaster strikes, there are big differences in how well people are able to respond and recover – and older adults in rural areas are especially vulnerable.

    If a disaster causes injuries, getting health care can take longer in rural areas. Many rural hospitals have closed, leaving patients traveling longer distances for care.

    At the same time, rural areas have higher percentages of older adults, a group that is more likely to have chronic health problems that make experiencing natural disasters especially dangerous. Medical treatments, such as dialysis, can be disrupted when power goes out or clinics are damaged, and injuries are more likely around property damaged by flooding or powerful winds.

    As a sociologist who studies rural issues and directs the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, I believe that understanding the risks is essential for ensuring healthier lives for older adults. I see many different ways rural communities are helping reduce their vulnerability in disasters.

    Disasters disrupt health care, especially in isolated rural regions

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 20% of the country’s rural population is age 65 and over, compared with only 16% of urban residents. That’s about 10 million older adults living in rural areas.

    There are three primary reasons rural America has been aging faster than the rest of the country: Young people have been leaving for college and job opportunities, meaning fewer residents are starting new families. Many older rural residents are choosing to “age in place” where they have strong social ties. And some rural areas are gaining older adults who choose to retire there.

    An aging population means rural areas tend to have a larger percentage of residents with chronic disease, such as dementia, heart disease, respiratory illness and diabetes.

    According to research from the National Council on Aging, nearly 95% of adults age 60 and older have at least one chronic condition, while more than 78% have two or more. Rural areas also have higher rates of death from chronic diseases, particularly heart disease.

    At the same time, health care access in rural areas is rapidly declining.

    Nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed or stopped providing in-patient care since 2005. Over 700 more — one-third of the nation’s remaining rural hospitals — were considered to be at risk of closing even before the cuts to Medicaid that the president signed in July 2025.

    Hospital closures have left rural residents traveling about 20 miles farther for common in-patient health care services than they did two decades ago, and even farther for specialist care.

    Those miles might seem trivial, but in emergencies when roads are damaged or flooded, they can mean losing access to care and treatment.

    After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, 44% of patients on dialysis missed at least one treatment session, and almost 17% missed three or more.

    When Hurricanes Matthew and Florence hit rural Robeson County, North Carolina, in 2016 and 2018, some patients who relied on insulin to manage their blood sugar levels went without insulin for weeks. The county had high rates of poverty and poor health already, and the healthy foods people needed to manage the disease were also hard to find after the storm.

    Insulin is important for treating diabetes – a chronic disease estimated to affect nearly one-third of adults age 65 and older. But a sufficient supply can be harder to maintain when a disaster knocks out power, because insulin should be kept cool, and medical facilities and drugstores may be harder for patients to reach.

    Rural residents also often live farther from community centers, schools or other facilities that can serve as cooling centers during heat waves or evacuation centers in times of crisis.

    Alzheimer’s disease can make evacuation difficult

    Cognitive decline also affects older adults’ ability to manage disasters.

    Over 11% of Americans age 65 and older – more than 7 million people – have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, and the prevalence is higher in rural areas’ older populations compared with urban areas.

    Caregivers for family members living with dementia may struggle to find time to prepare for disasters. And when disaster strikes, they face unique challenges. Disasters disrupt routines, which can cause agitation for people with Alzheimer’s, and patients may resist evacuation.

    Living through a disaster can also worsen brain health over the long run. Older adults who lived through the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami were found to have greater cognitive decline over the following decade, especially those who lost their homes or jobs, or whose health care routines were disrupted.

    Social safety nets are essential

    One thing that many rural communities have that helps is a strong social fabric. Those social connections can help reduce older adults’ vulnerability when disasters strike.

    Following severe flooding in Colorado in 2013, social connections helped older adults navigate the maze of paperwork required for disaster aid, and some even provided personal loans.

    Community support through churches, like this one whose building was hit by a tornado in rural Argyle, Wis., in 2024, and other groups can help older adults recover from disasters.
    Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Friends, family and neighbors in rural areas often check in on seniors, particularly those living alone. They can help them develop disaster response plans to ensure older residents have access to medications and medical treatment, and that they have an evacuation plan.

    Rural communities and local groups can also help build up older adults’ mental and physical health before and after storms by developing educational, social and exercise programs. Better health and social connections can improve resilience, including older adults’ ability to respond to alerts and recover after disasters.

    Ensuring that everyone in the community has that kind of support is important in rural areas and cities alike as storm and flood risks worsen, particularly for older adults.

    Lori Hunter receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. The aftermath of floods, hurricanes and other disasters can be hardest on older rural Americans – here’s how families and neighbors can help – https://theconversation.com/the-aftermath-of-floods-hurricanes-and-other-disasters-can-be-hardest-on-older-rural-americans-heres-how-families-and-neighbors-can-help-247691

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    July 9, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Analysis: 3 basic ingredients, a million possibilities: How small pizzerias succeed with uniqueness in an age of chain restaurants

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Paula de la Cruz-Fernández, Cultural Digital Collections Manager, University of Florida

    Variety is the sauce of life. Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe via Getty Images

    At its heart, pizza is deceptively simple. Made from just a few humble ingredients – baked dough, tangy sauce, melted cheese and maybe a few toppings – it might seem like a perfect candidate for the kind of mass-produced standardization that defines many global food chains, where predictable menus reign supreme.

    Yet, visit two pizzerias in different towns – or even on different blocks of the same town – and you’ll find that pizza stubbornly refuses to be homogenized.

    We are researchers working on a local business history project that documents the commercial landscape of Gainesville, Florida, in the 20th and 21st centuries. As part of that project, we’ve spent a great many hours over the past two years interviewing local restaurant owners, especially those behind Gainesville’s independent pizzerias. What we’ve found reaffirms a powerful truth: Pizza resists sameness – and small pizzerias are a big reason why.

    Why standardized pizza rose but didn’t conquer

    While tomatoes were unknown in Italy until the mid-16th century, they have since become synonymous with Italian cuisine – especially through pizza.

    Pizza arrived in the U.S. from Naples in the early 20th century, when Italian immigration was at its peak. Two of the biggest destinations for Italian immigrants were New York City and Chicago, and today each has a distinctive pizza style. A New York slice can easily be identified by its thin, soft, foldable crust, while Chicago pies are known for deep, thick, buttery crusts.

    After World War II, other regions developed their own types of pizza, including the famed New Haven and Detroit styles. The New Haven style is known for being thin, crispy and charred in a coal-fired oven, while the Detroit style has a rectangular, deep-dish shape and thick, buttery crust.

    By the latter half of the 20th century, pizza had become a staple of the American diet. And as its popularity grew, so did demand for consistent, affordable pizza joints. Chains such as Pizza Hut, founded in 1958, and Papa John’s, established in 1984, applied the model pioneered by McDonalds in the late 1940s, adopting limited menus, assembly line kitchens and franchise models built for consistency and scale. New technologies such as point-of-sale systems and inventory management software made things even more efficient.

    As food historian Carol Helstosky explains in “Pizza: A Global History,” the transformation involved simplifying recipes, ensuring consistent quality and developing formats optimized for rapid expansion and franchising. What began as a handcrafted, regional dish became a highly replicable product suited to global mass markets.

    Today, more than 20,000 Pizza Huts operate worldwide. Papa John’s, which runs about 6,000 pizzerias, built its brand explicitly on a promise rooted in standardization. In this model, success means making pizza the same way, everywhere, every time.

    So, what happened to the independent pizzerias? Did they get swallowed up by efficiency?

    Not quite.

    Chain restaurants don’t necessarily suffocate small competitors, recent research shows. In fact, in the case of pizza, they often coexist, sometimes even fueling creativity and opportunity. Independent pizzerias – there are more than 44,000 nationwide – lean into what makes them unique, carving out a niche. Rather than focusing only on speed or price, they compete by offering character, inventive toppings, personal service and a sense of place that chains just can’t replicate.

    A local pizza scene: Creativity in a corporate age

    For an example, look no farther than Gainesville. A college town with fewer than 150,000 residents, Gainesville doesn’t have the same culinary cache as New York or Chicago, but it has developed a very unique pizza scene. With 13 independent pizzerias serving Neapolitan, Detroit, New York and Mediterranean styles and more, hungry Gators have a plethora of options when craving a slice.

    What makes Gainesville’s pizza scene especially interesting is the range of backgrounds its proprietors have. Through interviews with pizzeria owners, we found that some had started as artists and musicians, while others had worked in engineering or education – and each had their own unique approach to making pizzas.

    The owner of Strega Nona’s Oven, for example, uses his engineering background to turn dough-making into a science, altering the proportions of ingredients by as little as half of a percent based on the season or even the weather.

    Satchel’s Pizza, on the other hand, is filled with works made by its artist owner, including mosaic windows, paintings, sculptures and fountains.

    Gainesville’s independent pizzerias often serve as what sociologists call “third places”: spaces for gathering that aren’t home or work. And their owners think carefully about how to create a welcoming environment. For example, the owner of Scuola Pizza insisted the restaurant be free of TVs, so diners can focus on their food. Squarehouse Pizza features a large outdoor space; an old, now repurposed school bus outfitted with tables and chairs to dine in, and a stage for live music.

    Squarehouse also is known for its unusual toppings on square, Detroit-style pies – for example, the Mariah Curry, topped with curry chicken or cauliflower and coconut curry sauce. It refreshes its specialty menus every semester or two.

    While the American pizza landscape may be shaped by big brands and standardized menus, small pizzerias continue to shine. Gainesville is a perfect example of how a local pizza scene in a small Southern college town can be so unique, even in a globalized industry. Small pizzerias don’t just offer food – they offer a flavorful reminder that the marketplace rewards distinctiveness and local character, too.

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

    – ref. 3 basic ingredients, a million possibilities: How small pizzerias succeed with uniqueness in an age of chain restaurants – https://theconversation.com/3-basic-ingredients-a-million-possibilities-how-small-pizzerias-succeed-with-uniqueness-in-an-age-of-chain-restaurants-259661

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    July 9, 2025
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