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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Sidhu meets with Alberta counterpart and industry leaders to discuss trade, innovation and investment

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 7, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, spent 3 days in Calgary, Alberta, working with provincial leaders and business representatives to strengthen trade and investment opportunities for Canadian businesses.

    On Thursday, July 3, Minister Sidhu met with Joseph Schow, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration. They discussed how the federal and provincial governments can work together to advance trade diversification and promotion, including through Team Canada trade missions.

    Minister Sidhu delivered remarks at the Canada-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Business Council board meeting, highlighting recent progress in the growing Canada-UAE trade relationship.

    On Friday, July 4, the Minister toured local facilities that are at the forefront of using advanced technologies. At Carbon Upcycling Technologies, he saw world-leading carbon-capture and conversion technology in action. He then toured Carbonova, an innovative company that turns greenhouse gases into valuable products for a range of industries. The Minister also visited De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited’s leading manufacturing facility and saw first-hand their proud Canadian operations, including the production of aircraft headed to the EU and Colombia. He then led a round-table discussion with aerospace and defence industry leaders.

    During the Calgary Stampede, Minister Sidhu met with members of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to discuss key trade priorities, particularly those of interest to Western Canadian business leaders.

    Throughout the trip, Minister Sidhu highlighted the advantages of Canada’s economic resilience and global trade relationships, as well as how the Trade Commissioner Service can help Canadian businesses explore international markets and opportunities. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: FamilyBoost changes will exacerbate inequity of ECE access

    Source: NZCTU

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is warning that the FamilyBoost changes announced today by Finance Minister Nicola Willis will fail to make early childhood education more affordable for the families who need it most and will instead widen inequities.

    “The Government has missed an opportunity to reflect on the failure of the FamilyBoost scheme and pivot towards improving access and affordability through expanding universal free-fees entitlements and moving towards a quality public ECE system,” said NZCTU Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges.

    “FamilyBoost puts an administrative burden on whānau and teachers while failing to deal with the key issues in early childhood education, which include low wages, systemic underfunding, and a private model that results in high profits for big corporates.

    “The changes announced today disproportionately benefit high-income households, who are already much more likely to be able to afford to send their kids to ECE centres. This means the benefit of the scheme will be weighted against those who need it most.

    “Access to quality early childhood education helps ensure that children have the best possible start in life, and no families should be denied that due to costs.

    “The revised scheme does nothing to support the development of new centres or to help low-income groups into ECE provision. Instead, the Government has loaded up its support for higher-income groups, once again demonstrating their priorities,” said Ansell-Bridges.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

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

    Source: US State of New York

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Could new pipelines shield Canada from U.S. tariffs? The answer is complicated

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Torsten Jaccard, Assistant Professor of Economics, University of British Columbia

    It should come as no surprise that United States President Donald Trump’s tariff threats have renewed interest in building pipelines that don’t rely on access to the American market. Almost four million barrels of crude oil cross the Canada-U.S. border each day, generating revenue of more than $100 billion per year — a quarter of Alberta’s GDP.

    A February survey by the Angus Reid Institute found that half of Canadians believe the federal government isn’t doing enough to expand pipeline capacity. Meanwhile, two-thirds said they would back reviving the Energy East project — a cancelled pipeline that would have transported oil from western Canada to New Brunswick and Québec.

    But would new pipelines truly insulate Canada from the threat of U.S. tariffs? And how much new pipeline capacity is necessary? Despite the apparent urgency of approving new infrastructure projects, these questions remain surprisingly unexplored.

    In a recent paper I co-authored with researcher Jotham Peters, which is currently under revision, we applied formal economic modelling techniques to parse through the costs and benefits of new pipelines, and in particular to understand the role of American tariffs in shaping these costs and benefits.

    How tariffs could hit Canadian oil producers

    In a worst-case scenario where the U.S. follows through on its threat of a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian oil exports, Canadian producers could lose as much as $14 billion in annual revenue — roughly a 10 per cent decrease.

    Simply put, Canada’s existing pipeline network severely limits access to markets other than the U.S., and as a consequence oil producers bear the full brunt of American tariffs.

    But what if Northern Gateway and Energy East — two previously cancelled pipelines that would have brought Canadian oil to tidewater — had been built?

    If Northern Gateway and Energy East were operational in 2025, Canada would be more resilient, but not completely immune, to U.S. tariffs. Instead of a $14 billion loss, tariffs would reduce annual revenue by $9 billion.

    Ultimately, the combined capacity of Northern Gateway and Energy East, which would be 1.625 million barrels per day, pales in comparison to the four million barrels per day of existing pipeline capacity connecting Canadian producers with American refineries.

    Closing this gap would require an expansion of east-west pipeline capacity far beyond the cancelled pipelines of the last decade.

    The economic case for pipelines

    So have the recent shifts in U.S. trade policy fundamentally altered the economic case in favour of new east-west pipelines? As with most economic analyses, the answer is complicated.

    On the one hand, any progress that mitigates the significant cost of U.S. tariffs are likely dollars well spent. Building new pipelines strengthens the bargaining power of Canadian producers, which carries an additional benefit of potentially increasing the return on each barrel sold to our southern neighbour.

    There’s also a long-term capacity issue. Existing pipelines may reach their limit by 2035. In the absence of new pipelines, any new production after 2035 would either need to be transported by rail at a higher cost, or left in the ground.

    On the other hand, if the U.S. never follows through on tariffs on energy exports — or if future administrations do not share Trump’s affinity for chaotic trade policy — Canada could end up right back where it started when these projects were cancelled.

    All pipelines carry some economic benefit, but such benefits were not enough in 2016 and 2017 to warrant the construction of the Northern Gateway and Energy East pipelines.

    Inflated construction costs threaten benefits

    The elephant in the room is whether a significant expansion in pipeline capacity could realistically be achieved at reasonable cost. Recent evidence suggests it could be a challenge.

    The Trans Mountain expansion project, for instance, was initially estimated to cost $5.4 billion in 2013. By the time it was completed in 2024, the final price tag had ballooned to $34 billion — a cost overrun of 380 per cent when accounting for inflation.

    The Coastal GasLink pipeline, which transports natural gas, faced similar issues. It was initially projected to cost $4 billion in 2012 and was completed in 2023 at a final cost of $14.5 billion, with an inflation-adjusted overrun of 180 per cent.

    While some of these costs were circumstantial — a major flood affected Trans Mountain, for example — increased efficiency in pipeline construction is necessary for the economic benefits of new pipelines to be realized, regardless of U.S. trade policy.

    Beyond economics costs

    While our research explores the economic impact of new pipelines in the face of U.S. tariffs, we acknowledge there are other issues that need to be considered.

    Chief among them is ensuring Canada meets its constitutional obligation to consult First Nations on decisions, like natural resources projects, that affect their communities and territories. Although this lies beyond our area of expertise, it will inevitably be an important element of consideration for any new pipeline developments.



    Read more:
    The complicated history of building pipelines in Canada

    The environmental impacts of new pipelines are another key concern. These impacts range from local exposure to oil spills to upstream greenhouse gas emissions associated with oil production. While these varying and complex impacts are also beyond the scope of our current work, future research should focus on quantifying the potential environmental impacts of new pipelines.

    Our research cannot say whether any new pipeline project is good, bad or in Canada’s national interest. But we can help Canadians reach an informed decision about how changes in U.S. trade policy may or may not alter the economic case for new pipelines in this country.

    While Canada would undoubtedly be in a stronger position to respond to U.S. tariffs were Northern Gateway and Energy East operational in 2025, it would still find itself significantly exposed to Trump’s tariff threats.

    Fully removing this exposure would require not one but seven pipelines equivalent to Northern Gateway. Whether that’s a goal worth pursuing is a broader question — one we hope our research can help Canadians and policymakers reach on their own.

    Torsten Jaccard receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Could new pipelines shield Canada from U.S. tariffs? The answer is complicated – https://theconversation.com/could-new-pipelines-shield-canada-from-u-s-tariffs-the-answer-is-complicated-259660

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan as displacement, hunger and disease escalate

    Source: United Nations 2

    The situation is particularly dire in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, which has witnessed some of the worst episodes of the ongoing conflict between rival militaries.

    Those remaining in El Fasher are facing “extreme shortages” of food and clean water, with markets repeatedly disrupted, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York.

    Across the city, nearly 40 per cent of children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, including 11 per cent with severe acute malnutrition.

    Most of the surrounding water infrastructure has also been destroyed or rendered non-functional due to minimal maintenance and fuel shortages, Mr. Dujarric added.  

    El Fasher displacement

    Since April 2023, an estimated 780,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher town and the nearby Zamzam displacement camps, including nearly 500,000 in April and May of this year.

    Famine conditions have been confirmed in the area since last August.

    About three-quarters of Zamzam camp’s residents fled to various locations across Tawila, where the UN and its partners have scaled up critical humanitarian assistance.

    Cholera outbreak continues

    Mr. Dujarric further warned that the breakdown of water and sanitation services, combined with low vaccination coverage, has sharply increased the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera.

    So far this year, Sudan has reported more than 32,000 suspected cholera cases.

    According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cholera cases continue to rise across Darfur, with over 300 suspected cases and more than two dozen deaths reported in South Darfur state last week alone.

    “Conflict and collapsing infrastructure continue to drive the spread of the disease and impede response efforts,” Mr. Dujarric stressed.

    Unprecedented and complex crisis

    Since war erupted between the former allies-turned-rivals, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than 12 million forced to flee their homes – including approximately four million as refugees in neighbouring countries.

    The crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of extreme vulnerability, as the country remains highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change and disasters.

    From severe droughts to deadly floods, the compounded effects of conflict and environmental instability are pushing communities to the brink, leaving them struggling to survive. Famine has already been declared in some parts of the country, putting millions of lives at risk.

    Lack of resources hamstring response

    Despite growing needs, the $4.2 billion humanitarian response plan for 2025, which aims to assist around 21 million of the most vulnerable people, remains only 21 per cent funded, having received $896 million received so far.

    Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, underscored the gravity of the situation in El Fasher.

    Civilians in the area remain cut off from aid and face the risk of starvation, he said in a post on social media.

    Appealing for an urgent humanitarian pause, he warned that that “every day without access costs lives.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Jennifer Wolfenbarger Joins Franklin Electric as Chief Financial Officer, Bringing Extensive Financial Leadership in Global Operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: FELE) announced today that Jennifer Wolfenbarger has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Accounting Officer. As a core member of the executive leadership team, Wolfenbarger will help shape the company’s financial future by enabling growth and overseeing fiscal accountability for the entire organization.

    Wolfenbarger has served in divisional CFO roles at some of the country’s most recognizable and growth-minded manufacturing companies, including Caterpillar, Stryker and most recently Owens Corning. In her role at Owens Corning, Wolfenbarger oversaw strategic planning, investor relations, compliance and financial reporting for the company’s $4 billion global insulation business. This included 50 manufacturing and distribution sites around the world.

    “Jennifer’s experience is exceptional, and we could not have selected a more well-rounded and dynamic candidate to fill this position,” said Joe Ruzynski, CEO of Franklin Electric. “She is value-driven to the core, and her passion for implementing continuous improvement will be an incredible asset to our people, our shareholders and our customers.”

    Throughout Wolfenbarger’s career, she has lent her financial expertise to her community, serving as the Treasurer on three not-for-profit boards. While at Owens Corning, she was the executive sponsor for the company’s Latin America Women’s Initiative Network, and she often mentors at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, providing professional guidance. Her career has taken her to the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Netherlands, Maryland, Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois and Ohio. She is excited to be returning to her Indiana roots in her new role and will be relocating to the Fort Wayne area.

    “This is an incredible opportunity to support Franklin Electric’s commitment to growth and innovation,” said Wolfenbarger. “I’m thrilled to work alongside a highly talented and dedicated global team that values collaboration, teamwork, growth and development.”

    About Franklin Electric
    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers worldwide in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be recognized in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024, Most Trustworthy Companies 2024, and Greenest Companies 2025; Best Places to Work in Indiana 2024; and America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    Contact:   Jill Hart
        Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
        260.824.2900

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Franklin Electric Appoints Daniela Williams as Chief Human Resources Officer to Lead Talent and Culture Strategy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: FELE) announced that Daniela Williams will join its executive leadership team as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), bringing a proven track record of driving growth for global organizations.

    In her new role, Williams will be setting the strategic direction for talent acquisition and management at Franklin Electric, overseeing all aspects of employee relations, compensation, benefits, development and compliance. She will serve on the Company’s executive leadership team, reporting to the CEO.

    “Daniela has a well-established reputation for leading and managing talent at a global scale,” said Joe Ruzynski, CEO of Franklin Electric. “Her expertise spans HR technology, talent development, analytics and global workforce strategy, and she’ll play a critical role in ensuring we are organized to serve our customers well into the future. We are thrilled to have Daniela join Franklin Electric and lead our Human Resource team as we invest in our people and processes to drive our growth initiatives.”

    Williams joins Franklin Electric with an extensive resume of leading people and culture at top automotive supply and manufacturing companies. In her previous role at automotive technology firm Visteon Corporation, Williams oversaw all HR functions and global talent acquisition. She also launched the company’s first Women’s Leadership Program with a focus on accelerating leadership skills across the company to ensure a pipeline of leaders ready to drive the business forward. Throughout her career, she has used her talents to lead outreach efforts, including mentoring programs as well as serving on the Advisory Council for Project Pathways, a STEM program for Detroit public schools.

    “My focus has always been on supporting decisions that contribute to growth, profitability, building great teams, and long‑term success,” said Williams. “Franklin Electric is clearly an organization dedicated to fostering talent, and I’m excited to bring my experience in workforce strategies to this innovative organization.”

    About Franklin Electric
    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers worldwide in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be recognized in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024, Most Trustworthy Companies 2024, and Greenest Companies 2025; Best Places to Work in Indiana 2024; and America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    Contact:   Jill Hart
        Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
        260.824.2900

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: National Bank Holdings Corporation Announces Date for 2025 Second Quarter Earnings Release

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) expects to report its second quarter financial results after the markets close on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Management will host a conference call to review the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing (877) 400-0505 using the participant passcode of 9935135 and asking for the NBHC Q2 2025 Earnings Call. A recording of the call will be available approximately four hours after the call’s completion on the Company’s website at www.nationalbankholdings.com by visiting the investor relations area.

    About National Bank Holdings Corporation

    National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high quality client service and committed to stakeholder results. Through its bank subsidiaries, NBH Bank and Bank of Jackson Hole Trust, National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of over 85 banking centers, serving individual consumers, small, medium and large businesses, and government and non-profit entities. Its banking centers are located in its core footprint of Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico and Idaho. Its comprehensive residential mortgage banking group primarily serves the bank’s core footprint. Its trust business is operated in its core footprint under the Bank of Jackson Hole Trust charter. NBH Bank operates under a single state charter through the following brand names as divisions of NBH Bank: in Colorado, Community Banks of Colorado and Community Banks Mortgage; in Kansas and Missouri, Bank Midwest and Bank Midwest Mortgage; in Utah, Texas, New Mexico and Idaho, Hillcrest Bank and Hillcrest Bank Mortgage; and in Wyoming, Bank of Jackson Hole and Bank of Jackson Hole Mortgage. Additional information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com.

    For more information visit: cobnks.com, bankmw.com, hillcrestbank.com, bankofjacksonhole.com, or nbhbank.com. Or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

    Contact:  
    Analysts/Institutional Investors: Media:
    Emily Gooden, 720-554-6640 Jody Soper, 303-784-5925
    Chief Accounting Officer and Investor Relations Director Chief Marketing Officer
    ir@nationalbankholdings.com Jody.Soper@nbhbank.com
       
    Nicole Van Denabeele, 720-529-3370  
    Chief Financial Officer  
    ir@nationalbankholdings.com  
       

    Source: National Bank Holdings Corporation

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aterian Announces Exclusive Prime Day Deals Across Six Leading Brands

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUMMIT, N.J., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aterian, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATER), a consumer products company, today unveiled its Prime Day lineup offering limited-time deals of up to 36% off top-rated products across six of its premier e-commerce brands—hOmeLabs, Squatty Potty, PurSteam, Mueller Living, Healing Solutions, and Photo Paper Direct—bringing must-have home upgrades, wellness essentials, culinary aids, and premium printable fabrics to savvy shoppers this summer.

    Shoppers can take advantage of these exclusive limited-time savings on top-rated items, from smart dehumidifiers and ergonomic stools to steam-powered cleaning tools, versatile kitchen gadgets, therapeutic oils, and printable fabric sheets. Prime Day deals run from July 8th through July 11th—while supplies last.

    hOmeLabs creates home-comfort appliances that blend high performance with sleek, modern design—helping make everyday living healthier and more efficient.

    Featured sale products include:

    • hOmeLabs 50-Pint Dehumidifier (Wi-Fi Enabled): 21% Off (Originally: $269.99 // Sale Price: $212.49). Removes up to 120 pints of moisture per day, offers ultra-quiet operation, auto-restart, reusable filter, and full smartphone control via built-in Wi-Fi.
    • hOmeLabs 8-Pint Dehumidifier (Wi-Fi Enabled): 15% Off (Originally: $179.99 // Sale Price: $152.99). Removes up to 24 pints of moisture per day, offers ultra-quiet operation, auto-restart, reusable filter, and full smartphone control via built-in Wi-Fi.

    Visit hOmeLabs’ Amazon store to shop this deal and explore many more Prime Day savings.

    hOmeLabs Brand Store Link

    Squatty Potty revolutionizes bathroom ergonomics with its patented toilet stools—designed to promote a natural “squat” posture for faster, more complete elimination and improved digestive health.

    Featured sale products include:

    • Squatty Potty Simple Stool: 32% Off (Originally: $24.99 // Sale Price: $16.99).
      Lightweight, stackable under most toilets, with a durable, high-gloss finish—elevates your feet into the optimal position to reduce strain and support digestive wellness.

    Head to Squatty Potty’s Prime Day page to grab this offer and discover more discounts.

    Squatty Potty Brand Store Link

    PurSteam delivers powerful, reliable home-care solutions—from steam irons, steam mops and handheld steamers—that simplify chores while safeguarding fabrics and surfaces.

    Featured sale products include:

    • PurSteam 1750W Steam Iron: 19% Off (Originally: $49.99 // Sale Price: $40.36).
      1750 W rapid heat-up, continuous steam output, non-stick ceramic soleplate, plus a vertical-steam option for hanging garments.
    • PurSteam Therma Pro 211 V4 Steam Mop: 11% Off (Originally: $89.99 // Sale Price: $79.99). Chemical-free sanitizing steam for hard floors and area rugs, 360° swivel steering, and washable microfiber pads.

    Shop these PurSteam deals and uncover many more Prime Day offers on their Amazon storefront. Click the link below and navigate to the All Deals or Prime Days tab.

    PurSteam Brand Store Link

    Mueller Living specializes in small kitchen appliances that pair elegant design with robust functionality—making meal prep faster, easier, and more fun.

    Featured sale product include:

    • Mueller Hand Blender: 32% Off (Originally: $34.99 // Sale Price: $23.73).
      250 W motor with stainless-steel blades, two-speed control, ergonomic handle, plus whisk and chopping attachments for soups, sauces, and more.

    Browse Mueller Living’s Prime Day deals to seize this offer and explore additional savings.

    MuellerLiving Brand Store Link

    Healing Solutions, our collection of oil brands offers natural, plant-based wellness products formulated to support everyday health and comfort.

    Featured sale product include:

    • LAB BULK Eucalyptus Essential Oil, 16 oz: 20% Off (Originally: $26.99 // Sale Price: $21.59). 100% pure eucalyptus oil—ideal for aromatherapy, steam inhalation, and topical blends, supporting respiratory relief and mental clarity.

    Discover this Healing Solutions deal and more wellness essentials on our Prime Day page. Click the link below and navigate to the All Deals or Prime Days tab.

    Healing Solutions Brand Store Link

    Photo Paper Direct creates professional-quality printable media for craft and photo enthusiasts, delivering vibrant, fade-resistant results every time.

    Featured sale product include:

    • PPD Printable Fabric Sheets, 8.5×11″ (10 Sheets): 26% Off (Originally: $14.99 // Sale Price: $11.04). 100% real cotton, matte finish, no watermark—designed for inkjet printers to produce washable, long-lasting fabric prints.

    Shop this Photo Paper Direct offer and browse many more creative media discounts this Prime Day.

    PPD Brand Store Link

    About Aterian, Inc.
    Aterian, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATER) a consumer products company that builds and acquires leading e-commerce brands across multiple categories, including home and kitchen appliances, health and wellness, and air quality devices. The Company sells across the world’s largest online marketplaces, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target as well as its own direct-to-consumer websites. Aterian’s brands include Mueller Living, PurSteam, hOmeLabs, Squatty Potty, Healing Solutions, and Photo Paper Direct. To learn more, visit www.aterian.io.

    Forward Looking Statements
    All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, those related to our ability to continue as a going concern, the effect of tariffs and other costs on our results, our ability to continue to operate following our reduction in workforce, our ability to meet financial covenants with our lenders, our ability to maintain and to grow market share in existing and new product categories; our ability to continue to profitably sell the SKUs we operate; our ability to maintain Amazon’s Prime badge on our seller accounts or reinstate the Prime badge in the event of any removal of such badge by Amazon; our ability to create operating leverage and efficiency when integrating companies that we acquire, including through the use of our team’s expertise, the economies of scale of our supply chain and automation driven by our platform; those related to our ability to grow internationally and through the launch of products under our brands and the acquisition of additional brands; those related to consumer demand, our cash flows, financial condition, forecasting and revenue growth rate; our supply chain including sourcing, manufacturing, warehousing and fulfillment; our ability to manage expenses, working capital and capital expenditures efficiently; our business model and our technology platform; our ability to disrupt the consumer products industry; our ability to generate profitability and stockholder value; international tariffs and trade measures; inventory management, product liability claims, recalls or other safety and regulatory concerns; reliance on third party online marketplaces; seasonal and quarterly variations in our revenue; acquisitions of other companies and technologies and our ability to integrate such companies and technologies with our business; our ability to continue to access debt and equity capital (including on terms advantageous to the Company) and the extent of our leverage; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), all of which you may obtain for free on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, even if subsequently made available by us on our website or otherwise. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

    Investor Contact:

    The Equity Group
    Devin Sullivan, Managing Director
    dsullivan@theequitygroup.com

    Conor Rodriguez, Associate
    crodriguez@theequitygroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP Increases Line of Credit Capacity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMAHA, Neb., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP (NYSE: GHI) (the “Partnership”) announced today that on June 30, 2025, it entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with five financial institutions for a secured revolving line of credit (the “Acquisition LOC”). The maximum aggregate commitment of the Acquisition LOC is $80 million. Bankers Trust Company is serving as the administrative agent. The Credit Agreement replaces the Partnership’s prior credit agreement with Bankers Trust Company dated August 2021, as amended, that had a maximum commitment of $50 million.

    The Acquisition LOC provides temporary financing for the Partnership’s investment purchases. Advances under the Acquisition LOC are expected to be repaid from the Partnership’s traditional debt financing sources such as Tender Option Bond financing or similar securitization transactions. Outstanding balances on the Acquisition LOC bear interest at Term SOFR plus 2.50%, with an overall floor of 2.60%. The Acquisition LOC has a stated maturity of June 2027, which the Partnership may extend to June 2029 based on customary extension conditions and fees.

    “The $30 million increase in the size of our Acquisition LOC demonstrates our strong relationships with bank lenders and provides the Partnership with additional capacity for effectively managing our capital and liquidity positions,” said Kenneth C. Rogozinski, Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership.

    About Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP

    Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP was formed in 1998 under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act for the primary purpose of acquiring, holding, selling and otherwise dealing with a portfolio of mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing for affordable multifamily, seniors and student housing properties. The Partnership is pursuing a business strategy of acquiring additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments on a leveraged basis. The Partnership expects and believes the interest earned on these mortgage revenue bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership seeks to achieve its investment growth strategy by investing in additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments as permitted by its Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, dated December 5, 2022, taking advantage of attractive financing structures available in the securities market, and entering into interest rate risk management instruments. Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP press releases are available at www.ghiinvestors.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement 

    Information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements,” which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks involving current maturities of our financing arrangements and our ability to renew or refinance such maturities, fluctuations in short-term interest rates, collateral valuations, mortgage revenue bond investment valuations and overall economic and credit market conditions. For a further list and description of such risks, see the reports and other filings made by the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. The Partnership disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Karen Marotta
    Greystone
    212-896-9149
    Karen.Marotta@greyco.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT:
    Andy Grier
    Senior Vice President
    402-952-1235

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bimini Capital Management to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VERO BEACH, Fla., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (OTCQB:BMNM) (“Bimini” or the “Company”), today announced that it will release results for the second quarter of 2025 following the close of trading on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

    Earnings Conference Call Details

    An earnings conference call and live audio webcast will be hosted Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET. Participants can register and receive dial-in information at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI93827b97dab34b2f8cabd3a04f5bddd5.A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/jgk2gti4 or via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.biminicapital.com. An audio archive of the webcast will be available for 30 days after the call.

    About Bimini Capital Management, Inc.

    Bimini Capital Management, Inc. is an asset manager that invests primarily in residential mortgage-related securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae).

    Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC (“Bimini Advisors”), we serve as the external manager of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (“Orchid”). Orchid is a publicly-traded real estate investment trust (NYSE: ORC). Orchid is managed to earn returns on the spread between the yield on its assets and its costs, including the interest expense on the funds it borrows. As Orchid’s external manager, Bimini Advisors receives management fees and expense reimbursements for managing Orchid’s investment portfolio and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini Advisors is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of Orchid’s board of directors and has only such functions and authority as are delegated to it.

    We also manage the portfolio of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Palm Capital, LLC (“Royal Palm”). Royal Palm is managed with an investment strategy similar to that of Orchid. Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and its subsidiaries are headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida.

    CONTACT:
    Bimini Capital Management, Inc.
    Robert E. Cauley, 772-231-1400
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    https://ir.biminicapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Electrify Expo Returns to Marymoor Park July 12–13 with Top EV Brands, New Tech and the First Public Lucid Gravity Demos

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Two ticket options available, with general admission starting at $20 and kids 5 and under free
    • Festival runs June 21-22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tickets available online and in person

    SEATTLE, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Electrify Expo, North America’s largest electric vehicle (EV) and technology festival, is returning to the Pacific Northwest this summer with its signature blend of innovation, thrills, and family-friendly fun. Taking over more than one million square feet at Marymoor Park, the festival will feature hands-on demo experiences with the latest in EVs, plug-in hybrids, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and more. Unique for Seattle, Lucid will bring a fleet of its brand-new Lucid Gravity SUV, available for public demos for the first time – an experience previously exclusive to reservation holders.

    Washington continues to lead electrification efforts, ranking third in the nation for EV market share according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. As of 2024, the state is home to 223,995 registered electric vehicles – a 35% jump from 2023 and a 254% increase over the past five years. The Seattle metro area remains the epicenter, with more than 113,000 EVs on the road in King County supported by one of the country’s most expansive public charging networks.

    “Seattle’s tech-savvy, environmentally conscious community makes it one of the most exciting markets for EV adoption right now,” said BJ Birtwell, CEO and founder of Electrify Expo. “We’re seeing growing interest from curious consumers who want to experience EVs firsthand before taking the leap. Electrify Expo delivers that lightbulb moment by offering exciting experiences for attendees to discover the benefits of going electric.”

    Popular Attractions for Seattle:

    • For the first time ever, Lucid will offer consumer demo drives of its Gravity SUV. Following the vehicle’s Seattle debut at last year’s Electrify Expo event, attendees will now have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of Lucid’s luxury three-row electric SUV.
    • Tesla will offer extended EV test drives via Electrify Expos’ Weekender program where attendees can take their EV of choice home and experience how it fits in their everyday life.
    • The Electric Freestyle Motocross Stunt Zone will feature X Games Gold Medalist Destin Cantrell and his freestyle MX team, who will jump and soar with electric dirt bikes in thrilling live performances at select times over the weekend.
    • The Pivotal Helix, an eVTOL personal aircraft, will make its Seattle debut and be on display for attendees to experience the future of transportation with SoFly.
    • Attendees can experience the latest in electric mobility with hands-on demos of cutting-edge e-bikes and high-speed electric bikes from leading brands.
    • Get behind the wheel of the latest electric vehicles—models not yet available in dealer showrooms—on real on-road test tracks for an unparalleled hands-on experience.

    Ride and Drive experiences are the cornerstone of Electrify Expo. Thrilling, real-world demo rides take places on Marymoor Park property and head out into the city of Redmond to give attendees fun behind-the-wheel experiences in the most popular EV brands like:

    • Lucid
    • Ford
    • Lexus
    • Tesla
    • Porsche
    • Toyota
    • Kia

    Explore the hottest e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motorcycles and other rideables on the market, including:

    • ONYX Motors
    • Can-Am
    • P-51 Bikes
    • E-Z-GO
    • GoTrax
    • Terra Bikes
    • Dryft
    • AIMA
    • Ghostcat

    Electrify Expo’s gates will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, 2025, with the full day of festivities concluding at 5 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase in person and online.

    For the 2025 Seattle festival, Electrify Expo will offer two ticket options to suit every attendee’s needs:

    • General Admission ($20): Full-day access to all festival zones and demo courses from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Power Pack ($99): Includes early entry at 9 a.m., VIP lounge access, exclusive priority lanes for demo rides and dedicated entry for a premium all-day experience.

    Media interested in attending may request credentials by emailing ee@skyya.com. Companies interested in exhibiting at the 2025 Electrify Expo locations can visit https://www.electrifyexpo.com/partner-registration.

    About Electrify Expo
    Electrify Expo is North America’s largest electric vehicle (EV) and technology festival, where consumers come to shop and experience all things electric. The festival showcases the industry’s leading brands and exciting startups through hands-on activations, demos and experiences spanning EVs, micromobility, solar energy, charging solutions, powersports, automotive aftermarket, and connected home technology, providing attendees with immersive learning opportunities and memorable interactions. From high-powered demo courses to engaging education zones, Electrify Expo offers a unique festival vibe for consumers to reshape what they think they know about EVs. In 2025, Electrify Expo’s nationwide tour will visit Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. To stay up to date on the latest news and announcements from Electrify Expo, visit www.electrifyexpo.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

    Media Contact
    Skyya PR
    ee@skyya.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e855db0b-5112-46af-98a2-4caad869eaf4

    The MIL Network –

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

    US Senate News:

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Joins Hagerty in Bill to End Counting of Illegal Aliens in Electoral College and Congressional Apportionment Votes 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) in introducing the Equal Representation Act which would ensure only legal citizens are factored into the count for Congressional districts and the Electoral College map that determines presidential elections. The current method of counting illegal immigrants for purposes of representation is dangerous as it incentivizes illegal immigration. 
    Sen. Tuberville cosponsored this bill in the 118th Congress. 
    “Illegal aliens have no right to congressional representation in this country, and they have no right to determine who our elected leaders are,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The balance of power shouldn’t be weighed down by people who aren’t citizens of this country. Counting illegals in the Electoral College and congressional districts can completely alter the outcome of our elections. Thankfully, President Trump and his administration are deporting illegals in droves. I’m proud to join Senator Hagerty in reintroducing the Equal Representation Act so that ONLY Americans determine our elected leaders.”
    “It is unconscionable that illegal immigrants and non-citizens are counted toward congressional district apportionment and our electoral map for the presidency, which also heavily skews the seat count in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Sen. Hagerty. “While people continue to flee Democrat-run cities, desperate Democrats have back-filled the mass exodus with illegal immigrants so that they do not lose their seats in Congress or their electoral votes, hence artificially boosting their political power and in turn diluting the power of other Americans’ votes. I’m pleased to lead my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation that would require a citizenship question on the census and will ensure that only citizens are counted in congressional redistricting.”
    Sens. Tuberville and Hagerty are joined by Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) in cosponsoring this legislation.
    Read full text of the legislation here. 
    BACKGROUND:
    Currently, illegal immigrants are counted for congressional district apportionment and, therefore, Electoral College votes. For example, in a state like California, millions of illegal alien residents result in California taking several more congressional seats and Electoral College votes than the states’ population of citizens would justify. In other words, being a magnet for illegal immigration increases the power of a Californian’s vote relative to an individual in another state with less population boost from illegal immigration. This creates a perverse incentive encouraging illegal immigration and resettlement to increase political power.
    Specifically, the Equal Representation Act would:
    Require that the Census Bureau include a citizenship question on any future census to provide a greater understanding of the U.S. population and delineate between citizens and non-citizens for apportionment purposes;
    Prohibit non-citizens from being counted for purposes of congressional district and Electoral College apportionment; and
    Require that the Census Bureau publicly report on certain demographic data.
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins The Big Weekend Show on Fox News to Discuss Budget Reconciliation, Trade Negotiations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    NASHVILLE, TN—Yesterday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined The Big Weekend Show on Fox News to discuss the wins within the budget reconciliation package, along with President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade negotiations.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on the benefits of the budget reconciliation package: “Well, before I say anything, I just wanted to say my heart goes out to the people in Texas that are still looking for their loved ones. One of my good friends had two daughters at Camp Mystic. Thankfully, they’re safe and alive, but my heart goes out to everybody. Thank you for covering this. And with respect to the American public and their perspective on the bill, the Democrats and their partisan allies in the media have been attacking this bill nonstop, even though they had not seen the final product yet. It has been under attack for weeks, if not months. Finally, we’ve got a bill put together that I think is going to do great things for the American public. Now it’s our job to get out and message properly, but when you think about it, the American public overwhelmingly support the fact that we’re going to be rebuilding our military, our defense. We’re going to be rebuilding our energy independence and onshoring energy here in America, making us dominant. Again, if you think about it from the perspective of the working man and woman, they’re looking at about a $10,000 increase in take-home pay every year, thanks to the tax cuts that we impose. No tax on tips. The benefits that people are going to see at the working-class level are going to be enormous, and we’re going to stimulate more capital investments, which will, again, beget more economic growth and more job opportunities for people here in America. Cutting out waste, fraud, and abuse — everybody’s for that, as well. It’s interesting, the Democrats used to be for work requirements, until the Republicans actually implemented them.”
    Hagerty on James Carville’s claim that the budget reconciliation will hurt Republicans long-term: “From the same man that promised John Kerry would be president of the United States. Carville just keeps getting it wrong. And I think what we’re going to see is the exact opposite. Again, when people see the benefits of this bill, when they see their take-home pay rising, when they see the economy moving again at the pace it was when we initially did this back in 2017, we’re going to see American people enjoying winning again. Carville can’t take that. They’re going to continue to message down this path. The Democrats are disheveled; I can say that. But again, I think Carville is going to wind up with egg on his face yet again.”
    Hagerty on the programs that will benefit working class Americans: “The interesting thing is all of these programs are aimed at improving the life of American citizens. If you think about what the Democrats passed, the reconciliation that generated so much inflation that every American was crushed by lower real wages, they don’t seem to be apologizing for that. They missed the mark completely, subsidizing their pals in the green energy environment. But here we are actually doing things for American people that will help people in the middle-class and the working-class, and the Democrats are calling it peanuts. Again, it just shows how detached they are from reality. And that detachment has led, I think, to this complete disheveled that we’re seeing among the Democrats. And again, they just continue to promote these falsehoods. The media, of course, has been supporting them, but I think as the American public realizes the truth of this, we’re going to see a great year in 2026.”
    Hagerty on the tariff deadlines for other countries to make trade deals: “I’ve actually been alongside President Trump. When I was Ambassador to Japan, we negotiated two trade deals with Japan at a time that nobody thought they could get done. President Trump has proven himself as someone that understands this. He knows that America has been getting ripped off for years. It goes all the way back to World War II. We put in place very low tariff barriers. We did this to induce countries to trade with us, but we should have time limit on it. We should have put some sort of GDP-per-capita limit because now these countries have just taken advantage of America. It’s gone on for too long. It’s time for them to shape up. It’s time for them to step up. We’ve already seen [the United Kingdom]. We’ve seen Vietnam. We’ve already seen parts of what’s going on with China. I think we’re going to see a number of deals come through here in the very near future. And for those that get the letters that are coming out very soon, they’ve got until the 1st of August to step up. But I can tell you President Trump means business on this. And I think what we’ll see is a much better and more improved trade environment, much more fair for American companies, as a result.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Flood Anniversaries, Welch Talks FEMA Reform in Barre and Montpelier 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch held a Listening Session in Barre with flood-impacted Vermonters 
    BARRE, VT — Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) met with flood-impacted Vermonters and community leaders in Barre and Montpelier and discussed the need to pass legislation to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Last week, Senator Welch visited Killington, Ludlow, and Weston; he will visit Hardwick, Lyndon, Barton, and Burke in the coming weeks. 
    Senator Welch recently unveiled the Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act. He will file the new legislation this week, coinciding with the anniversary of the July 2023 and July 2024 floods. 
    “The dangers of climate change are real and urgent, as so many Vermonters experienced firsthand. Vermont was hit with catastrophic flooding in July of 2023 and again in July of 2024—and communities and states across America have been hit by devastating disasters, most recently the tragic floods in Texas and North Carolina. FEMA does lifesaving and critical work after a disaster, and it is important the agency is fully supported. But FEMA also needs commonsense reforms, which is something I heard in Barre, Montpelier, and across Vermont. I will keep fighting to strengthen FEMA for disaster-impacted communities across America,” said Senator Welch.  
    The Disaster AID Act will cut red tape and empower state and local governments, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters, and block the White House from withholding funding for disaster recovery.  
    Barre: Senator Welch started the day with a Listening Session at the Barre Social Club, where he was joined by Mayor Thom Lauzon and Michele Braun of the Friends of the Winooski River. Senator Welch spoke with flood-impacted Vermonters and community members about Barre’s recovery from July 2023 floods and the importance of reforming and protecting FEMA.  
    Photo Caption: Senator Welch speaks with Vermonters at his Listening Session in Barre. 
    In Barre, Senator Welch also celebrated the opening of the Vermont Innovation, Efficiency, Weatherization (VIEW) Center, a new weatherization training center funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. Senator Welch championed weatherization funding and helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act as a member of the House of Representatives. Vermont’s weatherization assistance program helps eligible Vermont households with energy audits, heating system check-ups, energy efficient lighting and appliance upgrades, and weatherization renovation services. 
    Photo Caption: Senator Welch celebrates the opening of the VIEW training center 
    Montpelier: Senator Welch met with community leaders, city officials, businesses, and the Montpelier Commission on Recovery and Resilience. Attendees discussed red tape in FEMA’s Public Assistance program, and ways we can improve long-term flood recovery for Montpelier and communities across Vermont.  
    Photo Caption: Senator Welch meets with the Montpelier Commission on Recovery and Resilience 
    Senator Welch has been outspoken in opposing any attempt by the Trump Administration to dismantle FEMA. Earlier this year, Senator Welch published a guest essay in The New York Times entitled: “Don’t Kill FEMA. Fix It.” In his op-ed, Senator Welch outlined why President Trump’s actions to undermine and potentially dissolve FEMA are misguided—but also committed to working with the President on good faith efforts to reform the agency’s long-term recovery process.    
    In December 2024, Senator Welch helped shape and pass a comprehensive disaster aid package, which delivered more than $100.4 billion of relief for states like Vermont recovering from climate disasters. The disaster aid package contained many of Senator Welch’s top priorities for the State: dedicated help for Vermont’s flood-impacted farmers, flexible spending through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief fund, money for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and support for businesses, among many other important provisions.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can you keep kids off screens during the winter holidays?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Victoria Minson, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education, Australian Catholic University

    Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Children’s Games, 1560. ©KHM-Museumsverband, CC BY-NC

    The winter school holidays can be a tricky time for families. Parents are often juggling work and chilly conditions make it easy for kids to end up on the couch with multiple devices.

    What other activities can you try? And how can you encourage the kids to move without it seeming like a massive chore or a punishment for everyone?

    Here are some ideas for younger and older primary school children.

    We know kids aren’t active enough

    Many children aren’t as active as they need to be. Australian kids scored a D- on a 2022 report card on physical activity. Less than a quarter of children and young people met the guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.

    Meanwhile, we know excessive screen use is one of the top health concerns Australian parents have about their children.

    What can you do for 5 to 8-year-olds?

    In his 1560 painting Children’s Games, Pieter Bruegel depicts more than 80 of childhood games and play outside. This includes playing with balls, swinging, climbing a tree and imaginary games.

    Many of these ideas still work today. So just like the children in Bruegel’s picture, embrace the outdoors. Remember it’s OK to get a bit wet or a bit muddy (even though, yes, this does mean more washing).

    Think about going on an adventure to the city, cafe, library, or museum or simply finding local puddles to splash in. A change of scenery can do wonders for cabin fever.

    Trips to the park or other nearby nature spots are also important. Research shows playing in green spaces improves children’s mental and emotional wellbeing.

    Need more toys?

    If you feel your toy cupboard is looking overly familiar, try a local Toy Library to borrow puzzles, board games and activities. Alternatively, arrange a toy swap with a trusted neighbour or friend.

    Don’t underestimate the joy and novelty in doing the basic or everyday tasks but with more time, over the holidays. Cooking, baking, sending cards, writing letters and reading a book together are all excellent ways to connect and build memories.

    You could also ask the kids to go and make an art exhibition or practise for a home dance or music concert while you make a cup or tea.

    What about older primary kids?

    Older children love to create, work together and connect with their peers.

    So you could encourage your child or children to channel popular YouTubers and gamers by creating physical challenges at home, for example: a home holiday Olympics, safe Ninja-style circuit or obstacle course.

    Or you could turn everyday chores into “missions” that earn rewards like having their favourite meal or a shopping trip.

    Keep moving

    You could break up sitting time by making TikTok style dances or doing physically challenges (how many star jumps can you do in a minute?) as often as possible.

    If you have wearable tech, such as smart watches, you can track time spent being active. Set up a friendly competition for steps while playing with pets, cleaning up or dancing around the house.

    A 2022 Australian study suggests the “break up your sitting” approach may result in children being more active than a simple “move more” message.

    Also think about screen time that gets kids moving – such as sports-based games. Research shows the energy expended during active gaming is equivalent to a brisk walk. Not all screen time has to be sedentary.

    Try a whole day ‘unplugged’

    You could try a whole day without devices – this shows children it is possible!

    Consider giving the kids more decision-making powers on these days: they could pick (and hopefully) make their meals, have a friend over, decide what games to play or what art and craft to make.

    The winter holidays are a good time to set new active habits that won’t only help now, but will set the tone for the spring and longer summer breaks ahead.

    Victoria Minson is the Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) (Accelerated) at Australian Catholic University. The Victorian offering of the course has received funding from the Victorian government and Victorian Department of Education. Victoria also receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Amanda Telford has previously received funding from the ARC and NHMRC.

    – ref. How can you keep kids off screens during the winter holidays? – https://theconversation.com/how-can-you-keep-kids-off-screens-during-the-winter-holidays-260577

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia is set to get more AI data centres. Local communities need to be more involved

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Cumbo, Transdisciplinary social researcher and lecturer, University of Technology Sydney

    A Google data centre in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Richard Newstead/Getty

    Data centres are the engines of the internet. These large, high-security facilities host racks of servers that store and process our digital data, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    There are already more than 250 data centres across Australia. But there are set to be more, as the federal government’s plans for digital infrastructure expansion gains traction. We recently saw tech giant Amazon’s recent pledge to invest an additional A$20 billion in new data centres across Sydney and Melbourne, alongside the development of three solar farms in Victoria and Queensland to help power them.

    The New South Wales government also recently launched a new authority to fast-track approvals for major infrastructure projects.

    These developments will help cater to the surging demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI). They will also boost the national economy and increase Australia’s digital sovereignty – a global shift toward storing and managing data domestically under national laws.

    But the everyday realities of communities living near these data centres aren’t as optimistic. And one key step toward mitigating these impacts is ensuring genuine community participation in shaping how Australia’s data-centre future is developed.

    The sensory experience of data centres

    Data centres are large, warehouse-like facilities. Their footprint typically ranges from 10,000 to 100,000 square metres. They are set on sites with backup generators and thousands of litres of stored diesel and enclosed by high-security fencing. Fluorescent lighting illuminates them every hour of the day.

    A data centre can emanate temperatures of 35°C to 45°C. To prevent the servers from overheating, air conditioners are continuously humming. In water-cooled facilities, water pipes transport gigalitres of cool water through the data centre each day to absorb the heat produced.

    Data centres can place substantial strain on the local energy grid and water supply.

    In some places where many data centres have been built, such as Northern Virginia in the United States and Dublin in Ireland, communities have reported rising energy and water prices. They have also reported water shortages and the degradation of valued natural and historical sites.

    They have also experienced economic impacts. While data centre construction generates high levels of employment, these facilities tend to employ a relatively small number of staff when they are operating.

    These impacts have prompted some communities to push back against new data centre developments. Some communities have even filed lawsuits to halt proposed projects due to concerns about water security, environmental harm and heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

    A unique opportunity

    To date, communities in Australia have been buffered from the impacts of data centres. This is largely because Australia has outsourced most of its digital storage and processing needs (and associated impacts) to data centres overseas.

    But this is now changing. As Australia rapidly expands its digital infrastructure, the question of who gets to shape its future becomes increasingly important.

    To avoid amplifying the social inequities and environmental challenges of data centres, the tech industry and governments across Australia need to include the communities who will live alongside these crucial pieces of digital infrastructure.

    This presents Australia with a unique opportunity to set the standard for creating a sustainable and inclusive digital future.

    A path to authentic community participation

    Current planning protocols for data centres limit community input. But there are three key steps data centre developers and governments can take to ensure individual developments – and the broader data centre industry – reflect the values, priorities and aspirations of local communities.

    1. Developing critical awareness about data centres

    People want a greater understanding of what data centres are, and how they will affect their everyday lives.

    For example, what will data centres look, sound and feel like to live alongside? How will they affect access to drinking water during the next drought? Or water and energy prices during the peak of summer or winter?

    Genuinely engaging with these questions is a crucial step toward empowering communities to take part in informed conversations about data centre developments in their neighbourhoods.

    2. Involving communities early in the planning process

    Data centres are often designed using generic templates, with minimal adaptation to local conditions or concerns. Yet each development site has a unique social and ecological context.

    By involving communities early in the planning process, developers can access invaluable local knowledge about culturally significant sites, biodiversity corridors, water-sensitive areas and existing sustainability strategies that may be overlooked in state-level planning frameworks.

    This kind of local insight can help tailor developments to reduce harm, enhance benefits, and ensure local priorities are not just heard, but built into the infrastructure itself.

    3. Creating more inclusive visions of Australia’s data centre industry

    Communities understand the importance of digital infrastructure and are generally supportive of equitable digital access. But they want to see the data centre industry grow in ways that acknowledges their everyday lives, values and priorities.

    To create a more inclusive future, governments and industry can work with communities to broaden their “clean” visions of digital innovation and economic prosperity to include the “messy” realities, uncertainties and everyday aspirations of those living alongside data centre developments.

    This approach will foster greater community trust and is essential for building more complex, human-centred visions of the tech industry’s future.

    Bronwyn Cumbo 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. Australia is set to get more AI data centres. Local communities need to be more involved – https://theconversation.com/australia-is-set-to-get-more-ai-data-centres-local-communities-need-to-be-more-involved-259799

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Brookline Bancorp, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRKL) announced today that it will report second quarter 2025 earnings at the close of business on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Management will host a conference call to review this information at 1:30 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Interested parties may listen to the call and view a copy of the Company’s Earnings Presentation by joining the call via https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/149362707. To listen to the call without access to the slides, interested parties may dial 833-470-1428 (United States) or 404-975-4839 (internationally) and ask for the Brookline Bancorp conference call (Access Code 673409). A recorded playback of the call will be available for one week following the call at 866-813-9403 (United States) or 1-929-458-6194 (internationally). The passcode for this playback is 916742. The call will be available live or in a recorded version on the Company’s website at www.brooklinebancorp.com.

    ABOUT BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.

    Brookline Bancorp, Inc. is a multi-bank holding company for Brookline Bank, Bank Rhode Island, PCSB Bank and their subsidiaries. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the Company has $11.5 billion in assets and branches throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. As a commercially-focused financial institution, the Company, through its banks, offers a wide range of commercial, business and retail banking services, including a full complement of cash management products, on-line banking services, consumer and residential loans and investment services designed to meet the financial needs of small-to mid-sized businesses and retail customers. The Company also provides equipment financing through its Eastern Funding subsidiary and wealth management services through its subsidiary, Clarendon Private, a registered investment advisor. More information about Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and its banks can be found at the following websites: www.brooklinebank.com, www.bankri.com, and www.pcsb.com.

    Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
    Carl M. Carlson 617-425-5331
    Co-President, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New lease of life given to popular park thanks to local business partnership

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Monday, 7th July 2025

    A popular Stoke-on-Trent park has been given a new lease of life as part of the city’s ongoing Centenary celebrations.

    Newstead Park has been revamped with freshly painted and cleaned play equipment, new safety pads under play equipment, new goal posts, upgraded bins, safety signage and planted new trees.

    Local business, Goodwin International Ltd, approached Stoke-on-Trent City Council earlier this year to offer their support for the Centenary and to give back to the city that has been home to their headquarters since 1883.

    The project focused on regenerating the park as a safe, welcoming space for local families and residents to enjoy for years to come. The team from Goodwin International Ltd also carried out a litter pick and a general clean up of the park.

    Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability said: “This is a big year for Stoke-on-Trent and it’s been fantastic to see local people and businesses stepping up to play their part.

    “We are a city proud of our award-winning parks, green spaces and over one million trees. Projects like this are a brilliant example of how we can work together to keep improving these vital green spaces – places that support families, boost mental and physical wellbeing and protect wildlife.

    “A huge thank you to Goodwin International Ltd. for not only donating their time, but also the funding to bring this area back to life. What an amazing team effort to help rejuvenate the park and give back to the community.”

    Paul Root, General Manager and Director at Goodwin International Ltd, said: “Goodwin International are proud to have worked closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to deliver significant improvements to outdoor space for the residents of the Newstead Estate to enjoy for years to come.  Goodwin International and the Goodwin Group have entwined historic ties to Stoke-on-Trent dating back to 1883.

    “Upon the occasion of the city Centenary, whilst we reflect with pride on what has gone before, we look forward to the next century with great ambition both for ourselves and for the City of Stoke-on-Trent.”

    Hanford, Trentham and Newstead Ward Councillors, Maxine Clark and Daniel Jellyman said: “First and foremost, thank you to the team from Goodwin International Ltd for helping to rejuvenate Newstead Park. The much-loved park is a hive of activity for local residents and their families, and the new work has proved popular.
    “The Centenary year is having a positive impact on all corners of the city, and it has been brilliant to see that impact be felt at ward level.”

    The revamp of Newstead Park is one of many local initiatives taking place across Stoke-on-Trent as part of the city’s Centenary celebrations.

    For more information on the city’s Centenary, visit sot100.org.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on Termination of TPS for Honduras, Nicaragua

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    SEATTLE, WA — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Hondurans and Nicaraguans:

    “The purpose of the TPS program is to offer legal status to people whose home countries are too dangerous to return to. The revocation of TPS is out of touch with the reality of conditions in Honduras and Nicaragua — and even the State Department’s own analyses of these countries. These are legal designations that have existed under Presidents of both parties – this is just another attack on our legal system that will affect thousands of lives.

    “ The people whose legal status will be terminated are not the ‘worst of the worst’ as Trump promised he would focus on. They are people who have been in the United States for decades — working, raising families, and contributing to our economy and communities. 

    “Forcing these people to leave the lives they’ve built to return to dangerous conditions is outrageous. And let me be clear — TPS is legal immigration. We must work to protect this program and other means of legal immigration from Trump’s continued attacks on our legal system.”

    TPS is a designation that temporarily allows foreign nationals who are already in the United States to remain lawfully during periods that would prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely. Since coming to office, Trump has moved to end TPS status for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

    Issues: Immigration

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A top court has urged nations to clamp down on fossil fuel production. When will Australia finally start listening?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images

    As Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen tours the Pacific this week to spruik his government’s commitment to climate action, fossil fuel exporters such as Australia are under unprecedented scrutiny.

    In a landmark ruling on Friday, Latin America’s highest human rights court found countries in that region are legally obliged to protect people from climate harms. The obligation includes tougher government regulations for fossil fuel extraction.

    The finding applies to nations in the Organization of American States. But it adds to a growing number of international rulings clarifying nations’ legal obligations to tackle the climate crisis – especially if they export fossil fuels.

    And it echoes long-held concerns from Australia’s Pacific neighbours: that climate change is an existential threat, and coal and gas exporters have a responsibility to act.

    A legal tide is building

    Australia is a major fossil-fuel exporter. When coal and gas mined in Australia is burned overseas, emissions are three times those of our entire domestic economy.

    Since 2000, Australia has approved more than 700 oil, gas and coal projects. This includes federal approval in May for Woodside’s North West Shelf project – a huge expansion of gas production off Western Australia.

    Emissions from these projects damage Earth’s climate, increasing the risk of harm to people around the world.

    As climate change worsens, the United Nations and others are calling on countries to phase out fossil fuel production. A string of litigation involving human rights and the environment is adding to the pressure.

    In a ruling handed down late last week, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights said people have the right to a stable climate and that states should regulate fossil fuel extraction and exploration.

    The ruling was delivered in Spanish. According to an English translation, it said nation-states should require fossil-fuel companies to:

    take effective measures to combat climate change and related human rights impacts, to conduct appropriate due diligence, to adopt transition plans, and to provide accurate information regarding the impacts of their operations on climate change and human rights.

    The ruling was an “advisory opinion”, and not legally binding. But it establishes the law on human rights obligations for the nations involved, and interpretations of international law for other nations.

    Pictured: judges from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
    JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP via Getty Images

    It comes as the International Court of Justice weighs up a request from the United Nations General Assembly, to clarify countries’ obligations under international law to protect Earth’s climate and environment from greenhouse gas emissions.

    The campaign for the case was launched in 2019 by a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific.

    This ruling will apply directly to Australia. Judges in the case are likely to take into account the findings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights – and Australian policymakers will be watching closely.

    International law is catching up with the science

    Key instruments of international law, such as the UN Human Rights Conventions, were developed in the decades before a scientific consensus on global warming.

    But the science has moved on. And it’s now clear that nations have legal obligations to prevent human rights harms arising from climate change.

    In 2022, the UN Human Rights Committee found Australia was failing to meet its obligations to protect Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders from the adverse impacts of climate change.

    In May this year, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights, Elisa Morgera, called on nations to end new fossil fuel projects and begin phasing out of fossil fuel production this decade, to protect human rights.

    Australia has argued only the Paris Agreement – which requires countries to set targets to cut domestic emissions – should apply when it comes to mitigating climate change. It has also argued protecting human rights does not extend to obligations to tackle climate change by cutting emissions.

    Such arguments have now been rejected by international courts and tribunals. Continuing to approve new fossil fuel projects, with no plan to phase out fossil fuel production, puts Australia in violation of international legal obligations.

    Australia’s obligations are also being considered in domestic cases. For instance, the Federal Court is next week due to hand down a decision on the government’s obligations to cut emissions to protect Torres Strait Islanders from climate impacts. If successful, the case may force the federal government to rapidly reduce emissions.

    The law is not on Australia’s side

    On his trip to the Pacific this week, Chris Bowen will emphasise Australia’s commitment to tackling climate change, and progress discussions on the joint Australia–Pacific bid to host the global COP31 climate talks next year. He told the media:

    Australia and the Pacific’s joint bid for COP31 is about ensuring that the region’s voice shapes global climate action for the benefit of the Australian and Pacific people.

    I look forward to deepening our cooperation with Pacific neighbours; not only to build a fairer, cleaner energy future, but to bring COP31 home for our region in 2026.

    People in the Pacific now know international law is on their side. Ultimately, a managed shift away from fossil fuels is inevitable – and the time for Australian policymakers to ignore the industry’s climate harms is ending.

    Wesley Morgan is a fellow with the Climate Council of Australia.

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

    – ref. A top court has urged nations to clamp down on fossil fuel production. When will Australia finally start listening? – https://theconversation.com/a-top-court-has-urged-nations-to-clamp-down-on-fossil-fuel-production-when-will-australia-finally-start-listening-259996

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: If you have a pet as a kid, does this lower your risk of asthma and eczema?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Chan, Immunology and Allergy Lead, Snow Centre for Immune Health, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

    Catherine Delahaye/Getty Images

    As the number of people with allergies grows worldwide, scientists are trying to work out precisely how and why these conditions – such as asthma and eczema – develop.

    One long-standing idea is the “hygiene hypothesis”. This suggests our modern indoor lifestyles are to blame, as they limit our early exposure to germs and allergens which help train the immune system.

    But growing evidence suggests having a pet may counter this effect. As any pet owner knows, our furry friends bring a lot of mess, germs and fur into our homes – along with the cuddles.

    So, does spending time with animals lower children’s risk of allergies? Here’s what we know.

    How allergies develop

    During early childhood, our immune systems learn what to attack and what to ignore to stop us getting sick.

    Evidence suggests early exposure – to family members, food, germs, dust, dirt, pollen and pet dander (skin flakes) – shapes this immune response.

    Allergic conditions develop when the immune system overreacts to harmless substances, such as dust, pollen or certain foods. These reactions can affect the skin, airways and gut.

    Dogs bring both love and mess – which might be just what a developing immune system needs.
    Samantha Chan/Author provided, CC BY-NC-ND

    However, we still don’t fully understand why some people develop allergies while others don’t.

    Scientists have identified genes linked to allergic conditions. But most have subtle effects on the immune system and act as “risk factors” – they increase the chance of disease but don’t cause it outright.

    Recent research suggests exposure to bacteria in our environment could be another major factor.

    From birth, our bodies are colonised by bacteria, especially in the gut. This community of microorganisms is known as the microbiome.

    Ongoing “crosstalk” between the microbiome and immune system is crucial for healthy immune function. When this balance is disturbed, it can contribute to inflammation and disease.

    The effect of our early environment

    In the last few decades, studies of children raised on farms gave us some of the first clues that early environments can affect allergy risk.

    Compared to children raised in cities, children on farms are less likely to have allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma. This is especially true of those in close contact with animals.

    Notably, farm-raised children tend to develop a more diverse microbiome than children raised in urban environments. This may help make their immune system more tolerant to foreign substances (such as bacteria and dirt) and less likely to develop allergies.

    However, across the world children are increasingly living in urban areas.

    This means a pet may be the closest contact they have with animals. So, does this still lower their risk of developing allergies?

    Children raised on farms, especially those in close contact with animals, seem to have a lower risk of allergic diseases.
    Peter van Haastrecht / 500px/Getty Images

    What the studies show in eczema

    Some studies indicate children with pets may be less likely to have allergies.

    However this evidence hasn’t always been easy to interpret.

    It can be difficult to tell whether lower allergy rates are due to the pets themselves or other factors, such as location, lifestyle or a family history of allergies.

    A review of results from 23 studies found children exposed to dogs early in life were significantly less likely to develop eczema.

    Another 2025 study analysed genetic data from more than 270,000 people. It found a gene linked to eczema only increased risk of eczema in children who hadn’t been exposed to dogs.

    This suggests early dog exposure may help protect children who are genetically more likely to develop eczema.

    What about asthma?

    When it comes to asthma, the story gets trickier.

    One 2001 study followed more than 1,000 children in the United States from birth to age 13. It found those living with dogs indoors were less likely to develop frequent wheezing – a common asthma symptom – but only if they didn’t have a family history of asthma.

    A Korean study from 2021 found those who had dogs during childhood were less likely to develop allergies. But they had a slightly higher risk of non-allergic wheeze — a type of breathing difficulty usually caused by airway irritation or infections (not allergens).

    This suggests while growing up with a dog may protect against allergic conditions, such as asthma, it may increase the chance of certain non-allergic respiratory symptoms.

    What about cats?

    It’s challenging to tease apart the specific effects of cats versus dogs, since many early studies grouped all furry pets together.

    But in studies that have looked at them separately, living with cats didn’t seem to reduce allergy risk.

    One potential reason is cats and dogs carry very different microbes, which may influence how they shape the household environment.

    Cats and dogs carry very different microbes, which may influence how they shape the household environment.
    Photo by Mochamad Reza Aditya on Unsplash

    So, should you get a pet?

    If you’re already thinking about getting a dog, there’s decent evidence early exposure could reduce your child’s risk of eczema, and possibly other allergic conditions too.

    It’s not a guarantee, but a potential bonus – alongside companionship, joy and never having to worry about what to do with leftovers.

    And if a dog’s not on the cards, don’t worry. Spending time outdoors, encouraging messy play, and avoiding overuse of disinfectants can all help build a more resilient immune response.

    Samantha Chan has served on advisory boards for CSL Behring. She is in receipt of funding from the Allergy and Immunology Foundation Australia and Walter & Eliza Hall Institute. She is affiliated with the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. She is a physician for the Snow Centre for Immune Health, funded by the Snow Medical Research Foundation.

    In the past five years, Jo Douglass has served on advisory boards, provided advice or undertaken presentations on behalf of Astra-Zeneca P/L, GSK, CSL, Stallergenes, Immunosis P/L , Novartis and Sanofi. She is in receipt of funding from the Medical Research Future Fund for studies in allergic asthma. She is a clinical co-director of the Snow Centre for Immune Health, funded by the Snow Medical Research Foundation.

    – ref. If you have a pet as a kid, does this lower your risk of asthma and eczema? – https://theconversation.com/if-you-have-a-pet-as-a-kid-does-this-lower-your-risk-of-asthma-and-eczema-258581

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations (UN) warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan as displacement, hunger and disease escalate

    Source: APO

    The situation is particularly dire in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, which has witnessed some of the worst episodes of the ongoing conflict between rival militaries.

    Those remaining in El Fasher are facing “extreme shortages” of food and clean water, with markets repeatedly disrupted, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York.

    Across the city, nearly 40 per cent of children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, including 11 per cent with severe acute malnutrition.

    Most of the surrounding water infrastructure has also been destroyed or rendered non-functional due to minimal maintenance and fuel shortages, Mr. Dujarric added.  

    El Fasher displacement

    Since April 2023, an estimated 780,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher town and the nearby Zamzam displacement camps, including nearly 500,000 in April and May of this year.

    Famine conditions have been confirmed in the area since last August.

    About three-quarters of Zamzam camp’s residents fled to various locations across Tawila, where the UN and its partners have scaled up critical humanitarian assistance.

    Cholera outbreak continues

    Mr. Dujarric further warned that the breakdown of water and sanitation services, combined with low vaccination coverage, has sharply increased the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera.

    So far this year, Sudan has reported more than 32,000 suspected cholera cases.

    According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cholera cases continue to rise across Darfur, with over 300 suspected cases and more than two dozen deaths reported in South Darfur state last week alone.

    “Conflict and collapsing infrastructure continue to drive the spread of the disease and impede response efforts,” Mr. Dujarric stressed.

    Unprecedented and complex crisis

    Since war erupted between the former allies-turned-rivals, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than 12 million forced to flee their homes – including approximately four million as refugees in neighbouring countries.

    The crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of extreme vulnerability, as the country remains highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change and disasters.

    From severe droughts to deadly floods, the compounded effects of conflict and environmental instability are pushing communities to the brink, leaving them struggling to survive. Famine has already been declared in some parts of the country, putting millions of lives at risk.

    Lack of resources hamstring response

    Despite growing needs, the $4.2 billion humanitarian response plan for 2025, which aims to assist around 21 million of the most vulnerable people, remains only 21 per cent funded, having received $896 million received so far.

    Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, underscored the gravity of the situation in El Fasher.

    Civilians in the area remain cut off from aid and face the risk of starvation, he said in a post on social media.

    Appealing for an urgent humanitarian pause, he warned that that “every day without access costs lives.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Condemns Trump Administration’s Cancelling of TPS Protections for Nicaraguans and Hondurans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released a statement following new reporting on the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for tens of thousands of immigrants from Nicaragua and Honduras—putting them at risk of deportation and tearing families apart.
    “TPS recipients from Nicaragua and Honduras fled devastation more than 20 years ago, and they have since built their lives in the U.S. — raising children, working and contributing to our economy, and enriching our communities,” said Senator Rosen. “Ending protections for law-abiding TPS recipients without comprehensive immigration reform that gives them a pathway to citizenship is cruel and reckless. This unconscionable action shows the lengths Donald Trump will go to push his extreme anti-immigrant agenda and rip families apart. It’s more important than ever before that Congress passes the SECURE Act, so we can permanently protect TPS recipients and their families”
    Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for protecting TPS recipients and fighting back against Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities. She recently helped introduce the SECURE Act to provide permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for TPS recipients. After the Supreme Court allowed Trump to revoke TPS for Venezuelans, Senator Rosen condemned the decision for putting families back into harm’s way. She has also urged the executive branch to act, joining colleagues in 2021 in calling on the Biden administration to expand and utilize TPS to protect vulnerable populations facing unsafe conditions in their home countries. Senator Rosen continues working to ensure immigrant families in Nevada and across the country are treated with dignity, compassion, and fairness under the law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New affordable homes open in Qualicum Beach

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    People living in Qualicum Beach with low to moderate incomes have access to 56 new affordable homes with the opening of the Residences at Qualicum Station.

    “With costs rising, it’s more important than ever that people have an affordable, stable place to call home,” said Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “More new rentals are being built than ever, helping families, seniors and individuals build and strengthen ties to the community they love. We’ll keep working with all levels of government to get homes built that fit people’s needs and budgets.”

    Located at 136 Village Way W., the new building features an apartment building with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, as well as seven three-bedroom town homes, each with their own fenced yard. Rents vary based on income and unit size, starting at $445 for a studio. Rents are subsidized for 70% of the units in the building so that rent is set at 30% of gross monthly income. The remainder of the units are at market rent for people with moderate incomes, ranging from $1,100 for a studio, to $2,200 for a three-bedroom unit.

    The homes were built with a budget of approximately $22 million. They were delivered by the Province, through BC Housing, using the Community Housing Fund in partnership with the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). The Town of Qualicum Beach, along with the Qualicum-Parksville Kiwanis Housing Society and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities also supported the development.

     “The federal government is pleased to have contributed more than $12 million through the Affordable Housing Fund to this important project,” said Stephanie McLean, Canada’s Secretary of State (Seniors) and MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. “With this investment, more residents in Qualicum Beach will have access to affordable, sustainable homes where they can put down roots and build a future. This project demonstrates how partnerships between all levels of government and non-profit organizations are helping to address the housing challenge for Canadians.”

    The building is owned by the Qualicum-Parksville Kiwanis Housing Society and was designed to support people struggling to find affordable housing in the community, including seniors, families and people with disabilities. The building opened in May 2025 and is accepting rental applications.

    “The Town of Qualicum Beach is proud to contribute to the development of the Residences at Qualicum Station, a key advancement in affordable housing in our community,” said Teunis Westbroek, mayor of Qualicum Beach. “This development ensures our residents have access to safe and affordable homes, creating a stronger, more inclusive community.”

    This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has more than 93,250 homes delivered or underway, including 280 new homes in Oceanside.

    Quotes:

    Dana Lajeunesse, B.C.’s parliamentary secretary for accessibility —

    “Seniors, families and people with disabilities in Qualicum Beach should have access to safe, affordable housing where they feel welcomed and supported. This project shows how all levels of government can work collaboratively with the non-profit housing sector to build inclusive communities and make our province stronger and more accessible to everyone.”

    Stephanie Higginson, MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside —

    “At a time of economic uncertainty, with costs rising, it’s more important than ever that people have an affordable place to rent. With these 56 new rentals in Qualicum Beach, the people who make our community such a vibrant place to live and work will have a home to call their own.”

    Scott Rodway, chair, Qualicum-Parksville Kiwanis Housing Society Board —

    “The Qualicum-Parksville Kiwanis Housing Society is pleased to be the developer and operator of the Residences at Qualicum Station. We thank the town, the Province (BC Housing) and the Government of Canada (CMHC) for their support and assistance in completing this much-needed addition to the housing options required to meet the needs of our town’s residents.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about how rents are set for developments supported through the Community Housing Fund Program, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/projects-partners/Building-BC/CHF

    To learn more about the B.C. government’s new Homes for People action plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436

    To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for people in British Columbia, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/

    A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available here: https://www.bchousing.org/projects-partners/Building-BC/homes-for-BC

    To learn how BC Housing is helping to build strong, inclusive housing communities, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/podcast

    For the most-requested Government of Canada housing information, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/finance/manage/housing.html

    Progress on programs and initiatives is updated quarterly here: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/housing-logement/ptch-csd/index-eng.html

    To learn more about the Housing and Infrastructure Project Map, which shows the affordable housing projects developed so far, visit: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: ICE and CBP Must End Unlawful Practices in Los Angeles Immediately

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today led a multistate coalition in submitting an amicus brief in Vasquez Perdomo et al. v Noem et al., supporting plaintiffs seeking a temporary restraining order to enjoin the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from engaging in unconstitutional and unlawful stops of Los Angeles residents during immigration sweeps. The lawsuit comes amid the Trump Administration conducting aggressive, militaristic immigration raids in Los Angeles that have terrified immigrant and non-immigrant residents alike, chilled community members’ participation in civic society, and impeded law enforcement and public safety. 

    “The actions of ICE and CBP during the raids in Los Angeles are part of a cruel and familiar pattern of attacks on our immigrant communities by an administration that thrives on fear and division,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Let me be crystal clear: These raids are not about safety or justice. They are about meeting enforcement quotas and striking fear in our communities. We won’t be silent. We won’t back down. We will continue to hold the federal government accountable when it violates the Constitution and federal law.” 

    “The Fourth Amendment protects every person from unreasonable searches and seizures,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Instead of targeting dangerous criminals, federal agents are detaining U.S. citizens, ripping families apart, and vanishing people to meet indiscriminate arrest quotas without regard to due process and constitutional rights that protect all of us from cruelty and injustice. Their actions imperil the fabric of our democracy, society, and economy. This isn’t law and order — it’s cruelty and chaos. We stand solidly in support of progress, of the law, and the foundation upon which our founding fathers built this great nation.”

    During his presidential campaign, President Donald Trump promised an aggressive and militarized crackdown on undocumented immigration, praising a 1954 enforcement initiative under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, offensively named “Operation Wetback,” that involved the mass arrest and deportation of 300,000 people, including U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, history is repeating itself. Masked immigration agents are conducting unannounced enforcement actions throughout California communities and, in all too many instances, stopping residents without so much as a reasonable suspicion of unlawful conduct, leaving people afraid to leave their homes. The dragnet has resulted in U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained and has created a culture of fear and COVID-style ghost towns.

    In their motion for a temporary restraining order, plaintiffs allege that ICE and CBP have a policy and practice of engaging in unconstitutional stops that are not based on a reasonable, individualized suspicion of unlawful presence, but are instead based on racial profiling.

    In today’s amicus brief, the attorneys general support the plaintiffs, arguing that preliminary injunctive relief is in the public interest because: 

    • CBP and ICE engaging in unlawful stops of Californians without a reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity has harmed local economies, public health, and several other core facets of daily life.
    • Federal law enforcement’s tactics in conducting these stops, which include wearing masks and concealing the law enforcement entity they work for, have impeded local law enforcement and threatened public safety. 

    This amicus brief comes after Attorney General Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging the President’s order to federalize the California National Guard and redirect hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles. 

    In submitting the brief, Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

    A copy of the amicus brief, which is subject to court approval, can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Programme Management Officer, P-4, Bridgetown

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Apply here

    Org. Setting and Reporting

    Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 160 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. This project position is based in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Programme Officer reports to the Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for America and the Caribbean, who is based in Panama City, Panama.

    Responsibilities

    Within delegated authority, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

    • Develops, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects in the Caribbean region, etc.; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; hire and supervise staff and consultants, built and sustain partnerships, ensures follow-up actions.
    • Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change.
    • Provides substantive support to intergovernmental processes dealing with risk reduction by: preparing inputs for reports /processes of intergovernmental bodies; following intergovernmental meetings and preparing summary reports; preparing inputs to statements by members of the bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings; assisting in the organization of panels, round tables, etc. on risk reduction and resilience.
    • Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
    • Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies,
    • Generates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions. • Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, talking points, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
    • Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
    • Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. Upon delegation from the Chief of the Regional office, participates in regional or national meetings on the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the regional.
    • Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
    • Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, annual reports, impact stories etc.). Ensures that the outputs produced meet high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data; and that they comply with relevant organizational mandates.
    • Serves as the contact point for the Santiago Network on loss and damage for the Caribbean region in liaison with the SN secretariat.
    • Performs other duties as required.

    Competencies

    Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation or other relevant specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

    Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

    Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

    Education

    Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, climate change or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

    Work Experience

    A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area is required. At least three (3) years of experience in disaster risk reduction, resilience building, or climate change adaptation is required. At least two (2) years of experience in the English-speaking Caribbean region is desirable.

    Languages

    English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish or French is desirable.

    Assessment

    Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

    Special Notice

    This is a project post. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal or extension thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In line with the overall United Nations policy, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture which embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the organization, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies and standards of conduct. Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

    United Nations Considerations

    According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

    No Fee

    THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

    Apply here

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: ‘Unbearable’ suffering continues, UN official tells Security Council

    Source: United Nations 4

    Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East Khaled Khiari said more than 1,000 Palestinians had been killed since mid-June alone, many of them while seeking aid.

    Citing figures from the Gazan health authorities, he reported that the total number of Palestinian fatalities since 7 October 2023 had surpassed 56,500.

    “The level of suffering and brutality in Gaza is unbearable,” Mr. Khiari said. “The continued collective punishment of the Palestinian people is unjustifiable.”

    Killed trying to access aid

    Mr. Khiari cited multiple incidents involving the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) opening fire near food distribution points.

    On 17 June, at least 50 people were killed and 200 injured in Khan Younis when an IDF tank opened fire on a crowd waiting for UN World Food Programme (WFP) aid trucks.

    Once again a week later, IDF troops reportedly opened fire near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, this time killing 49 Palestinians and injuring 197 others.

    “We strongly condemn the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza,” Mr. Khiari said. “We call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.”

    He emphasised that the UN “will not participate in any aid delivery modality that does not comply with the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality,” a sentiment which other UN officials have repeatedly said as well.

    Strong condemnation

    Mr. Khiari reiterated the UN’s strong condemnation of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for their attacks in Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and led to more than 250 being taken hostage. Fifty hostages, including one woman, remain in captivity.

    “Nothing can justify these acts of terror. We remain appalled that hostages may be subjected to ongoing ill-treatment and that the bodies of hostages continue to be withheld,” he said.

    At the same time, he also condemned “the widespread killing and injury of civilians in Gaza, including children and women, and the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and mosques.”

    Rising violence in the West Bank

    In the occupied West Bank, Israeli raids and settler violence have escalated.  

    Mr. Khiari reported that a 15-year-old boy and an elderly woman were killed in separate incidents on 25 June. Armed settlers also killed several Palestinians during attacks in Surif and Kafr Malik.

    “The escalating violence in the occupied West Bank is alarming,” Khiari said, warning that military operations and settler expansion are leading to fatalities, displacement and destruction.

    Iran-Israel ceasefire brings hope to the region

    Mr. Khiari concluded his briefing with comments on the wider Middle East region, particularly the recent flare-up between Israel and Iran.

    He welcomed the 24 June ceasefire agreement between the two countries, announced by US President Donald Trump, and credited US and Qatari mediation.

    “We hope that this ceasefire can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region – nowhere is this more needed than in Gaza,” he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Crapo: One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers on America-First Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the President signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law:

    “Today, as we celebrate the creation of our extraordinary country and the independence on which it was formed, we have cause for additional celebration: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act being signed into law. 

    “This landmark legislation fulfills President Trump and Congress’s promises to the American people.  It makes permanent the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts and delivers additional tax relief to hardworking Idahoans while investing in our border, modernizing our military and restoring American energy dominance. 

    “It also takes significant steps to get our fiscal house in order, reducing federal spending by over $1.5 trillion and delivering over $400 billion in deficit reduction.  When taking the pro-growth economic effects of Trump’s agenda into account, which the Council of Economic Advisers estimates will increase federal revenues by more than $4 trillion, we are achieving nearly $4.5 trillion in deficit reduction.

    “This bill also improves and strengthens programs like Medicaid by targeting waste, fraud and abuse, ensuring it remains financially viable for those it was designed to help.  It also delivers significant new tax relief to low- and middle-class families and workers through policies like a boosted standard deduction, increased tax benefits for child care, no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime and tax relief for seniors.  

    “These are the policies the American people voted for, and they will make our country safer, stronger and more prosperous.  On this and every Fourth of July, may God continue to bless America and our enduring exceptionalism.” 

    As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal tax and federal health care policy, Crapo is one of the chief architects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  For more information on the provisions within the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction, click HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –