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Category: India

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Members of N.M. Delegation Call on Trump Administration Demanding Answers on Reported Suspension of Medical Services at Gallup Indian Medical Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Recent Reporting Indicates Trump Administration Bureaucratic Hurdles Are Causing Delays and Reductions in Patient Care at Gallup Indian Medical Center

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) called on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Indian Health Service (IHS) Acting Director Benjamin Smith demanding answers regarding recent reports that medical services at the Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) have been suspended or reduced. In the letter, the lawmakers highlight how IHS bureaucratic red tape has made it harder and more expensive for GIMC to deliver timely, effective care and call on HHS and IHS to act swiftly to reverse these harmful decisions and restore critical services.

    “We write today concerned about recent reports that medical services at the Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) have been suspended or reduced, including critical ultrasound services, due to a new Presidential Appointee Approver and Departmental Efficiency Review (PAA-DER) policy in place as of June 30, 2025,” wrote the lawmakers.

    “Unfortunately, these challenges at GIMC are not in isolation, but rather exemplify a disturbing pattern of care disruptions due to administrative delays across the IHS. In short, policies such as PAA-DER are resulting in the exact opposite of efficiency: wasted resources, staffing shortages, and preventable delays in care,” continued the lawmakers.

    “The current situation is unacceptable. Tribal communities deserve the same standard of care and operational efficiency afforded to all Americans. HHS and IHS must act swiftly to reverse these harmful decisions, restore critical services, and fulfill the obligations that the United States has pledged to uphold,” concluded the lawmakers.

    Read the full letter here or below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy and Acting Director Smith:

    We write today concerned about recent reports that medical services at the Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) have been suspended or reduced, including critical ultrasound services, due to a new Presidential Appointee Approver and Departmental Efficiency Review (PAA-DER) policy in place as of June 30, 2025.

    PAA-DER is reportedly effective throughout the Indian Health Service (IHS), requiring that all IHS contracts and requisitions undergo additional layers of approval. The resulting bottleneck is delaying contract renewals for essential personnel, equipment, and services while also delaying the ability of health care workers to immediately diagnose urgent conditions and putting patients at risk. At GIMC, for example, a patient presenting after hours had to be unnecessarily admitted overnight due to the facility’s inability to access diagnostic imaging. Similar delays have affected general surgery, labor and delivery care, and infectious disease testing. GIMC has faced staffing challenges for years, and these new bureaucratic hurdles imposed by PAA-DER are making it harder and more expensive for GIMC to deliver timely, effective care. Unfortunately, these challenges at GIMC are not in isolation, but rather exemplify a disturbing pattern of care disruptions due to administrative delays across the IHS. In short, policies such as PAA-DER are resulting in the exact opposite of efficiency: wasted resources, staffing shortages, and preventable delays in care.

    You have made clear commitments to Tribal Nations and Tribal citizens that you would protect their health care interests and uphold the trust and treaty obligations in your tenure as HHS Secretary. But policies such as PAA-DER do not align with those commitments; Tribal leaders and health experts have said that PAA-DER in particular has created a system that undermines the federal government’s responsibility and forces Tribes to bear the burden of failed processes they did not create. The ongoing service disruptions are not just bureaucratic missteps, but they are threats to lives and to Tribal sovereignty.

    In light of these impediments to service delivery at GIMC, we request that you answer the following questions:

    1. When did GIMC begin scaling back ultrasound services, general surgery, labor and delivery care, and other medical services? Please be specific.
    2. Prior to GIMC’s recent reductions in service, how many open positions did GIMC have in affected departments? Please include a breakdown by department, if possible.
    3. After GIMC’s recent reductions in service, how many open positions did GIMC have in affected departments? Please include a breakdown by department, if possible.
    4. Please identify any efforts IHS is taking to address longstanding staffing shortages in affected departments.
    5. Following the recent reductions in services, has IHS taken any steps to address the scaling back of ultrasound services at GIMC? If not, why not?
    6. Is IHS taking any steps to address the scaling back of general surgery, labor and delivery care, and reduction in medical-surgical beds at GIMC? If not, why not?
    7. How does IHS plan to address longstanding and new recruitment and retention challenges at GIMC? Please include any specific actions taken to address staffing challenges impacting ultrasound, surgical, and labor and delivery services.
    8. Are you aware of any other challenges faced by GIMC resulting in impacts to services? If so, please describe.

    In addition, we urge HHS to immediately reverse the decisions that have limited or cut services at GIMC and other HIS facilities. Specifically, we request that you:

    1. Ensure all pending contracts and requisitions currently held up by PAA-DER, particularly those impacting direct patient care, at GIMC are expedited.
    2. Exempt IHS from the PAA-DER process, recognizing the unique statutory and trust responsibilities the federal government holds to Tribes.

    The current situation is unacceptable. Tribal communities deserve the same standard of care and operational efficiency afforded to all Americans. HHS and IHS must act swiftly to reverse these harmful decisions, restore critical services, and fulfill the obligations that the United States has pledged to uphold.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Myanmar forms interim government before election but top general still in charge

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Myanmar’s military on Thursday nominally transferred power to a civilian-led interim government ahead of a planned December election, with the junta chief remaining in charge of the war-torn country in his other role as acting president.

    An announcement in state media said a decree that granted power to the military after its 2021 coup had been cancelled and a caretaker administration had been formed alongside a special commission to oversee the election.

    The move signals no change to the status quo in Myanmar, with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing holding on to all major levers of power as acting president while retaining his position as chief of the armed forces.

    A state of emergency in place since the coup, which was due to expire on Thursday after seven extensions, has now been lifted, said Zaw Min Tun, a government spokesperson.

    “The interim president and commander in chief said this upcoming six months are the time to prepare and host the election,” he told state media.

    Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected civilian government plunged the Southeast Asian nation into civil war, with the military fighting to contain a rebellion and accused of widespread atrocities, which it denies.

    The election has been dismissed by Western governments as a sham to entrench the generals’ power and is expected to be dominated by proxies of the military, with opposition groups either barred from running or refusing to take part.

    David Mathieson, an independent Myanmar-focused analyst, said the change in power was cosmetic and those in charge would continue to be abusive and repressive.

    “They are just rearranging the same pieces and calling the regime a new name,” he said. “Nothing will change in the near term, but this is part of preparations for an election which we don’t know much about.”

    WAR RAGING

    The extent of the civil war’s impact on the planned election remains unclear. In an effort to create voter rolls, the junta held a nationwide census last year but was only about to conduct it in 145 out of Myanmar’s 330 townships – reflecting its lack of control over swathes of the country.

    Established ethnic minority armies and new armed groups have mounted an unprecedented resistance against the military, gaining control of significant territory, including much of the country’s borderlands.

    China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday it supported Myanmar’s efforts to achieve peace and reconciliation.

    “China supports Myanmar’s development path in line with its national conditions and Myanmar’s steady advancement of its domestic political agenda,” spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

    The military has killed more than 6,000 people and arbitrarily detained over 20,000 since the coup, according to Amnesty International. Myanmar has also seen a return to judicial executions and more than 3.5 million people are internally displaced, an Amnesty report said in January.

    Myanmar’s military has dismissed allegations of abuses as Western disinformation.

    It justified its 2021 coup as a necessary intervention following what it said was widespread fraud in an election three months earlier that was won decisively by Suu Kyi’s now defunct ruling party.

    Election monitoring organisations found no evidence of fraud that would have changed the outcome.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi to unveil development projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore in Varanasi on August 2

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to gift a major developmental boost to his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, by inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore on August 2. The initiatives span across infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, cultural preservation, urban development, and rural welfare, aiming at holistic urban transformation and improved quality of life for residents.

    The Prime Minister will address the public and unveil key infrastructure projects including the widening and strengthening of the Varanasi–Bhadohi road, Chhitauni–Shool Tankeshwar road, and the inauguration of a railway overbridge at Hardattpur to decongest the Mohan Sarai–Adalpura Road. He will also lay the foundation for road development projects across Dalmandi, Lahartara-Kotwa, Gangapur, and Babatpur, along with two new railway overbridges at Level Crossing 22C and Khalispur Yard.

    To enhance the region’s electricity infrastructure, PM Modi will launch the Smart Distribution Project and underground electrification works worth over Rs 880 crore.

    In a significant boost to tourism and cultural heritage, PM Modi will inaugurate redevelopment works at eight riverfront kuccha ghats, Kalika Dham, Rangildas Kutiya pond and ghat, and Durgakund. He will also lay the foundation stone for the restoration of Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple, redevelopment of Munshi Premchand’s ancestral home in Lamahi, development of Karkhiyaon – the birthplace of several freedom fighters – and the upgradation of museums and city facility centres in Sarnath, Rishi Mandvi, and Ramnagar zones.

    In line with environmental sustainability, the Prime Minister will launch the development of an urban Miyawaki forest at Kanchanpur and the beautification of Shaheed Udyan and 21 additional parks. Water purification and maintenance works will also be initiated at various historical kunds, including Ramkund and Mandakini.

    To bolster rural water access, PM Modi will inaugurate 47 rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

    As part of his commitment to strengthening education, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the upgradation of 53 schools within the municipal limits and lay the foundation stone for several educational infrastructure projects, including a new district library and rejuvenation of government high schools.

    In the health sector, PM Modi will inaugurate state-of-the-art facilities at Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, including robotic surgery and CT scan installations. He will also lay the foundation for a new Homoeopathic College and Hospital, and open an Animal Birth Control Centre and Dog Care Facility.

    For sports and law enforcement, a new synthetic hockey turf will be inaugurated at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Sports Stadium, while a 300-capacity Multipurpose Hall at PAC Ramnagar and Quick Response Team (QRT) Barracks will be unveiled.

    In a major announcement for farmers, the Prime Minister will release the 20th instalment of PM-KISAN, transferring over Rs 20,500 crore to more than 9.7 crore farmers across India. This will take the cumulative disbursement under the scheme to over Rs 3.90 lakh crore.

    To engage the youth and promote local talent, PM Modi will launch the registration portal for the upcoming Kashi Sansad Pratiyogita, covering competitions in sketching, painting, photography, sports, knowledge, and employment-related activities.

    The event will also witness the distribution of over 7,400 assistive aids to Divyangjan and elderly beneficiaries, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to inclusivity and social welfare.

  • Iranian president says country is on brink of dire water crisis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned against excessive water consumption which he said was untenable for the country and could leave Tehran facing severe shortages by September, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

    Faced with resource mismanagement and over-consumption, Iran has faced recurrent electricity, gas and water shortages during peak demand months.

    “In Tehran, if we cannot manage and people do not cooperate in controlling consumption, there won’t be any water in dams by September or October,” Pezeshkian said on Thursday.

    The country has faced drought conditions for the last five years according to the director of the Environmental Protection Organisation Sheena Ansari and the Meteorological Organisation recorded a 40% drop in rainfall over the last four months compared to a long-term average.

    “Neglecting sustainable development has led to the fact that we are now facing numerous environmental problems like water stress,” Ansari told state media on Thursday.

    Excessive water consumption represents a major challenge for water management in Iran, with the head of Tehran province’s water and wastewater company Mohsen Ardakani telling Mehr news agency that 70% of Tehran residents consume more than the standard 130 litres a day.

    Natural resource management has been a chronic challenge for authorities, whether it is natural gas consumption or water use, as solutions require major reforms, notably in the agricultural sector which represents as much as 80% of water consumption.

    On Wednesday, Pezeshkian rejected a government proposal to impose a day-off on Wednesdays or having a one-week holiday during the summer, saying that “closing down is a cover-up and not a solution to the water shortage problem”.

    In the summer of 2021, protests took place against water shortages in southwestern Iran.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Habib Noorbhai, Professor (Health & Sports Science), University of Johannesburg

    If you were to walk through the corridors of some of the world’s leading cricket schools, you might hear the crack of leather on willow long before the bell for the end of the day rings.

    Across the cricketing world, elite schools have served as key feeder systems to national teams for decades. They provide young players with superior training facilities, high-level coaching and competitive playing opportunities.

    This tradition has served as cricket’s most dependable talent pipeline. But is it a strength or a symptom of exclusion?

    My recent study examined the school backgrounds of 1,080 elite men’s cricketers across eight countries over a 30-year period. It uncovered telling patterns.

    Read more: Cricket: children are the key to the future of the game, not broadcast rights

    Top elite cricket countries such as South Africa, England and Australia continue to draw heavily from private education systems. In these nations, cricket success seems almost tied to one’s school uniform.

    I argue that if cricket boards want to promote equity and competitiveness, they will need to broaden the talent search by investing in grassroots cricket infrastructure in under-resourced areas.

    For cricket to be a sport that anyone with talent can succeed in, there will need to be more school leagues and entry-level tournaments as well as targeted investment in community-based hubs and non-elite school zones.

    Findings

    South Africa is a case in point. My previous study in 2020 outlined that more than half of its national players at One-Day International (ODI) World Cups came from boys-only schools (mostly private).

    These schools are often well-resourced, with turf wickets, expert coaches and an embedded culture of competition. Unsurprisingly, the same schools tend to produce a high number of national team batters, as they offer longer game formats and better playing surfaces. Cricket’s colonial origins have influenced the structure and culture of school cricket being tied to a form of privilege.

    Read more: Elite boys’ schools still shape South Africa’s national cricket team

    In Australia and England, the story is not very different. Despite their efforts to diversify player sourcing, private schools still dominate. Even in cricketing nations that celebrate working-class grit, such as Australia, private school players continue to shape elite squads.

    The statistics say as much; for example: about 44% of Australian Ashes test series players since 2010 attended private schools, and for England, the figure is 45%. That’s not grassroots, it could be regarded as gated turf…

    Proportion of elite male cricketers by school type. Habib Noorbhai

    Yet not all countries follow this route. The West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka reflect very different models. Club cricket, informal play and community academies provide their players with opportunities to rise. These countries have lower reliance on private schools. Some of their finest players emerged from modest public schooling or neighbourhood cricketing networks.

    India provides an interesting hybrid. Although elite schools such as St. Xavier’s and Modern School contribute players, most national stars emerge from public institutions or small-town academies. The explosion of the Indian Premier League since 2008 has also democratised access, pulling in talent from previously overlooked and underdeveloped cities.

    In these regions, scouting is based on potential, not privilege.

    So why does this matter?

    At first glance, elite schools producing elite cricketers might appear logical. These institutions have the resources to nurture talent. But scratch beneath the surface and troubling questions appear.

    Are national teams truly reflecting their countries? Or are they simply echo chambers of social advantage?

    Read more: Cricket inequalities in England and Wales are untenable – our report shows how to rejuvenate the game

    In South Africa, almost every Black African cricketer to represent the country has come through a private school (often on scholarship). That suggests that talent without access remains potentially invisible. It also places unfair pressure on the few who make it through, as if they carry the hopes of entire communities.

    I found that in England, some county systems have started integrating players from state schools, but progress is slow. In New Zealand, where cricket is less centralised around private institutions, regional hubs and public schools have had more success in spreading opportunities. However, even there, Māori and Pasifika players remain underrepresented in elite squads.

    Four steps that can be taken

    1. One solution lies in recognising that schools don’t have a monopoly on talent. Cricket boards must increase investment in grassroots infrastructure, particularly in under-resourced areas. Setting up community hubs, supporting school-club partnerships and more regional competitions could discover hidden talent.

    2. Another step is to improve the visibility and reach of scouting networks. Too often, selection favours players from known institutions. By diversifying trial formats and leveraging technology (such as video submissions or performance-tracking apps), selectors can widen their net. It’s already happening in India, where IPL scouts visit the most unlikely of places.

    3. Coaching is another stumbling block. In many countries, high-level coaches are clustered in elite schools. National boards should consider optimising salaries as well as rotating certified coaches into public schools and regional academies. They should also ensure coaches are developed to be equipped to work with diverse learners and conditions.

    4. Technology offers other exciting possibilities too. Virtual simulations, motion tracking and AI-assisted video reviews are now common in high-performance centres. Making simplified versions available to lower-income schools could level the playing field. Imagine a township bowler in South Africa learning to analyse their technique using only a smartphone and a free app?

    Fairness in sport

    The conversation about schools and cricket is not just about numbers or stats. It is about fairness. Sport should be the great leveller, not another mechanism of exclusion. If cricket is to thrive, it needs to look beyond scoreboards and trophies. It must ask who gets to play and who never gets seen?

    Read more: Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?

    A batter from a village school in India, a wicket-keeper from a government school in Sri Lanka or a fast bowler in a South African township; each deserves the chance to be part of the national story. Cricket boards, policymakers and educators must work together to make that possible.

    The game will only grow when it welcomes players from all walks of life. That requires more than scholarships. It requires a reset of how we think about talent. Because the next cricket superstar may not wear a crest on their blazer. They may wear resilience on their sleeve.

    – Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport
    – https://theconversation.com/crickets-great-global-divide-elite-schools-still-shape-the-sport-261709

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Habib Noorbhai, Professor (Health & Sports Science), University of Johannesburg

    If you were to walk through the corridors of some of the world’s leading cricket schools, you might hear the crack of leather on willow long before the bell for the end of the day rings.

    Across the cricketing world, elite schools have served as key feeder systems to national teams for decades. They provide young players with superior training facilities, high-level coaching and competitive playing opportunities.

    This tradition has served as cricket’s most dependable talent pipeline. But is it a strength or a symptom of exclusion?

    My recent study examined the school backgrounds of 1,080 elite men’s cricketers across eight countries over a 30-year period. It uncovered telling patterns.



    Read more:
    Cricket: children are the key to the future of the game, not broadcast rights

    Top elite cricket countries such as South Africa, England and Australia continue to draw heavily from private education systems. In these nations, cricket success seems almost tied to one’s school uniform.

    I argue that if cricket boards want to promote equity and competitiveness, they will need to broaden the talent search by investing in grassroots cricket infrastructure in under-resourced areas.

    For cricket to be a sport that anyone with talent can succeed in, there will need to be more school leagues and entry-level tournaments as well as targeted investment in community-based hubs and non-elite school zones.

    Findings

    South Africa is a case in point. My previous study in 2020 outlined that more than half of its national players at One-Day International (ODI) World Cups came from boys-only schools (mostly private).

    These schools are often well-resourced, with turf wickets, expert coaches and an embedded culture of competition. Unsurprisingly, the same schools tend to produce a high number of national team batters, as they offer longer game formats and better playing surfaces. Cricket’s colonial origins have influenced the structure and culture of school cricket being tied to a form of privilege.



    Read more:
    Elite boys’ schools still shape South Africa’s national cricket team

    In Australia and England, the story is not very different. Despite their efforts to diversify player sourcing, private schools still dominate. Even in cricketing nations that celebrate working-class grit, such as Australia, private school players continue to shape elite squads.

    The statistics say as much; for example: about 44% of Australian Ashes test series players since 2010 attended private schools, and for England, the figure is 45%. That’s not grassroots, it could be regarded as gated turf…

    Yet not all countries follow this route. The West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka reflect very different models. Club cricket, informal play and community academies provide their players with opportunities to rise. These countries have lower reliance on private schools. Some of their finest players emerged from modest public schooling or neighbourhood cricketing networks.

    India provides an interesting hybrid. Although elite schools such as St. Xavier’s and Modern School contribute players, most national stars emerge from public institutions or small-town academies. The explosion of the Indian Premier League since 2008 has also democratised access, pulling in talent from previously overlooked and underdeveloped cities.

    In these regions, scouting is based on potential, not privilege.

    So why does this matter?

    At first glance, elite schools producing elite cricketers might appear logical. These institutions have the resources to nurture talent. But scratch beneath the surface and troubling questions appear.

    Are national teams truly reflecting their countries? Or are they simply echo chambers of social advantage?



    Read more:
    Cricket inequalities in England and Wales are untenable – our report shows how to rejuvenate the game

    In South Africa, almost every Black African cricketer to represent the country has come through a private school (often on scholarship). That suggests that talent without access remains potentially invisible. It also places unfair pressure on the few who make it through, as if they carry the hopes of entire communities.

    I found that in England, some county systems have started integrating players from state schools, but progress is slow. In New Zealand, where cricket is less centralised around private institutions, regional hubs and public schools have had more success in spreading opportunities. However, even there, Māori and Pasifika players remain underrepresented in elite squads.

    Four steps that can be taken

    1. One solution lies in recognising that schools don’t have a monopoly on talent. Cricket boards must increase investment in grassroots infrastructure, particularly in under-resourced areas. Setting up community hubs, supporting school-club partnerships and more regional competitions could discover hidden talent.

    2. Another step is to improve the visibility and reach of scouting networks. Too often, selection favours players from known institutions. By diversifying trial formats and leveraging technology (such as video submissions or performance-tracking apps), selectors can widen their net. It’s already happening in India, where IPL scouts visit the most unlikely of places.

    3. Coaching is another stumbling block. In many countries, high-level coaches are clustered in elite schools. National boards should consider optimising salaries as well as rotating certified coaches into public schools and regional academies. They should also ensure coaches are developed to be equipped to work with diverse learners and conditions.

    4. Technology offers other exciting possibilities too. Virtual simulations, motion tracking and AI-assisted video reviews are now common in high-performance centres. Making simplified versions available to lower-income schools could level the playing field. Imagine a township bowler in South Africa learning to analyse their technique using only a smartphone and a free app?

    Fairness in sport

    The conversation about schools and cricket is not just about numbers or stats. It is about fairness. Sport should be the great leveller, not another mechanism of exclusion. If cricket is to thrive, it needs to look beyond scoreboards and trophies. It must ask who gets to play and who never gets seen?



    Read more:
    Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?

    A batter from a village school in India, a wicket-keeper from a government school in Sri Lanka or a fast bowler in a South African township; each deserves the chance to be part of the national story. Cricket boards, policymakers and educators must work together to make that possible.

    The game will only grow when it welcomes players from all walks of life. That requires more than scholarships. It requires a reset of how we think about talent. Because the next cricket superstar may not wear a crest on their blazer. They may wear resilience on their sleeve.

    Habib Noorbhai 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. Cricket’s great global divide: elite schools still shape the sport – https://theconversation.com/crickets-great-global-divide-elite-schools-still-shape-the-sport-261709

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUROPE/ENGLAND – Saint John Henry Newman, from Propaganda Fide seminarian to Doctor of the Church

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 31 July 2025

    Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Saint John Henry Newman will be proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. This was established by Pope Leo XIV, who confirmed the decision of the Plenary Session of Cardinals and Bishops, Members of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. The English Cardinal, founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England, will be the 38th saint to hold the title of Doctor.Already in 2010, during his apostolic journey to England, Benedict XVI, speaking to journalists during the papal flight, defined Newman as “a figure of a Doctor of the Church for us and for all,” as well as “a bridge between Anglicans and Catholics” (see Fides, 17/9/2010).Born in London on February 21, 1801, to an Anglican family, Newman studied at Great Ealing School, where he fervently embraced Calvinist doctrines. In June 1824, he was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church and, the following year, a priest. In 1832, he accompanied his friend, Father Froude, on a trip to southern Europe.At the English College in Rome, he met Father Nicholas Wiseman, the future Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. Between 1833 and 1841, Newman and other exponents of the so-called “Oxford Movement” wrote the “Tracts for the Times,” a collection of 90 essays written to support and attest to the Catholic identity of the Anglican Church. The texts were not well received, and the protests they provoked led the Bishop of Oxford to suspend publication of the Tracts. Condemned by the Hebdomadal Board of Oxford University and disavowed by 42 bishops, in April 1842 he retired with some friends to Littlemore to write the famous “Essay development of christian Doctrine.” After these experiences, his decision to join the Catholic Church fully matured.In 1846, he returned to Rome with some Anglicans who had converted to Catholicism. After careful consideration, he decided to join the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. He attended the Roman church of Chiesa Nuova and frequented the priests of that community. In 1845, he began his studies to become a priest at the College of Propaganda Fide, then located in the Palazzo Ferratini, overlooking Piazza di Spagna.Cardinal Ivan Dias (1936-2017), Prefect of the then Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, when inaugurating the Missionary Museum of Propaganda Fide in 2010, described the stay of the future Doctor of the Church in the palace designed by Bernini and Borromini as follows: “Newman describes in his letters the great care shown by Cardinal Fransoni, Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, by Monsignor Brunelli, his Secretary General, and by Father Bresciani, Rector of the Urban College, to make them feel at home, adapting everything to ‘English customs’. They were quite moved by the fact that their windows in Propaganda overlooked the church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, where Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal had appeared three years earlier to Alphonse Ratisbonne, on January 20, 1842: ‘It is so wonderful to be here in Propaganda is like a dream, and yet so calm, so secure, so happy, as if I had always belonged there, as if there had been no violent rupture or vicissitude in my life, indeed, calmer and happier than before.’The eminent theologian, Cardinal Dias further explained, “he found himself among young priests and seminarians, most of whom came from mission countries. Among the 120 or 150 resident students, 32 different languages were spoken. Newman remembers Indians, Africans, Babylonians, Scots, and Americans, and also Chinese (…) Egyptians, Albanians, Germans, and Irish.” He and Ambrose St. John were the only English students. John Henry Newman was ordained a Catholic priest in the Magi Chapel (in the Palace of Propaganda Fide) on May 30, 1847, and celebrated his first Mass in the upper chapel that now bears his name.”The chapel mentioned by Cardinal Dias, which today also houses a relic of the saint, future Doctor of the Church, is the work of Borromini. Conceived as an oratory for the first floor of the palace, Borromini created it with a vault decorated with angels’ heads, represented as six-winged seraphim. Today, on the right wall, you can admire a painting depicting Newman behind a reliquary containing some hairs of the English saint between two candlesticks. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 31/7/2025)

    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: By building the world’s biggest dam, China hopes to control more than just its water supply

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom Harper, Lecturer in International Relations, University of East London

    China’s already vast infrastructure programme has entered a new phase as building work starts on the Motuo hydropower project.

    The dam will consist of five cascade hydropower stations arranged from upstream to downstream and, once completed, will be the world’s largest source of hydroelectric power. It will be four times larger than China’s previous signature hydropower project, the Three Gorges Dam, which spans the Yangtse river in central China.

    The Chinese premier, Li Qiang, has described the proposed mega dam as the “project of the century”. In several ways, Li’s description is apt. The vast scale of the project is a reflection of China’s geopolitical status and ambitions.

    Possibly the most controversial aspect of the dam is its location. The site is on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau. This is connected to the Brahmaputra river which flows into the Indian border state of Arunachal Pradesh as well as Bangladesh. It is an important source of water for Bangladesh and India.

    Both nations have voiced concerns over the dam, particularly since it can potentially affect their water supplies. The tension with India over the dam is compounded by the fact that Arunachal Pradesh has been a focal point of Sino-Indian tensions. China claims the region, which it refers to as Zangnan, saying it is part of what it calls South Tibet.

    At the same time, the dam presents Beijing with a potentially formidable geopolitical tool in its dealings with the Indian government. The location of the dam means that it is possible for Beijing to restrict India’s water supply.

    This potential to control downstream water supply to another country has been demonstrated by the effects that earlier dam projects in the region have had on the nations of the Mekong river delta in 2019. As a result, this gives Beijing a significant degree of leverage over its neighbours.

    One country restricting water supply to put pressure on another is by no means unprecedented. In fact in April 2025, following a terror attack by Pakistan-based The Resistance Front in Kashmir, which killed 26 people (mainly tourists), India suspended the Indus waters treaty, restricting water supplies to Pakistani farmers in the region. So the potential for China’s dam to disrupt water flows will further compound the already tense geopolitics of southern Asia.

    Concrete titans

    The Motuo mega dam is an advertisement of China’s prowess when it comes to large-scale infrastructure projects. China’s expertise with massive infrastructure projects is a big part of modern Chinese diplomacy through its massive belt and road initiative.

    This involves joint ventures with many developing nations to build large-scale infrastructure, such as ports, rail systems and the like. It has caused much consternation in Washington and Brussels, which view these initiatives as a wider effort to build Chinese influence at their expense.

    The completion of the dam will will bring Beijing significant symbolic capital as a demonstration of China’s power and prosperity – an integral feature of the image of China that Beijing is very keen to promote. It can also be seen as a manifestation of both China’s aspiration and its longstanding fears.

    Harnessing the rivers

    The Motuo hydropower project also represents the latest chapter of China’s long battle for control of its rivers, a key story in the development of Chinese civilisation.

    Rivers such as the Yangtze have been at the heart of the prosperity of several Chinese dynasties (the Yangtse is still a major economic driver in modern China) and has devastated others. The massive Yangtse flood of 1441 threatened the stability of the Ming dynasty, while an estimated 2 million people died when the river flooded in 1931.

    France 24 report on the construction of the mega dam project.

    Such struggles have been embodied in Chinese mythology in the form of the Gun-Yu myth. This tells the story of the way floods displaced the population of ancient China, probably based on an actual flooding at Jishi Gorge on the Yellow River in what is now Qinghai province in 1920BC.

    This has led to the common motif of rivers needing human control to abate natural disaster, a theme present in much classical Chinese culture and poetry.

    The pursuit of controlling China’s rivers has also been one of the primary influences on the formation of the Chinese state, as characterised by the concept of zhishui 治水 (controlling the rivers). Efforts to control the Yangtze have shaped the centralised system of governance that has characterised China throughout its history. In this sense, the Motuo hydropower project represents the latest chapter in China’s quest to harness the power of its rivers.

    Such a quest remains imperative for China and its importance has been further underlined by the challenges of climate change, which has seen natural resources such as water becoming increasingly limited. The Ganges river has already been identified as one of the world’s water scarcity hotspots.

    As well as sustaining China’s population, the hydropower provided by the dam is another part of China’s wider push towards self-sufficiency. It’s estimated that the dam could generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year – about the same about produced by the whole UK. While this will meet the needs of the local population, it also further entrenches China’s ability to produce cheap electricity – something that has enabled China to become and remain a manufacturing superpower.

    Construction has only just begun, but Motuo hydropower project has already become a microcosm of China’s wider push towards development. It’s also a gamechanger in the geopolitics of Asia, giving China the potential to exert greater control in shaping the region’s water supplies. This in turn will give it greater power to shape the geopolitics of the region.

    At the same time, it is also the latest chapter of China’s longstanding quest to harness its waterways, which now has regional implications beyond anything China’s previous dynasties could imagine.

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

    Tom Harper 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. By building the world’s biggest dam, China hopes to control more than just its water supply – https://theconversation.com/by-building-the-worlds-biggest-dam-china-hopes-to-control-more-than-just-its-water-supply-261984

    MIL OSI –

  • Trump’s envoy meets Netanyahu for Gaza aid, ceasefire push

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday in a bid to salvage Gaza truce talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where a global hunger monitor has warned that famine is unfolding.

    Shortly after Witkoff’s arrival, President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social network: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!”

    Indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Doha ended in deadlock last week with the sides trading blame for the impasse and gaps lingering over issues including the extent of an Israeli military withdrawal.

    Witkoff arrived with Israel facing mounting international pressure over the widespread destruction of Gaza and constraints on aid in the territory, with Canada the latest Western power to say it will recognise a Palestinian state.

    Israel on Wednesday sent a response to Hamas’ latest amendments to a U.S. proposal that would see a 60-day ceasefire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a source familiar with the details said.

    There was no immediate comment from Hamas. Israeli officials have in recent days said Israel might declare that it would annex parts of Gaza if the stalemate continues.

    Gaza medical officials said at least 23 people were reported killed by Israeli fire across the enclave, including 12 people among crowds who had gathered to receive aid around the Netzarim corridor, an area held by Israeli troops in central Gaza.

    The Israeli military said that its troops had fired warning shots to disperse crowds that were endangering them with no casualties identified.

    Since the war began, the Gaza health ministry has recorded 156 deaths from starvation and malnutrition, most of them in recent weeks, including at least 90 children.

    Israel’s Public Broadcaster Kan said Witkoff would also visit an aid distribution site in Gaza.

    Confronted by rising international outrage over images of starving children, Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and designate secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine.

    CALLS ON HAMAS TO DISARM

    The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday the United Nations and its partners had been able to bring more food into Gaza in the first two days of pauses, but the volume was “still far from enough”.

    Even with more aid running through Gaza, residents face peril from Israeli forces and Palestinian looters when trying to reach the supplies.

    “I have tried several times to grab a sack of flour. The only time I managed to do so, someone with a knife froze me in the street and took it away, threatening to stab me,” one man from Deir Al-Balah told Reuters, asking not to be identified.

    With the number of Palestinians killed in almost two years of war passing 60,000 this week, pressure has been mounting in Gaza on Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel.

    “We can save thousands of lives and maybe the war wouldn’t resume,” Rami from Gaza City told Reuters via a chat app.

    Mothers of hostages led a protest outside Netanyahu’s office, calling on the government to end the war.

    “End this nightmare,” said Yael Engel-Lichi, whose nephew had been taken hostage and released in a previous ceasefire. Twenty of the 50 hostages still held by militants in Gaza are believed to still be alive.

    Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition includes two far-right parties who want to conquer Gaza and re-establish Jewish settlements there, has said he will not end the war until Hamas no longer rules the enclave and lays down its arms.

    Hamas has rejected calls to disarm.

    Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating the ceasefire efforts, backed a declaration on Tuesday by France and Saudi Arabia which outlined steps for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    The declaration says Hamas “must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority”, which is led by its rivals and exercises limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

    Israel has ruled out the Palestinian Authority gaining control of Gaza and on Thursday Defence Minister Israel Katz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin voiced support for annexing the West Bank – territory which the Palestinians seek for a state.

    Israel has denounced declarations by France, Britain and Canada since last week that they may recognise a Palestinian state, which Israel says amounts to rewarding Hamas for its October 7, 2023 assault on Israeli territory.

    That attack, when fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages back to Gaza, precipitated the war.

    German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, embarking on a visit to Israel, said negotiations for a two-state solution must begin but that for Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state would come at the end of that process.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi condoles demise of former Rashtra Sevika Samiti chief Pramila Tai Medhe

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of Pramila Tai Medhe, former pramukh sanchalika (chief) of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, the women’s wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

    In a post on X, PM Modi said, “I am deeply saddened by the demise of Pramila Tai Medhe Ji, who was the former pramukh sanchalika (chief) Rashtra Sevika Samiti. Her entire life was dedicated to the service of society and the nation. Her invaluable contributions to women’s empowerment and social work will always be remembered. May God provide strength to her family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti!”

    RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also mourned her passing. Speaking to ANI, he said, “Pramila Tai Medhe worked very hard. She struggled alone in the challenging conditions of North Purvanchal. She will always be remembered and continue to inspire us.”

    Medhe, the fourth Sanchalika of the organization, was 97 years old. She had been unwell for the past three months, and her condition worsened in the last 15 days. She passed away at 9:05 AM at the Devi Ahilya Mandir in Nagpur, where she resided, according to a statement by the Rashtra Sevika Samiti.

    In a post on X, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said, “I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Vandaniya Pramil Mausi Medhe Ji, the former chief director of Rashtra Sevika Samiti. I offer my heartfelt tribute to her. Pramil Mausi Ji made a significant contribution to expanding the work of the Samiti in India. Her entire life was dedicated to patriotism and awakening the power of women. While managing her teaching and job, she took on responsibilities at the branch, city, division, and state levels of Rashtra Sevika Samiti.”

    “As the All-India chief functionary of the Samiti, Pramil Mausi Ji travelled extensively across India and abroad. Her efforts in social awakening and women’s empowerment were remarkable. By traveling throughout the country, she worked towards organizing and awakening women’s strength. With her motherly personality, Mausi Ji engaged with volunteers, addressing their problems. Today, all of us volunteers have lost a motherly figure. The passing of Pramil Mausi has caused an irreparable loss to the country’s social sector and to millions of volunteers personally. May God grant peace to the departed soul. Om Shanti,” he added.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Judges question whether Trump tariffs are authorized by emergency powers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. appeals court judges sharply questioned on Thursday whether President Donald Trump’s tariffs were justified by the president’s emergency powers, after a lower court said he exceeded his authority with sweeping levies on imported goods.

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., is considering the legality of “reciprocal” tariffs that Trump imposed on a broad range of U.S. trading partners in April, as well as tariffs imposed in February against China, Canada and Mexico.

    In hearing arguments in two cases brought by five small U.S. businesses and 12 Democratic-led U.S. states, judges pressed government lawyer Brett Shumate to explain how the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law historically used for sanctioning enemies or freezing their assets, gave Trump the power to impose tariffs.

    Trump is the first president to use IEEPA to impose tariffs.

    The judges frequently interrupted Shumate, peppering him with a flurry of challenges to his arguments.

    “IEEPA doesn’t even say tariffs, doesn’t even mention them,” one of the judges said.

    Shumate said that the law allows for “extraordinary” authority in an emergency, including the ability to stop imports completely. He said IEEPA authorizes tariffs because it allows a president to “regulate” imports in a crisis.

    The states and businesses challenging the tariffs argued that they are not permissible under IEEPA and that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress, and not the president, authority over tariffs and other taxes.

    Neal Katyal, a lawyer for the businesses, said the government’s argument that the word “regulate” includes the power to tax would be a vast expansion of presidential power, Katyal said.

    The arguments – one day before Trump plans to increase tariff rates on imported goods from nearly all U.S. trading partners – mark the first test before a U.S. appeals court of the scope of his tariff authority. The president has made tariffs a central instrument of his foreign policy, wielding them aggressively in his second term as leverage in trade negotiations and to push back against what he has called unfair practices.

    Trump has said the April tariffs were a response to persistent U.S. trade imbalances and declining U.S. manufacturing power.

    He said the tariffs against China, Canada and Mexico were appropriate because those countries were not doing enough to stop illegal fentanyl from crossing U.S. borders. The countries have denied that claim.

    Shumate cited a 1975 appeals court decision that authorized President Richard Nixon’s across-the board surcharge of 10% on imported merchandise to slow inflation. But that decision added that the president did not have authority to impose “whatever tariff rates he deems desirable.”

    Shumate also said that courts cannot review a president’s actions under IEEPA or impose additional limits that are not included in the law. Several judges said that the argument would essentially allow one law, IEEPA, to overwrite all other U.S. laws related to tariffs and imports.

    Katyal said the Trump administration’s argument ignored the more limited nature of Nixon’s tariffs and changes to the law since the 1970s.

    “No trade law in 200 years has been interpreted to give the president this power,” Katyal said.

    The case is being heard by a panel of all of the court’s active judges, eight appointed by Democratic presidents and three appointed by former Republican presidents. The timing of the court’s decision is uncertain, and the losing side will likely appeal quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

    Tariffs are starting to build into a significant revenue source for the federal government, with customs duties in June quadrupling to about $27 billion, a record, and through June have topped $100 billion for the current fiscal year. That income could be crucial to offset lost revenue from Trump’s tax bill passed into law earlier this month.

    But economists say the duties threaten to raise prices for U.S. consumers and reduce corporate profits. Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff threats have roiled financial markets and disrupted U.S. companies’ ability to manage supply chains, production, staffing and prices.

    On May 28, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade sided with the Democratic states and small businesses that challenged Trump. It said that the IEEPA did not authorize tariffs related to longstanding trade deficits.

    The Federal Circuit has allowed the tariffs to remain in place while it considers the administration’s appeal.

    The case will have no impact on tariffs levied under more traditional legal authority, such as duties on steel and aluminum imports.

    The president recently announced trade deals that set tariff rates on goods from the European Union and Japan, following smaller trade agreements with Britain, Indonesia and Vietnam. Trump’s Department of Justice has argued that limiting the president’s tariff authority could undermine ongoing trade negotiations, while other Trump officials have said that negotiations have continued with little change after the initial setback in court.

    Trump has set an August 1 date for higher tariffs on countries that don’t negotiate new trade deals.

    There are at least seven other lawsuits challenging Trump’s invocation of IEEPA, including cases brought by other small businesses and California.

    A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled against Trump in one of those cases, and no judge has yet backed Trump’s claim of unlimited emergency tariff authority.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Will the latest diplomatic moves to end the war in Gaza work?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor, The Conversation

    This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

    It feels as if things are moving at completely different speeds in Gaza and in the outside world. From the embattled Gaza Strip the narrative is depressingly familiar. Dozens more Palestinian civilians have been killed in the past 24 hours as they try to get hold of scarce supplies of food.

    Aid agencies report that despite air drops of supplies and “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting, the amount of food getting through to the starving people of Gaza remains pitifully insufficient.

    Two more children are reported to have died of starvation, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 159, according to Palestinian sources quoted by al-Jazeera.

    US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Jerusalem for more talks as the US president Donald Trump posted his latest bout of social media diplomacy on his TruthSocial site, a message which appears pretty faithful to the Netanyahu government’s position: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!”

    Both sides continue to reject the other side’s demands, bringing ceasefire negotiations to an effective standstill.

    In the outside world, meanwhile, events seem to be gathering pace. A “high-level conference” at the United Nations in New York brought together representatives of 17 states, the European Union and the Arab League, resulting in “a comprehensive and actionable framework for the implementation of the two-state solution and the achievement of peace and security for all”.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    What first catches the eye about this proposal, which was signed by Saudi Arabia,
    Qatar, Egypt and Jordan, is that it links a peace deal with the disarming and disbanding of Hamas. It also condemns the militant group’s savage attack on southern Israel on October 23 2023, which was the catalyst for the latest and arguably most grievous chapter of this eight-decade conflict. It’s the first time the Arab League has taken either of these positions.

    The New York declaration, as it has been dubbed, envisages the complete withdrawal of Israeli security forces from Gaza and an end to the displacement of Palestinians. Government will be the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and a conference to be scheduled in Egypt will design a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, much of which has been destroyed in the 20-month assault by the Israel Defense Forces.

    It is, writes Scott Lucas, a “bold initiative” which, “in theory could end the Israeli mass killing in Gaza, remove Hamas from power and begin the implementation of a process for a state of Palestine. The question is whether it has any chance of success.”

    Lucas, an expert in US and Middle East politics at the Clinton Institute of University College Dublin, is not particularly sanguine about the short-term prospects for a ceasefire and the alleviation of the desperate conditions for the people of Gaza. But what it represents more than anything else, is “yet another marker of Israel’s increasing isolation”.

    He points to recent announcements that France, the UK (subject to conditions) and Canada will recognise the state of Palestine at the UN general assembly in September. The prospect of normalisation between Israel and Arab states, at the top of the agenda a few short years ago, is now very unlikely. And in the US, which remains Israel’s staunchest ally, a Gallup poll recently found that public opinion is turning against Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.



    Read more:
    New peace plan increases pressure on Israel and US as momentum grows for Palestinian statehood

    But how important are the declarations by France, the UK and Canada of intent to potentially recognise Palestinian statehood, asks Malak Benslama-Dabdoub. As expert in international law at Royal Holloway University of London, who has focused on the question of Palestinian statelessness, Benslama-Dabdoub thinks that the French and British pledges bear closer examination.

    The French declaration was made on July 24 on Twitter by the president, Emmanuel Macron. Macron envisages a “demilitarised” state, something Benslama-Dabdoub sees as a serious problem, as it effectively denies the fundamental right of states to self-determination and would rob a future Palestinian state of the necessary right to self-defence.

    The declaration by the UK prime minister that Britain may also recognise Palestinian statehood in September is framed as a threat rather than a pledge. Unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows the UN to recommence humanitarian efforts and engages in a long-term sustainable peace process, the UK will go ahead with recognising Palestine at the UN.

    You have to consider that the UK government’s statement said that the position has always been that “Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people”. So to frame this as a threat rather than a demand is arguably to deny that “inalienable right”.



    Read more:
    UK to recognise Palestinian statehood unless Israel agrees to ceasefire – here’s what that would mean

    Paul Rogers also sees serious problems with the pledges to recognise Palestinian statehood. Demands for Hamas to disarm and play no further role in Palestinian government he sees as a non-starter as is the thought of a demilitarised Palestine. “Neither plan has the slightest chance of getting off the ground.”

    Rogers, who has researched and written on the Middle East for more than 30 years, also thinks that without the full backing of the US there is very little chance that a peace plan could succeed.

    Rogers finds it hard to believe that Washington will change tack on the Palestinian question, “unless the US president somehow gets the idea that his own reputation is being damaged”. There’s always a chance of this. News from the Gaza Strip is relentlessly horrifying and the aforementioned polls suggest many voters are reassessing their views of the conflict. But Trump is heavily indebted for his re-election to the far-right Christian Zionist movement, who wield a great deal of power with the White House.

    The other thing that might influence the conflict is if enough of the IDF’s top brass recognise the futility of waging what has always been an unwinnable conflict. This, writes Rogers, is whispered about in Israel’s military circles and one eminent retired general, Itzhak Brik, has come out and said: “Hamas has defeated us.”

    These, writes Rogers, are currently the only routes to an end to the conflict.



    Read more:
    UK and France pledges won’t stop Netanyahu bombing Gaza – but Donald Trump or Israel’s military could

    Inside Trumpian diplomacy

    We mentioned earlier that the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has also pledged to recognise the state of Palestine in September. This was immediately greeted by Trump with the threat that he does so it will derail a trade deal with the US. Whether this will cut any ice with Carney, who had to make concessions to get the trade deal done in the first place, remains to be seen.

    But there’s a broader point here, writes Stefan Wolff. As Wolff reports, this week the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda got together in Washington to sign a ceasefire deal, brokered by the US. Trump also claims to have successfully ended a conflict between India and Pakistan at the end of May and hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia earlier this month.

    Meanwhile his efforts to secure peace deals, or even a lasting ceasefire, in Gaza or Ukraine have been unsuccessful.

    Wolff considers why some countries respond to Trump’s diplomatic efforts while others don’t. There are a number of reasons, principally the US president’s ability to apply leverage through trade deals or sanctions and the differing complexity of the conflicts.

    He also points to the depleted resources of the US state department, Trump’s use of personal envoys with little foreign affairs experience and the US president’s insistence on making all the important decisions himself. He concludes: “The White House simply may not have the bandwidth for the level of engagement that would be necessary to get to a deal in Ukraine and the Middle East.”



    Read more:
    Why Donald Trump has stopped some conflicts but is failing with Ukraine and Gaza

    One US government department whose resources haven’t been depleted under Donald Trump is the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as Ice. Part of the Department of Homeland Security, Ice has been responsible for identifying and detaining non-citizens and undocumented migrants.

    Their agents carry guns, wear masks and typically operate in plain clothes, although they often wear military kit. The agency received massive funding via Trump’s One Bzig Beautiful Bill Act earlier this month, which will allow the agency to recruit hundreds, if not thousands, of new agents. The number of arrests is increasing steadily, as is the disquiet their operations are prompting in many American cities, where opposition protests are also growing.

    Dafydd Townley, an expert in US politics at the University of Portsmouth, explains how Ice operates and where it sits in Donald Trump’s plan to deport millions of illegal migrants from the US.



    Read more:
    Masked and armed agents are arresting people on US streets as aggressive immigration enforcement ramps up

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Will the latest diplomatic moves to end the war in Gaza work? – https://theconversation.com/will-the-latest-diplomatic-moves-to-end-the-war-in-gaza-work-262380

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • Trump wants deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine by August 8, US tells UN

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine by August 8, the United States told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday.

    “Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear this must be done by August 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace,” senior U.S. diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member council.

    Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia “10 days from today” if Moscow showed no progress toward ending its war in Ukraine.

    Kyiv and Moscow have held three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year that yielded exchanges of prisoners and bodies, but no breakthrough to defuse the more than three-year conflict.

    “We intend to continue the negotiations in Istanbul,” Russia’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council, but he added: “Despite the meetings in Istanbul, in the West, the war party did not go away … We continue hearing voices of those who think that diplomacy is just a way of criticizing Russia and exerting pressure on it.”

    Ukraine’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said Russia must be confronted with “unity, resolve and action.”

    “We seek a comprehensive, just and lasting peace grounded in the principles of the U.N. Charter and nothing less. We repeat – a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire is essential. It is the first step to halting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” she told the council.

    (Reuters)

  • US appeals court scrutinizes Trump’s use of tariffs as trade deadline looms

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. appeals court judges sharply questioned on Thursday whether President Donald Trump’s tariffs were justified by the president’s emergency powers, as lawyers for states and businesses challenging the measures argued he exceeded his authority.

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., is considering the legality of “reciprocal” tariffs that Trump imposed on a broad range of U.S. trading partners in April, as well as tariffs imposed in February against China, Canada and Mexico.

    In hearing arguments in two cases brought by five small U.S. businesses and 12 Democratic-led U.S. states, judges pressed government lawyer Brett Shumate to explain how the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law historically used for sanctioning enemies or freezing their assets, gave Trump the power to impose tariffs.

    Shumate said that the law allows the president to have “extraordinary” authority in an emergency, including the ability to stop imports completely. He said IEEPA authorizes tariffs because it allows a president to “regulate” imports in a crisis.

    The judges seemed dubious of this sweeping argument.

    “IEEPA doesn’t even say tariffs, doesn’t even mention them,” Judge Jimmie Reyna said.

    The arguments – one day before Trump plans to increase tariff rates on imported goods from nearly all U.S. trading partners – mark the first test before a U.S. appeals court of the scope of his tariff authority. The president has made tariffs a central instrument of his foreign policy, wielding them aggressively in his second term as leverage in trade negotiations and to push back against what he has called unfair practices.

    The court adjourned after about an hour-and-a-half of oral arguments. The judges did not say when they would rule, and the losing side will almost certainly appeal quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Trump, the first president to use IEEPA to impose tariffs, has said the April tariffs were a response to persistent U.S. trade imbalances and declining U.S. manufacturing power.

    He said the tariffs against China, Canada and Mexico were appropriate because those countries were not doing enough to stop illegal fentanyl from crossing U.S. borders, a claim the countries have denied.

    The states and businesses challenging the tariffs argued that they are not permissible under IEEPA and that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress, and not the president, authority over tariffs and other taxes.

    “No trade law in 200 years has been interpreted to give the president this power,” Neal Katyal, a lawyer for the businesses, said.

    Judge Kimberly Moore challenged Benjamin Gutman, representing the state of Oregon, on his argument that the U.S. trade deficit is not an “unusual and extraordinary” threat that would trigger IEEPA’s emergency powers, noting that Trump said the trade deficit contributed to compromised military readiness.

    “That bothers me – I’m a little concerned about compromised military readiness,” Moore said. “How about you?”

    The case is being heard by a panel of all of the court’s active judges, eight appointed by Democratic presidents and three appointed by former Republican presidents.

    TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

    Tariffs are starting to build into a significant revenue source for the federal government, with customs duties in June quadrupling to about $27 billion, a record, and through June have topped $100 billion for the current fiscal year. That income could be crucial to offset lost revenue from Trump’s tax bill passed into law earlier this month.

    But economists say the duties threaten to raise prices for U.S. consumers and reduce corporate profits. Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff threats have roiled financial markets and disrupted U.S. companies’ ability to manage supply chains, production, staffing and prices.

    On May 28, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade said IEEPA did not authorize tariffs related to longstanding trade deficits.

    The Federal Circuit has allowed the tariffs to remain in place while the litigation continues.

    The case will have no impact on tariffs levied under more traditional legal authority, such as duties on steel and aluminum imports.

    Trump’s Department of Justice has argued that limiting the president’s tariff authority could undermine ongoing trade negotiations, while other Trump officials have said that negotiations have continued with little change after the initial setback in court.

    The president recently announced trade deals that set tariff rates on goods from the European Union and Japan, following smaller trade agreements with Britain, Indonesia and Vietnam.

    Trump has set an August 1 date for higher tariffs on countries that don’t negotiate new trade deals.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that Trump would pause new tariffs set to go into effect on the U.S.’s southern neighbor and a 90-day period to work on a trade deal.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: 1-Hour Payday Loans No Credit Check: GreendayOnline Expands Digital Services to Serve 32 States Where Traditional Lending Remains Legal

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Digital lending platform addresses growing demand for accessible emergency funding across expanded geographic footprint

    Dallas, Texas , July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GreendayOnline, a leading digital lending platform, today announced the expansion of its services to 32 states where payday loan regulations permit 1-hour payday loans no credit check operations. This strategic geographic expansion positions GreendayOnline as a comprehensive solution for borrowers searching for “loans no credit check”, “instant approval”, and “online same day” funding options across a broader regional footprint.

    The expansion comes as search volume data reveals unprecedented demand for emergency lending solutions, with queries like “hour payday loans”, “payday loan no credit check”, and “loans online no credit check” experiencing significant increases across GreendayOnline‘s target markets. Industry analysis shows that over 12 million Americans annually seek short-term lending solutions, yet geographic limitations have historically restricted access to legitimate direct lender services. GreendayOnline now serves borrowers seeking online no credit check instant loan for bad credit solutions with streamlined digital processes.

    What Are 1-Hour Payday Loans No Credit Check and How GreendayOnline Delivers Fast Approval

    When financial emergencies strike, millions of Americans turn to search engines with desperate queries: “1 hour payday loans”, “bad credit” solutions, and “guaranteed approval direct lender” services. Behind every search for “payday loans online no credit check” lies a pressing financial need that traditional banking cannot address within the required timeframe.

    Understanding One Hour Payday Loans with Instant Approval Mechanism

    GreendayOnline’s 1-hour payday loans represent a streamlined approach to emergency lending that prioritizes speed without sacrificing borrower protection. Unlike traditional banking products that can take days or weeks for approval, GreendayOnline’s platform delivers decisions within minutes and funding within an hour of completed applications. The platform specializes in loan no credit check direct services that eliminate traditional banking barriers.

    The company’s instant approval process evaluates multiple data points beyond traditional credit metrics:

    1. Income verification through bank account analysis
    2. Employment stability assessment
    3. Debt-to-income ratio calculations
    4. Previous lending history evaluation
    5. Real-time affordability analysis

    “The term ‘1 hour payday loans no credit check’ has become shorthand for accessible emergency lending,” explained Tarquin Nemec, GreendayOnline’s Public Relations officer. “Our platform transforms what was once a lengthy, bureaucratic process into a seamless digital experience that respects both urgency and responsibility.”

    How Loans No Credit Check Work Through GreendayOnline’s Direct Lender Network

    The concept of “loans with no credit check direct lender” often confuses borrowers who assume their credit score is irrelevant to the lending decision. GreendayOnline clarifies this misunderstanding by focusing on current income while maintaining responsible lending standards. The platform provides no check loans guaranteed approval direct lender connections for qualified applicants.

    GreendayOnline’s network of licensed direct lenders utilizes soft credit inquiries that leave borrowers’ credit scores unaffected. This approach allows the platform to assess creditworthiness without a hard credit pull while still maintaining due diligence standards required by state regulations.

    Credit Check vs Soft Credit Inquiry: Why Your Credit Score Remains Unaffected

    Traditional lending involves hard credit inquiries that can temporarily lower credit scores by 5-10 points. GreendayOnline’s soft credit approach means that borrowers searching for “credit check loans” or “payday loans with no credit” requirements can explore their options without damaging their credit profiles. The platform offers loans no credit check guaranteed approval through its streamlined verification process.

    The distinction matters significantly for borrowers with low credit scores who cannot afford additional credit damage. GreendayOnline’s no credit check methodology evaluates the ability to repay the loan through alternative data sources, ensuring responsible lending without traditional credit barriers.

    GreendayOnline’s Geographic Expansion Brings Online Payday Loans to 32 States

    The digital lending landscape has evolved dramatically, with online payday loans now representing over 60% of total market volume. GreendayOnline’s expansion to 32 states addresses a critical gap in market coverage, particularly for borrowers in underserved communities where traditional payday storefronts may be limited or non-existent.

    Traditional Payday Lending Locations vs GreendayOnline’s Digital Reach

    While approximately 13,700 traditional payday storefronts operate nationwide, geographic concentration leaves significant coverage gaps. GreendayOnline’s digital platform eliminates location barriers, providing consistent access to small payday loans online same day services regardless of physical proximity to lending locations.

    The company’s research reveals striking disparities in lending access:

    • Rural areas: 73% lack physical payday lending locations within 25 miles
    • Urban centers: Average of 2.3 storefronts per 10,000 residents
    • Suburban regions: Limited evening and weekend availability
    • Digital platforms: 24/7 accessibility with consistent service standards

    State-by-State Analysis: Where Payday Loan No Credit Check Services Are Available

    GreendayOnline’s 32-state footprint covers regions where “payday loan no credit check” services remain legally permissible under current regulatory frameworks. This strategic geographic focus ensures compliance while maximizing borrower access to legitimate lending options. In California, the focus is on the famous 255 payday loans online, due to loan amount restrictions.

    Key expansion states include major population centers where demand for loans for bad credit in 2025 and short-term loans continues growing. Here is the full list in alphabetical order: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    The company’s analysis shows particular opportunity in states where existing options remain limited despite legal permissibility.

    How GreendayOnline Serves Underbanked Communities Through Online Same Day Access

    Underbanked populations—estimated at 63 million Americans—face particular challenges accessing emergency credit. Search patterns reveal these communities frequently search for “payday loans online guaranteed approval”, “loans guaranteed approval”, and “instant payday loans online guaranteed” options as traditional banking relationships prove inadequate for urgent financial needs.

    GreendayOnline’s entirely online platform removes common barriers that underbanked consumers face:

    1. No physical branch visits required
    2. Minimal documentation through digital verification
    3. Bank account integration for streamlined processing
    4. Mobile-optimized application experience
    5. Multiple communication channels for customer support

    1 Hour Payday Loans Online: GreendayOnline’s Application and Approval

    The promise of 1 hour payday loans online requires sophisticated technology infrastructure capable of processing applications, verifying information, and disbursing funds within compressed timeframes. GreendayOnline’s platform architecture supports this commitment through automated decision-making and real-time bank integration. The platform offers credit payday loans with 1-hour processing for urgent financial needs.

    Completing a Secure Online Form for Loans Online No Credit Check

    GreendayOnline’s application process begins with completing a secure online form designed for maximum efficiency and security. The platform’s streamlined interface collects essential information while minimizing borrower effort and completion time.

    The application captures key data points necessary to evaluate loans online no credit check:

    • Personal identification information
    • Employment and income verification
    • Bank account details for funding and repayment
    • Contact information for communication
    • Loan amount and preferred terms

    Advanced encryption protects all submitted information, ensuring that borrowers’ financial data remains secure throughout the approval procedure. The platform’s mobile-responsive design accommodates borrowers who prefer smartphone applications over desktop interfaces.

    Income Rather Than Credit History: GreendayOnline’s Alternative Assessment Method

    GreendayOnline’s underwriting philosophy prioritizes income rather than credit history when evaluating loan approval decisions. This approach recognizes that credit scores may not accurately reflect current financial capacity, particularly for borrowers who have experienced temporary financial disruptions. The platform provides services that focus on current financial ability rather than past credit issues.

    The platform’s alternative assessment methodology examines:

    • Current monthly income stability
    • Bank account transaction patterns
    • Employment verification through multiple data sources
    • Existing debt obligations and payment history
    • Cash flow analysis for repayment capacity

    This comprehensive evaluation enables GreendayOnline to serve borrowers who might struggle with credit check payday loans from traditional lenders offering no credit check while maintaining responsible lending standards.

    From Application to Account Within an Hour: The GreendayOnline Timeline

    GreendayOnline’s commitment to “account within an hour” funding reflects significant technology investment in automated processing and real-time financial institution integration. The typical timeline progresses as follows:

    0-5 minutes: Application submission and initial verification 5-15 minutes: Income rather than credit assessment and underwriting review 15-30 minutes: Loan approval notification and terms confirmation 30-60 minutes: Fund disbursement to borrower’s designated account

    This accelerated timeline addresses the urgent nature of most 1 hour payday loans requests while ensuring thorough evaluation of each application.

    Payday Loans Online No Credit Check: Loan Options and Terms Through GreendayOnline

    GreendayOnline’s payday loans online no credit check offerings encompass multiple product variations designed to accommodate diverse borrower needs and financial circumstances. The platform’s loan options reflect both market demand and regulatory requirements across its 32-state operating region.

    Loan Amounts and Repayment Terms for 1 Hour Payday Loans No Credit

    Loan amounts available through GreendayOnline’s platform range from $100 to $1,000, with specific limits varying by state regulation and individual borrower qualification. The company’s “hour payday loans no credit” products feature flexible repayment structures designed to align with borrowers’ pay cycles.

    Standard loan terms include:

    • Repayment periods: 14-30 days based on borrower preference
    • Extension options: Available in states where legally permitted
    • Early repayment: No prepayment penalties
    • Automatic renewal: Optional with explicit borrower consent
    • Payment scheduling: Aligned with pay day cycles when possible

    The platform ensures that loans due dates are clearly communicated and aligned with borrower income schedules to minimize payment conflicts.

    Understanding APR and Loan Terms for Payday Loans with No Credit Requirements

    Transparency in loan terms represents a cornerstone of GreendayOnline’s approach to payday loans with no credit requirements. The platform provides clear APR calculations and fee structures before borrowers commit to any loan agreement.

    GreendayOnline’s fee structure adheres to state regulatory maximums while offering payday loans online with no credit check with a competitive marketplace. Borrowers receive detailed breakdowns of all costs associated with their payday lending experience, including:

    1. Principal loan amount
    2. Finance charges and fees
    3. Total repayment amount
    4. Effective APR calculation
    5. Payment due dates and methods

    Multiple Loan Offers vs Single Direct Lender: GreendayOnline’s Approach

    Unlike platforms that provide multiple loan offers from various lenders, GreendayOnline operates as a direct lender platform, streamlining the borrowing experience and eliminating confusion over varying terms and conditions. This approach ensures consistent service standards and simplified communication throughout the lending relationship.

    Bad Credit and Personal Loan Alternatives: How GreendayOnline Serves All Credit Types

    The intersection of bad credit and emergency lending needs creates particular challenges for borrowers who face rejection from traditional personal loan providers. GreendayOnline’s inclusive approach recognizes that financial history may not reflect current financial stability or repayment capacity.

    Loans for Bad Credit: GreendayOnline’s No Hard Credit Pull Policy

    GreendayOnline’s loans for bad credit methodology eliminates the anxiety many borrowers experience when applying for emergency funding. The platform’s no hard credit pull policy ensures that application inquiries do not involve a hard credit check that could further damage struggling credit profiles.

    This approach particularly benefits borrowers who have experienced:

    • Recent financial hardships affecting credit scores
    • Medical debt or unexpected emergency expenses
    • Employment disruptions or income reductions
    • Limited credit history or “thin file” credit profiles
    • Previous payday lending experiences

    Short-Term Loans vs Personal Loan Options for Low Credit Borrowers

    While personal loan products typically require extensive credit evaluation and longer approval timeframes, GreendayOnline’s short-term loans provide immediate access to emergency funding for borrowers with low credit scores. The platform’s products bridge the gap between expensive credit card advances and traditional installment lending.

    Short-term loan advantages include:

    • Faster approval and funding timelines
    • Lower qualification requirements
    • No collateral or cosigner requirements
    • Flexible repayment scheduling
    • Minimal impact on existing credit relationships

    Why Credit History Doesn’t Determine Loan Approval with GreendayOnline

    GreendayOnline’s underwriting philosophy recognizes that credit history represents past financial behavior rather than current repayment capacity. The platform’s alternative evaluation methods focus on real-time financial indicators that better predict successful loan repayment.

    Key evaluation factors beyond credit scores include:

    1. Current employment status and income stability
    2. Bank account activity and cash flow patterns
    3. Existing debt obligations and payment history
    4. Length of banking relationship and account management
    5. Geographic and demographic risk factors

    Instant Payday Loans Online Guaranteed Approval: GreendayOnline’s Direct Lender Network

    The concept of guaranteed approval in lending requires careful interpretation, as responsible lenders must maintain underwriting standards while maximizing approval rates. GreendayOnline’s approach to “instant payday loans online guaranteed approval” balances accessibility with prudent risk management.

    Guaranteed Approval Direct Lender Services vs Traditional Banking

    While no legitimate lender can offer truly guaranteed approval without any qualification requirements, GreendayOnline’s “guaranteed approval direct lender” approach maximizes approval rates through flexible underwriting criteria and alternative data evaluation methods.

    The platform’s approval rates significantly exceed traditional banking standards:

    • GreendayOnline approval rate: 89% for qualified applicants
    • Traditional bank personal loans: 23-31% approval rates
    • Credit union emergency loans: 45-52% approval rates
    • Credit card cash advances: 67% approval for existing cardholders

    Payday Loans Online Guaranteed Approval Process Through Licensed Lenders

    GreendayOnline’s “payday loans online guaranteed approval” process operates exclusively through licensed direct lenders compliant with state and federal regulations. This commitment ensures borrower protection while maintaining the accessibility that emergency lending requires.

    The platform’s network of lenders offering payday loans undergoes rigorous vetting to ensure:

    • Full licensing compliance in all operating states
    • Adherence to maximum fee and rate regulations
    • Transparent disclosure of all loan terms and conditions
    • Proper data security and privacy protections
    • Responsive customer service and dispute resolution

    How GreendayOnline Connects Borrowers with Licensed Direct Lenders

    GreendayOnline’s role as a connector between borrowers seeking “loans guaranteed approval direct lender” services and qualified lending partners streamlines the emergency funding process. The platform’s technology matches borrower profiles with appropriate offers based on qualification criteria and funding requirements.

    Online Loans No Credit Check: GreendayOnline’s Technology and Market Position

    As the digital lending landscape continues evolving, GreendayOnline’s position in the market, dedicated to online loans with no credit check, reflects both technological sophistication and market understanding. The platform’s expansion to 32 states positions it as a significant player in the estimated $35 billion annual payday lending market.

    Lenders Offering 1 Hour Payday Loans Through GreendayOnline’s Platform

    GreendayOnline’s network of lenders offering 1 hour payday loans represents carefully vetted financial institutions committed to responsible lending practices and rapid decision-making. The platform’s technology enables lenders through a secure online portal to access borrower applications and make real-time lending decisions.

    Partner lender qualifications include:

    • State licensing for payday lending operations
    • Minimum capitalization requirements for lending volume
    • Technology integration capabilities for real-time processing
    • Customer service standards meeting platform requirements
    • Compliance monitoring and reporting capabilities

    Credit Check Loans Guaranteed Approval vs No Credit Check Options

    The distinction between “credit check loans guaranteed approval” and true no credit check lending affects borrower experience and approval outcomes. GreendayOnline’s approach utilizes soft credit inquiries that provide lenders with credit information without a hard credit pull, affecting borrower credit scores.

    This hybrid methodology enables the platform to offer no credit check loans with guaranteed approval rates approaching true no credit check lending while maintaining responsible underwriting standards required by state regulations.

    Next Payday Funding: How GreendayOnline Ensures Timely Loan Processing

    GreendayOnline’s commitment to next payday funding timelines requires sophisticated coordination between application processing, underwriting decisions, and fund disbursement systems. The platform’s technology infrastructure supports same-day funding for applications approved before daily cutoff times.

    The company’s “repay the loan” scheduling system automatically aligns with borrower pay cycles when possible, reducing the likelihood of payment timing conflicts that could result in additional fees or credit inquiry impacts.

    About GreendayOnline

    GreendayOnline operates as a leading digital lending platform specializing in 1-hour payday loans no credit check services across 32 states where such lending remains legally permissible. The company’s technology-driven approach to offering no credit check loans serves borrowers who require fast access to emergency funding while maintaining responsible lending standards and regulatory compliance.

    For more information about GreendayOnline’s “loan no credit check options” and expanded geographic availability, visit https://greendayonline.com/ or contact the company’s customer service team.

    Media Contact:
    Tarquin Nemec
    GreendayOnline Public Relations Phone: (800) 424-2789
    Email: tarquin.nemec@greendayonline.com

    This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding GreendayOnline’s expansion plans and market position. Actual results may differ from those projected. Lending decisions are subject to state regulations and individual borrower qualification. All loan products are subject to regulatory approval and may not be available in all states.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Services trade growth slows in first quarter of 2025

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Services exports in Europe and North America increased by only 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, down from 8% and 11% respectively in the first quarter of 2024. In contrast, strong growth was sustained in Asia at 9%.

    The overall slowdown in services trade was mainly due to “Other commercial services,” a category that encompasses a wide variety of mostly digitally deliverable services ranging from financial to professional services (Chart 1). In 2024, “Other commercial services” accounted for some 60% of global services trade, with Europe contributing 40% of those exports (Chart 2).

    Chart 1: Commercial services trade growth by main sector, 2024Q1-2025Q1
    Year-on-year % change

    Note: Services trade measured as exports.
    Source: WTO-UNCTAD estimates.

    Chart 2: Structure of world exports of commercial services, 2024
    % shares

    Source: WTO-UNCTAD estimates.

    Chart 3 shows a deceleration across selected subsectors of “Other commercial services” in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period of 2024. Growth in “Other business services,” covering various professional, technical and trade-related services, as well as research and development services, moderated. The United States posted a subdued 4% year-on-year increase in “Other business services” following an 8% expansion in the same period of 2024. Exports by the European Union remained flat in US dollar terms, although they rose by 4% when measured in euros.

    Financial services exports grew by only 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting reduced investment activity amid increased global economic uncertainty. The sector was also affected by exchange rate movements, which dampened US dollar-denominated growth. Exports from both the European Union and the United States rose just 2% year-on-year while Switzerland’s exports fell by 3%. The United Kingdom, on the contrary, posted a robust 10% year-on-year increase sustained by double digit growth in exports to the United States (+13%).

    Intellectual property related services expanded by 4% year-on-year in the first three months of 2025 in comparison with a 7% growth in the same quarter of 2024. Global trade in IP-related services remains highly concentrated, with the European Union and the United States accounting for nearly 70% of exports in 2024. EU exports, measured in US dollars, rose by just 3% year-on-year, held back by exchange rate volatility, despite stronger underlying growth of 6% in euro terms.

    Global construction exports fell by 15% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, reversing part of the strong 25% growth recorded during the same period in 2024. The decline reflects weaker performance across several key economies, including China (-25%), which alone accounted for over 28% of global construction exports in 2024, the Republic of Korea (-15%), and the European Union (-6%). The downturn in the first quarter likely reflects delayed investment due to uncertainty and rising costs.

    Computer services exports were only marginally affected by the broader slowdown, as strong global demand for artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and cybersecurity solutions continued to drive growth. This momentum is expected to persist, supported by ongoing business adaptation to new technologies and rising consumer preferences for digital services. During the period, India’s computer services exports grew by 13%, while Ireland recorded a 9% increase.

    Chart 3: Other commercial services exports by selected subsector, 2024 and Q1 2025
    Year-on-year % change

    Note: Sectors are ranked according to their relative share in services trade in 2024.
    Source: WTO estimates for Q1 2025 and Q1 2024; WTO-UNCTAD estimates for 2024.

     As for the other main sectors of commercial services, global transport exports were up 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, following rapid growth especially in the third and fourth quarter of 2024 due to frontloading. Asia recorded the fastest growth, up 10%, driven by a 31% rise in China, while Singapore and the Republic of Korea posted modest gains of 2%. Payments for shipping services increased by 19% in South and Central America and the Caribbean, as demand for goods surged.

    Despite a difficult economic and geopolitical context, international travel expanded by 5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025. For the first time since the pandemic, international tourist arrivals were 3% above 2019 levels according to UN Tourism data. In Asia, travel receipts grew by 13%, driven by China (+96%), Viet Nam (+33%), Japan (+25%) and Thailand (+18%) as tourism continues to recover in the region. By contrast, North America’s travel receipts fell by 1%.

    Services trade performance varied across major traders in the first five months of 2025 according to available monthly statistics. Double digit exports growth was recorded in Asian economies such as China (+13%, through June), India (+12%) and Japan (+11%). In North America, the United States and Canada saw diverging trends. US service exports rose by 5%, while Canada recorded a 6% decline. The EU’s service exports to non-member countries rose by 3%, while imports from outside the Union grew more sharply, increasing by 6%. The United Kingdom recorded marked growth, with exports up 9% and imports rising by 13%.

    Chart 4: Services export and import growth of selected economies, January-May 2025
    Year-on-year % change

    Note: Statistics for Brazil, China and Pakistan refer to January-June.
    Source : National sources and Eurostat.

    Quarterly statistics are estimates as of time of publication and subject to frequent revisions. They are available for download at WTO Stats, as well as monthly statistics. Annual services trade data and related visualizations can be accessed at WTO | Statistics — Global Services Trade Data Hub and WTO | World Trade Statistics 2024.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Charged For Nationwide Fraud Scheme Targeting Hundreds Of Elderly Victims

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu Are Charged With Participating in a Scheme That Attempted to Steal Over $18 Million From Over 350 Victims

    United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch,  announced charges against JINGBIN JIANG and SU JIAN LIU, a/k/a “Fatty,” a/k/a “Ah Pang,” for a scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, which attempted to steal over $18 million from over 350 victims and resulted in actual losses of over $5 million to over 70 victims.  JIANG was arrested in Staten Island this morning and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron.  LIU is still at large.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.

    “As alleged, Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu worked together with others to steal the hard-earned money of some our most vulnerable New Yorkers and others around the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Taking advantage of our elderly after they have worked so hard to save and contributed so much to our city and this country is heartless and despicable.  These charges, and the efforts of the FBI and the NYPD, should serve as a warning to fraudsters and cybercriminals: New Yorkers want you held accountable for your crimes, and the women and men of our Office are committed to doing so.”

    “Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu allegedly defrauded elderly victims of more than $5 million by utilizing extortionate tactics to coerce withdrawals of significant cash or purchases of gold,” said FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia.  “This alleged conspiracy wielded fear of bankruptcy and arrest to ensure victims complied with the unlawful requests for money.  The FBI is committed to apprehending any individual who utilizes online platforms to target and exploit vulnerable victims across the country.”

    “These defendants allegedly led a nationwide fraud scheme with the goal of targeting innocent, elderly victims and stealing millions of their hard-earned savings,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “Jingbin Jiang and Su Jian Liu allegedly participated in a plot involving elaborate, fictitious narratives to manipulate elderly victims and trick them into participating in their scheme, which involved attempts to steal over $18 million from 350 people.  I am grateful to the members of the NYPD, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for holding these alleged predatory fraudsters accountable.”

    According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

    Between at least in or about 2023 and in or about July 2025, JIANG and LIU participated with others in a fraudulent scheme that primarily targeted elderly victims located all across the United States, including in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, and Montana.

    The scheme proceeded in the following manner: First, victims would typically see a pop-up message on their computers indicating that they needed to call a particular phone number controlled by members of the scheme.  The pop-up message would typically claim to come from a technology company, a bank, or the government.  Second, when victims called the phone number, they were told a fictitious narrative that would ultimately lead to a suggestion that the victims withdraw money from their bank account.  For example, some victims were falsely told that their computers had a virus, or that their computers had been hacked into and used to commit serious crimes, like downloading child sexual abuse material.  Others were falsely told that their bank accounts had been compromised and were vulnerable to unauthorized withdrawals.  To avoid arrest or protect their bank accounts from being compromised, victims were instructed to withdraw large amounts of cash from their bank accounts or purchase large quantities of gold.  Some victims were even told that their money would be safely held in the custody of a consumer protection agency like the Federal Trade Commission, and they were sent notices on fake federal government letterhead purporting to bear the signature of a federal government official:

    Third, many victims were told that a courier would be arriving at their home (or other coordinated pick-up location) to retrieve the gold and/or cash.  Victims were often provided with the courier’s name (which was fictitious), a description of the courier’s clothing, and sometimes a password, purportedly to ensure the courier was authorized to pick up the gold and/or cash.  Other victims were told to purchase and transfer cryptocurrency or gift cards, which did not require a courier.  Victims were typically under the impression that this gold and/or cash would then be deposited, on the victims’ behalf, into a new, safe, uncompromised bank account (or with the Federal Trade Commission, as noted above) that they could access without concern in the future.  In reality, these funds were stolen and never returned to the victims.  Some victims engaged in multiple transactions before realizing the fraudulent nature of the scheme.

    JIANG and LIU participated in the scheme by managing and supervising the couriers that traveled to meet the victims to pick up the cash and gold, which was then transported back to New York City.  JIANG and LIU received information about potential victims from other members of the scheme on text-messaging platforms, in messages that typically included the zip codes and the amounts of cash or gold to be collected from each victim. JIANG and LIU could then decide whether to accept the pick-up, and if they did, the other members of the scheme would provide more specific details about the victim and when and where to pick up the cash or gold.  After arranging for couriers to make the pick-ups, JIANG and LIU would provide updates to other members of the scheme about the couriers’ progress.  After the victims provided the criminal proceeds to the couriers, JIANG and LIU arranged for the criminal proceeds to be distributed to other members of the scheme, including by converting cash and gold into cryptocurrency to be easily transmitted to members of the scheme located overseas, including in India and China.  In total, members of the conspiracy have attempted to steal at least approximately $18 million from over 350 victims, and they have successfully stolen at least approximately $5 million from over 70 victims.

    If you or someone you know has been victimized by this scheme, please file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is available at ic3.gov.

    *                *                *

    JIANG, 37, of Staten Island, New York, and LIU, 38 of Edmond, Oklahoma, are both charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

    The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

    Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI and NYPD’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York State Police and the Bedford Police Department for their assistance in the investigation of this case.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Angela Zhu are in charge of the prosecution. 

    The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Horizon Bank Announces Appointment of Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing, John D. Hatfield

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Horizon Bank, a commercial banking subsidiary of Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: HBNC), announced today the appointment of John Hatfield as the Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing.

    “John is a seasoned professional with 20+ years of experience in strategic marketing, business development, and branding across multiple industry verticals. He brings to Horizon a proven track record of success building cohesive teams that contribute to the strategic initiatives of organizations and tangible results for our key stakeholders,” CEO and President, Thomas Prame stated. “We believe Horizon is well-positioned for future growth in our markets through enhanced brand awareness that aligns with our core business model. We have been our client’s trusted advisors for over 150 years, and we look forward to expanding on this success with John leading our Marketing strategy.”

    “I am excited to join Horizon Bank and lead a team that shares Horizon’s desire to expand on its superior reputation as a trusted financial partner for our clients and the communities we serve,” stated Hatfield.

    In his new role, John will lead the strategic direction of Horizon’s marketing, enhancing the brand awareness and sales effectiveness of Horizon Bank. He will provide oversight and insight into the creation of multi-channel marketing campaigns aimed at customer acquisition across all lines of business. Additionally, John will expand on Horizon’s local outreach efforts, ensuring Horizon’s desire to help the communities we call home continue to thrive.

    About Horizon Bancorp, Inc.
    Celebrating over 150 years of success, Horizon Bancorp, Inc. is an independent, commercial bank holding company serving Indiana and Michigan through its commercial banking subsidiary, Horizon Bank. Horizon Bank and Horizon Bancorp, Inc. may be reached online at www.horizonbank.com. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol HBNC.

    Contact: Thomas Prame
    Chief Executive Officer and President
    Phone: (219) 814-5983

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enovix Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enovix Corporation (Nasdaq: ENVX, ENVXW) (“Enovix”), a global high-performance battery company, announced that it posted on its website here a letter to shareholders from President and CEO, Dr. Raj Talluri, and CFO, Ryan Benton, discussing the company’s second quarter 2025 results. The company will host a live webcast at 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT to discuss the results and provide business updates. To register for the webcast, please visit: https://enovix-q2-2025.open-exchange.net/. 

    About Enovix

    Enovix is a leader in advancing lithium-ion battery technology with its proprietary cell architecture designed to deliver higher energy density and improved safety. The Company’s breakthrough silicon-anode batteries are engineered to power a wide range of devices from wearable electronics and mobile communications to industrial and electric vehicle applications. Enovix’s technology enables longer battery life and faster charging, supporting the growing global demand for high-performance energy storage. Enovix holds a robust portfolio of issued and pending patents covering its core battery design and manufacturing process. For more information, visit https://www.enovix.com.

    Enovix is headquartered in Silicon Valley with facilities in India, South Korea and Malaysia. For more information visit https://enovix.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

    For media and investor inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Contact:
    Robert Lahey
    ir@enovix.com

    Chief Financial Officer:
    Ryan Benton
    ryan.benton@enovix.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fairfax India Holdings Corporation: Second Quarter Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

    (Note:   All dollar amounts in this press release are expressed in U.S. dollars except as otherwise noted. The financial results are derived from unaudited financial statements prepared using the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS®Accounting Standards”), except as otherwise noted. This press release contains certain non-GAAP and other financial measures, including book value per share and cash and marketable securities, that do not have a prescribed meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and may not be comparable to similar financial measures presented by other issuers. See “Glossary of non-GAAP and other financial measures” at the end of this press release for further details.)
         

    TORONTO, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fairfax India Holdings Corporation (TSX: FIH.U) announces net earnings of $278.1 million ($2.06 net earnings per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2025, compared to net earnings of $254.1 million in the second quarter of 2024 ($1.88 net earnings per diluted share). The company’s book value per share increased 10.4% to $21.43 at June 30, 2025 from $19.41 at March 31, 2025 ($20.96 at December 31, 2024), primarily due to unrealized gains recorded on the company’s publicly listed investments.

    Highlights for the second quarter of 2025 included the following:

    • Net change in unrealized gains on investments of $330.9 million principally arose from increases in the fair values of the company’s publicly listed investments of $329.1 million, including IIFL Capital ($129.2 million), IIFL Finance ($110.2 million), CSB Bank ($73.3 million), Fairchem Organics ($11.4 million) and 5paisa ($5.0 million), and private company investments of $0.8 million including BIAL ($6.3 million) and Seven Islands ($3.5 million), partially offset by unrealized losses on the company’s investment in Sanmar ($12.3 million).
    • The company continued to buy back shares under its normal course issuer bid and during the second quarter of 2025 purchased for cancellation 28,758 subordinate voting shares at a net cost of $0.4 million ($15.19 per subordinate voting share).

    Fairfax India is in strong financial health, with cash and marketable securities at June 30, 2025 of $107.0 million and $79.2 million available under its revolving credit facility.

    There were 134.8 million and 135.2 million weighted average common shares outstanding during the second quarters of 2025 and 2024, respectively. At June 30, 2025 there were 104,810,704 subordinate voting shares and 30,000,000 multiple voting shares outstanding.

    Unaudited balance sheets, earnings (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) information follow and form part of this press release. Fairfax India’s detailed second quarter report can be accessed at its website www.fairfaxindia.ca.

    Fairfax India Holdings Corporation is an investment holding company whose objective is to achieve long term capital appreciation, while preserving capital, by investing in public and private equity securities and debt instruments in India and Indian businesses or other businesses with customers, suppliers or business primarily conducted in, or dependent on, India.

    For further information, contact: John Varnell, Vice President, Corporate Affairs
    (416) 367-4755
       

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    as at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024
    (unaudited – US$ thousands except per share amounts)

        June 30, 2025
    		     December 31, 2024
    		  
    Assets        
    Cash and cash equivalents     20,216       59,322  
    Bonds     110,134       180,507  
    Common stocks     3,738,804       3,381,206  
    Total cash and investments     3,869,154       3,621,035  
             
    Interest and dividends receivable     3,173       8,849  
    Income taxes refundable     174       174  
    Other assets     582       722  
    Total assets     3,873,083       3,630,780  
             
    Liabilities        
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     1,019       1,300  
    Accrued interest expense     9,004       8,611  
    Income taxes payable     844       5,379  
    Payable to related parties     10,572       10,099  
    Payable for securities purchased     170,850       —  
    Deferred income taxes     163,039       149,780  
    Borrowings     498,610       498,349  
    Total liabilities     853,938       673,518  
             
    Equity        
    Common shareholders’ equity     2,888,397       2,826,495  
    Non-controlling interests     130,748       130,767  
    Total equity     3,019,145       2,957,262  
          3,873,083       3,630,780  
             
             
    Book value per share   $ 21.43     $ 20.96  

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)
    for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024
    (unaudited – US$ thousands except per share amounts)

      Second quarter   First six months
        2025       2024       2025       2024  
    Income              
    Interest   1,814       4,730       5,010       9,768  
    Dividends   274       489       3,272       7,538  
    Net realized gains on investments   83       101,400       699       218,324  
    Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments   330,883       183,812       108,021       (227,115 )
    Net foreign exchange gains (losses)   (2,129 )     364       1,116       (12 )
        330,925       290,795       118,118       8,503  
    Expenses              
    Investment and advisory fees   10,643       10,122       20,042       19,606  
    General and administration expenses   1,363       2,108       3,011       4,644  
    Interest expense   7,232       6,381       13,987       12,761  
        19,238       18,611       37,040       37,011  
                   
    Earnings (loss) before income taxes   311,687       272,184       81,078       (28,508 )
    Provision for income taxes   33,128       18,037       13,986       10,554  
    Net earnings (loss)   278,559       254,147       67,092       (39,062 )
                   
    Attributable to:              
    Shareholders of Fairfax India   278,113       254,142       66,889       (39,362 )
    Non-controlling interests   446       5       203       300  
        278,559       254,147       67,092       (39,062 )
                   
    Net earnings (loss) per basic and diluted share $ 2.06     $ 1.88     $ 0.50     $ (0.29 )
    Shares outstanding (weighted average)   134,813,388       135,152,447       134,826,353       135,259,190  

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
    for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024
    (unaudited – US$ thousands)

      Second quarter   First six months
      2025     2024     2025     2024  
                   
    Net earnings (loss) 278,559     254,147     67,092     (39,062 )
    Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes              
    Item that may be subsequently reclassified to net earnings (loss)              
    Unrealized foreign currency translation losses, net of income taxes of nil
    (2024 – nil)    		 (6,843 )   (633 )   (4,797 )   (6,341 )
    Comprehensive income (loss) 271,716     253,514     62,295     (45,403 )
                   
    Attributable to:              
    Shareholders of Fairfax India 271,705     253,486     62,314     (45,440 )
    Non-controlling interests 11     28     (19 )   37  
      271,716     253,514     62,295     (45,403 )

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements may relate to the company’s or an Indian Investment’s future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, growth strategy, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividends, plans and objectives of the company. Particularly, statements regarding future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities of the company, an Indian Investment, or the Indian market are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate” or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. 

    Forward-looking statements are based on our opinions and estimates as of the date of this press release, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following factors: oil price risk; geographic concentration of investments; potential lack of diversification; foreign currency fluctuation; volatility of the Indian securities markets; investments may be made in foreign private businesses where information is unreliable or unavailable; valuation methodologies involve subjective judgments; financial market fluctuations; pace of completing investments; minority investments; reliance on key personnel and risks associated with the Investment Advisory Agreement; disruption of the company’s information technology systems could significantly affect the company’s business; lawsuits; use of leverage; significant ownership by Fairfax may adversely affect the market price of the subordinate voting shares; trading price of subordinate voting shares relative to book value per share risk; weather risk; taxation risks; emerging markets; legal, tax and regulatory risks; MLI; economic risk; reliance on trading partners; and economic disruptions from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and the development of other geopolitical events and economic disruptions worldwide. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the company’s annual information form dated March 7, 2025 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the company’s website at www.fairfaxindia.ca. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully.

    Although the company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

    GLOSSARY OF NON-GAAP AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES

    Management analyzes and assesses the financial position of the consolidated company in various ways. Certain of the measures included in this press release, which have been used consistently and disclosed regularly in the company’s Annual Reports and interim financial reporting, do not have a prescribed meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Those measures are described below.

    Book value per share – The company considers book value per share a key performance measure in evaluating its objective of long term capital appreciation, while preserving capital. This measure is also closely monitored as it is used to calculate the performance fee, if any, to Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. This measure is calculated by the company as common shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

    Cash and marketable securities – The company uses this measure to monitor short term liquidity risk. This measure is calculated by the company as the sum of cash, cash equivalents, short term investments and Government of India bonds.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Announces Finance Committee Staff Updates

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today announced the following staff updates:

    Molly Newell, Chief International Trade Counsel

    Molly has been promoted to Chief International Trade Counsel. Molly joined the Finance Committee in January 2023 from Hogan Lovells US LLP, where she was an associate in the International Trade and Investment practice group working on issues involving trade remedies, customs, and U.S. trade policy. Before Hogan Lovells, she was a Senior Legislative Assistant in Representative Luke Messer’s (R-Indiana) office. Molly holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center; a Master in Economic Law from Sciences Po; and a B.A. in French and International Studies from Indiana University.

    Brian Bombassaro, International Trade Counsel

    Brian rejoined the Committee in March after working as a Senior Associate at Arnold & Porter LLP. Prior to that, he served under former Finance Committee Chairmen Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). He received his J.D. from Yale Law School, M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School and B.S.B.A. and B.A. from the University of Florida.

    Caitlin Wilson, Senior Health Counsel

    Caitlin joins the Committee from the Senate Budget Committee, where she participated in the reconciliation process to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as senior counsel. She previously served as counsel to Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) and the House Energy and Commerce Committee under Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington). She received her J.D. from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and her B.A. in Political Science from Gettysburg College.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Several areas in Delhi witness rainfall, more rain likely in NCR: IMD

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several areas in the national capital, including Janpath, Lajpat Nagar, and the Minto Bridge stretch, received rainfall on Thursday morning, a day after intense showers were recorded across the city.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall for parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) during the day. According to the IMD, areas such as Bahadurgarh and Manesar are also likely to witness light thunderstorms accompanied by lightning.

    In a post on X, the IMD said, “Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with light thunderstorm and lightning is very likely to occur at NCR (Bahadurgarh, Manesar). Light rainfall is very likely to occur at the entire Delhi, NCR (Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh). Very light rainfall/drizzle is very likely to occur over the entire Delhi during the next 2 hours.”

    Rainfall data between 8:30 am on Wednesday and 6:30 am on Thursday showed that Salwan Public School in East Delhi recorded 42 mm of rainfall, followed by Pusa in Central Delhi (40 mm), Sports Complex in New Delhi (38 mm), and Safdarjung (34 mm).

    Other locations that received measurable rainfall included Najafgarh (23.5 mm), Pragati Maidan (22.1 mm), KV Narayana (20.5 mm), Lodi Road (18.5 mm), KV Janakpuri (18 mm), and Aya Nagar (13 mm).

    The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are expected to remain between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius and 23 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively — up to four degrees below the seasonal average.

  • Himachal Pradesh struggles with monsoon havoc: 301 roads blocked, utilities disrupted

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Himachal Pradesh continues to grapple with major disruptions in public utilities due to persistent monsoon rains.

    According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), as of 10:00 AM on July 31, a total of 301 roads remain blocked, 436 power distribution transformers (DTRs) are non-functional, and 254 water supply schemes have been impacted across the state.

    The SEOC report confirmed that heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours is the primary cause behind the widespread breakdown in essential services.

    Mandi district reported the highest number of road blockages with 193 routes shut, followed by Kullu (47) and Chamba (25). Power disruptions were particularly severe in Kullu and Chamba, with 134 and 142 transformers affected, respectively.

    Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, the total death toll in the state has reached 170—comprising 94 rain-related fatalities and 76 deaths due to road accidents.

    Authorities remain on high alert as key national highways, including NH-21 between Mandi and Kullu, have become impassable due to landslides and flooding. Although restoration efforts are underway, continuous rainfall is hampering recovery operations.

    An earlier SEOC report noted that the monsoon damage has resulted in losses worth over ₹1,59,981 lakh to public and private property. Additionally, 2,743 hectares of crops have been damaged, 680 homes affected, and more than 22,900 livestock lost.

    The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) continues to coordinate with local administrations to restore essential services and clear roads. However, with further rain in the forecast, residents have been urged to stay cautious and avoid travel to vulnerable areas.

    Disaster response teams have been deployed in sensitive zones to carry out rescue and relief operations.

    Kullu district alone has reported losses exceeding ₹48 crore since the start of the monsoon season, with 17 deaths recorded, Deputy Commissioner Torul S. Raveesh said.

    (ANI)

  • All seven accused acquitted in 2008 Malegaon blast case by NIA court

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major verdict, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit.

    The court dropped all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), citing lack of sufficient evidence.

    The blast occurred on September 29, 2008, when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded near the Bhikku Chowk mosque in Malegaon, Nashik district, Maharashtra. The explosion took place during the holy month of Ramzan and just ahead of the Hindu festival of Navratri. It claimed six lives and injured over 100 people in the communally sensitive town.

    The verdict, delivered after nearly 17 years of legal proceedings, came in a packed courtroom where all accused were present as per the court’s direction. The court also ordered compensation of ₹2 lakh to the families of each of the six deceased and ₹50,000 to each injured victim.

    The trial involved a massive case file exceeding one lakh pages. Hearings concluded in April this year, and the court had reserved its judgment on April 19. Due to the scale and complexity of the case, the court took additional time to scrutinise the material thoroughly before pronouncing the verdict.

    During the trial, the prosecution examined 323 witnesses. However, 34 of them turned hostile, significantly weakening the prosecution’s case.

    The case was initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which arrested the accused and filed the first charge sheet. In 2011, the probe was transferred to the NIA, which filed a supplementary charge sheet in 2016, dropping charges against several accused, including Sadhvi Pragya, citing insufficient evidence under stringent anti-terror laws.

    All accused were out on bail during the trial. They had been facing serious charges including conspiracy, murder, and use of explosives under the UAPA and IPC.

    — IANS

  • PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to freedom fighter Udham Singh on his Shaheedi Diwas

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to freedom fighter Udham Singh on his “Shaheedi Diwas,” calling his bravery a lasting inspiration for the people of India.

    In a post on X, PM Modi said, “My humble tribute to the immortal son of Mother India, martyr Udham Singh, on his martyrdom day. His saga of patriotism and bravery will always remain a source of inspiration for the people of the nation.”

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also honoured the revolutionary, saying Udham Singh’s supreme sacrifice continues to inspire generations.

    “My heartfelt tribute to the great freedom fighter and revolutionary Sardar Udham Singh on his ‘Shaheedi Diwas’ today. His unparalleled courage and supreme sacrifice remain a source of inspiration for generations. India will always remember his unwavering spirit and deep love for the nation,” he posted on X.

    Home Minister Amit Shah shared a detailed tribute, highlighting Udham Singh’s fierce resistance to colonial atrocities and his role in the freedom struggle.

    “Udham Singh dedicated his life to self-respect and freedom. He launched an armed rebellion against British atrocities. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre deeply disturbed him, prompting him to travel to England to avenge the killings. Through the Ghadar Party, he inspired patriotism among Indians living abroad. His courage, bravery, and sacrifice gave greater strength to India’s freedom movement. He will forever inspire the youth to put the nation above all.
    My respectful tribute to the embodiment of bravery and sacrifice, martyr Sardar Udham Singh, on his martyrdom day,” he said on X.

    Born in 1899 in Sangrur, Punjab, Udham Singh lost his parents at an early age. He was hanged on July 31, 1940, for assassinating Michael O’Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, in London — an act of revenge for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

    The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919, when British Indian Army troops under Colonel Reginald Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of unarmed protesters and pilgrims in Amritsar, Punjab, on the occasion of Baisakhi.

    The crowd had assembled to protest the arrest of nationalist leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew. The indiscriminate firing led to massive casualties.

    According to official British records, 379 people were killed and around 1,200 injured. However, other estimates put the death toll at over 1,000.

    — ANI

  • Cambodia asks Thailand to release detained soldiers as truce holds

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Cambodia accused Thailand on Thursday of detaining 20 of its soldiers and killing another in post-ceasefire incidents, as a fragile peace held for a third day along their disputed border.

    Five days of intense clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbours that began last week killed at least 43 people, many of them civilians, and displaced more than 300,000, until a truce brokered in Malaysia on Monday halted the fighting.

    Thailand has since accused Cambodian troops of violating the ceasefire multiple times, a charge denied by authorities in Phnom Penh, who instead allege that the Thai military has wrongfully detained a number of its soldiers.

    “We appeal to the Thai side to promptly return all 20 of our forces, including other forces if any are under Thai control,” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday.

    In a statement, senior Cambodian defence official Lieutenant General Rath Dararoth said one Cambodian soldier had died in Thai custody since the ceasefire and his body had been returned. He did not provide further details.

    Thailand currently has custody of 20 Cambodian soldiers who had surrendered, including two who are under medical treatment, Thai Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri told reporters.

    “We are investigating them to verify the facts. After this is finished, they will be released,” Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said, stressing the Thai military had not violated the ceasefire agreement.

    As per talks between military commanders held after Monday’s truce announcement, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to facilitate the return of wounded soldiers and bodies of those deceased, besides refraining from reinforcing troops along the border.

    Cambodia took military attaches and diplomats to a border checkpoint on Wednesday to verify the ceasefire as both sides exchanged accusations of violating the truce.

    For decades, Thailand and Cambodia have wrangled over undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes.

    The recent truce followed a push by Malaysia and calls by U.S. President Donald Trump’s phone calls to leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, warning them that trade deals would not be concluded if the fighting continued.

    Both countries face a tariff of 36% on goods sent to the U.S., their biggest export market.

    U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, said early on Thursday that trade deals had been made with both countries ahead of the August 1 tariff deadline.

    (Reuters) 

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Underwriting Auction for sale of Government Securities for ₹32,000 crore on August 01, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Government of India has announced the sale (re-issue) of Government Securities, as detailed below, through auctions to be held on August 01, 2025 (Friday).

    As per the extant scheme of underwriting commitment notified on November 14, 2007, the amounts of Minimum Underwriting Commitment (MUC) and the minimum bidding commitment under Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) auction, applicable to each Primary Dealer (PD), are as under:

    (₹ crore)
    Security Notified Amount  MUC amount per PD Minimum bidding commitment per PD under ACU auction
    6.68% GS 2040 16,000 381 381
    6.90% GS 2065 16,000 381 381

    The underwriting auction will be conducted through multiple price-based method on August 01, 2025 (Friday). PDs may submit their bids for ACU auction electronically through Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) System between 09:00 A.M. and 09:30 A.M. on the day of underwriting auction.

    The underwriting commission will be credited to the current account of the respective PDs with RBI on the day of issue of securities.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/813

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Myanmar forms commission led by junta chief to hold elections, state media says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Myanmar’s ruling junta announced the formation of a 11-member commission led by military chief Min Aung Hlaing to hold an election in the war-torn country, state media reported on Thursday.

    The junta did not announce a date for the election and Min Aung Hlaing will continue to effectively remain in charge of the country, in his capacity as the interim president who will oversee the vote, MRTV reported.

    The proposed election, which Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday confirmed would take place in December, will be the first national vote since a 2021 coup sparked a civil war and plunged the Southeast Asian nation into chaos.

    Min Aung Hlaing will remain commander in chief of the armed forces while serving as interim president.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Philippines is a troublemaker in the South China Sea – Chinese Defense Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) — The Philippines is a troublemaker and a source of danger in the South China Sea (SCS), Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said.

    Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks at a press conference on Wednesday, commenting on the Philippine defense minister’s statement that the Philippine military will resolutely respond to China’s “aggressive” actions in the South China Sea and reports that the Philippines is strengthening defense cooperation with the United States, Australia, Japan and India.

    The official representative called such statements a complete distortion of the facts and an attempt to shift the blame.

    The territorial boundaries of the Philippines have long been defined by a number of international treaties, and the islands in the South China Sea are outside these boundaries, Zhang Xiaogang noted.

    He noted that the Philippine side, however, illegally occupies individual reefs and islands of the Nansha Archipelago, which belongs to China, often provokes and creates obstacles for China at sea, and even condones extra-regional forces in escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

    China remains steadfast in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and will continue to resolutely oppose the Philippines’ encroachments and provocative actions in accordance with laws and regulations, Zhang Xiaogang concluded. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump announced the introduction of 25 percent customs duties on imports from India

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    NEW YORK, July 30 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Indian goods exported to the United States will be subject to a 25 percent tariff starting Aug. 1, the American leader said in a post on the Truth Social social network.

    According to D. Trump, although India is “our friend,” the United States does “relatively little business with it because their tariffs are too high.” The American president added that India has “the most onerous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”

    The head of the White House also noted that India “has always purchased the vast majority of military equipment from Russia and is the largest buyer of Russian energy resources.”

    Therefore, he announced, starting from August 1, India will pay 25 percent customs duties and “a penalty for the above.”

    U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer told CNBC on July 28 that the United States needs more time to negotiate with India to assess the country’s readiness to open its market more to American goods.

    Any tariff rate of 20 percent or more would be a disappointment to India, which had sought better terms than the 19 percent Trump offered Indonesia and the Philippines, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. –0–

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