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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Incels, misogyny, role models: what England’s new relationships and sex education lessons will cover – and how young people will benefit

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie King-Hill, Associate Professor at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham

    Daniel Hoz/Shutterstock

    Sex and relationships education for children at primary and secondary state-funded schools in England will see significant changes following the release of new statutory guidance from the government. There are some stark differences between this and the draft guidance issued by the previous Conservative government in May 2024.

    The new guidance also looks different in many ways to the last statutory guidance, released in 2019. It includes many new and valuable topics such as the law around strangulation, sextortion, upskirting, deepfakes, suicide prevention and bereavement. Schools are also required to challenge misogynistic ideas, cover misogynistic influencers and online content, and explore prejudice and pornography.

    As a researcher working on sex education and masculinity, I see many positives in how these issues are approached in the government’s new guidance. The new topics are a move in the right direction, meeting the needs of the pupils being taught.

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    Another key change is the removal of the proposal to put age restrictions on the teaching of certain topics. This is welcome news: it aligns with evidence and allows teachers to design sex education that takes context into account. It means they can teach their pupils what they need to know in a proactive and responsive way.

    The guidance also explicitly mentions giving pupils the opportunity to discuss incels. Incel, an abbreviation of “involuntary celibate”, refers to those who identify as wanting romantic and sexual partners but find it difficult to achieve this.

    Online incel communities are underpinned by hostility towards women, resentment, misogyny and the support of extreme violence against women. They may espouse an ideological position that claims societal structures are set up to unfairly disadvantage them.

    Keeping boys in the conversation

    One aspect included in the guidance is that it is important for pupils to understand that “most boys and young men are respectful to girls and young women and each other”. It also states that “teachers should avoid language which stigmatises boys, or suggests that boys or men are always perpetrators or that girls or women are always victims”.

    These are really important points that need to underpin the teaching of misogyny and online incel culture. A risk is that such teaching may otherwise portray boys, as a group, as perpetrators. This can create a culture of blame that may alienate boys and young men. Instead, seeing boys as valuable contributors to these conversations around misogyny can foster educational progress.

    Boys and girls need opportunities to discuss these issues.
    Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

    Another important reference in the guidance is that children and young people should have opportunities to develop “positive conceptions of masculinity and femininity”, and how to “identify and learn from positive male role models”.

    This focus on positive examples of masculinity is a welcome way to support boys and young men in developing healthy identities – not only considering gender but other intersecting aspects of their identity, such as class, ethnicity, culture and values.

    Good relationships and sex education needs dialogue and understanding between pupils, teachers and parents. For adults, this means knowing the landscape first. Familiarisation with why young people may be attracted to problematic online spaces will be useful.

    These online spaces often offer a skewed sense of belonging, and offer simplistic answers to complex emotions and questions. Young people’s thoughts and opinions of misogynist online influencers may be contradictory, rather than simple approval or disapproval. This requires thoughtful unpicking of concepts and ideals, and open conversation rather than blame. It is also important to recognise that teaching these topics is not easy, and that teachers may need support too.

    New content

    While much of the new guidance is welcome, it’s important that teacher training and professional development keeps pace with these changes. Teachers may not feel confident addressing such a broad range of often-sensitive topics without support.

    The guidance also falls short of making relationships and sex education statutory for those aged 16-18 in sixth-form colleges, 16-19 academies or further education colleges, despite evidence that it is very much needed for this age group.

    The rights of transgender people and the issues affecting them are dealt with in a limited way, which could affect teachers’ ability to have supportive conversations with trans and non-binary pupils. There is also limited detail for those working in special education for pupils with complex needs.

    One of the most important aspects of teaching on sex and relationships is to create a safe space for open discussion.

    Young people should be encouraged to provide their own input into how relationships and sex education is taught, and to give their ideas on what they feel they need to learn about – and what they already know. While this approach is often overlooked, meaningful engagement with pupils is highlighted as a key guiding principle in the new guidance.

    Young people are the experts on the world they inhabit. It is essential they are listened to to ensure that lessons are relevant and effective.

    Sophie King-Hill receives funding from the ESRC.

    – ref. Incels, misogyny, role models: what England’s new relationships and sex education lessons will cover – and how young people will benefit – https://theconversation.com/incels-misogyny-role-models-what-englands-new-relationships-and-sex-education-lessons-will-cover-and-how-young-people-will-benefit-261217

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  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Big Roman shoes discovered near Hadrian’s Wall – but they don’t necessarily mean big Roman feet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tim Penn, Lecturer in Roman and Late Antique Material Culture, University of Reading

    Excavations at the Roman fort of Magna near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland in north east England have uncovered some very large leather footwear. Their discovery, according to some news coverage, has “baffled” archaeologists.

    The survival of the shoes is not by itself miraculous or unusual. Excellent preservation conditions caused by waterlogged environments with low-oxygen means that leather, and other organic materials, survive in the wet soil of this part of northern England.

    Many years of excavations by the Vindolanda Trust at Vindolanda just south of Hadrian’s Wall, and now at Magna, have recovered an enormous collection of Roman shoes. These finds have provided us with an excellent record of the footwear of soldiers and the civilians who lived around them.

    The shoes from Magna stand out because many of them are big. Big shoes have also been found at Vindolanda. However, of those whose size can be determined, only 0.4% are big. The average shoe size at Vindolanda is 9.5 to 10.2 inches in length, which is between a modern UK shoe size 7 to 8.

    Big shoes make up a much larger share of the shoes at Magna. The biggest shoe is a whopping 12.8 inches long, roughly equivalent to a modern UK size 12 to 14.

    This shoe collection raises an immediate and obvious question: why did people at Magna have such large shoes?

    The possible answers to this question raise more questions and bring to the fore a central component of archaeological research: a good debate.

    Emma Frame, senior archaeologist for the Magna excavations, suggests: “We have to assume it’s something to do with the people living here, having bigger feet, being potentially taller but we don’t know.”

    This idea of bigger feet, bigger people makes a good deal of sense, though it would suggest that some of the military community at Magna were very tall indeed. And, as the Roman cemeteries of Hadrian’s Wall have been little excavated or studied, we have little information about how tall people were in this part of the Roman world.

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    Other ideas might be worth entertaining too, however. For example, could these be some kind of snowshoes or winter boots meant to allow extra layers of padding or multiple pairs of socks to be worn?

    A letter, preserved by similar conditions to the shoes at Vindolanda, refers to a gift of socks and underpants that was sent to someone stationed there, presumably to keep them warm during the cold winter nights. We also know from other evidence that Syrian archers made up one of the units stationed at Magna. These men would not have been used to the frosty climate of northern England.

    Could these large shoes be an attempt to cope with the bitter shock of a British winter? Or instead, could these shoes have a medical purpose, perhaps to allow people with swollen feet or people utilising medical dressings to wear shoes?

    It’s important to note, I am not claiming to have the answers. I’m simply putting out some hypotheses which could explain the extra-large shoes based on other evidence we have and potential logical explanations for such large footwear.

    These kinds of hypotheses lie right at the heart of the archaeological method. Fresh archaeological discoveries are made everyday, and they often make headlines with phrases about “baffled archaeologists.” While this language can spark public interest, it also risks giving a misleading impression of the discipline. In reality, the work archaeologists like me and thousands of my colleagues around the world do is grounded in careful, evidence-based analysis.

    The challenge lies not in our lack of expertise, but in the nature of the evidence itself. Much of the distant past has been lost to time, and what we do recover represents only a small fragment of the original picture.

    We’re not so much “baffled” as we are rigorously testing multiple hypotheses to arrive at the most plausible interpretations. Interpreting these fragments is a complex process, like piecing together a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle with many of the most crucial pieces (like the edges) missing.

    Sometimes we have exactly the right pieces to understand the big picture, but other times we have gaps, and we have to put forward a series of different suggestions until more evidence comes to light.

    Tim Penn 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. Big Roman shoes discovered near Hadrian’s Wall – but they don’t necessarily mean big Roman feet – https://theconversation.com/big-roman-shoes-discovered-near-hadrians-wall-but-they-dont-necessarily-mean-big-roman-feet-256369

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  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Reform spent just £5.5m on the 2024 election, while Labour’s majority cost £30m – new data

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Power, Lecturer in Politics, University of Bristol

    The 2024 election was the most expensive in British political history, new figures confirm. Across parties, candidates and third parties, a whopping £94.5 million was spent. This compares with £72.6 million in 2019, which was a record high.

    Some parties got a fantastic return on their investment. Others, to put it mildly, didn’t. I wouldn’t let those in charge of Conservative party coffers run your household, for example. They spent £23.9 million in 2024 to record their worst electoral showing in recent history.

    Given that they won, Labour will consider the £30.1 million they spent on a huge – but shallow – majority money well spent. It is also easily the most they’ve ever spent on an election (although spending limits have recently been increased).

    The real winners in 2024 though, certainly in terms of bang for their respective bucks, are Reform and the Lib Dems, both of which only spent around £5.5 million. To put that in direct context, the Lib Dems spent £14.4 million in 2019 for a far poorer result.

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    This also means that Reform entered parliament for the first time, won five seats and came second in 98 others on a relatively shoestring budget. They laid the groundwork for completely upending the British political system while only spending a fraction of what the established parties did.

    A striking thing about the Reform spending is quite how much they used traditional media. Although they have a reputation for social media success, they spent £900,000 advertising with the Mail Online, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the Telegraph – and £300,000 advertising with The Sun. In fact, at a time when we talk of the power of data-driven microtargeting on social networks, it seems they spent £2.2 million (40% of their total expenditure) on what we would understand as “traditional” media advertising.

    Money does not reflect reality

    These elections were fought under different rules and significantly higher spending limits than in previous contests. In 2023, the Conservatives raised how much parties could spend by 80%, to bring it in line with inflation (the prior spending limit was set in the year 2000). This meant parties could spend just over £34m in 2024 – but only Labour came close to this limit.

    It’s clear, looking at these figures, that the money spent does not reflect political reality. The two traditional parties continue to spend far more than others, but the results from 2024 make a mockery of the spending limits currently in place.

    Spending limits are implemented by those regulating money in politics to prevent money playing an outsize role. It is supposed to level the playing field in the same way that wage caps in certain sports intend to.

    But if only two parties can even get close to the spending limit, with others fighting for scraps – albeit much more effectively – what is the need for the limit to be so high? And, as Reform and the Liberal Democrats have shown, a party can get its message out very well without coming anywhere near the spending limit.

    Perhaps, given concerns about the rising power of mega-donors in UK politics – especially after Elon Musk’s threat of a £70 million donation to Reform – we should be thinking more carefully about limiting donations in UK politics. The financial story of the 2024 election, at least from a first glance, is one of complete profligacy from Labour and the Conservatives.

    The wrong reforms ahead

    On the same day as these figures were released, the government announced major reforms for the next election. These include votes at 16 and new rules on donations. My view, however, is that these reforms represent about the least ambitious approach one could take if the stated aim (which it apparently is) is the restoration of public trust. They wouldn’t, for example, prevent Musk from donating £70 million through X if he so pleased.

    Spending limits are no longer fit for purpose. Instead, limits on donations are the only game in town. At the very least, corporate donations should be tied to profits in the UK – but above and beyond this, a cap of £1 million to £2 million should be on the table.

    Recent experience from the US has shown how quickly an unregulated system can turn into an oligarchy. In 2024, the top 0.01% of donors accounted for over 50% of all money candidates raised. Many donors bankrolled parties to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, crowding out everything else. At least one of those donors went on to run a (quasi) government department.

    Finally, it should also be noted that it is over a year after the election, and only now is the lid being lifted on what was spent during it. This is a significant (and unnecessary) failure in a system that holds transparency as its foundational ideal.

    The Electoral Commission should be empowered to implement semi-automated AI tools of analysis, to move us closer to the ideal of real-time analysis of election spending (and any potential violations therein).

    The 2024 figures show how much the landscape has changed. In the forthcoming elections bill, Labour need to meet the challenges where they actually are, not where they want them to be, if they are serious about restoring trust in politics.

    Sam Power receives funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.

    – ref. Reform spent just £5.5m on the 2024 election, while Labour’s majority cost £30m – new data – https://theconversation.com/reform-spent-just-5-5m-on-the-2024-election-while-labours-majority-cost-30m-new-data-261341

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  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Israel: Netanyahu considering early election but can he convince people he’s winning the war?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Brian Brivati, Visiting Professor of Contemporary History and Human Rights, Kingston University

    Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition is fracturing. Gil Cohen Magen / Shutterstock

    One of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, Shas, has announced it will resign from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The party said its decision was made due to the government’s failure to pass a bill exempting ultra-Orthodox students from military service.

    Its exit increases the political pressure on Netanyahu. Days earlier, six members of another ultra-Orthodox coalition partner, the United Torah Judaism party, also quit the government citing the same concerns. The moves leave Netanyahu with a minority in parliament, which will make it difficult for his government to function.

    Opposition leader Yair Lapid says the government now “has no authority”, and has called for a new round of elections. But even before these developments, Netanyahu was reportedly considering calling an early election in a bid to remain in power despite his unpopularity.

    To win another term he would, in my view, have to spin a narrative of victory on three fronts: securing the release of the hostages, defeating Hamas and delivering regional security. It is a tall order.

    In his visit to Washington in early July, Netanyahu emphasised his pursuit of a ceasefire in Gaza that facilitates the return of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

    Israelis have grown increasingly weary of the war, with recent surveys showing popular support for ending it if this brings back those still held captive. A ceasefire that sees hostages released would probably help Netanyahu generate support during an election campaign.

    But Netanyahu has insisted that, while he wants to reach a hostage-ceasefire deal, he will not agree to one “at any price”. This indicates not only Israel’s refusal to compromise on security but also that any deal Netanyahu does make – whether or not it sees the release of all the hostages – will be presented as a victory to Israeli voters.

    To provide the electorate with further hope of an end to the fighting, Netanyahu will also have to claim that the military campaign in Gaza is nearing its goals. Senior military officials stated recently that they have “almost fully achieved” their objectives – namely, defeating Hamas.

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    Netanyahu has, so far, prolonged the war to remain in power. But he will now need to spin the military campaign as a victory if he wants to win votes. This will be especially hard as critics like Yitzhak Brik, a retired Israeli general, claim that the number of Hamas fighters is now back to its pre-war level.

    The hard-right members of Netanyahu’s government add another dimension to this equation. His two ultranationalist coalition partners, Jewish Power and Religious Zionism, oppose ending the war entirely. They insist on fighting Hamas to the finish.

    Netanyahu will most likely want to keep his options open during an election campaign to then form a coalition with whatever he can pull together at the time. He may calculate that a short-term pause in fighting to free hostages can be spun as a victory to win votes, after which military operations could resume to appease hardliners if he needs them.

    A final part of Netanyahu’s electoral strategy will be to push the message that he has delivered regional security. He has declared the war with Iran in June a success, saying “we sent Iran’s nuclear program down the drain”.

    And Israel has also continued its campaign of strikes to assert its military dominance in the region, the latest in Syria and Lebanon.

    Slim peace prospects

    Observers warn that Netanyahu’s approach is about political survival, and will come at the expense of long-term peace prospects for Israelis and Palestinians. According to New York Times, he seems to be “kicking the Palestinian issue once again down the road”.

    Indeed, part of Netanyahu’s mooted strategy for claiming victory in Gaza involves supporting a constrained political outcome for the Palestinians that ends the fighting without Israel conceding on core issues.

    In this scenario, the Gaza Strip would be carved up and demilitarised under prolonged Israeli security oversight. Some areas would be annexed by Israel. Remaining parts of Gaza, along with fragments of the West Bank, would be handed over to an interim authority to create the appearance of a nascent Palestinian state.

    The goal would be to declare that Israel has facilitated Palestinian statehood – but strictly on Israel’s terms – while eliminating Hamas’s rule in Gaza. The reality would probably be a designed chaos to force as many Palestinians as possible to leave.

    Such a state, lacking full sovereignty and territorial continuity, would fall far short of the independent state that Palestinians seek. Crucially, this imposed outcome would also bypass substantive negotiation of issues like borders, refugees and Jerusalem, which both Israel and Palestine claim as their capital.

    Palestinian leaders would almost certainly reject a curtailed state. And if they did not then ordinary Palestinians – reeling from the war’s devastation – are unlikely to view it as a just peace. A new cycle of violence would probably begin and the Palestinian population will have been heavily concentrated into restricted spaces that would be wide open to Israeli bombardment.



    Read more:
    Netanyahu’s occupation plan for Gaza means more suffering for Palestinians and less security for Israel

    As Netanyahu weighs pulling the election trigger, he is effectively writing the next chapter of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The outcome of this manoeuvring is highly uncertain.

    If his three-pronged victory narrative convinces Israeli voters, he could return to power with a fresh mandate and perhaps a retooled coalition. He might seek a broader unity government after an election, sidelining his most hardline partners in favour of centrist voices to navigate post-war diplomacy.

    But if the public deems his victories hollow or indeed false, an election could sweep him out of office. This would open the door for opposition leaders who may take a different approach to Gaza and the Palestinians.

    Brian Brivati is executive director of the Britain Palestine Project. He is writing this article in a personal capacity.

    – ref. Israel: Netanyahu considering early election but can he convince people he’s winning the war? – https://theconversation.com/israel-netanyahu-considering-early-election-but-can-he-convince-people-hes-winning-the-war-261141

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  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Japan and South Korea can show governments how to compete with China and US

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Vice Dean, Global Engagement | Associate Professor in Political Economy and Entrepreneurship, King’s College London

    Governments around the world are hustling. European policymakers, for example, are eager to boost the region’s industrial relevance in a world where the US and China dominate cutting-edge technologies. They want to move beyond the adage that “the US innovates, China replicates and the EU regulates”.

    As part of this, policymakers worldwide are striving to foster their own versions of Silicon Valley. They have invested to create ecosystems abundant with ambitious startups backed by venture capital investors. Their ultimate aim is to see these firms develop into what are known as scale-ups and compete in global markets.

    But if governments – from Berlin and Brussels to Ho Chi Minh City – are to find their edge, I argue they should follow a model closer to Seoul or Tokyo’s playbook than that of Silicon Valley.

    South Korean and Japanese policymakers have long understood that the proliferation of startup activity should not be an isolated aim. In our 2025 book, Startup Capitalism, my colleague Ramon Pacheco Pardo and I revealed that the approach of these countries sees national champion firms like Samsung and Toyota use startups as resources to help them compete internationally.

    As the head of a government-backed startup centre in Seoul told me, a key aim of South Korean government policy for startups is to “inject innovative DNA” into the country’s large firms. Policies attempt to embed startups into the fabric of lead firms, and do not try to disrupt their competitive positions.

    The ‘traitorous eight’ group of employees.
    Wayne Miller / Magnum Photos

    For this objective, the Silicon Valley playbook is sub-optimal. US government policy has enabled venture capital investment through regulatory changes and has ensured that talented people are free to challenge their former employers. Classic examples include the so-called “traitorous eight” who left Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in 1957 to found Fairchild Semiconductor.

    A more recent example is Anthony Levandowski, who left Google’s self-driving car project to start his own company, Otto, in 2016. The competition was so close that Google sued Uber – as it had acquired Otto – in 2019 over the trade secrets Levandowski allegedly used to develop his self-driving truck company. Uber eventually paid Google a “substantial portion” of the US$179 million (£134 million) it was awarded initially in arbitration.

    Injecting innovative DNA

    The Japanese and Korean formula is distinct. South Korea’s 17 Centres for the Creative Economy and Innovation, established about ten years ago to drive innovation and entrepreneurship, each have one of the country’s large firms (chaebol) as an anchor partner. The chaebol’s industrial focus – whether it’s shipbuilding, electronics or heavy machinery – is reflected in the focus of the startups engaging with that centre.

    The startups work on issues “that keep the large firm up at night” and, in return, the startups have unparalleled access to distribution channels, marketing and proof-of-concept testing. While the centres have not produced volumes of globally competitive scale-ups, they have delivered on the aim of injecting innovative ideas and talent into large companies like Hyundai, LG Electronics and SK Group.

    In Japan, tax incentives encourage big businesses to acquire startups. The “open innovation tax incentive” allows a 25% deduction from the price of the acquisition. The aim here is to encourage Japan’s national champion firms to integrate startups into their core businesses. In 2024, for example, Toyota integrated high-tech wheelchair startup, Whill, into its mobility services offering.

    Various government initiatives also aim to provide coaching and mentoring for startups around raising venture capital funding and sharpening a pitch for demo day. In Japan and Korea, these initiatives embed big business throughout.

    In J-Startup, an initiative aimed at creating a cohort of so-called unicorns (startups valued at over US$1 billion), the Japanese government involves industrial leaders as judges that help select applicants for the programme. These people then act as coaches and mentors to the startups. Japan’s lead firms are, in return, exposed to innovative technologies and startup culture.

    In a similar way, Korea’s K-Startup Grand Challenge connects participating foreign startups with the country’s chaebol for proof-of-concept development. The Korean government cites partnership and licensing agreements between the parties as an important outcome of the programme. Through these connections, Korea’s big businesses have another mechanism for accessing innovative ideas and talent from abroad.

    Samsung Electronics is the largest chaebol in South Korea.
    Sybillla / Shutterstock

    Governments that want to compete with China or the US cannot continue on their existing path. They need to do something different, and Japan and South Korea’s approach offers an alternative.

    These approaches are not without downsides. There is, of course, the risk of well-resourced corporations operating “kill zones” around their business lines. This might involve early low-value mergers and acquisitions, or even copying their products in a bid to eliminate them.

    The central position of large firms to the economy also means that the innovation agenda of startups is set by incumbent firms. This fosters complementary products, and not those that disrupt – and ultimately improve – domestic firms or technologies. There’s also the worry of perceived corruption.

    But I argue that pursuing a half-committed strategy is riskier. If governments maintain a wall between big business and startups, believing this is essential to minimise corruption and that large firms will innovate just as startups will scale-up into larger firms, they risk underwhelming outcomes on all levels.

    We may see flailing productivity in the sectors in which countries have excelled. And scale-ups will fail to materialise while populations of “zombie startups”, that simply stagnate while propped up on state largesse, increase.

    Startups should be considered as resources to boost nationwide industrial capabilities, not efforts aimed at seeding a country’s answer to Silicon Valley’s Google or OpenAI.

    Robyn Klingler-Vidra 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. Japan and South Korea can show governments how to compete with China and US – https://theconversation.com/japan-and-south-korea-can-show-governments-how-to-compete-with-china-and-us-260623

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  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The beauty of coral reefs is key to their survival – so we came up with a way to measure it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tim Lamont, Research Fellow, Marine Biology, Lancaster University

    Why do people care about coral reefs? Why does their damage cause such concern and outrage? What drives people to go to great lengths to protect and restore them?

    Of course, it’s partly because of their ecological importance and economic value – but it’s also because they are beautiful. Healthy coral reefs are among the most visually spectacular ecosystems on the planet – and this beauty is far from superficial. It underpins cultural heritage value, supports tourism industries, encourages ocean stewardship and deepens people’s emotional connections to the sea.

    But how can such beauty be measured? And when it is destroyed, can it be rebuilt?

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    Traditionally, many coral reef monitoring and restoration programmes overlook their beauty, considering it too subjective to measure. And as a team of scientists, that frustrated us. We knew that to most effectively draw on this key motivator for coral conservation, we had to be able to measure beauty.

    In some ways, it’s an impossible task. But our new study grapples with this challenge, delivering a way of quantifying the aesthetic value of a coral reef, as well as measuring its recovery when previously damaged reefs are restored.

    Our international team of marine scientists has been working at the Mars coral restoration programme (the largest project of its kind) in central Indonesia. Here, local communities and international businesses have collaborated for over a decade, rebuilding reefs that were once decimated by dynamite fishing. This illegal fishing method uses explosives to stun and kill fish for easy collection, while shattering coral reefs into rubble – wiping out entire reef communities in seconds.

    This Indonesian project has already successfully regrown coral reefs. But we wanted to explore whether this programme had been able to recreate the visual appeal of a natural reef ecosystem.

    We took standardised seabed photos using settings that automatically adjust white balance and colour to compensate for underwater light conditions. This enabled us to capture accurate colours under consistent shallow-water conditions across healthy, degraded and restored reef sites.

    Then we conducted online surveys with more than 3,000 participants, asking them to compare pairs of photographs and choose which they found more beautiful – enabling us to derive a rating for each photograph. Our results showed that people from very different backgrounds consistently shared similar opinions on which reefs were beautiful.

    Whether respondents were young or old, from countries with coral reefs or without, or had different levels of education and familiarity with the ocean, they tended to favour images with high coral cover, vibrant colours and complex coral structures. This suggests there is a shared human appreciation for the beauty of thriving reefs.

    We also used these ratings to train a machine-learning algorithm based on AI to reliably predict people’s visual preferences for photographs of different coral habitats.

    The results of people’s survey responses and the machine learning algorithm were the same. Images of restored reefs were consistently rated just as beautiful as those of healthy reefs, and far more aesthetically pleasing than degraded reefs. This is encouraging, and important. It shows that efforts to rebuild these charismatic ecosystems can recreate the beauty that makes them so highly valued.

    Tracking recovery

    We found that beauty was strongly linked to the number of colours present in the picture, the proportion of the image taken up by living coral, and the complexity of shapes exhibited by the corals. Meanwhile, images showing grey rubble fields of dead corals with little life were consistently rated lowest.

    Our results suggest that promoting a range of different coral colours and shapes will not only help marine life, but also restore the visual, cultural and tourism value of thriving coral reefs. Reef restoration experts can achieve this by choosing donor corals – healthy corals transplanted to degraded sites to aid recovery – to add colour and variety to the reefs they plant.

    This also means that coral reef recovery can be tracked using simple photo-based monitoring, like that used in our study.

    Coral reefs need long-term care to help them survive, thrive and maintain their beauty and ecological function. To ensure that initial restoration gains are not quickly lost, such efforts need to be paired with ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Any tourism development around restored reefs also needs to be managed carefully and sustainably.

    Restoration and sustainable tourism practices can help protect and sustain the ecological and social benefits of beautiful, healthy reefs. Ultimately, restoring beautiful reefs will be crucial for communities that rely on marine tourism, and for inspiring people to care for the ocean.

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

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    Tim Lamont receives funding from the Royal Commission of 1851 and the Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

    Gita Alisa receives funding from Friends of Lancaster University in America and Sheba Hope Advocate Program.

    Tries Blandine Razak receives funding from the Pew Charitable Trust and the Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

    – ref. The beauty of coral reefs is key to their survival – so we came up with a way to measure it – https://theconversation.com/the-beauty-of-coral-reefs-is-key-to-their-survival-so-we-came-up-with-a-way-to-measure-it-261013

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  • MIL-OSI Analysis: When public money is tight, how do governments put a price on culture?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Steve Nolan, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Liverpool John Moores University

    It’s no secret that public finances are tight in the UK. This spells trouble for many sectors, not least culture. After all, this is an area that often relies on public funding – with many projects facing an uncertain future. But in an era of economic bad news, can it be justifiable to pump money into what some see as “frivolous” projects?

    For some politicians, investment in cultural infrastructure is an investment in place and in people. This is the hope behind a £270 million fund that aims to boost the resilience of cultural institutions following an era of restricted public spending. There are limitations, and the culture-led approach – as with regeneration projects in general – remains only partially successful and deeply uneven.

    From the role of large-scale cultural events like the European Capital of Culture to the so-called “Bilbao effect” (where a new cultural site is thought to spark revitalisation and economic growth), the same questions arise. Who is it for? What type of value is created – and is it shared in equitably?

    But the question is also about how we might better understand and measure the value of a cultural site, collection or (re)development.

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    Pinning down the meaning of “value” is a tricky philosophical question – one that has long plagued economists. The standard evaluation tool of cost-benefit analysis tries to collapse these debates into a number. That is, a price that can measure the multi-faceted benefits a project can provide.

    But in the cultural sphere, value often comes without a price tag. Access to many of our museums and galleries is free and the values derived from them transcend the monetary.

    Even though economists can estimate this non-monetary value (albeit not without criticism), a more wide-ranging benefit of cultural investment is harder to understand. This is the counter-intuitive notion of “non-use value”.

    In other words, this is the benefit that flows to an individual from the existence of a cultural good such as a museum. It can be without that person ever setting foot inside the building or engaging with any of the collections.

    Consider a current culture-led redevelopment in the UK: the Waterfront Transformation Project in Liverpool. This ambitious scheme takes in the redevelopment of the International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum and associated outdoor spaces.

    Within this collection of cultural goods, “use” could be a visitor stepping inside the museums. They may derive multiple benefits, from the aesthetics of the building, the creativity of the displays and the histories and stories represented in the collection.

    If these stones could speak … through their very existence, cultural sites can bring value to people who will never visit them.
    NorthSky Films/Shutterstock

    But what about a history lover who either lacks the desire or the ability to visit the collection? Or someone whose memories or heritage intertwines with the history? Despite having no direct contact, they might still benefit from the sites’ continuing existence: the fact, for example, that a place exists where other citizens can visit, challenge and debate.

    For some, there is value simply in knowing that there are spaces for this kind of engagement. In this way, public use by others can generate indirect benefits. These benefits cannot be captured by traditional metrics like footfall. But they constitute value to that individual and, in turn, the communities in which they live.

    Assessing value

    The inclusion of non-use value within the Treasury’s evaluation recommendations recognises this complex public relationship with cultural goods. Correctly capturing these benefits is crucial. If not, funders may misconstrue a project’s total economic value when they make their decisions. Some that could generate significant public value might be overlooked.

    However, non-use value can be slippery both to define and measure. Understanding how engagement with publicly funded cultural goods varies across communities and regions is crucial. This current gap in our knowledge means that non-use value is not always fully considered in the design or evaluation of cultural programmes.

    Our ongoing project, undertaken along with post-doctoral research fellow Laura Taggart, attempts to improve this understanding in the context of Liverpool’s Waterfront Development Project.

    This process raises vital questions. What are the benefits and potential harms of the site? How do relationships with it change over time and across economic and ethnic groups? And how does the public’s historic relationship with the dockside change the nature of the non-use value generated?

    Clearly, the answers to these questions cannot easily be calculated from the results of a cost-benefit analysis. Like most economic tools it is a model – a simplification of reality that aims to help policymakers make informed decisions. By engaging locally and regionally, it is easier to understand what drives non-use value – and capture it in a way that is relevant across other projects.

    At heart, our project aims to capture the voices that are often excluded or overlooked in decisions about cultural funding. By developing a better understanding of the range of non-use value from these spaces, we hope to support more rounded approaches to cultural policy.

    This means improving evaluation tools and funding frameworks. They must better reflect how people relate to cultural goods and how this differs across communities and regions. This will help in the quest for a richer concept of “value for money” — one that supports political choices that recognise the long-term civic, emotional and historical returns of cultural infrastructure.

    Ultimately, in an era of tight budgets this allows for better and more targeted decision-making that recognises the often complex value and benefit flows that culture generates. But there is work to be done to help the public articulate the nature of benefits and costs. These are as vital and complex as the cultural goods that generate them.

    This article is part of the wider project – Cultural Heritage, People and Place (CHerPP) : Understanding Value via a regional case study. It is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Grant reference AH/Y000242/1

    – ref. When public money is tight, how do governments put a price on culture? – https://theconversation.com/when-public-money-is-tight-how-do-governments-put-a-price-on-culture-259483

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why the UK’s butterflies are booming in 2025

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Willow Neal, Postgraduate Researcher in Conservation Ecology, The Open University

    Biodiversity is in rapid decline, across the UK and globally. Butterflies are excellent for helping us understand these changes. Where butterfly communities are rich and diverse, so too is the ecosystem. But the opposite is also true: if butterfly numbers are low and there are few species, it is a bad sign for the overall variety and abundance of life in the area.

    Butterfly sightings were among the lowest on record in the UK in 2024 – a low point in a downward trend that has been documented in North America and elsewhere.

    The UK’s low numbers last year were probably due to the weather – in particular the notably cloudy and wet summer. These are not ideal conditions for butterflies, which use the Sun’s warmth to regulate their temperature and (mostly) do not fly in the rain.

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    While weather patterns vary, climate change is making unpredictable weather more common. Wildlife is under the immense combined pressure of habitat loss and climate change, and it is driving many species to extinction. Consecutive summers with poor weather can push butterflies, and other species, over the edge.

    Luckily for butterflies, 2025 has been a stark contrast – so far. After the driest spring since 1893 and multiple early summer heatwaves in the UK, butterflies are really bouncing back under lots of sunshine, which keeps them active.

    Legendary lepidopterist Chris van Swaay of Butterfly Conservation Europe posts results of Dutch butterfly counts from early spring to late autumn. Many of these “transect surveys”, which involve recording butterflies while following a straight line through a habitat, have been repeated in the same locations over several decades. As such, they give reliable trends of butterfly diversity and abundance.

    Van Swaay notes that many common species are having an excellent year. Many of the white species, including the large white, small white and green-veined white, are faring particularly well. Peacock butterflies are also being recorded on these Dutch transects in some of their best numbers for the past 20 years. These trends are likely to be the same in the UK.

    On the Knepp estate in West Sussex, a farm that underwent rewilding in 2001, biologists are reporting record numbers of not just butterflies in general, but the elusive and stunning purple emperor (Apatura iris). This species can only survive in old and large woodlands with willow trees that they lay their eggs on. Because they live almost exclusively in the canopy, they are often difficult to see.

    It is a treat to see even one purple emperor, and Knepp has been recording their numbers since 2014. The previous record was 66 over the entire summer in 2018 (another hot and sunny one). But 2025’s numbers have smashed that, with a running total of 80 as of July 11.

    Knepp ecologists are confident purple emperor numbers are improving nationally.
    Stephan Morris/Shutterstock

    I have the pleasure of often working in a meadow next to a river, and butterfly numbers are staggering here compared with 2024. Even the buddleia bush outside my office has had at least 30 butterflies at a time, of a wide variety of common species, during the past few weeks – an absolute joy to see.

    Hot weather helps butterflies – until it doesn’t

    This sounds like good news, right? Butterflies have been saved, and we didn’t have to do anything. I’d be happy even if that put me out of a job, and despite it ignoring the incredible work of charities like Butterfly Conservation. But it is, of course, not the whole story.

    Our standard for what constitutes a great year for butterflies has been considerably lowered due to the extent of loss over decades and centuries. The great butterfly summer we are having might be comparable to an awful year 30 years ago. Similarly, this hot and dry weather is good for a while – but if it doesn’t start raining soon, plants are going to wilt.

    We saw this during the intense heatwave of summer 2022. Both the plants that butterfly larvae use for food and the nectar sources of adult butterflies were under so much stress from a lack of rainfall that they failed to help adults and caterpillars alike.

    The exceptionally warm spring of 2025 led to butterflies emerging from hibernation (referred to as “overwintering” when it concerns insects) unusually early.

    Butterflies overwinter as eggs, caterpillars or adults. Their emergence is typically triggered by rising temperatures, and this year’s warmth appears to have accelerated that process: 21 out of 33 butterfly species in Dorset were spotted earlier than usual. The dingy skipper (Erynnis tages), a small, unassuming and increasingly rare species, emerged a whole month earlier than usual.

    While early sightings may seem encouraging, they raise concerns. If plants do not also respond to the warmer temperatures by blooming earlier, there may not be enough food to sustain these early butterflies and other pollinating insects. This is a growing concern as the global climate changes.

    Overall, there are reasons to be delighted about the summer of 2025. The sunny weather has allowed for a vital boom in butterfly numbers, despite the constant strain that nature is under. It is refreshing to see a bush full of vivid, beautiful insects.

    However, the rain is still necessary, and the see-saw between a very wet year in 2024 and the potential for a very dry one in 2025 indicates climate change’s violent disruption of weather patterns which nature has depended on for a long time.

    You can support butterfly conservation by mowing your lawn less, planting more native flowers, and joining the UK’s annual Big Butterfly Count – which starts on Friday, July 18 – to report your sightings and help experts like me keep track.

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

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

    Willow Neal received funding from NERC (National Environmental Research Council).

    – ref. Why the UK’s butterflies are booming in 2025 – https://theconversation.com/why-the-uks-butterflies-are-booming-in-2025-256039

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: We detected deep pulses beneath Africa – what we learned could help us understand volcanic activity

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emma Watts, Postdoctoral Researcher in Geography, Swansea University

    Earth’s continents may look fixed on a globe, but they’ve been drifting, splitting and reforming over billions of years – and they still are. Our new study reveals fresh evidence of rhythmic pulses of molten rock rising beneath east Africa, reshaping our understanding of how continents break apart.

    Our findings could help scientists understand more about volcanic activity and earthquakes.

    There are around 1,300 active volcanoes on the Earth’s surface. Active volcanoes are those thought to have had an eruption over the last 12,000 years or so. Of these volcanoes, over 90 lie on the East African Rift Valley – the seam along which Africa is splitting apart. This weak seam of crust may even allow a new ocean to form over the next few million years.

    Although ocean formation is happening around the world, and has been for several billion years, there are few places on Earth where you can study different stages of continental breakup at the same time. This is because they normally become submerged under water as the Earth’s crust thins, and seawater eventually inundates the rift valley.

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    The Rift Valley is different. There is, at its northern end (in Ethiopia) a place called Afar, which sits at the meeting point of three rifts. These are called the Red Sea Rift, the Gulf of Aden Rift, and the Main Ethiopian Rift (see the map below).

    The Red Sea Rift has been spreading for the last 23 million years, and the Main Ethiopian Rift for the last 11 million years. There are active volcanoes across all three of these rifts. In Afar, all three rifts are at least partly exposed, with the Red Sea Rift and Main Ethiopian Rift having the most exposure.

    Volcanic rocks that erupt when Earth’s tectonic plates spread apart provide a window into the inner Earth that wouldn’t otherwise be accessible. Each lava flow and volcano has its own story that is recorded in the rock and we can learn about that through geochemistry – the concentrations of the elements that make up the rock – and mineralogy – the minerals within the rock.

    Analysing these things can tell us about the depth at which the melting rock formed and roughly where in the Earth’s mantle it formed. In our new study, we analysed over 130 new lava samples, obtained from the Afar rock repository at the University of Pisa and our own fieldwork.

    We used these samples to investigate the characteristics of the mantle beneath this rifting, when tectonic plates are moving apart from each other. These samples are from Holocene eruptions (rocks younger than 11.7 thousand years old) from across Afar and the East African Rift.

    Geodynamic model, showing what happens in the mantle (brown) as the plates (green) rift apart. At approximately five seconds (equivalent to 35 million years) into the video the seafloor ridge has formed.

    Since the 1970s, scientists have believed that there is a mantle plume beneath the Afar region. Mantle plumes are a portion of abnormally hot mantle (around 1,450°C) or unusual composition of the mantle (or both) below the Earth’s surface. Scientists think it pushed some of the mantle to the Earth’s surface. Our study not only confirms the presence of a mantle plume in this region, but also gives scientists details about its characteristics.

    We discovered that the mantle plume beneath the region rises beneath the tectonic plates in pulses, and the pulses have slightly different chemical compositions.

    There are mantle plumes around the world. They can be identified in the geological record as far back as several billion years. Each of the plumes has different characteristics – with their own unique chemical composition and shape.

    One mantle plume still active today is the one lying below the Hawaiian islands. These islands are part of the Hawaiian Emperor chain, formed over the last 80 million years or so, and are still forming today. The islands originate from the Pacific tectonic plate slowly moving across the top of a mantle plume, making lava bubble up, erupt and eventually solidify as rock.

    This plume melts the Earth’s mantle and forms magma, which over long periods results in the formation of an island chain or breaks up continents. It can also form volcanoes along a rift in the Earth’s crust, as we see in east Africa. The Hawaiian plume signature comes from two chemical compositions rising up through the mantle together like two vertical strands.

    While scientists have long thought there probably is a plume underneath Afar, what it looks like is debated.

    In our study, we created several scenarios of what the plume looks like and then used mathematical modelling to see which plume scenario best fit the sample data. Using this data-driven approach, we show that the most likely scenario is a singular plume that pulses with different chemical compositions.

    The three rifts in Afar are spreading at different rates. The Red Sea Rift and Gulf of Aden Rift are moving faster at about 15mm per year (that’s half the rate your fingernails grow at) compared to the Main Ethiopian Rift moving at about 5mm per year. We deduced that the pulses are flowing at different speeds along the stretched and thinner undersides of the tectonic plates.

    All this shows us that the motion of tectonic plates can help focus volcanic activity to where the plate is thinner.

    This finding has important implications for how we interpret volcanic and earthquake activity. It may indicate that volcanism could be more likely to occur in the faster spreading and thinner portions of the rift, as the flow beneath replenishes the magma more frequently.

    However, the eruptions here may be less explosive than the slower spreading rifts. This fits observations that explosive eruptions occur more frequently in the Main Ethiopian Rift (which sits on a thicker part of the plate and where the volcanoes are more mature), compared to the Red Sea Rift.

    Our understanding of the link between continental rifting and mantle plumes is still in its infancy but research is already providing insights into how tectonic plates affect mantle plumes and how this might be recorded in the future seafloors of Earth.

    Emma Watts works for Swansea University. She receives funding from Natural Environment Research Council and the UK Research Council.

    Derek Keir works for the University of Southampton. He receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council.

    Thomas Gernon works for the University of Southampton. He receives funding from the WoodNext Foundation, a donor-advised fund program, and from the Natural Environment Research Council.

    – ref. We detected deep pulses beneath Africa – what we learned could help us understand volcanic activity – https://theconversation.com/we-detected-deep-pulses-beneath-africa-what-we-learned-could-help-us-understand-volcanic-activity-260129

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: UK to lower voting age to 16 – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure the future health of British democracy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andrew Mycock, Chief Policy Fellow, University of Leeds

    The UK government has announced that the voting age will be lowered to 16 at the next election as part of a wider effort to restore trust in and “future-proof” democracy.

    Votes at 16 has grown from a niche concern to become a salient – if contentious – issue supported by most UK political parties and electoral reform groups. The Conservative party remains a holdout – but has never acknowledged the contradiction of its continued opposition to the universal lowering of the voting age while empowering the Scottish and Welsh parliaments to enact the measure during its time in government.

    This is a policy response to concerns about declining youth democratic engagement since the late 1990s. Since 1997, the UK general election turnout rate for those aged 65 years and over has consistently been at least 20 percentage points higher than for those aged 18-24.

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    Some opponents argue that the Labour government is lowering the voting age to 16 for its own electoral interest, but we should remember this was a clearly stated election manifesto commitment. Votes at 16 was part of the package that delivered Labour to government in 2024 on a huge majority.

    That said, public opinion remains steadfastly opposed. The government will need to handle this tension carefully, ensuring that 16- and 17-years-olds are not treated as second-class members of the electorate as this debate pushes forward.

    For and against

    As when the voting age was universally lowered to 18 in 1969, the case for change has pivoted on perceptions of maturity and markers of adulthood. There was considerable political and public consensus in the 1960s that 18 was the appropriate age of majority and enfranchisement. This link has endured, and many people continue to think under 18s are too socially and politically immature to vote responsibly or regularly.

    Supporters of reform emphasise the need to align enfranchisement with other rights realised before or at age 16 – such as paying tax, medical consent, working, autonomy to make decisions about future education and work lives, and undertaking military (if not frontline) service.

    Opponents respond by noting the age of majority remains 18, and that the minimum age for many protective and social rights, such as marriage and leaving full-time education, has been pushed upwards to 18 in the past decade or so.

    But while 18 remains the legal marker of adulthood, transitions from youthhood to adulthood have become extended and complex. There is no single age point at which young people realise all the social and economic rights and responsibilities associated with adulthood.

    Biological maturation extends from late-stage childhood until early adulthood (mid-20s). Traditional markers of adulthood such as financial independence, owning a property, or getting married and having children are occurring later in life than in previous generations.

    It is more than 50 years since parliament last reflected and reviewed how society understands, and frames, issues of adulthood and citizenship linked to the ages of majority and enfranchisement. Lowering the voting age to 16 offers a timely opportunity to do so again.

    Extensive parliamentary debate lies ahead as this bill makes its way through to becoming law. MPs should take that time to discuss and build consensus around what British democracy should offer young people, and how enfranchisement should be conceptualised for future generations.

    Lowering the age is just the start

    Now that 16- and 17-year-olds are part of the electorate, we can hope that political parties will improve their responsiveness to the interests of young people.

    Unfortunately, where the voting age has already been lowered, we’ve not yet seen parties address their skewed decision-making, representation or electoral behaviour, which continues to favour older voters. The average age of elected representatives has remained around 50 years of age in all UK national and devolved parliaments, and higher in local government. Few young people join political parties or are active in their campaigning.

    There is also significant evidence that, regardless of whether the voting age has been lowered or not, young people are not appropriately supported to be politically and media literate to understand how and when to vote, and to make informed and independent voter choices.

    So, lowering the voting age should only be the first step in a more concerted effort to improve political literacy and democratic engagement as young people grow up. This should begin in primary, not secondary, school and continue through further and higher education.

    Elected representatives should hold regular school surgeries where they meet children and young people, and listen and respond to their issues and concerns. Young people need to learn to discuss political issues in school settings, and political parties should host election hustings in schools and colleges. Young people should also be involved in decision-making in their schools and communities.

    Lowering the voting age offers an opportunity to reinvigorate how we host elections to ensure young people enjoy voting for the first time – and encourage their future participation.

    Making electoral registration automatic, as the government has promised, will help. But joining the electoral roll is a significant civic moment in young people’s lives. Schools should host electoral registration ceremonies where pupils are welcomed into the electorate by local elected representatives, and automatically given a voter authority certificate so they have an appropriate piece of voter ID.

    Political parties need to embrace this once-in-a-generation opportunity that voting age reform presents to secure the future health of British democracy.

    Andrew Mycock 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. UK to lower voting age to 16 – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure the future health of British democracy – https://theconversation.com/uk-to-lower-voting-age-to-16-a-once-in-a-generation-opportunity-to-secure-the-future-health-of-british-democracy-261411

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Will Donald Trump get Vladimir Putin (before Maga gets Trump)?

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

    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.

    You know when the Kremlin is worried about something – it starts talking about nuclear weapons. And so it was, just two days after Donald Trump revealed he had decided to lift his administration’s pause on the supply of US-made weapons to Ukraine, that Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, raised Russia’s nuclear doctrine. In response to a handy question from a friendly reporter as to whether Russia’s nuclear doctrine was still active, Peskov said: “Russia’s nuclear doctrine remains in effect, and thus, all its provisions continue to apply.”

    By saying “all its provisions”, he was emphasising the changes made in December last year which significantly lowered the bar for Russia to use its nuclear deterrent. It states that Russia “reserves the right to employ nuclear weapons” in response to nuclear weapons or “other types of weapons of mass destruction” against itself or its allies.

    Whether Putin and his team consider the sorts of weapons the US is prepared to allow Ukraine to use against Russia as weapons of mass destruction is not clear as yet. The US president specifically said that a fresh supply of Patriot systems was already en route to Ukraine from Germany. But he also hinted that other more offensive weapons could also be in the mix. And in a July 4 phone call he is reported to have asked the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, whether he could hit Moscow or St Petersburg, to which Zelensky replied: “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.”

    Trump is reported to have gone on to say that it was important to “make [Russians] feel the pain”.

    At the beginning of the week, the US president was also keen for Russia to feel the economic pain of indirect sanctions, with 100% tariffs promised against any country buying Russia’s oil. Could this be a turning point?

    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.

    Interesting question, says David Dunn. Dunn, professor of international relations at the University of Birmingham, says Trump’s decision – if he follows through with it – pretty much brings the US back in line with its policy under the Biden administration. Particularly now that Trump appears to have ruled out, for the time being, allowing Ukraine to use long-range offensive missiles against targets in Moscow.

    As Dunn points out, there’s no sense that Trump has changed his overall tack on what he is looking for from Putin: a ceasefire, rather than, as Biden repeatedly insisted, a settlement that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and restores the land occupied illegally by Russian troops.

    Meanwhile the economic pain he promised to inflict on Russia has been scheduled to begin in 50 days. This – as many commentators have been quick to point out – has irresistible echoes of his off-again, on-again tariff regime. So will these sanctions actually happen?



    Read more:
    What Trump’s decision to send more weapons to Ukraine will mean for the war

    The Russian stock market certainly wasn’t that worried. Shortly after trump made his announcement, the Moscow stock exchange increased by 2.7% and the rouble strengthened. Oil markets also appear to have relaxed, suggesting traders see no imminent risks. Maybe this is another case of “Taco” (Trump always chickens out)?

    Patrick O’Shea, an international relations and global governance specialist at the University of Glasgow, believes that the markets’ reaction is more than just indifference to what Trump was threatening. It was relief.

    “Trump’s threat isn’t just non-credible, the positive market reaction in Russia suggests it is a gift for Moscow,” O’Shea writes. “The 50-day ultimatum is seen not as a deadline but as a reprieve, meaning nearly two months of guaranteed inaction from the US.”

    What has not been widely reported in the UK is that a bipartisan bill making its way through the US congress would have been far more punitive that anything Trump is threatening. Now this has been paused pending Trump’s initiative in 50 days’ time.



    Read more:
    Why Russia is not taking Trump’s threats seriously

    Back in Europe, meanwhile, Ukraine’s allies got together in Rome last weekend to discuss what will be needed to rebuild the war-torn country and how to raise the necessary funds. Stefan Wolff was watching proceedings and believes that while countries in the “coalition of the willing” are ready to open their coffers to help Ukraine get back on its feet, the funds so far pledged will not touch the sides.

    Ukraine’s allies at the conference have pledged more than €10 billion (£8.7 billion). But, Wolff – an expert in international relations at the University of Birmingham who has contributed regular analysis of the war in Ukraine – points out that this sum looks minuscule alongside the World Bank’s latest assessment that Ukraine will need at least US$524 billion (£388 billion) over the next decade to fund its recovery.

    There have been some fairly upbeat forecasts about Ukraine’s potential for growth. The IMF forecasts growth for Ukraine of between 2% and 3% for 2025, which is likely to grow to over 4% in 2026 and 2027. But it cautions that this will not happen without considerable overseas support. And an end to the war. Neither is certain anytime soon.



    Read more:
    Over €10 billion has now been pledged for Ukraine’s recovery. It’s nowhere near enough

    Maga moves – but will Trump take responsiblity?

    To Washington, where the US president is having what would probably count as the worst week of his second administration so far. Large sections of his faithful Maga base are in almost open revolt at his seeming reluctance to release what have become known as the “Epstein files”. You may remember he littered his election campaign last year with dark hints about the revelations the files must surely contain about the possible involvement of the rich and powerful in child-sex exploitation. But this week he essentially said it was old news, which was “pretty boring”, adding that “I think, really, only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”

    This is not only at odds with what he spent much of 2024 saying. It also flies in the face of what his own attorney general, Pam Bondi, said in February when she said Epstein’s client list was “sitting on [her] desk right now to review”. Now of course, the justice department says there is no list. This is not what much of his base wants to hear.

    Rob Dover, an intelligence specialist at the University of Hull who has researched conspiracy theories and the people who obsess about them, says this is a dangerous moment for the Trump presidency. He points to Maga unrest over Trump’s decision to bomb Iran and to resume military aid to Ukraine, both of which appear to contradict his pledge to keep the US out of foreign conflicts. Trump’s “big beautiful bill”, which has cut medicaid and other benefits to the poorest people in the US, will also inflict hurt on many is his base. Even his recent musing that he agrees with his health secretary’s questionable assertion that Coca-Cola should be made with sugar cane not corn syrup to “make America healthy again” is sure to anger corn farmers in the Midwest, another core Trump constituency.

    “Maga is not a uniform group in belief or action. But if Trump loses either the loyalty of some or they refuse to flex their beliefs as they have done before, it will be politically dangerous for him,” Dover concludes.



    Read more:
    Trump’s changing stance on Epstein files is testing the loyalty of his Maga base

    Trouble brewing in Bosnia

    I had the great good fortune to visit Sarajevo in December last year where I spent a few days exploring, taking a walking tour of the old town and a wider tour of the whole city which took us across the notional border with the Republika Srpska, one of the two main constituent parts of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Sarajevo: a beautiful but troubled city.
    Julian Nyča via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

    The country was created by the Dayton accord, bringing an end to the ethnic conflict in the mid-1990s that saw whole populations displaced as ethnic Serbs and Croats sought to create new pure mini-states by expelling mainly Muslim Bosniaks.

    When visiting, I felt a pervading sense that the two parts of the new country sit uncomfortably next to each other – and in recent months the friction has intensified considerably. Birte Julia Gippert of the University of Liverpool, who has researched extensively the conflict in the Balkans and the attempts to bring peace to the region, explains how the situation has become so tense.



    Read more:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina in crisis as Bosnian-Serb president rallies for secession

    Why is Israel bombing Syria?

    Conflict in Syria escalated again this week, with Israeli warplanes launching airstrikes against government buildings in Damascus this week. A Netanyahu government minister, Amichai Chikli, referred to Syria’s leader, Ahmed al-Shara, as “a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated without delay”.

    Mixed up in all this is sectarian fighting in southern Syria was has been going on sporadically since al-Shara took power at the end of last year. But, as Ali Mamouri of Deakin University explains, Israel wants to see the emergence of a federal Syria, which the new regime has ruled out. It also want to retain influence in the region and secure its northern border with Syria.

    While a ceasefire is in place for now, Mamouri sees the situation as extremely fragile with further clashes “not only possible but highly probable”.

    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 Donald Trump get Vladimir Putin (before Maga gets Trump)? – https://theconversation.com/will-donald-trump-get-vladimir-putin-before-maga-gets-trump-261416

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why some ‘biodegradable’ wet wipes can be terrible for the environment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel James Jolly, PhD candidate, University of East Anglia

    Daniel James Jolly, CC BY-NC-ND

    Have you felt disgust when taking a walk along the riverside or plunging into the sea to escape the summer heat, only to spy a used wet wipe floating along the surface? Or shock at finding out that animals have died choking on plastic products or that the seafood we eat may be contaminated with microfibres?

    These pollutants are common in our waterways because of the mismanagement of sewage and inappropriate disposal that flush hygiene products and microfibres into rivers and oceans. In the UK alone, more than 11 billion wet wipes are thrown away annually. Wet wipe litter was found on 72% of UK beaches in 2023.

    They persist because they’re made of plastic, a durable material that won’t easily degrade. Plastic can last for decades to hundreds of years. Therefore, governments and manufacturers are eagerly encouraging the use of non-plastics as more “sustainable” alternatives, with the UK banning plastic in wet wipes in 2024.

    These textiles can be made from plant or animal fibres such as cotton and wool, or they may be chemically and physically modified, such as rayon or viscose. They are often labelled “biodegradable” on product packaging, suggesting they are environmentally friendly, break down quickly, and are a safe alternative to plastics. But is this really the case?

    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.

    My research focuses on investigating the environmental impact of these non-plastic textiles and their persistence in waterways. My colleagues and I have found that some non-plastic microfibres can be just as problematic or even more harmful than plastic.

    While non-plastic textiles are not as long-lived as plastics, with many composting within weeks to months, they can last long enough to accumulate and cause damage to plants, animals and humans. Studies by scientists at the University of Stirling show that biodegradable wet wipes can last up to 15 weeks on beaches, where they can act as a reservoir for faecal bacteria and E.coli. Other studies have highlighted non-plastic textiles lasting for two months or more in rivers and oceans, where they break up into hundreds of thousands of microfibres.

    Non-plastic wet wipes can cause as much an environmental hazard as plastic ones.
    Adam Radosavljevic/Shutterstock

    These microfibres are so prevalent in waterways that they have contaminated animals across the food chain, from filter-feeding mussels and oysters to top predators such as sharks and the seafood we eat.

    They are also found in remote locations as far away as the Arctic seafloor and deep sea, thousands of miles from civilisation. These discoveries highlight that non-plastics last longer than we think.

    The dangers of non-plastics

    Once exposed to aquatic life, non-plastic microfibres can be easily ingested or inhaled, where they can become trapped in the body and cause damage. During their manufacture, textile fibres can be modified with various chemical additives to improve their function, such as flame retardants, antibacterials, softeners, UV protection and dyes.

    It is known that several toxic synthetic chemicals, including the plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA), are used for this purpose. These additives can be carcinogenic, cause neurotoxic effects or damage hormonal and reproductive health.

    Researchers like me, have only just begun to explore the dangers of non-plastics. Some have shown that non-plastic microfibres and their additives can damage the digestive system, cause stress, hinder development and alter immune responses in animals such as shrimp, mussels, and oysters. However, other studies have shown little to no effect of non-plastic microfibres on animals exposed to them.

    We do not yet know how much of a threat these materials are to the environment. Only the manufacturers know exactly what’s in the textiles we use. This makes it hard to understand what threats we are really facing. Nevertheless, assumptions that non-plastics are environmentally friendly and an easy alternative to plastic materials must be challenged and reconsidered.

    To do this, we need to push for greater transparency in the contents of our everyday items and test them to make sure that they are truly sustainable and won’t harm the world around us. So next time you are browsing the supermarket aisles and come across a pack of “biodegradable” or “environmentally friendly” wet wipes, just question, are they really?

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

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

    Daniel James Jolly receives funding from the University of East Anglia, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and the NERC ARIES doctoral training pathway as part of his PhD studentship.
    He is a student member of the UK Green Party.

    – ref. Why some ‘biodegradable’ wet wipes can be terrible for the environment – https://theconversation.com/why-some-biodegradable-wet-wipes-can-be-terrible-for-the-environment-258836

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: In Reframing Blackness, Alayo Akinkugbe challenges museums to see blackness first

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Wanja Kimani, Associate Curator, The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

    In Reframing Blackness, writer and curator Alayo Akinkugbe explores the way that art history is taught, and the impact this has had on what we see in national museums in western cities. This teaching has often led to the exclusion of blackness from mainstream art spaces. Akinkugbe challenges this by shifting our gaze – to see blackness first.

    Her book interrogates the place of blackness in relation to art history in several ways. First, she observes that the lack of black curators within national museums in western cities means that blackness is subject to “reactive responses”.

    For example, when there was a global outcry after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, institutions reacted by foregrounding their efforts to support black artists and pledging commitments for future initiatives.

    But many of these initiatives remain on the surface level and temporary, rather than permanently embedded into the institutional fabric. In my experience, long-term change is unlikely to occur when progress is measured by individual projects, while the decision-making remains in the same hands.

    Next, the book draws on Akinkugbe’s experience as a history of art student at the University of Cambridge, during which time there was a call to “decolonise” the curriculum.

    She then explores the intersection of race, gender and class, highlighting the double-bind of racial and gender bias that black women may encounter. She suggests ways to shift the gaze by focusing on people of colour depicted in historic artworks, including Portrait d’une Femme Noire (Portrait of a Black Woman) (1800) by Marie-Guillemine Benoist.

    Along the way, we are acquainted with figures that have always been present on museum and gallery walls – albeit often ignored or faded into obscurity. Akinkugbe speculates about who some of these unnamed figures were, and what worlds they inhabited.

    In Jacques Amans’ painting, Bélizaire and the Frey Children (1837), for example, Bélizaire, a black enslaved child, was over time painted over and faded into the background.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Akinkugbe provides an overview of exhibitions held between 2022 and 2024 at the Royal Academy in London and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. And she has conversations with curators at other museums, whose work contributes to the understanding of the complexity of black life experiences reflected in contemporary art.

    These include Antwaun Sargent (curator of The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion) and Ekow Eshun (curator, In the Black Fantastic and The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure). Akinkugbe also discusses the late Koyo Kouoh’s When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration exhibition. Kouoh, who died in May, was the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale.

    By engaging in dialogue with the curators of these pivotal exhibitions, Akinkugbe demonstrates a shared commitment to uncovering what has been overlooked – and a commitment to deepening the discourse around blackness.

    Cautious optimism

    Reframing Blackness draws attention to important considerations for museums, curators and higher education institutions. There’s also food for thought for students who are keen to understand some of the factors that have contributed to the historic exclusion of blackness within museum walls and art education.

    The book raises key questions that black cultural producers have grappled with in the UK since the 1960s, at the height of the Caribbean artists movement, and during the British black arts movement of the early 1980s. These movements created vital opportunities for discussion around issues of racial justice, visibility and representation.

    Following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in mainstream media in 2020, institutions reacted with pledges for self-reflective work that would lead to more black artists’ work being exhibited and collected. Numerous large exhibitions across national museums followed – some of which are discussed in the book, as are the departmental overhauls of art curricula within higher education.

    Portrait d’une Femme Noire by Marie-Guillemine Benoist (1880).
    Louvre Museum

    I share in some of Akinkugbe’s optimism – but I do so cautiously.

    Following the call to decolonise the curriculum, some art departments in UK higher education have expanded their geographic focus beyond the west. Others have stated their intention to address the legacies of enslavement and colonialism through a commitment to diversity and equality in their job advertisements. Some have done both.

    But there are a few hurdles that may limit these efforts. First, newer courses that may not attract sufficient interest are often the first to be cut when budgets are constrained.

    Second, if courses offer additional modules that attempt to cover vast areas in the global south, there is a risk of overgeneralising entire continents, marginalising them further. Such symbolic gestures fall short in an attempt to challenge art historical frameworks.

    Finally, by adding works by black scholars to reading lists as supplementary instead of core reading, their contributions are treated as being on the margins rather than key producers of knowledge.

    Museums have a responsibility to reflect the communities they serve, in a way that respects the individual and collective autonomy of that community. This may be counterintuitive to the museum’s original purpose, which may have been to serve the upper class, showcasing its founders’ interests.

    Museums are better equipped to engage communities as partners in shaping their future when permanent staff reflect the diversity of these communities across the intersections of race, gender, class, sexuality and disability. Museum directors have a duty to serve these communities with a long-term commitment to care and accountability.

    This book asks us to see blackness first. Akinkugbe guides us closer to a vision that does not require black people to reinsert ourselves, but insists on our resolute presence – both then and now.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

    Wanja Kimani 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. In Reframing Blackness, Alayo Akinkugbe challenges museums to see blackness first – https://theconversation.com/in-reframing-blackness-alayo-akinkugbe-challenges-museums-to-see-blackness-first-260734

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Demands Answers on Shadowy, Mass Collection of DNA from Immigrants by DHS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    July 17, 2025

    Agents Often Take DNA Without Explanation, Including from Thousands of Children; DNA Surveillance Targets Immigrant Communities and Resembles Authoritarian Government Practices

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., slammed the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice for massively expanding the DNA collection of immigrant children and adults to permanently store in a national criminal database that could be weaponized by the Trump administration. 

    Wyden demanded answers from the Trump administration, which has failed to explain why it has vastly expanded DNA collection from immigrants by 5000%. Department of Homeland Security agents fail to clearly notify immigrants their DNA is being taken, fail to follow the department’s own policies, and often threaten individuals with arrest or criminal charges if they refuse to give their DNA, according to reports.  

    “Governments exercising such broad discretion to involuntarily collect and retain DNA are repressive authoritarian regimes also engaging in gross human rights violations, such as genocide, ethnic cleansing, torture, and more,” Wyden wrote in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “In fact, the U.S. Government has condemned the involuntary collection of DNA by the People’s Republic of China and has sanctioned entities engaged in this practice, yet this practice appears to be ongoing on our own soil.”

    The collection of samples includes more than 133,000 children as young as four years old, whose DNA will be used by law enforcement for every potential future investigation. 

    Legal experts have warned that the Administration’s secret, mass-collection of immigrant DNA may also violate constitutional due process rights. The Trump administration has green lighted DHS agents’ ability to detain and collect samples from immigrants without prior judicial authorization. 

    In order for Congress and the American people to understand the Trump administration’s collection of DNA from immigrants, Wyden requested answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:

    1. What is the United States Government’s interest in collecting and retaining DNA from noncitizens in the course of immigration detention and enforcement?

    2. Which agencies, including DHS subcomponent agencies, has the Attorney General authorized to participate in the collection of DNA from noncitizens?

    3. Please describe in detail how DHS is able to access and utilize DNA samples and related information collected in the course of immigration detention and enforcement once the samples and information are retained in CODIS and any other databases.

    4. Please describe in detail how DOJ is able to access and utilize DNA samples and related information collected in the course of immigration detention and enforcement once the samples and information are retained in CODIS and any other databases.

    5. When DHS or subcomponent agencies collect DNA material from individuals in immigration detention and enforcement, where are DNA samples stored following collection?

    6. To date, how many adult noncitizens have DHS officials collected DNA from during immigration detention and enforcement activities? Further, how many DNA samples from adult noncitizens have been collected by DHS since January 2025?

    7. To date, how many minors (18 years old and younger) have DHS officials collected DNA from during immigration detention and enforcement activities in the last five years?

    8. Further, how many DNA samples from minors have been collected by DHS since January 2025?

    9. What Department-wide guidance and/or agency-specific guidance is provided to DHS officials regarding the collection of DNA from noncitizens?

    10. How often is DNA collected by DHS, without judicial authorization, being used in criminal investigations and prosecutions?

    11. Does DHS policy prohibit intimidation, coercion, or the threat of criminal prosecution to compel a noncitizen to provide a DNA sample?

    12. Does DHS or any subcomponent currently have a process in place to expunge DNA and related information stored in CODIS that were collected in the course of a noncitizen’s detention?

    13. Does DHS by practice or policy notify individuals whose DNA and related information have been collected during immigration detention?

    14. What information are DOJ and DHS, respectively, able to extract from the DNA they retain? Is DNA accessed to determine any ethnographic or racial information about the individual?

    Wyden has consistently advocated in the Senate for humane immigration reform.  In July, he criticized the Trump administration’s hostile immigration policies and joined colleagues to introduce a bill to require immigration enforcement agents to display clear identification. In March, he slammed the Trump administration for its resurrection of a draconian immigration order that requires immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration at all times. In April, he reintroduced legislation to guarantee legal representation for unaccompanied children in immigration court. In June, he reintroduced legislation to protect TPS and DED recipients from Trump’s attacks on immigrants.

    The text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz Votes To Protect Life-Saving Foreign Aid, Save Local Public Radio And TV

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today voted against a Republican bill that cuts $9 billion to foreign aid and public broadcasting. The Republican rescissions bill will devastate public TV and radio stations across the country, making it more difficult for people – especially those in Native communities and rural areas – to get news and critical emergency alerts. The bill will also gut life-saving foreign aid programs that millions of people around the world rely on. The legislation was passed without any bipartisan support and heads back to the House of Representatives for consideration.

    “We used to be the indispensable nation that people around the world counted on for help. But not anymore. With these cuts, we will cause death, spread disease, and deepen starvation across the planet,” said Senator Schatz.

    Schatz continued, “Public TV and radio stations deliver news, emergency alerts, weather forecasts, health information, public safety announcements, and election coverage. Stations like HPR tell local stories that no one else does. To gut all of that overnight, in the name of finding savings or to punish certain outlets that Donald Trump doesn’t like is unacceptable.”

    Earlier today, Schatz spoke out against the Trump administration’s illegal dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the catastrophic consequences the elimination of aid has had on vulnerable people around the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sanborn Map Company, Inc. Expands Geospatial Footprint and Deepens Collaboration with Google Maps Platform and Google Cloud Products

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. (“Sanborn”), a national leader in geospatial data and mapping solutions, today announced its continued expansion into the enterprise and public sector markets currently leveraging Google Maps Platform and Google Cloud to advance their business applications. This strategic move significantly expands Sanborn’s customer base across critical sectors including logistics, utilities, real estate, transportation, and public safety.

    The transition reflects a growing demand for integrated geospatial and cloud-based solutions and positions Sanborn as a premier provider of location intelligence services to both public and private sector organizations. In addition to onboarding these customers, Sanborn will offer expanded support services, consulting, and customized solutions designed to maximize the value of their geospatial and cloud investments.

    “Sanborn is eager to welcome our new customers and provide them with the highest level of geospatial services and support,” said Maurice Khollman, Vice President of Content Sales at Sanborn. “This acquisition reinforces our commitment to providing tailored mapping and cloud-based solutions and strengthens our ongoing relationship with Google as we support these clients across the Google Maps Platform and Google Cloud platforms.”

    Sanborn will continue to work closely with Google to ensure a seamless transition for customers, offering comprehensive onboarding, technical support, and managed services through its team of experts in mapping, data analytics, and cloud infrastructure.

    With this expansion, Sanborn builds on more than 150 years of mapping expertise and a growing portfolio of cutting-edge solutions including aerial imagery, LiDAR, 3D modeling, and cloud-native geospatial platforms.

    About The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.
    Founded in 1866, Sanborn is a leading provider of end-to-end geospatial solutions, serving federal, state, and local governments, utilities, and Fortune 500 companies. Sanborn’s offerings include high-resolution aerial imagery, LiDAR, oblique and 3D mapping, cloud-hosted geospatial platforms, and advanced analytics services.

    Maurice Khollman
    VP Sales | Content Division
    The Sanborn Map Company Inc.
    information@sanborn.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sanborn Map Company, Inc. Expands Geospatial Footprint and Deepens Collaboration with Google Maps Platform and Google Cloud Products

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. (“Sanborn”), a national leader in geospatial data and mapping solutions, today announced its continued expansion into the enterprise and public sector markets currently leveraging Google Maps Platform and Google Cloud to advance their business applications. This strategic move significantly expands Sanborn’s customer base across critical sectors including logistics, utilities, real estate, transportation, and public safety.

    The transition reflects a growing demand for integrated geospatial and cloud-based solutions and positions Sanborn as a premier provider of location intelligence services to both public and private sector organizations. In addition to onboarding these customers, Sanborn will offer expanded support services, consulting, and customized solutions designed to maximize the value of their geospatial and cloud investments.

    “Sanborn is eager to welcome our new customers and provide them with the highest level of geospatial services and support,” said Maurice Khollman, Vice President of Content Sales at Sanborn. “This acquisition reinforces our commitment to providing tailored mapping and cloud-based solutions and strengthens our ongoing relationship with Google as we support these clients across the Google Maps Platform and Google Cloud platforms.”

    Sanborn will continue to work closely with Google to ensure a seamless transition for customers, offering comprehensive onboarding, technical support, and managed services through its team of experts in mapping, data analytics, and cloud infrastructure.

    With this expansion, Sanborn builds on more than 150 years of mapping expertise and a growing portfolio of cutting-edge solutions including aerial imagery, LiDAR, 3D modeling, and cloud-native geospatial platforms.

    About The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.
    Founded in 1866, Sanborn is a leading provider of end-to-end geospatial solutions, serving federal, state, and local governments, utilities, and Fortune 500 companies. Sanborn’s offerings include high-resolution aerial imagery, LiDAR, oblique and 3D mapping, cloud-hosted geospatial platforms, and advanced analytics services.

    Maurice Khollman
    VP Sales | Content Division
    The Sanborn Map Company Inc.
    information@sanborn.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Slovenia Declares Two Israeli Ministers Personae Non Grata

    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

    LJUBLJANA, July 17 (Xinhua) — The Slovenian government on Thursday declared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich personae non gratae, claiming that the two far-right ministers are inciting violence and gross violations of Palestinian rights with their “genocidal” statements. –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: Poland recalls ambassador to Hungary over asylum dispute

    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

    BUDAPEST/WARSAW, July 17 (Xinhua) — Poland has officially recalled its ambassador to Hungary, the Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday.

    Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski told the Polish Press Agency that the mission of Ambassador to Hungary Sebastian Kenczyk officially ended on July 15. “There is currently a temporary chargé d’affaires in Budapest,” Wronski said, signaling a reduction in the level of Poland’s diplomatic presence in Hungary.

    Warsaw described the decision as a response to a “hostile act against the Republic of Poland,” referring to Hungary’s decision to grant political asylum to former Polish Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski.

    Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry State Secretary Levente Magyar acknowledged the downgrade in diplomatic relations in a statement on Wednesday, expressing regret over the developments but calling them temporary.

    “This unfortunate step is the result of a gradual deterioration in our political ties – an unprecedented case in the history of our relations with any partner in Central Europe,” L. Magyar noted.

    The current case highlights the growing political rift between two countries that once closely aligned their positions on many EU policy issues. –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: Slovenia Declares Two Israeli Ministers Personae Non Grata

    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

    LJUBLJANA, July 17 (Xinhua) — The Slovenian government on Thursday declared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich personae non gratae, claiming that the two far-right ministers are inciting violence and gross violations of Palestinian rights with their “genocidal” statements.

    Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon noted that Slovenia was the first EU member state to take such measures against two Israeli ministers.

    The decision came after EU foreign ministers failed to reach a consensus on joint action against Israel during a meeting in Brussels on July 15.

    Slovenia, which officially recognized the State of Palestine in June 2024, criticizes Israel’s intense military operations in the Gaza Strip. Ljubljana calls on the Jewish state to immediately stop the offensive and allow rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. –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 Africa: African Union Chairperson appoints H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi, as his Special Envoy for the Sahel region

    Source: APO


    .

    The Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, is pleased to announce the appointment of H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and African Union Champion for Youth, Peace and Security, as his Special Envoy for the Sahel region.

    The Chairperson of the African Union is most grateful to H.E President Évariste Ndayishimiye for accepting this strategic political assignment in the collective interest of the Union.

    President Ndayishimiye will spearhead the renewed African Union’s high level diplomatic support and collaborative efforts aimed at addressing the prevailing security and humanitarian challenges in the Sahel.

    The Special Envoy’s mandate covers intensifying engagements with the governmental authorities, opinion leaders, regional actors and organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to foster dialogue, build consensus, and promote comprehensive strategies towards durable peace and stability within the Sahel region.

    President Ndayishimiye brings with him very rich political experience, and impeccable credentials of resolute commitment to Pan-Africanism, regional integration and cooperation. The appointment reflects the African Union’s steadfast commitment to supporting peacebuilding and regional cooperation in one of Africa’s most critical regions.

    The Chairperson of the African Union has expressed full confidence in President Ndayishimiye’s ability to advance the Union’s vision through his distinguished leadership and deep understanding of the continent’s complex dynamics. In effect, this appointment is to foster the African Union’s drive to permanently silence the guns and promote peace, security, stability, and political dialogue in the Sahel region.

    The Chairperson of the African Union therefore calls on the AU Commission, the AU Mission in the Sahel (MISAHEL); all stakeholders and the international community to extend support to the Special Envoy, who is expected to immediately commence his engagements in the region.

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation inspects the Prosthetics Center in Matrouh and witnesses the delivery and maintenance of 100 prosthetic limbs for mine victims and affected people

    Source: APO


    .

    In continuation of implementing the directives of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to localize the prosthetics and assistive devices industry and support mine victims in Matrouh Governorate, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, visited the Prosthetics Center in Matrouh to follow up on its efforts to support the injured and mine victims in the governorate, in cooperation with the Armed Forces Center for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Rheumatology, and witnessed the delivery and maintenance of 100 prosthetic limbs for the injured people of the governorate who were affected by the mines.

    During the visit, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat listened to the people of Matrouh who were affected by mines and held a dialogue about the mechanism for applying for a prosthetic limb, the manufacturing timeline, and obtaining it, reaffirming the government’s keenness to provide prosthetic devices with the highest levels and standards of efficiency, enabling the injured to reintegrate into society. She also emphasized the government’s interest in supporting development efforts in border governorates, whether through the investment plan or the presidential initiative “Decent Life.”

    The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation also inspected the process of manufacturing and fitting prosthetic devices at the Prosthetics Center by the center’s officials, stressing the need to adhere to the highest standards of efficiency and ensure continuous maintenance of prosthetic devices for the people of Matrouh.

    Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat emphasized the keenness to maximizing the efforts exerted by the Prosthetics Center in Matrouh, in coordination with the relevant entities, especially the Armed Forces Center for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Rheumatology, to provide all aspects of support to the people affected by mines in Matrouh Governorate, by enabling them to reintegrate into society and overcome challenges that prevent their effective participation in various aspects of life.

    H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat added that the ministry, in cooperation with the relevant national entities and in implementation of the directives of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is working on developing the Prosthetics Center in Matrouh in collaboration with the German side, in a way that contributes to enhancing its efficiency and strengthening its role in localizing the prosthetics industry in Egypt.

    Last week, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat signed the reciprocal letters for the feasibility study grant for the National Prosthetic System Development Project, amounting to 1.52 million Chinese yuan, which aims to position Egypt as a regional hub in the Middle East and Africa for providing prosthetic limbs and assistive devices for people with disabilities, as well as acquiring manufacturing capability according to internationally approved standards.

    It is worth noting that in 2007, the Executive Secretariat for Mine Clearance was established at the ministry under Ministerial Decree No. (125) to act as a national coordination and contact point among all entities concerned with mine clearance and the development of the North West Coast, whether governmental, private sector, or civil society, and to mobilize the financial resources necessary to implement its activities. Its current geographical scope of work covers the NorthWest Coast and its desert hinterland, from El-Hammam in the east to El-Salloum in the west and Siwa to the south.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Germany announces €10 million euro investment in Africa’s development

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Germany announces €10 million euro investment in Africa’s development

    German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has announced that Germany will provide an initial contribution of €10 million towards the Group of Twenty (G20) Compact for Africa initiative, which promotes private investment in Africa.

    “This is not only a strategic investment, it is one that can boost the growth, create business opportunities and reduce pressure on public budgets in important Member States,” Klingbeil said on Thursday in Durban during the G20 Finance Track Meeting. 

    Established under the German G20 Presidency in 2017, the initiative’s primary objective is to increase attractiveness of private investment through substantial improvements of the macro, business and financing frameworks.

    Under the G20 Finance Track, the Compact for Africa is governed through the G20 Africa Advisory Group (AAG), co-chaired by Germany and South Africa. 

    The African Development Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank Group coordinate the initiative. 

    “To help these partners, with the support of the Compact with Africa, Germany will provide an initial contribution of €10 million to the World Bank’s Trust Fund this year.

    “We are convinced that this is a worthwhile investment and we will be pleased to see other G20 members to join us, therefore, we call on all G20 partners to consider making their own contribution to the World Bank Trust Fund to help ensure the Compact’s long term success.

    “Only through our joint efforts we can truly unlock the potential of the Compact with Africa and make a lasting impact for the benefit of our African partners and the global community,” Germany’s Vice-Chancellor said.

    According to Klingbeil, Compact members have higher levels of foreign direct investments.

    “It is important to recognise the initiative’s full potential impact is still emerging, partly due to unexpected external challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global uncertainties.

    “This highlights the necessities for continued political and financial commitment to unlock the Compact’s full potential for sustainable and inclusive growth across Africa,” he said.

    The German Vice-Chancellor emphasised that Germany’s new government wants to deepen its engagement with South African partners.

    “We will continue to provide strong support with the Compact but more generally we also want to engage in new thinking about development partnerships.

    “The German government has committed itself to establish a new North-South Commission to set up an international forum where experts from politics, civil society, business and research can meet on a regular basis to search for new and efficient solutions. I envision the independent experts from relevant areas from all parts of the world coming together on a regular basis,” he said.

    The new German government agreed to establish a new North-South Commission to jointly suggest new North-South policies for a multipolar world.

    Klingbeil stressed the importance of the Global North and Global South working together on equal footing while also highlighting the need for equitable partnerships and mutual respect between developed and developing nations. 

    “It’s important that we don’t have a platform where the North is telling the South what to do. We have to come together on the same level to find common answers to address the challenges we are facing in the world.

    “At the same time, we will continue to make use of the existing instruments of the G20 Compact with Africa is one of them, it’s dynamic and results driven initiative that demonstrates the power of partnerships and peer to peer learning,” Klingbeil said.

    Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana indicated that the Compact for Africa has grown into a dynamic initiative that has mobilised over $191 million dollars in private capital, supported by the development of bankable projects and improved access to services for over 13.5 million people.

    “It has also fostered a peer learning network among participating countries supported by institutions like the African Centre for Economic Research and provided a structured framework for reform through regular monitoring and technical assistance.

    “As we look ahead, the success of the Compact with Africa will depend on our collective commitment. We must ensure that this initiative remains country-owned, reform driven and result orientated,” the Minister said.

    Godongwana called on governments, multilateral institutions and the private sector to create enabling conditions for sustainable development and inclusive growth.

    “Africa’s development trajectory is at a crossroad, while the continent is rich in opportunity, it continues to face significant challenges ranging from infrastructure deficit and climate vulnerability to constrained fiscal space and limited access to long term private capital

    “In this context, the compact with Africa initiative remains a promising platform for fostering reformed driven investment partnership between African countries and the private sector,” he said.

    South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2024, which runs to 30 November 2025, under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”. – SAnews.gov.za

    nosihle

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Almost R2 billion required for EC flood recovery housing efforts

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Almost R2 billion required for EC flood recovery housing efforts

    As the Eastern Cape moves to the second phase of its intervention, the provincial government has announced that almost R2 billion is needed to address the housing crisis caused by last month’s devastating floods, which claimed 103 lives and displaced thousands.

    According to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams, R461 million is required for the provision of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs), while an estimated R1.7 billion is needed to deliver permanent housing solutions for affected communities.

    The floods, which occurred between 9 and 10 June 2025, brought destruction across all corners of the province, with the OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities bearing the brunt. Some parts of Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani District, Joe Gqabi and Sarah Baartman Municipalities were also affected.

    The impact of the disaster included loss of lives, significant infrastructure damage, displaced families, livestock losses, learners missing examinations, disruption of basic services, such as water and electricity, disrupted access to healthcare, amongst others.

    The disaster, characterised by severe flooding, was officially classified as a national disaster, enabling all three spheres of government to respond in line with their sectoral mandates – under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Centre.

    The Eastern Cape provincial government has announced that over R2.1 billion is needed to address the housing crisis caused by last month’s devastating floods.

    Giving an update on the provincial disaster management response and recovery on Wednesday, Williams said R120 million has been reprioritised through the Department of Human Settlements to support the immediate rollout of TRUs for the most vulnerable families.

    However, he said the current funding only covers a portion of the need.

    Of the 4 724 TRUs required, only 1 230 are currently funded, and these include 350 for Amathole, 182 for Alfred Nzo, 34 for Buffalo City Metro, 11 for Chris Hani, 51 for Joe Gqabi and 600 for OR Tambo.

    “Government is working hard to address the budget shortfall, and we continue to mobilise our partners for support in this area. Mnquma Local Municipality has identified land at New Rest where 350 temporary residential units will be erected to accommodate victims of this disaster.

    “Similarly, King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality has identified a piece of land at Maydene Farms the construction of 345 TRUs, with further efforts underway to identify additional suitable land parcels to expand this support and provide permanent human settlement solutions,” the MEC said.

    While government stands ready to start the construction of TRUs, Williams acknowledged delays caused by community resistance to accommodate victims of floods in both municipalities, despite social facilitation efforts.

    “It is regrettable that the municipality has had to resort to courts of law to seek recourse, whereas every citizen has a right to shelter, and government is empowered to fulfil its obligation towards this right. In Mnquma Local Municipality, we have now started with site preparation, and we expect the erection of TRUs to start over the weekend.

    “In the KSD Municipality, we will continue with social facilitation to tackle these challenges, to the extent that it is necessary. This resistance poses a real threat to the timely rollout of the provincial government’s resettlement plan,” Williams said.

    He urged all community members to allow government efforts to proceed uninterrupted, so that “homeless families can be relocated to safe, appropriate land without delay.”

    “We must, in all that we do ensure that families start rebuilding their lives and they do not through our direct or indirect actions suffer secondary trauma.” – SAnews.gov.za

    GabiK

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Working together to strengthen legal aid

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces More Than $11 Million for Great Trails State Program Projects in Western North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces More Than $11 Million for Great Trails State Program Projects in Western North Carolina

    Governor Stein Announces More Than $11 Million for Great Trails State Program Projects in Western North Carolina
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has awarded more than $11 million authorized by the General Assembly in grants to communities and nonprofits in western North Carolina from Great Trails State Program funding. This announcement comes during Governor and First Lady Stein’s week exploring the unforgettable mountains of western North Carolina, supporting small businesses, and showcasing all that the region has to offer travelers.

    “From the barrier islands to the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina is home to amazing opportunities for outdoor recreation,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As western North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, this funding for trails will help local communities increase tourism, promote healthy living, and improve quality of life for all North Carolinians.”

    “Trails bring incredible benefits to both urban and rural communities, boosting tourism and economic development,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “This generous funding made possible by the N.C. General Assembly will help transform the state trails system in the Great Trails State.”

    The Great Trails State Program legislation was established through the General Assembly in 2023, representing a historic investment of $25 million in North Carolina trails. The program offers matching grants to North Carolina local governments, public authorities, regional council of governments, and nonprofit organizations.

    These awards encompass more than 70 local trail projects throughout the state, helping to solidify North Carolina as the Great Trails State. In western North Carolina, 37 local trail projects will benefit from $11,162,342 in Great Trails State Program funding, including designing the first greenway in Alleghany County, expanding the New River Paddle Trail, and enhancing and expanding trails throughout the region.

    “The 125 member organizations of the Great Trails State Coalition thank the North Carolina General Assembly for creating and funding the Great Trails State Program,” said Palmer McIntyre, director N.C. Great Trails State Coalition. “This visionary investment in all types of trails across the state will deliver transformative economic, health, and quality-of-life benefits for communities of all sizes. The Coalition will continue to work alongside N.C. State Parks to support this program.”

    Local communities applied for the grants to fund new trail development and extension of existing trails. This includes paved trails or greenways, natural surface trails, biking trails, equestrian trails, and any other type of trail recognized by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Projects could include planning and feasibility studies, design and engineering, acquisition of lands for trail development, trail construction, and maintenance of existing trails. Applicants were required to provide matching funds, based on their county tier designation. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation received 89 applications requesting $28 million, and 79 projects were selected with more than $44.5 million provided in matching funds for a total trail investment exceeding $69.3 million.

    This summer, Governor Stein and VisitNC have teamed up to encourage people “Rediscover the Unforgettable” in western North Carolina as the region recovers from Hurricane Helene. Governor Stein announced the initiative at the reopening of Chimney Rock State Park, which is now open to the public with limited hours. The initiative seeks to bring people from all over the world to western North Carolina to boost tourism, support local businesses, and highlight outdoor recreation opportunities like walking and hiking trails. 

    Western North Carolina grant recipients and amounts are as follows: 

    • Alleghany County: AppHealthCare, $150,000 for Pathways to a Greener Future: Designing the First Greenway in Alleghany County.
    • Ashe County: Blue Ridge Conservatory, $150,000 for NPST – Three Top Mountain Section.
    • Ashe County: Blue Ridge Conservatory, $312,000 for Lansing Creeper Trail Park Expansion.
    • Ashe County: New River Conservancy, $130,666 for New River Paddle Trail Expansion.
    • Buncombe County: Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa, $100,000 for Swannanoa Greenway Feasibility Study Update.
    • Buncombe County: Town of Woodfin, $500,000 for Riverside Park Expansion & Improvement.
    • Burke County: City of Morganton, $374,000 for Morganton Greenway and Mountain Bike Extension.
    • Burke County: Burke County, $399,819 for Burke County FFST & OVST Construction- Paddy Creek.
    • Burke County: Burke County, $363,067 for Burke County FFST & OVST Repairs and Construction.
    • Burke, Caldwell, and McDowell Counties: Camp Grier, $499,197 for Grandfather Ranger District Trail Expansion.
    • Burke and Catawba Counties: Western Piedmont Council of Governments, $100,000 for Burke – Catawba Blueway Planning and Feasibility Study.
    • Catawba County: City of Hickory, $500,000 for Reconstruct the Elevated Boardwalk at Glenn C. Hilton, Jr. Memorial Park.
    • Cherokee County: Town of Murphy, $500,000 for Murphy Riverwalk Primitive Loop Improvements.
    • Clay, Graham, Haywood, and Macon Counties: Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, $253,731 for Urgent Wilderness Restoration: Trail Stewardship and Recovery After the Storm.
    • Cleveland County: City of Shelby, $500,000 for Shelby R.A.I.L. – Regional Access Improvement Line.
    • Cleveland County: Cleveland County Water, $500,000 for Stagecoach Greenway – Narrows Segment.
    • Gaston County: Town of Cramerton, $500,000 for Riverlink Greenway Trail Extension.
    • Gaston County: Catawba Lands Conservancy & Carolina Thread Trail, $500,000 for Spencer Mountain Trail Construction.
    • Graham County: Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team (GREAT), $285,600 for Robbinsville Greenway Project.
    • Henderson County: Town of Fletcher, $293,441 for Expanding and Improving the Cane Creek Greenway System.
    • Jackson County: Friends of Panthertown ,$86,667 for Panthertown Valley Trail & Bog Bridge Project.
    • Jackson County: The Village Green of Cashiers, INC, $233,673 for Resurfacing, enhancing, and maintaining trails in The Village Green.
    • McDowell County: McDowell County, $500,000 for Curtis Creek Bridge – Old Fort Fonta Flora Complex, Phase III.
    • McDowell County: McDowell County, $500,000 for Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway – Phase III (STIP Project No. EB-5916).
    • Rutherford County: Carolina Climbers Coalition, $341,060 for Lower Ghost Town Land Acquisition and Trail Expansion.
    • Rutherford, McDowell County: Foothills Regional Commission, $100,000 for Peavine to Thermal Belt Rail-Trail Connector Planning.
    • Transylvania County: City of Brevard, $112,333 for Filling the Gaps: Engineering the Final Sections of Brevard’s Estatoe Trail Greenway.
    • Watauga County: Blue Ridge Conservancy, $500,000 for Angler Park on the Middle Fork Greenway.
    • Watauga County: Town of Blowing Rock, $500,000 for Glen Burney Trail Improvements.
    • Wilkes County: Town of Wilkesboro, $499,100 for Bridge Between the Boros.
    • Wilkes County: Town of Elkin, $377,988 for Elkin Creek Headwaters Trail Phase 1.
    • Wilkes County: Elkin Valley Trails Association, $500,000 for Bridge of Dreams. 
    Jul 17, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Elbows down? Why Mark Carney seems to keep caving to Donald Trump

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sam Routley, PhD Candidate, Political Science, Western University

    Prime Minister Mark Carney has suggested a new trade deal with the United States is now most likely to include tariffs. There is, in his own words, “not a lot of evidence right now” that the Donald Trump administration is willing to stand down from imposing levies on Canadian imports.

    In making this acknowledgement, Carney has backed down from his previous insistence that Canada would “fight to bring these tariffs to an end.”

    But rather than continuing to retaliate with tariffs of its own, the government has begun to confess that such a tactic may be a losing battle.

    Carney has instead announced Canada will restrict the tariff-free import of cheap, foreign steel to help domestic manufacturers reeling from American tariffs.

    In the wake of the federal government’s recent concession on the Digital Services Tax levied against big American tech companies, it’s another indicator that — unlike the hawkish “elbows up” rhetoric used throughout the federal election campaign — the Canadian government has taken on a more conciliatory tone in advance of the Aug. 1 deadline for a new economic and security deal between Canada and the U.S..

    Dual purposes

    The timing of Carney’s comments can be interpreted two ways.

    Their first and primary purpose is about message control and the need to manage expectations. In announcing this now, the government is not only better able to keep its justification for conceding to Trump at the forefront of media narratives, but it can also prepare Canadians for any further potential concessions in the course of trade negotiations.

    The fact that these comments were made prior to a cabinet meeting could be seen as Carney’s attempt to isolate any cabinet ministers who may still favour a more aggressive stance.

    More substantively, however, the pivot is also a reflection of the realities of both Canada’s actual position vis-à-vis the U.S. and the pragmatism needed to accomplish real trade agreements.



    Read more:
    U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries

    Although Trump is unpredictable, it increasingly seems that levies on imports are among his genuinely held and signature policy commitments. As Carney noted, the administration’s recent trade deals with both the United Kingdom and Vietnam included tariffs. And, despite the president’s talk of annexing Canada, Carney’s new stance suggests a more reasonable, albeit very costly, deal is possible — even amid Trump’s bluster.

    Still, for all the attention they’ve received, tariffs are only part of the ongoing negotiations on the economic and security deal.

    What does Trump want?

    The U.S. administration, for example, continues to justify higher tariff threats not just for economic purposes, but ostensibly to counter the illegal drug trade.

    The fact that the Canadian government has already allotted $1 billion to border defence makes it difficult to assess what would satisfy American negotiators.

    More broadly, Trump has expressed a desire to push Canada for changes in security, supply management of the dairy industry, fresh water use and access to rare earth minerals, among others.



    Read more:
    Zombie water apocalypse: Is Trump’s rhetoric over Canada’s water science-fiction or reality?

    Regardless of how the trade talks proceed in the coming weeks, though, the domestic consequences for Carney will be determined by how willing Canadians are to continue trusting and supporting him.

    On the one hand, his comments that tariff-free trade deals with the U.S. aren’t realistic could be costly given the fact that more than two-thirds of Canadians continue to favour a hard-line stance with little to no concessions on key files.

    This could result in voters viewing Carney as weak and shifting their support to other leaders. No incumbent stands to benefit from the detrimental effects on economic growth, investments and employment rate Trump’s tariffs will cause.

    But support also depends on Carney’s legitimacy. He could maintain public support despite the fact that, on paper, they oppose his actions. Taking a “hard” versus “soft” line in negotiations is itself an ambiguous and fluid set of designations.

    A major reason why Canadians elected Carney is because they viewed him as having sound personal judgment and the skill set to deal with Trump. This is why, rather than challenging the value of the decision to compromise on tariffs, the Conservatives and other opponents have focused on conveying him as an unreliable and dishonest leader.

    What’s ahead for federal politics?

    At this point, polls suggest that Canadians are generally split down the middle on Carney. While around 50 per cent of Canadians are supportive, the other half remain divided between those strongly opposed and those with a more ambiguous position.

    Could Carney win over the support of those with an unambiguous view? It seems unlikely. Leaders are the usually the most impactful when they enter office. And while rally-around-the-flag effects are real, they are short-lived. That means the long-term challenge for Carney remains maintaining the support of the voters that brought him to power.



    Read more:
    How Canadian nationalism is evolving with the times — and will continue to do so

    The Canada-U.S. relationship will continue to develop in a dynamic and unpredictable fashion, even if the economic and security deal is reached soon.

    After voters dramatically consolidated around the Liberals and Conservatives in the 2025 election, the most important question for federal Canadian politics moving forward in this shifting global environment is which electoral coalition will endure.

    Carney seeks to preserve trust, while the Conservatives search for a compelling alternative. Who will come out on top in the Trump 2.0 era?

    Sam Routley 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. Elbows down? Why Mark Carney seems to keep caving to Donald Trump – https://theconversation.com/elbows-down-why-mark-carney-seems-to-keep-caving-to-donald-trump-261304

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Partners With Trees For Life to Grow Southern Ontario’s Urban and Suburban Canopy

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 17, 2025                                                        Whitby, Ontario                                                               Natural Resources Canada

    Canada and Trees For Life are driving urban and suburban tree-planting projects that will expand local green spaces, improve air and water quality and provide natural shade to cool our cities and communities, making them healthier and more climate resilient.

    Today, Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions) and Member of Parliament for Whitby, highlighted a $4-million federal investment for tree-planting projects in urban and suburban areas in southern Ontario. Trees For Life will collaborate with planting partners to plant an average of 24,000 trees annually over five years, for a total of 120,000 trees in communities across southern Ontario.

    The collaboration with Trees For Life is already ahead of target, supporting the planting of 83,000 trees in southern Ontario with 35,000 trees planted in 2024 and 48,000 trees planted across 40 projects in 2025 to date.

    This project builds on a successful regional model piloted in the Durham Region. Trees For Life worked with local municipalities, conservation authorities, non-profits and other partners to assess how many more trees could be planted, as well as how to meet the unique tree-planting needs of each area. With strong support across the Durham Region and funding from the 2 Billion Trees Program (2BT), Canadian Trees for Life is now expanding this successful model to other regions.

    By investing in greener communities today, the federal government is planting the seeds for a more sustainable Canada. Through collaboration and long-term commitment, these efforts will leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: National Defence announces progress on the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar project

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 17, 2025 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    As part of Canada’s $38.6 billion plan announced in 2022 to modernize North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) over the next two decades, the Department of National Defence announced today the selection of the first transmit and receive sites for the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) project. The selection of the first two sites sets the foundation for further development and expansion and is a major milestone toward reinforcing Canada’s security and sovereignty in the Arctic.

    The A-OTHR project is anticipated to reach initial operational capability by the end of 2029. It will ultimately require four sites to be fully operational: two transmit sites and two receive sites.

    For a permanent transmit site, the Department of National Defence (DND) has acquired 163 hectares of vacant property in the northern part of Thistle Trail, slightly north of Bexley Township in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario.

    A preliminary receive site has also been identified, consisting of 288 hectares of agricultural land in Clearview Township, Ontario. Acquiring this site enables DND to deliver an initial, functional capability that can be implemented much sooner than the full capability. DND continues to explore potentially suitable options for the remaining sites.

    DND will launch a public engagement period that will include virtual and in-person information sessions and townhall meetings. These sessions will provide more in-depth information about the sites and allow the public to provide feedback and ask questions about the A-OTHR project. Additional information and registration details will be available on the Department of National Defence website.

    Initial work is anticipated to begin at the Kawartha Lakes and Clearview Township sites in winter 2026. DND is committed to sharing detailed information as it becomes available.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Updated cabinet sworn in to meet the needs of British Columbians in a changing world

    Premier David Eby has announced a strategic shift to his cabinet in order to centre jobs, the economy and the needs of British Columbians in their communities. 

    “We need to be responsive to the changing needs of our province by growing our economy, seizing new opportunities, and making our essential services more resilient,” Premier Eby said. “We have the skills and determination both at the cabinet table and in caucus to stand up for British Columbians. I want to thank two of our veterans, Garry Begg and George Chow, for their hard work and exceptional service to British Columbians. I know they will bring the same enthusiasm to their new roles.”

    The changes prioritize the specific skills and experience of ministers to meet the current moment. The new cabinet roles are:

    • Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth;
    • Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General;
    • Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills;
    • Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs;
    • Diana Gibson, Minister of Citizens’ Services;
    • Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport;
    • Spencer Chandra-Herbert, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; and
    • Rick Glumac, Minister of State for AI and New Technologies.

    The cabinet is tasked with working on the province’s biggest challenges: growing the economy, seizing investment opportunities and strengthening public services. Supported by the government caucus, they will work to build a stronger province and a more resilient economy that’s less reliant on the United States.  

    This cabinet features a majority of women (19), holding some of the most significant and complex portfolios. It is balanced with seasoned experience and fresh perspectives, ensuring a government that reflects the diversity and values of British Columbians. 

    New faces are stepping up to bring the perspectives and priorities of the next generation to the cabinet table. Experienced ministers are tasked with driving forward major projects and economic prosperity and strengthening core service portfolios. 

    Quick Facts:

    • This is Premier Eby’s third cabinet.
    • This cabinet includes MLAs from Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland, the North and Interior, reflecting the province’s diversity and ensuring local perspectives are part of the decision-making process.
    • Cabinet includes eight people of colour, one Jewish member and one Indigenous member. 
    • Cabinet members have a diverse range of backgrounds, including those in policing, technology, business, health care, local government and non-profit organizations. 
    • The new cabinet balances seasoned leadership with fresh talent with 14 members having served at least a full term in cabinet, 10 serving since 2024, and two new cabinet ministers.
    • The following MLAs are moving into new parliamentary secretary roles:
      • Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives, mental health and addictions;
      • Garry Begg, parliamentary secretary for Surrey infrastructure;
      • George Chow, parliamentary secretary for the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown; and
      • Paul Choi, parliamentary secretary for trade.

    MIL OSI Canada News –