Category: Politics

MIL-OSI Analysis: Modi’s visit to Ghana signals India’s broader Africa strategy. A researcher explains

Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Veda Vaidyanathan, Associate, Harvard University Asia Center, Harvard Kennedy School

Ghana has historically been an anchor of Indian enterprise and diplomacy on the African continent.

New Delhi and Accra formalised ties in 1957. At the time, their partnership was grounded in shared anti-colonial ideals and a common vision for post-independence development. India offered counsel on building Ghana’s institutions, including its external intelligence agency. Meanwhile, Indian teachers, technicians, and traders regularly travelled to the west African country in search of opportunity.

The July 2025 visit of the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, to Ghana – the first by an Indian leader in over three decades – came at a critical moment for the continent. As the global order shifts towards multi-polarity, countries like Ghana are navigating a complex landscape, which includes western donors scaling back commitments. This has opened space to deepen cooperation through pragmatic, interest-driven collaborations with longstanding partners like India. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Ghana’s President John Mahama captured the spirit of this global realignment, noting that

as bridges are burning, new bridges are being formed.

Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Modi’s visit offered an opportunity to both revive and recalibrate bilateral ties. The visit carried a strong economic and strategic orientation. Ghana positioned itself as a partner in areas where India holds comparative advantage, such as pharmaceuticals. Over 26% of Africa’s generic medicines are sourced from India. The Food and Drugs Authority’s (Ghana’s regulator of pharmaceutical standards) listing of foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities is dominated by Indian firms.

Defence cooperation was also on the agenda. Ghana is looking to India for training, equipment and broader security engagement in response to rising threats from the Sahel and coastal piracy.

This emphasis on shared security interests is underscored by Ghana’s alignment with India on counter-terrorism. President Mahama for instance has condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attacks that occurred in April, 2025.

Reviving economic ties

Economic ties are at the heart of this renewed engagement between the two countries. Bilateral trade currently stands at around US$3 billion. Both leaders aim to double it to US$6 billion over the next five years. Currently, Ghana enjoys a trade surplus with India. This is mainly due to gold exports, which account for over 70% of its shipments. Cocoa, cashew nuts, and timber are also key exports, while imports from India include pharmaceuticals, machinery, vehicles, and various industrial goods.

India has invested more than US$2 billion in Ghana. These investments span private capital, concessional finance and grants across 900 projects. India now ranks among Ghana’s top investors. Indian firms and state-backed institutions play a key role in critical infrastructure development. Landmark projects include the 97km standard gauge Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line and the Ghana-India Kofi Annan ICT Centre, a hub for innovation and research.

In an earlier study, I documented the perspectives of Indian entrepreneurs in Ghana. The findings underscored the country’s appeal as a land of economic opportunity. In interviews, Indian businesses highlighted Ghana’s stable political environment. An expanding consumer base, and relatively transparent regulatory framework were also mentioned. Together, these factors continue to attract investor interest.

This economic momentum likely paved the way to pursue a closer bilateral relationship, marked by the elevation to a ‘Comprehensive Partnership’.

While delegates in the July visit addressed issues such as financial inclusion, healthcare and agriculture, the tangible outcomes were limited. Four memoranda of understanding were signed. They cover cooperation on traditional medicine, regulatory standards and cultural exchange. The creation of a joint commission to structure and advance bilateral collaboration across priority sectors was also signed.

Moving forward, Ghana offers India an entry point into west Africa’s resource landscape. With reserves of gold, bauxite, manganese and lithium, Ghana is well positioned to contribute to India’s needs for critical minerals. President Mahama’s invitation for investment in mineral extraction and processing aligns with India’s National Critical Mineral Mission, New Delhi is looking for supply chains for its energy transition. It creates an opportunity for Indian mining companies to expand into African markets.

Read more:
The world is rushing to Africa to mine critical minerals like lithium – how the continent should deal with the demand

Pragmatic diplomacy

With nearly US$100 billion in trade, cumulative investments of nearly US$75 billion, and a 3.5 million strong diaspora, the broader contours of India’s Africa policy is increasingly pragmatic and issue based.

New Delhi’s evolving relations with Accra reflects this. It comes as Ghana is making sweeping economic reforms domestically, particularly in fiscal management and debt restructuring.

This ambitious “economic reboot” hinges on attracting private sector investment. In this context, the Indian diaspora, already deeply embedded in Ghana’s commercial networks, is well positioned to foster stronger economic ties.

In his address to Ghana’s Parliament, The Indian Prime Minister spoke of development cooperation that is demand driven and focused on building local capacity and creating local opportunities. This approach “to not just invest, but empower”, signals India’s growing intent to anchor relationships in mutual agency, rather than dependency.

Veda Vaidyanathan is Fellow, Foreign Policy and Security Studies, at a leading Indian think tank.

– ref. Modi’s visit to Ghana signals India’s broader Africa strategy. A researcher explains – https://theconversation.com/modis-visit-to-ghana-signals-indias-broader-africa-strategy-a-researcher-explains-261187

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: What’s changing for children on social media from 25 July 2025
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

Press release

What’s changing for children on social media from 25 July 2025

New laws come into force, protecting under-18s from harmful online content
From 25 July, the way children experience the internet will fundamentally change, as new laws come into force, protecting under-18s from harmful content they shouldn’t ever be seeing. This includes:

pornography

self-harm

suicide

hate speech

violence

Children will have to prove their age to access the most harmful material on social media and other sites, with platforms having to use secure methods like facial scans, photo ID and credit card checks to check the age of their users. This means it will be much harder for under-18s to accidentally or intentionally access harmful content.

A thousand platforms have confirmed to Ofcom they’ve got these checks in place, including the most visited porn site in the UK, PornHub.

It comes as Ofcom figures show that children as young as eight have accessed pornography online, and 16% of teenagers report seeing material that stigmatises body types or promotes disordered eating in the last four weeks.

Children will also see fewer harmful posts and videos in their feeds, with platforms required to make sure their algorithms aren’t feeding children content that promotes harmful behaviours like bullying, hate speech or dangerous online challenges.

And when harmful content does appear, platforms will need to act quickly to remove it. If children are seeing something harmful or inappropriate, it will be easier to find help and report it.

Technology secretary Peter Kyle said:

Our lives are no longer split between the online and offline worlds – they are one and the same. What happens online is real. It shapes our children’s minds, their sense of self, and their future. And the harm done there can be just as devastating as anything they might face in the physical world.

We’ve drawn a line in the sand. This Government has taken one of the boldest steps anywhere in the world to reclaim the digital space for young people – to lay the foundations for a safer, healthier, more humane place online.

We cannot – and will not – allow a generation of children to grow up at the mercy of toxic algorithms, pushed to see harmful content they would never be exposed to offline. This is not the internet we want for our children, nor the future we are willing to accept.

The time for tech platforms to look the other way is over. They must act now to protect our children, follow the law, and play their part in creating a better digital world.

And let me be clear: if they fail to do so, they will be held to account. I will not hesitate to go further and legislate to ensure that no child is left unprotected.

Enforcement action from the regulator

From 25 July these protections will be fully enforceable and services that don’t comply could face serious enforcement action from Ofcom including fines.  

Enforcement action can be 10% of the companies’ qualifying global annual revenues or £18 million, whichever is greater.

Action platforms will legally have to take

Block access to harmful content 

Starting from 25 July, platforms that host pornography, or content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorder content will have to put in place robust age-checks. This means: 

using highly effective age assurance, like facial age estimation, photo-ID matching, or credit card checks to verify age more reliably; and 

stopping children encountering harmful content on the site – either by age restricting parts of the platform or blocking access to the site by under 18s 

this will create extra steps when creating a new account or attempting to access content not appropriate for children.

in practice, this is like a child not being able to sign up for a credit card, or buy alcohol, and means that children will encounter fewer instances of harmful content and have a more age-appropriate experience online 

Provide safer feeds and fewer toxic algorithms 

The codes set out how platforms can reduce toxic algorithms which we know can recommend harmful content to children without them seeking it out.  

This includes ensuring that algorithms do not operate in a way that harms children, such as by pushing content related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and pornography. That means fewer risky rabbit holes and more control over what children see on their feeds. 

Take faster action on harmful content 

Platforms will need more robust content moderation systems to take swift action against content that is harmful to children when they become aware of it. 

Search engines should filter out the most harmful content for children, for example by using a ‘safe search’ setting for children, which can’t be turned off.

User support 

Platforms will also be required to ensure they provide clear and easy-to-find information for children, and the adults who care for them.  

This will include easy-to-use reporting and complaints processes, as well as tools and support for children to help them stay safe online. 

Types of ‘harmful content’ the codes apply to

Platforms which host pornography, or the most harmful content to children and are likely to be accessed by children, must implement highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing said content. 

This content is described as primary priority content and includes: 

pornography, and

content that encourages, promotes, or provides instructions for:

self-harm

suicide

eating disorders 

Wider harmful content is known as priority content. The codes instruct platforms to protect children from this content by providing age-appropriate experiences. This category of content includes:

bullying

abusive or hateful content, and

content which encourages:

or depicts serious violence or injury

dangerous stunts and challenges

the ingestion, inhalation or exposure to harmful substances

ENDS

DSIT media enquiries

Email press@dsit.gov.uk

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

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Published 24 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: New York Call – Joint statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Source: Government of Canada News

July 30, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Foreign Ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, issued the following statement:

“We, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, condemn the heinous and antisemitic terrorist attack of October 7th, 2023;

“Demand an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of Hamas, including the remains, as well as ensuring unhindered humanitarian access;

“Reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority;

“Express grave concern over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasize the essential role of the United Nations and its agencies in facilitating humanitarian assistance;

Welcome the commitments made by the President of the Palestinian Authority on June 10th where he (i) condemns the October 7th terrorist attacks (ii) calls for the liberation of hostages and disarmament of Hamas (iii) commits to terminate the prisoner payment system (iv) commits to schooling reform, (v) commits to call for elections within a year to trigger generational renewal and (vi) accepts the principle of a demilitarized Palestinian State;

“Ahead of the meeting of the Heads of State and Government that will take place during the high-level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September 2025, we, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, have already recognized, have expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognize the State of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-State solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call;

“Urge countries who have not done so yet to establish normal relations with Israel, and to express their willingness to enter into discussions on the regional integration of the State of Israel;

“Express our determination to work on an architecture for the ‘day after’ in Gaza which guarantees the reconstruction of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from the Palestinian governance.”

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: After Trump’s Cuts, Pingree Leads Bipartisan Effort to Restore Local Food Lifelines

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a longtime farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee, led a bipartisan group of her colleagues in introducing the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act to boost the purchasing and distribution of local food. The bill, co-led by Representatives Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), and Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), will help build stronger connections between local producers and community food programs, expanding markets and improving access to healthy food for those in need.

“When Trump’s USDA abruptly ended the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs, it pulled the rug out from under farmers, food banks, and schools across the country—including in Maine. These were proven tools for strengthening local food supply chains, supporting small producers, and getting healthy, locally grown food to hungry families,” said Rep. Pingree. “Our bipartisan Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act restores and improves on that successful model. It’s a practical, community-driven solution that invests in our nation’s farmers, builds regional resilience, and fights hunger.”

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act will allow states, through USDA, to establish cooperative agreements connecting local farmers and producers with local food distribution organizations. Through these agreements, funds will be used to purchase local, fresh, and minimally processed foods like seafood, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, and poultry. The bill also sets aside a portion of these funds to purchase food specifically from small, mid-size, beginning, and veteran farmers. Text can be found here.

“Far too often the discussion around alleviating hunger leaves out those who grow, raise, and produce food – our local farmers. Reducing the barriers between our communities and the farmers who produce our food is a commonsense approach to ensure everyone in Northeast Pennsylvania has access to the food they need.” said Rep. Bresnahan. “This bill recognizes the hard work that is needed to supply fresh and nutritious food like fruit, veggies, milk, and cheese, while also creating a clear path to putting this food on the plates of people who need it. This investment in our local farmers is an investment in stronger local food security and healthier communities.”

“The Central Valley grows the food that feeds our nation, and this bill gives us a chance to connect our farmers directly with local families and food banks to deliver healthy, homegrown food where it’s needed most,” said Rep. Valadao. “The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act is a bipartisan effort that invests in our farmers and communities, and I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in support.”

“It doesn’t get more common sense than fighting hunger by supporting local farmers,” said Rep. Riley. “This is about putting food on the tables of people who need it most, and investing directly in the family farmers who power our rural communities.”

Original cosponsors include Tony Wied (R-Wisc.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Eugene Vindman (D-Va.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and Alma Adams (D-N.C.).

“Iowa farmers work hard to grow high-quality, nutritious food. This bill helps ensure local families, schools, and food banks can afford the fresh produce grown right here in our communities,” said Rep. Nunn. “I’m proud to back a plan that strengthens our food system, supports small producers and veterans, and expands access to healthy, Iowa-grown meals.”

“This legislation supports a program with a proven record of increasing access to the fresh fruits and vegetables our farmers work hard to produce,” said Rep. Newhouse. “It cuts down on food waste, supplies local schools and food banks with produce, and ensures that those who need food can get it. I thank Rep. Bresnahan for his leadership on this legislation as we work to strengthen our food system and expand access to healthy food across the country.”

“I’m proud to join this bipartisan bill to support our Illinois family farmers and help my constituents access nutritious, locally-grown food,” said Rep. Budzinski. “In Central and Southern Illinois, the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools have been a win-win-win for growers and producers, food banks, and schools. It was a major setback when these initiatives were abruptly cancelled. The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act would restore these successful programs that are a proven way to fight hunger, strengthen the food supply chain, and bolster the local agricultural economy.”

“As the only Virginian on the House Agriculture Committee, I know the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs are essential for our farmers and the families they feed across the Seventh. When the Trump Administration suddenly ended both, it caused a ripple effect — hurting local farmers, schools, and food banks across the Commonwealth and the United States. This cannot stand,” said Rep. Vindman. “Earlier this year, I met with Eugene Triplett at his fifth-generation, Black-owned family farm in Culpeper. He told me directly that these programs helped him get healthy, locally grown food to hungry kids and families. I will always work to deliver for Virginia families and farmers like Eugene.”

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act is endorsed by the Feeding America, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), National Farmers Union (NFU), Save the Children, Full Plates Full Potential, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and more.

“Maine’s food system has been hit hard over the past few months due to the instability created by changing government policies and cuts to established food programs, like the Local Food for Schools program which helped schools buy local food from local farms,” said Anna Korsen, Deputy Director of Full Plates Full Potential. “We know children go hungry when household and school budgets get squeezed, so Full Plates welcomes the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act and the potential it has to build on what Maine does best – community solutions to community problems.”

“The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act recognizes and advances the work of thousands of farmers and proponents nationally who have worked to bolster the resiliency of our local food system and Nation’s food supply chain,” Colleen Hanlon-Smith of Farm to Neighbor Maine. “We applaud Congresswoman Pingree for her work to advance this Act. Both LFPA and LFS offered an opportunity for the federal government and the public’s tax dollars to strategically inject funding at the intersection of local food access and farm viability. These were not only incredibly successful programs but critical to shifting the needle on food security by ensuring economic investments locally, to the benefit of our Nation’s farmers, food insecure citizens and local communities.”

“The proposed bill would be a win for both local farmers and families facing hunger,” said Heather Paquette, President of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “By prioritizing the purchase of local foods and partnering with organizations that have deep experience in food distribution, we can ensure that nutritious food reaches the people who need it most, all while strengthening local economies.”

“As Executive Director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, I strongly support the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act because it uplifts the hardworking farmers and food producers who nourish our communities every day,” said Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of MOFGA. “By investing in cooperative agreements that build local food infrastructure and markets, this Act empowers states and Tribal governments to create resilient, community-based food systems. It’s a smart, values-driven approach that strengthens local economies, improves food access, and ensures a healthier, more sustainable future for all.”

“Maine has spent the last two decades building strong, innovative programs to support small farms and connect local producers with their communities. This legislation will help strengthen that foundation, ensuring we continue to grow, adapt, and meet the evolving needs of both farmers and families,” said Jimmy DeBiasi, Executive Director of the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets. “If we’re serious about making America healthier, we have to start with what we’re eating. This bill recognizes that feeding people nutritious, locally grown food is not just good policy—it’s a smart investment in public health and our agricultural future.”

“This legislation benefits family farmers and the communities they feed,”said Rob Larew, President of National Farmers Union. “It strengthens local food systems, expands economic opportunity, and builds more resilient farms.”

“PFB appreciates Representative Bresnahan (R-PA-08) championing legislation that will expand our farmers’ market opportunities, reduce food waste, and get locally grown food to American families’ tables,” said Chris Hoffman, President, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. “The Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act exemplifies the importance of cherishing the hard work that goes into producing food and not wanting to waste it, while providing less fortunate consumers with local options that provide them with the opportunity to support their local farmers. This is a win-win piece of legislation for all involved, and we look forward to working with Congress to advance it.”

“Fresh produce, dairy, and protein are some of the most requested items across the charitable food network,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO, Feeding Pennsylvania. “This bill will strengthen the farm-to-food bank supply chain, create new markets for farmers, and ensure food bank shelves are stocked with locally grown, nutritious food products that help Pennsylvanians access the food they need to thrive. Feeding Pennsylvania is pleased to see the introduction of this important legislation and looks forward to working with our members of Congress as it moves through the legislative process.”

“We commend Representatives Rob Bresnahan, R-PA, Josh Riley, D-NY, David Valadao, R-CA, and Chellie Pingree, D-ME, for their bipartisan Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act,” said the National Milk Producers Federation. “This bill will provide an additional pipeline for dairy farmers to provide their communities with nutritious milk and dairy products. We especially thank the sponsors for ensuring that farmer-owned cooperatives are eligible to participate in this important food security initiative and look forward to working to enact this legislation.”

“Our nation’s farmers are a key part of the nutritious food provided to community members through local food banks and pantries,” said Vince Hall, Chief of Government Relations Officer, Feeding America. “Farmers have worked in partnership with Feeding America food banks for over half a century. The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act would increase resources for states to support local growers and ensure their nutritious food is connected with community members through local organizations like food banks. Feeding America supports the introduction of this legislation and encourages members of Congress to endorse this bipartisan bill that helps farmers and food banks.”

“The bipartisan Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act makes meaningful investments in local and regional food systems by connecting small and mid-sized farmers to nearby communities, strengthening rural economies and advancing health-driven outcomes for consumers,” said Ted McKinney, CEO, NASDA. “NASDA supports this legislation led by U.S. House Representatives Bresnahan (PA) and Riley (NY) and urges the House to swiftly pass this bill.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN – National Martyrs’ Day: Bishop Hiiboro Kussala calls for peace in the country

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Tombura-Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – “As a bishop, I pledge to speak out until the truth is heard. To walk with the victims and wounded families. To offer the Church as a space for reconciliation and dialogue. To pray unceasingly for peace and work side by side with all those who pursue it. I will not remain silent. I will not give up. I will be with you until peace prevails.”These are the words that Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of Tombura-Yambio, addressed to the representatives of the South Sudanese government and all people of good will.“After four years of bloodshed, homes in flames, families destroyed, and buried dreams, our people live under plastic sheets, drink contaminated water, walk in fear, and bury their loved ones in silence. This is not a political issue, it is a humanitarian tragedy and a moral failure.”The bishop, who is also President of the Interreligious Council for the Peace Initiative in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, launches the appeal on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, today, July 30, 2025: “Let us not belittle their sacrifice with more blood. Let us honor them by bringing peace where there is pain and life where death has reigned.”This day, established to remember the victims and promote peace, commemorates those killed in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023.“The cry of our brothers in Tombura has echoed for too long,” Hiiboro continues. “We do not wish to condemn, but to awaken the conscience of a nation. We urge you as pastors, fellow citizens, and children of one God. May Tombura be our turning point, a sacred place where the nation chooses healing over hatred, truth over propaganda, and hope over despair,” he added.Addressing the government of South Sudan, the bishop states: “Now is the time to act. We call on everyone, from the highest office to the smallest local leader, to act with boldness, compassion, and determination. Deploy protection forces to stop all violence and restore the rule of law. Disarm and dismantle anyone illegally possessing firearms. Open space for inclusive dialogue involving leaders, youth, women, churches, and civil society. Promptly punish hate speech, disinformation, and tribal incitement. Ensure humanitarian access and rebuild social, health, and education services.”“This is our common pain,” he says, and addressing the people of South Sudan, he adds: “Tombura is not alone. When one limb suffers, the whole body suffers. This is not a tragedy of Tombura, it is a wound of South Sudan. To the elders, rise up with wisdom and counsel. To mothers and women, be voices of healing and moral resistance. To the young, refuse to be weapons of destruction. Choose peace, build South Sudan. To religious communities, unite in truth and reconciliation. To the international community, do not look the other way. Peace needs partners. Lives must be saved.”“If we do nothing, the future is at risk. If the violence in Tombura continues, the cost will be unbearable. Entire communities will disappear. Tribal hatred will spread throughout all regions,” he warns.And he continues: “Trust in the government and in national unity will be further eroded. Generations of young people will be lost to revenge or violence. If we choose peace, it will be a new dawn for South Sudan; if we act together, with sincerity, peace will flourish. Children will return to school, families to their homes, and farmers to their fields. Trust will grow between tribes, between citizens and their government. The soul of South Sudan will be reborn not in blood, but in justice.” “May Tombura become a sign that South Sudan chooses life,” concludes Bishop Hiiboro Kussala. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 30/7/2025)
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July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/COLOMBIA – Augustinian priest released 40 days after his disappearance

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Agostiniani, Provincia di Nuestra Señora de Gracia

Bogotá (Agenzia Fides) – Forty days after his disappearance, Carlos Saúl Jaimes Guerrero, an Augustinian priest belonging to the Province of Our Lady of Grace, has been released. The priest’s religious community announced this in a statement: “With profound gratitude, we want to share with all of you—friends, faithful, religious communities, and people of good will who have listened to us—news that fills us with joy: our brother, Father Carlos Saúl Jaimes, has been released.”The priest, according to the government of the department of Cundinamarca, “was kidnapped on June 17 in a rural area of the municipality of Viotá and released on the morning of Sunday, July 27, in a rural area of the municipality of El Colegio. He was found in good health.”Father Carlos disappeared after leaving for a farm known as Casacoima, on the outskirts of Viotá. A few hours later, his vehicle was found abandoned on a path near a ravine, with the engine running. Since then, various joint operations have been launched between the Viotá Mayor’s Office, the police, and the National Guard.Once the investigation began, law enforcement followed the kidnapping, among others. However, no one claimed responsibility for the incident, nor was a ransom demanded. The family also offered a reward for anyone who provided information useful in finding the priest. However, nothing was known until July 27, when law enforcement finally found him.The website of the Cundinamarca Department Governor’s Office specifies that “at the express request of the family, no further details about the circumstances of his release will be revealed.” No precise information has yet been provided about the days of his disappearance.The Augustinian Order expressed its gratitude for the community’s support and asked for discretion: “We ask for understanding and respect so that Father Carlos Saúl can have a satisfactory recovery together with his family and the religious community.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 30/7/2025)
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July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDIA – Indian bishops appeal to government over attacks on nuns and promised “rewards” for those who attack priests

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

CBCI

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – The nation’s constitutional rights must be protected and guaranteed. This is what the Indian bishops are asking for in an appeal to the government in the face of “the growing climate of hostility and violence against minorities throughout the country.”The intervention of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) comes a few days after the arrest of two nuns at the Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh. Government railway police detained Sisters Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis of the Green Garden Sisters.The nuns were accompanying three young women and an adult man belonging to a tribal group who were reportedly traveling from Narayanpur, in the diocese of Jagdalpur, to Agra, Uttar Pradesh, where they had been offered jobs in a Catholic-run hospital. “Although the young women were over 18 and had given their parents’ written consent, according to the bishops, the nuns were arrested after pressure from community members. They were allegedly subjected to physical assault. When the young women’s parents arrived at the police station, officers allegedly prevented them from seeing their daughters.“Christian sisters are increasingly targeted by social agitators who surround them at train stations, incite crowds, and use abusive language. These actions,” the CBCI stated, “pose a grave threat not only to the dignity and modesty of these women, but also to their lives.” Calling these repeated incidents a “grave violation of the Constitution,” the Indian bishops urged state governments to “ensure the safety of all women and take immediate steps to prevent such incidents,” while requesting urgent intervention from the central government in Delhi.The CBCI’s concern arose after a series of incidents that, according to the bishops, “reflect the deterioration of institutional impartiality. One such incident occurred on June 17, 2025, when BJP MP Shri Gopichand Padalkar allegedly incited public opinion against Christians by announcing monetary rewards for attacks on Christian priests.” The Indian Catholic bishops, in their statement, cited the MP’s alleged remarks: “Whoever hits the first priest will receive a reward of five lakh rupees, whoever hits the second will receive four lakhs, and the third will receive three lakhs.”This incitement, the Indian bishops explained, “justifies immediate legal action. The speech, widely disseminated through videos and media, was explicit, direct, and poses a real threat to public order. Such acts constitute a serious offense under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Penal Code, which came into force in 2024), which criminalizes promoting enmity between different groups and threatens national unity. Despite the gravity of the statement and the peaceful protests by concerned citizens, the relevant authorities have remained indifferent.”According to the CBCI, “recent events indicate the deconstruction of the rule of law, leading to anarchy, something no nation can afford.” Given the gravity of the situation, “the Indian bishops urged the government and all political parties to overcome any partisanship and adopt appropriate constitutional measures to protect the country and all its citizens. We must act immediately to protect the principles enshrined in the Constitution and defend the dignity and rights of all citizens, regardless of their religion.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 30/7/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination

Source: United States Attorneys General

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice released Guidance to ensure that recipients of federal funding do not engage in unlawful discrimination. In particular, it clarifies that federal antidiscrimination laws apply to programs or initiatives that involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) programs. Entities that receive federal funds, like all other entities subject to federal antidiscrimination laws, must ensure that their programs and activities comply with federal law and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics—no matter the program’s labels, objectives, or intentions.

“This Department of Justice will not stand by while recipients of federal funds engage in illegal discrimination,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This guidance will ensure we are serving the American people and not ideological agendas.”

“The federal government must ensure that taxpayer money is used lawfully and for the public good,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The very foundation of our anti-discrimination laws rests on the principle that every American deserves equal opportunity, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics.”

This new Guidance emphasizes the significant legal risks of initiatives that involve discrimination based on protected characteristics and offers non-binding best practices to help entities that receive federal funds avoid the risk of violations and the revocation of federal grant funding.

Read the Guidance HERE.

MIL Security OSI –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Merkley Demand Public Release of Epstein Files

US Senate News:

Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have launched an effort to direct the U.S. Department of Justice to publicly release all files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

Senators Luján and Merkley introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act to ensure full transparency for the American people, accountability for those involved with Epstein, and justice for victims. As story after story trickles out about the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein Files, the Epstein Files Transparency Act is critical to restoring the public’s trust in government and includes strong protections to redact appropriate information to protect victims’ privacy and national security, while explicitly prohibiting redactions based on reputational harm or political sensitivity.

“President Trump promised the American people transparency and accountability on Jeffrey Epstein and his horrible crimes. The Trump administration has failed to deliver on this promise and as a result has lost the trust of the American people. That’s why I’m partnering with Senator Merkley to launch this effort to provide the public with full transparency relating to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and help deliver justice for the victims,” said Senator Luján.

“The rich and powerful cannot use their influence, money, and connections to cover up the abuse of our most vulnerable,” said Senator Merkley. “We have a government of ‘We the People,’ not ‘We the Powerful.’ To restore the public’s trust, the American people deserve the truth about Jeffrey Epstein and those connected to him.”

Earlier this month, U.S. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan resolution in the House calling for consideration of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

Full text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act as introduced in the Senate can be found here. The Senators intend to force Senate consideration of the legislation as soon as possible.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Colleagues Host Members of British Parliament in Senate to Sharpen Collaboration

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

BAPG Chairman Boozman and Vice Chair Whitehouse lead discussions with visiting U.K. BAPG members.

WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Chair of the Senate Delegation to the British-American Parliamentary Group (BAPG), welcomed lawmakers from the United Kingdom to Capitol Hill for working sessions and events designed to offer a deeper understanding of the American political system at the federal level.

During their visit, BAPG members consisting of senators and Members of Britain’s Parliament fostered dialogue on key policy priorities, such as security and defense across Europe and Asia, strengthening U.S. and U.K. relations, and topics including artificial intelligence, technology and international trade.

“It is an honor and a privilege to continue the tradition of convening the British-American Parliamentary Group, especially back in the U.S. once again,” said Boozman. “I thoroughly enjoy our discussions and the opportunity to strengthen the special relationship and friendships our nations sustain to promote understanding, partnership, prosperity and diplomacy for generations to come.”

Chairman Boozman and Vice Chair Whitehouse pose with visiting members of the British-American Parliamentary Group.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) serves as Vice Chair of the Senate BAPG Delegation and joined Boozman in hosting the British lawmakers. Throughout the remainder of the conference, BAPG members met with several of Boozman’s Senate colleagues, executive branch leaders, businesses and think tanks.

The BAPG Conference meeting location traditionally alternates between the U.S. and U.K. every two years.

For more photos from the conference, please click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Warren Warns Democrats About Dangers of Voting for Funding Bills While Republicans Use Tricks to Claw Back Bipartisan Funds, Trump Breaks Law
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

July 30, 2025

“I’m asking my Republican colleagues to grow a spine and stand up for Americans instead of bowing down to their pretend-king. And I’m asking my Democratic colleagues to join me in using the power we have to fight back.”

Video of Floor Speech

Washington, D.C. — With the Senate set to vote on the first appropriations bill this week, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) took to the Senate floor in opposition, warning Democrats about the dangers of voting for Republicans’ funding bills while the Trump Administration illegally impounds funds, unilaterally cancels funding, and considers using tricks like pocket rescissions to sidestep Congress.

“Why should Democrats come to the table in good faith and throw our support behind a quote-unquote bipartisan bill, only for Republicans to turn around after the deal is done and, somewhere down the line, delete any of the parts Trump doesn’t like?,” said Senator Warren. “That’s like Republicans saying: “Let’s cut a deal to sell you a car today,” and then a month from now, they come back and steal the wheels.”

“Congress is a co-equal branch of government. We swore an oath to the Constitution, not to a king,” Senator Warren concluded. “I’m asking my Republican colleagues to grow a spine and stand up for Americans instead of bowing down to their pretend-king. And I’m asking my Democratic colleagues to join me in using the power we have to fight back.”

Transcript: Floor Speech Opposing Reconciliation Funding Bills

U.S. Senate Floor

July 30, 2025

As Prepared for Delivery

Senator Elizabeth Warren: Mr./Madame President, I’ve come to the Senate floor today to discuss how our government is funded.

The Constitution puts Congress in charge of setting up programs and funding them. There are some programs – for instance, Medicare and Social Security, that are funded at a certain level every year, unless Congress passes a law to change it. For everything else, Congress has to pass a new funding law every single year.

The list is long:
- medical research,
- fighter planes,
- weather satellites,
- salaries for park rangers,
- food inspection programs to make sure your chicken doesn’t make you sick.
The money that we spend is detailed every year in a set of twelve bills that Congress votes on called “appropriations bills.”

The Senate voted on the first one of those twelve bills last week – the one that deals with funding for veterans’ programs and military bases. I care deeply about improving the lives of our servicemembers and veterans. All three of my brothers are proud veterans, and they served their country with honor. I’m the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Personnel subcommittee.

I voted no on that funding bill because even if this bill becomes law, I don’t believe Donald Trump has any intention of following that law. I’m not willing to be a helpmate on another one of Donald Trump’s scams.

Why do I think Trump won’t follow the law? Consider his administration’s track record over the past six months on Congressional spending laws.

First, Trump tried to freeze billions of dollars that American families and businesses count on — money that Congress set aside to support everything from food assistance programs to scientific research. Multiple federal judges blocked the illegal power grab, saying it blatantly violated the Constitution. Now, even Republicans are begging the administration to hand out the investments that Congress already passed and, by law, their communities were promised.

Second, Republicans in Congress are bowing down to Donald Trump and ratifying some of his worst efforts. They are using an obscure piece of federal law to zero out federal funding after it was approved by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. This process is called a “rescission,” and it only requires 50 Republican votes to do Donald Trump’s bidding.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, Trump is already plotting to use a shady loophole to defund even more programs — demanding cuts so late in the year that Congress doesn’t have enough time to do anything about it. The Director of Donald Trump’s Office of Budget and Management, Russ Vought, has already said that loophole is quote-unquote “on the table.”

Let’s be clear about what’s happening here. Step One: Congress negotiates a compromise that both Republicans and Democrats support and it’s signed into law. Step Two: Trump tells Republicans what parts of that deal he wants to cancel. Step Three: Republicans in the Senate bend the knee and follow Trump’s orders to cancel the money. But wait there’s more — apparently, Step Four is Republicans turn around and, with a straight face, ask Democrats to negotiate more deals for next year’s funding, starting the whole rinse-and-repeat process again, beginning with the bill to fund veterans services.

Are you kidding me? Do we really look that gullible?

Why should Democrats come to the table in good faith and throw our support behind a quote-unquote bipartisan bill, only for Republicans to turn around after the deal is done and, somewhere down the line, delete any of the parts Trump doesn’t like? That’s like Republicans saying: “Let’s cut a deal to sell you a car today,” and then a month from now, they come back and steal the wheels.

Of course, Trump may not ask his Republican buddies to rescind spending. Maybe instead on his own he’ll just illegally refuse to spend it, the way he’s done with $425 billion already this year.

Our founders didn’t give the President the power to decide spending. A king can decide anything he wants, but not a president. Donald Trump wants to be able to wake up and decide to cancel funding for public education, transportation projects, medical research, food inspectors, anything, just because Donald Trump feels like it — and he wants the Republicans in Congress to roll over and let it happen. No checks and balances. Just Trump playing king and ending programs that would help Americans.

Trump is getting a lot of help from his team. Russ Vought, the head of OMB, has said that the problem in Congress is too much bipartisanship. Too much. In other words, the Trump administration is saying loud and clear that Donald Trump can make all the decisions. They don’t need — or want — Democrats.

At the very same time, the Republicans need Democratic votes for these funding bills because the Senate rules currently require 60 votes for them to pass and there are only 53 Republicans in the Senate. If Democrats don’t provide votes, the Republicans want to blame us for shutting down the government when this year’s funding runs out at the end of September.

On the other hand, if Senate Republicans want Democratic votes for these funding bills, they should ask us what it will take to win our support. Not just what programs we want to fund or at what levels, when those promises aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. No, Democrats should tell Republicans that if they want our votes, they will have to guarantee that any deal we strike actually means something.

I get it: Democrats and Republicans have different priorities. Here in the Senate, Republicans have voted to end health care for 17 million Americans and drive up health insurance costs for millions more. Republicans have voted to give billionaires huge tax cuts. Democrats are willing to make a deal, but our deal is about bringing down costs for families, including the cost of health care, groceries, and housing. If Republicans want to make a deal, let’s make a deal — but only if the Republicans include an agreement that they won’t take it back a few weeks later.

Congress is a co-equal branch of government. We swore an oath to the Constitution, not to a king. I’m asking my Republican colleagues to grow a spine and stand up for Americans instead of bowing down to their pretend-king. And I’m asking my Democratic colleagues to join me in using the power we have to fight back.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 31, 2025
PM Modi condoles demise of renowned economist Meghnad Desai

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Distinguished Indian-origin economist, author, and member of the UK House of Lords, Lord Meghnad Desai, passed away at the age of 85 on Tuesday, prompting an outpouring of condolences from across the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron.

Born as Meghnad Jagdishchandra Desai in 1940 in Vadodara, the economist began his academic journey in economics at the University of Mumbai, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, following which he received a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, completing his PhD in economics in 1963, three years after enrolling.

Following the news of his demise, PM Modi expressed grief and recalled his valuable contributions to economic thought and India-UK relations.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Anguished by the passing away of Shri Meghnad Desai Ji, a distinguished thinker, writer and economist. He always remained connected to India and Indian culture. He also played a role in deepening India-UK ties. Will fondly recall our discussions, where he shared his valuable insights. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti.”

The British High Commissioner to India also expressed her condolences over Desai’s demise, stating, “RIP Lord Desai. Thoughts with Kishwar Desai and his wider family and friends. Such fond memories of watching the UK general election with him last year,” in a post on X.

“So sad to learn Lord Meghnad Desai passed away in Delhi this evening. First Indian Labour Party Peer, Professor Emeritus LSE, renowned economist and author. A passionate advocate for UK-India links. Thoughts of all UK in India with his wife Lady Kishwar and their children,” said Christina Scott, Deputy High Commissioner of the UK to India in a post on X.

The High Commission of India in London also paid tribute to Desai, noting that he had championed the strong and lasting ties between India and the UK and that his contributions would continue to inspire diplomats, academics, and thought leaders in both nations.

“The High Commission of India in London is deeply saddened by the passing of Lord Meghnad Desai. A teacher, scholar, thought leader and great advocate of the enduring friendship between India and the UK. Lord Desai’s work will be cherished by generations of diplomats, scholars and thought leaders in both countries. His role in the installation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament Square in London ensures that his legacy will endure,” said the High Commission of India in London in a post on X.

Desai was elevated to the UK House of Lords in 1991, where he served as the first Indian-origin peer from the Labour Party. He held the title of Professor Emeritus at the London School of Economics (LSE) and was widely respected for his academic contributions and public policy insights.

(ANI)

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Hailing Progress to Transform Food Systems, Deputy Secretary-General Urges Stronger Collaboration to End Global Hunger, at UN Summit+4 Stocktake’s Closing Plenary
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the closing plenary of the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), in Addis Ababa today:

Let me begin by extending my appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for its warm hospitality, and to the Italian Government as well, for their support as Co-Hosts of this Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake.

Over the last three days, we have engaged and heard from over 3,000 of you — leaders from Ethiopia and Italy, Kenya, Somalia, Comoros, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda, Cuba; the ministers from a wide range of sectors; National Convenors and other government representatives; youth, Indigenous Peoples, food producers, business, civil society, development partners; our Rome-based agencies; and the UN system. I am particularly grateful to the resident coordinators that joined us here in Addis and will now go back to work with renewed impetus to make food systems transformation a reality.

The energy and vitality of this movement continues to inspire. This gathering has reminded us of the value of coming together as a global community to benefit from the perspectives and experiences of others and to shape new, bold action for the future.

At the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in 2021, in the midst of a global pandemic, we embarked on a journey to grow and catalyse energy behind an emerging movement for the transformation of our food systems to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Too often food systems are seen as part of our challenges, when they can be one of the greatest solutions to deliver for people, planet, peace and prosperity.

Two years ago, still grappling with the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, facing planetary crises and the effects of new conflicts, the Call to Action from the First Stocktake of the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+2) in Rome appealed for inclusivity to strengthen our efforts to drive more targeted investment and mutual accountability.

Since then, Governments have continued to shift how they govern and shape policy for food systems. A total of 130 countries have articulated integrated, multisectoral National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation and here again; I want to acknowledge the incredible contribution of Sir David Nabarro.

In 168 countries, nationally determined contributions are now reflecting the critical role of food and agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as we seek to adapt and transform.

More than 170 countries are implementing school meal programmes that support child nutrition, often connecting with local producers and contributing to regenerative production practices. At the subnational level, many cities are leading the way in reducing food waste and strengthening local supply chains.

I am proud of what we have achieved. We have heard powerful stories of progress and rising ambition since 2021 from a diverse ecosystem of partners, who are reforming policies, championing local innovation and digitalization, mobilizing investments and partnerships and empowering women and youth.

And when it comes to our young people, there is increased understanding that ensuring youth-inclusive and youth-led food systems transformation is important both for enhancing youth welfare and building sustainable and resilient food systems.

The food systems movement has taken root in global and regional agreements — from the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) Declaration to initiatives emerging from the Group of Seven (G7) and Group of Twenty (G20) to regional agreements, such as the Kampala Declaration earlier this year.

These are powerful commitments to transform food systems for people and the planet that you have helped inspire. Thanks to your collective work and efforts we are better equipped to meet our ambition.

You are strengthening coalitions and launching new initiatives to help drive our work, including:
- The Food Systems Accelerator, launched by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), GAIN and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, will support countries to turn strategies into financed, scalable change.
- Through greater uptake of the Financial Flows to Food Systems framework, co-developed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank, we can help Governments design more effective, tailored financing strategies.
- Business engagement — co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Global Compact and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development — broke new ground. These efforts culminated in a Business Compendium of 15 investment-ready models, showing how business is shifting from commitment to implementation.
- As a result of the investment pitch for Cameroon, the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security has announced their intent to partner with the Joint SDG Fund to significantly scale up existing programmes. The launch for this large-scale commitment will take place in New York this September 2025.
- The Convergence Initiative helps drive integration of food systems transformation and climate action for accelerated sustainable development and represents a useful resource for countries to navigate competing policy choices with partners.
- Investments in critical sectors, including those under the Mattei Plan for Africa, are mobilizing public-private partnerships and catalysing private sector investment.
- The UNFSS+4 Youth Declaration, crafted by more than 3,000 youth from all over the world, called for inclusive, participatory decision-making in food systems, climate justice and intergenerational collaboration.
- The UNFSS Coalitions of Action demonstrated that they are dynamic vehicles for food systems transformation, mobilizing diverse stakeholders across sectors and scales to deliver impact aligned with national priorities.
With just five years until 2030, it is encouraging to see that the world remains committed to the realization of the 2030 Agenda.

As we conclude this Stocktake, we must acknowledge that we met in the face of challenges that test our moral values and threaten the future sustainability of our planet, underscoring the urgency of our work together.

The release of the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report last night confirmed: hunger and malnutrition persist. Climate shocks, conflict, debt and inequality are widening the cracks in our systems.

It is estimated that between 638 and 720 million people — a bit less than 1 in 10 people in the world — faced hunger in 2024. 2.6 billion people are still unable to afford a healthy diet. Only about one third of children aged 6 to 23 months and two thirds of women aged 15 to 49 years achieved minimum dietary diversity globally.

People’s access to food in conflict zones is highly constrained and — in some instances — attempts to access humanitarian relief has led to injury and death. Whole communities experience man-made food insecurity and malnutrition, with extreme long-term consequences for their children.

Farmers everywhere are facing unprecedented adverse climate impacts, threatening livelihoods and food security. Developing economies are still coping with impacts of inflation, severe fiscal constraints, debt challenges and the high cost of capital. Looking ahead, 512 million people are still projected to be facing hunger in 2030, of whom nearly 60 per cent will be in Africa.

As we consider the pathway to 2030, peace and respect for human rights must anchor our ambition. Every person in our world — rich or poor, young or old — has the right to food that is accessible, affordable, safe and nutritious. Present and future generations are depending on our choices. Only through inclusive dialogue and genuine partnerships can countries and communities ensure faster and more effective progress.

As we leave this Stocktake and take what we achieved here in Addis back home and to other milestones, clear points of emphasis have been identified:

First, we must act urgently to summon the funding, innovations and global solidarity to build the food-secure and climate-resilient future that every person, everywhere, needs and deserves. The dramatic reduction in life-saving humanitarian funding to respond to these needs must be immediately reversed and safe access to life-saving humanitarian support granted.

Second, is to deepen the implementation of National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation. The effective and meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders is a priority, with particular attention to involving family farmers, front-line food workers, women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Third, we must unlock finance and investment. That means mobilizing domestic resources and investments at scale for all dimensions of food systems transformation. It also means scaling up finance and investment by multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and public development banks behind country priorities.

And we have work to do to scale up private sector investment in agriculture and food systems. This should include the small and medium-sized enterprises that serve as a backbone of our food systems interfacing with millions of food producers and consumers.

Fourth, we must continue the drive for an integrated approach. We need to simultaneously pursue policy measures that focus on equity and resilience through linking environmental, economic and social dimensions of food systems. Policies should be rooted in local culture, communities and traditional knowledge to help guide approaches that can accelerate transformation and enhance self-reliance.

Fifth, we must continue to leverage science, technology and knowledge. Science and innovation are prerequisites for food systems transformation and can support alignment of health, agriculture, climate, biodiversity and economic objectives and policies. Strong science-policy-society interfaces are essential and must appreciate traditional knowledge.

New technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are changing our economies and our societies. The road ahead demands we leverage the appropriate and responsible use of technology to ensure prosperity for all in a healthy and liveable planet. The digital public infrastructure needs more investment to ensure the connectivity of our rural communities.

And, finally, we must connect with our future. I agree with our young people — they are not merely future beneficiaries of food systems change, they are active co-leaders in transformation. Policies should enhance opportunities for young people to create, innovate and thrive.

On the road to 2030, there will be important milestones that the outcomes of UNFSS+4 will inform and in which this movement will engage. These include the World Social Summit, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30, UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 and the 2027 SDG Summit.

UNFSS+4 has reinforced the value of a dedicated space to foster collaboration, deepen systems approaches and encourage the emergence of food systems whose purposes are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda.

The UN Food Systems Coordination Hub will continue to advance progress at country level, through our resident coordinators and country teams, accompanying National Convenors and collaborating with other partners. Our movement has shown what is possible when we work together in deliberate ways across sectors, stakeholders and countries with a shared purpose.

I call on Governments and people everywhere to build on what has been accomplished and continue to work together for peace and to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda. Let’s continue to lead the way — together.

MIL OSI United Nations News –
July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senate Appropriators Advance Bill with Alaska Priorities for Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

07.30.25

Washington, DC – Last week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to advance the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development bill for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) that contains significant Alaska priorities. The bill was approved in committee and will now advance to the Senate floor for consideration.

“This funding meets some of Alaska’s most critical needs, ranging from affordable housing to infrastructure improvements,” said Senator Murkowski. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for these wide-ranging investments that will benefit all Americans and provide stability for those who need some help getting back on their feet.”

Highlights from the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Bill

Investments in Aviation Safety

Air travel is a way of life in Alaska, and oftentimes pilots are flying without guidance or accurate weather assessments. In recognition of these life-threatening conditions, Senator Murkowski is focused on bolstering aviation safety in Alaska and around the country. To that end, the THUD appropriations bill invests $20 million for the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (DYAASI), and $687.5 million for Essential Air Service.

Bolstering Infrastructure

Senator Murkowski understands the diverse infrastructure needs in Alaska and around the country. Ensuring America’s roads, railroads, and maritime transport routes remain safe and efficient is essential. This bill provides for $63 billion for the Federal Highway Administration, $2.9 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration, and $874 million for the Maritime Administration, including $30 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards Grants and $75 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program.

Supporting Community Development Initiatives

Senator Murkowski recognizes the importance of having a safe place to call home for people of all ages, and how difficult it is to secure it. She advocated for significant funding for initiatives that aim to make housing more accessible in communities around the country.

Senator Murkowski ensured a continued investment of $107 million in funding for the Youth Homeless Demonstration Program, which takes a comprehensive, community-based approach to reduce the number of young people experiencing homelessness. She also secured $1.25 billion for the HOME Investment Partnership Program, which provides the Department of Housing and Urban Development funding for grants used by states, local governments, and nonprofits to buy, build, and/or rehabilitate affordable housing options for low-income Americans. She also successfully fought for $52 million to rehouse survivors of domestic violence. Additionally, Senator Murkowski advocated for significant investments in Tribal Housing programs, $1.11 billion for Indian Housing Block Grants, and $10 million for Tribal Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers.

In addition to programmatic funding to help Alaskans, Senator Murkowski was able to secure investments specific to 27 Alaska communities, projects that have been requested and prioritized by local governments and organizations in this bill:
- Anchorage: $1,600,000 for Covenant House Alaska to purchase the Dena’ina House.
- Anchorage: $287,000 for NeighborWorks Alaska to replace their fire alarm system.
- Anchorage: $750,000 for Anchorage Community Land Trust for building repairs.
- Anchorage: $320,000 for Catholic Social Services to improve accessibility and egress at shelter.
- Buckland, Noatak, Kivalina: $330,000 for Northwest Arctic Borough School District to construct and renovate teacher housing.
- Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of AK: $2,500,000 to provide housing for first responders in Angoon, Hydaburg, Kake, Thorne Bay, and Pelican.
- City of Angoon: $2,000,000 to design and construct access to boat launch facility.
- Cordova: $750,000 for Cordova Family Resource Center to purchase and renovate a building.
- Craig: $900,000 for Helping Ourselves Prevent Emergencies (HOPE) to purchase a building for a domestic violence shelter.
- Emmonak: $4,000,000 through the Denali Commission to construct a domestic violence shelter.
- Fairbanks: $5,000,000 for the Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT) for road reconstruction.
- Fairbanks: $2,000,000 for North Star Council on Aging to rehabilitate senior housing.
- Fairbanks: $1,000,000 for Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing Services Inc to construct affordable housing.
- Fairbanks: $700,000 for Fairbanks Youth Advocates to build transitional housing for youth at risk of homelessness.
- Haines: $1,000,000 for Borough of Haines to construct an early childhood education building.
- Kake: $2,000,000 for Kake Tribal Corporation to replace a dock.
- Ketchikan: $1,575,000 for Inter-Island Ferry Authority for marine vessel upgrades.
- Ketchikan: $1,000,000 for Southeast Alaska Independent Living, Inc. to purchase and renovate a building to support people with disabilities.
- Ketchikan: $2,000,000 for Ketchikan Indian Community to construct a navigation center.
- Minto: $608,000 for Yukon Koyukuk School District to renovate teacher housing.
- Naknek: $2,000,000 for South Naknek Village Council to construct affordable housing.
- Native Village of Diomede: $1,500,000 to renovate teacher housing.
- Native Village of Unalakleet: $255,000 to construct housing for victims of violent crimes.
- Nome: $4,000,000 for City of Nome to construct housing for teachers and public safety officers.
- Nulato Village: $4,000,000 for Nulato Village for port infrastructure improvements.
- Petersburg: $2,000,000 for Petersburg Borough to replace a float and breakwater at Banana Point.
- Saint Paul Island: $1,000,000 for City of Saint Paul for fire station construction and renovation.
- Seldovia: $482,000 for City of Seldovia to replace the Jakolof Bay Dock.
- Sitka: $1,000,000 for Sitkans Against Family Violence to construct and renovate a domestic violence shelter.
- Soldotna: $2,387,000 for AKDOT to reconstruct a portion of Marydale Avenue.
- Talkeetna: $4,500,000 for Sunshine Station Child Care Center to design and construct a new childcare center.
- Thorne Bay: $1,574,000 for City of Thorne Bay to construct a new Fire and EMS building.
- Wasilla: $3,000,000 for Wasilla Airport (IYS) to design and extend runway.
- Yakutat: $2,000,000 for City & Borough of Yakutat to build housing.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 31, 2025
EU climate goals at risk as ailing forests absorb less CO2, scientists say

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Damage to European forests from increased logging, wildfires, drought and pests is reducing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, putting European Union emissions targets at risk, scientists warned on Wednesday.

The European Union has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The target includes the expectation that forests will suck up hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions and store it in trees and soil, to compensate for pollution from industry.

But that assumption is now in doubt. The average annual amount of CO2 Europe’s forests removed from the atmosphere in 2020-2022 was nearly a third lower than in the 2010-2014 period, according to a paper led by scientists from the EU’s Joint Research Centre – its independent science research service.

In the later period, forests absorbed around 332 million net tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, said the paper, published in the journal Nature. Recent data from EU countries suggest an even steeper decline.

“This trend, combined with the declining climate resilience of European forests, indicates that the EU’s climate targets, which rely on an increasing carbon sink, might be at risk,” the paper said.

Today, Europe’s land and forestry sector offsets around 6% of the EU’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. That’s 2% short of the amount the EU calculates is needed to meet climate goals – with the gap expected to widen by 2030.

Agustín Rubio Sánchez, professor of ecology and soil science at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, said it was “wishful thinking” to rely on forests to meet climate targets.

“Forests can help, but they shouldn’t be assigned quantities to balance carbon budgets,” he told Reuters.

The findings are a political headache for EU governments, who are negotiating a new, legally-binding 2040 climate target – which is designed to use forests to offset pollution that industries cannot eliminate.

Already, some are warning this won’t be possible.

“What should we do when there are factors that we, as countries, as governments, have not much ability to control – like forest fires or drought,” Sweden’s environment minister Romina Pourmokhtari said in a news conference last week.

Over-harvesting, climate change-fuelled wildfires and droughts, and pest outbreaks are all depleting forests’ carbon storage.

However, some of these risks can be managed – for example, by reducing intense logging, or planting more diverse tree species, which may enhance CO2 storage and help forests withstand climate extremes and pests, the paper said.

(Reuters)

July 31, 2025
Can never forget painful moments of Pahalgam: HM Amit Shah vows to make Kashmir terror-free

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday lambasted the Congress party for ‘prioritising’ political motive over national interests and also recalled the poignant moments of Pahalgam terror attack, when 26 innocent tourists were gunned down by Pakistani terrorists on April 22.

Sending a strong message to terrorists and their masters, Home Minister Shah vowed to make Jammu and Kashmir terrorism-free, saying that it is the long-standing commitment of Narendra Modi government to bring peace and stability in the region.

Joining the debate on Operation Sindoor in Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister told the House that when the Pahalgam massacre happened, he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reached the spot on the same day to take stock of the situation and show solidarity with the affected families.

“I can never forget those painful moments of April 22 terror attack. I met a woman, widowed just six days after her marriage and many families whose members were shot dead in front of their eyes. The agony and anguish of Pahalgam victims are still remain fresh in my mind,” he said.

He added that there has never been an incident when innocent people were singled out and killed on the basis of religion.

“The disturbing images of Pahalgam attack are enough to shake the conscience of everyone, including me,” Home Minister Shah added.

He also lambasted the Opposition for questioning the timing of ‘Operation Mahadev’ and rebuked the Congress party for keeping political interests above national security.

“Some people are asking why Pahalgam attackers were killed just when the Parliament started debating Operation Sindoor. The whole nation is watching the Congress, their focus has never been national security but scoring political points, their focus is on undermining the forces rather than lauding their valour,” he said.

The Home Minister also informed the House about the swift action taken by the Union Cabinet, after the Pahalgam attack, for bringing the perpetrators to justice and also to penalise Pakistan for fomenting terror on the Indian territory.

(IANS)

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: New police unit bolsters B.C.’s response to human trafficking
Source: Government of Canada regional news

The Province is strengthening its efforts to combat human trafficking with the creation of a new, co-ordinated provincial response team.

The counter human trafficking unit (CHTU) will enhance the detection, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking crimes, while expanding support for victims and targeting organized crime networks operating in British Columbia.

“Human trafficking occurs in all areas of our province, and we all have a role to play in helping to prevent these horrific crimes,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “The creation of this new unit marks a significant step forward in our government’s efforts to assist police in identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking, while also strengthening evidence-gathering to ensure those responsible for these crimes are held accountable.”

The CHTU is a 12-member team that will lead the provincial response to the issue of human trafficking through intelligence, education and investigation. The unit will work with police departments and other agencies to provide increased training to officers and additional capacity in investigations and intelligence-gathering on cases throughout the province. They will also help strengthen the response to these crimes by promoting experts in the field of human trafficking to support criminal prosecutions.

“Human trafficking is a complex and often hidden crime that requires specialized skills and resources from police,” said Chief Supt. Elija Rain, officer in charge of the B.C. RCMP major crime section. “From education to detection, investigation, prosecution and working closely with policing and community partners, the creation of this dedicated team strengthens our overall response to human trafficking in every corner of B.C.”

The funding for the CHTU is made available from the Province’s $230-million investment into the Provincial Police Service to enable the B.C. RCMP to hire officers in specialized units, such as the major crime section, the internet child exploitation unit and the BC Highway Patrol.

The Province’s broader response to human trafficking includes a focus on enhancing community-led supports for survivors, increasing community capacity to respond to human trafficking and enforcement efforts through police departments. More than $60 million is provided annually to support more than 475 front-line victim-service and violence against women programs in the province that offer emotional support, information, referrals and practical assistance to victims of violence, including victims of human trafficking. This includes funding for 70 new sexual-assault services and five sexual-assault centres to support victims of sexual violence in the province.

Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights involving the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for profit. Due to their often hidden and complex nature, many human trafficking offences go undetected or unreported. In 2023, 43 incidents were reported to police in B.C., though the actual number may be higher as experts note human trafficking is significantly under-reported.

Quotes:

Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity –

“We know that human trafficking and gender-based violence are closely connected. Over 90% of police-reported human trafficking victims are women and girls, and one-third of them are trafficked by an intimate partner. Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people are at a higher risk, as are survivors of gender-based violence, which is why this new unit will support the important work underway as part of B.C.’s gender-based violence action plan.”

Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey City Centre –

“One incident of human trafficking is too many. This new 12-member unit will help our Province proactively respond to the issue of human trafficking in B.C. and ensure victims have the support they need. The B.C. RCMP is working hard to address these crimes and keep our communities safe.”

Jenea Gomez, director, Illuminate Anti-Human Trafficking Programs –

“It is an honour to work alongside the Province of British Columbia and this newly formed response team to ensure that legal and social mechanisms support our common goal of seeing survivors live free from exploitation. Illuminate has worked closely with the RCMP Counter-Exploitation Unit for many years, and we will continue to bring our expertise to the Counter Human Trafficking Unit for the support of survivors seeking safety and justice.”

Quick Facts:
- The Province provided $230 million to support the RCMP Provincial Police Service to hire 256 members over three years.
- Two hundred and twenty-five positions have been staffed and actions for the remaining 31 positions are expected to be completed by spring 2026.
- The United Nations has designated July 30 as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
Two backgrounders follow.

MIL OSI Canada News –
July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Maxwell Frost Blasts Florida Attorney General’s Threats to Remove Orange County Government Officials Over Immigration Enforcement

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)

July 30, 2025

ORLANDO, FL — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) issued a statement slamming Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, for threatening to remove Orange County Commissioners and Mayor Jerry Demings, after Orange County leaders rejected a proposal that would force county corrections staff to transport federal immigrant detainees to federal detention facilities. Uthmeier’s threat comes as Florida’s newly appointed CFO has announced the State is auditing the county’s spending.

In a statement, Rep. Frost says:

“In a desperate attempt to score points with the Trump Administration, Florida’s unelected Attorney General is threatening to remove elected Orange County officials for doing what they were elected to do — to stand up for the residents of Orange County and exercise their sovereignty and duties given to them by the people.

“This the same governor who used to claim that the federal government was an ‘out-of-touch bureaucracy that does not act on behalf of us, but instead looms over us and imposes its will upon us.’ And now after squandering $450 million of state taxpayer dollars to build an internment camp in the middle of the Everglades, they want to force Orange County to foot the bill for their cruel immigration agenda and use its resources to transport detainees nearly 250 miles away.

“The Governor’s office has a long track record of overstepping and playing these twisted political games to silence the opposition. Threats to remove local leaders who were elected to represent our community while at the same time auditing the county’s spending are nothing short of baseless, direct attacks on one of the only Democratic strongholds left in Florida. This is a political shakedown.

“I stand by Orange County and its leaders against these attacks. This assault on our local democracy will not stand.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fix Regulations Hurting U.S. Taxpayers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Eugene Vindman (VA-07) introduced the bipartisan Cutting Paperwork for Taxpayers Act (H.R.4826) to close a loophole in the tax code that penalizes Americans waiting on tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Under current law, when the IRS is delayed more than 45 days in issuing a tax refund, interest begins to accrue on the refund. If this interest exceeds $10, taxpayers must report it as income by filing a separate 1099-INT form, creating an unnecessary administrative and financial burden on taxpayers for delays outside of their control.

The Cutting Paperwork for Taxpayers Act would correct this flaw in the tax code and designate IRS-paid interest on late refunds as non-taxable, sparing individual filers and small businesses from having to report this interest as additional income.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for inefficiency at the IRS,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan bill to cut red tape at the IRS and save working Americans time and money. I will always fight to ensure our federal government works for taxpayers, not against them.”

“The cost of living is too damn high, and I’m working hard to change that. This common-sense, bipartisan bill would put money back in your pocket. Families who file their taxes on time and are owed a refund should get their money hassle free,” said Rep. Vindman. “I’m proud to team up with Congresswoman Kim on this effort to make life easier.”

Read more about the bill HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Welch Demands Action and Accountability for Mass Starvation in Gaza: “It’s a war crime to starve a population to get what you want from your enemy.”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) last night spoke on the Senate floor about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and the need for the United States to take immediate action. He condemned Hamas, pushed for a ceasefire, and demanded the release of the remaining hostages. Senator Welch also rejected the Netanyahu government’s illegal use of starvation as a weapon of war.
“We all condemn Hamas. We all want the release of the remaining hostages. But we have to ask ourselves the question: is it at all justifiable that there is a policy that has to be recognized that starvation is being used as a tool of warfare? I reject the legitimacy of that act. It’s a war crime, Mr. President. It’s a war crime to starve a population to get what you want from your enemy, as righteous as your defense against an enemy may be. It’s illegal to starve children to obtain the battlefield advantage. But the Netanyahu government has actually said it’s doing that. My view, Mr. President is that it’s long, long past the time to say enough. Enough. No. The United States will not stand by as hunger is used as a weapon. We don’t do that,” said Senator Welch.
Watch Senator Welch’s floor remarks here:

Read Senator Welch’s remarks as delivered here.
Senator Welch has been a leading voice in calling for an indefinite ceasefire in Gaza to stop the bombing, prevent further loss of civilian life, extend access to humanitarian relief to those who had been displaced, and continue negotiations to secure hostages.  Earlier this week, Senator Welch joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in leading 19 of their Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration for answers on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators called on the Administration to immediately cease funding for GHF and restore support for existing United Nations aid distribution mechanisms.
In May, Senator Welch led 46 colleagues on a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. Senate Republicans blocked Senator Welch’s request for unanimous consent to pass his resolution.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Israel’s attack on Syria: Protecting the Druze minority or a regional power play?

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Spyros A. Sofos, Assistant Professor in Global Humanities, Simon Fraser University

A new round of violence recently erupted in southern Syria, where clashes between local Druze militias and Sunni fighters have left hundreds dead.

In response, Israel launched airstrikes in and around the province of Sweida on July 15, saying it was acting to protect the Druze minority and to deter attacks by Syrian government forces.

The strikes mark Israel’s most serious escalation in Syria since December 2024, and they underline a growing trend in its foreign policy: the use of minority protection as a tool of regional influence and power projection.

The Druze minority

The Druze, a small but strategically significant ethno-religious group, have historically occupied a precarious position in the politics of Syria, Israel and Lebanon.

With an estimated million members across the Levant — a sub-region of west Asia that forms the core of the Middle East — the Druze have often tried to preserve their autonomy amid broader sectarian and political upheavals. In Syria, they make up about three per cent of the population, concentrated largely in the southern province of Sweida.

Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria in late 2024 and the rise of a new Islamist-led government under Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Druze in southern Syria have resisted central authority.

Though not united in their stance, many Druze militias have rejected integration into the new Syrian army, preferring to rely on local defence networks. The latest wave of violence, sparked by the abduction of a Druze merchant, has been met with both brutality from pro-government forces and military retaliation by Israel.

Truly protecting Syrian minorities?

Israeli officials says they intervened to protect the Druze, which is not unprecedented. Over the past year, Israel has increasingly portrayed itself as a defender of threatened minorities in Syria — rhetoric that echoes past efforts to align with non-Arab or marginalized groups, such as the Kurds and certain Christian communities.

This strategy may be less about humanitarian goals and, in fact, much more deeply political.

By positioning itself as a regional protector of minorities, Israel could be seeking to craft a narrative of moral authority, particularly as it faces growing international outrage over its policies in the West Bank and Gaza. This is an example of what scholars refer to as strategic or nation branding by states to cultivate legitimacy and influence through selective interventions and symbolic gestures.

But Israel’s actions may not just concern image. They could also be part of a broader geopolitical strategy of containment and fragmentation.

The new authorities in Syria are seen as a significant threat, particularly because of the presence of Islamist factions operating near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. By creating what is in effect a buffer zone in southern Syria, Israel’s goal may be to prevent the entrenchment of hostile entities along its northern border while also capitalizing on Syria’s internal fragilities.

Strategic risks

With sectarian tensions resurfacing in Syria, the Israeli government probably sees an opportunity to build informal alliances with disaffected groups like the Druze, who may be skeptical of the new Syrian government. This reflects a shift in Israel’s foreign policy from reactive deterrence to proactive strategic disruption.

This approach is not without risks. While some Druze leaders have welcomed Israeli support, others — particularly in Syria and Lebanon — have accused Israel of stoking sectarian tensions to justify military intervention and advance territorial or security aims.

Such accusations echo longstanding criticisms that Israel’s involvement in regional conflicts is often guided less by humanitarian concern and more by cold strategic calculation.

This new phase in Israeli foreign policy also fits into a broader pattern I’ve previously written about — the increasing revisionism of Israel’s regional strategy under Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership. That strategy seemingly seeks to upend multilateral norms, bypass traditional diplomacy and pursue influence through direct engagement — often militarized — with non-state entities and marginalized communities.

Read more:
How Israel’s domestic crises and Netanyahu’s aim to project power are reshaping the Middle East

Israel’s July 15 strikes, and an attack on Syria’s Ministry of Defence in Damascus the following day, have drawn strong condemnation from Arab states, Turkey and the United Nations.

While Israeli officials have justified the attacks as defensive and humanitarian, the intensity and symbolic targets suggest a deeper intention: to demonstrate operational reach, and, more importantly, actively engage in a redesign of the region with fragmentation and state weakness as the main objective.

Fragmentation of the Middle East

The United States, while expressing concern over the violence, has largely remained silent on Israel’s expanding role in Syria. This could further embolden Israeli actions in a region where international norms are being increasingly upended and traditional great power engagement is waning.

Sectarian clashes are likely to continue in Sweida and beyond as Syria’s central government struggles to reassert control. That means that for Israel, the opportunity to deepen its footprint in southern Syria under the guise of minority protection remains.

But despite its effort to present itself as a stable, moral presence in an otherwise chaotic neighbourhood, Israel could be undermining the very stability it says it wants to protect as it militarizes humanitarianism.

The world is not not just witnessing a series of airstrikes or another episode of sectarian violence in the Middle East. It’s watching a profound transformation in the regional order — one in which traditional borders, alliances and identities are being reshaped.

Amid this environment, Israel’s role could evolve not just as a military power, but as a revisionist nation navigating, and helping to bring about, the fragmentation of the Middle East.

Spyros A. Sofos 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. Israel’s attack on Syria: Protecting the Druze minority or a regional power play? – https://theconversation.com/israels-attack-on-syria-protecting-the-druze-minority-or-a-regional-power-play-261648

MIL OSI –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Car tires are polluting the environment and killing salmon. A global plastics treaty could help
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Timothy Rodgers, Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia

In the 1990s, scientists restoring streams around Seattle, Wash., noticed that returning coho salmon were dying after rainstorms. The effects were immediate: the fish swam in circles, gasping at the surface, then died in a few hours.

Over the next several decades, researchers chipped away at the problem until in 2020 they discovered the culprit: a chemical called 6PPD-quinone that forms when its parent compound, a tire additive called 6PPD, reacts with ozone.

6PPD-quinone kills coho salmon at extraordinarily low concentrations, making it one of the most toxic substances to an aquatic species that scientists have ever found.

Today, a growing body of evidence shows that tire additives and their transformation products, including 6PPD-quinone, are contaminating ecosystems and showing up in people.

Now, alongside the researchers who made that initial discovery, we’re calling for international regulation of these chemicals to protect people and the environment.

Our recently published research outlines the hazard posed by tire additives due to their demonstrated toxicity and high emissions near people and sensitive ecosystems, how current regulations don’t do enough to protect us, and how we can do better.

Tires are complex chemical products

Tires are far from simple rubber rings. They’re complex chemical products made to endure heat, friction and degradation. For example, 6PPD is in tires to protect them from ozone, which causes tires to crack.

Unfortunately, little attention was paid to these chemicals until scientists discovered the impacts of 6PPD-quinone and realized these chemicals could be hazardous.

Once they started looking, researchers found many tire additives, including 6PPD-quinone, in streams near roads, in dust and in the air — wherever there are roads, there is tire additive contamination.

Although 6PPD-quinone is most lethal to coho, it is also lethal to several other species of salmonids, and it may be toxic to aquatic plants and terrestrial invertebrates.

We know that exposure to tire wear particles and the chemicals that leach from them affect other aquatic species that are used as indicators of toxicological risk. This widespread contamination occurs because emissions of tire additives are high.

Every time we drive, we produce particles from tire wear, and those particles release additives into the environment. Tires lose 10-20 per cent of their mass over their lifetime. That means driving emits over one million tonnes of tire particles to the environment in both the United States and the European Union every year.

All those tire particle emissions represent a large source of chemicals to the environment and high human exposures, especially in cities. Researchers have started to find tire additives and their transformation products in people.

Although more research is needed on how tire additives affect people, 6PPD is classified as a reproductive toxin, and other tire additives and their transformation products have been associated with increased cancer risk in exposed populations.

Emerging research with mice indicates that some tire additives and their transformation products impact mammals, with studies showing neurotoxicity, damage to multiple organ systems and impaired fertility from 6PPD-quinone.

That’s why our team of environmental scientists is calling for urgent global action.

Plastics treaty

We’re not arguing that tires shouldn’t have additives, but those additives must be safer. That’s why we are calling for a process that replaces 6PPD and other tire additives with safer alternatives. Tire additives should be nonhazardous across their entire life cycle, and manufacturers should be transparent about what tire additives they are using and what their hazards are.

Next week, governments from around the world are meeting to negotiate a global treaty to end plastic pollution. We call for tires to be explicitly included in the treaty, and we want to see strong measures around plastic additives including tire additives.

We want to see:
- Deadlines for phasing out hazardous chemicals;
- The ability to mandate alternatives;
- Transparency around the chemicals used in tires;
- Independent panels for evaluating additive alternatives and for assessing additive effects;
- Dedicated working groups focused on tire additives due to their large emissions and demonstrated ecological impacts.
The good news is that we’ve done this before. After scientists found a hole in the ozone layer, the world banded together under the Montréal Protocol to phase out the most damaging chemicals to the ozone layer. Today, the ozone layer is recovering, averting millions of cases of skin cancer and helping combat climate change. We need the same level of ambition and urgency now.

Making tires nonhazardous for the environment would help safeguard coho salmon populations, restoring traditional foods to Indigenous Peoples across the Pacific Northwest and protecting a species vital for aquatic ecosystems.

Since roads are built where people are, reducing the hazard from tire particle pollution would reduce one source of exposure to potentially toxic chemicals, and ensure a future where fewer people are impacted by chemical pollution. It’s time for global action on tire additives, before their impacts become even harder to ignore.

Timothy Rodgers receives funding from the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.

Rachel Scholes receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the BC Knowledge Development Fund, and the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.

Simon Drew receives funding from the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.

– ref. Car tires are polluting the environment and killing salmon. A global plastics treaty could help – https://theconversation.com/car-tires-are-polluting-the-environment-and-killing-salmon-a-global-plastics-treaty-could-help-261832
MIL OSI –
July 31, 2025
NISAR launch a landmark in Indo-US space cooperation, set to transform earth observation: Jitendra Singh

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded the successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite on Wednesday, calling it a “global benchmark” in Earth observation and a powerful symbol of Indo-US scientific collaboration.

Though parliamentary duties kept him in the capital, Singh joined scientists and senior officials at the CSIR Auditorium in New Delhi to witness the satellite’s flawless lift-off aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket via live telecast from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

“NISAR is not just a satellite; it is India’s scientific handshake with the world,” Singh said, emphasising that the mission represents the growing strength of India’s space programme and its transition from utility-based goals to knowledge-driven global initiatives.

The 2,393-kg satellite is the first in the world to carry dual-frequency synthetic aperture radars—L-band by NASA and S-band by ISRO—on a single platform. This enables high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging of Earth’s land and ice surfaces, with a revisit time of just 12 days.

In a first for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the GSLV-F16 successfully placed the satellite into a 747-kilometre Sun-synchronous Polar Orbit, marking the vehicle’s 18th mission and its 12th flight using an indigenous cryogenic stage.

Singh highlighted NISAR’s broad utility in areas such as disaster management, glacier tracking, agriculture monitoring, climate observation, and more. But he also stressed the mission’s extended value across sectors like aviation safety, maritime navigation, coastal management, and urban planning.

“This satellite will be a data backbone for smarter decisions in shipping routes, air traffic systems, and infrastructure development,” he said.

The open-access data policy of NISAR will benefit global researchers, disaster-response agencies, and developing nations, making cutting-edge Earth observation insights widely available over its five-year mission life.

Jointly funded by NASA and ISRO, the $1.5 billion mission involved significant hardware contributions from both agencies. NASA provided the L-band radar, GPS receiver, high-rate telecom system, and 12-meter deployable antenna, while ISRO contributed the S-band radar, spacecraft bus, launch vehicle, and support systems.

Singh concluded by attributing India’s space advancements to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “From Chandrayaan to NISAR, we are not just launching satellites—we are launching new possibilities for global science, sustainability, and shared progress.”

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Tsunami alert highlights worth of global early warning system

Source: United Nations 2

While the UN-backed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported
that there had been no damage to Japan’s nuclear facilities after an 8.8 magnitude quake was recorded off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, coastal communities have been taking no chances and evacuating to higher ground or moving further inland.

Alerts were sent out within a few minutes of the Russia quake, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) confirmed. Although the authorities have now downgraded the threat across Japan as waves of 1.3 metres (4ft 2in) have been recorded, the advice is for people to stay in shelters until the danger diminishes from continuing sea surges.

“It is very complex; we are observing the tsunami data in real time, so we need people to stay at the shelter until the tsunami is completed,” said tsunami engineer Professor Fumihiko Imamura from Tohoku University.

Deadly legacy

In the Asian island nation, memories are still raw from the 11 March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami which killed more than 18,000 people.

Just last year, the 7.6 magnitude Noto quake left approximately 500 dead and damaged 150,000 homes.

The disaster also caused a major accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes.

Today’s developments come amid reports that the latest earthquake was among the 10 most powerful ever recorded, hence why the authorities are monitoring its impact so closely.

So far, alerts have been triggered off the west coast of the United States, in South America from Chile to Mexico and from Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu in the Pacific.

“A 8.8 magnitude earthquake is a very large earthquake,” explained Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.

“As you go from magnitude eight to nine, or seven to eight, at every step the strength of the earthquake increases exponentially. So, an earthquake which is magnitude eight as opposed to seven would be 30 times bigger.”

Faster than a jet liner

Speaking to UN News, Mr. Kishore highlighted the huge distances tsunamis can cover, picking up enormous energy they then dump on coastal communities.

Their progress can be as fast as a passenger jet and can be tracked by deep sea pressure change sensors, or tsunameters, that are connected to surface buoys which relay information in real time to satellites. This data is then modelled by national weather centres, influencing whether alerts are issued.

“It’s a real threat because the tsunamis travel really fast from one coast to the other,” continued Mr. Kishore. “The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 was one of the most devastating in our memory, which travelled from all the way from the coast of Indonesia to the Sri Lankan shores within a little over an hour.”

Lessons learned

In addition to the coordination role of UNDRR in the global early warning system, other UN entities also closely involved include the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN agency for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO-IOC).

The IOC’s role is critical in making sure that countries that use tsunami-tracking instrumentation follow the same standard. 

These efforts are in line with the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All initiative to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water or climate events through lifesaving early warning systems.

Today, one in three people – and mainly in least developed countries and Small Island Developing States – lacks access to adequate multi-hazard early warning systems.

“Tsunami prevention really highlights how important it is to have multilateral action” such as sharing data to run the algorithms behind wave modelling systems, insisted the UN’s Mr. Kishore.

“There are countries which are separated by thousands of kilometres of ocean, but they are affected by the same hazard,” he continued.

“If you do not share information on observing these hazards, not just in the location where they have occurred, but on what is happening in the intermediate locations in the ocean…we will not be able to warn our citizens.” 

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Preliminary Analysis of How Federal Investment in Nondefense Research and Development Affects the Economy and the Federal Budget
Source: US Congressional Budget Office

CBO responds to a request for information about the economic and budgetary effects of federal investment in nondefense research and development (R&D). For this preliminary assessment of the effects of providing additional funding for such investment—which the Congressional Budget Office expects to update in the coming months—the agency examined two illustrative scenarios in which federal funding for nondefense R&D is increased by $30 billion per year for the next 10 years.

Under Scenario 1, the $300 billion increase in federal funding for nondefense R&D over the next 10 years is financed by a reduction in noninvestment spending of the same amount. That approach, which is deficit-neutral before macroeconomic changes are accounted for, is estimated to have the following effects:
- In 2035, real gross domestic product (GDP)—that is, the nation’s economic output adjusted to remove the effects of inflation—would be 0.1 percent higher than CBO projects it would be under current law. In 2055, real GDP would be 0.8 percent higher than it would be under current law, which corresponds to an increase of 0.03 percentage points in the average annual growth rate of real GDP over the 2026–2055 period.
- The cumulative deficit for the next 10 years, 2026 to 2035, would be $31 billion (or 0.1 percent) smaller than it is projected to be under current law. The cumulative deficit for the next 30 years, 2026 to 2055, would be 2.1 percent smaller than projected under current law.
Under Scenario 2, that same increase in federal funding for nondefense R&D is financed by additional borrowing by the federal government. The effects on the economy would be similar to those under Scenario 1, but the effects on the budget would differ:
- In 2035, real GDP would be 0.1 percent higher than CBO projects it would be under current law. In 2055, real GDP would be 0.8 percent higher than projected under current law; the average annual growth rate of real GDP over the 30-year period would increase by 0.03 percentage points.
- The cumulative deficit for the next 10 years would be a total of $303 billion (or 1.4 percent) larger than projected under current law. However, the cumulative deficit for the next 30 years would be 1.1 percent smaller than projected under current law.
Although those two scenarios illustrate the effects of a $300 billion increase in funding, CBO expects that the results of a decrease in funding of a similar amount would be roughly symmetric—that is, the economic and budgetary effects would be of a similar magnitude but opposite sign.

The analysis presented here follows the framework the agency used in its August 2021 report about the effects of federal investment in physical infrastructure on the budget and the economy over 10-year and 30-year periods. CBO projected budgetary and economic outcomes under the two scenarios and compared them with its January 2025 baseline projections and with its March 2025 extended baseline projections, both of which reflect the assumption that laws governing taxes and spending generally remain unchanged.

MIL OSI USA News –
July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: July 30th, 2025 Heinrich, Rounds, Tillis, Kim Reintroduce Legislation Supporting AI Innovation in Financial Services

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to promote artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in the financial services industry. The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act will establish regulatory guardrails at financial regulatory agencies for regulated entities to test AI projects, allowing them to experiment with cutting-edge technologies in a safe way.

“To unlock AI’s full potential and ensure it is deployed responsibly, we need regulatory guardrails that are informed by real-life use cases,” said Heinrich. “Our Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act does exactly this by enabling the private sector and government agencies to work together and encourage innovation that protects consumers.”

The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act establishes regulatory innovation labs for AI test projects at the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Regulated entities would apply through their primary regulator and must be able to demonstrate the project will serve the public interest (including consumer projection), enhance efficiency or increase competitiveness and not present a systemic risk to the financial system.

The legislation is led by U.S. Representatives French Hill (R-Ark.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) in the House.

The full text of the bill is here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Warnock Reintroduce John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

July 29, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Reverand Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and all other Senate Democrats, today reintroduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation that would update and restore critical safeguards of the original Voting Rights Act.

This legislation is especially relevant in Texas where, following historic disapproval of Congressional Republicans’ tax bill, Texas state lawmakers are looking to add five additional Republicans. The move comes in direct response to President Trump’s fears that voters may flip the House in the 2026 midterms.

“There is no freedom more fundamental than the right to vote. But between the Trump Administration’s executive order on voter registration and state legislatures gerrymandering districts, there has been a clear, concerted effort to chip away at the protections guaranteed to every American under the Voting Rights Act,” said Durbin. “In the face of these injustices that target communities of color and their right to vote, we must continue the work of civil rights leaders like John Lewis and strengthen the framework of the Voting Rights Act by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

“As I often say, a vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and our children,” said Warnock. “Our prayers are stronger when we pray together. Democracy is the political enactment of a spiritual idea that each of us has within ourselves the spark of the divine. We all have value, and if we all have value, we ought to have a voice in the direction of our country; we ought to have a vote.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Shelby County decision in 2013—which crippled the federal government’s ability under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prevent discriminatory changes to voting laws and procedures—states across the country have unleashed a torrent of voter suppression schemes that have systematically disenfranchised tens of thousands of American voters. The Supreme Court’s decision in Brnovich delivered yet another blow to the Voting Rights Act, by making it significantly harder forplaintiffs to win lawsuits under the landmark law against discriminatory voting laws or procedures.

Durbin and Warnock marked the reintroduction of the legislation with a press conference, available to view here.

In addition to Durbin, Warnock, Schumer, Booker, and Blumenthal, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is endorsed by hundreds of organizations.

The full text of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act can be found here.

A section-by-section analysis of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act can be found here.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025
Congress’ priority not national security, but vote bank and appeasement politics: Amit Shah

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday listed out several Congress-era errors, leading to the formation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and loss of vast swathes of land to enemy nations. He also tore into the grand old party’s appeasement politics for political gains.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha on Operation Sindoor, the Home Minister held Congress’ policies responsible for multiple acts of terror in the country, while categorically stating that Hindus can never be terrorists.

HM Shah said that the desperation of the Congress party for a certain vote bank, in all these years, emboldened the terrorists and their motives.

Blasting the previous Congress regimes for coining ‘saffron terror’, he said that the grand old party demonised the majority community i.e. Hindus for its myopic political gains.

Recalling the Batla House encounter, he said that the Congress party abandoned its own forces and stood with Pakistan-sponsored terrorists for appeasing a certain community.

“When the country mourned the demise of brave cop Mohan Sharma in Batla House encounter, Sonia Gandhi wept for the Batla House shooters,” he said, questioning the absurd politicking of Congress party.

The Home Minister also rebutted Congress’ China jab and spoke about instances when the latter’s conduct looked dubious and diabolical.

“When our forces were engaging with enemy forces during Doklam face-off, the Congress leaders were clandestinely meeting Chinese officials. What kind of politics is this?” he questioned.

Responding to Chidambaram’s charge that Operation Sindoor was not decisive, he asked the principal opposition party whether the 1965, 1971 battles were final and decisive and if Pakistan stopped spreading terror after being then taught a lesson.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has instilled fear in the minds and hearts of terrorists across the border and whenever the terror elements will rear its head, “our Army will crush them again”.

(IANS)

July 31, 2025

MIL-OSI Canada: More classroom spaces on the way | Un plus grand nombre de places en salles de classe à venir

To support schools in managing the growing number of students, Alberta’s government is investing $50 million to add 62 pre-made classrooms this fall. Through previous Budget 2025 commitments, a total $100 million will deliver 109 new modular classrooms, creating space for 2,725 students and relocating 575 more.

“Alberta’s government is moving quickly to build new schools and create more classroom spaces, so our students continue to have room to grow and thrive. This additional funding for modular classrooms will help us get much-needed spaces to some of our busiest schools, while we work as quickly as possible to open the doors to more than 130 school projects underway in the province.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare

“Rocky View Schools welcomes these additional modular classrooms to help ease current enrolment pressures while we await completion of the seven much-needed new schools approved in budgets 2024 and 2025. RVS has experienced years of unprecedented enrolment growth and appreciates the Government of Alberta’s recognition of the urgent need for more student spaces in our fast-growing communities. We remain committed to working with the government to ensure new school and modular approvals keep pace with student enrolment growth across RVS.”

Fiona Gilbert, board chair, Rocky View Schools

Alberta’s government is also providing $1 million in planning funding to advance four new charter school projects. The funds are being provided to New Horizons Charter Academy, New Humble Community School, Suzuki Charter School and Thrive Charter School to finalize planning details such as programming needs and the size and type of classrooms needed in each school. When completed, these new charter schools will contribute more than 2,400 new or updated student spaces.

“The Thrive Charter School Society is excited about this opportunity to advance efforts in addressing opportunity gaps for students in Edmonton. This investment paves the way to serve more students and their families with the programming and supports necessary to truly thrive.”

Michael Hladun, vice-chair, Thrive Charter School Society

Alberta’s government is looking to the future by providing $610,000 in pre-planning funding for 13 potential future school projects. Pre-planning funding helps school boards begin planning for school projects they believe will become priorities within the next three to five years. Examples of pre-planning activities include project scoping and community engagement and outreach. Although it is an important first step, pre-planning funding does not guarantee a school project will be built.

These investments in modulars and school planning are all part of the province’s Schools Now program, which includes a generational investment of $8.6 billion to build and update more than 100 schools across the province and create more classroom spaces now. Over seven years, Schools Now will create more than 200,000 student spaces, helping school boards manage class sizes and bringing learning closer to home for more Alberta students and families.

Quick facts

Alberta’s student population rose from about 735,000 in 2020-21 to nearly 826,000 in 2024-25 – and counting.
The most recent $50-million investment supports the purchase of 62 modular classrooms, three washroom units and the relocation of four units.
- The pre-made classrooms will start to be manufactured this summer and will be installed throughout the 2025-26 school year.
The $50 million invested in modular classrooms earlier in the year supported the purchase of 47 new modular classrooms, three washroom units and 19 relocations.
With the addition of four new charter school projects, there are now seven charter school projects underway in Alberta. When complete, these projects will contribute more than 4,400 student spaces.
The province also invested $140 million towards modular classrooms in 2024.?

2025-26 Modular Classroom Program in-year approvals ($50 million)

School boards	New modulars	Relocations	Demolitions
Black Gold School Division	4	–	4
Calgary Board of Education	13	–	–
Calgary Catholic School District	4	4	–
Chinook’s Edge School Division	2	–	–
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools	1	–	–
Connect Charter School	1	–	–
Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord	2 + 1 washroom	–	–
Edmonton Catholic Schools	2 + 1 washroom		–
Edmonton Public Schools	11	–	–
Elk Island Public Schools	2	–	–
Fort McMurray Public School Division	2	–	–
Fort McMurray Catholic Schools	3	–	–
Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools	–	–	14
Lethbridge School Division	1	–	–
Parkland School Division	3	–	–
Rocky View Schools	5	–	–
St. Albert Public Schools	4	–	4
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Schools	2 + 1 washroom	–	–
Total	62 classrooms + 3 washroom units	4	22

Planning funding (4 projects):

Community	Charter school
Edmonton (2)	Suzuki Charter School
Edmonton (2)	Thrive Charter School
Leduc County	New Humble Community School
Sherwood Park	New Horizons School

Pre-planning funding (13 projects):

Community	School board
Blackfoot/Kitscoty	Buffalo Trail Public Schools
Calgary	Connect Charter School
Edmonton (4)	Edmonton Catholic Schools
	Edmonton Public Schools (2)
	STEM Collegiate Canada
Fort Saskatchewan	Elk Island Public Schools
Lacombe	Wolf Creek Public Schools
Okotoks	Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools
Oyen	Prairie Rose School Division
Paddle Prairie	Northland School Division
Red Deer	Red Deer Public Schools
Stettler	East Central Catholic Schools

Related information

Planning and building schools
Schools Now
Student population statistics

Related news

Fast-tracking more school projects (May 21, 2025)
Money for school project planning (April 4, 2025)

À l’approche de l’année scolaire 2025-2026, le gouvernement de l’Alberta continue d’investir dans la création de nouvelles places en salles de classe.

Afin d’appuyer les écoles à gérer le nombre croissant d’élèves, le gouvernement de l’Alberta investit 50 millions de dollars pour ajouter 62 nouvelles salles de classe modulaires cet automne. Avec les engagements précédents dans le cadre du budget 2025, cela représente un total de 100 millions de dollars qui permettront de construire 109 nouvelles salles de classe modulaires, créant ainsi 2 725 places pour les élèves, et d’en déplacer 575 autres.

« Le gouvernement de l’Alberta agit rapidement pour construire de nouvelles écoles et augmenter le nombre de places en salles de classe afin que nos élèves continuent d’avoir l’espace nécessaire pour grandir et s’épanouir. Ce financement supplémentaire pour les salles de classe modulaires nous aidera à fournir les places dont ont tant besoin certaines de nos écoles les plus surutilisées, pendant que nous travaillons aussi vite que possible pour terminer plus de 130 projets d’écoles en cours dans la province. »

Demetrios Nicolaides, ministre de l’Éducation et de la Garde d’enfants

« Rocky View Schools se réjouit de l’arrivée de ces salles de classe modulaires supplémentaires qui permettront d’alléger la pression actuelle sur les inscriptions, en attendant l’achèvement des sept nouvelles écoles indispensables approuvées dans le cadre des budgets 2024 et 2025. RVS connait depuis des années une croissance sans précédent du nombre d’inscriptions et apprécie que le gouvernement de l’Alberta reconnaisse le besoin urgent de créer davantage de places pour les élèves dans nos communautés en pleine expansion. Nous restons déterminés à travailler avec le gouvernement pour veiller à ce que les autorisations de construction de nouvelles écoles et de salles de classe modulaires suivent le rythme de la croissance des inscriptions dans l’ensemble des écoles de Rocky View Schools. »

Fiona Gilbert, présidente, Rocky View Schools

Le gouvernement de l’Alberta fournit également un million de dollars de financement pour la planification qui fera avancer quatre projets de nouvelles écoles à charte dans la province. Ces fonds sont attribués aux écoles New Horizons Charter Academy, New Humble Community School, Suzuki Charter School et Thrive Charter School afin de finaliser les détails de planification, tels que les besoins en matière de programmation et la taille et le type de salles de classe nécessaires pour chaque école. Lorsqu’elles ouvriront leurs portes, ces nouvelles écoles à charte ajouteront plus de 2 400 places nouvelles ou modernisées.

« La Thrive Charter School Society se réjouit de cette occasion qui lui est offerte de faire progresser les efforts visant à combler les écarts en matière d’occasions pour les élèves d’Edmonton. Cet investissement ouvre la voie à la prise en charge d’un plus grand nombre d’élèves et de leurs familles grâce à des programmes et à des soutiens nécessaires à leur épanouissement. »

Michael Hladun, vice-président, Thrive Charter School Society

Le gouvernement de l’Alberta pense à l’avenir en accordant un financement de 610 000 de dollars pour la planification préliminaire de 13 projets d’écoles potentiels. Le financement pour la planification préliminaire permet aux autorités scolaires de commencer à planifier des projets d’école qui, selon elles, deviendront des priorités dans les trois à cinq prochaines années. Les activités admissibles dans le cadre du financement pour la planification préliminaire comprennent, entre autres, la détermination de la portée du projet, ainsi que la consultation et la sensibilisation auprès de la communauté. Bien qu’il s’agisse d’une première étape importante, l’approbation du financement pour la planification préliminaire ne garantit pas la construction d’une école.

Ces investissements dans les salles de classe modulaires et la planification d’écoles s’inscrivent dans le cadre du programme « Des écoles dès maintenant » (Schools Now) du gouvernement de l’Alberta, un investissement générationnel de 8,6 milliards de dollars pour bâtir et moderniser plus de 100 écoles dans la province et créer dès maintenant un plus grand nombre de places en salles de classe. Au cours des sept prochaines années, le programme « Des écoles dès maintenant » créera plus de 200 000 places pour les élèves, ce qui aidera les autorités scolaires à gérer la taille des classes et à faire en sorte qu’un plus grand nombre d’élèves et de familles albertaines aient accès à un lieu d’apprentissage plus près de chez eux.

En bref

La population étudiante de l’Alberta est passée d’environ 735 000 en 2020-2021 à près de 826 000 en 2024-2025, et elle continue d’augmenter.
Le plus récent investissement, au montant de 50 millions de dollars, permettra d’acheter trois toilettes et 62 salles de classe modulaires, ainsi que d’en déménager quatre autres.
- La fabrication des nouvelles salles de classe modulaires débutera cet été et les salles de classe seront installées tout au long de l’année scolaire 2025-2026.
Les 50 millions de dollars investis plus tôt cette année dans le programme de salles de classe modulaires ont permis d’acheter trois toilettes et 47 nouvelles salles de classe modulaires, ainsi que d’en déménager 19 autres.
Avec l’ajout de quatre nouveaux projets d’écoles à charte, on compte maintenant sept projets d’écoles à charte en cours de réalisation en Alberta. Une fois achevés, ces projets créeront plus de 4 400 places pour les élèves.
La province a également investi 140 millions de dollars dans le programme de salles de classe modulaires en 2024.

Approbations en cours d’exercice pour le programme de salles de classe modulaires 2025-2026 (50 millions de dollars)

Autorités scolaires	Nouvelles salles de classe modulaire	Déménagement	Démolition
Black Gold School Division	4	–	4
Calgary Board of Education	13	–	–
Calgary Catholic School District	4	4	–
Chinook’s Edge School Division	2	–	–
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools	1	–	–
Connect Charter School	1	–	–
Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord	2 + 1 toilette	–	–
Edmonton Catholic Schools	2 + 1 toilette		–
Edmonton Public Schools	11	–	–
Elk Island Public Schools	2	–	–
Fort McMurray Public School Division	2	–	–
Fort McMurray Catholic Schools	3	–	–
Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools	–	–	14
Lethbridge School Division	1	–	–
Parkland School Division	3	–	–
Rocky View Schools	5	–	–
St. Albert Public Schools	4	–	4
St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Schools	2 + 1 toilette	–	–
Total	62 salles de classe + 3 toilettes	4	22

Financement pour la planification (4 projets)

Collectivité	École à charte
Edmonton	Suzuki Charter School
Edmonton	Thrive Charter School
Leduc County	New Humble Community School
Sherwood Park	New Horizons School

Financement pour la planification préliminaire (13 projets)

Collectivité	Autorité scolaire
Blackfoot/Kitscoty	Buffalo Trail Public Schools
Calgary	Connect Charter School
Edmonton (4)	Edmonton Catholic Schools
	Edmonton Public Schools (2)
	STEM Collegiate Canada
Fort Saskatchewan	Elk Island Public Schools
Lacombe	Wolf Creek Public Schools
Okotoks	Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools
Oyen	Prairie Rose School Division
Paddle Prairie	Northland School Division
Red Deer	Red Deer Public Schools
Stettler	East Central Catholic Schools

Renseignements connexes

Planification et construction d’écoles
Des écoles dès maintenant
Statistiques sur la population étudiante (en anglais seulement)

Nouvelles connexes

Accélérer un plus grand nombre de projets d’écoles (21 mai 2025)
Des fonds pour la planification d’écoles (4 avril 2025)

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 31, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Bean Recognized as Champion of Limited Government

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

WASHINGTON—U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) was recently presented with the Champion of Limited Government Award by the Institute for Legislative Analysis (ILA). Congressman Bean earned this legislative honor for his strong record of supporting policies that reduce federal overreach, safeguard individual liberty, and defend the U.S. Constitution.

“Big government is never the answer,” said Congressman Bean. “I will continue to protect our cherished constitutional freedoms and fight to keep Crazy Town out of Northeast Floridians’ lives and wallets.”

“Congressman Aaron Bean has earned the Institute for Legislative Analysis’ highest honor—the Champion of Limited Government—for the outstanding alignment of his voting record to the limited government principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Under our new district-based grading system, which maps each lawmaker’s record to the unique electorate they represent, Congressman Bean received an A+ rating, proving his unwavering commitment to the values of the Sunshine State’s 4th District,” said ILA CEO Ryan McGowen. “Across the more than 220 issues we evaluated this past year – whether related to fiscal responsibility, energy dominance, cutting burdensome regulations, or strengthening individual liberties – Congressman Bean consistently shined as one of the most principled defenders of limited government in Congress.”

BACKGROUND

With this award, Congressman Bean has been recognized as one of the top 100 members in Congress most committed to preserving Americans’ God-given rights and defending the U.S. Constitution.

The Institute for Legislative Analysis presents the Champion of Limited Government Award to lawmakers whose voting records most closely align with the Constitution’s limited government principles. The rankings are based on a comprehensive review of over 100,000 votes—making it the most expansive congressional analysis to date.

To view the rankings, click HERE.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 31, 2025

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