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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI: IBFD Expands Access to Critical Tax Research for over 11,500 Institutions in Low- and Middle-income Countries through New Partnership with Research4Life

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) has joined Research4Life as a contributing publisher, providing free or low-cost access to a selection of its leading tax publications for eligible institutions in low- and middle-income countries.

    Fostering Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity in Scholarly Communication

    Research4Life supports more than 11,500 institutions across over 125 countries, working to empower research, teaching, and policymaking through equitable access to high-quality academic content. Since its establishment, Research4Life has facilitated access to millions of peer-reviewed sources across various disciplines, strengthening academic and professional communities around the world. By joining this global initiative, IBFD reinforces its commitment to fostering sound tax policy and capacity-building worldwide. As part of the partnership, Research4Life users will gain access to IBFD’s World Tax Journal, International Tax Studies Journal, and its extensive Open Archive Books collection, all recognized as authoritative resources in the field of international taxation.

    “Joining Research4Life as a contributing publisher is a natural step for IBFD.” said Belema Obuoforibo, Director of the IBFD Knowledge Centre, and Member of the IBFD Executive Board. “Our books and journals are trusted by tax researchers and practitioners around the world to support their work and deepen their expertise. This partnership opens the door for a wider audience, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to access and apply our resources meaningfully in their own research and practice. We are proud to support Research4Life’s mission to ‘foster inclusivity, diversity, and equity in scholarly communication’.”

    Promoting Global Tax Education and Research

    This partnership is part of IBFD’s broader mission to promote global tax education and research, furthering efforts to make specialized tax knowledge accessible in underserved regions. The impact of this initiative is far-reaching. A university in a developing country, for example, may now have access to IBFD’s tax publications, enabling faculty members and students to develop informed research and recommendations that strengthen tax systems and drive economic growth. Similarly, policymakers in developing economies can leverage IBFD’s research to support fair taxation and improve compliance measures, fostering sustainable fiscal governance.

    Craig West, Principal Associate of IBFD Academic, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: “At IBFD, our mission is to promote and disseminate the understanding of cross-border taxation at the highest level. Through Research4Life, academics in supported regions can now access high-quality research on international tax matters – enhancing their work, encouraging engagement with IBFD, and contributing fresh perspectives to our platforms. We look forward to sharing knowledge and learning from these communities in return.”

    Now Available in the GOALI Collection

    The selection of IBFD’s publications are available within Research4Life’s ‘GOALI’ collection, which focuses on academic and peer-reviewed journals, publications and databases on law and social sciences. Institutions subscribed to Research4Life can now explore IBFD’s tax resources to strengthen research and policymaking efforts worldwide.

    Looking ahead, IBFD remains committed to expanding the accessibility of specialized tax research and continuing to support initiatives that promote fair and effective tax policy. This partnership marks a significant milestone in IBFD’s efforts, and the organization looks forward to exploring further ways to enhance global tax education and research collaboration. Learn more at www.IBFD.org.

    About IBFD

    The International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) is a leading independent, non-profit organization specializing in tax research and education. With its high-quality research, training and information services, IBFD serves governments, international organizations, academia and the business sector in over 150 countries. www.ibfd.org

    About Research4Life

    Research4Life is a partnership of five UN agencies, WHO, FAO, UNEP, WIPO, ILO, Cornell and Yale Universities, the International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers and over 200 international publishers. Research4Life‘s mission is to build an inclusive, diverse and equitable scholarly communications environment by delivering free or low-cost access and user-focused training and resources to researchers in low- and middle-income countries. https://www.research4life.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Unveils 2025 Bespoke AI Appliances in India; Debuts Innovative Bespoke AI Laundry Combo

    Source: Samsung

    From L – R: Ghufran Alam, Vice President, Digital Appliances Business, Samsung India ; John S.W. Park, Corporate Vice President, Digital Appliance Business, Samsung India; & JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia.
     
    Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today introduced its 2025 Bespoke AI appliance lineup, built on four distinct consumer benefits: Easy, Care, Save and Secure to enrich and simplify your lives with AI. These experiences are powered by Samsung’s new AI Home screen interface, Bixby voice assistant with two-way natural communication, Samsung Knox security, and seamless SmartThings connectivity, delivering hyper-personalised, energy-efficient, and secure smart home solutions for modern Indian households.
    At the heart of the new lineup is the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo, a category-defining innovation that sets a new standard for convenience and intelligent automation in home laundry care.
     
    The 2025 range expands Samsung’s AI Home ecosystem across key appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines. With intuitive touchscreen displays, upgraded voice intelligence, and inclusive accessibility features, the line-up offers a truly connected, easy-to-use, and secure smart home experience for all. The AI Home screen sits at the center of this innovation – a smart display and interaction hub that transforms home management. Built into select appliances, AI Home enables real-time appliance insights, control over connected appliances, entertainment, and even family communication – all from a single interface. With its user-friendly design, AI Home makes it easier than ever to unlock the full potential of Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances.
     
    The upgraded Bixby voice assistant enhances control through voice commands and introduces new capabilities like Voice ID[1], which recognizes individual users and switches to their Samsung accounts for a personalized experience. Additionally, new SmartThings services like Family Care enhance home safety by sending alerts to family members in unusual situations such as when no activity has been detected at a scheduled time, offering peace of mind and proactive care.
     
    To bring its AI Home vision for 2025 to life, Samsung is focused on delivering a trusted, intelligent, and future-ready experience for users. A key part of this commitment is the integration of enhanced Samsung Knox security across a wide line-up, giving users the confidence to enjoy their AI-powered connected homes with complete peace of mind.
     
    Another major priority is future-proofing appliances. With Smart Forward, Samsung’s software update service via SmartThings, users can continue to receive the latest features and performance upgrades on their existing devices without needing to buy new ones.
     
    The Bespoke AI line-up is driven by four key values that directly benefit consumers: Easy, Save, Care, and Secure.
     

    Easy: Bespoke AI appliances now simplify your tasks by using AI and seamless connectivity to automate daily chores via AI Home, Bixby, and SmartThings. For example, AI Home enables automated routines, remote control, and real-time monitoring. Bixby allows users to ask detailed questions about appliances and control them using natural, two-way voice commands, without the need for a nearby phone or speaker.
    Save: Bespoke AI appliances are engineered to help consumers save energy and time. AI Energy Mode helps manage power consumption. AI Vision Inside in refrigerators tracks food items and expiry dates, suggesting recipes to avoid waste. AI Wash features on the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo and Top Load washers optimize cycles based on soil levels and load types, saving valuable time and water.
    Care: Bixby assists with appliance care and maintenance alerts, while SmartThings notifies users of any motion, smoke, or leaks detected through its’ connected 3rd party devices. Bespoke AI ensures peace of mind with features such as inactivity alerts at a loved one’s home, helping families feel reassured from afar.
    Secure: Samsung Knox ensures multi-layered protection with a visualized dashboard across appliances and smartphones. Five Samsung products including the Bespoke AI Family Hub and Bespoke AI Laundry Combo have been verified to level ‘Diamond’ from UL Solutions’ IoT Security Ratings.

     
    “We are proud to bring the 2025 Bespoke AI digital appliances line-up to India, where innovation meets intention. These are not just smart appliances; they are intuitive companions built for Indian homes. Whether it is a child exploring the refrigerator via AI Vision Inside, a working couple managing laundry remotely, or an elderly user interacting with the appliance, we have designed every touchpoint to be personal, seamless and secure. With a strong focus on the four core values: Easy, Save, Care, and Secure, our vision is to deliver interconnected AI appliances that seamlessly integrate into the household reflecting a forward-thinking approach to innovation that is quickly becoming a reality,” said JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia
     
    “With the 2025 range, we are offering appliances that understand lifestyles, protect personal data, and deliver real-world convenience with AI Home. Whether it’s through AI Vision Inside, Knox-powered security, or inclusive design, our new line-up is a powerful step towards homes that are truly smart, safe, and human-centric. We are confident our Bespoke AI appliances will revolutionize modern Indian households so that consumers ca experience the comfort of seamless smart home living,” said Ghufran Alam, Vice President, Digital Appliances Business, Samsung India.

    The 2025 Bespoke AI Home Appliance Line up

    Bespoke AI Laundry Combo All-in-One: The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is a space-saving, ultra-capacity all-in-one appliance that seamlessly combines washing and drying in a single unit. It eliminates the hassle of transferring clothes between machines, allowing users to save time and prevent odours from lingering after wash cycles. Powered by AI Wash & Dry[2], the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo senses laundry weight, fabric type, and soil levels[3], automatically adjusting water, detergent, wash time, and drying conditions for each load. This ensures optimal cleaning performance and personalized laundry experience without the guesswork.

     
    The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo features advanced heat pump drying technology that gently and efficiently dries clothes at lower temperatures by recycling warm air. The heat pump system optimizes heat transfer and reduces drying time by up to 60%[4] and energy consumption by up to 75%[5], while reducing shrinkage and fabric damage. With the Super Speed cycle, users can wash and dry a load in just 98 minutes.
     
    Its 7-inch AI Home LCD display provides an intuitive interface for cycle selection, monitoring, and control, delivering personalized suggestions based on usage patterns and seasonal habits. The display also shows energy and water consumption reports and offers a full view of connected appliances at home via Map View. The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is also verified to level ‘Diamond’ from UL Solutions, highlighting Samsung’s industry-leading device security.
     
    The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo comes with upgraded Bixby, which understands complex, conversational voice commands. Additionally, the Flex Auto Dispense System is able to store detergent for up to 32 loads[6], while the Auto Open Door automatically releases humid air after a cycle ends to prevent damp smells and enhance freshness.
     

    Bespoke AI Refrigerator with AI Home: The new Bespoke AI Refrigerator is equipped with AI Vision Inside, which can recognize up to 37 fresh food items, allowing users to remotely view the interior, track expiry dates, and receive smart recipe suggestions. It can also recognize up to 50 pre-saved processed food items, largely expanding the variety of items it can manage. The new refrigerator comes with a 9-inch AI Home Display, which serves as a personalized dashboard for notes, schedules, entertainment, and full appliance control, transforming the refrigerator into the central hub of the smart kitchen. Featuring an Auto Open Door for effortless access, it is designed for convenience and better organisation. It also provides easy hands-free control by just using your voice to control settings, select functions or ask questions through Bixby. The refrigerator also includes access to SmartThings Energy which can help monitor your energy consumption in real-time

     

    The Bespoke AI Double Door Refrigerator line-up features improved smart capabilities with AI Energy Mode, SmartThings Home Care and Wi-Fi connectivity, designed to offer remote access, intelligent energy savings and real-time maintenance updates via the SmartThings app. This range delivers comprehensive cooling tailored to meet consumer needs, such as longer freshness with Twin Cooling Plus technology, everyday flexibility with Convertible 5-in-1 Modes, and enhanced hygiene with Active Fresh Filter+ eliminating up to 99.99% of harmful bacteria.

     

    Bespoke AI WindFree Air Conditioner: The Bespoke AI WindFree Air Conditioner offers Customized Cooling, AI Fast & Comfort Cooling, and Quick Remote, making temperature control effortless and intuitive. With AI Energy Mode, the system intelligently adjusts compressor speed based on room temperature and consumers’ usage patterns, helping reduce energy consumption by up to 30%[7]. The WindFree technology delivers comfortable cooling through 23,000 micro-holes without cold drafts, ensuring consistent, gentle airflow without direct blasts of air, while the AI engine learns usage behavior to continuously enhance efficiency and comfort.

     

    Bespoke AI Top Load Washer: Equipped with AI Wash[8], these machines intelligently detect the fabric type and weight to automatically recommend the optimal settings for each load. Leveraging an advanced AI algorithm, the cycle adjusts key parameters—such as water level, agitation intensity, and wash and rinse duration—delivering up to 25% more fabric care[9]. Building on this technology, features like Ecobubble, Hygiene Steam & Stain Wash (with inbuilt heater), Super Speed, AI Energy Mode, and SmartThings integration, AI VRT+ further enhance the laundry experience.

     
    Smarter, Safer, More Inclusive Living
    The 2025 Bespoke AI digital appliances range is a testament to inclusive, human-centric design. With universal design at its core, the line-up ensures technology adapts to users—not the other way around. Features like the expanded Auto Open Door function across key appliances, accessible control panels, screen readers, enlarged fonts, and Bixby’s Voice ID support make operation easier for users with limited mobility or visual impairments. Built-in microphones and voice-based alerts further enable a seamless, easy to use experience.
     
    Price & Availability
    Samsung’s 2025 Bespoke AI appliance range is now available across leading online and offline retail channels, including Samsung Exclusive Stores, Samsung.com as well as major e-commerce platforms.
     
    The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is priced at INR 319000, offering all-in-one washing and drying convenience with smart automation. The Bespoke AI WindFree Air Conditioner starts at INR 36000, while the Bespoke AI Double Door Refrigerator is available from INR 44000 onwards. For those seeking smart laundry solutions, the Bespoke AI Top Load Washer starts at INR 24500 for the 8kg model. The Bespoke AI French Door Refrigerator with integrated AI Home display will be available from July onwards.
     
     
    [1] Each user must register for a Samsung Account on screen appliances in advance. Voice ID should be registered either on the refrigerator, or Galaxy mobile devices and then transferred to the refrigerator. (Limited to Galaxy S24 and subsequent models where Voice ID can be registered.)
    [2] AI Wash & Dry’s detection and sensing capabilities are based on our deep learning models trained using predefined set of data and may yield inaccurate or incorrect results. New datasets may be introduced to our learning models from time to time to enhance its accuracy
    [3] A turbidity sensor operates for all weights, while fabric sensing operates for 8lbs and under. Actual results may vary depending on individual use. To prevent wear, wash like fabrics together.
    [4] Based on internal testing of the cycle time when drying an IEC 3kg load with Cotton cycle. Results: BESPOKE AI Laundry Combo model with a heat pump (WD21B6400KV) = 78 minutes vs. WD21B6400KV/** combo model with a condenser  = 202 minutes, which is a reduction of 60%. Individual results may vary based on actual load contents.
    [5] Based on internal testing and verified by KATRI (Korea Apparel Testing Research Institute) of the cycle energy consumption when drying an IEC 3kg load with Cotton cycle.
    Results: BESPOKE AI Laundry Combo model with a heat pump (WD21B6400KV) = 0.8kWh vs.  WD21B6400KV/** combo model with a condenser = 3.6kWh, which is a reduction of 75%. Individual results may vary based on actual load contents.
    [6] Expected number of loads: Detergent compartment can hold general detergent for up to 17 loads. Flex compartment can hold one of the following: softener for up to 19 loads, general detergent for up to 15 loads or specialty detergent for up to 36 loads.
    [7] The testing was conducted in Samsung’s 132m² residential environment laboratory at a temperature of 35°C/24°C (dry bulb/wet bulb, KS C 9306: air conditioner). Results provided to and interpreted by Intertek, comparing the power consumption between AI Energy mode on and off in AI Comfort mode on the AR07D9181HZN model. Actual savings may vary by usage patterns and environment and the set temperature may increase by up to 2 degrees. Requires the use of the SmartThings App and a Samsung account.
    [8] Fabric sensing uses an AI algorithm to sense 3 fabric types (Normal, Delicates, Towels) for loads up to 3kg. Mixed fabrics may reduce detection accuracy. Actual results may vary depending on individual use. To prevent wear, wash like fabrics together.
    [9] Based on internal testing with WA80F/24, using IEC 3kg load, comparing a normal cycle. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why queer-themed shows evoke a bittersweet nostalgia for missed childhood moments

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rena Bivens, Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies, Carleton University

    A scene from Heartstopper — Charlie (played by Joe Locke), left, is a gay teen boy who falls in love with classmate Nick (played by Kit Connor), right.

    Imagine suddenly longing for a past you’ve only seen in a show filmed before you were born. Or, reverse that: Imagine wishing you could re-do your childhood while watching a brand new show like Heartstopper, set in the present day.

    Heartstopper is a Netflix hit series, jam-packed with queer and trans teens finding love, accented by cute cartoon leaves fluttering across the screen.

    Sounds adorable? Yes, but if you came out later in life, grew up in an unsupportive environment or never had a teen romance, the anemoia you feel may be intense.

    If you’ve yet to hear the word anemoia, forgive yourself. Anemoia was only recently defined by The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows as “nostalgia for a time you never experienced.” The growing obsession with what’s known as Y2K core — fashion, music and culture inspired by the 90s and early 2000s — by Gen Z is an example of this kind of intergenerational envy.

    Unlike other forms of nostalgia, neuroscientist Felipe De Brigard tells us that anemoia “doesn’t need real memories.” De Brigard explores the darker side of these complex feelings. He says propaganda can misinform people about the past to elicit a longing for a time that may never have existed.

    According to De Brigard, given the right material, we can create simulations of possible scenarios in our minds. We might imagine a different present or an alternative past.

    Imagining what could have been

    While watching Heartstopper’s love story unfold in our living rooms, we feel happy for the fictional characters, but anger, grief and a dash of betrayal can creep in as well.

    For many Heartstopper viewers, the series blends into memories from our real life. Watching queer and trans teens portrayed as ordinary people can feel like a breath of fresh air, especially if these scenes are inconsistent with our own adolescence. According to media studies professor Frederik Dhaenens, Heartstopper also uses cute esthetics that amplify these positive depictions while “soften[ing] the blow of negative experiences” faced by the characters.

    The season 3 cast of Heartstopper.
    (Netflix)

    Memories from our past start to flood through our minds as we watch. We may find ourselves wishing for the queer childhood we never had. If only I was born later, we might think. Viewers may imagine how their lives could have unfolded differently, if only they had better media representation or were surrounded by more liberal perspectives.

    Enter queer anemoia: nostalgia for a do-over of an earlier stage of your life in a different time or place. While commonly expressed by queer and trans folks over 40, anyone who harbours some grief over their coming-out process or the lack of acceptance they had growing up may find themselves riding this emotional rollercoaster.

    A moment of recognition

    Queer anemoia is a moment of recognition. It is the contrast between our imagined teen love and — for many, but of course not all — the real past — lonely and isolated.

    The sight of a thriving trans teen like Heartstopper’s Elle could elicit strong feelings for a viewer who transitioned later in life and missed their own girlhood.

    Maybe the word trans wasn’t even accessible to help them make sense of their identity.

    Thinking about the past is not unusual for queer and trans folks. With some sarcasm, you could call it a hobby. Hey, want to hang out tonight and subject our adolescence and coming-out stories “to the judgment of hindsight?” Media push this exercise further by helping us visualize what could have been.

    ‘I Kissed a Girl’

    Another show described similarly to Heartstopper is the reality TV show I Kissed A Girl. The Guardian described it as “a celebratory, joyful love letter to queerness” and “the sweetest, most touching” show.

    A scene from ‘I Kissed A Girl’ reunion show.
    I Kissed A Girl

    Among a surplus of straight couples in reality TV, I Kissed A Girl is one of only a handful of shows with queer cast members. But perhaps this is shifting. Sociologist Róisín Ryan-Flood and queer historian Amy Tooth Murphy argue that we are undergoing “one of the most dramatic transformations of gender and sexuality in social life in recent decades.”

    By portraying lesbians as ordinary people with ordinary desires, I Kissed A Girl contributes to this transformation. Some viewers’ might find their own ideas about what is possible, desirable and even aspirational beginning to change.

    Media can model these possibilities for us, which contributes to our identity formation. Feminist and queer theorists agree, arguing that our gender and sexual identities are collectively created, not self-made.

    For example, gender studies professor Amira Lundy-Harris explains how when we encounter others in media — novels, film, television — they can help us recognize something about ourselves.

    Therefore these mediated identities — these characters on TV — are not just ours. We co-create our identities with a variety of different forms of media, including social media and memoirs. We also do this with other people, including our families and friends. The cultural and political moment we are living in is also part of this collaborative identity-making process.

    Late bloomers may feel more anemoia

    Queer anemoia is a politically useful feeling. When we compare different cultural moments we may also recognize that we did not learn about our identity in isolation from the rest of the world. Feminist philosopher Sue Campbell has said our feelings require others to help us interpret and make sense of them. Through their characters and stories, media offer us an interpretive context for our feelings to emerge.

    Some late bloomers — especially those left feeling confused or surprised by their sexual or gender identities — may blame themselves for going along with a mainstream, heteronormative or cisnormative cultural script without stopping to ask themselves who they really are. It may be hard, at first, to see that our identities are co-created.

    A recently released film, Am I Ok? portrays a late bloomer, Lucy, who is 32 when she finally realizes she’s a lesbian. She’s frustrated and disappointed in herself as she tells her best friend, “I should have figured this out by now.”

    Unfortunately, the film does not explore other reasons for her predicament — like compulsory heterosexuality — that are no fault of her own.

    Dakota Johnson stars in a film about discovering your sexuality later in life.
    (Rotten Tomatoes)

    Naming the ‘nostalgia’

    British education professor Catherine Lee, who previously taught secondary school under the homophobic Section 28, wrote in The Conversation about how she was filled with regret as she watched the queer teachers in Heartstopper give their students the supportive environment she never could.

    Even Heartstopper director Andy Newbery felt queer anemoia before working on the third season. He said:

    “I’ve heard it many, many times since, especially from people sort of my age really, about how they wish they’d had a show like this when they were growing up.”

    Naming queer anemoia gives us language for these complex, bittersweet feelings. In today’s political climate, cute portrayals of queer and trans love may not continue to grace our screens, but taking our feelings seriously and asking what they tell us about the role of media in our lives must never stop.

    Rena Bivens 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. Why queer-themed shows evoke a bittersweet nostalgia for missed childhood moments – https://theconversation.com/why-queer-themed-shows-evoke-a-bittersweet-nostalgia-for-missed-childhood-moments-259341

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Protocol to improve safety in schools

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    When schools are unsafe, when learners, educators and support staff live in fear, it robs learners of the very essence of learning and development, says Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

    “Our country’s future rests in the hands of our children. And as parents, first and foremost, we all desire the same thing – that our children live good, meaningful lives. We know that a solid education is the foundation of that good life,” Mchunu said.

    He was speaking at the launch of the Collaborative Implementation Protocol between SAPS and the Department of Basic Education in Cape Town on Tuesday.

    Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and Mchunu jointly unveiled the Collaborative Implementation Protocol, pledging to create safer, child-friendly learning environments amid high statistics of violence.

    The Collaborative Implementation Protocol between SAPS and the Department of Basic Education is aimed at improving safety in schools around the country.

    This document will be a practical guide to bring urgent action in every district, in every province and in every school.

    The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the SAPS, in 2011, formed a partnership to safeguard schools from crime and violence to protect learners and teachers.

    A new implementation protocol was necessary to clarify each party’s roles, ensure a proper division of work plan activities and to ensure the protocol’s objectives are executed effectively at local level. This will also include implementing joint SAPS and DBE led crime prevention programmes within schools.

    The protocol focuses on the following goals: promoting collaboration between the DBE and SAPS to implement pillar two of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS) for early violence prevention and connecting schools with local police stations for swift responses to crime and violence. 

    In addition, the protocol includes conducting searches and seizures in line with the South African Schools Act (SASA), when there is a reasonable suspicion of illegal substances or weapons; combatting social ills such as school-related Gender-Based Violence, sexual abuse, alcohol and drug use among learners; and addressing gangsterism in schools and surrounding communities.

    Mchunu said there was a need to supplement the existing minimum safety standards in schools and that the Protocol served as one of those measures to strengthen safety and security in schools.

    “During school holidays especially, we see a rise in burglary and vandalism. These are not victimless crimes. They rob our children of resources, time, and opportunity,” Mchunu said.

    Criminal elements disrupt the education process and destabilise the very environments meant to nurture growth.

    “As government leaders, elected by the people of this country, we carry a constitutional duty to realise the rights enshrined in our Constitution. The right to safety, the right to dignity and the right to education are not negotiable. 

    “These rights must be protected and upheld in every schoolyard, in every classroom and in every community. 

    “For us in the SAPS, our mandate is clear, to ensure that South Africans are and feel safe. But policing is not a one-department responsibility. It requires what we call a whole of government, whole of society approach. 

    “That means government institutions must work hand in hand. It means that communities, parents, civil society organisations and schools must come together and actively participate in efforts to make our environments safe and resilient,” Mchunu said.

    Mchunu said the Protocol was designed to promote a community-based, inclusive approach to school safety.

    “There is a need to establish functional communication lines between schools and police stations. 

    “To this end, the Protocol formalises the linkage between schools and their nearest police stations, ensuring that we have timeous, coordinated responses to incidents and proactive interventions to prevent crime,” he said.

    To fully give effect, there is a need to recognise the urgent need to ensure that police stations are well resourced to adequately respond to incidents and that policing is proactive, responsive, efficient and effective.

    “We cannot do this without parents, they must be active participants in the fight against crime starting in their own homes, in their streets and in their communities.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa calls for ‘all hands on deck’ approach to transformation

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged all South Africans, regardless of race, to work together in a united national effort to drive economic transformation, ensure inclusive growth and foster meaningful participation in the economy. 

    The President was speaking during questions for oral reply session in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament on Wednesday.

    “The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act remains a fundamental lever for transformation, as part of our broader strategy to achieve more rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country. As I have said before, we must dispense with the false notion that we must make a choice between growth and transformation.

    “Black economic empowerment is not only compatible with investment and growth but is essential to achieve broad-based growth and prosperity. It must be seen as a process through which we take measures to bring those who were excluded from economic activity into the economic mainstream,” the President said.

    President Ramaphosa emphasised that bringing previously disadvantaged people into the economic fold will not happen spontaneously.

    “To think that it will happen on its own when, in the past, measures were taken including laws, to ensure that only a minority benefits, we would be deceiving ourselves. We must, therefore, be very clear and direct and make sure that this objective of achieving equality does happen.

    “If we don’t do so, it will not happen. So therefore, we need to take demonstrable steps to make sure that there is clear movement,” he said.

    The President acknowledged that although much has been achieved, “we can do better”.

    “As with any other policy, we must constantly assess whether we are achieving our goals and where we can make improvements.

    “The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is therefore considering a review of broad-based black economic empowerment measures to align with government priorities of ensuring industrialisation, inclusive growth, localisation and facilitating access to finance for emerging…black enterprises.

    “This should be seen as a national project. All of us must be involved in this including those who benefitted under the previous system. They must be seen to be actively involved in advancing the interests of all…failing to do so could lead to lack of growth in our economy…[and] reversals. 

    “All hands – black and white – must be on deck to promote transformation in our country to enable all South Africans to play a role in the economy of our country,” President Ramaphosa said.

    The President told the members of the NCOP that transformation and empowerment is for the benefit of all South Africans.

    “Our economy was only structured for participation by a white minority…they even passed laws to prevent everyone from participating including for jobs. 

    “So, we are saying that we want to benefit all South Africans not just a few. Therefore, the process of transformation needs to be embraced by all because it is to our collective benefit.

    “We are all given a chance to correct the injustices of our past as set out in our Constitution. So, I call on all of us to join hands and embark on this process of transformation,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA’s G20 Presidency should focus on humanity’s most pressing challenges, says UN Resident Coordinator

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    As South Africa’s Group of 20 (G20) Presidency approaches its final six months, the focus should be on fostering multilateral cooperation and finding collective solutions to humanity’s most pressing challenges. 

    According to the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Nelson Muffuh, the world’s major economies should aim to develop innovative approaches to complex global issues related to poverty, unemployment, and sustainable development.

    “The countries that carry the economy of the world must come together and find each other and resolve some of the challenges. 

    “They need to agree on some of the common solutions they can advance to resolve issues of inequalities, poverty, unemployment, governance, and trade. So, I think group, which is often referred to as a ‘ginger group’, is really an important platform as part of the wider multilateral system which the UN embodies.” 

    Muffuh was speaking to SAnews during the third Sherpa meeting of the G20, which began on Wednesday.

    The Sun City Convention Centre in the North West was filled with representatives from the world’s largest economies and organisations as Zane Dangor, the Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, delivered his opening remarks.

    Muffuh believes that South Africa’s G20 Presidency is making significant progress in addressing global challenges, with an emphasis on promoting solidarity, equality, and sustainability. 

    Halfway through its Presidency, the country has already held 70 out of a planned 132 meetings across various working groups, focusing on critical issues affecting the international community.

    “So, we need to look at where we’re with regards to the momentum towards achieving some of the envisaged outcomes around reform of the international financial architecture, capitalisation of the multilateral development banks, financing for the SDGs [Sustainable Developmental Goals] and financing for climate action, Just Energy Transition, the tackling of inequalities. A lot of these issues have been discussed extensively,” he told SAnews. 

    According to the UN official, the Presidency should strengthen multilateral cooperation as global tensions hinder collective progress.

    “We’re not on track to achieve the outcomes of the Sustainable Development Goals, for example. So, I think the focus really should be on ensuring we do not lose track, despite the concerns, despite the intentions to still find ways of coming together, find each other, and common ground to make progress.”

    A central theme emerging from meetings is the urgent need to overcome geopolitical divisions and work collaboratively on pressing global challenges. 

    Despite ongoing tensions, including notable absences like the United States, Muffuh said the G20 remains committed to creating a platform for constructive dialogue and finding common solutions.

    He believes that the upcoming international gatherings, such as the Financing for Development Conference, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30 Summit), and the UN General Assembly, will create additional opportunities to enhance the G20’s collaborative efforts and advocate for meaningful global progress. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Underscores Support for Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution in the Wake of Trump’s Illegal Strike Against Iran

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 24, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – After President Donald Trump illegally ordered a military strike against Iran over the weekend, today combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) condemned Trump’s actions as both unconstitutional and a violation of the War Powers Act and underscored her support for U.S. Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) War Powers Resolution, which would reassert that only Congress holds the power and solemn responsibility to declare war. Duckworth reiterated that while Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon, the President of the United States and Commander in Chief should have pursued this goal through diplomatic means first before needlessly dragging the American people and our nation’s servicemembers into another war in the Middle East. Duckworth’s remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.
    “When Donald Trump illegally bombed Iran without Congressional authorization, let’s be clear: there was no imminent threat to the U.S. or our troops,” said Duckworth. “It wasn’t time to strike, not when the democratically elected representatives of the American people have not had a chance to weigh the costs and risks against the gains to make an informed decision on behalf of our constituents—and to make sure the President is not getting us into yet another forever war in the Middle East.
    “Servicemembers will be the ones to risk their lives if we get drawn into another unnecessary war with no plan and no end state. Their Commander in Chief owes it to them—and to all Americans—to uphold the Constitution that they swore to support and defend.”
    In response to Senator Duckworth’s sharp questioning, Deputy Commander of United States Central Command Vice Admiral Charles B. Cooper II would not specifically state what end-state the US is seeking after Trump’s illegal military strike against Iran, even though combatant commands would normally be informed of the desired end-states in order to drive their operations. The lack of clarity on the desired end-state of U.S. military operations against Iran raises serious questions about whether the Trump Administration’s goals against Iran are being deliberately obscured from the American people or simply a product of chaotic policymaking. When asked, Vice Admiral Cooper also refused to commit to providing an option—even among many—to the White House that includes providing Iran with an off-ramp from further military action, if he is confirmed to be Commander of the United States Central Command.
    In light of Trump’s reckless statements that suggest he might order our military to pursue regime change, Duckworth said: “Like many who served and sacrificed in Iraq, I am sick with anger and dread at the thought that, in 2025, the President of the United States is talking of toppling another government in the Middle East—drawing Americans into a destabilizing military action in a volatile region and owning the chaos that follows.”
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On the 3rd Anniversary of Roe Being Overturned, Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Bill to Restore Abortion Access Nationwide On the 3rd Anniversary of Roe Being Overturned, Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Bill to Restore Abortion Access Nationwide

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 25, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – On the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. The bill’s introduction comes as the Trump Administration further attacks a woman’s right to choose and Congressional Republicans barrel ahead with a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood. Put together, Trump and Congressional Republicans’ assault on Americans’ reproductive rights is a backdoor national abortion ban, ripping away millions of women’s access to abortion care and right to control their bodies.   
    “In the three years since the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision, our nation has seen Donald Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans intensify their anti-choice crusade against basic health care and tear reproductive freedoms away from Americans across the country—especially from low-income women and women of color,” said Duckworth. “We cannot let Republicans’ extreme policies continue to force women into impossible, dangerous and potentially life-threatening scenarios over deeply personal healthcare decisions. The Women’s Health Protection Act would end this living nightmare and rightfully put women back in charge of their own bodies, their careers and their futures.”
    “The Dobbs decision reversed a nearly half-century guarantee to Americans that the Constitution grants them the right to abortion access.  Three years later, that right is still under attack by Republicans who are implementing draconian abortion laws. Americans deserve the right to choose,” said Durbin. “It is up to the individual to decide if and when they expand their family, not a judge or a politician. That is why my colleagues and I are introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation that codifies the right of each American to make their own reproductive health care decisions.”
    President Trump appointed the Supreme Court Justices who ruled in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case to overturn Roe v. Wade and nearly 50 years of precedent. Since the Dobbs decision, 19 states have banned abortion or severely restricted women from being able to access the procedure, leaving one in three American women without access to safe, legal abortion care. Additionally, state legislatures across the country have introduced hundreds of bills to include medically unnecessary restrictions that limit access to abortion care.
    In his second term, President Trump has continued to relentlessly attack reproductive rights, including freezing Title X funding for clinics that offer reproductive care, cutting Biden-era emergency abortion protections, pardoning anti-abortion extremists, and fighting to defund Planned Parenthood. Additionally, the House-passed Republican budget bill kicks 16 million people off their health insurance and defunds Planned Parenthood – threatening the closure of 200 health centers across the country and putting access to vital reproductive care for millions of families at risk.
    The Women’s Health Protection Act creates federal rights for patients and providers to protect abortion access. Specifically, the Women’s Health Protection Act would:
    Prohibit states from imposing restrictions that jeopardize access to abortion earlier in pregnancy, including many of the state-level restrictions in place prior to Dobbs, such as arbitrary waiting periods, medically unnecessary mandatory ultrasounds or requirements to provide medically inaccurate information.
    Ensure that later in pregnancy, states cannot limit access to abortion if it would jeopardize the life or health of the mother.
    Protect the ability to travel out of state for an abortion, which has become increasingly common in recent years.
    In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the legislation is sponsored by the entire Senate Democratic caucus, including Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    Full text of the bill is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Queen Máxima welcomes partners of world leaders in Rotterdam

    Source: Government of the Netherlands

    Enlarge image

    A partner programme is a fixed feature of NATO summits. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the municipality of Rotterdam to organise this programme.

    Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

    Mayor Carola Schouten welcomed the guests at the Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, where they received a tour of the building. They also visited the exhibition The stories we tell, with an explanation from artist Susanna Inglada.

    Enlarge image

    Boat tour of Rotterdam

    This was followed by a boat tour of the port of Rotterdam on board the Royal Spido ship the Prinses Amalia. From the water the guests saw iconic landmarks such as the Euromast tower, the SS Rotterdam and the Erasmus Bridge.

    The partners of various world leaders participated in the programme:

    • Ms L. Rama, Albania
    • Ms D. Fox Carney, Canada
    • Mr M.B. Tengberg, Denmark
    • Ms E. Oras, Estonia
    • Ms S.E. Innes-Stubb, Finland
    • Ms B. Macron, France
    • Ms S. Musić Milanović, Croatia
    • Ms D. Nausėdienė, Lithuania
    • Ms M. Frieden-Droogleever Fortuyn, Luxembourg
    • Her Excellency A. Kornhauser-Duda, Poland
    • Her Excellency E. Erdoğan, Türkiye
    • Her Excellency B.P. Kristersson Ed, Sweden

    You can find more photos on the Flickr page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s vice premier calls for expanding domestic demand, promoting high-quality economic development

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

    China’s vice premier calls for expanding domestic demand, promoting high-quality economic development

    SHIJIAZHUANG, June 25 — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has called for efforts to accelerate the establishment of a unified national market, expand domestic demand to boost consumption, accelerate the construction of a new model for real estate development, and develop new quality productive forces based on local conditions to promote high-quality economic development.

    He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in north China’s Hebei Province that began on Monday and ended on Tuesday.

    Since the beginning of this year, China’s economy has maintained a positive trend despite challenges, leading to rising social confidence, He said.

    He urged efforts to implement the country’s trade-in policy for bulk durable consumer goods and to stabilize market expectations, calling on relevant cities to integrate consumer goods trade-in initiatives with urban renewal actions based on local conditions, with the aim of unlocking consumption potential further.

    He emphasized the importance of advancing a new model for real estate development, of maintaining steady growth while enhancing quality in foreign trade production, of guarding against risks in small and medium-scale local financial institutions, and of driving the innovative development of enterprises focusing on high-end equipment manufacturing, intelligent photovoltaics, clean energy and new materials.

    He instructed relevant authorities and local governments to undertake in-depth investigations and research, actively explore innovation, study and resolve practical problems faced by enterprises promptly, respond effectively to the impact of external shocks, and achieve all economic work goals for the first half of the year and the whole year to advance high-quality economic development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Have Been Obliterated — and Suggestions Otherwise are Fake News

    Source: US Whitehouse

    The world is far safer after President Donald J. Trump’s highly successful, decisive precision strikes against the Iranian regime’s key nuclear facilities.

    Take it from those who actually know:

    President Trump: “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!”

    Israel Atomic Energy Commission: “The devastating US strike on Fordo destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material.”

    IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir: “I can say here that the assessment is that we significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can also say that we set it back by years, I repeat, years.”

    Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei: “Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure.”

    Vice President JD Vance: “I can say to the American people with great confidence that they are much further away from a nuclear program today than they were 24 hours ago. That was the objective of the mission, to destroy that Fordow nuclear site, and of course, do some damage to the other sites as well, but we feel very confident that the Fordow nuclear site was substantially set back, and that was our goal.”

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”

    Secretary Hegseth: “Given the 30,000 pounds of explosions and the capability of those munitions, it was DEVASTATION underneath Fordow … Any assessment that tells you otherwise is speculating with other motives.”

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan “Razin” Caine: “Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction. More than 125 US aircraft participated in this mission, including B2 stealth bombers, multiple flights of fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens and dozens of air refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and a full array of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as hundreds of maintenance and operational professionals.”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “The Iranian program — the nuclear program — today looks nothing like it did just a week ago … That story is a false story and it’s one that really shouldn’t be re-reported because it doesn’t accurately reflect what’s happening.”

    Secretary Rubio: “Everything underneath that mountain is in bad shape … There’s no way Iran comes to the table if somehow nothing had happened. This was complete and total obliteration. They are in bad shape. They are way behind today compared to where they were just seven days ago because of what President Trump did.”

    Special Envoy Steve Witkoff: “We put 12 bunker buster bombs on Fordow. There’s no doubt that it breached the canopy, there’s no doubt that it was well within reach of the depth that these bunker buster bombs go to, and there’s no doubt that it was obliterated — so the reporting out there that in some way suggests that we did not achieve the objective is just completely preposterous.”

    Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard: “The operation was a resounding success. Our missiles were delivered precisely and accurately, obliterating key Iranian capabilities needed to quickly assemble a nuclear weapon.”

    International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi: “Given the explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred. At the Esfahan nuclear site, additional buildings were hit, with the US confirming their use of cruise missiles. Affected buildings include some related to the uranium conversion process. Also at this site, entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit. At the Natanz enrichment site, the Fuel Enrichment Plant was hit, with the US confirming that it used ground-penetrating munitions.”

    Institute for Science and International Security President David Albright: “Overall, Israel’s and U.S. attacks have effectively destroyed Iran’s centrifuge enrichment program.  It will be a long time before Iran comes anywhere near the capability it had before the attack.”

    Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director Andrea Stricker: “I think that because of the massive damage and the shock wave that would have been sent by 12 Massive Ordnance Penetrators at the Fordow site, that it likely would render its centrifuges damaged or inoperable.” 

    American Enterprise Institute Middle East Portfolio Manager Brian Carter: “There is no question that the bombing campaign ‘badly, badly damaged’ the three sites.”

    Institute for Science and International Security Senior Research Fellow Spencer Faragasso: “Overall, it may possibly take years for Iran to reconstitute the capabilities it lost at these facilities.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Barragán, Jayapal, and Booker Reintroduce Legislation to Eliminate Barriers to Health Care for Immigrants

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 24, 2025

    Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

    Barragán, Jayapal, and Booker Reintroduce Legislation to Eliminate Barriers to Health Care for Immigrants

    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44), along with Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced the Health Equity and Access under Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Families Act. This bicameral bill, co-sponsored by 55 members of Congress and endorsed by more than 100 organizations, removes unnecessary and cruel barriers to health care for millions of immigrants of all statuses.

    Immigrants in the United States are far more likely to be uninsured than U.S. citizens. In 2023, half of all undocumented immigrant adults and one in five lawfully present immigrant adults were uninsured. Just 6 percent of naturalized citizen adults and 8 percent of U.S.-born citizens are uninsured.

    “Access to healthcare shouldn’t depend on your immigration status,” said Representative Barragán. “Healthcare is a basic human right, and it’s time we break down the needless barriers that keep immigrant families from the care they need to survive and thrive. The HEAL Act is a step toward addressing racial health disparities and expanding quality healthcare to everyone in our communities.”

    “Health care is a human right that must be accessible to everyone — regardless of immigration status,” said Representative Jayapal. “As a proud immigrant myself, I know that the HEAL Act is a necessary first step to allow more people across America to access the health care they need to live, making all of our communities healthier. As Republicans in Congress work to strip health coverage away from millions of Americans and further decimate our already broken immigration system, we’re working to ensure everyone in this country is able to see a doctor when they need it.”

    “Everyone deserves access to comprehensive, affordable, quality care, and the HEAL Act lifts unnecessary barriers to medical care for immigrants,” said Senator Booker. “A more equitable health care system will help create healthier communities and ensure that all families, regardless of immigration status, have access to the care they need.” 

    “Withholding health care from immigrants is cruel and doesn’t make our communities safer or healthier,” said Senator Warren. “While the Trump administration continues playing political games with immigrant families, Democrats are fighting to make sure a person’s immigration status doesn’t prevent them from getting life-saving care.”

    “As the Trump Administration guts access to health care and basic services for immigrant communities, breaking down barriers to health care for immigrants isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s critical for protecting our public health and economy,” said Senator Padilla. “California is the fourth-largest economy in the world not despite immigrants, but because of their contributions to our workforce. Everyone deserves access to affordable, quality health care no matter their immigration status, and I will keep fighting to continue expanding coverage for these hardworking members of our communities.”

    The HEAL for Immigrant Families Act will:

    • Restore Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility to lawfully present immigrants;
    • Remove discriminatory Medicare restrictions based on length of U.S. residency for green card holders;
    • End the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces
    • Ensure access to public and affordable coverage for Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients;
    • Create a state option to expand Medicaid and CHIP to immigrants regardless of immigration status.

    “Rep. Jayapal and Sen. Booker continue to be courageous and powerful champions for immigrant communities by reintroducing the HEAL for Immigrant Families Act,” said Lupe M. Rodríguez, executive director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. “While immigrant families are currently being attacked and torn apart, this bill promotes a vision for what we want for our collective future. A future that supports immigrant communities by removing long standing systemic barriers to health coverage to help our communities access affordable health care. We are especially grateful that Sen. Booker and Rep. Jayapal are introducing this critical legislation today as we mark three years since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion. That decision has disproportionately harmed immigrant communities, for whom abortion bans, misinformation, and the threat of being detained and separated from our families has increased the barriers that keep us from getting the health care we need,” said Lupe M. Rodríguez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. “We urge Congress to protect immigrant communities and pass this bill.”

    “The reproductive justice movement teaches us that true justice means being able to have children, not have children, and raise our families in safe, supportive communities,” said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF). “None of that is possible without health care. In a country that has always been shaped by immigrants, we cannot keep allowing people and families, including the Asian American immigrants who make up more than a quarter of immigrants in the U.S., to be shut out from basic health care because of harmful, outdated policies. These are our mothers, our sisters, and our neighbors. The HEAL Act tears down the barriers facing our communities and reaffirms that everyone deserves the right to care, regardless of background, income, or immigration status.”

    “Everyone deserves access to health care, no matter who they are or where they come from,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “It is unacceptable and cruel that many are denied affordable, high-quality, and comprehensive health care because of their immigration status. Amid the ongoing attacks on our immigrant communities and our health care, I thank Reps. Jayapal and Barragán and Senator Booker for reintroducing this critical bill that would break down unjust barriers to care for our immigrant families.”

    “As a physician, I’ve witnessed the barriers immigrant families face when trying to access health care. Insurance coverage is a cornerstone of meaningful access; without it, care remains out of reach for too many,” said Dr. Jamila Perritt, MD, MPH, FACOG, President and CEO, Physicians for Reproductive Health. “At a time when attacks on immigrant communities are escalating, we must act now to ensure that everyone—regardless of status—has the right to timely, compassionate, and comprehensive health care. That’s why I join physicians across the country in calling for a swift passage of the HEAL Act. Expanding health coverage to immigrant communities ensures they receive the care they deserve, regardless of their immigration status. Health is a human right and no one should be excluded from receiving healthcare. Congress must pass HEAL – our patients are counting on it.”

    “With immigrant families under constant attack, it’s more important than ever to work toward a better, more inclusive future when everyone can get the care we all need,” said Adriana Cadena, campaign director, Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition. “We are proud to champion the HEAL Act – a critical step toward that better future.” 

    “Now more than ever, it is critical to affirm that everyone—including immigrants—should have access to health care coverage,” said Wendy Cervantes, Director, Immigration and Immigrant Families, CLASP. “Immigrants already face many restrictions to such care and an onslaught of attacks on them and their families’ health and well-being, ranging from the fear created by the Administration’s mass deportation efforts to the deeply harmful budget reconciliation bill currently under consideration. The HEAL for Immigrant Families Act is a critical step in moving us back in the right direction by giving children and families access to the health care they need to thrive. CLASP is grateful to Representative Jayapal and Senator Booker for their leadership in promoting a vision that supports health care for all.”

    The legislation is also co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Edward Markey (D-MA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

    The legislation is endorsed by AAPI Equity Alliance; AAPI NJ; Advocates for Youth; AFL-CIO; Alianza Nacional de Campesinas; All* Above All; Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment; American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP); Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; Arkansas Black Gay Men’s Forum; Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); Asian American Federation of Florida; Asian Americans United (AAU); Asian Caribbean Exchange; Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence; Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network, Massachusetts; Asian Texans for Justice Action Fund; ASISTA; Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations; Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network; Ayuda; CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network; California Partnership to End Domestic Violence; CASA; Catholics for Choice; Center for Gender & Refugee Studies; Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Center for Reproductive Rights; Center for Victims of Torture; Children’s HealthWatch; Cleveland Jobs with Justice; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); Coalition on Human Needs; Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking; Community Catalyst; Doctors for America ; End SIJS Backlog Coalition; Equality California; Esperanza United; First Focus Campaign for Children; Florida Asian Services ; Freedom Network USA; Georgia Conservation Voters; Global Refugee Awareness Healing Center; Global Urban Cultural Community; Guttmacher Institute; Haven Services Inc. dba Haven Neighborhood Servic; Health Action New Mexico; Healthy Teen Network; Her Justice ; Hispanic Federation; Ibis Reproductive Health; ICAH (Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health); Immigrant Legal Resource Center; Immigrant Welcome Network Johnson County; Immigration Institute of the Bay Area; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda ; Inclusive Counseling; Indivisible; Institute for Women’s Policy Research; Ipas US; Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health; Justice for Migrant Women; Justice in Aging; KAN-WIN; Kids in Need of Defense (KIND); Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA); Laotian American National Alliance (LANA); Latino; Legal Voice; Maine Equal Justice; MANA, A National Latina Organization; Midwest Access Coalition; Moonbow; National Abortion Federation; National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA); National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF); National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health; National Council of Jewish Women; National Employment Law Project; National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; National Health Law Program; National Immigration Law Center; National Korean American Service and Education Consortium; National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice; National Network of Abortion Funds; National Network To End Domestic Violence ; National Organization for Women ; National Partnership for New Americans; National Partnership for Women & Families; National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance; National Women’s Law Center Action Fund; NIRH Action Fund; NIWAP, Inc.; Northwest Health Law Advocates (NoHLA); Oasis Legal Services; OCA South Florida Chapter; Our Justice; Oxfam America; People Power United; Physicians for Reproductive Health; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Plascencia Consulting; Population Connection Action Fund; Positive Women’s Network-USA; Power to Decide; PowHerNY; Prevention Institute; Protecting Immigrant Families; QASPIRA Association; Religious Community for Reproductive Choice; Reproductive Freedom For All; Reproductive Health Access Project; Reproductive Justice Action Collective (ReJAC); Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus; Sarin Gal; Shriver Center on Poverty Law; SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change; Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF); SiX Action; South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA); South Asian SOAR; State Voices Florida; Survivor Justice Center; The Children’s Partnership; The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH); The TransLatin@ Coalition; UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health; UnidosUS; Union for Reform Judaism; United Parent Leaders Action Network; URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity; Voices for Utah Children; Women of Reform Judaism; Women’s Law Project; Women’s Refugee Commission.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Migrants in South Africa’s economic powerhouse often go hungry: the drivers and what can be done about it

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Adrino Mazenda, Senior Researcher, Associate Professor Economic Management Sciences, University of Pretoria

    About 281 million people globally have migrated from their country of origin to another country. This movement can be temporary or permanent and can occur for various reasons, including economic opportunities, family reunification and education. Then there are also millions who are escaping conflict and seeking refuge in another country.

    Countries at different stages of development also experience large volumes of internal migration. Migration within a country can be temporary or permanent too, and reflect economic reasons or insecurity.

    Both types of migrants sometimes experience food insecurity: the physical and financial inability to access nutritious, safe and sufficient food to fulfil a person’s dietary requirements.

    There are an estimated 2.89 million documented foreign migrants in South Africa, accounting for about 5% of the country’s population. Most immigrants in South Africa come from the Southern African Development Community countries. South Africa also experiences a high annual internal migration rate. About 850,0000 people temporarily and permanently relocate from rural to urban areas.

    Gauteng, the province which contributes more than a third of South Africa’s economic output, attracts a disproportionate share of internal and international migration.

    As social scientists who have been studying migration and food security, we conducted research to explore the food security status of migrant households (international and internal) and native Gauteng households, and to understand their differences, if any.

    The study used data from the 2020/21 Quality of Life survey. This is one of the largest social surveys in South Africa, and respondents include both internal and international migrants. It is conducted every two years by the Gauteng City Region Observatory. Quantitative research methods and statistical analysis were then applied to identify patterns and relationships between food insecurity and migration variables.

    Food insecurity remains a pressing concern in South Africa’s major cities, particularly among migrant populations. Not all migrants experience food insecurity the same way, however. Internal and international migrants differ not only from native Gauteng residents but also from one another. There are different factors influencing their vulnerability.

    The differences

    One differentiating factor between the internal and foreign migrants is government social support services. They seem to play a key role in determining the well-being of internal migrants. International migrants don’t qualify for such services. But they sometimes fared better than internal migrants or natives, likely due to age, education, or resourcefulness (social support networks).

    Internal migrants experienced their own set of challenges. For example, poor health service provision and lack of medical aid were strong predictors of food insecurity. This suggests that addressing food access requires improvements in health services, insurance, and broader social infrastructure.

    Improved access to healthcare reduces the financial burden on households dealing with medical expenses, so they can spend more on food. Access to maternal and child health services enhances nutritional knowledge and practices. That in turn improves the way households use food. Health insurance and unemployment insurance protect households from income shocks that could otherwise lead to food insecurity.

    A stronger social infrastructure improves food access by enhancing education, healthcare, and social protection systems. Education boosts income and nutritional knowledge. Preventive healthcare reduces illness and medical expenses, freeing up resources for food. Social protection measures help households withstand financial shocks, ensuring consistent access to food.

    Of course all this support has a cost that needs to be funded from the public purse, but its benefits may well outweigh the cost.

    Gender disparities

    Immigrants contribute significantly to South Africa’s economy. Migration enhances labour market flexibility, promotes economic dynamism, and supports livelihoods in both urban and rural areas, making it essential for inclusive economic growth.
    Internal migrants provide labour in sectors such as mining, construction and services, while also supporting rural households through remittances. They help stimulate urban informal economies.

    International migrants bring valuable skills and resilience to various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and construction. They contribute local income taxes. Some operate small and large formal businesses, which adds to job creation.

    However, employment data reveals a pronounced gender disparity among international migrants and internal migrants.

    In all population groups (native residents, internal migrants and international migrants), men are more likely to be employed than women. Among international migrants, over 1 million men were employed compared to 400,000 women. More women (281,553) than men (88,598) were classified as economically inactive – not available for work.

    The primary reason for internal migration among both men and women was the search for paid employment. For men, the second most common reason was job transfers or accepting new employment.

    In contrast, female migrants cited moving to live with or be closer to a spouse, family, or friends, often due to marriage, as their main motivation.

    Way forward

    Our study highlights the determinants of food insecurity among migrant populations. It also challenges harmful stereotypes and invites more inclusive thinking about social support and job creation.

    The study’s findings can help inform the public about who needs more support and why. It shows that food aid and government support systems aren’t working as intended.

    The main conclusions we reached from the study were that:

    • Rural health infrastructure is in dire need of public support.

    • Increased inequities in healthcare access are unjustified.

    • The medical and health bills of foreign citizens can be shared between home and host countries to reduce the strain on the host’s infrastructure through a combination of policy reforms, bilateral agreements and global cooperation mechanisms. Key to this is an inter-government billing system where host countries track migrants’ healthcare use and send bills to their home country governments or insurers.

    • It is desirable for migrants to hold valid health insurance as a condition of entry or residency.

    • Policies to promote agriculture and rural areas, particularly developing new rural housing schemes, appear to be a promising way to abate food insecurity.

    • Revitalising special economic zones, the designated areas offering incentives to attract investment, boost trade and create jobs, can help limit the concentration of migrants in Gauteng.

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

    – ref. Migrants in South Africa’s economic powerhouse often go hungry: the drivers and what can be done about it – https://theconversation.com/migrants-in-south-africas-economic-powerhouse-often-go-hungry-the-drivers-and-what-can-be-done-about-it-256907

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Migrants in South Africa’s economic powerhouse often go hungry: the drivers and what can be done about it

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Adrino Mazenda, Senior Researcher, Associate Professor Economic Management Sciences, University of Pretoria

    About 281 million people globally have migrated from their country of origin to another country. This movement can be temporary or permanent and can occur for various reasons, including economic opportunities, family reunification and education. Then there are also millions who are escaping conflict and seeking refuge in another country.

    Countries at different stages of development also experience large volumes of internal migration. Migration within a country can be temporary or permanent too, and reflect economic reasons or insecurity.

    Both types of migrants sometimes experience food insecurity: the physical and financial inability to access nutritious, safe and sufficient food to fulfil a person’s dietary requirements.

    There are an estimated 2.89 million documented foreign migrants in South Africa, accounting for about 5% of the country’s population. Most immigrants in South Africa come from the Southern African Development Community countries. South Africa also experiences a high annual internal migration rate. About 850,0000 people temporarily and permanently relocate from rural to urban areas.

    Gauteng, the province which contributes more than a third of South Africa’s economic output, attracts a disproportionate share of internal and international migration.

    As social scientists who have been studying migration and food security, we conducted research to explore the food security status of migrant households (international and internal) and native Gauteng households, and to understand their differences, if any.

    The study used data from the 2020/21 Quality of Life survey. This is one of the largest social surveys in South Africa, and respondents include both internal and international migrants. It is conducted every two years by the Gauteng City Region Observatory. Quantitative research methods and statistical analysis were then applied to identify patterns and relationships between food insecurity and migration variables.

    Food insecurity remains a pressing concern in South Africa’s major cities, particularly among migrant populations. Not all migrants experience food insecurity the same way, however. Internal and international migrants differ not only from native Gauteng residents but also from one another. There are different factors influencing their vulnerability.

    The differences

    One differentiating factor between the internal and foreign migrants is government social support services. They seem to play a key role in determining the well-being of internal migrants. International migrants don’t qualify for such services. But they sometimes fared better than internal migrants or natives, likely due to age, education, or resourcefulness (social support networks).

    Internal migrants experienced their own set of challenges. For example, poor health service provision and lack of medical aid were strong predictors of food insecurity. This suggests that addressing food access requires improvements in health services, insurance, and broader social infrastructure.

    Improved access to healthcare reduces the financial burden on households dealing with medical expenses, so they can spend more on food. Access to maternal and child health services enhances nutritional knowledge and practices. That in turn improves the way households use food. Health insurance and unemployment insurance protect households from income shocks that could otherwise lead to food insecurity.

    A stronger social infrastructure improves food access by enhancing education, healthcare, and social protection systems. Education boosts income and nutritional knowledge. Preventive healthcare reduces illness and medical expenses, freeing up resources for food. Social protection measures help households withstand financial shocks, ensuring consistent access to food.

    Of course all this support has a cost that needs to be funded from the public purse, but its benefits may well outweigh the cost.

    Gender disparities

    Immigrants contribute significantly to South Africa’s economy. Migration enhances labour market flexibility, promotes economic dynamism, and supports livelihoods in both urban and rural areas, making it essential for inclusive economic growth. Internal migrants provide labour in sectors such as mining, construction and services, while also supporting rural households through remittances. They help stimulate urban informal economies.

    International migrants bring valuable skills and resilience to various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and construction. They contribute local income taxes. Some operate small and large formal businesses, which adds to job creation.

    However, employment data reveals a pronounced gender disparity among international migrants and internal migrants.

    In all population groups (native residents, internal migrants and international migrants), men are more likely to be employed than women. Among international migrants, over 1 million men were employed compared to 400,000 women. More women (281,553) than men (88,598) were classified as economically inactive – not available for work.

    The primary reason for internal migration among both men and women was the search for paid employment. For men, the second most common reason was job transfers or accepting new employment.

    In contrast, female migrants cited moving to live with or be closer to a spouse, family, or friends, often due to marriage, as their main motivation.

    Way forward

    Our study highlights the determinants of food insecurity among migrant populations. It also challenges harmful stereotypes and invites more inclusive thinking about social support and job creation.

    The study’s findings can help inform the public about who needs more support and why. It shows that food aid and government support systems aren’t working as intended.

    The main conclusions we reached from the study were that:

    • Rural health infrastructure is in dire need of public support.

    • Increased inequities in healthcare access are unjustified.

    • The medical and health bills of foreign citizens can be shared between home and host countries to reduce the strain on the host’s infrastructure through a combination of policy reforms, bilateral agreements and global cooperation mechanisms. Key to this is an inter-government billing system where host countries track migrants’ healthcare use and send bills to their home country governments or insurers.

    • It is desirable for migrants to hold valid health insurance as a condition of entry or residency.

    • Policies to promote agriculture and rural areas, particularly developing new rural housing schemes, appear to be a promising way to abate food insecurity.

    • Revitalising special economic zones, the designated areas offering incentives to attract investment, boost trade and create jobs, can help limit the concentration of migrants in Gauteng.

    – Migrants in South Africa’s economic powerhouse often go hungry: the drivers and what can be done about it
    – https://theconversation.com/migrants-in-south-africas-economic-powerhouse-often-go-hungry-the-drivers-and-what-can-be-done-about-it-256907

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Votes to Prohibit D.C. Sanctuary City Policies

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    Washington, D.C. — Congressman Nick LaLota (Suffolk County, NY) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 2056 the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act of 2025, which prohibits the District of Columbia from enacting or maintaining any law or policy that prevents Law Enforcement from sharing information about an individual’s citizenship or immigration status with federal, state, or local authorities, or from complying with an ICE detainer request.

    “I proudly voted for the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act because our nation’s capital—the seat of our laws—should never be a sanctuary for lawlessness,” said Rep. LaLota. “This bill ensures that Washington, D.C. cannot obstruct cooperation with DHS, ICE, or any federal immigration authority. Whether it’s D.C., Long Island, or any other part of the country, no community should shield individuals who violate our immigration laws. I urge local governments to reject these reckless sanctuary policies and join in restoring order, enforcing the rule of law, and building an immigration system that respects legal immigrants and protects American communities.”

    To read the full text of the resolution, click HERE. 

    Background: 

    H.R. 2056, the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act, passed the House on June 12, 2025, by a vote of 224–194 and is now under Senate review. Sponsored by Rep. Clay Higgins, the bill prohibits the District of Columbia from limiting its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It requires D.C. authorities to share immigration status information and comply with DHS detainer requests, with narrow exceptions for victims and witnesses of crimes. The bill now awaits action in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NATO summit has left us all more exposed

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Green Party

    Reacting to the close of the NATO Summit, Green Party MP Ellie Chowns said:

    “NATO leaders have fawned over a bullying, bellicose US President and agreed to a long-term doubling of arms spending that will come at the cost of cuts in vital health and public services across member states. 

    “The NATO summit has left us all more exposed to the threat of nuclear war and failed to offer people across the world a strategic vision of a more peaceful world. 

    “Here in the UK, the Labour government has already slashed aid for the most vulnerable around the world to make way for increased arms spending and next week will try to force through cuts to disability support to pay for more. 

    “We do not need new US-controlled fighter jets to carry US-controlled nuclear weapons paid for by UK taxpayers that will make the world a more dangerous place. 

    “The UK government should be leading efforts to reduce and eliminate nuclear arsenals, not paying for the US to base more of them here. 

    “There is a choice to be made between welfare and warfare. 

    “Genuine security means making sure the most vulnerable have the support needed for a decent life and we all have a government focussed on tackling the biggest long-term threats to human security – climate breakdown, global inequality, pandemics. 

    “Real security is built on social, economic, and environmental resilience, not more nuclear weapons. 

    “Green MPs will be opposing the government’s welfare cuts next week and offering a real alternative that puts people’s welfare and the planet’s future first.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: China foreign relations session held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Civil Service College, with the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Commissioner (OCMFA) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, held a thematic briefing session today on the “International Landscape and China’s Foreign Relations in 2025”.

    The briefing was delivered by Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR Cui Jianchun, and attended by Chief Executive John Lee along with over 400 senior officials.

    Delivering his opening remarks, Mr Lee thanked Mr Cui for attending the session to share insights on the current international environment and national foreign strategies, and providing an analysis on the evolving global dynamics and the country’s response strategies.

    The session could provide support for the Hong Kong SAR Government in promoting Hong Kong’s deepening of international exchanges and co-operation, better integration into the overall national development, and co-ordination of high-level security and high-quality development, the Chief Executive remarked.

    Mr Lee pointed out that the complex and fast-changing international environment as well as the groundbreaking developments of artificial intelligence and biotechnology, profoundly affect the trajectory of world order and highlight the close connection between security and development. He also said China’s diplomatic work plays a vital role in the effective co-ordination of security and development, and provides opportunities for Hong Kong to better fulfil its role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”.

    He also thanked the central government for its strong support for Hong Kong to become the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation, adding that the establishment of its headquarters in the city reflects the trust and recognition of the international community in Hong Kong, which not only demonstrates the success of the National Security Law in creating a stable environment, but also serves as a vivid manifestation of the country’s diplomatic soft power.

    Mr Lee further stated that Hong Kong SAR Government officials should have a deep understanding of the country’s foreign policies, accurately grasp changes in the international landscape, and better co-ordinate the relationship between and the opportunities from security and development.

    Separately, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said today’s session is of great significance because it not only heralds this year’s series of talks on China’s foreign affairs but is also a highlight event of the seminar series for civil servants on the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the National Security Law.

    She stressed that the Civil Service College will continue to enhance training to strengthen civil servants’ patriotism and awareness of national security, and encourage everyone to consciously safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

    Training programmes organised by the college could also deepen civil servants’ understanding of the country’s history, culture and contemporary development, equipping them to better fulfil Hong Kong’s role as a bridge connecting the country with the world in their respective fields, effectively utilising the city’s international platform to tell good stories of China and Hong Kong, Mrs Yeung added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Calling on Congressional Leaders to Save SNAP

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Hochul yesterday joined a group of 23 Governors to urge Congressional leadership to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that puts food on the table for millions of people across the nation. The letter signed by 23 governors from across the country warns that the GOP reconciliation bill in Congress threatens to strip critical food benefits from more than 42 million people in the United States, including 3 million here in New York.

    “SNAP doesn’t just help millions of New York families put food on the table, it keeps our local grocers open for business and makes major investments in our farming industry,” Governor Hochul said. “I urge New York Republicans in Congress to reject this proposal that would slash these benefits and unleash hell for families across our state.”

    The governors co-signed the letter as the GOP reconciliation bill threatens to shift up to 25 percent of the food benefit costs onto states, meaning a new expense of millions — and in some states, billions — of dollars. This shift in costs to the states is unprecedented in SNAP’s 50-year history.

    Read the full text of the letter below:

    Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Leader Thune, and Leader Schumer,

    SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is one of the most powerful tools states have to address hunger, improve overall health, and help people overcome poverty. In 2024, SNAP provided food benefits to more than 42 million people in the United States, helping to address the needs of more than 13% of households across the country who experienced food insecurity.

    Recent U.S. House and Senate proposals would effectively gut this critical food assistance that helps families with children, older adults, and working people afford the rising cost of groceries and put food on the table. Congress has proposed profoundly changing the relationship between the federal government and states—by shifting unprecedented costs to states for the first time in the 50 years of SNAP’s history. Under this plan, states will need to find millions or even billions of extra dollars in their budgets or be forced to leave the SNAP program entirely, potentially cutting off millions of Americans from this vital assistance.

    Congress is forcing states into an impossible ultimatum: either come up with new funding to backfill federal cuts or cut off families from essential food assistance. The idea that states will be able to respond to these massive cuts by backfilling with state resources is unrealistic. If states cannot meet the full cost share, they will need to cut SNAP enrollment or end their program entirely. States have limited options to reduce their SNAP enrollment, and with SNAP being a safety net program meant to help the most vulnerable, states are one economic downturn or natural disaster away from seeing increased SNAP demand.

    If states are forced to end their SNAP programs, hunger and poverty will increase, children and adults will get sicker, grocery stores in rural areas will struggle to stay open, people in agriculture and the food industry will lose jobs, and state and local economies will suffer.

    These cuts from Congress don’t just increase state costs – they make it nearly impossible for states to effectively plan for these long-term budget impacts. That is because the amount a state owes annually would depend on its payment error rate, a figure that changes from year to year and is based on administrative errors. States, which must balance their budgets by law, will not know how much funding will be needed to maintain SNAP until three months before the bill comes due. Strained state budgets cannot backfill these cuts, especially as Congress simultaneously proposes to slash Medicaid, disaster relief, and other federally-funded safety net programs.

    The combination of massive cost increases to states, the unpredictability of how much a state will be on the hook for from year to year, and the need for states to balance their budgets creates a significant risk that states have to leave SNAP altogether. Congress’s own budget office confirmed that this risk is very real. And while we are encouraged that the Senate’s “umpire,” the parliamentarian, confirmed that instituting a SNAP benefit cost share on the states violates Senate rules, we remain concerned that Congress’s ongoing attempts to cut costs in the SNAP program will result in millions of Americans losing their nutrition benefits.

    To be clear, states already have skin in the game for the SNAP program. State governments currently pay for half of the cost to run the program; in some states, county and Tribal governments also contribute to that cost. In addition, a system to ensure states use SNAP dollars effectively is already in place: Congress charges financial penalties if states have two consecutive years of high error rates.

    As Governors, we urge Congress to honor its commitment to the people of the United States of America by rejecting any proposals that would put state SNAP programs at risk. Cuts to SNAP will mean that millions of Americans won’t get the food they need for their families. And it will result in too many Americans forced to survive rather than thrive.

    Sincerely,

    Governor Kathy Hochul
    State of New York

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin & Crypto Casinos: All iGaming Experts Reveal Top BTC Casinos (No KYC)!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Diego, California, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Tell me honestly, have you ever felt like you are giving everything just for gambling? Not anymore. No KYC crypto casinos won’t ask you for sensitive information like your name, address, etc. This is the reason why players are heading towards anonymous casinos. If you haven’t started your journey, are confused, or need to know more about anonymous casinos, take a moment to read this article.

    Let’s start the article with why you should consider All iGaming to discover an anonymous casino, then we will move on to several other topics.

    ➡️ Listed Most Trusted Crypto Casinos By All iGaming 

    >>Get Expert Reviews On Crypto Casinos. Visit All iGaming for the Complete List!

    All iGaming is a trusted platform that features authentic reviews about the top bitcoin & crypto casinos operating in the gaming industry. All iGaming has a dedicated team to carefully analyze and evaluate all the features of the top Bitcoin casinos, other than just sticking to its privacy feature. 

    All iGaming facilitates an opportunity to discover and learn about every anonymous cryptocurrency casino’s payment methods, technical reliability, bonus features, and more. Anyone who is confused or seeking the best platform for discovering the finest anonymous Bitcoin casino can just delve into All iGaming. 

    ➡️ How All iGaming Ranks the Top Bitcoin No KYC Casinos 

    All iGaming platform features the top bitcoin & crypto casinos, and are ranked with certain features like licensing and security, varied payment methods, high technical reliability, high or no withdrawal limit, low or standard withdrawal time, player review, and verification efficiency. 

    Criteria  Description 
    • Licensing and security 
    		 Operates with non-standard licenses like Curacao or Anjouan and employs SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and certified random number generators
    • Payment method
    		 Various payment methods include cryptocurrency, e-wallets, virtual cards, prepaid cards, and more
    • Technical reliability 
    		 Reliability is ensured by leveraging blockchain technology, smart contracts, and cryptocurrency 
    • Withdrawal processing times 
    		 Withdrawals should be processed within 24 hours or fewer. 
    • Player review 
    		 Players enjoy the security, transparency, and fairness of the casinos. 
    • Withdrawal limits 
    		 Prioritize casinos that have high or no transaction limits
    • Verification efficiency 
    		 Minimal verification requirements, which will make the transactions faster, enhance privacy, and accessibility 

    >>Enjoy Fast Transactions and High Security with Multiple Payment Options!! For a Detailed List, Visit All-igaming

    • Licensing and security 

    Anonymous casinos operate with non-standard licenses like Curacao and Anjouan. This type of license doesn’t possess strict regulations, which typically means it has less strict KYC regulations than traditional casinos. Security is assured in the anonymous casinos, since cryptocurrency is used for transactions. Several security measures are taken to achieve this. SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and certified random number generators (RNGs). Since very little personal information is required for registration and transactions, the chances and risks of data breaches are lower. 

    • Payment method

    A variety of payment methods are offered at the best bitcoin & crypto casinos. Anonymous casinos mainly process transactions with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as e-wallets (Skrill and Neteller), prepaid cards (Vanilla Visa and Paysafecard), and virtual credit cards (VCC). 

    • Technical reliability

    This ensures a trusted and fair gameplay through blockchain technology, smart contracts, and cryptocurrency. Leveraging blockchain technology has several advantages, like immutability, decentralization, and transparency. Smart contracts are self-executing programs that build trust by ensuring programmed actions. 

    • Withdrawal processing times

    All iGaming features casinos that have a withdrawal processing time of less than 24 hours. You can find casinos that process instantly. 

    • Player review

    All iGaming prioritizes the casinos that ensure security and transparency while assuring fairness in games. Player feedback has hugely benefited the casinos in growing further. 

    • Withdrawal limits

    High withdrawal or no withdrawal limit should be the priority while choosing a casino. All iGaming casinos prioritised these types of casinos, along with focusing on casinos with low or no transaction fees. 

    • Verification efficiency 

    Minimal verification is practiced in all iGaming anonymous casinos, which would be beneficial in faster transactions, enhancing privacy, and accessibility. Privacy is increased since less sensitive information is involved. Furthermore, the absence of strict gambling regulation makes the casinos accessible to everyone. 

    ➡️ Choosing a Top Bitcoin No KYC Casino Recommended by All iGaming

    An anonymous casino typically means a casino with no KYC requirements. This type of casino has a lot of important benefits over playing anonymously, and those benefits include faster transactions, greater accessibility, and freedom of play. 

    An anonymous casino requires less personal information for signing up and transactions; therefore, the possibility of identity theft and risk of data breach is minimized. Furthermore, since cryptocurrencies are used for transactions, they provide another layer of privacy and security to the players. 

    As the name implies, there is no KYC requirement, which makes the transactions faster than those of traditional casinos. Moreover, as mentioned before, the absence of strict gambling regulation makes the casino more accessible to players irrespective of the jurisdiction. 

    In short, players can enjoy all iGaming anonymous casinos without being worried about fraudulent activities. Besides that, numerous bonuses and promotions are awaiting you. Go and check out the casino with all the iGaming now! 

    ➡️ Navigating Regulations With All iGaming

    Casinos mentioned in the All iGaming are the best bitcoin & crypto casinos that require minimal details for registration. The only requirement for registration is a separate email address that is not linked to any other accounts.

     You can also discover decentralized casinos that operate on a blockchain. But players need to remember that there is a legal responsibility to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. These steps are carried out to prevent illicit activities. 

    ➡️ Why Top Bitcoin Casinos are Revolutionizing Online Gambling 

    Even though social media has engulfed many people’s privacy, there are still some people who value their privacy and like to keep everything private. As long as people have this mindset, the future of anonymous gambling will be fruitful. Some of the key trends to watch are the increased use of cryptocurrencies. There is a huge chance of emerging best bitcoin & crypto casinos that could offer anonymous deposits and instant withdrawals. Another aspect is the growth of decentralized casinos. 

    We recognize that the future of the gambling system is closely tied to blockchain technology. Therefore, blockchain technology will pave the way for the emergence of decentralized platforms. This ensures absolute anonymity in gambling.

    Shortly, we can expect the tremendous growth of anonymous payment, which is fast with a low transaction fee. Anonymous gambling ensures utmost security for the customers. Casino employs zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and multi-signature wallets to improve the privacy and security of players as well as casinos. 

    In the future, we can expect a platform that integrates gamification with privacy features. This would be the most remarkable innovation to date. This integration will provide rewards for anonymous players. Overall, the future of anonymous gambling looks promising. Then what’s stopping you? Grab your smartphone and start enjoying your private gambling with anonymous casinos.

    >>> For The Full List Of Top No KYC Crypto Casinos, Visit All igaming

    ➡️ Why the Gambling Industry is Behind Anonymous Casinos

    The demand for anonymous casinos is skyrocketing. Since the players know the advantages of playing at these best crypto casinos, this trend will continue. Even though several benefits are there, privacy is the main reason for players getting attracted to this type of casino. Anonymity casinos don’t require a KYC; however, a minimum requirement is needed for making an account at the casinos and to make transactions.

    Transactions at these types of casinos are faster due to the absence of a lengthy KYC process. The global accessibility makes the casino accessible for players all over the world. Players’ personal and transaction information is kept safe and secure with blockchain technology. Certain other benefits, captivating the attention of players and increasing the demand, are the variety of games and promotions offered. Overall, the player is having a seamless user experience with a minimal registration process, a faster transaction process, and a variety of games. 

    ➡️ Upcoming Trends of Best Bitcoin Casinos 2025

    In 2025, we can expect some trends in anonymous gambling, and they are listed below: 

    1. No KYC casinos: Best bitcoin casinos, and players start embracing anonymous gambling due to the absence of a lengthy KYC process. Hopefully, in the future, more anonymous casinos will come into existence. 
    2. Use of cryptocurrencies: Most of the casinos have already started embracing cryptocurrencies for payments, which will increase privacy and make transactions faster. More casinos will start to embrace more cryptocurrencies. 
    3. AI and responsible gambling: AI plays a crucial role in improving online casino security. AI is also used to promote responsible gambling by identifying problematic behaviors. 
    4. Decentralized KYC and blockchain solutions: Decentralized KYC processes pave the way for securely storing identity information so that the players have control over their data. 

    >>Play Without The Hassle Of Lengthy KYC Processes! Head to All iGaming for the Full List!

    ➡️ Tips for Selecting No KYC Gambling Casino Sites 

    Implement these simple and easy steps to easily choose the best crypto casino gambling sites. 

    • Safety and security: Casinos that are licensed by an authorized authority are prioritized. 
    • Deposits and withdrawals: Choose the best crypto casinos that have huge withdrawals and instant withdrawals. 
    • Anonymity: Pick casino platforms that accept VPNs and do not require KYC verification. 
    • Market structure: Find casino sites that offer a sportsbook with diverse betting markets. 
    • Bonuses and promos: Join a casino platform where the promotions have low wagering requirements. 
    • Customer service: Select the best bitcoin casinos that have excellent customer support, like phone calls or live chat. 
    • Betting odds: Discover anonymous betting sites with competitive odds. 
    • Mobile interface: Choose the best crypto casinos that offer seamless mobile gaming on Android and iOS smartphones. 

    ➡️ Tips for Winning at Best Bitcoin Casinos

    Various casinos on the All iGaming site offer numerous game varieties. Choosing the best game that has higher payouts and suits is important for increasing the chances of winning. Slot games are a category of games that everyone can try, whereas table games are better suited for regular players as it is more skill-based rather than luck-based. Let’s see some other factors that will help increase the winnings at the best bitcoin casinos. 

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael R. Allen, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, West Virginia University

    The iconic ‘Walking Man’ Hawkes sign in Westbrook, Maine, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

    President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 discretionary budget is called a “skinny budget” because it’s short on line-by-line details.

    But historic preservation efforts in the U.S. did get a mention – and they might as well be skinned to the bone.

    Trump has proposed to slash funding for the federal Historic Preservation Fund to only $11 million, which is $158 million less than the fund’s previous reauthorization in 2024. The presidential discretionary budget, however, always heads to Congress for appropriation. And Congress always makes changes.

    That said, the Trump administration hasn’t even released the $188 million that Congress appropriated for the fund for the 2025 fiscal year, essentially impounding the funding stream that Congress created in 1976 for historic preservation activities across the nation.

    I’m a scholar of historic preservation who’s worked to secure historic designations for buildings and entire neighborhoods. I’ve worked on projects that range from making distressed neighborhoods in St. Louis eligible for historic tax credits to surveying Cold War-era hangars and buildings on seven U.S. Air Force bases.

    I’ve seen the ways in which the Historic Preservation Fund helps local communities maintain and rehabilitate their rich architectural history, sparing it from deterioration, the wrecking ball or the pressures of the private market.

    A rare, deficit-neutral funding model

    Most Americans probably don’t realize that the task of historic preservation largely falls to individual states and Native American tribes.

    The National Historic Preservation Act that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law in 1966 requires states and tribes to handle everything from identifying potential historic sites to reviewing the impact of interstate highway projects on archaeological sites and historic buildings. States and tribes are also responsible for reviewing nominations of sites in the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of properties deemed worthy of preservation.

    However, many states and tribes didn’t have the capacity to adequately tackle the mandates of the 1966 act. So the Historic Preservation Fund was formed a decade later to alleviate these costs by funneling federal resources into these efforts.

    The fund is actually the product of a conservative, limited-government approach.

    Created during Gerald Ford’s administration, it has a revenue-neutral model, meaning that no tax dollars pay for the program. Instead, it’s funded by private lease royalties from the Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas reserves.

    Most of these reserves are located in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Alaska. Private companies that receive a permit to extract from them must agree to a lease with the federal government. Royalties from their oil and gas sales accrue in federally controlled accounts under the terms of these leases. The Office of Natural Resources Revenue then directs 1.5% of the total royalties to the Historic Preservation Fund.

    Congress must continually reauthorize the amount of funding reserved for the Historic Preservation Fund, or it goes unfunded.

    Boston’s Fenway Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012, making it eligible for preservation grants and federal tax incentives.
    Winslow Townson/Getty Images

    Despite bipartisan support, the fund has been threatened in the past. President Ronald Reagan attempted to do exactly what Trump is doing now by making no request for funding at all in his 1983 budget. Yet the fund has nonetheless been reauthorized six times since its inception, with terms ranging from five to 10 years.

    The program is a crucial source of funding, particularly in small towns and rural America, where privately raised cultural heritage funds are harder to come by. It provides grants for the preservation of buildings and geographical areas that hold historical, cultural or spiritual significance in underrepresented communities. And it’s even involved in projects tied to the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, such as the rehabilitation of the home in New Jersey where George Washington was stationed during the winter of 1778-79 and the restoration of Rhode Island’s Old State House.

    Filling financial gaps

    I’ve witnessed the fund’s impact firsthand in small communities across the nation.

    Edwardsville, Illinois, a suburb of St. Louis, is home to the Leclaire Historic District. In the 1970s, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The national designation recognized the historic significance of the district, protecting it against any adverse impacts from federal infrastructure funding. It also made tax credits available to the town. Edwardsville then designated LeClaire a local historic district so that it could legally protect the indelible architectural features of its homes, from original decorative details to the layouts of front porches.

    Despite the designation, however, there was no clear inventory of the hundreds of houses in the district. A few paid staffers and a volunteer citizen commission not only had to review proposed renovations and demolitions, but they also had to figure out which buildings even contributed to LeClaire’s significance and which ones did not – and thus did not need to be tied up in red tape.

    The Allen House is one of approximately 415 single-family homes in the Leclaire neighborhood in Edwardsville, Ill.
    Friends of Leclaire

    Edwardsville was able to secure a grant through the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office thanks to a funding match enabled by money disbursed to Illinois via the Historic Preservation Fund.

    In 2013, my team created an updated inventory of the historic district, making it easier for the local commission to determine which houses should be reviewed carefully and which ones don’t need to be reviewed at all.

    Oil money better than no money

    The historic preservation field, not surprisingly, has come out strongly against Trump’s proposal to defund the Historic Preservation Fund.

    Nonetheless, there have been debates within the field over the fund’s dependence on the fossil fuel industry, which was the trade-off that preservationists made decades ago when they crafted the funding model.

    In the 1970s, amid the national energy crisis, conservation of existing buildings was seen as a worthy ecological goal, since demolition and new construction required fossil fuels. To preservationists, diverting federal carbon royalties seemed like a power play.

    But with the effects of climate change becoming impossible to ignore, some preservationists are starting to more openly critique both the ethics and the wisdom of tapping into a pool of money created through the profits of the oil and gas industry. I’ve recently wondered myself if continued depletion of fossil fuels means that preservationists won’t be able to count on the Historic Preservation Fund as a long-term source of funding.

    That said, you’d be hard-pressed to find a preservationist who thinks that destroying the Historic Preservation Fund would be a good first step in shaping a more visionary policy.

    For now, Trump’s administration has only sown chaos in the field of historic preservation. Already, Ohio has laid off one-third of the staffers in its State Historic Preservation Office due to the impoundment of federal funds. More state preservation offices may follow suit. The National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers predicts that states soon could be unable to perform their federally mandated duties.

    Unfortunately, many people advocating for places important to their towns and neighborhoods may end up learning the hard way just what the Historic Preservation Fund does.

    Michael R. Allen is a member of the Advisor Leadership Team of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

    – ref. Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history – https://theconversation.com/trump-administration-aims-to-slash-funds-that-preserve-the-nations-rich-architectural-and-cultural-history-258889

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Blocking exports and raising tariffs is a bad defense against industrial cyber espionage, study shows

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By William Akoto, Assistant Professor of Global Security, American University

    Cutting off China’s access to advanced U.S. chips is likely to motivate Chinese cyber espionage. kritsapong jieantaratip/iStock via Getty Images

    The United States is trying to decouple its economy from rivals like China. Efforts toward this include policymakers raising tariffs on Chinese goods, blocking exports of advanced technology and offering subsidies to boost American manufacturing. The goal is to reduce reliance on China for critical products in hopes that this will also protect U.S. intellectual property from theft.

    The idea that decoupling will help stem state-sponsored cyber-economic espionage has become a key justification for these measures. For instance, then-U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai framed the continuation of China-specific tariffs as serving the “statutory goal to stop [China’s] harmful … cyber intrusions and cyber theft.” Early tariff rounds during the first Trump administration were likewise framed as forcing Beijing to confront “deeply entrenched” theft of U.S. intellectual property.

    This push to “onshore” key industries is driven by very real concerns. By some estimates, theft of U.S. trade secrets, often through hacking – costs the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars per year. In that light, decoupling is a defensive economic shield – a way to keep vital technology out of an adversary’s reach.

    But will decoupling and cutting trade ties truly make America’s innovations safer from prying eyes? I’m a political scientist who studies state-sponsored cyber espionage, and my research suggests that the answer is a definitive no. Indeed, it might actually have the opposite effect.

    To understand why, it helps to look at what really drives state-sponsored hacking.

    Rivalry, not reliance

    Intuitively, you might think a country is most tempted to steal secrets from a nation it depends on. For example, if Country A must import jet engines or microchips from Country B, Country A might try to hack Country B’s companies to copy that technology and become self-sufficient. This is the industrial dependence theory of cyber theft.

    There is some truth to this motive. If your economy needs what another country produces, stealing that know-how can boost your own industries and reduce reliance. However, in a recent study, I show that a more powerful predictor of cyber espionage is industrial similarity. Countries with overlapping advanced industries such as aerospace, electronics or pharmaceuticals are the ones most likely to target each other with cyberattacks.

    Why would having similar industries spur more spying? The reason is competition. If two nations both specialize in cutting-edge sectors, each has a lot to gain by stealing the other’s innovations.

    If you’re a tech powerhouse, you have valuable secrets worth stealing, and you have the capability and motivation to steal others’ secrets. In essence, simply trading with a rival isn’t the core issue. Rather, it’s the underlying technological rivalry that fuels espionage.

    For example, a cyberattack in 2012 targeted SolarWorld, a U.S. solar panel manufacturer, and the perpetrators stole the company’s trade secrets. Chinese solar companies then developed competing products based on the stolen designs, costing SolarWorld millions in lost revenue. This is a classic example of industrial similarity at work. China was building its own solar industry, so it hacked a U.S. rival to leapfrog in technology.

    China has made major investments in its cyber-espionage capabilities.

    Boosting trade barriers can fan the flames

    Crucially, cutting trade ties doesn’t remove this rivalry. If anything, decoupling might intensify it. When the U.S. and China exchange tariff blows or cut off tech transfers, it doesn’t make China give up – it likely pushes Chinese intelligence agencies to work even harder to steal what they can’t buy.

    This dynamic isn’t unique to China. Any country that suddenly loses access to an important technology may turn to espionage as Plan B.

    History provides examples. When South Africa was isolated by sanctions in the 1980s, it covertly obtained nuclear weapons technology. Similarly, when Israel faced arms embargoes in the 1960s, it engaged in clandestine efforts to get military technology. Isolation can breed desperation, and hacking is a low-cost, high-reward tool for the desperate.

    If decoupling won’t end cyber espionage, what will?

    There’s no easy fix for state-sponsored hacking as long as countries remain locked in high-tech competition. However, there are steps that can mitigate the damage and perhaps dial down the frequency of these attacks.

    One is investing in cyber defense. Just as a homeowner adds locks and alarms after a burglary, companies and governments should continually strengthen their cyber defenses. Assuming that espionage attempts are likely to happen is key. Advanced network monitoring, employee training against phishing, and robust encryption can make it much harder for hackers to succeed, even if they keep trying.

    Another is building resilience and redundancy. If you know that some secrets might get stolen, plan for it. Businesses can shorten product development cycles and innovate faster so that even if a rival copies today’s tech, you’re already moving on to the next generation. Staying ahead of thieves is a form of defense, too.

    Ultimately, rather than viewing tariffs and export bans as silver bullets against espionage, U.S. leaders and industry might be safer focusing on resilience and stress-testing cybersecurity firms. Make it harder for adversaries to steal secrets, and less rewarding even if they do.

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

    – ref. Blocking exports and raising tariffs is a bad defense against industrial cyber espionage, study shows – https://theconversation.com/blocking-exports-and-raising-tariffs-is-a-bad-defense-against-industrial-cyber-espionage-study-shows-258243

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Grover Norquist’s lasting influence on the GOP and US economic policy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gibbs Knotts, Professor of Political Science, Coastal Carolina University

    Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, speaks on Capitol Hill on Nov. 7, 2017. Alex Wong/Getty Images

    In the “one, big, beautiful bill,” President Donald Trump has called for substantial decreases in federal domestic spending. However, a schism emerged between Republican lawmakers during the budget debates in Congress.

    Some Republicans in blue states called for a tax increase for the wealthiest Americans, prompting longtime anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist to call the increase an “incredibly destructive idea economically, and very foolish politically.”

    As he has done since the 1980s, Norquist demonstrated his influence over the GOP. Since Trump’s second inauguration, he has appeared in several high-profile news stories about the budget, including a Washington Post article where he said, “Tax cuts are income to Americans and a loss to the bureaucracy.”

    Ultimately, the tax increase was defeated, and the Trump budget proposal passed the House on May 22, 2025.

    Norquist praised the leadership from Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, saying taxpayers owe them “bigly for managing a narrow Republican House Majority that was united and committed to reducing taxes on the American people.”

    As scholars of U.S. politics, we examined Norquist’s emergence, traced debates about the scope and size of the American government and assessed Norquist’s relevance in the Donald Trump era, where he continues to wield considerable sway in the Republican Party.

    The conscience of a conservative

    In 1960, a slim, 123-page book changed the trajectory of American conservative thought.

    “The Conscience of a Conservative,” written by Barry Goldwater, laid out the premise that an expansive federal bureaucracy was the root evil of government.

    Four years later, Ronald Reagan launched his political career with a speech supporting Goldwater. His words echoed Goldwater: “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size … a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.”

    Reagan ended the speech by noting, “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.” Goldwater wouldn’t manifest that destiny, but Reagan, 16 years later, took this vision of fiscal conservatism to the White House.

    By the 1980s, Goldwater’s limited government creed had become part of Republican dogma. Government wasn’t just bloated, according to Reagan. It was, as he noted, the problem. The Reagan presidency ushered in the doctrine of supply-side economics, which rests on the premise that tax cuts are key to stimulating economic growth.

    Norquist’s emergence

    Into this landscape stepped a young Norquist.

    He had cut his teeth at the National Taxpayer’s Union, a fiscally conservative taxpayer advocacy group. Then, in 1981, he became the executive director of the College Republican National Committee.

    In the first issue of CR Report, a college Republican newsletter, Norquist’s position as executive director was announced, and he provided a list of suggested readings. Among the titles he recommended were Goldwater’s “Conscience,” Milton Friedman’s “Capitalism and Freedom” and Friedrich Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom.”

    In 1985, Norquist founded Americans for Tax Reform to support his tax reduction efforts. As Norquist noted, “The tax issue is one thing everyone agrees on.”

    He and his organization effectively institutionalized a permanent tax revolt in Congress supported by his “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” a promise made starting in 1986 to oppose all efforts to increase marginal tax rates or reduce deductions or credits.

    The pledge became a litmus test for fiscally conservative GOP candidates and cemented the party’s anti-tax stance.

    Feeling this pressure, GOP nominee George H.W. Bush delivered his famous line, “read my lips, no new taxes,” at the 1988 Republican National Convention. Those six words were repeatedly used by primary challenger Pat Buchanan and Bush’s opponent in the general election, Bill Clinton, to raise questions about Bush’s honesty – since he made a pledge that he was unable to keep.

    Newt Gingrich, speaker of the House of Representatives, holds up a copy of the ‘Contract With America’ during a speech on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in April 1995.
    Richard Ellis/AFP via Getty Images

    With Clinton in the White House in 1994, Norquist helped House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich write the “Contract with America” to legislate fiscal conservatism. Weaponizing government shutdowns and setting a more confrontational tone, congressional Republicans successfully rolled back welfare programs, reduced the size of government and cut taxes.

    In 1995, they came two votes shy in the Senate of approving an amendment to the Constitution that would have required the federal budget to be balanced – with no borrowing – every year.

    Anti-tax conservatism in the 21st century

    In 2001, Norquist told a reporter at The Nation: “My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.”

    This objective would have to wait during the George W. Bush presidency. Resulting in part from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration saw dramatic expansions of federal power and spending in homeland security, defense and Medicare, as well as a large increase in the budget deficit.

    The tea party movement, a fiscally conservative political group, was formed in response to these Bush-era increases and two signature programs of the Barack Obama administration: the massive stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and his signature health care reform, the Affordable Care Act.

    Norquist reveled in renewed attention to tax policies and the size of government, urging readers of The Guardian to “join the Tea Party movement.”

    Norquist’s continuing legacy

    For more than four decades, Norquist has been a relentless advocate for fiscal conservatism. He is the living embodiment of an ideological thread that stretches from Goldwater to Reagan to Gingrich to current GOP leadership.

    Grover Norquist waits for the arrival of President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House on March 21, 2019.
    AP Photo/Evan Vucci

    The ongoing debates about the Trump budget are just the latest example of Norquist’s influence. He continues to play an active role in debates about the federal budget and still has considerable sway with Republicans.

    However, Norquist’s uncompromising stance on taxes has coincided with increases in federal spending, surging budget deficits and increased national debt.

    That additional debt is accumulating because many Republicans have adopted his anti-tax position while simultaneously increasing defense budgets, maintaining or expanding entitlement spending and lowering taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

    Nevertheless, Norquist continues to be the fiscal conscience of the Republican Party. Politicians come and go. Powerful ideas, and those who champion them, endure.

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

    – ref. Grover Norquist’s lasting influence on the GOP and US economic policy – https://theconversation.com/grover-norquists-lasting-influence-on-the-gop-and-us-economic-policy-256978

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory F. Treverton, Professor of Practice in International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    Iranians protest the U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Tehran on June 22, 2025. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    The Trump administration’s decision to bomb Iran dramatically marks the now nearly half-century of hostility between the United States and Iran, which began in 1979 with Iran’s takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the taking of 52 diplomatic hostages.

    It remains uncertain whether the Iran-Israel ceasefire will hold, given President Donald Trump’s seemingly impulsive policy decisions and an Israeli leader who critics say pursues war to stay in power.

    Additional unpredictability can be seen in a weakened Iran government that is unpopular with its own people but must also bet that standing up to the U.S. and Israel will induce its people to rally around the flag, even if they don’t like who holds that flag.

    As a U.S. international relations scholar, I think whatever comes next will be well informed by what has already happened in U.S.-Iran history. That includes an offer from Trump – who considers himself the consummate negotiator – to Iran to return to the negotiating table.

    The shah’s last visit to Washington

    The opening bracket in modern U.S.-Iran relations was the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi,“ whom a CIA covert action had restored to leadership a quarter-century earlier.

    As a young National Security Council staffer, I stood on the South Lawn of the White House as the shah’s helicopter landed in 1977 for a state visit to his close ally, the United States.

    The episode was perhaps a metaphor for the two countries’ relationship. I stood next to a colleague who had written for President Jimmy Carter remarks that included fulsome praise of the shah, but his crack to me was: “You’ll recognize the shah. He’s the one with blood under his fingernails.” Beneath a formal alliance, there was a good deal of cynicism on the U.S. part about the shah’s repressive regime and use of secret police to suppress opposition.

    Pro- and anti-shah protesters were demonstrating at the bottom of the Ellipse, the park south of the White House grounds. The U.S. Park Police, understandably but unwisely, sought to separate them with tear gas, which then wafted over the proceedings on the South Lawn.

    The Shah of Iran wipes tear gas from his eyes as President Jimmy Carter speaks on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 15, 1977.
    AP Photo

    The impact of the hostage crisis

    It’s impossible to overstate the effect of the 1979 hostage crisis, when Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding 62 American hostages for 444 days.

    The Carter administration negotiated the Algiers Accords, which led to the release of the hostages in January 1981. There have been persistent accounts, none ever fully validated, that the incoming Reagan administration dealt with Iran to delay the release until after the new president’s inauguration.

    The crisis not only cost Carter his job, but it also cast an enduring shadow over the U.S.-Iran relationship, compounding Americans’ difficulty in understanding a regime that was not only theocratic but Muslim.

    The 1980s witnessed a whipsaw of relations.

    From 1980 to 1988, as Iran and Iraq fought a bloody war to a stalemate, the U.S. saw the power of both countries contained, but it did provide intelligence and logistical support to Iraq.

    Then came the Iran-Contra Affair of 1985 to 1987. It was the Reagan administration’s most serious scandal, in which White House officials illegally sold sanctioned arms to Iran and secretly diverted the proceeds to the Nicaraguan Contras. In a moment straight out of comic opera, National Security Council aides brought a goodwill chocolate cake to Tehran during a secret diplomatic mission in May 1986.

    Unidentified U.S. hostages arrive on Jan. 21, 1981, at Rhein-Main U.S. Air Force base in Frankfurt, West Germany, one day after their release from Iran.
    AP Photo

    In 1988, a U.S. ship struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. retaliated by destroying oil platforms and damaging Iranian ships in “Operation Praying Mantis,” and tragically – and mistakenly – shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing 290 civilians.

    The 1990s and 2000s again displayed the limits of the relationship.

    In 1995, President Bill Clinton imposed an oil and trade embargo against Iran, and Congress passed the Iran–Libya Sanctions Act in 1996, which imposed economic sanctions on companies doing business with Iran and Libya.

    In 1998, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called for a “dialogue of civilizations,” prompting cautious U.S. signals of engagement.

    Then, in 2002, President George W. Bush labeled Iran part of the “axis of evil,” a sharp rhetorical escalation. For its part, Iran alleged U.S. drone incursions and covert operations. Limited diplomatic back channels emerged, but to no outcome.

    In 2009, President Barack Obama reached out to Tehran amid post-election unrest in Iran, but two years later Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil shipments to the West.

    In 2015, the two countries were party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with Iran agreeing to limit its nuclear program under international oversight.

    Two years later, though, President Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed sweeping sanctions in a “maximum pressure” campaign.

    In 2019 and 2020, a series of tit-for-tat escalations culminated in the Jan. 3, 2020, U.S. drone strike that assassinated senior Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on U.S. bases in the region.

    U.S. sanctions continued in the Biden administration as Iran pursued deeper ties with Russia, China and nonstate proxies, especially Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

    What lessons?

    What can be learned from this tangled history?

    First, that negotiations are possible between the two countries, but they are neither easy nor likely to produce more than limited outcomes. Indeed, high-level indirect talks mediated by Oman began in April 2025, though they were in suspension when the U.S. bombers struck.

    Second, despite the Iran regime’s unpopularity, regime change in Iran is unlikely. Assassinating Ayatollah Ali Khameini would likely abet the “rally ‘round the flag” effect, as did the assassination of Soleimani.

    Third, Iran has been careful in its responses even to Israeli aggression but especially in engaging the U.S. in military conflict, a caution the American B-2 bombings on June 21 can only underscore.

    Iran had to retaliate, so the attack on the U.S. base in Qatar came as no surprise. But Iran was careful in retaliating, even notifying the U.S. in advance.

    The dropping of U.S. bombs, followed by Iran’s careful retaliation, was the opportunity for Trump to make an offer Iran couldn’t refuse.

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

    – ref. What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history – https://theconversation.com/what-happens-next-in-us-iran-relations-will-be-informed-by-the-two-countries-shared-history-259607

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President El-Sisi Speaks with Iranian President Pezeshkian


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    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said President El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s absolute rejection of the recent Iranian missile attack targeting the State of Qatar. 

    The President emphasized Egypt’s condemnation of any actions that infringe upon the sovereignty of states, particularly Arab and Islamic countries. 

    President El-Sisi welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, affirming the importance of underpinning and adhering to this agreement, in light of the regional escalation that almost plunged the region into widespread chaos and violence.

    The call also reviewed Egypt’s intensive efforts and contacts over the past days with various concerned parties, mainly the United States, to curb the escalation and restore calm and stability to the region. 

    The call underscored Egypt’s continued endeavors to exert all necessary efforts to solidify the ceasefire agreement.

    The two presidents concurred that the current delicate and sensitive phase necessitates advancing comprehensive political solutions and adopting approaches that consider the various dimensions related to regional security. 

    Both Presidents also reiterated the significance of resuming negotiations on the nuclear program between Washington and Tehran and the indispensability to address concerns related to nuclear non-proliferation, in addition to advocating the establishment of a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone.

    The Iranian president expressed his gratitude and appreciation to President El-Sisi, valuing Egypt’s wise and supportive stances for restoring stability in the region, and the efforts to prevent bloodshed among all parties.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Boakai Declares Thursday, June 26, As “International Drugs Day”


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    The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has by Proclamation declared Thursday, June 26, 2025, as “International Drugs Day” and is to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday. The Proclamation calls on all citizens; government ministries and agencies as well as international organizations concerned to join the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in executing appropriate programs befitting the occasion. According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and its illicit trafficking will be observed under the global theme:  “The Evidence is clear, invest in Prevention. Slogan. Break the Circle. Stop Organized Crime”. Drug abuse and its illicit trafficking have posed major problems to the human race and millions of people worldwide continue to be affected directly and indirectly.

     The Proclamation is in consonance with an Act of National Legislature which was adopted in 1999, creating the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) with the authority to combat the importation, illicit trafficking and use of dangerous drugs. The observance of the day is intended to create awareness of the devastating effects of illicit drugs on individuals and families and to mobilize communities and other stakeholders against the use of such substances. On December 7, 1987, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 42/112, which set aside the 26th day of June of each year as International Day Against Illicit Trafficking of Drugs and other Substances of Abuse to be celebrated worldwide. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Liberia Observes International Women in Diplomacy Day


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    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with UN Women Liberia, proudly commemorated International Women in Diplomacy Day at the historic Cecil C. Dennis Jr. Auditorium, bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in diplomacy and foreign service. This year’s observance was held under Liberia’s national theme, “Accelerate Action,” underscoring the urgent need to fast-track efforts toward achieving gender equality and empowering women globally. The event provided a platform to honor trailblazing women, reflect on progress, and renew commitments to advancing women’s roles in international relations and decision-making spaces. In a message delivered on behalf of H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister Cllr. Deweh E. Gray paid tribute to iconic Liberian women who have shaped the nation’s diplomatic and governance landscape. Among those honored were Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected female president; Angie Brooks Randolph, the first African woman to preside over the United Nations General Assembly; and Nobel Peace Laureate Madam Leymah R. Gbowee, all recognized as pioneers and beacons of peace, leadership, and gender inclusion.

    Cllr. Gray highlighted key national initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s participation in diplomacy and peacebuilding, including the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. She emphasized that Liberian women are not only contributors to peace processes but are increasingly leading them affirming the country’s growing commitment to gender-responsive governance. She reflected on Liberia’s historic role as a champion of African sovereignty and global diplomacy, recalling the country’s early establishment of diplomatic relations with major powers as part of its longstanding advocacy for African self-determination. “Liberia has always been a symbol of hope and agency on the international stage,” she noted, urging continued leadership by women in diplomacy to shape a more inclusive and equitable world.

    The Deputy Minister challenged women across all sectors to unite across borders, cultures, and professions to create a future where women can dream, achieve, and lead. She called for collective action to advance gender-sensitive policies and to mentor and support emerging generations of women leaders. The event featured a high-level panel discussion under the theme, “From Resolution to Reality,” during which seasoned diplomats and emerging professionals shared their personal journeys, experiences, challenges, and successes in diplomatic service. The dialogue offered valuable insights into translating international commitments on gender equality into tangible outcomes. The celebration drew participants from across the Liberian government, civil society, academia, diplomatic missions, and international development partners demonstrating strong, multi-sectoral support for advancing the role of women in diplomacy. As Liberia continues to build on its legacy of women’s leadership, the 2025 International Women in Diplomacy celebration served as a resounding reminder of the nation’s unwavering commitment to gender equality, empowerment, and inclusive global governance.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Meets Representatives of Chinese Business Community and Investors on Sidelines World Economic Forum (WEF) Meetings in Tianjin


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    H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, held an expanded meeting with a number of leaders and representatives of the Chinese business community, with the participation of Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade.

    The meeting took place during her participation in the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Tianjin, China, and included several CEOs from Chinese companies in the automotive, pharmaceutical, financial, and digital transformation sectors, among others.

    During the meeting, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat emphasized the deep and distinguished Egyptian-Chinese relations, which span decades of close cooperation based on mutual respect and common interests. She noted that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, launched in 2014, represents a successful model for South-South cooperation and contributes to achieving mutual development.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that in recent years, the Egyptian state has adopted an ambitious program of economic and structural reform aimed at enhancing the investment environment, stimulating private sector participation, and developing infrastructure. This creates promising opportunities for joint investment in priority sectors such as industry, renewable energy, telecommunications, technological infrastructure, and logistics.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that China is a key partner in this vision, as economic relations between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development, both in terms of trade volume and direct investments. She highlighted the unique investment opportunities Egypt offers, based on its distinguished geographical location, a network of free trade agreements, and legislative frameworks that support business growth.

    H.E. Minister Al-Mashat added that the Egyptian government seeks to strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies and institutions wishing to expand into the Egyptian market, especially within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030, which includes targets related to sustainable growth, green transformation, and the localization of strategic industries.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed that the government is working to consolidate macroeconomic stability and preserve development gains to deal with successive regional and international challenges. She noted that the state continues to implement a comprehensive program of economic and structural reforms aimed at enhancing the economy’s resilience, improving the business climate, and expanding the growth base led by the private sector. She mentioned that these reforms, along with continuous investments in infrastructure and legislative modernization, make Egypt an attractive and growing destination for foreign direct investment.

    At the conclusion of the meeting, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat invited the Chinese business community to take advantage of cooperation opportunities with Egypt as a gateway to African, Middle Eastern, and European markets. She stressed the state’s commitment to providing all means of support to serious investors and building long-term partnerships that contribute to achieving common interests and balanced development.

    It is worth noting that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, in its role of developing and strengthening economic relations with development partners, is working to advance relations on various levels with the Chinese side, particularly in the field of exchanging expertise and technology and enhancing scientific research. The Chinese side contributes to supporting and developing Egyptian expertise in the field of satellite assembly and testing, and training Egyptian cadres.

    In 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding for the Global Development Initiative (GDI) was signed during Dr. Rania Al-Mashat’s visit to China. This MoU lays the foundation for a new phase of joint work with the Chinese side. Through this, an integrated strategy for development cooperation between Egypt and China for 3-5 years will be formulated for the first time in light of the joint relations between the two countries. The two countries also signed their first MoU for debt-for-development swap, which the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation is working to activate.

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Abubakirov is the best graduate of the Polytechnic University of 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On June 25, a ceremony dedicated to honoring the best graduates of St. Petersburg universities in 2025 was held in the Atrium of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The Polytechnic University was represented by Alexander Abubakirov, a graduate of the Institute of Power Engineering’s Master’s program.

    The event was organized by the Committee for Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations, as well as the Council of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Representatives of the Government of St. Petersburg, university rectors, heads of military academies and schools, heads of student government bodies, students and graduates took part in the ceremony.

    Our city provides great opportunities to get a good education, a wonderful profession and work for the prosperity of St. Petersburg. I thank you for your active life position, as well as the teachers who loved you, taught you, helped you in everything and guided you, – Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Natalia Chechina addressed the graduates.

    This year, 60 of the best graduates were recognized for their outstanding results in their studies, scientific work and public life, as well as for their demonstrated activity and leadership skills. Natalia Chechina and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Rectors of Universities of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, Rector of the St. Petersburg State Chemical-Pharmaceutical University Igor Narkevich solemnly presented them with letters of gratitude from the Governor of St. Petersburg and bronze statuettes in the form of sphinxes, symbolizing wisdom, intelligence and fortitude.

    The ceremony was eventful: artists and musicians created a festive mood, and honored guests delivered welcoming speeches. The culmination of the event was the traditional midday cannon shot from the Naryshkin Bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress in honor of the most talented, goal-oriented and ambitious young people.

    The best graduate of the Polytechnic University, Alexander Abubakirov, studied in the direction of “Electric Power Engineering and Electrical Engineering” at the Institute of Power Engineering, and received the SPbPU badge “Excellent Student” for his achievements. His first meeting with his alma mater took place during his school years, when Alexander attended a lecture on physics.

    The university impressed me with its architecture, scale and great historical heritage. I dreamed of studying at the Polytechnic University and tried to represent it in the best possible way year after year. It is one of the strongest technical universities in Russia, where the famous engineering special forces are trained. It is very unexpected and extremely pleasant to become the best graduate of 2025. It is a great honor for me to represent my home university at the ceremony, considering how many highly qualified specialists the Polytechnic University graduates every year, – said Alexander Abubakirov.

    Alexander is a recipient of the Russian Presidential Scholarship in priority areas of training, gold medalist of the All-Russian student Olympiad “I am a professional” in electric power engineering, Winner of the Sistema scholarship programHe actively participates in professional and scientific competitions, olympiads, became a prize-winner of the All-Russian Olympiad on Electric Power Systems, “Energoforum”, Olympiad on Theoretical Foundations of Electrical Engineering. Alexander devoted his master’s research to the verification of models of electric power systems using transient mode monitoring data and neural network training.

    Alexander’s parents and his girlfriend were present at the ceremony.

    My son always wanted to succeed in life, he loved to dream of big victories. Sasha always thought only about the Polytechnic University, since the teachers here traditionally educate the best of the best. Everything worked out! I know how much effort and diligence he put in. And now my son is the best graduate of 2025. I am very proud of him, and I am happy, – shared Irina Abubakirova.

    After completing his studies, Alexander plans to enroll in graduate school at the Polytechnic University and continue working in the electric power industry.

    We congratulate Alexander on the completion of an important stage in his life – successful graduation from the university. This day marks the beginning of a new, independent life, full of opportunities and prospects. We wish him to remain faithful to the high ideals that were formed during his student years, not to lose his thirst for knowledge and desire for self-improvement. Let the knowledge obtained at our Polytechnic University become a solid foundation for further professional achievements and personal growth, – congratulated the best graduate Vice-Rector for Educational Activities of SPbPU Lyudmila Pankova.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Trident and Democratic Republic of Congo Sign Final Digital Identity Partnership and Launch Nationwide “DRCPass” Deployment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE and KINSHASA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd. (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a Singapore-based catalyst for digital transformation and Web 3.0 activation, today announced that it has signed the definitive public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC” or “Republic”). The contract paves the way for nationwide deployment of “DRCPass,” the Republic’s robust national digital identification system, to be rolled out in phases with an accompanying public-education campaign.

    The agreement represents the capstone of the collaboration framework established in December 2024 between Trident and the Office of the President, forming the cornerstone of the DRC’s e-government and digital-identity initiative. Under the accord, Trident is the Republic’s exclusive provider of electronic Know Your Customer (“e-KYC”) services, delivering the Web 3.0-based national digital identity.

    Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Trident, and H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the signing event.

    e-KYC technology streamlines identity verification for organizations while enhancing security. Trident’s deployment will focus on four core use cases:

    1.  SIM-card registration: biometric-blockchain binding of the SIM to a verified citizen record, eradicating “ghost” lines and cutting operator-fraud losses and regulatory fines in real time.

    2.  Seamless access to e-government and business portals: with single-sign-on (SSO), Congolese can access and conduct transactions easily with public and private institutions through one log-in.

    3.  Digital payments enablement: one-click e-KYC that auto-scores risk and unlocks instant credit, driving formal financial access beyond the siloed, branch-first systems in use today.

    4.  Digital Citizen Identity: centralized and secure identity record that complements physical IDs, giving Congolese a verifiable digital credential for public and private-sector transactions.

    After registering for their national ID, citizens will be able to download the “Tridentity” mobile application and enroll their DRCPass, which uses secure single-sign-on (SSO) to access authorized applications and websites.

    “Over the past several months our teams have worked hand-in-hand with the DRC government to prepare for this moment. We commend the Republic’s leadership for embracing a digital future and look forward to supporting a nationwide rollout that others in Africa will surely emulate,” said Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trident.

    “Today marks more than the signing of a partnership contract with Trident Digital Tech; it marks a defining chapter in the digital rebirth of our nation. By launching the national digital identification system, we lay a cornerstone for a Democratic Republic of Congo that is digitally sovereign, financially inclusive, and resilient to tomorrow’s challenges. As we begin phased deployment of DRCPass, we are not merely adopting innovation; we are shaping the future of governance in Africa,” said H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs of the DRC.

    According to GSMA Intelligence, the DRC has more than 80 million mobile subscribers and an expanding base of banked citizens populations that will directly benefit from secure e-KYC services.

    About Trident
    Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization and Web 3.0 activation. Its flagship product, Tridentity, is a blockchain-based identity platform that is designed to deliver secure single-sign-on authentication across diverse industries. Trident’s mission is to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, connecting organizations to reliable and secure digital infrastructure with optimized user experiences, with a strong focus on Southern Africa and other high-growth markets.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in announcements and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the national digital identification system and the e-KYC process will not materialize as contemplated under the PPP agreement. A number of factors could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the risk and uncertainties as to the timing of the implementation of the agreement; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships; adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; and actions by third parties, including government agencies; the Company’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the digital solutions market; the political, economic, social and legal developments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates in or in which the Company intends to expand its business and operations; the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Robin Yang, Partner – ICR LLC
    investor@tridentity.me | +1 (212) 321-0602

    Media Relations
    Brad Burgess, SVP – ICR LLC
    brad.burgess@icrinc.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8672d8e2-07e1-4248-9dc8-3cae467061a5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trident and Democratic Republic of Congo Sign Final Digital Identity Partnership and Launch Nationwide “DRCPass” Deployment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE and KINSHASA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd. (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a Singapore-based catalyst for digital transformation and Web 3.0 activation, today announced that it has signed the definitive public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC” or “Republic”). The contract paves the way for nationwide deployment of “DRCPass,” the Republic’s robust national digital identification system, to be rolled out in phases with an accompanying public-education campaign.

    The agreement represents the capstone of the collaboration framework established in December 2024 between Trident and the Office of the President, forming the cornerstone of the DRC’s e-government and digital-identity initiative. Under the accord, Trident is the Republic’s exclusive provider of electronic Know Your Customer (“e-KYC”) services, delivering the Web 3.0-based national digital identity.

    Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Trident, and H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the signing event.

    e-KYC technology streamlines identity verification for organizations while enhancing security. Trident’s deployment will focus on four core use cases:

    1.  SIM-card registration: biometric-blockchain binding of the SIM to a verified citizen record, eradicating “ghost” lines and cutting operator-fraud losses and regulatory fines in real time.

    2.  Seamless access to e-government and business portals: with single-sign-on (SSO), Congolese can access and conduct transactions easily with public and private institutions through one log-in.

    3.  Digital payments enablement: one-click e-KYC that auto-scores risk and unlocks instant credit, driving formal financial access beyond the siloed, branch-first systems in use today.

    4.  Digital Citizen Identity: centralized and secure identity record that complements physical IDs, giving Congolese a verifiable digital credential for public and private-sector transactions.

    After registering for their national ID, citizens will be able to download the “Tridentity” mobile application and enroll their DRCPass, which uses secure single-sign-on (SSO) to access authorized applications and websites.

    “Over the past several months our teams have worked hand-in-hand with the DRC government to prepare for this moment. We commend the Republic’s leadership for embracing a digital future and look forward to supporting a nationwide rollout that others in Africa will surely emulate,” said Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trident.

    “Today marks more than the signing of a partnership contract with Trident Digital Tech; it marks a defining chapter in the digital rebirth of our nation. By launching the national digital identification system, we lay a cornerstone for a Democratic Republic of Congo that is digitally sovereign, financially inclusive, and resilient to tomorrow’s challenges. As we begin phased deployment of DRCPass, we are not merely adopting innovation; we are shaping the future of governance in Africa,” said H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs of the DRC.

    According to GSMA Intelligence, the DRC has more than 80 million mobile subscribers and an expanding base of banked citizens populations that will directly benefit from secure e-KYC services.

    About Trident
    Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization and Web 3.0 activation. Its flagship product, Tridentity, is a blockchain-based identity platform that is designed to deliver secure single-sign-on authentication across diverse industries. Trident’s mission is to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, connecting organizations to reliable and secure digital infrastructure with optimized user experiences, with a strong focus on Southern Africa and other high-growth markets.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in announcements and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the national digital identification system and the e-KYC process will not materialize as contemplated under the PPP agreement. A number of factors could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the risk and uncertainties as to the timing of the implementation of the agreement; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships; adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; and actions by third parties, including government agencies; the Company’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the digital solutions market; the political, economic, social and legal developments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates in or in which the Company intends to expand its business and operations; the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor & Media Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Robin Yang, Partner – ICR LLC
    investor@tridentity.me | +1 (212) 321-0602

    Media Relations
    Brad Burgess, SVP – ICR LLC
    brad.burgess@icrinc.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8672d8e2-07e1-4248-9dc8-3cae467061a5

    The MIL Network –