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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Beyer Push for Answers Regarding Trump Admin Plans to Displace National Science Foundation in Alexandria

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today demanded answers from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) after the Trump administration announced that it plans to displace the National Science Foundation (NSF) – located in Alexandria – in order to relocate the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is currently located in Washington, D.C.
    “The Commonwealth of Virginia has the workforce, infrastructure, and resources to serve as home for any federal agency including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); however, the decision to bring HUD to Virginia should not come at the expense of roughly 1,800 NSF employees already being housed at the proposed site for the new HUD headquarters. This decision seems to have been made without meaningful consultation of all impacted stakeholders and shows a lack of regard for NSF, its mission, and its workforce,” wrote the lawmakers.
    “The National Science Foundation was established by Congress in 1950 to ensure the United States’ global leadership in innovation by supporting basic research and education through competitive awards and partnerships. Since its founding, NSF has received bipartisan support for its mission advancing U.S. technological competitiveness, strategic capabilities, and national security,” they continued. “The Alexandria headquarters was designed with the specifications and technology necessary for NSF to promote American science and national security. Given HUD’s sudden announcement that it will be moving into the building, roughly 1,800 NSF employees – many of whom are Virginia residents – are now displaced with no information regarding the future of their work.”
    In the letter, the lawmakers also requested detailed answers and subsequent documentation by July 11 to a series of question regarding the GSA’s decision-making process, projected costs, and the extent of its communication and coordination with NSF and HUD. They also requested more information about plans to accommodate the affected NSF employees who do critical work on behalf of the nation.
    A copy of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Acting Administrator Ehikian:
    We write to express our serious concern regarding the recent announcement that the National Science Foundation (NSF) will be displaced from its current headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia has the workforce, infrastructure, and resources to serve as home for any federal agency including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); however, the decision to bring HUD to Virginia should not come at the expense of roughly 1,800 NSF employees already being housed at the proposed site for the new HUD headquarters. This decision seems to have been made without meaningful consultation of all impacted stakeholders and shows a lack of regard for NSF, its mission, and its workforce. To that end, we are requesting information on the General Services Administration’s (GSA) process for approving the move, and on plans for the roughly 1,800 NSF employees who currently work in NSF’s Alexandria headquarters.
    The National Science Foundation was established by Congress in 1950 to ensure the United States’ global leadership in innovation by supporting basic research and education through competitive awards and partnerships. Since its founding, NSF has received bipartisan support for its mission advancing U.S. technological competitiveness, strategic capabilities, and national security. For example, in 2022, Congress passed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which doubled NSF’s budget over five years, strengthened fundamental research and security, and created the Technology, Innovation and Partnerships directorate – NSF’s first new directorate in over 30 years.
    In 2017, the National Science Foundation moved its headquarters from Ballston, Virginia to its current location in Alexandria, Virginia. The Alexandria headquarters was designed with the specifications and technology necessary for NSF to promote American science and national security. Given HUD’s sudden announcement that it will be moving into the building, roughly 1,800 NSF employees – many of whom are Virginia residents – are now displaced with no information regarding the future of their work.
    As such, we respectfully request that you respond to this letter with detailed answers, accompanied by documentation sufficient to substantiate those answers, to the following questions by July 11, 2025:
    When did GSA begin its assessment of “utilization of space and occupancy” at NSF headquarters?
    Describe the process used to determine that NSF was not “fully” utilizing its office space.
    When was the final determination made that NSF was not “fully” utilizing its office space?
    Was NSF consulted during GSA’s assessment?
    If so, list the officials at NSF who were consulted, and the means by which their input was collected.
    When was HUD made aware that it would be moving into NSF’s headquarters?
    Was HUD consulted during GSA’s assessment?
    If so, list the officials at HUD who were consulted, and the means by which their input was collected.
    On what date will NSF employees be required to leave their offices and vacate the building?
    Have locations been identified for NSF employees to work if they are removed from their offices?
    Provide information on the locations where NSF employees will work if they are removed from their offices.
    Has there been any assessment of how the moves could affect the respective workforces of NSF and HUD?
    If so, describe the plans for continuity of workforce at both NSF and HUD resulting from this move.
    Has there been any assessment of how the moves could affect critical functions of HUD and NSF, including HUD loans and NSF grant reviews?
    If so, describe the plans for continuity of services for constituents at both NSF and HUD resulting from this move.
    Provide any cost estimates prepared for and used to determine the cost of moving both NSF and HUD workforces.
    Describe any modifications necessary, contemplated, or planned to be made to the current NSF headquarters building needed to accommodate the HUD Secretary and workforce.
    Describe the process by which GSA is identifying a new headquarters for NSF.
    What is the timeline for any planned move to a new NSF headquarters?
    What measures are being taken to secure American’s personally identifiable information (PII) at NSF and HUD during the transition?
    We appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this matter and look forward to your response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell & Colleagues Demand Answers from SBA Administrator Loeffler and Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Gutting Support for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    06.27.25
    Cantwell & Colleagues Demand Answers from SBA Administrator Loeffler and Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Gutting Support for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
    “A failure to support small businesses, including minority-owned small businesses, will be a detriment to the entire American economy.”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate colleagues in demanding answers from Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on the Trump Administration’s actions eliminating support for small businesses, including small minority-owned businesses.
    In March, President Trump issued an executive order directing the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and several other agencies to reduce their functions to the minimum amount required by law. The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposes to abolish the MBDA and the Trump Administration seeks to eliminate the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Women’s Business Centers and funding for SCORE, which provides mentorship and resources to small businesses, among other programs.
    These actions are already being felt across the country. For example, the MBDA Business Center in Tacoma, Washington has been forced to close after receiving a notice that its MBDA grant was terminated. Since receiving a $2 million MBDA grant in July 2021, the Center has helped minority-owned businesses create and retain 1,495 jobs, obtain $190.8 million in contracts, and obtain $216.9 million in financing. 
    “We demand answers from the Administration about how it intends to properly serve small business entrepreneurs from minority and underserved communities and follow Federal laws establishing support for such entrepreneurs,” wrote the Senators. “A failure to support small businesses, including minority-owned small businesses, will be a detriment to the entire American economy.”
    “The Administration actions to eliminate the MBDA is part of an overall attack on federal support to business owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals,” the Senators continued. “Federal agencies have several small business contracting goals, including for small businesses generally, Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs), and women-owned and veteran-owned small businesses.”
    Instead of expanding opportunities for more small businesses to grow and thrive, President Trump’s shortsighted actions are throwing cold water on entrepreneurship and job creation. 
    “Undermining and dismantling targeted federal programs that recognize the historic challenges faced by minority business owners will ultimately hurt local communities and weaken the U.S. economy,” concluded the Senators.
    Sen. Cantwell has been a staunch defender of the MBDA against the Trump Administration’s attempts to illegally dismantle the agency, including demanding answers about compliance with a court order halting the dismantling of the MBDA, demanding Commerce Secretary Lutnick  provide a full accounting of his actions to shutter the MBDA, and calling on the Secretary to honor his previous commitment to protect the MBDA and its mission.
    Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) also signed the letter. 
    The full text of the letter to Administrator Loeffler and Secretary Lutnick is below and HERE.
    Dear Administrator Loeffler and Secretary Lutnick,
    The Trump administration is undoing decades of progress supporting minority small business owners, including the attempt to dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), undermine small business contracting programs, and cut targeted resources and services. We demand answers from the Administration about how it intends to properly serve small business entrepreneurs from minority and underserved communities and follow Federal laws establishing support for such entrepreneurs. A failure to support small businesses, including minority-owned small businesses, will be a detriment to the entire American economy.
    In 1969, President Nixon created the MBDA to help minority business owners succeed. In 2021, Congress permanently authorized the MBDA, with overwhelming bipartisan support. One of the MBDA’s core functions, as defined in the Minority Business Development Act,[1] is operating a network of Business Centers through public-private partnerships. These Business Centers assist minority-owned businesses with accessing capital, contracts, and counseling, ultimately to facilitate their growth and create jobs. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the MBDA helped minority-owned businesses create or retain more than 23,000 jobs, secure almost $2.7 billion in contracts, and receive in excess of $1.5 billion in capital.[2]
    On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing the MBDA and several other agencies to reduce their functions to the minimum amount required by law.[3] On April 10, 2025, nearly every MBDA employee was let go or reassigned. The cancellation of all MBDA grants and Business Center contracts soon followed. Termination letters sent to MBDA grantees and Business Centers—and subsequently rescinded after the Rhode Island Federal District Court issued a preliminary injunction halting the executive order’s implementation—claimed their grants or contracts were no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities. But Congress, not the Trump administration, authorized the MBDA and established its purposes when it passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021.[4] Oversight letters from Democratic members of the Senate Commerce Committee regarding the Administration’s actions have gone unanswered.
    The Administration actions to eliminate the MBDA is part of an overall attack on federal support to business owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. Federal agencies have several small business contracting goals, including for small businesses generally, Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs), and women-owned and veteran-owned small businesses. Each federal agency with procurement authority has an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) to promote the use of small businesses to fulfill agency contracts. Small business goals and OSDBUs work in tandem to ensure that small businesses, not just large firms, benefit from the largest buyer of goods and services in the world, the U.S. government.
    In January 2025, the SBA lowered to 5 percent the goal of increasing the share of federal contracting dollars going to SDBs, a stark contrast to the Biden administration, which raised the SDB goal to 15 percent.[5] The Administration also appears to be undermining OSDBUs; according to reports, the Department of Health and Human Services, the fourth largest grantor of federal contracting dollars,[6] fired all OSDBU staff except one at the agency.[7]
    The President’s FY 2026 proposed budget doubles down on these actions by entirely eliminating several statutorily authorized and bipartisan entrepreneurial development programs, in addition to the MBDA. The President’s budget also proposes cutting Women’s Business Centers, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), technical assistance for the Microloan program, and more. The Administration justifies these cuts by stating the previous administration awarded “billions in funding to certain businesses solely based on race and gender.”[8] Although some of these programs target specific resources to certain communities, the vast majority of these programs serve all Americans.
    The Trump administration’s war on targeted federal programs is already hurting minority and underserved small businesses. The New York Times found that the Administration’s contract cancellations have disproportionately impacted minority- and women-owned small businesses while largely ignoring the largest federal contracts. As of March 2025, 19 percent of cancelled contracts listed on the DOGE website are for minority-owned businesses and 11 percent are women-owned businesses, despite representing just 10 percent and 5 percent of federal contracts, respectively.[9]
    Bloomberg reported that SBA employees are uncertain whether they can attend meetings with the Hmong Chamber of Commerce or Latino business associations, and some SBA employees are being directed to withhold annual small business awards that were supposed to go to minority entrepreneurs.[10]
    These actions are unacceptable and harm the American economy. Minority-owned businesses employ millions of Americans and generate more than $2 trillion in annual revenue.[11] In the contracting space, the importance of a fully inclusive supplier base has also been well-documented,[12] including in the manufacturing industry.[13] Rather than strengthening support for minority-owned firms, President Trump has instead dismantled the MBDA, lowered contracting goals for SDBs, undermined OSDBUs, and proposed eliminating various entrepreneurial development programs. Undermining and dismantling targeted federal programs that recognize the historic challenges faced by minority business owners will ultimately hurt local communities and weaken the U.S. economy.
    We request answers from the Administration in writing on the following questions by July 10, 2025:
    Please explain how the Department of Commerce plans to utilize congressionally appropriated MBDA funds in accordance with statutory requirements.
    The MBDA Business Centers program is statutorily authorized under 15 U.S.C. § 9523. Please explain how decisions to fire staff who service the program and cancel Business Center contracts were made.
    Please detail how the Trump administration plans to meet the existing SDB contracting goal. Will the SBA commit to advocating for the full staffing and resourcing of OSDBUs to ensure all small business contracting goals are met or exceeded? If not, why not?
    Please detail the specific reasons for the President’s request to eliminate “15 specialized and duplicative programs,”[14] including the Women’s Business Center Program, SCORE, the State Trade Expansion Program, Native American outreach, technical assistance for the Microloan program, Growth Accelerators, and Regional Innovation Clusters.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bonamici Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Tsunami Detection, Forecasting, Warnings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

    WASHINGTON, DC [06/27/25] – This week Representative Suzanne Bonamici introduced bipartisan legislation to improve tsunami detection, forecasting, warning coordination, and community mitigation programs.

    The Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Act of 2025 expands tsunami research and updates crucial warning and detection technology. It improves response and resiliency efforts to better protect, educate, and equip communities vulnerable to tsunamis. This bipartisan bill reauthorizes and modernizes the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s National Tsunami Warning program, which expired in 2023.  

    “Tsunami can devastate a coastline in minutes, taking lives, destroying homes, crushing critical infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “More than five million Americans live in coastal communities vulnerable to tsunamis, including thousands in Oregon. These disasters can’t be prevented, so lives depend on our ability to detect, prepare for, and respond to them. We must update our critical tsunami warning systems and invest in research to make coastal communities safer.”

    Updating the National Tsunami Warning Program will continue to protect lives, advance scientific innovation, and provide communities with the tools they need to prepare for and recover from tsunamis through 2030. The Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Act of 2025 would:

    • Enhance interagency and international coordination for tsunami alerts and response, including by integrating U.S. Geological Survey earthquake data with tsunami research.
    • Streamline and modernize the Tsunami Warning System and expand the use of emergency alert tools, including the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
    • Strengthen community hazard mitigation programs, including updated digital elevation models and behavioral science integration.
    • Require the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administrationto develop and update a tsunami research and development plan every three years.
    • Authorize $32 million annually, with targeted funding for state-level mitigation and research.

    Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) is an original cosponsor.

    A summary of the legislation can be found here, and the text of the legislation can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier chairs meeting on technological advancement, public services

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

    BEIJING, June 27 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday presided over a State Council executive meeting during which attendees were briefed on the progress of initiatives proposed at the National Science and Technology Conference. The meeting also unveiled measures to improve the efficiency of public services.

    Since the National Science and Technology Conference was held a year ago, relevant authorities and local governments have made solid efforts to implement tasks related to sci-tech reform and development, achieving remarkable progress in enhancing China’s technological prowess, according to the executive meeting.

    For the next stages, the meeting emphasized the need to accelerate breakthroughs in core technologies, translate technological achievements into productivity, and consolidate the role of enterprises in pioneering innovation.

    On public services, the meeting called for the integration of banking, health care and telecommunication services. It also urged the broader application of digital technology to establish a unified national platform for administrative services.

    It also reviewed and approved a draft regulation on rural road development. It was decided that the high-quality development of rural roads should remain a key priority, while roads that do not currently meet relevant standards should be updated as soon as possible.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: RFK Junior is stoking fears about vaccine safety. Here’s why he’s wrong – and the impact it could have

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Leask, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney

    The United States used to be a leader in vaccine research, development and policymaking. Now US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr is undermining the country’s vaccine program at the highest level and supercharging vaccine skepticism.

    Two weeks ago, RFK Jr sacked the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices responsible for reviewing the latest scientific evidence on vaccines. RFK Jr alleged conflicts of interest and hand-picked a replacement panel.

    On Wednesday, RFK Jr announced the US would stop funding the global vaccine alliance, Gavi, because he claimed that “when the science was inconvenient today, Gavi ignored the science”. RFK Jr questioned the safety of COVID vaccines for pregnant women, as well as the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.

    On Thursday, when the new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met, the person who first drew RFK Jr into vaccine scepticism, Lyn Redwood, shared disproved claims about a chemical called thimerosal in flu vaccines being harmful.

    The undermining of regulation, advisory processes and funding changes will have global impacts, as debunked claims are given new levels of apparent legitimacy. Some of these impacts will be slow and insidious.

    So what should we make of these latest claims and funding cuts?

    Thiomersal is a distraction

    Thiomersal (thimerosal in the the US) is a safe and effective preservative that prevents bacterial and fungal contamination of the vaccine contained in a multi-dose vial. It’s a salt that contains a tiny amount of mercury in a safe form.

    Thiomersal is no longer used as a preservative in any vaccines routinely given in Australia. But it’s still used in the Q fever vaccine.

    Other countries use multi-dose vials with thiomersal when single-dose vials are too expensive.

    In the US, just 4% of adult influenza vaccines contain thiomersal. So focusing on removing vaccines containing thimerosal is a distraction for the committee.

    COVID vaccines in pregnancy prevent severe illness

    On Wednesday, RFK criticised Gavi’s encouragement of pregnant women to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

    A COVID-19 infection before and during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage two- to four-fold, even if it’s only a mild infection.

    Conversely, there is good evidence vaccination during pregnancy is safe and can reduce the chance of hospitalisation of pregnant people and of infants by passing antibodies through the placenta.

    In Australia, pregnant people who have never received a primary COVID-19 vaccine are recommended to have one. However, they are not generally recommended to have booster unless they have underlying risk conditions or prefer to have one. This is due to population immunity.

    COVID-19 vaccine advice should adapt to changes in disease risk and vaccine benefit. It doesn’t mean previous decisions were wrong, nor that vaccine boosters are unsafe.

    RFK’s criticism of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy may influence choices individuals make in other countries, even when unvaccinated pregnant women are encouraged to consider vaccination.

    The diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine is safe

    RFK Jr also questioned the safety of the combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine as he announced the withdrawal of US funding support for Gavi.

    In the early 2000s, three community-based observational studies reported a possible association between increased chance of death in infants and use of the DTP vaccine.

    A few subsequent studies also reported associations, with higher risk in girls, prompting a World Health Organization (WHO) review of safety.

    Real world studies are complicated and the data can be difficult to interpret correctly. Often, the very factors that influence whether someone gets vaccinated can also be associated with other health risks.

    When the WHO committee reviewed all the studies on DTP safety in 2014, it did not indicate serious adverse events. It concluded there was substantial evidence against these claims.

    What will de-funding Gavi mean for vaccination rates?

    Gavi, the vaccine alliance, supports vaccine purchasing in low-income countries.

    The US has historically accounted for 13% of all donor funds.

    However, RFK Jr said Gavi needed to re-earn the public trust and “consider the best science available” before the US would contribute funding again.

    Gavi predicted in March that the impact of US funding cuts could result in one million deaths through missed vaccines.

    Could something like this happen in Australia?

    Australia is fortunate to be buffered from these impacts.

    Our vaccine advisory body, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, has people with deep expertise in vaccination. We have robust decision processes that weigh evidence critically and make careful recommendations to government.

    Our governments remain committed to vaccination. The federal government released the National Immunisation Strategy in mid-June with a comprehensive plan to continue to strengthen our program.

    The federal government also announced A$386 million to support the work of Gavi from 2026 to 2030.

    All of this keeps our vaccine policies strong, preventing disease and increasing life expectancy here and overseas.

    But to mitigate the possible influence of the US in Australia, our governments, health professionals and the public need to be ready to rapidly tackle the misinformation, distortions and half-truths RFK Jr cleverly packages – with quality information.

    Julie Leask receives research funding from NHMRC, WHO, US CDC, NSW Ministry of Health. She received funding from Sanofi for travel to an overseas meeting in 2024. She has consulting fees from RTI International and the Task Force for Global Health.

    Catherine Bennett has received honoraria for contributing to independent advisory panels for Moderna and AstraZeneca, and has received NHMRC, VicHealth and MRFF funding for unrelated projects. She was the health lead on the Independent Inquiry into the Australian Government COVID-19 Response .

    – ref. RFK Junior is stoking fears about vaccine safety. Here’s why he’s wrong – and the impact it could have – https://theconversation.com/rfk-junior-is-stoking-fears-about-vaccine-safety-heres-why-hes-wrong-and-the-impact-it-could-have-259986

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Letter, Senator Murray Demands Secretary Kennedy Reverse Reported Hiring of Anti-Vaccine Activist Lyn Redwood to CDC

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Senator Murray Calls on White House to Reverse Reported Hiring of Anti-Vax Conspiracy Theorist Lyn Redwood to CDC
    ICYMI: Murray Calls for Kennedy to Reinstate Fired ACIP Members or Delay Meeting Until New Members Appropriately Vetted; Calls Out Elevation of Conspiracy Theorist like Redwood
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent aletterto Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling on him to reverse the reported hiring of notorious anti-vaccine extremist Lyn Redwood—the former longtime president of RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine advocacy group, Children’s Health Defense—to help oversee vaccine safety at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This letter follows Senator Murray’s questioning of CDC Director nominee, Dr. Susan Monarez, where she raised the alarm over RFK Jr.’s move to bring in Lyn Redwood at CDC. Ms. Redwood gave a presentation on thimerosal in vaccines at the ACIP meeting this week—furthering RFK Jr.’s debunked claims that the preservative used in vaccines causes autism. 
    “I write today to express strong disapproval of your reported decision to appoint Lyn Redwood, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, to oversee vaccine safety at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ms. Redwood poses a serious danger to our nation’s public health, and I am calling on you to immediately reverse this hiring decision,” Senator Murray wrote.
    “I am deeply concerned about Ms. Redwood’s anti-science background as the past president of Children’s Health Defense, the organization you founded, which spreads vaccine misinformation and aims to instill fear in families about vaccinating their children,” Senator Murray continued, noting Ms. Redwood’s long history of spreading blatantly incorrect information about vaccines. “Your former organization, which Ms. Redwood most recently led, has pushed false conspiracy theories about vaccine safety and contributed to a dangerous rise in vaccine-preventable disease. The organization has also criticized the CDC Immunization Safety Office by spewing false rhetoric that the agency was being deceptive when debunking any potential link between thimerosal and autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders.”
    Senator Murray also addressed Ms. Redwood’s recent presentation to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), writing: “I understand Ms. Redwood also presented to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) yesterday, after you provided her with a platform to promote the debunked claim that the vaccine preservative thimerosal causes autism. This claim has been disproven by CDC and with decades of research proving that there is no link between vaccines and autism. She also cited a study that does not exist in her original presentation that was posted to the CDC website. After her presentation and despite the absence of any scientific evidence that thimerosal is linked to autism, ACIP voted against recommending certain flu vaccines that contain thimerosal, which if adopted, will put lives at risk.”
    “Ms. Redwood’s views on vaccines are extremely dangerous, and despite her claims having no basis, elevating her to work at our country’s lead public health agency will further increase vaccine hesitancy, causing fewer people to get vaccinated, and causing parents to be fearful about vaccinating their children against deadly diseases, such as measles, whooping cough, influenza, and more,” Senator Murray concluded. “Hiring someone to lead vaccine safety at CDC who has shown such disregard for basic scientific evidence in their decision-making is an extremely dangerous move and will cause unnecessary deaths. I call on you to reverse this reported hiring decision and ensure no additional anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists, like Ms. Redwood, are employed at CDC or anywhere in the Department.”
    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.
    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress against RFK Jr.’s dismantling of HHS and attacks on America’s public health infrastructure, raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans’ health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.
    The full letter is available HERE and below:
    The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
    Secretary
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    200 Independence Avenue SW
    Washington, DC 20201
    Dear Secretary Kennedy:
    I write today to express strong disapproval of your reported decision to appoint Lyn Redwood, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, to oversee vaccine safety at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ms. Redwood poses a serious danger to our nation’s public health, and I am calling on you to immediately reverse this hiring decision.
    I am deeply concerned about Ms. Redwood’s anti-science background as the past president of Children’s Health Defense, the organization you founded, which spreads vaccine misinformation and aims to instill fear in families about vaccinating their children. Your former organization, which Ms. Redwood most recently led, has pushed false conspiracy theories about vaccine safety and contributed to a dangerous rise in vaccine-preventable disease. The organization has also criticized the CDC Immunization Safety Office by spewing false rhetoric that the agency was being deceptive when debunking any potential link between thimerosal and autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
    I understand Ms. Redwood also presented to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) yesterday, after you provided her with a platform to promote the debunked claim that the vaccine preservative thimerosal causes autism. This claim has been disproven by CDC and with decades of research proving that there is no link between vaccines and autism. She also cited a study that does not exist in her original presentation that was posted to the CDC website. After her presentation and despite the absence of any scientific evidence that thimerosal is linked to autism, ACIP voted against recommending certain flu vaccines that contain thimerosal, which if adopted, will put lives at risk. 
    Ms. Redwood’s views on vaccines are extremely dangerous, and despite her claims having no basis, elevating her to work at our country’s lead public health agency will further increase vaccine hesitancy, causing fewer people to get vaccinated, and causing parents to be fearful about vaccinating their children against deadly diseases, such as measles, whooping cough, influenza, and more. 
    Hiring someone to lead vaccine safety at CDC who has shown such disregard for basic scientific evidence in their decision-making is an extremely dangerous move and will cause unnecessary deaths. I call on you to reverse this reported hiring decision and ensure no additional anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists, like Ms. Redwood, are employed at CDC or anywhere in the Department. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trustees Announced to NYS Interest Lawyer Account Fund

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced six trustee appointments to the New York State Interest on Lawyer Account Fund (IOLA). IOLA helps low-income New Yorkers obtain civil legal services to protect their needs. Established in 1983, IOLA pools interest from lawyer trust accounts to provide civil legal aid and support justice system improvements at no cost to taxpayers, lawyers or their clients.

    “I’m committed to helping New York’s most vulnerable secure legal resources in times of need, and the IOLA board helps bring those resources to bear — providing vital legal services to thousands of New Yorkers in need of legal assistance,” Governor Hochul said. “These appointees embody what it means to serve others. I am encouraged by their commitment to the law, civil legal services and the most vulnerable, and I am confident that with their leadership, IOLA will continue to fulfill its important mission.”

    As Chair and Trustee:

    Pei Pei Cheng de Castro

    Pei Pei Cheng de Castro is a partner in Commercial Litigation & Complex Trials and White Collar & Government Investigations at Barclay Damon LLP. Previously, Cheng de Castro was a Deputy Counsel to Governor Kathy Hochul from 2021 to 2024.

    Cheng de Castro obtained a J.D. from New York Law School in 2000 and a B.A. in Environmental Science and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1997.

    As Trustees:

    Rahul Agarwal

    Rahul Agarwal is a Partner in White Collar and Litigation at Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP, a position he began in 2024. Previously, Agarwal was a Deputy Chief Counsel in the office of the Mayor of the City of New York from 2022 to 2023.

    Agarwal obtained a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2006, and a B.A. from Brown University in 2001.

    Darren J. Cohen

    Darren J. Cohen is the Associate General Counsel for Clipboard Health, a position he has held since 2023. Previously, Cohen was the Senior Counsel for the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul in 2023.

    Cohen obtained a J.D. from Yale Law School in 2004 and a B.A. in English from Columbia University in 2004.

    Jason C. Hegt

    Jason C. Hegt is a Partner in the Litigation and Trial Department at Latham & Watkins, a position he has held since 2018. Previously, Hegt was an Associate at Latham & Watkins from 2009 to 2017.

    Hegt obtained his J.D. from American University Washington College of Law in 2009 and a B.A. in Political Science from Emory University in 2004.

    Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix

    Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix was most recently the Corporate Counsel for the City of New York from 2022 to 2024. Previously, Hinds-Radix was an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Department, from 2012 to 2022.

    Hinds-Radix obtained a J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 1984, an M.A. in Political Science from Long Island University in 1978, and a B.S. in History from the University of Massachusetts in 1976.

    Daniel M. Kummer

    Daniel M. Kummer is the Principal at DKummer Photography, LLC, a position he began in 2023. Previously, Kummer was a Senior Vice President for Litigation at NBCUniversal Media LLC from 1997 to 2023.

    Kummer obtained a J.D. from the New York University School of Law in 1987, and a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1982.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Statement on Supreme Court Ruling to Uphold the E-Rate Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (June 27, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research that the Universal Service Fund (USF) is constitutional. The USF funds broadband programs, including the E-Rate program, which provides funding to connect schools and libraries to the internet.

    “Today’s ruling reaffirms that the E-Rate program is the essential broadband lifeline for education in the twenty-first century, benefitting millions of students in Massachusetts and across the country. Without it, too many classrooms would fall into digital darkness and too many students would be left offline and unable to compete. Thanks to this ruling, E-Rate will continue serving as a great technological equalizer for millions of students. I will continue fighting to protect and expand the E-Rate program, so that every child — regardless of their zip code — has access to the internet.”

    Senator Markey is the House author of the original E-Rate program, which has invested more than $62 billion to connect schools and libraries to the internet across the country. Massachusetts schools and libraries have received more than $930 million from the E-Rate program and another $97 million from the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a $7 billion program that Senators Markey and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) created within the American Rescue Plan to provide devices and connectivity for students and educators at home.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Skin sensitisation tests involving the use of guinea pigs – E-001720/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In 2022, 33 029 skin sensitisation tests were conducted on animals constituting a reduction of 12.2% compared to 2018 and 12.5% compared to 2021.

    Based on ALURES[1] data, most guinea pig sensitisation assays occur in the medical devices (MD) sector. Testing requirements for these are governed by the International Organisation for Standardisation standards, and the relevant standard 10993-10:2021[2] still lists guinea pig assays next to the local lymph node assay (LLNA) and non-animal methods.

    Member States are expected to urge manufacturers to validate the LLNA or other alternatives for specific needs such as MD. Manufacturers should prioritise application of Defined Approaches for skin sensitisation.

    These consist of a combination of non-animal methods and a defined algorithm to interpret results and are described in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Guideline 497[3]. These approaches have superior performance compared to the LLNA in predicting human responses.

    Member States require regular reporting on progress made with alternatives, or to limit the project authorisation period for animal tests.

    If validation of the alternative fails, use of animals should continue to be allowed. The Commission collaborates closely with Member States to remind them of the obligations[4] under Directive 2010/63[5] to ask product-specific qualification of recognised alternatives.

    The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing[6] has invited the MD industry to join initiatives such as the skin sensitisation project to share knowledge and accelerate qualification of non-animal methods also by MD manufacturers.

    The Commission will publish a Roadmap on phasing out animal testing which covers MD legislation.

    • [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/chemicals/animals-science/statistics-and-non-technical-project-summaries_en.
    • [2] Biological evaluation of medical devices — Part 10: Tests for skin sensitisation.
    • [3] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/guideline-no-497-defined-approaches-on-skin-sensitisation_b92879a4-en.html.
    • [4] E.g., during bi-annual meetings.
    • [5] Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, OJ L 276, 20.10.2010, p. 33-79.
    • [6] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/chemicals/european-partnership-alternative-approaches-animal-testing_en.
    Last updated: 27 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sophia Roberts: Showcasing the Cosmos

    Source: NASA

    Astrophysics Science Video Producer – Goddard Space Flight Center
    Growing up in Detroit with a camera in her hand, Sophia Roberts — now an award-winning astrophysics science video producer—never imagined that one day her path would wind through clean rooms, vacuum chambers, and even a beryllium mine. But framing the final frontier sometimes requires traveling through some of Earth’s less-explored corners.

    Sophia received her first camera from her father, a photography enthusiast, when she was just five or six years old. “I’ve basically been snapping away ever since!” she says. 
    With a natural curiosity and enthusiasm for science, Sophia pursued a degree in biology at Oberlin College in Ohio. There, she discovered that she could blend her two passions.
    “I often lingered in lab sessions, not to finish an experiment but to photograph it,” Sophia says. “I had an epiphany at the beginning of class one day, which always opened with clips from BBC nature documentaries. I decided right then that I would be one of the people who make those videos one day.”

    She initially thought that meant wildlife filmmaking—perched in a blind on a mountainside, waiting hours for an animal to appear. That dream led her to Montana State University, where she learned to blend scientific rigor with visual storytelling through their science and natural history filmmaking master’s program.
    While completing her degree, Sophia worked as a traveling presenter for the Montana Space Grant Consortium. “I was mainly giving presentations about NASA missions and showing kids beautiful images of space,” she says. “That was my first true introduction to NASA. I loved being able to watch the children’s eyes light up when they saw what’s out there in space.”
    Sophia then completed an internship at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History while completing her thesis. Once she graduated, she landed a year-long fellowship at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as an Earth science news fellow. In this role, she focused on packaging up stories through satellite imagery and explanations. 

    She leaned into her videography skills in her next role, as part of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team. 
    “Webb is one of my great loves in life,” she says. “I learned to negotiate with engineers for the perfect shot, navigate NASA’s protocols, and work with mission partners. I only spent five years on Webb, but it feels like it was half my life. Still—it was everything.”
    That mission took her to some unforgettable places, like a mine in Delta, Utah, where raw material for Webb’s mirrors was unearthed. “It was this giant, spiral pit where they were mining beryllium at just 0.02% concentration,” Sophia says. The process was as otherworldly as the location.

    She also documented thermal vacuum testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in a giant pill-shaped chamber with a 40-foot round door. “I had to take confined space training to crawl around in the area underneath the chamber,” she says. “It felt like spelunking.”
    Once Webb launched, Sophia pivoted to covering many of NASA’s smaller astrophysics missions along with the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These days, she can often be found gowned up in a “bunny suit” in the largest clean room at Goddard to document space telescope assembly, or in a studio recording science explanations. 

    “I love capturing the visual stories and helping fill in the gaps to help people understand NASA research,” Sophia says. “I try to focus on the things that will get people excited about the science so they’ll stop scrolling to find out more.”
    For Sophia, the process is often as exhilarating as the result. “I love venturing out to remote places where science is being done,” she says. “I’d love to film a balloon launch in Antarctica someday!”

    To others who dream of pursuing a similar career, Sophia recommends diving in headfirst. “With cameras readily available and free online platforms, it’s never been easier to get into the media,” she says. “You just have to be careful to research your topic and sources, making sure you really know what you’re sharing and understand that science is always evolving as we learn more.” And Sophia emphasizes how important storytelling is for conveying information, especially when it’s as complex as astrophysics. “Studying science is wonderful, but I also think helping people visualize it is magical.” 
    By Ashley BalzerNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sophia Roberts: Showcasing the Cosmos

    Source: NASA

    Astrophysics Science Video Producer – Goddard Space Flight Center
    Growing up in Detroit with a camera in her hand, Sophia Roberts — now an award-winning astrophysics science video producer—never imagined that one day her path would wind through clean rooms, vacuum chambers, and even a beryllium mine. But framing the final frontier sometimes requires traveling through some of Earth’s less-explored corners.

    Sophia received her first camera from her father, a photography enthusiast, when she was just five or six years old. “I’ve basically been snapping away ever since!” she says. 
    With a natural curiosity and enthusiasm for science, Sophia pursued a degree in biology at Oberlin College in Ohio. There, she discovered that she could blend her two passions.
    “I often lingered in lab sessions, not to finish an experiment but to photograph it,” Sophia says. “I had an epiphany at the beginning of class one day, which always opened with clips from BBC nature documentaries. I decided right then that I would be one of the people who make those videos one day.”

    She initially thought that meant wildlife filmmaking—perched in a blind on a mountainside, waiting hours for an animal to appear. That dream led her to Montana State University, where she learned to blend scientific rigor with visual storytelling through their science and natural history filmmaking master’s program.
    While completing her degree, Sophia worked as a traveling presenter for the Montana Space Grant Consortium. “I was mainly giving presentations about NASA missions and showing kids beautiful images of space,” she says. “That was my first true introduction to NASA. I loved being able to watch the children’s eyes light up when they saw what’s out there in space.”
    Sophia then completed an internship at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History while completing her thesis. Once she graduated, she landed a year-long fellowship at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as an Earth science news fellow. In this role, she focused on packaging up stories through satellite imagery and explanations. 

    She leaned into her videography skills in her next role, as part of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team. 
    “Webb is one of my great loves in life,” she says. “I learned to negotiate with engineers for the perfect shot, navigate NASA’s protocols, and work with mission partners. I only spent five years on Webb, but it feels like it was half my life. Still—it was everything.”
    That mission took her to some unforgettable places, like a mine in Delta, Utah, where raw material for Webb’s mirrors was unearthed. “It was this giant, spiral pit where they were mining beryllium at just 0.02% concentration,” Sophia says. The process was as otherworldly as the location.

    She also documented thermal vacuum testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in a giant pill-shaped chamber with a 40-foot round door. “I had to take confined space training to crawl around in the area underneath the chamber,” she says. “It felt like spelunking.”
    Once Webb launched, Sophia pivoted to covering many of NASA’s smaller astrophysics missions along with the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These days, she can often be found gowned up in a “bunny suit” in the largest clean room at Goddard to document space telescope assembly, or in a studio recording science explanations. 

    “I love capturing the visual stories and helping fill in the gaps to help people understand NASA research,” Sophia says. “I try to focus on the things that will get people excited about the science so they’ll stop scrolling to find out more.”
    For Sophia, the process is often as exhilarating as the result. “I love venturing out to remote places where science is being done,” she says. “I’d love to film a balloon launch in Antarctica someday!”

    To others who dream of pursuing a similar career, Sophia recommends diving in headfirst. “With cameras readily available and free online platforms, it’s never been easier to get into the media,” she says. “You just have to be careful to research your topic and sources, making sure you really know what you’re sharing and understand that science is always evolving as we learn more.” And Sophia emphasizes how important storytelling is for conveying information, especially when it’s as complex as astrophysics. “Studying science is wonderful, but I also think helping people visualize it is magical.” 
    By Ashley BalzerNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Free Ice Cream and More at the Museum’s Annual Social

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Free Ice Cream and More at the Museum’s Annual Social

    Free Ice Cream and More at the Museum’s Annual Social
    jejohnson6

    Free ice cream and watermelon will be happening at the museum’s annual Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Social. You can enjoy the festivities from 2-4 p.m., on July 4. Due to construction at the museum, the event will take place at the Morgan Cabin, located next to the museum building.

    As our way of saying thank you for your support, the museum staff and the Friends of the Mountain Gateway Museum are excited to offer ice cream with toppings and watermelon for you to enjoy before the annual Old Fort 4th of July Parade.

    For more information about this event, visit the Mountain Gateway Museum’s website at www.mgmnc.org or contact Brittany Joachim at 828-668-9259 or brittany.bennett@dncr.nc.gov.

    The museum is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday; closed on Monday and state holidays. Admission is free.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 27, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tobacco Farm Life Museum Reopens to the Public

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Tobacco Farm Life Museum Reopens to the Public

    Tobacco Farm Life Museum Reopens to the Public
    jejohnson6

    The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is getting ready to open the doors to one of its newest sites — one that already has a long history in the state.

    The Tobacco Farm Life Museum, which grew out of farm tours hosted at the site in the 1980s, preserves and presents the history and heritage of the North Carolina farming community. That mission will continue under the state’s Division of History Museums with additional resources and efforts to improve exhibits and the grounds to tell stories of agricultural heritage. To celebrate the updates to the site, the museum will host a public grand reopening on Saturday, July 5 at 10 a.m. There will be crafts to include coloring a quilt square that will then be used to create a community art piece, interactive activities like a ”hornworm hunt” across the museum and more available until 4 p.m. that day; supported by the Kiwanis Club of Kenly. The public is also invited to explore the exhibit gallery and grounds during a soft opening preview July 1-3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

    “This reopening represents more than the completion of site enhancements,” said North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “It’s about reconnecting people with the history, stories and values that built this region.”

    At the heart of the site is a 6,000-square-foot museum that helps preserve and interpret the agricultural heritage of eastern North Carolina, particularly the lives and culture of farm families from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Inside, visitors will find new interpretive panels on some of the displays, as well as a new, temporary exhibit featuring tobacco miniatures. The inches-tall models of tobacco barns, sleds and other related paraphernalia are a small-scale showcase of the tobacco industry that shaped the region.

    The site’s 4.5-acre grounds will also be open for exploring and learning about the seven historic structures on the site. A hard-packed gravel walkway throughout the grounds provides accessibility during the self-guided tours.

    In addition to the reopening of the site, the museum also has a new website — tobaccofarmlifemuseum.nc.gov. Public programs are expected to return later in the year; facility rentals will remain paused for the immediate future.

    Maria Vann, who as director of regional history museums oversees the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, described the museum as a vital resource for insights into life of farming families.

    “We’ve been working to develop new programs and updating our facilities but there will be more ahead!” Vann said. “For now, we are just excited about being able to share the museum again with our community.”

    Tobacco Farm Life Museum is located at 709 N Church St. in Kenly. It will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the latest updates, follow the museum on Facebook and Instagram, @TobaccoFarmLifeMuseum, and after June 21 at tobaccofarmlifemuseum.nc.gov.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 27, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Medical Laboratory Technologists Board meets representatives of training institutions and professional associations

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The following is issued on behalf of the Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) Board:

    ​A meeting was held by the MLT Board yesterday (June 26) with representatives of training institutions and professional associations to provide detailed explanations and communicate on the decision of the MLT Board in 2024 about the review and amendment of accreditation criteria of programmes, in maintaining the total required hours for training, to amend the minimum hours for clinical practice/attachment in the major four basic areas, namely “Clinical Microbiology & Infection”, “Anatomical Pathology”, “Chemical Pathology” and “Haematology” to 50 hours each, with the released 200 hours for training institutions to flexibly allocate to new and rapidly evolving medical laboratory science subjects, such as clinical immunology, artificial intelligence, molecular techniques and genetic testing etc., and/or to perform enhanced clinical practice/attachment in the four basic areas as well as in the new areas.

    The MLT Board reiterated at the meeting that the overall minimal training hours would remain unchanged, and it was a misunderstanding to perceive the arrangement as cutting down training hours. The updated training requirement would facilitate training institutions with the flexibility to enable continuous transition/improvement of the curriculum both in existing and new programmes, to better prepare our students for the challenge of quickly evolving medical technologies, while maintaining professional standards.

    Under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) and the Medical Laboratory Technologists (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Regulations (Cap. 359A) (Ordinance and Regulations), the MLT Board was empowered to promote adequate standards of professional practice and conduct among members of the profession. The Ordinance and Regulations specified that all MLTs must obtain at least three years of post-qualification experience involving intensive on-the-job training under supervision before they could practise independently to ensure patients’ safety.

    The MLT Board had invited institutions to submit their updated curriculum on the training of MLT for approval. The MLT Board will continue to communicate with the MLT industry, training institutions and healthcare professions to ensure patient safety and enhance professional standard.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fourth of July at the North Carolina State Capitol

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Fourth of July at the North Carolina State Capitol

    Fourth of July at the North Carolina State Capitol
    jejohnson6

    This 4th of July, a Raleigh tradition continues with music and a ceremony on the Capitol grounds! From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the State Capitol is hosting a free, fun-filled family event featuring musical performances and several hands-on activities for children to enjoy. Pie the redcoat or King George III or dress up like a Revolutionary era citizen! The State Capitol is administered by the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The Capitol will host a ceremony that includes an outdoor naturalization for new citizens, a reading from the Declaration of Independence, and a wreath laying at the George Washington monument by the Sons of the American Revolution. The Raleigh Concert Band will perform at 11:30 a.m. until the ceremony begins on the east grounds at noon.

    Following the ceremony, visitors are invited inside to tour the building and see a special single-day exhibit “To Preserve the Blessings of Liberty: State Constitutions of North Carolina” from the State Archives of North Carolina. The exhibit features the 1776 State Constitution and Declaration of Rights, the 1868 State Constitution, and a letter from John Adams’ commonly known as “Thoughts on Government.” Archivists from the State Archives will accompany the documents and will be available to answer questions from visitors.

    The State Capitol’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history, architecture, and function of the 1840 building and Union Square. It is within the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and located at One Edenton Street, Raleigh. To learn more about the history of the North Carolina State Capitol, please visit www.historicsites.nc.gov/capitol.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 27, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Library of N.C. Announces $2.5 Million in Federal Grants to Local Libraries

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: State Library of N.C. Announces $2.5 Million in Federal Grants to Local Libraries

    State Library of N.C. Announces $2.5 Million in Federal Grants to Local Libraries
    jejohnson6

    The State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, is proud to announce awards to local libraries. Across the state, 41 awards have been issued for a total of $2,539,474 in grant funds from the State Library of North Carolina with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to support new or expanded library programs and services, as well as limited ongoing projects.

    “The projects funded with Library Services and Technology Act grants over the next year will meet a vast array of local needs. They will update and improve access to digital literacy and technology, support early literacy, and assist with efforts to provide community resources for job hunters, workforce development, telehealth, and more,” said North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “These projects will meet critical local needs for which other funding sources are generally not available.”

    The grants were awarded based on criteria that advance the State Library of North Carolina’s goals of Community Engagement, Expanding Access, and Responsive Organizations. These projects will support the critical work of libraries, including developing early literacy programs, providing educational opportunities for health and wellness, establishing new spaces for learning and collaboration, and broadening access to materials through digitization and preservation.

    Edgecombe County Memorial Library will use its grant to provide Edgecombe County residents with programs to improve their physical and mental health at the Tarboro and Pinetops locations. Participants will learn about physical fitness, nutrition, chronic illnesses, and mental health through programs and resources.

    To respond to the evolving needs of the community for more private meeting spaces, the Haywood County Library will use the funding to add two study booths at the Waynesville branch. With occupancy for two and four people, these meeting spaces will allow individuals and small groups to meet and work both in person and virtually as they may also utilize the library’s internet access.

    Stanly Community College Library will use its grant to provide Chromebooks to support students in their education. By providing access to these devices, the library aims to ensure that all students are connected to the technology and resources they need for learning, collaboration, and academic success.

    A full list of awardees and abstracts appears at: https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/services-libraries/grants-libraries/lsta-grant-information.

    These grant awards are made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-259195-OLS-25).

    About the State Library of North Carolina
    The State Library of North Carolina enriches the lives of North Carolinians through access to information resources, strengthens communities through exceptional library services, and inspires and supports literacy and lifelong learning for all North Carolinians.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 27, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Leads Alabama Delegation in Celebrating Marshall Space Flight Center 65th Anniversary

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Dale Strong, with the support of Alabama’s entire Congressional delegation, led a resolution commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center and reaffirming continued support for the Center’s mission, programs, and workforce.  

    “Marshall Space Flight Center is a pillar of North Alabama, and the road to space runs straight through the Rocket City,” said Rep. Dale Strong (AL-05). “From the Apollo missions to the Shuttle program, and now to the Space Launch System and everything in between, the United States’ leadership in space cannot happen without Marshall Space Flight Center.” 

    On July 1, 1960, nearly 4,000 employees from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal swapped their Army badges for NASA credentials, joining the space race to beat the Soviet Union to the moon. At the same time, Redstone transferred roughly 1,900 acres to NASA, and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was born.  

    Since then, MSFC has led the development of every NASA rocket designed to carry humans into space and continues to lead efforts to return Americans to the Moon. The center has played a pioneering role in propulsion systems and hardware development, space and materials science research, advanced manufacturing, and life support systems, advancing nearly every aspect of space exploration. 

    “For 65 years, the Marshall Space Flight Center has led the way in American space innovation — from launching Saturn V to powering Artemis and beyond. We’re proud to call Huntsville, Alabama our home, and we’re deeply grateful to Congressman Strong and our entire congressional delegation for their steadfast support. Together, we are making history, driving American excellence, and reaching for the stars — and we’re just getting started,” said Marshall Space Flight Center Director Joseph Pelfrey.  

    “I’m proud to join my Alabama colleagues in recognizing the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center. For over six decades, the Marshall Space Flight Center has propelled America’s leadership in space,” said Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01). “From putting a man on the Moon to pioneering the next chapter of deep space exploration through the Space Launch System and the Artemis program, the Marshall Space Flight Center continues to embody the best of American ingenuity and innovation. The men and women at Marshall represent the kind of commitment and excellence that make our state and nation great, and I’m proud to join this resolution recognizing them for their help in advancing the future of human spaceflight.” 

    “Marshall Space Flight Center represents the very best of American innovation and engineering. It also stands as a powerful example of the contributions Alabama makes to our nation and the world,” said Rep. Shomari C. Figures (AL-02). “I am proud to join Rep. Strong and my colleagues in the delegation in honoring the legacy of this institution and the extraordinary men and women whose work continues to shape the future of space exploration.”  

    “I was proud to join my colleagues and all Alabamians in celebrating the Marshall Space Flight Center’s 65th anniversary,” said Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03). “The Marshall Space Flight Center has played a pivotal role in establishing Alabama as a cornerstone of space innovation. In its 65 years, this center has played key roles in the Apollo Program, the Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station, and the Artemis program, among many others. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a proud Alabamian, I cannot express how much this center has contributed to this country and this state.” 

    “For 65 years, the Marshall Space Flight Center has stood as a symbol of American ingenuity, exploration, and innovation. From the earliest days of the space race to today’s cutting-edge advancements, this center has played a vital role in our nation’s space story,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04). “It continues to inspire future explorers and stands as a testament to what America can achieve when we reach for the stars.” 

    “For 65 years, the Marshall Space Flight Center has played a pivotal role in U.S. space flight research and innovation. From developing the Saturn V rocket, leading the Skylab project, supporting the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, and spearheading development of the Space Launch System and NASA’s most powerful rocket since Saturn V, the Marshall Space Flight Center has made itself indispensable and placed Alabama on the map as a headquarters for space exploration,” said Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06). “Congratulations to the engineers, scientists, technicians, and support staff who have made the Marshall Space Flight Center what it is today. I look forward to seeing how the center continues to advance NASA’s mission. Thank you to Representative Strong for his leadership on this resolution.” 

    “The Marshall Space Flight Center has been at the core of American aeronautics and space exploration for the past 65 years,” said Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07). “MSFC continues to be a point of pride for our state from the creation of the Apollo program to today’s low-orbit technology impacting every American’s daily life.” 

    “From helping put the first man on the moon to the Artemis I mission, Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center has led the way in space exploration for the last 65 years. This is because of the talented scientists, technicians, and support staff who’ve poured their heart and soul into earning Huntsville the title of “Rocket City,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). “I’m tremendously proud to represent a state that’s home to this world-renowned facility, and I look forward to seeing MSFC continue to lead the way in space exploration as we look to Artemis II and beyond.”  

    “I couldn’t be prouder to recognize the 65th anniversary of Marshall Space Flight Center along with our entire Alabama delegation. The U.S. space program is vitally important, and Alabama and MSFC continue to play an integral role in redefining the boundaries of human imagination and the heights of human achievement,” said Senator Katie Britt (R-AL).  “As the incredible men and women at MSFC continue to make historic leaps that fuel a new age of American excellence in space exploration, I will continue to ensure that this groundbreaking work is supported now and long into the future.” 

    The bipartisan, bicameral resolution was led in the Senate by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 27 June 2025 Departmental update Partners unite to launch WHO Disability Health Equity

    Source: World Health Organisation

    WHO has launched the WHO Disability Health Equity Initiative, a landmark global initiative to advance health equity for over 1.3 billion people with disabilities.

    Unveiled on 10 June 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the initiative marks a bold step toward achieving health equity for all. The initiative aims to guide governments, health institutions, and communities in addressing barriers to care, promoting inclusive policies, and strengthening data and research on disability and health. Over 150 participants—government leaders, civil society, academia, and persons with disabilities—gathered in person, while many more joined online.

    Darryl Barrett, WHO’s Technical Lead on Disability presented a bold vision for the initiative. He discussed persistent systemic failures – political inaction, underinvestment, fragmented collaboration, and the exclusion of organizations of persons with disabilities – as critical barriers to progress. “Health systems are not fit-for-purpose,” Barrett said. “If we agree on Health for All, then we must agree that services must be inclusive and accessible. Right now, we can’t say that with confidence.”

    The Initiative is built around four strategic pillars:

    1. Leadership by persons with disabilities and their organizations
    2. Political prioritization of disability-inclusive health
    3. Inclusive health systems and service delivery
    4. Strengthening data and evidence

    Barrett also outlined how this new initiative will facilitate strategic engagement with key partners to advance health equity for persons with disabilities, including through a multi-stakeholder network, partnerships with the private sector, technical guidance development, and support for country-level implementation. He emphasized that WHO’s work has been shaped by years of collaboration with diverse partners, including organizations of persons with disabilities. “We at WHO haven’t done this by ourselves,” Barrett noted. “The strong presence of partners – both in the room and online – reflects the shared commitment needed to drive meaningful, lasting change.”

    David Duncan, Special Olympics athlete and Chair of the Global Athlete Leadership Council, delivered a powerful testimony about the discrimination people with intellectual and developmental conditions often face in health care. “Invisible, unknown, disrespected… but I know it’s possible to do better – and that’s something everyone deserves,” Duncan said.

    Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, issued a powerful call to action, urging governments to close health access gaps and uphold the rights of persons with disabilities. Emphasizing access to health services, reproductive autonomy for women with disabilities, and expanded availability of assistive products, Jaffery affirmed Norway’s leadership in disability-inclusive development. “Inclusion is not just a policy, it is a principle and we are committed to making it a reality for all.”

    Sweden’s Director-General of the Agency for Participation, Malin Ekman-Aldén, echoed this commitment, stressing that advancing health equity for persons with disabilities is a human rights imperative. She highlighted Sweden’s continued investments in inclusive development and welcomed the WHO initiative as a key driver of accountability, better data, and systemic change.

    Dirk Platzen, Director at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, underscored the need for political leadership in building inclusive health systems. Introducing Australia’s new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, he called for recognition of health as a fundamental human right, not a privilege.

    Representing Germany, Michael Schloms of the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development emphasized international collaboration, sustainable financing, and shared responsibility. Reflecting on Germany’s experience hosting global disability events and co-leading the Global Disability Summit, he reaffirmed support for the initiative and the Amman-Berlin Declaration.

    Speakers from civil society, funding agencies, and academia highlighted the importance of funding, civil society engagement, and academic research in sustaining momentum and ensuring accountability. Ola Abualghaib, Director of the Global Disability Fund, emphasized the Fund Strategy’s alignment with the new WHO initiative. Hannah Loryman, Co-Chair of the International Disability and Development Consortium UN Task Force, stressed the vital role of civil society in advocacy, technical input, and accountability. Bonnielin Swenor, Director of the Disability Health Research Center at Johns Hopkins University, highlighted academia’s responsibility to advance disability health equity through inclusive research, education, and community engagement. She called for a paradigm shift from “living with a disability” to “thriving with a disability,” driven by data and implementation science.

    This initiative offers a pathway to making better choices – choices that ensure dignity, autonomy, and the right to health for all persons with disabilities.

    Jarrod Clyne / Deputy Director of the International Disability Alliance

    Audience members raised critical issues including the need for sustainable health system funding in humanitarian crises, the inclusion of Deaf people and persons with a psychosocial condition, the importance of training health professionals, digital health acccessibility, and support for independent living – highlighting the diverse and intersectional challenges that must be addressed to achieve true health equity for persons with disabilities.

    Jarrod Clyne, Deputy Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance, closed the event by stressing the importance of persistence, partnership, and shared responsibility. “This initiative offers a pathway to making better choices – choices that ensure dignity, autonomy, and the right to health for all persons with disabilities,” he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell Announces $20.5 Million in NSF Grants for the University of Michigan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today announced that the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor will receive $20,539,108 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support a wide range of research initiatives. The funding will advance work in critical areas including artificial intelligence, quantum photonics, neuroscience, wildfire and flood response, social science, advanced manufacturing, cyber-physical systems, and more.

    “The University of Michigan continues to lead in innovation that addresses real-world challenges and drives economic growth,” said Dingell. “These investments will support breakthrough research across diverse fields, from improving public safety and infrastructure to exploring new materials and technologies to strengthening Michigan’s role as a national leader in science and innovation while building a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable future.”

    Projects receiving funding include:  

    • $31,443.00 for Doctoral Dissertation Research: The fitness impact of female social resource competition

    • $20,000.00 for Broadening Student Participation to the 7th Annual Learning for Dynamics and Control Conference (L4DC25); Ann Arbor, Michigan; 4-6 June 2025

    • $20,000.00 for A Conference on the Geometry, Topology, and Dynamics of Infinite-Type Surfaces

    • $66,962.00 for Bootcamp for the 2025 Algebraic Geometry Summer Research Institute

    • $70,007.00 for RAPID: 2025 Southern California Fires Embers Project: Crowdsourcing Data on the Distribution and Transport of Firebrands

    • $302,965.00 for SBIR Phase I: Turmeric Assisted Pressure Sterilization

    • $499,742.00 for ACED: GRAM-CAROLINE: Grammar-Reinforced AI Modeling with Conditional Autoencoder and Relevance-Oriented Learning for Interpretable knowledge Extraction

    • $20,000.00 for IUCRC Planning Grant University of Michigan: Cyber and Terrorism Insurance Studies (CATIS) Center

    • $500,000.00 for CPS: Small: Lifted Hybridization: A New Representation for Efficient Control and Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems

    • $31,500.00 for Doctoral Dissertation Research: Craft Specialization and Economic Organization

    • $35,000.00 for Conference: CBMS Conference: Strong Matrix Properties and the Inverse Eigenvalue Problem

    • $1,000,000.00 for IUCRC Phase I University of Michigan: Center for Digital Twins in Manufacturing (CDTM)

    • $750,000.00 for Collaborative Research: CS2: A Comprehensive Pipeline for Formal Verification of Floating-Point Errors and Compilation for Scientific Computing

    • $500,000.00 for ACED: A Unified Framework of Physics-informed and Domain-Adapted Generative Diffusion Model for Efficient and Reliable Nanophotonics Inverse Design

    • $599,998.00 for CAREER: Topography-mediated Immunomodulation for Implant-associated Infections

    • $640,000.00 for High-Intensity Tunable Light by Frequency Upshifting in Plasma Waves

    • $690,000.00 for CAREER: Empowering People Who are Blind to Create Personal Assistive Technology

    • $600,000.00 for CAREER: Bringing Structure to the Unstructured: Robust Causal and Statistical Modeling of High-dimensional Unstructured Data

    • $599,491.00 for CAREER: Data-Driven Extrusion-Based Robotic Three-Dimensional Printing of Reinforced Concrete

    • $1,753,908.00 for Research Infrastructure: Leveraging the Research Data Ecosystem for ICPSR’s Comprehensive Data Archive

    • $25,000.00 for Conference: Modern Perspectives in Representation Theory

    • $9,250.00 for Conference: Travel support for trainees to attend Dynein 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan; 22-24 July 2025

    • $1,244,153.00 for SBIR Phase II: Ubiquitous Flood Forecasting using Sensors and Analytics

    • $10,024,230.00 for Expanding the Industries of Ideas: Understanding the link between research investments, jobs, and skills

    • $205,596.00 for Collaborative Research: NERC-NSFGEO–Constraining Longwave Energy Flows in Cold Climates (CLEFCC)

    The National Science Foundation(NSF) supports research, innovation, and discovery that provides the foundation for economic growth in this country. By advancing the frontiers of science and engineering, our nation can develop the knowledge and cutting-edge technologies needed to address the challenges we face today and will face in the future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Air Force Leaders Detail Support and Updates for Little Rock, Fort Smith Missions to Boozman

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a Senate Air Force Caucus Co-Chair and member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, elicited strong support for the missions and personnel at both Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base, home of the F-35 foreign pilot training center, from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

    Boozman noted the recent graduation of the first two pilots as part of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission, now hosted in Fort Smith at Ebbing, and how the milestone reflects the growing importance of training our allies on U.S. platforms and systems. 
    “We’ve discussed the critical role the F-35 FMS training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base plays not only in maintaining our air superiority but also in strengthening alliances,” Boozman said. “[There is] excitement [among] our allies [in] having this type of plane.”
    “I think the training – training with international partners – that’s stuff that helps forever. I think it’s a combination of simplifying FMS so it allows them to get the platforms, and then allowing them to train with us on the platforms, is one of the best ways to get integrated effects between us and our international partners,” Meink stated.
    “If we’re selling them the best equipment, you want them to be trained by the best. So we want to be able to do that at Ebbing,” Allvin added.
    The senator also noted an announcement about the Air Force’s Deployable Combat Wing concept and the change it represents with how the service seeks to ensure readiness upon deployment. 
    “Earlier this year the Air Force announced that Little Rock Air Force Base and four other installations were selected as the first tranche of the Deployable Combat Wing initiative. Can you talk about what that means?” Boozman asked.
    “The Deployable Combat Wing allows us to move away from a pattern we’ve had over the past few decades in which we crowdsource airmen from across our Air Force, put them together, and then put them over in the theater. I can’t in good conscience continue to send airmen over that are trained as individuals, and not trained as units, to fight as units and understand the new complexities of the strategic environment,” Allvin responded. “I think we’re going to see not only an impact on fighting effectiveness, but also morale. Units that train together have a common esprit de corps that I think is pushing that warrior ethos we’re trying to enhance.”
    According to the Air Force, the installations selected will see growth in the population of assigned airmen to ensure adequate staffing for accomplishing their missions.
    “We have an increase in airmen that will make sure when that entire wing picks up and goes, that the base is still supported,” Allvin confirmed.
    Boozman again echoed his and his colleagues’ ongoing concerns with the impact that temporary funding and authorities – in the form of continuing resolutions – have on military missions and commitments.
    He also reiterated his desire to work with the Air Force and Department of Defense to pursue legislative solutions for combating the threat of armed drones to U.S. military installations and assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Air Force Leaders Detail Support and Updates for Little Rock, Fort Smith Missions to Boozman

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a Senate Air Force Caucus Co-Chair and member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, elicited strong support for the missions and personnel at both Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base, home of the F-35 foreign pilot training center, from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

    Boozman noted the recent graduation of the first two pilots as part of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission, now hosted in Fort Smith at Ebbing, and how the milestone reflects the growing importance of training our allies on U.S. platforms and systems. 
    “We’ve discussed the critical role the F-35 FMS training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base plays not only in maintaining our air superiority but also in strengthening alliances,” Boozman said. “[There is] excitement [among] our allies [in] having this type of plane.”
    “I think the training – training with international partners – that’s stuff that helps forever. I think it’s a combination of simplifying FMS so it allows them to get the platforms, and then allowing them to train with us on the platforms, is one of the best ways to get integrated effects between us and our international partners,” Meink stated.
    “If we’re selling them the best equipment, you want them to be trained by the best. So we want to be able to do that at Ebbing,” Allvin added.
    The senator also noted an announcement about the Air Force’s Deployable Combat Wing concept and the change it represents with how the service seeks to ensure readiness upon deployment. 
    “Earlier this year the Air Force announced that Little Rock Air Force Base and four other installations were selected as the first tranche of the Deployable Combat Wing initiative. Can you talk about what that means?” Boozman asked.
    “The Deployable Combat Wing allows us to move away from a pattern we’ve had over the past few decades in which we crowdsource airmen from across our Air Force, put them together, and then put them over in the theater. I can’t in good conscience continue to send airmen over that are trained as individuals, and not trained as units, to fight as units and understand the new complexities of the strategic environment,” Allvin responded. “I think we’re going to see not only an impact on fighting effectiveness, but also morale. Units that train together have a common esprit de corps that I think is pushing that warrior ethos we’re trying to enhance.”
    According to the Air Force, the installations selected will see growth in the population of assigned airmen to ensure adequate staffing for accomplishing their missions.
    “We have an increase in airmen that will make sure when that entire wing picks up and goes, that the base is still supported,” Allvin confirmed.
    Boozman again echoed his and his colleagues’ ongoing concerns with the impact that temporary funding and authorities – in the form of continuing resolutions – have on military missions and commitments.
    He also reiterated his desire to work with the Air Force and Department of Defense to pursue legislative solutions for combating the threat of armed drones to U.S. military installations and assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Air Force Leaders Detail Support and Updates for Little Rock, Fort Smith Missions to Boozman

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a Senate Air Force Caucus Co-Chair and member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, elicited strong support for the missions and personnel at both Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base, home of the F-35 foreign pilot training center, from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

    Boozman noted the recent graduation of the first two pilots as part of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission, now hosted in Fort Smith at Ebbing, and how the milestone reflects the growing importance of training our allies on U.S. platforms and systems. 
    “We’ve discussed the critical role the F-35 FMS training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base plays not only in maintaining our air superiority but also in strengthening alliances,” Boozman said. “[There is] excitement [among] our allies [in] having this type of plane.”
    “I think the training – training with international partners – that’s stuff that helps forever. I think it’s a combination of simplifying FMS so it allows them to get the platforms, and then allowing them to train with us on the platforms, is one of the best ways to get integrated effects between us and our international partners,” Meink stated.
    “If we’re selling them the best equipment, you want them to be trained by the best. So we want to be able to do that at Ebbing,” Allvin added.
    The senator also noted an announcement about the Air Force’s Deployable Combat Wing concept and the change it represents with how the service seeks to ensure readiness upon deployment. 
    “Earlier this year the Air Force announced that Little Rock Air Force Base and four other installations were selected as the first tranche of the Deployable Combat Wing initiative. Can you talk about what that means?” Boozman asked.
    “The Deployable Combat Wing allows us to move away from a pattern we’ve had over the past few decades in which we crowdsource airmen from across our Air Force, put them together, and then put them over in the theater. I can’t in good conscience continue to send airmen over that are trained as individuals, and not trained as units, to fight as units and understand the new complexities of the strategic environment,” Allvin responded. “I think we’re going to see not only an impact on fighting effectiveness, but also morale. Units that train together have a common esprit de corps that I think is pushing that warrior ethos we’re trying to enhance.”
    According to the Air Force, the installations selected will see growth in the population of assigned airmen to ensure adequate staffing for accomplishing their missions.
    “We have an increase in airmen that will make sure when that entire wing picks up and goes, that the base is still supported,” Allvin confirmed.
    Boozman again echoed his and his colleagues’ ongoing concerns with the impact that temporary funding and authorities – in the form of continuing resolutions – have on military missions and commitments.
    He also reiterated his desire to work with the Air Force and Department of Defense to pursue legislative solutions for combating the threat of armed drones to U.S. military installations and assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Climate, conflict and energy security – our research shows how the EU’s industrial policy must change to face this polycrisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Bärnthaler, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Ecological Economics, University of Leeds

    Green energy sites like Flevoland in the Netherlands will be part of the EU’s industrial future. fokke baarssen/Shutterstock

    Industrial policy is back – it’s currently central to the agendas of both the EU and the UK. This resurgence comes amid a polycrisis marked by climate breakdown, social inequality, energy insecurity and geopolitical instability. And it reflects a wider shift. Governments across G20 countries are stepping in more actively to shape their economies, moving away from the idea that markets should be left to run themselves.

    This is an important development. But current frameworks for industrial policy risk deepening the crises they are meant to solve.

    In our research with Sebastian Mang of the New Economics Foundation, we have found that in the case of the EU, its industrial policy framework is riddled with contradictions.

    It seeks resilience, yet fails to strengthen essential public services that underpin stability. It aims for strategic autonomy, yet reinforces resource dependencies. And while it gestures towards sustainability, it remains tethered to private-sector strategies that delay the phase-out of harmful industries.

    Eroding foundations

    EU industrial policy aims to strengthen the resilience of the bloc’s single market by preventing supply chain disruptions. It rightly views Europe’s economy as an interconnected ecosystem, where shocks in one sector ripple across others. But it fails to prioritise the foundational sectors that sustain everyday life. These include essential services such as food, utilities, housing, healthcare and public transport.

    Two core issues drive this failure. First, deregulation in the single market has often extended to essential services, pushing providers to operate like private businesses. For example, liberalisation of the energy sector has contributed to volatile prices and energy poverty. And EU competition law and state aid rules have historically constrained social housing provision.

    Yet social resilience — the capacity of communities to withstand and recover from crises — and, by extension market resilience, rely on these essential services. But affordable housing, universal healthcare and affordable energy for households are often not prioritised.

    Second, EU industrial policy lacks a clear definition of which sectors are “critical” and why. This results in inconsistent lists of priority industries and technologies, while foundational sectors like energy and housing often remain overlooked.

    These blind spots have real consequences. Around 40% of Europe’s workforce is employed in foundational sectors. These sectors are where low-income households spend about two-thirds of their income. Yet they often remain precarious and undervalued, leaving Europe more exposed to economic shocks.

    To build real resilience, industrial policy must reassert public control over essential services and recognise them as priorities. This means redefining what counts as “critical”, supporting jobs in foundational sectors and accelerating public investment. This investment could be enabled through measures such as reforming the fiscal rules and with joint borrowing by member states.

    The scramble for resources

    Europe is pushing for strategic autonomy (the capacity of the bloc to act in strategically important areas, without being dependent on non-member countries). The aim is to reduce reliance on imports in key industries such as green technology.

    But to make this happen, the EU should put reducing demand for resources and energy at the centre of its industrial policy. Instead, however, its Critical Raw Materials Act foresees skyrocketing consumption of rare earths, lithium and other inputs.

    This strategy is self-defeating. It increases the likelihood of European aggression towards the rest of the world and ultimately threatens long-term security and peace for all. These tensions are already surfacing. Export restrictions on things such as nickel, cobalt and rare earth minerals are multiplying. In an era of geopolitical ruptures, these tendencies are likely to intensify.

    At the same time, resource conflicts are also escalating within Europe itself. Tensions are emerging in countries including Serbia, Portugal and Greece over lithium and copper, and the environmental and social costs of mining them. And indigenous communities such as the Sámi in northern Europe face threats to their land and rights.

    This is not to argue against increasing the extraction of raw materials within Europe. However, without an absolute reduction in energy and material use, these contradictions will deepen. To avoid these problems, the EU must centre industrial policy on reducing unnecessary demand. Some key moves could include investing in public transport instead of subsidising cars, prioritising retrofitting over new building, ending planned obsolescence and backing agro-ecology over industrial farming.

    Investing in public rather than private transport will help European nations reduce their demand on energy and materials.
    The Global Guy/Shutterstock

    Research shows that this kind of strategy could significantly lower Europe’s energy use. It could also drastically cut reliance on critical imports and contribute to achieving energy independence by 2050. This is all without compromising basic quality of life.

    If Europe wants peace and security, demand reduction is a rational approach that must be at the heart of the EU’s industrial strategy. This should be adopted alongside strengthening ties of cooperation and integration with the rest of Eurasia and the global south, rather than ramping up antagonism towards these neighbours.

    Green transition

    The EU’s vision of “competitive sustainability” rests on the belief that market incentives and the private sector can drive the green transition. Yet despite decades of efficiency improvements, high-income countries have not decoupled material use and emissions from economic growth at the speed and scale required.

    The EU remains reliant on derisking – using public subsidies, guarantees and looser regulations to make green investments attractive to private finance. But as this approach leaves both the pace and direction of change to private capital, it slows the phase-out of harmful industries.

    What’s missing is more effective economic planning to restore public control over decarbonisation. Achieving this means building on existing mechanisms capable of delivering change — such as public credit guidance. This sets rules to limit the flow of finance from commercial banks to damaging sectors while directing investment toward sustainable ones.

    China offers an example whereby the central bank has used public credit guidance to shift finance to cleaner sectors. The European Central Bank also experimented with credit guidance between 2022 and 2023, introducing climate scores for companies. And post-war France used planned credit to modernise infrastructure over two decades.

    Europe and the UK are rearming, climate shocks are intensifying and global power dynamics are shifting. This moment demands a new industrial strategy — one that prioritises foundational sectors and creates fiscal space to build resilience. Reducing demand must be a prerequisite for security, peace and strategic autonomy. And reviving economic planning tools, such as public credit guidance, can accelerate the green transition.

    Without these shifts, Europe and the UK face an increasingly unstable future. Industrial policy must change because the stakes are existential.

    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. Climate, conflict and energy security – our research shows how the EU’s industrial policy must change to face this polycrisis – https://theconversation.com/climate-conflict-and-energy-security-our-research-shows-how-the-eus-industrial-policy-must-change-to-face-this-polycrisis-259477

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Climate, conflict and energy security – our research shows how the EU’s industrial policy must change to face this polycrisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Bärnthaler, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Ecological Economics, University of Leeds

    Green energy sites like Flevoland in the Netherlands will be part of the EU’s industrial future. fokke baarssen/Shutterstock

    Industrial policy is back – it’s currently central to the agendas of both the EU and the UK. This resurgence comes amid a polycrisis marked by climate breakdown, social inequality, energy insecurity and geopolitical instability. And it reflects a wider shift. Governments across G20 countries are stepping in more actively to shape their economies, moving away from the idea that markets should be left to run themselves.

    This is an important development. But current frameworks for industrial policy risk deepening the crises they are meant to solve.

    In our research with Sebastian Mang of the New Economics Foundation, we have found that in the case of the EU, its industrial policy framework is riddled with contradictions.

    It seeks resilience, yet fails to strengthen essential public services that underpin stability. It aims for strategic autonomy, yet reinforces resource dependencies. And while it gestures towards sustainability, it remains tethered to private-sector strategies that delay the phase-out of harmful industries.

    Eroding foundations

    EU industrial policy aims to strengthen the resilience of the bloc’s single market by preventing supply chain disruptions. It rightly views Europe’s economy as an interconnected ecosystem, where shocks in one sector ripple across others. But it fails to prioritise the foundational sectors that sustain everyday life. These include essential services such as food, utilities, housing, healthcare and public transport.

    Two core issues drive this failure. First, deregulation in the single market has often extended to essential services, pushing providers to operate like private businesses. For example, liberalisation of the energy sector has contributed to volatile prices and energy poverty. And EU competition law and state aid rules have historically constrained social housing provision.

    Yet social resilience — the capacity of communities to withstand and recover from crises — and, by extension market resilience, rely on these essential services. But affordable housing, universal healthcare and affordable energy for households are often not prioritised.

    Second, EU industrial policy lacks a clear definition of which sectors are “critical” and why. This results in inconsistent lists of priority industries and technologies, while foundational sectors like energy and housing often remain overlooked.

    These blind spots have real consequences. Around 40% of Europe’s workforce is employed in foundational sectors. These sectors are where low-income households spend about two-thirds of their income. Yet they often remain precarious and undervalued, leaving Europe more exposed to economic shocks.

    To build real resilience, industrial policy must reassert public control over essential services and recognise them as priorities. This means redefining what counts as “critical”, supporting jobs in foundational sectors and accelerating public investment. This investment could be enabled through measures such as reforming the fiscal rules and with joint borrowing by member states.

    The scramble for resources

    Europe is pushing for strategic autonomy (the capacity of the bloc to act in strategically important areas, without being dependent on non-member countries). The aim is to reduce reliance on imports in key industries such as green technology.

    But to make this happen, the EU should put reducing demand for resources and energy at the centre of its industrial policy. Instead, however, its Critical Raw Materials Act foresees skyrocketing consumption of rare earths, lithium and other inputs.

    This strategy is self-defeating. It increases the likelihood of European aggression towards the rest of the world and ultimately threatens long-term security and peace for all. These tensions are already surfacing. Export restrictions on things such as nickel, cobalt and rare earth minerals are multiplying. In an era of geopolitical ruptures, these tendencies are likely to intensify.

    At the same time, resource conflicts are also escalating within Europe itself. Tensions are emerging in countries including Serbia, Portugal and Greece over lithium and copper, and the environmental and social costs of mining them. And indigenous communities such as the Sámi in northern Europe face threats to their land and rights.

    This is not to argue against increasing the extraction of raw materials within Europe. However, without an absolute reduction in energy and material use, these contradictions will deepen. To avoid these problems, the EU must centre industrial policy on reducing unnecessary demand. Some key moves could include investing in public transport instead of subsidising cars, prioritising retrofitting over new building, ending planned obsolescence and backing agro-ecology over industrial farming.

    Investing in public rather than private transport will help European nations reduce their demand on energy and materials.
    The Global Guy/Shutterstock

    Research shows that this kind of strategy could significantly lower Europe’s energy use. It could also drastically cut reliance on critical imports and contribute to achieving energy independence by 2050. This is all without compromising basic quality of life.

    If Europe wants peace and security, demand reduction is a rational approach that must be at the heart of the EU’s industrial strategy. This should be adopted alongside strengthening ties of cooperation and integration with the rest of Eurasia and the global south, rather than ramping up antagonism towards these neighbours.

    Green transition

    The EU’s vision of “competitive sustainability” rests on the belief that market incentives and the private sector can drive the green transition. Yet despite decades of efficiency improvements, high-income countries have not decoupled material use and emissions from economic growth at the speed and scale required.

    The EU remains reliant on derisking – using public subsidies, guarantees and looser regulations to make green investments attractive to private finance. But as this approach leaves both the pace and direction of change to private capital, it slows the phase-out of harmful industries.

    What’s missing is more effective economic planning to restore public control over decarbonisation. Achieving this means building on existing mechanisms capable of delivering change — such as public credit guidance. This sets rules to limit the flow of finance from commercial banks to damaging sectors while directing investment toward sustainable ones.

    China offers an example whereby the central bank has used public credit guidance to shift finance to cleaner sectors. The European Central Bank also experimented with credit guidance between 2022 and 2023, introducing climate scores for companies. And post-war France used planned credit to modernise infrastructure over two decades.

    Europe and the UK are rearming, climate shocks are intensifying and global power dynamics are shifting. This moment demands a new industrial strategy — one that prioritises foundational sectors and creates fiscal space to build resilience. Reducing demand must be a prerequisite for security, peace and strategic autonomy. And reviving economic planning tools, such as public credit guidance, can accelerate the green transition.

    Without these shifts, Europe and the UK face an increasingly unstable future. Industrial policy must change because the stakes are existential.

    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. Climate, conflict and energy security – our research shows how the EU’s industrial policy must change to face this polycrisis – https://theconversation.com/climate-conflict-and-energy-security-our-research-shows-how-the-eus-industrial-policy-must-change-to-face-this-polycrisis-259477

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why experts expect Russian interference in upcoming election on Ukraine’s borders

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    When Moldovans go to the polls in parliamentary elections on September 28, it will be the third time in less than a year – after a referendum on future EU membership and presidential elections last autumn.

    In both of the recent elections pro-European forces scraped to victory, thanks to a strong turnout among Moldovan diaspora voters, primarily in western Europe and north America. And in both elections, Russian interference was a significant factor. This is unlikely to change in the upcoming parliamentary vote. Moldova is too important a battleground in Russia’s campaign to rebuild a Soviet-style sphere of influence in eastern Europe.

    Wedged between EU and Nato member Romania to the west and Ukraine to the east, Moldova has its own aspirations for EU accession. But with a breakaway region in Transnistria, which is host to a Russian military base and “peacekeeping force” and whose population is leaning heavily towards Russia, this will not be a straightforward path to membership.

    What’s more, a Euro-sceptic and Moscow-friendly government after the next elections might allow the Kremlin to increase its military presence in the region and thereby pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to Romania. While not quite equivalent to Russia’s unsinkable aircraft carrier of Kaliningrad, a more Russia-friendly Moldovan government would be a major strategic asset for Moscow.

    Unsurprisingly, Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, and her Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky have little doubt that further destabilisation is at the top of Russia’s agenda. Fears about a Russian escalation in the months before the elections are neither new nor unfounded.

    There were worries that Moldova and Transnistria might be next on the Kremlin’s agenda as far back as the aftermath of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. These worries resurfaced when Moscow, rather prematurely, announced the beginning of stage two of its war against Ukraine in late April, 2022.

    Russia’s hopes of capturing all of southern Ukraine may not have materialised yet, but they are not off the Kremlin’s agenda. And a track record of false-flag operations in Transnistria and a coup attempt in Moldova do not bode well in the run-up to the elections.

    Knife-edge elections are nothing new in Moldova. The country is not only physically divided along the river Nistru, but even in the territory controlled by the government, opinions over its future geopolitical orientation remain split.

    With no pre-1991 history of independent statehood, parts of Moldova were part of Ukraine, Romania and the Soviet Union. Russian is widely spoken and, while declining in number, Moldovan labour migrants to Russia remain important contributors of remittances, which accounted for over 12 percent of the country’s GDP in 2023.

    A large number of Moldovans are, therefore, not keen on severing all ties with Russia. This does not mean they are supporters of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine or opponents of closer relations with the European Union. But as the referendum and presidential elections in October 2024, if pushed to make a choice between Russia and Europe and manipulated by Russian fear-mongering and vote buying, pro-European majorities remain slim.

    This is despite the significant support that the EU has provided to Moldova, including €1.9 billion (£1.6 billion) in financial support to facilitate reforms as part of the country’s efforts to join the EU. And there’s also nearly €200 million in military assistance over the past four years, including a €20 million package for improved air defences announced in April.

    Russian interference in the 2024 election was well documented.

    The EU has also provided several emergency aid packages to assist the country’s population during repeated energy crises triggered by Russia. Since then, the Moldovans and Brussels have agreed on comprehensive energy strategy that will make the country immune to Russian blackmail.

    This pattern of competitive influence seeking by Russia and the EU is long-standing and has not produced any decisive, lasting breakthroughs for either side.

    When the current president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, won in 2020, she defeated her opponent, Igor Dodon, by a decisive 58% to 42% margin, equivalent to some 250,000 votes that separated the candidates in the second round. Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) obtained almost 53% of votes in the 2021 parliamentary elections and gained 63 seats in the 101-seat parliament. Not since the 2005 elections, won by the communist party under then-president Vladimir Voronin, had there been a a majority single-party government in Moldova. According to current opinion polls, PAS remains the strongest party with levels of support between 27% and 37%.

    In a crowded field of political parties and their leaders in which disappointment and doubt are the prevailing negative emotions among the electorate, Sandu and PAS remain the least unpopular choices. They have weathered the fall-out from the war in Ukraine well so far – managing the influx of refugees, keeping relations with Transnistria stable, and steering Moldova through a near-constant cost-of-living and energy crisis. Anti-government protests in 2022-23 eventually fizzled out.

    Russia’s election interference in 2024 was ultimately not successful in cheating pro-European voters out of their victories in the presidential elections and the referendum on future EU membership. But this is unlikely to stop the Kremlin from trying again in the run-up to parliamentary elections in September.

    Moscow will try to disrupt and delay Moldova’s already bumpy road to EU membership. A weakened pro-European government after parliamentary elections would be a very useful tool for Russia. Moldova and its European allies are in for an unusually hot summer.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. Why experts expect Russian interference in upcoming election on Ukraine’s borders – https://theconversation.com/why-experts-expect-russian-interference-in-upcoming-election-on-ukraines-borders-258445

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The psychology of debt in Squid Game – and what your love or hatred of the show means

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Edward White, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Kingston University

    “Mister. Would you like to play a game with me?” These seemingly innocuous words to debt-ridden Gi-hun (Lee Jung-Jae) by a mysterious recruiter (Gong-Yoo) lead him to an opportunity for financial salvation – at the expense of human lives, including possibly his own.

    Squid Game’s third and final season has now been released, and fans can’t wait to see more green tracksuits and brutal games. But here’s what’s really driving the obsession: the show perfectly captures how financial stress warps our minds. It reveals the dark psychology of how money problems affect every decision we make.

    As a researcher studying the intersection of cognitive psychology and media dissemination, I’ve been fascinated by Squid Game’s unprecedented global impact. My work on how emotional regulation affects decision-making and moral reasoning provides a unique lens for understanding why this particular show resonated so powerfully with audiences worldwide. Especially during a time of economic uncertainty.

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

    Scientists have discovered that financial stress decreases cognitive function. Recent research analysing more than 111,000 people found that financial stress reduced their performance when completing basic tasks.

    This isn’t about poorer people being less intelligent, but rather an effect called “bandwidth hijacking” that causes mental fatigue when worrying about rent and debt. Worrying about unpaid bills mean less processing power is left for anything else, including moral reasoning and long-term thinking.

    Sounds familiar? This research is brought to life in Squid Game. Take Sang-woo, (Park Hae-soo) in season one. The brilliant Seoul National University graduate’s crippling debt (caused by bad investments) leads him to become a participant in the brutal Squid Games. Abandoning the etiquette of his high-flying circles, he manipulates and maliciously betrays fellow contestant Ali (Anupam Tripathi) in the marble game, pushes a man to his death on the glass bridge, and ultimately tries to kill his childhood friend, Gi-hun.

    Sang-woo’s intelligence becomes laser-focused on survival, leaving no mental space for the moral reasoning that would typically guide his decisions.

    The trailer for Squid Game season three.

    Squid Game shows how financial desperation dehumanises people. Bodies have piled up throughout the seasons, but the players barely react to the carnage. They’re transfixed by something else entirely: the digital display showing their prize money growing with each death.

    Such reminders of the financial stakes lead to reduced requests for help and reduced help towards others. This “tunnel vision” phenomenon occurs in real life too, leading to the abandonment of empathy and moral considerations.

    Sang-woo doesn’t betray Ali because he’s evil – he does it because financial desperation has hijacked his moral reasoning. Look at Ali’s face during the marble game: confused, trusting, unable to process that his “hyung” (older brother, a term of respect) would manipulate him. Ali represents what we lose when desperation turns humans into competitors rather than a community.

    Even Gi-hun, the supposed moral centre of the show, experiences this. When he and elderly contestant Il-nam (O Yeong-su) play marbles, Gi-hun lies and manipulates the old man he’s grown to care about. The extreme pressure – both financial and mortal – has consumed so much of his cognitive bandwidth that even basic human compassion becomes secondary to survival.

    Why we couldn’t look away

    Squid Game season one premiered during the COVID pandemic when millions around the world faced unemployment, eviction and financial ruin. Suddenly, extreme economic scenarios didn’t feel so remote. Audiences weren’t just watching entertainment – they saw their own psychological struggles reflected back at them.

    The show has been such a success because it reveals uncomfortable truths about how money doesn’t just change what we can do, but fundamentally alters who we become when survival depends on it.

    Every character in Squid Game represents a different response to economic trauma. Take season one. Gi-hun tries to maintain his humanity but repeatedly compromises (lying to his mother about money, manipulating Il-nam). Sang-woo sacrifices everything for survival (from securities fraud to literal murder). And some find strength in solidarity, as in Sae-byeok (HoYeon Jung) and Ji-yeong’s (Lee Yoo-mi) heartbreaking marble game, where Ji-yeong deliberately loses because Sae-byeok has more to live for.

    The genius is in the details. Players refer to each other by numbers instead of names, a metaphor for how economic systems reduce humans to data points. The guards wear masks, becoming faceless enforcers of the system. Even the organ-harvesting subplot shows how far commodification can go, turning human bodies into black market goods.

    Three seasons later, Squid Game itself has become a commodity. Netflix turned an anti-capitalist critique into a billion-dollar franchise, complete with reality TV spinoffs that recreate the exploitation of the show (without the murder!) in real life. Game shows offer high-risk, high-reward opportunities, where people admire the boldness and accept that unethical behaviour should not be vilified but encouraged.

    The spectacle of humiliation is normalised by the genre’s focus on competition and transformation. Failure becomes entertainment, as is echoed in the show itself by the VIPs who, so bored with their wealth, place bets on human lives for “fun”.

    Research has also found that people who enjoy reality TV are more likely to feel self-important, vindicated, or free from moral constraints. They are attracted to shows that stimulate these values.

    What your Squid Game obsession or hatred means

    If you’re fascinated by Squid Game, it isn’t just morbid curiosity at play – it’s recognition. On some level, it’s likely that you understand that the psychological pressure cooker of the games reflects real mechanisms happening in your own life when money gets tight.

    If you found yourself repulsed by the violence or bored by the hype, your reaction may reveal something important about how you process economic anxiety. Research on adult viewers shows that people with stronger financial security and emotional regulation are more likely to avoid media content that triggers economic stress responses. Others dismiss it as “unrealistic” – what psychologists call “optimism-bias”, where you may unconsciously distance yourself from economic vulnerability.

    Modern research confirms that financial scarcity creates measurable changes in how we think, plan and relate to others. The show’s genius was amplifying these subtle psychological effects to their logical extreme.

    In a world where economic inequality continues to rise, Squid Game isn’t just entertainment – it’s a mirror for our collective financial anxieties.

    Edward White is affiliated with Kingston University.

    – ref. The psychology of debt in Squid Game – and what your love or hatred of the show means – https://theconversation.com/the-psychology-of-debt-in-squid-game-and-what-your-love-or-hatred-of-the-show-means-259941

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia produces hundreds of thousands of fiber-optic drones every month.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    As part of a working visit to the Novgorod Region, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, together with Acting Governor of the Region Alexander Dronov, familiarized himself with the activities of industrial enterprises in the region.

    “Our industry demonstrates sustainable growth from year to year. Thank you and the Federal Ministry of Industry and Trade for your support, all our requests find a response from your colleagues,” stressed Acting Governor of the Novgorod Region Alexander Dronov.

    The First Deputy Prime Minister visited one of the production sites of the fiber-optic drones “Prince Vandal Novgorodsky”. The drone, developed in Novgorod land, was first used in the SVO in August 2024 in the Kursk direction and is currently the most effective fpv drone in the world in terms of cost/effectiveness. During its use in the SVO zone, the KVN drone destroyed enemy equipment worth more than $2 billion. The production of fiber-optic drones in Russia is growing, and today domestic enterprises can produce hundreds of thousands of such drones per month, fully satisfying any needs of the Armed Forces.

    During a visit to JSC Special Design and Technology Bureau for Relay Technology, part of the Ruselectronics holding company of the Rostec state corporation, the First Deputy Prime Minister was presented with innovative serial products of the enterprise, as well as promising projects for the creation of modern domestic electronic components based on materials and components manufactured in Russia.

    Among the new products of SKTB RT is a line of microwave modules. The devices, which will replace American, German and French analogues, are capable of withstanding multiple impacts with acceleration up to 50g and operating at temperatures from -60 to 85 degrees Celsius. It is important to note that the use of a modern domestic electronic component base reduces the price of new microwave modules by 40-55% compared to foreign analogues.

    Another enterprise included in the working trip was the branch of the scientific and production corporation “Precision Instrument-Making Systems” in Veliky Novgorod, which is involved in the development and production of electronic modules and units for systems for measuring the parameters of space objects’ movement, hardware and software systems for providing the GLONASS global navigation system, as well as inter-satellite laser systems for exchanging broadband information.

    The First Deputy Prime Minister, in particular, was shown other products of the enterprise: serial production of microprocessor knee modules “Active-2” for people with lower limb amputations has been launched here.

    Denis Manturov visited the site of the innovative scientific and technological center “Intelligent Electronics – Valdai”, created on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin in 2021. The territory of the INTC houses the advanced engineering school of Novgorod University, the programming school from Sber “School 21”, as well as about 60 residents of the center, including companies from the fields of radio electronics, control system software, and the industrial Internet of things.

    As part of the construction of the new stage of the ISTC, which is planned to be completed in 2026, a new laboratory building for semiconductor materials science will be created. Research and development of high-performance heterostructures for the modern electronics industry based on semiconductor materials will be organized there, as well as a full cycle of production of microassemblies and microcircuits – from processing silicon substrates to casing and packaging finished products.

    “Novgorod enterprises are involved in the production of products for the implementation of special military operation tasks. As part of the diversification of production, these same enterprises are actively developing the production of civilian products, and the university where we are today works in close cooperation with them,” Denis Manturov noted, summing up the results of the working trip.

    The First Deputy Prime Minister also instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to study the possibility of recapitalizing the regional industrial development fund of the Novgorod region to support projects for the production of high-tech products.

    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 Russia: The Dissertation Council, united with the V.G. Shukhov BSTU, held a meeting at the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On June 27, 2025, a meeting of the joint dissertation council for the scientific specialty 2.9.9. “Logistics transport systems” was held at the State University of Management, created on the basis of the State University of Management and the Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov.

    The meeting was chaired by the chairman of the joint dissertation council, rector of the BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov Sergey Glagolev. The event was attended by 12 members of the dissertation council, 10 of them in person. Also present at the meeting were invited experts, including the vice-rector of the State University of Management Maria Karelina.

    The agenda included the issues of accepting for preliminary consideration two dissertations on the topic of “Method of Ensuring the Unity of Performance Measures for Various Types of Transport in Logistics Transport Systems” and “Development of Passenger Transportation in an Integrated Logistics Transport System of a Megacity Based on a Contact Schedule”, submitted for the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences in the specialty 2.9.9. Logistics Transport Systems.

    At the request of the chairman of the dissertation council, commissions were appointed to conduct a preliminary examination of the applicants’ works. The academic secretary familiarized the council members with the conclusion of the preliminary examination and reported on the documents submitted by the applicants for an academic degree. The council unanimously decided to accept the dissertations of Nikolai Solovyov and Irina Rybakova for preliminary consideration.

    The members of the dissertation council also held a preliminary hearing of dissertation research for the academic degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences and for the academic degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences.

    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 –

  • Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary unveils report on transforming India’s workforce

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudharybon Friday unveiled a report titled “Skills for the Future: Transforming India’s Workforce Landscape” in New. Developed by the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), the report offers a comprehensive analysis of India’s skills ecosystem, emphasizing the need for a demand-driven, market-aligned, and outcome-oriented approach to skilling.

    Speaking at the event, Chaudhary highlighted the importance of aligning skilling initiatives with industry needs and evolving workforce demands. He emphasized that skilling should not be viewed solely as a supply-side intervention but as a holistic ecosystem that bridges education, vocational training, and industry requirements. He also proposed the development of a robust employability index to monitor the impact of education and skilling on youth employment in a rapidly changing economic and technological landscape. Additionally, he stressed the value of recognizing informal and experiential learning to strengthen pathways between education and industry.

    The report, an independent effort by IFC, draws on publicly available data, including unit-level analysis from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24. It reveals that 88% of India’s workforce is engaged in low-competency occupations, with only 10-12% in high-competency roles. The report identifies five key sectors—IT and ITeS, Textile and Apparel, Electronics, Healthcare and Life Sciences, and Beauty and Wellness—that account for over 66% of vocational training in India. Using a Competitiveness Framework Analysis, it also highlights five high-potential regions for these sectors, integrating data from PLFS, the PMKVY 4.0 dashboard, Sector Skill Councils, and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to assess training, certification, and industry alignment.

    Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), commended the IFC’s efforts, underscoring the need for a robust body of academic literature on skilling supported by data and evidence. He called for deeper exploration of structural changes in the skilling, education, and work continuum to drive meaningful reforms.

  • Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary unveils report on transforming India’s workforce

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudharybon Friday unveiled a report titled “Skills for the Future: Transforming India’s Workforce Landscape” in New. Developed by the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), the report offers a comprehensive analysis of India’s skills ecosystem, emphasizing the need for a demand-driven, market-aligned, and outcome-oriented approach to skilling.

    Speaking at the event, Chaudhary highlighted the importance of aligning skilling initiatives with industry needs and evolving workforce demands. He emphasized that skilling should not be viewed solely as a supply-side intervention but as a holistic ecosystem that bridges education, vocational training, and industry requirements. He also proposed the development of a robust employability index to monitor the impact of education and skilling on youth employment in a rapidly changing economic and technological landscape. Additionally, he stressed the value of recognizing informal and experiential learning to strengthen pathways between education and industry.

    The report, an independent effort by IFC, draws on publicly available data, including unit-level analysis from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24. It reveals that 88% of India’s workforce is engaged in low-competency occupations, with only 10-12% in high-competency roles. The report identifies five key sectors—IT and ITeS, Textile and Apparel, Electronics, Healthcare and Life Sciences, and Beauty and Wellness—that account for over 66% of vocational training in India. Using a Competitiveness Framework Analysis, it also highlights five high-potential regions for these sectors, integrating data from PLFS, the PMKVY 4.0 dashboard, Sector Skill Councils, and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to assess training, certification, and industry alignment.

    Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), commended the IFC’s efforts, underscoring the need for a robust body of academic literature on skilling supported by data and evidence. He called for deeper exploration of structural changes in the skilling, education, and work continuum to drive meaningful reforms.