NewzIntel.com

Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Flames to floods: how Europe’s devastating wildfires are fuelling its next climate crisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ioanna Stamataki, Senior Lecturer in Hydraulics and Water Engineering, University of Greenwich

    In recent years, I have all too often found myself passing over an active wildfire when flying from London to my family home in Greece during the summer months. The sky glows an eerie, apocalyptic red, and the scent of smoke fills the cabin. Silence falls as we become unwilling witnesses to a tragic spectacle.

    Now wildfires are again raging across the Mediterranean. But the flames themselves are only part of the story. As wildfires become more intense and frequent, they’re setting off a dangerous chain reaction – one that also includes a rising risk of devastating floods.

    Author’s photo from a plane landing in Athens last summer.
    Ioanna Stamataki

    In January 2024, Nasa reported that climate change is intensifying wildfire conditions, noting that the frequency of the most extreme wildfires had more than doubled over the past two decades. While some of this is driven by natural weather variability, human-induced warming is clearly playing a major role. Decades of rising temperatures combined with longer and more severe droughts have created ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread.

    This year, another brutal Mediterranean wildfire season is unfolding right before our eyes, with numerous active wildfire fronts across the region. As of July 22 2025, 237,153 hectares have burned in the EU – an increase of nearly 78% from the same period last year. The number of fires rose by about 45%, and CO₂ emissions increased by 23% compared to 2024. These are terrifying statistics.

    Climate phenomena are closely interconnected

    The fires themselves are bad enough. But they’re also closely connected to other climate-related extremes, including floods.

    Natural hazards often trigger chain reactions, turning one disaster into many. In the case of floods, wildfires play a big role both through weather patterns and how the land responds to rain.

    On the weather side, higher temperatures lead to more extreme rainfall, as warmer air can hold more moisture and fuels stronger storms. Intense wildfires can sometimes get so hot they generate their own weather systems, like pyrocumulus clouds – towering storm clouds formed by heat, smoke and water vapour. These clouds can spark sudden, localised storms during or shortly after the fire.

    The damage doesn’t end when the flames die down. Satellite data shows that burned land can remain up to 10°C hotter for nearly a year, due to lost vegetation and damaged soil.

    As the world warms, the atmosphere is able to hold about 7% more moisture for every extra degree. Recent temperatures of 40°C or more in Greece suggest a capacity for more downpours and more flooding.

    Greece is getting hotter and hotter (Each stripe represents one year, with blue indicating cooler and red indicating warmer than the 1961-2010 average).
    Ed Hawkins / Show Your Stripes (Data: Berkeley Earth & ERA5-Land), CC BY-SA

    Wildfires also make the land itself more vulnerable to flooding. Burnt areas respond much faster to rain, as there is less vegetation to slow down the water. Wildfires also change the soil structure, often making it water-repellent. This means more water runs off the surface, erosion increases, and it takes less rain to trigger a flood.

    Under these conditions, a storm expected once every ten years can cause the sort of catastrophic flooding expected only every 100 to 200 years. Water moves much faster across scorched landscapes without plants to slow it down. Wildfires also leave behind a lot of debris, which can be swept up by fast-moving floodwaters.

    While EU-wide data on post-wildfire flood risk is still limited, various case studies from southern Europe offer strong evidence of the connection. In Spain’s Ebro River Basin, for example, research found that if emissions remain high and climate policy is limited, wildfires will increase the probability of high flood risk by 10%.

    Nature’s ability to regenerate is nothing short of magical, but recovering from a wildfire takes time. Burnt soil takes years to return to normal and, during that time, the risks of extreme rainfall are higher. Beyond the impact of wildfires on soil and water, it is important not to overlook the devastating loss of plant and animal species or even entire ecosystems, making the natural world less biodiverse and resilient.

    To reduce the frequency and severity of extreme events, we must focus on repairing climate damage. This means moving beyond isolated perspectives and adopting a multi-hazard approach that recognises how disasters are connected.

    Flooding after wildfires is just one example of how one crisis can trigger another. We need to recognise these cascading risks and focus on long-term resilience over short-term fixes.

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

    Ioanna Stamataki currently receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust and the Royal Society for ongoing flood research. Previous research has been supported by the EPSRC and the Newton Fund (via the British Council) for career development and international collaboration.

    – ref. Flames to floods: how Europe’s devastating wildfires are fuelling its next climate crisis – https://theconversation.com/flames-to-floods-how-europes-devastating-wildfires-are-fuelling-its-next-climate-crisis-262204

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Announces 114 Appointments to Boards, Authorities, and Commissions

    Source: US State of Georgia

    Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced 114 appointments and reappointments to various state boards, authorities, and commissions.

    Georgia Composite Medical Board

    Srenni Gangasani and David Retterbush were reappointed.

    Kamesha Harbison is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist serving the South Columbus community. She has provided women’s health care in the Chattahoochee Valley for over a decade, delivering comprehensive OB/GYN services and assisting with more than 1,000 births. She has also led community health initiatives, including organizing prenatal education and resource events for expectant mothers. Harbison began her career as a high school biology and chemistry teacher after earning a B.S. and M.Ed. from Xavier University of Louisiana. She later earned her medical degree from the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and completed her OB/GYN residency at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. As an educator, she developed a mentoring program to address adolescent health, hygiene, and goal setting—laying the foundation for her transition into women’s healthcare. She is recognized for her commitment to patient education, community outreach, and improving health outcomes for women across the region.

    State Workforce Development Board

    Bárbara Rivera Holmes was sworn in as the 11th Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor and the state’s first Latina constitutional officer on April 4, 2025, by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Holmes’ extensive experience includes appointments by former Gov. Nathan Deal to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, which oversees Georgia’s 26 public colleges and universities, and by former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as co-chair of the Georgia Innovates Task Force, which helped design the state’s technology blueprint. A former journalist, Holmes has earned awards for excellence in journalism from the Georgia Associated Press. She holds degrees in journalism and Spanish from Florida Southern College and studied at Estudio Sampere Internacional in Spain. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Holmes resides in Albany with her husband, David, and their daughter.

    Steve Bradshaw served eight years on the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. First elected in 2016, he was re-elected in 2020 without opposition. During his tenure, he was twice unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as Presiding Officer of the Board. He also chaired several key committees, including Finance, Audit and Budget; Public Works and Infrastructure; and County Operations. Prior to public service, Bradshaw spent more than 15 years in the private sector in operations management and business development roles, most recently as business development manager for Delta Global Staffing, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. Bradshaw began his professional career as a U.S. Army officer as a tank commander. He served in both domestic and international assignments, including deployment to the Middle East during the First Persian Gulf War. His final military post was as a leadership instructor at the Army Officer Candidate School. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia State University and later served as an adjunct professor in the university’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, teaching both undergraduate and graduate students.

    Hearing Panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission

    Richard Hyde was reappointed.

    Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians

    Cicely Thomas was reappointed.

    Alison Sturgill is a licensed and registered dietitian with over a decade of clinical experience specializing in oncology nutrition. She currently serves as a clinical dietitian IV at the Emory Proton Therapy Center, where she provides medical nutrition therapy to patients undergoing radiation treatment for various cancers. Previously, she held a similar role at Emory University Hospital, where she led inpatient oncology nutrition care and served as a preceptor and educator for dietetic interns. Sturgill holds both a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Murray State University and is a Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO). Her work has been published in the Journal of Nursing Care Quality, and she remains active in multiple professional organizations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt Warm Springs Memorial Advisory Committee

    Eric Bentley is retired from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources with over three decades of service to Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, including a deep and enduring connection to the Little White House State Historic Site. A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in forest resources, Bentley began his career at Unicoi State Park before serving in various leadership roles, including park manager at Kolomoki Mounds and Fort Yargo. He was named Manager of the Year in 2009 and later served as Region 3 Manager, where he oversaw operations at the Little White House and F.D. Roosevelt State Park, secured funding, and strengthened partnerships with the Advisory Committee. From 2019 until his retirement in 2022, Bentley served as Assistant Director of State Parks, continuing to advocate for the Little White House and playing a key role in advancing major preservation projects.

    Board of Juvenile Justice

    Lisa Colbert was reappointed.

    State Board of Veterinary Medicine

    Jessica Sewell was reappointed.

    Employee Benefit Plan Council

    Courtney Ware and Christopher Wells were reappointed.

    Angelique McClendon was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) on May 1, 2025. She joined DDS as General Counsel in 2015 and was later promoted to Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Legal and Regulatory Affairs. Her legal career began in 2005 as an assistant solicitor in DeKalb County, followed by her service as an assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia from 2008 to 2015, where she represented public safety agencies, including DDS.  McClendon has provided legal guidance on major state initiatives, including Georgia’s Digital Driver’s License, and is a recognized expert on identity management, digital credentials, and data privacy. She has held leadership roles with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), helping shape national policy and best practices in driver’s license administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law.

    Board of Community Affairs

    Kwanza Hall, Donna Armstrong Lackey, and Charlie Maddox were reappointed.

    State Board of Technical College System of Georgia

    Mike Long, Fran Millar, and Lisa Winton were reappointed.

    North Georgia Mountains Authority

    Jeff Andrews, Randy Dellinger, Patrick Denney, Dan Garcia, and Paul Shailendra were reappointed.

    State Board of Podiatry Examiners

    Rupal Gupta is a board-certified podiatrist with over 20 years of clinical, academic, and administrative experience. She currently practices at Ankle and Foot Centers of America and has held leadership roles in both hospital and professional association settings, including serving as president of the Georgia Podiatric Medical Association and department chief at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Gupta completed her residency at Jackson North Medical Center, where she received advanced training in surgical and non-surgical foot and ankle care, trauma, and wound management. She holds a Doctorate in podiatric medicine from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree from Emory University. Dedicated to advancing podiatric medicine and public health, she has been an active advocate for clinical standards and evidence-based policy and continues to serve on various hospital committees and community initiatives.

    Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority

    Daniel Dooley and Lauren Talley were reappointed.

    Georgia Rural Development Council

    Robert “Bob” Ray, Jr. is managing member of Ray Family Farms, LLC, where he and his siblings continue six generations and over 200 years of family farming, now focused on pecan production and pine timber. Before returning full-time to agriculture, Ray served for 15 years as President and CEO of Flint Energies. Ray’s public service includes his tenure as Assistant Secretary of State and Chief Operating Officer under Secretary of State Cathy Cox, where he directed agency operations and intergovernmental affairs. Earlier in his career, he was legislative director for the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation and also worked as a corporate lending officer with NCNB National Bank. He holds a bachelor’s in finance from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Ray has served in leadership roles with Georgia EMC, Green Power EMC, GRESCO, and Leadership Georgia, and remains active in agricultural and community organizations statewide.

    Georgia Commission on the Holocaust

    Jon Barry is President and Founder of Spectrum Maintenance Services and leads the company’s marketing and growth strategies. His career in commercial real estate spans four decades, including extensive experience in all aspects of brokerage and property management. Initially formed to support Barry’s shopping center management platform, SMS has grown to become Atlanta’s leading full-service property maintenance company. Barry previously served on the Board of Advisors of the Kennesaw State University Entrepreneurship Center, is a member of CEO NetWeavers, and has served as mentor to numerous rising professionals.

    Georgia Ports Authority

    James Allgood, Jr., Leda Chong, and Doug Hertz were reappointed.

    Georgia Student Finance Commission Board of Commissioners

    John Loud, Sarah Hawthorne, Ed Pease, and David Perez were reappointed.

    State Board of Accountancy

    Emily Farrell and Todd Tolbert were reappointed.

    Carlton Hodges is a certified public accountant with more than four decades of experience in public accounting, specializing in tax compliance and audit services. He began his career in 1980 with SRLS, where he advanced to Tax Manager following a merger with Price Waterhouse. His practice focuses on business, individual, fiduciary, and nonprofit tax returns, as well as audit and accounting engagements in sectors such as construction, services, and government-assisted entities. Carlton holds Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in finance and accounting from Armstrong State College. He is a member of both the Georgia Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs, and serves on the board and leadership council of the Georgia Society, where he also chairs the GSCPA Insurance Trust. His civic involvement includes prior service as a Pooler City Councilman, treasurer of the Savannah-Chatham MPC, and leadership roles with the Armstrong Foundation and Rotary Club of Savannah West.

    State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

    Trent Turk was reappointed.

    Board of Commissioners of the Sheriffs’ Retirement Fund of Georgia

    Billy Hancock and Dan Kilgore were reappointed.

    Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority

    Bill Shanks and Earl Wright were reappointed.

    Phil Schaefer is an award-winning sportscaster whose career spans more than five decades across basketball, football, baseball, and golf. He was the voice of UGA basketball for 17 years, called Atlanta Hawks games for five seasons, and served as a CBS Radio broadcaster for the NCAA Tournament for 20 years. In football, he spent 16 years as UGA’s color commentator, 10 years as the voice of the Peach Bowl, and 20 years as public address announcer for the Atlanta Falcons. Schaefer also covered the Braves for 39 years and the Masters Tournament for 55 consecutive years, earning the Masters Major Achievement Award in 2010. A three-time Georgia Sportscaster of the Year, Schaefer held leadership roles at WSB Radio and later served as Athletic Coordinator for the DeKalb County School System. He is a member of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and has received over 40 national and regional journalism awards, including a Peabody. He holds degrees from Ohio State University and Georgia State University and is the author of Sins of a Southern Sportscaster.

    Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

    Deb Bailey, Amanda Owens, Bill Slaughter, Jean Sumner, and Jimmy Thomas were reappointed.

    Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board

    Margaret Molony and Robin Osborne were reappointed.

    Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission

    Greg Garrett and Mary Ellen Imlay were reappointed.

    Stephen Lawson is a principal in Dentons’ Regulatory, Public Policy, and Government Affairs practice in Atlanta, with nearly 15 years of experience in public affairs, communications, and political strategy. He has advised Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, trade associations, and elected officials on complex issues including policy strategy, crisis management, media relations, and advocacy. Prior to joining Dentons, Lawson was president of Full Focus Communications, a public affairs firm based in Atlanta. He has served in senior advisory roles for high-profile public officials, including Florida Governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis, and in Georgia for Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Congressman Mike Collins, and Speaker of the House Jon Burns.

    George Levert is a retired venture capitalist with more than two decades of experience in technology investment. He was a Founding Partner of Kinetic Ventures, where he led investments in telecommunications, network automation, and internet technologies. He served on the boards of more than a dozen venture-backed companies, including Metricom, Pathfire, and Proficient Networks. Prior to his career in venture capital, he held roles with Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Accenture, Boeing, and the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps during the Vietnam War. Levert holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Louisiana Tech University and an M.S. in management from Georgia Tech. He has served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards, including the Georgia Tech Foundation, Catholic Charities of Atlanta, the Atlanta Opera, and the American Red Cross. He is also a former board member of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and the Museum of the American Indian. Levert has endowed multiple scholarships and leadership awards and remains active in philanthropic, educational, and faith-based organizations. He and his wife, Dale, live in Atlanta and have two sons and two granddaughters.

    Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority

    Bert Brantley, Martin Miller, and Pritpal Singh were reappointed.

    Board of Human Services

    Lisa Hamilton, Scott Johnson, and Jack Williams were reappointed.

    Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

    Nancy Bills, Denise Downer-McKinney, Ron Freeman, Scotty Hancock, and Joe Hood were reappointed.

    Board of Public Health

    James Curran, Lucky Jain, Mitch Rodriguez, Ryan Shin, and T.E. Valliere-White were reappointed.

    Professional Standards Commission

    Angela Byrne has over 11 years of teaching experience in public and private schools. She currently teaches ESOL to K–6 students at Anna K. Davie Elementary in Rome City Schools, where she has served for the past six years. Her previous roles include teaching kindergarten, fourth, and fifth grade. She holds certifications in Elementary Education and Middle Grades Math and Science, with endorsements in ESOL and Online Teaching. She has received the Rome City Schools Central Office Support Employee of the Year and the Anna K. Davie Star Teacher Award. Byrne lives in Rome, Georgia, with her husband, Lewis, and their three children.

    Christy Edwards is an elementary educator with 14 years of experience in the Hall County School System. She currently serves as the Language Lab Teacher at Tadmore Elementary, focusing on data-driven instruction and student performance. She previously taught second, fourth, and fifth grades, as well as Early Intervention Program (EIP) support. She holds a B.S. in early childhood education from the University of North Georgia and an ESOL endorsement from Pioneer RESA. Edwards has served as a Leadership Team member, RTI representative, and professional learning facilitator.

    Zach Miller is a certified elementary educator currently teaching reading, science, and social studies at Roan School in Dalton. He holds a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from Dalton State College and is certified in Early Childhood Education (P-5), with endorsements in ESOL and K–5 Mathematics. Named Teacher of the Year at Roan School in 2025, Miller focuses on a student-centered approach that integrates project-based learning and relationship-building to drive academic success. He founded the District Elementary Soccer Tournament and mentors students through Soccer for Success. He also leads Roan’s Soccer and Disc Golf Clubs, coordinates the Social Studies Bee, and partners with local nonprofits to support families in need. Miller is active in his church, serving as vice chairman of the deacons at Fellowship Bible Church and leading the soccer portion of Grace Presbyterian Church’s summer sports camp.

    State Rehabilitation Council

    Jo Ellen Hancock is a long-serving advocate and leader in the fields of special education, behavioral health, and community engagement. Since 2005, she has served as the parent mentor for special education with the Cherokee County School District, supporting families and fostering collaboration between schools and parents of students with disabilities. She holds multiple leadership roles across state and local behavioral health organizations, including chair of the Statewide Leadership Council and immediate past chair of the Region 1 Advisory Council for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). She also serves on the Georgia Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council and the Behavioral Health Services Coalition. Hancock is a certified peer specialist – parent and currently chairs the Cherokee County Local Interagency Planning Team (LIPT), where she has led efforts to coordinate services for children with complex needs since 2018. She serves on the advisory board for NAMI Georgia and is communications chair for the Holly Springs Optimist Club.

    Charity Roberts assumed the position of State Director (IDEA) for the Office of Federal Programs Division for Exceptional Children on January 1, 2025. She is a quadruple Eagle from Georgia Southern University, obtaining her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education. She completed a specialist and doctorate degree in educational leadership. She is certified in multiple fields within general and special education, such as elementary education, reading (P-8), special education preschool, physical and health disabilities, and P-12 special education adaptive and general curriculum. Roberts has over 30 years of experience in special education instruction and leadership in a variety of roles. After serving as a special education teacher, she became a district director of special education. From there, Roberts provided leadership support as a GLRS Director for twelve years before joining the Georgia Department of Education Office of Rural Education and Innovation.

    Board of Community Supervision

    Jimmy Kitchens and Steve Queen were reappointed.

    Judicial Legal Defense Fund Commission

    Christine Hayes serves as Deputy Executive Counsel in the Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp. Prior to joining the Governor’s staff, she was director of governmental affairs for the State Bar of Georgia, where she worked on a variety of legislative issues that affect the judiciary and the legal profession. She also held roles at the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts, Georgia General Assembly, and as an associate at Fields Howell where she focused on insurance coverage issues and related litigation. Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida and a law degree from Emory University. She and her husband, Jonathan, live in Atlanta with their two daughters.

    State Board of Long-term Care Facility Administrators

    Timothy Bush and Laura Cayce were reappointed.

    Suzanne Gerhardt serves as Senior Vice President of Health Services at PruittHealth, Inc., where she oversees skilled nursing center operations across four states. With a career in long-term care that began in 1983, she brings decades of hands-on experience in healthcare management, including roles in business operations, social services, admissions, and auditing. Gerhardt became a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in 1997 and has since managed multiple facilities and regional operations. She is known for her focus on regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and improving patient outcomes. In addition to her leadership at PruittHealth, she has served in various roles with the Georgia Health Care Association, including Chair of the Board and, currently, as immediate past chair.

    Donna Sant is a public policy professional with extensive experience in political organizing, campaign operations, and grassroots leadership. She served as Chairman of the Houston County Republican Party from 2018 to 2024 and has held multiple roles within the Georgia Republican Party, including State Committee Member and County Vice Chair. She has led volunteer efforts, managed election headquarters, coordinated large-scale events, and served as a liaison between voters and candidates. Sant holds a master’s in public policy from Liberty University and a B.F.A. in TV/Film production from Valdosta State College. A graduate of Republican Leadership for Georgia, she is also a recipient of the Ted & Barbara Waddle Award of Excellence. She lives in Elko, Georgia, with her husband. They have three adult children. Sant will serve as the consumer member on the State Board of Long-term Care Facility Administrators.

    Board of Trustees of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia

    Mary Elizabeth Davis is the Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools, serving 42,000 students. She has spent nearly 20 years in Georgia public education, holding leadership roles in four school districts. Prior to her current role, she served as Superintendent of Henry County Schools for nearly seven years, where she led improvements in operational systems, financial management, and student outcomes. Her previous roles include Chief Academic Officer in Cobb County and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Gwinnett County. She began her career as a chemistry teacher and coach in Fairfax County, Virginia. Davis was named one of District Administration’s 100 most influential education leaders in 2024 and is a former finalist for Georgia Superintendent of the Year. She holds a chemistry degree from Messiah College and a Ph.D. in Education Policy from Georgia State University. She lives in Canton, Georgia with her husband and two children.

    Board of Juvenile Justice

    Lisa Colbert was reappointed.

    State Board of Veterinary Medicine

    Jessica Sewell was reappointed.

    Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission

    Trey Bennett is the general counsel and grants division director for the Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. A seasoned attorney and public policy advisor, Bennett has over a decade of legal and governmental experience, including past service as deputy executive counsel to Governor Brian Kemp. He oversees the ethical execution of billions of dollars in federal grant funding, advises on statewide emergency responses, and helps shape key legislation across multiple sectors. Bennett also has substantial courtroom experience, having served as both a criminal prosecutor and a defense attorney in Northeast Georgia. He holds a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and lives in Hoschton, Georgia, with his wife, Katherine, and their four children.

    Council for the Arts- Chair

    Colt Chambers was reappointed.

    Board of Commissioners of the Superior Court Clerks’ Retirement Fund of Georgia

    Timothy Harper, Linda Hays, Daniel Jordan, Michael King, and Rhett Walker were reappointed.

    Georgia Public Service Commission Advisory Committee

    Jeff Jacques is a civil engineering professional with over 35 years of experience in transportation and utility coordination. He began his career with the Georgia Department of Transportation in 1983 as a civil engineer co-op and held various roles over a 20 year tenure, including district utilities engineer and area maintenance engineer. Since 2007, he has served as worksite utility coordination supervisor and utility coordination manager with CWM. Jacques is actively involved in the Georgia Utility Coordination Council, Georgia 811 Excavator Advisory Council, GHCA Utilities Task Force, and the GUCC Legislative Committee. He also served Franklin County as a Republican member of the Board of Commissioners from 2002 to 2018 and as Chairman from 2023 to 2024. A graduate of Emmanuel College and Southern Tech, Jacques resides in Franklin County with his wife, Christy. They have three adult children, and he is a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Carnesville.

    Disability Services Ombudsman Medical Review Group

    George Leach is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and an attending physician at Grady Memorial Hospital. He has over 15 years of clinical and academic experience, with a focus on quality improvement, systems-based practice, and medical education. Leach completed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina and earned his medical degree from Emory University, where he also completed his emergency medicine residency and served as chief resident. His academic contributions include developing a national curriculum for advanced emergency medicine learners and leading peer review process improvements at Grady. He is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. Dr. Leach has received numerous teaching awards and is actively involved in resident education, mentorship, and committee leadership at Emory and Grady.

    Georgia Environmental Finance Authority

    Jimmy Andrews and Travis Turner were reappointed.

    Georgia Child Support Commission

    Ben Land was reappointed.

    Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission

    Kevin Tanner was reappointed as Chairman.

    Karen Bailey, Melanie Dallas, Jason Downey, Nora Haynes, Miriam Shook, Sarah Vinson, DeJuan White, and Michael Yochelson were reappointed.

    DeAnna Julian serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Frazer Center, a nonprofit providing inclusive early childhood, adult, and behavioral health services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She also serves as President of the Service Providers Association for Developmental Disabilities (SPADD), where she works to strengthen Georgia’s IDD service network through policy engagement and provider collaboration. A former special education teacher, Julian holds certifications in special education, early childhood, and physical education, along with a master’s degree in education and transition services from the University of Kansas. She previously served as Executive Director of The Arc of Southwest Georgia, leading efforts to expand access and advance systemic reform. With more than 20 years of leadership in education and disability services, Julian has been recognized with honors including the Annette Bowling Advocacy Award and Albany’s Top 40 Under 40. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Steve, and their two adult children.

    Carey Parrott, Sr. is the founder and CEO of Parrott Counseling Services, LLC, with over two decades of experience in addiction and mental health counseling. A licensed clinical social worker, master addictions counselor, certified clinical supervisor, and certified peer specialist for addictive diseases, he provides direct care and specialized services to individuals, families, and justice-involved populations, including re-entry and mandated clients. Parrott is a two-time graduate of the University of Georgia, earning a B.S. in psychology and an M.S.W. He later earned a doctorate in clinical social work leadership from Tulane University. His professional background includes service as caregiver support coordinator at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he supported veterans and families navigating the challenges of mental illness and substance use. He has also served as a consultant to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, providing clinical supervision and workforce development for addiction counselors statewide. Parrott began his career working in residential treatment settings and community behavioral health programs. He is recognized for his collaborative, personalized approach and his ongoing commitment to supporting recovery and resilience in the Athens community and beyond.

    Child Advocate Advisory Committee

    Andre Blanchard and Jay Watkins were reappointed.

    Georgia Hotel Motel Tax Performance Review Board

    David Dukes was reappointed. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools to Hold First Meeting

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (July 31, 2025) — On Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., the Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools, chaired by Sen. John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), will hold its first hearing.

    EVENT DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
    • Time: 1:00 p.m.
    • Location: Mercer University, President’s Dining Room – 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA, 31207
    • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

    ABOUT THE MEETING:         

    The Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools, created through Senate Resolution 217, will examine the root causes and long-term impacts of chronic absenteeism among Georgia students. This bipartisan committee will work with educators, parents, policymakers, and community leaders to explore effective, research-backed strategies, such as early intervention and targeted support programs, that can help reduce absenteeism and improve student success.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Zach Pishock at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.  

    # # # #

    Sen. John F. Kennedy represents the 18th Senate District, which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston County. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Bill to Ban Chinese and Iranian Nationals from Studying in the United States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is taking aggressive action to prevent students from countries that hate the U.S. from getting their foot in the door at American colleges and universities with his introduction of the Student Visa Integrity Act. Students from adversarial countries—such as China and Iran—would be prohibited from studying in the United States altogether. Senator Tuberville announced his new legislation on Mornings with Maria.

    “I was recently shocked to learn how many students from hostile countries like China and Iran are studying at our American universities—including in my home state of Alabama,” said Senator Tuberville. “We need to go on offense against countries who hate us and are desperate to try to take us down—as we saw with the violent, anti-American protests on our college campuses over the past few months. There is zero reason why we should be allowing students from countries that hate us to take the spot of a law-abiding American citizen at our elite colleges and universities. I’m proud to introduce the Student Visa Integrity Act to crack down on rampant abuse of student visas and to make our American Universities Prioritize Americans Again.”

    Complete text for the Student Visa Integrity Act can be found here. Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Immigration Accountability Project, and Heritage Action endorsed Senator Tuberville’s legislation.

    “The Student Visa Integrity Act makes it clear: a student visa is a privilege, not a right.  Visas provide foreign nationals a special opportunity to study in the United States before returning home – not a free pass to exploit our laws or remain indefinitely in the country. FAIR is proud to support this bill and applauds Senator Tuberville for fighting to prevent student visa abuse, uphold our laws, and keep American communities safe,” said Joe Chatham, Director of Government Relations for FAIR.

    “The student visa program has been plagued with fraud and abuse for decades, and reforms are long overdue. The Student Visa Integrity Act of 2025 would help restore integrity to the program, ending open-ended ‘duration of status’ for foreign students, increasing penalties for program abuse, and closing significant national security loopholes exploited by our foreign adversaries. The Immigration Accountability Project is thankful to Senator Tuberville for introducing this vital effort,” said Grant Newman, Director of Government Relations for Immigration Accountability Project.

    “China and other adversarial countries pose a direct threat to the United States, our schools, educators, and our students. The Student Visa Integrity Act would protect American educational institutions from foreign influence. Heritage Action has worked tirelessly to promote legislation that protects our education system from destructive foreign adversaries. We are committed to this goal and applaud Senator Tuberville for introducing the Student Visa Integrity Act,” said Steve Chartan, Vice President of Government Relations for Heritage Action.

    BACKGROUND:

    Foreign students are currently tracked and monitored using the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This system was mandated by Congress after the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing where one of the people responsible was in the United States on an expired student visa. The system was finally implemented in 2003 and has received minimal updates since.

    Recent data shows that approximately 1.5 million international students are studying in the United States using F-1 or M-1 visas, which is more than DOUBLE the amount in 2012. Data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also showed that during Fiscal Year 2023, an estimated 50,000 student or exchange visitor visa holders overstayed the completion of their program.

    The Student Visa Integrity Act would: 

    • Prohibit citizens from adversarial countries from studying in the U.S.
    • Require schools to disclose any dealings with the Chinese government
    • Prohibit foreign students from transferring schools or changing their major/program of study
    • Increase penalties for schools and officials found engaging in visa fraud by making convicted offenders eligible for prison time or to be disqualified from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program altogether
    • Require that foreign students have a definitive end date to prevent visa overstays and also require in-person interviews for some foreign students


    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Findings

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

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

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

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

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

    Proportion of elite male cricketers by school type. Habib Noorbhai

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

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

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

    So why does this matter?

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

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

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

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

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

    Four steps that can be taken

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

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

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

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

    Fairness in sport

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Michael E Odijie, Associate Professor, University of Oxford

    When historians and the public think about the end of domestic slavery in west Africa, they often imagine colonial governors issuing decrees and missionaries working to end local traffic in enslaved people.

    Two of my recent publications tell another part of the story. I am a historian of west Africa, and over the past five years, I have been researching anti-slavery ideas and networks in the region as part of a wider research project.

    My research reveals that colonial administrations continued to allow domestic slavery in practice and that African activists fought this.

    In one study I focused on Francis P. Fearon, a trader based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. He exposed pro-slavery within the colonial government through numerous letters written in the 1890s (when the colony was known as the Gold Coast).

    In another study I examined the Lagos Auxiliary, a coalition of lawyers, journalists and clergy in Nigeria. Their campaigning secured the repeal of Nigeria’s notorious Native House Rule Ordinance in 1914. That ordinance had been enacted by the colonial government to maintain local slavery in the Niger Delta region.

    Considered together, the two studies demonstrate how local campaigners used letters, print culture, imperial pressure points and personal networks to oppose practices that had kept thousands of Africans in bondage.

    The methods Fearon and the Lagos Auxiliary pioneered still matter because they show how marginalised communities can compel power‑holders to close the gap between laws and lived reality. They remind us that well‑documented local testimony, amplified trans-nationally, can still overturn official narratives, compel policy change, and keep institutions honest.

    Colonial ‘abolition’ that wasn’t

    West Africa was a major source of enslaved people during the transatlantic slave trade. The transatlantic trade was suppressed in the early 19th century, but this did not bring an end to domestic slavery.

    One of the principal rationales for colonisation in west Africa was the eradication of domestic slavery.

    Accordingly, when the Gold Coast was formally annexed as a British colony in 1874, the imperial government declared slave dealing illegal. And slave-dealing was criminalised across southern Nigeria in 1901. On paper these measures promised freedom, but in practice loopholes empowered slave-holders, chiefs and colonial officials who continued to demand coerced labour.

    On the Gold Coast, the 1874 abolition law was never enforced. The British governor informed slave-owners that they might retain enslaved persons provided those individuals did not complain. By 1890, child slavery had become widespread in towns such as Accra. According to the local campaigners, it was even sanctioned by the colonial governor. This led to some Africans uniting to establish a network to oppose it.

    The Niger Delta region of Nigeria had a similar experience. The colonial administration enacted the Native House Rule Ordinance to counteract the effects of the Slave-Dealing Proclamation of 1901 which criminalised slave dealing with a penalty of seven years’ imprisonment for offenders. The Native House Rule Ordinance required every African to belong to a “House” under a designated head. It went on to criminalise any person who attempted to leave their “House”. In the Niger Delta kingdoms such as Bonny, Kalabari and Okrika, the word “House” never referred to a single dwelling. Rather, it denoted a self-perpetuating, named corporation of relatives, dependants and slaves under a chief, which owned property and spoke with one voice. By the 1900s, “Houses” had become the primary units through which slave ownership was organised.

    Therefore, the Native House Rule Ordinance compelled enslaved people in Houses to remain with their masters. The masters were empowered to use colonial authority to discipline them. District commissioners executed arrest warrants against runaways. In exchange, the House heads and local chiefs supplied the colonial administration with unpaid labour for public works.

    African campaigners in Accra and Lagos organised to challenge what they perceived as the British colonial state’s support for slavery.

    Fearon: an undercover abolitionist in Accra

    Francis Fearon was an educated African, active in the Accra scene during the second half of the 19th century. He was highly literate and part of elite circles. He was closely associated with the journalist Edmund Bannerman. He regularly wrote to local newspapers, often expressing concerns about racism against Black people and moral decay.

    On 24 June 1890, Fearon sent a 63-page letter, with ten appendices, to the Aborigines’ Protection Society in London. That dossier would form the basis of several further communications. He alleged that child trafficking continued.

    As evidence, he transcribed the confidential court register of Accra and claimed that Governor W. B. Griffith had instructed convicted slave-owners to recover their “property”.

    Fearon’s tactics were audacious. He remained anonymous, relied on court clerks for documents, and supplied the Aborigines’ Protection Society with evidence. He pleaded with the society to investigate the colonial administration in the Gold Coast.

    Although the society publicised the scandal, subsequent narratives quietly effaced the African source.

    Lagos elites organise – and name the problem

    Like Fearon, Nigerian campaigners also wrote to the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines’ Protection Society. They denounced the colonial government in Nigeria for promoting slavery, but they did not remain anonymous.

    By this time, the Native House Rule Ordinance had prompted some enslaved people to flee the districts in which it was enforced. They sought refuge in Lagos. Through these arrivals, Lagosian elites learned of the ordinance. They unleashed a vigorous campaign against the colonial state.

    The principal figures in this movement included Christopher Sapara Williams, a barrister, and James Bright Davies, editor of The Nigerian Times. Others included politician Herbert Macaulay, Herbert Pearse, a prominent merchant, Bishop James Johnson and the Reverend Mojola Agbebi. Unlike Fearon’s lone-wolf strategy, they mounted a coordinated assault on the colonial administration. They drafted petitions, briefed sympathetic European organisations, and inundated local newspapers with commentary.

    Their arguments blended humanitarian indignation with constitutional acumen. They insisted that the ordinance contravened both British liberal ideals and African custom.

    After years of pressure the law was amended and then quietly repealed in 1914.

    Why these stories matter now

    Contemporary scholarship on abolition is gradually shifting from asking “what Britain did for Africa” to examining the role Africans played in ending slavery.

    Many African abolitionists who fought and lost their lives in the struggle against slavery have long gone unacknowledged. This is beginning to change.

    The two articles discussed here highlight the creativity of Africans who, decades before radio or civil-rights NGOs, used transatlantic information circuits. They exposed colonial governments that continued to rely on forced-labour economies long after slavery was supposed to have ended.

    They remind us that grassroots documentation can overturn official narratives. Evidence-based advocacy, coalition-building, and the strategic use of global media remain potent instruments.

    – The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast
    – https://theconversation.com/the-african-activists-who-challenged-colonial-era-slavery-in-lagos-and-the-gold-coast-261089

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Michael E Odijie, Associate Professor, University of Oxford

    When historians and the public think about the end of domestic slavery in west Africa, they often imagine colonial governors issuing decrees and missionaries working to end local traffic in enslaved people.

    Two of my recent publications tell another part of the story. I am a historian of west Africa, and over the past five years, I have been researching anti-slavery ideas and networks in the region as part of a wider research project.

    My research reveals that colonial administrations continued to allow domestic slavery in practice and that African activists fought this.

    In one study I focused on Francis P. Fearon, a trader based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. He exposed pro-slavery within the colonial government through numerous letters written in the 1890s (when the colony was known as the Gold Coast).

    In another study I examined the Lagos Auxiliary, a coalition of lawyers, journalists and clergy in Nigeria. Their campaigning secured the repeal of Nigeria’s notorious Native House Rule Ordinance in 1914. That ordinance had been enacted by the colonial government to maintain local slavery in the Niger Delta region.

    Considered together, the two studies demonstrate how local campaigners used letters, print culture, imperial pressure points and personal networks to oppose practices that had kept thousands of Africans in bondage.

    The methods Fearon and the Lagos Auxiliary pioneered still matter because they show how marginalised communities can compel power‑holders to close the gap between laws and lived reality. They remind us that well‑documented local testimony, amplified trans-nationally, can still overturn official narratives, compel policy change, and keep institutions honest.

    Colonial ‘abolition’ that wasn’t

    West Africa was a major source of enslaved people during the transatlantic slave trade. The transatlantic trade was suppressed in the early 19th century, but this did not bring an end to domestic slavery.

    One of the principal rationales for colonisation in west Africa was the eradication of domestic slavery.

    Accordingly, when the Gold Coast was formally annexed as a British colony in 1874, the imperial government declared slave dealing illegal. And slave-dealing was criminalised across southern Nigeria in 1901. On paper these measures promised freedom, but in practice loopholes empowered slave-holders, chiefs and colonial officials who continued to demand coerced labour.

    On the Gold Coast, the 1874 abolition law was never enforced. The British governor informed slave-owners that they might retain enslaved persons provided those individuals did not complain. By 1890, child slavery had become widespread in towns such as Accra. According to the local campaigners, it was even sanctioned by the colonial governor. This led to some Africans uniting to establish a network to oppose it.

    The Niger Delta region of Nigeria had a similar experience. The colonial administration enacted the Native House Rule Ordinance to counteract the effects of the Slave-Dealing Proclamation of 1901 which criminalised slave dealing with a penalty of seven years’ imprisonment for offenders. The Native House Rule Ordinance required every African to belong to a “House” under a designated head. It went on to criminalise any person who attempted to leave their “House”. In the Niger Delta kingdoms such as Bonny, Kalabari and Okrika, the word “House” never referred to a single dwelling. Rather, it denoted a self-perpetuating, named corporation of relatives, dependants and slaves under a chief, which owned property and spoke with one voice. By the 1900s, “Houses” had become the primary units through which slave ownership was organised.

    Therefore, the Native House Rule Ordinance compelled enslaved people in Houses to remain with their masters. The masters were empowered to use colonial authority to discipline them. District commissioners executed arrest warrants against runaways. In exchange, the House heads and local chiefs supplied the colonial administration with unpaid labour for public works.

    African campaigners in Accra and Lagos organised to challenge what they perceived as the British colonial state’s support for slavery.

    Fearon: an undercover abolitionist in Accra

    Francis Fearon was an educated African, active in the Accra scene during the second half of the 19th century. He was highly literate and part of elite circles. He was closely associated with the journalist Edmund Bannerman. He regularly wrote to local newspapers, often expressing concerns about racism against Black people and moral decay.

    On 24 June 1890, Fearon sent a 63-page letter, with ten appendices, to the Aborigines’ Protection Society in London. That dossier would form the basis of several further communications. He alleged that child trafficking continued.

    As evidence, he transcribed the confidential court register of Accra and claimed that Governor W. B. Griffith had instructed convicted slave-owners to recover their “property”.

    Fearon’s tactics were audacious. He remained anonymous, relied on court clerks for documents, and supplied the Aborigines’ Protection Society with evidence. He pleaded with the society to investigate the colonial administration in the Gold Coast.

    Although the society publicised the scandal, subsequent narratives quietly effaced the African source.

    Lagos elites organise – and name the problem

    Like Fearon, Nigerian campaigners also wrote to the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines’ Protection Society. They denounced the colonial government in Nigeria for promoting slavery, but they did not remain anonymous.

    By this time, the Native House Rule Ordinance had prompted some enslaved people to flee the districts in which it was enforced. They sought refuge in Lagos. Through these arrivals, Lagosian elites learned of the ordinance. They unleashed a vigorous campaign against the colonial state.

    The principal figures in this movement included Christopher Sapara Williams, a barrister, and James Bright Davies, editor of The Nigerian Times. Others included politician Herbert Macaulay, Herbert Pearse, a prominent merchant, Bishop James Johnson and the Reverend Mojola Agbebi. Unlike Fearon’s lone-wolf strategy, they mounted a coordinated assault on the colonial administration. They drafted petitions, briefed sympathetic European organisations, and inundated local newspapers with commentary.

    Their arguments blended humanitarian indignation with constitutional acumen. They insisted that the ordinance contravened both British liberal ideals and African custom.

    After years of pressure the law was amended and then quietly repealed in 1914.

    Why these stories matter now

    Contemporary scholarship on abolition is gradually shifting from asking “what Britain did for Africa” to examining the role Africans played in ending slavery.

    Many African abolitionists who fought and lost their lives in the struggle against slavery have long gone unacknowledged. This is beginning to change.

    The two articles discussed here highlight the creativity of Africans who, decades before radio or civil-rights NGOs, used transatlantic information circuits. They exposed colonial governments that continued to rely on forced-labour economies long after slavery was supposed to have ended.

    They remind us that grassroots documentation can overturn official narratives. Evidence-based advocacy, coalition-building, and the strategic use of global media remain potent instruments.

    Research for these articles was funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 885418).

    – ref. The African activists who challenged colonial-era slavery in Lagos and the Gold Coast – https://theconversation.com/the-african-activists-who-challenged-colonial-era-slavery-in-lagos-and-the-gold-coast-261089

    MIL OSI Analysis –

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

    Findings

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

    So why does this matter?

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

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



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

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

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

    Four steps that can be taken

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

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

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

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

    Fairness in sport

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



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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 3 CoE Students Pursue In-Depth Research Projects as University Scholars

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    As 2025 University Scholars, three College of Engineering students are spending their last three semesters pursuing personalized research projects.

    Open to all undergraduate students, the University Scholar Program allows students to design an in-depth research or creative project and to craft a learning plan that supports their academic goals during their final three semesters. Each student is mentored by an advisory committee of three faculty.

    Admission to the University Scholars program is based on an application submitted during the first semester of a student’s junior year. Applications are reviewed by an interdisciplinary committee of faculty members who may select up to 30 University Scholars in any given year.

    The University Scholars and their projects are below:

    Laxmi Chinmaya Vobbineni ’26
    Project Title: The Synergic Role of Electrical and Chemical Stimulation in Wound Healing of Diabetic Patients

    University Scholar Laxmi Vobbineni ’26 is exploring techniques that can help diabetes patients heal faster from wounds.

    People with diabetes often have trouble healing from wounds. Since high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and weaken the immune system, white blood cells struggle to reach the wound. This can slow tissue repair and lead to ongoing inflammation.

    Wounds may heal very slowly, become chronic, or leave scars—and this can be painful and expensive for patients.

    University Scholar Laxmi Vobbineni ’26, a biomedical engineering and molecular and cell biology double major, is working to help diabetic patients heal from wounds faster by using chemical and electrical stimulation.

    “Chemical stimulation, such as ion channel blockers, in conjunction with electrical stimulation may improve the wound healing process for diabetic patients,” she says.

    By combining these treatments with an ionically-conductive biomaterial called scaffolding, ions can help restore electrical signals in the body that guide white blood cells to repair tissue.

    “Our hope is to develop a system that has high potential for clinical use,” Vobbineni says.

    Vobbineni’s advisors are Syam Nukavarapu, professor and department head in Biomedical Engineering; David Daggett, associate professor-in-residence of molecular and cell biology; and Sangamesh Kumbar, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the UConn Health Center. She also interns at the UConn Health Center under Kumbar, working on projects related to the fields of tissue engineering and drug delivery.

    Vobbineni, a member of the Society of Women Engineers and STEM Scholar Executive Board, volunteers as a nursing aide at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Connecticut. She also holds an executive board position for the UConn FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League Explore Program, which uses Legos and technology to excite youth about robotics and STEM.

    Her involvement in FIRST began in middle school and high school and sparked her interest in innovation. “This is one of the reasons I decided to pursue biomedical engineering,” she says.

    After graduation, Vobbineni plans to pursue medical school and work in the field of emergency medicine.

    Wyeth Haddock ’26
    Project Title: Developing a Copper-Based Medium Entropy Alloy with Enhanced Mechanical Properties for Space Applications

    University Scholar Wyeth Haddock ’26, at left, is working at the National Center for Electron Microscopy in Berkeley, California this summer.

    As a University Scholar, Wyeth Haddock ’26, a materials science and engineering major, is developing a structural material for use in extreme environments with potential applications in space exploration and nuclear energy.

    His project focuses on synthesizing and analyzing an alloy made from copper, dysprosium, and yttrium (Cu-Dy-Y) that exhibits enhanced mechanical properties. By studying the alloy’s microstructure, phase stability, and mechanical behavior across temperature regimes, Haddock hopes to demonstrate improved material performance in extreme conditions and understand unique deformation behavior.

    “If successful, the alloy could support the development of more durable materials for space exploration,” he says.

    Haddock’s advisors include Seok-Woo Lee, associate professor of materials science and engineering and Director of Undergraduate Studies; and Yuanyuan Zhu, associate professor of materials science and engineering and director of the MSE Honors Program.

    Haddock, an honors student from Fairfax, Vermont, is president of the UConn Running Club, and is a member of the UConn Materials Advantage Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Mu MSE Honor Society, and the ASM Board of Trustees. His jobs on campus include work as a campus tour guide and undergraduate teaching assistant. He recently served as a facilitator for the Honors First Year Experience program and as a Floor Mentor for the Honors 2 Opportunities Learning Community.

    This summer, Haddock is a STROBE Summer Undergraduate Research Scholar at the University of California at Berkeley where he works in the National Center for Electron Microscopy at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

    “Throughout my UConn experience, I’ve immersed myself in collaborative communities, working in a lab, facilitating a first-year course, and traveling nationally to compete in running races,” he says. “These sorts of experiences have allowed me to further my learning, as I seek to positively impact the world around me.”

    Haddock intends to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, with an emphasis on understanding how atomic structure influences the properties of materials. He hopes to continue research in structural materials, developing the materials necessary for the complex demands of an evolving world.

    Passionate about education and outreach, Wyeth also hopes to continually inspire younger audiences to get involved in materials science and engineering.

    Zhengyang Wei ’26
    Project Title: Stability Analysis on 9D Shear Flow Model by Small-Signal Finite-Gain Lp Stable Theorem

    University Scholar Zhengyang Wei ’26 is exploring ways to improve the stability and performance of aerodynamic designs.

    Turbulence—when fluid flow becomes chaotic—is difficult to control, but preventing it is important in many engineering systems. As a University Scholar, mechanical engineering major Zhengyang Wei ’26 is using mathematical tools to prevent turbulence by studying shear flows. In shear flows, layers of liquid or gas move parallel to each other but at different speeds.

    By finding the conditions that keep the flow stable, Wei’s research can help improve the stability and performance of aerodynamic designs, industrial systems, and other applications. This work contributes to developing effective strategies for controlling shear flows and advancing fluid dynamics research.

    “For example, we can mitigate the transition to turbulence in the wind over an airplane wing, which will make the flight more stable and efficient,” he explains.

    His advisors are Chang Liu, assistant professor in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering; Reza Sheikhi, professor-in-residence in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering; and Jason Lee, professor-in-residence in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering.

    As a member of the FLUids, rEduction, Nonlinearity, and Turbulence (FLUENT) Lab, Wei and Liu published a paper on shear flows in the June 2025 issue of arXiv.

    Wei, a math minor, also is a 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) awardee. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in fluid stability or optimization.

    As University Scholars, Vobbineni, Haddock, and Wei receive a range of benefits designed to support and enrich their academic journey. These include a financial award that covers the General University Fee and Student Health Services Fee for up to three regular semesters, or until graduation from the program. Scholars are also eligible for course credit fee waivers for up to nine credits of summer or intersession courses, and the opportunity to enroll in graduate-level courses with instructor permission.

    Students accepted into a UConn graduate program while in the University Scholar Program may begin working toward their graduate degree as undergraduates, with the ability to apply eligible graduate-level coursework toward that degree.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: Let’s Get Government Employees Closer to the People They Serve

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Discuss USDA Relocation & Trump Trade Deal
    Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Suzanne Alexander on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to discuss the USDA coming to Kansas City as part of their relocation efforts, President Trump’s trade deals and their significance to American agriculture, and his legislation to bring farmers more clarity, the Clear Waters Act.

    Click HERE or on the image above to listen to Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    On USDA reorganization:
    “You know, the farmers and ranchers were the original conservationists, and we need to keep bragging on the USDA reorganization. Look, I’m excited to get government employees closer to the people that they serve. So, 4000 USDA employees here in DC, by the way, only 6% of them were working in the offices until January of this year, February of this year. So, we’re going to move about half of those out to the country, and one of those places is Kansas City. And what I’m excited about moving more workers to the Kansas City offices, number one, we get more Kansas City Chiefs fans. But beyond that, they’re going to be closer to my alma mater, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, Nebraska, really some of the strongest ag schools in America, and that’s going to help populate that USDA program there in Kansas City. It’s agriculture economics they focus on, as well as handing out the grants for agriculture research. So, I just think getting USDA workers closer to their customers has to be a good thing. So, I’m excited.”
    On USDA relocation pushback in Congress:
    “Look, I have a great deal of respect for Senator Klobuchar. She’s a good friend, but I we respectfully disagree. This has been well thought out. The first time I met Secretary Rollins in person, back in, goodness, it may have been November, December of last year, she talked about this reorganization. So, I think every member on that committee has had a chance to have her come in and talk about this. This isn’t half-baked. The Assistant Secretary, Steven Vaden, former Judge Vaden, international trade court judge is in charge of this plan. I think it’s well thought out. And again, I just don’t know what American is going to come up to me and say, “It’s not a good idea to move people out of Washington, DC.” I would take two-thirds of the Federal officers that are working here in DC and move them out to those flyover states. It’s just such a different culture here in Washington, DC – it is the swamp. I just think when you have USDA workers going to church, going to soccer games, going to a Kansas State football game together, that they’re going to just have a better product when it’s all said and done.”
    On the Clear Waters Act:
    “Yeah, think about Waters of the US. This has been going on since 1972. You get a Democrat president in office, and they expand what water the US has. And we get President Trump in office, and he tries to cut it back. But what our bill does is clarify this and give our farmers certainty. Look, your listeners understand that a pothole, that a pond, that is not a navigable stream. So, we clearly define what navigable streams are, that it needs to be a body of water that can continuously flow and touches one of those main navigable streams. Kansas only has three navigable streams, for instance, throughout the years. So, it just gives us some clarity. But I want to emphasize to anyone on the other side of this that farmers and ranchers are the best environmentalists. Those that are that are practicing modern precision agriculture are decreasing the drift from their fields by 90% using modern-day agriculture techniques. We’re decreasing 90% of the drip from those fields. But I just want to get the farmers, the ranchers, some certainty, our dairy farmers, people that have feed lots, we need certainty in this area. And look, we’re going to do our best to take care of the environment as well.”
    On the Dairy Pride Act:
    “Well, I think there’s a lot of fake products out there, right? And with all due respect to almond juice and some of the other juices out there, they’re not milk products. As far as I’m concerned. I don’t know why they’re in the milk portion of the grocery store, just like I don’t want plant-based protein sitting beside a hamburger born and raised and processed in Kansas. So, I think again, we just want customers to know what they’re drinking or eating. And almond juice is not milk. And by the way, we’re getting closer and closer to getting whole milk, there it is, whole milk back into schools as well.”
    On how Trump trade deals are benefiting American agriculture:
    “I’m just so ecstatic to see these chickens come home to roost, right? President Trump has used these tariffs to negotiate better trade deals, trade deals that I hope are going to let our grandchildren continue to work on our farms. Look, we’ve not sold a cheeseburger to Europe, a gallon of ethanol to England in my lifetime. So, beyond just the tariffs, what the President is doing is removing non-tariff barriers. And again, your listeners are educated. They understand what China [and] the EU does to keep American agriculture products out of those countries. So, by removing those, we’re going to sell more and more products. And I just, you know, there are lots of things we could talk about, but look at President Trump’s strategy here, how he’s boxing in China. Last night, he announced a deal with South Korea, but beyond that, the EU, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, basically, he’s boxed China in here. China was doing a lot of trans shipments. So, they would make, say, t-shirts or tennis shoes. They would send it to Vietnam and bring it into this country on Vietnam tariff levels. Well, President Trump wasn’t born yesterday, so he’s tightening up that portion, and we’ll get that China trade deal soon, hopefully before the fall. Fall crops need to be harvested.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Deputy Chairman of Delovaya Rossiya Nonna Kagramanyan noted the high scientific and technical capabilities of the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On July 31, 2025, the State University of Management was visited on a working visit by the Deputy Chairman and Head of the Executive Committee of the All-Russian public organization “Business Russia”, a graduate of the State University of Management, Nonna Kagramanyan.

    At the beginning of the visit, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and the vice-rector Maria Karelina introduced the guest to the technical capabilities of the Media Center and the developments of the Engineering Project Management Center.

    As a former employee of VGTRK, Nonna Kagramanyan especially highly appreciated the Jalinga studio and noted its wide opportunities for promoting educational programs and any other media projects. The guest also liked the more familiar interior design studio, where materials for the school entrepreneurship Olympiad for the united company Wildberries and Russ are currently being recorded. As Vladimir Stroyev noted, three online master’s courses have already been recorded in the interior design studio during the short time of its operation.

    Vladimir Filatov, Director of the Center for Management of Engineering Projects at the State University of Management, spoke about the main areas of work of the Center, the activities of the inter-university student design bureau, and showed prototypes of unmanned aerial vehicles.

    Vladimir Stroyev paid special attention to the inter-university design bureau, which won the first specialized competition from the Ministry of Education and Science. The rector noted that the current project of the State University of Management surprised the expert committee, which did not expect something like this from a management university, because at the moment this is the only such experience in Russia.

    Vladimir Filatov shared the design bureau’s work scheme, in which young scientists and students perform design work, and GUU also plays the role of integrator of the entire inter-university network. In less than a year, students digitized more than 3,000 drawings ordered by TMH Engineering. The director of the engineering center reported high customer satisfaction from cooperation with GUU, as this allowed them to unload their staff engineers, while the students receive the necessary practical work experience from completing the order.

    Summing up what she saw in a conversation with the rector, GUU graduate Nonna Kagramanyan sincerely rejoiced at the successes of her native university: “You listen – and you are filled with pride. You have a whole world here, a whole world.”

    Moving to a more practical plane, Nonna Sayadovna put forward her proposals. First. Taking into account the high demand of businesses for the services of engineers, Delovaya Rossiya is ready to promote the scheme of work of student design bureaus tested at SUM, as well as manually send information about the finished developments of SUM to its partners. Second. For more systematic work, Delovaya Rossiya expects SUM to provide a list of the capabilities of the student design bureau in the form of a presentation for distribution to the partners of the organization, with the purpose of concluding agreements between them and SUM. Third. Through its production partner, Delovaya Rossiya will facilitate the start of serial production of the prototypes available at SUM. Fourth. Delovaya Rossiya asks to provide presentation materials and production conditions of the SUM Media Center for the possible resumption of the project of programs “Business Russia” together with the TV channel “Russia 24”.

    In addition, Nonna Kagramanyan discussed with the management of the State University of Management plans to create an Advanced Engineering School, new youth laboratories, additional classes in the Pre-University, as well as methodological opportunities for accelerated training of engineering personnel.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

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

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 31 July 2025

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

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: A World of Water exhibition asks: ‘Can the seas survive us?’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Kenneth Paranada, Curator of Art and Climate Change, University of East Anglia

    Water is at the heart of the disruption wrought by climate change. The seas, once seen as vast and stable, are now unpredictable and restless.

    That tidy, looping diagram of the water cycle once pinned up in primary school classrooms – clouds, rivers, evaporation and rain – now reads more like a fragmented recollection than a dependable process. Human impact has cracked that once-stable loop wide open.

    Sea levels inch upward year on year. Droughts grow more prolonged and severe. Rainfall becomes erratic and violent. What was once spoken of in future tense is now present and pressing.

    In Norfolk, land and sea have long coexisted in an uneasy truce. Here, the threat of sea level rise is not a speculative concern, it is data-backed, visible and accelerating.

    According to research from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, vast swathes of Norfolk risk being submerged by rising seas if global temperatures rise by even two degrees celsius. It is one of the most at-risk areas in the UK.

    Against this backdrop comes the Sainsbury Centre’s exhibition, A World of Water (part of the Can the Seas Survive Us? season). In the show, water is explored as subject, medium and metaphor. It is both agent and witness, shaping civilisations, sustaining life, and now challenging our ability to coexist with it.

    Curated through an interdisciplinary lens, the exhibition was shaped by deep collaboration with scientists, artists, ecologists, activists and coastal communities. Rooted in lived experience, from a two-day walk along the Wherry Man’s Way to a 36-hour sail aboard a 1921 fishing smack, the curatorial process traced fragile coastlines and the North Sea’s rapid transformation into an industrial nexus of energy infrastructures.

    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.

    The curatorial approach to the show embraces the multifaceted nature of water by weaving together maritime history, Indigenous knowledge and contemporary works rooted in the artists’ experiences.

    Many of the participating artists hail from communities already wrestling with rising tides and the realities of climate disruption. Their contributions form three thematic currents: Mudplume, Water Water Everywhere and In a State of Flux.

    These overlapping threads investigate how water connects, nourishes and imperils. Rather than positioning the sea as a line of division, the exhibition reframes it as a living, connective tissue linking culture, history and ecology.

    A curatorial geomorphology of the sea

    Guidance for the exhibition’s conceptual framework came, fittingly, from water itself. Its mutable nature – solid, liquid, vapour – shaped the rhythm of the curatorial process. Rather than impose a rigid thesis, the exhibition offers an ever-shifting constellation of perspectives.

    The exhibition journey begins with sound. Visitors are welcomed by a low murmur, tides lapping, water dripping, echoing through the museum entrance. This leads to Spiral Fosset (2024), a sculptural work by the Dutch collective De Onkruidenier.

    Mirroring the central staircase of the museum, the piece suggests the brackish confluence where fresh and saltwater mingle. From here, the viewer descends into the lower galleries, reimagined as an estuary.

    Within the lower galleries, artworks unfold like coastal mudflats at low tide. Seventeenth-century Dutch seascapes hang alongside photographs, video works and sculptures made from plastic waste. Sands from the beaches of Cromer, Happisburgh and Cley are featured, anchoring the exhibition in local terrain.

    East Anglia’s centuries-old ties with the Low Countries form a steady through line. Hendrick van Anthonissen’s View of Scheveningen Sands (1641) shares space with works by Norwich School masters such as John Sell Cotman, John Crome and Robert Ladbrooke.

    This approach privileges resonance over chronology. The exhibition avoids a linear march through time in favour of prioritising association, connection and drift. For instance, Shore Compass by Olafur Eliasson (2019) sits in subtle dialogue with Jodocus Hondius’s 1589 Drake Map an early cartographic rendering of Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation of the world.

    Created during the height of European maritime expansion and colonialism, the map illustrates the interplay between empire, navigation and power. Time, like tide, is allowed to meander.

    The exhibition adopts what might be called a “curatorial geomorphology”: a way of curating that draws on the sculpting force of water. In the natural sciences, geomorphology examines how landscapes are formed and reshaped by flowing water, storms and tides, while hydrology traces water’s movement through the environment.

    This curatorial approach translates those scientific ideas into a cultural and creative practice. Like a river, it flows through histories, stories and meanings. What unfolds is a tidal narrative, an estuary of thought where time loosens, the present deepens and new futures begin to surface.

    Visitors to A World of Water can expect something different from a traditional gallery experience. It invites you to think with the seas, to tune into their rhythms, tensions and secret lives.

    As you wander through the galleries, you enter a realm shaped by flux, expect to feel and reimagine a world where land, water and life move as one. And perhaps, by moving as water does, we may begin to sense an answer to the question: Can the Seas Survive Us? Not in certainty, but through our collective and individual actions toward a more regenerative and sustainable future.

    A World of Water is at the Sainsbury Centre Norwich until August 3. It’s part of a six-month season of interlinked exhibitions and events that explore the question: “Can the seas survive us?”

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

    John Kenneth Paranada received funding from the John Ellerman Foundation; the Art Fund’s Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grant; the Association of Art Museum Curators’ EPIC Curatorial Fellowship Award; the Mondriaan Fund’s International Art Presentation Grant; the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ Cultural Diplomacy Grant; and Arts Council England’s National Lottery Fund for the project A World of Water: Can the Seas Survive Us? at the Sainsbury Centre.

    – ref. A World of Water exhibition asks: ‘Can the seas survive us?’ – https://theconversation.com/a-world-of-water-exhibition-asks-can-the-seas-survive-us-262057

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why some underwater earthquakes cause tsunamis – and others, just little ripples

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Blackett, Reader in Physical Geography and Natural Hazards, Coventry University

    After a massive earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka, a peninsula in the far east of Russia, on July 30 2025, the world watched as the resultant tsunami spread from the epicentre and across the Pacific Ocean at the speed of a jet plane.

    In some local areas, such as in Russia’s northern Kuril Islands, tsunami waves reached heights of over three metres. However, across the Pacific there was widespread relief in the hours that followed as the feared scenario of large waves striking coastal communities did not materialise. Why was this?

    Not all underwater earthquakes result in tsunamis. For a tsunami to be generated, the Earth’s crust at the earthquake site must be pushed upwards in a movement known as vertical displacement. This typically occurs during reverse faulting, or its shallow-angled form known as thrust faulting, where one block of the Earth’s crust is forced up and over another, along what is called a fault plane.

    It is no coincidence that this type of faulting movement occurred at a subduction zone on “the Pacific ring of fire”, where the dense oceanic Pacific plate is being forced beneath the less dense Eurasian continental plate.

    These zones are known for generating powerful earthquakes and tsunamis because they are sites of intense compression, which leads to thrust faulting and the sudden vertical movement of the seafloor. Indeed, it was the ring of fire that was also responsible for the two most significant tsunami-generating earthquakes of recent times: the 2004 Indonesian Boxing Day and March 2011 Tohoku earthquakes.

    Why did the Indonesian and Japanese earthquakes generate waves over 30 metres high, but the recent magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Kamchatka (one of the strongest ever recorded) didn’t? The answer lies in the geology involved in these events.

    In the case of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, the sea floor was measured to have risen by up to five metres within a rupture zone of 750,000 sq km.

    For the tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011, estimates indicate the seafloor was thrust upwards by nearly three metres within a rupture zone of 90,000 sq km.

    Preliminary data from the recent Kamchatka event has been processed into what geologists call a finite fault model. Rather than representing the earthquake as a single point, these models show where and how the crust ruptured, including the length of that rupture in Earth’s crust, its depth and what direction it followed.

    The model results show that the two sides of the fault slipped by up to ten metres along a fault plane of 18°, resulting in about three metres of vertical uplift. Think of it like walking ten metres up an 18° slope: you don’t rise ten metres into the air, you only rise about three metres, because most of your movement is forward rather than upward.

    However, since much of this occurred at depths greater than 20km (over an area of 70,000 sq km) the seabed displacement would probably have been reduced as the overlying rock layers absorbed and diffused the motion before it reached the surface.

    For comparison, the associated slippage for the Tohoku and Indonesian events was as shallow as 5km in places.

    An added complication

    So, while the size of sea floor uplift is key to determining how much energy a tsunami begins with, it is the processes that follow – as the wave travels and interacts with the coastline – that can transform an insignificant tsunami into a devastating wall of water at the shore.

    As a tsunami travels across the open ocean it is often barely noticeable – a long, low ripple spread over tens of kilometres. But as it nears land, the front of the wave slows down due to friction with the seabed, while the back continues at speed, causing the wave to rise in height. This effect is strongest in places where the sea floor gets shallow quickly near the coast.

    The shape of the coastline is also important. Bays, inlets and estuaries can act like funnels that further amplify the wave as it reaches shore. Crescent City in California is a prime example. Fortunately however, when the wave arrived in Crescent City on July 30 2025, it reached a height of just 1.22 metres – still the highest recorded in the continental US.

    So, not every powerful undersea earthquake leads to a devastating tsunami — it depends not just on the magnitude, but on how much the sea floor is lifted and whether that vertical movement reaches the ocean surface.

    In the case of the recent Russian quake, although the slip was substantial, much of it occurred at depth, meaning the energy wasn’t transferred effectively to the water above. All of this shows that while earthquake size is important, it’s the precise characteristics of the rupture that truly decide whether a tsunami becomes destructive or remains largely insignificant.

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

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

    – ref. Why some underwater earthquakes cause tsunamis – and others, just little ripples – https://theconversation.com/why-some-underwater-earthquakes-cause-tsunamis-and-others-just-little-ripples-262352

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Your dog can read your mind – sort of

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Laura Elin Pigott, Senior Lecturer in Neurosciences and Neurorehabilitation, Course Leader in the College of Health and Life Sciences, London South Bank University

    Dmytro Zinkevych/Shutterstock.com

    Your dog tilts its head when you cry, paces when you’re stressed, and somehow appears at your side during your worst moments. Coincidence? Not even close.

    Thousands of years of co-evolution have given dogs special ways to tune in to our voices, faces and even brain chemistry. From brain regions devoted to processing our speech to the “love hormone” or oxytocin that surges when we lock eyes, your dog’s mind is hardwired to pick up on what you’re feeling.

    The evidence for this extraordinary emotional intelligence begins in the brain itself. Dogs’ brains have dedicated areas that are sensitive to voice, similar to those in humans. In a brain imaging study, researchers found that dogs possess voice-processing regions in their temporal cortex that light up in response to vocal sounds.

    Dogs respond not just to any sound, but to the emotional tone of your voice. Brain scans reveal that emotionally charged sounds – a laugh, a cry, an angry shout – activate dogs’ auditory cortex and the amygdala – a part of the brain involved in processing emotions.

    Dogs are also skilled face readers. When shown images of human faces, dogs exhibit increased brain activity. One study found that seeing a familiar human face activates a dog’s reward centres and emotional centres – meaning your dog’s brain is processing your expressions, perhaps not in words but in feelings.

    Dogs don’t just observe your emotions; they can “catch” them too. Researchers call this emotional contagion, a basic form of empathy where one individual mirrors another’s emotional state. A 2019 study found that some dog-human pairs had synchronised cardiac patterns during stressful times, with their heartbeats mirroring each other.

    This emotional contagion doesn’t require complex reasoning – it’s more of an automatic empathy arising from close bonding. Your dog’s empathetic yawns or whines are probably due to learned association and emotional attunement rather than literal mind-mirroring.

    The oxytocin effect

    The most remarkable discovery in canine-human bonding may be the chemical connection we share. When dogs and humans make gentle eye contact, both partners experience a surge of oxytocin, often dubbed the “love hormone”.

    In one study, owners who held long mutual gazes with their dogs had significantly higher oxytocin levels afterwards, and so did their dogs.

    This oxytocin feedback loop reinforces bonding, much like the gaze between a parent and infant. Astonishingly, this effect is unique to domesticated dogs: hand-raised wolves did not respond the same way to human eye contact. As dogs became domesticated, they evolved this interspecies oxytocin loop as a way to glue them emotionally to their humans. Those soulful eyes your pup gives you are chemically binding you two together.

    Beyond eye contact, dogs are surprisingly skilled at reading human body language and facial expressions. Experiments demonstrate that pet dogs can distinguish a smiling face from an angry face, even in photos.

    Dogs show a subtle right-hemisphere bias when processing emotional cues, tending to gaze toward the left side of a human’s face when assessing expressions – a pattern also seen in humans and primates.

    When dogs and humans make eye contact, both experience a surge of oxytocin.
    Dmytro Zinkevych/Shutterstock.com

    Dogs rely on multiple senses to discern how you’re feeling. A cheerful, high-pitched “Good boy!” with a relaxed posture sends a very different message than a stern shout with rigid body language. Remarkably, they can even sniff out emotions. In a 2018 study, dogs exposed to sweat from scared people exhibited more stress than dogs that smelled “happy” sweat. In essence, your anxiety smells unpleasant to your dog, whereas your relaxed happiness can put them at ease.

    Bred for friendship

    How did dogs become so remarkably attuned to human emotions? The answer lies in their evolutionary journey alongside us. Dogs have smaller brains than their wild wolf ancestors, but in the process of domestication, their brains may have rewired to enhance social and emotional intelligence.

    Clues come from a Russian fox domestication experiment. Foxes bred for tameness showed increased grey matter in regions related to emotion and reward. These results challenge the assumption that domestication makes animals less intelligent. Instead, breeding animals to be friendly and social can enhance the brain pathways that help them form bonds.

    In dogs, thousands of years living as our companions have fine-tuned brain pathways for reading human social signals. While your dog’s brain may be smaller than a wolf’s, it may be uniquely optimised to love and understand humans.

    Dogs probably aren’t pondering why you’re upset or realising that you have distinct thoughts and intentions. Instead, they excel at picking up on what you’re projecting and respond accordingly.

    So dogs may not be able to read our minds, but by reading our behaviour and feelings, they meet us emotionally in a way few other animals can. In our hectic modern world, that cross-species empathy is not just endearing; it’s evolutionary and socially meaningful, reminding us that the language of friendship sometimes transcends words entirely.

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

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

    – ref. Your dog can read your mind – sort of – https://theconversation.com/your-dog-can-read-your-mind-sort-of-261720

    MIL OSI –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Concrete titans

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

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

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

    Harnessing the rivers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Gomez, Costa, Panetta, Harder, Adams Announce Eats Act To Expand Snap Benefit Eligibility To More College Students

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), along with Reps. Josh Harder (CA-10), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Alma Adams (NC-12), Jim Costa (CA-21), and 130 other Members of Congress reintroduced the Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act, which would expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to all college students attending 2- and 4-year universities who meet traditional SNAP income and eligibility requirements. Current SNAP eligibility rules only include college students working 20 hours per week or participating in a federal or state work study, or those who meet very specific exemptions. The EATS Act would permanently ensure that low-income college students have equitable access to SNAP benefits by amending the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to include “attending an institution of higher education” as another form of qualification in addition to work.

    “Too many students are working toward a degree while quietly struggling with hunger,” said Rep. Gomez. “No student should have to choose between focusing on their finals or finding their next meal. It is essential that college students, especially first-generation students and students of color, don’t fall through the cracks. The EATS Act will expand access to SNAP benefits for students and ensure that hunger doesn’t stand in the way of a degree or a better life.”

    According to The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at Temple University, food insecurity is a serious problem on college campuses across the nation, especially for students of color, first generation students, low-income students, and students at community colleges. In 2023-2024, 41% of college students experienced food insecurity. Students of color were more likely to experience basic needs insecurity: 74% of Indigenous, 72% of Black, and 67% of Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian students experienced food insecurity, housing insecurity, and/or homelessness.

    Senator Kristen Gillibrand is introducing companion legislation in the Senate.

    “No college student should have to scrounge for food or wonder where they’ll get their next meal,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Food insecurity is a crisis that plagues low-income college students in New York and beyond, and we must do more to combat it. The EATS Act would eliminate work-for-food barriers for low-income students and ensure that as many as 4 million college students nationwide can access the SNAP benefits they need to learn and thrive. This legislation is critical, and I’m committed to fighting for its passage.”

    “There are many college students across the country that face food insecurity due to outdated and arbitrary restrictions that block access to SNAP benefits,” said Rep. Panetta.  “The EATS Act would eliminate those barriers and expand eligibility so students, including those in California’s CalFresh program, can get the nutrition they need.  By removing these unnecessary hurdles, we can ensure that rather than worrying about where their next meal will come from, our students can focus on their education and future success.”

    “College students across the nation are going hungry, skipping meals, and can’t afford to make ends meet – it’s unacceptable. No student should have to choose between food and their textbooks,” said Rep. Costa. “Our legislation eliminates barriers and expands SNAP eligibility for college students, so they get the nutrition needed to be successful.”

    “This is a commonsense bill – we know our students can’t learn if they’re hungry. One in three college students face food insecurity meaning millions of young people aren’t able to live up to their potential,” said Rep. Harder. “If we want to set future generations up for success, we have to make sure they are getting the nutrition they need. This bill does just that by extending access to SNAP to college students. It’s a no-brainer if we care about our future.”

    “As a former college professor of 40 years, I’ve seen students struggle with hunger firsthand and know how it impacts their health and academic achievement. They should be focusing on their education, not where their next meal is coming from, but harsh SNAP restrictions make that impossible for millions of college students, especially after the passage of Republicans’ One Big, Ugly Bill,” said Rep. Adams. “I’m proud to support the EATS Act so we can remove these outdated barriers to SNAP, make college more accessible to low-income families, and ensure no student goes to bed hungry.”

    “No student should have to choose between eating and learning. The EATS Act removes outdated and harmful barriers that have long prevented college students—including many student parents and students of color—from accessing SNAP. This bill is a step toward justice—toward a future where an empty stomach isn’t a prerequisite for learning, and where every student is healthy, housed, and fed,” said Shimica Gaskins, President & CEO, GRACE/End Child Poverty California.

    “All students should have the resources they need to meet their basic needs. But with one in five experiencing food insecurity and many lacking access to SNAP benefits, this is not their reality. It’s clear the system needs reformed,” said Jessica Thompson, Senior Vice President at The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS). “Removing the requirement to meet an additional exemption will improve students’ ability to access benefits and better support their academic success. That’s why TICAS is proud to endorse the EATS Act of 2025  – a critical step in addressing food insecurity for this overlooked population.” 

    “Far too many low-income college students are going hungry, all while juggling family, work, and a full course load in pursuit of economic mobility. Many are parents, caregivers, or older adults returning to school for a better future, but the current system, with its 20-hour per week work requirement, makes this nearly impossible. Balancing work, school, and other responsibilities leaves little time for these students to focus on their education, much less maintain their health or care for their loved ones. Hunger only compounds these challenges, preventing them from fully thriving,” said Crystal FitzSimons, President of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). “No student should have to choose between buying food and pursuing an education. Congress must pass the EATS Act to remove outdated barriers to SNAP eligibility and ensure every student has the food they need to learn and thrive.”

    The full text of the bill can be found  here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strickland Introduces Legislation To Boost Funding For Gun Violence Prevention Research 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) re-introduced the bicameral Gun Violence Prevention Research Act, legislation to annually authorize $50 million over the next five years for gun violence prevent research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

    “Make no mistake: gun violence is preventable. Republicans actively choose to watch children, mothers, fathers, and Americans gunned down in deference to the gun lobby,” said Strickland. “We must root out the gun violence crisis in our nation. This legislation will simply treat gun violence as the public health crisis it is, and allow us to research it so we can take steps toward saving lives.” 

    “Stopping the spread of our nation’s gun violence epidemic requires action on the reforms we know are essential and effective,” said Senator Markey. “We must invest more to study the root causes of violence and develop evidence-based solutions. This legislation would allow our nation’s top medical, scientific, and public health researchers to conduct studies that would save lives. It is critical that we chart a path out of this public health crisis.” 

    “Gun violence is a uniquely American crisis that continues to impact communities across Michigan and our country,” said Senator Slotkin. “As the first Member of Congress to have two mass shootings in my former House district—Oxford High School and Michigan State University—I’ve seen first-hand the devastating toll gun violence has on our communities. As elected officials, our most basic responsibility is to protect our children from the things that are truly harming them. We must treat this epidemic like the national security threat that it is. And that means using every tool in the toolbox. Let’s get this bill across the finish line.” 

    This legislation arrives at a critical time. The Trump Administration has effectively dismantled gun violence prevention efforts, decimating the staff at the CDC and terminating $158 million—more than half—of federal funding for gun violence prevention programs at the Department of Justice.  

    House co-sponsors include: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02). 

    This bill is endorsed by the following organizations: 

    • Brady United 
    • Everytown for gun Safety 
    • March For Our Lives 
    • GIFFORDS 

    You can read the full bill text here. 

    Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Issues Consumer Alert Amid Increase in Reported Scams Targeting the Military Community

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, July 31, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    Does an offer seem too good to be true? Take a tactical pause to evaluate  

    OAKLAND — In recognition of Military Consumer Month, Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to help protect California service members, veterans, and their family members from targeted common scams and fraud. The military community and their families are often targets for predatory scammers: According to the Federal Trade Commission, military consumers nationwide reported over 99,400 fraud complaints last year — an increase from 2023’s approximately 93,000 complaints — including 44,587 imposter scams that reportedly cost them and their families over $199 million.  

    “More and more often, service members, veterans, and their families are targets for predatory scammers promising everything from home loans to jobs, and continuing education. This is absolutely unacceptable. As part of our commitment to protect those who protect us, my office will continue to bring the full force of the law against those who seek to exploit California’s military community,” said Attorney General Bonta. “If you have fallen victim to a scam or suspect fraudulent activity, get help and share your story so that we can help your fellow service members. You can report fraud to your local military or civilian law enforcement agency, or to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report.”

    Why is the Military Community Targeted? 

    Military service members, veterans, and their families are frequently targeted by scammers who want access to their pay and benefits, and who know that military members will often pay even fraudulent or over-stated debts to avoid security clearance issues or other disruptions to their military careers. In addition, the camaraderie that unites the military community is often exploited by impostors who claim to be veterans in attempts to perpetrate scams or access personal information for fraudulent purposes.   

    Common Scams Targeting the Military Community:

    Scammers use a variety of tactics to gain trust. Protect yourself by staying up to date on common military- and veteran-targeted scams. Beware of the following: 

    • Charity Scams: Just because a charity includes the word “veteran” in its name doesn’t mean that veterans are members of the group, or that veterans or their families will benefit from a donation. Scammers will use names that sound legitimate or those that mimic the names of well-known charities to create confusion. Take the time to make an informed decision and be wary of aggressive solicitations. Go to oag.ca.gov/charities, under the Resources & Tools section, and click on Registry Verification Search. If a charity is not listed, it should not be soliciting funds in California. If it is listed, you can view its financial reports, including the IRS Form 990 that the charity is required to file with DOJ’s Registry of Charitable Trusts.
    • Predatory Schools: The GI Bill and other military education programs offer you the chance to attend school and plan for your future, but for-profit schools sometimes target service members and veterans with false promises. Slow down and take the time you need to make the right decision. Predatory schools often use high-pressure sales tactics to try to get you to sign up. It’s important to ask for information about the programs, such as graduation rates, job placement, and graduate salary information. Offers that seem too good to be true generally are. Further, don’t forget that educational opportunities at the California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California may be available to you. 
    • Home Loan Scams: Be aware of scammers that — through phone calls or fraudulent mailers — claim to be affiliated with the government, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or your home loan servicer. These fraudsters may attempt to convince you to agree to loan modifications, refinance your home, or make payments on your loans. Be cautious of any individual or lender that contacts you and asks you to pay fees upfront before receiving any services; tells you to cancel your mortgage payment and resend the funds elsewhere; tells you to make payments to someone other than your current loan servicer; or pressures you to sign papers you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand — including asking you to sign over the title to your property. 
    • Identity Theft and Fraud: Some scammers will pretend to be from the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, or other official organizations in order to get your personal information so that they can commit identity theft or fraud. Before you provide any information, always make sure a request is coming from an official organization by doing a quick search on the internet or consulting a trusted source to get the organization’s real contact information. Never trust the contact information given by the person that is asking for your personal information, as scammers often give out fake contact information. Be wary of letters and emails that have misspellings, look unprofessional, or send you to a non-government website for information or action, as these are almost always fake. Lastly, never give out your Social Security number to receive military or veteran discounts. Scammers often promise military or veteran discounts in order to obtain personal information. 
    • Job Scams: Service members looking for new career opportunities after leaving service are a target for scammers posting fictitious job listings with the goal of stealing their personal information and finances. Avoid becoming a victim of job scams by conducting thorough research on the company. Additionally, stick to well-known job search platforms and government career websites when looking for job opportunities. Remember, legitimate employers will never require you to pay fees for applications, interviews, or background checks. You should also look out for fake check scams, which occur when a scammer posing as an employer sends you a counterfeit check to deposit into your account. The scammer will then ask you to send a portion of the funds back to them or a third party, while letting you keep some as payment. Eventually, the bank reverses the fake check, leaving you stuck paying the money back to the bank. If something feels off or suspicious during the job search, trust your instincts and end communication immediately.
    • Pension Scams: Veterans ages 65 and over are targeted by scam financial advisers who try to persuade senior veterans to buy costly annuities or transfer their assets into trusts, or pay unnecessary and illegal fees for help with a veterans pension application. These “advisers” claim to help veterans qualify for Aid and Attendance or other veterans benefits, but may cause you to lose eligibility or access to pension, disability, or healthcare benefits. If you are interested in Aid and Attendance or other veterans benefits, you can get free help from your County Veterans Service Office here.
    • Affinity Fraud: Affinity scams target members of identifiable groups, including the military. The perpetrators are — or pretend to be — members of the targeted group, and use sales pitches that rely on group trust and loyalty. In the military community, this includes exploiting the trust that service members have for their fellow service members, and for veterans who previously served. Don’t make a significant purchase, or an investment decision, based on the salesperson’s supposed military service, or the claim that a business is military-friendly or endorsed by the Armed Forces. Take a tactical pause, and shop around for the best deal.
    • Debt Collection and Illegal Threats: Debt collectors may try to trick or scare service members into making payments on debts. It is illegal for debt collectors to do any of the following: revoke your security clearance; contact your command in order to collect a debt (unless they have your consent, given after the debt came due, to do so); discipline or demote you; or garnish your pay. If a debt collector is trying to collect a debt that you do not owe or have already paid, dispute the debt in writing. Tell the debt collector why you do not owe the debt, include copies of any evidence you have, and mail this dispute to the debt collector using registered mail so that you have proof that the collector received it — and make sure to keep copies of everything for yourself. If you dispute the debt within 30 days after the collector first contacted you, the collector must stop collection until it shows you written proof of the debt.
    • Rental Housing Scams: These scams target military personnel looking for housing near a base, especially prevalent during the Permanent Change of Station season. Scammers pretend to be real estate agents and post fake ads for rental properties on websites, sometimes promising military discounts and other incentives in order to get service members to send them money for fees and deposits upfront. If someone insists on receiving money or other payments before a property has been seen, it is likely a rental scam. Avoid wiring money to reserve apartments, and use your installation housing office or established property management companies to locate potential housing. 
    • Predatory Auto Sales and Financing: Car dealers located near military bases may try to lure service members with promises of special deals for military personnel. Often, these so-called deals conceal the terms of purchase for the vehicle and result in the service member drastically overpaying for both the vehicle and the cost of financing. For example, dealers may insist that military personnel will not qualify for financing unless they purchase overpriced and unnecessary add-ons. Other times, the dealer may tell a service member who just purchased a car that the initial financing fell through and insist on renegotiating for worse terms. You should not rely on oral promises, nor feel pressured to enter into any purchase, without first reading and understanding the contract. If you are looking to purchase a car, you should explore all of your options for financing — including by contacting your bank or credit union — before making a purchase.  

    Protect Yourself from Scams:  

    • Bring a battle buddy when making big decisions, and take a tactical pause: Take your time with big decisions and get advice. A business that pressures you to make a quick decision or to not talk with your family, friends, a military financial counselor, or an officer or NCO that you trust may be out to scam you.
    • Take advantage of free annual credit reports: You are entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your credit history contains information from financial institutions, utilities, landlords, insurers, and others. By checking your credit reports at least once a year, you can identify signs of identity theft, as well errors in your report that could be raising the cost of your credit. Order your free annual credit reports by phone, toll-free, at 1-877-322-8228, or online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
    • Place a Fraud Alert: If your identity is stolen, put a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting the three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Also, consider requesting a credit freeze, which will restrict access to your credit file, making it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Report identity theft right away and get a recovery plan at identitytheft.gov. Additionally, file a police report with your local sheriff or police department and keep a copy for your records.
    • Report Suspicious Activity: Never give out personal information to a lender or servicer that contacts you out of the blue. If you are feeling unsure, hang up and call your loan servicer directly at the number that is listed on your mortgage statement. Report suspicious activity to the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report and file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
    • Protect your online information and accounts with strong passwords: Protect yourself by using different, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. Make sure that the passwords you use are at least eight characters, including a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
    • Check your credit card bills and bank statements often: Look for unauthorized charges, withdrawals, or unexpected bills, and report irregular activity to your bank as soon as you see it. If you notice that a bill didn’t arrive on time, it may mean that someone has changed the contact information on your account in order to hide fraudulent charges. Don’t share personal information: Be careful about what personal information you share, such as your address or financial information.
    • Sign up for the Enhanced Homeowner Notification Program: If you reside in Los Angeles County, you may sign up to receive mailed copies of documents recorded against your home, allowing you to review recorded real estate documents so you are aware of actions taken against your property.

    If you believe you have been the victim or target of a scam, immediately contact your local police department or reach out to your base legal office. For the legal office’s contact information, ask your command or visit to legalassistance.law.af.mil/. California National Guard personnel can also obtain legal help at calguard.ca.gov. You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report. For additional information on military-targeted scams, visit our website at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/military.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: European gloom over the Trump deal is misplaced. It’s probably the best the EU could have achieved

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow

    The trade deal between the US and the European Union, squeezed in days before the re-introduction of Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs, is reflective of the new politics of global trade. Faced with the threat of 30% baseline tariffs from Washington, as well as additional levies on specific sectors, the EU has secured a partial reprieve of a flat 15% tariff on all goods.

    Was this the best the bloc could have achieved? In the time available, it may well have been. The 15% rate is higher than the UK secured earlier this year, but it’s significantly below the level applied to China and Mexico, and on par with Japan.

    The EU has also managed a “zero-for-zero” tariffs deal on some hi-tech goods, notably semiconductors vital for products like phones and laptops. This is something the UK did not push for or secure in its own framework agreed with the US president.



    Read more:
    Donald Trump has reduced tariffs on British metals and cars, but how important is this trade deal? Experts react

    What’s more, EU leaders have argued that agreeing to the deal has security benefits in protecting dwindling US support for European defence. The urgency of Europe’s security concerns in Ukraine made these talks different from trade negotiations in the first Trump administration, when Europe could afford to be more aggressive.

    The biggest winners in this deal are Europe’s carmakers. The US has collapsed various sector-specific duties on goods like aircraft, cars and automotive parts into the 15% ceiling. This effectively reduces tariffs on EU-made cars (from 27.5%).

    American automakers, meanwhile, rely heavily on parts from Mexico and China – still subject to higher tariffs at the time of writing. This makes EU vehicles more competitive for US consumers than “American” cars that rely on overseas parts.

    Most importantly however, like the UK deal before it, the new EU agreement is a statement of understanding between the White House and the European Commission, rather than a formal treaty. A treaty would be subject to parliamentary ratification on both sides.

    But the semi-formal nature of this agreement allows both Trump and European leaders to portray the deal as a “win” by playing fast and loose with what’s actually in it.

    For example, the Trump administration will celebrate an EU commitment to buy US$250 billion (£189 billion) in US energy imports annually. Yet the concession holds no legal weight in the EU. The European Commission, which negotiated with Trump, does not buy any energy nor does it manage the power grid inside its 27 member states.

    The commission can encourage, but cannot compel, those states to buy American. (Indeed, it might want to do so anyway, since it helps it to pivot away from Russian gas). But ultimately, member states and businesses decide where their energy supply comes from, and they are not direct parties to the deal. Only a formal treaty ratified by the European parliament would compel them.

    No guarantees from Trump

    The informal nature of this agreement also allows EU member states to protest against what they see as capitulation to Trump’s demands without real consequence. After all, there is not yet a treaty text they would be required to vote on or implement.

    The Trump administration similarly imposed its sweeping tariff threats in early spring without a vote from Congress, and has been making ad hoc changes to the rates in the same way.

    On the one hand, this means European countries may not ultimately be required to implement some of the deal’s less savoury elements such as the energy purchases or lowering the bloc’s own tariffs on US goods.

    On the other hand, this means the Trump administration – notorious for abrupt changes of turn – can also renege at any time. In reality, there is little the EU can do about this. The question of leverage looms large. Trump’s longstanding antipathy towards the EU – seeing it less as an ally and more as a rival – meant that Brussels was never negotiating from a position of strength.

    The fact that the EU avoided the worst-case scenario, protected key sectors and secured other sector-specific advantages suggests a deal shaped not by triumph, but by containment of Trump. Since the deal was announced, the picture emerging from many European leaders has been one of gloom. True, the EU didn’t win – but it survived. And that, for now, is probably enough.

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

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

    – ref. European gloom over the Trump deal is misplaced. It’s probably the best the EU could have achieved – https://theconversation.com/european-gloom-over-the-trump-deal-is-misplaced-its-probably-the-best-the-eu-could-have-achieved-262369

    MIL OSI Analysis –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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



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

    Inside Trumpian diplomacy

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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



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

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

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

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On the agenda: the results of a working trip to the Far Eastern and Siberian Federal Districts, writing off debt on budget loans to regions, and increasing the grace period for mortgage payments upon the birth of a second child.

    Opening remarks by Mikhail Mishustin:

    Good afternoon, dear colleagues!

    Before we move on to the agenda of today’s Government meeting, I would like to talk about the results of the trip to Omsk Oblast, which became the final point of our major working trip to the Far Eastern and Siberian Federal Districts.

    The region is developing. Significant infrastructure is being actively built, including transport infrastructure, which is part of the high-speed automobile route “Russia” – from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. It is necessary to complete all planned work within the established deadlines.

    We visited several healthcare and educational facilities. We made a number of decisions on the hospital and clinic for war veterans so that participants in the special military operation could undergo treatment and recovery in comfortable conditions. Comprehensive support for our heroes is one of the key priorities of the Government.

    Agenda of the meeting

    Materials for the Government meeting on July 31, 2025

    We got acquainted with the course of the admission campaign at Omsk University. We will help with equipping its main building with educational equipment. We will allocate additional funds for major repairs of dormitories.

    The region presented its initiative to create an inter-university campus. The modern educational space will become a point of attraction for talented young people. This will be decided within the framework of the competition of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

    Participants of the meeting

    List of participants of the Government meeting, July 31, 2025

    In September, the first branch of a foreign university in our country, the Kazakh National University, will begin teaching students in Omsk. Almost everything is ready for its opening. We will continue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of higher education and scientific research.

    In the Amur Region, we inspected how the reconstruction of the airport complex is being carried out, the expansion of the road that leads to the airport – the most important objects for the region and residents. Here I would ask, Vitaly Gennadyevich (addressing V. Savelyev), you, the Ministry of Transport to monitor the timing and progress of the work.

    We also visited the customs and logistics terminal and the checkpoint on the border with China – Kani-Kurgan. I know how Vitaly Gennadyevich was actively involved in this. This will be a model checkpoint, to which we distribute, among other things, technological solutions built on domestic software products.

    Completion of its construction will increase the volume of transportation on the new bridge crossing over the Amur River. This is only part, I will say again, of the large work on developing cross-border logistics. Almost 180 billion rubles have been allocated for the modernization of points in the next three years, taking into account the prospective trade turnover and priority areas for the country.

    The most important thing now is that plans for launching such facilities in the region and throughout the country as a whole are implemented clearly and on time.

    In the Trans-Baikal Territory, in Chita, a separate meeting was held on issues of grain export development.

    Our own production covers our domestic needs. Let me remind you that Russia is a world leader in wheat and barley supplies abroad. The potential is even higher. It is important to fully realize it. We will continue to support our farmers, expand port capacities, and create the necessary infrastructure for both storage and transportation of products.

    Oksana Nikolaevna (addressing O. Lut), I would like to ask you to create additional opportunities for domestic agricultural producers to enter foreign markets.

    I know there are a number of questions. I also want to tell the members of the Government that we need to help our exporters in this regard.

    This is also necessary to increase the competitiveness of our economy and to fulfill the task approved by the President to increase exports of the Russian agricultural sector.

    We also inspected the perinatal center in Chita. The national project “Family” provides for its re-equipment already this year. Equipment is being received so that both mothers and babies receive modern treatment.

    This work continues throughout the country. In just six years, advanced equipment will be delivered to 142 perinatal centers, including nine federal ones.

    In Transbaikalia, major repairs are also being carried out at medical institutions, and a number of new ones are being created.

    Mikhail Albertovich (addressing M. Murashko), as we agreed, we need to monitor the construction deadlines to ensure their timely opening. This is very important for people. We need to interact more actively with colleagues from the region in this area.

    Issues of improving healthcare infrastructure were also given attention during a working visit to the Altai Republic. There, under the national project “Long and Active Life”, a hospital admissions department was built using federal funds. High-tech medical care will become even more accessible to local residents. It is in demand there.

    With the head of this Russian subject, Andrey Anatolyevich Turchak, we discussed in detail the progress of the implementation of the individual program of socio-economic development, which, by decision of the President, was formed until 2030.

    We also looked separately at how projects that are important for people are being implemented, including those to strengthen transport connectivity. Roads, bridges, and crossings are being repaired. The airport is being modernized. This is also important given the significant growth in tourist flow to this region. Travelers come there from all over Russia and from abroad. In early July, a separate domestic terminal opened in Gorno-Altaisk, and last week, a new international one, in line with all standards. Its first visitors were guests of the International Environmental Conference, in which we took part.

    Together with our colleagues – heads of government of a number of countries, during the plenary session we exchanged a vision of joint work to protect the environment in the interests of the present and future generations. We will strengthen cooperation in this important area.

    In our country, environmental well-being has been approved by the President as one of the national goals. We will continue to do everything necessary to achieve it. First of all, if we list the priorities, this is the conservation of forests, water bodies, rare species of animals and plants, the development of protected areas. We will also continue to form a closed-loop economy.

    The Ministry of Natural Resources needs to expand cooperation with foreign partners in all these areas. Establish an exchange of best practices, create conditions for ecotourism – all the colleagues who spoke spoke about this – so that more people could see pristine nature.

    And I would also like to say that the topic of ecology and environmental protection is very important for our colleagues from the CIS countries.

    This topic is also relevant for the Altai Territory. We discussed this in detail with Governor Viktor Petrovich Tomenko. In the region, with the support of the federal budget, transport accessibility is being improved, and the infrastructure needed for travelers is being formed. Without a doubt, this work should be continued.

    Colleagues, I ask all area curators to constantly monitor how the implementation of projects is proceeding locally.

    I would like to separately mention one important issue that I discussed with the governors of the Amur Region and the Zabaikalsky Krai – emergency situations caused by forest fires.

    The situation has now stabilized. But the fight against the fire required the involvement of additional forces – specialists, heavy equipment, aviation. In connection with which, of course, the costs of the necessary measures have increased. An order has been prepared to provide almost 1.4 billion rubles to these regions, as well as to Krasnoyarsk Krai and the Republic of Buryatia. These funds will be used to compensate for the costs of extinguishing the fires.

    It is difficult to predict fire situations and their intensity accurately, but I ask the leadership of regions where such cases are not uncommon to pay special attention to prevention. There should be no threats to people’s health and safety. And at the same time, of course, it is necessary to monitor the efficiency of spending budget funds.

    On to another topic.

    Document

    The government has written off debt on budget loans to eight regions that have implemented infrastructure projects

    The government continues to stimulate economic development in Russian regions. To do this, we are reducing the financial burden, primarily for those who actively attract investment and build infrastructure. For them, on the instructions of the President, we have provided the opportunity to write off two-thirds of the debt on budget loans. The corresponding rules were adopted in February.

    Today, we will write off such loans for eight more regions in the amount of over 47.27 billion rubles. These are the republics of Kalmykia and Karelia, as well as the Voronezh, Kirov, Kemerovo, Moscow, Smolensk and Tver regions. They previously allocated funds for the implementation of national projects, improvement of housing and utilities, resettlement of citizens from dilapidated housing, support for industry and other purposes.

    Such a decision on debts should have a positive impact on the budget system of these territories, on the dynamics of their development, which will contribute to the fulfillment of many tasks, including social issues.

    And also – about supporting families with children. This is one of the key priorities of the Government’s work, which the head of state has repeatedly drawn attention to. A number of measures have been taken on his instructions. Today we will supplement them with another one.

    A bill has been prepared that is intended to reduce the burden on parents paying off a mortgage. Currently, when a child is born, the borrower is entitled to a six-month credit holiday if his or her income has decreased by more than 20%, and the costs of servicing the loan exceed 40% of average monthly income.

    Now, for those who have given birth to or adopted a second or subsequent child, the grace period will be increased to one and a half years. At the same time, interest on the principal debt will be charged only from the 7th to the 18th month. And they can be paid not immediately, but after the obligations under the current agreement are paid off. In equal parts and with the same frequency as before.

    This will support families during the most difficult period, when one of the parents is caring for a child and is unable to go to work. And of course, we expect that together with other current measures, this will affect the demographic situation in the country as a whole.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Early-Career Spotlight: From Astrophysics to Applied Artificial Intelligence, Hilary Egan Charts a Creative Path Through Science

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Welcome to the Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science (MCCS) Early-Career Spotlight, a monthly feature showcasing NREL’s early-career researchers’ interests, motivations, and achievements. This month, features Hilary Egan, who has been a data scientist at NREL since 2020.

    When not in the lab solving AI problems, Hilary Egan enjoys outdoor activities like paddleboarding, climbing, and biking. Photo by Hilary Egan, NREL

    For Hilary Egan, a data scientist at NREL, a career in science was not a straight line but rather one shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a deep interest in computational problem-solving.

    “I was born in Germany to Canadian parents, and we moved around a lot throughout Canada and the United States,” Egan said. “When it came time for college, I landed at Michigan State University, majoring in physics with minors in math and computer science. I dabbled in experimental physics and worked in a laser lab early on, but honestly, I was a little too clumsy for it. I wanted something that connected all my interests.”

    That desire to connect the dots led Egan to computational physics, where she found her stride.

    “I started working at the high-performance computing center on campus and eventually joined an astronomy lab doing computational research—I absolutely loved it,” she said. That experience inspired her to pursue a Ph.D. in astrophysics and planetary science at the University of Colorado Boulder, with a strong focus on computation.

    From Fellowship to National Laboratory Career

    Egan’s graduate work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship, a pivotal experience that introduced her to the national laboratory system.

    “Through the fellowship, I had the opportunity to intern at NREL. I wanted to challenge myself and get outside my comfort zone, and NREL’s mission really resonated with me,” she said. “I was also curious about artificial intelligence (AI), which was just starting to gain momentum. During my internship, I worked on using AI to predict data center loads and align them with renewable energy availability. It was a great experience, and I was lucky to come back to NREL after finishing my Ph.D. I’ve been here ever since.”

    Today, Egan applies her expertise in AI and computational science to a wide range of energy challenges.

    “My work spans applied AI and computational methods across NREL’s mission space—from enhancing energy efficiency in data centers to using AI to accelerate building retrofits to developing autonomous laboratory systems,” she said.

    This year, she is on detail to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, where she is helping coordinate an agencywide AI strategy.

    Embracing Growth, in Science and Beyond

    What Egan enjoys most about her work is the constant opportunity to learn.

    “I love getting to be a bit of a scientific dilettante,” she said. “I wasn’t interested in narrowing my focus to one small corner of science for my entire career. At NREL, I get to explore new areas and work with incredibly smart, passionate people who care deeply about the mission. It’s really inspiring.”

    Egan credits strong communication skills as one of the most valuable tools in her professional toolkit.

    “To me, scientific communication means understanding your audience, writing clearly, and giving compelling presentations,” she said. “I’ve developed those skills through everything from taking writing-focused liberal arts courses in college to writing science blogs and even doing community theater. Getting feedback from different audiences is key—it teaches you where the message isn’t landing and why.”

    Outside the lab, Egan brings the same curiosity and enthusiasm to her free time.

    “I’m definitely a serial hobby picker-upper,” she said. “I love climbing, mountain biking, birding, and paddleboarding. I also read constantly, and I’ve spent years playing and coaching competitive ultimate frisbee. Lately, I’ve been sewing and just started pottery classes. I kind of run my free time like a kid at summer camp!”

    From astrophysics to AI-driven energy solutions, Egan exemplifies the spirit of scientific exploration and innovation that drives NREL forward.

    Learn more about NREL’s computational science and AI research.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Urges U.S. Air Force to Bring New Space Force Mission to Fort Huachuca

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    SIERRA VISTA, AZ – In a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and two of his House colleagues say there is no better place for this U.S. Space Force mission than Fort Huachuca.

    The lawmakers are urging the Department of the Air Force to select Fort Huachuca in Cochise County, Arizona, as the site of a new U.S. Space Force mission aimed at enhancing space domain awareness and early threat detection.

    Ciscomani is joined on the letter by Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05) and Rep. Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08).

    “Fort Huachuca provides a strategically sound, operationally ready, and cost-effective location for this critical Space Force capability,” they wrote in the letter. “Unlike other locations, the Fort already has the supporting infrastructure, quality of life, with the opportunity for joint operations. We respectfully urge your full consideration as the Department moves forward with its basing process.”

    Community leaders echoed Ciscomani’s call for a new Space Force mission.

    “Bringing a new U.S. Space Force mission to Fort Huachuca would be a game-changer for Sierra Vista and our surrounding region. This mission would not only strengthen our national defense posture but also create high-quality jobs, attract new talent, and reinforce our city’s long-standing partnership with the Department of Defense. I appreciate Congressman Ciscomani’s advocacy and leadership in championing Fort Huachuca as the right place for this important investment for our future.”

    — Clea McCaa, Mayor of Sierra Vista 

    Congressman Ciscomani’s leadership in advocating for Fort Huachuca as a site for a new U.S. Space Force mission reflects a clear understanding of Arizona’s strategic value to our nation’s defense. Fort Huachuca’s unique capabilities, geographic advantages, and history of supporting joint operations make it an ideal choice. The University of Arizona has long collaborated with Fort Huachuca and is recognized nationally for its expertise in space science and astronomy, optics, and space domain awareness. Together with the unique advantages Southern Arizona offers for innovation in astronomy and space science, this initiative aligns directly with our research strengths and our commitment to advancing U.S. leadership in space security.”

    —  Dr. Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation at The University of Arizona 

     

    View full letter here.

     

    On July 15, 2025, Ciscomani announced his strong support for Fort Huachuca’s selection as the U.S. Department of the Air Force considers basing a new space mission at one of four installations nationwide.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Remarks at Markup for FY26 Labor-HHS Funding Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s remarks. 

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered remarks at a full Appropriations Committee markup on the FY26 Labor-HHS funding bill.

    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Capito as prepared for delivery:

    “Thank you, Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray.

    “I applaud your steadfast commitment to returning to regular order, and I hope that our work continues to the Senate floor.

    “As we near the end of these subcommittee markups, I’d like to thank all my fellow committee members for their input.

    “We received 12,548 total member requests for the Labor-H appropriations bill. This bill is always one of the most difficult appropriations bills to negotiate.

    “This is the third year Senator Baldwin and I have been at the helm of the Labor-H Subcommittee, and I’m pleased to once again present a bipartisan bill to the Full Committee.

    “The Labor-H bill allocates limited taxpayer resources to key bipartisan priorities at a lower level than fiscal year 2025.

    “The bill includes a number of bipartisan member priorities such as greater investments in America’s biomedical research, child care, education, mental and rural health, and continued efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

    “As we work to right-size the federal government, the bill also includes careful, targeted decreases, while ensuring that agencies have appropriate staffing levels to carry out their statutory responsibilities.

    “The bill also maintains long-standing riders and excludes any new controversial riders.

    “I have heard from many West Virginians throughout this process about questions they have regarding funding for programs throughout the state. I am proud that this bill provides critical funding for those worthy initiatives.

    “Our legislation seeks to provide more certainty and support for the work being done in my home state that help improve the lives of so many West Virginians.

    “Our bill provides an increase for the National Institutes of Health to continue prioritizing biomedical research in the United States.

    “This investment includes targeted increases for research in specific areas such as Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Parkinson’s, women’s health, maternal health, rare diseases, and cancer.

    “We have also maintained funding for NIH’s IDeA program, that provides funding to 23 states that historically had lower levels of NIH funding, including my state of West Virginia.

    “The IDeA state program has been so important for research at West Virginia institutions like WVU and Marshall University.

    “Today’s bill also builds on our efforts to combat substance abuse, which remains a serious problem in West Virginia, by providing funding for addiction treatment, prevention, research, and recovery programs. 

    “This bill also provides resources to support our health workforce, including nurses, geriatric providers, and professionals to respond to the addiction crisis, which will help providers in West Virginia. 

    “The Labor-HHS bill again prioritizes our children starting with early childhood all the way through postsecondary education to make sure our students are prepared for jobs today and in the future.

    “The bill also makes critical investments in our workforce to improve outcomes for workers looking to upskill and advance in their careers.

    “The bill includes funding for apprenticeship grants, including those designed to boost the utility sector workforce, to support the administration’s goal of creating 1 million active apprenticeships.

    “The bill maintains important funding to support workers’ rights and ensure the safety of our workplaces.

    “I’ve just described several bipartisan programs we have included to improve the lives of Americans, and I encourage my colleagues to support this Labor-H bill.

    “I want to briefly thank all the staff that worked to put this product together.

    “On Senator Baldwin’s staff: Mike Gentile, Mark Laisch, Meghan Mott, Kathryn Toomajian, Erin Dugan, Amanda Beaumont, and Janie Dulaney.

    “On my Labor-HHS staff: Emily Slack, Catherine Knowles, Elizabeth Joseph, Heather Wadyka, and Jordan Lawlor.

    “And, I’d like to thank those on the Full Committee staff that help all of our subcommittees: Clint Trocchio, Ben Hammond, and the wonderful GPO team led by Valerie Hutton.

    “Thank you again Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: The AR Alliance Welcomes Magic Leap, Tekscend Photomask, and UC San Diego as New Members

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PISCATAWAY, N.J., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The AR Alliance a program of the ISTO federation that is dedicated to advancing open and interoperable augmented reality (AR) ecosystem standards, proudly announces the addition of four influential members: Magic Leap, Tekscend Photomask, and University of California San Diego.

    These new members reflect the global diversity and strength of the AR hardware development ecosystem, bringing expertise across foundational research, advanced optics, semiconductor tooling, and spatial computing platforms. Their participation reinforces the Alliance’s collaborative mission to accelerate innovation, support open standards, and unify the AR industry through concrete action and shared success.

    The AR Alliance provides a supportive and neutral environment for organizations of all sizes to take an active role in advancing and strengthening the augmented reality hardware development ecosystem.  Diverse organizations across the expanding, global AR ecosystem work together through The AR Alliance to speed innovation and breakthrough technologies and processes for building AR wearables and devices that create meaningful and positive experiences for users.

    “We are building AR together” said Dr. Bharath Rajagopalan, Chair of The AR Alliance and Director of Strategic Marketing, STMicroelectronics. “The promise of AR and its potential market are so vast that there is ample room for all our member companies, and stakeholders, to succeed together. The AR Alliance is the place where concrete work takes place to harmonize approaches for advancing, unifying, and growing the global AR supply chain as well as accelerating innovation.  We are pleased to welcome these new members to the AR Alliance and to join us in this important work and bring their deep technology experience, manufacturing capabilities, product leadership and research to help enable the AR market.”

    Magic Leap is a leader in transparent optics technology and scalable optics manufacturing for Augmented Reality (AR) experiences. They build proprietary manufacturing equipment and processes to produce highly precise eyepieces, with their flagship AR product, Magic Leap 2, featuring patented optics and a lightweight design.

    UC San Diego has been named the No. 8 university worldwide in powering global innovation, according to Clarivate’s latest report. The university ranked third among U.S. public institutions, reflecting its deep impact on industry and society through cutting-edge research and breakthrough patents.

    The unique collaboration between UC San Diego’s Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience and the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination has given rise to an interdisciplinary team of neuroscientists, computer scientists and artists working together to pose problems in new ways and advance scientific methods and knowledge with full STEAM ahead.  Their combined methods leverage recent advances in lightweight biometric sensors, virtual reality, eye tracking, EEG, as well as state of the art immersive Virtual Reality.  Their lab (located at the Supercomputer Center for Neuroscience, UCSD) has a wide variety of neuroscientists.  The lab is also renowned for the use of the MoBI lab, a research space dedicated to virtual reality experiments.

    Tekscend Photomask Corp is the world’s premier provider of photomasks for semiconductors, and a group company of TOPPAN Holdings Inc. Tekscend Photomask was previously known as Toppan Photomask. Headquartered in Tokyo, Tekscend Photomask leverages its worldwide customer service network and eight manufacturing facilities in key geographic locations to offer the worlds most advanced lithography technology.  Tekscend Photomask is also expanding into nanoimprint molds and other nano-fabricated products.

    About The AR Alliance

    The AR Alliance Founding Board Members comprise STMicroelectronics, META, Essilor Luxottica, Corning, Dispelix, Optofidelity, MICROOLED, Google, and Qualcomm.

    Organizations of every size and in any sector of the ecosystem are respected, heard, and supported in The AR Alliance’s non-competitive, collaborative environment. Flexible membership levels remove barriers to access enabling companies of varying stages of maturity and resources to engage.

    To learn more about membership in The AR Alliance, please visit www.thearalliance.org.

    Media Contact:
    Brianna Rich
    Program Manager
    brianna.rich@isto.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces District Attorney Appointment

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces District Attorney Appointment

    Governor Stein Announces District Attorney Appointment
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein announced the following District Attorney appointment:

    Matthew T. Wareham as District Attorney in Prosecutorial District 4, serving Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties. Wareham is filling the vacancy created after the Honorable Scott Thomas retired.

    • Wareham currently serves as the Chief Assistant District Attorney in Prosecutorial District 4. From 2017 to 2024, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the same office. He also served for almost three years as an Assistant District Attorney in Alamance County. Wareham received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from East Carolina University and his Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

    “Matt has spent his entire career in public service, serving as a prosecutor for more than a decade in Alamance, Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico counties,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I look forward to seeing all he accomplishes in his new role.” 

    Jul 31, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Here’s how you can make your garden a safe and biodiverse space for urban wildlife

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ann Dale, Professor Emerita, Environment & Sustainability, Royal Roads University

    Simple things like avoiding chemical pesticides and leaving leaves where they fall can help make your garden a more welcoming environment for wildlife and support biodiversity. (Jeffrey Hamilton/Unsplash)

    Biodiversity is essential to mitigating and adapting to climate change, enhancing the resilience of ecosystems and safeguarding the ecological functions that all living beings depend on for survival.

    There is little doubt that we are at a critical point in the loss of biodiversity in Canada with thousands of species currently in danger of disappearing, while global experts continue to warn about Earth’s ongoing sixth mass extinction.

    As a response to the cascading climate crisis, wildlife habitat gardens have grown in popularity. These are spaces designed to attract and sustain local wildlife, and include efforts such as rewilded meadows, pollinator patches, rain gardens, naturalized lawns and others.

    Cultivating a garden for biodiversity is not an all-in or nothing task. In fact, there is a wide range of simple actions anyone can take to regenerate and conserve biodiversity right at home.

    We are currently organizing a biodiversity public literacy campaign at the National Environmental Treasure, a people’s trust fund devoted to funding Canadian environmental organizations.

    Last year, we partnered with Prof. Nina-Marie Lister and the Ecological Design Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University on their Bylaws for Biodiversity research, along with Nature Canada and FLAP Canada, to develop Gardening for Biodiversity resources.

    Supporting biodiversity in your garden

    Educational, ecologically informed signage can help interpret the garden for visitors. These signs serve as a practical tool to share gardening practices and highlight the garden’s environmental benefits with the community.
    (Nina Marie Lister)

    Together, we’ve created a series of free, fact-based guides to help people learn how to cultivate biodiversity and support for wildlife habitat in private gardens.

    This series currently includes four comprehensive booklets, each focusing on key aspects of biodiversity gardening:

    While there are plenty of great garden practices out there, these are five easy and impactful ways to boost biodiversity and cultivate a garden safe for urban wildlife, taken directly from our booklets.

    Use alternatives to pesticides

    Pesticides in your garden can harm beneficial insects and can be detrimental to the environment, wildlife and human health. Instead of using chemical-based pesticides, try natural alternatives like biopesticides, horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps that can be just as effective.

    Likewise, attracting predatory insects and wildlife into your garden who will actively feed on the harmful pest is also an effective starting point as this is a process of pest-control that occurs naturally in healthy ecosystems.

    There are also DIY pesticides, such as sea salt spray, water-vinegar mixtures and coffee grounds.

    A rewilded habitat meadow featuring a selection of native wildflowers and habitat logs left to enrich the soil, support pollinators and offer seating for visitors.
    (Nina Marie Lister)

    Leave the leaves

    Decomposing plant litter, like fallen dead leaves, tree bark, needles and twigs, is an important component of maintaining soil health, nutrient cycling and biodiversity.

    By choosing to leave the leaves in your garden, you will support the variety of species who overwinter in them, from bees and caterpillars, to butterflies, spiders and more.

    Prioritize pollinator-attractive plants

    In addition to pollination, insects are beneficial for a variety of other reasons including for pest control, seed dispersal and decomposition.

    The best way to attract insects largely depends on which insect you are trying to attract. But as a general rule, it is always a good practice to source plants locally and prioritize native species.

    Next best to native plants are benign ornamentals and non-natives. Cultivating a diverse range of flowers, especially native plants and herbs, promotes a resilient ecosystem. It also helps natives out-compete invasive species and to reverse the downward trends of mass species decline.



    Read more:
    How to fight Insectageddon with a garden of native plants

    Make your garden safe for birds

    Birds contribute to healthy ecosystems: they pollinate plants, disperse seeds and prey on insects. Unfortunately, North American bird populations are experiencing a rapid decline due to habitat loss, degradation and other global pressures.

    Aadopting bird-safe gardening practices offers a powerful way to combat these threats and support biodiversity conservation on a local scale. Beyond core habitat elements, additional practices can enhance the garden’s appeal to birds.

    Organic gardening without pesticides or herbicides, keeping cats indoors, removing potential entanglement hazards and using bird-collision prevention markers on reflective surfaces can not only attract birds, but also ensure their safety as well.

    Birds contribute to healthy ecosystems: they pollinate plants, disperse seeds and prey on insects.
    (Unsplash/Richard Bell)

    Advocate for biodiversity

    Although there’s been a growing movement toward more biodiversity-supporting practices, outdated municipal bylaws and enforcement policies continue to limit the potential of habitat gardens.

    These disputes over the scope and application of bylaws have brought attention to various legal contradictions and outcomes that negatively impact progress on biodiversity recovery, all the while undermining and negating related environmental objectives on private land.

    By advocating and encouraging your municipal leaders to adopt science-based biodiversity-supportive bylaws, you help to establish the legal frameworks and political agendas that directly impact long-term ecological health and promote sustainable development and the regeneration of biodiversity.

    Ann Dale receives funding from the CRC Secretariat, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Hewlett Foundation.

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

    – ref. Here’s how you can make your garden a safe and biodiverse space for urban wildlife – https://theconversation.com/heres-how-you-can-make-your-garden-a-safe-and-biodiverse-space-for-urban-wildlife-261151

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Accessible, high-quality summer programs and Black joy support Black children’s return to school

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ardavan Eizadirad, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Wilfrid Laurier University

    Summer is popularly imagined as bringing joy to all young people. Yet it is not an equal break or of the same quality for all students.

    Learning loss is the decline in academic skills and knowledge that can occur when students are not engaged in structured learning, especially during extended breaks like summer.

    It disproportionately impacts Black and low-income students who face greater systemic disadvantages within the education system.

    Black families face challenges in accessing culturally relevant and affirming summer opportunities. As work by education researcher Obianuju Juliet Bushi and others has documented, for many Black families, the question isn’t just “what will my child do this summer?” It’s “where can my child go to be safe, affirmed and supported?”



    Read more:
    Where can Black children go in summer? Black families face disparities and need equitable options

    Without access to affordable enrichment programs during the summmer, many students fall behind in reading and math, further widening the opportunity gap when school resumes in September.

    As the manager of research with the charitable, Black-led non-profit organization Youth Association for Academics, Athletics and Character Education (YAAACE) in the Jane Finch area of Toronto, I share insights about how culturally responsive community programs can address opportunity gaps, and how parents in Black families can support their kids’ successful transition back to school.

    This article draws on insights from conversations I have had with various YAAACE program participants, parents and educators, as well as leadership, including Devon Jones, Nene, and Dave Mitchell.



    Read more:
    If I could change one thing in education: Community-school partnerships would be top priority

    Anti-Black racism in education

    Despite Canada’s reputation for multiculturalism, systemic anti-Black racism remains deeply embedded in the education system, contributing to unequal opportunities for students.

    The opportunity gap refers to the unequal access to resources, supports and learning experiences that affect students’ ability to succeed, often based on race, income and geography.

    In March 2025, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released a report, “Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System.”

    The findings confirmed that Ontario’s schools are saturated with systemic barriers for Black children and their families. These barriers include: disproportionate discipline; being streamed into non-academic tracks; lack of Black leadership in schools; Eurocentric curriculum; insufficient disaggregated identity-based data collection; and lack of access to culturally affirming environments.



    Read more:
    ‘Dreams delayed’ no longer: Report identifies key changes needed around Black students’ education

    The cost is devastating and contributes to academic underachievement, racial trauma, disengagement and the reproduction of the school-to-prison pipeline.

    This is particularly the case in low-income communities.

    Centring Black excellence

    Black youth often face higher exposure to poverty, systemic underemployment, community violence and the emotional weight of intergenerational trauma and racism.

    While these experiences shape the mental health and academic outcomes of students, schools often lack culturally relevant supports or trauma-informed responses.

    Summer programs are one important part of countering anti-Black racism in schools. These can support student transitions by mitigating learning loss and helping to close the opportunity gap.

    Programs that centre Africentricity and Black excellence led by staff with lived experiences provide culturally responsive and emotionally supportive environments that affirm Black identities.



    Read more:
    Ontario can close students’ access and opportunity gaps with community-led projects

    This builds confidence in Black students and ensures students return to school in the fall better prepared to thrive academically, socially, emotionally and culturally.

    Community-driven youth programs

    Since 2007, YAAACE has provided academic, athletic, family supports, employment and mentorship to more than 1,000 children and families annually across Toronto. Its programs are led by Black educators and mentors who reflect the community and understand the lived experiences of the youth they serve in low-income communities like the Jane and Finch neighbourhood.

    YAAACE’s seven-week Summer Institute offers a model that affirms identity, cultivates belonging and accelerates achievement. Each summer, approximately 300 students from grades 3 through 12 attend the institute, which blends literacy and numeracy instruction with culturally responsive learning, arts-based programming, robotics, mentorship and athletics.

    Students are taught by Ontario certified teachers and supported by Black staff and practitioners trained in trauma-informed care. For families who can’t afford camp fees, the program is free or subsidized.

    This is a results-based, community-driven intervention that mitigates the opportunity gap for Black students from low-income communities by creating access to experiential learning opportunities. It’s also violence prevention and intervention that builds character and supports students, with a focus on the early years.

    Cycle of empowerment

    YAAACE’s Inspire Academy Mathematics Program provides early access to high school math courses. Grade 8 graduates earn a high school math credit through an intensive summer course led by a team of teachers and teacher assistants in a supportive, inclusive environment. In cases where students are behind provincial standards, they receive additional supports with low staff-to-student ratios.

    Based on assessments administered by the teachers and reports provided to all the parents, students leave the institute more confident in their academics, better prepared to return to school and grounded culturally in who they are. Families report higher levels of engagement and lower levels of stress knowing their children are in safer, affirming spaces.

    Many of YAAACE’s youth return as peer leaders and mentors, reinforcing a cycle of empowerment.

    Programs like YAAACE do not just help kids do better in school. They also reduce long-term costs to the health-care, justice and social service systems by interrupting cycles of trauma and marginalization before they escalate.

    Tips for parents

    Summer is a crucial time to support children’s learning and well-being, especially for Black families navigating systems that often overlook their strengths.

    Below are three practical ways to support your child during the summer break and when school starts in September.

    Centre empowering examples of Black identity and culture: Expose your children to books, films, music and conversations that celebrate Black history and excellence, Africentricity and positive role models. Affirming cultural roots builds pride, resilience and a sense of belonging in systems that too often erase or distort those narratives from stereotypical perspectives.

    Create routines that balance learning and Black joy: Set daily routines that include reading, writing or problem solving but just as much make space for rest, play, creativity and movement rooted in Black joy. Learning should be holistic and joyful. It’s important as parents, guardians and community leaders that we not only talk about this but more importantly model it.

    ‘Refresh, Revive, Thrive: Black Joy in Education’ with Andrew B. Campbell, assistant professor at the University of Toronto.

    Stay engaged and be an advocate: Get to know your child’s teachers and school administrators, review school policies to be familiar with how to navigate them (for example, getting accommodations for your child’s needs) and request culturally affirming resources. Don’t hesitate to raise concerns, as your advocacy helps create more supportive learning environments and shows your child that their success is worth fighting for.

    Partnerships with Black-led organizations

    Trauma-informed, culturally responsive education must become a system-wide standard.

    This becomes a reality by building long-term partnerships with Black-led community organizations. It means embedding mental health supports and curriculum content that reflect the cultural identities and lived realities of Black diasporas. And it means collecting disaggregated race-based data to track progress and guide informed decision-making.

    It starts by funding proven data-driven programs, training educators and holding systems accountable to measurable outcomes.

    Ardavan Eizadirad receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

    – ref. Accessible, high-quality summer programs and Black joy support Black children’s return to school – https://theconversation.com/accessible-high-quality-summer-programs-and-black-joy-support-black-childrens-return-to-school-261908

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: Announcing Avery Prendergast’s Participation in the Successful Farmers of Salem Internship Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers of Salem (FOS), a regional mutual insurance company specializing in insurance for home and business owners, is pleased to announce Avery Prendergast’s successful participation in their internship program. Graduating from Levittown’s Neshaminy High School, Ms. Prendergast is completing a degree in both Legal Studies and Risk Management & Insurance with Temple University of Philadelphia. She is looking forward to a December 2025 graduation. When asked how her interest in RMI came about, Avery said, “I became interested in RMI when I took the Introduction to Risk Management class at Temple. It reminded me of torts, which was something I had studied at Bucks County Community College while in the Paralegal program. It mixed well with my Legal Studies major, so I decided to take both majors.”

    Of the Intern Delaware program, Ms. Prendergast said, “ID has introduced me to industries, and people that I would never have gotten the opportunity to meet. It is a great program that shows you how easy it is to get involved and get things done in this wonderful state. ID has provided unique opportunities like visiting Legislative Hall, meeting past and present senators, networking with other interns in a variety of industries, and learning from senior executives and other professionals firsthand.” With only one more semester left, Avery is excited to settle into a career and is making the most out of her summer with Farmers. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, watching movies with friends, and camping with her family.

    When asked “Why Farmers?”, Ms. Prendergast said, “I have had an amazing time working at Farmers of Salem this summer. Transitioning from working retail and being a student, to working a 9-5 was daunting, but everyone was so welcoming and kind that it became an easier process. FOS has a great environment where my voice matters. I am seen as a person and not just an employee. I have been tasked with real projects and work that make each day feel productive and meaningful.” Avery added, “With the rotational internship, I have been able to go through multiple departments and learn the ins and outs of the business. There have been so many lightbulb moments when I am learning something new and connecting the dots to something else in another department. I have learned so much that will help me with my final college courses and my future career.”

    Temple University uniquely hosts Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance degree programs. Dr. Drennan, Chair of Risk, Actuarial Science, and Legal Studies at Temple University, along with his team, challenge students through thought-provoking course work while setting the bar quite high. 

    Elizabeth Dean, Human Resources Director for Farmers of Salem said, “The difference with Farmers of Salem’s internship program, compared to other insurance companies, is that we ask interns to roll up their sleeves and get to work alongside our tenured team members. This job-shadowing approach has allowed interns to gain first-hand experiences as they rotate through the various departments of the organization. Our employees enjoy mentoring the interns, not only to share their knowledge, but to learn from interns that have been so well prepared by Temple.” Added by Jim Reagan, CPCU, Vice President Product & Regulatory Compliance, “Asking our interns to get down to business and work alongside our valued employees is precisely what sets our internship experience apart. This process has been validated by our intern feedback.”

    About Farmers of Salem
    Founded in 1851, and located on the Riverfront in Wilmington DE, Farmers of Salem provides insurance coverage to homeowners and businesses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland through a network of independent agents. Rated A- Excellent by A.M. Best Company and a Financial Stability Rating of A Exceptional by Demotech, Inc. “We pride ourselves in providing Superior Service with Personal Attention,” says Kim Lorenzini, Vice President, Marketing & Business Development.

    For more information about Farmers of Salem, visit www.farmersofsalem.com

    As a mutual corporation, fundamentally rooted in serving our community, we engage in corporate philanthropy, giving annually to an array of organizations and causes. Through our giving, in local markets where we have a presence, Farmers of Salem has supported educational development, physical education, and health and wellness programs that provide communities in most need with essential services, opportunities to improve the quality of their lives and provide them with assets to create a better future.

    A partial list of events and organizations that Farmers of Salem supports annually:

    • Autism Delaware
    • Serviam Girls Academy
    • Vehicles for Veterans
    • Salem County Humane Society
    • Habitat for Humanity
    • VFW Post #253
    • Operation Legacy
    • Keeping Hope Alive, Inc.
    • Temple University 
    • Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
    • Holiday Service Project – Thanksgiving Food Baskets – Salvation Army
    • Make A Wish
    • American Red Cross
    • American Cancer Society
    • Longwood Gardens
    • Bo Lends a Paw Pet Pantry
    Contact: Kim Lorenzini
      856-628-0150
      klorenzini@fosnj.com
     

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d1f5ccc-9a93-4259-b449-b63c5eb4f69a

    The MIL Network –