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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – How many degrees Celsius of global warming will actually be prevented by the EU’s intermediate target to decrease emissions by 90 % by 2040? – P-003042/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-003042/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Sander Smit (PPE)

    On 14 July 2025, Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety held an exchange of views with the Commission, during which MEP Sander Smit raised questions regarding the proposed target to reduce emissions by 90 % by 2040 and the broader implications of this. Specifically, he inquired to what extent the 90 % intermediate reduction target would contribute to limiting the rise in global temperatures. He also asked how the proposed target aligns with Article 2(1)(b) of the Paris Agreement, which requires that climate action be pursued in a manner that does not threaten food production. These oral questions remained unanswered by the Commission.

    • 1.According to the Commission, exactly how many degrees Celsius of global warming will be prevented by the EU’s intermediate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 % by 2040?
    • 2.How will the Commission ensure that relevant implementing and emission reduction measures comply with Article 2 (1)(b) of the Paris Agreement, i.e. that these measures are pursued ‘in a manner that does not threaten food production’?

    Submitted: 23.7.2025

    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Exemption for temporary construction emissions and depositions for sustainable projects – P-003051/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-003051/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Tom Berendsen (PPE)

    In its resolution on the Clean Industrial Deal (2025/2656 (RSP)), Parliament expressly called on the Commission to introduce a temporary exemption for construction emissions and depositions for clean and net-zero projects and storage and grid infrastructure. The Draghi report also makes reference to the need for this.[1]

    In several Member States, including the Netherlands, sustainable projects for CCS infrastructure, green hydrogen production or grid reinforcement, for instance, are being delayed or blocked because of permit requirements in connection with construction emissions or deposition (nitrogen-related for the most part).[2] This stems from European legislation and needs to be resolved urgently.[3]

    Emissions and deposition during construction are temporary and, in most instances, are no more than ‘negligible’[4] while, over time, the sustainable projects themselves actually lead to substantial reductions in CO₂ and nitrogen emissions. Current European legislation in this area is therefore hampering the necessary speeding up of the energy transition for industry and of the process of making industry sustainable.

    • 1.Does the Commission agree that there should be exemptions for temporary construction emissions and depositions for sustainable projects?
    • 2.Is the Commission considering making specific proposals along those lines, for example in the prospective European Grids Package and/or the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act?
    • 3.If so, on what timescale is a proposal to be expected?

    Submitted: 23.7.2025

    • [1] The Draghi report (Part A), p. 50; the Draghi report (Part B), p. 33.
    • [2] See inter alia ‘Volkskrant’, ‘Groen licht voor CO2-opslag onder Noordzee, milieuactivisten verliezen strijd tegen Porthos-project’ (16.8.2023); ‘L1 Nieuws’, ‘Provincie zet vergunning waterstoffabriek door, ondanks negatief advies’ (7.5.2025); De Telegraaf, ‘Netbeheerder: zeker 317 uitbreidingsprojecten in gevaar door stikstofregels, tekort stroom dreigt’ (21.4.2025).
    • [3] Such as the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.
    • [4] See, for example, Council of State, Ruling 202107079/2/R4, para. 15-15.11.
    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU’s inaction in the face of Türkiye’s political hegemony over Libya – P-003025/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-003025/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

    Launched in 2020, Operation IRINI (Greek for ‘peace’) is supposed to be the EU’s core tool for implementing the UN arms embargo on Libya. Despite a number of extensions, prolonging the mission to 2027, and a ‘broadening of its remit’ to include monitoring of critical infrastructure and illegal activities, its effectiveness remains disputed. Türkiye, a major disruptor of the legal order in the region, is openly violating the arms embargo on Libya, without consequences. The mission has resulted in just three seizures of cargo in five years, with tens of thousands of vessels contacted by radio and few ships actually inspected. The lack of binding enforcement measures weakens any deterrent effect. It seems, therefore, that Operation IRINI is more of a symbolic gesture than an effective mechanism for enforcing international law in the Mediterranean.

    The recent ‘Goodwill Agreement’ between Türkiye and Libya increases bilateral trade and strengthens cooperation in the fields of energy, mining and infrastructure. What is more, the ‘controlled’ illegal migration flows to Greece and Italy demonstrate that Libya has been implementing ‘Turkish know-how’ in hope of securing an economic package equivalent to the 2016 agreement between the EU and Türkiye.

    Given that Greece is receiving irregular immigrants from Libya and that both Western and Eastern Libyan administrations are cooperating closely with Türkiye in the face of international law and Greek sovereign rights and sovereignty, what action does the Commission intend to take in order to address Türkiye’s anti-Greek ‘campaign’ in Libya?

    Submitted: 21.7.2025

    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Research for REGI, CONT and BUDG Committees – Cohesion Policy Calendar (2021-2027 and 2014-2020 Programming Periods) July 2025 update – 16-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The implementation timetable for cohesion policy is defined largely by its legislative framework. In order to be able to plan parliamentary work and exercise systematic scrutiny of policy implementation and of the Commission’s work, it is essential to have an overview of the timing of different steps in policy implementation in the coming years. This type of briefing was first published (and subsequently updated) in 2014 covering the 2014-2020 programming period. This version includes the policy actions of the 2021-27 period, while still indicating the last steps of the 2014-20 period. It includes a detailed (but non-exhaustive) timetable of policy actions in 2025, together with an overview of major actions for the remainder of the programming period, from 2026. Given its contribution to cohesion in the European Union, policy actions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility are now included in the calendar. Policy actions related to budgetary and budgetary control aspects are coloured green (for the year 2025).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Evidence of poor implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by X and the Republic of Ireland – P-003074/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-003074/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Günther Sidl (S&D)

    The DSA came into force in February 2024; it lays down specific obligations for large online platforms to tackle illegal hate speech on the internet.

    However, as explained in the blog post ‘X ist ein rechtsfreier Raum’ (‘X is a legal vacuum’) by an Austrian journalist and television presenter, there are considerable doubts as to whether, in practice, the DSA is being implemented in accordance with the law[1]. For example, following a criminal complaint made in order to have a perpetrator of hate speech on X investigated, both Twitter International Unlimited Company in Dublin, which is responsible for processing data for X in the EU, and the Irish Department of Justice refused to comply with a Vienna Regional Criminal Court order to provide information. The Austrian courts have therefore been unable to investigate the perpetrator.

    • 1.Does the Commission regard it as permissible for an online platform to refuse to provide information to a Member State’s judicial authority on the ground that only requests under a bilateral mutual legal assistance agreement will be responded to?
    • 2.Does the Commission regard it as permissible for a Member State to refuse to provide assistance on the ground that it is competent only if the requested data are physically stored on its territory?
    • 3.Will the Commission take this case as an opportunity to look into whether X and the Republic of Ireland have breached their obligations under the DSA?

    Submitted: 24.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.arminwolf.at/2025/06/28/x-ist-ein-rechtsfreier-raum/
    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Nomination for a Member of the European Court of Auditors: The Netherlands – 31-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This note describes the treaty provisions and appointment procedure for ECA members at EU level. In addition, it provides information on the national nomination procedure for the ECA member in The Netherlands and the country’s candidate.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Legal risks of EU proposal to ban Russian natural gas imports – E-003014/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-003014/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Fabio De Masi (NI)

    According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the proposal for a regulation on phasing out Russian natural gas imports, improving the monitoring of potential energy dependencies and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 raises unresolved legal issues that ‘place a significant burden on importers and other stakeholders, while risking regulatory overreach […] thus potentially increasing costs and preventing legitimate gas imports’. The analysts also argue that the amendment of the rules creates legal uncertainty, in particular as regards the application of force majeure clauses and contract termination. The proposal does not guarantee that an import ban will be recognised as a case of force majeure under the relevant contract, leaving buyers exposed to potential claims for compensation or ongoing obligations under long-term Russian gas and LNG contracts, even if the EU ban is in place.

    How will the European Commission take account of the criticism of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies[1] that the proposal to phase out Russian gas imports creates legal uncertainties and exposes importers to possible claims for compensation?

    Submitted: 19.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-EU-Proposal-To-Ban-Russian-Gas-Imports-roadblock-more-than-roadmap-NG-199.pdf
    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Nomination for a Member of the European Court of Auditors: Luxembourg – 31-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This note describes the treaty provisions and appointment procedure for ECA members at EU level. In addition, it provides information on the national nomination procedure for the ECA member in Luxembourg and the country’s candidate.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU support for the Islamist regime in Syria – E-002994/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002994/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Barbara Bonte (PfE)

    Since the start of the crisis in Syria in 2011, the EU and its Member States have pledged upwards of EUR 37 billion in support for Syria and the region. That makes the EU and its Member States the largest donors of international aid to address the situation in Syria. At the recent donors’ conference in March 2025, the Commission pledged EUR 2.5 billion in support for the transition in Syria. In response to the conference, the Commission stated: ‘The European Union will continue to stand by the Syrian people, not only in responding to urgent humanitarian needs but in helping to build a just, inclusive, and stable future. Together, we are not just offering aid – we are investing in hope, resilience, and a path toward lasting peace.’ That the Commission is naive is borne out by the regime’s violent assaults on Alawites and, recently, on Druze, but also by the abolition of women’s rights.

    • 1.What conditions has the Commission attached to the allocation of funds?
    • 2.Why has the Commission not yet suspended the allocation of grants?
    • 3.How many Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland from the EU since the takeover in Syria?

    Submitted: 18.7.2025

    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU financing for the fact-checking company Check First – P-003079/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-003079/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Isabella Tovaglieri (PfE)

    The Commission said that Putin’s Russia may have been behind the motion of censure against President von der Leyen. According to Commission spokesperson Thomas Reigner, the motion was part of Moscow’s plans, and independent fact-checkers have confirmed that fact[1].

    One of the fact-checkers that the Commission explicitly refers to is Check First. However, that company appears to receive direct funding from the European Union, which is also visible on their page[2].

    Specifically, it is receiving EU funds for the Crossover and OKSA projects[3], financed by means of EU funds, and is part of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network, which is also co-financed through EU programmes to fight disinformation[4].

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.What is the exact amount of EU funds received by Check First through calls or financing?
    • 2.Give its participation in the aforementioned EU programmes, can this company be regarded as an ‘independent’ fact-checker when it comes to judging a political entity (including the EU)?

    Submitted: 24.7.2025

    • [1] https://europa.today.it/unione-europea/mosca-dietro-mozione-sfiducia-von-der-leyen.html.
    • [2] https://checkfirst.network/about-us/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
    • [3] https://checkfirst.network/2-years-of-checkfirst/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
    • [4] https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-launches-eu5-million-call-strengthen-european-fact-checking-network-2025-05-27_en?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
    Last updated: 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Tobias Billström signs High Seas Treaty

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Following more than 15 years of negotiations, in March 2023 the UN successfully adopted a new global treaty to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Sweden has now signed the treaty, which establishes rules to limit environmental impacts and create marine protected areas in the high seas, which make up approximately 95 per cent of the volume of the world’s oceans.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Minister Burke publishes report identifying a €1 billion gap in financing for Irish enterprises looking to scale up and go international

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    31st July 2025

    Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, today published a Report entitled “Market Demand for and Supply of Scaling Finance in Ireland”.

    The Report concludes that there is a gap in equity financing for Irish enterprises at the point where they are looking to scale up their businesses and realise their potential. It estimates that gap at about €1.1 billion over the next 2 to 5 years. It finds that demand for equity finance amongst scaling firms has increased in Ireland over the last decade and expects that trend will continue.

    The Report, which was prepared by SQW Economic Research Consultants for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, also finds that the gap is particularly acute for –

    • Deals in the €5m – €10 m range;
    • Capital and research and development intensive sectors, where typically the most innovative start-ups are;
    • Firms requiring patient, long term, capital investment, such as those in sectors where product development can be lengthy.

    The Report goes on to describe other features of the gap and identify several factors that contribute to firms failing to secure adequate finance.

    Commenting on the Report, Minister Burke said:

    “One of the key commitments in the Programme for Government is to help Irish businesses scale up and grow internationally, retaining a substantial workforce here as well as building abroad. Ireland ranks highly in Europe for the number of start-ups, many of them truly pioneering. So, we have an excellent starting point to delivering on that commitment.

    I know from my engagement with enterprises across the country, that one of the key challenges they face is a gap in accessing capital. It can be the reason preventing them from realising their potential and growing into large, even multinational, businesses.

    The Report published today confirms and quantifies the gap in available finance for firms looking to scale up. The Report also provides us with insights on the nature, as well as the size, of that gap.

    These findings will inform the development of appropriate and targeted policy measures, which I intend to bring to Government later this year.”

    The Report can be found at: Market Demand for and Supply of Scaling Finance in Ireland

    NOTES FOR EDITORS:

    The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment commissioned SQW Economic Research Consultants to conduct a market analysis to quantify the scaling finance gap. 

    SQW, supported by Middlesex University in London and the Oxford Innovation WorkIQ in Dublin, conducted research to define and quantify the market gap for Irish firms seeking equity capital to scale up their enterprises. The focus was on equity finance – venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) – covering deal sizes from €2m to €50m for innovative firms in their late-stage growth phase. 

    The study gathered evidence through an e-survey of ‘potential scale-up firms’ in Ireland (166 responses); and interviews with fund managers, stakeholders and Irish firms. Across these interviews, feedback was obtained from nearly 60 individuals. The fieldwork was supported by analysis of private market data from PitchBook relating to potential scale-up firms in Ireland, investment funds, and fund managers (these data are not comprehensive). 

    The market gap (defined as the sum of ‘unmet’ and ‘discouraged’ demand) for scaling firms in Ireland was modelled using ‘Monte Carlo’ simulations: a statistical technique that helps to address the uncertainty associated with firm e-survey responses and the modest sample size. Monte Carlo simulated the likely equity needs and outcomes of fundraising at the firm level for an assumed population of potential scale-ups in Ireland (1,000 companies). 

    The report concludes that the equity market gap, for scaling firms in Ireland, is estimated to be approximately €1.1bn over the next 3 to 5 years.

    They also identified the gap is:

    • particularly acute for deals in the €5m-€10m range; 
    • from Series A and especially Series B+;
    • for capital and R&D intensive sectors;
    • for firms requiring patient capital investment. 

    The report found that the demand for equity finance amongst scaling firms has increased in Ireland over the last decade, including for larger deal sizes, and is expected to continue. The pace of funding delivery can be challenging, whether through slow release of finance or the peak and trough nature of its release however, transaction costs were generally not perceived to be a barrier on the demand or supply side.

    Additional contributing factors resulting in the lack of securing funding include:

    • undercapitalisation at earlier stages; 
    • firms not hitting their scaling metrics to secure funding; 
    • firms not able to recruit the personnel who have the capabilities to secure later stage financing and scale-up;
    • Irish firms tend to ask for less than they need to scale;
    • risk aversion. 

    On the supply side, the report found that most Irish funds are too small to execute scaling strategies or lead larger deals at later stage, especially in the range before international capital comes in. These Irish funds are smaller in size compared to their European counterparts. The average fund size in Ireland is just under €70m and Irish VC funds are even smaller at €60m on average. According to stakeholder consultees, an optimal fund size to execute a scaling strategy is in the region of €200m-€300. The lack of institutional capital is another barrier to increasing fund sizes. 

    There are only a limited number of funds actively investing in later stages with average deal sizes in Ireland at €6.5m compared to the European average of €8.9m. For many VCs, the focus was on earlier stage investment with only some follow-on at later stage. 

    Next Steps

    The Department is developing proposals for actions to address the gap. The Minister intends to bring those proposals to Government later this year.

    ENDS

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Govt consistently increased budget allocation for science and research in last five years: Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The government has consistently increased the budget allocation for science and research, with the highest allocation made in FY 2025-26 over the last five years, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh informed Parliament on Thursday.

    In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said that “more than ₹65,307 crore has been allocated to six scientific agencies for research in FY 2025-26.” In comparison, ₹41,581.96 crore was allocated for science and research in 2024-25, and ₹39,843 crore in 2023-24.

    In 2022-23, the government allocated ₹37,828 crore, while ₹37,823 crore was allocated in 2021-22.

    The six major scientific agencies/departments are the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research/Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR/CSIR), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Department of Space (DoS), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

    “DST received the highest allocation of ₹28,508.90 crore in FY 2025-26, followed by DoS with ₹13,416.20 crore,” Singh said. These agencies have received their highest allocations this year since FY 2021-22.

    Additionally, the Minister informed that the government has been implementing several fellowships offering direct benefits to young scientists and researchers.

    Some of the key schemes include the INSPIRE Fellowship, INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-PhD, WISE-Post Doctoral Fellowship (PDF), and the Scheme for Young Scientists and Technologists (SYST).

    To provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the country, the government has established the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) through the ANRF Act of 2023, Singh added.

    Under the Act, special provisions have been made to encourage public sector enterprises as well as private sector entities to invest in ANRF-led initiatives.

    Recently, the government launched the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme with a financial outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over five years. This DST-led scheme aims to promote private sector participation in sunrise sectors, thereby driving growth and innovation.

    Singh also informed the House about the steps taken by the government to enhance private sector participation in research and development.

    Key efforts include incentivising private sector investment to increase their share in Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), and creating avenues for collaborative science, technology, and innovation (STI) funding through portfolio-based mechanisms such as public-private partnerships and other innovative hybrid funding models, the Minister said.

    IANS

  • IMD forecasts week-long downpour in Northeast; rainfall subsides in central India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over the Northeast and adjoining eastern India during the next seven days, with isolated extremely heavy showers expected in Assam and Meghalaya on August 2. In contrast, a significant reduction in rainfall is likely over eastern Rajasthan and western Madhya Pradesh starting August 1, while central and southern peninsular India are expected to witness subdued rainfall activity over the next six to seven days.

    According to the IMD, very heavy rainfall is expected in Rajasthan on July 31, and across Arunachal Pradesh from August 1 to 6. Similarly, heavy rainfall is anticipated in Assam and Meghalaya between July 31 and August 3, and again on August 6. Other regions likely to experience very heavy rainfall include sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from August 2 to 4, and Bihar on August 2 and 3.

    In the past 24 hours (ending at 8:30 AM on July 31), heavy to very heavy rainfall (7–20 cm) was recorded at isolated places over eastern Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Heavy rainfall (7–11 cm) was also observed in parts of Haryana, Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, western Rajasthan, West Bengal & Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Odisha, and Bihar.

    For the Delhi-NCR region, the forecast indicates generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms through August 3.

    On Thursday, the city is likely to receive one or two spells of light rain, with a possibility of moderate rain at isolated spots. Maximum temperatures will range between 30 to 32°C, below normal by 2 to 4°C. Surface winds will blow from the southeast at 5–10 kmph in the morning and afternoon, shifting to the northeast by evening.

    On August 1, the capital will see very light to light rain with thunderstorms or lightning. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to range between 33 to 35°C and 23 to 25°C, respectively, both remaining below normal. Winds will shift from the northeast in the morning to southwest in the afternoon at 10–15 kmph, later coming from the southeast during the evening and night.

    Rainfall will continue on August 2 and 3, with cloudy skies and light precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms. Temperatures will hover between 34 to 36°C for the maximum and 24 to 26°C for the minimum, with the latter staying below normal. Winds are expected to remain between 10–20 kmph from varying directions, predominantly from the northwest and northeast.

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Canon named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Hardcopy Remanufacturing 2025 Vendor Assessment

    Source: APO

    Today, Canon (https://en.Canon-CNA.com) is pleased to announce that it has been named as a Leader in The IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Hardcopy Remanufacturing 2025 Vendor Assessment [1]. The report highlights the increased demand for circularity and sustainability in the print and document solutions market and takes an in-depth look at the global, regional, and local level activities of eight major industry vendors.

    The study looks specifically at device and consumables remanufacturing, assessing the capabilities of those surveyed through a number of factors including types of remanufactured products, levels of innovation, cost of ownership, sales strategy and distribution. With demand for remanufactured printing technology increasing as sustainability becomes an integral business priority, the report provides a strong reference point for businesses who wish to improve the carbon footprint of their print infrastructure.

    The IDC MarketScape report highlighted Canon’s strengths including its remanufacturing history and resources, citing that “Canon has been remanufacturing its products since the last millennium and has a wealth of experience and resources across the globe to meet current and future market trends for reuse”. It also noted the breadth of Canon’s office multifunction printer portfolio, highlighting. that “Canon’s remanufactured devices include monochrome and colour A3 devices and cover a wide variety of speed segments”.

    Building on this, Hiro Imamura, Executive Vice President, Digital Printing & Solutions at Canon Europe comments; “With a strong heritage in sustainability and global remanufacturing and refurbishing expertise, we are well placed to help our customers make concrete steps to improve their carbon footprint and meet their environmental goals. Reusing, recycling and repairing our products for a second life is a core part of this approach and we are delighted to be recognised as a Leader in this important IDC MarketScape report. We will continue to accelerate our efforts towards the circular economy, reducing impacts across every single part of our business and expanding our sustainable product range, from our printers to our papers, to further support our customers for the future”.

    About Canon’s sustainability actions

    Canon is committed to achieving carbon net zero emissions by 2050 and has recently been awarded with the EcoVadis Platinum Rating for its sustainability efforts, placing it within the top 1%  of companies assessed, with an overall score in the 99th percentile. This accolade highlights Canon’s strong sustainability focus throughout its global business, across crucial areas covering environmental, social and governance criteria.

    Circular approach

    Support for the circular economy also forms a significant part of Canon’s sustainability strategy. The robust and durable nature of Canon’s products provides a strong platform for refurbishment and remanufacturing processes – supporting the organization in its efforts to recycle parts and hardware, where possible, for a second life.

    Canon remanufactures its flagship imageRUNNER ADVANCE multifunction devices, which it markets as the imageRUNNER ADVANCE ES and ES+ range in the EMEA region, and as the Refreshed Series in Japan. This robust monochrome and colour A3 range is made with at least 90%+ reused parts, undergoing intensive cleaning, part replacement and rebuilding processes at Canon’s specialist factories. This result is a like new quality product which delivers optimal performance to support different business needs. Within its production print business, Canon also remanufactures its Arizona devices to support customers in the wide format segment. 

    Additionally, in EMEA, Canon also refurbishes its imageRUNNER ADVANCE range to create its Certified Used (CU range) – these multifunction devices deliver quality, high performance printers, which are designed for a second life.

    Canon’s second life products are also supported by regular firmware and software updates – helping customers to deliver high levels of workflow productivity with security and further contributing towards their sustainability efforts.

    Recycling

    Canon also has a long-established inkjet cartridge recycling programme, which began in 1996 and is available in 15 countries across Europe. At Canon Bretagne in France, Canon operates a closed loop toner cartridge recycling programme and since 2011, has established a system for collecting used toner bottles, refilling them with toner, and supplying them to the European market, helping to further reduce Canon’s plastic usage.

    To learn more about Canon’s approach to sustainability, please see here (http://apo-opa.co/46BqReK)

    [1] Doc # EUR153222025, March 2025

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

    Media enquiries, please contact:
    Canon Central and North Africa
    Mai Youssef
    e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

    APO Group – PR Agency
    Rania ElRafie
    e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

    About IDC MarketScape:
    IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.

    About Canon Central and North Africa:
    Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (https://en.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

    Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

    Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (http://apo-opa.co/4moTJvy) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

    For more information: https://en.Canon-CNA.com

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Doggett’s Statement on Republicans’ Gerrymandering Scheme

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

    Contact: Alexis Torres  

    Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) released the following statement: 

    “Trump is taking a hatchet to chop up Austin and our state with the sole objective of maintaining his one-man rule. This is designed to eliminate accessibility, accountability, and a strong voice for our shared values. For years, Republicans have failed in their attempts to use redistricting to get rid of me. If we continue working together, they will fail again. If Trump and his cowardly Republican accomplices get away with rigging Texas, voters in states across America will be at risk. For now, my sole focus is on defeating this Trump-imposed gerrymandering, which relies on crooked lines instead of honest votes. The only ‘What if’ that matters is ‘What if this crooked scheme is approved to give Trump a rubber stamp to do whatever he pleases.’”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s tally of marriage registrations down in 2024

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

    China recorded a total of 6.106 million marriage registrations throughout 2024, down 20.5 percent year-on-year, according to a bulletin of statistics issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs Wednesday.

    The document also shows that the marriage rate among Chinese people was 4.3 per 1,000 people last year, a decrease of 0.11 percentage points from the previous year.

    In 2024, a total of 3.513 million divorces were concluded in China, according to the document.

    After nine consecutive years of decline from 2013 to 2022, China’s marriage registration numbers saw a brief rebound in 2023. However, the downward trend resumed in 2024 and continued into 2025.

    According to statistics released in April, China recorded 1.81 million marriage registrations in the first quarter of this year, marking an 8 percent drop from the same period last year.

    Li Ting, a population expert at Renmin University of China in Beijing, noted that last year’s decline in marriage registrations was partly due to the waning post-pandemic “compensatory” marriage effect and a shrinking population of people within the typical marriageable age range.

    According to calculations based on data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of people aged 20 to 39, the core marriageable age group, stood at around 435 million in 2013. By 2023, that number had dropped to approximately 371 million, a decline of about 64 million.

    Experts also point to shifting attitudes toward marriage and financial pressures as contributing factors behind the downward trend. Rising education levels and a growing emphasis on individualism have increasingly challenged traditional views on marriage, Li added.

    The decline in marriage rates is widely believed to be a factor in falling birth rates, trends that are fueling growing public concern. In response, authorities across China have rolled out a series of pro-marriage policies and measures to reverse the trend.

    In May, China’s revised marriage registration rules, which simplify paperwork and offer greater flexibility for couples, came into effect.

    The updated regulations eliminate the need for household registration books, which have long been necessary for marriage applications. Under the new rules, couples can register their marriage at any eligible registry nationwide, regardless of their household registration location.

    Besides, China has rolled out extended marriage leave in at least 27 provincial-level regions as part of ongoing efforts to foster a more family-friendly society.

    Over recent years, China has also launched a persistent campaign against exorbitant bride prices alongside lavish weddings in rural areas, in a bid to address irrational burdens related to marriage.

    A judicial interpretation on handling bride price-related disputes, issued by the Supreme People’s Court, came into effect in February 2024. It prohibited requesting money or other possessions in the name of marriage.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing accelerates recovery efforts after rare downpours

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

    Beijing is ramping up recovery efforts to restore power, clear roads and deliver essential supplies to residents displaced by flash floods and landslides triggered by some of the most intense rainfall in the city’s mountainous outskirts.

    In Miyun District, one of the worst-hit areas, a makeshift supply hub in Xizhuangzi Village was bustling by Wednesday morning, with stacks of bottled water, instant noodles, sausages and preserved eggs ready for dispatch.

    More than 60 tonnes of emergency supplies were distributed across Miyun on Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning, four helicopters were deployed to continue airdropping relief materials. Repair crews were also dispatched to restore damaged communication and power lines, according to local authorities.

    As of midnight Monday, 30 people had been confirmed dead in Beijing, including 28 in Miyun District and two in Yanqing District. Authorities said that the Miyun Reservoir recorded its highest inflow, highest water level and fastest outflow since its construction in 1959.

    In Yanqing, more than 4,200 people have been relocated. Some 488 rescue teams, comprising over 8,300 personnel, were dispatched to carry out relief efforts. Communication has been reestablished in all previously unreachable villages, damaged roads cleared, and essential services such as power supply restored.

    Taotiaogou, a remote village in Yanqing, was among the hardest hit. After over 48 hours of rescue efforts, its 49 residents were gradually brought to safety.

    “I’ve never seen such ferocious floodwaters in my life,” said 89-year-old Zhai Cheng’an, recalling how his home was quickly engulfed by muddy torrents.

    Zhai Yonghui, deputy Party chief of Taotiaogou Village, said the downpour intensified at 10:20 p.m. on July 26, breaking local rainfall records. Yanqing District plans to help residents from the devastated village start a new life in other sites.

    “The water will recede, and we will have homes again. We believe in that,” he added.

    As part of ongoing recovery efforts, train services on the Beijing-Baotou high-speed railway will resume Thursday after being suspended due to severe rain in Beijing and Hebei Province earlier in the week, according to China Railway Hohhot Group Co., Ltd.

    The heavy rains have also battered other parts of northern China.

    In Hebei, eight people have been confirmed dead and 18 remain missing in Xinglong County, while eight people were killed after a rain-triggered landslide struck a village in Luanping County. In Shanxi Province, 10 people were confirmed dead after a midsize bus carrying 14 passengers went missing Sunday morning following days of heavy rainfall.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s cyberspace watchdog summons Nvidia over H20 chip security risks

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

    China’s cyberspace regulator on Thursday summoned U.S. tech giant Nvidia over security risks concerning its H20 AI chip sold to China.

    The company was asked to give explanations and submit relevant proof materials on this issue. This is aimed at safeguarding cyberspace and data security for Chinese users per laws on network and data security and personal information protection, according to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

    Recently, Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips have been alleged to pose serious security risks, and some U.S. lawmakers have called for advanced chips exported abroad to be equipped with “tracking and positioning” functions.

    U.S. artificial intelligence experts disclosed that the “tracking and positioning” and “remote shutdown” technologies of Nvidia chips have matured, the CAC said in a statement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from Somerset District of Somerset County in UK suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 31) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Somerset District of Somerset County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

    A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 390 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 830 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first six months of this year.

    “The CFS has contacted the British authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Cabinet clears ₹6,520 crore outlay for PM Kisan Sampada Yojana till FY26

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a total outlay of ₹6,520 crore for the ongoing Central Sector Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), for the period of the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26). The approved amount includes an additional allocation of ₹1,920 crore to support new and existing projects under the scheme.

    Of the total outlay, ₹1,000 crore has been earmarked to set up 50 Multi-Product Food Irradiation Units under the component scheme Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) and 100 NABL-accredited Food Testing Laboratories under the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) component. These initiatives are in alignment with announcements made in the Union Budget.

    The remaining ₹920 crore will be used to sanction projects under various other components of PMKSY during the current Finance Commission cycle. Both ICCVAI and FSQAI are demand-driven schemes, with proposals to be invited through Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible entities across the country. Projects will be selected following scrutiny based on the eligibility norms outlined in the scheme guidelines.

    According to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the 50 irradiation units are expected to create additional preservation capacity ranging from 20 to 30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) per annum, depending on the types of food processed. These units will play a crucial role in extending the shelf life of agricultural produce, thereby reducing post-harvest losses.

    In parallel, the proposed 100 food testing labs in the private sector are aimed at developing advanced infrastructure for analysing food samples. The Ministry said these facilities would help strengthen food safety mechanisms and ensure the availability of safe, quality-compliant food products in the market.

    The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, launched in 2017, seeks to create modern infrastructure and efficient supply chains for the food processing sector.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Verizon to redeem debt securities on September 3, 2025

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon to redeem debt securities on September 3, 2025

    NEW YORK – Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) today announced that it will redeem, in whole, the following notes on September 3, 2025 (the “Redemption Date”):

    I.D. Number

    Title of Security

    NYSE Trading Symbol

    Principal Amount
    Outstanding

    CUSIP: 92343V BW3

    ISIN: XS1030900242

    Common Code: 103090024

    3.25% Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”)

    VZ 26

    €842,980,000

    The redemption price for the Notes will be equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date), as the case may be, discounted to the Redemption Date on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the Comparable Government Bond Rate (as defined in the Notes) plus 25 basis points (the “Redemption Price”), plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. The Redemption Price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of the Notes on the third Business Day (as defined in the Notes) preceding the Redemption Date.

    Questions relating to the notice of redemption and related materials should be directed to the paying agent: U.S. Bank Trust Company, Trust Company, National Association, 333 Thornall Street, Edison, New Jersey 08837, United States of America, or via telephone at 1-800-934-6802.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Euro area bank interest rate statistics: June 2025

    Source: European Central Bank

    31 July 2025

    Bank interest rates for corporations

    Chart 1

    Bank interest rates on new loans to, and deposits from, euro area corporations

    (percentages per annum)

    Data for cost of borrowing and deposit interest rates for corporations (Chart 1)

    The composite cost-of-borrowing indicator, which combines interest rates on all loans to corporations, decreased in June 2025. The interest rate on new loans of over €1 million with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to three months remained broadly unchanged at 3.29%. The rate on new loans of the same size with an initial rate fixation period of over three months and up to one year fell by 7 basis points to 3.41%. The interest rate on new loans of over €1 million with an initial rate fixation period of over ten years decreased by 17 basis points to 3.54%. In the case of new loans of up to €250,000 with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to three months, the average rate charged fell by 7 basis points to 3.71%.

    As regards new deposit agreements, the interest rate on deposits from corporations with an agreed maturity of up to one year fell by 12 basis points to 1.93% in June 2025. The interest rate on overnight deposits from corporations fell by 5 basis points to 0.53%.

    The interest rate on new loans to sole proprietors and unincorporated partnerships with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to one year decreased by 14 basis points to 3.97%.

    Table 1

    Bank interest rates for corporations

    i.r.f. = initial rate fixation
    * For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.

    Data for bank interest rates for corporations (Table 1)

    Bank interest rates for households

    Chart 2

    Bank interest rates on new loans to, and deposits from, euro area households

    Data for cost of borrowing and deposit interest rate for households (Chart 2)

    The composite cost-of-borrowing indicator, which combines interest rates on all loans to households for house purchase, showed no change in June 2025. The interest rate on loans for house purchase with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to one year decreased by 9 basis points to 3.61%. The rate on housing loans with an initial rate fixation period of over one and up to five years stayed almost constant at 3.41%. The interest rate on loans for house purchase with an initial rate fixation period of over five and up to ten years remained broadly unchanged at 3.47%. The rate on housing loans with an initial rate fixation period of over ten years stayed constant at 3.12%. In the same period the interest rate on new loans to households for consumption decreased by 13 basis points to 7.40%, driven by both the interest rate and the weight effects.

    As regards new deposits from households, the interest rate on deposits with an agreed maturity of up to one year decreased by 7 basis points to 1.77%. The rate on deposits redeemable at three months’ notice stayed almost constant at 1.44%. The interest rate on overnight deposits from households remained broadly unchanged at 0.27%.

    Table 2

    Bank interest rates for households

    i.r.f. = initial rate fixation
    * For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories; deposits placed by households and corporations are allocated to the household sector. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.
    ** For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.

    Data for bank interest rates for households (Table 2)

    Further information

    The data in Tables 1 and 2 can be visualised for individual euro area countries on the bank interest rate statistics dashboard. Additionally, tables containing further breakdowns of bank interest rate statistics, including the composite cost-of-borrowing indicators for all euro area countries, are available from the ECB Data Portal. The full set of bank interest rate statistics for both the euro area and individual countries can be downloaded from ECB Data Portal. More information, including the release calendar, is available under “Bank interest rates” in the statistics section of the ECB’s website.

    For media queries, please contact Nicos Keranis, tel.: +49 69 1344 7806

    Notes:

    • In this press release “corporations” refers to non-financial corporations (sector S.11 in the European System of Accounts 2010, or ESA 2010), “households” refers to households and non-profit institutions serving households (ESA 2010 sectors S.14 and S.15) and “banks” refers to monetary financial institutions except central banks and money market funds (ESA 2010 sector S.122).
    • The composite cost-of-borrowing indicators are described in the article entitled “Assessing the retail bank interest rate pass-through in the euro area at times of financial fragmentation” in the August 2013 issue of the ECB’s Monthly Bulletin (see Box 1). For these indicators, a weighting scheme based on the 24-month moving averages of new business volumes has been applied, in order to filter out excessive monthly volatility. For this reason the developments in the composite cost of borrowing indicators in both tables cannot be explained by the month-on-month changes in the displayed subcomponents. Furthermore, the table on bank interest rates for corporations presents a subset of the series used in the calculation of the cost of borrowing indicator.
    • Interest rates on new business are weighted by the size of the individual agreements. This is done both by the reporting agents and when the national and euro area averages are computed. Thus changes in average euro area interest rates for new business reflect, in addition to changes in interest rates, changes in the weights of individual countries’ new business for the instrument categories concerned. The “interest rate effect” and the “weight effect” presented in this press release are derived from the Bennet index, which allows month-on-month developments in euro area aggregate rates resulting from changes in individual country rates (the “interest rate effect”) to be disentangled from those caused by changes in the weights of individual countries’ contributions (the “weight effect”). Owing to rounding, the combined “interest rate effect” and the “weight effect” may not add up to the month-on-month developments in euro area aggregate rates.
    • In addition to monthly euro area bank interest rate statistics for June 2025, this press release incorporates revisions to data for previous periods. Hyperlinks in the main body of the press release lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Unless otherwise indicated, these euro area statistics cover the EU Member States that had adopted the euro at the time to which the data relate.
    • As of reference period December 2014, the sector classification applied to bank interest rates statistics is based on the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010). In accordance with the ESA 2010 classification and as opposed to ESA 95, the non-financial corporations sector (S.11) now excludes holding companies not engaged in management and similar captive financial institutions.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mine water heat lab insights could supercharge clean heat

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Mine water heat lab insights could supercharge clean heat

    New data from the UK’s mine water heat lab shows warm water flows better than expected, boosting the case for clean, low-cost heat from coalfields.

    Dr Fiona Todd and colleague, Dr Rebecca Chambers, collecting data at the Gateshead Mine Water Heat Living Lab

    Six months after launch, the UK’s first mine water heat Living Laboratory is revealing exciting insights into what lies beneath our feet, helping to accelerate the safe and sustainable use of mine water as a clean heat source.

    Geophysical data released this month shows, for the first time, how much space there is to store water within the rocks underground and how easily this can flow through historical mine workings.

    These 2 factors, known in science as porosity and permeability, are crucial for understanding how much warm water is available, how quickly it can be used and how reliably it can provide heat.

    Dr Fiona Todd, geoscientist and lead of the Mining Remediation Authority project, said:

    This is the first time we’ve been able to collect this kind of information inside real mine workings.

    It’s a huge step forward in understanding mine water heat resources. These properties help us determine how much heat is available, how quickly we can extract it and how sustainable it could be over time.

    As part of the new data release, researchers are also sharing remarkable CCTV footage from inside the boreholes, offering the first glimpse into old workings that haven’t been seen since they were last mined decades ago, while also showing water movement and structural features that bring scientific findings to life.

    Living lab six-month anniversary

    Dr Todd added:

    It’s like opening a time capsule, but instead of coal what we’re now extracting is knowledge and possibly clean heat for generations.

    These insights were made possible by using specialised tools which were carefully deployed through monitoring boreholes at the Living Laboratory, located between three operational heat schemes in a shared mining block in Gateshead.

    Using this equipment, researchers can:

    • see how water flows underground
    • measure how much heat can be stored and extracted
    • understand how mine workings interact across a shared network

    Many of the tools used, such as caliper, gamma, density, temperature, electrical conductivity, heat pulse flow meter and CCTV, are commonly used in water wells. However, the team also used a cutting-edge technique called Borehole Magnetic Resonance (BMR), described as “an MRI scan for rocks.” This marks the first known use of BMR in mine water heat research, providing new insight into how water is stored and flows through underground rocks, crucial for understanding the heat resource.

    As well as routine temperature and chemistry monitoring results, which have also been released, this new geophysics dataset adds a new layer of understanding to the Living Laboratory’s mission to inform the future of sustainable mine water heat across Britain’s former coalfields.

    It provides open-access data to help government, industry and academia work together to broaden the adoption of mine water heat as a viable, long-term renewable resource.

    Senior Technical Specialist for the Environment Agency in the North East, Sally Gallagher, said:

    As the environmental regulator for England our role is to ensure renewable heat technologies are sustainable and do not adversely impact the environment. It’s great to see the first findings of this innovative research study and understand more how mine water can be used for heating.

    Launched by the Mining Remediation Authority in January 2025, the Gateshead mine water heat Living Laboratory is the only facility in the world designed to monitor how heat, water and geology behave between multiple operational mine water heat schemes in a shared underground system.

    Further information:

    Access the open geophysical dataset for the Living Lab

    For media enquiries contact the community response team

    Email communityresponse@miningremediation.gov.uk

    Telephone 0800 288 4211

    For emergency media enquiries (out of hours) call: 0800 288 4242.
    Only urgent media calls will be attended to.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CPSC Anchor It! Campaign Marks 10 Years: Fewer Furniture Tip-Overs Lead to Safer American Households

    Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is marking the 10th anniversary of the Anchor It! campaign, a landmark initiative launched in 2015 to address the deadly hazard of TV and furniture tip-overs. With the help of industry advocates and several parents who lost their children to tip-overs, CPSC started the campaign to educate parents and caregivers about the dangers of falling TVs and furniture amid widespread child injuries and fatalities. Campaign efforts contributed to a nearly 50-percent decline in tip-over-related injuries and deaths in the U.S. 
    The Anchor It! campaign promoted the use of anti-tip devices through video and radio Public Service Announcements, social media, and journalism. It showed consumers that the threat of furniture tip-overs is serious, but anchoring is simple.
    One of the biggest safety improvements of the past decade has been CPSC’s federal mandatory standard, which was directed by Congress through passage of the STURDY (Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth) Act. The mandatory standard, which went into effect in September 2023, requires clothing storage units such as dressers and armoires to meet key stability requirements. CPSC continues to work with manufacturers and retailers to recall unsafe dressers and to keep them out of consumers’ homes.
    “CPSC has made great strides in the past 10 years to minimize these hazards and save lives,” said Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “I am grateful for the work of our dedicated staff, safety advocates, and the American furniture industry, without whose collaboration none of this would be possible.” 
    Kimberly Amato, co-founder of Parents Against Tip-Overs (PAT), shared that the CPSC Anchor It! campaign has been an invaluable partner for PAT over the past decade. “The parents who founded PAT came together in the wake of their personal tragedies with a simple mission: to ensure no other children were injured or killed as the result of a tip-over,” she said. “Collaborating with CPSC to educate parents, grandparents, and caregivers of young children to prevent tip-over tragedies and ensure all communities know why and how to anchor their furniture has contributed to the success of our shared goal.”
    CPSC urges Americans to take essential steps to protect themselves and their families from dangerous tip-over risks:

    Anchor TVs and furniture, such as bookcases and dressers, securely to the wall.
    When anchoring is not possible, place TVs on a sturdy, low base, push the TV back as far as possible, and keep cable cords out of reach.
    Avoid storing appealing items such as toys and remotes where kids may be tempted to climb to reach for them; store heavier items on lower shelves.

    For consumers’ peace of mind, CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign website outlines three simple steps to install an anchoring kit correctly.  
    CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign has marked its 10th anniversary by preparing video testimonials from PAT parents affected by tip-over incidents. Media can download footage of the testimonials here.
    The Anchor It! campaign’s PSA safety video includes real-life footage of children and falling furniture. Media can download the video: “Even When You’re Watching.”

    About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products. 
    Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
    For lifesaving information:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Secretary Noem is Taking a Sledgehammer to Criminal Human Trafficking Rings

    lass=”text-align-center”>On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security continue taking action to disrupt criminal human trafficking organizations
    WASHINGTON – On this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing a series of major crack downs against the worst of the worst criminal organizations: human trafficking rings

     
    The previous administration’s open border policies empowered human traffickers and allowed over 450,000 unaccompanied children to be illegally smuggled over the border

     
    Under President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the full weight of the American government is bringing the hammer down on human trafficking rings

      In just the first few months, the Trump administration has developed leads on thousands of human trafficking cases

     
    DHS has also cracked down on the criminal terrorist gang Tren de Aragua, which enriches itself through the sex trafficking of vulnerable young women

      The Trump administration has arrested more than 2,700 members of Tren de Aragua so far

     
    This crisis is fueled by organized crime networks: sophisticated cartels that exploited the weakness of the previous administration, especially its open border and refusal to enforce immigration law, to rake in billions from forced labor, brutal sexual exploitation, coercing innocent people into drug running, and other heinous crimes

     
    “The brave men and women of DHS are the best in the world at going after traffickers

    They are always able to track down those who are trafficking individuals, find the ringleaders, and rip that evil off by its head,” said Secretary Kristi Noem

    “I’m so thankful that I get the chance to lead individuals like that, and agents who get up every day to help save our children and to save women and men from the kind of slavery that we’ve seen

    ” 
    Below are some examples of how DHS is fighting to put human traffickers out of business: 

    July 28, 2025: As part of Operation Apex Predator, a Child Exploitation Investigations Unit initiative with the Cyber Crimes Center, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Newark arrested four illegal alien child predators over the course of four days

    All four are registered sex offenders

    July 23, 2025: ICE arrested 243 illegal aliens in the Denver metro area

    Among those arrested were aliens wanted for human trafficking, and several members of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), including Tren de Aragua (TdA), Los Zetas, and the Sinaloa Cartel

    July 22, 2025: Following an ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation, a resident of Laredo, Texas was sentenced to 63 months in prison for smuggling 101 migrants in a locked trailer

    Among the illegal aliens smuggled were 12 children

    The suspect was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport migrants

    July 21, 2025: As a result of an investigation by ICE HSI Rio Grande Valley, a convicted human smuggler was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing images of sexual assaults of prepubescent children

    July 10, 2025: ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana facilities in Carpinteria and Camarillo, California

    In these facilities, at least 14 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking

    During this operation, federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens

    Among those arrested were criminals with convictions for kidnapping, rape, attempted rape, and attempted child molestation, among other charges

    July 10, 2025: As the result of an ICE New York investigation, the leader of a Mexican sex trafficking organization was sentenced to 188 months in prison for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud, and coercion

    July 9, 2025: An ICE Del Rio investigation resulted in an illegal Honduran alien being sentenced to 10 years in prison, with three years of supervised release, for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the United States for financial gain

    His smuggling conspiracy spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from 11 different countries

    July 7, 2025: Border Patrol agents assisted the U

    S

    Marshals in executing an arrest warrant on a high-priority target linked to a criminal syndicate operating in human exploitation

    The suspect, a U

    S

    citizen, was wanted for multiple charges, including procurement of persons, placing individuals into prostitution, residing in a house of prostitution, and profiting from the earnings of prostitution

    The suspect was arrested without incident in Yuma, Arizona

     
    June 24, 2025: HSI Nashville identified one child victim and one adult victim of labor trafficking

    During an immigration court proceeding, the child victim revealed that she and her 18-year-old brother had been forced by their sponsor to work to pay off their smuggling fees and to pay for the sponsor’s household expenses

    June 16, 2025: A worksite enforcement operation by ICE HSI targeted employers and subcontractors who knowingly hire illegal aliens

    During this operation, HSI Mobile identified and rescued a child and arrested eight foreign nationals for violating immigration law

    The child was found to be working among adults and was believed to have never attended school since entering the United States two years ago

    June 6, 2025: The Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Venezuelan illegal alien and member of MS-13 arrested by ICE, on charges of alien smuggling and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling

    Despite the mainstream media insisting for months that Garcia was an innocent “Maryland father,” he is now standing trial after evidence emerged of his involvement in criminal smuggling rings

    June 2, 2025: ICE Rio Grande Valley discovered a stash house in South Texas and subsequently arrested 16 illegal aliens

    The owner of the property admitted to harboring the illegal aliens, who came from five different countries

    A Mexican national was taken in for questioning for his role in human smuggling

    May 28, 2025: HSI New York special agents arrested an adult male from Ecuador at his residence for violations relating to the sexual exploitation of a child

    New York received information regarding a 15-year-old female who was apprehended near El Paso, Texas, after illegally entering the United States

    At that time, she was pregnant with the adult’s child and had been in a relationship with him in Ecuador since the age of thirteen

    The subject organized the smuggling of the teenager across the border to engage in sexual acts

    His mother sponsored her after her illegal entry, and the subject continued his relationship with the children, living with his mother in Harlem

    May 28, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Zhen Fa 7, a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel

    As a result, CBP officers at all U

    S

    ports of entry will detain seafood harvested by Zhen Fa 7 based on reasonable suspicion that the vessel uses forced labor to harvest such seafood

    May 28, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector prevented an attempt to smuggle two Mexican nationals into the United States

    The attempt involved one United States citizen and one Mexican national, who attempted to smuggle the illegal aliens across the border using a truck

    Inside the truck were three fully loaded firearms, including a “ghost gun

    ” The suspected smugglers face felony charges of bringing in and harboring aliens, and unlawful acts involving firearms

     
    May 12, 2025: HSI Austin identified and rescued a child, arrested two Guatemalan nationals for violating immigration law, and initiated an HSI-led investigation of state and federal charges of human trafficking and statutory rape

    During a welfare check, HSI Agents, assisted by the FBI, identified a pregnant 14-year-old female residing with an unrelated adult male sponsor, later determined to be the biological father of the unborn child

    May 7, 2025: CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) interdicted a vessel with four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan that were being smuggled into Puerto Rico

    The vessel attempted to enter Puerto Rico on the island of Vieques; onboard were the four illegal aliens from Uzbekistan and three United States citizens

    The Uzbeki nationals did not have any documents for an authorized entry or stay in the United States

    May 4, 2025: Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector arrested a United States citizen and two Mexican nationals after a high-speed pursuit

    The United States citizen, who was driving the car and had an extensive criminal history, fled from law enforcement at high speed after failing to stop at an immigration checkpoint

    After crashing into another car, the three occupants fled on foot before being arrested

    The driver faces federal charges that include human smuggling, fleeing law enforcement, and endangering human life

    May 2, 2025: Four Mexican nationals in the United States illegally were charged for their roles in an international human smuggling conspiracy that brought aliens across the Canadian border into the United States for profit

    The smuggling organization had been operating for two years and smuggled hundreds of aliens per week through Canada

    The aliens or their family members would pay thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States

    April 29, 2025: CBP officers at the Area Port of San Luis arrested a woman in connection with the failed smuggling attempt of a child

    The suspect, a Mexican citizen, had sedated the child prior to attempting to cross the border

    The suspect also presented a false birth certificate and alleged that she was the mother; the officers discovered that there was no family relationship between the woman and the child

    April 2, 2025: CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against Taepyung Salt Farm, based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in the production of the company’s sea salt products

    As a result, CBP personnel at all U

    S

    ports of entry will detain sea salt products from Taepyung Salt Farm in South Korea

    March 25, 2025: After an ICE Arizona investigation with law enforcement partners, a human smuggling coordinator was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in smuggling over 100 Colombians into the United States

    She had been operating a travel agency in her native country, Colombia, where she would charge the victims a fee to travel to Mexico, with additional bribes required at Mexican airports

    February 14, 2025: Working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, an ICE investigation led to a four-count indictment against eight defendants with ties to Tren de Aragua on charges related to their involvement with a transnational commercial sex enterprise

    Everyone can be part of the fight against human trafficking

    The DHS Blue Campaign can help you recognize human trafficking and provide resources to report suspicious activity to law enforcement

     
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Monroe Canyon Fire Intensifies

    Source: NASA

    The Monroe Canyon fire in central Utah grew quickly in late July 2025 amid a stretch of hot, dry, and windy weather. The blaze, burning near the communities of Richfield, Monroe, and Koosharem, began its rapid expansion the afternoon of July 25, when firefighters reported wind gusts exceeding 60 miles (97 kilometers) per hour. Its extent would more than double to 23,265 acres (9,415 hectares) by the morning of July 28.
    The fire continued to rage that day, when the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image. A smoke plume from the blaze drifted hundreds of miles to the northeast, creating hazy skies and degrading air quality in areas downwind.
    Fire activity prompted officials to close a portion of Fishlake National Forest and issue evacuation notices for residences within that area. Several buildings have been destroyed, according to news reports, and firefighters were working to prevent additional structures from being lost. About 1,000 personnel were involved in the firefighting response.

    The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured the false-color image above, showing the Monroe Canyon fire on July 28. This combination of shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible light (bands 7-5-4) makes it easier to identify unburned, vegetated areas (green) and the recently burned landscape (brown). Bright orange indicates the infrared signature of active burning.
    By the morning of July 30, the fire had grown to 36,637 acres (14,830 hectares) with 11 percent containment. In addition to the fire-conducive weather, officials stated that “record-breaking low fuel moistures” contributed to the intense fire activity. A red flag warning was in effect for central and southern Utah, with low relative humidity and breezy conditions expected to continue.
    NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Releases Opportunity to Boost Commercial Space Tech Development

    Source: NASA

    NASA has released a new proposal opportunity for industry to tap into agency know-how, resources, and expertise. The Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO), managed by the Space Technology Mission Directorate, enables valuable collaboration without financial exchanges between NASA and industry partners. Instead, companies leverage NASA subject matter experts, facilities, software, and hardware to accelerate their technologies and prepare them for future commercial and government use. 
    On Wednesday, NASA issued a standing ACO announcement for partnership proposals which will be available for five years and will serve as the umbrella opportunity for topic-specific appendix releases. NASA intends to issue appendices every six to 12 months to address evolving space technology needs. The 2025 ACO appendix is open for proposals until Sept. 24.  
    NASA will host an informational webinar about the opportunity and appendix at 2 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Interested proposers are encouraged to submit questions which will be answered during the webinar and will be available online after the webinar.   
    NASA teaming with industry isn’t new – decades of partnerships have resulted in ambitious missions that benefit all of humanity. But in recent years, NASA has also played a key role as a technology enabler, providing one-of-a-kind tools, resources, and infrastructure to help commercial aerospace companies achieve their goals.  
    Since 2015, NASA has collaborated with industry on approximately 80 ACO projects. Here are some ways the collaborations have advanced space technology: 

    Blue Origin and NASA worked together on several ACOs to mature the company’s lunar lander design. NASA provided technical reports and assessments and conducted tests at multiple centers to help Blue Origin advance a stacked fuel cell system for a lander’s primary power source. Other Blue Origin ACO projects evaluated high-temperature engine materials and advanced a landing navigation and guidance system. 
    Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) lander is delivering NASA science and technology to the Moon through the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. In 2023, NASA selected Blue Origin as a Human Landing System provider to develop its Blue Moon MK2 lander for future crewed lunar exploration. 

    Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) lander is delivering NASA science and technology to the Moon through the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. In 2023, NASA selected Blue Origin as a Human Landing System provider to develop its Blue Moon MK2 lander for future crewed lunar exploration. 

    Throughout a year-long ACO, NASA and SpaceX engineers worked together to perform in-depth computational fluid analysis of proposed propellant transfer methods between two SpaceX Starship spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. The SpaceX-specific analysis utilized Starship flight data and data from previous NASA research and development to identify potential risks and help mitigate them during the early stages of commercial development. NASA also provided inputs as SpaceX developed an initial concept of operations for its orbital propellant transfer missions. 

    SpaceX used the ACO analyses to inform the design of its Starship Human Landing System, which NASA selected in 2021 to put the first Artemis astronauts on the Moon. 

    Advanced Space and NASA partnered to advance the company’s Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System – software that allows lunar spacecraft to determine their location without relying exclusively on tracking from Earth.  

    The CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) spacecraft launched to the Moon in 2022 and continues to operate and collect critical data to refine the software. Under the ACO, Advanced Space was able to use NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to conduct crosslink experiments with CAPSTONE, helping mature the navigation solution for future missions. The mission’s Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System technology was initially supported through the NASA Small Business Innovation Research program. 

    Sensuron and NASA matured a miniature, rugged fiber optic sensing system capable of taking thermal and shape measurements for multiple applications. Throughout the ACO, Sensuron benefitted from NASA’s expertise in fiber optics and electrical, mechanical, and system testing engineering to design, fabricate, and “shake and bake” its prototype laser. 

    Space missions could use the technology to monitor cryogenic propellant levels and determine a fuel tank’s structural integrity throughout an extended mission. The laser technology also has medical applications on Earth, which ultimately resulted in the Sensuron spinoff company, The Shape Sensing Company. 

    In 2023, Venturi Astrolab began work with NASA under an ACO to test its flexible lunar tire design. The company tapped into testing capabilities unique to NASA, including heat transfer to cold lunar soil, traction, and life testing. The data validated the performance of tire prototypes, helping ready the design to support future NASA missions. 
    In 2024, NASA selected three companies, including Venturi Astrolab, to advance capabilities for a lunar terrain vehicle that astronauts could use to travel around the lunar surface, conducting scientific research on the Moon and preparing for human missions to Mars. 

    The Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) is one of many ways NASA enables commercial industry to develop, build, own, and eventually operate space systems. To learn more about these technology projects and more, visit: https://techport.nasa.gov/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs legislation 7.30.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 30, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:

    • AB 17 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) – Elections: precinct maps.
    • AB 377 by Assemblymember David Tangipa (R-Clovis) – High-Speed Rail Authority: business plan: Merced to Bakersfield segment. A signing message can be found here.
    • AB 379 by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank) – Crimes: prostitution.
    • AB 642 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) – Emergencies proclaimed by the Governor: school employee catastrophic leave.
    • AB 951 by Assemblymember Tri Ta (R-Westminster) – Health care coverage: behavioral diagnoses.
    • AB 1029 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – Statements of financial interest: digital financial assets.
    • AB 1051 by Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) – Route 76: Payómkawish Highway.
    • AB 1114 by Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías (D-Martinez) – Emergency vehicles: fee and toll exemptions.
    • AB 1216 by the Committee on Education – Elementary and secondary education: omnibus.
    • AB 1459 by the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials – Hazardous waste: underground storage tanks.
    • SB 251 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Claims against the state: appropriation.
    • SB 428 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – State Auditor: permanent office.
    • SB 521 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) – Public employment: disqualification.
    • SB 648 by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) – Employment: gratitudes: enforcement.
    • SB 652 by Senator Laura Richardson (D-South Bay) – Private security services: security guards: training.
    • SB 693 by Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) – Employees: meal periods.

    For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jul 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is standing up for all Americans by challenging Trump’s unlawful tariff policy, which is slowing the national economy and raising prices for consumers.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today filed an amicus brief in support of…

    Jul 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is taking targeted action to address the mental health crisis among young men and boys today with a new executive order focused on suicide prevention, behavioral health, and helping find purpose through education, family, and…

    Jul 29, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Gerald Tolbert, of La Jolla, has been appointed to the Medical Board of California. Tolbert has been a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump tariff policy continues to cause chaos in American economy

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 30, 2025

    What you need to know: California is standing up for all Americans by challenging Trump’s unlawful tariff policy, which is slowing the national economy and raising prices for consumers. 

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today filed an amicus brief in support of another lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s illegal tariff debacle.  The tariffs continue to cause chaos in the national economy, raise prices for American families, and put California’s ongoing economic dominance under threat.

    “Trump’s illegal tariffs are stagnating our economy and hurting American families. Bragging that your unlawful policies are producing ‘BETTER THAN EXPECTED’ results while the economy slowed.  That’s like an F student bragging because they got a D-. We should all expect more from the executive branch. California will continue to stand up against Trump’s unlawful actions on behalf of all Americans.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    In the first six months of Trump’s presidency, the US economy slowed as a result of his policies. While Trump celebrates that his administration’s economic performance is “BETTER THAN EXPECTED,” American families continue to feel the pain from the impacts of his failed negotiations and increased prices. 

    Even Fox Business set the record straight on Fox News saying: Let’s be real clear here. Tariffs cost, they’re a tax. That tax often gets passed on to consumers.

    Consumers, retailers and the business economy are bracing for the impacts of Trump’s tariffs going into effect in August. Here’s how Trump’s failed tariff policy is impacting all Americans:

    • Fewer people are buying goods. Consumer spending is down to only a 1.4 percent annual rate in the second quarter — well below the 2.8 percent growth in spending in 2024.
    • Stockpiling in anticipation of price increases. Trump tariffs are expected to raise prices on groceries and even Trump officials have reportedly started stockpiling to prepare for price increases and shortages.
    • Prices are already increasing. Price increases due to tariffs could cost households on average an extra $2,400 in 2025, the Yale Budget Lab predicted in their most recent analysis.
       

    A one-two gut punch for California

    In addition to the national repercussions, Trump’s tariffs are having an outsized impact on California’s economy in recent months:

    • Families and workers will bear the brunt. Tariffs could cost households $25 billion and lead to a loss of over 64,000 jobs across California.
    • Businesses are also paying the price. California firms incurred $11.3 billion in tariff costs from January through May 2025, the highest of any state in the country.
    • Global supply chains will continue to be impacted, especially here at home. Recently, the Port of Los Angeles was operating at only 70% capacity due to ongoing tariffs and Southern California saw a 40% decline in job postings related to trade and logistics.

    Standing up for California 

    On April 16, Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit arguing that President Trump lacks the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs through the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, creating immediate and irreparable harm to California, the world’s fourth largest economy, and nation’s leading manufacturing and agriculture state. Today’s amicus brief was filed as part of a separate lawsuit filed by private parties, but aligns with California’s arguments. The lawsuit is ongoing.
     

    “As the country braces for continuous chaos from President Trump’s illegal tariffs, standing united to fight for American consumers and businesses is more important than ever,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, I urge the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit  to affirm the District Court’s decision that President Trump’s chaotic tariffs are unlawful — not one word in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trump Administration’s vehicle for these tariffs, authorizes tariffs. These illegal tariffs will affect everything from the cost of essential household items like food and toilet paper to the cost of housing. The tariff chaos is a man-made crisis, and California families and industries will pay the price.”

    Today’s brief was filed in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, a lawsuit challenging the tariffs President Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and argues that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was correct in holding that the Trump Administration’s interpretation of its authority is unlawful. 

    Recent news

    Jul 30, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is taking targeted action to address the mental health crisis among young men and boys today with a new executive order focused on suicide prevention, behavioral health, and helping find purpose through education, family, and…

    Jul 29, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Gerald Tolbert, of La Jolla, has been appointed to the Medical Board of California. Tolbert has been a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical…

    Jul 29, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:AB 104 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Budget Act of 2025.AB 138 by the Committee on Budget – State employment: state bargaining units.SB 119 by the Committee…

    MIL OSI USA News –