NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Body recovered in search for missing diver

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Search crews looking for a missing diver have located a body near Paratutae Island.

    Formal identification has yet to take place, but it is believed to be the diver who was reported missing at Whatipū Beach early yesterday morning.

    Police have informed the person’s family, who are being provided with support at this incredibly difficult time.

    The Police National Dive Squad, Police Search and Rescue and Maritime were involved with this morning’s efforts.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fire and Emergency New Zealand specialist teams in Nelson to support community

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand has deployed an eight-person specialist water rescue team from Christchurch to Nelson in advance of more heavy rain warnings.
    Director Service Delivery Operations Brendan Nally says the team got into place early as Nelson has only two roads into the district, and they are prone to flooding and cutting the district off.
    “Our specialist team is on the ground ready to support local brigades if needed when the rain comes,” Brendan Nally says.
    We are warning people not to drive through any floodwater and to respect all “road closed” signs. “It’s impossible to judge the depth of water so when people become stranded, they are in danger of drowning.”
    Fire and Emergency is also deploying a four- person wide area damage assessment team to Nelson this morning. These teams are part of Fire and Emergency’s urban search and rescue capability, and they assess whether buildings impacted by floods, landslips and earthquakes are safe to enter.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Israel’s relocation plan for Palestinians and fading hopes for a ceasefire

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

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

    It was revealing this week to read reports of Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with Donald Trump (his third White House visit since Trump’s inauguration in January). There was no sense that the US president upped the pressure on the Israeli prime minister to soften Israel’s conditions in order to secure a ceasefire. Instead the pair appears to have discussed the prospect of moving large numbers of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip to countries what would, as Netanyahu put it, “give Palestinians a better future”.

    If Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has his way, the future for those Palestinians who want to stay put does indeed look pretty bleak. And the 57,000 people who, according to figures collated by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, have lost their lives since the Israeli assault on Gaza began back in October 2023, have no future at all.

    But the plan for the future of Gazan Palestinians that Katz unveiled this week will horrify many too. It involves the construction of a “humanitarian city” at Rafah, close to the Egyptian border at the very southern end of the Strip. Under the plan, people entering the city will be searched for weapons and checked for affiliation to Hamas. Once in, they will not be allowed to leave, except to depart from Gaza altogether.

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

    This immediately prompted critics to accuse the Israeli government of ethnic cleansing. James Sweeney, an expert in human rights and international law at the University of Lancaster, believes that, if Israel were to carry out Katz’s plan, there would be strong case against political and military leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He argues that the plan amounts at the very least to the forcible transfer of civilians prohibited under the Geneva conventions and the Rome statute, which underpins the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    The snag, as Sweeney sees it, is going to be enforcing international law. While there is an ICC warrant out for the arrests of Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, the Israeli prime minister was able to visit Washington without fear of being apprehended. The US doesn’t recognise the ICC and, indeed, the prosecutor that issued the warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant is now subject to US sanctions.



    Read more:
    Plans to relocate Gazans to a ‘humanitarian city’ look like a crime against humanity – international law expert

    Of course, what happens in Gaza tends to reverberate throughout the region. If hundreds of thousands of Palestinian citizens are moved out of Gaza, it’s likely to be to one of the neighbouring countries. When the idea of a Trump Riviera was first mooted earlier this year, the US president said the Palestinian population could be rehomed in Egypt or Jordan – something both those countries pushed back against with alacrity.

    And the powerful Gulf States, which Trump was keen to woo as business partners when he made a tour of the region in May, are also deeply concerned about Israel’s conduct of its military campaign in Gaza. Geopolitics aside, their populations are broadly sympathetic to the Palestinian people, so a plan to force them out of their homes is unacceptable for Gulf leaders.

    Scott Lucas, an expert in Middle East politics at University College Dublin, gives us a broader view of the region. He describes what he calls two “kaleidoscope moments” when one event has changed the entire region. The first was the Hamas attack of October 7. This brought to an abrupt end the process of normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The second was the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which has further isolated Israel. Lucas believes for there to be any hope of regional stability and the furthering of Israeli relations with the rest of the region, the war in Gaza must end.



    Read more:
    As Netanyahu meets Trump in Washington, what hope for peace in Gaza? Expert Q&A

    Ali Mamouri, a Middle East scholar at Australia’s Deakin University doesn’t believe there’s much chance of this happening any time soon. Part of this is political: Netanyahu still depends on the far-right elements of his coalition represented by national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich. They remain steadfastly opposed to even a ceasefire and want to see Israel expel Palestinians by hook or by crook.

    Also, by prolonging the war, Netanyahu can keep delaying his corruption trial (incidentally, Donald Trump has called for the charges to be dropped altogether).

    And the idea of full statehood for Palestine remains anathema for Israel, as Netanyahu made clear this week talking with journalists after his meeting with Trump when he made clear his insistence that far from pulling Israeli troops out of Gaza, Israel would keep full control of all security matters there: “Now, people will say: ‘It’s not a complete state, it’s not a state.’ We don’t care,” he said.

    Mansour concludes: “The coming weeks will reveal whether Israel chooses the path of compromise and coexistence, or continues down a road that forecloses the possibility of lasting peace.”



    Read more:
    The US has high hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, but Israel’s long-term aims seem far less peaceful

    Europe must step up over Ukraine

    Just as the picture remains bleak in Gaza, the prospects for peace remain very slim in Ukraine. Although given Donald Trump’s mercurial approach to foreign affairs, it’s also fair to say that anything is possible.

    This week the US president decided to recommence US arms supplies to Ukraine, having previously frozen military aid (although he insists this was done by his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and that he was “blindsided” by the move). His relationship with Putin appears to have soured – for the present at least. He said: “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all of the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”

    And at the most recent Nato summit in The Hague on June 25, Trump put his signature to a declaration that Russia poses “long-term threat … to Euro-Atlantic security” and that Nato member states retain “their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine”.

    But Stefan Wolff, an expert in international security at the University of Birmingham, believes that Nato’s European members cannot bank on the US as a reliable long-term partner. There are few signs that the US is pressuring Russia to compromise on its maximalist aims, which remain unchanged since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. So Russia remains the most urgent threat to European security. And it’s a threat that Europe will need to prepare to confront, if necessary without US assistance.

    But there are signs that many European countries are preparing to do just that, Wolff writes. Increased commitments to defence spending are a strong start. As he concludes: “They will not turn Europe into a military heavyweight overnight. But they will buy time to do so.”



    Read more:
    US backs Nato’s latest pledge of support for Ukraine, but in reality seems to have abandoned its European partners

    Understandably, much of the reporting of the war in Ukraine has focused on the human tragedy unfolding in the war-torn country: the enormous casualty list on both sides, civilians killed or forced from their homes in the fighting, and the Ukrainian citizens forced to live under Russian occupation.

    But a new film, which premiered recently at the Tribeca film festival, looks at War Through the Eyes of Animals. Janine Natalya Clark, an expert in transitional justice at the University of Birmingham, has done similar. Clark interviewed a number of Ukrainian natural scientists including botanists, ornithologists, herpetologists (who study reptiles and amphibians) and a marine biologist. She asked them to make sound recordings in their area to reflect on how the war is affecting Ukraine’s flora and fauna.

    What emerged was extraordinary and reflects how the conflict has affected the natural world in both positive and negative ways. Clark believes that this information will be invaluable when it comes to rebuilding Ukraine and in securing justice and reparations for the damage done – not just to humans, but to Ukraine’s animals and the habitats in which they live.



    Read more:
    Sound recordings can give us an animal-eye view of the war in Ukraine

    In Russia, meanwhile, a controversial measure introduced by the Putin government is dividing public opinion. In some parts of the country, schoolgirls who become pregnant are being paid more than 100,000 roubles (nearly £900) for giving birth and raising their babies.

    Jannifer Mathers, a Russia expert at Aberystwyth University, looks at the rise of pronatalism in the face of declining populations and finds it’s not just an issue in Russia, but for many other countries as well, including the US.



    Read more:
    Russia is paying schoolgirls to have babies. Why is pronatalism on the rise around the world?

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

    – ref. Israel’s relocation plan for Palestinians and fading hopes for a ceasefire – https://theconversation.com/israels-relocation-plan-for-palestinians-and-fading-hopes-for-a-ceasefire-260933

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to observational study of gabapentin and risk of dementia and cognitive impairments

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    An observational study published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine looks at gabapentin prescription for chronic pain and the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. 

    Prof Ian Maidment, Professor in Clinical Pharmacy, Aston University, said:

    “This study found an association between gabapentin and dementia. It was an observation study and therefore conclusions about causality cannot be drawn. Furthermore, the research did not control for length of treatment or dose of gabapentin. Other similar recent studies have failed to find a link. Therefore, overall the jury is out on whether gabapentin causes dementia.”

    Prof Martin Prince, Professor of Epidemiological Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, said:

    “This is an interesting pharmaco-epidemiological study, using a retrospective (historical) cohort design, and reporting a significant increased risk of dementia incidence among those prescribed gabapentin for chronic low back pain. The authors are right to stress that they are reporting an association, and not necessarily a causal link. As I will discuss, confounding and reverse causality are tenable explanations for the observed effects. The strengths of the study include a large sample size, a long surveillance period, a state of the art propensity matching on a large number of potential confounding factors, and additional confounders controlled for in the analysis.

    “There are some issues apparent with the research.

    1. The most significant is that the title of the paper (which refers only to chronic low back pain) appears to be misleading. Closer reading of the research methods reveals that the inclusion criteria were actually “chronic pain (ICD- 10- CM G89.29), chronic pain syndrome (ICD- 10- CM G89.4), lumbar radiculopathy (ICD- 10- CM M54.16), or chronic low back pain (ICD- 10- CM M54.5)”. This is a much broader group, and would include, among other conditions, post-herpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic and other peripheral neuropathies, which are particularly common indications for prescription of gabapentin. There is an inconclusive literature linking shingles episodes to an increased risk of dementia (and suggesting that the Shingrix vaccine may lower the risk), and recent research using the UK biobank linking multisite chronic pain with the incidence of dementia and hippocampal atrophy (1). None of this body of potentially relevant research was referenced or discussed in the current paper. Confounding by indication therefore remains a distinct possibility – the condition that gabapentin is treating, rather than the drug itself being responsible for the increased dementia risk. Of note is that use of gabapentin would likely be reserved for those with more severe pain, and therefore a more severe underlying condition. While the investigators clearly sought to limit the potential for confounding by indication (for example by excluding from consideration individuals prescribed gabapentin for epilepsy), their efforts are likely to have been only partially successful. Reverse causality must always be considered in dementia cohort studies given the 20 years or more interval between the earliest detectable signs of Alzheimer’s Disease (from neuroimaging and blood biomarkers) and clinical onset. Those diagnosed with dementia would not, strictly speaking, have been dementia-free at cohort inception. It is possible that the CNS effects of Alzheimer’s disease modulate pain processing and appreciation, leading to more complaints of more severe pain, at multiple sites. Hence that Alzheimer’s disease caused the pain, and, ultimately the Gabapentin prescription, not vice versa. Or that there is an underlying common cause, for example inflammation, that is driving both the neurodegeneration and the neuropathic pain.
    2. I could not understand why mild cognitive impairment, frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy Bodies were listed as factors that were propensity matched at baseline, when the onset of mild cognitive impairment and all cause dementia were outcomes of interest and hence presumably excluded at baseline? It isn’t very clearly explained. It is possible that those with MCI at baseline were left in when assessing dementia as an outcome, but excluded when assessing MCI as an outcome. But leaving FTD and DLB cases in at baseline (with the implicit assumption that they could be considered as remaining at risk for developing AD or vascular dementia), seems to be an odd approach.  
    3. Since, apparently, separate diagnostic codes for Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular dementia were available, I am surprised that no attempt was made to explore whether the association with gabapentin prescription was similar or different across the two sub-types. The relationship of gabapentin use to both AD polygenic risk scores, and AD-specific blood biomarkers would also be another area for future research.”
    1. W. Zhao, L. Zhao, X. Chang, X. Lu, & Y. Tu, Elevated dementia risk, cognitive decline, and hippocampal atrophy in multisite chronic pain, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 120 (9) e2215192120, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2215192120 (2023).

     

    Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Group Leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Past President of the British Neuroscience Association said:

    “This study by Eghrari and colleagues examined medical records from over 24,000 people in the US and found that prescription of the medication gabapentin for chronic pain was associated with a higher risk of developing dementia.  While authors used statistical methods to try and account for other risk factors, this type of study cannot prove that gabapentin was the cause of increased dementia risk.  One very important factor that was not examined in this study is levels of physical activity.  People with chronic pain requiring gabapentin may have been less physically active, which is a known risk factor for developing dementia.”

     

    Prof Sir John Hardy, Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, said:

    “While this is interesting, one has to worry that these types of findings are artefactual and result (for example) from a marginal acute effect on cognitive performance rather than effects on the underlying disease.”

     

    Dr Leah Mursaleen, Head of Clinical Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

    “Research shows that nearly half (45%) of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed if 14 health and lifestyle risk factors are addressed by people and society. At the moment, there’s not enough evidence to suggest pain medications are linked to higher dementia risk, but this research gives us interesting insights.

    “This large observational study looked at health records of over 26,000 people in the US diagnosed with chronic lower back pain and who were prescribed gabapentin within a 10-year period. They found gabapentin prescription was associated with an increased risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment, especially in people under the age of 65.

    “Some of the strengths of this research was the large sample size and some dementia risk factors were considered, such as age and high blood pressure.

    “However, this study only shows an association between gabapentin prescriptions and mild cognitive impairment or dementia, so we do not know if the medication is directly causing the higher risk. Gabapentin dosage wasn’t recorded, and there was no information on how long people were on the medication. 

    “Because this study only used health records of people with chronic pain, we cannot rule out other factors that might be influencing the findings. And previous studies looking at people prescribed gabapentin for other conditions like seizures, didn’t show a link between the medication and higher dementia risk.

    “Managing chronic pain is very important and if anyone has any concerns about the medication they are receiving, they should speak to their doctor.”

    ‘Risk of dementia following gabapentin prescription in chronic low back pain patients’ by Nafis B Eghrari et al. was published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine at 23:30 UK time on Thursday 10 July. 

    DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2025- 106577

    Declared interests

    Prof Ian Maidment: No declarations of interest

    Prof Martin Prince: No conflicts of interest to report

    Prof Tara Spires-Jones: I have no conflicts with this study but have received payments for consulting, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, and Eisai. I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.

    Prof Sir John Hardy: Have consulted for Eisai

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Push from Senator Hassan, VA to Preserve Thousands of Jobs Critical to Veteran Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – Following repeated advocacy by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), as well as other Senate Democrats, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced this week that it will no longer pursue its planned reduction in force of roughly 80,000 employees, representing nearly 1 in 5 VA employees. Since the Trump Administration announced its plans to fire 80,000 VA employees, Senator Hassan has consistently pressed VA leadership about the proposed reductions, warning that mass firings would jeopardize veterans’ access to the health care, support, and benefits that they have earned. While the announcement from the VA is an important step forward, the VA still expects to shed 30,000 employees this year through retirements and attrition.

    “I am encouraged to see that the VA has listened to the concerns expressed by me and my colleagues, as well as the concerns expressed by veterans in New Hampshire and is no longer pursuing its large-scale reduction of the force at VA. Though I support efforts to eliminate waste and fraud in government, blindly cutting one-fifth of VA’s workforce does not make our government more efficient and instead threatens the care and services that veterans have earned and deserve,” said Senator Hassan. “While this announcement reflects movement in the right direction, the VA has still pushed out thousands of employees who were critical to serving those who have served our country without any clear analysis of the impact. I will continue to push back against any attempts to weaken the VA and dismantle the critical services that it provides for New Hampshire veterans. I will closely monitor the VA’s staffing decisions and speak out against any decisions that result in longer wait times or reduced quality of care.”

    Senator Hassan has voiced strong opposition to the planned workforce reductions at the VA, speaking out about the ways in which the firings would weaken services for America’s veterans and pressing VA officials on the issue in recent months. Following the Trump Administration’s announcement of its plans to cut roughly 80,000 VA staff – nearly 1 in 5 employees – Senator Hassan pressed the VA’s head of human resources and top VA doctor at the time to answer questions about the planned firings, but the answers they provided made clear that the VA had come up with an arbitrary number of employees to fire without first analyzing  the consequences.

    The proposed cuts were particularly concerning given the increased demand for VA services following the implementation of the PACT Act, landmark legislation that Senator Hassan helped develop and pass into law to fundamentally reform how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits. To date, more than 2.4 million PACT Act-related claims have been filed and over 220,000 veterans have enrolled for VA health care under the expanded law, including almost 1,900 Granite Staters. The VA hired thousands of additional staff to meet this intended increase in demand – the very same staff that the Trump Administration planned to fire, threatening to undermine PACT Act veterans’ ability to receive the timely care and benefits they have earned and deserve.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Court Ruling Blocking Click-To-Cancel Rule, Schatz, Kennedy Introduce Legislation To Stop Deceptive Subscription Business Practices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – Following a ruling from a federal court that blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule that was set to go into effect on Monday, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the Unsubscribe Act. The bipartisan bill would require companies to be more transparent about their subscription-based business models and make it easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions once their free or reduced-price trial period has ended.

    “Our bill will require companies to be more transparent about their business model and make it easier for consumers to avoid costly, automatic monthly charges they never intended to make,” said Senator Schatz. “The subscription-based business model is exploding, and it’s largely because of the deceptive practices that some companies use to lure and trap in customers. When people sign up for a free trial, they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops just to cancel their subscription before being charged.”

    “The average American is all too familiar with the headache of running around in circles to cancel a subscription before their free trial expires. Our common-sense Unsubscribe Act would make sure companies are upfront about automatic charges and make it easier to cancel subscriptions without the convoluted song-and-dance routine,” said Senator Kennedy.

    From video streaming and news to food delivery and fashion, subscription-based services have become a key part of today’s economy. A major driver of their growth is the use of free or low-cost trial offers to attract new customers. These trials give users a chance to explore the service at little to no cost before committing to a paid subscription. Unfortunately, in order to retain customers, some subscription providers rely on deceptive marketing, confusing contracts, and restrictions that make it difficult for customers to cancel their subscriptions.

    The Unsubscribe Act would:

    • Require sellers to provide customers with a clear understanding of all the terms of the contract and obtain the customer’s express and informed consent;
    • Require sellers to provide a simple means of canceling the subscription, which the customer can complete in the same way in which the original contract was entered into;
    • Require sellers to provide a clear notice to consumers when their free or reduced-cost trial is complete and before charging for the full-cost subscription;
    • Disallow automatic transfer to a contract beyond the preliminary period; and
    • Require sellers to periodically notify the customer of the terms of the contract and the cancelation mechanism.

    Companion legislation is set to be introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

    “Too many consumers are lured in by free trials, only to get trapped in confusing billing cycles and cancellation mazes. The Unsubscribe Act is about fairness—it puts the burden back on companies to be honest, clear, and accountable. If a business has to trick people into staying, it does not deserve their money,” said Representative Takano.

    The Schatz-Kennedy legislation is supported by Consumer Action, Truth in Advertising, the National Consumer League (NCL), Public Citizen, and Consumer Federation of America.

    “Reining in subscription traps is a massively popular and nonpartisan issue,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at NCL. “Passing the Unsubscribe Act is critical to protecting consumers from these predatory practices.”

    “Consumers deserve safeguards to prevent them from being trapped into paying for a service they no longer want with no straightforward way to cancel a subscription. With this week’s win by conservative big business interests in the courts against the FTC, Senator Schatz’s Unsubscribe Act is even more critical. We applaud this sensible measure to protect the public and hope it swiftly becomes law,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen.

    The full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: First International Day of Hope | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    2025 Celebration of the 1st International Day of Hope. The meeting will focus on effective implementation and inspiring more likeminded individuals toward hope for existence and harmony with others.

    Our goal is to create awareness about the International Day of Hope, establish a collaborative platform for governments and non-governmental organizations to exchange ideas and share diverse perspectives on humanity and “Hope”.

    Strengthening the power of “Hope” through this meeting will contribute to transforming the world, paving the way for a sustainable future for all. It will further provide insight into fostering peace, prosperity, and sustainable development through “Power of Hope” for a failing system.

    Leaders will share their experiences, insights, and visions to promote the spirit of cooperation in building Hope as well as strategies that will help restore Hope in a failing generation. We believe that by the end of this meeting, the value and significance of promoting the power of hope will be intensified, encouraging people around the world to confront the global crisis we face today with Hope that inspires action and unites love and conscience to overcome challenges and realize our shared goals.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55GSB5m4O_4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Trump Admin Is Withholding Approx. $20M From WA For The 2025 Wildfire Season. Cantwell: “Why Aren’t We Releasing The Funds?”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    07.10.25

    The Trump Admin Is Withholding Approx. $20M From WA For The 2025 Wildfire Season. Cantwell: “Why Aren’t We Releasing The Funds?”

    During a potentially dire PNW wildfire season, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget claims they are still “evaluating” resources already set aside for the region; Funding being withheld could be spent NOW on firefighting training & equipment, forest management, & landscape restoration

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz about why the Trump Administration is withholding an estimated $20 million from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the 2025 firefighting season and future fire seasons.  

    President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not disbursed over $280 million in FY25 State, Private, and Tribal Forestry (SPTF) program funds. This includes grants to states to help train and equip state, local, and volunteer emergency responders and firefighters with the tools and resources they need to put wildfires out safely and quickly. This includes funding for fire academies, personal protection equipment, fire pumps, hoses, nozzles, and other safety gear. Nationally, state, local, and volunteer fire departments respond to roughly 80% of all wildfires each year. Last year DNR, along with local first responders, successfully kept over 93% of fires in Washington state at 10 acres or less.

    Funds from the SPTF can also be used for hazardous fuels work on non-federal land in the wildland urban interface (WUI), to recover land that has been burned, and for forest health management.

    “So where is the resource for the state? I think it’s a budget that’s already been approved. So why aren’t we releasing the funds that go to the community so that they can best prepare for this fire season?” Sen. Cantwell asked during a committee hearing this morning.

    “We are evaluating that right now. We’ve had a lot of feedback from the State Foresters. We’re working with OMB on that question right now, looking at that issue. So, we have not made a determination yet, but that’s something that is being evaluated,” Schultz responded.

    Sen. Cantwell: “So when do you expect that to go out?”

    Schultz: “We expect there probably to be [a] determination in the next several weeks, would be my expectation […] But we don’t– again, we can’t commit that that’s for sure going to go out yet. That’s still under discussion.”

    Sen. Cantwell: “We want to follow the normal process so that the Forest Service is working with others to get the resources into those communities and do the work that they need to do.”

    Last year, DNR received $20,509,589 of SPTF funding and is expecting a similar allocation this year. If FY25 is not apportioned and distributed by the U.S. Forest Service by Sept. 30, DNR may have to reduce Fire Academy Training sessions, which could result in 400 wildland firefighters not receiving training. Also, DNR may not be able to provide financial assistance for hazardous fuels reduction for non-federal lands in the WUI.

    Wildfire risk is above normal for the entire state of Washington, according to the National Interagency Fire Center’s forecast for July through September 2025, with the high risk predicted to persist in Eastern and Central Washington through October.

    The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is currently at Preparedness Level 3 (out of 4 possible levels), with five large wildfires burning in the state. So far this year the department logged 667 wildfires and 16,465 acres burned.

    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s questioning of Schultz is HERE; a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Campus redevelopment marks new chapter for EIT Hawke’s Bay

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

    25 seconds ago

    A limestone mauri stone that survived Cyclone Gabrielle has been placed at the heart of EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale, marking the opening of the new Te Papa o Kiwa quadrant and a fully refurbished student hub.

    The Tim Twist Building, formerly the Twist Library, is now the campus’s main student hub. It houses Te Pārongo (Reception, Information, Library and IT Support) and Te Kuhunga (Registry and Enrolment), bringing key services together in one place.

    The building connects directly to Te Papa o Kiwa – the landing place of Kiwa – the enhanced quad designed as a central point of orientation for students, staff and visitors.

    The redevelopment follows widespread damage to the campus caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, when floodwaters from the Tūtaekurī River breached stopbanks and severely affected 85 to 90 per cent of ground-floor buildings. In the aftermath, the focus was firmly on supporting students and restoring key services as quickly and meaningfully as possible.

    At the entrance to the quad sits a limestone mauri stone, formally named Te Taupunga o Parawhenuamea, meaning “the anchor that withstands the floodwaters of Parawhenuamea”, by local kaumatua. Relocated from beneath a kauri tree, the stone symbolises strength, recovery and connection in the wake of the cyclone.

    The stone was placed as part of a dawn ceremony on Tuesday, attended by staff, students, kaumatua and community representatives.
    EIT Operations Lead Glen Harkness said the redevelopment reflects EIT’s commitment to putting students at the centre of recovery.

    “Our main focus has always been our students. This redevelopment symbolises our collective resilience and our commitment to providing a supportive and inspiring environment for all who study and work here,” Harkness said.

    The Tim Twist Building and Te Papa o Kiwa follow the reopening of B Block and Te Ara o Tāwhaki marae in February. B Block, now named Te Pae Hono (a threshold of connection), houses Māori, Pacific and Disability Student Support Services and a multipurpose council room.

    The building also features contemporary Māori and Pacific design elements created in collaboration with Poutiaki Taonga (Archive and Collections Manager) Chris Bryant-Toi, postgraduate artists Kylarni Tamaiva-Eria and Tim Whaitiri-Henderson, kaumātua-led community groups, Chow Hill Architects and other industry professionals.

    Storytelling walls, tāniko-inspired flooring, river motifs and a suspended waka sculpture bring cultural narratives to life within the space.

    “The creative starting point for us was Jacob Scott’s stained glass window representing Tāne, Te Aho a Māui and Te Ara o Tāwhaki Marae.

    From there, we could connect to other cultures and shared histories, taking something seemingly old and revitalising it with cutting-edge digital technology.”

    Chris said the designs reflect both the experience of Cyclone Gabrielle and ongoing rangahau research.

    “We’ve created new imagery that contributes to global conversations around resilience, identity and the climate movement.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Domestic violence – Nightcliff

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 22-year-old female in relation to a domestic violence incident at a residence in Nightcliff on Wednesday afternoon.

    About 9:50am yesterday morning, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received reports of a male being pushed over a balcony railing on Wednesday afternoon.

    Initial investigations and canvassing of nearby CCTV footage in the area indicates a male victim had been allegedly pushed off the balcony, about three to four metres off the ground, and suffered a lower leg injury. The victim proceeded to walk towards a bus stop on Progress Drive, leaving a trail of blood.

    The JESCC received a considerable number of calls in relation to the trail of blood in Nightcliff. The male victim is believed to have self-presented at the Royal Darwin Hospital for his injuries.

    The 22-year-old female was arrested yesterday by officers from the Territory Safety Division without incident and was later charged with:

    • Recklessly Endanger Serious Harm
    • Aggravated Assault

    She was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

    The Territory Safety Division has carriage of the investigation.

    Anyone who has information in relation to the incident is urged to make contact with police on 131 444.

    If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Urges Support of Tennessean Whitney Hermandorfer, Trump’s Nominee to be Judge on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    Hermandorfer is the first judicial nominee in President Trump’s second term
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support the nomination of Whitney Hermandorfer, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Remarks as prepared for delivery:
    Thank you, Mr. President.
    I urge my colleagues to support the confirmation of Whitney Hermandorfer, who President Trump has nominated to be a Judge on the Sixth Circuit.
    This is a defining moment for the second Trump Administration. Ms. Hermandorfer is the very first judicial nominee to come before the Senate. 
    She will set a benchmark of excellence for future judicial nominees — indeed, President Trump could not have made a better choice.
    Ms. Hermandorfer is eminently qualified, graduating first in her law school class, then clerking on the District Court for D.C., the D.C. Circuit, and not once – but twice – at the Supreme Court of the United States.
    Whitney served as the lead strategist and advocate for the State of Tennessee, representing the Volunteer state in its most complex and important cases. And – unsurprisingly to those who know her – she distinguished herself in that role. 
    Ms. Hermandorfer has the experience and the demeanor that our very best judges possess, along with a genuine humility, kindness, and infectious optimism.
    Most importantly, Ms. Hermandorfer will faithfully discharge the solemn duties of a judge.
    She will interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning.
    She will administer justice without fear or favor.
    She will rule without preference to the poor or rich, weak or powerful. 
    She will protect the precious rights recognized in the Constitution, and safeguard the delicate separation of powers our Founders established.
    Whitney Hermandorfer is an outstanding nominee —any delay in confirmation deprives our courts of the very best and brightest our nation can offer.
    I urge my colleagues to support her nomination on today’s procedural vote, and encourage this body to quickly proceed to her confirmation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: International Criminal Court: War crimes, systematic sexual violence ongoing in Darfur

    Source: United Nations 2

    Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told ambassadors in the UN Security Council that the ICC has “reasonable grounds to believe” that both war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in region, where a deepening conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the region into a humanitarian disaster.

    Among the most disturbing patterns, she said, is the targeted use of sexual violence, including rape, abduction, and gender-based assaults – a campaign often directed at women and girls from specific ethnic communities.

    ‘An inescapable pattern’

    “There is an inescapable pattern of offending, targeting gender and ethnicity through rape and sexual violence,” Ms. Khan said, stressing that such crimes must be translated into evidence for the Court and the world to hear.

    She detailed ongoing efforts by the ICC’s Darfur Unified Team to document the atrocities, including through repeated field missions to refugee camps in Chad, the collection of over 7,000 items of evidence and enhanced cooperation with civil society and victims’ groups.

    Ms. Khan also emphasized a renewed focus on gender crimes, supported by the Court’s dedicated gender unit, and called on all partners to work more closely to “ensure there is no gap in our efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.”

    Deteriorating humanitarian crisis

    Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation worsens.

    According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), aid convoys are being targeted, hospitals bombed, and food and water deliberately withheld.

    In early June, five humanitarians were killed in an ambush in North Darfur, while airstrikes in West Kordofan killed over 40 civilians, including patients and healthcare staff.

    Active shelling

    In El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, active shelling and armed encirclement by RSF forces have effectively cut off civilians from lifesaving assistance. Reports of extortion and diversion of aid in surrounding areas have further compounded the crisis.

    The outbreak of cholera is spreading across conflict zones, with Darfur now experiencing cross-border transmission into Chad and South Sudan.

    Health officials warn that the ongoing rainy season could worsen the epidemic by contaminating already-scarce water sources.

    Committed to justice

    Alongside humanitarian challenges, the ICC also faces formidable obstacles.

    Deputy Prosector Khan noted a series of challenges, including obstruction and hostility towards investigators on the ground, critical underfunding, limited cooperation from some States, and difficulties surrounding the arrest and transfer of individuals under ICC warrants.

    However, despite the challenges, she affirmed the ICC’s commitment to justice.

    She pointed to the pending verdict in the trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, as a milestone for accountability – and a warning to perpetrators who still believe themselves beyond the reach of international law.

    “They should understand: we are working intensively to ensure that this trial is only the first of many,” she said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: We Have Secured Huge Wins for Kansas Farmers and Ranchers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Talk About the Plan to Ban U.S. Farmland Purchases by China and Key Wins in the Reconciliation Bill
    Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Tammi Arender on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to discuss the importance of protecting American farmland from hostile foreign nations like China and the major wins for farmers and ranchers in the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill.
    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks.
    On the necessity of preventing China from buying American farmland:
    “Tammi, it’s great to be with you, and for the last several years, we’ve been trying to scream as loud as we could that China’s buying more and more farmland in America. And it’s not just the quantity, it’s where they’re purchasing it. If you could imagine, Whiteman Air Force Base is where those B2 bombers took off and took out the Iranian nuclear facilities. The Chinese have purchased land next to that base. Same way at Fort Riley – at many of the military bases, the Chinese have purchased property.
    “And beyond that, it’s the Chinese owning a significant part of Smithfield and Brazilian JBS, the meatpacking industry as well. So what we announced yesterday, the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who by the way is doing an incredible job, is that she’s now going to be on CFIUS. This is the committee on foreign land purchases by foreign entities. So she’ll be at that level, and then trying to decide if someone that China or their proxies are here, trying to buy land in America, that she’ll get to decide that is a national security issue. The bottom line: food security is national security.”
    On whether there will be any retaliatory measures taken by China:
    “Think about this – you and I, your listeners, we cannot go to China and purchase land. We cannot go to China and make a pork processing plant. So I think it’s fair. You know, President Trump talks about fair and reciprocal trade agreements. And by the way, there’s a lot that states can do. State Governors in their legislatures can do this. Already in Arkansas, Governor Huckabee Sanders is actually buying back this land that the Chinese have purchased. And not only has she banned future purchases, but she’s actually forcing them to sell land as well – sometimes the states can move a little bit quicker than the federal government can.”
    On what the One Big Beautiful Bill will do for farmers and ranchers:
    “Tammi, I’m so proud we did almost a whole farm bill within this reconciliation bill. We allocate $50 billion more for crop insurance as well as the Title I funding. We increased the reference prices, so we funded that for the next five years, and we’ll take that off the table as we go forward with the rest of the Farm Bill. The crop insurance is the backbone of every Farm Bill.
    “But beyond that, even more, I think about beyond the reference prices… we also got the 199A pass-through for all those folks, farmers that are part of co-ops, we got that taken care of. Bonus depreciation, writing off interest, all those things are so important to go buy this million-dollar combine in today’s world, to be able to write that off with bonus depreciation is a big game changer.
    “We doubled the death tax exemption to over $30 million, so we doubled the tax exemptions so you don’t have to sell a fourth of your farm to pass it on to future generations as well. And don’t forget, we got 45Z done in this as well. I think the 45Z market for taking commodities turning into jet fuel, I think that could be bigger, maybe four or five times bigger than the entire ethanol industry right now. So huge, huge wins for farmers. So proud of the work we got done.”
    On what can be added to the next Farm Bill:
    “There’s a lot of division up here right now. My friends across the aisle are upset that we went forward with that. And I’m sorry, but we give them every chance a year or two to get it finished. I wish we could, but I hope so. I think even next week, we’re going to be working with Secretary Kennedy and Rollins and talking about soil health. And love to come back and talk about that. And part of improving soil health is going to cost money. If you want to go into regenerative agriculture in your first year or two, your crop, maybe your production, goes down. So we’re trying to work on a farm bill, especially the Conservation component. There’s great opportunity there, and we’ll hopefully sort it out this fall.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Welch Lead Colleagues in Calling Out Trump Administration’s Hypocrisy Over Accepting Qatari Plane Amid National Security Probe Into Foreign Aircraft Imports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led Senate colleagues, including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), in demanding that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick provide clarification of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft given that the Trump administration has accepted and plans to import an aircraft from Qatar.
    Specifically, the Senators press Secretary Lutnick whether the aircraft being acquired by President Trump from Qatar will be evaluated as part of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing national security investigation into the import of commercial aircraft.
    “We write to request clarification regarding the scope of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft and jet engines, and parts for commercial aircraft and jet engines, initiated on May 1, 2025,” wrote the Senators.
    “In light of this, we ask whether the aircraft reportedly being acquired by President Trump from Qatar will be evaluated as part of the Department’s ongoing investigation,” continued the Senators. 
    “Given President Trump’s repeated emphasis on curbing foreign influence in U.S. supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign-owned assets, it would be inconsistent for a high-profile foreign acquisition of this nature to go unexamined, especially as the Department of Commerce is actively analyzing the national security implications of such imports,” the Senators concluded. 
    The full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Lutnick,
    We write to request clarification regarding the scope of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft and jet engines, and parts for commercial aircraft and jet engines, initiated on May 1, 2025.
    This investigation, initiated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, purportedly aims to assess whether these imports threaten the national security of the United States. In recent days, you have indicated that the Department expects to complete its investigation soon. Given the significance of this investigation—and its potential implications for trade policy and national security—it is essential that the process be conducted transparently.
    In light of this, we ask whether the aircraft reportedly being acquired by President Trump from Qatar will be evaluated as part of the Department’s ongoing investigation. While the aircraft is understood to be a Boeing 747-8 jetliner originally manufactured in the United States, its recent use by a foreign government and its reentry into the U.S. as a privately acquired aircraft raise serious national security concerns. It also raises questions about how such a case is categorized under the Section 232 framework.
    The aircraft, reportedly valued at $400 million, would represent one of the largest foreign gifts ever accepted by a former U.S. president—or by the U.S. government more broadly—if acquired at little or no cost. This transaction potentially conflicts with the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, as well as the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act. Members of Congress have written to the Department’s Inspector General and introduced a resolution and legislation addressing these concerns. While these constitutional and statutory questions are significant and pressing, we raise a different query. Specifically, we seek clarity on whether and how this transaction is being considered and factored into the Department’s ongoing national security investigation into the import of commercial aircraft.
    Given President Trump’s repeated emphasis on curbing foreign influence in U.S. supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign-owned assets, it would be inconsistent for a high-profile foreign acquisition of this nature to go unexamined, especially as the Department of Commerce is actively analyzing the national security implications of such imports. The public deserves clarity on whether and how this transaction will be factored into your department’s review.
    Accordingly, we request answers to the following:
    Will the Boeing 747-8 previously owned by the Qatari royal family and gifted to President Trump be considered within the scope of the Department’s ongoing Section232 into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft?
    If not, what criteria or exemptions govern that determination?
    Does the aircraft’s prior foreign government ownership affect its classification or relevance under the investigation?
    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your commitment to completing this important review in a transparent manner.
    Sincerely, 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Frankel Urge Protection of Medicare and Medicaid Access to Anti-Obesity Medications

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))

    WASHINGTON, D.C. ─ Today, Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), and 10 House Democrats sent a letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz urging him to preserve access to affordable anti-obesity medications (AOMs) for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.  
     
    In November 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration proposed a rule that would have expanded coverage for AOMs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries living with obesity. Under current law, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover AOMs for weight loss management. This rule would have lowered the cost of AOMs by as much as 95% for 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries and 4 million Medicaid beneficiaries. In April 2025, CMS rescinded the proposed rule, jeopardizing access to these critical medications. 
     
    Without intervention, the U.S. is currently projected to spend upwards of $4.1 trillion on obesity-related healthcare costs, thereby placing enormous strain on the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Fortunately, it is clinically proven that AOMs both lead to significant long-term weight loss for individuals living with obesity and reduce the prevalence of costly chronic conditions associated with obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. 
     
    “As you may know, obesity impacts 95 million Americans and is the second-leading cause of preventable death in the U.S, contributing to 300,000 deaths annually,” thelawmakers wrote. “Given this administration’s firm commitment to reduce the rate of chronic disease and ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ we urge you to immediately finalize the “Part D Coverage of Anti-Obesity Medications and Application to the Medicaid Program” proposed rule.” 
     
    The full text of the letter can be found here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Vice Premier of the State Council of China calls for increasing fundamental research and scientific and technological innovation in pharmaceuticals

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on Thursday stressed the need to enhance fundamental research and scientific and technological innovation capacity in the pharmaceutical field.

    Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, visited the Institute of Materia Medica of Peking University, where he learned about the pharmacological research and development, construction progress and operation of key laboratories, and held a symposium to hear opinions and suggestions from various interested parties.

    According to the Vice Premier of the State Council, it is necessary to intensify joint research and policy implementation, putting people’s lives and health first, and promote the development of innovative drugs and medical equipment, thereby providing strong support for the promotion of the Healthy China initiative.

    Noting the positive dynamics of innovative development of Chinese pharmaceuticals in recent years, Liu Guozhong called for joint research efforts by enterprises, universities, research institutes and medical institutions, stressing that new technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data should be fully utilized to accelerate the formation of databases related to life and health.

    Liu Guozhong also called for expanding high-level opening-up and deepening international exchanges and cooperation in pharmaceutical technology to better protect people’s health and well-being. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 11 July 2025 Departmental update WHO establishes communities of practice for pathogen genomics surveillance

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (ISPN), set up by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, has set up three communities of practice (CoPs), each designed to drive  progress in pathogen genomics surveillance.

    The first CoP focuses on addressing the barriers to effectively leverage genomics data for public health decision-making, the second emphasizes strengthening emergency response capabilities using genomics data, and the third is dedicated to developing best-practices for wastewater and environmental surveillance. These targeted communities provide a structured framework for collaboration, ensuring that expertise is shared and applied effectively across critical domains to address challenges.

    CoP on Pathogen Genomics Data

    The implementation of genomic sequencing into public health laboratories has demanded a parallel increase in bioinformatics capacity to store, process, share and integrate genomics data to effectively leverage its public health utility. The CoP on genomics data brings together 60 experts from across the IPSN network representing all WHO regions to envision a scalable, interconnected, and sustainable bioinformatics ecosystem that supports equitable access to pathogen genomic surveillance.

    Since its inception in 2024, ‘CoP Data’ has provided a forum to identify gaps in the pathogen genomics data architecture and has prioritized discussions that will help address them. These discussions have included examining the benefits of and barriers to pathogen data sharing in emergency response, exploring the pathogen data infrastructure landscape, and considering efforts to support equitable access to computational resources for genomic surveillance. The expert group has also guided the development of an upcoming document on defining the principles and attributes pathogen genomic data sharing platforms should aspire to in order to deliver their public health function. 

    From these discussions, it is clear that an optimized data architecture is essential to support both local and global surveillance and to help the community to reimagine how genomic data is most effectively exchanged and utilized to drive public health decision-making. Addressing this data challenge should lead ultimately to a more effective response to current and future infectious disease threats.   

    CoP on Specialised Surveillance for Emergency Response

    Genomic surveillance data is increasingly integral to public health decision-making in emergency response, providing insights into disease transmission and  strain evolution and facilitating analysis of differential strain virulence that contributes to the evidence base for risk assessment. In August 2024, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, determined that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjacent African countries constituted a public health emergency of international concern under the International Health Regulations (2005). To support this response, IPSN established the CoP on Specialized Surveillance for Emergency Response (SSER) to facilitate the coordination of pathogen genomics actors.

    This CoP supports knowledge exchange among members, enabling them to address challenges and identify opportunities for leveraging pathogen genomics and wastewater surveillance in emergency responses. Within the pathogen genomics workstream, the group has focused on supporting harmonization and in-country deployment of the bioinformatics analysis of MPXV genome data to strengthen quality of the analysis. Additionally, the group is developing a guidance document outlining analytical considerations for MPXV genomic surveillance.

    In parallel, the wastewater surveillance workstream convened experts over 5 sessions across 30 countries, to explore the feasibility of detecting MPXV from sewered and unsewered settings; to review the current uptake of wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) for mpox response,  and to discuss enabling factors for its use, and ongoing technical, regulatory and data utilization constraints. These efforts underscore the need for a more cohesive and consistent wastewater surveillance community for emergency response.

    CoP on Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance

    In June 2025, IPSN launched its newest CoP dedicated to the advancement of genomics in wastewater and environmental surveillance (CoP WES).  The CoP WES aims to enhance global awareness and confidence in the WES capabilities and limitations for genomics, ultimately supporting policy-makers in making evidence-based decisions on how to tailor the use of genomic WES as part of their public health surveillance systems.

    The use of genomics in wastewater and environmental surveillance has significant potential to enhance collaborative surveillance through pathogen detection and tracking, providing situational awareness and supporting early warning capabilities. Scientific developments have also resulted in an enhanced characterization of population pathogen diversity and faster detection of new variants. Yet genomics WES remains a nascent field hindered by barriers to progress, including a fragmented knowledge landscape, limited standardization and consensus on best practices, and uncertainty as to how the data can be leveraged by public health systems.

    The CoP WES offers a structured platform for continuous collaboration and knowledge sharing and capture that tackles many ongoing obstacles faced by the field today. Drawing on existing momentum and activities of other leading experts and organizations in the genomics WES ecosystem, the COP WES will serve as a hub for evidence generation and curation, reducing duplication of efforts, amplifying successful models and creating new products to fill unmet needs.

    Collaboration for effective global public health surveillance

    Communities of Practice are powerful mechanisms for fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and addressing complex challenges in pathogen genomics surveillance. By uniting experts, facilitating knowledge exchange, and developing actionable guidance, these CoPs are laying the groundwork for a more interconnected and effective global public health surveillance system. Moving forward, the IPSN will continue to convene and strengthen these platforms to develop scalable, sustainable solutions that strengthen preparedness and response to infectious disease threats worldwide.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mechanical fail lands driver in Court

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A driver who attempted to evade Police in a stolen vehicle will now face court.

    At about 3.35am, a Police unit observed a stolen Honda Fit travelling at high speed on Fir Street, Waterview.

    Auckland City West Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Wayne Kitcher, says a short time later the vehicle stopped on Daventry Street and two Police units attempted to block the vehicle in.

    “The vehicle has stopped briefly before mounting the curb and taking off at high speed.”

    He says Police did not pursue the vehicle and instead it was monitored by cameras as it entered the Northwestern Motorway.

    “The vehicle has then taken the Southern Motorway, where it exited at Market Road and continued through Greenlane and Onehunga before coming to a stop on Manukau Road, Epsom, where it appeared to suffer a mechanical issue.

    “Officers have blocked the vehicle in and taken the driver into custody without incident,” Inspector Kitcher says.

    “This is a great example of frontline Police resources working together to respond to any events that occur.”

    A 39-year-old man will appear in Auckland District Court on 17 July charged with failing to remain, receiving property and possession of methamphetamine.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Security – Banking Ombudsman Scheme welcomes establishment of the New Zealand Anti-Scam Alliance

    Source: Banking Ombudsman Scheme

    The Banking Ombudsman Scheme welcomes the announcement of the New Zealand Anti-Scam Alliance, recognising it as a significant and timely step toward a more coordinated and proactive response to scams in Aotearoa.
    “We have been calling for stronger, sector-wide action to prevent scams for some time,” says Nicola Sladden, Banking Ombudsman. “The establishment of the Anti-Scam Alliance reflects growing recognition of the need for collaboration, and we’re pleased to support its work.”
    In addition, the Scheme welcomes an upcoming expansion of its jurisdiction to include complaints about receiving banks-those whose accounts are used to receive stolen funds. This change enables a more complete assessment of scam-related complaints and supports accountability across the banking system.
    “Preventing scams requires a united approach across industry, government, and consumer groups,” says Sladden. “We remain committed to supporting the Alliance and continuing our work to protect New Zealanders from financial harm.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: UNICEF – 70 per cent of children in Ukraine lack access to basic goods and services as material deprivation soars

    Source: UNICEF

    Urgent investment in critical services and systems for children is vital to protecting and building the country’s future.

    Around 70 per cent of children in Ukraine – or 3.5 million – now lack access to basic goods and services, including adequate food or shelter, according to new data published by UNICEF. This proportion of children experiencing ‘material deprivation’ increased from some 18 per cent in 2021, prior to the escalation of the war in February 2022.

    Material deprivation is a stark indicator of poverty and includes a lack of access to nutritious food, appropriate clothing, heating at home, and educational materials, among other essentials. It deprives children of a minimum standard of living and affects their long-term development, education, health, and future opportunities.

    “The war in Ukraine continues to devastate the country’s children. Investing in them and the services they rely on, is the best way to secure Ukraine’s future,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell. 

    “The ongoing humanitarian response is tailored to meet immediate needs while supporting lasting results. But it must not be at the expense of investing in Ukraine’s long-term recovery that will benefit children today and generations to come.”

    Some 2,786 children have been killed or maimed since February 2022. A third of Ukraine’s children live in homes without functioning water supply and sewage and nearly half of children lack access to an area to play at home or outside. Continued and relentless attacks on critical water, sanitation, and energy infrastructure, children’s homes, schools and healthcare facilities, combined with rising poverty, have caused an increase in material deprivation.

    Ukraine is also facing serious demographic challenges, with a 35 per cent birthrate decline and millions of women and children having fled the country.  

    Continuous access to quality and inclusive social services, education and health care for all children and their families is essential, especially for children living near the frontlines, children with disabilities, those in institutions and foster families, and children displaced from their homes.

    “The opportunity to protect and nurture Ukraine’s children and young people – from the early years through adolescence – is now. The country’s future dep

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education Events – School boards conference opens in Christchurch

    Source: Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (NZSTA)

    More than 700 school board members, education leaders and sector experts are converging on Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre this weekend for the 35th Annual Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) Conference, the largest event of its kind dedicated to school governance in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    The conference opens today under the theme Creating a Difference, reflecting the crucial role that boards play in shaping the future of schools and student success across the country.
    Over the next three days delegates will take part in a wide-ranging programme of keynote presentations, workshops and networking events designed to equip school board members with the knowledge, tools and inspiration to lead effectively. Highlights include keynote addresses by Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford, education thought leader Professor Mere Berryman and renowned neuroscience educator Kathryn Berkett.
    Alongside the learning programme, the conference also provides opportunities for connection and celebration, including the Gallagher Insurance Gala Dinner themed Once Upon a Change, which will bring delegates together to recognise the impact of governance done well.
    NZSBA President Meredith Kennett says this year’s event comes at a pivotal moment for education governance.
    “We’re seeing major shifts across the sector – from changing legislation to new technologies and increasing expectations of transparency and engagement. This conference is about supporting our boards to rise to these challenges and continue to make a positive difference in their communities.”
    The conference runs from Friday 11 July to Sunday 13 July.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – Global Barometers rise in July – KOF

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    For the second consecutive month, the Coincident and Leading Barometers rise in July. However, they have not yet recovered the losses incurred between March and May. Despite these increases, the indicators continue to suggest that the global economic growth rate will remain modest in 2025.

    In July, the Global Economic Coincident Barometer rises by 1.5 points to 95.4 points, and the Leading Barometer increases by 1.0 point to 97.4 points. The results are mainly driven by the Asia, Pacific & Africa region.

    “Although geopolitical risks and the resulting economic uncertainty have not disappeared, the Global Barometers suggest a slight improvement towards long-term averages. However, new information reflecting divergent monetary policies among major central banks, ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the vulnerability of global growth to trade shocks indicates that, while major economies are avoiding recession, growth remains fragile. Elevated policy uncertainty, persistent inflationary pressures in certain regions and geopolitical tensions combine to create a challenging environment for stable economic growth”, comments KOF Director Jan-Egbert Sturm the latest results.

    Coincident Barometer – regions and sectors

    The 1.5-point increase in the Coincident Barometer in July results from positive contributions of 0.9 and 0.5 points from the Asia, Pacific & Africa and Western Hemisphere regions, respectively. The Europe indicator contributes modestly with 0.1 points to the aggregated result. Despite the second consecutive increase, the Western Hemisphere indicator continues to show the lowest level among the regional coincident indicators.

    All five coincident sectoral indicators rise in July, with Services ending a sequence of five consecutive declines and Trade, along with Construction, recording levels above the 100-point mark.

    Leading Barometer – regions and sectors

    In July, the 1.0-point increase in the Global Leading Barometer results from a positive contribution of 1.0 point from the Asia, Pacific & Africa region, while the Western Hemisphere decreases moderately by 0.1 point and Europe remains unchanged. All three regions show moderate growth for the coming months. The Leading Global Barometer leads the world economic growth rate cycle by three to six months on average.

    Among the leading sectoral indicators, only Construction does not rise in the month, recording its third consecutive decrease. Despite this, it continues to show the highest level among the sectors. All leading sectoral indicators remain below the neutral 100-point level.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Crypto – Bitcoin hits all-time high as political will and institutional action accelerate – deVere Group

    Source: deVere Group

    July 10 2025 – Bitcoin surged above $112,000 this week for the first time, driven by mounting political momentum, regulatory repositioning, and strategic allocations from both corporations and sovereign entities, says deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

    “The shift is clear and aggressive,” said Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group. “Bitcoin is being pulled into the core of national economic thinking in the US – the world’s largest economy – and also corporate treasury policy, and institutional portfolios. This isn’t hype. This is capital following political will.”

    The Trump administration is sending unmistakable signals. Senior Treasury officials have confirmed internal reviews are underway on the potential inclusion of Bitcoin in US reserve strategy.

    Also committees continue to receive Bitcoin contributions, discussions between policymakers and digital asset custodians are ongoing, and new legislation supporting digital asset classification, custody, and tax treatment is gaining bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.

    “When a sitting administration is weighing Bitcoin as part of sovereign reserves, that reshapes the global risk framework,” said Nigel. “It doesn’t just legitimize Bitcoin, it forces others—institutions and governments alike—to act.”

    Elon Musk’s newly formed America Party has pushed Bitcoin further into the national conversation.

    In his Independence Day speech, Musk positioned Bitcoin as the foundation of economic resilience.

    This has reignited interest across retail platforms and triggered increased flows from politically aligned investor groups.

    “Musk is giving Bitcoin further ideological weight and policy relevance,” says the deVere CEO.

    “That moves markets. His reach is unmatched, and he’s aligning it with a monetary vision that resonates with a generation raised on decentralized tech.”

    At the regulatory level, the SEC has softened its stance. Several enforcement actions have been withdrawn, and spot Bitcoin ETFs are moving through review with renewed agency engagement. Regulators are now focused on operational safeguards and disclosure standards. “The era of blanket resistance appears to be over,” notes Nigel Green.

    “Regulatory friction held back institutional involvement for years. Now that it’s easing, we’re seeing fresh inflows from asset managers who were waiting for exactly this moment.”

    Corporates are moving aggressively. MicroStrategy added $2 billion in Bitcoin in June, pushing its total above 300,000 BTC. Seventeen publicly listed companies disclosed Bitcoin holdings in recent filings, with more deploying capital through custodial structures and ETFs. Firms are integrating it into liquidity and risk frameworks.

    “Boards are acting to preserve value through a cycle of rising debt and monetary uncertainty,” explains Nigel Green. “Bitcoin gives them optionality, mobility, and a non-correlated reserve that holds its form under stress.”

    Sovereign institutions are advancing too. Pakistan has begun holding state-mined Bitcoin through its central bank.

    The Czech National Bank is reviewing Bitcoin for potential inclusion in foreign reserves.

    Sovereign wealth funds across Southeast Asia and Latin America are now engaged in operational discussions with digital custodians. While not all activity is being publicized, it is being closely tracked by global capital.

    “These are central banks, state treasuries, and sovereign wealth funds treating Bitcoin as a strategic asset. They’re not chasing headlines. They’re preparing for what comes next.”

    Market data supports the shift. More than $340 million in short liquidations were triggered around the $112,000 breakout, according to data. Spot ETF inflows remain steady. Institutional buyers are dominating recent volume, with fewer retail-driven spikes and more structured accumulation.

     “Governments and political figures are reshaping the environment Bitcoin operates in, and institutions—including corporate treasuries—are responding with deliberate allocation,” concludes Nigel Green.

     “The new all-time highs are being powered by political and regulatory will that are unlocking new channels for capital, and by the growing acceptance that Bitcoin now plays a strategic role in global finance.”

    deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carbajal Statement Following ICE Raid in Carpinteria

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) issued the statement below following the ICE raid on Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria, CA. 

    “Today, I was at Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria where ICE was conducting a raid using disproportionate displays of force against local farm workers and our agricultural community,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal. “As a member of Congress and representative of the Central Coast, I have the right to conduct oversight and see first-hand what ICE was doing here. As soon as I walked up, I was denied entry and was not allowed to pass. This was completely unacceptable. There’s been a troubling lack of transparency from ICE since the Trump Administration started, and I won’t stop asking questions on behalf of my constituents. I will be demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security to find out who they detained and where the detainees are being taken. And let me be clear: these militarized ICE raids are not how you keep our communities safe. This kind of chaos only traumatizes families and tears communities apart. They are also a gross misuse of limited resources and a betrayal of the values that define us as Americans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Air Force Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Disclose Unlawfully Classified National Defense Information

    Source: US State of California

    A civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base pleaded guilty today to conspiring to transmit classified information relating to the national defense (National Defense Information) on a foreign online dating platform beginning in or around February 2022 until in or around April 2022.

    “The defendant, an employee of the United States Air Force with access to some of our Nation’s most closely held secrets, shared classified information with someone claiming to be a foreigner on an online dating platform,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice stands ready to hold accountable those who violate their obligation to protect sensitive national security information entrusted to them.”

    “Access to classified information comes with great responsibility. David Slater failed in his duty to protect this information by willingly sharing National Defense Information with an unknown online personality despite having years of military experience that should have caused him to be suspicious of that person’s motives,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska.

    “Mr. Slater betrayed an oath he made to safeguard our nation’s intelligence,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “Leveraging his access to sensitive information, Mr. Slater chose to transmit material that put our country at risk. The FBI is extremely thankful for the work of our partners in this case. We will continue to partner together to defend the homeland by aggressively investigating and apprehending criminals and adversaries who pose a threat to our nation’s security.”

    According to court documents, David Franklin Slater, 64, of Nebraska, after retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army, worked in a classified space at USSTRATCOM and held a Top Secret security clearance from in or around August 2021 until in or around April 2022. Slater pleaded guilty to willfully, improperly, and unlawfully conspiring to transmit National Defense Information classified as “SECRET,” which he had reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, on a foreign online dating platform to a person not authorized to receive such information.

    According to court documents, Slater attended USSTRATCOM briefings regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine that were classified up to TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI). Slater then conspired to transmit classified National Defense Information that he learned from those briefings via the foreign online dating website’s messaging platform to his co-conspirator, who claimed to be a female living in Ukraine on the foreign dating website. The co-conspirator regularly asked Slater to provide her with sensitive, non-public, closely held, and classified National Defense Information and called Slater in their messages her “secret informant love” and her “secret agent.” In furtherance of that conspiracy, Slater did, in fact, transmit classified National Defense Information to her, including regarding military targets and Russian military capabilities relating to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    The charge of conspiracy to transmit national defense information provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Slater is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 8. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Omaha Field Office and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Kleine for the District of Nebraska and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Returning Home Safely After the Rowena Fire

    Source: US State of Oregon

    s residents return to areas impacted by the Rowena Fire, safety remains a top priority. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Wasco County strongly recommend property owners not perform cleanup themselves, because of the serious toxic hazard threats posed by burned homes and outbuildings.

    Doing your own cleanup without proper protection puts your health at risk. Burned materials are hazardous and require more than gloves and a mask to protect your health. Buildings constructed before 2004 are likely to contain asbestos, which is carcinogenic.

    If residents do decide to do their own clean-up rather than hiring a qualified contractor, they should wear appropriate personal protective equipment.

    Before entering your property:

    • Wear sturdy shoes, eye goggles, heavy-duty work gloves and an N95 mask when inspecting damage.
    • Watch for hazards such as unstable structures, ash pits, smoldering debris and electrical hazards including downed power lines.
    • Take photos of damage for insurance and recovery documentation.

    Avoid bringing ash from outside to the inside:

    • Don’t let children play on or near any ash. Wash off toys before children play with them.
    • Wash fruits and vegetables from your garden thoroughly before you eat them. Read the OHA Healthy Gardening fact sheet for more tips.
    • Remove shoes before you enter your home or use “sticky mats” in entries and doorways to remove dust and ash from your shoes.
    • Keep pets out of areas where there is any ash. Bathe them when exposed to ash.
    • Wash off any ash right away if it gets on your body or clothing.

    Keep indoor spaces clean from ash. Minimize other pollutants:

    • Protect your home from outside air, this includes proper seals for windows and doors. Home weatherization assistance may be available for people with low income.
    • Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) or non-ozone producing electrostatic precipitator (ESP) filter in your central air system to filter air throughout your home. There are also DYI air filter tutorials.
    • Make sure any air purifier you buy has an airflow rate of at least two to three times the size of the room.

    See Oregon Health Authority’s Long-Term Wildfire Recovery Healthy Home Advice Fact Sheet for more detailed information.

    Smoke may linger even after flames are out. To protect yourself and your family:

    • Limit time outdoors and keep windows and doors closed.
    • Use air purifiers indoors if available.
    • If you have heart or lung conditions, consult your doctor about potential impacts and monitor symptoms closely.
    • Visit Oregon Smoke Blog for local air quality conditions and tips.

    Additional Cleanup Resources:

    The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is providing technical assistance and coordinating with subject matter experts to support safe debris management. Guidance on proper cleanup procedures and disposal of fire debris can be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq
    Local recovery and safety resources are also available through Wasco County Emergency Management Long-term Recovery page
    Residents are encouraged to sign up for Wasco County Citizen Alert for the latest updates on recovery, road access, and support services.

    For more information on state-led wildfire recovery and preparedness efforts, visit:
    wildfire.oregon.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Sends Letter to Pentagon & Defense Health Agency Advocating for Fort Leonard Wood’s Community Hospital

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara and Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Dr. David J. Smith, urging them to protect Fort Leonard Wood’s newly built hospital, the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH). 
    Senator Hawley wrote, “In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.”
    He continued, “As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.”
    Senator Hawley is following up on a letter he sent to Dr. Smith on May 13, 2025, in which he outlined his concerns over potential reductions to the hospital’s funding, personnel and services. 
    Read the full letter here or below. 
    Dr. Steve FerraraActing Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health AffairsOffice of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000
    Dr. David J. SmithActing Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Acting DirectorDefense Health Agency7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101 Falls Church, VA 22042
    Dear Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Smith,
    I write to follow up on my letter to Dr. Smith of May 13, 2025 concerning the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) at Ft. Leonard Wood. Thank you for your June 16, 2025 response—it provided some helpful information, but did not allay my concerns regarding the future of GLWACH.
    In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.
    As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.
    I therefore request that you provide me with written answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:
    1. Does DHA intend to reduce the funds, personnel, or other resources available to GLWACH?
    2. Does DHA intend to change the care or services provided by GLWACH? 
    3. Can DHA commit to maintaining GLWACH’s current scope of care, including its Surgery, Emergency Room, OBGYN, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Allergy and ENT Services departments?
    4. What effects will recent or planned changes to DOD’s resourcing model for direct care—including a potential shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model—have on GLWACH and Ft. Leonard Wood?
    5. Does DHA have a plan to solicit and consider input from the Army, local community members and groups, and other stakeholders before it makes changes to the resourcing or management of GLWACH?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Sends Letter to Pentagon & Defense Health Agency Advocating for Fort Leonard Wood’s Community Hospital

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara and Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Dr. David J. Smith, urging them to protect Fort Leonard Wood’s newly built hospital, the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH). 

    Senator Hawley wrote, “In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.”

    He continued, “As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.”

    Senator Hawley is following up on a letter he sent to Dr. Smith on May 13, 2025, in which he outlined his concerns over potential reductions to the hospital’s funding, personnel and services. 

    Read the full letter here or below. 

    Dr. Steve Ferrara
    Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
    Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness
    4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000

    Dr. David J. Smith
    Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Acting Director
    Defense Health Agency
    7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101 Falls Church, VA 22042

    Dear Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Smith,

    I write to follow up on my letter to Dr. Smith of May 13, 2025 concerning the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) at Ft. Leonard Wood. Thank you for your June 16, 2025 response—it provided some helpful information, but did not allay my concerns regarding the future of GLWACH.

    In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.

    As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.

    I therefore request that you provide me with written answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:

    1. Does DHA intend to reduce the funds, personnel, or other resources available to GLWACH?

    2. Does DHA intend to change the care or services provided by GLWACH? 

    3. Can DHA commit to maintaining GLWACH’s current scope of care, including its Surgery, Emergency Room, OBGYN, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Allergy and ENT Services departments?

    4. What effects will recent or planned changes to DOD’s resourcing model for direct care—including a potential shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model—have on GLWACH and Ft. Leonard Wood?

    5. Does DHA have a plan to solicit and consider input from the Army, local community members and groups, and other stakeholders before it makes changes to the resourcing or management of GLWACH?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Sends Letter to Pentagon & Defense Health Agency Advocating for Fort Leonard Wood’s Community Hospital

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara and Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Dr. David J. Smith, urging them to protect Fort Leonard Wood’s newly built hospital, the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH). 

    Senator Hawley wrote, “In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.”

    He continued, “As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.”

    Senator Hawley is following up on a letter he sent to Dr. Smith on May 13, 2025, in which he outlined his concerns over potential reductions to the hospital’s funding, personnel and services. 

    Read the full letter here or below. 

    Dr. Steve Ferrara
    Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
    Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness
    4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000

    Dr. David J. Smith
    Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Acting Director
    Defense Health Agency
    7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101 Falls Church, VA 22042

    Dear Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Smith,

    I write to follow up on my letter to Dr. Smith of May 13, 2025 concerning the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) at Ft. Leonard Wood. Thank you for your June 16, 2025 response—it provided some helpful information, but did not allay my concerns regarding the future of GLWACH.

    In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.

    As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.

    I therefore request that you provide me with written answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:

    1. Does DHA intend to reduce the funds, personnel, or other resources available to GLWACH?

    2. Does DHA intend to change the care or services provided by GLWACH? 

    3. Can DHA commit to maintaining GLWACH’s current scope of care, including its Surgery, Emergency Room, OBGYN, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Allergy and ENT Services departments?

    4. What effects will recent or planned changes to DOD’s resourcing model for direct care—including a potential shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model—have on GLWACH and Ft. Leonard Wood?

    5. Does DHA have a plan to solicit and consider input from the Army, local community members and groups, and other stakeholders before it makes changes to the resourcing or management of GLWACH?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Invites Trump “Border Czar” to Participate in Multnomah County Town Hall

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    July 10, 2025
    If Tom Homan wants to visit Portland for an honest, local discussion on immigration, Wyden says he should hear from Oregonians directly in community gathering.
    Washington, D.C. – Amid reports that Trump-designated “border czar” Tom Homan wants to visit Portland, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today invited the administration official to participate in the senator’s open-to-all Multnomah County town hall next month if he truly cares about local feedback on immigration policy featuring masked and unidentified agents snatching people off the streets.
    “I would certainly welcome your participation at my next Multnomah County town hall, which I am working to schedule next month, so you can hear directly from Oregonians,” Wyden wrote Homan, Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations. “I have held more than 1,100 town halls in all of our state’s 36 counties, and these town halls provide Oregonians the opportunity to ask questions and share their views.  Participating in one of these town halls would be helpful as you shape immigration and border security policies back in Washington D.C.”
    Wyden noted in his letter that in his town halls since Trump took office in January and in other settings in rural, suburban and urban parts of the state, Oregonians have expressed serious concerns about the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to immigration policy.
    “In these few short months, Oregonians have seen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detaining and deporting key members of our community, essential workers and entrepreneurs, without due process and in defiance of court orders,” Wyden wrote. “In our universities and colleges, students have seen their visas revoked without warning, disrupting their education and valuable research contributions.  They have seen immigrant laborers with appropriate documentation stopped and questioned by federal agents on their way to work.  All across the state, our immigrant communities have stated their justifiable concerns with seeking out healthcare, attending school, and requesting the support of law enforcement out of fear that masked and unidentifiable people claiming to be federal agents may target them.”
    He also wrote that he has heard throughout the year from Oregon employers across several sectors—agriculture, healthcare, childcare, technology, and more—about the Trump administration’s hostile approach to immigrants and foreign-born students and workers has driven out talented and skilled professionals to seek opportunities outside of the United States. 
    “As a result, many critical positions remain unfilled at these companies and organizations, whose work support and sustain our state and national economies,” Wyden wrote. “As my constituents know, I have regularly voted for billions of dollars to enforce a secure border and have worked across the aisle on comprehensive immigration reform, all while pushing for a humane approach to immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and visitors from around the world.  Oregonians share those goals, but they do not want to see federal agents and their military suppressing free speech and assembly, ICE and private contractors mistreating immigrants, and their leadership in D.C. wasting their taxpayer dollars detaining and deporting families who present no threat to public safety.” 
    The entire letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –