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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Assistance May Be Available to Help with Rent

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Assistance May Be Available to Help with Rent

    FEMA Assistance May Be Available to Help with Rent

    ST

    LOUIS – If you don’t have a safe place to live because of recent disasters in Missouri, you can apply for FEMA Assistance to help you pay for alternate temporary housing

     To request assistance to help with rent, homeowners and renters need to contact FEMA and let them know

    This can be done by:First applying for FEMA Assistance at DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center

     For locations, visit: FEMA

    gov/DRC

    Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service such as VRS, give FEMA your number for that service

    Sending your request in writing to FEMA: P

    O

    Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

    FEMA is required to do a home inspection to verify damage reported on your application

     If approved, you will receive an initial rental award of up to two months of rent

     Rental Assistance may help cover your monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit

    It might not cover all rental expenses

    Important Deadline – March 14-15 Missouri DisasterHomeowners and renters affected by the March 14-15 disaster in Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St

    Louis, Wayne, Webster and Wright counties may be eligible

    The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is July 22, 2025

    Important Deadline – May 16 Missouri DisasterHomeowners and renters affected by the May 16 disaster in St

    Louis City, St

    Louis County and Scott County may also be eligible

    The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is August 11, 2025

     You can still ask for additional assistance, as long as you submit an initial application before the deadline

    The fastest way to apply is at DisasterAssistance

    gov

     You may also apply by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center

    sara

    zuckerman
    Wed, 07/09/2025 – 20:42

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Assistance May Be Available to Help with Rent

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Assistance May Be Available to Help with Rent

    FEMA Assistance May Be Available to Help with Rent

    ST

    LOUIS – If you don’t have a safe place to live because of recent disasters in Missouri, you can apply for FEMA Assistance to help you pay for alternate temporary housing

     To request assistance to help with rent, homeowners and renters need to contact FEMA and let them know

    This can be done by:First applying for FEMA Assistance at DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center

     For locations, visit: FEMA

    gov/DRC

    Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service such as VRS, give FEMA your number for that service

    Sending your request in writing to FEMA: P

    O

    Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

    FEMA is required to do a home inspection to verify damage reported on your application

     If approved, you will receive an initial rental award of up to two months of rent

     Rental Assistance may help cover your monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit

    It might not cover all rental expenses

    Important Deadline – March 14-15 Missouri DisasterHomeowners and renters affected by the March 14-15 disaster in Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St

    Louis, Wayne, Webster and Wright counties may be eligible

    The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is July 22, 2025

    Important Deadline – May 16 Missouri DisasterHomeowners and renters affected by the May 16 disaster in St

    Louis City, St

    Louis County and Scott County may also be eligible

    The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is August 11, 2025

     You can still ask for additional assistance, as long as you submit an initial application before the deadline

    The fastest way to apply is at DisasterAssistance

    gov

     You may also apply by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center

    sara

    zuckerman
    Wed, 07/09/2025 – 20:42

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA, SBA and the State of Texas to Open Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA, SBA and the State of Texas to Open Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville

    FEMA, SBA and the State of Texas to Open Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville

    AUSTIN, Texas – In coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), FEMA and U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) staff will open a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) tomorrow, July 10 to offer face-to-face help to survivors affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that began July 2

     Homeowners, renters and eligible non-residents in Kerr County may receive FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

    FEMA and SBA will support state-led efforts at the recovery centers to help survivors apply for disaster assistance

    They can also identify potential needs and connect survivors with local, state and federal agencies, as well as nonprofits and community groups

     The DRC will be open from 8 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    daily

    Kerr CountyFirst Baptist Church625 Washington StKerrville, TX 78028Survivors can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of Texas and the SBA

    No appointment is needed

    All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology

    If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish)

    Additional locations may be added

    FEMA staff are easily recognizable by their official photo identification (ID)

    If you meet people offering assistance, first ask to see their ID before giving them your personal information

    They may have FEMA clothing, but that can be easily imitated

     FEMA staff can help in several ways including:Checking the status of an application already in the system and making minor changes to applications

    Contacting faith-based organizations, community groups, private sector businesses and public libraries that may have the capability to distribute disaster-related information to residents in the impacted counties

    Identifying organizations providing disaster-related services and/or resources to the public for long-term recovery

    Gathering information about impacts to communities

    Providing flyers explaining how to apply for disaster assistance

    Survivors with homeowners or renters’ insurance, should first file a claim with their insurance company as soon as possible

    If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may then be eligible for federal assistance

    SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the centers to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status

    For information and to apply online visit SBA

    gov/disaster

     Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services

    Survivors can apply to FEMA in several ways including going online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, which is the fastest method, downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Calls are accepted every day from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

     If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    For the latest information about Texas’ recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4879

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6
    toan

    nguyen
    Wed, 07/09/2025 – 19:00

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA, SBA and the State of Texas to Open Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA, SBA and the State of Texas to Open Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville

    FEMA, SBA and the State of Texas to Open Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville

    AUSTIN, Texas – In coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), FEMA and U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) staff will open a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) tomorrow, July 10 to offer face-to-face help to survivors affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that began July 2

     Homeowners, renters and eligible non-residents in Kerr County may receive FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

    FEMA and SBA will support state-led efforts at the recovery centers to help survivors apply for disaster assistance

    They can also identify potential needs and connect survivors with local, state and federal agencies, as well as nonprofits and community groups

     The DRC will be open from 8 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    daily

    Kerr CountyFirst Baptist Church625 Washington StKerrville, TX 78028Survivors can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of Texas and the SBA

    No appointment is needed

    All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology

    If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish)

    Additional locations may be added

    FEMA staff are easily recognizable by their official photo identification (ID)

    If you meet people offering assistance, first ask to see their ID before giving them your personal information

    They may have FEMA clothing, but that can be easily imitated

     FEMA staff can help in several ways including:Checking the status of an application already in the system and making minor changes to applications

    Contacting faith-based organizations, community groups, private sector businesses and public libraries that may have the capability to distribute disaster-related information to residents in the impacted counties

    Identifying organizations providing disaster-related services and/or resources to the public for long-term recovery

    Gathering information about impacts to communities

    Providing flyers explaining how to apply for disaster assistance

    Survivors with homeowners or renters’ insurance, should first file a claim with their insurance company as soon as possible

    If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may then be eligible for federal assistance

    SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the centers to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status

    For information and to apply online visit SBA

    gov/disaster

     Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services

    Survivors can apply to FEMA in several ways including going online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, which is the fastest method, downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Calls are accepted every day from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

     If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    For the latest information about Texas’ recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4879

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6
    toan

    nguyen
    Wed, 07/09/2025 – 19:00

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Aircraft, Sensor Technology, Aid in Texas Flood Recovery Efforts

    Source: NASA

    In response to recent flooding near Kerrville, Texas, NASA deployed two aircraft to assist state and local authorities in ongoing recovery operations.
    The aircraft are part of the response from NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System, which is activated to support emergency response for the flooding and is working closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the humanitarian groups Save the Children and GiveDirectly.
    Persistent cloud-cover has made it difficult to obtain clear satellite imagery, so the Disasters Program coordinated with NASA’s Airborne Science Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston to conduct a series of flights to gather observations of the impacted regions. NASA is sharing these data directly with emergency response teams to inform their search and rescue efforts and aid decision-making and resource allocation.
    The high-altitude WB-57 aircraft operated by NASA Johnson departed from Ellington Field on July 8 to conduct aerial surveys. The aircraft is equipped with the DyNAMITE (Day/Night Airborne Motion Imager for Terrestrial Environments) sensor.
    The DyNAMITE sensor views the Guadalupe River[KA1] [RC2]  and several miles of the surrounding area, providing high-resolution imagery critical to assessing damage and supporting coordination of ground-based recovery efforts. This system enables real-time collection and analysis of data, enhancing situational awareness and accelerating emergency response times.
    In addition, the agency’s Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) is flying out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, aboard a Gulfstream III. Managed by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the UAVSAR team is planning to collect observations over the Guadalupe, San Gabriel, and Colorado river basins Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Because UAVSAR can penetrate vegetation to spot water that optical sensors are unable to detect, the team’s goal is to characterize the extent of flooding to help with understanding the amount of damage within communities.
    Flights are being coordinated with FEMA, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and local responders to ensure data is quickly delivered to those making decisions on the ground. Imagery collected will be sent to NASA’s Disaster Response Coordination System.
    Additionally, the Disasters Program, which is part of NASA’s Earth Science Division, is working to produce maps and data to assess the location and severity of flooding in the region and damage to buildings and infrastructure. These data are being shared on the NASA Disasters Mapping Portal as they become available.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Smarter Searching: NASA AI Makes Science Data Easier to Find

    Source: NASA

    Imagine shopping for a new pair of running shoes online. If each seller described them differently—one calling them “sneakers,” another “trainers,” and someone else “footwear for exercise”—you’d quickly feel lost in a sea of mismatched terminology. Fortunately, most online stores use standardized categories and filters, so you can click through a simple path: Women’s > Shoes > Running Shoes—and quickly find what you need.
    Now, scale that problem to scientific research. Instead of sneakers, think “aerosol optical depth” or “sea surface temperature.” Instead of a handful of retailers, it is thousands of researchers, instruments, and data providers. Without a common language for describing data, finding relevant Earth science datasets would be like trying to locate a needle in a haystack, blindfolded.
    That’s why NASA created the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD), a standardized vocabulary that helps scientists tag their datasets in a consistent and searchable way. But as science evolves, so does the challenge of keeping metadata organized and discoverable. 
    To meet that challenge, NASA’s Office of Data Science and Informatics (ODSI) at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama, developed the GCMD Keyword Recommender (GKR): a smart tool designed to help data providers and curators assign the right keywords, automatically.

    The upgraded GKR model isn’t just a technical improvement; it’s a leap forward in how we organize and access scientific knowledge. By automatically recommending precise, standardized keywords, the model reduces the burden on human curators while ensuring metadata quality remains high. This makes it easier for researchers, students, and the public to find exactly the datasets they need.
    It also sets the stage for broader applications. The techniques used in GKR, like applying focal loss to rare-label classification problems and adapting pre-trained transformers to specialized domains, can benefit fields well beyond Earth science.

    The newly upgraded GKR model tackles a massive challenge in information science known as extreme multi-label classification. That’s a mouthful, but the concept is straightforward: Instead of predicting just one label, the model must choose many, sometimes dozens, from a set of thousands. Each dataset may need to be tagged with multiple, nuanced descriptors pulled from a controlled vocabulary.
    Think of it like trying to identify all the animals in a photograph. If there’s just a dog, it’s easy. But if there’s a dog, a bird, a raccoon hiding behind a bush, and a unicorn that only shows up in 0.1% of your training photos, the task becomes far more difficult. That’s what GKR is up against: tagging complex datasets with precision, even when examples of some keywords are scarce.
    And the problem is only growing. The new version of GKR now considers more than 3,200 keywords, up from about 430 in its earlier iteration. That’s a sevenfold increase in vocabulary complexity, and a major leap in what the model needs to learn and predict.
    To handle this scale, the GKR team didn’t just add more data; they built a more capable model from the ground up. At the heart of the upgrade is INDUS, an advanced language model trained on a staggering 66 billion words drawn from scientific literature across disciplines—Earth science, biological sciences, astronomy, and more.

    “We’re at the frontier of cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning for science,” said Sajil Awale, a member of the NASA ODSI AI team at MSFC. “This problem domain is interesting, and challenging, because it’s an extreme classification problem where the model needs to differentiate even very similar keywords/tags based on small variations of context. It’s exciting to see how we have leveraged INDUS to build this GKR model because it is designed and trained for scientific domains. There are opportunities to improve INDUS for future uses.”
    This means that the new GKR isn’t just guessing based on word similarities; it understands the context in which keywords appear. It’s the difference between a model knowing that “precipitation” might relate to weather versus recognizing when it means a climate variable in satellite data.
    And while the older model was trained on only 2,000 metadata records, the new version had access to a much richer dataset of more than 43,000 records from NASA’s Common Metadata Repository. That increased exposure helps the model make more accurate predictions.
    The Common Metadata Repository is the backend behind the following data search and discovery services:

    One of the biggest hurdles in a task like this is class imbalance. Some keywords appear frequently; others might show up just a handful of times. Traditional machine learning approaches, like cross-entropy loss, which was used initially to train the model, tend to favor the easy, common labels, and neglect the rare ones.
    To solve this, NASA’s team turned to focal loss, a strategy that reduces the model’s attention to obvious examples and shifts focus toward the harder, underrepresented cases. 
    The result? A model that performs better across the board, especially on the keywords that matter most to specialists searching for niche datasets.

    Ultimately, science depends not only on collecting data, but on making that data usable and discoverable. The updated GKR tool is a quiet but critical part of that mission. By bringing powerful AI to the task of metadata tagging, it helps ensure that the flood of Earth observation data pouring in from satellites and instruments around the globe doesn’t get lost in translation.
    In a world awash with data, tools like GKR help researchers find the signal in the noise and turn information into insight.
    Beyond powering GKR, the INDUS large language model is also enabling innovation across other NASA SMD projects. For example, INDUS supports the Science Discovery Engine by helping automate metadata curation and improving the relevancy ranking of search results.The diverse applications reflect INDUS’s growing role as a foundational AI capability for SMD.
    The INDUS large language model is funded by the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The Office of the Chief Science Data Officer advances scientific discovery through innovative applications and partnerships in data science, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Anatomy of a Space Shuttle

    Source: NASA

    This 2001 illustration labels important parts of a space shuttle orbiter. The orbiter was the heart and brains of the space shuttle and served as the crew transport vehicle that carried astronauts to and from space. The space shuttle was comprised of the orbiter, the main engines, the external tank, and the solid rocket boosters. The space shuttle was the world’s first reusable spacecraft and the first spacecraft in history that could carry large satellites both to and from orbit.
    Image credit: NASA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Closed Suction Catheter Recall: Avanos Medical, Inc. Removes Ballard Closed Suction Systems Due to Risk of Non-Sterility

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    This recall involves updating instructions for using devices and does not involve removing them from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it without following the updated instructions.  
    Affected Product
    Product Names:

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 8 F, Y-Adapter
    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 10 F, Elbow 
    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 8 F, Elbow
    Ballard Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, T-Piece 
    Ballard Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, DSE
    Ballard Turbo-Cleaning Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, DSE, MDI 
    Ballard Turbo-Cleaning Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, DSE

    Full List of Affected Devices:

    Product Description
    REF Number
    Lot Number
    UDI Information

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 8 F, Y-Adapter (Each) 
    198
    1561168
    00609038938264

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 8 F, Y-Adapter (DSP)
    198
    1561168
    10609038938261

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 8 F, Y-Adapter (Case)
    198
    1561168
    20609038938268

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 10 F, Elbow
    210
    1561165
    00609038938349

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Neonates/Pediatrics, 8 F, Elbow
    20083
    15552151555217
    00609038938311

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, T-Piece
    220135
    15554531564227
    00609038944920

    Ballard Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, DSE
    2210-5
    1555424
    00609038983103

    Ballard Turbo-Cleaning Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, DSE, MDI
    2271418-5
    1555430
    00609038982632

    Ballard Turbo-Cleaning Closed Suction System for Adults, 14 F, DSE 
    227-5
    1555468
    00609038989655

    What to Do
    Do not use the identified affected products listed in the table above.
    On March 19, 2025, Avanos Medical, Inc. sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Recall Notice recommending the following actions:

    Check your inventory for the affected products listed above.
    Stop using any affected products immediately and set them aside in a secure location (quarantine them).
    Fill out and email the attached Response Form to productquality@myairlife.com as soon as possible. This helps document what you have and confirms you received this notice.
    If you shared this product with others, please let those customers know about the recall. You can include a copy of this letter when notifying them.
    Return or confirm destruction of the affected products. Once you do, AirLife will send you replacements. For urgent needs, call AirLife at 1-800-433-2797.
    Inform all staff in your organization who need to know about this recall.

    Reason for Early Alert
    Avanos Medical, Inc. is recalling Ballard Closed Suction Systems due to a failure in the sterilization process. Use of the affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including infection, airway injury, prolonged inflammation, sepsis, or death.
    To date, Avanos Medical, Inc. has not reported any serious injuries or deaths associated with this issue.
    Device Use
    Ballard Closed Suction Systems are used to remove secretions from the airway in patients receiving mechanical ventilation, minimizing the risks associated with disconnecting the ventilator circuit.
    Contact Information
    Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Avanos Medical, Inc. at 1-800-433-2797.
    Additional FDA Resources (listed in order of most to least recent):

    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)
    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from distribution to use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified more quickly, and as a result, problems potentially resolved more quickly.

    How do I report a problem?
    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

    Content current as of:
    07/10/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Choctaw County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Choctaw County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final

    Choctaw County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final

    DENTON, Texas – New flood maps have been finalized and will become effective on Jan

    9, 2026, for Choctaw County, Oklahoma

    During the next six months, a FEMA compliance specialist will work with the community to update each floodplain ordinance and adopt these new flood maps

    Residents are encouraged to examine the maps to determine if they are in a low-to-moderate or high-risk flood zone

    The current and future Flood Insurance Rate Map can be viewed on FEMA’s Flood Map Changes Viewer at https://msc

    fema

    gov/fmcv

    By understanding flood risks, individuals can decide which insurance option is best for their situation

    Community leaders can use these maps to make informed decisions about building standards and development that will make the community more resilient and lessen the impacts of a flooding event

    Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured losses to their home, personal property and business

    Flood insurance is available either through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for those in communities who participate in the NFIP

    Residents with federally backed mortgages must have flood insurance if their structures are in the Special Flood Hazard Area

    Contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) to review the new flood maps and learn more about your risk of flooding

    A FEMA Map Specialist can help identify your community FPA and answer questions about the maps as well

    Contact them by phone or online chat

    Use a live chat service about flood maps at floodmaps

    fema

    gov/fhm/fmx_main

    html (just click on the “Live Chat Open” icon)

    Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema

    dhs

    gov

    There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone

    Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent or visiting floodsmart

    gov
    toan

    nguyen
    Wed, 07/09/2025 – 18:12

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Love County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Love County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final

    Love County, Oklahoma Flood Maps Become Final

    DENTON, Texas – New flood maps have been finalized and will become effective on Jan

    9, 2026, for Love County, Oklahoma

    During the next six months, a FEMA compliance specialist will work with the community to update each floodplain ordinance and adopt these new flood maps

    Residents are encouraged to examine the maps to determine if they are in a low-to-moderate or high-risk flood zone

    The current and future Flood Insurance Rate Map can be viewed on FEMA’s Flood Map Changes Viewer at https://msc

    fema

    gov/fmcv

    By understanding flood risks, individuals can decide which insurance option is best for their situation

    Community leaders can use these maps to make informed decisions about building standards and development that will make the community more resilient and lessen the impacts of a flooding event

    Anyone without flood insurance risks uninsured losses to their home, personal property and business

    Flood insurance is available either through a private policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for those in communities who participate in the NFIP

    Residents with federally backed mortgages must have flood insurance if their structures are in the Special Flood Hazard Area

    Contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) to review the new flood maps and learn more about your risk of flooding

    A FEMA Map Specialist can help identify your community FPA and answer questions about the maps as well

    Contact them by phone or online chat

    Use a live chat service about flood maps at floodmaps

    fema

    gov/fhm/fmx_main

    html (just click on the “Live Chat Open” icon)

    Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema

    dhs

    gov

    There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone

    Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent or visiting floodsmart

    gov
    toan

    nguyen
    Wed, 07/09/2025 – 18:19

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protecting travellers and developing tourism in Europe – E-002685/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002685/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Aldo Patriciello (PfE)

    Tourism is one of the European Union’s key economic sectors, making significant contributions to GDP and employment in many Member States.

    The increasing flow of tourists in Europe poses considerable challenges in terms of safety, health protection, environmental sustainability and the quality of services provided.

    Recent health crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) and terrorist threats due to the geopolitical situation have highlighted the need to strengthen measures to protect travellers and prevent tourism-related risks.

    Travellers often face different risks depending on their destination: the lack of effective EU coordination can limit the ability to provide a rapid and integrated response.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.What steps will the Commission take to improve the protection and safety of travellers within the European Union, including through tools for risk prevention, information and assistance in the event of emergencies?
    • 2.How will it step up cooperation between Member States to ensure there are coordinated responses in crisis situations involving tourists?

    Submitted: 2.7.2025

    Last updated: 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protection of Mediterranean coastlines and management of overtourism – E-002687/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002687/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Aldo Patriciello (PfE)

    Mediterranean coastlines are a vital natural and cultural resource for the EU, attract millions of tourists each year and make a major contribution to coastal regions’ economies.

    However, mass tourism has caused significant environmental and social overload in many coastal areas in recent decades, with repercussions for biodiversity, coastal erosion, water quality and liveability for local communities.

    Overtourism also increases pressure on infrastructure, increases waste and energy consumption, and causes social tension over access to resources and services.

    Thus, tourism development needs to be reconciled with environmental protection and the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Mediterranean coastlines.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.What measures does the Commission intend to take to prevent and mitigate the risks of overtourism along Mediterranean coastlines, promoting sustainable and integrated land management?
    • 2.What EU funding instruments to support environmental and infrastructural renewal in congested coastal areas are available or in the pipeline?
    • 3.What will the Commission do to push for increased participation of local communities in tourism development and coastal protection decision-making processes?

    Submitted: 2.7.2025

    Last updated: 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Danish MoD on the Presidency priorities on security & NATO DSG on The Hague Summit – Committee on Security and Defence

    Source: European Parliament

    Danish Council Presidency © European Union (2025)

    On 16 July, the Danish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Troels LUND POULSEN, will present the Danish Presidency priorities to strengthen European defence and sustain military support to Ukraine. This will include finishing the work started with the European Parliament on the European Defence Industry Programme and other new defence-related legislative proposals.

    On the same day, the Members will be debriefed by the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Radmila SHEKERINSKA, on the outcome of the recent NATO Summit in The Hague, where historic commitments have been made to increase defence spending and to achieving new capability targets by 2035.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Danish MoD on the Presidency priorities on security & NATO DSG on The Hague Summit – Committee on Security and Defence

    Source: European Parliament

    Danish Council Presidency © European Union (2025)

    On 16 July, the Danish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Troels LUND POULSEN, will present the Danish Presidency priorities to strengthen European defence and sustain military support to Ukraine. This will include finishing the work started with the European Parliament on the European Defence Industry Programme and other new defence-related legislative proposals.

    On the same day, the Members will be debriefed by the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Radmila SHEKERINSKA, on the outcome of the recent NATO Summit in The Hague, where historic commitments have been made to increase defence spending and to achieving new capability targets by 2035.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Tackling telephone scams and protecting older consumers in the European Union – E-002686/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002686/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Aldo Patriciello (PfE)

    Factors such as limited familiarity with modern technologies and social isolation leave older people particularly vulnerable to telephone scams.

    The scams targeting older people come in various forms, including requests for money for fake emergencies, misleading service offers or offers relating to non-existent services, and attempted extortion through fraudulent calls.

    Such scams often cause serious economic, emotional and psychological harm to victims, undermining their safety and quality of life.

    A harmonised regulatory framework and targeted preventive measures are therefore needed to ensure older people are effectively protected against these kinds of fraud.

    It is also important to put in place specific information, training and awareness-raising campaigns aimed at older people and their family members, to help them recognise and report attempted fraud as soon as possible.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.What concrete steps will the Commission take to help prevent and combat telephone scams that target older people, including by means of dedicated information campaigns and digital education programmes aimed this section of our society?
    • 2.What means of support, assistance and redress are available (use of innovative technologies and systems to prevent fraudulent calls) and can they be deployed to help older victims of telephone scams?

    Submitted: 2.7.2025

    Last updated: 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Labour market inclusion of persons with disabilities in Italy and application of Directive 2000/78/EC – E-002694/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002694/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Valentina Palmisano (The Left)

    According to the XXVI CNEL Report on the Labour Market (2023) in Italy, only 33 % of people with disabilities of working age are in employment, compared to 62 % of the general population. The gap is even more pronounced among women and young people with disabilities, who experience multiple forms of exclusion. Although Directive 2000/78/EC lays down clear obligations for employers, particularly regarding the introduction of ‘reasonable accommodation’, many Italian companies continue to offer jobs that are clearly inaccessible to the disabled (e.g. crane operators, welders, lift technicians), thereby undermining the principle of equal opportunities.

    Besides this, Italian Law 68/1999, which sets mandatory recruitment quotas for persons with disabilities, is often circumvented through legal loopholes and fictitious offers of employment. Collective agreements rarely contain inclusion clauses and lack effective monitoring and sanction mechanisms.

    In the light of the above, can the Commission answer the following questions:

    • 1.Does it consider that Italy is fully complying with the obligations laid down in Directive 2000/78/EC on employment and disability?
    • 2.Will it launch new checks on compliance with the obligation on reasonable accommodation and effective inclusion in the labour market?
    • 3.Is it contemplating a reinforcement of the conditions for access to European funds linked to the adoption of inclusive practices?

    Submitted: 2.7.2025

    Last updated: 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Danish MoD on the Presidency priorities on security & NATO DSG on The Hague Summit – Committee on Security and Defence

    Source: European Parliament

    Danish Council Presidency © European Union (2025)

    On 16 July, the Danish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Troels LUND POULSEN, will present the Danish Presidency priorities to strengthen European defence and sustain military support to Ukraine. This will include finishing the work started with the European Parliament on the European Defence Industry Programme and other new defence-related legislative proposals.

    On the same day, the Members will be debriefed by the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Radmila SHEKERINSKA, on the outcome of the recent NATO Summit in The Hague, where historic commitments have been made to increase defence spending and to achieving new capability targets by 2035.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – News Release – Gov. Green Signs Bills to Tackle Housing Bottlenecks and Fund Nonprofits

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Governor Josh Green, M.D., today concluded the bill signing season by holding the final two bill signing ceremonies, which highlighted measures focused on addressing some of Hawai‘i’s most pervasive challenges. The newly enacted laws focus on providing effective remediation for claims of construction defects and delivering essential funding to support critical nonprofit organizations impacted by federal funding reductions.

    “Today represents the full scope of what policymaking is all about,” said Governor Green. “Sometimes, it takes many sessions to pass legislation and show foresight for long-term change. Other times, it is about the flexibility to pivot quickly when urgent challenges arise. Signing these two bills reflect both ends of that spectrum and truly demonstrates the best of what this bill signing period stands for.”

    HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES

    A recent UHERO report indicates a surge in litigation related to construction defect claims, which has resulted in costly and time-consuming delays of housing projects across the state. These delays, in turn, leave many awaiting construction in limbo and drive up the cost of housing, all of which have major implications throughout the state’s housing pipeline. House Bill 420 (Act 308) amends the Contractor Repair Act and Statute of Repose to address the exploitative litigation practices currently hindering Hawai‘i’s housing market.

    “This bill is a couple years in the making, and today’s signing marks a step toward removing roadblocks for affordable, accessible housing in Hawai‘i,” said Governor Green. “HB 420 is a solution-based measure that tackles one of many contributing factors to our rising cost of living in the islands. It supports a broad range of stakeholders across the housing market, helping to move projects forward and bring real relief to our communities.”

    HB 420 aims to streamline and improve the efficiency of the Hawai‘i Contractor Repair Act for its proper utilization in lieu of litigation. Amendments to the act provide defined timelines and processes related to the notice of claims between claimants and contractors, including the acceptance or rejection of contractor’s offer of settlement or authorized repair. To support prompt repair and remediation, the measure establishes standardized requirements that must be included in a construction of defect claim to ensure contractors are given sufficient evidence to address the matter.

    The bill further establishes clear timelines regarding inspections, testing, and mediation to provide homeowners and contractors with a comprehensive roadmap for remedies.

    Together with these procedural improvements, the bill includes provision to deter unnecessary litigation through clarifying the statute of repose and limitation periods. HB 420 clarifies the applicability of the 10-year statute of repose, which applies to all actions, including contracts, torts or statutory claims. Pre-filing of a lawsuit is not to occur more than six months before the litigation or repose period ends.

    “HB 420 is a meaningful step forward for Hawai‘i’s communities because it helps with the process of getting homes repaired and built faster, without getting caught up in long, costly lawsuits,” said Senator Jarrett Keohokālole (Senate District 24 – Kāne‘ohe, Kailua), who chairs the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. “By encouraging builders and homeowners to work together early on, this law protects families from unnecessary delays and high costs, helping to make housing more affordable and accessible for everyone across the islands.”

    “HB 420 is about restoring balance and fairness to the construction defect process,” said Representative Lisa Marten. “For too long, certain legal strategies have delayed critical repairs and driven up costs. This bill strengthens protections for both homeowners and builders by requiring a good-faith opportunity to inspect and repair before litigation begins. It’s a practical fix that helps move housing projects forward and ensures we’re not putting unnecessary barriers in the way of affordable housing in Hawai‘i.”

    “We sincerely thank Governor Josh Green for signing HB 420 into law. This legislation brings critical reform to the Contractor Repair Act by prioritizing cooperation and timely resolution over costly and prolonged litigation,” said D.R. Horton Hawai‘i Division President Tracy Tonaki on behalf of Housing No Kākou. “HB 420 strengthens consumer protections by prioritizing cooperation before litigation so that we can collectively preserve access to essential government backed loan programs, ensure legitimate repairs are made in a timely manner and continue to build much needed housing for Hawai‘i’s families.”

    SB 933: RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET

    Senate Bill 933 (Act 310) serves as a targeted measure to support Hawai‘i’s nonprofit sector. Due to the federal funding freeze, many valuable nonprofits that provide essential community services, including child care, housing services, and healthcare, will be adversely affected and face significant reductions in funding.

    To help offset these losses, SB 933 appropriates $50 million for fiscal year 2026 to fund  grants-in-aid for non-profit organizations across Hawai‘i. The Office of Community Services, within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, will oversee the selection and distribution of these grant awards.

    “It is not fair that organizations dedicated to supporting the people of Hawai‘i are being forced to scale back due to federal funding cuts,” said Governor Green. “This state funding is a critical lifeline — not just for the nonprofits themselves, but for the individuals and families who depend on the essential services they provide everyday. We are stepping in to ensure our communities do not lose access to the care and support they need.”

    A selection committee will be established to evaluate applications from non-profit organizations that demonstrate a termination or reduction of funding, or whose beneficiaries have been adversely impacted by the changes in federal funding.

    To carry out the provision of the bill and to assist with the distribution of grants, the measure establishes temporary full-time positions within the Office of Community Services. Through this measure, the Office of Community Service authorizes the to contract the services of Aloha United Way, Inc. to provide administrative support and assist in the distribution of grant awards.

    “This investment is more than just funding—it’s a vote of confidence in Hawai‘i’s nonprofit sector” said Michelle Bartell, President & CEO, Aloha United Way. “We’re grateful to the State Legislature for acting swiftly and to HANO for their tireless advocacy. Together, we’re helping ensure essential services remain strong and responsive for those who rely on them every day.”

    “Senate Bill 933 is a timely and targeted response to protect the nonprofits that form the backbone of our communities,” said Senator Troy Hashimoto (Senate District 5 – Wailuku, Kahului, Waihe‘e, Waikapu Mauka, Wai‘ehu). “As federal funding declines, it’s our responsibility to make sure that vital services like childcare, housing and healthcare continue to be accessible to those who need them the most. This law helps keep critical support systems intact for Hawai‘i’s families.”

    “We recognize the vital role that nonprofit organizations play in the health and resilience of our communities in Hawai‘i,” said Representative Daniel Holt. “SB 933 responds to an urgent need, ensuring essential services like childcare, housing, and healthcare remain accessible despite federal funding cuts. This measure reflects our collective commitment to mālama our communities and support those who serve them every day.”

    The complete list of bills signed include the following. Click the link to see full details of the bill enacted into law.

    HB 431 (ACT 309) RELATING TO HOUSING

    Video of the bill signing can be seen here and here.
    Photos of the bill signing ceremony, courtesy Office of the Governor, will be uploaded here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Iran urges UN nuclear watchdog to drop ‘double standards’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran’s president said on Thursday the U.N. nuclear watchdog should drop its “double standards” if Tehran is to resume cooperation with it over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme, Iranian state media reported.

    President Masoud Pezeshkian last week enacted a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the IAEA said it had pulled its last remaining inspectors out of Iran.

    Relations between Iran and the IAEA have worsened since the United States and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June, saying they wanted to prevent Tehran developing an atomic weapon. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only and denies seeking atomic weapons.

    “The continuation of Iran’s cooperation with the agency (IAEA) depends of the latter correcting its double standards regarding the nuclear file,” state media quoted Pezeshkian as telling European Council President Antonio Costa by phone.

    “Any repeated aggression (against Iran) will be met with a more decisive and regrettable response,” he said.

    Tehran accuses the IAEA of failing to condemn the attacks by the United States and Israel, and says the nuclear watchdog paved the way for the bombing by issuing a resolution declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.

    “Failure to observe the principle of impartiality in reporting is one of the examples that casts doubt on the status and credibility of the IAEA,” Pezeshkian said.

    The bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities led to a 12-day war, during which Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel.

    IAEA inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran’s facilities since the bombing campaign, even though IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said it is his top priority.

    (Reuters)

     

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030)

    Source: ASEAN

    ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have cultivated a strong and enduring partnership, founded on mutual trust and a shared commitment to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. This relationship was further elevated with the establishment of the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2024, reaffirming both sides’ resolute commitment to advancing deeper cooperation in addressing regional and global challenges, and to working together toward a smarter, and a more sustainable, resilient, and connected future.
     
    This Plan of Action (POA) builds upon the significant achievements made in the relations between ASEAN and the ROK and the successful implementation of the previous POAs, to advance the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in line with the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and other joint statements adopted by the Leaders of ASEAN and the ROK in the past five years.
     
    Download the full Plan of Action here.
    The post Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030) appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The enduring anti-fascist legacy of places that mark Italy’s wartime resistance – podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    A memorial in the town of Stazzema in Italy, site of a brutal Nazi massacre in 1944. Federico Neri/Shutterstock

     Across Europe, far-right movements are gaining ground. From the Netherlands, to Germany and Italy, they’re winning seats in parliaments and sometimes joining ruling coalitions. By normalising nationalist rhetoric and challenging democratic institutions, these parties raise comparisons with former periods of fascism on the continent.

    Between 1943 and 1945, when Nazi forces occupied northern Italy, ordinary people in towns and villages across the country took up arms against fascism in one of Europe’s largest resistance movements. Now, 80 years later, in many of these same towns, anti-fascist sentiment remains unusually strong.

    In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to political scientist Juan Masullo at Leiden University, who’s been finding out about the enduring legacy of these anti-fascist movements.

    The town of Sant’Anna di Stazzema, tucked away in the mountains of Tuscany, is a place haunted by its wartime past. The site of a notorious Nazi massacre during the Italian civil war it’s become a memorial to Italian resistance, and what Massulo describes as a “bastion of anti-fascist, left-wing progressive thinking”.

    In 2021, the mayor of Stazzema began collecting signatures from around Italy to a petition calling for a ban on every form of fascist or neo-fascist propaganda. It needed 50,000 signatures to be discussed in parliament, and 240,000 signed it.

    Masullo saw this as an opportunity to answer a question about political resistance and its legacy: was there an association between places with a lot of anti-fascist resistance during the war, and places that supported the petition? “We did find out that there was an association,” he told us. And when he began interviewing people in places where the correlation was particularly strong to try and find out why, he said “ these people spend a lot of time memorialising what happened”.

    Listen to the full episode of The Conversation Weekly to hear our conversation with Juan Masullo about his research.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Mend Mariwany with mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer.

    Newsclips in this episode from DW News, BBC News, BattleForTelenuovo, Hindustan Times, Look in the Past War Archives, Archivio Luce Cinecittà, Tele Liguria Sud.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

    Juan Masullo has received funding for this research from UNUWIDER and Leiden University. He is affiliated with the University of Milan.

    – ref. The enduring anti-fascist legacy of places that mark Italy’s wartime resistance – podcast – https://theconversation.com/the-enduring-anti-fascist-legacy-of-places-that-mark-italys-wartime-resistance-podcast-260741

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Free education at HSE for SVO participants and their close relatives

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The site may not display correctly in older browser versions. For optimal site experience, we recommend using a modern browser.

    We use cookies to improve the HSE website and make it more convenient to use. More detailed information about the use of cookies can be foundHere, our rules for processing personal data are –Here. By continuing to use the site, you confirm that you have been informed of the use of cookies by the HSE website and agree with our rules for processing personal data. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.

    ABC ABC ABC A A A A A

    Regular version of the site

    Date

    July 10

    Headings

    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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – MEPs reject motion of censure against the European Commission

    Source: European Parliament 3

    With 175 votes in favour, 360 against, and 18 abstentions, the European Parliament rejected a motion of censure against the Commission on Thursday.

    The vote on the motion took place by roll call. To be adopted, a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of component Members of Parliament, would have been needed.

    The plenary debate with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took place on Monday. You can watch it here.

    Background

    According to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, a motion of censure against the Commission may be submitted to the President by one 10th of the component Members of Parliament, i.e. 72 MEPs.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU announces new €2.3 billion agreements package at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Rome, 10 Jul 2025 The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, unveiled today a new €2.3 billion package of agreements with international and bilateral public financial institutions to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction efforts. It shows the EU’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s recovery and its future in the EU.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: General-Purpose AI Code of Practice now available

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 10 Jul 2025 Today, the European Commission has received the final version of the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, a voluntary tool developed by 13 independent experts, with input from over 1,000 stakeholders, including model providers, small and medium-sized enterprises, academics, AI safety experts, rightsholders, and civil society organisations.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Simplifying Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 on methane – E-002719/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002719/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Alessandro Ciriani (ECR), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Mario Mantovani (ECR), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR), Ruggero Razza (ECR)

    Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 on the reduction of methane emissions, which entered into force in August 2024, is not without its flaws, as made evident by the Polish Presidency’s mid-June proposal at the European Council to include the Regulation as part of the Omnibus simplification package.

    This Regulation could compromise the EU’s energy flexibility because its obligations are difficult to implement and ignore operational realities and its requirements are too complex for importers.

    Streamlined rules and clearer laws are needed if the EU is to safeguard its energy resilience.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.Will the Commission examine the aspects of Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 that are the most challenging to implement, and by means of which legislative procedures?
    • 2.How will the Commission simplify the aforementioned Regulation so that it is easier to implement and use?

    Submitted: 3.7.2025

    Last updated: 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – 107th Rose-Roth Seminar: spotlight on security and defence challenges

    Source: European Parliament

    On 14 and 15 July, Parliament will host the 107th Rose-Roth Seminar in partnership with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA).

    This high-level seminar, entitled “EU-NATO Cooperation: Essential Partnership and Democratic Resilience”, will gather MEPs, NATO member state parliamentarians, European Commissioners, experts, and policy makers.

    WHEN: Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 July 2025.

    WHERE: Room 1A002 in the European Parliament’s Spaak building, Brussels.

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will deliver a video message at the opening of the seminar on 14 July at 09:00 CEST, in the presence of Marcos Pestrello, President of the NATO PA.

    The event will focus on the current state of EU-NATO cooperation. More specifically, participants will explore how the partnership can strengthen resilience against intensifying hybrid warfare, disinformation, and foreign interference, and boost defence capabilities and preparedness. In addition, discussions will address the importance of building global alliances to protect democracy, with a focus on specific regions such as Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.

    Other prominent speakers addressing those gathered include:

    • NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska;
    • Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen;
    • Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos;
    • Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius;
    • Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, national leader of Belarus and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus.

    Find the full programme here.

    Livestreaming and photos of the meetings will be available via the Multimedia Centre.

    Media accreditation

    The event is only open to press and media accredited by the European Parliament. Rules for media accreditation press@nato-pa.int.

    The NATO Parliamentary Assembly

    The NATO PA is a transatlantic forum that brings together 281 parliamentarians from NATO’s 32 member states. While independent from NATO, it serves as a link between the Alliance and its citizens through their elected representatives. For more information, visit the NATO PA website.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Portugal-Spain cross-border connection project in Alcoutim and recovery and resilience plan deadline of 30 June 2026 – E-002722/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002722/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Isilda Gomes (S&D)

    Portugal included in its recovery and resilience plan (RRP) two cross-border connections with Spain in sparsely populated areas. One of them is the long-awaited bridge between Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana, some 3 kilometres long, over the Guadiana river, connecting the Algarve to Andalusia. The project, set to receive an estimated EUR 15 million in investment, seeks to infuse new life into border areas.

    Although the Municipality of Alcoutim has been ready since August 2024 to launch the tender for the works, the bilateral agreement between Portugal and Spain was only signed in October 2024 and ratified by the two countries in 2025. Publication in the Official State Gazette (Spain) is imminent.

    Only a fortnight after it is published will the joint technical committee be able to meet to approve the final design, a step which is essential for launching the call for tenders. The work is expected to take 18 months, missing the current RRP deadline for concluding projects of 30 June 2026.

    I would therefore like to ask the Commission whether it would be possible to:

    • 1.extend the deadline for completion of the project;
    • 2.finance the project through RRP loans with extended terms; or
    • 3.integrate the project into the current multiannual financial framework 2021–2027?

    Submitted: 3.7.2025

    Last updated: 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Critical situation affecting cereal crops in Spain – E-002546/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002546/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mireia Borrás Pabón (PfE)

    The European cereal sector, especially in Spain, is going through a severe crisis, driven by high production costs, low prices and massive imports from third countries.

    Over the last 20 years, Spain has lost almost 1 000 000 hectares of cereal-growing land. At the same time, its imports and dependency on third countries have increased exponentially. Since 2022 alone, Spain has gone from importing around 3 million tonnes of maize, wheat and barley annually from Ukraine to over 10 million tonnes.

    In view of the above, and considering the fall in cereal prices (40 % lower than in 2022, 15 % lower than in 2024):

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to grant direct aid to farmers affected by low prices and high production costs?
    • 2.Does the Commission plan to substantially change the preferential quotas under the future EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in order to protect EU farmers?

    Submitted: 25.6.2025

    Last updated: 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Hearing of the candidates for the post of Director-General of OLAF – Committee on Budgetary Control

    Source: European Parliament

    Hearing of the candidates for the post of Director-General of OLAF © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

    On 14 July 2025, Members of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) will hold a hearing and vote on the nomination of the candidates for the post of Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) : · Hearing of Gabriele FAILLA · Hearing of Ladislav HAMRAN · Hearing of Petr KLEMENT · Hearing of Joanna KRZEMINSKA-VAMVAKA

    By agreeing on a shortlist of preferred candidates, Parliament and Council contribute to the appointment of the OLAF Director-General, who holds a crucial position within the Union’s Anti-Fraud Architecture by leading the organization’s efforts to protect the financial interests of the European Union. This role requires strategic vision, investigative leadership, contribution to broader EU policy making in the anti-fraud area and strong independence from national governments and other Union’s authorities.

    MIL OSI Europe News –