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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Samuel De Champlain Bridge: Special Illumination for Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    Montreal, Quebec, June 24, 2025 — Tonight, the Samuel De Champlain Bridge will be lit up in blue and white from sunset to 1 a.m. to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    Sofia.Ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grothman Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Lower Costs for Cancer Treatments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah 6th District Wisconsin)

    Representatives Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Doris Matsui (D-CA) have reintroduced the bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act, which will lower costs for cancer patients prescribed oral medications. The bill requires health insurers to cover oral cancer treatments on the same level as traditional intravenous (IV) therapies.

    Each year, over two million Americans are expected to receive a cancer diagnosis. For many patients, oral cancer treatments have been a game-changer. They offer a more convenient and less invasive option that can be taken at home, reducing the strain of ongoing medical visits. Despite their effectiveness, oral medications often come with high out-of-pocket costs. One study found that one in eight patients faced a copay of $2,000 or more for their first prescription.

    “Every American deserves access to effective cancer treatments available at the most affordable rate, without outdated health insurance plans standing in the way,” said Grothman. “As oral medications become more widely used and popular among cancer patients, it’s critical that health plans don’t force patients to choose between effectiveness and affordability. I am proud to work with both sides of the aisle to expand access, reduce costs, and help improve outcomes for cancer patients nationwide.”

    “The Cancer Drug Parity Act is a much-needed step toward aligning insurance coverage with the rapid advancements in cancer treatment,” said Rep. Morelle. “This legislation modernizes policies so patients can access therapies when they need them most. As someone who has experienced the pain of losing a loved one to cancer, I understand how crucial it is that patients be able to focus on healing—not navigating the burdens of an unequal insurance system.”

    “Cancer patients deserve access to the treatments that offer them the best chance at a full recovery,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Advances in medical technology are improving outcomes and reducing side effects, and patients should be able to benefit from these innovations. This important bill addresses that need, allowing patients to focus on what matters most—getting well.”

    “I’ve heard directly from patients and providers in our community about the financial strain caused by outdated insurance policies.” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Cancer Caucus, I’m working to fix that. The Cancer Drug Parity Act takes on a broken system that charges cancer patients more for oral medications simply because of how they’re delivered. Our bipartisan bill brings fairness to cancer care, lowers out-of-pocket costs, and ensures access to the full range of modern, life-saving treatments.”

    “Oral chemotherapy should be covered just as widely as traditional IV treatments,” said Rep. Bonamici. “Unfortunately, too many patients are forced to pay high costs and unaffordable co-payments because many oral cancer treatments are not covered by health insurance plans. I’m pleased to join my colleagues in leading the bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act to end this double standard and expand access to affordable and effective oral cancer treatments.”

    “As oral cancer treatments continue to evolve and become more readily available, it’s essential that patients have affordable access to these advancements in care,” said Rep Matsui. “No one battling cancer should be forced to skip treatment due to overwhelming costs. The bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act addresses the unequal coverage of oral therapies, empowering patients and healthcare providers to choose the most effective treatment path without financial barriers.”

    “Cancer treatment should be guided by what works medically, not by outdated insurance policies. Too often, patients face higher costs simply because their most effective treatment comes in a pill rather than through an IV,” said Danielle Doheny, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the International Myeloma Foundation. “The Cancer Drug Parity Act addresses this unfair disparity by ensuring consistent insurance coverage for all cancer treatments. This legislation will reduce financial burdens and help patients access the care they need without unnecessary barriers. We are proud to support this important step toward more reliable and fair treatment access for every patient.”

    “Disparities in out-of-pocket costs for oral cancer treatments can impact patient and physician decision-making and can lead to patients forgoing the best treatment for their disease,” said Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “Many patients prefer, when appropriate, chemotherapies that are available in pill form because it is easier to administer and can allow them to have a better quality of life. The Cancer Drug Parity Act would equalize out-of-pocket costs for cancer drugs, whether they’re taken orally or delivered intravenously. We urge Congress to advance this lifesaving, bipartisan legislation.”

    Background Information

    Despite their benefits, oral cancer treatments often come with higher out-of-pocket costs than traditional IV chemotherapy due to differences in insurance coverage. IV treatments are typically covered under a plan’s medical benefit, while oral drugs fall under the prescription benefit, creating cost disparities.

    To address this, 43 states and D.C. have passed “oral parity” laws requiring equal coverage for oral and IV treatments. These laws have helped lower costs, but patients enrolled in federally regulated health plans remain unprotected.

    The Cancer Drug Parity Act builds on the success of state-level reforms by ensuring equal

    coverage for all cancer patients, regardless of how their treatments are administered.

    Specifically, the bill will:

    ·         Expand oral parity protections to privately insured patients whose health care is regulated at the federal level.

    ·         Prevent insurers from covering oral and self-administered medicines at different cost-sharing rates than IV chemotherapy.

    ·         Implement these requirements for health plans that already cover both oral and IV chemotherapy treatments.

    Grothman introduced a similar version of the bill in 2023.

    -30- 

    U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) proudly serves the people of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carter nominates President Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Carter nominates President Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee nominating President Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his historic role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran and preventing the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, from obtaining a nuclear warhead.


    In the letter,     Rep. Carter writes, “President Trump took bold action to ultimately

    champion peace through strength and facilitate a ceasefire framework that brought hostilities to a halt. In a statement that has since reverberated around the globe, President Trump announced the terms of a complete and total ceasefire agreement, commending both Israel and Iran for their courage to end the war.”


    Rep. Carter continues    , “In a region plagued by historical animosity and political volatility, such a breakthrough demands both courage and clarity. President Trump demonstrated both, offering the world a rare glimpse of hope. For these reasons, I respectfully submit this nomination for Donald J. Trump, 47th President of the United States, to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

    Read the full letter here. 


    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grindr United-CWA Launches Fundraising Campaign to Support Workers Amid Ongoing Legal Fight

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    West Hollywood, Calif. – Grindr United-CWA, a union organizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) that is composed of current and former Grindr workers who were pushed out shortly after organizing, has launched a public fundraising campaign to raise critical funds to support union members who are continuing to struggle with hardships from being out of work for extended amounts of time.

    The union includes a diverse coalition of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies who joined Grindr to build a product grounded in queer connection, joy, and safety. However, in August 2023, after announcing their intent to unionize and advocate for equitable treatment of employees and users, nearly the entire union was laid off in what Grindr United-CWA asserts was a retaliatory act by the company.

    “For many of us, this wasn’t just a job—it was a calling,” said a Grindr United-CWA representative. “We believed in creating something beautiful by the queer community, for the queer community. But when we asked for fair treatment, we were shown the door.”

    Over the past 18 months, many displaced workers—disproportionately queer and people of color—have faced unemployment, underemployment, and financial hardship. The union is now fighting a protracted legal battle to secure recognition, reclaim their positions, and win the back pay owed to them.

    The fundraising campaign will directly support these efforts, providing financial relief for affected members and sustaining the union’s work toward a more just and inclusive tech industry. Their goals include:

    • Inclusive hiring practices and meaningful representation across LGBTQIA+ identities
    • A user-focused product roadmap featuring essential features like verification tools, unlimited blocks, and stronger data privacy
    • Comprehensive healthcare, including gender-affirming care
    • Transparent and equitable pay practices

    “These demands aren’t extravagant—they’re the bare minimum. Grindr made over $300 million in revenue in 2024 while denying dignity and justice to the workers who helped build it. This is about more than Grindr. It’s about showing that queer workers cannot be silenced. That solidarity is stronger than retaliation. That we all deserve better,” said Grindr United-CWA.

    This campaign is a call to the broader community—to anyone who has found love, safety, or belonging through Grindr—to stand with the people who made that possible.

    To donate or learn more, visit: https://ww.gofundme.com/f/support-the-grindr-workers-union.

    Follow Grindr United-CWA on X, Instagram, and Bluesky at @grindrunited for more updates.

    ###

    About CODE-CWA

    The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

    About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Joins Coalition Defending President Trump’s Efforts to Deport Violent Tren de Aragua Gang

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom AG Labrador Joins Coalition Defending President Trump’s Efforts to Deport Violent Tren de Aragua Gang

    BOISE — Attorney General Labrador joined a 25-state coalition in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of President Donald Trump’s lawful use of executive authority to deport members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
    The brief argues that the President is operating at the height of his constitutional and statutory authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution and the Alien Enemies Act to remove foreign nationals affiliated with hostile organizations. The brief underscores that this is not only a lawful use of power, but a necessary one in response to escalating violence across the nation tied to TdA.
    “Idaho stands firmly with the President in his efforts to remove dangerous foreign criminals who threaten our communities,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Tren de Aragua is a designated terrorist organization that has spread violence and chaos across our nation. The President has clear constitutional and statutory authority to protect American citizens from these foreign threats, and we will defend that authority in court.”
    States participating in the brief detail the ongoing harm their communities have suffered from TdA’s infiltration—ranging from murder and human trafficking to cartel-linked operations within the United States. The brief emphasizes that the gang’s expansion is not merely a public safety threat, but part of a broader campaign of hybrid warfare coordinated with the Maduro regime in Venezuela.
    The coalition’s message is clear: judicial overreach must not interfere with the President’s core duty to defend the nation. The brief strongly urges the court to reject the injunction and allow federal authorities to continue removing dangerous illegal immigrants who do not belong in the country.
    Idaho is joined by: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
    Read the amicus brief here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deep Mud Diaries: Exploring Seafloor Biodiversity on the Aleutian Arc Expedition

    Source: US Geological Survey

    When many people think of the seafloor, they conjure up images of large corals, alien looking fish, or even hydrothermal vents that often populate the media. But most of the deep seafloor is covered by large expanses of soft sediments. Mud is everywhere! These sediments are home to diverse communities of tiny animals that provide an important link in transferring energy between the marine snow that rains down from surface waters to larger animals feeding at the seafloor and in the water column. 

    Although small in size (macro-infauna = 0.3 – 1mm), the communities in the mud are typically comprised of a variety of crustaceans (amphipods, isopods, cumaceans), worms (polychaetes), clams (bivalves), snails (gastropods), and other rarer taxa (e.g., brittle stars, sea cucumbers, other molluscs). The composition of the communities can provide clues about the physical and chemical environment they inhabit and typically differ among larger visible habitats, such as those near deep-sea corals or cold seeps. 

    On the Aleutian Arc, little is known about the macro-infaunal communities occurring within the 300 – 2,500-meter depth range. In addition to broad expanses of mud, this region is also home to deep-sea coral communities, cold seeps, and possible hydrothermal vents, with sediment infauna from these habitats likely representing a large portion of the regional biodiversity. To investigate these communities, we sample sediments using push cores from the human occupied vehicle (HOV) Alvin in targeted areas, such as adjacent to deep-sea corals. These sediment cores will be used to describe the community composition, with many taxa likely new to science, along with their environmental habitat, including grain size and food availability. This information will enable scientists to better understand the overall distribution of species across the region, their comparability to similar habitats worldwide, and the role these communities play in local ecosystem functioning, all of which help support the health of the ocean. 

    Push cores inserted into the seafloor by human occupied vehicle (HOV) Alvin near hard substrates containing deep-sea corals, sea stars, a basket star, and a crab offshore of Bogoslof Island. Image courtesy of Amanda Demopoulos, USGS; NOAA Ocean Exploration, ONR, NOPP, BOEM, NOAA IOCM, USGS; © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE announces major update to global online child sexual exploitation operation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in coordination with our international partners, announced a major update to the results of Operation Renewed Hope III, a global crackdown led by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Crimes Center to identify victims of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, June 24.

    HSI is a global leader in the fight against child exploitation. As technology evolves and more people have access to the internet, children are at a greater risk than ever. HSI’s special agents and analysts around the world are dedicated to countering this threat and partnering with international law enforcement agencies to protect children from exploitation and to investigate and arrest predators.

    Since the initial results were released in March of this year, ICE Homeland Security Investigations has positively identified more than 150 additional child victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse, bringing the total number of victims identified across all three phases of Operation Renewed Hope to more than 450 children worldwide; a staggering increase that highlights both the global scale of this crime and the unwavering commitment of investigators to protect children and bring predators to justice.

    ORH III, conducted from Feb. 24 through March 7, builds on the success of the first two phases of the initiative which previously led to the identification and rescue of over 300 exploited children. With this third iteration, the cumulative victim count now surpasses 450, a chilling yet vital reminder of the scope the ongoing threat of online sexual exploitation poses to children.

    Led by ICE HSI, in collaboration with global law enforcement partners, ORH III continues to generate actionable intelligence and lead driven investigations. To date, the operation has produced over 400 investigative leads, more than 230 domestic and over 165 foreign.

    During the operational window alone, analysts processed over 83,000 digital files, totaling 216 gigabytes of data which equates to more than 115 hours of streamed video content.

    “Each file is a potential indicator of abuse and each frame a critical clue in the fight to save children,” said ICE HSI Cyber and Operational Technology Assistant Director Sean Fitzgerald. “Every victim identified is reflective of a life that can begin to heal, which is why our agents and analysts remain essential to the rescue of victims and the global pursuit of predators.”

    Further investigations remain ongoing as law enforcement agencies continue to analyze materials and pursue the remaining leads developed through the operation.

    ICE HSI is the global leader in the investigation of online child sexual exploitation and abuse and in fiscal year 2024, its efforts resulted in the identification and/or rescue of 1,783 child victims in child exploitation investigations, supported 6,939 new child exploitation investigations and the arrest of 4,959 individuals for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.

    If you suspect a child has been abducted or faces imminent danger, dial 911 or contact your local police.

    Members of the public who suspect a child might be a victim of exploitation are urged to call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE, the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669), or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement on Jury’s Verdict in Trial of Thomas F. Casey

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Today, after a five-day trial and less than two hours of deliberation, a jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California found Thomas F. Casey liable for securities fraud.

    Statement of SEC Division of Enforcement Acting Director Sam Waldon:

    “We are pleased with the jury verdict holding the defendant liable for orchestrating a fraudulent securities offering, which targeted retirees’ retirement accounts with false promises of safety and security. The defendant induced more than 200 people to invest a total of over $10 million into Golden Genesis, a venture to supposedly create blood banks for selling human plasma from young donors for anti-aging treatments, based on false claims including that the investments would generate guaranteed high returns and be secured by the company’s assets. In reality, the funds were not secured and the defendant used investor funds to compensate himself and to prop up the scheme by paying back other investors, causing approximately $8 million in losses to the victims. As this trial demonstrates, the SEC is committed to protecting retirees’ hard-earned savings and holding the perpetrators of frauds involving retirement funds accountable.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Announces Appointments to the Homeland Security Advisory Council

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: President Trump Announces Appointments to the Homeland Security Advisory Council

    resident Donald J

    Trump and Secretary Noem appointed new members to the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) and announced the date of the council’s first meeting

    Formed on March 19, 2002, the HSAC leverages the experience, expertise, and national and global connections of its membership to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with real-time, real-world and independent advice on homeland security operations

    This new-look, America First HSAC will draw upon a deep well of public and private sector experience from homeland security experts committed to fulfilling President Trump’s agenda

    The Homeland Security Advisory Council will hold its first meeting at DHS headquarters in Washington, D

    C

    on July 2nd, 2025

    Appointed Members:

    Henry McMaster, Governor, South Carolina, Chair
    Joseph Gruters, State Senator, Florida, Vice Chair
    Marc Andreessen, Co-Founder and General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
    David Chesnoff, Attorney, Chesnoff and Schonfeld

    Christopher “Chris” Cox, Founder, Bikers for Trump
    Mark Dannels, Cochise County Sheriff, Arizona
    Richard “Bo” Dietl, CEO and Founder, Beau Dietl & Associates
    Matthew Flynn, Attorney, Steptoe

    Former Deputy Assistant to the President

    Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

    Rudolph W

    Giuliani, Former Mayor, New York City
    Harvey C

    Jewett IV, Retired President of Super 8 Motels Inc

    , Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, Rivett Group LLC

    , President Great Plains Education Foundation, Inc

    Steve Kirby, Founding Partner, Bluestem Capital Company
    Mark Levin, Broadcast News Analyst, The Mark Levin Show
    Corey Lewandowski, Chief Advisor to the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
    Nicholas Luna, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Implementation, The White House
    George Lund, CEO and Chairman, Torch Hill Investment Partners
    Edward McMullen Jr, Senior Policy Advisor, Adams and Reese LLP

    Former Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein,
    Georgette Mosbacher, Co-Chair, Three Seas Programming, Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, Former Ambassador to Poland
    James “Jim” Pallotta, Managing Partner and Founder, The Raptor Group

    Omar Qudrat, CEO, Maden, Founder, Muslim Coalition for America, Major, U

    S

    Army Reserve
    Stephen Sloan, Global Head of Private Market Secondaries, Portfolio Advisors and Co-Founder, Cogent Partners
    Robert “Bob” Smith, Former U

    S

    Senator, New Hampshire
    Alexei Woltornist, Co-Founder and President, ATHOS

    Former Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security

    To learn more about the Homeland Security Advisory Council, including its previous taskings, reports, and recommendations, visit DHS

    gov/Homeland-Security-Advisory-Council

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman

    Source: NASA

    NASA astronaut Zena Cardman inspects her spacesuit’s wrist mirror in this portrait taken at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on March 22, 2024. Cardman will launch to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission. This will be her first spaceflight.
    Cardman was selected by NASA as a member of the 2017 “Turtles” Astronaut Class. The Virginia native holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and a Master’s of Science in Marine Sciences from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research focused primarily on geobiology and geochemical cycling in subsurface environments, from caves to deep sea sediments. Cardman’s experience includes multiple Antarctic expeditions. Since completing initial training, Cardman has supported real-time station operations and lunar surface exploration planning.
    This photo was one of the winners of NASA’s 2024 Photos of the Year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NICER Status Updates

    Source: NASA

    June 24, 2025
    NASA’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer), an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station, has paused observations due to a problem with one of the motors that drives its ability to track cosmic objects.
    The NICER team paused operations June 17 when performance degradation in the motor began affecting science observations. Engineers are investigating the cause and potential solutions.
    The telescope was installed near the space station’s starboard solar array in 2017. The NICER mission has successfully demonstrated a form of deep space navigation that could be used for travel to Mars and beyond. It has also made groundbreaking measurements of neutron stars, which contain the densest matter in the universe that we can measure, and revolutionized our understanding of black holes, active galaxies, and other mysterious phenomena in our universe.
    April 17, 2025
    Following Repair, NASA’s NICER Improves Daytime Measurements
    A NASA X-ray telescope on the International Space Station called NICER, or Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer, has regained additional daytime observation capabilities thanks to repairs completed during a spacewalk and a reconfiguration of its detectors.
    In May 2023, NICER developed a light leak in which unwanted sunlight began entering the instrument. Photos taken from inside the space station revealed several small areas of damage to the telescope’s thin thermal shields, which block sunlight while allowing X-rays through to the detectors. Nighttime observations were unaffected, and with operational adjustments, the NICER team was able to recover about 20% of station daytime observations.
    In January, NASA astronaut Nick Hague installed nine patches to cover the largest areas of damage during a spacewalk. After resuming science operations, the NICER team determined the overall level of sunlight inside NICER had substantially reduced. Still, it experienced more visible-light interference than expected.

    Close-up, high-resolution photos from the spacewalk allowed the team to see additional small holes and cracks in the thermal shields that were not previously visible. These accounted for the remaining sunlight intrusion.
    After further analysis, the NICER team developed a novel approach to regaining additional daytime data collection.
    Each X-ray that hits a NICER detector generates electrical charge that is sensed by a measurement/power unit (MPU). After so many hits, the detector resets — like emptying a cup before it overflows.
    Sunlight can also create charge that accumulates in the detector, adding water to the metaphorical cup. There was so much sunlight entering NICER that the detectors were filling up with charge and resetting thousands of times for every X-ray detection. It overwhelmed the MPU’s ability to process the valid X-ray events.
    Hague’s repair in January reduced the amount of sunlight entering NICER, which enabled the team to reconfigure the MPUs to ignore the sunlight-generated resets. After initial testing on the ground, the team updated one MPU before switching all seven. The changeover was completed March 12.
    In combination with the patches, the reconfiguration has allowed NICER to return to collecting observations during more than 70% of station daytime, as the telescope continues to help us better understand the X-ray universe, including neutron stars, black holes, and other energetic phenomena. The team continues to look for more opportunities to improve NICER’s operations.
    Jan. 24, 2025
    NASA’s NICER Continues Science Operations Post Repair
    NASA crew aboard the International Space Station installed patches to the agency’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) mission during a spacewalk on Jan. 16. NICER, an X-ray telescope perched near the station’s starboard solar array, resumed science operations later the same day.
    The patches cover areas of NICER’s thermal shields where damage was discovered in May 2023. These thin filters block sunlight while allowing X-rays to pass through. After the discovery, the NICER team restricted their observations during the station’s daytime to avoid overwhelming the mission’s sensitive detectors. Nighttime observations were unaffected, and the team was able to continue collecting data for the science community to make groundbreaking measurements using the instrument’s full capabilities.
    The repair went according to plan. Data since collected shows the detectors behind the patched areas are performing better than before during station night, and the overall level of sunlight inside NICER during the daytime is reduced substantially.
    While NICER experiences less interference from sunlight than before, after analyzing initial data, the team has determined the telescope still experiences more interference than expected. The installed patches cover areas of known damage identified using astronomical observations and from photos taken by both external robotic cameras and astronauts inside the space station. Measurements collected since the repair and close-up, high-resolution photos obtained during the spacewalk are providing new information that may point the way toward further daytime data collection.
    In the meantime, NICER continues operations with its full measurement capabilities during orbit night to enable further trailblazing discoveries in time domain and multimessenger astrophysics.
    June 8, 2023
    Sunlight ‘Leak’ Impacting NASA’s NICER Telescope, Science Continues
    On Tuesday, May 22, NASA’s NICER (Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer), an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station, developed a “light leak,” in which unwanted sunlight enters the instrument. While analyzing incoming data since then, the team identified an impact to daytime observations. Nighttime observations seem to be unaffected.
    The team suspects that at least one of the thin thermal shields on NICER’s 56 X-ray Concentrators has been damaged, allowing sunlight to reach its sensitive detectors.
    To mitigate the effects on measurements, the NICER team has limited daytime observations to objects far away from the Sun’s position in the sky. The team has also updated commands to NICER that automatically lower its sensitivity during the orbital day to reduce the effects from sunlight contamination. The team is evaluating these changes and assessing additional measures to reduce the impact on science observations.
    To date, more than 300 scientific papers have used NICER observations, and the team is confident that NICER will continue to produce world-class science.
    Media contacts
    Alise Fisher202-358-2546alise.m.fisher@nasa.govNASA Headquarters, Washington
    Claire Andreoli301-286-1940claire.andreoli@nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Live or Fly a Plane in California? Help NASA Measure Ozone Pollution!

    Source: NASA

    Ozone high in the stratosphere protects us from the Sun’s ultraviolet light. But ozone near the ground is a pollutant that harms people and plants. The San Joaquin Valley has some of the most polluted air in the country, and NASA scientists with the new Ozone Where We Live (OWWL) project are working to measure ozone and other pollutants there. They need your help!  
    Do you live or work in Bakersfield, CA? Sign up to host an ozone sensor! It’s like a big lunch box that you place in your yard, but it’s not packed with tuna and crackers. It’s filled with sensors that measure temperature and humidity and sniff out dangerous gases like methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and of course, ozone. 
    Can you fly a plane? Going to the San Joaquin Valley? Sign up to take an ozone sensor on your next flight! You can help measure ozone levels in layers of the atmosphere that are hard for satellites to investigate. Scientists will combine the data you take with data from NASA’s TEMPO satellite to improve air quality models and measurements within the region. Find out more here or email: Emma.l.yates@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Ripley County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Ripley County

    A Disaster Recovery Center with FEMA Individual Assistance staff is opening in Ripley County for three days to help people affected by the March 14-15 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and wildfires.The Disaster Recovery Center opens Thursday, June 26.FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will help survivors with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents.Opening Thursday, June 26LOCATIONHOURS OF OPERATIONRipley CountyRipley County Caring Community209 W. Hwy St.Doniphan, MO 63935June 26: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.June 27-28: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a Disaster Recovery Center. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you. You may visit any location, no matter where you are staying now.If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed.
    sara.zuckerman
    Tue, 06/24/2025 – 13:05

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Tennessee After Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Tennessee After Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding

    How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Tennessee After Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding

    Tennessee homeowners and renters in nine counties who had uninsured damage or loss caused by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that occurred April 2-24 may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance

    The designated counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion and Wilson

     FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, rental assistance, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs

    There are several ways to apply for FEMA disaster assistance

    Go to DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Lines are open from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT seven days a week and specialists speak many languages

     To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    FEMA’s disaster assistance offers benefits that provide flexible funding directly to survivors

    In addition, simplified processes and expanded eligibility allows Tennesseans access to a wider range of assistance and funds for serious needs

     What You’ll Need When You ApplyA current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

    If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    If you have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible

    FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance

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

    kwei

    nwaogu
    Tue, 06/24/2025 – 14:23

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 1093, Coordinated Support for Rural Small Businesses Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 1093 would require the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Rural Affairs to designate an Assistant Administrator to lead outreach events and improve awareness of the SBA services. The bill also would require the Office of Rural Affairs to report to the Congress and publish on the agency’s website information about the outcomes of its outreach efforts, rural lending programs, and interagency collaboration. Lastly, S. 1093 would require the SBA to provide state and local governments with information on federal programs that support rural small businesses.

    Based on information from the SBA, CBO expects that the agency currently undertakes most of the requirements in the bill. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1093 would have insignificant costs. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Kelly Durand. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California needs more than groundwater to ensure water sustainability

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 24, 2025

    What you need to know: Despite the Newsom Administration’s efforts to increase groundwater and develop stronger partnerships with water agencies, California’s water system remains unprepared for the hotter and drier future. Without the successful completion of the Delta Conveyance Project, water supplies for millions of Californians are threatened.

    SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Newsom and the Department of Water Resources released a new report showing that the state is collecting more groundwater data than ever before, and strengthening partnerships with water agencies to ensure that more groundwater is collected. While this can help the millions of Californians who rely on this water supply, it is not nearly enough. In order to continue capturing, moving, and storing enough water for all Californians, the state must complete long-delayed infrastructure projects and water system improvements, such as the Delta Conveyance Project.

    “California is taking an all-in approach to its water supply — including creating more groundwater storage and data to help us plan for the future. The data doesn’t lie, and it is telling us that our water system is unprepared for California’s hotter and drier climate. That means we also need to build new water infrastructure like the Delta Conveyance Project. We literally cannot afford to wait to complete this vital project and Californians are sick and tired of the self-imposed roadblocks standing in the way of our state’s continued progress.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    More groundwater data 

    California is now collecting more groundwater data than ever before. A new report released today by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) shows that groundwater storage increased by 2.2 million acre-feet during Water Year 2024 — thanks to abundant precipitation and efforts by the State and its regional partners to capture and store more high flows during winter storms in groundwater basins, expand recharge basins, improve groundwater monitoring, and better coordination amongst local agencies to reduce groundwater pumping. That’s on top of significant groundwater storage increases in the previous water year.

    Yet, despite this, California still lacks the water infrastructure needed to ensure the state is prepared for a hotter, drier future and to provide Californians with the water they need. 

    More than ever, California must complete one of the most important water management and climate adaptation projects in state history, the Delta Conveyance Project, advancing much-needed and long-overdue improvements to the State Water Project.

    Data is key to informed decisions on groundwater

    The groundwater data was provided as part of DWR Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions Update, will help state and local agencies better manage groundwater basins – a source of more than half of California’s water supplies in dry years – by providing updated information on statewide groundwater levels, groundwater storage, recharge, land subsidence, and well infrastructure.

    This data will continue to support groundwater recharge, which Governor Newsom has directed state agencies to maximize whenever possible.

     

    Partnering with farmers for increased groundwater storage

    Also today, Governor Newsom provided an update on the state’s ongoing partnerships with groundwater sustainability agencies and farmers, through the LandFlex program, which was launched in 2022.

    To address the impacts of multiyear drought in the Central Valley, DWR awarded $23.3 million in grant funding to six groundwater sustainability agencies in the Central Valley. The funding was distributed to help 52 small and mid-sized farms transition to more sustainable practices while eliminating groundwater overdraft and protecting drinking water supplies. 

    As a result, the program helped save over 100,000 acre-feet of groundwater, protected 16,500 drinking water wells, and reduced the over-pumping of groundwater on Central Valley farms.

    Learn more about this first-of-its-kind program. 
     

    Modernizing California’s water delivery infrastructure

    In order to prepare for a hotter, drier future, California must also invest in the modernization of its water delivery infrastructure. That’s why Governor Newsom is calling on the Legislature to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project.

    The proposed project would create much-needed and long-overdue improvements to the State Water Project, which provides water for 27 million people and 750,00 acres of farmland. It would allow the State Water Project to better capture high flows during storm events and move that water to where it’s needed in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. It would also protect against earthquake risk.

    If the Delta Conveyance Project had been operational this past rainy season, it could have captured 952,000 acre-feet of water, enough for nearly 10 million people.

    Without action, the ability of the State Water Project to reliably deliver water to homes, farms and businesses will decline. The Governor will continue working to quickly advance these improvements to ensure that California is ready for a drier and hotter future, and its communities are safe and protected. 

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 24, 2025

    News What you need to know: President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles continues to hamstring crucial firefighting resources in California at the height of peak fire season. SACRAMENTO – With fires popping up across the state, the California National…

    Jun 23, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Sergeant Shiou Deng:“Jennifer and I are heartbroken by the loss of Sergeant Deng, who dedicated more than 26 years to serving the Los…

    Jun 23, 2025

    News What you need to know: Thanks to California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, 48 projects — including 43 independent features — will be made in California, projected to generate $664 million in economic activity and employ over 6,500 cast and crew across…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California National Guard fire crews operating at just 40% capacity due to Trump’s illegal Guard deployment

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 24, 2025

    What you need to know: President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles continues to hamstring crucial firefighting resources in California at the height of peak fire season.

    SACRAMENTO – With fires popping up across the state, the California National Guard’s (CalGuard) critical firefighting crews – known as Task Force Rattlesnake – are operating at just 40% capacity. Eight of 14 teams have been diverted to Los Angeles as part of President Trump’s illegal – and highly inefficient – federalization of the Guard. Capacity has only worsened, reducing available crews from nine of 14 last week to just six now. 

    Joint Task Force Rattlesnake is made up of over 300 California National Guard (CalGuard) members, who work at the direction of CAL FIRE to help fight and prevent fires. The President’s illegal federalization of the Guard has already impacted firefighting efforts, leaving CAL FIRE to step in to fill the gaps left by the Guard’s understaffing. 

    With peak fire season well underway across California, we need all available resources to protect communities. President Trump: rescind your illegal order and get the Guard back to the critical firefighting and prevention work that actually keeps communities safe.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The National Guard impact is on top of the Trump administration’s dangerous cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, which also threatens the safety of communities across the state. The U.S. Forest Service has lost 10% of all positions and 25% of positions outside of direct wildfire response – both of which are likely to impact wildfire response this year. 

    California’s unprecedented wildfire readiness 

    Despite the strain caused by President Trump, California stands ready to protect communities. As part of the state’s ongoing investment in wildfire resilience and emergency response, CAL FIRE has significantly expanded its workforce over the past five years by adding an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually – nearly double that from the previous administration. Over the next four years and beyond, CAL FIRE will be hiring thousands of additional firefighters, natural resource professionals, and support personnel to meet the state’s growing demands.

    Late last month, the Governor announced $72 million for projects across the state that help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk. Additionally, 20 new vegetation management projects spanning nearly 8,000 acres have already been approved for fast-tracking under the Governor’s new streamlining initiative.

    This builds on consecutive years of intensive and focused work by California to confront the severe ongoing risk of catastrophic wildfires, and Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation signed in March to fast-track forest and vegetation management projects throughout the state. Additionally, to bolster the state’s ability to respond to fires, Governor Newsom recently announced that the state’s second C-130 Hercules airtanker is ready for firefighting operations, adding to the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world. 

    New, bold moves to streamline state-level regulatory processes builds long-term efforts already underway in California to increase wildfire response and forest management in the face of a hotter, drier climate. A full list of California’s progress on wildfire resilience is available here.

    Recent news

    Jun 23, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Sergeant Shiou Deng:“Jennifer and I are heartbroken by the loss of Sergeant Deng, who dedicated more than 26 years to serving the Los…

    Jun 23, 2025

    News What you need to know: Thanks to California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, 48 projects — including 43 independent features — will be made in California, projected to generate $664 million in economic activity and employ over 6,500 cast and crew across…

    Jun 20, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Soon-Sik Lee, of Bellevue, Washington, has been appointed Chief of Planning and Engineering at the California High Speed Rail Authority. Lee has been a Vice President – Senior Program…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION APPROVES STIPULATION FOR ANNUAL STRANDED COST RECONCILIATION FOR VERSANT POWER

    Source: US State of Maine

    New Rates, including stranded costs, efficiency charges, distribution revenue decoupling, and transmission costs to go into effect July 1, 2025

    June 24, 2025

    Hallowell, Maine – The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a stipulation submitted by the parties in Docket No. 2025-00115, resolving Versant Power’s annual stranded cost reconciliation filing. The approved stipulation reconciles stranded cost revenues collected over the past year and sets new stranded cost rates for the upcoming 12-month period, effective July 1, 2025.

    Stranded costs are expenses incurred by utilities that are not necessarily recoverable in the competitive electricity market. These costs are largely the result of state legislation enacted to support Maines climate and clean energy goals. They include expenses associated with renewable energy contracts, net energy billing programs, and other policy-driven initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean energy development.

    Included in the stranded cost calculation is a $3 million service quality indices (SQI) penalty imposed on Versant Power for failing to meet Commission-established reliability and performance benchmarks. Under the terms of the approved stipulation, this penalty will be credited back to ratepayers through stranded cost reconciliation, further reducing customer bills.

    “This annual reconciliation process not only ensures that stranded cost rates remain accurate, transparent, and fair to Maine consumers, but the SQI penalty reinforces our commitment to holding utilities accountable for service quality,” said Commission Chair Philip L. Bartlett II.

    Each year, utilities are required to reconcile the actual stranded cost revenues collected with the amounts authorized for recovery and to propose new rates based on updated forecasts. This annual process ensures transparency and accuracy in cost recovery and helps protect Maine consumers from being over- or undercharged.

    In addition to the stranded cost reconciliation, rate changes that will go into effect July 1, 2025 will include increases to efficiency charges, increases to distribution revenue decoupling mechanism (RDM) charges, and an increase to transmission charges for customers in Versant Powers Maine Public District. An RDM provides for formulaic adjustments to a utilitys rates between rate cases to reflect changes in sales levels.

    The total bill impacts for all these rate changes are as follows:

    –Bangor Hydro District: an estimated monthly bill increase of approximately 31 cents for a typical residential customer using 500 kWh of electricity.

    –Maine Public District: an estimated monthly bill increase of approximately $2.80 for a residential customer using the same amount of electricity.

    The final order and the approved stipulation are available on the Commissions website at:

    CONTACT: Susan Faloon, Media Liaison CELL: 207-557-3704 EMAIL: susan.faloon@maine.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Josh Stein Leads National Effort to Protect Critical Food and Nutrition Program

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Josh Stein Leads National Effort to Protect Critical Food and Nutrition Program

    Governor Josh Stein Leads National Effort to Protect Critical Food and Nutrition Program
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein led a group of 23 Governors to urge Congressional leadership to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that puts food on the table for millions of people across the nation.  

    “SNAP has impacts far beyond the people who receive its benefits. It improves overall health, helps rural grocery stores stay open, and maintains our thriving agriculture industry,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As Governors, we urge Congress to reject any proposal that would put our people’s health and well-being at risk.”

    “A shift of this scale in SNAP costs to states and counties, coupled with the proposed devastating cuts to Medicaid, pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of millions of North Carolinians,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Food is foundational to our health. These proposals make it harder for people to access the food and health care they need, creating massive funding gaps that state and county budgets simply cannot absorb.” 

    The letter signed by 23 governors from across the country warns that current proposals in Congress threaten the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which addresses hunger, improves overall health, and helps people overcome poverty. SNAP provides critical food benefits for more than 42 million people in the United States. In North Carolina, more than 1.4 million people depend on SNAP, including children, seniors and working families.

    Currently, the federal government pays 100 percent of the food benefit costs and 50 percent of the administrative costs of each state’s SNAP program. The latest congressional proposals would shift up to 25 percent of the food benefit costs onto states, meaning a new expense of millions — and in some states, billions — of dollars. This shift in costs to the states is unprecedented in SNAP’s 50-year history. 

    North Carolina could be forced to pay up to $700 million per year to keep SNAP running. In a challenging budget year, this expense could force state leaders to make cuts to education, health care, or emergency services in order to afford the new bill from Congress. The new proposal could also force North Carolina to end the SNAP program entirely, leaving North Carolinians unsure of where their family’s next meal will come from. 

    SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal a food bank can supply. With grocery prices still high, food banks are already stretched to the limit and cannot serve as a substitute for a robust federal nutrition program. A family of four receives up to $975 per month in food benefits, and every SNAP dollar spent brings up to $1.80 back into local economies. 

    According to the National Grocers Association, SNAP is responsible for thousands of jobs across grocery stores and supporting industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and municipal services, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic growth in North Carolina. Any cuts to federal support of SNAP will have direct consequences on states’ local economies.

    Since SNAP is a federal program with set eligibility criteria, states have limited options to reduce SNAP enrollment. Because SNAP is a safety net program, states are one economic downturn or natural disaster away from seeing increased SNAP demand. Following the catastrophic damage left behind by Hurricane Helene, Disaster-SNAP or D-SNAP was a critical lifeline to families who lost everything in the storm, and SNAP had the highest number of applications (169,000) since Hurricane Florence in 2018.

    Click here to read the Governors’ full letter to Congress.

    Jun 24, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Dev Sangvai and Partner Organizations Release Impact Statements Regarding Proposals that Threaten SNAP in North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Secretary Dev Sangvai and Partner Organizations Release Impact Statements Regarding Proposals that Threaten SNAP in North Carolina

    Secretary Dev Sangvai and Partner Organizations Release Impact Statements Regarding Proposals that Threaten SNAP in North Carolina
    hejones1

    Governor Josh Stein and governors from 23 other states released a letter  to congressional leadership Tuesday, warning of the impact potential changes to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) would have to millions of people across the country, including more than 1.4 million in North Carolina who depend on SNAP to put food on the table. In response, NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai and partner organizations released statements further emphasizing the critical need for this vital food and nutrition program in North Carolina. 

    Statement from Secretary Dev Sangvai: 

    “One in six children in North Carolina face food insecurity, unsure of where their next meal will come from. Programs like SNAP are critical in ensuring children and families get the food and nutrition they need to live healthy lives and thrive in school and in their communities. Without healthy food, people are more likely to get sick and end up in the emergency room. Shifting costs to states and local communities makes it more difficult to create a healthier and safer North Carolina and forces state leaders to make hard decisions. These massive cost shifts can’t simply be patched over with state dollars, especially in challenging budget years. We do not have the capacity to fill those gaps, and the people of North Carolina will feel the impact, eroding the health and wellbeing of communities across the state.”

    The North Carolina Association of County Departments of Social Services also released this statement in response to the proposals that would also shift costs to North Carolina counties. 

    “County social services workers in North Carolina are the front-line staff responsible for administering the SNAP program. We see every day how these benefits bridge food security gaps for families with children, individuals with disabilities, the elderly, veterans and others who are working low-wage jobs. Counties pay the cost of the non-federal 50% administrative share in the State’s model. This includes all staffing costs for processing applications, interviewing clients, conducting eligibility verifications, verifying work with employers, etc. Counties also pay the cost of training staff, monitoring their work, following up on payment inaccuracies and fraud. Adding additional requirements to the program drives up administrative costs. Cost savings could be better achieved through simplified regulatory rules and policies, modern technology solutions, and enhanced tools available to do the work. 

    Cutting SNAP benefits at their base and adding potential additional cuts based on a state’s error rates further harms a county’s ability to recruit and retain qualified staff to administer the program. Complex regulations and policies, outdated automation, and antiquated tools make it challenging to attract the new generation of workers. 

    These increased costs, along with the lack of a qualified and interested workforce and the increased work requirements, create a situation where it would be difficult for any County to absorb these funding shifts, and cuts would be impossible.”

    The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners released this statement regarding the increase in costs to the counties.

    “By reducing federal funding and shifting administrative costs to state and local governments, Congress would force North Carolina and its counties to replace tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue, either by generating new funds through increased taxes or redirecting them from other essential programs. Should the state be unwilling or unable to replace the SNAP benefit reductions, individual counties will be forced to choose between diverting funds from their own programs, raising local taxes, or watching their residents go without this important safety net. Local governments are most disadvantaged to replace SNAP funding; the best way to ensure our residents receive this benefit is to preserve federal funding.”

    The North Carolina Retail Merchant’s Association released the following statement about the impact to businesses and North Carolina’s economy.

    “SNAP is not only essential for millions of families struggling with food insecurity, it also plays a critical role in sustaining local grocery stores, markets, and food retailers across our communities. SNAP benefits help ensure customers can afford nutritious food, which keeps shelves stocked and businesses thriving. Cuts to SNAP would force states to carry unprecedented costs, risking reduced enrollment and less spending at local retailers. This would have ripple effects on jobs and the broader economy, particularly in rural areas.”

    Feeding the Carolinas, the association for the North Carolina and South Carolina Feeding America Food Banks, released the following statement regarding impacts to food banks and meal distributions across the state.

    “The seven North Carolina food banks, in conjunction with our more than 2,500 distribution partners, provided over 250 million meals to our neighbors in the past year. Even with this significant work, it is critical to understand that SNAP provides 9 meals for every 1 meal that the food banks deliver. In addition, our food banks are serving more than twice the number individuals—children, seniors, families, and veterans—than we assisted just three years ago. Federal cuts that have already taken place have reduced the amount of food we can distribute by millions of pounds. Proposed SNAP cuts and cost shifts to the states will result in decreased food assistance for some of our most vulnerable populations. Food banks will be the next line of response if this comes to fruition and we will not be able to fill the gap. We will have families using their scarce resources to purchase highly processed, unhealthy food, which is in direct opposition to the administration’s goals under Make America Healthy Again. The bottom line is that, if these cuts are made, we will have more hungry children, seniors, and families, and, in the near future, a population with greater health problems and a workforce that is less prepared to keep our communities’ economies strong.”

    El gobernador Josh Stein y gobernadores de otros 23 estados enviaron una carta al liderazgo del Congreso el martes, advirtiendo sobre el impacto que tendrían los posibles cambios en el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP, por sus siglas en inglés) para millones de personas en todo el país, incluidos más de 1.4 millones en Carolina del Norte que dependen de SNAP para poner comida en la mesa. En respuesta, el Secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai, y las organizaciones asociadas emitieron declaraciones enfatizando aún más la necesidad crítica de este programa vital de alimentos y nutrición en Carolina del Norte.

    Declaración del Secretario Dev Sangvai:

    “Uno de cada seis niños en Carolina del Norte se enfrenta a la inseguridad alimentaria, sin saber de dónde vendrá su próxima comida.  Los programas como SNAP son fundamentales para garantizar que los niños y las familias reciban los alimentos y la nutrición que necesitan para llevar una vida saludable y prosperar en la escuela y en sus comunidades. Sin alimentos saludables, las personas tienen más probabilidades de enfermarse y terminar en la sala de emergencias. Cambiar los costos a los estados y las comunidades locales hace que sea más difícil crear una Carolina del Norte más saludable y segura y obliga a los líderes estatales a tomar decisiones difíciles. Estos cambios masivos de costos no pueden ser simplemente remendados con dólares estatales, especialmente en años presupuestarios difíciles. No tenemos la capacidad de llenar esos vacíos, y la gente de Carolina del Norte sentirá el impacto, deteriorando la salud y el bienestar de las comunidades en todo el estado”.

    La Asociación de Departamentos de Servicios Sociales del Condado de Carolina del Norte también publicó esta declaración en respuesta a las propuestas que también trasladarían los costos a los condados de Carolina del Norte.

    “Los trabajadores de servicios sociales del condado en Carolina del Norte son el personal de primera línea responsable de administrar el programa SNAP. Vemos todos los días cómo estos beneficios salvan las brechas de seguridad alimentaria para las familias con hijos, las personas con discapacidad, los ancianos, los veteranos y otras personas que trabajan en empleos de bajos salarios. Los condados pagan el costo de la participación administrativa no federal del 50% en el modelo del Estado. Esto incluye todos los costos de personal para procesar solicitudes, entrevistar a los clientes, realizar verificaciones de elegibilidad, verificar el trabajo con los empleadores, etc. Los condados también pagan el costo de capacitar al personal, monitorear su trabajo, hacer un seguimiento de las inexactitudes de pago y el fraude. Añadir requisitos adicionales al programa aumenta los costos administrativos. El ahorro de costos podría lograrse mejor a través de normas y políticas regulatorias simplificadas, soluciones tecnológicas modernas y herramientas mejoradas disponibles para hacer el trabajo.

    Recortando los beneficios de SNAP en su parte básica y agregar posibles recortes adicionales basados en las tasas de error de un estado perjudica aún más la capacidad de un condado para reclutar y retener personal calificado para administrar el programa. Las regulaciones y políticas complejas, la automatización y las herramientas anticuadas hacen que sea difícil atraer a la nueva generación de trabajadores.

    Estos mayores costos, junto con la falta de una fuerza laboral calificada e interesada y el aumento de los requisitos de trabajo, crean una situación en la que sería difícil para cualquier condado absorber estos cambios de financiamiento, y los recortes serían imposibles”.

    La Asociación de Comisionados del Condado de Carolina del Norte publicó esta declaración sobre el aumento de los costos para los condados.

    “Al reducir los fondos federales y transferir los costos administrativos a los gobiernos estatales y locales, el Congreso obligaría a Carolina del Norte y sus condados a reemplazar decenas de millones de dólares en ingresos perdidos, ya sea generando nuevos fondos a través del aumento de impuestos o redirigiéndolos de otros programas esenciales. Si el estado no está dispuesto o no puede reemplazar las reducciones de los beneficios de SNAP, los condados individuales se verán obligados a elegir entre desviar fondos de sus propios programas, aumentar los impuestos locales o ver a sus residentes sin esta importante red de seguridad. Los gobiernos locales están en mayor desventaja para reemplazar los fondos de SNAP; la mejor manera de garantizar que nuestros residentes reciban este beneficio es preservar los fondos federales”.

    La Asociación de Comerciantes Minoristas de Carolina del Norte emitió la siguiente declaración sobre el impacto en las empresas y la economía de Carolina del Norte.

    “SNAP no solo es esencial para millones de familias que luchan contra la inseguridad alimentaria, sino que también desempeña un papel fundamental en el mantenimiento de las tiendas de comestibles, los mercados y los minoristas de alimentos locales en nuestras comunidades. Los beneficios de SNAP ayudan a garantizar que los clientes puedan comprar alimentos nutritivos, lo que mantiene los estantes abastecidos y las empresas prósperas. Los recortes a SNAP obligarían a los estados a asumir costos sin precedentes, con el riesgo de reducir la inscripción y el gasto en los minoristas locales. Esto tendría un efecto dominó en el empleo y en la economía en general, particularmente en las zonas rurales”.

    Feeding the Carolinas, la asociación de los bancos de alimentos Feeding America de Carolina del Norte y Carolina del Sur, publicó la siguiente declaración sobre los impactos en los bancos de alimentos y la distribución de comidas en todo el estado. 

    “Los siete bancos de alimentos de Carolina del Norte, junto con nuestros más de 2,500 socios de distribución, proporcionaron más de 250 millones de comidas a nuestros vecinos en el último año. Incluso con este importante trabajo, es fundamental comprender que SNAP proporciona 9 comidas por cada comida que entregan los bancos de alimentos. Además, nuestros bancos de alimentos atienden a más del doble de personas (niños, personas mayores, familias y veteranos) que hace solo tres años. Los recortes federales que ya han tenido lugar han reducido la cantidad de alimentos que podemos distribuir en millones de libras. Los recortes propuestos de SNAP y los cambios de costos a los estados resultarán en una disminución de la asistencia alimentaria para algunas de nuestras poblaciones más vulnerables. Los bancos de alimentos serán la siguiente línea de respuesta si esto llega a buen término y no podremos llenar el vacío. Tendremos familias que usarán sus escasos recursos para comprar alimentos altamente procesados y poco saludables, lo que está en oposición directa a los objetivos de la administración bajo Make America Healthy Again. La conclusión es que, si se hacen estos recortes, tendremos más niños, personas mayores y familias con hambre y, en un futuro próximo, una población con mayores problemas de salud y una fuerza laboral menos preparada para mantener fuertes las economías de nuestras comunidades”.

    Jun 24, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Iran, Israel, Qatar & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (23June 2025)

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    ———————————

    Highlights:

    Iran/Israel
    Iran/Qatar
    UN Charter
    Security Council
    Security Council/Non-Proliferation
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    UNIFIL
    Ukraine
    Sudan
    Democratic Republic Of The Congo
    Chad
    Refugees
    Panel On Chemicals
    Internet Governance Forum
    Women In Diplomacy
    Guests Tomorrow

    __________________________________________

    IRAN/ISRAEL
    The Secretary-General welcomes US President Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. He urges the two countries to respect it fully. The fighting must stop, the people of the two countries have already suffered too much, he said.
    The Secretary-General hopes that this ceasefire can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region.

    IRAN/QATAR
    In a statement yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his deep alarm at the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
    On social media, he strongly condemned the attack yesterday by Iran on Qatar, a country that has been active for peace in the region and further afield. 
    The Secretary-General urges all Member States to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.

    UN CHARTER
    Yesterday evening, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at a ceremony that took place here at the UN headquarters to welcome home the original UN Charter, 80 years after it was written. Eighty years is a blink of an eye in history, and yet, the Secretary-General said, until the United Nations, humanity never had a single place where every government and all peoples could unite to fix the world and build something better.

    SECURITY COUNCIL
    Hannah Tetteh, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, briefed the Security Council this morning by VTC and said that the UN Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, has helped to support the preservation of the fragile truce that had been reached on 14 May, develop mechanisms to facilitate a de-escalation of tensions in order to prevent further clashes, and ensure the protection of civilians.
    She warned that there are reports of continued build-up and fears among many Libyans that armed clashes will resume. UNSMIL urges all political and security actors to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions that would only serve to deepen the lack of trust and undermine all the de-escalation efforts being made to sustain the fragile truce.
    Ms. Tetteh noted the calls from many Libyans for UNSMIL to act swiftly to facilitate a Libyan led and owned political process that leads to credible elections and unified institutions. She said that UNSMIL will intensify its engagement in the coming weeks, building on the momentum generated by the Berlin meeting earlier this month.

    SECURITY COUNCIL/NON-PROLIFERATION
    At 3 p.m., Security Council members will meet for an open briefing on the Secretary-General’s report as requested by resolution 2231 that refers to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action otherwise known as JCPOA.
    Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, is expected to brief.

    Full Highlights:
    https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=24%20June%202025&_gl=1%2A10sej4q%2A_ga%2AMTc3MDMwNDcyOS4xNzMzMDUxOTcy%2A_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z%2AczE3NTA3ODk2MzEkbzgwJGcxJHQxNzUwNzkyOTI0JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRouSrj3JE4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Cassidy Statement on Google Endorsement of Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (June 24, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today announced that Google has endorsed their Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). The legislation would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensure children and teenagers are protected online. The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to take up COPPA 2.0 at its markup on Wednesday.

    “We are grateful to have Google’s support for the commonsense protections in our Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act,” said Senators Markey and Cassidy. “This endorsement is further evidence of the broad support for COPPA 2.0. Our legislation has been intensely vetted, passed the Senate by a 91-3 vote last year, and has wide bipartisan support. With a youth mental health crisis raging in our nation, Congress should pass COPPA 2.0 and ensure that young people are protected online.”

    “We commend Senators Markey and Cassidy for their leadership in sponsoring COPPA 2.0, extending meaningful privacy protections to teens, prohibiting ads personalization to minors, and expecting companies to do more to understand users’ age. Google is committed to creating safer online experiences for kids and teens, and we continue to innovate on the protections in our products and services. We look forward to continuing this important dialogue to respect, protect, and empower youth online,” said Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs, Alphabet & Google.

    Specifically, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act would:

    • Ban targeted advertising to children and teens;
    • Create an “Eraser Button” by requiring companies to permit users to delete personal information collected from a child or teen;
    • Establish data minimization rules to prohibit the excessive collection of children and teens’ data;
    • Revise COPPA’s “actual knowledge” standard to close the loophole that allows platforms to ignore kids and teens on their site; and
    • Build on COPPA by prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without their consent.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Create Cybersecurity Office Related to Critical Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and John Curtis (R-Utah) in reintroducing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, a bipartisan bill to modernize and codify the NTIA’s work in cybersecurity. 

    The NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development would be renamed the Office for Policy Development and Cybersecurity to better align with the agency’s 21st century mission of helping secure the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

    “Cyberattacks and breaches of private data ultimately hurt American consumers, and as technology and the telecommunications industry continues to advance, so do the threats from hackers and bad actors. Provisions must be in place to strengthen NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development, and protect the private information of the public they serve. I’m proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation that takes necessary, proactive steps to develop cybersecurity guidance, identify potential vulnerabilities, and promote collaboration between the public and private sectors with the ultimate goal of protecting consumers,” Senator Capito said.

    In recent years, the NTIA has increasingly adapted to better reflect the rising importance of cybersecurity to our critical infrastructure and daily functions. The senators’ bill would codify, strengthen, and provide Congressional guidance to NTIA’s ongoing cybersecurity activities, as well as outline responsibilities of an Associate Administrator.

    The redesignated office would be led by an associate administrator and be responsible for:

    • Developing cybersecurity policy as it relates to telecommunications, the internet, consumer software services, and public media.
    • Creating guidance and support for implementing cybersecurity and privacy measures for internet and telecommunication companies.
    • Promoting collaboration between security research and industry.
    • Preventing and mitigating future software vulnerabilities in communications networks.
    • Removing barriers for implementing, understanding, and investing in cybersecurity for communications and software providers.
    • Providing technical assistance on cybersecurity practices to small and rural communications service providers.

    In the House, a companion bill passed out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Senators Capito and Hickenlooper originally introduced the legislation in the 117th Congress.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Lauds Pres. Trump’s Approval of Eagle Pass Bridge Expansion Permit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today applauded President Trump’s approval of the City of Eagle Pass permit application to expand the Camino Real International Bridge Land Port of Entry (POE) located along the U.S.-Mexico border, which authorizes the addition of a six-lane bridge span adjacent to the existing bridge and increases the POE’s capacity for vehicular and pedestrian crossings:

    “I am pleased President Trump has authorized the expansion of the Camino Real International Bridge in Eagle Pass, which will help modernize the bridge’s infrastructure and ultimately increase the port’s capacity,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This approval is great news for South Texas, and I was proud to support this effort and thank the Trump administration for prioritizing critical improvement projects at our nation’s ports of entry.”

    Background:

    Sen. Cornyn has supported this project across two administrations. Last year, Sen. Cornyn sent a letter to President Biden expressing his strong support for the City of Eagle Pass’ application for a presidential permit to expand and continue to operate the vehicular and pedestrian crossing at the Camino Real International Bridge Land Port of Entry. The Senator’s letter can be found here. He has continued to push for the project’s approval during the Trump administration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Holds Hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs Budget and Welcomes Secretary’s Support for Key Suicide Prevention Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Chairman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, led a hearing examining the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and secured Secretary Doug Collins’ support for reauthorizing a Boozman-authored program to enhance mental health outreach and suicide prevention in veteran communities.

    The senator reviewed the Department’s proposed budget in his opening statement and highlighted several important priorities.

    “The PACT Act has certainly been a dramatic change for veterans, and I also think VA has a good story to tell about its implementation, the new veterans enrolling, and the number of PACT Act-related claims received and processed. It also created the Toxic Exposure Fund, and this year’s budget request represents more than a $22 billion increase,” Boozman said. “The budget request includes a large increase for the Electronic Medical Records program. With well more than $12 billion of taxpayer money invested, it’s time to start seeing a return on this investment.”

    Boozman also urged Collins to lay out how he intends to lead the VA’s approach to combat the consistently high rates of suicide in the veteran community. 

    “I know something that’s very important to you is veteran suicide, which it is to me and so many other members of this committee, on both sides of the aisle. The VA has numerous suicide prevention initiatives and yet we still see elevated suicide rates among veterans relative to their civilian counterparts,” Boozman said.

    “This is the one that keeps me up at night,” Collins said. “What has happened since 2008 is a number that’s not really changed: 17 to 22 veterans taking their own life [daily]. Of those numbers, half of them have not had contact with the VA, they’ve not been in our system.”

    “Things like the Fox Grant Program, which I encourage to be renewed,” Collins continued. “Ninety-five organizations have been a part of that and they’re reaching out and helping veterans who are not enrolled in our system. They’re bringing them in.”

    The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program was signed into law as a provision of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act and is currently scheduled to sunset in 2025. The senator, also a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has pushed for its renewal and expansion as well as having previously encouraged the VA to explain its impact and provide an endorsement of a reauthorization.

    Click here to watch part of Boozman’s opening statement. Click here to watch his questions for VA Secretary Collins.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War will be one of the main themes of the exhibition “Far East Street” within the framework of the EEF-2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    11 regions of the Far East and federal ministries will present their key projects at the exhibition “Far East Street”, which will be held as part of the Eastern Economic Forum – 2025. Among the main topics are the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the victory over militarist Japan, support for a special military operation, the implementation of city master plans, and advanced technological developments.

    From September 3 to 6, the exhibition will be available to forum participants, and on September 7 and 8, it will be open to everyone. The exhibition is organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Far Eastern Federal District.

    “The exhibition “Far East Street” shows participants and guests of the Eastern Economic Forum qualitative changes in the economy and social sphere. This is a unique opportunity to introduce thousands of guests from dozens of countries of the world to the cultural features and unique traditions of various peoples, to attract investors and tourists to these territories. Everyone who comes to the EEF will be able to not only learn about the technological achievements of the Far Eastern regions, but also watch performances by creative groups, learn about the features of Kamchatka, Chukotka, Buryatia, Yakutia and other regions. Each region talks about its features, what it is proud of, presents plans for the future. This year, each Far Eastern region will pay special attention to two topics – the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and support for a special military operation. On “Far East Street” you can learn about the exploits of our fathers and grandfathers, about those guys who are defending the independence of the Motherland today, and about the support that the Far East provided then and provides now,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized. – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev.

    Currently, the appearance of the pavilions and the content of the exhibits are being updated.

    “The Far East Street exhibition is a vivid embodiment of the dynamic development of the macro-region, its economic potential and rich cultural heritage. The EEF is becoming a platform where the successes of the implementation of state policy to strengthen the Far East as a strategic center of national development are demonstrated. New opportunities for investment, tourism and international cooperation are created here, which is fully consistent with the course for sustainable growth and prosperity of Russia in the Asia-Pacific region. This will traditionally be reflected in the expositions of the regions,” said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of Russia, Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for the Preparation and Holding of the Eastern Economic Forum.

    The Kuril landing operation on Shumshu, which took place in August-September 1945, was the last major episode of the Soviet-Japanese War and the end of World War II. The operation was aimed at liberating the Kuril Islands, which at that time were under the control of Japan. An installation dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War will be placed inside the Sakhalin Region pavilion. The exhibition “Roads of Victory” will tell about the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk operation and the landing on Shumshu. It is planned to show a film about the expedition to the island, videos about the reconstruction of battles in the Kholmsky and Smirnykhovsky districts. The Tourism zone will present new programs: military-historical tours “Battle for Shumshu” and “Liberation of the South of Sakhalin”, seasonal offers for winter and summer recreation, as well as gastronomic tours and the project “Far East – Land of Adventures”. In a separate zone “UAV and BEK” data on the implementation of unmanned aircraft systems will be presented. This topic will be dedicated to a separate exposition aimed at promoting Sakhalin’s achievements in this area.

    In the Khabarovsk Krai pavilion, the combined zone “Everything for Victory” and “Aircraft and Shipbuilding” will tell about the industrial potential of the region, about the parade dedicated to the victory over militarist Japan and the end of World War II, on September 3. It is planned to use models of aircraft and ships as exhibition samples, and samples of products for the needs of the SVO will be demonstrated in holographic niches.

    A special place in the Magadan Region exposition will be given to the historical heritage – the role of Kolyma in the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, as well as its contribution to ensuring the country’s success during the special military operation. The small pavilion of the Magadan Region will house the “Kolyma – from Victory to Victory” zone, which will introduce visitors to facts about the contribution of Kolyma residents to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and support for the SVO.

    An interactive stand in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War will be installed next to the Amur Region pavilion. Here visitors will be able to see unique historical materials, photographs, and veterans’ memories. Interactive elements will be presented that will allow you to delve deeper into the events of those years.

    The “Air Defense, Civil Defense and Emergencies” zone of the Primorsky Krai pavilion will be represented by a stand in the form of three vertical screens and will tell about the region’s contribution to the military-industrial complex of Russia, ensuring information and security of the population and participation in a special military operation. The stand can be controlled using a joystick. The section will show animated videos telling about Primorye residents – heroes of the Great Patriotic War. About 200 thousand residents of Primorsky Krai took part in the military operations of the Great Patriotic War – both on the European fronts and in China and the Korean Peninsula, where they fought against the Kwantung Army of Japan. Their feat became an integral part of the overall victory. It will also tell about modern fighters participating in the Air Defense. The format of the materials varies – from documentary biographies to artistic sketches reflecting the strength of spirit, courage and dedication of the people.

    The exploits of Yakutians in the Great Patriotic War and the special military operation will also be presented at the exhibition “Far East Street”. Snipers from Yakutia, such as Fyodor Okhlopkov and Ivan Kulbertinov, were known for their outstanding results and received wide recognition. In honor of Fyodor Okhlopkov, the All-Russian Long-Range Shooting Tournament is being held in Yakutia. In addition, the entire country knows the crew of the “Alyosha” tank, which performed a heroic feat during the SVO. Yakut enterprises supply electric enduro motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and other equipment to the front lines. In particular, for their active civic position and assistance in the special military operation, the companies “Timir AT” and “Yakt-Sokol” were awarded the public and business prize “Star of the Far East” in the nomination “Everything for Victory”.

    The “80 Years of Victory” zone in the Zabaikalsky Krai pavilion will be dedicated to the achievements of the Great Patriotic War, as well as the heroes of the special military operation. The exposition will use augmented reality technologies with biographical materials about the participants of these events.

    The Buryatia exposition will be presented in two pavilions. An outdoor exhibition area, an area for holding master classes, and a new space will appear – a spiritual cleansing area. A Buryat yurt will be installed here, inside which the Center for Eastern Medicine will operate. As part of the exposition, those wishing to will be able to compete in national sports and take part in the games of the peoples of Buryatia. A separate exposition will be placed demonstrating Buryatia’s contribution to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and support for a special military operation.

    The attention of visitors to the exhibition “Far East Street” will be attracted by the interactive museum of Kamchatka military glory, installed in the “Will of Man” zone of the regional pavilion. Guests will be able to learn about the exploits of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and the special military operation.

    The Jewish Autonomous Region will dedicate a “living newspaper” to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the exploits of the heroes of the special military operation. The structure with built-in screens and texts in the style of a printed spread will tell about fellow countrymen – participants of the Great Patriotic War and the Special Military Operation.

    The Chukotka exposition is dedicated to three significant dates: 95 years of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, 80 years of the Great Victory, and 10 years of the Eastern Economic Forum. The exposition will include a “Chukotka for Victory” zone, which will show video materials about Chukotka’s contribution to the victory during the Great Patriotic War. There will also be an interactive wall with images of defenders of the Fatherland: a pilot, a reindeer herder, and a soldier. The central element of the zone will be an art object dedicated to the participants of the special military operation.

    The unified exposition of the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and Arctic and the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation “Developing the Far” will be dedicated to the mechanisms of state investment support operating in the macroregion, as well as socially significant programs implemented on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at improving the quality of life of people. Thematic multimedia expositions “Travel”, “Study”, “Work” and “Live” will tell about the dynamics of the development of the economy of Far Eastern cities, opportunities for obtaining higher and professional education, tourist routes and hospitality facilities for recreation and new experiences. Each thematic zone will be equipped with multimedia equipment and filled with text and video content.

    Participants of the All-Russian travel competition “The Far East – Land of Adventures” will share their personal experiences of traveling around the Far East with the guests of the exhibition – in the pavilion you can see their video diaries, study the routes they have taken and get inspired for new trips.

    Traditionally, the Ministry of Sports will present its expositions on the “Far East Street”. The “Sport is the Norm of Life” pavilion will become a platform for discussing current topics in the industry, and sports activities can be enjoyed in the “GTO Arena” pavilion.

    The exhibition will open the “House of the Falcon” pavilion. It is also planned to expand the “Arab Village” exposition, which won recognition from participants last year and was timed to coincide with the international forum “Day of the Falcon”.

    The central venue will traditionally host cultural program events with the participation of representatives from all Far Eastern regions.

    The 10th anniversary Eastern Economic Forum will be held from September 3 to 6 on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok. The organizer of the EEF is the Roscongress Foundation.

    The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer of national and international congress, exhibition, business, public, youth, sporting and cultural events, created in accordance with the decision of the President of Russia.

    The Foundation was established in 2007 to promote the development of economic potential, advance national interests and strengthen Russia’s image. The Foundation comprehensively studies, analyses, formulates and covers issues on the Russian and global economic agenda. Provides administration and facilitates the promotion of business projects and the attraction of investments, promotes the development of social entrepreneurship and charitable projects.

    The Foundation’s events bring together participants from 209 countries and territories, more than 15,000 media representatives work annually at Roscongress venues, and more than 5,000 experts in Russia and abroad are involved in analytical and expert work.

    The Foundation interacts with UN structures and other international organizations. It develops multi-format cooperation with 226 foreign economic partners, associations of industrialists and entrepreneurs, financial, trade and business associations in 89 countries of the world, with 358 Russian public organizations, federal and regional executive and legislative bodies of the Russian Federation.

    Official telegram channels of the Roscongress Foundation: in Russian – T.Ta/Roscongress, in English – T.Ta/Roscongress, in Spanish – T.Ta/RoscongressP, in Arabic – T.Ta/Roscongressarabik. Official website and information and analytical system of the Roscongress Foundation: Roscongress.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Completes the Fourth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement with the Union of the Comoros

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 24, 2025

    • The IMF Executive Board completed today the fourth review under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement with the Union of the Comoros. Approval of the fourth review enables an immediate disbursement of SDR 3.56 million (about US$ 4.87 million).
    • Program performance remains broadly on track despite setbacks in 2024 linked to a lengthy political transition and external shocks. The authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to the ECF-supported reform agenda and are determined to demonstrate stronger program ownership in the period ahead.
    • Economic conditions remain broadly stable, supported by adequate external buffers and continued program engagement, despite persistent inflationary pressures. Implementation of the ECF-supported program is helping to safeguard macroeconomic stability, advance critical structural reforms, and mobilize concessional financing to address Comoros’s significant development and financing needs.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed today the fourth review under the Union of the Comoros’ Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The Executive Board’s decision allows for an immediate disbursement of SDR 3.56 million (about US$ 4.87 million), bringing the total disbursements so far under the arrangement to about $23.7 million. The 4-year ECF arrangement was approved on June 1, 2023 (See Press Release No. 23/194) with an access of SDR 32.04 million (about US$ 43 million).  

    In completing the review, the Executive Board also approved the authorities’ requests for (i) waivers of nonobservance of the quantitative performance criteria (QPCs) on tax revenue and the domestic primary balance at end of 2024 and the continuous QPC on the non-accumulation of external arrears and (ii) modifications to the end of December 2025 QPCs on tax revenue and domestic primary balance to reflect corrective actions for missing these QPCs at end-2024.

    While there is considerable progress towards the achievement of program objectives, significant and continued effort is required to maintain the reform momentum. The authorities have reiterated their strong commitment to the ECF-supported program and despite recent setbacks. Two of five QPCs were met as of end of December 2024 and 8 of the 11 structural benchmarks (SBs) expected between end of November 2024 and end of May 2025 were also met. 

    Comoros’ economic reform program supported by the ECF arrangement seeks to reduce fragility and increase economic resilience by building fiscal buffers, reducing debt vulnerabilities, strengthening the financial sector, and enhancing governance. Key policy priorities for the program remain unchanged and include: (i) mobilizing domestic revenue through reforms to strengthen tax and customs administration and streamline tax exemptions; (ii) stabilizing the financial sector including through the restructuring of the state-owned postal bank SNPSF and enhancing the Central Bank’s banking supervision and resolution capacities; and (iii) strengthening governance through PFM and anti-corruption reforms.

    Economic conditions remain broadly stable, though risks persist. Growth is estimated at 3.3 percent in 2024 and projected to rise to 3.8 percent in 2025, supported by public investment and recovering private sector credit. Inflation averaged 5 percent in 2024 and reached 7.3 percent (y/y) in March 2025, driven by food price pressures linked to cyclone-related supply disruptions and strong seasonal demand. As a result, average inflation for 2025 has been revised upward from 1.8 to 3.8 percent. Fiscal consolidation was weaker than expected in 2024 largely due to revenue shortfalls, but a stronger adjustment is planned for 2025, supported by corrective measures. The external position remains stable, with the current account deficit estimated at 2.2 percent of GDP and international reserves covering 7.4 months of imports in 2024. Reserves are projected to exceed 8.5 months over the program period.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director, and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “The Comorian authorities remain committed to their reform agenda under the Extended Credit Facility-supported program, despite setbacks in 2024 linked to a lengthy political transition and external shocks. While the external position remains stable—supported by continued reserve accumulation—economic momentum softened amid elevated food inflation and cyclone-related supply shocks. These challenges highlight Comoros’s structural vulnerabilities as a small, fragile island state with limited fiscal space, weak diversification, and exposure to external and climate risks.

    “Fiscal policy continues to focus on a medium-term consolidation agenda to safeguard debt sustainability. Although 2024 fiscal outturns were weaker than expected driven largely by underperformance in tax revenue, the authorities are addressing the revenue shortfalls through corrective measures aimed at strengthening customs enforcement, improving taxpayer compliance, and recovering tax arrears.

    “Monetary policy remains focused on preserving external stability through the euro peg, alongside gradual improvements in liquidity management. While inflation remains elevated, the BCC stands ready to tighten its stance if inflation or reserve pressures persist. The central bank has expanded liquidity absorption capacity and begun publishing its operations calendar, with further reforms planned. Progress in financial supervision, resolution planning, and recapitalization—and sound operationalization of the new postal bank (BPC)—will be key to reinforcing financial sector resilience.

    “Governance and institutional reforms are progressing, though unevenly. Key achievements include operationalizing the Anti-Corruption Chamber, enhancing fiscal transparency, and adopting budget management regulations. Nonetheless, challenges persist in liquidity forecasting and cash management, accuracy in budget execution reporting, and reform implementation capacity. Strengthening the Treasury Committee, improving SOE oversight, and sustaining the PFM reform strategy remain essential to bolstering fiscal credibility.

    “Program implementation has regained momentum following a slowdown in late 2024. Continued engagement with the IMF and donor partners will be essential to safeguard macroeconomic stability, advance reforms, catalyze grants and concessional financing, and address capacity gaps.”

    Comoros Selected Economic Indicators (2024-28)
     

    Population (2018, thousands): 856

    Main products and exports: Cloves, ylang-ylang, vanilla

    Key export markets: Asia, European Union

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    Est.

    proj.

    proj.

    proj.

    proj.

    Output

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Real GDP growth (%)

    3.3

    3.8

    4.3

    4.5

    4.3

    Employment

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Unemployment (%)

    n.a.

    n.a.

    n.a.

    n.a.

    n.a.

    Prices

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Inflation, period average (%)

    5.0

    3.8

    1.7

    2.1

    2.1

    Central government finances

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Revenue and grants (% GDP)

    16.2

    17.8

    17.2

    16.8

    16.7

    Expenditure (% GDP)

    19.2

    19.6

    18.9

    18.7

    18.8

    Fiscal balance (% GDP)

    -3.6

    -1.9

    -1.7

    -1.9

    -2.1

    Public debt (% GDP)

    33.7

    36.3

    37.7

    37.9

    39.3

    Money and Credit

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Broad Money (% change)

    5.1

    6.0

    5.5

    7.0

    5.0

    Credit to private sector (% change)

    1.6

    8.7

    5.2

    5.7

    5.5

    Balance of Payments

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Current account (% GDP)

    -2.2

    -3.1

    -4.1

    -3.6

    -3.0

    FDI (% GDP)

    0.4

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    Reserves (months imports)

    7.4

    7.7

    8.4

    7.8

    9.5

    External debt (% GDP)

    30.0

    31.3

    33.8

    34.7

    36.5

    Exchange rate

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

      KMF/US$ (period average)

    449.7

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Sources: country authorities; and IMF staff’s estimates.
    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pavis Devahasadin

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/24/pr25215-comoros-imf-completes-the-fourth-review-under-the-extended-credit-facility-arrangement

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Spotlights Louisiana Mother and Small Business Owner at Weekly Press Conference

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — This morning, at the weekly House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson and House Republican Leadership hosted constituents from their districts to discuss how the One Big Beautiful Bill will benefit their small businesses, keep their communities safer, and put more of their own money back in their pockets.

    Speaker Johnson hosted Toni McAllister of Winn Parish, a small business owner, wife of a law enforcement officer, and the Executive Director of the Louisiana Logging Association, to share her support for the One Big Beautiful Bill and urge its immediate passage. Speaker Johnson also addressed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran and discussed the constitutionality of President Trump’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Watch the Speaker’s full remarks here, watch Toni’s here

    Speaker Johnson:

    The One Big Beautiful Bill is so important literally to every sector of the US economy. And we could have chosen constituents of ours from any sector in the economy. But it occurs to me we chose the letter L as our theme today. You heard about lasers and law enforcement and liquified natural gas, and now we’re going to go to logging, because I brought, Toni McAllister here. And she is a small business owner. She’s going to talk to you about what it would mean to them. She’s also a mother, and she’s the wife of one of our greatest sheriffs in the state of Louisiana. They hail from Winn Parish; I’m so grateful that Toni is here with us.

    Toni McAllister:

    My name is Toni McAllister. I’m a proud resident of rural Louisiana in the Fourth Congressional District. I am a Louisiana logger. I’m a mom. I’m a wife of a Louisiana sheriff, and as a logger, for years small businesses like ours with our team of 30 hardworking employees have carried the weight of this governmental system that often seems to grow on the backs of small businesses and middle-class families like mine. It’s been tough, it’s been challenging to compete and to grow and to simply get a fair chance to thrive right here in the U.S. But today, I am filled with gratitude. I’m thankful to President Trump and the House Republican Leadership who have made it a priority to reset this system, to put hardworking Americans first, to support the businesses and the families who are the backbone of this great nation.

    When the One Big Beautiful Bill is signed into law, it will finally give small businesses like ours a better opportunity to not just to survive but to grow and to succeed. Some of these have been mentioned already, but just as a reminder, this legislation will lower the effective tax rate for producing in America, increase and make permanent the small business deduction, double immediate small business expensing, and reduce reporting burdens for small businesses.

    In Louisiana, timber is not just what we do, it’s who we are. It’s the largest agricultural product in the state, and it is vital to the survival of so many rural communities across our state and across the South. This bill recognizes this impact on small businesses just like mine. It protects us. It strengthens us. For far too long, the U.S. has been one of the largest importers of raw pulp, pulp, wood, and timber products. This has led to the shutdown of many mills and the loss of way too many American jobs. So, I want to personally thank the President for continuing to fight to reduce unregulated imports from other countries and for standing firm to support American-made products by American workers.

    Another piece of this bill that hits even closer to home is the historic investment in our border security. This will protect our communities and support our law enforcement officers and agencies by keeping dangerous illegals out of our country. As a wife of a Louisiana sheriff, knowing that this Administration is working hard to stand behind law enforcement gives me a peace of mind. It empowers our officers–federal, state, and local–to do their jobs because they know they have the backing of this Administration and the Republicans in Congress. It means the world to me to see leaders who value the safety, wellbeing, and dedication of those who put their lives on the line for us every single day.

    The One Big, Beautiful Bill is more than policy. It’s progress. It’s progress for small business owners, for working families, for rural community communities, and for our law enforcement. Again, thank you Mr. Speaker, for having me. Thank you to the President for seeing us. Thank you for standing with us. Thank you to the House Republicans for working hard to get this done, not just for today, but for future generations.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Scott, Senator Sanders, Senator Welch, and Congresswoman Balint Announce $13.6 Million in Northern Border Regional Commission Grants for Vermont Communities

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Congresswoman Becca Balint, together with the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), today announced that 11 Vermont communities will be receiving a combined $13.6 million from NBRC’s Catalyst Program.

    “Investing in our communities and fixing aging infrastructure, is key to addressing many of the housing and affordability challenges we’re facing in the state,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I want to thank the congressional delegation for their advocacy for this funding as well as the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and NBRC for their work to support these important projects.”

    “The Northern Border Regional Commission plays a crucial role in supporting rural economies and communities in Vermont. These funds will be a catalyst for economic growth in rural communities across our state–from renewing vital drinking water infrastructure to renovating historic buildings and community gathering spaces,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “We’re pleased to see these projects receive funding to help communities in every corner of the Green Mountain State grow and thrive.” 

    When evaluating potential projects, the Catalyst Program considers project readiness, economic impacts, impacts on Vermont’s skilled workforce, project location, regional input and priorities, and the project’s transformational nature. Awarded projects in the 2025 Catalyst Spring Competition include renovating the historic Episcopal Church in Canaan into a community space, modernizing downtown Rutland’s wastewater system, and re-purposing the former Rochester High School into a multi-use community hub.

    The complete list of Spring 2025 awardees can be found below:

    Applicant Name: Bennington County Industrial Corporation
    Project Location: Bennington County

    Grant Amount: $3,000,000.00
    Total Project Amount: $7,714,822.00

    Project: Develop essential transportation and water/wastewater infrastructure, supporting long-term economic revitalization in the Putnam Block of downtown Bennington.  

    Applicant Name: Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Co.
    Project Location: Chittenden County

    Grant Amount: $3,000,000.00
    Total Project Amount: $9,179,190.00

    Project: Upgrade the community wastewater plant and construct a new road to support housing and economic growth.  

    Applicant Name: Canaan Naturally Connected, Inc.
    Project Location: Essex County

    Grant Amount: $449,044.00
    Total Project Amount: $738,055.00

    Project: Renovate a historic Episcopal Church into the Canaan Community Center, a vital hub for economic and social engagement in rural Essex County.

    Project Applicant: Town of Highgate
    Project Location: Franklin County

    Grant Amount: $1,000,000.00
    Total Project Amount: $6,839,130.00

    Project: Construct a community wastewater system, enhancing infrastructure for residents, businesses, and public spaces in Highgate Center.
     

    Applicant Name: Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary
    Project Location: Orange County

    Grant Amount: $100,000.00
    Total Project Amount: $294,000.00

    Project: Conduct a feasibility study for expanding childcare facilities and outdoor recreation infrastructure, addressing critical service gaps in rural Vermont.

    Applicant Name: Benson Village Trust, Inc.
    Project Location: Rutland County

    Grant Amount: $500,000.00
    Total Project Amount: $1,309,000.00

    Project: Rebuild the Benson Village Store, restoring a vital economic and social hub for the rural community of Benson.

    Applicant Name: Rutland City
    Project Location: Rutland County

    Grant Amount: $3,000,000.00
    Total Project Amount: $6,741,410.00

    Project: Modernizing Downtown Rutland’s wastewater infrastructure, enhancing economic growth and resilience.

     Applicant Name: Food Connects
    Applicant Location: Windham County

    Grant Amount: $499,385.50
    Total Project Amount: $998,771.00

    Project: Expand storage and distribution infrastructure, increasing market access for Vermont food producers and supporting rural economic development.

    Applicant Name: Town of Rochester 
    Applicant Location: Windsor County

    Grant Amount: $1,000,000.00
    Total Project Amount: $4,552,120.00

    Project: Re-purpose the former Rochester High School into a multi-use community hub, providing early childhood education, senior services, workforce development, arts programming, and business incubation.

     Applicant Name: Southeast Vermont Transit, Inc.

    Applicant Location: Windsor County
    Grant Amount: $282,078.00
    Total Project Amount: $812,822.00

    Project: Convert Springfield’s fixed-route bus system into a free, on-demand micro transit service.  

    Applicant Name: Town of Woodstock

    Applicant Location: Windsor County
    Grant Amount: $868,858.52
    Total Project Amount: $1,755,094.22

    Project: Upgrade municipal drinking water system, increasing pressure and capacity to support new housing and business development.

    About the Northern Border Regional Commission

    The Northern Border Regional Commission is a Federal-State partnership in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire collaboration to improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. NBRC encourages projects that take a creative approach to accomplishing those goals.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Frontex-led ‘Baltic Sea 2025’ operation – E-002410/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002410/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Özlem Demirel (The Left)

    Seven Member States, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) are participating in the multi-purpose Baltic Sea 2025 operation led by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The operation encompasses monitoring and risk analysis, information exchange and expert knowledge, as well as bespoke capacity-building in the Baltic Sea region.

    • 1.When will the Baltic Sea 2025 operation take place and which areas will be patrolled or monitored?
    • 2.Which Member States are participating with which sea and air assets or other capabilities, and what technology is EU agencies providing?
    • 3.To which specific infrastructure or specific threat situation does the operation’s ‘monitoring and risk analysis’ section refer?

    Submitted: 16.6.2025

    Last updated: 24 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –