NewzIntel.com

Category: Energy

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Update 302 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

    During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.

    If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.

    “As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.  

    Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.

    In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.

    Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Update 302 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed about a purported drone attack on the city hall in Enerhodar, where most staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) live, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

    During a visit to Enerhodar today, the IAEA team members based at the ZNPP were taken to the city hall and could see some damage at the top of the building, which they were told was caused by a drone strike at around 1am on Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties. Enerhodar is located about 5 km from the ZNPP.

    If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of drone incidents near the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, further endangering nuclear safety during the conflict.

    “As drone attacks have become increasingly common during the war, so have the risks they pose to the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. I’m deeply concerned about the increased frequency of such incidents. In the case of Enerhodar, they also add to the psychological stress for plant staff, which can also impact nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.  

    Less than two weeks ago, the IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed of a drone attack that reportedly damaged several vehicles near the site’s cooling pond.

    In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.

    Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR) Director General to Speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Following Landmark Senegalese Oil Refining Milestone

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    Mamadou Diop, Director General and CEO of refinery company Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR) will participate as a speaker at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, taking place on September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. His participation comes after a historic breakthrough for Senegal’s energy sector as SAR recently successfully refined locally produced crude oil – marking a major leap forward in energy sovereignty and industrial growth. 

    In February 2025, SAR successfully refined domestically produced crude oil from the offshore Sangomar field for the first time, processing 650,000 barrels and generating 90,000 tons of petroleum products including diesel, kerosene, gasoline and butane gas. This major milestone is expected to significantly advance Senegal’s strategy to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on imports and optimize the local value chain. 

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

    With plans to scale up operations, the company recently launched the SAR 2.0 initiative and signed an agreement with China’s Sedin Engineering in September 2024 to explore the construction of a second refinery and petrochemical plant. The new facility is expected to increase the country’s refining capacity from 1.5 million to 5 million tons per year, helping meet local demand while creating new export opportunities to neighboring West African countries. 

    SAR has also strengthened ties with upstream partner Woodside Energy, with both companies exploring a long-term refining partnership to support increased crude processing. Through the partnership, the SAR refinery adapted its facilities to handle Sangomar crude and continues to implement upgrades to meet AFRI 6 fuel specifications and diversify into petrochemicals. The expansion enables SAR to process a 75/25 blend of Senegalese and Nigerian crude oil, positioning the company to meet up to 75% of domestic fuel demand. 

    Driven by the development of the 100,000 barrel-per-day Sangomar oilfield and the 2.3 million ton per annum Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project, Senegal has emerged as a burgeoning regional petroleum hub in West Africa. In response to growing energy demand and infrastructure gaps, SAR is implementing a bold transformation strategy to expand refining capacity and meet 100% of domestic fuel needs by 2030. Backed by ongoing discussions with multilateral financial institution the African Export-Import Bank to secure $500 million in syndicated financing, the upgrade will include the construction of a petrochemical complex aimed at reducing reliance on imported products and fostering industrial growth. 

    “Diop’s leadership has been instrumental in unlocking Senegal’s refining capabilities and in driving the country’s transition from a crude exporter to a fully integrated energy producer. His participation at AEW 2025 will spotlight how local refining capacity can catalyze broader industrial development across the continent,” states Tomás Gerbasio, VP of Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber. 

    – on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Delhi Parks 10°C Cooler, But 8 out of 10 parks Lack Water, Gates Shut in Heat

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Delhi, 12 July, 2025: A recent audit of 50 parks across Delhi has revealed stark contrasts in surface temperatures – with shaded green areas being up to 20°C cooler in some parks than nearby unshaded concrete spaces, while an average 10°C temperature difference was recorded. In one instance, the concrete zones peaked at 53.3°C, while tree-covered spots within the same park remained at 35°C, underscoring the critical cooling power of urban forests.

    Yet despite this natural relief, the audit led by Greenpeace India in collaboration with COHAS and Youth For Climate Justice, South Asia highlights a troubling picture: 8 out of 10 parks lack drinking water facilities for the public, and none of the parks had official provisions for nests or birdhouses to protect urban birdlife from soaring temperatures.

    The audit was conducted to assess how well Delhi’s green spaces, which serve as vital buffers against extreme heat, are currently equipped to meet the needs of residents, animals, and birds during peak summer months. It surveyed basic amenities such as access to water, cooling infrastructure, biodiversity support, and equitable access across Delhi’s zones.

    While Delhi is said to have green cover across 25% of its geographical area, the reality is that most parks are concentrated in just five districts, leaving large swathes of the city, particularly low-income, congested areas with minimal access to green relief. This inequity, combined with concretisation of urban forests, further enhances heat vulnerability in the capital.

    “At a time of record-breaking heat waves, Delhi cannot afford to lose its lung spaces. Urban forests and parks are not ornamental — they are life-saving infrastructure and help our cities fight climate change. This audit clearly shows that green cover lowers temperatures dramatically, yet our policies prioritize concrete over canopies. The forest cover in Delhi has and is still under threat of being converted into big infrastructural projects. Forest areas like Dwarka forest, Aravalis act as carbon sinks for Delhi and destroying these will further aggravate the impacts of climate change. There is a need to save some of the forests. If we are serious about climate resilience, we need urgent, actionable changes,” said Aakiz Farooq, Climate & Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace India.

    “We conducted this audit in the middle of the heat as we wanted to understand what people are really going through. In many low-income neighbourhoods, the heat lingers late into night, yet most parks are locked. It made us realise that parks aren’t luxuries, they’re life-saving infrastructure. We also noticed how tree roots were choked with concrete, green patches were disappearing under paving, and drinking water was missing. We recorded a significant temperature difference between green, shaded spaces. Parks should be open 24×7, with water facilities and shade as these are basic, life-saving necessities,” said Priyanka, member of the audit team from COHAS. 

    Key Findings of the Audit:

    • Temperature Variance: Up to 20°C difference between shaded green areas and adjacent concrete zones in some parks while an average of 10°C difference was recorded. 
    • Average Surface Temperatures: 39.2°C in unshaded concrete spaces vs. 28.9°C under tree cover.
    • Lack of Drinking Water: 78% of parks lacked public drinking water points.
    • Neglected Wildlife Needs: While 73% of parks had water bowls for animals and birds, almost all were set up by local residents or caretakers, not authorities.
    • Poor Water Body Management: Only 28% of parks had water bodies, many of which were dirty or drying up.
    • No Birdhouses: None of the parks had installed nests or birdhouses.
    • Access Restrictions: 74% of parks were closed at some time of the day, with 64% shut during night hours — limiting respite for residents in heat-stressed neighborhoods.

    This audit report, part of Delhi Rising campaign underscores an urgent truth: our cities cannot survive rising heat without inclusive, well-maintained green spaces. Public parks and urban forests must be protected — not converted into malls, parking lots, or gated “clean zones.” They must be accessible, equitable, and ecologically alive.

    ENDS

    Find the full report here

    For Media queries: Nibedita Saha, Media Officer, [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They’re Saying: Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens Introduces the ‘Unearth America’s Future Act’

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

     

    “The ambitious bill is Stevens’ response to growing concern that the United States is overly dependent on China to power manufacturing in key strategic sectors.”

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  This week, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens announced her plan to introduce the Unearth America’s Future Act which would remake America’s mineral supply chain to lower prices, create jobs, and stop dependence on China.

    Congresswoman Stevens formally introduced the bill today.

    Here’s what Michiganders are hearing about this bill:

    Detroit News: With China dominating, Stevens bill seeks CHIPS-like federal effort on critical minerals
    By: Grant Schwab

    Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens will introduce a bill this week urging the federal government to play a more active role in reducing U.S. reliance on China for critical minerals.

    “This bill is about real results. It will lower costs and create jobs by bringing mineral production back home, supporting Michigan workers, and keeping our supply chains strong,” the Birmingham congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate said.

    The package — called the Unearth America’s Future Act — would direct tens of billions of dollars in federal loans, tax credits and other funds into the next decade for initiatives to boost mining and refining of essential materials for the automotive, defense, health care and telecommunications industries.

    The ambitious bill is Stevens’ response to growing concern that the United States is overly dependent on China to power manufacturing in key strategic sectors. Those concerns only grew stronger after the Far East nation created a potentially “dire” situation for Michigan’s auto sector with export controls issued in response to President Donald Trump’s trade policies.

    “Donald Trump has pushed an agenda that puts our economy and national security at risk. They talk tough and make headlines but their policies have only caused prices to rise, weakened our manufacturing industries, and left America more dependent on China,” Stevens said in an emailed statement.

    The fourth-term lawmaker’s package is structured similarly to the CHIPS and Science Act, a signature legislative achievement of former President Joe Biden.

    Politico’s E&E News: Dems prepare bill to provide $10B for critical materials
    By: Hannah Northey

    House Democrats are planning to unveil legislation this week that would set aside more than $10 billion for critical material projects to counter China’s dominance.

    Reps. Haley Stevens of Michigan and Jim Clyburn of South Carolina say the proposal would rival any trade deal President Donald Trump reaches with Beijing because it would restore U.S. supply chains faster.

    The language, according to Stevens’ and Clyburn’s aides, is structured similarly to the CHIPS and Science Act, which former President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022.

    Michigan Advance: Stevens intros bill for critical materials to counter China
    By: Ben Solis

    U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) is working with her congressional colleagues to introduce legislation that will seek to counter China’s stranglehold on critical materials and set aside $10 billion to make it happen.

    Unveiled Tuesday, the Unearth America’s Future Act was described as a means to lower costs, create jobs and ensure Michigan workers and manufacturers are leading the way in critical mineral production.

    At present, the U.S. and many other nations are dependent on China for these materials, including cobalt, lithium and magnesium, which are needed in the manufacture of many high tech electronics. Stevens’ bill aims to fix that by putting money toward responsible domestic mineral production. The legislation would also support partnerships between government and private industry, with investments in innovation that would keep jobs in Michigan.

    “Donald Trump has pushed an agenda that puts our economy and national security at risk,” Stevens said in a statement. “They talk tough and make headlines but their policies have only caused prices to rise, weakened our manufacturing industries, and left America more dependent on China. This bill is about real results.”

    WEMU: Rep. Stevens tries to boost American mineral production efforts
    By: Colin Jackson

    “The industry for materials key to American manufacturing could receive extra government support under proposed legislation from a Michigan congresswoman.”

    “The bill is named the “Unearth America’s Future Act.” It would create new federal loans, tax credits, and programs to spur the domestic production and refining of critical minerals like copper, magnesium, and aluminum.”

    “The policy proposal is a response to concerns about China’s dominance in the market for precious metals, especially those used in goods like smartphones or vehicle batteries.”

    “Stevens said that makes both the country’s and Michigan’s current situations untenable.”

    “Leaving Michigan’s entire manufacturing base on the hook for materials coming from minerals that are refined in China, that’s a risk. And that’s not working,” she said.

    WDET – Detroit, MI 

    “Democratic representative Haley Stevens says her bill takes a different approach. ‘What this bill is, is focused on public-private partnerships, supply chain opportunities, as well as recyclability, which is something that’s getting a lot of traction in the critical material space right now.’

    Michigan Public Radio – Detroit, MI 

    “Democratic Representative Haley Stevens calls her bill a comprehensive plan. ‘This will increase our resilience here in the United States of America, but it will also increase our domestic production capabilities, which means lowering costs, lowering costs, lowering costs. We need to lower costs, and that’s what this bill is going to be about as well and job creation.’

    WJR-Detroit, MI

    “It’s not acceptable to have this reliance on China, and so I put forward legislation.”

    “This bill will actually lower costs, get us jobs and end up paying for itself.”

    “We all know that this current administration is eager to cut deals with other countries. I’m eager to cut deals for Michigan. I am eager to put proof in the pudding and put forward real industrial policy that will deliver for our state.”

    Here’s what stakeholders are saying about the bill:

    David McCall, President of United Steelworkers International: 
    “Erasing the People’s Republic of China’s global lead in critical minerals will require a balance of domestic and international efforts. The USW applauds Rep. Stevens’ work to develop domestic mining and manufacturing jobs while ensuring export financing supports projects that respect strong labor rights and maintain strict air and water quality standards.”  

    John Bozzella, President and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation:
    “A healthy and competitive auto industry in America supports our economic and national security. Representative Stevens’ Unearth America’s Future Act makes good sense on multiple fronts: it’s a policy to secure critical material supply chains that bypass China and are essential for national defense; it will further modernize our domestic industrial base; and will support American manufacturing, innovation and auto industry jobs.”

    Will Brown, Vice President of Government Relations & International Programs of the Aluminum Association:
    “This legislation is a significant step toward producing, collecting and securing more critical materials like aluminum in the United States. As one of only 11 mineral commodities included on the Department of Defense and all other government critical materials lists, aluminum is essential to modern life – in everything from cars, cans and smartphones to tanks and fighter jets. Congresswoman Stevens’ bill is a downpayment on American jobs, innovation and supply chain resilience.”

    Sarah Venuto, Executive Director of the American Critical Minerals Association:
    “The Unearth America’s Future Act recognizes the need for comprehensive legislative solutions aimed at catalyzing the growth of the U.S. domestic critical materials sector. China continues to demonstrate its persistent willingness to take any and all steps to maintain its monopoly over the global supply of critical materials. The U.S. must play a leading role in the diversification of these markets in order to ensure our economy is insulated from increased costs to consumers, delayed timelines for essential goods and services, and national security risks associated with our dependence on other nations for materials key to our defense sector. We applaud Representative Stevens for her continued leadership on the imperative nature of addressing these risks comprehensively and aggressively, and for continuing this important policy conversation. ACMA looks forward to working with Representative Stevens and Congress as this legislation is debated and considered.”

    Orit Frankel, CEO of the American Leadership Initiative: 
    “Congresswoman Stevens’s bill is a critical step to strengthening America’s national and economic security, while reducing our dependence on China’s critical mineral supply which China has withheld as leverage in the bilateral relationship.”

    Dinah McLeod, Director General of the Cobalt Institute:
    “Ensuring critical mineral projects have access to affordable finance often becomes a missing piece of the policy puzzle. Rep. Stevens’ Bill takes important steps to close the gap and get America growing its critical minerals capacity.”

    Alice Wu, Critical Minerals and Energy Supply Chains Policy Manager at the Federation of American Scientists: 
    “Geographic concentration in critical minerals supply chains puts American national security and our economy at risk. That risk has been made clear with recent trade disruptions such as the PRC’s changes to rare earth export license requirements. The Loan Program established by the Unearth America’s Future Act would reinvigorate investment in diversifying and onshoring critical minerals supply chains, while the public-private partnership would provide a flexible set of tools for the federal government to work with industry in mitigating project risks and supporting market stability.”

    Patrick Donnelly, Chief Commercial Officer of Anovion Technologies: 
    “Anovion Technologies considers this bill a vital step in strengthening the domestic battery materials industry. Synthetic graphite, which can account for up to 30% of the weight of a typical lithium-ion battery, is currently sourced almost entirely from China. Reducing reliance on China for this critical material is essential to securing the nation’s energy infrastructure, supporting the Department of Defense, and advancing the automotive sector.”

    Scott Monteith, CEO of Avalon Advanced Materials: 
    “The proposed legislation is a needed blueprint for how the United States government, in partnership with allies can spur economic growth and an innovation economy for the future. Avalon welcomes the bold initiative and looks forward to helping accelerate North American energy security.” 

    Matt Bedingfield, President of Mint Innovation:
    “Mint Innovation is a pioneering clean technology company that has developed a biotechnology to recover critical minerals from electronic waste. The Unearth America’s Future Act is a significant move forward for U.S. national security, bolstering domestic critical mineral production. The Unearth America’s Future Act’s definition of ‘Critical Minerals Manufacturing’ expands to the secondary market including recycled metals, improving mineral supply where traditional mining production will not meet growing demand. Additionally, greater access to funding by way of grants, loans, and research & development will support the growth of domestic critical minerals production across the entire supply chain. This will create new jobs for U.S. citizens, and improve the national and economic strength of the United States.”

    Teague Egan, CEO of EnergyX: 
    “This legislation is a pivotal step toward securing America’s leadership in the global critical materials market.  By aligning federal incentives, innovation, and workforce development, it positions the U.S. to lead globally while driving sustainable growth and industrial resilience at home.”

    Adam Handley, Executive Chair of Northern Minerals:
    “Ensuring access to critical minerals through strategic collaboration with allied nations and partners is vital to reducing reliance on single-source supply chains. We commend Rep. Stevens and the introduction of the Unearth America’s Future Act for rightly emphasizing the need for deeper international cooperation to build secure, resilient supply chains, and look forward to supporting its progress through Congress.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaMalfa Statement on House Passage of Budget Reconciliation Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed the budget reconciliation package, sending it to President Trump’s desk for final approval:

    “This package delivers a lot of what we’ve been pushing for years. It means more jobs and a stronger economy. It makes Social Security checks tax-free for most seniors, protects Medicare, makes sure tips and overtime pay aren’t taxed, and extends tax relief so families can hold on to more of what they earn. It also opens up more of our country for energy and timber production and takes care of the West’s water needs by fixing canals and building more storage. It funds actually securing the border so we can finally finish the wall, remove criminal illegal aliens and get this crisis under control. Importantly, it gets us back to the principle that if you’re a healthy able-bodied adult, you should be employed. I’m glad to see the House pass it and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

    The budget reconciliation package is expected to be signed into law by the President in the coming days.

    Background:

    • Tax Relief for Working Americans: Extends significant tax cuts, including about a 15% cut for those earning $30,000–$80,000. Expands the Child Tax Credit and adds a senior tax deduction of $6,000 to offset taxes on Social Security. Also exempts tips and overtime from being taxed. The median family in California’s 1st District will save around $3,500 under this bill.
    • Helping Families Afford New Cars: Makes it easier for working Americans to purchase new vehicles by making interest on new purchases of American made cars deductible.
    • Strengthens Timber & Farming: Expands timber harvesting and strengthens crop insurance and conservation tools, without adding red tape.
    • Public Lands: No sale of federally managed public lands.
    • Water Storage Expansion: Invests $1 billion to upgrade and expand water storage and fix canals, helping the West store and deliver more water in wet years.
    • Rural Healthcare: Includes a new $50 billion fund to keep rural hospitals afloat as states change Medicaid formulas.
    • Medicaid & SNAP Reform: Requires able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) to work, volunteer, or pursue education for at least 80 hours per month. Ends benefits for 1.4 million illegal immigrants.
    • Protects Seniors: Does not touch Social Security or Medicare while adding additional tax deductions to help seniors.
    • Energy & Resource Development: Repeals Green New Deal-style handouts, expands American oil, gas, and mineral production.
    • Border Security & Immigration Enforcement: Fully funds Trump’s border wall, ramps up deportations, adds thousands of new ICE and Border Patrol agents.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, SEEC LANDS, WATERS, AND NATURE TASK FORCE BLASTS DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR MOVE TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    Washington, D.C. – The Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force Reps. Doris Matsui (CA), Don Beyer (VA), and Maxine Dexter (OR) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum in response to DOI’s Regulatory Reform Request for Information (RFI) published on May 20, which aims to undermine public land management on behalf of polluting industries.

    “In carrying out its duties, the Department is guided by multiple statutes and a well-developed suite of regulations promulgated over many decades. While we can appreciate the goal of establishing a more efficient regulatory program at DOI and agree wholeheartedly with the importance of effective stewardship of our public lands and resources, it appears the true intent of the RFI is the ‘deconstruction of the overbearing and burdensome administrative state.’ This goal is contrary to existing law, Congressional intent, and the continued exercise of the DOI’s many responsibilities,” the Task Force wrote.

    “Existing regulations protect human health and the environment from harmful practices and polluting from bad actors. Eliminating them means that companies could fail to clean up oil spills in waterways that are sources of drinking water, neglect to install equipment that prevents air pollution, and destroy the scenic landscapes where we hike, fish, and play. Our children deserve to inherit a safe and habitable planet where they can breathe clean air and drink clean water.”

    Read the full letter here.

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI STATEMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISION UPHOLDING THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in FCC v. Consumers’ Research. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund. 

    “Reliable, high-speed broadband access is no longer a luxury—it’s a fundamental pillar of modern life. The Universal Service Fund has been a savior for millions of Americans, expanding broadband access for our schools, libraries, rural hospitals, and underserved communities across the nation,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Today, the Supreme Court rightfully upheld the constitutionality of this critical program.”

    “Universal service has been the bedrock of U.S. telecommunications policy for decades. It remains as relevant as ever, with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies supercharging our reliance on connectivity to spur innovation and improve people’s lives,” Matsui continued. “I am committed to ensuring the Universal Service Fund remains resilient for years to come, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the bipartisan USF Working Group to ensure this program is sustainable and meeting Americans’ evolving connectivity needs.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Guidance Launched to ensure protecting World Heritage during the Renewable Energy Transition

    Source: United Nations

    UNESCO has launched the Guidance on Wind and Solar Energy Projects in a World Heritage Context, which is the updated and extended version of an existing online Guidance which was focusing first on wind energy. The new edition continues to offer practical tools and provides advice to align renewable energy development with the protection of World Heritage properties, thus supporting States Parties in their endeavour to combat climate change.

    The online Guidance compiles relevant information both for World Heritage stakeholders and renewable energy project proponents in a user-friendly platform, with emphasis on stakeholder collaboration, intersectoral dialogue, as well as comprehensive impact assessments, and, it aims to foster informed, proactive decision-making. Its ultimate goal is to demonstrate that the majority of wind and solar energy projects are feasible even in a World Heritage context, if planning and implementation is carried out in a way that it ensures the protection and preservation of the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage sites.

    Developed with the support of Wallonia (Belgium), the Netherlands, and Switzerland, and co-published with the Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Committee, the Guidance provides a critical tool to help ensure renewable energy growth does not come at the cost of our shared cultural and natural heritage.

    Explore the Guidance Here

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Tim Hodgson at the Closing Press Conference,  2025 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference (EMMC), July 11, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Good afternoon, everyone. Bonjour.

    I want to begin by acknowledging the current wildfire situation in Manitoba, and particularly those from Snow Lake and Garden Hill who have been evacuated. The Canadian Armed Forces are on the ground assisting with these emergencies, and my heart goes out to every person in my home province currently affected. Your federal government is here to support you today and to rebuild with you when that time comes.

    At this pivotal time for Canada — a time when thirteen jurisdictions and the federal government are unified in a way I’ve never seen in my lifetime —  it was a privilege to co-chair my first Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference as Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

    Thank you to my co-chair, Gilles Arsenault, for hosting this event — here in the birthplace of Confederation, no less. It’s hard to think of a better place to spend a few Canadian summer days than Charlottetown. 

    Over the past few days, federal, provincial and territorial partners came to the table for honest, forward-looking discussions.

    We also had productive exchanges with national and regional Indigenous leaders, and were privileged to hear their thoughts on how to transform how we think about Indigenous partnership in major projects.

    Let’s be clear: Indigenous Peoples are not just participants in our economy. They are rights holders. They are the original stewards of this land. They are governments. They are builders.

    If we are serious about retooling our economy, then economic reconciliation must be front and centre. 

    From advancing “one project, one review” to reducing duplication and advancing new infrastructure, the goals of this meeting were clear: we need to build faster; strengthen regional economies; advance economic reconciliation and clean growth; enhance Canada’s global competitiveness; and secure our rightful place as an energy and resource superpower.

    If this sounds ambitious, that’s because it is. But one government cannot do it alone. What is clear is we must work together as one Canada.

    On the federal side, to begin making this vision a reality just two weeks ago we passed the One Canadian Economy Act — a nation-building piece of legislation that will ensure Canada builds the strongest economy in the G7.

    It’s an important step toward improving Canadian productivity, growth, economic competitiveness and — crucially — regulatory certainty.

    That is an imperative, and an urgent one at that. 

    Because, let’s face it: Global economies and markets are more volatile than they have been at any time since the Second World War. President Trump’s tariffs are disrupting trade and impacting our natural resources, energy, mining, manufacturing and many other sectors.

    However, despite what the President may say, Canada has many important cards in these negotiations. And several of the most important ones are energy and natural resources. 

    At the G7, it was abundantly clear: Canada has the energy and minerals the world wants.

    That’s why, in Kananaskis, Canada led the way in forming an agreement to take decisive action to respond to supply chain vulnerabilities through the Critical Minerals Action Plan.

    This includes the recently announced Critical Minerals Production Alliance, which will help to mobilize capital, reduce our dependence on non-democratic suppliers and reward countries that, like Canada, mine the right way: with high environmental and labour standards.

    Following on that, at this year’s EMMC, Ministers agreed to identify priority critical minerals projects that could be leveraged by the Critical Minerals Production Alliance. This will further position Canada as a leader in disrupting non-allied dominance in the sector by de-risking projects, enhancing certainty and supporting economically viable production.

    We will also take steps to strengthen mineral titles policies to protect Canada’s mineral potential and national security.

    Finally, all thirteen jurisdictions and Canada agreed to work together to use AI together to strengthen Canada’s geoscience data assets to support critical mineral exploration and attract investment. After all, as the Prime Minister always says, we can give ourselves more than anyone else can take away, and that starts with the minerals beneath our feet. 

    To serve as a model, we partnered today with the Northwest Territories on a pilot project to scan, digitize and analyze drill cores from their collection to highlight new areas of high critical mineral potential, especially in the Northwest Territories’ Slave Geological Province, one of Canada’s most promising regions for mineral exploration and critical mineral development.

    These core scans and their associated data will be made available through a centralized digital platform, helping to reduce exploration risk, re-evaluate existing discoveries, spur investment and accelerate new mineral development — all without further land disturbance.

    We are also having advanced conversations with British Columbia and Ontario, and I expect to have more to share in the coming days on that.

    A key part of our discussions also centred around building major projects. There was consensus that we can — and must — do better together to get things built and grow our economy, both to access new markets and to furnish domestic resilience.

    To keep this momentum going, Energy and Mining Ministers will come together again in the fall to ensure progress on key initiatives, including designating projects of national interest under the One Canadian Economy Act.

    Let me close with this. Canada is, at its core, an energy and mining nation. It touches, in different ways, every single part of this country. 

    In 1858, the first major oil discovery in North America occurred in Oil Springs, Ontario, where James Miller Williams drilled the continent’s first commercial oil well, leading to incorporation of Canada’s first oil company. 

    Forty years later and further west, the Klondike Gold Rush drew tens of thousands north into the Yukon, a place most of the world saw simply as a frigid wilderness. But after less than ten years, the Yukon’s first hydro plant was developed to power the gold dredges near Dawson City. 

    At the time, hydroelectric power was just beginning to spread around the world globally. Yet Canada, with its rushing rivers and glacier-fed lakes, had already begun harnessing water to generate electricity. By 1910, we had become one of the largest producers of hydroelectricity in the world.

    Canadian ingenuity in harnessing hydropower was also taking off in Quebec and powering new industries that changed the face of the province. In 1901, the first ingot of Canadian aluminum was cast at the Shawinigan Aluminum Smelting Complex, the oldest still in existence in North America. Using hydroelectric power, industrial production at this complex on the Saint-Maurice River began a new era of heavy industry and established the long-standing alliance between the hydroelectric and aluminum industries.

    By the 1940s, Canada had added uranium to its growing portfolio, and mines in the Northwest Territories became essential to the Allied nuclear program in the Second World War, supplying uranium under top-secret agreements to support our fight against the Axis powers. Post-war, discoveries of significant deposits in Saskatchewan clinched our spot as a leader in mining and nuclear energy.

    Then came Alberta. It was 1947, and after drilling 133 dry holes in a row, Imperial Oil was about to abandon oil exploration altogether. Leduc No. 1, about 15 kilometres west of Edmonton and more than 80 kilometres from any previous drilling sites, was one of six “last-chance” wells for the company. 

    But when they struck oil there on a chilly February morning, it marked the dawn of Canada’s modern oil era — leading to further discoveries that transformed the province into a major oil producer and moved Canada away from relying on the U.S. and toward self-sufficiency.

    Smaller provinces have played outsized roles in this country’s energy and mining story. Prince Edward Island has emerged as a national leader in renewable power, with 99 percent of power generation on the island coming from wind farms. In fact, there are several times a year when P.E.I .is producing so much renewable energy that a province that has traditionally needed to import power becomes an energy exporter.

    I could go on and speak to how every single one of our thirteen provinces and territories has a story when it comes to energy and natural resources; but I don’t think anyone wants to hear me talk for that long.

    However, the reason I mention all of this is to show how deeply embedded energy and natural resources are in the story of Canada, a country I love deeply.

    That means I see my job as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources as not just about industries but also about national unity.

    As the Prime Minister says, we can give ourselves more than any country can take away.

    Our resources give us tinder and kindling. Our innovation and workers are the fuel. Now, it is time for all thirteen governments to come together and light the match to start the fire.

    To start to build big things again, in a responsible, environmentally conscious way. To use our resources to create prosperity that will lift all boats, so that every single Canadian — no matter where they live — can have a good education, a roof over their head, a stable job and, most importantly, a fair shot.

    We will act. We will deliver. And we will show results — for Canadian workers, for businesses and for communities.

    Canada will no longer be defined by delay but by delivery. Together, we will rise to the challenge.

    Thank you. Merci.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Securing Key New Hampshire and National Security Priorities, Shaheen Helps Advance Annual Defense Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    **A top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen built on her years-long legacy of securing key New Hampshire priorities, as well as measures that address America’s top security challenges**
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, helped advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – annual defense legislation that authorizes Pentagon priorities and programs for the next fiscal year. The bill was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) in a bipartisan vote. 
    As a senior member of SASC, Senator Shaheen’s additions to the defense bill address both America’s top national security objectives, while also enhancing New Hampshire’s role in support of our national defense.
    “With Secretary Hegseth at the helm of the Pentagon, it’s more critical this year than ever that Congress uses the annual defense bill to assert its oversight authority and advance policy to improve the lives of service members. The legislation cleared by the Senate Armed Services Committee this week is not perfect but includes many of my provisions to put guardrails on Secretary Hegseth’s harmful policies, including to protect the shipyard workforce from hiring freezes, ensure President Trump’s trade war isn’t passing the price of defense contracts onto the taxpayer, to make sure promised military assistance continues to flow to Ukraine in their fight for democracy and freedom and protect U.S. basing in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo Pacific.” said Senator Shaheen. “I was also proud to secure provisions that support New Hampshire’s defense industry and good-paying jobs, improve service members’ access to affordable child care and housing, invest in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s capacity and more.”
    The Committee-passed bill now moves to the full Senate before it is conferenced with the U.S. House of Representatives. Below is a summary of top New Hampshire and national security priorities secured by Shaheen in the FY 2026 NDAA.
    Protecting the Public Shipyard Workforce
    Senator Shaheen led a provision to ensure the chaos and confusion that ensued from Secretary Hegseth’s Department of Defense (DoD) civilian hiring freeze does not happen again. The legislation will protect thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and public shipyards across the nation.
    The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in the region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security. After calls from Shaheen and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), DoD claimed to have exempted the shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze, but issues persist in implementation. Shaheen’s provision will make this exemption final and addresses hiring delays that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has continued to face.
    Reassuring America’s Allies and Partners
    Standing with Ukraine:
    Senator Shaheen has consistently worked to ensure the delivery of military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and democracy amid Putin’s war of aggression.
    The Committee-passed NDAA includes a reauthorization of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Department of Defense’s authority to equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Shaheen also secured language prohibiting the diversion of military equipment obligated for Ukraine after the Pentagon’s misguided decision, since overruled by President Trump.
    The Committee-passed bill also includes Shaheen-authored amendments that allow the continued sharing of U.S. information, intelligence and imagery to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield and prevent cuts to security cooperation funding for U.S. forces in Europe.
    Supporting NATO Allies and Enhancing Global Partnerships:
    Shaheen also secured provisions that send a strong message of commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies and other U.S. partners abroad. Her legislation requires the executive branch to consult with Congress and our NATO Allies before any attempt to abdicate the Commander of U.S. European Command’s dual role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. This comes after Shaheen pressed senior U.S. military officials on the importance of this U.S. responsibility at NATO. An American general has also served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces in Europe since General Dwight Eisenhower assumed the role following the establishment of the NATO alliance.
    The bill includes legislation led by Shaheen requiring the Pentagon to consult with Congress before making changes to U.S. military force posture in Europe and on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. presence in Europe and the Indo Pacific deters adversaries and strengthens our alliances. This legislation will require the Secretary of Defense to certify to Congress that he has consulted the Secretary of State, Director of National Intelligence, senior U.S. military officers in the theaters and officials from regional governments—including NATO Allies, South Korea, Japan and others—before reducing our force presence in Europe or South Korea.
    Shaheen also prevented the further consolidation of U.S. military bases in Syria—a move that helps to prevent a resurgence of ISIS influence in the region following the establishment of a new, post-Assad Syrian government.
    Protecting Defense Supply Chains from Reckless Tariffs
    The bill includes Senator Shaheen’s amendment that would require the Department of Defense to assess the impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs on the defense supply chain and protect current regulations that are providing relief to small businesses in the defense industrial base.
    Shaheen has been vocal in her concerns about the administration’s trade war and its impacts on America’s national defense and military readiness, including by calling on Secretary Hegseth to address how tariffs are impacting the Department’s purchasing power, weakening supply chains and raising costs on small businesses.  This provision in the NDAA comes after Shaheen’s third annual bipartisan Congressional delegation to the largest trade show in the world, the Paris Air Show, where she heard concerns about the President’s trade war from allies, partners and the defense and civil aerospace industry. Following the Air Show, Shaheen penned an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal..
    Supporting Jobs and the New Hampshire National Guard
    To bolster the civilian defense and national security workforce, Senator Shaheen secured an amendment in line with her Defense Workforce Integration Act. The bipartisan, bicameral Shaheen-led bill would leverage existing programs and best practices within the Department of Defense to address persistent workforce shortages by retaining the talent and motivation of those who desire to serve in uniform but are found to be medically disqualified.
    As co-chair of the bipartisan U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus, Shaheen has long advocated on behalf of National Guard members. To strengthen the National Guard’s ability to protect and aid New Hampshire in times of crisis, Shaheen secured a provision in this year’s NDAA to help the National Guard retain quality commissioned and warrant officers and maintain increased levels of personnel readiness. Specifically, the amendment allows officers and warrant officers to transfer from active status in the Reserves to the Inactive National Guard.
    Confronting the Challenges Posed by PFAS Contamination
    Senator Shaheen successfully added an amendment to respond more quickly to the spread of PFAS contamination at certain military installations and surrounding communities where PFAS are discovered in existing water sources as a result of military activities. The policy requires the Department of Defense to take action to address contamination hotspots and provide safe drinking water to communities while the lengthier remedial investigation process moves forward. Shaheen also secured adoption of an amendment to clarify that DoD can use innovative technologies for destroying PFAS to provide more tools to address contamination.
    Shaheen opposed amendments that were ultimately adopted to rescind the moratorium on PFAS incineration and prohibit the military from procuring a variety of items containing PFAS, including cookware used to prepare food in military galleys and furniture upholstery and carpeting for military installations. These provisions add unnecessary exposure to harmful toxins for service members and their families, increasing their chances of long-term health impacts.
    Shaheen has worked for more than a decade to hold the Department of Defense responsible for remediation of PFAS contamination at military bases and ensure transparency for affected communities. Shaheen spearheaded the first nationwide PFAS health impact study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) that is in its final stages. Shaheen leads efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination. Because of her efforts, Pease served as a model site for the nationwide study. Shaheen has also led efforts to improve the Defense Department’s transparency and engagement with local communities, improve safety of firefighting gear, phase out use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam and expand blood-testing for military firefighters exposed to PFAS. Shaheen also secured record funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure to address PFAS contamination in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.
    Defending and Strengthening Support for America’s Service Members and Their Families
    Addressing Sexual Assault in the Military:
    Senator Shaheen successfully fought for a provision to increase accountability and transparency for investigations into military sexual assault cases. The Committee-passed NDAA includes Shaheen’s amendment requiring the National Guard Bureau to provide an annual report on the number of Guardsmen who participate in Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training each year.
    Shaheen has championed efforts in the Senate to respond to and address sexual assault in the military. In the FY23 NDAA, she helped secure reforms that expanded the types of sexual misconduct offenses and addressed the role of military commanders’ convening authority power. She played a pivotal role in the adoption of historic reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to address sexual assault in the military, including taking those offenses out of a service member’s chain of command.
    Expanding Access to Child Care for Military Families:
    Shaheen helped secure inclusion of a provision to expand child care access for military families by directing the Department of Defense to support the recruitment and retention of providers in order to build a future child care workforce and make long-term investments in child care providers. The provision also authorizes the Department of Defense to enter into an interagency partnership with a federal agency, such as AmeriCorps, to place national service participants and volunteers trained in education services at military child care centers.
    The provision is based on bipartisan legislation Shaheen co-leads with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), the Expanding Access to Child Care for Military Families Act, to support workforce development opportunities for child care providers and to add capacity to the child care sector.
    Addressing Service Members and Military Families’ Quality of Life:
    To help service members and their families navigate the nation’s housing affordability crisis, Shaheen secured an amendment in the NDAA to improve DoD’s financial counseling offerings. To ensure service members learn about fees and other costs associated with homebuying, the provision allows Service Secretaries to work with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counselors and other qualified counselors to help service members and families.
    Bolstering Mental Health Resources and Responses:
    Shaheen helped secure a provision in line with her National Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team (ACERT) Grant Program Authorization Act directing the DoD to study and report on establishing a program to address adverse childhood experiences associated with exposure to trauma by connecting law enforcement and first responders with local child specialists and professionals.
    The legislation also includes Shaheen’s amendment to address the shortage of quality, accessible mental and behavioral health care for service members. Her provision requires DoD to assess where there are shortages in providers and the impact of those staffing shortages on service members. 
    Investing in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and New England’s Shipbuilding Workforce
    Senator Shaheen built on her long legacy of support for New England’s shipbuilding industry and workforce, including through authorizing funding and workforce development for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Committee-approved FY26 NDAA includes full authorization for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) investments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which will expand the Shipyard’s capacity to maintain America’s fast-attack submarine fleet. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, Senator Shaheen helped secure this funding beginning in the fiscal year 2019 funding legislation, which she has continued in ensuing years.
    Shaheen also helped to authorize funding for increased reliability, resiliency and capacity to the existing electric and water utility systems primarily responsible for the nuclear support facilities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Additionally, the bill authorizes $26 million for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art Readiness Center to support the New Hampshire National Guard in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
    In addition, the bill reauthorizes funding for Virginia-class submarines, which are repaired at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Shaheen is a steadfast supporter of the Virginia-class program and is a fierce advocate for Shipyard priorities.
    Shaheen also secured a provision aimed at improving the quality of life and bolstering recruitment and retention of employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the country’s three other public shipyards. The Shaheen amendment requires DoD to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of providing civilian employees with apartment-style or dormitory housing options.  Shaheen also secured report language to encourage DoD to explore the feasibility of low-interest loans for maritime industrial base (MIB) suppliers. 
    Finally, the bill includes Shaheen’s legislation to extend direct hire authority to the Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP), which will give Navy the ability to fill these positions quickly, address workforce delays and reduce delays in submarine construction and maintenance.
    Supporting Americans Affected by Directed Energy Attacks
    Senator Shaheen built on her progress to ensure that all U.S. personnel and their loved ones suffering from anomalous health incidents (AHIs) – also known as “Havana Syndrome” or directed-energy attacks – get the medical attention they deserve. Shaheen successfully secured a provision that encourages the Department of Defense to supply the cross-functional team addressing AHIs with the resources that they need to provide those affected with necessary treatment and timely compensation under the Helping American Victims Affected by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act of 2021. The amendment also urges the Department to redouble its efforts to identify emerging directed energy threats, understand their origin and develop countermeasures to defend against them.
    Shaheen has been a leader in supporting American public servants who have incurred AHIs. In October 2021, President Biden signed legislation Shaheen helped lead, the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA Act), into law. The law authorizes financial support to ensure medical care for those affected by AHIs. In the FY21 NDAA, Shaheen successfully included language to expand a provision in law that she previously wrote to provide long-term, emergency care benefits to all U.S. government employees and their dependents who were mysteriously injured while working in China and Cuba.
    Bolstering Congressional Oversight and Reining in Wasteful Spending
    In this year’s NDAA, Senator Shaheen secured several provisions to assert Congress’s oversight authority over the Trump administration and prohibit wasteful spending, including the use of Department of Defense resources for immigration enforcement activities. The bill requires DoD to notify Congress before using military airlift for immigration enforcement purposes and expands existing notifications to include requests for assistance in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at Guantanamo Bay. In the first five months of migrant operations at Guantanamo Bay, DoD has already spent over $40 million providing non-reimbursable support to DHS.
    Additionally, Shaheen included language in the NDAA urging DoD not to downgrade the U.S. Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay to a clinic. The hospital is the only source of health care for the over 6,000 active duty personnel, DoD civilians, family members, contract personnel and local and foreign national employees stationed at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay (NSGB).
    The provisions come after Shaheen joined a Congressional delegation to Guantanamo Bay in March of this year after the Pentagon refused to answer Congressional oversight questions on its support to DHS’s new migrant operations there.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: DRML Miner Launch Marks New Era as Bitcoin Surges Past $116K

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin has lately hit the amazing landmark of $116,000, this marks an incredibly important milestone in finance history. I don’t think this milestone is merely a price, representing further entrenchment and acceptance of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in a global economy. A price above $100,000 represents a total paradigm shift in finance; there is increasing optimism in the market, mainstream adoption is accelerating, and Bitcoin keeps surprising us by outperforming all expectations.

    The price increase is also connected to the underlying market trend occurring overall, that is being fueled by institutional adoption and interest, rising inflation concerns, and the search for digital decentralized assets. The global crypto market itself is maturing, and people start to see bitcoin not just as a ‘currency’, but as a long term store of value, it can replace gold as a store of value.

    A Quick Look Back: Bitcoin’s Unstoppable Ascent

    Bitcoin’s journey began in 2009 with little fanfare. Created by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, it was introduced as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. The early days were experimental—few believed it would ever become a serious financial asset.

    Starting from just fractions of a cent, Bitcoin was valued at $1,000 in 2013, followed by $20,000 in 2017. After some extreme volatility over the next few years, it surpassed $60,000 in 2021. Now it’s 2025 and Bitcoin is over $116,000, setting records and changing the investment landscape.

    Bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million coins, which is another part of its value proposition, creating scarcity of the asset and increasing interest. And as currency declines due to inflation, Bitcoin holds the possibility of becoming an alternative to a decentralized, scarce currency.

    Why Bitcoin Is Surging in 2025

    Several key factors have driven this historic price advance:

    – Institutional Investment: The top financial institutions and corporations are investing serious money and adding Bitcoin to their balance sheet as a hedge against inflation.

    – Adoption: Bitcoin is now being accepted across all areas of retail—everything from your local online retailer to multinational banks.

    – Macroeconomic Instability: The growing inflation in all major economies has led many investors to consider crypto as a store of value.

    – Technological Advances: New mining technologies have allowed or increased the security of the blockchain while pushing costs lower.

    This is not a hype train—this is a train running on actual data, demand, and real value.

    Enter DRML Miner: Redefining Crypto Mining for the Future

    Amid Bitcoin’s surge, one name is making headlines in the mining industry: DRML Miner. As the demand for Bitcoin increases, so does the competition to mine it. Traditional mining rigs often fail to offer consistent profitability due to rising energy costs and difficulty levels.

    DRML Miner is here to change that. With cutting-edge technology, unparalleled efficiency, and a user-first approach, DRML Miner is enabling individuals and businesses to mine Bitcoin profitably, regardless of scale.

    What Sets DRML Miner Apart?

    Unlike outdated mining equipment that requires high upfront investment and complex setup, DRML Miner delivers a modern, plug-and-play mining solution designed for efficiency and ease. Here’s why it stands out:

    • High Hash Rate Efficiency: Achieve maximum mining power with optimized processing speed.
    • Energy-Saving Design: Built to consume less power, reducing overhead and maximizing ROI.
    • Scalable Infrastructure: Suitable for solo miners, small businesses, and large-scale operations.
    • Real-Time Monitoring: Integrated dashboards allow users to track performance, earnings, and hardware status 24/7.
    • Global Support: Dedicated customer service ensures smooth onboarding and continued operational success.

    DRML Miner doesn’t just offer hardware—it offers a complete, supported ecosystem designed to maximize earnings and simplify the mining process.

    The Mining Industry Reimagined

    Mining has often been associated with high complexity and low returns. DRML Miner is redefining this narrative by introducing mining solutions that are accessible, reliable, and scalable. Whether you’re new to crypto or an experienced investor, DRML makes profitable mining achievable.

    By reducing the barrier to entry, DRML Miner empowers more people to participate in the Bitcoin ecosystem. This democratization of mining aligns perfectly with the decentralized spirit of cryptocurrency itself.

    The Economic Impact of DRML Miner’s Technology

    As Bitcoin reaches new heights, mining profitability becomes more attractive. However, only those with efficient systems can truly capitalize on these gains. DRML Miner helps miners stay ahead of rising competition by offering future-proof technology.

    Its proprietary cooling systems, low power usage, and intelligent management tools allow users to achieve consistent returns—even as mining difficulty increases. This long-term approach creates stability in an otherwise volatile space.

    The Road Ahead: Bitcoin and the Future of Finance

    Based on the momentum Bitcoin possesses, it is set to reach new heights. Financial analysts suggest the price will reach and exceed $150,000 in the next year and with the amount of financial uncertainty existing across the globe, this is likely. Bitcoin’s adoption is expanding throughout the continents and creating a diversified investment portfolio.

    At the same time, tools like DRML Miner will help with the infrastructure development and ultimately increase the network. With more people validating blockchain transactions, there will be a stronger foundation laid.

    The future of Bitcoin lies well beyond just price—it is about infrastructure and access but also about impact on the world.

    Conclusion: Your Opportunity to Join the Crypto Revolution

    Bitcoin has verified the myth of breaking through all barriers as it confidently holds its position at $116,000. This accomplishment is monumental since price experience is one thing, but as decentralized finance continues to gain legitimacy, this is more far-reaching! As the markets take shape, chances like these are becoming increasingly limited.

    With DRML Miner, you can be a part of the revolution from day one. The opportunity is available whether you want to diversify your income or create a mining dynasty. Reliable, scalable, and available tools are finally at our disposal.

    Start mining smarter. Grow your crypto wealth. Be part of the future.

    Explore the future of mining today at https://drmlminers.com/

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks. There is a possibility of financial loss. You are advised to perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Luján Take Bipartisan Action to Secure Clear Guidance for Claimants Following the Recent Extension and Expansion of RECA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) encouraged the Trump Administration to provide detailed guidance for claimants to access the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program following its expansion and extension by Congress.  In letters to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Senators Crapo and Luján highlighted the need to implement guidance quickly and efficiently for the expanded RECA program as the current extension of RECA expires in just over two years.
    “After decades of advocacy, communities harmed by radiation exposure are set to finally receive long-overdue recognition and compensation.  This achievement marks a significant step toward providing some justice to families who have waited far too long,” the Senators wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi.  “After decades of struggle, we ask that the Department of Justice move swiftly to issue guidance for claimants to access the program.”
    “As you know, the current extension of the program expires in just over two years.  This means time is limited to fulfill the promise of this expansion and ensure every eligible uranium miner and onsite participant receives compensation,” the Senators wrote to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.  “We urge the Department of Labor to act swiftly and efficiently in developing and posting guidance to implement the expanded RECA and Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) programs.”
    Crapo is a longtime Senate proponent of expanding the RECA program.  In 2022, Crapo was successful in securing an extension of the RECA program for two years, allowing more individuals more time to apply for compensation.  In July 2023, the U.S. Senate passed, by a vote of 61-37, an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen RECA.  The program would have been expanded to include Idaho victims.  Later, in December, the amendment was stripped from the conference report of the NDAA.  The program expired June 7, 2024.
    The full text of the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi is available here.
    The full text of the letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New habitat-protection measures support caribou in northeastern B.C.

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The B.C. government, Fort Nelson First Nation and the B.C. Energy Regulator (BCER) are working collaboratively to implement new protection measures to support boreal caribou recovery in northeastern B.C.

    “Helping caribou populations recover is a complex challenge requiring multiple approaches to stabilize and reverse the decline of herds in B.C.,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “The Boreal Caribou Protection and Recovery Plan and the implementation of the new measures are crucial for caribou-recovery efforts in these four northeast ranges. The Fort Nelson First Nation community continues to be an integral partner in this important work.”

    The new measures are consistent with the Boreal Caribou Protection and Recovery Plan that was endorsed by the B.C. government in 2023. The Boreal Caribou Protection and Recovery Plan was co-developed by the B.C. government and Fort Nelson First Nation, with contributions from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. The plan is designed to meet federal and provincial targets for species-at-risk recovery, while supporting opportunities to strengthen the natural-resource economy in the region.

    “Finalizing the Boreal Caribou Protection and Recovery Plan is a vital step in our shared responsibility to steward the land,” said Chief Archie Harrold, Fort Nelson First Nation. “By working together with the provincial government, we are proving that true collaboration, rooted in respect for Indigenous knowledge and western science, leads to real action. This plan reflects our commitment to protecting boreal caribou and ensuring a healthy land for future generations.”

    The new protection measures applied to selected boreal caribou habitat areas include:

    • the establishment of six new Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA) through a Government Actions Regulation (GAR) order approved by the delegated decision-maker;
    • the establishment of Resource Review Areas (RRA), where new requests to grant the right to explore for and produce petroleum or natural gas have been temporarily suspended; and
    • interim permitting measures for energy-resource activities.  

    The GAR order to establish the new WHAs targets areas of highest habitat value to boreal caribou, while avoiding areas of highest timber value as much as possible. The management measures laid out in the order apply to primary forestry activities, such as timber harvesting and the construction of associated resource roads in specified areas of the Fort Nelson Timber Supply Area.

    The BCER is implementing interim permitting measures in 1.4 million hectares of habitat that is important for boreal caribou protection. These measures prohibit the issuance of new or amended permits for energy-resource activities or authorizations in Boreal Caribou Management Type 1 areas (core areas) in the affected region, except for:

    • activities necessary to protect health and safety;
    • restoration activities; or
    • technical or administrative activities, with appropriate mitigations to protect boreal caribou habitat and support habitat restoration.

    The Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions is establishing RRAs within Boreal Caribou Management Type 1 areas where new requests for petroleum and natural gas rights (postings) in the affected region are temporarily suspended. These measures align with the BCER’s interim permitting restrictions and are expected to remain in place for at least three years.

    Collectively, these actions target the specific threats to caribou habitat and support caribou-population recovery objectives, while leaving room for sustainable, inclusive economic opportunities and public access and recreational uses that are compatible with shared recovery goals. The conservation measures will not affect recreation or public access to these areas.

    In July 2024, the B.C. government consulted First Nation governments and potentially affected forestry licensees about the establishment of WHAs. These discussions were completed in February 2025.

    The Province has also engaged with and notified other parties who are not legally affected by habitat-protection measures, such as registered trappers, guide outfitters or local governments, but have interests overlapping the WHAs. The consultation and engagement process provided an opportunity to review the socio-economic assessment and refine boundaries or regulatory actions if needed.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about Boreal Caribou Protection and Recovery Plan, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/download/7701D375C38E4E29ACB37046EC9FAF8F

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: ConocoPhillips’ Frederic Phipps Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Amid Equatorial Guinea Expansion

    Source: APO

    Frederic Phipps, President: Equatorial Guinea at global exploration and production company ConocoPhillips, has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference as a speaker. Taking place September 29 to October 3, 2025, in Cape Town, the event is the premier meeting place for the continent’s oil, gas and broader energy sectors. With various stages of oil and gas exploration, development and production activities in Equatorial Guinea, ConocoPhillips is an instrumental player in the country. As such, Phipps is well-positioned to discuss strategies for enhancing LNG production and exports at a time when Equatorial Guinea is consolidating its position as a major gas hub. 

    Aligned with a goal to expand its global portfolio, ConocoPhillips has committed to positioning itself as a key player in Equatorial Guinea’s gas market. The company transported its inaugural LNG cargo from the country in June 2025. The ConocoPhillips-marketed cargo was loaded from the country’s EG LNG terminal at the Punta Europa facility on June 9, forming part of the broader Gas Mega Hub initiative – which seeks to leverage existing infrastructure to create a regional gas industry. During AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Phipps is expected to share insights into ConocoPhillips’ strategy in Equatorial Guinea, from LNG production to exploration plans to future exports and investments.

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    ConocoPhillips plays an instrumental part in developing and producing oil and gas resources in Equatorial Guinea. The country operates in both the Alba and Block D production sharing contracts that form the Alba Unit, located offshore Equatorial Guinea. In 2024, the company further enhanced its presence in Equatorial Guinea with the acquisition of independent oil and gas company Marathon Oil. The acquisition – which saw Marathon Oil become a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips – adds to the company’s deep, durable and diverse portfolio. Marathon Oil supports the development of the country’s Gas Mega Hub, with a five-year agreement in place with natural resource company Glencore for its equity natural gas from the Alba field. The agreement optimizes gas operations by redirecting partial volumes from the methanol plant to the LNG facility. The first LNG cargo represents a key step forward in this agreement.

    ConocoPhillips operations in Equatorial Guinea form part of a global strategy which seeks to position the company as a key player in Africa’s energy landscape. Beyond West Africa, the company is strengthening its presence in North Africa, with key investments in Libya. As a long-term partner in the country, ConocoPhillips is targeting increased production through upgrades to existing facilities and investments in underdeveloped reserves. Currently, the company has been gradually increasing production at the Waha concession, which presently produces around 375,000 barrels per day (bpd). Targeting between 600,000 and 700,000 bpd, ConocoPhillips is leveraging collaborations, new workover programs and pipeline integrity to bolster output.

    As the company seeks to strengthen its footprint in North and West Africa, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 offers a vital platform for enhanced collaboration and industry engagement. Uniting stakeholders from both the global and African energy landscapes, the event seeks to drive investment into African energy by providing a platform for engagement and dealmaking. Phipps’ participation underscores ConocoPhillips’ commitment to investing in oil and gas production in Africa and is poised to unlock new opportunities for industry growth in Africa.

    “ConocoPhillips continues to play a major role in increasing African oil and gas production. Through strategic investments in Libya and an expanded presence in Equatorial Guinea, the company is creating greater value from the continent’s oil and gas resources. Looking ahead, these investments are expected to fuel the next era of industry development as Africa seeks to make energy poverty history through accelerated hydrocarbon production,” states Tomás Gerbasio, VP Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Gabon’s Minister of Universal Access to Water and Energy Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Amid Power Expansion

    Source: APO


    .

    Philippe Tonangoye, Minister of Universal Access to Water and Energy of Gabon, will participate at the African energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place September 29 to October 3, 2025. His participation comes as Gabon implements an aggressive strategy to enhance access to water and energy, with strategic investments and partnerships in infrastructure, power and local businesses. His insights will support future investments as project developers, financiers and global partners convene in Cape Town to discuss strategies for making energy poverty history.

    For Gabon, natural gas has emerged as a cornerstone of the country’s petroleum and power development. The country aims to utilize its offshore resources to drive economic growth, leveraging investments in gas-to-power and floating power generation solutions to enhance energy access country-wide. The country’s long-awaited Orinko gas-to-power plant is on track to start construction soon, with a Shareholders’ Agreement signed in May 2025 to advance the project. The project is expected to play a vital role in expanding Gabonese power access, as it will boost the country’s generation capacity by 50%. Developed by Orinko SPV – comprising the state-owned Gabon Power Company in partnership with Wärtsilä, Africa 50, FGIS and Melec PowerGen – the project will be constructed under a build-own-operate-transfer IPP model. Otinko will utilize offshore gas resources as feedstock to produce electricity, laying the foundation for greater generating capacity in Gabon. At present, gas power plants operated by independent oil and gas company Perenco account for 70% of the power in Libreville and 100% of the power in Port-Gentil. With the Orinko facility, Gabon will be well-positioned to significantly enhance access.

    Beyond natural gas, Gabon is spearheading a pipeline of renewable energy developments, seeking to enhance access to both grid-connected and off-grid power in pursuit of universal access by 2030. The Orinko milestone follows the start of operations at energy company Karpowership’s floating power plants in Gabon in February 2025. The plants provide electricity to the capital city of Libreville and other regions, thereby boosting the power grid while offering a clean source of power to underserves communities. Karpowership signed a contract in 2024 with Gabon to provide 250 MW of electricity to the country for a period of five years. The company has been supplying 25% of the country’s total electricity via two powership situated at different locations. These solutions represent a flexible and scalable option for Gabon as it strives to enhance access to electricity through modernized infrastructure solutions. Meanwhile, Gabon is investing in new hydropower projects. Currently approximately half of the power consumed in the country is derived from hydro, largely from the Grand Poubara Hydroelectric Dam (160 MW) and Kinguele Aval Hydroelectric Dam (70 MW). However, to achieve its energy goals, much more investment is needed across the power market.

    To further support project development, Gabon established a National Fund for Energy and Water (FNEE) in 2025, aimed at mobilizing capital for energy and water projects. The FNEE will address power outages by implementing short-term measures, driving key infrastructure investments and boosting regional energy cooperation. The fund also seeks to revive delayed power projects, including the 125 MW Owendo thermal power station – planned for 2027 -, the Ngoulmendjim and L’impératrice Eugénie hydroelectric plants. The fund falls under the country’s broader National Development Plan for Transition, with the three projects alone requiring an estimated $453 million to develop. This highlights a strategic opportunity for investors and projects developers seeking to make impactful investments in Africa.

    “Gabon’s strategy to achieve universal access to electricity is expected to unlock a wealth of economic and development opportunities for the country. By utilizing a variety of different power generation solutions – from gas-to-power to floating facilities to hydroelectric projects and renewables – the country is diversifying and strengthening its portfolio of power facilities. This approach not only creates greater opportunities for energy access but opens up the market to a variety of investors and project developers,” states Ore Onagbesan, Program Director, AEW: Invest in African Energies.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    About AEW: Invest in African Energies:
    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit https://AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Career Built on Helping Others: Cory Chovanec’s Journey in Weatherization

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    NREL Researcher Uses His Field Experience To Help Increase Energy Affordability for Americans Through the Weatherization Assistance Program

    Cory Chovanec leans on a ladder outside a house he is weatherizing. This photo was taken early in Chovanec’s career, between 1998 and 2008. Photo from Cory Chovanec, NREL

    At 17 years old, NREL researcher Cory Chovanec was traveling door to door in his hometown of Berlin, Wisconsin. His mission: to sell enough vacuum cleaners to qualify for an all-expenses-paid trip to Lake Tahoe. At around $1,000 dollars a pop and in a town of just over 5,000 people, it was no easy feat.

    Yet he managed to sell them all—sending both him and his sister on a free vacation.

    “I think if you can sell Kirby vacuums at that price in the ’90s, you can do just about anything,” Chovanec said.

    After following a career path in the weatherization and home performance industry from entry level to a position at a national laboratory, Chovanec found that he really could do just about anything—from crawling through cold, uninsulated subspaces and hot attics to inspecting hundreds of homes with advanced diagnostic equipment.

    Now serving as weatherization team lead at NREL, Chovanec has worked in many different roles supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The program aims to reduce energy costs for low-income households by increasing home energy efficiency. Weatherization saves money for families and enhances health, home comfort, and safety.

    In his nearly four years at NREL, Chovanec has contributed to and led technical assistance, research, and resource development to support WAP, leveraging his extensive experience to ensure these activities benefit field staff and aid in their work improving energy affordability across the country.

    Bit by the Weatherization Bug

    Chovanec did not even know what weatherization was until after high school, when he started working for a local temporary employment agency. One day, they placed him at a community action agency, where he filled in as a weatherization technician.

    Cory Chovanec holds up the damaged door of a manufactured home and the new one he replaced it with. This photo was taken early in Chovanec’s career, between 1998 and 2008. Photo from Cory Chovanec, NREL

    “I didn’t see this as a career. I thought these people were crazy, crawling around attics and everything,” Chovanec said.

    Chovanec was in a Wisconsin farmhouse in the middle of winter when he began to feel the impact of the work “click” for him. It was his first time insulating an attic on his own, and the space was almost unbearably hot because of the lack of insulation. This meant that a large amount of heat was escaping out from the living space, ultimately costing the kind, elderly owners more money to warm their home. As he carried out his work, blowing 13 to 14 inches of insulation over the attic floor, he noticed the attic change from hot to cold. With less heat escaping into the attic, the owners would need less energy to warm their home—greatly reducing their energy bills. 

    Chovanec was hooked. “It was then I could actually feel that this work really does make a difference,” he said.

    Workers in the industry describe this feeling as “getting bit by the weatherization bug.” The work is physically taxing, but Chovanec feels the reward goes far beyond a paycheck. Weatherization technicians and energy auditors are regularly exposed to the extreme heat and cold, exploring all the unseen and potentially hazardous places in a home. Yet Chovanec believed strongly in the WAP mission, saving money on energy bills, and helping people be comfortable and safe in their homes.

    Without prior knowledge of building science or weatherization work, Chovanec learned on the job. Absorbing skills and knowledge through every task and mentorship experience, he accepted a full-time role and climbed the career ladder at the community action agency, eventually accepting a position at a weatherization training center.

    Weatherization training centers provide structured hands-on training opportunities to workers in the weatherization and home performance industry. Chovanec’s main roles at the center were to provide building science training and perform quality control inspections for the state. These inspections help ensure the appropriateness and quality of the work completed on the home by installers and technicians. Chovanec estimates he visited all 72 counties of Wisconsin at least once to perform inspections during his 10-plus years at the center.

    “One of the best things was going back to do a post-weatherization inspection and hearing nothing but good things,” Chovanec said. “Their bills are going down, their house is more comfortable, they physically feel better—it’s just a dose of good news.”

    For Chovanec, home energy auditing is a passion, not just a job. An energy audit consists of a thorough examination to identify potential comfort or safety problems and energy-saving opportunities. He works on his field skills in his free time, taking the four-hour energy auditor recertification field exam every three years. He has now passed the exam five times and enjoys providing home assessments for his friends and family.

    While an energy audit might provide homeowners with the most comprehensive look at ways to cut energy costs in their home, Chovanec emphasized that there are simple steps people can take to minimize energy use and lower bills. Even just ensuring that lights are off in empty rooms and the thermostat is adjusted when you are out of the house can make a difference.

    “When you were a kid and your parents told you to turn the light off when you’re not in the room: That is real, and it helps,” Chovanec said. “We all have control over small things like that, and if we want to save some money on a utility bill, we can achieve that without extensive training.”

    Translating Field Experience Into Valuable Workforce Resources

    In keeping with his unique ability to simplify complex concepts, Chovanec’s favorite projects examine the most technical aspects of weatherization work to streamline them or make them easier to understand.

    One of these projects includes the development of two interactive 3D houses, providing virtual examples of a single-family and manufactured home. These learning tools allow users to explore relevant retrofit strategies and common weatherization measures for different areas of the home, all with a few clicks of their mouse. Chovanec used his field experience to accurately represent the spaces.

    “When thinking about developing resources for the weatherization network, you have to think about how it will look in the hands of the people actually doing the work,” Chovanec said.

    Cory Chovanec explains how to inspect a crawlspace to fellow NREL employees Juliana Williams and Alexa Carrera. Photo by Janna Babad, NREL

    Chovanec also assists volunteer expert committees with updating job task analyses for energy auditor and quality control inspector certification schemes, the role that introduced him to NREL when he volunteered to serve on the update committee as a subject matter expert. These resources are updated roughly every five years with weatherization industry feedback.

    “We are really working to improve the foundational components of credentials through each update cycle, and this is clear with each iteration,” Chovanec said. “The program is always evolving in a way that puts an emphasis on high-quality work that saves people money.”

    Over the years, Chovanec has seen WAP grow in a variety of ways, providing more robust, formalized education and incorporating new technologies as they emerge, like infrared imaging, which helps identify air leaks and thermal anomalies in homes. As research continues, Chovanec knows that there will always be something new to improve homes and lives, and he is excited that NREL can play a key part in those discoveries and enhancements.

    When reflecting on his career journey—from his first WAP agency to NREL—Chovanec said it is important to reach out and take hold of opportunities as they come.

    “The stepping stones are there, you just have to follow the path: volunteer for those committees, go to extra trainings, try to make the most of it,” Chovanec said. “No matter what my role was, I just felt really fortunate to work in WAP and have been mentored by so many incredible and brilliant people, some of whom were around when the program first began in 1976. It is a privilege to continue to support this program.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Career Built on Helping Others: Cory Chovanec’s Journey in Weatherization

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    NREL Researcher Uses His Field Experience To Help Increase Energy Affordability for Americans Through the Weatherization Assistance Program

    Cory Chovanec leans on a ladder outside a house he is weatherizing. This photo was taken early in Chovanec’s career, between 1998 and 2008. Photo from Cory Chovanec, NREL

    At 17 years old, NREL researcher Cory Chovanec was traveling door to door in his hometown of Berlin, Wisconsin. His mission: to sell enough vacuum cleaners to qualify for an all-expenses-paid trip to Lake Tahoe. At around $1,000 dollars a pop and in a town of just over 5,000 people, it was no easy feat.

    Yet he managed to sell them all—sending both him and his sister on a free vacation.

    “I think if you can sell Kirby vacuums at that price in the ’90s, you can do just about anything,” Chovanec said.

    After following a career path in the weatherization and home performance industry from entry level to a position at a national laboratory, Chovanec found that he really could do just about anything—from crawling through cold, uninsulated subspaces and hot attics to inspecting hundreds of homes with advanced diagnostic equipment.

    Now serving as weatherization team lead at NREL, Chovanec has worked in many different roles supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The program aims to reduce energy costs for low-income households by increasing home energy efficiency. Weatherization saves money for families and enhances health, home comfort, and safety.

    In his nearly four years at NREL, Chovanec has contributed to and led technical assistance, research, and resource development to support WAP, leveraging his extensive experience to ensure these activities benefit field staff and aid in their work improving energy affordability across the country.

    Bit by the Weatherization Bug

    Chovanec did not even know what weatherization was until after high school, when he started working for a local temporary employment agency. One day, they placed him at a community action agency, where he filled in as a weatherization technician.

    Cory Chovanec holds up the damaged door of a manufactured home and the new one he replaced it with. This photo was taken early in Chovanec’s career, between 1998 and 2008. Photo from Cory Chovanec, NREL

    “I didn’t see this as a career. I thought these people were crazy, crawling around attics and everything,” Chovanec said.

    Chovanec was in a Wisconsin farmhouse in the middle of winter when he began to feel the impact of the work “click” for him. It was his first time insulating an attic on his own, and the space was almost unbearably hot because of the lack of insulation. This meant that a large amount of heat was escaping out from the living space, ultimately costing the kind, elderly owners more money to warm their home. As he carried out his work, blowing 13 to 14 inches of insulation over the attic floor, he noticed the attic change from hot to cold. With less heat escaping into the attic, the owners would need less energy to warm their home—greatly reducing their energy bills. 

    Chovanec was hooked. “It was then I could actually feel that this work really does make a difference,” he said.

    Workers in the industry describe this feeling as “getting bit by the weatherization bug.” The work is physically taxing, but Chovanec feels the reward goes far beyond a paycheck. Weatherization technicians and energy auditors are regularly exposed to the extreme heat and cold, exploring all the unseen and potentially hazardous places in a home. Yet Chovanec believed strongly in the WAP mission, saving money on energy bills, and helping people be comfortable and safe in their homes.

    Without prior knowledge of building science or weatherization work, Chovanec learned on the job. Absorbing skills and knowledge through every task and mentorship experience, he accepted a full-time role and climbed the career ladder at the community action agency, eventually accepting a position at a weatherization training center.

    Weatherization training centers provide structured hands-on training opportunities to workers in the weatherization and home performance industry. Chovanec’s main roles at the center were to provide building science training and perform quality control inspections for the state. These inspections help ensure the appropriateness and quality of the work completed on the home by installers and technicians. Chovanec estimates he visited all 72 counties of Wisconsin at least once to perform inspections during his 10-plus years at the center.

    “One of the best things was going back to do a post-weatherization inspection and hearing nothing but good things,” Chovanec said. “Their bills are going down, their house is more comfortable, they physically feel better—it’s just a dose of good news.”

    For Chovanec, home energy auditing is a passion, not just a job. An energy audit consists of a thorough examination to identify potential comfort or safety problems and energy-saving opportunities. He works on his field skills in his free time, taking the four-hour energy auditor recertification field exam every three years. He has now passed the exam five times and enjoys providing home assessments for his friends and family.

    While an energy audit might provide homeowners with the most comprehensive look at ways to cut energy costs in their home, Chovanec emphasized that there are simple steps people can take to minimize energy use and lower bills. Even just ensuring that lights are off in empty rooms and the thermostat is adjusted when you are out of the house can make a difference.

    “When you were a kid and your parents told you to turn the light off when you’re not in the room: That is real, and it helps,” Chovanec said. “We all have control over small things like that, and if we want to save some money on a utility bill, we can achieve that without extensive training.”

    Translating Field Experience Into Valuable Workforce Resources

    In keeping with his unique ability to simplify complex concepts, Chovanec’s favorite projects examine the most technical aspects of weatherization work to streamline them or make them easier to understand.

    One of these projects includes the development of two interactive 3D houses, providing virtual examples of a single-family and manufactured home. These learning tools allow users to explore relevant retrofit strategies and common weatherization measures for different areas of the home, all with a few clicks of their mouse. Chovanec used his field experience to accurately represent the spaces.

    “When thinking about developing resources for the weatherization network, you have to think about how it will look in the hands of the people actually doing the work,” Chovanec said.

    Cory Chovanec explains how to inspect a crawlspace to fellow NREL employees Juliana Williams and Alexa Carrera. Photo by Janna Babad, NREL

    Chovanec also assists volunteer expert committees with updating job task analyses for energy auditor and quality control inspector certification schemes, the role that introduced him to NREL when he volunteered to serve on the update committee as a subject matter expert. These resources are updated roughly every five years with weatherization industry feedback.

    “We are really working to improve the foundational components of credentials through each update cycle, and this is clear with each iteration,” Chovanec said. “The program is always evolving in a way that puts an emphasis on high-quality work that saves people money.”

    Over the years, Chovanec has seen WAP grow in a variety of ways, providing more robust, formalized education and incorporating new technologies as they emerge, like infrared imaging, which helps identify air leaks and thermal anomalies in homes. As research continues, Chovanec knows that there will always be something new to improve homes and lives, and he is excited that NREL can play a key part in those discoveries and enhancements.

    When reflecting on his career journey—from his first WAP agency to NREL—Chovanec said it is important to reach out and take hold of opportunities as they come.

    “The stepping stones are there, you just have to follow the path: volunteer for those committees, go to extra trainings, try to make the most of it,” Chovanec said. “No matter what my role was, I just felt really fortunate to work in WAP and have been mentored by so many incredible and brilliant people, some of whom were around when the program first began in 1976. It is a privilege to continue to support this program.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Geothermal Radar Releases Global Interactive Maps and Model

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TULSA, Okla., July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Geothermal Radar, an early-stage startup that expedites the development of geothermal energy, today announced an exclusive global thermal model that enables users to exploit geothermal gradients across areas of interest. The global model pinpoints existing geothermal project locations to reveal the vast untapped potential for the clean, abundant, and reliable energy the energy source offers globally. Geothermal Radar is part of the EIC Rose Rock platform.

    “The next energy revolution isn’t in the air or on the water; it’s underfoot. We’re excited to make geothermal energy more accessible,” said Philip J. Ball, Co-Founder and Partner at Geothermal Radar. “Our aggressive development plan allows us to continuously iterate Geothermal Radar’s capabilities to align with the evolving needs of all geothermal project stakeholders.”

    Geothermal Radar’s platform empowers governments to build national geothermal strategies, providing a reliable standard for awarding new geothermal licensing rounds. It also offers a single platform that energy companies, geothermal developers, and industrial partners can use to decarbonize facilities and buildings including data centers and oil and gas production facilities as well as LNG, ammonia, hydrogen, coal, steel, cement and carbon capture operations. It’s the only platform that supports the exploration of economic decarbonization on a global scale.

    Geothermal Radar features over 40 geospatial models to guide the presented geothermal maps and gradients. It supports engineered “closed loop” geothermal (CLG), engineered “open loop” (EGS), natural hydrothermal systems (NHS) and superhot rock (SHR) geothermal projects with temperatures starting at 374 degrees Celsius.

    Users can leverage the thermal meta-model aggregating information from all integrated isotherm models and data, and use Geothermal Radar’s global lithostatic pressure module to further rank locations. Geothermal Radar’s global thermal and pressure model connects to a techno-economic engine that allows users to assess and compare engineered open loop (FERVO-style) and closed loop (EAVOR-style) projects over the lifetime of a proposed project.

    The platform’s freeware offers a low-resolution global model while high-resolution models, maps, and region-specific data from wells to stacked financial and regulatory incentives are available in premium and enterprise versions. Additionally, the enterprise option allows workflow customization, proprietary data integration and the ability to be installed behind firewalls for ultimate data security.

    For more information, visit www.geothermalradar.com.

    About Geothermal Radar

    Tulsa-based Geothermal Radar offers the first B2B SaaS end-to-end geothermal modelling platform. It connects subsurface and industry data with interactive modelling and simulation. Geothermal Radar offers seamless, comprehensive functionality for all stakeholders — geothermal operators, oil and gas companies, investors and public authorities. It enables real-time simulation, prospecting, valuation, feasibility and reserves assessment.  The platform is provided free of charge to non-profit, academic and selected public organizations.

    For more information, visit www.geothermalradar.com.

    About EIC Rose Rock

    EIC Rose Rock is a unique long-term partnership between George Kaiser Family Foundation’s tech-focused development arm, multiple Fortune 500 energy leaders, and the premier venture capital fund, Energy Innovation Capital (EIC). EIC Rose Rock provides early-stage funding for visionary entrepreneurs developing energy technologies that advance energy diversification, improve sustainability and enhance the operational efficiency of existing oil and gas assets. To learn more, visit www.eicroserock.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Geothermal Radar Releases Global Interactive Maps and Model

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TULSA, Okla., July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Geothermal Radar, an early-stage startup that expedites the development of geothermal energy, today announced an exclusive global thermal model that enables users to exploit geothermal gradients across areas of interest. The global model pinpoints existing geothermal project locations to reveal the vast untapped potential for the clean, abundant, and reliable energy the energy source offers globally. Geothermal Radar is part of the EIC Rose Rock platform.

    “The next energy revolution isn’t in the air or on the water; it’s underfoot. We’re excited to make geothermal energy more accessible,” said Philip J. Ball, Co-Founder and Partner at Geothermal Radar. “Our aggressive development plan allows us to continuously iterate Geothermal Radar’s capabilities to align with the evolving needs of all geothermal project stakeholders.”

    Geothermal Radar’s platform empowers governments to build national geothermal strategies, providing a reliable standard for awarding new geothermal licensing rounds. It also offers a single platform that energy companies, geothermal developers, and industrial partners can use to decarbonize facilities and buildings including data centers and oil and gas production facilities as well as LNG, ammonia, hydrogen, coal, steel, cement and carbon capture operations. It’s the only platform that supports the exploration of economic decarbonization on a global scale.

    Geothermal Radar features over 40 geospatial models to guide the presented geothermal maps and gradients. It supports engineered “closed loop” geothermal (CLG), engineered “open loop” (EGS), natural hydrothermal systems (NHS) and superhot rock (SHR) geothermal projects with temperatures starting at 374 degrees Celsius.

    Users can leverage the thermal meta-model aggregating information from all integrated isotherm models and data, and use Geothermal Radar’s global lithostatic pressure module to further rank locations. Geothermal Radar’s global thermal and pressure model connects to a techno-economic engine that allows users to assess and compare engineered open loop (FERVO-style) and closed loop (EAVOR-style) projects over the lifetime of a proposed project.

    The platform’s freeware offers a low-resolution global model while high-resolution models, maps, and region-specific data from wells to stacked financial and regulatory incentives are available in premium and enterprise versions. Additionally, the enterprise option allows workflow customization, proprietary data integration and the ability to be installed behind firewalls for ultimate data security.

    For more information, visit www.geothermalradar.com.

    About Geothermal Radar

    Tulsa-based Geothermal Radar offers the first B2B SaaS end-to-end geothermal modelling platform. It connects subsurface and industry data with interactive modelling and simulation. Geothermal Radar offers seamless, comprehensive functionality for all stakeholders — geothermal operators, oil and gas companies, investors and public authorities. It enables real-time simulation, prospecting, valuation, feasibility and reserves assessment.  The platform is provided free of charge to non-profit, academic and selected public organizations.

    For more information, visit www.geothermalradar.com.

    About EIC Rose Rock

    EIC Rose Rock is a unique long-term partnership between George Kaiser Family Foundation’s tech-focused development arm, multiple Fortune 500 energy leaders, and the premier venture capital fund, Energy Innovation Capital (EIC). EIC Rose Rock provides early-stage funding for visionary entrepreneurs developing energy technologies that advance energy diversification, improve sustainability and enhance the operational efficiency of existing oil and gas assets. To learn more, visit www.eicroserock.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 11th, 2025 Heinrich Blasts U.S. Forest Service Chief for Trump Budget that Guts Funding for Wildfire Response and Public Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, blasted U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz for the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) budget request. The budget cuts funding for the Forest Service by 65% and would gut funding for critical firefighting programs, forcing cash-strapped states and local communities to fend for themselves and bear the cost of wildfires, endangering families and communities.

    VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) grills U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, July 10, 2025.
    On Cuts to U.S. Forest Service Programs That Keep Families Safe
    Heinrich opened his questions, “Chief, you’ve talked recently about how your budget is constrained because you need to pay out accrued vacation time for the 5,000 Forest Service employees who opted into the Deferred Resignation Program, basically 5,000 people that we’re paying not to do work in our forests. Which programs are being affected this year because of the need to pay out that leave?”
    Schultz responded, “Senator Heinrich, we’re using primarily IRA and IIJA funds to pay those out. Those are the funds that are being used for that.”
    Heinrich followed, “So it had no impact on the decision to zero out the State and Volunteer Fire Assistance Program?”
    Schultz denied, “Sir, no. Those funds were not used directly. They were not directly earmarked for SFA and VFA funding. Those were not those funds.”
    Heinrich pushed back, “You told the Senate Appropriations Committee a few weeks ago that the Forest Service would be quickly releasing the FY 25 funds for these programs for state and state and volunteer fire assistance. But now we’re hearing that states have been told to prepare to receive zero funding this year. Is that correct?”
    Schultz responded, “Sir, you’re correct in what my testimony was, and what we’re telling states right now is we don’t have an answer just yet. But we’re not telling them they’re not going to get it. We’re saying we’re still in discussion on that. So, we’re not saying they’re not going to get it, but we’re still in discussion.”
    Heinrich challenged Schultz’s claims, “Well, what I would say, is that states need that funding. That is an example of a successful partnership. If we don’t have that funding, that’s not shared responsibility – that’s abdicating our federal responsibility. And not every state has even an agency in place to sort of replace that capacity at the state level, at a time when their budgets are also being decimated by Medicaid cuts thanks to the ‘Big Whatever Bill.’ So, I would think very seriously about our responsibility to continue to maintain positive relationships with those states and meet our federal responsibility. You have any thoughts?
    Schultz responded, “So I can tell you is your sentiments have been reflected by the State Foresters, and we’re in close communication with them, and we’re aware of their concerns, and we’re taking those into consideration as we work through this issue. Yes, sir.”
    On Forest Management and Reorganization
    Heinrich asked, “Last year, the Forest Service predicted it would accomplish about 4 million acres of hazardous fuels reduction in 2025. You’re three quarters of the way through the Fiscal Year. What’s your number right now?”
    Schultz failed to provide a number, “Sir, I don’t have that number at, with—but I’ll give it to you.”
    Heinrich responded, “I think I have the number, and you can tell me if I’m wrong. It’s about 1.7 million acres, so not even 50% of the way towards our goal, despite the fact that we’re almost through the Fiscal Year. So, I, you know, one of the things we agree on in this Committee, is we’d like to see more fuels reduction as a way to deal with our fire risk, and yet, we are abysmally behind our goals. We have 5,000 fewer people working for the Forest Service now, and there are many of us on this Committee that are worried that the current budget is a recipe for more trees burned and fewer trees cut. What would you say to my constituents who are worried that this budget blueprint is going to result in fewer hazardous fuels being treated?”
    Schultz responded, “Senator Heinrich, what I would say is that, overall, we’re still going to maintain our fuels program, as we have done. This budget, what it does, though, is it transfers fuels program to Department of Interior. So that work would be done in the future by Department of Interior. That’s part of what happens in this budget. That fuels program goes there. So, we would be working with Department of Interior to accomplish those objectives on Forest Service grounds. So, the intent is we still have the same amount of funding. The funding doesn’t shift for fuels, it just shifts from Forest Service to Department of Interior. So the intent would still be to accomplish those goals.”
    Heinrich replied, “So as the firefighting efforts are shifted to Interior, would the hazardous fuels treatments go with them?”
    Schultz stated, “Senator Heinrich, yes, sir. So, the funding for that program, the 170 million does transfer Interior so the large bulk of that would transfer with that program, yes, sir.”
    On the Administration’s New Firefighting Approach:
    Heinrich asked for details, “When are we going to get a detailed blueprint of what this new firefighting approach is going to look like?”
    Schultz answered, “Senator, we have been requested through the Executive Order within the next 90 days to develop a plan that would identify the structure of this. So, that’s something that we’ve just started discussions internally and with Department of Interior. So, we will meet the timelines that are established in the Executive Order. So, as you work through that, in 90 days, we’ll have a plan of what this would look like.”
    Heinrich concluded, “Irrespective of how long it takes to put that plan together, I think there are many of us who are more concerned about the adequacy of that plan and would like to see that plan before we start making budgetary decisions about whether it’s a good idea or not. I am very open to different ways of organizing how we fight fires on our national forests and our public lands, but I want to see the plan because peoples’ lives and livelihoods are at stake. We have to get that right. And irrespective of whether the White House wants it in two weeks or 90 days, I know that members of this Committee are going to want to see the details, and know that this has actually been thought through, unlike some of the you know, early decisions about letting people go who are critical to the management of our public lands.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – 2023 and 2024 reports on North Macedonia – P10_TA(2025)0157 – Wednesday, 9 July 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of North Macedonia, of the other part(1),

    –  having regard to North Macedonia’s application for membership of the European Union, submitted on 22 March 2004,

    –  having regard to the European Council decision of 16 December 2005 to grant North Macedonia EU candidate country status,

    –  having regard to the European Council conclusions of 19-20 June 2003, including the annex thereto entitled ‘The Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans: Moving towards European integration’,

    –  having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1529 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 September 2021 establishing the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA III)(2),

    –  having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1449 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans(3),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 5 February 2020 entitled ‘Enhancing the accession process – A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2020)0057),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘North Macedonia 2023 Report’ (SWD(2023)0693),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘New growth plan for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2023)0691),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 20 March 2024 on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews (COM(2024)0146),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 24 July 2024 entitled ‘2024 Rule of Law Report’ (COM(2024)0800), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘2024 Rule of Law Report – Country Chapter on the rule of law situation in North Macedonia’ (SWD(2024)0830),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 30 October 2024 entitled ‘2024 Communication on EU enlargement policy’ (COM(2024)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘North Macedonia 2024 Report’ (SWD(2024)0693),

    –  having regard to the Reform Agenda of North Macedonia as approved by the Commission under the Reform and Growth Facility on 23 October 2024,

    –  having regard to the declarations of the EU-Western Balkans summits of 13 December 2023 and of 18 December 2024 in Brussels as well as the declarations of the EU-Western Balkans summits held in Sofia, Zagreb and Brdo pri Kranju in 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively, and the Declaration on the Common Regional Market and the Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans agreed on 10 November 2020 at the Sofia Summit within the Berlin Process,

    –  having regard to the Council conclusions of 18 July 2022 on Enlargement – North Macedonia and Albania and the Council conclusions on Enlargement of 17 December 2024,

    –  having regard to the final report of 23 September 2024 of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission on North Macedonia’s presidential election on 24 April 2024 and parliamentary elections on 8 May 2024,

    –  having regard to the Berlin Process launched on 28 August 2014,

    –  having regard to the Treaty of friendship, good neighbourliness and cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, signed on 1 August 2017 and ratified in January 2018;

    –  having regard to the Final Agreement for the settlement of the differences as described in the United Nations Security Council resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995, and the establishment of a strategic partnership between Greece and North Macedonia, agreed on 17 June 2018, also known as the Prespa Agreement,

    –  having regard to the joint staff working document entitled ‘Objectives and Indicators to frame the implementation of the Gender Action Plan III (2021-25)’ (SWD(2020)0284) accompanying the joint communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 25 November 2020 entitled ’EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III – An ambitions vision for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action (JOIN(2020)0017), as well as the Country Level Implementation Plan (CLIP) for North Macedonia,

    –  having regard to the 2023 European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Report on North Macedonia, adopted on 29 June 2023 and published on 20 September 2023,

    –  having regard to the declaration and joint recommendations adopted at the 23rd meeting of the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee, held on 27 and 28 February 2025 in Skopje,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on North Macedonia, and in particular its resolution of 24 October 2019 on opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania(4),

    –  having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

    –  having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0118/2025),

    A.  whereas North Macedonia has held EU candidate country status since 2005 and successfully completed the screening process in December 2023;

    B.  whereas the aspirations of citizens of North Macedonia to become part of the EU have led to progress in terms of democracy and socio-economic reforms, while the EU accession process continues to experience regrettable delays for various reasons;

    C.  whereas the EU has mobilised approximately EUR 210 million in macro-financial assistance loans since 2020, aimed at stabilising the Macedonian economy, aiding its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating its reform progress;

    D.  whereas North Macedonia is a partner that is aligned with the EU’s common foreign and security policy in the vast majority of cases and has played a constructive role in the region; whereas North Macedonia’s recent abstention from United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/7 of 24 February 2025 on Ukraine and its co-sponsorship of an alternative resolution led by the United States indicates an unexpected and regrettable shift in its foreign policy alignment;

    E.  whereas North Macedonia participates in EU military crisis management operations, including EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

    F.  whereas the Council reached new conclusions in July 2022 which mean that North Macedonia needs to adopt the outstanding constitutional changes, in line with its commitments, so that the opening phase of accession negotiations can be completed immediately;

    G.  whereas the geopolitical changes, the war in Ukraine, disinformation and misinformation have a strong impact on all European countries, both politically and economically;

    H.  whereas North Macedonia remains a target of foreign malign influence operations, including efforts to fracture the country’s social fabric and weaponise anti-EU sentiment, notably via Serbian-language tabloids and media outlets, which function as regional amplifiers of Kremlin narratives and enjoy considerable influence; whereas North Macedonia expelled 13 Russian diplomats between 2018 and 2023 for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, suggesting an ongoing presence of covert influence networks; whereas China has sought to expand its influence through information control, investment diplomacy and coercive clauses in infrastructure loan agreements;

    I.  whereas North Macedonia’s authorities have proposed solutions for constitutional change that did not meet the conditions of the July 2022 Council conclusions;

    J.  whereas any accession country is expected to respect democratic values, the rule of law and human rights, and to abide by EU law;

    K.  whereas the Council has not excluded unequivocally the adoption of further new conditions for the starting of accession negotiations;

    1.  Reiterates its full support for North Macedonia’s continued and persistent commitment to join the EU and for the necessary transformative changes that are required to fulfil the accession criteria; commends the country’s commitment to European integration and encourages continued efforts in advancing EU-aligned reforms, despite the challenges and setbacks that have tested the patience and trust of the Macedonian society;

    2.  Underlines that EU accession remains a matter of political will in fulfilling the criteria and implementing the commitments undertaken, in terms of both making the necessary reforms and adopting the necessary constitutional amendments;

    3.  Recalls the need to maintain the momentum and credibility of the EU integration process; notes that North Macedonia continues to demonstrate commitment to EU integration and alignment with EU policies; calls for the swift advancement of accession negotiations, while noting the importance of adopting the constitutional amendments; urges the European Council to signal, publicly and unequivocally, that the Council intends to swiftly and unconditionally take the positive decision to enter into the next phase of accession negotiations with North Macedonia once the conditions of its conclusions of 18 July 2022 have been fulfilled; encourages all political parties in North Macedonia to engage in constructive dialogue to achieve the necessary consensus on these amendments, which would strengthen the country’s multi-ethnic character and accelerate its progress towards EU membership; believes that strengthening the links between the multiple ethnicities is essential for improving social cohesion and ensuring more effective governance; calls on the Member States, the Council and the Commission to safeguard the predictability and credibility of the accession process, also with a view to maintaining popular support for accession in enlargement countries;

    4.  Welcomes the successful completion of the screening process for North Macedonia at the end of 2023; encourages North Macedonia to adopt the constitutional amendments that the country committed to making and implementing, as required by the Council, in order for the accession negotiation process to proceed;

    5.  Commends the commitment of the Macedonian people to EU integration and the support they show to this project two decades on from starting the process; urges the Commission to do the utmost to help the authorities of North Macedonia accomplish the necessary steps before entering into the next negotiation phase as well as further along the negotiation process, to help deliver on the expectations of citizens and the country and to explore all measures for gradual integration into the EU structures, thus increasing trust in the EU and its democratic values;

    6.  Recalls that the accession process should not be used to settle bilateral disputes, obstruct merit-based progress on the European path or outweigh the broader strategic interests of the Union, but that such disputes must rather be addressed through open dialogue and genuine cooperation; underlines that accession negotiations should follow a clear path, guided by objective criteria and solely based on merit and the fulfilment of the accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria), which require in-depth reforms across fundamental areas, as well as the presence of stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and the protection of minorities;

    7.  Reaffirms that the respect for linguistic, cultural and national identity is a fundamental component of the EU accession process and a cornerstone of democratic societies which will be further affirmed with the accession to the family of European nations;

    8.  Repeats its calls for the EU’s capacity to act to be enhanced through a reform of its decision-making, including through the introduction of qualified majority voting on the intermediate steps in the accession process, in particular at the start of negotiations and the opening and closing of individual negotiating clusters and chapters;

    9.  Welcomes the new Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans which will provide EUR 750 million in grants and loans to North Macedonia when it meets the conditions set out in its Reform Agenda; welcomes, in this context, the excellent and ambitious Reform Agenda, which sets clear, transparent goals and targets, and calls on the authorities to focus on its rigorous implementation; underlines the need to focus on incentivising reforms and reinforcing economic stability as well as on public administration, governance, the rule of law and the fight against corruption, decarbonisation and the green transition, digitalisation, connectivity and human capital development, while addressing social challenges;

    10.  Notes the funds being received by North Macedonia from individual Member States and the good cooperation between them; warns however about strengthening alliances with illiberal regimes;

    11.  Commends North Macedonia on its continued commitment to the EU integration process and regrets the delays in the accession process; welcomes the stability of and encourages continued efforts to secure interethnic relations and the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement;

    12.  Encourages North Macedonia to achieve tangible results in complying with the EU’s expectations under the negotiating framework and the Council conclusions of July 2022, including relevant constitutional changes, in line with the country’s commitments;

    13.  Urges North Macedonia to intensify efforts to strengthen the rule of law and judicial independence, including in judicial appointments and the functioning of the Judicial Council, to counter corruption, reform its public administration and improve the transparency and concentration of media ownership; encourages further implementation of systemic measures to ensure transparency and efficiency in governance;

    14.  Expresses its profound sorrow and heartfelt solidarity following the tragic Kočani nightclub fire that led to the death of more than 50 young people and injuries to more than 150 others and offers its condolences to the victims and their families; commends the rapid use of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the help provided by the Member States to save as many lives as possible; commends neighbouring and EU countries, in particular Greece and Bulgaria, for the immediate support and solidarity they showed and the medical treatment they provided to victims;

    Functioning of democratic institutions

    15.  Notes that, while democratic institutions in North Macedonia function satisfactorily, political polarisation remains a major stumbling block to necessary reforms; calls on the political parties represented in the country’s parliament to work together to reach an agreement on those reforms;

    16.  Welcomes the adoption of new rules of procedure by the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia (Sobranie), facilitated by the European Parliament within the framework of the Jean Monnet Dialogue; stresses, however, that persistent political polarisation continues to delay important reforms and appointments; emphasises that cross-party collaboration and an improved political climate remain vital to accelerate the implementation of EU-related reforms and strengthen democratic institutions;

    17.  Notes with concern that about half of all laws enacted by the Sobranie in 2023 were approved through shortened procedures; calls on the Sobranie to improve its legislative planning, coordination and quality through proper consultation procedures and parliamentary oversight, in particular with a view to the conclusions of the Jean Monnet Dialogue and to avoid fast-track procedures;

    18.  Stresses that, while the 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections were competitive, and democratic and amendments to the Electoral Code have been made, comprehensive electoral reform is still needed; calls strongly for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations made by the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission through an inclusive revision of the Electoral Code, while underlining the importance of insulating future electoral processes from malign foreign interference and information manipulation, including through the adoption of robust cybersecurity and online campaign transparency rules;

    19.  Calls for improved regulation of the financing of political parties and campaigns, including measures to increase transparency regarding the funds and expenses of political parties; urges a revision of the rules on state advertising in commercial media and paid political advertisement; emphasises the need for functioning oversight mechanisms to ensure integrity in party financing and for equal and adequate media access for political parties and independent candidates;

    20.  Calls for the continued modernisation of a merit-based public administration, addressing systemic challenges of politicisation, strengthening transparent recruitment processes, and reforming local self-government to provide better social services for citizens and to develop tailor-made local and regional development strategies; urges the authorities to step up their efforts and adopt and implement the necessary legislation with a view to improving public trust in the administration and fostering a resilient and capable public service that can effectively respond to contemporary challenges and serve the needs of the community; commends the 2023-2030 public administration strategy and the related action plan for 2023-2026 adopted in July 2023; acknowledges that they cover all relevant reform areas and set out a clear baseline, objectives and targets, thus identifying crucial policy challenges; regrets, however that the implementation rate remains low;

    21.  Calls for further steps to ensure the systemic accountability of public institutions through meaningful and public stakeholder consultations, including with regard to the implementation of the Reform Agenda, and to provide feedback from the consultations conducted; commends the law on general administrative procedures that is providing for simplification, but strongly recommends that it be implemented systematically across the administration;

    22.  Urges the authorities of North Macedonia to refrain from opaque, politicised dismissals from, and appointments to, positions within independent bodies and agencies, as well as to ensure that the institutions are adequately funded and that decisions and recommendations are implemented consistently; notes with regret the continued lack of progress in strengthening the office of the Ombudsman;

    Media and civil society

    23.  Welcomes North Macedonia’s steady progress in assuring media freedom; recalls however, the need for continued reforms to ensure an independent and resilient media landscape, including reforming the legal framework governing online and offline media to align fully with the European Media Freedom Act(5), addressing persistent challenges in media ownership transparency, digital media disclosure and media concentration; underlines the need for media reform that prioritises anti-concentration measures to safeguard journalistic integrity; emphasises the urgent need to counter malign foreign influence in the media landscape, including disinformation disseminated by actors linked to Russia and China;

    24.  Calls on the authorities to adopt a legal framework that effectively protects journalists, human rights defenders, environmental activists and other stakeholders from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), and to implement the provisions of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive(6);

    25.  Urges the authorities to ensure full transparency and unimpeded access to information for citizens;

    26.  Notes with concern the reinstatement of government advertising in commercial media in North Macedonia; stresses the heightened risk of this measure opening the media market to disruption and undue political influence, thus endangering media independence and media pluralism; reiterates its calls for the comprehensive reform of the rules governing state financing and political party advertising in the media, noting the lack of transparency, the ongoing misuse of state funds for political advertising, and the continued risk of compromising media independence through opaque funding mechanisms; calls strongly for these reforms to be adopted and implemented before the local elections planned for autumn 2025;

    27.  Underlines the need to strengthen the independence and capacity of the media regulator, the public service broadcaster and the regulator of electronic communication;

    28.  Encourages action to enhance the editorial and financial independence, impartiality and professionalism of public service broadcasters and media regulators, while noting the continued delay in appointing key oversight bodies and the need for comprehensive modernisation efforts; calls for stricter transparency and ownership rules to expose covert influence, including foreign-sponsored media content, and for the establishment of mechanisms to identify and disrupt coordinated foreign disinformation networks;

    29.  Notes that certain Chinese diplomatic entities have financed paid content and opinion pieces in Macedonian media outlets without clear labelling; recalls that a 2023 analysis found that Russian state-affiliated actors had used Serbian media proxies to disseminate narratives hostile to NATO and to claim that the EU is pressuring North Macedonia to ‘abandon its identity’;

    30.  Expresses concern over the ongoing threats and attacks against independent journalists and media professionals, including misogynistic online harassment targeting women journalists, often targeting those reporting on the rule of law, corruption and justice; welcomes the assignment of a dedicated prosecutor to monitor these attacks on journalists and oversee the establishment of cyberbullying reporting mechanisms; calls for stronger measures to protect media professionals from physical and non-physical threats, harassment and the inappropriate use of language by public figures;

    31.  Encourages North Macedonia to continue the efforts to combat hate speech in all of its forms and targeting all groups, to proactively prevent and thoroughly investigate all instances of hate speech, hate crimes and intimidation, systematically prosecute related attacks, with a view to achieving convictions and ensuring the safety and security of their targets, such as journalists, people belonging to minorities, communities such as Bulgarians, and other vulnerable groups;

    32.  Expresses concern about the rise in hate speech and growing threats from disinformation in online media, over which the national Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services has no regulatory authority; calls for strengthened measures to support investigative journalism, fact-checking capabilities and media literacy and to improve the legal framework and interinstitutional capacity in order to combat hate speech, disinformation and foreign interference; is concerned by widespread disinformation campaigns which call into question democratic values and the country’s goal of EU membership; calls, in this regard, for the support of the EU institutions to help the country mitigate these malicious effects; welcomes civil society initiatives promoting media fact-checking, digital literacy in schools and the combating of the spread of hate speech, and notes that nearly 50 % of the citizens of North Macedonia have adopted false narratives about international events, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine, underscoring the urgency of reinforcing societal resilience against malign information manipulation;

    33.  Underlines that civil society is vital in fostering democracy and pluralism and promoting good governance and social progress; welcomes the country’s vibrant and constructive civil society, which plays a very crucial and positive role in the reform process, and recalls that further efforts are needed to ensure inclusive, timely and meaningful consultation and transparency, as well as formal mechanisms for cooperation; welcomes, against this backdrop, the recent initiation of the process for re-establishing the Council for Cooperation with and Development of the Civil Society Sector and calls for enhanced cooperation between the government and civil society, especially in mitigating the implications for civil society of the recent ‘freeze’ of US Agency for International Development (USAID) funds; notes that, while civil society organisations operate in an overall enabling environment, legal and financial frameworks need to be implemented to ensure that their public funding is increased and that public funding mechanisms are transparent; is concerned about reports of an increase in hostile statements towards civil society and encourages the Ministry of Internal Affairs to work with civil society organisations to develop a security protocol for human rights defenders to ensure their protection against threats from non-state actors; calls strongly for further enhancement of the role of civil society by ensuring that it continues to be meaningfully included in the decision-making process and by consulting the Venice Commission before adopting future legislation related to non-governmental organisations (NGOs);

    Fundamental rights

    34.  Commends North Macedonia for ratifying most international human rights instruments; expresses concern, however, about the level of implementation, the lack of progress in gender equality, the rise of anti-gender movements and the increase in their influence, which have a negative impact on legislative and policymaking processes; urges the government to fully implement the Istanbul Convention; calls on the authorities to adopt the new Law on Gender Equality and to strengthen formal government structures designed to promote gender equality and improve the status and rights of women at all levels, as well as to ensure the effective implementation of the gender equality strategy and the national action plan, notably by ensuring adequate funding, enhancing interinstitutional coordination and aligning national policies with the EU acquis;

    35.  Urges the authorities to ensure the full and effective implementation of the existing legal framework for the protection of victims of gender-based and domestic violence, by allocating sufficient budgetary resources for prevention, and by improving access to support services, protection mechanisms and the enforcement of legally guaranteed social and economic rights of survivors; notes, against this background, the adoption in 2023 of the Law on Payment of Monetary Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes, which integrates the standards of the Istanbul Convention to provide better protection for victims of gender-based violence; urges the authorities, furthermore, to strengthen their efforts to reduce and mitigate gender-based violence and domestic violence, and to increase shelter capacity and personnel, as well as the number of well-trained and gender-sensitive law enforcement officers, judges, medical personnel and social workers;

    36.  Notes, with concern, the dire situation of young women in prison, including juvenile girls aged between 14 and 16, who lack education and job skills training and are often overmedicated, with insufficient healthcare; urges the authorities of North Macedonia to take urgent measures to improve the detention conditions for all inmates, to reduce corruption and stop inhuman treatment, and to enhance the probation and reintegration of ex-prisoners into society;

    37.  Urges North Macedonia to fully implement the recommendations outlined in the 2023 ECRI report on North Macedonia in order to effectively address the human rights violations identified;

    38.  Welcomes the fact that interethnic relations remain stable and the Ohrid Framework Agreement continues to be implemented; commends North Macedonia’s efforts in strengthening minority rights protections, while encouraging further financial support; calls for adequate funding and staffing for institutions protecting the rights of non-majority communities; calls on political representatives of minority communities to avoid promoting divisive ethnic narratives echoing policies that caused profound suffering and wars in the region’s recent past; urges North Macedonia to fully implement the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as regards the ‘One society for all and interculturalism’ strategy; calls on North Macedonia to provide sufficient funding and staff for the Language Implementation Agency and the Agency for Community Rights Realization; regrets that North Macedonia did not ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; awaits a final decision on the contested Law on the Use of Languages, which may have an impact on interethnic relations;

    39.  Welcomes the progress the country has achieved in aligning its legislative and institutional framework for the rights of the child with the EU acquis and international human rights standards; notes the progress in implementing the strategy for deinstitutionalisation and welcomes the successful relocation of children from institutions to foster care or small group homes; notes with concern, however, the continued instances of child violence and discrimination, including against Roma children; calls, therefore, for the country to set up a national body responsible for coordinating all policies relating to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the optional protocols thereto;

    40.  Encourages North Macedonia to take meaningful steps toward recognising and incorporating national minorities and communities into its constitution, fostering inclusivity, protecting diversity, fighting discrimination and strengthening social cohesion in line with European values and democratic principles; calls on North Macedonia to fully guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all ethnic communities in the country;

    41.  Notes that persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers as the country’s legislation is still not aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; welcomes the national strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities for 2023-2030 and calls strongly for its proper implementation, including in regard to ensuring a sufficient number of educational assistants, in order to effectively and smoothly include children with disabilities in the education process;

    42.  Welcomes the first court ruling on hate speech against the LGBTIQ+ community, but calls strongly for the systematic prosecution of all instances of hate speech, hate crimes and intimidation, as well as for the inclusion of hate speech in the Criminal Code and for the state institutions responsible to keep adequate statistics on cases of hate speech and hate crimes;

    43.  Notes with concern the widespread hate speech on social media, particularly towards Roma, LGBTIQ+ persons and other marginalised groups; urges all political actors to amend the Law on Civil Registry and ensure swift and unimpeded legal gender recognition on the basis of self-determination, to uphold human rights, ensure dignity, and establish a clear and accessible legal process in line with international standards; recommends that the new Law on Primary Education maintain explicit protection against discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, ensuring alignment with national and international commitments; encourages the Assembly of North Macedonia to promptly (re-)establish an active interparliamentary LGBTIQ+ group to support and advance LGBTIQ+ rights;

    44.  Calls on North Macedonia to strengthen migration management, improve alignment with the EU acquis and address persistent challenges in handling regular and irregular migration while upholding fundamental human rights; welcomes enhanced cooperation on border management and the strengthening of the country’s capacity to manage migration flows and combat migrant smuggling, human trafficking and other organised crime; encourages the continued development of asylum procedures and integration policies and the improvement of reception conditions, in alignment with EU migration frameworks; stresses the importance of regional cooperation in migration management and urges the EU to provide further support in terms of resources, technical assistance and capacity-building in order to address migration challenges effectively;

    45.  Calls on North Macedonia to step up its efforts in the fight against human trafficking, notably by further aligning the Criminal Code with the EU acquis and its legislation on drugs;

    Rule of law

    46.  Notes, with serious concern, that the country’s track record in fighting corruption, including high-level corruption, has worsened, as also evidenced by its decline in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, particularly owing to Criminal Code amendments that have weakened the legal framework, resulting in the termination of many ongoing cases; reiterates that this decline underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms; calls strongly for the anti-corruption framework to be strengthened and for effective accountability to be ensured, in particular in high-level corruption cases, through proper investigation, prosecution and convictions; urges a review of recent amendments to the Criminal Code in relation to sentencing standards and the statute of limitations, in order to ensure that the prosecution of corruption, especially of complex and high-level cases, is not negatively affected;

    47.  Recalls that sufficient financial and human resources are needed to ensure effective and consistent application of dissuasion, prevention, detection, investigation and sanction mechanisms for public office holders through broad measures covering conflicts of interest, lobbying, codes of ethics and whistle-blower protection;

    48.  Notes that the perceived level of trust in the judiciary remains very low and that further efforts are needed to prevent undue influence and intimidation; underlines the lack of progress in the implementation of the 2020 strategies for human resources management in the courts and in the public prosecutor’s office; calls strongly for the critical shortage of judges and prosecutors, which impacts the quality and efficiency of justice, to be addressed; calls for the independence and transparency of judicial bodies to be strengthened and for the funds necessary for their effective functioning to be allocated;

    49.  Calls for the strengthening of the Judicial Council and the Council of Prosecutors and for the allocation of necessary funds, while ensuring their independence; strongly urges political actors to cease interfering in judicial institutions;

    50.  Notes, with concern, the lack of progress in preventing and fighting corruption, and that financial investigations remain problematic; underlines how corruption continues to severely affect crucial policy areas; calls for the operational capacity and cooperation of agencies responsible for fighting organised crime and financial crime to be significantly strengthened, including through ensuring the necessary financial resources; encourages the country to improve its fight against organised and economic crime and cybercrime through a strengthened partnership with Europol, the European Cybercrime Centre and Eurojust; calls on North Macedonia to enhance its efforts to combat money laundering;

    51.  Calls for all necessary measures to be put in place to effectively counter organised crime; urges the authorities to improve coordination through the National Coordination Centre for the Fight Against Organised Crime as well as to allocate the necessary funds and staffing to the Office of the Basic Public Prosecutor for Organised Crime and Corruption; underlines the need to direct particular attention and resources towards uncovering money-laundering schemes;

    52.  Notes, with concern, North Macedonia’s partial alignment with the EU acquis in the fight against organised crime; reiterates its call for further alignment with the EU acquis and for systematic financial investigations, stepping up the freezing, confiscation, management and disposal of illegally acquired assets;

    53.  Calls for a thorough and transparent investigation of the Kočani nightclub fire on 16 March 2025, to bring to justice the persons responsible, and also for the legislation to be updated and thoroughly implemented to prevent similar tragedies and ensure better public safety and regulatory compliance to protect citizens;

    54.  Calls for the swift implementation of the ongoing reforms in the security and intelligence sectors, and for the independence of security and intelligence bodies to be strengthened through the establishment of appropriate regulatory frameworks, while also enhancing democratic oversight mechanisms; notes, with concern, that the National Security Agency is still located on the premises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, calling into question its status as an independent state administration body;

    55.  Commends North Macedonia’s strong determination to counter hybrid threats; welcomes the government’s initiative to create a national strategic framework to counter disinformation as well as the adoption of the national cybersecurity strategy 2025-2028; calls for further efforts to build resilience against foreign interference and information manipulation; underlines the need to work on a national strategy to build resilience against disinformation as a security threat to the state, including through enhanced cybersecurity measures and strategic communication as well as education and media literacy; calls for the full operationalisation of EU mechanisms, such as the rapid alert system, to detect malign foreign influence in real time during key democratic processes, including elections;

    56.  Is deeply concerned that North Macedonia and other EU accession countries in the Western Balkans are being particularly hard hit by foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, including hybrid threats, strategic corruption, opaque financial flows and coercive investment practices, notably originating in Russia and China; is alarmed by the roles of the Hungarian and Serbian Governments in advancing China’s and Russia’s geopolitical objectives; notes, in this context, the risk of dependence on China caused by asymmetrical loan agreements, as well as the recent loan from the Hungarian bank Eximbank, which appears to be sourced from China;

    Socio-economic reforms

    57.  Recommends that North Macedonia continue to pursue steps to improve the business climate and infrastructure, strengthen education and digital infrastructure, and enhance social protection systems and their connection to employment initiatives; welcomes the inclusion of human capital-related reforms in the Growth Plan Reform Agenda and calls on North Macedonia to dedicate sufficient effort to implementing these reforms to achieve sustainable results in the development of human capital for children and young people, as the foundation of resilient societies and sustainable growth;

    58.  Welcomes the adoption of the Reform Agenda and the multiannual work programme under the Reform and Growth Facility for North Macedonia, which will provide support for small and medium-sized enterprises, cut red tape and digitalise the public system, and welcomes the steps provided for in the Reform Agenda regarding the digital infrastructure roll-out and the new Law on Electronic Communications, aligning the national legislation with the relevant EU acquis and keeping up with the digital transition worldwide;

    59.  Encourages labour market activation strategies for young people, the long-term unemployed, and low-skilled individuals, as well as for women, persons with disabilities and Roma, and calls for these measures to be properly evaluated; takes note of the long-term improvement in unemployment rates, notes, however, that this must be accompanied by a rise in real wages, the improvement of working conditions and the protection of workers’ rights, including trade union rights; calls for the full implementation of the Law on the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes;

    60.  Encourages North Macedonia to advance its digital transformation, particularly by improving the digital skills of all citizens and by providing online access to public services; recognises the demographic challenges faced by North Macedonia, including population decline, the emigration of young professionals, and an ageing workforce, and underlines the need to address the brain drain, especially in the medical, technological and educational fields; calls for the implementation of targeted policies to reverse the brain drain, enhance family-friendly social policies and attract return migration; encourages cooperation with the EU on demographic resilience strategies, including labour market incentives, housing support for young families, and investment in education and skills development to align with future job market needs; calls for increased support for innovation and competitiveness;

    61.  Welcomes the positive effects of the Youth Guarantee on the reduction of youth unemployment; calls on North Macedonia to intensify its efforts to reduce the unemployment rate of young people aged between 15 and 24, which remains high at 29.3 %; underlines the need to address social challenges, ensure quality employment policies, foster upward social cohesion and convergence towards EU standards and support progress on the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights;

    62.  Welcomes the efforts to amend the labour law; urges full alignment of the Law on Working Relations with EU directives to effectively guarantee the right to equal pay for equal work, ensure pay transparency and enhance protection against discrimination based on pregnancy and maternity; insists on the need to strengthen the competencies and capacities of the State Labour Inspectorate to ensure effective protection of workers’ rights, including safeguards against labour discrimination;

    63.  Commends North Macedonia for joining the single euro payments area (SEPA), recognising this as an important step toward deeper financial integration with the European market and the facilitation of faster, more efficient cross-border transactions; urges North Macedonia to introduce structural reforms to strengthen the economy and secure the country’s debt sustainability;

    64.  Welcomes the calls for the prompt integration of all of the Western Balkans into the EU’s digital single market at the earliest opportunity, which would crucially benefit the creation of a digitally safe environment;

    65.  Urges the authorities to fully implement existing legal provisions to ensure access to primary healthcare services, with a particular focus on sexual and reproductive health for women, mothers and children, and eliminate barriers related to geography, finances or other hardships; calls for targeted measures to support vulnerable groups of women in accessing healthcare, including Roma women, rural women and those living in poverty;

    66.  Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the Strategy for Inclusion of Roma 2022-2030; regrets, however, that the strategy lacks a clear approach to participation, empowerment and capacity building; calls on the authorities to implement the respective action plans, ensuring proper monitoring and meaningful and transparent participation of civil society organisations, notably from the Roma community;

    Environment, biodiversity, energy and transport

    67.  Welcomes the adoption of the Energy Law in 2025 and underscores its importance for guaranteeing a safe, secure and high-quality supply of energy as well as for creating an efficient, competitive and financially sustainable energy sector; encourages the authorities to continue on this ambitious path and recalls that additional efforts are needed to fully meet the targets for energy efficiency, renewable energy, security of supply and emissions reductions; urges the country’s authorities to align their environment and climate change legislation with the EU acquis and to ensure its enforcement; notes, with concern, the lack of progress on climate action and the pending adoption of key legislation; stresses the need to integrate gender equality and social inclusion into climate action planning so that women, low-income households and marginalised communities are actively consulted and benefit equitably from the transition;

    68.  Welcomes the European Investment Bank’s continued financial and technical support in North Macedonia, including strategic infrastructure projects such as the Rail Corridors VIII and X, the Skopje wastewater treatment plant, and municipal water infrastructure development; calls for an inclusive and just transition which protects the socially vulnerable, by mobilising public and private financing for the green transition, fully operationalising dedicated funding mechanisms and leveraging EU and international support; stresses the need to address the problems of a lack of specialised staff and weak institutional and administrative capacity, which undermine quality control and the adequate performance of environmental impact assessments;

    69.  Notes, with concern, that air and water quality and wastewater management remain particularly challenging issues for the country; urges the central government and local authorities to step up their efforts in order to improve air quality and reduce potentially lethal pollution; recalls that the situation is particularly alarming in Skopje, which has consistently been one of the most polluted cities in Europe;

    70.  Recognises North Macedonia’s great potential as a regional hub with regard to the use of renewable energy sources; urges North Macedonia to fully align its environmental impact assessment with the EU acquis, with a particular focus on secondary legislation concerning small hydropower projects;

    71.  Stresses the urgent need to prioritise environmental protection; strongly urges the authorities to adopt the necessary legislation and to step up measures on biodiversity, water, air and climate action, and regional waste management, including through comprehensive impact assessments, rigorous prosecution of environmental crime and proper public consultation that allows for the meaningful and transparent involvement of local communities, NGOs and scientific institutions;

    72.  Calls on North Macedonia to establish legal protections for Emerald Sites designated under the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the Bern Convention) to safeguard them from environmentally harmful projects; encourages the country to expand its protected areas, with a view to fulfilling the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets; reiterates the urgent need to adopt the law on the re-proclamation of Mavrovo National Park to ensure the continuation and completion of its essential conservation efforts; encourages North Macedonia to include Jablanica on its list of protected areas, thus ensuring the conservation of habitats that are critical to the survival of species;

    73.  Encourages the authorities of North Macedonia to implement stricter protection and management strategies for the habitats of endangered species, as well as for the species themselves, particularly the Balkan lynx, including rigorous enforcement of laws against wildlife crimes, specifically illegal killing and poaching, to safeguard biodiversity;

    74.  Welcomes North Macedonia’s continued cooperation with Kosovo and Albania regarding the transboundary Sharr Mountains National Park; encourages North Macedonia to intensify and speed up collaborative efforts with its neighbouring countries to designate transboundary protected areas and establish coherent transboundary management plans;

    75.  Stresses the need to tackle financial challenges faced by national parks to improve various aspects, including human resources and overall management, with the aim of strengthening their role in biodiversity conservation, providing recreational opportunities and supporting local economies;

    76.  Welcomes the progress made in the construction of Corridors VIII and X of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and commends the completion of the Kriva Palanka–Dlabochica–Stracin expressway; urges, however, the authorities of North Macedonia to step up their efforts to prioritise sustainable transport and upgrade energy infrastructure work towards integration in European networks and regional connectivity as well as to address persistent delays in the development of critical infrastructure, including through bilateral negotiations; calls on the Commission to assist in these efforts where needed;

    77.  Calls for additional efforts to accelerate progress on all priority sections of the core network for both rail and road, including by increasing the number of border crossings wherever possible; notes the strategic importance of Corridor VIII for the EU’s and NATO’s geostrategic autonomy, serving as a key logistics route along NATO’s southern flank;

    Regional cooperation and foreign policy

    78.  Welcomes North Macedonia’s valuable and significant contributions to regional cooperation and stability via its engagement in regional economic and diplomatic initiatives such as the Berlin Process, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, and the implementation of common regional market agreements, underlining the importance of their inclusiveness;

    79.  Welcomes the country’s commitment to nurturing good neighbourly relations and acknowledges its role as a model for the peaceful resolution of bilateral disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding; emphasises, in this regard, the importance of full implementation of international agreements with tangible results in good faith by all sides, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty of friendship, good neighbourliness and cooperation with Bulgaria; calls for consistent commitment to dialogue and cooperation with neighbouring countries to strengthen regional stability and foster mutual trust; calls for the further promotion of people-to-people contacts across south-eastern Europe;

    80.  Expresses concern about the so-called ‘Serbian world’ project and that some representatives of the Government of North Macedonia have been advocating and promoting this concept; condemns the participation in meetings that attempt to establish a sphere of influence undermining the sovereignty of other countries and the stability of the region;

    81.  Recalls the need to open up Yugoslav secret service archives (UDBA and KOS), kept in both North Macedonia and Serbia; emphasises the need to open these archives region-wide to deal with the totalitarian past in a transparent way, with a view to strengthening democracy, accountability and institutions in the Western Balkans;

    82.  Welcomes North Macedonia’s continued commitment to Euro-Atlantic security; commends North Macedonia’s active role in the OSCE, in particular its chairmanship of the OSCE in 2023 in a complex geopolitical environment, and substantial contributions to EU crisis management missions and military operations; commends the country’s alignment with the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy, including its clear-cut response to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine by aligning with the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus and providing support to Ukraine; welcomes the signing of a security and defence partnership with the EU in 2024;

    83.  Regrets, however, that North Macedonia, was the only country in the Western Balkans to abstain on the European resolution on Ukraine in the UN General Assembly in February 2025 and instead co-sponsored the US resolution, alongside countries such as Georgia and Hungary, representing a negative signal regarding North Macedonia’s alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy and with the collective European commitment to upholding peace, international law and democratic principles;

    84.  Acknowledges North Macedonia’s NATO membership as a significant geostrategic contribution to regional security and Euro-Atlantic stability, including through the country’s active participation in NATO missions and operations and its strategic role in fostering peace and cooperation in the Western Balkans, as well as through the ongoing modernisation of its armed forces and reforms in the fields of crisis management, critical infrastructure and cyber defence; highlights the fact that NATO membership strengthens North Macedonia’s defence capabilities, enhances security coordination with EU and NATO allies, and serves as a deterrent against external destabilisation efforts; encourages North Macedonia to deepen cooperation with the EU and NATO on countering hybrid threats, including through cybersecurity coordination, joint disinformation tracking and resilience-building, and to pursue its efforts to deter external destabilisation attempts; encourages North Macedonia to continue its investment in defence modernisation and alignment with NATO strategic priorities in order to further solidify its role as a reliable security partner;

    85.  Welcomes the agreement concluded at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana on reduced roaming costs; calls, in this respect, on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate achieving the agreed targets of a substantial reduction of data roaming charges between the Western Balkans and the EU and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices by 2027; welcomes the entering into force of the first phase of implementation of the roadmap for roaming between the Western Balkans and the EU;

    o
    o   o

    86.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, Government and Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.

    (1) OJ L 84, 20.3.2004, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2004/239(2)/oj.
    (2) OJ L 330, 20.9.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1529/oj.
    (3) OJ L, 2024/1449, 24.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1449/oj.
    (4) OJ C 202, 28.5.2021, p. 86.
    (5) Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market and amending Directive 2010/13/EU (European Media Freedom Act) (OJ L, 2024/1083, 17.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1083/oj).
    (6) Directive (EU) 2024/1069 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings (‘Strategic lawsuits against public participation’) (OJ L, 2024/1069, 16.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1069/oj).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada Invests in Renewable Energy, Carbon Capture and Grid Modernization in the Maritimes

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 11, 2025                                         Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island                                     Natural Resources Canada

    Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced close to $16 million in federal funding for energy projects in the Maritime provinces that will help deliver reliable, affordable clean energy in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick — driving innovation, powering economic growth and creating good jobs throughout Atlantic Canada.

    This investment will support key initiatives in the region, including:

    • Modernizing electricity grids to deliver more reliable, affordable and clean power to Canadians;
    • Advancing carbon capture and clean technologies to reduce emissions and bring more- affordable, low-risk Canadian energy to market;
    • Expanding renewable energy capacity by advancing wind and solar power projects; and 
    • Supporting clean energy projects in Indigenous, rural and remote communities and advancing economic reconciliation.

    This funding is rooted in collaboration with provinces, offshore regulators, Indigenous partners, workers and industry to ensure that federal investments reflect Maritime strengths and priorities and deliver long-term prosperity.

    Through these investments, the Government of Canada is investing more in the people and businesses that will build the strongest economy in the G7. The projects announced today also underscore the government’s commitment to lowering Canadians’ energy bills, creating more reliable and clean power, growing job opportunities and fostering inclusive, respectful partnerships with Indigenous Peoples.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Government of Canada Invests in Renewable Energy, Carbon Capture and Grid Modernization in the Maritimes

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On July 11, 2025, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced close to $16 million in federal funding for energy projects in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

    Energy Innovation Program – Smart Grid Demonstration

    The Energy Innovation Program (EIP) supports research, development, demonstration and related scientific activities that advance clean energy technologies. These investments help Canada meet its climate targets and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

    Projects funded under the Smart Grid Demonstration Call for Proposals showcase innovative smart-grid technologies, solutions and market or contract mechanisms.

    Project name: Advanced Distribution Grid Management    
    Recipient: Nova Scotia Power Inc.    
    Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Funding amount: $6,000,000    
    Description: This project will demonstrate three new distribution grid technologies to modernize Nova Scotia Power’s electricity distribution network.  

    Project name: Advanced Digital Distribution System Operator
    Recipient: Saint John Energy Inc.
    Location: Saint John, New Brunswick
    Funding amount: $5,250,000
    Description: This project will modernize electricity distribution in the City of Saint John through intelligent grid management systems and bring cost savings and improved service reliability to approximately 36,000 Saint John Energy customers.

    Project name: Charlottetown Grid Modernization Project  
    Recipient: Maritime Electric Company Ltd.    
    Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    Funding amount: $2,000,000
    Description: This project seeks to demonstrate the integration of smart-grid technology through the public cellular network in Charlottetown.  

    Project name: Regionally Integrated Smart Meter Platform Enabling Load Shifting Coincident with Excess Renewables    
    Recipient: Alternative Resource Energy Authority    
    Location: Antigonish, Nova Scotia    
    Funding amount: $875,000    
    Description: This project will better align end-user electricity demand with municipally owned renewable production. By leveraging advanced metering infrastructure, new customer rate structures and a collaborative model for intelligent grid management, the project aims to reduce costs for approximately 3,500 customers.

    Energy Innovation Program – Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

    The EIP’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Call for Proposals aims to advance the commercial viability of CCUS technologies.

    Project name: A Regulatory Roadmap for Offshore Carbon Storage in Atlantic Canada
    Recipient: Dalhousie University
    Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Funding amount: $704,089
    Description: This project will develop a roadmap for policies and regulations to better support a regulatory framework for offshore carbon storage, paving the way for innovation that will help offshore industries reduce emissions. 

     

    Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships

     

    The program aims to increase the economic participation of Indigenous communities and organizations in the development of natural resource projects that support the transition to a clean energy futuren.

    Project name: Dartmouth Solar Power Generation Project
    Recipient: Millbrook First Nation 
    Location: Millbrook First Nation (near Truro, Nova Scotia)
    Funding amount: $1,011,880
    Description: Millbrook First Nation, in collaboration with Imperial Oil, intends to repurpose idled tank lots that have remained vacant since Imperial’s terminal was converted from a refinery in 2014. This project involves the delivery of a solar farm with photovoltaic solar arrays and potentially energy storage that will be majority-owned and operated by Millbrook First Nation.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak made a working visit to the Republic of Tatarstan.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak made a working visit to the Republic of Tatarstan. He held a meeting with the head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, spoke at the Oil Summit, visited the republic’s infrastructure and educational facilities, and met with participants in regional industry competitions and school Olympiads.

    Alexander Novak visited the Tatneft scientific and educational center, the Higher School of Oil, where he met with schoolchildren who won the Sustainable Development Goals competition, the environmental Olympiad, and the leaders of the School Biolaboratories program. “New industries require engineers and scientists of a new format, for whom imaginative thinking, research skills, and the ability to make effective decisions come to the fore. Therefore, in addition to the specialized knowledge that you receive here, it is important that you learn to communicate, be a leader, and work in a team. All the necessary conditions are in place for this – modern laboratories, comfortable classrooms, and experienced teachers,” said Alexander Novak.

    He visited the exhibition of oil and gas equipment as part of the Oil Summit, and also spoke at the panel session “Tatneft – 75 years of technological leadership and contribution to the development of the Russian fuel and energy complex: a look into a sustainable future.” The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the implementation of tasks to achieve technological sovereignty. “As part of the energy strategy until 2050, in order to achieve technological sovereignty and ensure technological leadership, it is proposed to form an ecosystem that will allow developing economic incentives for investment in technology and equipment while removing administrative barriers, and create a domestic pool of serial technologies for the fuel and energy complex. Also key elements are the digital transformation of the industry, attracting and retaining qualified personnel, ensuring professional development of personnel,” said Alexander Novak.

    Answering a question about the future of oil and gas production over the next 20-30 years, he said that global demand for oil is expected to grow at least until 2035 amid the growing number of cars in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America and Africa. “The key factors in the dynamics of demand will be an increase in transportation and a change in the structure of the vehicle fleet towards electric transport and increased efficiency of internal combustion engines. A significant increase in demand will be observed in petrochemistry. At the same time, competition in the global oil market will increase. As a result, although the share of oil in the global energy balance will decrease from 37 to 33% by 2050, the volume of demand for oil in absolute figures will increase from 102 to 114 million barrels per day,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Alexander Novak awarded the representatives of the Tatneft team with the Order “For Valiant Labor” for their great contribution to the development of the oil and gas industry and their labor successes. The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the veterans and employees of the company for their effective work for the benefit of the country’s fuel and energy complex.

    The Deputy Prime Minister held a working meeting with the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. The parties discussed the socio-economic development of the republic, as well as updating the conditions for the modernization of the Naberezhnye Chelny TPP. The implementation of the project is an effective solution for covering the growing demand for electricity and ensuring reliable heat supply to a city with a population of over 500 thousand people.

    The Deputy Prime Minister took part in the opening ceremony of the XI Republican Open Field Olympiad of Young Geologists, which is held for schoolchildren from Russian regions and friendly countries. “The children’s geological movement, which has existed in Tatarstan for over 40 years, is an example of how to effectively contribute to the achievement of national goals at the regional level, to prepare personnel for the country’s economy from the school bench. The movement covers about 1.5 thousand children. I am sure that similar projects should be implemented in other regions. Such initiatives are in line with the national goal of the President to realize the potential of each person, develop their talents, and educate a patriotic and socially responsible person,” said Alexander Novak.

    During the trip, the Deputy Prime Minister visited Tatneft’s Taneko oil refining complex, familiarized himself with its operations, and launched the second hydrocracking unit.

    “With the launch of the new unit, the Tatneft Taneko oil refining complex will become the only refinery in Russia that has two hydrocracking units in its configuration. This will further increase the depth of raw material processing and the volume of production of the most valuable oil products, including high-quality Euro-6 fuels. It is important that domestic equipment and Russian catalysts were used as much as possible during the project’s implementation,” emphasized Alexander Novak.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Doggett, & Sorensen Lead Call for Urgent Federal Action After Deadly Texas Flood

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, joined by Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation, and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) the only meteorologist serving in Congress, today led a forceful letter to federal agencies calling for immediate action following the catastrophic flash flooding in Kerr County, Texas, that claimed over 100 lives. The letter — sent to President Donald J. Trump, NOAA leadership, and the US Army Corps of Engineers — demands an urgent review of staffing shortages, stalled forecasting improvements, and insufficient flood preparedness that contributed to the disaster.

    The lawmakers point to dangerous gaps in public warning coordination and a 15% reduction in National Weather Service (NWS) staffing since January as critical failures that must be addressed before the next extreme weather event. Accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.  

    “This flood was not just a natural disaster but a failure of foresight and leadership,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “A changing climate is rewriting the rules of weather, and our federal agencies must keep pace. The American people deserve a weather warning system that does more than sound the alarm. It must be fully staffed and ready to act to ensure that everyone in harms way receives it. This letter is a demand for accountability, but more importantly, it’s a demand for lives to be protected anywhere severe weather strikes.”

    “As Texans in my state are faced with much pain and uncertainty, we cannot wait to ask the hard questions,” said Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “Effective oversight saves lives. That is why we need a full account of the ways in which the Trump administration’s recent actions have undermined the federal response, both before and after this catastrophe. Learning from these failures and recognizing that weather intensification driven by climate change increasingly endangers lives will help prevent more tragedies.”

    “As someone who has reported on dangerous floods for my neighbors as a meteorologist in my local community, I know how critical it is for NWS meteorologists, local media, and emergency management coordinators to work together seamlessly and quickly to share urgent warnings,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17). “The deadly toll of the flash floods that hit Texas last week beg the question of what went wrong with the warning systems in place and what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy. The Trump Administration’s cuts to NOAA and the NWS are already having a real impact on the accuracy of our nation’s weather forecasting, creating cause for major concern. That is why I am calling on President Trump, NOAA, and the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a full-scale investigation into what went wrong and what can be done to prevent catastrophes like this in the future.” 

    This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives in recent years: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021, 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024.  These events are not anomalies — they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

    Kaptur, Doggett, and Sorensen request a response within 30 days and underscore that federal weather services must not be the weak link in the nation’s climate resilience.

    A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here or reading below: 

    July 11, 2025

    Honorable Donald J. Trump 
    President of the United States
    The White House

    1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW 
    Washington, DC 20500

    Laura Grimm
    Chief of Staff, performing the duties of Undersecretary for Commerce of Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
    1401 Constitution Ave NW

    Washington, DC 20230

    Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr. 
    Commanding General and 56th Chief of Engineers
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

    441 G St NW

    Washington DC, 20314 

    		  

    Dear Mr. President, Ms. Grimm, and General Graham:

    We write with deep concern about the recent flooding in Kerr County, Texas, by both the severity of this event and the structural shortcomings at the federal, state, and local levels that contributed to the tragic loss of life. On July 4, 2025, Kerr County was struck by a flash flood of devastating impact. The Guadalupe River rose by more than 20 feet in less than two hours,[1] engulfing homes and campsites, and leaving over a hundred dead in its wake.[2] This tragedy echoes a troubling national pattern of accelerating flash flood disasters that have claimed lives: 46 lives in the greater New York City area in September 2021,[3] 45 lives in Kentucky in July 2022, 20 lives in Tennessee in August 2021, and 250 lives across the Southeast in September 2024.[4]  These events are not anomalies—they are harbingers of a climate-disrupted future.

    Atmospheric scientists have long warned that warmer air holds more water vapor and thus latent energy produces heavier rainfall. In 1989, the Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, James Hansen, wrote presciently that “the greenhouse effect enhances both ends of the hydrologic cycle…, there is an increased frequency of extreme wet situations, as well as increased drought. Model results are shown to imply that increased greenhouse warming will lead to more intense thunderstorms, that is, deeper thunderstorms with greater rainfall.”[5]

    While the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast may have been accurate, accurate weather forecasts are not enough. It is imperative that these warnings are adequately communicated to members of the public and in a way that prompts the appropriate lifesaving action by emergency managers, first responders, and the public at-large.  We are concerned that there seems to have been a breakdown at this stage starting with the first flash flood watches issued on Thursday afternoon.

    Following a series of catastrophic tornadoes in the spring of 2011 that culminated in the worst tornado in a generation in Joplin, Missouri, NWS acknowledged that accurate forecasts were not enough to protect life and property, and thereby elevated the importance of properly communicating to the public about life-threatening weather events.  As a result, NWS developed the Weather Ready Nation initiative to ensure that Americans knew how to appropriately respond to dangerous weather conditions when alerted by NWS or the private weather enterprise. In support of this effort, Congress codified the position of Warning Coordination Meteorologist in every weather forecast office (WFO) around the country in the 2017 Weather Act.

    While staffing across NWS has long been a bipartisan concern, the staffing reductions mandated by the Department of Government Efficiency has greatly magnified the issue, with NWS losing nearly 15% of its staff nationwide since January.  The forecast accuracy and timeliness during this event in Texas was a testament to the dedication of the local NWS staff who flexed their schedules to ensure adequate coverage during such a high-impact event. That is not a sustainable solution, nor is it reliable enough for the increasing incidence of dangerous weather events.

    In particular, the loss of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the San Antonio weather forecast office (WFO) and the reduced number of forecasters put the people of Texas at risk. Lacking a full staff complement requires the team to focus only on issuing the forecasts and warnings. Outreach and coordination, a key responsibility of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist, do not occur. Also, we understand that the funding supporting travel to the community for outreach and coordination, including meeting with emergency managers and elected officials, has been suspended. Having the Warning Coordination Meteorologist position and the vacancies filled may have been critical to saving more lives by connecting with as many local community leaders as possible in the hours between the 1 a.m. NWS warning and 4 a.m. when the most dangerous conditions began impacting residents.[6]  

    Given these concerns, we intend to work quickly to enact the Weather Staffing Improvement Act, which will streamline the hiring of federal weather forecasters. Meanwhile, we request that NWS expedites the backfilling of vacancies at all WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Further, we request that, despite proposed cuts to programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget request, no other reductions in funding or staffing occur without the explicit direction of Congress to programs that support precipitation prediction and decision support or the improvement of those services, including, but not limited to the work of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

    NWS Director Ken Graham has also laid out strategic priorities to transform NWS’ staffing models and organizational effectiveness, known as “Ken’s 10”.[7] We applaud his thoughtful proposals, though we urge NOAA to provide more detailed information for Congress to consider prior to wholesale implementation.  Further, we urge that any adoption and implementation be done in a measured way so as to prevent any failures in the current system during the transition.   

    We ask that your agencies please provide the following information:

    1. Staffing Cuts: Provide a breakdown of NWS staffing levels since 2017 at WFOs and the National Centers for Environmental Protection.  Identify how many WFOs, and for how long each, has lacked each of the following positions over that time: Meteorologist in Charge, a Science Operations Officer, and a Warning Coordination Meteorologist? What performance impacts have resulted?
    2. Communication Gaps: How did the absence of a Warning Coordination Meteorologist and reduced staffing affect warning distribution, communication and coordination in Kerr County and other nearby jurisdictions? What is the standard operating procedure for such a role in such critical weather events?
    3. Precipitation Prediction: Atlas-15 will provide detailed estimates of maximum probable precipitation rates for any location in the U.S., critical information for planning for severe weather events.  Please explain any reasons for the current delays in Atlas-15’s national release.  Are sufficient funds available for the completion of this tool?  Have any funds been redirected away from this purpose?
    4. Status of PPGC: The Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge (PPGC), an initiative to dramatically improve the accuracy of forecasting when, where, and how much precipitation will occur has been chronically underfunded.  Please provide an update on the current efforts to date and the requirements to make significant progress over the next 5 years.
    5. Adopting Graham’s Priorities: Which of Ken Graham’s ten transformation proposals have been implemented? Provide projected costs and timelines.
    6. Corps Flood Control Improvements: This event also highlights the need for improvements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) who is tasked with flood control across the country. How has the Corps updated its standard operating procedures to recognize the increased risk of extreme precipitation?  What is the status of the adoption of the Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) to reduce flooding risk and maximize water availability? What additional research and monitoring is necessary, and on what timeline, to incorporate FIRO into the Corps’ standard procedures?
    7. Interagency Collaboration: What NOAA and Corps coordination mechanisms are in place to improve rural flood-warning infrastructure and emergency preparedness, including hydrology modeling and flood response planning?
    8. Future Preparedness Plan: Describe plans to adapt federal weather services to the growing frequency of extreme precipitation events attributable to climate change.

    Across America, we are entering a perilous new era of extreme precipitation. The science is clear: a warming world means heavier rains, more frequent flash floods, and rising stakes. Failure to learn from this disaster will only exacerbate future risk. Now is the moment to prioritize investments—restoring NOAA staffing and accelerating research and coordinating flood preparedness across the Federal Government. We respectfully ask for your prompt attention and response within 30 days to ensure federal weather infrastructure is not the weak link in our national resilience.  We further request a quick response to the July 8, 2025 letter from Rep. Doggett, the Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation.

     

    Sincerely,

    # # #
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Castro, Foster, Johnson Introduce the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

    July 11, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11), the co-chair of the Research and Development Caucus and only Ph.D. physicist in Congress, and Congressman Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, introduced the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act, legislation that would strengthen U.S. science and research partnerships by extending appropriate privileges and immunities to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. 

    “Strengthening international partnerships between European and U.S.-based scientists will pave the way for ground-breaking advances in the coming years,” said Congressman Castro. “The Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act will reduce barriers between the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and American research institutions while maintaining our leadership in physics and nuclear research. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Congressmen Foster and Johnson, and I look forward to our continued collaboration and advancement within the global scientific community.” 

    “The exchange of knowledge and ideas across borders not only promotes peace, but also serves as a powerful instrument to address urgent global challenges. As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois, where scientific collaboration transcended national boundaries and helped us better understand the world around us,” said Congressman Foster. “I’m proud to join Reps. Castro and Johnson in introducing this bipartisan legislation, which is an important step in solidifying our partnership with CERN and maintaining our nation’s role as a leader in scientific research.”  

    BACKGROUND

    The International Organization Immunities Act, enacted in 1945, governs how the United States extends the rights and treaties to international organizations like CERN. The U.S. typically extends automatic privileges and immunities to international organizations to which it belongs (e.g. the UN, NATO), but a special act of Congress is needed to extend recognition to international organizations where the United States is not a member. The Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act would amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend necessary privileges and immunities to CERN. If passed, the legislation would protect the independence of CERN researchers, ease travel to the United States for CERN officials, and support research and development cooperation between CERN and U.S.-based scientists.

    CERN currently partners with six U.S. National Laboratories, including Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in Illinois, Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in California, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. The partnership, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and CERN, enables researchers employed by American universities and national laboratories to work on the international high energy physics experiments hosted at CERN. These experiments contribute to innovations in computing, medicine, radiation sensing, cryogenic cooling, superconducting materials, and other fields that are critical to U.S. security, technological capability, and economic development.

    Congressman Castro previously reintroduced the PARTNER with ASEAN Act and Strengthening U.S.-Caribbean Partnership Act, similar legislation to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), respectively. 

    The full text of the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Correction: RENEW Energy Partners Upgrades Mass General Brigham’s Energy Portfolio to Unlock Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RENEW Energy Partners (RENEW), a leading provider specializing in financing and deploying large-scale energy projects, advances the energy portfolio of Mass General Brigham (MGB), a nonprofit integrated healthcare system and biomedical research organization, with a major upgrade at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Through a new distributed energy generation system, the project increases energy efficiency by an estimated 10%, ensures maximum system uptime, and unlocks capital for new patient care opportunities.

    Reflecting RENEW’s strategy of delivering distributed generation systems without upfront investment, the energy upgrade helps MGB preserve capital while modernizing its infrastructure. RENEW’s system maximizes usable thermal output and optimizes system output to meet the building load requirements. In addition, RENEW will provide operational oversight of the system, ensuring consistent performance and freeing up MGB resources for core healthcare priorities.

    In addition to measurable energy performance gains, the project supports MGB’s Strategic Energy Master Plan (SEMP) goals of reducing energy consumption. With this project, the hospital uses less energy and produces fewer emissions without sacrificing operational or financial performance.

    “Our work with Mass General Brigham demonstrates how customized energy solutions can unlock capital, enhance system reliability and directly support a client’s long-term sustainability vision,” said Charlie Lord, Managing Principal at RENEW Energy Partners. “It’s been a privilege to collaborate with an organization so deeply committed to both patient care and environmental responsibility. We look forward to continuing our long-term partnership as MGB scales its clean energy initiatives.”

    RENEW and MGB began working together on energy upgrade projects in 2021, laying the foundation for an ongoing collaboration now focused on scaling distributed energy upgrades across the MGB network.

    To learn more about this project or RENEW Energy Partners’ distributed generation solutions and services, please contact Nicole Wilson at nwilson@renewep.com.

    About RENEW Energy Partners, LLC
    Founded in 2013, RENEW Energy Partners provides funding, engineering, and asset management solutions for commercial and industrial, as well as institutional clients to help them achieve their decarbonization objectives. RENEW supports clients in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a diverse range of projects, from efficiency upgrades to advanced energy generation solutions. All projects are designed to enhance sustainability without requiring upfront capital investment.

    About Mass General Brigham
    Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic health care system, uniting great minds to solve the hardest problems in medicine for our communities and the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a nonprofit organization committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations with several Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Correction: RENEW Energy Partners Upgrades Mass General Brigham’s Energy Portfolio to Unlock Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RENEW Energy Partners (RENEW), a leading provider specializing in financing and deploying large-scale energy projects, advances the energy portfolio of Mass General Brigham (MGB), a nonprofit integrated healthcare system and biomedical research organization, with a major upgrade at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Through a new distributed energy generation system, the project increases energy efficiency by an estimated 10%, ensures maximum system uptime, and unlocks capital for new patient care opportunities.

    Reflecting RENEW’s strategy of delivering distributed generation systems without upfront investment, the energy upgrade helps MGB preserve capital while modernizing its infrastructure. RENEW’s system maximizes usable thermal output and optimizes system output to meet the building load requirements. In addition, RENEW will provide operational oversight of the system, ensuring consistent performance and freeing up MGB resources for core healthcare priorities.

    In addition to measurable energy performance gains, the project supports MGB’s Strategic Energy Master Plan (SEMP) goals of reducing energy consumption. With this project, the hospital uses less energy and produces fewer emissions without sacrificing operational or financial performance.

    “Our work with Mass General Brigham demonstrates how customized energy solutions can unlock capital, enhance system reliability and directly support a client’s long-term sustainability vision,” said Charlie Lord, Managing Principal at RENEW Energy Partners. “It’s been a privilege to collaborate with an organization so deeply committed to both patient care and environmental responsibility. We look forward to continuing our long-term partnership as MGB scales its clean energy initiatives.”

    RENEW and MGB began working together on energy upgrade projects in 2021, laying the foundation for an ongoing collaboration now focused on scaling distributed energy upgrades across the MGB network.

    To learn more about this project or RENEW Energy Partners’ distributed generation solutions and services, please contact Nicole Wilson at nwilson@renewep.com.

    About RENEW Energy Partners, LLC
    Founded in 2013, RENEW Energy Partners provides funding, engineering, and asset management solutions for commercial and industrial, as well as institutional clients to help them achieve their decarbonization objectives. RENEW supports clients in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a diverse range of projects, from efficiency upgrades to advanced energy generation solutions. All projects are designed to enhance sustainability without requiring upfront capital investment.

    About Mass General Brigham
    Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic health care system, uniting great minds to solve the hardest problems in medicine for our communities and the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a nonprofit organization committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations with several Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Energy Department Authorizes Strategic Petroleum Reserve Exchange to Support Fuel Supply in Gulf Coast

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the authorization of an exchange from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) with ExxonMobil Corporation to address logistical challenges impacting crude oil deliveries to the company’s Baton Rouge refinery. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright authorized this action to help maintain stable regional supply of transportation fuels across Louisiana and the broader Gulf Coast. This action preserves the SPR’s operational flexibility and will not impact or delay the Department’s ongoing efforts to refill the reserve.

    Under the exchange agreement, DOE will provide up to 1 million barrels of crude oil from the SPR. The exchange will support ExxonMobil’s restoration of refinery operations that were reduced due to an offshore supply disruption. ExxonMobil will return the borrowed crude along with additional barrels of crude oil for the SPR at no cost to the taxpayer.

    The Department remains in close coordination with industry partners to ensure stability in the fuel supply chain during the peak demand season. DOE continues to encourage refiners to prioritize efficient production and delivery of refined fuels, stands ready to support the nation’s energy security through the responsible use of strategic resources, and will continue to deliver on President Trump’s commitment to protect American energy security by refilling the SPR.

    Background:

    Sections 159 and 160 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), 42 U.S.C.A. §§ 6239 and 6240, authorize the Secretary of Energy to exchange SPR petroleum products and to acquire petroleum products by exchange for storage in the SPR. The Secretary of Energy has previously exercised this legal authority to conduct emergency exchanges in response to supply disruptions, including Keystone Pipeline in 2022, and the Calcasieu Ship Channel closures in 2006 and 2000.

    An oil supply disruption has led to reduced operations at the Baton Rouge refinery, limiting production of transportation fuels. The exchange is intended to ensure the maximum supply of refined fuel products in the Gulf Coast region while ExxonMobil resolves logistical challenges.

    MIL OSI USA News –