Category: Environment

MIL-Evening Report: Robot eyes are power hungry. What if we gave them tools inspired by the human brain?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam D Hines, Research Fellow, Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of Technology

A hexapod robot navigating outdoors. Adam Hines

Robots are increasingly becoming a part of our lives – from warehouse automation to robotic vacuum cleaners. And just like humans, robots need to know where they are to reliably navigate from A to B.

How far, and for how long, a robot can navigate depends on how much power it consumes over time. Robot navigation systems are especially energy hungry.

But what if power consumption was no longer a concern?

Our research on “brain-inspired” computing, published today in Science Robotics, could make navigational robots of the future more energy efficient than previously imagined.

This could potentially extend and expand what’s possible for battery-powered systems working in challenging environments such as disaster zones, underwater, and even in space.

How do robots ‘see’ the world?

The battery going flat on your smartphone is usually just a minor inconvenience. For a robot, running out of power can mean the difference between life and death – including for the people it might be helping.

Robots such as search and rescue drones, underwater robots monitoring the Great Barrier Reef, and space rovers all need to navigate while running on limited power supplies.

Robots that navigate challenging environments need a lot of battery power for their cameras and other sensors.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Many of these robots can’t rely on GPS for navigation. They keep track of where they are using a process called visual place recognition. Visual place recognition lets a robot estimate where it’s located in the world using just what it “sees” through its camera.

But this method uses a lot of energy. Robotic vision systems alone can use up to a third of the energy from a typical lithium ion battery found onboard a robot.

This is because modern robotic vision, including visual place recognition, typically relies on power-hungry machine learning models, similar to the ones used in AI like ChatGPT.

By comparison, our brains require just enough power to turn on a light bulb, while allowing us to see things and navigate the world with remarkable precision.

Robotics engineers often look to biology for inspiration. In our new study, we turned to the human brain to help us create a new, energy-efficient visual place recognition system.

Mimicking the brain

Our system uses a brain-inspired technology called neuromorphic computing. As the name suggests, neuromorphic computers take principles from neuroscience to design computer chips and software that can learn and process information like human brains do.

An important feature of neuromorphic computers is that they are highly energy-efficient. A regular computer can use up to 100 times more power than a neuromorphic chip.

Neuromorphic computing is not limited to just computer chips, however. It can be paired with bio-inspired cameras that capture the world more like the human eye does. These are called dynamic vision sensors, and they work like motion detectors for each pixel. They only “wake up” and send information when something changes in the scene, rather than constantly streaming data like a regular camera.

What a regular camera sees (left) compared to a bio-inspired camera (right).
Adam Hines

These bio-inspired cameras are also highly energy efficient, using less than 1% of the power of normal cameras.

So if brain-inspired computers and bio-inspired cameras are so wonderful, why aren’t robots using them everywhere? Well, there are a range of challenges to overcome, which was the focus of our recent research.

A new kind of LENS

The unique properties of a dynamic vision sensor are, ironically, a limiting factor in many visual place recognition systems.

Standard visual place recognition models are built on the foundation of static images, like the ones taken by your smartphone. Since a neuromorphic sensor doesn’t produce static images but senses the world in a constantly changing way, we need a brain-inspired computer to process what it “sees”.

Our research overcomes this challenge by combining neuromorphic chips and sensors for robots that use visual place recognition. We call this system Locational Encoding with Neuromorphic Systems, or LENS for short.

LENS uses the continuous information stream from a dynamic vision sensor directly on a neuromorphic chip. The system uses a machine learning method known as spiking neural networks. These process information like human brains do.

By combining all these neuromorphic components, we reduced the power needed for visual place recognition by over 90%. Since nearly a third of the energy needed for a robot is vision related, this is a significant reduction.

To achieve this, we used an off-the-shelf product called SynSense Speck, which combines a neuromorphic chip and a dynamic vision sensor all in one compact package.

The entire system only required 180 kilobytes of memory to map an area of Brisbane eight kilometres in length. That’s a tiny fraction of what would be needed in a standard visual place recognition system.

Hexapod robots have six legs and can walk on different surfaces both indoors and outdoors.

A robot in the wild

For testing, we placed our LENS system on a hexapod robot. Hexapods are multi-terrain robots that can navigate both indoors and outdoors.

In our tests, the LENS performed as well as a typical visual place recognition system, but used much less energy.

Our work comes at a time when AI development is trending towards creating bigger, more power-hungry solutions for improved performance. The energy needed to train and use systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT is notoriously demanding, with concerns that modern AI represents unsustainable growth in energy demands.

For robots that need to navigate, developing more compact, energy-efficient AI using neuromorphic computing could be key for being able to go farther and for longer periods of time. There are still challenges to solve, but we are closer to making it a reality.

Michael Milford receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Economic Accelerator, the Queensland Government, Amazon, Ford Motor Company, iMOVE CRC, the DAAD Australia-Germany Co-operation Scheme and DSTG. He is affiliated with the Motor Trades Association of Queensland as a non-executive board member.

Tobias Fischer receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the DAAD Australia-Germany Co-operation Scheme, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation via the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, and the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.

Adam D Hines does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Robot eyes are power hungry. What if we gave them tools inspired by the human brain? – https://theconversation.com/robot-eyes-are-power-hungry-what-if-we-gave-them-tools-inspired-by-the-human-brain-257978

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Bachelor of Applied Science student lands internship mapping native bush remnants

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

19 hours ago

Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) student Emily Strong helped iwi identify remnants of the historic Seventy Mile Bush during a summer internship with Sustainable Hawke’s Bay.

The internship was part of her third year of study, delivered by EIT in partnership with Unitec.

EIT graduate Michael Strand (left) with current Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) student Emily Strong.

During her internship, Emily worked under the guidance of EIT graduate Michael Strand, who works at Sustainable HB and secured a role as a geospatial analyst there before completing his studies. She contributed to a project focused on locating and assessing remaining areas of native bush in Southern Hawke’s Bay.

The project involved the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to overlay historical maps with satellite imagery, classify forest remnants, and assess vegetation health by calculating tree canopy height. Historical aerial imagery was also used to track vegetation change over time.

“The Seventy Mile Bush was a massive podocarp forest that once stretched from Southern Hawke’s Bay to Wairarapa. Being able to contribute to a project that connects iwi with the remaining fragments of that landscape has been really rewarding.”

Emily previously completed the Level 5 and 6 Diplomas in Environmental Management (Terrestrial strand) at EIT before progressing into the degree.

Her interest in GIS and conservation has grown throughout her studies. In 2024, she completed a level 6 project focused on revegetation at Cape Sanctuary, comparing aerial images from the 1950s, 2014 and 2024 to assess habitat restoration over time.

“I compared some aerial photography from the 1950s with current satellite images and then classified and analysed the difference. There was very much an increase in native vegetation. It was quite substantial actually and really cool to see.”

Originally from Hawke’s Bay, Emily first enrolled at EIT in a teaching degree. After taking time off following the birth of her daughter, Eloise, she decided to return to study and pursue environmental management.

“I’ve always had an interest in the environment, and once I started the primary industries course, I really enjoyed it,” she says.

Balancing study and parenting hasn’t always been easy, but Emily says she’s had strong support around her.

“It’s been quite tough but again I do have a fair amount of family support so that’s definitely been very helpful.”

She credits her lecturers and tutors for being “really amazing”. “I’ve learned lots and lots and definitely improved from when I started in level 5.”

Now 22, Emily is also involved in a local bat monitoring project with environmental researcher Kay Griffiths and is exploring future career opportunities that combine her skills in conservation and GIS.

“There are so many different directions you can go with this degree, but I’d love to do something where I can use GIS to support conservation work.”

EIT Environmental Management Senior Lecturer Dinusha Jayathilake said she is especially proud of this achievement.

“This internship is a valuable opportunity for Emily’s professional growth and also benefits the Hawke’s Bay region, Sustainable HB, and EIT. In our Environmental Management programme, we always prefer community engagement. Through the GIS course, I am able to support the local community while introducing the latest Geographic Information technologies to our region – something I am very proud of.”

Dinusha said internships give students valuable work experience before they finish their studies, which helps them continue to produce skilled and experienced local graduates who are ready to join the workforce.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Demands Answers from Verizon on Worker Exposure to Toxic Lead

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Letter Text (PDF)
Washington (June 18, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, today wrote to Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon, following the publication of a health evaluation from the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) showing extremely high concentrations of toxic lead at Verizon worksites and elevated levels of lead in workers’ blood. In 2023, an extensive Wall Street Journal investigation documented a sprawling nationwide network of legacy lead-sheathed cables that telecommunications companies—including Verizon—installed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and left underground, underwater, and overhead.
In the letter the Senator writes, “It is Verizon’s responsibility—both moral and legal—to safeguard the well-being of its workers and the communities in which it operates. The exposure of telecom workers in Massachusetts to lead-laced environments, including manholes where sediment contained lead concentrations as high as 30,000 parts per million—150 times the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) current safety limit—demands the highest level of attention from Verizon. Verizon must act swiftly to eliminate lead exposure from its operations, remediate affected environments, and commit to full transparency and accountability moving forward.”
Senator Markey continues, “Most recently, NIOSH completed a Health Hazard Evaluation confirming serious occupational exposures among Verizon workers in Massachusetts; we understand a copy of the final report has been provided to Verizon. NIOSH found that these workers were repeatedly exposed to lead because inadequate safety procedures in place failed to protect them. NIOSH also reviewed past blood-level testing by workers, which found examples of workers with elevated blood lead levels according to federal safety guidelines; this suggests recent worker exposure at unsafe levels of lead. Additionally, NIOSH hygienists found lead on workers hands, boots, and in their trucks, suggesting many may be unknowingly carrying home a substance that could endanger their families. Children are particularly sensitive to lead, with even low levels of exposure resulting in developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues.”
Senator Markey requests responses by July 9, 2025, to questions including:
What is the status of Verizon’s efforts to compile a comprehensive inventory, including geographic mapping, of all known and suspected lead-sheathed cables it owns or for which it is responsible?
What steps has Verizon taken since the publication of the Wall Street Journal investigation to:
(a) Identify and monitor worker exposure to lead from lead-sheathed telecommunications cables?
(b) Notify and protect workers performing duties in or near areas with lead-sheathed cables?
(c) Inform the public, especially in environmental justice communities, about risks posed by lead-sheathed cables, and field and respond to concerns?
(d) Test for and remediate environmental contamination around legacy infrastructure?
(e) Provide medical monitoring, treatment, or compensation for lead-exposed workers?
What is the status of any investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the EPA, or OSHA into Verizon’s handling of its lead-sheathed cables?
Will Verizon commit to fully implementing all the NIOSH recommendations, including conducting routine BLL testing and retrofitting hygiene and PPE protocols across all affected facilities? Which recommendations, if any, has Verizon already implemented? What is the status of recommendations not yet implemented?
Has Verizon conducted its own personal air sampling at work sites containing lead-sheathed cables? If so, please provide the results by year and location of the tests.
(a) Does Verizon have an explanation for the personal air sample tested by NIOSH that exceeded OSHA limits?
(b) How did Verizon previously determine whether to conduct a personal air sampling test?
Has Verizon conducted its own manhole-soil-sediment testing at worksites containing lead-sheathed cables? Does Verizon have an explanation for the bulk sediment sampled that exceeded 30,000 ppm for lead?
Why was Verizon not providing its workers in Massachusetts with lead removal wipes prior to the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation? Why did Verizon start to provide them—in place of wet wipes—between the first and second NIOSH site visits?
What internal accountability measures is Verizon adopting to ensure executive leadership is fully informed and responsive to worker safety concerns related to lead exposure from legacy telecommunications cables?
In February 2024, Senator Markey hosted a roundtable event in Chicopee, Massachusetts, along with state and local elected officials, public health leaders, and occupational safety and environmental experts, to discuss the environmental, public health, and occupational safety concerns posed by lead-sheathed telecommunications cables.
In July 2023, Senator Markey, author of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, wrote to the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom) demanding answers to questions raised by the Wall Street Journal investigation, which found detectable levels of lead contamination in water and soil samples collected near lead-sheathed cables across the country.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Following Trump Attacks on TPS, Markey, Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Put Forward Bill to Protect TPS and DED Recipients
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Washington (June 18, 2025) – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was joined by 30 Senate colleagues in putting forward legislation to provide qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients a path to legal permanent residency. The Senators’ reintroduction of this legislation – the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act – comes as the Trump Administration and the right-wing Supreme Court undermine TPS, a program that has for years provided refuge to those living in America who have fled natural disasters, violence, and political insecurity. The Trump Administration has revoked TPS for an estimated 563,000 recipients from five countries – Venezuela, Haiti, Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Nepal – and while there have been legal challenges filed against this action, the Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the revocation to stand – putting hundreds of thousands at risk of deportation to their home countries where they would face serious danger.

This legislation is endorsed by AFL-CIO, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), CASA, National TPS Alliance, Working Families United, the National Network for Arab American Communities, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and Communities United for Status and Protection (CUSP).

“As Donald Trump continues to strip immigrant communities of critical legal protections, we must protect the individuals who came to our country seeking safe harbor and who cannot return home safely. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the SECURE Act, to ensure that individuals fleeing armed conflicts, political unrest, or environmental disasters have a guaranteed pathway to safety in the United States. Recipients of Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure are our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues, and we cannot turn our backs on them. We must be loud and clear – immigrants are welcome here,” said Senator Markey.

“America has long used the TPS and DED programs to offer special legal protections to individuals in the United States whose lives would be put at extreme risk if forced to return to their countries of origin. As they’ve sought safety and stability here, TPS and DED recipients have built new lives in America, living here legally for years – sometimes decades – and making important contributions to our communities. But the Trump Administration is threatening both the lives they have built and the safety of these individuals – forcing TPS recipients to return to dangerous places like Haiti, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and more. This bill offers much-needed certainty to TPS and DED recipients – providing a path to stay safely in the U.S. and continue to call America their home,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“TPS and DED recipients are valuable members of our communities. Many have lived here for years with U.S. children, spouses, and even businesses they’ve built — yet they are forced to live in uncertainty and fear that they may lose everything if they lose TPS or DED. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to give TPS and DED recipients a path to permanent residence so they can continue to contribute to America,” said Senator Kaine.

“America is strengthened by the contributions and hard work of immigrants. But this Administration’s cruelty has left thousands of workers in limbo — without legal status and without work authorization,” said Senator Padilla. “The SECURE Act provides TPS holders who live and work in the United States legally, seeking safety after fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries, the security of a pathway to permanent residency protections while continuing to contribute to our communities and economy.”

“TPS recipients have come to the U.S. to escape widespread violence and environmental disasters in their countries that make returning home unsafe. As they rebuild their lives here, TPS recipients, as longtime residents of the United States, deserve security and certainty about their immigration status,” said Senator Durbin. “I’m joining Senator Van Hollen to introduce the SECURE Act to provide TPS recipients a pathway to legal permanent residency.”

“As the Trump administration terrorizes immigrant communities and arbitrarily revokes TPS and DED for law-abiding immigrants, it’s important that we speak up and push back every way we can, and support individuals who are contributing to our communities and would be at severe risk if they were to be forced to return to their countries of origin,” said Senator Murray. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the SECURE Act to provide immigrants with Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure a path to legal permanent residency.”

“After escaping horrific violence and persecution in their home countries, TPS and DED recipients come to this country in search of a better life,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These hardworking men and women have been living in and contributing to our communities for years, and it’s common sense to give them the certainty they need to fulfill the American Dream.”

“Virginia is home to tens of thousands of law-abiding immigrants who are unable to return to their countries of origin due to painful extraordinary circumstances. Though these individuals benefit from certain protections from deportation, they remain in limbo despite having lived and worked in the U.S. for years,” said Senator Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to create a real pathway to permanent residency for TPS and DED recipients who drive our economy and make valuable contributions to their communities.”

“The Temporary Protected Status program has been a lifeline that has allowed people and families facing unimaginable circumstances to find a safe refuge here in the United States,” said Senator Rosen. “TPS recipients contribute to our communities and our economy, and they deserve a pathway to permanent residency, which is why I’m proud to help introduce this bill. I’ll keep standing up to protect Nevada’s immigrant families.”

“TPS holders deserve certainty, especially when the Trump administration is suddenly ending people’s status with no justification and forcing them to return to unsafe conditions,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill would enable TPS holders to apply for permanent status so they can continue to live, work, and contribute in the United States without constantly being stuck in limbo.”

“Families should have protection from ongoing wars, environmental disasters, widespread illness, and other dangers that make it difficult to return home,” said Senator Warren. “While Donald Trump makes it harder for immigrants to navigate our complex immigration system, Senate Democrats are fighting back to protect these vulnerable families.”

“Scripture tells us: welcome the stranger in your midst,” said Senator Coons. “When we welcome those fleeing persecution and violence, hunger and poverty around the world, we show the world our values. That makes America safer, and it grows the economy in states like Delaware. The SECURE Act gives people searching for freedom and safety, who love this country, and who are already adding their valuable skills and gifts to our nation, a path to continue to do so.”

“Our country has long supported families fleeing violence and seeking refuge,” said Senator Luján. “As this administration continues its attacks on TPS recipients, Congress must ensure a legal pathway to permanent residency for those who contribute to our communities every day. That’s why I’m partnering with my colleagues to reintroduce the SECURE Act to provide permanent protections for thousands of TPS recipients who live and work lawfully in the U.S.”

“As immigrant communities continue to come under attack, the SECURE Act provides a clear pathway to permanent residency—offering overdue, necessary protections for immigrants and the lives they’ve built in our nation. America is a nation of immigrants and has a storied history of providing opportunity and refuge for those fleeing hardship or crisis. Individuals with TPS and DED have made America their home—using their talents and skills to strengthen our economies and enrich our communities—often while the countries from which they fled remain in turmoil,” said Senator Blumenthal.

“Trump’s heartless immigration policies do nothing to make us safer and betray our core values—our nation always has been and always will be stronger because of our immigrant communities,” said Senator Duckworth. “While no one is arguing that we shouldn’t be deporting violent criminals who pose a danger to our country, it’s cruel to target people who fled from life-threatening situations and have been productive members of our communities for years. I’m proud to help Senator Van Hollen reintroduce this legislation to help give TPS and DED recipients a path to remain here as legal permanent residents.”

“Our country should serve as a refuge for individuals who cannot return to their home country due to dangerous circumstances,” said Senator Hirono. “TPS holders and DED recipients living in our country are essential members of our communities, making up a significant amount of our workforce and contributing to our economy. As this administration continues its all-out attack on immigrants and their loved ones, I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to provide TPS and DED recipients peace of mind that they can remain in the country safely and with a path to lawful permanent residence.”

“This bill is a necessary step in creating a pathway to legal permanent residency for TPS recipients,” said Senator Bennet. “They are already facing extraordinary and unstable conditions in their home countries; they shouldn’t have to face those same conditions here in the U.S.”

“I’m joining the effort to pass the SECURE Act to stand by thousands in New Jersey who do not deserve to live in uncertainty and fear as the Trump administration arbitrarily revokes Temporary Protected Status,” said Senator Kim. “TPS recipients are friends and neighbors who are part of our communities and are essential to the economic growth of our state. We should use this moment to address disorder in our TPS program and immigration system – and deliver eligible families a pathway toward permanent stability and security.”

“TPS provides protection for individuals and families who are unable to return to their countries due to dangerous conditions, including natural disasters, armed conflicts, and other disasters. Many find refuge in California where they can live and work lawfully under its protections. This legislation would provide a much-needed sense of security and stability to those who are living in the legal limbo caused by President Trump’s targeting of this program and his continued erosion of our nation’s commitment to helping those fleeing violence, famine, disease, and disaster,” said Senator Schiff.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.) Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

“Immigrant workers are under unprecedented attack: hundreds of thousands of people have been stripped of their legal status and work authorization, throwing families and industries into chaos and uncertainty. Workers with Temporary Protected Status, many of whom have lived and worked in our country for decades, are vital members of our communities and our unions. The SECURE Act is common-sense legislation that would provide TPS holders with stable, permanent lawful status so they can continue to raise their families, work, and contribute to our economy,” said Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO President.

“LIUNA commends Senator Van Hollen for his tireless efforts to protect workers and their family members who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), many of whom are members of our union and who have lived and worked in the U.S. for decades. About 1/3 of TPS holders work in construction. The SECURE Act will not only provide permanence to these hard-working immigrants, but will also help the U.S. economy by retaining these valued immigrants in our workforce,” said Brent Booker, General President, LIUNA.

“Every day, thousands of people with TPS and DED who have built their lives, families, and futures here are forced to live with fear and uncertainty. They deserve more than endless waiting; they deserve real, permanent protection. As attacks on immigrant communities grow across the country, we must act without hesitation. We are grateful to Senator Van Hollen’s leadership – in this time of growing instability, the SECURE Act will offer dignity, safety, and security for our community,” said Cathryn Jackson, Public Policy Director of CASA.

“Immigrant families and allies continue to advocate for permanent protections. The National TPS Alliance calls for long-overdue justice to our immigrant communities. The reintroduction of the SECURE Act in the Senate addresses the uncertainty that our families have been living for years. This bill is timely, ensuring that TPS holders don’t fall out of status and in turn preventing irreparable harm to whole communities, continuing critical contributions to the nation’s economy. We urge congressional leaders to support this critical effort,” said Mardoel Hernandez, TPS recipient from Honduras and National TPS Alliance Executive Committee Member.

“TPS holders, including members of my own union, contribute to our economy every single day. Some may not know it, but our society is dependent on TPS holders in different industries, including in the building and construction trades. We need the SECURE Act so these workers can continue living, working, and raising their families without fear,” said IUPAT General President Jimmy Williams, Jr.; IUPAT is a member of the Working Families United Coalition.

“The SECURE Act offers overdue protection for hundreds of thousands living in fear of being uprooted from the families, homes, and careers they built. The National Network for Arab American Communities believes this bill reflects a critical truth: our democracy and safety are strongest when everyone has the opportunity to live and contribute freely and lawfully,” said Rima Meroueh, Director, National Network for Arab American Communities.

“Now more than ever, we need a solution for immigrants with Temporary Protected Status from countries like El Salvador, Honduras, Venezuela and Haiti, whose lives have been in limbo under the chaos of this administration. We applaud the reintroduction of the SECURE Act by Senator Chris Van Hollen, which would create a path to citizenship for these individuals who contribute billions to our economy and whose lives would be in danger if they were sent back immediately to their home countries,” said Rocio Saenz, Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU.

“The ILWU stands in strong support of the SECURE Act, a commonsense measure that serves our country’s interests and recognizes the dignity and contributions of TPS and DED holders — hardworking individuals who have paid their taxes, contributed to our economy, and been model members of our communities. These men and women have earned a chance to live without fear, continue to contribute to their communities and build their lives in the country they’ve long called home. We urge Congress to pass this vital legislation without delay,” said International Longshore and Warehouse Union President Robert Olvera.

“Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP) endorses the SECURE Act as a critical step toward justice and stability for immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). For decades, these communities—Black, Asian, brown, working-class immigrants from countries facing war, repression, and climate disaster—have lived, worked, and raised families in the U.S. They are essential to our economy, our neighborhoods, and our collective future. Yet they continue to live in uncertainty, without a pathway to permanent protection. The SECURE Act honors their dignity, recognizes their profound contributions, and upholds our nation’s values of fairness and humanitarian responsibility. We urge Congress to act with courage and conscience and pass this bill without delay,” said Carolyn Tran, Executive Director, Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP).

Additional Background

TPS is a temporary, legal immigration status granted to foreign citizens who are endangered by conditions in their home country resulting from extraordinary events such as ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or epidemic. TPS status is granted for set periods ranging from six to 18 months, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to extend a country’s status on a recurring basis. Each time a country is recertified, recipients must reapply and pass a thorough background check. Recent estimates found there are approximately 860,000 people with TPS in the United States.

Deferred enforced departure (DED) is a temporary and discretionary administrative stay of removal granted to foreign citizens from designated countries. Unlike TPS, a DED designation emanates from the President’s constitutional powers to conduct foreign relations and has no statutory basis. Grants are usually in response to war, civil unrest, or natural disasters, through an executive order or presidential memorandum that provides eligibility guidelines.

The SECURE Act will provide long-term stability for these individuals and their communities by giving them the ability to apply for legal permanent residency. Under the bill, all TPS recipients – current and past – and TPS and DED eligible individuals who have been continuously present in the United States for at least three years would be eligible to apply for legal permanent residency.

Additionally, under the SECURE Act:
- A spouse, domestic partner, child, or unmarried child of a qualifying non-citizen would be eligible to obtain permanent resident status (upon meeting certain requirements).
- Individuals with a pending TPS application will receive work authorization and be eligible for travel authorization.
- Non-citizens who have a pending application or is prima facie eligible for permanent status under the bill and intends to apply are shielded from deportation.
- Information from an applicant’s application may not be shared or used for immigration enforcement purposes, with limited exceptions, such as for the identification of fraudulent claims.
- DHS must report to Congress when terminating a country’s TPS designation with an explanation to justify the termination.
MIL OSI USA News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Scott Urge EPA to Reinstate Funding for Cancelled Community Resilience Grants

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner, Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the agency to reverse its decision to terminate two major Community Change Grants in Virginia. The cancelled grants – approximately $40 million – would have supported dozens of community projects aimed at strengthening flood resilience, reducing pollution, and improving energy efficiency in Hampton and across Southwest Virginia.

The grants, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), were intended to support projects that increase resilience to major weather events, reduce pollution, and build community capacity.

The City of Hampton received $20 million in federal funding to address severe flood risk in the Aberdeen Gardens neighborhood. That funding would have advanced 51 projects ranging from stormwater infrastructure upgrades and rain garden construction to stream restoration efforts and improved public health protections for an area where over 22 percent of properties fall within FEMA-designated flood zones.

United Way of Southwest Virginia and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise also received nearly $20 million in federal funding to support flood resilient housing, the construction of a community center and flood shelter in Dickenson County, and energy efficiency upgrades at childcare centers in eight counties in Southwest Virginia. These investments would have delivered long-term savings, improved disaster readiness, and supported vulnerable Appalachian communities hit hard by extreme weather in recent years.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “We are deeply concerned that the EPA no longer considers community resiliency, environmental conservation, and economic development to be administration funding priorities.”

They continued, “EPA’s decision to terminate these grants will leave communities in Virginia less resilient, less prosperous, and more vulnerable to extreme weather-related disasters. We urge you to reinstate this critical funding for communities throughout Virginia.”

Warner, Kaine, and Scott have long advocated for resiliency efforts in Virginia, championing legislation and funding to help communities strengthen infrastructure against extreme weather. The senators were strong supporters of the Inflation Reduction Act, which authorized the Community Change Grants program to help historically neglected and underserved communities address flooding, pollution, and climate vulnerabilities.

The lawmakers have also continuously stood up against the Trump administration’s efforts to cancel necessary federal funding for Virginia’s communities. Most recently, Warner, Kaine, and Scott wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reversethe cancellation of critical infrastructure funding for the Commonwealth.

Text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We write regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to terminate approximately $40 million in funding intended to prevent localized pollution and mitigate the effects of flooding in Hampton, Virginia, and to support economic development, enhance resilient infrastructure, and lower energy costs across seven counties in Southwest Virginia. We strongly urge you to reverse this decision that will impact efforts to improve resiliency, environmental conservation, energy efficiency, and economic outcomes in communities across the Commonwealth.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided approximately $2 billion to EPA to establish the Community Change Grants Program. Congress intended this funding to be used to support projects that increase community resilience, reduce pollution, and build community capacity. In 2024, EPA selected 105 projects, including two projects in Virginia.

The City of Hampton, Virginia, was awarded just over $20 million to address significant flood risk in the historic Aberdeen Gardens neighborhood. In a locality where 22 percent of properties are in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas, the city and their nonprofit partner, Wetlands Watch, planned to leverage federal funding to advance 51 projects to update stormwater infrastructure, initiate stream-restoration projects, and construct community rain gardens. These projects were intended to mitigate flood risk, lessen the financial burden of flooding on the neighborhood’s residents, and improve environmental and public health outcomes.

The United Way of Southwest Virginia and the University of Virginia were awarded nearly $20 million to fund eight projects across the Virginia coalfields. Funding would have supported the construction of flood-resilient housing infrastructure in Buchanan County and a new community center and flood shelter in Dickenson County, two communities that have been devastated by flooding and extreme weather in recent years. Additionally, the grant would support energy efficiency upgrades at childcare facilities in eight counties, enabling thousands of dollars of energy cost savings to go towards childcare worker salaries.

In terminating these grants, EPA wrote to awardees that, “the objectives of the award are no longer consistent with EPA funding priorities.” We are deeply concerned that the EPA no longer considers community resiliency, environmental conservation, and economic development to be administration funding priorities. EPA’s decision to terminate these grants will leave communities in Virginia less resilient, less prosperous, and more vulnerable to extreme weather-related disasters. We urge you to reinstate this critical funding for communities throughout Virginia.

Thank you for your attention to this letter. We look forward to your response.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH and DEM Recommend Avoiding Contact with Slack Reservoir

Source: US State of Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Slack Reservoir in Smithfield/Johnston due to harmful algae blooms (HABs). HABs are caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of water. HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by DEM at this location.

Use caution in all areas of Slack Reservoir as HABs can move locations in ponds and lakes. All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk to health and recommended to be avoided at this location. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. This advisory recommendation remains in effect until further notice.

Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae can cause irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and throat. Symptoms can include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Less common symptoms can include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at higher risk for health effects associated with HABs because they are more likely to swallow water when they are in or around bodies of water. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

If you or your pet come into contact with an algal bloom (HAB):

— Rinse your skin with clean water right away. — Shower and wash your cloths when you get home. — If your pet was exposed, wash it with clean water immediately and don’t let it lick algae from its fur. — Call a vet if your pet shows signs of illness like tiredness, no eating, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms within a day. — If you feel sick after contact, call a healthcare provider.

Other HABs may be affecting other waterbodies in Rhode Island. Affected waters might look bright to dark green, with thick algae floating on the surface. It may resemble green paint, pea soup, or green cottage cheese. If you see water like this, people and pets should avoid contact with the water.

To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401-222-4700 Press 6 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom. For more information and the Cyanobacteria Tracker Dashboard that lists current advisories and data, visit: www.dem.ri.gov/bluegreen

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hoyle, Schatz, Smith Introduce New Legislation to Reduce Economic Inequality and Make Wall Street Pay Its Fair Share

Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

June 18, 2025

The Wall Street Tax Act aims to disincentivize dangerous, risky investments that threaten the stability of the U.S. economy

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2025

EUGENE, OR – Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09) introducedThe Wall Street Tax Act (H.R. 4035), which would deliver hundreds of billions of dollars back to the American people by making Wall Street pay its fair share. The bill would create a progressive tax aimed at reducing the risky trading practices that threaten our economic stability while generating revenues that can be reinvested towards services for working people. Once fully implemented, the bill is projected to raise $750 billion over 10 years.

“While Republicans push another tax break for billionaires that would blow up the deficit, we’re offering a smarter path. The Wall Street Tax Act puts a price on the risky, high-speed trading that benefits Wall Street and leaves working families behind,” said Rep. Hoyle. “This small, targeted tax will raise hundreds of billions from those who can afford it and reinvest it in things that actually help people—like schools, housing, and infrastructure. Working families shouldn’t have to pay for Wall Street’s gambling.”

“Wall Street routinely cashes in on high-risk trades that add no real value to our economy. It’s long past time we curbed this dangerous trading to reduce market volatility and encourage investment that actually helps our economy grow,” said Senator Schatz. “Republicans are racing to enrich billionaires and corporations by ripping regular people off. We’re doing the opposite: raising new revenue from Wall Street to reinvest in our communities.”

“It’s past time for the wealthiest to pay their fair share, which is why I’m proud to support the Wall Street Tax Act, which targets high-risk trades that create high volatility and instability in the markets,” said Rep. Smith. “I’ll continue to fight for a fairer economy that works for everyone and reflects the values of the communities I serve.”

“Instead of the proposed heartless cuts to services that help vulnerable communities and everyday people—like Medicaid and nutrition assistance—that Congress is currently debating, there is another route that lawmakers can and must pursue: raising taxes on corporations and the super-rich—including Wall Street high rollers,” said Susan Harley, managing director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division. “The Wall Street Tax Act would generate hundreds of billions of dollars that could be used to expand programs that improve the lives of Americans and it has the simultaneous benefit of reducing harmful high-speed trading that hurts investors and increases risk in our markets.”

This bill is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Frost (D-FL), Jayapal (D-CA), McGovern (D-MA), Pingree (D-MN), Schakowsky (D-IL), Tlaib (D-MI), Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

The Wall Street Tax Act is currently endorsed by 32 organizations, including:Affordable Homeownership Foundation, AFL-CIO, American Family Voices, American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Financial Reform, Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF), Blue Future, Chicago Political Economy Group, Child Labor Coalition, Citizens for Tax Justice, Coalition on Human Needs, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Consumer Action, Food & Water Watch, Greenpeace USA. Groundwork Collaborative, Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Medical Mission Sisters(Unit North America), National Consumers League, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Our Revolution, Oxfam America, Public Citizen, Public Justice Center, Responsible Wealth, RootsAction, Take on Wall Street, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, United for a Fair Economy, United Church of Christ, and United Steelworkers International Union (USW).

The Bill

The Wall Street Tax Act will levy a 0.1% tax – phased in over five years–on the sale of stocks, bonds, and derivatives to discourage risky and unproductive trading practices and gives those profits back to the people. The tax would apply to the fair market value of assets. Initial public offerings (IPOs) and short-term debt would be exempted from the tax.

Background

High frequency trading (HFT) is a type of asset trading that uses supercomputers and specialized algorithms to make large, high-volume trades in a fraction of a second. HFT allows corporations and the ultra-wealthy to benefit from minor fluctuations in stock prices by allowing them to buy and sell in large volumes to make larger profits off of small differences. These practices create undue market volatility, which overwhelmingly hurts everyday investors who are unable to trade as quickly.

In addition, these speculative, high-volume trading practices add little to no real value to the U.S. economy because the gains from them are centralized within the hands of a wealthy few. However, these high stakes games do have a real impact, as their asset prices react to the trades. The volatility these trades causecan even lead to a “Flash Crash,” where such volatility prompts mass selloffs across the stock market. This volatility can affect the retirements, pensions, and investments of working people.

The Wall Street Tax Act is considered a progressive tax, meaning lower income earners pay a lesser percentage of their income in taxes compared to those with higher incomes.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: $11 Million Wastewater Treatment Project Completed
Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced construction is complete on an $11 million wastewater collection and treatment facilities improvement project in the Village of Waddington, St. Lawrence County, funded through the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI). The wastewater treatment collection system and treatment plant are owned and operated by the Village of Waddington. The project brings the aging infrastructure in compliance with current standards, protecting public health and promoting potential economic growth.

“New York State is committed to building stronger, more resilient shoreline communities along the St. Lawrence River and across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the REDI program, we are delivering smart, forward-looking solutions that help communities thrive in the face of climate challenges. These investments not only safeguard public health and infrastructure, but they also support long-term sustainability and environmental resiliency.”

Due to its proximity to the St. Lawrence River, the wastewater treatment infrastructure was negatively impacted by high water levels and flooding, creating infiltration and inflow issues which were worsened by the lack of storm sewers in the Village of Waddington. The project implements flood resiliency measures designed to reduce the impact of future high water events.

Resiliency measures for this project included:
- Replacement and rehabilitation of the existing 100-year-old clay tile sewer main collection system with new and relined sewer mains and manholes to reduce ground water infiltration and inflow associated with high water levels;
- Construction of new storm sewers and catch basins adequately sized to convey surface runoff and inflow from sump pumps, roof drains and area drains, to reduce unwanted storm flows into sanitary system;
- Pump replacements and controls, new meters, new alarms, and new windows, doors and roofs at all seven pump stations throughout the collection system;
- Upgrades to the main pump station in the collection system including a new permanent emergency generator with automatic transfer switch; and
- Improvements to the treatment plant to replace or repair aging infrastructure designed to protect critical wastewater treatment systems from flooding events, including complete outfall pipe replacement of over 700 feet of piping and new disinfection system.
This project was completed with oversight by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Grant funding was administered through the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC).

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and REDI Commission Co-Chair Amanda Lefton said, “The critical investment in Waddington’s wastewater infrastructure is a powerful example of how the State’s REDI Program strengthens community resilience while safeguarding water quality and public health. By addressing vulnerabilities worsened by flooding, this project ensures long term environmental protection and supports sustainable growth in the North Country.”

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Today’s announcement is a testament to Governor Hochul’s commitment to providing real solutions that position shoreline communities for growth, prosperity, and resiliency in the face of increased fluctuation in water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The dozens of completed REDI projects are strengthening local economies, protecting public health, improving habitat, and safeguarding vital infrastructure. The communities that have benefited look forward to improved sustainability and growth.”

New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities, the Village of Waddington now has modern wastewater infrastructure that’s built to withstand future flooding — and it came at minimal cost to local ratepayers. By funding these critical upgrades through REDI, we’re not only safeguarding public health and the environment, but also ensuring long-term affordability while preparing for the challenges of extreme weather.”

New York Power Authority President and CEO and St. Lawrence County REDI Commissioner Justin E. Driscoll said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, and through the Resiliency and Economic Development, New York State continues to partner with Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline communities to harden, upgrade, and protect vulnerable infrastructure against high water conditions and flooding. This $11 million investment in the wastewater treatment collection system and treatment plant in Waddington will protect public health and ensure residents in the region benefit from the replacement of aging water and sewer infrastructure.”

St. Lawrence County Chairman David Forsythe said, “The completion of the $11 million REDI wastewater infrastructure project marks a significant investment in the future of Waddington and St. Lawrence County. This project strengthens our environmental resilience, supports economic growth, and protects the health of our communities for generations to come. We are proud to see this vision realized.”

Village of Waddington Mayor Mike Zagrobelny said, “On behalf of the Village of Waddington, I would like to thank Governor Hochul and the REDI Commission for funding this vital project. This upgrade completes half of the needed improvements to sewer and stormwater treatment within the Village. While the project helps to mitigate effects of changing water levels in the St. Lawrence, it also upgrades century old infrastructure and promotes retail and housing growth within the Village. As Mayor, I’m grateful for the many programs that the State of New York has provided Waddington that recognize the significance of our past and the bright promise of our future.”

In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, composed of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Since the creation of the State’s REDI program in the Spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway, including 16 projects in the design phase, 7 projects in the construction phase, and 111 projects completed. All ten of the projects awarded in St. Lawrence County are complete.

For additional information, project profiles and REDI news, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NASA Tech to Measure Heat, Strain in Hypersonic Flight

Source: NASA

[embedded content]
NASA/Jacob Shaw

A NASA system designed to measure temperature and strain on high-speed vehicles is set to make its first flights at hypersonic speeds – greater than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound – when mounted to two research rockets launching this summer.
Technicians in the Environmental Laboratory at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, used machines called shakers to perform vibration tests on the technology, known as a Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS), on March 26. The tests confirmed the FOSS could operate while withstanding the shaking forces of a rocket launch. Initial laboratory and flight tests in 2024 went well, leading to the recently tested system’s use on the U.S. Department of Defense coordinated research rockets to measure critical temperature safety data.
Hypersonic sensing systems are crucial for advancing hypersonics, a potentially game-changing field in aeronautics. Capitalizing on decades of research, NASA is working to address critical challenges in hypersonic engine technology through its Advanced Air Vehicles Program.
Using FOSS, NASA will gather data on the strain placed on vehicles during flight, as well as temperature information, which helps engineers understand the condition of a rocket or aircraft. The FOSS system collects data using a fiber about the thickness of a human hair that collects data along its length, replacing heavier and bulkier traditional wire harnesses and sensors.

“There is no reliable technology with multiple sensors on a single fiber in the hypersonic environment,” said Patrick Chan, FOSS project manager at Armstrong. “The FOSS system is a paradigm shift for hypersonic research, because it can measure temperature and strain.”
For decades, NASA Armstrong worked to develop and improve the system, leading to hypersonic FOSS, which originated in 2020. Craig Stephens, the Hypersonic Technology Project associate project manager at NASA Armstrong, anticipated a need for systems and sensors to measure temperature and strain on hypersonic vehicles.
“I challenged the FOSS team to develop a durable data collection system that had reduced size, weight, and power requirements,” Stephens said. “If we obtain multiple readings from one FOSS fiber, that means we are reducing the number of wires in a vehicle, effectively saving weight and space.”
The research work has continually made the system smaller and lighter. While a space-rated FOSS used in 2022 to collect temperature data during a NASA mission in low Earth orbit was roughly the size of a toaster, the hypersonic FOSS unit is about the size of two sticks of butter.

To help advance hypersonic FOSS to test flights, NASA Armstrong Technology Transfer Office lead Ben Tomlinson orchestrated a partnership. NASA, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in Edwards, California, and the U.S. Air Force’s 586th Flight Test Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, agreed to a six-flight series in 2024.
The test pilot school selected an experiment comparing FOSS and traditional sensors, looking at the data the different systems produced.
The hypersonic FOSS was integrated into a beam fixed onto one end of a pod. It had weight on the other end of the beam so that it could move as the aircraft maneuvered into position for the tests. The pod fit under a T-38 aircraft that collected strain data as the aircraft flew.
“The successful T-38 flights increased the FOSS technology readiness,” Tomlinson said. “However, a test at hypersonic speed will make FOSS more attractive for a United States business to commercialize.”

After the experiment with the Air Force, NASA’s hypersonic technology team looked for other opportunities to advance the miniaturized version of the system. That interest led to the upcoming research rocket tests in coordination with the Department of Defense.
“We have high confidence in the system, and we look forward to flying it in hypersonic flight and at altitude,” Chan said.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Ban or suspension of hunting trophy imports from Tanzania due to severe adverse human rights impact on Maasai indigenous peoples in Ngorongoro Conservation Area – E-001333/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The Commission does not currently intend to revise its approach to trophy hunting as outlined in the reply to Written Question E-1394/2023.

The Commission believes that legal, well-regulated trophy hunting programmes can deliver benefits for both wildlife conservation and for the livelihoods and wellbeing of indigenous people and local communities living with wildlife.

In line with the revised EU Action plan against wildlife trafficking[1], the Commission, in consultation with experts from Member States’ scientific authorities, is currently assessing whether the list of species for which stricter import measures in relation to hunting trophies apply (contained in Annex XIII to Commissions Regulation (EC) No 865/2006[2]) should be revised to include new species.

However, the applicable EU legislation governing trade in wildlife[3], including hunting trophies, does not provide a basis for suspension of trade for reasons other than those related to the adverse impact on the conservation status of the species in question.

The EU has repeatedly stated that all measures related to the Maasai communities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area need to be adopted in compliance with the rule of law and the respect for human rights, providing compensation and fair, transparent sharing of the revenue from natural resources.

The EU strongly encourages the conduct of genuinely inclusive dialogue among stakeholders in order to identify consensual and fair solutions to the issues at stake.

Guaranteeing both biodiversity conservation and human rights protection calls for an inclusive dialogue involving all the relevant partners.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2022%3A581%3AFIN&qid=1667989438184 Action 18.

[2] Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 of 4 May 2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein, OJ L 166, 19.6.2006, p. 1-69.

[3] Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein, OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1-69.
Last updated: 18 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Presence of alien ibis in Europe and their ecological impact: Threskiornis melanocephalus and Threskiornis aethiopicus – E-001770/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
1. The Commission is aware of the presence and dynamics of the African sacred ibis in Europe. Because of its environmental impact, this species was prioritised and added to the list of invasive alien species (IAS) of Union Concern in 2016[1]. In some countries like France, the Netherlands and Spain, management has led to a decrease in its population size in the past years.

In principle, there is no established population of the Black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) in the wild in the EU. Records in the EU are scarce. This species is classified as ‘Least Concern’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, and while it faces localised threats, its numbers are increasing in much of its native range.

2. Regulation EU 1143/2014[2] provides the framework for coordination and management of invasive alien species in the EU.

3. The list of alien species managed and monitored at European level is updated regularly[3]. It contains several bird species. The Commission’s proposal for the next update of the Union list will be submitted to the IAS Committee for examination and delivery of opinion in 2025.

[1] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 of 13 July 2016 adopting a list of invasive alien species of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 189, 14.7.2016, p. 4-8.

[2] Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 35.

[3] A consolidated version of the Union list is available at the following address: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02016R1141-20220802&from=EN.
Last updated: 18 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BHC Dhaka celebrate official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

World news story

BHC Dhaka celebrate official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III

British High Commission in Dhaka celebrated the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III on 18 June.
The event paid tribute to His Majesty The King, the UK’s Head of State and the Head of the Commonwealth, who has been a global champion of climate action, sustainable development, the arts, healthcare and education for decades.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke welcomed guests to the celebration, which featured traditional British and Bangladeshi cuisine, music and a ceremonial toast to His Majesty and continued growth of the UK-Bangladesh relationship.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honourable Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, attended the event as the Chief Guest. The event also brought together distinguished guests from the Interim Government of Bangladesh, the Diplomatic Corps, political parties and representatives from the fields of trade, business, academia, social development, arts, culture, media and sports.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said:

It is my privilege to celebrate His Majesty’s official birthday with our friends, partners and sponsors in Bangladesh. We chose the theme of climate resilience and sustainable development for the event. These are issues which His Majesty has consistently championed, and which are a vital part of the UK/Bangladesh partnership.

This year’s celebration also reflects the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting Bangladesh on its path towards a democratic, inclusive and prosperous future.

This year’s King’s Birthday Party celebrations were made possible by the gracious support of HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever, Airbus, OxfordAQA, Menzies Aviation and Le Méridien.

Further information

the Official Birthday of His Majesty The King is celebrated by British High Commissions and Embassies around the world. This year, The King turns 77 on 14 November

His Majesty The King is Head of the Commonwealth, which is a family of 56 countries working together for prosperity, democracy and peace. Bangladesh is a member of the Commonwealth

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Published 18 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada invests in flood mapping and adaptation projects

Source: Government of Canada News

On June 18, 2025, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $6.8 million in 20 projects across the country through the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (FHIMP), which is funded under Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is investing $3.3 million in nine projects focused on advancing flood mapping science nationally and bringing together Canadian research institutions and departmental scientists. The projects will leverage the expertise of Canadian universities and researchers to advance the science used in the creation of current, accessible flood maps that can account for the uncertainty of climate change.

(Please see below for Natural Resources Canada’s project descriptions.)

Here are the project descriptions:

Probabilistic predictions of hydrological extremes across timescales and their information—theoretical evaluation

Recipient: University of British Columbia – $165,900

This project will use machine learning to improve flood predictions for areas with and without water level monitoring stations. The project goal is to create models that predict the chances of floods for multiple locations in British Columbia and the Yukon, making these predictions more accurate and reliable for extreme events.

Hydrologic-hydraulic modelling framework for improving dynamic ice-jam flood mapping under a changing climate

Recipient: The Governors of the University of Alberta – $612,400

Researchers will develop a system using surface water, river, and ice modelling to better understand stream flows during ice jams and breakup, specifically in areas where data is limited. This will improve ice-jam flood mapping while considering the effects of climate change.

Developing a consolidated flood frequency analysis system for Canada in a changing climate

Lead Recipient: University of Calgary – $770,200

Consortium with University of Saskatchewan and McMaster University

Researchers will use weather and water-related models, along with statistical methods, to understand how climate change affects surface water across Canada. The goal of this work is to better understand future flood risks, improve flood mapping methods and standards, and support better decision-making and policy development. This project will also make it easier for researchers and flood mapping professionals to share knowledge and information.

Integrated framework for assessing compound coastal and inland flooding under climate change across Canada

Recipient: University of Western Ontario – $180,000

The goal of this project is to better understand how different types of floods combine (like coastal and river floods) by studying different causes of flooding in a changing climate. The project will develop a system for analyzing data to look at the expected changes in how often and how intense coastal and inland floods will be. The impacts of these combined floods will be studied through the creation of models and maps.

Climate change and hurricane impacts to Atlantic coasts

Lead Recipient: Queen’s University – $350,800

Consortium with Dalhousie University

Researchers will develop computer models to predict flooding from extreme storms along Atlantic coastlines. The goal of this research is to improve floodplain mapping and to predict future coastal flood risks under changing environmental conditions.

Assessment of emerging technologies to optimize ice-jam flood risk assessment and mapping

Recipient: Université Laval – $232,200

Researchers will use satellite and computer mapping techniques to better predict flood risks caused by ice jams along the Peace River and Athabasca River in Alberta, and the Chaudière River in Quebec. Researchers hope to assess a new method for measuring water levels with ice cover and develop a tool to help identify areas prone to ice jams. By increasing the understanding of winter water levels and ice conditions, the project aims to improve flood modelling and flood risk assessments.

Estimation of intensity-duration-frequency curves for precipitation under current and future climatic conditions across the entire Canadian territory

Recipient: Polytechnique Montréal – $272,900

Researchers will use existing rainfall data, along with weather and climate data available from the Canadian Surface Reanalysis (CaSR) to develop new rainfall predictions that can be applied to any location in Canada. The results of this project will help with infrastructure design, stormwater management, and safety planning.

Machine learning for enhanced hydrodynamic and flood-impact modelling in cold-region rivers

Recipient: Polytechnique Montréal – $330,900

Researchers will develop a new system that can quickly and accurately predict river flow in cold regions. The system will combine machine learning with surface water, river, and physics-based models. The goal of this project is to improve flood modelling and management, infrastructure planning, and environmental studies.

Accounting for hydroclimate modelling uncertainty in the assessment of future flood zones

Recipient: Ouranos – $365,400

This project aims to improve the Province of Quebec’s ability to assess future flood risks in a changing climate. Multiple Environment and Climate Change Canada modelling tools will be added to the Government of Quebec’s flood mapping program. This research will create regional forecasts for all of Canada, model river flows in southern Quebec and add peak flow data into a tool to help engineers study future climate risks.

Natural Resources Canada is investing $2.8 million in eight projects to develop and improve approaches to regional flood modelling. Natural Resources Canada is investing an additional $750,000 to support three projects focused on the exchange between Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and other scientific practices related to flood hazard mapping.

From fine to regional scales: Using physics-informed artificial intelligence and remote sensing for flood modelling and hazard mapping

Recipient: University of Saskatchewan – $181,700

The project will create innovative methods to generate and produce flood hazard maps for the Assiniboine River Basin to help decision-makers better understand risk and uncertainty. Lastly, the recipient will design a user-friendly interface to view the maps.

Deep learning-based resolution enhancement of flood maps

Recipient: CE Flood Analytics Ltd. – $143,812

The project will deliver a tool for local, regional, and national stakeholders to enhance the resolution of existing flood map products using machine learning and Natural Resources Canada’s high-resolution terrain model, the High-Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM). This tool will offer a low-cost solution to create high-resolution flood maps from global or regional models, making it accessible for non-expert stakeholders.

Regional flood modelling and mapping in the South Nation River Basin: Using new and innovative tools to map floods and build knowledge of flood risk under different flood scenarios

Recipient: South Nation River Conservation Authority – $430,355

The project will compare innovative flood mapping techniques with traditional methods and assess flood risks under various climate scenarios. The results will support land-use planning and establish new flood mapping techniques, aiding both scientific research and practical decision-making in a rapidly growing region.

Improved model-based techniques for estimating low-frequency flood event magnitudes across Canada

Recipient: University of Waterloo – $595,000

The project will develop advanced techniques for estimating the uncertain magnitude of low-frequency flood events (e.g., 50-year, 100-year, and 200-year floods) using hydrological models enhanced by machine learning. They will assess alternative data sources to improve predictions of flood magnitudes at a regional scale.

Local-scale current and projected future total flood hazard mapping for Canada – literature review

Recipient: Slobodan P. Simonović Consulting Ltd. – $45,453

The recipient will review global methodologies for creating national-scale flood hazard maps to identify approaches suitable for implementation in Canada. This review will cover methods for mapping fluvial, pluvial, and coastal flood hazards at various scales under changing climate conditions. The project will explore the integration of AI and remote sensing to refine regional flood maps and will identify applicable and climate-focused methods and tools to support flood hazard assessment in Canada.

State-of-the-art AI model development for reliable and accurate flood mapping under climate change: Supercharging flood mapping

Recipient: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University – $257,600

The project will evaluate the use of transformer models for predicting water levels in Canadian watersheds that consider the uncertainty of climate change. They will deliver improved prediction models for approximately 300 locations (gauges) across Canada, making these tools accessible to researchers, decision-makers, and local communities. Expected results include detailed water level predictions for three climate scenarios.

Amélioration de la modélisation régionale des inondations fluviales basée sur les données LiDAR dans différents contextes géomorphologiques au Canada (French only)

Recipient: Concordia University – $773,741

The project will result in a simplified methodology for flood zone mapping, including open access computer programs and an application guide. Expected results include flood maps, hydraulic models, and a final report for governments and other stakeholders to improve flood risk management and raise public awareness.

Research investigation towards the compound flooding risks and the accuracy and uncertainty of island-wide flood mapping for Prince Edward Island

Recipient: Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, University of Prince Edward Island – $459,266

This project will enhance island-wide pluvial flood modeling for Prince Edward Island, addressing critical challenges to support the provincial government in developing more robust flood hazard maps.

Dene Nàhodhe (in tune with nature): Indigenous perspectives on flood hazard and response in Kluane First Nation (KFN) traditional territory

Recipient: Kátł’odeeche First Nation – $250,000

The recipient will create Kluane First Nation (KFN) flood hazard datasets that integrate Indigenous Knowledge and western science to improve flood data availability and understanding. The project will also develop culturally appropriate policy tools for flood mitigation and support knowledge transfer of Indigenous flood response strategies within the community, especially from Elders to Youth.

Sqéwqel’s Indigenous Knowledge interweaving

Recipient: Seabird Island Band – $250,000

The project will enhance resilience and preparedness among Seabird Island Band and neighbouring communities against flood hazards by leveraging Indigenous Traditional Knowledge through the development of participatory tools, comprehensive traditional knowledge studies, and inclusive engagement processes.

Harmonizing hydrology and heritage: Indigenous Knowledge-driven flood mapping for six First Nations

Recipient: Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. (TCVI) – $250,000

The recipient will create a robust, culturally informed flood hazard mapping system that integrates traditional Indigenous Knowledge with modern GIS and hydrological modelling techniques. The goal is to strengthen community resilience to flooding by improving preparedness, risk identification, and disaster management planning.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada is investing in flood mapping and adaptation projects

Source: Government of Canada News

June 18, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec

Canadians are experiencing record-breaking climate events—from wildfires and extreme heat waves to floods and extreme cold. Flood events are among the costliest impacts of climate change, causing significant damage to communities and infrastructure. It is now more important than ever to provide Canadians with high-quality data and insight as we adapt to the impacts of our changing climate.

To that end, the Government of Canada today announced an investment of $6.8 million for 20 projects across the country through the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, as part of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is investing $3.3 million in nine projects focused on advancing flood mapping science nationally and bringing together Canadian research institutions and departmental scientists. This science and research will gather the information needed to better understand the areas in Canada that are at the highest risk for damaging floods. Building this critical groundwork will result in more reliable tools for a resilient and thriving Canadian economy and for Canadians to protect themselves.

Natural Resources Canada is investing $2.8 million in eight projects to develop and improve regional flood modelling approaches to advance flood hazard information coverage throughout Canada. Natural Resources Canada is investing an additional $750,000 to support three projects focused on the exchange between Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and other scientific practices related to flood hazard mapping. These projects will lead to a smarter, stronger, and more resilient future for Canadian-built infrastructure and communities.

Each of the projects align with the National Adaptation Strategy’s framework to reduce the risk of climate-related disasters, improve health outcomes, protect nature and biodiversity, build and maintain resilient infrastructure, and support a strong economy and workers.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Gulf of Oman oil spill: Greenpeace warns of environmental disaster

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Beirut, Lebanon – Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has warned of a potential environmental disaster after two crude oil tankers collided between Iran and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Satellite imagery indicates a large plume of oil stretching up to around 1500 hectares from the site of the crash between two vessels, ‘Adalynn’ and ‘Front Eagle’, in the Gulf of Oman, approximately 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, near the Strait of Hormuz.[1] The 23-year-old Adalynn is part of the so-called Russian ‘shadow fleet’, a collection of partially obsolete tankers that operate below basic security standards and carry Russian oil, though its current cargo is unknown. Analysis of the Adalynn’s current 9.3-metre draught suggests it may be carrying approximately 70,000 tons of crude oil despite being officially listed in ballast condition.[2]

Farah Al Hattab, Campaigner at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, said: “This is just one of many dangerous incidents to take place in the past years. The causes differ, but the result is often the same: oil spills endanger marine life, disrupt delicate ecological balances and possibly the entire food web, and carry the potential to spark widespread environmental damage that extends far beyond the immediate area.”

While navigation systems in the region have been under pressure amid the exchange of missiles between Iran and Israel, there is no clear evidence that GPS jamming or spoofing was behind the collision, with some reports indicating it was due to a navigational error.

Farah Al Hattab added: “Greenpeace MENA urges all concerned authorities to act swiftly to contain the spill and assess its ecological impact. We call on shipping companies, governments, and oil industry actors to commit to full transparency regarding environmental consequences of oil spills and the measures being taken for cleanup. Additionally, we urge governments in the region to increase investment in maritime monitoring, early-warning systems, and contingency plans to effectively respond to future oil pollution incidents. Environmental security must be treated as national and regional security.”

“The environmental fallout from this collision further highlights the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels. Continued reliance on oil infrastructure leaves both people and the planet exposed—to toxic spills, political conflict, and the accelerating climate crisis. It’s time to rethink our global energy systems, shifting to renewable energy as not just a climate solution but a pathway to peace and resilience.”

ENDS

Notes:

1. Satellite image: Greenpeace Media Library © Planet Labs PBC / Greenpeace

2. Sources: www.Q88.com and seasearcher.com

Contacts:

Hiam Mardini, Communications and Media Manager, Greenpeace MENA: [email protected]

MIL OSI NGO –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Big data for big animals: how AI is helping save Tanzania’s endangered giraffes
Source: Microsoft

Headline: Big data for big animals: how AI is helping save Tanzania’s endangered giraffes

In 1956, a 23-year-old Canadian scientist named Dr. Anne Innis Dagg did something extraordinary: she traveled alone to South Africa to study giraffes in the wild—becoming the first Western researcher to do so. Her discovery was simple but profound: the pattern of spots on a giraffe is as unique as a fingerprint, allowing scientists to re-identify individual animals over time.

Today, nearly seventy years later, that insight is powering one of the most advanced AI conservation tools ever created.

We’re proud to announce the launch of GIRAFFE (Generalized Image-based Re-Identification using AI for Fauna Feature Extraction)—an open-source AI tool developed by Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, in partnership with the Wild Nature Institute, to help conservationists track and protect Tanzania’s endangered giraffe population. Built over a decade of collaboration, this tool is already helping to provide critical insights for conservationists to help stabilize key giraffe populations in the region, and giraffes are just the beginning.

Why it matters

Giraffes are found only in Africa—and in Tanzania, their numbers have declined by more than 50% in the last 30 years. Adult females are often targeted by poachers, leaving populations vulnerable and fragmented. Conservationists need data to reverse this trend: survival rates, migration routes, reproduction patterns, and more. But gathering and analyzing that data has traditionally required enormous manual effort.

That’s where AI can help.

What GIRAFFE does

Our new tool—GIRAFFE—uses computer vision to identify individual giraffes based on their spot patterns, also facilitates automated individual annotations and dataset curation. It’s fast, scalable, and designed for real-world conservation:
- AI-Powered Recognition: Matches giraffes with over 90% accuracy, reaching 99% in many cases.
- End-to-End Workflow: Supports every step of the process, from photo uploads to expert review to seamless catalog updates.
- Accessible Design: A clean, user-friendly interface allows both scientists and field researchers to use it—no coding required.
- Scalable Infrastructure: Handles thousands of images quickly, processing each match in under two seconds.
- Open Source: Available now on GitHub, with tools for both technical and non-technical users.
Every time a giraffe is photographed—usually the right side, which serves as its “ID card”—the tool compares the image to a catalog and either identifies the individual or flags it for expert review. Each survey generates over 1,500 images; GIRAFFE turns what used to take days into minutes.

“Pattern matching software and computer vision has allowed us now to keep track of thousands of individual giraffes. We take photos of every giraffe we see, and we feed them into a pattern recognition software, which forms the basis of all of our data that we use to understand where they are doing well, and if they are not doing well, why—and we can develop effective conservation actions,” said Derek Lee and Monica Bond at Wild Nature Institute.”

A model for broader conservation

GIRAFFE’s architecture isn’t just for giraffes. It can be adapted for any species with distinctive visual patterns—zebras, tigers, whale sharks, and more. That’s the power of open science: we build once, and the benefits multiply.

We’re especially grateful to the Wild Nature Institute and the Masai Giraffe Conservation Project. Their tireless fieldwork, deep expertise, and shared commitment have made this progress possible.

At Microsoft, we believe that some of the world’s biggest challenges—climate, biodiversity, sustainability—require not only commitment, but collaboration. AI alone won’t save the giraffes. But in the hands of dedicated scientists, it can make a world of difference.

Let’s make sure the tallest land mammals on Earth still have a place to stand.

YouTube Video

Tags: AI, AI for Good Lab
MIL OSI Economics –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Rosneft’s Green Investments Reach RUB 74 Billion in 2024

Source: Rosneft

Headline: Rosneft’s Green Investments Reach RUB 74 Billion in 2024

The 5th of June is World Environment Day and the aim is to raise public interest in actions that protect ecosystems. In Russia, this date coincides with Ecologist’s Day.

Rosneft carries out a wide range of activities and projects aimed at preserving a healthy environment. In 2024, the Company’s green investments totalled 74 billion roubles, which was a 16% increase on the previous year. Over the past three years, this figure totalled almost 200 billion roubles.

The key components of the Company’s long-term environmental agenda are captured in the Rosneft 2030: Reliable Energy and Global Transition strategy. The top priorities in this field for the Company and its subsidiaries are the implementation of programmes to remediate land, including historical heritage land; the improvement of pipeline reliability; and the preservation of water resources and biodiversity in the regions where the Company operates.

For instance, in 2024, Samotlorneftegaz completed a large-scale programme to remediate historical heritage lands, with the total area exceeding 2.2 thousand hectares. Approximately 85% of all remediation works were carried out by the Company’s own environmental department. The project has led to the development of new technologies and unique experiences that are in demand by other enterprises.

Rosneft devotes considerable attention to reforestation activities, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and combating climate change. The Company is working in partnership with the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory to develop a far-reaching environmental forestation project. This project aims to unlock the region’s forests’ climate-regulating potential and to promote sustainable development. In 2024, the Company and its subsidiaries planted almost 11 million trees of various types in the regions where they operate.

Rosneft is committed to the principles of the circular economy and is taking positive steps to implement them across its operations. Improving the efficiency of waste management processes is one of the priority goals of the Company’s 2030 strategy. The Company’s production enterprises have been successfully implementing zero-waste technologies that enable the production of artificial soil – an environmentally friendly construction material – from drilling cuttings.

Furthermore, the Company’s Samara Group enterprises recycled almost 300 tonnes of exhausted catalyst. A total of 8,000+ tonnes of non-ferrous and ferrous metals were sent for processing by the Achinsk, Saratov, Syzran, Kuibyshev, Novokuibyshevsk refineries, RN-Vankor and Bashneft subsidiaries.

Approximately 4,500 tonnes of waste oils and emulsions were sent for processing by the Kuibyshev Refinery, the Novokuibyshevsk Refinery, RN-Vankor and Bashneft enterprises.

Biodiversity conservation is another important area of Rosneft’s environmental activities. For over a decade, the Company has been implementing annual initiatives to replenish Russia’s aquatic bioresources. In 2024, Rosneft’s enterprises released over 21.7 million young fish into the country’s water bodies.

Volunteers from the Company, its subsidiaries and design institutes are also actively involved in various environmental initiatives and contribute to the development of a culture of rational and responsible consumption of natural resources. Employees and their children participate in activities involving the planting of greenery, with a view to enhancing both urban and natural recreational areas. These activities form part of federal environmental campaigns such as Green Spring, Memory Garden, Water of Russia, Clean Shores, etc.

For more than 15 years, Samotlorneftegaz volunteers have been organising cleanup days to treat the shoreline of Lake Kymyl-Emtor as part of the nation-wide campaign Water of Russia.

Samara oil workers assist the staff of the Botanical Garden of Samara University in a number of ways. These include the removal of deadwood and leaves, the purchase of rare plant species and plant seedlings, and the restoration and improvement of springs in the region. In 2024, volunteers in the Samara region collected over 30 cubic metres of rubbish from the banks of the Volga and Sok rivers. Volunteers from the Novokuibyshevsk Petrochemical Company participated in an environmental race, collecting a total of 930 kg of household waste.

In 2024, RN-Nyaganneftegaz oil workers collected approximately 3 tonnes of household rubbish from the shoreline of the Nyagan-Yugan River.

On the eve of Victory Day, Rosneft employees organised the cleaning of parks, memorial complexes and monuments dedicated to the Soviet people’s military achievements during the Great Patriotic War.

The Company’s initiatives play a significant role in preserving natural resources by organising campaigns to collect used batteries, plastic, and waste paper for recycling. In 2024, Rosneft employees recycled over 1,100 kg of waste batteries, uninterruptible power supplies, and disposable batteries. They also handed over seven tonnes of plastic for recycling and collected approximately 180 tonnes of waste paper.

Rosneft volunteers actively promote environmental education among young people, organising environmental quests, workshops, quizzes and eco-classes for schoolchildren. For instance, in 2024, Orenburgneft implemented the Eco-School project, collecting more than 10 tonnes of waste paper, over 70 kg of batteries, and over 17 kg of plastic caps with the help of students from regional schools.

For the past 14 years, the company has organised annual environmental safety competitions, which contribute to raising the level of environmental awareness and encourage subsidiaries to develop their expertise and improve their work in this area.

The public highly appreciated the successful environmental activities of Rosneft’s subsidiaries. In 2024, the Company’s Syzran, Novokuibyshevsk and Kuibyshev refineries received top honours at the nationwide Russian Environmental Leader contest.

Department of Information and Advertising
Rosneft
5 June 2025

MIL OSI Global Banks –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Connecting Communities to Ocean Exploration: Outreach from the Aleutian Arc Expedition
Source: US Geological Survey

Alaska’s rich and dynamic ecosystems draw scientists from around the world. But for the people who live here—many of whom have deep cultural, historical, and personal connections to the land and sea—it’s especially important that scientific research feels local, accessible, and relevant.

As part of the deep-sea research and exploration cruise in the Aleutian Arc, the expedition team, including scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Smithsonian Institute (SI) partnered with local organizations to host a series of community engagement events in Unalaska. These events provided a chance to connect with residents, share deep-sea research, and celebrate the incredible biodiversity and geology of this region. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

Ship Tours of the R/V Atlantis

Community members—including representatives from the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, the Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaska City Council, local students, and other organizations—toured the 274-foot research vessel Atlantis. One of the biggest highlights? Seeing the deep-diving submersible HOV Alvin in person!

Dive into Tidepools – Museum of the Aleutians

Christina Bonsell, marine ecologist with BOEM, had the pleasure of leading this hands-on event at the Museum of the Aleutians, where visitors of all ages got an up-close look at the incredible marine life found right in their own backyard. From sea stars to anemones, attendees explored tidepool creatures and learned about local biodiversity through interactive touch tanks and engaging conversations about life in the nearshore ocean.

“Exploring the Deep Sea: Hidden Habitats, Volcanoes, and More!” – Public Talk at the Unalaska Library

Scientists from the expedition team—including Bonsell, Cathleen Yung (NOAA), Ashton Flinders (USGS), Katlin Bowman Adamczyk (USGS), and Stephanie Bush (SI)—gave a public presentation at the library, sharing the goals and the exciting science behind the 2025 Aleutian Arc Expedition.
Ocean Discovery Day – Hands-on Science with Local Students

In partnership with the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska and the Museum of the Aleutians, the science team hosted a day of hands-on activities that brought deep sea science to life for local students:

Deep Sea Biodiversity: Students learned how scientists use Alvin to explore life in the deep sea, led by Rhian Waller (Gothenburg University) and Lauren Rice (Florida State University).

Traditional Boatbuilding: Keegan Salners, Matt Tutiakoff, and Anfesia Tutiakoff of the Qawalangin Tribe introduced students to iqyax (Aleutian kayak) design—and the students even built their own boats!

Volcanoes and Earthquakes: Ashton Flinders (USGS) got students moving and learning as they became “earthquake-makers” and explored seismic waveforms.

Archaeological Discoveries: Thomas McLenigan from the Museum of the Aleutians guided students through sorting fish, bird, and mammal bones from ancient midden material to reveal clues about past ecosystems.

Deep Sea Pressure: Shannon Cofield (BOEM) explained the effects of deep-sea pressure, and students decorated foam cups that will travel to the ocean depths and shrink to amusingly-small size.

Community Science and Ecosystem Knowledge: Shanoy Anderson from the Qawalangin Tribe led a discussion on local ecosystem observations and how to share them using the Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network.

Students sort animal bones from ancient midden material in a hands-on archaeological activity during the Ocean Discovery Day. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats. Photographer: Art Howard.
It was an honor to collaborate with dedicated local partners and organizations to make this action-packed week of activities a success. These events offered an incredible opportunity to share our science, inspire curiosity, and build lasting connections with the community.

We can’t wait to share the discoveries we make as this deep-sea expedition unfolds.

Members of the local community including representatives from the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, the Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaska City Council, local students, and other organizations had the chance to tour the research vessel Atlantis (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) in Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats. Photographer: Art Howard.

MIL OSI USA News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Video highlights risks of cassowary feeding
Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 18 Jun 2025

Open larger image

A “Be cass-o-wary” sign

Authorities are urging people to avoid unlawfully feeding wildlife after a close encounter with a cassowary.

Security video from south Mission Beach on May 09 shows a habituated male cassowary and his chick approaching a home in the hopes of being fed.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is urging people in cassowary habitat to stop feeding them.

Wildlife Ranger Jeff Lewis said feeding cassowaries changes their behaviour, creating significant risks for people and our iconic endangered birds.

“This incident is one of several cassowary interactions in the area which are linked to unlawful feeding,” Mr Lewis said.

“Thankfully the mother and child were able to get inside to safety, but it’s an important reminder to not interfere with wildlife.

“In April, a man in his seventies was kicked in the leg by a cassowary which approached him expecting food. He was treated for a cut to his leg and was lucky the injuries weren’t worse.

“These incidents are stark examples of the dangers of feeding cassowaries.

“Local wildlife rangers have been warning people of the risks, installing signage and providing education, but the unlawful feeding persists.

“When cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks.

“We encourage anyone with information in relation to unlawful feeding to report it to the Department.”

If you encounter a cassowary displaying concerning behaviour or see one injured, contact 1300 130 372. For general sightings.

Cassowaries can inflict serious injuries to people and pets by kicking out with their large, clawed feet. People are asked to Be cass-o-wary at all times in the Wet Tropics.
- Never approach cassowaries.
- Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them.
- Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal, dangerous and has caused cassowary deaths.
- Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.
- Slow down when driving in cassowary habitat.
- Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road.
- Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash.
MIL OSI News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 432 Status Reports

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: 50 years after ‘Jaws,’ researchers have retired the man-eater myth and revealed more about sharks’ amazing biology

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gareth J. Fraser, Associate Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, University of Florida

The shark in ‘Jaws’ became a terrifying icon. Universal Pictures via Getty Images

The summer of 1975 was the summer of “Jaws.”

The movie was adapted from a novel by Peter Benchley.
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The first blockbuster movie sent waves of panic and awe through audiences. “Jaws” – the tale of a killer great white shark that terrorizes a coastal tourist town – captured people’s imaginations and simultaneously created a widespread fear of the water.

To call Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece a creature feature is trite. Because the shark isn’t shown for most of the movie – mechanical difficulties meant production didn’t have one ready to use until later in the filming process – suspense and fear build. The movie unlocked in viewers an innate fear of the unknown, encouraging the idea that monsters lurk beneath the ocean’s surface, even in the shallows.

And because in 1975 marine scientists knew far less than we do now about sharks and their world, it was easy for the myth of the rogue shark as a murderous eating machine to take hold, along with the assumption that all sharks must be bloodthirsty, mindless killers.

People lined up to get scared by the murderous shark at the center of the ‘Jaws’ movie.
Bettmann Archive via Getty Images

But in addition to scaring many moviegoers that “it’s not safe to go in the water,” “Jaws” has over the years inspired generations of researchers, including me. The scientific curiosity sparked by this horror fish flick has helped reveal so much more about what lies beneath the waves than was known 50 years ago. My own research focuses on the secret lives of sharks, their evolution and development, and how people can benefit from the study of these enigmatic animals.

The business end of sharks: Their jaws and teeth

My own work has focused on perhaps the most terrifying aspect of these apex predators, the jaws and teeth. I study the development of shark teeth in embryos.

Small-spotted catshark embryo (Scyliorhinus canicula), still attached to the yolk sac. This is the stage when the teeth begin developing.
Ella Nicklin, Fraser Lab, University of Florida

Sharks continue to make an unlimited supply of tooth replacements throughout life – it’s how they keep their bite constantly sharp.

Hard-shelled prey, such as mollusks and crustaceans, from sandy substrates can be more abrasive for teeth, requiring quicker replacement. Depending on the water temperature, the conveyor belt-like renewal of an entire row of teeth can take between nine and 70 days, for example, in nurse sharks, or much longer in larger sharks. In the great white, a full-row replacement can take an estimated 250 days. That’s still an advantage over humans – we never regrow damaged or worn-out adult teeth.

Magnified microscope image of a zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) jaw. They have 20 to 30 rows of teeth in each jaw, each a new generation ready to move into position like on a conveyor belt. Humans have only two sets!
Gareth Fraser, University of Florida

Interestingly, shark teeth are much like our own, developing from equivalent cells, patterned by the same genes, creating the same hard tissues, enamel and dentin. Sharks could potentially teach researchers how to master the process of tooth renewal. It would be huge for dentistry if scientists could use sharks to figure out how to engineer a new generation of teeth for human patients.

Extraordinary fish with extraordinary biology

As a group, sharks and their cartilaginous fish relatives – including skates, rays and chimaeras – are evolutionary relics that have inhabited the Earth’s oceans for over 400 million years. They’ve been around since long before human beings and most of the other animals on our planet today hit the scene, even before dinosaurs emerged.

Sharks have a vast array of super powers that scientists have only recently discovered.

Their electroreceptive pores, located around the head and jaws, have amazing sensory capabilities, allowing sharks to detect weak electrical fields emitted from hidden prey.

CT scan of the head of a small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) as it hatches. Skin denticles cover the surface, and colored rows of teeth are present on the jaws.
Ella Nicklin, Fraser Lab, University of Florida

Their skin is protected with an armor of tiny teeth, called dermal denticles, composed of sensitive dentin, that also allows for better drag-reducing hydrodynamics. Biologists and engineers are also using this “shark skin technology” to design hydrodynamic and aerodynamic solutions for future fuel-efficient vehicles.

Fluorescent skin of the chain catshark (Scyliorhinus retifer).
Gareth Fraser, University of Florida

Some sharks are biofluorescent, meaning they emit light in different wavelengths after absorbing natural blue light. This emitted fluorescent color pattern suggests visual communication and recognition among members of the same species is possible in the dark depths.

Sharks can migrate across huge global distances. For example, a silky shark was recorded traveling 17,000 miles (over 27,000 kilometers) over a year and a half. Hammerhead sharks can even home in on the Earth’s magnetic field to help them navigate.

Greenland sharks exhibit a lengthy aging process and live for hundreds of years. Scientists estimated that one individual was 392 years old, give or take 120 years.

Still much about sharks remains mysterious. We know little about their breeding habits and locations of their nursery grounds. Conservation efforts are beginning to target the identification of shark nurseries as a way to manage and protect fragile populations.

Tagging programs and their “follow the shark” apps allow researchers to learn more about these animals’ lives and where they roam – highlighting the benefit of international collaboration and public engagement for conserving threatened shark populations.

Sharks under attack

Sharks are an incredible evolutionary success story. But they’re also vulnerable in the modern age of human-ocean interactions.

Sharks are an afterthought for the commercial fishing industry, but overfishing of other species can cause dramatic crashes in shark populations. Their late age of sexual maturity – as old as 15 to 20 years or more in larger species or potentially 150 years in Greenland sharks – along with slow growth, long gestation periods and complex social structures make shark populations fragile and less capable of quick recoveries.

Take the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), for example – Jaws’ own species. Trophy hunting, trade in their body parts and commercial fishery impacts caused their numbers to dwindle. As a result, they received essential protections at the international level. In turn, their numbers have rebounded, especially around the United States, leading to a shift from critically endangered to vulnerable status worldwide. However, they remain critically endangered in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Protections and conservation measures have helped white sharks make a comeback.
Dave Fleetham/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

“Jaws” was filmed on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, in Massachusetts. After careful management and the designation of white sharks as a prohibited species in federal waters in 1997 and in Massachusetts in 2005, their populations have recovered well over recent years in response to more seals in the area and recovering fish stocks.

You might assume more sharks would mean more attacks, but that is not what we observe. Shark attacks have always been few and far between in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and they remain rare. It’s only a “Jaws”-perpetuated myth that sharks have a taste for humans. Sure, they might mistake a person for prey; for instance, surfers and swimmers can mimic the appearance of seals at the surface. Sharks in murky water might opportunistically take a test bite of what seem to be prey.

But these attacks are rare enough that people can shed their “Jaws”-driven irrational fears of sharks. Almost all sharks are timid, and the likelihood of an interaction – let alone a negative one – is incredibly rare. Importantly, there more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, each one a unique member of a particular ecosystem with a vital role. Sharks come in all shapes and sizes, and inhabit every ocean, both the shallow and deep-end ecosystems.

Most recorded human-shark interactions are awe-inspiring and not terrifying. Sharks don’t really care about people – at most they may be curious, but not hungry for human flesh. Whether or not “Jaws” fans have grown beyond the fear of movie monster sharks, we’re gonna need a bigger conservation effort to continue to protect these important ocean guardians.

Gareth J. Fraser receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

– ref. 50 years after ‘Jaws,’ researchers have retired the man-eater myth and revealed more about sharks’ amazing biology – https://theconversation.com/50-years-after-jaws-researchers-have-retired-the-man-eater-myth-and-revealed-more-about-sharks-amazing-biology-258151

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: 50 years after ‘Jaws,’ researchers have retired the man-eater myth and revealed more about sharks’ amazing biology

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gareth J. Fraser, Associate Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, University of Florida

The shark in ‘Jaws’ became a terrifying icon. Universal Pictures via Getty Images

The summer of 1975 was the summer of “Jaws.”

The movie was adapted from a novel by Peter Benchley.
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The first blockbuster movie sent waves of panic and awe through audiences. “Jaws” – the tale of a killer great white shark that terrorizes a coastal tourist town – captured people’s imaginations and simultaneously created a widespread fear of the water.

To call Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece a creature feature is trite. Because the shark isn’t shown for most of the movie – mechanical difficulties meant production didn’t have one ready to use until later in the filming process – suspense and fear build. The movie unlocked in viewers an innate fear of the unknown, encouraging the idea that monsters lurk beneath the ocean’s surface, even in the shallows.

And because in 1975 marine scientists knew far less than we do now about sharks and their world, it was easy for the myth of the rogue shark as a murderous eating machine to take hold, along with the assumption that all sharks must be bloodthirsty, mindless killers.

People lined up to get scared by the murderous shark at the center of the ‘Jaws’ movie.
Bettmann Archive via Getty Images

But in addition to scaring many moviegoers that “it’s not safe to go in the water,” “Jaws” has over the years inspired generations of researchers, including me. The scientific curiosity sparked by this horror fish flick has helped reveal so much more about what lies beneath the waves than was known 50 years ago. My own research focuses on the secret lives of sharks, their evolution and development, and how people can benefit from the study of these enigmatic animals.

The business end of sharks: Their jaws and teeth

My own work has focused on perhaps the most terrifying aspect of these apex predators, the jaws and teeth. I study the development of shark teeth in embryos.

Small-spotted catshark embryo (Scyliorhinus canicula), still attached to the yolk sac. This is the stage when the teeth begin developing.
Ella Nicklin, Fraser Lab, University of Florida

Sharks continue to make an unlimited supply of tooth replacements throughout life – it’s how they keep their bite constantly sharp.

Hard-shelled prey, such as mollusks and crustaceans, from sandy substrates can be more abrasive for teeth, requiring quicker replacement. Depending on the water temperature, the conveyor belt-like renewal of an entire row of teeth can take between nine and 70 days, for example, in nurse sharks, or much longer in larger sharks. In the great white, a full-row replacement can take an estimated 250 days. That’s still an advantage over humans – we never regrow damaged or worn-out adult teeth.

Magnified microscope image of a zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) jaw. They have 20 to 30 rows of teeth in each jaw, each a new generation ready to move into position like on a conveyor belt. Humans have only two sets!
Gareth Fraser, University of Florida

Interestingly, shark teeth are much like our own, developing from equivalent cells, patterned by the same genes, creating the same hard tissues, enamel and dentin. Sharks could potentially teach researchers how to master the process of tooth renewal. It would be huge for dentistry if scientists could use sharks to figure out how to engineer a new generation of teeth for human patients.

Extraordinary fish with extraordinary biology

As a group, sharks and their cartilaginous fish relatives – including skates, rays and chimaeras – are evolutionary relics that have inhabited the Earth’s oceans for over 400 million years. They’ve been around since long before human beings and most of the other animals on our planet today hit the scene, even before dinosaurs emerged.

Sharks have a vast array of super powers that scientists have only recently discovered.

Their electroreceptive pores, located around the head and jaws, have amazing sensory capabilities, allowing sharks to detect weak electrical fields emitted from hidden prey.

CT scan of the head of a small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) as it hatches. Skin denticles cover the surface, and colored rows of teeth are present on the jaws.
Ella Nicklin, Fraser Lab, University of Florida

Their skin is protected with an armor of tiny teeth, called dermal denticles, composed of sensitive dentin, that also allows for better drag-reducing hydrodynamics. Biologists and engineers are also using this “shark skin technology” to design hydrodynamic and aerodynamic solutions for future fuel-efficient vehicles.

Fluorescent skin of the chain catshark (Scyliorhinus retifer).
Gareth Fraser, University of Florida

Some sharks are biofluorescent, meaning they emit light in different wavelengths after absorbing natural blue light. This emitted fluorescent color pattern suggests visual communication and recognition among members of the same species is possible in the dark depths.

Sharks can migrate across huge global distances. For example, a silky shark was recorded traveling 17,000 miles (over 27,000 kilometers) over a year and a half. Hammerhead sharks can even home in on the Earth’s magnetic field to help them navigate.

Greenland sharks exhibit a lengthy aging process and live for hundreds of years. Scientists estimated that one individual was 392 years old, give or take 120 years.

Still much about sharks remains mysterious. We know little about their breeding habits and locations of their nursery grounds. Conservation efforts are beginning to target the identification of shark nurseries as a way to manage and protect fragile populations.

Tagging programs and their “follow the shark” apps allow researchers to learn more about these animals’ lives and where they roam – highlighting the benefit of international collaboration and public engagement for conserving threatened shark populations.

Sharks under attack

Sharks are an incredible evolutionary success story. But they’re also vulnerable in the modern age of human-ocean interactions.

Sharks are an afterthought for the commercial fishing industry, but overfishing of other species can cause dramatic crashes in shark populations. Their late age of sexual maturity – as old as 15 to 20 years or more in larger species or potentially 150 years in Greenland sharks – along with slow growth, long gestation periods and complex social structures make shark populations fragile and less capable of quick recoveries.

Take the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), for example – Jaws’ own species. Trophy hunting, trade in their body parts and commercial fishery impacts caused their numbers to dwindle. As a result, they received essential protections at the international level. In turn, their numbers have rebounded, especially around the United States, leading to a shift from critically endangered to vulnerable status worldwide. However, they remain critically endangered in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Protections and conservation measures have helped white sharks make a comeback.
Dave Fleetham/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

“Jaws” was filmed on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, in Massachusetts. After careful management and the designation of white sharks as a prohibited species in federal waters in 1997 and in Massachusetts in 2005, their populations have recovered well over recent years in response to more seals in the area and recovering fish stocks.

You might assume more sharks would mean more attacks, but that is not what we observe. Shark attacks have always been few and far between in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and they remain rare. It’s only a “Jaws”-perpetuated myth that sharks have a taste for humans. Sure, they might mistake a person for prey; for instance, surfers and swimmers can mimic the appearance of seals at the surface. Sharks in murky water might opportunistically take a test bite of what seem to be prey.

But these attacks are rare enough that people can shed their “Jaws”-driven irrational fears of sharks. Almost all sharks are timid, and the likelihood of an interaction – let alone a negative one – is incredibly rare. Importantly, there more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, each one a unique member of a particular ecosystem with a vital role. Sharks come in all shapes and sizes, and inhabit every ocean, both the shallow and deep-end ecosystems.

Most recorded human-shark interactions are awe-inspiring and not terrifying. Sharks don’t really care about people – at most they may be curious, but not hungry for human flesh. Whether or not “Jaws” fans have grown beyond the fear of movie monster sharks, we’re gonna need a bigger conservation effort to continue to protect these important ocean guardians.

Gareth J. Fraser receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

– ref. 50 years after ‘Jaws,’ researchers have retired the man-eater myth and revealed more about sharks’ amazing biology – https://theconversation.com/50-years-after-jaws-researchers-have-retired-the-man-eater-myth-and-revealed-more-about-sharks-amazing-biology-258151

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Angola Environmental Serviços (AES) Seeks Partnership Opportunities, Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 as Silver Sponsor

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

Waste management company Angola Environmental Serviços (AES) will return to the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference and exhibition in 2025 as a Silver Sponsor. Operating at the intersection of the environmental and hydrocarbon sectors, AES strives to become a leading national company providing integrated waste management services. As Angola expands its portfolio of exploration and production projects, these services will play an instrumental part in preserving the natural environment while ensuring optimal oil and gas operations.

AES promotes environmental sustainability through the deployment of world-class technology, working closely with upstream operators across both the onshore and offshore markets. The company’s AOG 2025 sponsorship reflects its commitment to supporting oil and gas projects, creating new opportunities for greater collaboration across the industry as a range of major projects advance in the country.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

In recent years AES has invested heavily in its infrastructure and human capital, with aims to position itself as the partner of choice for oil and gas operators. Through its two waste management facilities – situated at the SONILS base in Luanda and the Kwanda base in Soyo – the company deploys a range of services, from thermal desorption to incineration to landfill services, tank cleaning and cargo transport units. The strategic location of these bases positions AES at the center of Angola’s upstream and logistics industries, with close proximity to active and upcoming projects in the Kwanza and Lower Congo basins.

AES’ suite of clients further underscores its role in the country’s oil and gas sector. These include TotalEnergies, Azule Energy, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Sonangol, Etu Energias, Angola LNG and many more. The company has also worked closely with international service and technology firms, including SLB, Halliburton, Aker Solutions, among others. As major operators expand their presence in Angola amid a $60 billion investment pipeline planned for the coming five years, partnerships with AES will serve to advance the environmental and operational efficiency of oil and gas developments.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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MIL OSI Africa –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Northern cod commercial fishery
Source: Government of Canada News

Based on recent science assessments, stakeholders and industry leaders have called for higher quotas in the Northern cod commercial fishery to continue rebuilding markets and expand processing capacity. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2025 season is increasing from 18,000 to 38,000 tonnes, boosting economic opportunities for coastal communities.

Commercial allocations for 2025-26 are as follows:
- 80% is allocated to inshore harvesters including a new allocation for the inshore mobile gear fleet
- 10% is allocated to Indigenous groups and special allocation
- 9.72% is allocated to Canadian offshore fleets
- 0.28% is allocated to mid shore fixed gear and mobile gear fleets
Under NAFO Conservation and Enforcement measures introduced by Canada, 2,000 tonnes, an amount equal to approximately 5% of the overall TAC, is set aside for other NAFO Contracting Parties fishing outside Canada’s exclusive economic zone, fulfilling Canada’s international commitments.

Science

The latest scientific data shows Northern cod has been generally stable since 2017 and is at a healthier state relative to its Limit Reference Point (LRP) than previously thought. The approach announced today has a high probability (73%) of maintaining the stock above the critical zone.

Recreational Groundfish fishery

The Recreational Groundfish fishery remains an important social and cultural tradition.

For 2025-26, the current limits stay in place:
- Five groundfish per person per day, with a maximum boat limit of 15 groundfish if three or more people are onboard.
- The season will run for 39 days—every Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from June 28 to September 1, with a fall fishing period from September 20 to 28.
Supporting tour boat operators and coastal economies

To provide more flexibility and new economic opportunities for tour boat operators certified by Transport Canada, a new voluntary pilot program will launch in 2025. It will:
- Introduce a tagging system providing tour boat operators greater flexibility and allowing retention seven days a week; and,
- Permit passengers to retain two groundfish per day.
Persons with Disabilities

People with permanent disabilities can continue to apply for a designation that allows someone else to catch their daily groundfish limit during the Recreational Groundfish fishery on their behalf.

MIL OSI Canada News –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: AI helps tell snow leopards apart, improving population counts for these majestic mountain predators

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eve Bohnett, Assistant Scholar, Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, University of Florida

Snow leopards are hard to find and count, which makes protecting them difficult. zahoor salmi/Moment via Getty Images

Snow leopards are known as the “ghosts of the mountains” for a reason. Imagine waiting for months in the harsh, rugged mountains of Asia, hoping to catch even a glimpse of one. These elusive big cats move silently across rocky slopes, their pale coats blending so seamlessly with snow and stone that even the most seasoned biologists seldom spot them in the wild.

Travel writer Peter Matthiessen spent two months in 1973 searching the Tibetan plateau for them and wrote a 300-page book about the effort. He never saw one. Forty years later, Peter’s son Alex retraced his father’s steps – and didn’t see one either.

Researchers have struggled to come up with a figure for the global population. In 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassified the snow leopard from endangered to vulnerable, citing estimates of between 2,500 and 10,000 adults in the wild. However, the group also warned that numbers continue to decline in many areas due to habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Those who study these animals want to help protect the species and their habitat – if only we can determine exactly where they live and how many there are.

Traditional tracking methods – searching for footprints, droppings and other signs – have their limits. Instead of waiting for a lucky face-to-face encounter, conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, led by experts including Stéphane Ostrowski and Sorosh Poya Faryabi, began deploying automated camera traps in Afghanistan. These devices snap photos whenever movement is detected, capturing thousands of images over months, all in hopes of obtaining a rare glimpse of a snow leopard.

But capturing images is only half the battle. The next, even harder task is telling one snow leopard apart from another.

Are these the same animal or different ones? It’s really hard to tell.
Eve Bohnett, CC BY-ND

At first glance, it might sound simple: Each snow leopard has a unique pattern of black rosettes on its coat, like a fingerprint or a face in a crowd. Yet in practice, identifying individuals by these patterns is slow, subjective and prone to error. Photos may be taken at odd angles, under poor lighting, or with parts of the animal obscured – making matches tricky.

A common mistake happens when photos from different cameras are marked as depicting different animals when they actually show the same individual, inflating population estimates. Worse, camera trap images can get mixed up or misfiled, splitting encounters of one cat across multiple batches and identities.

I am a data analyst working with Wildlife Conservation Society and other partners at Wild Me. My work and others’ has found that even trained experts can misidentify animals, failing to recognize repeat visitors at locations monitored by motion-sensing cameras and counting the same animal more than once. One study found that the snow leopard population was overestimated by more than 30% because of these human errors.

To avoid these pitfalls, researchers follow camera sorting guidelines: At least three clear pattern differences or similarities must be confirmed between two images to declare them the same or different cats. Images too blurry, too dark or taken from difficult angles may have to be discarded. Identification efforts range from easy cases with clear, full-body shots to ambiguous ones needing collaboration and debate. Despite these efforts, variability remains, and more experienced observers tend to be more accurate.

Now people trying to count snow leopards are getting help from artificial intelligence systems, in two ways.

Spotting the spots

Modern AI tools are revolutionizing how we process these large photo libraries. First, AI can rapidly sort through thousands of images, flagging those that contain snow leopards and ignoring irrelevant ones such as those that depict blue sheep, gray-and-white mountain terrain, or shadows.

Unique spots and spot patterns are key to telling snow leopards apart.
Eve Bohnett, CC BY-NC-ND

AI can identify individual snow leopards by analyzing their unique rosette patterns, even when poses or lighting vary. Each snow leopard encounter is compared with a catalog of previously identified photos and assigned a known ID if there is a match, or entered as a new individual if not.

In a recent study, several colleagues and I evaluated two AI algorithms, both separately and in tandem.

The first algorithm, called HotSpotter, identifies individual snow leopards by comparing key visual features such as coat patterns, highlighting distinctive “hot spots” with a yellow marker.

The second is a newer method called pose invariant embeddings, which operates similar to facial recognition technology: It recognizes layers of abstract features in the data, identifying the same animal regardless of how it is positioned in the photo or what kind of lighting there may be.

We trained these systems using a curated dataset of photos of snow leopards from zoos in the U.S., Europe and Tajikistan, and with images from the wild, including in Afghanistan.

Alone, each model worked about 74% of the time, correctly identifying the cat from a large photo library. But when combined, the two systems together were correct 85% of the time.

These algorithms were integrated into Wildbook, an open-source, web-based software platform developed by the nonprofit organization Wild Me and now adopted by ConservationX. We deployed the combined system on a free website, Whiskerbook.org, where researchers can upload images, seek matches using the algorithms, and confirm those matches with side-by-side comparisons. This site is among a growing family of AI-powered wildlife platforms that are helping conservation biologists work more efficiently and more effectively at protecting species and their habitats.

A view from an online wildlife-tracking system suggests a possible match for a snow leopard caught by a remote camera.
Wildbook/Eve Bohnett, CC BY-ND

Humans still needed

These AI systems aren’t error-proof. AI quickly narrows down candidates and flags likely matches, but expert validation ensures accuracy, especially with tricky or ambiguous photos.

Another study we conducted pitted AI-assisted groups of experts and novices against each other. Each was given a set of three to 10 images of 34 known captive snow leopards and asked to use the Whiskerbook platform to identify them. They were also asked to estimate how many individual animals were in the set of photos.

The experts accurately matched about 90% of the images and delivered population estimates within about 3% of the true number. In contrast, the novices identified only 73% of the cats and underestimated the total number, sometimes by 25% or more, incorrectly merging two individuals into one.

Both sets of results were better than when experts or novices did not use any software.

The takeaway is clear: Human expertise remains important, and combining it with AI support leads to the most accurate results. My colleagues and I hope that by using tools like Whiskerbook and the AI systems embedded in them, researchers will be able to more quickly and more confidently study these elusive animals.

With AI tools like Whiskerbook illuminating the mysteries of these mountain ghosts, we have another way to safeguard snow leopards – but success depends on continued commitment to protecting their fragile mountain homes.

Eve Bohnett receives funding from San Diego State Research Foundation and Wildlife Conservation Society. She is affiliated with University of Florida.

– ref. AI helps tell snow leopards apart, improving population counts for these majestic mountain predators – https://theconversation.com/ai-helps-tell-snow-leopards-apart-improving-population-counts-for-these-majestic-mountain-predators-258154

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Russian-South African negotiations.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

The meeting took place as part of the working visit of the Vice President of the Republic of South Africa Paul Mashatile to the Russian Federation.

M. Mishustin: Good afternoon, dear Mr. Mashatile! Dear friends!

Welcome to the Government House of the Russian Federation. I know that this is your first visit to the Russian Federation as Vice President of South Africa, although you have been to Russia several times before. And I would like to welcome you personally and your delegation to Moscow, to the Russian Federation.

We highly value the trusting and meaningful dialogue with the Republic of South Africa. Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and South African President Mr. Ramaphosa are in constant contact – both bilaterally and at international venues. And, of course, first and foremost in the BRICS association.

We attach great importance to expanding cooperation with the Republic of South Africa. It is based on the principles of a comprehensive strategic partnership, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests.

Through governments, we ensure the implementation of agreements between the leaders of Russia and South Africa on expanding cooperation. We are talking (we have already briefly exchanged opinions) about industry, energy, agriculture, the digital economy and, of course, humanitarian cooperation.

We propose to work out new cooperation projects in a mixed intergovernmental committee. On the Russian side, it is headed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov.

In addition to Moscow, I know that you plan to visit St. Petersburg and take part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. It is very important that the forum will host a special session on the development of business and investment cooperation between Russia and South Africa. I am confident that this will contribute to the restoration of business contacts, the emergence of new ideas and initiatives that will strengthen our cooperation.

A few words about the humanitarian sphere. We are interested in cooperation here too, of course. First of all, in the area of personnel training. South African citizens study at leading Russian universities. They choose sought-after professions of engineers, doctors, and IT specialists. We are happy about this. We consider it very important to hold joint events in the field of culture and art on a regular basis. Last year, the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture were held in South Africa for the first time. And this year we will hold a Festival of Russian Culture.

Dear Mr. Mashatile, I am ready to discuss with you the most important issues of cooperation between Russia and South Africa.

To be continued…

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Strategic Topics, Technical Insights: Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 to Offer Multi-Track Program

This year’s edition of the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference & exhibition will feature a multi-track program examining how regulatory reform, foreign investment and domestic growth have shaped the market over the past five decades, and how greater collaboration, capital expenditure and local participation will shape the next 50 years of development.

Strategic Track

The AOG 2025 Strategic Track will feature a series of panel discussions, keynote addresses and in-conversation with sessions, all of which aim to provide key insight into the state of play of Angola’s oil and gas market. A session on Angola at 50: The Oil & Gas Industry – a catalyst for economic transformation will examine the role oil and gas has and will continue to play in unlocking economic opportunities for the country – from job creation to fuel security to revenue generation and infrastructure development.

Meanwhile, with the country on track for a $60 billion upstream investment drive in the coming five years and a 2025 licensing round set to offer 10 blocks in the offshore Kwanza and Benguela basins, Angola offers strategic investment opportunities for exploration and production firms. The AOG 2025 Strategic Track will feature sessions on The Role of Onshore & Shallow Water Operations in Maintaining Production Levels; and Strategic Partnerships: Unlocking Africa’s Deepwater Potential, tackling development opportunities across the market. Additionally, sessions on From Extraction to Expansion: Financing Angola’s Oil & Gas Development and Increased Production Through Investment Friendly Reforms, will examine the impact reform has played on the market and how amended policies and improved fiscals have strengthened the competitiveness of doing business in Angola.

Beyond the upstream sector, Angola targets 445,000 bpd in refining capacity, with a focus on reducing petroleum imports and bolstering regional fuel security. The Strategic Track will share insight into these objectives, with sessions on Towards a Secure Energy Future: Accelerating Downstream Development to Meet Market Demands; The Role of National Champions in Angola’s Development; Strategic Investments in Angola’s Logistics and Energy Infrastructure; and Building Tomorrow’s Workforce.

Technical Track

Geared towards service companies, innovators and data analytics firms, the AOG 2025 Technical Track will examine how technology-driven solutions will support oil and gas development in Angola. The Technical Track aligns closely with the broader goals of the nation to increase exploration, accelerate low-carbon fuel production while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable development. Sessions on Driving Investment for Seismic Opportunities in Angola and Best Practice Strategies for Successful Exploration in the Okavango Basin will explore the impact data and technology play on unlocking new frontiers in Angola.

Additionally, sessions on Economic Diversification Through Gas; Towards Net-Zero: Decarbonizing Operations; and AI and Machine-Learning: Enhancing Efficiency, Safety and Minimizing Environmental Impact will provide critical insight into emerging opportunities in Angola’s low-carbon space. Focus areas will include natural gas projects, how technology such as machine learning can enhance efficiency while reducing emissions and the role research and development plays in supporting Angolan oil and gas development. In addition to panel discussions, a series of presentations will take place across the Technical Track, led by global data and analytics providers, Angolan government leaders and major operators.

Additional Features

In addition to the main conference program, AOG 2025 will host a dedicated deal-room. Designed as a high-impact ‘Dragon’s Den’ style platform, the deal room offers Angolan entrepreneurs and innovators the chance to pitch their products and services to global operators. The deal room fosters collaboration, local participation and partnerships. Meanwhile, AOG 2025 will also host a pre-conference program on September 2, ahead of the main conference agenda. The pre-conference includes specialized workshops and sessions led by experts and is designed for engineers, geologists, project managers and financiers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

MIL OSI Africa –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI: NexQloud Closes $2.3M Pre-Seed Round, Surpasses 1,850 NanoServers Deployed, Outpaces Traditional Data Centers in Efficiency—and Pursues FedRAMP for Public Sector Expansion
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NexQloud, a startup in decentralized cloud computing infrastructure, today announced the successful close of its $2.3 million Pre-Seed funding round under a Reg CF exemption. The raise, completed with fully audited financials, marks a significant milestone and confirms market appetite for decentralized computing solutions that reward individuals and organizations for contributing their hardware to the cloud.

The company now enters a new phase of growth, backed by a 12-month runway and plans to launch a $5 million Seed Round to accelerate proof of market fit for its Distributed Kubernetes Service (DKS) and expand into three additional cloud service verticals designed to serve the growing demand from AI organizations, SaaS providers, and DevOps teams.

“This funding validates what we’ve always believed — that the future of cloud computing is decentralized, energy efficient, and eco-friendly,” said Mauro Terrinoni, CEO of NexQloud. “With over 1,850 NanoServers live, we’ve demonstrated not only demand but global scalability. Now, we’re focused on unlocking enterprise and federal adoption with even greater ambition.”

1,850+ NanoServers Now Deployed Across 10 Countries

Since its last milestone announcement of 1,250 units, NexQloud has rapidly expanded to over 1,850 NanoServers across ten countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Australia, Vietnam, Switzerland, Germany, India, and Jamaica. This marks a 48% growth since its last update, demonstrating strong contributor momentum and global adoption.

Built on mobile CPU architecture, each NanoServer operates with just 12% of the energy consumed by traditional rackmount servers. The result: 88% energy savings with identical computational performance. These energy-efficient devices operate 24/7 with minimal cooling or infrastructure overhead, creating a sustainable, community-powered alternative to centralized data centers.

To date NexQloud’s Distributed Compute Platform (DCP) now comprises:
- 54,820 virtual CPUs (vCPUs) — powering compute-intensive enterprise workloads
- 158.83 terabytes of RAM — supporting large-scale, memory-driven applications
- 849 AI-capable GPUs — enabling real-time machine learning, inference, and analytics
NexQloud’s DCP Matches Enterprise Data Center Power—Without the Real Estate

To contextualize the scale of its current infrastructure, NexQloud’s DCP now delivers the performance equivalent of a mid-sized enterprise-grade data center, comprising approximately 70 traditional server racks. The platform can support between 500,000 and 750,000 concurrent users for web-based applications, while simultaneously powering tens of thousands of containerized workloads across its Distributed Kubernetes Service (DKS).

In addition, NexQloud’s GPU infrastructure can support hundreds of parallel AI inference, training, and rendering tasks, enabling enterprise-scale AI computing at a fraction of typical cost. Remarkably, this level of compute was achieved without building a single data center— and with new devices coming online daily, NexQloud’s DCP will continue to grow in scale and resilience.

Eliminating Infrastructure Costs, Saving Energy, Reducing Emissions

If built traditionally, this infrastructure would require an estimated $7.5 million in capital expenditures. NexQloud eliminates these costs entirely by leveraging decentralized ownership and contributor-operated devices, with the potential to deliver:
- Annual electricity savings: Over 6.94 million kWh, equal to $832,550 in avoided energy costs
- CO₂ emissions avoided: Approximately 2,895 metric tons per year, equivalent to removing 640 cars from the road
- Environmental impact: Comparable to planting 133,000 mature trees annually
“This is more than cloud infrastructure — it’s a major shift in how compute is produced, powered, and rewarded,” added Terrinoni. “With the theoretical ability to add millions of devices, we are poised to do for computing what the internet did for information —decentralize it, distribute it, and redefine it.”

Pursuing FedRAMP to Unlock Government Cloud Contracts

Lastly, the company announces its intent to pursue FedRAMP certification to unlock opportunities with U.S. government agencies. As one of the largest consumers of traditional cloud infrastructure, the U.S. government represents a high-value target. NexQloud’s pursuit of FedRAMP is a strategic move to access public sector contracts and expand into one of the most regulated and defensible segments of the cloud market.

About NexQloud

NexQloud is redefining cloud infrastructure by combining blockchain, AI, and a global network of energy-efficient NanoServers into a scalable, secure, and environmentally responsible computing platform. Through its NXQ token economy and Distributed Kubernetes Service (DKS), NexQloud offers individuals and enterprises an inclusive alternative to centralized hyperscale providers.

Media Contact:
Mauro Terrinoni, CEO
Email: mterrinoni@nexqloud.io
Phone: +1 669 241 0916
Website: www.nexqloud.io

The MIL Network –
June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Newt-friendly scheme helps wildlife and development work together 18 June 2025 Newt-friendly scheme helps wildlife and development work together

Source: Aisle of Wight

A new scheme on the Isle of Wight is helping to protect local wildlife while supporting carefully planned development.

The Isle of Wight Council has partnered with 11 other planning authorities across the south to take part in the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme, a nationally recognised conservation programme.

The initiative aims to safeguard species such as the great crested newt — a legally protected amphibian that has seen significant population declines in recent decades, with habitat loss being the biggest threat.

Although these newts rely on ponds to breed, they spend most of their lives on land, often in woodland, hedgerows, and rough grassland. They are typically found within 500 metres of a pond but can travel much further.

The scheme, which is authorised by Natural England, takes a long-term view, creating, managing and monitoring high-quality habitats in areas where they will have the most benefit — away from development pressures.

These habitats are funded by developers who opt into the scheme and are managed by the Newt Conservation Partnership, which includes experts from the Freshwater Habitats Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

Each site is monitored and maintained for at least 20 years, ensuring a sustainable future for newts and other wildlife.

Katie Ewers, district licensing officer, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Naturespace Partnership, said: “It’s great to have the Isle of Wight Council as part of the District Licensing scheme, joining over 65 other planning authorities nationwide who are both supporting nature recovery and enabling important development.

“Thanks to the commitment of councils across the country taking part in NatureSpace’s District Licensing Scheme, high-quality compensatory habitats are being delivered and vital new havens for great crested newts and other wildlife are being established.”

Ollie Boulter, the council’s strategic manager for planning and infrastructure delivery, said: “This scheme is a great example of how we can support nature recovery as part of developments.

“It allows us to take a more strategic approach to conservation, ensuring that wildlife habitats are protected and enhanced in the right places and for the long term.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Birmingham recognised for taking bold leadership on environment

Source: City of Birmingham

Birmingham has been recognised as one of 112 cities across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency.

The city has kept it’s ‘A List’ status, awarded by globally-recognised non-profit environment impact group CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project). It annually publishes its ‘A List’ of cities that build climate momentum, taking four times as many climate mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A Listers.

CDP has announced its scores for 2024, with only 15 per cent of cities that were scored receiving an A score.

To score an A, among other actions, a city must disclose publicly through CDP-ICLEI Track, have a city-wide emissions inventory and have published a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and the council’s production of one for the city will have been a key factor in reaching A status. Many A-List cities are also taking a variety of other leadership actions, including political commitment to tackle climate change.

Cllr Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It is great to see this recognition once again from such a respected global organisation.

“There is really important work going on across the council and city, we are committed to reducing the city’s carbon emissions and limit the climate crisis, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

“For example, we have retrofit projects, helping people stay warm and comfortable in their homes with reduced energy bills.

“We’re offering support for businesses through grant funding for energy efficiency measures for small and medium sized enterprises.

“And Solar Together is a fantastic project that brings residents together through a group-buying scheme—making it easier and more affordable to install solar panels, battery storage, and even EV charge points

“While we can only directly control our own emissions, we will continue to use our wide-ranging powers to influence others and to help citizens play their part so we can build a greener, healthier and fairer future for all.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 19, 2025