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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament: July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Written statement to Parliament

    HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament: July 2025

    Review of High Speed Two (HS2) including programme governance, delivery update, benefits, community impacts, land and property.

    Overview

    Today (17 July 2025) I am publishing this government’s second update to Parliament on the progress of High Speed Two (HS2).

    In my previous report, I set out the difficult position that we inherited. HS2 has suffered from repeated cost increases and delays for too long. Although there have been external factors outside of the programme’s control, it has also been mismanaged. It is now clear that cost estimates were overly optimistic and the programme moved to construction too quickly when designs were still immature. Delivery of the programme has not been sufficiently controlled, with a poorly performing supply chain that was insufficiently incentivised. There have been repeated changes in policy, scope and funding and excessive costs incurred in achieving environmental and planning compliance. This means delayed benefits and cost increases incurred on HS2 have diverted billions of pounds from other vital transport priorities.

    This is unacceptable, the cycle of cost increases and delays must be broken and I am determined to achieve this. The project is now under new leadership, and I have tasked HS2 Ltd’s new CEO, Mark Wild, with leading a comprehensive reset of the programme. He is making progress, but this is a huge task, and we need to ensure he has a robust plan for delivering the programme to completion in a controlled way and at the lowest reasonable cost. To this end, the department will work with him and HS2 Ltd over the coming months to advise me on the decisions needed to reset HS2, with the aim of providing an updated delivery baseline and funding envelope in 2026. Until this work is completed, this government is not in a position to say with confidence how much HS2 will cost or when it will be delivered. That is a deeply unsatisfactory position, but it is necessary to complete the hard work we have embarked upon.

    Effective ministerial oversight will be at the heart of this reset. The Rail Minister and I meet regularly with Mark Wild to assess progress and in March, I chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Task Force with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, focusing on completing the programme in a controlled way. In June, I appointed Mike Brown as the new Chair of the HS2 Ltd Board to help us drive effective oversight and accountability on the programme. Both Mark Wild and Mike Brown have experience in major project recovery from Crossrail, which will be invaluable to this task. Mike’s immediate priorities will include supporting Mark and strengthening the challenge that the Board provides to HS2 Ltd, to complement ministerial oversight.

    The reset needs to be guided by the lessons learned from HS2’s delivery to date. In June, I published the major transport projects governance and assurance review, led by James Stewart. This report set out recommendations and actions that we are taking to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, helping to bring HS2 under control and to improve the delivery of future infrastructure projects.

    The government’s determination to now see this programme delivered as efficiently as possible is underpinned by the allocation of £25.3 billion (nominal prices) of funding over 4 years in the Spending Review, as set out in the financial annex.

    Despite the evident challenges, HS2 Ltd, its suppliers and over 33,000 workers have maintained steady progress on construction, achieving major delivery milestones since my last report.

    HS2 will foster economic growth in support of this government’s mission. Research commissioned by HS2 Ltd has found that the prospective arrival of HS2 is already leading to redevelopment around new HS2 stations, demonstrating the early potential of this scheme to act as a catalyst for investment in businesses, new jobs and homes. The research estimates that the programme will deliver economic uplifts of £10 billion in the West Midlands and £10 billion around Old Oak Common station in west London over the next 10 years. 

    Delivering an HS2 station at Euston remains a priority to realise the programme’s benefits. Following our commitment to funding the tunnelling required to bring HS2 to central London, we continue to work with key partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for the Euston station campus alongside significant levels of local development, including housing and life sciences institutions. In parallel, we recently announced that a Euston Delivery Company will be established to oversee the development of the whole Euston campus, which will comprise the new HS2 station, an upgraded Network Rail station and enhancements to the London Underground station and local transport facilities, along with a significant level of development. We welcome the joint venture that The Crown Estate has announced with Lendlease, our development partner at Euston. As set out in the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, we are exploring the use of private capital to design, build, finance and maintain the HS2 station.

    Finally, beyond individual rail schemes, the rail network must be viewed as a whole. HS2 will play a key part in our ambition to improve rail for passengers, with its services and benefits extending far beyond London and Birmingham, including the capacity it releases for other regional and London services.

    Delivery update

    Schedule and cost

    As I set out in the House of Commons on 18 June, based on Mark Wild’s initial advice, I see no route by which trains can be running by 2033 as previously planned. Mark has committed to establishing and delivering to a new baseline in 2026. Once this work is complete, we will have an agreed estimate of how much the project will cost and when it will be delivered.

    Whilst the reset is ongoing, the department is managing HS2 Ltd through strengthened in-year controls, including challenging targets and metrics to deliver within annual budgets. To drive in-year delivery performance, an enhanced level of governance and assurance has also been implemented, reflecting the recommendations of James Stewart’s review.

    This year, HS2 Ltd has rescheduled some work to ensure it operates within its annual financial settlement.

    Expenditure

    To the end of April 2025, £40.5 billion (nominal prices) had been spent on the HS2 programme. This is provided in more detail in the financial annex, based on data provided by HS2 Ltd.

    Spend to date information covers the period up to the end of April 2025. Unless stated otherwise, all figures are presented in nominal prices.

    Following the recent conclusion of the Spending Review, the department has reached a settlement with HM Treasury to fund the delivery of HS2, with £25.3 billion (nominal prices) covering financial years 2026 to 2027 to 2029 to 2030.

    This funding will enable the reset of the HS2 programme under the leadership of Mark Wild, addressing longstanding delivery challenges. It will enable HS2 to move forward with a more secure delivery plan and will support progress at the lowest reasonable cost.

    This settlement will support the continued delivery of Phase 1, providing funding for works from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street and Handsacre Junction, Euston Tunnels and Approaches and Euston Station enabling works.

    The HS2 programme is currently in a period of high spend, with much of it in active construction. The department expects HS2 Ltd’s expenditure to become noticeably lower over the next Spending Review period as delivery of the programme progresses.

    The department has updated its reporting of historic programme expenditure from 2019 prices to nominal prices. Once the programme reset is complete and a new baseline agreed, HS2 Ltd will also uplift the price base for programme reporting and for the revised cost estimate. The department will consider how often the price base should be uplifted until the end of the programme.

    Construction progress

    Over 70% of HS2’s 32 miles of bored and mined tunnels between London and Birmingham have now been completed.

    Construction is progressing across the route, with active works underway on 44 viaducts, 126 bridges, 75 embankments and 60 cuttings.

    The Northolt Tunnels, which will link Old Oak Common Station to West Ruislip, were recently completed. Constructed in 2 phases – East and West – the tunnels were excavated using 4 tunnel boring machines (TBMs). TBMs Sushila and Caroline completed mining the western section in April 2025, while mining on the eastern section, led by TBMs Emily and Anne, was completed at the end of June 2025.

    In May, the first Bromford Tunnel broke through, connecting Warwickshire to Birmingham, marking the completion of the first section of the 3.5-mile tunnel.

    In April, a 14,500-tonne box structure that will carry the high-speed line was successfully installed under the A46. The installation utilised innovative civil and structural engineering techniques, which involved constructing the box on land before pushing it across a guiding raft over 64 metres into place.

    Over 8.5 million cubic metres of soil have been excavated, representing 73% of the total planned earthworks.

    In February, the first viaduct in the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire was completed, marking both a significant milestone in the construction of HS2 in the region and the first use of an innovative giant cantilever system in the UK.

    At Interchange Station in Solihull, enabling works have commenced on site, including surveys and ground investigations to inform the detailed design.

    The ‘systems and service’ tender was launched in February 2025 for the Automated People Mover (APM), which will provide connectivity between Interchange Station, the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport.

    At Curzon Street Station in central Birmingham, piling works continue to progress with only the western section remaining. For this financial year, the focus will be on completing the design before construction starts next year. The updated Schedule 17 planning consents for the revised station designs were approved by Birmingham City Council on 8 May 2025. Schedule 17 of the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 establishes a process for the approval of matters related to the design and construction of the railway. It requires HS2 Ltd to seek approval from the appropriate planning authority, in this case, Birmingham City Council. This approval shall allow HS2 Ltd to construct the station with improvements to the visuals of the station and refinements to the long-term maintenance requirements. 

    At Old Oak Common Station in west London, the tunnel boring machines are being assembled with preparations currently underway to enable their launch towards Euston in spring 2026.

    In November 2024, we reached a key milestone with the award of the rail systems contracts worth around £3 billion in current prices. The contracts commenced in February 2025, but work on site will not start until main works civils are largely complete. Procurement of the Washwood Heath Depot and the National Integrated Control Centre continues.

    Lessons from the contracting failures of HS2’s main works programme have been firmly embedded in the systems contracts. The design of rail systems is more advanced at this stage than it was for main works civils, giving better cost certainty. HS2 Ltd has established an alliance with stronger incentives to ensure suppliers share risk, allowing us to manage costs better and drive performance. The contracts require fewer consents to be granted as well.

    Mobilisation on the rail systems contract has started and timelines are being developed in line with the wider programme challenges noted elsewhere in this report. There will be a formal review at the end of the design stage to make sure all parties are ready to start work on site, again learning from main works civils.

    Euston

    The department continues to work with key partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for the Euston station campus. In parallel, enabling works are continuing to ready the HS2 station site for the main construction programme.

    In terms of the delivery model, the government announced in its 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy that a Euston Delivery Company will be established to oversee the development of the whole Euston campus. The new delivery model will involve a changed role for HS2 Ltd but will go much broader than that to address historical challenges at the site. HS2 Ltd will remain a key partner, continuing to carry out important work at Euston.

    The department also continues to work with partners to examine available delivery and private finance options that will realise the great regeneration potential of the Euston area alongside the improvement of transport links.

    Specifically, the department is exploring options for various elements of the programme to be funded through a combination of private finance, development receipts, and potential local contributions such as tax increment financing, with a degree of residual public funding. The department has been engaging closely with HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority as it continues to develop its plans, and has appointed specialist advisors to ensure it has access to expert support.

    As we progress our plans to reinitiate delivery, we are embedding the recommendations of James Stewart’s review through the new delivery model and working closely with partners to manage risks sensibly and collectively. We will continue to work with key partners with the aim of restarting design later this year. No final decisions have been made regarding the preferred mechanisms to securing funding and finance, including private finance options; further details will be shared in due course.

    The delivery of HS2 has continued during this period to be the subject of both legal and planning challenges, which have added significant cost, uncertainty and potential for delay. It is right that there are checks and balances embedded in our legal and planning systems to ensure local interests are considered when national projects are implemented. There is, however, the risk that these rights are used to frustrate the delivery of consented projects, with legal challenges and planning powers used in a way that drives up costs to both local and national taxpayers, rather than protecting local interests. 

    The HS2 planning and environmental regime set out in the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 has been subject to multiple attempts at legal challenge from other public bodies, most recently in relation to the extension of the Bromford tunnel in North Warwickshire – with a judgment delivered in the project’s favour.  Since Royal Assent for the act, there have been 9 legal challenges brought by other public bodies. In almost all of these cases, the courts have ultimately found in the project’s favour, but not in time to avoid significant uncertainty, costly delays, or additional legal costs for both parties – the majority of which has unfortunately had to be borne by local taxpayers.

    In the same time period, there have also been 25 costly and time-consuming appeals relating to the HS2 planning regime. Almost all of these appeals have ultimately been determined in HS2’s favour. The government continues to monitor this issue closely and will consider further interventions where appropriate, alongside its wider work on planning reform.

    Fraud investigation

    We are aware of the claims made in relation to a labour supplier on part of the route. The allegations concern inflated invoices and improper PAYE charges, potentially defrauding taxpayers. HS2 Ltd treats all whistleblower allegations seriously and an investigation was launched earlier this year into these allegations. Furthermore, HS2 Ltd has formally reported the allegations to HMRC and HS2 Ltd’s contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI has implemented additional monitoring and controls.

    Benefits

    Housing

    Despite all the challenges, HS2 represents a significant plank of the government’s Plan for Change, our growth and housing missions, and our ambition to deliver infrastructure that works for the whole country. 

    HS2 provides an unparalleled opportunity to build new homes, create jobs and attract investment. The redevelopment of land around the new HS2 stations will enable the ideal conditions for business, new jobs and homes and will act as a catalyst for further investment and wider growth.

    In the West Midlands, HS2 is estimated to support directly 4,000 new homes around Curzon Street Station and 3,000 new homes around Interchange Station as part of the Arden Cross development in Solihull. Additionally, research from a February 2024 report suggests that HS2 will add £10 billion to the West Midlands economy over the next 10 years and help generate over 41,000 additional homes.

    In west London, local partners estimate that HS2 will, in the long term, support the delivery of up to 25,500 new homes around Old Oak Common station, including 9,000 new homes as part of the first phase of development at Old Oak West. Separate research from March 2025 estimates that HS2 will add £10 billion to the west London economy over the next 10 years and support 22,000 additional homes. Around Euston in central London, HS2 will support the delivery of thousands of new homes and the development of a new ‘knowledge quarter’.

    There could also be new housing opportunities along the West Coast Mainline between London and the West Midlands, at places that gain improved local services as a result of network capacity released by HS2. Decisions have not yet been made by the government on where these additional services will run.

    Jobs and skills

    In addition to long-term ambitions, HS2 is contributing to economic growth now. The programme is currently supporting over 33,000 jobs and over 3,400 UK businesses in the supply chain across the country, including over 2,500 small and medium-sized enterprises.

    HS2 is also helping to break down barriers to opportunity and training a skilled workforce for the UK’s wider rail and construction industries. The programme is attracting new and diverse people to the industry. Having created over 1,800 apprenticeships and supported over 5,000 previously unemployed people back into work on the project since 2017, the programme is helping to bridge the skills gap and tackle unemployment along the HS2 construction corridor. By drawing on and developing world-class skills, HS2 will leave a positive skills legacy that will develop and strengthen the country’s construction workforce for the years to come.

    Environment

    Updated designs for ecological mitigation over the past six months have seen further progress made on the target to achieve ‘no net loss’ to biodiversity by the end of the construction programme. At the end of 2024 to 2025, the position for area-based habitats has improved while designs for hedgerows and watercourse habitats remained on track to deliver a net gain in biodiversity.

    HS2 Ltd is also seeking to reduce the whole-life carbon emissions associated with construction of HS2 by 50%, aiming to maximise productivity and cost-saving measures to achieve this goal. At the end of 2024 to 2025, the programme had so far achieved a 33.8% reduction in carbon against that 50% target.

    Community impacts, land and property

    Appointment of a new independent commissioner

    I am pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Herga as the independent High Speed Rail Residents’ and Construction Commissioner, following an open competition.

    The commissioner is responsible for holding HS2 Ltd and the government accountable to their commitments to treat those people directly affected by the HS2 scheme with sensitivity and respect. The commissioner also makes themselves available to intervene in unresolved land and property disputes, as an objective and independent voice, focussing on timely settlement to save costs on both sides. This new role combines the previous roles of HS2 Construction Commissioner and HS2 Residents’ Commissioner.

    Community engagement performance

    HS2 Ltd received 1209 complaints during 2024 to 2025, an increase of 102 when compared to the previous year. At this stage of the programme, the vast majority of complaints are construction-related, with over half about traffic and transport impacts and about one-third related to noise and vibration impacts. Where communities have complaints, HS2 Ltd seeks to resolve issues quickly. Over the last financial year, HS2 Ltd resolved 100% of urgent complaints within 2 working days and resolved 96% of all other complaints within 20 working days or less.

    Local funds

    The HS2 project is mitigating some of the impacts of construction on local places through the Community and Environment Fund and the Business and Local Economy Fund.

    As at June 2025, over £19 million has been channelled through these funds towards 353 local community projects.

    Land and property on the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg

    I am today formally lifting the safeguarding directions for the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg (between the West Midlands and Leeds), removing the uncertainty that has affected many people along the former route. Safeguarding along the former Phase 2b Western Leg (between Crewe and Manchester) is not being changed as part of this, and an update on future plans for safeguarding on this section will be provided in due course alongside broader plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

    One small area to the south of the existing station in central Leeds, previously required for the new HS2 station, will remain safeguarded to allow for potential enhancements to the existing station, including for onward travel.

    I have also today closed the Rural Support Zone, Express Purchase, Rent Back, and the Need to Sell property schemes along the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg. Existing applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

    Removing safeguarding along the majority of the former HS2 Phase 2b Eastern Leg means we are now able to initiate a programme to dispose of over 550 properties on the former Eastern Leg that are no longer required. We expect disposals on the open market to begin in 2026. Before then, former owners whose property was acquired under statutory blight will have the opportunity to reacquire their former property at the current market value.

    We will dispose of land and property in a sensible and sensitive way, ensuring value for money for the taxpayer and avoiding disruption to local property markets.

    I have deposited the safeguarding directions and relevant documents in the House libraries.

    Programme governance

    Programme reset

    Following Mark Wild’s arrival as the new HS2 Ltd CEO in December 2024, I commissioned him to set out a plan to deliver the remaining HS2 infrastructure in a safe, controlled and efficient manner and bring the new railway into operational use, for the lowest reasonable cost to the taxpayer. Mark gave me his initial diagnosis at the end of March and I expect him to advise me further over the coming months.

    His initial assessment summarises the currently uncontrolled state of the programme and the significant challenge of achieving a programme reset that minimises delays and stops further cost increases. He also confirmed his view that, based on the current scope and delivery strategy, it is not possible to deliver HS2’s opening stage between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street within the stated range of 2029 to 2033, and that the funding envelope set by the previous government will not be sufficient. If interventions are not enacted, costs will rise and delivery will be further delayed.

    As such, it is now the work of Mark and his team to put in place measures to bring the railway into service as quickly and cost effectively as possible, with government support and constructive challenge. As part of his work, Mark will advise me on updated estimates to give the government and taxpayers certainty over HS2’s costs and schedule – breaking the cycle of cost increases and overruns.

    The HS2 reset will involve:

    • setting a new realistic cost and schedule baseline within which we can complete the programme
    • resetting the commercial relationship with HS2’s principal civil works suppliers to drive increased productivity and control cost
    • making sure HS2 Ltd has the right skills and capabilities to deliver the remaining work, including improvements to setup, operating model, leadership, culture, effectiveness and capabilities
    • improving how the department and wider government sponsors the delivery of HS2, drawing on the findings and recommendations from James Stewart’s independent review and the department’s own work on lessons

    The scale and complexity of resetting the programme is a major challenge. Mark Wild carried out a similar process as the CEO of Crossrail, putting the project back on track and delivering a successful opening of the Elizabeth line in 2022. It is important we take this opportunity to get it right, which is why the reset will take time and involve close working between HS2 Ltd, DfT and the rest of the government. The ambition is for an updated and assured full baseline to measure performance in 2026.

    In parallel, the department plans to publish an updated programme business case in 2026, once agreed cost and schedule estimates are available.

    Oversight

    On 18 March 2025, I chaired a meeting of the reconvened Ministerial Task Force for HS2. I was joined by the Rail Minister, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Wild and other senior leaders from HS2 Ltd and across the government to scrutinise initial plans on resetting the programme and delivering HS2 at the lowest reasonable cost.

    On 31 March 2025, Sir Jon Thompson stepped down as HS2 Ltd Chair. On 18 June, I was pleased to announce Mike Brown as the new Chair of HS2 Ltd. Mike Brown brings decades of experience in delivering major transport projects as former TfL Commissioner, and member of the team that turned Crossrail into the Elizabeth Line. He will lead the Board and work with Mark Wild on the urgent priority to reset the project.

    It is clear from Mark Wild’s assessment that HS2 Ltd currently falls far short of having the capability and culture needed to deliver the programme effectively. Mike Brown has been tasked with strengthening the HS2 Ltd Board to more effectively support and challenge Mark Wild in conducting the reset of HS2 and the safe delivery of Phase 1 at the lowest reasonable cost. To support strengthened board oversight, a recruitment exercise has been launched to appoint new non-executive directors to bolster board capability and capacity.

    I would like to thank Elaine Holt for leading the Board in her capacity as Deputy Chair over the period from 1 April to 13 July.

    We have also enacted temporary arrangements which establish additional control measures and monitoring to ensure the programme is managed properly. This will bridge the period leading to the formal reset of the programme.

    Capturing, applying and sharing lessons

    Following my last report, the major transport projects governance and assurance review, led by James Stewart, has concluded. It has provided important lessons that can be applied to HS2, the department’s other capital projects and infrastructure schemes across the government.

    Most major programmes experience difficulties in their delivery. However, the failures seen on HS2 are extreme, with costs increasing continuously over many years and very rapidly since the start of construction. There is no single explanation for these failings – they span across its lifecycle from conception through to delivery and from governmental sponsorship, through planning and consenting, to how the government has orchestrated its delivery between HS2 Ltd and the construction supply chain.  

    We have worked closely with HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) to identify lessons from the HS2 programme.

    The department is applying the lessons from James Stewart’s and other reviews, including embedding the lessons into the HS2 programme reset plan and in developing and delivering other transport and wider infrastructure projects.

    High ambition at inception

    Early decisions resulted in an exceptionally high-specification and high-speed railway, which drove higher costs and meant that tried and tested approaches could not be relied upon. In future programmes, opportunities for reducing cost based on the minimum acceptable design should be explored and use of bespoke or cutting-edge specifications should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

    Scope changes

    Since HS2’s inception, the scope of the programme has been progressively reduced. Scope reductions have been in part a result of cost increases, but have added to delivery challenges and left the residual scheme over-specified in relation to the benefits it will deliver. 

    To address both of these lessons, the department has contributed to the Office for Value for Money’s study into the governance and budgeting arrangements for ‘mega projects’ to make sure that lessons from HS2 are applied to the wider government’s approach to infrastructure delivery.

    Governance

    Governance has evolved through the lifetime of the project and in the light of pressures; however, it has not been sufficiently effective in identifying and managing the scale of challenges, including in relation to cost management and capability. We have implemented a series of changes in the governance of the programme to respond to James Stewart’s recommendations. We held the first shareholder board on 28 May, which provided strategic-level oversight of the programme from the Permanent Secretary, Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd special directors, the senior responsible officer, interim HS2 Ltd chair and senior DfT and HMT Officials. A renewed programme and performance board now meets monthly to focus on the effective delivery of Phase 1 (including Euston) against agreed schedule, cost and scope.

    Cost estimation

    Since the inception of the project, internal and external experts have comprehensively scrutinised cost estimates. However, despite this, estimates have consistently proven to be wrong.

    Last year, HS2 Ltd and departmental officials jointly concluded a comprehensive external review of the current approach to cost estimation and programme control. HS2 Ltd has been implementing an action plan to strengthen these vital areas of project control. A priority of the HS2 reset is setting a new, realistic and assured baseline of cost and schedule within which we can complete the programme. In addition, our progress to date means that evidence based on past experience, rather than forecast estimates, can be utilised to inform current and future delivery of the programme, including ongoing progress on civils delivery and the recent letting of the systems contracts.

    To validate this new estimate, there is also work underway to verify the civil work delivered to date and its cost. This will allow the programme to validate true delivery costs against the original estimates. This information, combined with continued investment in collating benchmarking data from international comparators, will give us a more reliable ‘should cost’ model for the remainder of the programme. This ‘should cost’ model will enable a more accurate assessment of the reasonableness of assumptions in the cost estimate.

    We have learnt that realistic ranges, rather than single target costs, should be set at the early stage of projects. Ranges should only narrow when there is sufficient certainty from external data, such as contract prices. We will adopt an approach that uses robustly verified or benchmarked cost data, with ranges and sensitivity analysis, when taking future programme investment decisions. HS2 will lead the way in ensuring that cost analysis is rigorously incorporated into the design of later procurements and decisions. In parallel, the government has made significant improvements in the analysis of investment benefits in recent years.

    Challenges of building large-scale infrastructure

    Meeting environmental standards and planning requirements has presented a significant challenge to the delivery of the project and has added to cost. It is now clear that the early stages of HS2 scheme development underestimated the planning and regulatory challenges of designing and building a new high-speed railway whilst meeting the expectations of local planning and highway authorities, and complying with the latest safety, security and environmental standards. The granting of consents has been subject to routine challenge, and the need for expensive mitigations to meet legal obligations (such as the bat mitigation structure at Sheephouse Wood in Buckinghamshire) has increased the cost of delivering the railway. 

    The government is already implementing far-reaching reforms to ensure economic infrastructure can be delivered more efficiently. To strike a better balance between avoiding costs and delays on agreed schemes whilst allowing local scrutiny, Ministers will be able to intervene more actively in the process within the existing planning framework, utilising the reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill once enacted, as well as considering whether further alterations to the HS2 planning framework could bring benefits for efficient infrastructure delivery and to taxpayers more generally.

    Capability challenges

    Costs have increased in part due to insufficient capability in HS2 Ltd and the supply chain in delivering a project of this scale. There has been insufficient focus on the client relationship, too many of HS2’s resources were allocated to the wrong place and contract management and project control were not effective. This led to uncontrolled costs and extremely poor productivity and performance from the supply chain. We will be working with Mark Wild and the Board of HS2 Ltd to address the areas where challenges have been identified, such as the need for Mark Wild to put in place a high-calibre and enduring leadership team and to reshape the organisation to deliver efficiently. This will be a priority in the programme reset.

    Ineffective incentives

    HS2 Ltd’s current commercial contracting strategy has not proved effective at controlling costs and fairly attributing responsibility for risks. The contract incentives have focused on providing positive incentives against target costs; however, as costs escalated and changes arose, the incentivised cost targets were exceeded, leading to no positive incentive to deliver at lower cost. Some risks which should have been borne by suppliers have also been transferred to taxpayers. In the future we need incentives and risk allocation that deliver for taxpayers as well as supplier shareholders. This work is being embedded through our engagement across the government, to ensure major infrastructure projects are based on effective commercial contracts and incentives going forward.

    Financial annex

    The information on HS2’s overall spend to date and budget is now being provided in nominal (cash) terms following a commitment made by the department to the Public Accounts Committee to express the costs of the programme in a more up-to-date price base and better capture the inflation incurred since 2019. The government will provide further details on the 2025 to 2026 position in cash terms as part of the standard main estimates report to Parliament.

    Historic and forecast expenditure

    Nominal prices, including land and property.

    Phase Overall spend to date (£ billion) 2025 to 2026 budget (£ billion) 2025 to 2026 forecast (£ billion) 2025 to 2026 variance (£ billion)
    Phase 1 total 37.9 7.1 7.1 0.0
    Civils 26.4 5.4 5.4 0.0
    Stations 2.3 0.6 0.6 0.0
    Systems 2.0 0.3 0.3 0.0
    Phase 1 indirects 3.5 0.4 0.4 0.0
    Land and property Phase 1 3.6 0.3 0.3 0.0
    Former Phase 2 2.6 0.1 0.1 0.0
    Overall total 40.5 7.2 7.2 0.0

    Notes for the table:

    [1] The figures set out in the table have been rounded to aid legibility. Due to this, they do not always tally.

    [2] Spend to date for Phase 1 includes a £0.6 billion liability (provision) representing the department’s obligation to purchase land and property.

    [3] To enable comparison with the figures presented in the December 2024 Parliamentary Report which were in 2019 prices, the equivalent total overall spends to date on Phase 1 and on Former Phase 2 in 2019 prices are £33.11 billion and £2.5 billion respectively and the 2025 to 2026 budgets for Phase 1 and for Former Phase 2 in 2019 prices are £5.4 billion and £0.1 billion respectively.

    HS2 spending review settlement

    Settlement for total spending review period (2026 to 2030): £25.3 billion (nominal prices).

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Immediate Support for Returning British Families Fleeing Crisis

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Immediate Support for Returning British Families Fleeing Crisis

    New emergency rules will exempt British nationals and their family members from a residence test when fleeing major international crises

    • New emergency rules will exempt British nationals and their family members from a residence test when fleeing major international crises
    • Changes will ensure returning families can access benefits, homelessness support and apply for social housing upon arrival in the UK

    British nationals fleeing major international crises will now be able to access homelessness support and apply for social housing and benefits faster, thanks to new emergency legislation laid today (Thursday 17th July).  

    In response to recent crises, including in the Middle East, the Foreign Office assisted British nationals and their family members to return to the UK, with those who needed it receiving emergency short-term support, such as short-stay accommodation, food bags and medical care. 

    To ensure no returning family is left without help once this emergency support ends, the government has now fast-tracked new emergency rules to exempt all British nationals and eligible family members escaping international crisis from the Habitual Residence Test (HRT), and the Past Presence Test (PPT). This also will apply for all future crises where the government has advised British nationals to leave or arranged evacuation of British nationals from the country or territory.  

    Currently, British nationals returning home to the UK from a crisis have to wait up to 3 months before becoming eligible for housing or homelessness assistance, or up to two years for some government benefits. This gap in support can leave local councils with very limited tools to offer support to vulnerable people.  

    The new rules will mean fleeing British families can acquire homelessness support, apply for social housing, and access benefits that they’re otherwise entitled to straight away. This will help them rebuild their lives more quickly, alongside easing pressure on councils by enabling early, preventative support, and avoiding more complex emergency responses.  

    This exemption applies following the government advising British nationals to leave a country or territory or beginning evacuations. It will also cover people who are not subject to immigration control, if they already have the right to public funds, and don’t have a sponsor responsible for their accommodation. The new measures are expected to come into force shortly.  

    Further information:

    The emergency exemptions from the Habitual Residence Test (HRT) and the Past Presence Test (PPT) apply in situations where the government has either:

    • Provided public information to advise British nationals to leave a specific country or territory and/or
    • Arranged the evacuation of British nationals from that country or territory.  
    • The exemption will apply for 6 months, from the date the government first advised departure or the first day of an evacuation operation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Iowa Nurse Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Diversion, Illegal Firearms Possession, and Bank Fraud

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    A former Iowa nurse from western Iowa, who stole pain medication from nursing home residents, burglarized multiple residences, possessed a firearm as a felon, and committed a bank fraud, was sentenced on July 16, 2025, to more than three years in federal prison.  Sarah Ann Haptonstall, age 47, from Onawa, Iowa, received the prison term after she pled guilty on February 24, 2025, to one count of acquiring and attempting to acquire a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of bank fraud.

    In a plea agreement, and at her plea and sentencing hearings, Haptonstall admitted that, in March 2023, she burglarized an Onawa couple’s home on multiple occasions in order to steal narcotic pain medication.  One the residents needed the medication for constant nerve pain.  Haptonstall knew this, because when she was a nurse in 2021, she had delivered narcotics to the Onawa couple’s residence.  When law enforcement officers arrested Haptonstall on March 10, 2023, after she re-burglarized the Onawa couple’s residence a final time, Haptonstall possessed a 9mm Luger pistol in her truck.  Haptonstall was a felon and drug user at the time, and so it was illegal for her to possess firearms.  Haptonstall had purchased two 9mm Luger pistols in February 2020, after falsely stating that she was not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance.

    The burglaries of the Onawa couple’s home were but one part of a larger drug diversion scheme that Haptonstall was perpetrating in western Iowa.  In February and March 2023, Haptonstall was entering multiple apartments in Onawa and stealing the residents’ pain medications.  Further, between April and October 2022, while working as a licensed Iowa nurse, defendant stole hydrocodone pills from four elderly residents of an Onawa nursing home and a Sergeant Bluff nursing home.  One of the victims was over 90 years old.  Haptonstall removed the narcotics from pill cards and replaced them with Tylenol.  One of the nursing home residents suffered from severe pain as she died because defendant had swapped out the victim’s narcotic pills for Tylenol and made a false entry in her medical record.  Another resident was in hospice when defendant stole her narcotics.  Haptonstall was first licensed as a nurse in 2006, and her license was renewed at least five times (in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2021).  Haptonstall ultimately surrendered her nursing license.

    Haptonstall also admitted that, in early 2023, she committed a bank fraud against a small family-owned business in Onawa.  Haptonstall was the business’s bookkeeper and abused her position of trust to embezzle over $8,000 from the company.  Specifically, Haptonstall created fraudulent checks payable to herself, drawn on the small business’s account, and bearing one of its proprietor’s signatures.  Haptonstall disguised the fraudulent checks by making false and fictitious entries in the small business’s electronic bookkeeping system.

    Haptonstall has an extensive criminal history, beginning with six theft convictions in the late 1990s and 2000s.  Between 1997 and 2013, a state court dismissed more than 30 additional theft charges against Haptonstall after she agreed to pay restitution to the victims in those cases.  Haptonstall’s felony record started in 2006, when she pled guilty to forgery after she forged signatures on checks.  In 2014, Haptonstall was convicted of a felony controlled substance violation after making a material misrepresentation to obtain hydrocodone from a grocery store.  In February 2023, while she was committing bank fraud, and about a month before burglarizing residences in Onawa, Haptonstall received a ten-year, fully suspended prison sentence in state court for felony drug diversion after she admitted she had swapped patients’ hydrocodone for Tylenol pills while working as a delivery driver for a local pharmacy. 

    Haptonstall was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Haptonstall was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment.  She was also ordered to make over $8,000 in restitution to her former employer and to repay $5,000 in court-appointed attorney fees.  Haptonstall must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Haptonstall was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Monona County Sheriff’s Office assisted the investigation.

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file numbers are 24-CR-4016 and 25-CR-4007.  

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Essex County Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Firearms Offenses

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man pled guilty on July 15, 2025, to multiple firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Kaiyir Green, 22, of Newark, New Jersey, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court to a four-count indictment charging him with two counts of possession of a firearm and/or ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

    According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in Court:

    On March 1, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle and observed Green attempting to enter the stolen vehicle.  When law enforcement approached, Green fled and led law enforcement on an extended foot chase.  Law enforcement eventually apprehended Green and they recovered from him a privately manufactured firearm (commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”) loaded with five rounds of ammunition.  After Green was arrested, he made several phone calls from a recorded line at the detention center in which he directed others to go to his home and remove “everything” including a “black bag.”  Law enforcement later observed an individual remove a black bag from Green’s home.  A search of that bag revealed a firearm that had been modified with a switch rendering the firearm fully automatic. The fully automatic firearm was also loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition in a large capacity magazine. Law enforcement also recovered a 50-round capacity drum magazine.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited law enforcement members with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, with the investigation leading to the charges.

    The charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and/or ammunition each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of an unregistered firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

    Green’s sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2025.

    The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark.

                                                                ###

    Defense counsel for Green: Claressa Lowe, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PENSACOLA FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARM AND AMMUNITION

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Donavon Idris Ellis, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    Court documents reflect that Ellis was federally convicted in 2021 of three counts of distribution of carfentanil. During a search warrant of Ellis’ residence in March 2024, law enforcement officers found and seized two firearms, boxes of bulk ammunition, and multiple magazines, including a large capacity drum magazine. Ellis admitted to officers that the two firearms would be in his house.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is committed to supporting the work of our brave local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who keep our communities safe.  We will continue to aggressively prosecute all violations of our laws and hold offenders accountable.”

    Sentencing is currently set for October 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. Ellis faces up to 15 years in prison.

    The plea was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pensacola Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Autonomous drones take flight at NATO-backed competition

    Source: NATO

    From 6-10 July, four teams of seven researchers and professors from universities in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States and Austria challenged each other at the Huntsville UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) and C-UAS (Counter UAS) test range in Alabama, as part of a competition supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme.

    The event, hosted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), was the second of three competitions organised through the SPS-supported “SAPIENCE” initiative, which aims to demonstrate how autonomous drones that cooperate with each other may be used in crisis management scenarios.

    Expanding in scope from the first competition, which took place on 29 and 30 August 2024 in an indoor arena in London, United Kingdom, the Huntsville event required participating teams to develop autonomous drones suitable for outdoor conditions and for a scenario grounded in local conditions: the aftermath of severe storms that generated several tornadoes, which are an annual occurrence in the southeastern United States.

    A flight test range simulated just such a disaster scenario, and the four university teams were assigned tasks such as damage assessments of residential communities, search and rescue for victims, and the delivery of lifesaving medical supplies. They were encouraged to perform these tasks using multiple fully autonomous drones simultaneously, thus demonstrating innovative approaches to the technical challenges of autonomous multi-platform systems.

    The third and final SAPIENCE competition will take place in 2026 in the Netherlands, where the four university teams will build on the lessons learned in London and Huntsville to complete tasks in a scenario combining indoor and outdoor conditions.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: ’Our Constitution should make us proud to be South African’ – President Ramaphosa

    Source: Government of South Africa

    In a robust Budget Vote debate reply, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the achievements and challenges of South Africa’s young democracy, emphasising the importance of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the country’s world-renowned Constitution. 

    The President’s response to the debate underscored the nation’s democratic progress, with the President pointing out that despite being only 31 years old, the democracy has made substantial improvements in citizens’ lives.

    “We are counted as amongst the few [countries] who have the type of Constitution that we have, that upholds our people’s rights, where our people can even challenge government and take government to court and hope to win. And at times, they win. That is not easily allowed in many other countries, but that is what should make us proud to be South Africans,” he said on Thursday.

    President Cyril Ramaphosa replied to the Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament after a day-long debate that took place yesterday.

    President Ramaphosa noted the significance of the GNU, composed of 10 political parties, which has “continued to hold, even as it has had to weather many a storm”.

    “And yet, despite those differences, the GNU partners have chosen to work together for the common good of all South Africans. It is a Government of National Unity.”

    He also took the time to discuss the country’s advancements in creating a better life for everyone and efforts to tackle historical racial disparities.

    “Yesterday, Honourable [John] Hlophe gave a laundry list of everything wrong in this country, and we are alive to the many challenges that we face. At the same time, we should not lose sight of the fact that this democracy, only 31 years old, has made great progress in improving the quality of life of its citizens, not to the level we want, [but] it has improved the life of its citizens. 

    “Some countries in the world have democracies dating back hundreds, even thousands of years. Our democracy, by comparison, is still very young.” 

    Highlighting concrete achievements, the country’s commander-in-chief cited millions of homes electrified, clean water provided to communities, and public housing for vulnerable populations. 

    He also took the time to address historical economic inequalities, discussing the Carnegie Report’s impact on white economic advancement, cited by the Freedom Front Plus’ Member of Parliament. 

    According to the country’s Head of State, the Carnegie Report into the “poor white problem” is “not a useful guide, as we confront the challenges of the democratic South Africa”.

    He underscored that there was a huge disparity between the resources devoted to white schools and universities, white hospitals and clinics. 

    “More was spent on social grants, housing, agricultural support and social services for whites. When you were dispossessed of your land, it was the State that gave you the land, and today, black people do not have the land, and it is the State that must help them to get that land.”

    The President’s reply also stressed the importance of accountability and collaborative governance, with the Presidency positioned as a strategic coordinator rather than an implementing department. 

    “The Presidency, and indeed the President, does not try accused persons or put them in orange overalls. 

    “The role of the Presidency is to ensure that the work of government departments is coordinated, and that Cabinet decisions and priority programmes are implemented.”

    The President noted that 73% of employment comes from the private sector, underlining the need for government to create an enabling environment for economic growth.

    The debate demonstrated South Africa’s commitment to open dialogue, repeatedly stressing the importance of honest discussion about the country’s past, while working towards a more equitable future. 

    The debate underscored the need for collective action to build a capable, ethical State and improve the quality of life for citizens. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hampshire and the Solent devolution reaches new milestone

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    The Government has confirmed that it will be progressing with the creation of a new Mayoral County Combined Authority (MCCA) for Hampshire and the Solent. The decision marks a pivotal milestone in the journey toward greater local decision-making and investment for the area.

    Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council, Hampshire County Council, and Isle of Wight Council are working closely with government on the legislative framework that will underpin the new powers to formally establish the new MCCA later this year.

    The proposed MCCA will unlock new opportunities for communities with significant additional funding and powers devolved from central government to the region, with a focus on driving economic growth, investment in infrastructure, transport, and planning.

    Devolution represents a unique opportunity to shape our region’s future. It will enable decisions on transport, housing, skills, and economic growth to be made closer to the people they affect, ensuring that new investment and policy in these areas reflect local priorities.

    This follows the announcement on the introduction of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill across England last week (Thursday 10 July). The bill sets out to achieve the change the public expect by working with communities, not dictating to them.

    Elections for the new Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent MCCA will take place in May 2026.

    Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said:

    “Devolution has the potential to benefit Portsmouth residents and businesses and the wider area and deliver extra regional powers and investment in jobs, infrastructure and services.

    “This announcement shows the Government recognises we’re ready to take on more responsibility for the things that matter to people living here. It’s important we now secure the powers that will have the impact we need for our area, so we will continue to work with partners to create a new strategic authority that delivers the best outcomes for residents.”

    Councillor Alex Winning, Leader of Southampton City Council, said:

    “Today’s announcement marks a pivotal moment for Southampton and our partner councils. It reflects our shared ambition and readiness to take on greater powers and deliver real benefits for our communities.
    “My predecessor, Councillor Lorna Fielker, worked closely with the Leaders of Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth to be placed on the Devolution Priority Programme. Building on the strong partnership working already in place across the region, this is a historic step forward for local democracy and regional growth — and we’re proud to be part of it.”

    Councillor Nick Adams-King, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said:

    “This is a landmark moment for Hampshire and the wider region, with devolution offering a real opportunity to bring decision-making closer to the people and places it affects most. For our area, this is about unlocking new investment, driving economic growth, and delivering long-term benefits for our communities – giving residents a strong voice in shaping the future of our towns and neighbourhoods. We look forward to working closely with local partners, businesses, and community leaders to turn this opportunity into meaningful change on the ground.”

    Devolution is separate to the Government’s plan for Local Government Reorganisation, which it’s progressing at the same time and would see existing councils replaced by new larger, single councils which cover populations averaging around 500,000 people.

    Read more about both Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation and what they mean for Portsmouth on our website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Ciscomani, Titus and Cohen Introduce Bipartisan Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani and two congressional colleagues are leading a bipartisan effort aimed at establishing humane policies to care for and manage two iconic animals of the American West, wild horses and burros.

    Ciscomani and Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada, co-chairs of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, were joined last week by Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee in the introduction of  H.R. 4356, the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025. The bill would eliminate the use of helicopters in rounding up wild horses and burros, and require a study into alternative methods for humanely gathering the animals, including workforce opportunities for traditional cowboys.

    “For too long, wild horses and burros have been subjected to dangerous, cruel and costly roundups that often result in the death of the animal,” Ciscomani said. “As an Arizonan and co-chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, I’m proud to support this common sense, bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the use of helicopters during Bureau of Land Management roundups and encourage more humane and cost-effective alternatives to manage these iconic animals.”

    In efforts to control equine populations, the Bureau of Land Management is currently directed to “humanely capture” wild free-roaming horses and burros and set them up for adoption. To assist in the capture, the BLM contracts with private helicopter companies to pursue the horses and burros over long distances, which can be frightening and even deadly to the animals.

    Between 2020 and 2024, these roundup practices have cost taxpayers at least $36.7 million, including over $6 million paid to helicopter roundup contractors in fiscal year 2022 alone. Scientific research has shown that more humane and cost-effective alternatives, like fertility control, are equally effective in controlling equine populations. The BLM currently spends less than four percent of its budget on these methods.

    “Nevada is home to more wild horses than any other state in our country. Tragically, these animals are subjected to taxpayer-funded helicopter roundups and removals that are all too often costly, ineffective, and inhumane,” said Rep. Titus (D-NV). “My legislation would eliminate the use of helicopters in BLM wild horse gathers and require a report to explore the benefits of alternative methods for humanely gathering horses and the workforce opportunities for traditional cowboys. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan proposal that would protect these icons of the American West which remain a source of pride for Nevada residents.”

    Rep. Cohen(D-TN) stated. “As one of the founding co-Chairs of the Wild Horse and Burro Caucus, I’m pleased to co-lead the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act to improve accountability and transparency of how these icons of the West are managed by the Bureau of Land Management.”

    “The Bureau of Land Management is charged with humanely managing our nation’s federally protected wild horses, yet every year we see horrific fatalities during helicopter roundups — from wild mustangs running for their lives on broken legs to foals dying from exhaustion,” said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., equine program director for the Animal Welfare Institute.“Taxpayer dollars should not be funding this abject cruelty. We are grateful to Reps. Titus, Cohen, and Ciscomani for their leadership on this critical bill that would end the use of helicopter roundups and prioritize a more sustainable, humane path forward.”

    “We commend Representative Dina Titus for her leadership in introducing the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025. This bill is a critical step toward ending the cruel and unnecessary use of helicopters in wild horse roundups and bringing long-overdue transparency to the Bureau of Land Management’s operations through immediate implementation of onboard cameras,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of American Wild Horse Conservation. “The American public overwhelmingly supports humane, accountable management of our iconic wild herds, and this legislation delivers just that.”

    “Having spent years documenting wild horses across the vast American West—these are icons of our nation that deserve to be cherished and protected,” said Ashley Avis, founder of The Wild Beauty Foundation and director of the Oscar-contending documentary WILD BEAUTY: Mustang Spirit of the West. “I have also witnessed the harrowing reality of helicopter roundups, where these highly intelligent animals are stampeded for miles. There is nothing ethical about the way this is conducted. I applaud Representative Titus, Representative Cohen, and Representative Ciscomani for continuing to fight for these fast-disappearing symbols of freedom—so that every generation of Americans has the chance to see them, wild and free.”

    The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025 has been endorsed by the Animal Welfare Institute, the American Wild Horse Conservation, and Wild Beauty Foundation.

    To read the full bill text of H.R. 4356, the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025, click here.

    Congressman Juan Ciscomani is proud to have launched the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus earlier this year alongside Reps. David Schweikert (AZ-01), Dina Titus (NV-03), and Steve Cohen (TN-09) to champion the protection of one of America’s most iconic species. The caucus is committed to advancing humane and responsible policies to ensure the long-term care and management of wild horses and burros. Congressman Ciscomani has been a tireless advocate for these majestic animals and remains deeply committed to preserving their place on our public lands for generations to come.

    Read more about the launch of the caucus here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Delegation Secures $22.7 Million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Award for Winooski River Bridge  

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WINOOSKI, VT – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) today announced a $22.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help replace the Winooski River Bridge in Chittenden County. The federal funding, provided through DOT’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program and made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will replace and upgrade travel lanes and incorporate shared-use paths to improve safety on the bridge for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. 
    “Bolstering Vermont’s infrastructure is crucial to ensuring the safety, security, and success of families, workers, and everyone traveling through the Green Mountain State. We’re proud to see this investment of more than $22 million that will make our roads and communities safer,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “The replacement of the Winooski River Bridge will boost northern Vermont’s critical infrastructure, improve safety and accessibility, and make Winooski more resilient to extreme weather.” 
    “Maintaining safe and reliable public transportation infrastructure one of the most important responsibilities of any government,” said Vermont Governor Phil Scott. “I’m appreciative to our congressional delegation for bringing this much needed funding back home to Vermont.” 
    “This announcement is crucial toward the successful funding package necessary to deliver this complex bridge project,” said Vermont Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “The effort from Vermont’ congressional delegation is greatly appreciated.” 
    The Vermont Congressional Delegation nominated the project for $8 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). 
    The existing Winooski River Bridge, built in 1929, is in poor condition and needs to be replaced. The improved bridge will use durable materials to upgrade the existing infrastructure and create a wider sidewalk for pedestrians to cross safely. The new bridge will also feature improved drainage systems to better withstand extreme weather events driven by climate change—including the flooding that has impacted Vermont for the last three years. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NRS celebrates socio-economic investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    NRS celebrates socio-economic investment

    Almost £20 million funding was invested to help NRS communities grow and thrive in 2024/25.

    NRS has supported 149 projects to bring positive social change to benefit people living in communities across the UK – from Caithness to the tip of North Wales, down to the Bristol and English Channels.

    Every £1 of the £2,287,696 NRS has invested unlocked another £8.23 in match funding, elevating the community support to over £18.8m. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority also directly supported four transformational projects with a share of over £900,000 – taking the total to almost £20m.

    David Calder, head of sustainability and socio-economics for NRS Dounreay, said:

    Our UK wide footprint enables us to play a key role in working in partnership with other public sector and increasingly private sector organisations with community benefit obligations in addressing a variety of social and economic challenges and opportunities.

    This partnership investment approach enables us to align with regional and national priorities while creating meaningful impact where it matters most – in our communities.

    Alan Krailing, head of sustainability for NRS Sites, added:

    Our mission goes beyond decommissioning and site restoration – we want to shape the future for generations to come.

    The first step to building a sustainable legacy is investing in our communities to create shared value and resilient and thriving economies that meet local needs. Our socio-economic programmes are bringing this legacy to life by creating a ripple effect of social impact across the UK.

    NRS funding helped 215 new or growing businesses, awarded 70 start-up grants and created 142 jobs to develop thriving and resilient economies in remote, rural communities. Six graduates were placed or retained in employment, as well as projects supporting over 10,000 training opportunities, 15 apprenticeships, 900 employment opportunities and 160 work experience placements, improving access to sustainable incomes.

    With over 9,000 voluntary hours and more than 33,000 individual health and well-being interventions, people of all ages have been empowered to work toward long-term solutions to social challenges. These efforts have not only improved outcomes but also fostered stronger, more resilient communities.

    Some examples of the projects supported include:

    Caithness Business Fund: A £50,000 contribution to the £150,000 Future Skills apprenticeship grant scheme has tackled skills shortages and driven investment in new opportunities for SMEs and young people in the North Highlands – a region on the cusp of becoming a renewable powerhouse for the UK and beyond.

    During its first year in operation the scheme has supported seven apprentices and stimulated business growth.

    Prysor Angling Association: £65,000 funding has revitalised a café, community hub and created four jobs on the banks of Trawsfynydd Lake in the heart of Eryri National Park, North Wales. School children are learning about conservation and biodiversity in the lakeside classroom and gaining essential life skills whilst they cast off on the Fishing for Schools programme.

    A new bird hide and three accessible fishing platforms have improved the leisure offer to all. Three EV Chargers and a 50 KW solar array are generating income to offset running costs and help support the organisation becoming self-reliant, sustainable and carbon neutral.  

    Tumbledown Farm: £85,000 funding helped to create a carbon neutral forest school at a 27-acre former farm owned by Weymouth Town Council. The new building provides community led learning, employment and well-being opportunities for local schools, families and people with additional needs in an inclusive, nurturing greenspace.

    We are incredibly proud of being a good neighbour to the schools, clubs, community groups nearest NRS sites where funding has helped to meet the local needs of 82 grass roots organisations.

    Watch the video below to find out much more.

    NRS socio-economic impact 2024-2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Boost for British business as new partnership breaks down barriers to infrastructure delivery in South Africa

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Boost for British business as new partnership breaks down barriers to infrastructure delivery in South Africa

    Chancellor launches new Infrastructure Partnership with South Africa, opening up significant investment and export opportunities for UK firms.

    • Best-in-class British expertise will speed up delivery of major projects in the country, helping to deliver growth and good jobs as part of our Plan for Change.
    • Builds further on the first-of-its-kind UK Growth & Investment Partnership launched globally with the nation at the end of 2024.

    British businesses will have more opportunities to expand, invest and export to South Africa through a flagship partnership launched today, 17 July.

    At an event in Durban, Chancellor Rachel Reeves hailed the agreement as having the potential to be transformative for the best and brightest British firms doing business in the country who had long been looking for government support in unlocking commercial opportunities in areas like architectural design, engineering, and professional and business services.

    The UK is the biggest international investor in South Africa, but businesses have faced challenges such as project delays due to blockers on infrastructure delivery. British expertise will be brought in to unblock these barriers on building, speeding up a pipeline of projects which British firms are well-placed to win tenders for. This will help growth and development in South Africa, and also help Britain get better return on its investments in the country.

    This model of Government-to-Government (G2G) Infrastructure Partnership has previously delivered strong growth and jobs in countries such as Peru, with companies such as Arup and Turner & Townsend building a track-record of international delivery and bringing economic growth to the UK.

    The Chancellor saw first-hand how those two businesses have already been showcasing British expertise in designing, planning and building infrastructure in South Africa during her visit in February to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town – a site expansion project which Arup and Turner & Townsend won the contracts for.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    This is exactly what our Plan for Change is all about – backing British businesses who have been held back for too long to compete and win on the global stage.  By unlocking these opportunities, we’re opening doors for British expertise in engineering, design and project management, creating a pipeline of work in South Africa to support good jobs paying decent wages.

    When British businesses thrive abroad, it strengthens our economy at home – delivering security for working people and putting more money in their pockets. That’s the foundation of sustainable growth that our Plan for Change is designed to deliver.

    South Africa’s Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, said:

    This landmark partnership with the UK reflects our vision to ensure that public assets deliver real value for our people and to turn South Africa into a construction site which will help grow our economy and create jobs. By injecting technical expertise and delivery support into stalled projects within the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, we are turning neglected buildings and land into opportunities for job creation, economic growth, and restored dignity.

    This agreement is about far more than bricks and mortar; it’s about ensuring every rand spent on public assets advances the public good, accelerates infrastructure delivery, and grows our economy.

    Funded with a mix of UK ODA and non-ODA, the G2G Partnership will formalise UK support via technical assistance for new initiatives to improve South Africa’s management of public assets, accelerate project delivery in selected local municipalities, and launch an initiative to bring in external consultants to drive major projects and override longstanding inefficiencies.

    The G2G Partnership enhances the thriving collaboration between the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and South Africa’s Department of Public Works & Infrastructure. It builds on the close business relationship between both countries and paves the way to unlocking new export opportunities for UK businesses, primarily in the professional and business services and infrastructure sectors, bringing economic growth to the UK.

    Today’s announcement also further builds on the UK’s Growth and Investment Partnership with South Africa, a first-of-its-kind collaboration initiated by Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his visit to Cape Town in November 2024. Projects announced to date through the Growth and Investment Partnership include initiatives around inclusive agriculture, export promotion, and rail reform delivered by Crossrail international.

    It comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed the UK-Germany Treaty in London this afternoon. Included within this is a commitment for public financial institutions in the UK and Germany to work together in mobilising private capital into high-growth industries, opening up opportunities for innovative British businesses. Reeves will mark the agreement in a meeting with her counterpart Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, in Durban later this afternoon.

    Coupled with the launch of the UK-SA Infrastructure Partnership, the agreements recognise infrastructure as key to growth and that cooperating with international partners to invest in that infrastructure is a route to delivering the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy: with more good jobs and more money in the pockets of working people across our countries.

    Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds said:

    Our Modern Industrial Strategy, and Trade Strategy, are about playing to the UK’s strengths.

    Our businesses lead the way in engineering and major infrastructure projects, and partnerships like these help unlock new exports, investment and job-creating contracts. 

    This Government-to-Government Partnership builds on the UK’s thriving business relationship with South Africa and shows how our Plan for Change is paving the way for growth at home by unlocking new opportunities abroad.

    As the government unlocks infrastructure pipelines abroad, it has today published its pipeline of infrastructure projects at home through the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.

    The 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy includes investment of at least £725 billion into infrastructure over the next decade across eight growth-driving sectors where Britain holds a cutting-edge on the world stage, while the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure – cutting unnecessary red tape which stifles delivery. The measures in the Bill are expected to boost the UK economy by £7.5 billion over the next 10 years – with planning reforms having the largest positive growth effect from a single measure ever scored by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio and Colleagues Propose New Tools to Fight Price Gouging Amidst Trump’s Reckless Tariffs

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chris Deluzio (PA-17) along with Jan Schakowsky (IL-11) and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) reintroduced the Price Gouging Prevention Act to fight back against the corporate power enabled by the Trump administration’s chaotic tariff policies. The bill would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general new tools to enforce a federal ban against grossly excessive price increases.

    Over the past five years, giant corporations have repeatedly taken advantage of inflation and supply chain disruptions to expand their profit margins by raising prices higher than necessary to cover cost increases. President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs have created yet another opportunity for corporate price gouging. The tariff-driven uncertainty gives companies the opportunity to raise prices on all goods—regardless of whether they are actually subject to new tariffs—higher and for longer than what is necessary to cover any cost increases. Now, dozens of companies have reported raising the prices of goods and services unaffected by Trump’s tariffs. 

    “Prices are still too high, and inflation is still pounding folks. Especially now, we need to rein in monopolists and other huge corporations with the power to price gouge the American people,” said Congressman Deluzio. “By upping FTC enforcement practices and boosting transparency, this bill will take some of the squeeze off American families and small businesses suffering under the thumb of out-of-control corporate power.”   

    Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) joined as co-sponsors. 

    The Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025 would help the federal government and state attorneys general fight corporate price gouging. The bill would:  

    • Prohibit price gouging at the federal level—anytime and anywhere. The bill would clarify that price gouging is an unfair and deceptive practice under the FTC Act. It would allow the FTC and state attorneys general to stop sellers from charging a grossly excessive price, regardless of where the price gouging occurs in a supply chain or distribution network;
    • Help enforcers establish when price gouging is occurring during a significant shift in trade policy. The bill lists a set of exceptional market shocks—including an “abrupt or significant shift in trade policy”—and outlines a standard for a presumptive violation of the price gouging prohibition during such a shock, such as when companies brag about increasing prices;
    • Create an affirmative defense for small businesses acting in good faith. Small and local businesses sometimes must raise prices in response to crisis-driven increases in their costs because they have little negotiating power with their price-gouging suppliers. This affirmative defense protects small businesses earning less than $100 million from frivolous litigation if they show legitimate cost increases;
    • Require public companies to clearly disclose costs and pricing strategies. During periods of exceptional market shock, the bill requires public companies to transparently disclose and explain changes in their cost of goods sold, gross margins, and pricing strategies in their quarterly SEC filings; and 
    • Provide $1 billion in additional funding to the FTC to carry out its work. 

    During Trump’s presidency, giant corporations have continued to take advantage of inflation and supply chain disruptions by raising prices far higher than necessary, ultimately ripping off American people. The Price Gouging Prevention Act is a huge step towards ending this practice by holding corporate price gougers accountable.

    Last week, Congressman Deluzio joined with Senator Warren and 15 other Democrats urged the FTC to investigate tariff-enabled corporate price gouging that is raising costs for American families and use its full authority to prevent it.  

    As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Deluzio focuses on fighting price gouging in the defense sector, especially defense contracting. In the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed out of committee on July 17th, he was able to secure several important wins on this topic and for his community in Western Pennsylvania. He also previously introduced Stop Price Gouging the Military Act to close loopholes in current acquisition laws. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Weber Introduces BIRD Health Act to Strengthen U.S.-Israel Medical Innovation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Weber (TX-14) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the United States-Israel Bilateral Innovation for Research and Development in (BIRD) Health Act of 2025. The legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to partner with the successful Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation to create a dedicated BIRD Health Program, modeled after existing collaborations in energy, cyber, and homeland security.

    The BIRD Health Act deepens U.S.-Israel collaboration in the development of next-generation health technologies, fortify domestic supply chains, and reduce our reliance on adversarial nations for critical medical products. By leveraging Israel’s world-class biotech ecosystem and America’s unmatched research infrastructure.

    “The United States and Israel share one of the strongest, most enduring alliances in the world, and it just makes sense to join forces in advancing life-saving health technologies that benefit both our nations,” said Rep. Weber. “The BIRD Health Act of 2025 builds on our shared strengths to support cutting-edge medical innovation, strengthen supply chains, and improve health outcomes for American families.”

    “U.S. and Israeli doctors, scientists, and researchers are leading the world in groundbreaking medical advancements, including regenerative medicine, disease prevention, and cancer research,” said Rep. Pappas. “The health technology and innovation program created through this bipartisan legislation will strengthen the bilateral partnership between the U.S. and Israel to address emerging health issues, develop innovative solutions, and save lives.”

    The bill supports:
    • Joint U.S.-Israel research and development in medical devices, digital health, diagnostics, vaccines, and biotechnology
    • Manufacturing partnerships to boost U.S.-based production of critical medicines
    • Innovation ecosystems that promote startups, clinical trials, and commercialization of new treatments
    • Data-sharing and cybersecurity protocols to protect patient privacy and medical infrastructure

    Read the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Full steam ahead for Devolution Priority Programme

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Full steam ahead for Devolution Priority Programme

    Six areas receive confirmation as priority areas for English devolution.

    • Six areas receive confirmation as priority areas for English devolution 
    • Areas finalised will have new mayors with powers to ensure housing and transport work for their communities
    • Devolution Priority Programme forms key part of government’s mission to shift power out of Whitehall and into communities as part of Plan for Change

    The government’s devolution revolution has taken another step forward and all places on the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) are now set to get their own mayors with powers over housing, transport and other vital areas, as ministers confirm each area has met key legal tests to proceed.

    Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent joined the Programme in February. Subject to local councils’ agreement, they will now be able to move forward with the creation of Mayoral Strategic Authorities.

    Mayor-led authorities represent a proven model for unlocking regional growth, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change and putting more money into working people’s pockets, while also empowering them to direct change in their communities.

    The government has also published reports on the responses received to the public consultations that took place in each DPP area earlier this year.

    Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon OBE MP said:

    We are taking the next step in our devolution revolution, shifting power out of Whitehall and into our communities as part of our Plan for Change.

    These sweeping new powers for communities will put them on the fast track to deliver growth, opportunities, transport and housing.   

    The six devolution priority areas are leading the way towards a new era of devolved power in England and a stronger relationship between central and local government. We stand ready to work with local leaders in realising their areas’ incredible potential.

    Inaugural mayoral elections will take place in May 2026 for Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent.

    Following a request from the local authority leaders across Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington, the government has agreed to align inaugural mayoral elections in these two areas with the vast majority of local elections in May 2027.

    The government will continue to work with affected councils over the summer, including confirming funding for new authorities, with thirty-year investment funds remaining a core part of the offer. Funding will also be standardised to increase transparency and fairness.

    The news follows the introduction of the new English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in Parliament last week. The Bill aims to de-centralise power and ignite regional growth, helping local people take back control of their regions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Defence Secretary statement on war in Ukraine – 17 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Defence Secretary statement on war in Ukraine – 17 July 2025

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, provided an update to the House of Commons on the war in Ukraine.

    With permission, I wish to make a statement on the war in Ukraine. 

    Today is day 1,239 since President Putin launched his full-scale invasion and more than a decade since the Ukrainian people have known peace in their homeland. 

    They’ve had their homes destroyed. Lands seized. Children abducted. Loved ones killed by Putin’s forces. 

    Yet, the Ukrainian people still fight with remarkable determination – military and civilian alike, and almost three and a half years on, I’m proud to say this House remains united for Ukraine. And Britain remains united for Ukraine.  

    In fact, polling shows that we retain the strongest support for Ukraine of any European nation. 

    Our solidarity is grounded in our deep respect for their courage and in recognition that the defence of Europe starts in Ukraine. Because we know that if Putin prevails in Ukraine, he won’t stop with Ukraine.

    Madame Deputy Speaker, let me begin by providing a battlefield update.  

    Russia is maintaining pressure across the whole length of the frontline, with a special focus on Sumy in the northeast, Pokrovsk in the southeast, as well as in Kursk. 

    Last month, Russian Ground Forces likely seized approximately 550 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory – that’s an area greater than the size of Greater Manchester.

    And yet, they face continuing difficulties attempting to take fortified towns or cities, and they have not taken a significant town for months. Indeed, they’ve tried without success to seize Pokrovsk for nearly a year.

    What ground they do gain is coming at great cost. Last month, the number of Russian troops killed or wounded surpassed more than a million. 

    This year alone, Russia has sustained 240,000 casualties. 

    And despite these catastrophic Russian losses, Putin’s ruthless ambitions do not appear to be waning.  

    Russia is escalating the high numbers of one-way attack drones launched at Ukraine: 1,900 in April, 4,000 in May, 5,000 in June, and already this month in July,  3,200. 

    On 9 July, a week ago today, the largest aerial strike of the war was recorded when Russia launched more than 700 attack drones in a single night.  

    Despite the onslaught, the Ukrainians are taking the fight to Putin, striking military targets in Russia that his people see and know about. 

    Spider Web, Madame Deputy Speaker, was an operation of remarkable precision and extraordinary success which dealt a fierce blow to Putin.

    One year of meticulous planning, resulting in the damage of 41 long range bombers – planes which threaten not only Ukraine, but also NATO as well. 

    So, Madame Deputy Speaker, we must step up now our efforts on getting further military support to the frontline. 

    Last month – on the eve of the NATO Summit – we welcomed President Zelenskyy to No.10 Downing Street where the Prime Minister signed a UK-Ukraine agreement to share advanced battlefield capabilities and technologies.

    A deal which will mean our defence industry can rapidly develop the cutting edge technologies from Ukraine and step up the production for Ukraine. 

    And at the NATO Summit that followed, 32 nations came together to sign a new defence and national security investment pledge to spend 5 per cent of GDP by 2035.

    They came together, 32 nations, to reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine with 40 billion Euros pledged in security assistance for this year. 

    It was a good summit for Ukraine, it was a good summit for Britain, it was a good summit for NATO, it was a bad summit for Putin.

    Those commitments at NATO have been the basis for President Trump to signal a significant shift this week on Ukraine, announcing NATO weapons transfers and a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace.

    So with the NATO Secretary-General, President Trump agreed to largescale purchases of US military equipment by NATO allies, including Patriot missiles, other air defence systems and munitions, which he committed to getting – and I quote: “quickly distributed to the battlefield”.  

    Madame Deputy Speaker, the UK backs the scheme – we plan to play our full part – and on Monday we will discuss this further when I chair the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group – alongside my German counterpart, Minister Boris Pistorius.

    That group – the contact group – continues as the forum for more than 50 nations to provide Ukraine with what it needs to fight back Putin’s war machine and I am pleased to confirm that Monday’s meeting will be attended by US Secretary Hegseth, the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and SACEUR, General Grynkewich.

    Britain is providing more than £4.5bn in military aid to Ukraine this year – more than ever before. 

    And at the UDCG, I will provide the following updates:

    First, on the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration scheme, two-thirds of the UK’s ERA total of £2.26 billion commitment has now been disbursed, including £700m on artillery shells, long-range rockets, and air defence missiles, exactly what Ukraine needs most. 

    Second, on drones. Since March, the UK has supplied nearly 50 000 drones to Ukraine helping meet our commitment to increase tenfold our supply this year.

    Third, on air defence, the UK and Germany have agreed to partner in providing critical air defence missiles to Ukraine.  

    And fourth, on the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package, the UK will donate a further £40m, which Ukraine can use on a range of programmes from demining to rehabilitating their wounded.  

    Madame Deputy Speaker, it is now four months since President Zelenskyy responded to President Trump’s peace negotiations with Ukraine’s full commitment to an unconditional ceasefire. 

    President Putin has shown no such interest in an end to the fighting.  

    Madame Deputy Speaker, peace in Ukraine is possible, and we must be ready for when this peace comes.

    So since March, the UK and France have led the Coalition of the Willing on planning new security arrangements to support Ukraine in any ceasefire. 

    More than 200 military planners from 30 nations have worked intensively for weeks, with Ukraine and including reconnaissance in Ukraine, led by UK personnel. 

    Last week at the Summit, President Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that this initial phase of detailed military planning has concluded. 

    And I can confirm that the military command and control structures have now been agreed for a future ‘Multinational Force Ukraine’. 

    The Force’s mission will be to strengthen Ukraine’s defences on the land, at sea, and in the air because the Ukrainian Armed Forces are the best deterrent against future Russian aggression. 

    It will include a 3-star multi-national command headquarters in Paris, rotating to London after 12 months.

    And when the force deploys, there will be a coordination headquarters in Kyiv, headed by a UK 2-star military officer.

    It will regenerate land forces by providing logistics, armament and training experts. 

    It will secure Ukraine’s skies by using aircraft to deliver levels of support similar to that for NATO’s Air Policing mission. 

    And it will support safer seas by bolstering the Black Sea Task Force with additional specialist teams. 

    When peace comes, we will be ready.  

    When peace comes, we will play our part in securing it for the long term. 

    And next month on 24 August, Ukrainians will gather to celebrate their Independence Day.

    For another year, the anniversary of Ukraine’s liberation will be marked under the pain of occupation.

    Whatever else commands the world’s attention, we must never lose sight of this war, we must never lose sight of Putin’s brutal, illegal invasion of this proud and sovereign nation. 

    And we must never forget the price Ukraine is paying, fighting for its own freedom – and the security of all free nations, including our own. 

    Madame Deputy Speaker, the UK will stand with the Ukrainian people: today, tomorrow, the day after, and for as long it takes for Ukraine to prevail.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New $20M Semiconductor Lab at Stony Brook

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced a new, public-private partnership between Stony Brook University and onsemi, the largest U.S.-based manufacturer of silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, to construct a $20 million, state-of-the-art semiconductor research and development facility on the Stony Brook University campus. Silicon carbide is a key component of next-generation semiconductors and is vital to building more powerful, efficient and cleaner electric vehicles and energy infrastructure.

    “The state-of-the-art research facility at Stony Brook University will be another step in our mission to reshore the semiconductor industry, strengthen our national security, and cement New York’s status as the chips capital of the United States,” Governor Hochul said. “By investing in cutting-edge technology and world-class talent, we’re building a stronger, more resilient future for Long Island, and New York.”

    onsemi Corporate Strategy Senior Vice President Dinesh Ramanathan said, “Advanced power semiconductors are at the core of enabling the widespread adoption of AI and electrification. This new center will play a key role in accelerating innovation in one of the most critical fields for these global megatrends. Aligned with Governor Hochul’s vision, and in strong partnership with Stony Brook and Empire State Development, we are building a pipeline of skilled talent who will drive the next wave of breakthroughs in power semiconductors and pave the way for our sustainable future.”

    As a result of the partnership, onsemi will invest $8 million to support the center’s operations, while Stony Brook University will invest $10 million in renovations and equipment. Empire State Development will support the new facility through a capital grant of up to $2 million recommended by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.

    Located in Stony Brook University’s Engineering Quad on its West campus, the new center will allow university research scientists, postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students to study crystal growth, processing, and metrology with the goal of growing bigger, higher-quality silicon carbide crystals. This will reduce device costs, improve material quality and accelerate the adoption of SiC power electronics in high-performance, high-efficiency applications. Research performed at the center will support new discoveries that bolster New York State’s leadership in the semiconductor industry.

    The new research facilities will be available to scientists and industry professionals through potential new consortium agreements to drive R&D in the growth, processing and metrology of silicon carbide crystals. Stony Brook will seek agreements with industrial entities such as crystal growers, equipment manufacturers, raw material suppliers, process modelers and others, as well academic and research laboratories. Through the agreements, they would be able to engage in the silicon carbide growth process directly to test their products and ideas. In turn, the work conducted would provide a training ground for students and professionals who will eventually form the workforce joining these industries, universities, and laboratories.Stony Brook University will also develop a curriculum for an undergraduate minor and a graduate master’s degree and certificate focused on silicon carbide and wide bandgap semiconductors.

    SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “Stony Brook University is at the center of key research initiatives at SUNY and is helping to move New York State and our entire nation forward. We are excited to help build the new center, which will be a catalyst to create the next generation of semiconductors. Governor Hochul has charged SUNY to be a leader in semiconductor research and development, and we appreciate her investment and support as we work to achieve that goal.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “This state-of-the-art research facility represents a significant step forward in securing America’s semiconductor future while advancing New York’s technology and clean energy leadership. By supporting groundbreaking silicon carbide research at Stony Brook University, we’re investing in technologies that will power everything from electric vehicle charging networks to renewable energy storage systems. This partnership exemplifies how strategic state investments can drive innovation, create quality jobs, and position New York at the forefront of the global tech economy.”

    The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Thanks to the steadfast support of Governor Hochul and state leaders, we are able to ensure Stony Brook University is at the cutting edge of research for the public good. Through private-public partnerships we are able to give our researchers and students the tools they need to make breakthroughs in science. From environmental science to medicine and from artificial intelligence to quantum, there are opportunities for faculty and students to unveil new discoveries.”

    Stony Brook University Incoming President Andrea Goldsmith said, “This public-private partnership between onsemi, Stony Brook and Empire State Development provides tremendous opportunity for economic development and national security. As a technology entrepreneur and the founder of a fabless semiconductor startup, I am thrilled that Stony Brook is a key academic partner with onsemi, an industry leader in power semiconductors. This partnership places Stony Brook and New York State at the forefront of advancing power semiconductor technology while providing students hands-on research and practical opportunities as they prepare for leadership roles in high-skill, high-demand technology fields.”

    Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, “Long Island has long been home to world-class research and technology companies, and the new center will further cement our region’s reputation as an innovation powerhouse. This facility will not only advance critical semiconductor research but also create exciting career pathways for Long Island residents in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy. We’re building the foundation for sustained technological leadership that will benefit our communities, our workforce, and our regional economy for decades to come.”

    LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn, President & CEO at FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, President of Long Island University said, “The establishment of this research center marks an exciting milestone for Long Island’s evolution into a premier technology destination. This facility will provide our students with hands-on experience in cutting-edge semiconductor research while creating the skilled workforce that innovative companies seek when choosing where to locate and grow. By linking world-class academic expertise with industry needs, this initiative positions Long Island at the forefront of the next generation of advanced manufacturing.”

    The center will be led by Professor Michael Dudley, Department of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering. Professor Dudley and his team are leaders in SiC growth and metrology with more than 30 years of experience. Professor Balaji Raghothamachar, also experienced in SiC growth and metrology, and Professor and Department Chair Dilip Gersappe, with extensive experience in modeling of materials systems, will also be part of the center’s leadership team. The new center will initially house advanced equipment including furnaces, wafering and polishing equipment and metrology tools. The center is expected to be fully operational in early 2027.

    Professor Michael Dudley said, “Since 1991, I have been involved in silicon carbide crystal growth and metrology, collaborating with major silicon carbide companies including onsemi. Much appreciation to onsemi for recognizing this and supporting the establishment of this innovative center at Stony Brook University. Thanks to the Provost for coming through with funds for equipment and renovation and thanks to Empire State Development for their support as well. As the Director, I believe this center will make an integral approach to crystal growth a reality. New ideas in silicon carbide crystal growth can be tested while students and professionals gain a comprehensive work experience in state-of-the-art semiconductor materials development. We look forward to partnering with companies, universities, and national labs in silicon carbide semiconductor technologies and workforce development.”

    State Senator Anthony Palumbo said, “I thank Governor Hochul for bringing this investment and collaboration with Onsemi to Stony Brook University and for fostering a more economically sustainable region for our future generations. As one of New York’s two flagship universities, Stony Brook continues to be at the forefront of tech research and will provide even more highly-skilled jobs and educational pathways that are essential for critical industries, from electric vehicles and smart grids to renewable energy systems and aerospace technology. I’m thrilled to support this initiative and look forward to getting shovels in the ground.”

    Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “This partnership helps Stony Brook continue to grow a reputation as one of the best universities in the world. Thank you to Governor Hochul for continuing these efforts and putting Suffolk County at the forefront of these important technologies and for choosing Suffolk County for this initiative.”

    Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay said, “I would like to thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to strengthening Long Island’s innovation economy. The new $20 million semiconductor research facility at Stony Brook University is an exciting investment in New York’s future. The partnership with onsemi is promising for the future of our regional job market, furthering Long Island’s ability to attract, train, and employ individuals for good paying jobs in the tech field. I’m proud to be the district representative of a University that is furthering energy advancements, and in that, creating a more sustainable future for all.”

    Stony Brook University College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Andrew Singer said, “At a moment when strengthening the nation’s semiconductor supply chain is both an economic and strategic imperative, this new center represents a tremendous opportunity. By advancing silicon-carbide crystal growth right here on Long Island, we are not only pushing the frontier of power-device technology but also helping secure domestic manufacturing capacity, creating high-skill jobs, and training the engineers who will keep the United States at the forefront of the global semiconductor landscape.”

    About The State University of New York

    The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.

    About Stony Brook University

    Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 26,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 225,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X @stonybrooku.

    About Empire State Development

    Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New $20M Semiconductor Lab at Stony Brook

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced a new, public-private partnership between Stony Brook University and onsemi, the largest U.S.-based manufacturer of silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, to construct a $20 million, state-of-the-art semiconductor research and development facility on the Stony Brook University campus. Silicon carbide is a key component of next-generation semiconductors and is vital to building more powerful, efficient and cleaner electric vehicles and energy infrastructure.

    “The state-of-the-art research facility at Stony Brook University will be another step in our mission to reshore the semiconductor industry, strengthen our national security, and cement New York’s status as the chips capital of the United States,” Governor Hochul said. “By investing in cutting-edge technology and world-class talent, we’re building a stronger, more resilient future for Long Island, and New York.”

    onsemi Corporate Strategy Senior Vice President Dinesh Ramanathan said, “Advanced power semiconductors are at the core of enabling the widespread adoption of AI and electrification. This new center will play a key role in accelerating innovation in one of the most critical fields for these global megatrends. Aligned with Governor Hochul’s vision, and in strong partnership with Stony Brook and Empire State Development, we are building a pipeline of skilled talent who will drive the next wave of breakthroughs in power semiconductors and pave the way for our sustainable future.”

    As a result of the partnership, onsemi will invest $8 million to support the center’s operations, while Stony Brook University will invest $10 million in renovations and equipment. Empire State Development will support the new facility through a capital grant of up to $2 million recommended by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.

    Located in Stony Brook University’s Engineering Quad on its West campus, the new center will allow university research scientists, postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students to study crystal growth, processing, and metrology with the goal of growing bigger, higher-quality silicon carbide crystals. This will reduce device costs, improve material quality and accelerate the adoption of SiC power electronics in high-performance, high-efficiency applications. Research performed at the center will support new discoveries that bolster New York State’s leadership in the semiconductor industry.

    The new research facilities will be available to scientists and industry professionals through potential new consortium agreements to drive R&D in the growth, processing and metrology of silicon carbide crystals. Stony Brook will seek agreements with industrial entities such as crystal growers, equipment manufacturers, raw material suppliers, process modelers and others, as well academic and research laboratories. Through the agreements, they would be able to engage in the silicon carbide growth process directly to test their products and ideas. In turn, the work conducted would provide a training ground for students and professionals who will eventually form the workforce joining these industries, universities, and laboratories.Stony Brook University will also develop a curriculum for an undergraduate minor and a graduate master’s degree and certificate focused on silicon carbide and wide bandgap semiconductors.

    SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “Stony Brook University is at the center of key research initiatives at SUNY and is helping to move New York State and our entire nation forward. We are excited to help build the new center, which will be a catalyst to create the next generation of semiconductors. Governor Hochul has charged SUNY to be a leader in semiconductor research and development, and we appreciate her investment and support as we work to achieve that goal.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “This state-of-the-art research facility represents a significant step forward in securing America’s semiconductor future while advancing New York’s technology and clean energy leadership. By supporting groundbreaking silicon carbide research at Stony Brook University, we’re investing in technologies that will power everything from electric vehicle charging networks to renewable energy storage systems. This partnership exemplifies how strategic state investments can drive innovation, create quality jobs, and position New York at the forefront of the global tech economy.”

    The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Thanks to the steadfast support of Governor Hochul and state leaders, we are able to ensure Stony Brook University is at the cutting edge of research for the public good. Through private-public partnerships we are able to give our researchers and students the tools they need to make breakthroughs in science. From environmental science to medicine and from artificial intelligence to quantum, there are opportunities for faculty and students to unveil new discoveries.”

    Stony Brook University Incoming President Andrea Goldsmith said, “This public-private partnership between onsemi, Stony Brook and Empire State Development provides tremendous opportunity for economic development and national security. As a technology entrepreneur and the founder of a fabless semiconductor startup, I am thrilled that Stony Brook is a key academic partner with onsemi, an industry leader in power semiconductors. This partnership places Stony Brook and New York State at the forefront of advancing power semiconductor technology while providing students hands-on research and practical opportunities as they prepare for leadership roles in high-skill, high-demand technology fields.”

    Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, “Long Island has long been home to world-class research and technology companies, and the new center will further cement our region’s reputation as an innovation powerhouse. This facility will not only advance critical semiconductor research but also create exciting career pathways for Long Island residents in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy. We’re building the foundation for sustained technological leadership that will benefit our communities, our workforce, and our regional economy for decades to come.”

    LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn, President & CEO at FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, President of Long Island University said, “The establishment of this research center marks an exciting milestone for Long Island’s evolution into a premier technology destination. This facility will provide our students with hands-on experience in cutting-edge semiconductor research while creating the skilled workforce that innovative companies seek when choosing where to locate and grow. By linking world-class academic expertise with industry needs, this initiative positions Long Island at the forefront of the next generation of advanced manufacturing.”

    The center will be led by Professor Michael Dudley, Department of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering. Professor Dudley and his team are leaders in SiC growth and metrology with more than 30 years of experience. Professor Balaji Raghothamachar, also experienced in SiC growth and metrology, and Professor and Department Chair Dilip Gersappe, with extensive experience in modeling of materials systems, will also be part of the center’s leadership team. The new center will initially house advanced equipment including furnaces, wafering and polishing equipment and metrology tools. The center is expected to be fully operational in early 2027.

    Professor Michael Dudley said, “Since 1991, I have been involved in silicon carbide crystal growth and metrology, collaborating with major silicon carbide companies including onsemi. Much appreciation to onsemi for recognizing this and supporting the establishment of this innovative center at Stony Brook University. Thanks to the Provost for coming through with funds for equipment and renovation and thanks to Empire State Development for their support as well. As the Director, I believe this center will make an integral approach to crystal growth a reality. New ideas in silicon carbide crystal growth can be tested while students and professionals gain a comprehensive work experience in state-of-the-art semiconductor materials development. We look forward to partnering with companies, universities, and national labs in silicon carbide semiconductor technologies and workforce development.”

    State Senator Anthony Palumbo said, “I thank Governor Hochul for bringing this investment and collaboration with Onsemi to Stony Brook University and for fostering a more economically sustainable region for our future generations. As one of New York’s two flagship universities, Stony Brook continues to be at the forefront of tech research and will provide even more highly-skilled jobs and educational pathways that are essential for critical industries, from electric vehicles and smart grids to renewable energy systems and aerospace technology. I’m thrilled to support this initiative and look forward to getting shovels in the ground.”

    Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “This partnership helps Stony Brook continue to grow a reputation as one of the best universities in the world. Thank you to Governor Hochul for continuing these efforts and putting Suffolk County at the forefront of these important technologies and for choosing Suffolk County for this initiative.”

    Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay said, “I would like to thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to strengthening Long Island’s innovation economy. The new $20 million semiconductor research facility at Stony Brook University is an exciting investment in New York’s future. The partnership with onsemi is promising for the future of our regional job market, furthering Long Island’s ability to attract, train, and employ individuals for good paying jobs in the tech field. I’m proud to be the district representative of a University that is furthering energy advancements, and in that, creating a more sustainable future for all.”

    Stony Brook University College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Andrew Singer said, “At a moment when strengthening the nation’s semiconductor supply chain is both an economic and strategic imperative, this new center represents a tremendous opportunity. By advancing silicon-carbide crystal growth right here on Long Island, we are not only pushing the frontier of power-device technology but also helping secure domestic manufacturing capacity, creating high-skill jobs, and training the engineers who will keep the United States at the forefront of the global semiconductor landscape.”

    About The State University of New York

    The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.

    About Stony Brook University

    Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 26,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 225,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X @stonybrooku.

    About Empire State Development

    Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Columbia woman charged with stealing more than $28,000 from vulnerable adultRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Salym M. Williams, 32 years old, of Columbia, S.C., for Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}, Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretenses, value $10,000 or more {16-13-0240(2)}, and Financial Identity Fraud {16-13-0510(B)}. Williams was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center on July 15, 2025.

    A VAMPF investigation revealed that between April 25, 2022, and November 12, 2024, Williams allegedly misappropriated funds and assets from a vulnerable adult with fraudulent intent. Williams is accused of using the victim’s personal information to open a Cash App account in the victim’s name, which was then used for retail purchases and money transfers to others. Additionally, investigators claim Williams accessed the victim’s retirement accounts, long-term disability account, and bank account to conduct electronic transfers and ATM withdrawals. The alleged scheme defrauded the victim of $28,412.47. The victim, classified as a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, was a resident of Opus Post Acute in West Columbia during the time of the alleged misconduct.

    Opus Post Acute referred this case to VAMPF and cooperated fully with investigators.  This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

    Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretenses, value $10,000 or more, is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500. Financial Identity Fraud is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine at the discretion of the court, or both.

    Pursuant to federal regulations, VAMPF has authority over Medicaid provider fraud; abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting; and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. 

    Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

    The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: A large number of DOGE holders flocked to BJMINING, and the daily mining income can reach up to $8,300

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, Illinois, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Dogecoin (DOGE) has successively gained ETF expectations, Tesla’s ecological application expansion and community consensus revival in July 2025, the attention of global DOGE holders has quickly focused on how to actively increase the value of assets. In this context, the leading cloud mining platform BJMINING has become the first choice. In the past week alone, the number of new DOGE users on the platform has increased by more than 280%.
    With BJMINING, users can directly exchange DOGE for computing power contracts, earning up to $8,300 in mining income per day, and participate in the dual mining plan of Bitcoin and Dogecoin without selling assets.

    Mining and holding coins are dual-driven, why do DOGE users flock to BJMINING?

    DOGE ecosystem expansion triggers computing power demand

    In early July 2025, the market reported that many asset management institutions were applying for DOGE-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Soon after, Tesla announced that its energy management system supports DOGE payments, which completely stimulated market sentiment. However, simply holding coins is still difficult to avoid market fluctuations. BJMINING converts DOGE directly into computing power, allowing users to obtain mining income every day without having to sell assets, forming a dual-channel model of “asset holding + continuous output”.

    The barrier-free DOGE mining method is sweeping the world

    Sign up and get $15 starting capital

    New users can get a $15 trial bonus after completing registration, which can be used directly to purchase DOGE, BTC or LTC contracts and activate real computing power.

    DOGE automatic conversion computing power

    Users can recharge any amount of DOGE to the platform, and the system will automatically convert it into US dollar computing power according to the real-time exchange rate, uniformly calculate the contract income and automatically distribute it.

    Small investment, no hardware required

    With just $100, you can start your first cloud mining contract and say goodbye to physical mining machines, electricity bills and maintenance worries.

    BJMINING’s global capabilities guarantee long-term returns

    60+ green mines around the world
    It uses 100% clean energy such as solar energy and wind energy, covers many mining powerhouses such as the United States, Canada, Germany, Kazakhstan, etc., with low operating costs and high output efficiency.

    AI scheduling system improves stability
    The platform’s self-developed AI mining scheduling strategy achieves 99.9% operational stability in a high computing power environment, and can dynamically optimize computing power allocation based on currency prices.

    Top safety configuration
    Double protection of data and assets: McAfee® encryption + Cloudflare® firewall double shield, all user assets are insured by international insurance agency AIG, and the platform has a zero accident history.

    The popular mining options available to DOGE holders are as follows:

    Contract Type Invest Cycle Total revenue
    WhatsMiner M50S+ $100 2 days $100 + $6
    WhatsMiner M60S++ $600 7 days $600 + $52.50
    Avalon Miner A1566 $1,200 15 days $1,200 + $234
    WhatsMiner M66S+ $5,800 30 days $5,800 + $2,610
    Antminer L7 $12,000 40 days $12,000 + $8,160
    Antspace HD5 $96,000 54 days $96,000 + $119,232

    Among them, Antminer L7 contract is currently the program with the highest participation of DOGE users, which can bring about US$204 in net income per day. It is suitable for users who want to hold DOGE for a long time and obtain stable cash flow.

    Why is now the golden window for DOGE holders to act?

    ETF benefits are being realized

    As the DOGE ETF is about to enter the regulatory review process, large-scale institutional funds are expected to enter the market, and DOGE mining income will also benefit from the network’s popularity and value increase.

    Deflationary Burning Mechanism and Mining Income Superposition

    The DOGE community is promoting the “transaction burning fee” proposal, and it is expected to enter a deflationary phase in the future. Mining income plus the increase in asset scarcity will become a double insurance for asset preservation and appreciation.

    Application scenarios explode

    Musk has repeatedly emphasized the application of DOGE in the SpaceX and Tesla ecosystems. The integration of encrypted payments and real-world applications is reconstructing the long-term value of DOGE.

    Expert Comments: DOGE enters a new growth curve, BJMINING makes the value-added path clearer

    “At present, DOGE is not just a meme coin, it is building its own application and financial boundaries. Cloud mining platforms like BJMINING allow asset holders to obtain daily returns without additional risks, which is one of the most pragmatic operation strategies in the bull market.”
    ——Rachel Chen，Cryptocurrency Market Researcher

    Official website: https://bjmining.com
    APP download: https://bjmining.com/xml/index.html#/app

    Start exchanging DOGE for computing power now and embrace the new era of crypto income!

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: A large number of DOGE holders flocked to BJMINING, and the daily mining income can reach up to $8,300

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, Illinois, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Dogecoin (DOGE) has successively gained ETF expectations, Tesla’s ecological application expansion and community consensus revival in July 2025, the attention of global DOGE holders has quickly focused on how to actively increase the value of assets. In this context, the leading cloud mining platform BJMINING has become the first choice. In the past week alone, the number of new DOGE users on the platform has increased by more than 280%.
    With BJMINING, users can directly exchange DOGE for computing power contracts, earning up to $8,300 in mining income per day, and participate in the dual mining plan of Bitcoin and Dogecoin without selling assets.

    Mining and holding coins are dual-driven, why do DOGE users flock to BJMINING?

    DOGE ecosystem expansion triggers computing power demand

    In early July 2025, the market reported that many asset management institutions were applying for DOGE-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Soon after, Tesla announced that its energy management system supports DOGE payments, which completely stimulated market sentiment. However, simply holding coins is still difficult to avoid market fluctuations. BJMINING converts DOGE directly into computing power, allowing users to obtain mining income every day without having to sell assets, forming a dual-channel model of “asset holding + continuous output”.

    The barrier-free DOGE mining method is sweeping the world

    Sign up and get $15 starting capital

    New users can get a $15 trial bonus after completing registration, which can be used directly to purchase DOGE, BTC or LTC contracts and activate real computing power.

    DOGE automatic conversion computing power

    Users can recharge any amount of DOGE to the platform, and the system will automatically convert it into US dollar computing power according to the real-time exchange rate, uniformly calculate the contract income and automatically distribute it.

    Small investment, no hardware required

    With just $100, you can start your first cloud mining contract and say goodbye to physical mining machines, electricity bills and maintenance worries.

    BJMINING’s global capabilities guarantee long-term returns

    60+ green mines around the world
    It uses 100% clean energy such as solar energy and wind energy, covers many mining powerhouses such as the United States, Canada, Germany, Kazakhstan, etc., with low operating costs and high output efficiency.

    AI scheduling system improves stability
    The platform’s self-developed AI mining scheduling strategy achieves 99.9% operational stability in a high computing power environment, and can dynamically optimize computing power allocation based on currency prices.

    Top safety configuration
    Double protection of data and assets: McAfee® encryption + Cloudflare® firewall double shield, all user assets are insured by international insurance agency AIG, and the platform has a zero accident history.

    The popular mining options available to DOGE holders are as follows:

    Contract Type Invest Cycle Total revenue
    WhatsMiner M50S+ $100 2 days $100 + $6
    WhatsMiner M60S++ $600 7 days $600 + $52.50
    Avalon Miner A1566 $1,200 15 days $1,200 + $234
    WhatsMiner M66S+ $5,800 30 days $5,800 + $2,610
    Antminer L7 $12,000 40 days $12,000 + $8,160
    Antspace HD5 $96,000 54 days $96,000 + $119,232

    Among them, Antminer L7 contract is currently the program with the highest participation of DOGE users, which can bring about US$204 in net income per day. It is suitable for users who want to hold DOGE for a long time and obtain stable cash flow.

    Why is now the golden window for DOGE holders to act?

    ETF benefits are being realized

    As the DOGE ETF is about to enter the regulatory review process, large-scale institutional funds are expected to enter the market, and DOGE mining income will also benefit from the network’s popularity and value increase.

    Deflationary Burning Mechanism and Mining Income Superposition

    The DOGE community is promoting the “transaction burning fee” proposal, and it is expected to enter a deflationary phase in the future. Mining income plus the increase in asset scarcity will become a double insurance for asset preservation and appreciation.

    Application scenarios explode

    Musk has repeatedly emphasized the application of DOGE in the SpaceX and Tesla ecosystems. The integration of encrypted payments and real-world applications is reconstructing the long-term value of DOGE.

    Expert Comments: DOGE enters a new growth curve, BJMINING makes the value-added path clearer

    “At present, DOGE is not just a meme coin, it is building its own application and financial boundaries. Cloud mining platforms like BJMINING allow asset holders to obtain daily returns without additional risks, which is one of the most pragmatic operation strategies in the bull market.”
    ——Rachel Chen，Cryptocurrency Market Researcher

    Official website: https://bjmining.com
    APP download: https://bjmining.com/xml/index.html#/app

    Start exchanging DOGE for computing power now and embrace the new era of crypto income!

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Starmer’s suspension of ‘rebel’ MPs risks alienating his party in a way he can’t afford

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tony McNulty, Lecturer/Teaching Fellow, British Politics and Public Policy, Queen Mary University of London

    Starmer has removed the whip from four ‘persistent rebel’ MPs. Flickr/UK Parliament , CC BY-NC-ND

    Political parties with commanding parliamentary majorities are often tempted by the promise of assertive leadership and decisive action. Yet, as the events of the last few weeks reveal, a large majority is no substitute for the subtler arts of political management, party cohesion and narrative discipline.

    Missteps like suspending four MPs and sacking three trade envoys are not isolated misjudgements but symptomatic of deeper issues within Labour’s approach to internal governance. These are issues that need to be addressed if this government is to make the difference needed.

    At the centre of the week’s controversies sits the leader’s decision to discipline members of his own parliamentary party. On the surface, such acts might be interpreted as “factional authoritarianism” – a heavy-handed display to quell rebellion. But it is more probably rooted in clumsy party management and weakness.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    This is especially true given Labour’s comfortable majority, which is currently around 160. It is reasonable to expect a majority party to exude a certain confidence and to practise tolerance for internal debate. It knows, after all, that a handful of dissenters pose no existential threat to the government’s legislative agenda. Instead, the government appears brittle, hyper-sensitive to criticism, and more interested in enforcing unity than fostering meaningful dialogue.

    The consequences are not trivial. Rather than projecting an image of strength and competence, the government gives the impression of insecurity and control for its own sake. The sacking of trade envoys – posts which previously were barely known or understood by the public – appears to many as petty and vindictive. The broader public takeaway is not about Labour’s policy on trade or any other issue, but about its willingness to punish internal dissent.

    Lost narrative and missed opportunities

    A parallel failure lies in the government’s continuing inability to control or shape the public narrative. Just days before the prime minister decided to suspend his rebels, the government announced £500m for a “better futures fund” to support vulnerable children and families. This could have been a bold declaration of intent for the new government. It could have been a huge win. Yet, it was disconnected from any overarching narrative and proved yet another missed opportunity to champion a new direction for the party and the country.

    Instead, media and public attention shifted immediately to the suspensions and sackings, drowning out any potential positive coverage of the government’s messaging. The chancellor’s Mansion House speech – an annual opportunity to set the agenda – fell similarly flat. Rachel Reeves received only insipid headlines before being entirely overshadowed.

    Neil Duncan-Jordan, one of the suspended MPs.
    Flickr/UK Parliament, CC BY-NC-ND

    The government’s inability to sequence and frame its positive announcements, and to anticipate how punitive actions would dominate the news cycle, requires urgent attention. It is not enough to make policy announcements; there must be a coherent story that MPs and the public alike can follow.

    Rebellion, dissent and party discipline

    The rebellion that sparked this drama was not led by perennial troublemakers, but a group of select committee chairs who are experienced, respected parliamentarians and not easily dismissed as the “usual subjects.” When the government gutted its own benefits bill to quell the backlash, a majority of rebels indeed relented. Only Rachel Maskell (one of the four MPs now suspended) and 46 others persisted in voting against the bill at third reading.

    Rachael Maskell, now suspended, speaking in parliament in March.
    Flickr/UK Parliament, CC BY-NC-ND

    Was this really worthy of suspension, especially so early in a new parliamentary session? The government’s justification rests on the need for discipline – that rebels should “play ball” after exacting concessions. But this only works when both government and rebels understand and respect the same rules.

    The claim is that the four rebels and three MPs who lost envoy status are persistent rebels, but this is an overreaction. In either case, it is clear the backbenchers felt ignored and undervalued, and that the government failed to take their concerns seriously in the first place.

    There is a sense that Labour’s leadership is more interested in enforcing conformity than in building consensus. A true show of strength would be to sit down and discuss with colleagues how differing views can be accommodated, and to have some confidence in your argument and build a narrative around it.

    Several warnings about internal unrest were ignored. The Whips Office flagged issues around poverty, pensions, and benefit reform, but these concerns were sidelined by Number 10. Ministers called for a broader anti-poverty strategy but again found themselves ignored. Select committee chairs, who tried for months to initiate constructive dialogue, were only heard in the final days before the bill’s debate.

    External threats

    Labour’s majority, while impressive, is based on fragile foundations. It won with only a 34% share of the vote. Many of the newly elected MPs are inexperienced and hold wafer thin majorities. A 5% swing against Labour would see more than 100 MPs lose their seats. External threats – an ascendant Reform UK, a possible Corbynista party, and the consolidation of the Liberal Democrats and Greens – compound the sense of fragility.

    In this context, disciplining a handful of MPs as some sort of a show of strength to keep putative rebels in line, is not going to work. The government cannot afford to alienate its own MPs.

    Labour’s early weeks in government provide a cautionary tale in the risks of prioritising discipline over dialogue, and of losing sight of the narrative that should bind the party and its supporters together. Most Labour MPs want the government to succeed, but early heavy-handedness breeds resentment and undermines unity just when it is most needed.

    True political strength lies not in the ability to punish dissent, but in the confidence to accommodate it – building a compelling story that inspires loyalty rather than demands it.

    If the government wants its MPs to sing from the same song sheet, it must first establish the melody. The significant achievements of this government – £40 billion more on public services, international trade deals, infrastructure investment, renters’ and workers’ rights, energy initiatives, advances in the living wage, and free school meals – can only resonate if they are woven into a story that MPs and the public can share.

    The lesson is clear: discipline without narrative and command without consensus are recipes for internal discord and political decline.

    Tony McNulty is a member of the Labour Party.

    – ref. Starmer’s suspension of ‘rebel’ MPs risks alienating his party in a way he can’t afford – https://theconversation.com/starmers-suspension-of-rebel-mps-risks-alienating-his-party-in-a-way-he-cant-afford-261339

    MIL OSI –

  • Shubhanshu Shukla in stable condition, monitoring physical & mental health: ISRO

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned from the International Space Station (ISS) early this week, is in stable condition, said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday.

    ISRO said that the agency is partnering with Axiom Space in rehabilitation exercise and is “monitoring the physical and mental health” of Shukla. The national space agency noted that preliminary health checks show “no immediate concerns”.

    On June 26, Shukla became the first from India to reach the orbiting lab. The IAF Group Captain returned to Earth on Tuesday along with fellow astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft “Grace”.

    ISRO informed that the preliminary health checks were carried out at the recovery ship.

    “Initial health assessments indicated that Shukla was in stable condition with no immediate concerns reported,” ISRO said.

    After the checkup, Shukla was airlifted by helicopter from the recovery ship to the mainland for further medical evaluations and debriefing sessions.

    Later, Shukla was flown to Houston for a week-long rehabilitation programme to mitigate any adverse effects of microgravity.

    ISRO noted that “the rehabilitation activities of Gaganyatri focus on monitoring physical and mental health, addressing any effects of microgravity, and preparing him for a return to normal activities”.

    “This includes a series of medical checks, especially cardiovascular assessments, musculoskeletal tests, and psychological debriefing. This is being administered by Axiom’s flight surgeon, and ISRO’s flight surgeon is also participating in this programme,” the national space agency added.

    Meanwhile, Shukla on Wednesday also reunited with his wife, Kamna Shukla, and six-year-old son Kiash Shukla after his 18-day mission aboard the ISS.

    “Coming back to Earth and holding my family back in my arms felt like home. Find a loved one today and tell them that you love them. We often get busy in life and forget how important the people in our lives are. Human spaceflight missions are magical, but they are made magical by the humans,” the astronaut said.

    Shukla said that space flight is amazing, but seeing your loved ones after a long time is equally amazing.

    “It has been two months since I entered quarantine. During the quarantine, family visits, we had to be 8 m apart. My little one had to be told that he had germs on his hands and that is why he could not touch his father.”

    “Every time he would come for the visit, he would ask his mother, ‘Can I wash my hands?’ It was challenging,” Shukla said.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Shanxi Province Imports 3,000 Tons of Ferrochrome from Kazakhstan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) — A China-Europe freight train loaded with 110 standard containers of ferrochrome weighing 3,000 tons arrived at a station in the warehousing and storage area of Taiyuan Iron Corp.’s purchasing center on Thursday.

    The mentioned train departed from Zhinishke station in Kazakhstan, entered Chinese territory through the Khorgos railway checkpoint in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region /Northwest China/ and arrived in Taiyuan 13 days later, having covered a distance of 4,900 km.

    By significantly shortening the transportation cycle, it effectively reduces the enterprise’s logistics costs and ensures the stability and efficiency of raw material supply for stainless steel production.

    According to the report, the train is an international logistics route opened by Huayuan International Land Port and Taiyuan Iron.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada invests over $4.5 million to enhance tourism across Northern Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced Government of Canada investments totalling $4,571,673 for 22 tourism projects across Northern Ontario. The funding is provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) and the Tourism Growth Program (TGP).

    Tourism Initiatives Funded by FedNor in Northwestern Ontario

    Lake of the Woods Brewing Company
    $976,852

    A non-repayable FedNor investment of $976,852 will support two tourism initiatives with the Lake of the Woods Brewing Company (LOWBrew). Funded through the TGP $750,328 will be used by LOWBrew to renovate and equip a new manufacturing facility in Kenora. Once complete, the facility will allow LOWBrew to reintegrate production, increase capacity, reduce shipping and production costs, while sourcing more materials from producers nearer to Kenora. The remaining $226,524 was used to establish the Brewer’s Village. Located outside LOWBrew’s new manufacturing facility, the Brewer’s Village is the ultimate tourism attraction for beer enthusiasts, social butterflies, and outdoor aficionados living, working or visiting the Thunder Bay region.

    Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc.
    $250,000

    A non-repayable FedNor contribution of $250,000 through TGP is being used by Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. to complete critical infrastructure upgrades and improvements to the local marina. Identified as a strategic priority in the organization’s Marine Asset Management Plan, this project will ensure the marina is safe and functional for the next three to four years, or until a new dock can be constructed. Specifically, the funding will support structural and safety upgrades to the docks and removal of derelict sections including two fuel tanks, pumps, lines and valves. The project will also support environmental protection activities and a new foundation for the boat launch.

    Coopérative Centre Francophone De Thunder Bay Inc. 
    $214,624

    The Coopérative Centre Francophone De Thunder Bay (CCFTB) is receiving a non-repayable FedNor investment of $214,624 through the NODP to support the continuation and expansion of the local francophone festival, Festival BONJOUR. This project will allow CCFTB to hire a consultant to assess previous iterations of the festival as well as a part-time project coordinator to support festival activities, contribute to event costs, purchase and store festival equipment, and develop the capacity of dedicated staff and organization members. This investment will help support greater economic development by attracting more tourists while also creating impacts for local businesses and participating community organizations.

    City of Kenora
    $125,000

    The City of Kenora is receiving a FedNor investment of $125,000 to develop detailed design and specifications for the development of a new harbourfront pavilion on the shores of Lake of the Woods. The goal of the project is to replace the Thistle Pavilion that nearing its life expectancy. Identified as a strategic priority in the community’s five-year tourism and economic development strategy, the new pavilion will pave the way for more tourism and special events at the waterfront in downtown Kenora.

    Atikokan Economic Development Corporation                                                                      $112,500

    To enhance tourism and economic activity in Atikokan, FedNor is investing $112,500 to help the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation can purchase a three-season 50 x 140-foot festival and events tent. The funding will also support the purchase of tables and sound equipment to ensure maximum use and flexibility. The new structure will help attract more tourists and large-scale events to the community and create new opportunities in the shoulder seasons.

    Rainy River Future Development Corporation
    $99,000

    To help strengthen the region’s tourism sector a non-repayable FedNor investment of $99,000 will help the Rainy River Future Development Corporation implement the Fort Frances Tourism Development Marketing Plan. This priority project will increase marketing and support tourism development and growth. The goal of the project is to enhance the community’s image as an appealing tourism destination so they can attract more visitors and encourage extended overnight stays that lead to increased tourism spending. In addition, this priority project will help the town of Fort Frances and the region in their efforts to capitalize on the half-million annual crossings at the international border, where their downtown is strategically situated.

    Township of Nipigon
    $16,991

    A non-repayable FedNor investment of $16,991 will allow the Township of Nipigon to design, construct, and install two interactive tourism information kiosks. To maximize their tourism potential, the kiosks will be located in the lobby of the Nipigon Community Centre and at the Bridgeport Lookout Tower. The new kiosks aim to modernize the visitor experience and provide information on local history, culture, attractions and businesses, such as business directories, and information related to fairs, markets, festivals, and recreational activities, including driving directions. Funded through the NODP, the kiosks will be capable of personalizing recommendations based on the interests, preferences, and location submitted by users.

    Tourism Initiatives Funded by FedNor in Northeastern Ontario

    Timmins Festivals and Events Committee
    $391,820

    To help maximize the tourism and economic potential of the region, FedNor is providing $391,820 to the Timmins Festivals and Events Committee so they can purchase a professional concert stage and mobile event trailers. Specifically, the funding will be used to purchase a 40-by-40-foot mobile stage and two 12-by-40-foot portable office trailers. Not only will the new equipment support and amplify high-profile events such as Rock on the River (ROTR), it will also provide the organization with a new revenue stream when the new equipment is rented for use by partners and surrounding communities for regional festivals and events.   

    Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre
    $250,000

    The Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre is receiving a non-repayable FedNor investment of $250,000 to create the Love Muskoka Sustain Muskoka tourism exhibit. Provided through the TGP, this inclusive tourist attraction will help educate visitors of all ages on how to live more sustainably, combat climate change and protect the environment. With interactive features and compelling educational content, guests will learn positive changes they can make at home and in their community to support a cleaner and greener future. Over the next five years, this project is expected to help create four full-time jobs and maintain 10 more.

    Four Corners Contracting Inc.
    $212,500

    Four Corners Contracting is receiving a fully repayable FedNor investment through the TGP of $212,500 to develop a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to support new tourism offerings in Northern Ontario. Specifically, the funding is being used to construct a 2,000 square-foot facility with indoor learning spaces such as a classroom, construction shop, culinary spaces and artisan studios to support fibre arts, blacksmith activity as well as clay and woodworking areas. Once complete, the new facility will promote economic, environmental and cultural sustainability, as well as year-round in-door and outdoor tourism experiences designed to attract tourists and guests year-round.

    Magnetawan River Resort (Cornerstone Properties Britt)
    $202,500

    A repayable FedNor investment of $202,500 will help transform the Magnetawan River Resort into an all-season facility. The project includes upgrading existing cottages, installing new heating systems and completing electrical, water, septic and road enhancements. Provided through FedNor’s TGP, the funding will also be used to purchase snow maintenance equipment and create up to 10 new overnight RV sites. This project is expected to create two full-time jobs and five additional employment opportunities during the construction phase.

    Village of South River
    $189,000

    The Village of South River is receiving a non-repayable TGP funding of $189,000 to refurbish the South River Train Station. This FedNor investment will help the community to maximize its tourism potential by capitalizing on opportunities created by the return of Ontario Northland passenger rail services to South River. Specifically, the funding will be used to transform this historic facility into a fully accessible building with new washroom and upgraded amenities such as wi-fi and interpretative displays, while retaining the postcard charm of the original 1885 train station.

    Waterfront Regeneration Trust Corporation
    $180,000

    The Waterfront Regeneration Trust Corporation is receiving a non-repayable NODP contribution of $180,000 to undertake a 280-kilometre expansion of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (GLWT). Specifically, the funding will support design, implementation, marketing, and new signage for the trail expansion. This strategic initiative will deliver tourism benefits to 11 communities in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts by leveraging the popularity of the 3200-kilometre GLWT cycling trail, which links over 100 points of interest and amenities, and connects 170 partner communities from Quebec to Sault Ste. Marie. Once complete, the expanded trail network will not only attract more outdoor enthusiasts to the region, but it will also help attract major cycling events to the area such as the 2027 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure.

    The Chalets on Lake Muskoka
    $152,000

    The Chalets on Lake Muskoka is receiving a repayable TGP investment of $152,000 to complete infrastructure upgrades and purchase new equipment to increase occupancy and enhance the guest experience. Specifically, the funding is being used to build self-contained cabins with kitchenettes and fireplaces, upgrade the septic system, install a new sauna and establish vehicle charging stations. Once complete, this project will help enhance the resort’s appeal as a year-round destination for families, couples, individuals or large groups.

    Muskoka Chautauqua
    $100,000

    To strengthen the economy and attract more visitors during the off-season, Muskoka Chautauqua is receiving $100,000 to create, improve and deliver 40 tourism events and experiences. Over a 15-month period, the organization will coordinate gallery exhibitions and workshops, book signings, walking tours, concerts, film screenings, cultural, environmental and educational events and more. Funded through FedNor’s TGP, this project is expected to attract close to 3,000 visitors and generate more than $1 million in economic benefits for the region.

    Town of Parry Sound
    $60,000

    A FedNor investment of $60,000 is helping the Town of Parry Sound complete a comprehensive Waterfront Development Plan. Once complete, the plan will provide an economic roadmap to guide development and growth in the community and along the shores of the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, known as the 30,000 Islands. Funded through the NODP, this priority project supports the Government of Canada’s Prosperity and Growth Strategy for Northern Ontario by helping to build stronger communities by investing in economic development capacity in the region.

    Township of South Algonquin
    $55,000

    A FedNor investment $55,000 helped the Township of South Algonquin complete a master plan to help the community identify and advance economic development and tourism priorities. The plan will help guide future development and tourism growth that aligns with township’s recently completed Strategic Plan.

    ‎ Tourism Initiatives Funded by FedNor in Northcentral Ontario

    Culinary Tourism Alliance
    $366,300

    The Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) is receiving $366,300 to support a three-year culinary and agri-tourism partnership program with Destination Northern Ontario. The goal of the project is to expand programs offered by CTA that are helping to increase the number of tourism operators benefiting from culinary tourism opportunities. Key activities for the project include providing learning and capacity-building activities for the tourism sector, sharing best practices and promoting Northern Ontario’s culinary and agritourism offerings by creating high-quality content to distribute through traditional and social media platforms.

    Indigenous Tourism Association of Ontario
    $250,011

    The Indigenous Tourism Association of Ontario is receiving FedNor funding of $250,011 to develop and implement a tourism corridor strategy to accelerate Indigenous tourism in Northern Ontario. Designed to attract visitors from south of Muskoka to the Manitoulin and Sault Ste. Marie corridor, the strategy will promote Indigenous tourism focused businesses that are visitor-ready. The strategy will include three key studies: a corridor strategy, implementation and sustainability report, and a business case for development/future investment in tourism along the corridor. At least 15 Indigenous-owned businesses in Northern Ontario will be directly supported to showcase cultural heritage and develop market-ready products as part of the corridor development.

    Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates
    $112,500

    To help boost tourism in the region, the Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates is receiving a non-repayable FedNor investment of $112,500 to create a best-in-class mountain bike park. The new park will be located at the Nordic Ski Club’s 80-acre facility, thus transforming the area into a four-season destination. The park will be engineered and built to International Mountain Bike Association standards and will complement the existing cycling tourism products which include e-bikes and chargers and over 850 kilometers of off-road and paved routes along Manitoulin’s beautiful roadways.

    Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands
    $42,575

    FedNor is investing $42,575 through its NODP to help Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands maximize the tourism and economic potential of its Home, Cottage & Culinary Show (HCCS). Identified as a local priority, the funding will be used to purchase an accessible portable stage, sound system and generator to enhance the 2025 HCCS experience and reduce costs for future municipal and community-led events. These assets will also improve the visitor experience, encourage return visits and increase economic activity through visitor spending in the region.

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  • MIL-OSI China: China pushes forward with people-oriented high-quality urban development

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

    BEIJING, July 17 — The recent tone-setting meeting on urban development indicated that China’s urbanization is shifting from large-scale quantity expansion to one focused on improving the quality and efficiency of existing urban areas.

    “This significant judgment not only reveals new characteristics of urban development in our country but also provides direction for future urban work,” said Wang Kai, president of the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design.

    The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population in China has increased from 53.1 percent in 2012 to 67 percent in 2024. Based on international experience and urban development patterns, an urbanization rate between 30 percent and 70 percent is generally considered a period of rapid urbanization, according to Wang, adding that China has entered the late phase of relatively rapid urban development, and the intrinsic logic of urban development is undergoing profound changes.

    “Shifting from scale expansion to quality enhancement implies that urban development must now rely less on traditional factors such as land and capital and more on new factors including knowledge, data, technology and management, aiming for higher quality, greater efficiency, more equitable, sustainable and safer development,” Wang noted.

    The Central Urban Work Conference, held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday, stated that since the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) 18th National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has adhered to developing cities of the people, for the people, and by the people. Historic achievements have been made in urban development, it added.

    Between 2013 and 2024, China created over 150 million new urban jobs.

    China, a traditionally agricultural country, has seen its urbanization pick up after the reform and opening-up drive began in the late 1970s. More than a decade ago, the country’s urban population exceeded the rural population.

    Yang Baojun, president of the Urban Planning Society of China, said that the laws of urban development have demonstrated that the old path of large-scale incremental expansion is no longer viable. Rather than passively responding to challenges, cities should proactively adapt to high-quality development and explore new pathways.

    The meeting held earlier this week established key priorities for urban development, including optimizing the modern urban system, building vibrant cities powered by innovation, and creating comfortable and convenient living environments, as well as promoting green, low-carbon, and beautiful urban spaces.

    The priorities also include enhancing urban safety and resilience, fostering cities that uphold moral integrity and social civility, and advancing the development of convenient, efficient and smart cities, the meeting said.

    Cui Kai, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, pointed out that these priorities closely align with the goal of building modern cities of the people, which encompasses both hardware improvements and software development, and addresses the immediate issues while also planning for long-term growth, reflecting a profound understanding of the urban development laws.

    “Looking ahead, China will jointly promote urban physical examination and urban renewal, formulate special plans for urban renewal scientifically, and focus on key tasks such as complete community construction, renovation of old urban residential communities, and historical and cultural heritage preservation,” said Chen Shaopeng, an official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

    “Furthermore, it is essential to collaboratively refine supportive policies related to land, taxation and finance to accelerate the establishment of a sustainable urban renewal model,” Chen added.

    There are more than 690 cities scattered across China, with a population of 940 million residing in urban areas.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s economic resilience drives global growth

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

    BEIJING, July 17 — In the face of a complex international landscape and mounting challenges, China achieved steady economic growth in the first half of 2025, boosting confidence in global growth potential.

    According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.3 percent year on year in the first half of 2025 and 5.2 percent year on year in the second quarter.

    Analysts noted that by steadfastly advancing high-quality development and steadily expanding high-level opening-up, the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience, providing a reliable driving force for global economic growth.

    STRONG RESILIENCE

    Since the beginning of 2025, the international economic and trade order has experienced severe shocks and increasing uncertainties. In the face of mounting pressure, China’s economy has maintained a steady and positive momentum, presenting a high-quality performance.

    “Resilience” has become a key word used by overseas media when reporting on the Chinese economy, with many noting that China’s economic data in the first half of the year exceeded market expectations and that the country stays on course to meet its annual growth target of around 5 percent.

    China’s GDP growth, despite the impact of U.S. tariff policy, signals strong resilience, highlighting China’s adaptive policies and manufacturing depth, said Philippe Monnier, former executive director of the Greater Geneva Berne area (GGBa), the investment promotion agency for Western Switzerland.

    The encouraging growth of the Chinese economy is mainly attributed to the strong performance in trade, industrial production and retail sales, said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING, a Dutch bank. He added that the solid results in the first half should keep China on track to achieve its full-year growth target.

    Thanks to efforts to strengthen economic and trade ties globally, China’s foreign trade sector delivered a strong performance, significantly contributing to overall economic growth. In the first half of the year, China’s total goods trade hit 21.79 trillion yuan (3.04 trillion U.S. dollars), reaching a record high for the same period.

    During this time, China’s imports and exports with more than 190 countries and regions registered growth, with 61 trading partners posting trade volumes exceeding 50 billion yuan (6.96 billion dollars).

    In addition to increased trade with traditional markets such as the European Union, Japan and Britain, emerging markets provided additional momentum. Notably, China’s trade with Africa and Central Asia rose by 14.4 percent and 13.8 percent year on year, respectively.

    EFFECTIVE POLICY

    Facing an increasingly complex and challenging external environment, China has effectively implemented more proactive and effective macroeconomic policies, further strengthened the domestic economic circulation, continued to advance high-level opening-up and steadily pushed forward economic transformation and high-quality development.

    In the first half of 2025, domestic demand contributed 68.8 percent to GDP growth, serving as the main engine of economic expansion, according to the NBS.

    China’s emphasis on household subsidies, fiscal support and credit access for small businesses has helped stabilize internal demand while shielding the economy from external shocks, making it more resilient to trade tensions and global slowdowns, Rwandan economic analyst Teddy Kaberuka told Xinhua.

    Japan’s Jiji Press noted that the Chinese government’s implementation of a moderately accommodative monetary policy has yielded tangible results in supporting the real economy, and measures introduced to boost consumption also played a positive role in driving economic growth.

    During the first half of 2025, China saw rapid growth in high-tech sectors such as scientific innovation and green development. Value-added industrial output in high-tech manufacturing rose by 9.5 percent, 3.1 percentage points higher than that of overall industrial output during the same period.

    With strategic support for sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric vehicles and clean energy, China is transitioning toward a more sustainable, consumption-driven growth model that benefits global supply chains and investment flows, said Monnier.

    Karim Adel, head of the Cairo-based Al Adl Center for Economic and Strategic Studies, noted that in the challenging year of 2025, China has introduced a series of proactive policies not only to advance its own growth objectives but also to provide sustained momentum for the global economy.

    BENEFIT THE WORLD

    In the face of the challenging international landscape, the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience and vast development potential. Driven by innovation, it is advancing high-quality development, contributing to global economic growth and sharing development opportunities with the world.

    Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, minister of economic affairs of the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, who led a delegation to visit China recently, told Xinhua that she was deeply impressed by China’s achievement in science and technology, adding that China is an exciting market in intelligent transportation, robot industry and other emerging areas.

    In recent years, Germany and China have been deepening cooperation in cutting-edge areas, said Bernd Einmeier, president of the German-Chinese Association for Economy, Education, and Culture.

    German enterprises remain enthusiastic about investing in China, while a growing number of Chinese companies view Germany as a strategic gateway for expanding into the European market, said Einmeier, noting that this two-way interaction serves as a stabilizing force for global industrial and supply chains.

    Munetsi Madakufamba, executive director of the Southern African Research and Documentation Center, praised China’s zero-tariff measures covering all taxable products for 53 African countries, saying it represents a significant development that has the potential to enhance China-Africa trade relations.

    The positive performance of the Chinese economy can help Africa unlock its vast economic potential and contribute to its development aspirations, he added.

    In an era marked by uncertainty, China’s stability and development represent confidence and opportunity, said Ng Chin Long, chairman of the Malaysia Friends of Silk Road Club.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio Man to Spend 65 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Three Children

    Source: US FBI

    SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced to 65 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting three young children.

    According to court documents, Charles Alexander Lopez, 30, stated in a group chat on the instant messaging app Wickr that he was engaged in the sexual abuse and exploitation of minor children in October 2023. He posted two images and a video to the group on Oct. 24, 2023, along with a message stating, “My conquest for the day.” The two images depicted a male toddler whom Lopez had just sexually assaulted, while the video depicted a portion of the sexual assault itself.

    An FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) interacted with Lopez through a private chat, through which Lopez disclosed details of another sexual assault victimizing a female toddler a few days prior and that he has sexually exploited a non-verbal autistic male child as well. On Oct. 26, 2023, FBI San Antonio executed a federal search warrant for the home and person of Lopez, seizing electronic devices used to produce, distribute and possess child pornography.

    Lopez admitted to sexually exploiting a male toddler, using his smartphone to produce and share Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). He also provided the names of other children he sexually assaulted and exploited, stating that he had sexually assaulted 15 minors since he was 10 years old and produced CSAM of approximately five different children.

    Lopez was arrested on Oct. 27, 2023, and on Nov. 15, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted him for three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2025, to the three sexual exploitation charges. On July 14, Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra sentenced Lopez to 65 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release. Ezra also ordered Lopez to pay $150,000 in restitution to three minor victims.

    “Individuals like this, who take every opportunity to prey on helpless children simply cannot remain free in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This defendant has spent two-thirds of his life as a child predator, sexually assaulting, exploiting and forever altering the lives of vulnerable and defenseless children to fulfill his selfish and vile choices.”

    “There is no place in our society for those who prey on the most vulnerable among us,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for FBI San Antonio.” The FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, together with the United States Attorney’s Office, will relentlessly pursue every lead to investigate violent crimes against children and bring their perpetrators to justice.”

    FBI San Antonio investigated the case, assisted by a referral from FBI Albany.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eastern Cape government urges families to assist in search for flood victims

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has called on families who are still searching for missing loved ones in the areas affected by last month’s catastrophic floods, to come forward with information to assist ongoing recovery efforts.

    “Your information is vital to help rescue teams determine if any individuals are still unaccounted for and to continue their search efforts,” Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Zolile Williams, said during a media briefing on Wednesday.

    Giving an update on the provincial disaster management response and recovery, Williams reported that the total number of people who lost their lives remains at 103, with 100 of them being positively identified and laid to rest with dignity.

    “One child is still missing, and the rescue teams are still searching. Three bodies remain unclaimed, two of which have not been positively identified through the national population register.

    “The deceased include five government employees, one educator and two nurses, as well as two firefighters from the Department of Transport,” Williams said.

    Williams said the province has established a dedicated task team to assist bereaved families with the coordination of burial services support for all the deceased.

    “Government burial support was provided ranging from death registrations with Home Affairs, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Department of Education’s funeral support funding to families of deceased learners, distribution of groceries to needy families, [and] provision of burial services by AVBOB, as per need of the affected families,” Williams said.

    Relief was also extended to survivors and families of the deceased through coordinated Social Relief of Distress (SRD) measures.

    Over 1 300 displaced accommodated across centres 

    The MEC announced that more than 1 353 displaced individuals have been accommodated across Mass Care Centres, while 122 are in Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA), prioritising the most vulnerable groups, with full access to healthcare, food, sanitation, dignity packs, mattresses, blankets, and school uniforms.

    He said more than 6 869 households across the province were affected by the disaster, with 4 724 homes completely destroyed and 2 145 partially damaged.

    In response, the Departments of Social Development, Health, Education, and the African Social Security Agency (SASSA), along with non-governmental organisations, such as Al Imdaad and Gift of the Givers, provided emergency relief to the affected families and individuals.

    “Beneficiaries were issued SASSA food vouchers to alleviate immediate food insecurity. To date, more than 1 353 displaced individuals have been accommodated across Mass Care Centres and 122 in Temporary Emergency Accommodation, prioritising the most vulnerable groups, with full access to healthcare, food, sanitation, dignity packs, mattresses, blankets, and school uniforms.

    “Numbers at Mass Care Centres are decreasing as people either seek shelter with their relatives or go back to their houses as they become habitable. Additionally, over 2 900 beneficiaries have received psychosocial support and dignity services through mobile teams and social workers deployed across the hardest-hit areas,” the MEC said.

    The Department of Home Affairs has mobilised to assist disaster survivors in rebuilding their lives.

    A total of 1 197 ID card applications have been received and are being processed, while 103 birth certificate applications have been finalised, with 22 certificates already collected by applicants. One hundred deaths certificates have also been registered and issued.

    Recovery and resilience plan underway 

    Despite the challenges, the MEC confirmed that recovery plans are well underway. A key focus is on a multi-pronged approach to rebuilding and improving the province’s resilience.

    “Infrastructure reconstruction will be prioritised and aligned with risk reduction principles, ensuring greater resilience against future disasters. For the next two-three months, it is critical for government to have made strides in the implementation of infrastructure repair projects.

    “The provincial government is also intensifying climate resilience planning and strengthening institutional capacity, including the debriefing and support of frontline responders, to ensure readiness and sustainability in future disaster responses,” Williams said.

    The province is also in engagement with potential partners to build the much-needed capacity.

    “While we support the victims of this disaster to rebuild their lives, it is equally important that we continue debriefing of teams that are involved in our response and recovery project. We remain indebted to these teams for the work they are doing,” Williams said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister for the Armed Forces speech at Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Minister for the Armed Forces speech at Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference 2025

    Minster for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, speech at the Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference 2025 on 17 July 2025.

    Good morning everyone.

    It’s a year ago that I last stood in this spot as a new Minister. Some of you will not be able to remember me because I have more grey hair than I had, certainly at this time last year.

    But it was a privilege to welcome colleagues from around the world a year ago and it is a privilege to be able to do exactly the same again today.

    The Secretary of State sends his apologies that he can’t be with us today – some of you may have spotted there has been some news going on in the UK over the past few days – and he continues to explain the situation that we inherited there.

    But having worked alongside him in Opposition as the Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces, and now over the last year, I’ll do my best to fill his considerable shoes that he has.

    But let me first begin by saying a few words about Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, for his incredible service as the Chief of the Air Staff and now as we look ahead to his new role as Chief of the Defence Staff.

    Sir Rich has served our nation with considerable distinction for 37 years.

    Of the 31 individuals who have been CAS since the creation of the RAF in 1918, he has been the first non-pilot to do so, an engineer by trade.

    In leading the Royal Air Force, he has upheld the highest traditions of respect, integrity and excellence, and he’s normally done so with a cheeky smile on his face as well – for those who know him.

    And at a time when our recent Strategic Defence Review has heralded the beginning of a new era for UK deterrence and defence, I can think of no-one better to lead our people through the critical changes ahead.

    Congratulations on your fully-deserved appointment, Rich. I look forward to carrying on working with you.

    And of course, Rich’s boots are not easily filled. And so although there was a very competitive shortlist for the new Chief of the Air Staff, it was fiercely competitive, we were very fortunate to have an outstanding candidate in Air Marshal Harv Smyth.

    Harv, we have urgent and important work to do as we seek to implement the Strategic Defnece Review and I’m going to look forward to continuing to work strongly with all our RAF colleagues.

    And it was just a year ago, we had a General Election. It feels in Britain like there’s a lot of politics going on at the moment, and a lot of change. And that has been a year when defence has rarely been off the front pages.

    From the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, to the modernisation of the UK Armed Forces set in motion, not just by the General Election, but by the Strategic Defence Review that follows.

    But what the news headlines don’t always show are the efforts and the achievements of the people that stand behind the headlines that work every single day to protect our nation and our allies.

    The men and women of our Armed Forces, and if I look around the room, the collective men and women of our Armed Forces, from an alliance that spans the globe of friends and allies – those men and women carry out their duties every single day with superb professionalism and precision, they go above and beyond to keep their nations, our nations, and all our partners safe, and in doing so, they not only create the environment where we can better protect our own homeland from Russian aggression, they are working to support friends and allies the world over.

    The UK Armed Forces have flown over 500 sorties, for example, and moved 9 million tonnes of freight to help the people and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

    And I’m minded, at times like this, when there are so many people in uniform ahead of us, that at this very moment there are brave Ukrainian pilots in the sky above their country trying to keep Ukraine safe from Putin’s illegal aggression. There are brave men and women who I met at the INTERSTORM graduation for the training of Ukrainian pilots – many of whom were very frank and honest about their chances of survival.

    That bravery is something that you all know, because it’s the bravery you see in your own people. But it is something that we, and myself as a politician, need to talk more about. Because we spend a lot of our time talking about kit and equipment and it is absolutely right – and I will do so in this speech, as a spoiler alert – but we need to talk more about our people.

    Notwithstanding autonomy and uncrewed systems, we need to value the men and women who not only serve in the sky, but on the ground, in the laboratories and workshops, that keep our air forces on a global basis the incredible power that they are.

    It was those brave men and women who also were active recently in the Middle East, evacuating over 220 British nationals and their dependants out of Tel Aviv, including a 3 month old baby and a 91 year old pensioner, to protect them from missile attacks.

    It’s particularly important in these times of increasing insecurity that we do recognise that dedication of our people, and that is why, unapologetically, this government talks about renewing the contract between the nation and those who serve.

    Everyone around the world will have a similar formulation. It may be slightly worded differently, it may be translated in a slightly different word order. But fundamentally, we need our nations to value our people more, and if we can do that we have a stronger defence by default even if we spend not a single extra penny on it. Because our people are only as strong as the nation that stands behind them.

    So after awarding UK service personnel their biggest pay rise for 20 years and giving them another above inflation pay rise this year, we are delivering a generation of renewal of military accommodation, with at least £7 billion of funding for this in this parliament. For those international visitors who have not stayed in some British military accommodation for a while, let me tell you it is not good enough. That is not good enough for me, it’s not good enough for our people, and we are fixing it.

    And that’s why we are going to continue to put people at the heart of our defence unapologetically.

    Now, I know that the pace of change in our Armed Forces in the UK and collectively is matched by many of our international friends who are doing exactly the same.

    But we are only at the start of the transformation and the RAF is at the heart of that.

    The Strategic Defence Review set out our blueprint to reshape and revitalise UK defence in a new geopolitical era of threat.

    Britain now has a absolutely clear NATO-first defence policy and it is pivotal to our future security.

    But it is only right that Europe steps up to take on more of the heavy lifting for its own defence and protection.

    At the recent Hague Summit, European leaders came together and did precisely that.

    As well as a pledge to spend 5% of GDP on national security, the UK announced the biggest strengthening of our nuclear posture in a generation, including the purchase of a dozen F-35As and a commitment to join NATO’s nuclear Dual Capable Aircraft mission, giving the RAF a nuclear role for the first time since the end of the Cold War and complementing our own sovereign Continuous At Sea Deterrent which we declare, in full, to the defence of NATO.

    Driving the modernisation of the RAF will be a relentless focus on innovation. For well over a century, the UK has been a leader in shaping and pioneering air power.

    From the founding of the Royal Flying Corps in 1912, and the new technologies of the interwar years, radar, air defence systems, the Second World War saw air power tested and developed like never before. Yet the pace of change did not stop after the peace came.

    The jet age defined deterrence in new terms, transforming speed, reach, and altitude, and while the post-Cold War era has given us precision weapons, global ISTAR and unparalleled situational awareness.

    Today, we stand on the verge of another profound leap forward in which autonomy, AI, and digitisation will define the bounds of the sky. One of the key takeaways from me from the SDR is that we’re not just developing niche autonomous units at the periphery of our military. Every single unit across every single service in the UK will be moving to a system of crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous systems. That is a substantial change in not just fighting doctrine, in training, in how our people come together, in how we procure, it is a fundamental change in how we will fight and how we will deter.

    We will deliver £1 billion in an integrated Targeting Web. So any sensor, any effector, any target can be struck. That is a fundamental change in how we build an integrated force, regardless of the cloth that you are wearing.

    Times change, but the victors in the race to dominate air power are always those who adapt first and adapt fast.

    Innovation, speed and agility, the ability to out-think, out-perform and out-manoeuvre the enemy, are the capabilities and challenges we must harness.

    But let us make no mistake, our adversaries are doing exactly the same, and they are seeking to hack our phones to learn what we are doing to outpace them as well.

    That means the UK and our Allies must compete harder to have control of the air and to fight in new ways.

    Now I mentioned the war in Ukraine earlier, and one of the things that that is showing us is that getting new technology into the hands of warfighters fast can give you an edge on the battlefield.

    It is also a central message of the new UK defence policy.

    Our SDR calls for investment in Autonomous Collaborative Platforms to ensure the future of UK air combat air. And that can sound, to the voters I represent in Plymouth, a little bit like science fiction.

    But making the case that that already exists, and telling the story of systems like StormShroud is vital to building the public support we need for this new era of autonomous systems as well.

    StormShroud is designed to disrupt enemy radar at long range, and this fleet of new autonomous wingman drones will increase fighter jet survivability, and boost our warfighting power.

    As an uncrewed system, integrated into our new digital targeting web, it also frees up personnel to perform other vital frontline missions.

    And there are other ways in which StormShroud provides glimpses of the future.

    As we spend more on the military in the coming years, something that as a group of friends we are all doing, Defence will increasingly become a potent engine for economic growth. An argument we must make over, and over, and over again. It is a licence to operate – Defence is an engine for growth.

    StormShroud has already created hundreds of skilled jobs around the UK, with the promise of 1,000 more in the future.

    And it is in contrast to the failing procurement system we inherited, StormShroud is an example of good practice.

    It has gone from factory to front-line in record time, signalling how we want to streamline procurement in the future. And I suspect that the UK is not alone in wanting to make procurement faster on a global basis.

    Our policy is NATO-first, but it’s not NATO-only.

    The Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Middle East are inseparably connected.

    And with that, I welcome our friends from the GCAP International Government Organisation.

    Through GCAP, Italy, Japan and the UK are developing a supersonic stealth fighter jet.

    The programme means our nations can come together, not just to defend the Euro-Atlantic, but to support our values on a global stage. That will bring together our industrial bases, and make sure we are being able to provide the deterrence that we need well into the future.

    And this time last year, just as we were kicking off the SDR, I received a lot of questions on GCAP and our position on it and a year later, I’m absolutely proud to stand on the same stage and say that GCAP is progressing well.

    It already supports 3,500 UK jobs, and 1,000 apprenticeships.

    Last week, we cut the ribbon on GCAP’s new headquarters in Reading, where hundreds of skilled personnel will be based, and the Defence Secretary met with counterparts from Italy and Japan to plan the next phase of this programme.

    And at a time of rapidly changing technology, it’s also essential we upgrade not just those at the tip of the spear that are able to deliver kinetic effect, it’s also vital  we upgrade our airborne early warning and control capabilities.

    The E-7 Wedgetail will provide the improved performance we are looking for offering greater speed, range, endurance and crew capacity.

    And by improving detection, it provides early warning of more challenging threats at greater distances, increasing the time available for offensive and defensive action, so boosting the lethality, survivability and resilience of our Joint Force.

    Wedgetail also has a growth path to meet the expected threat over the next 20 years and beyond and for those at RIAT, look forward to seeing her in the sky above the incredible air show there.

    So, to conclude.

    The story of air power has always been one of constant innovation, imagination, and adaptation. That has not changed today.

    But we must evolve again, to stay ahead of those who threaten our security. And that does mean moving on from some traditional doctrines and embracing the new. Embracing autonomy is a fundamental challenge for all our air forces, for all our procurement systems, for politicians who might be easier to make a case of a pilot in the sky, but by improving our lethality, by increasing it, we increase our deterrence. And with increased deterrence, we make more strategic dilemmas for those who seek to challenge the international order, who seek to challenge our freedom, and the liberty that our people enjoy.

    The SDR has fired the starting pistol on that reform of the UK Armed Forces, and, having read many of the reviews undertaken by our Allies in recent months, I know similar themes are present in the new emerging defence policies that our Allies in this room are developing as well. More collaborative platforms, working together, more investment in our Armed Forces, more focus on our people. It is precisely in these ways that we will be stronger in the future, to keep not only the UK secure at home and strong abroad, but to make sure we do so in support of all our Allies as we all face similar threats from similar adversaries who fundamentally want to attack our values  and our position in the world. The people in this room today have a key role in defending all those values and all our people, thank you for what you are doing. Thank you for the pace of change that you are instigating, and keep going. Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –