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  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Democrats Join Union Workers to Announce Legislation to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Congressional Democrats Join Union Workers to Announce Legislation to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

    As originally released by the Committee on Education & Workforce, Democrats

    WASHINGTON – Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Representative Judy Chu (D-CA.-28), and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) joined union workers from the United Farm Workers (UFW), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and United Steelworkers to announce their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to implement federal enforceable workplace heat stress protections.

    Co-leads of the legislation include Representative Alma Adams (D-NC-12), and Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). 

    To address the increasing risks from extreme temperatures, the lawmakers introduced the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act, legislation to protect the safety and health of indoor and outdoor workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace.  The legislation would protect workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish an enforceable federal standard to protect workers in high-heat environments with commonsense measures like paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness. The bill also directs employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on the proper procedures for responding to symptoms.

    The bill is named in honor of Asunción Valdivia, who died in 2004 after picking grapes for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures.  Mr. Valdivia fell unconscious, but instead of calling an ambulance, his employer told Mr. Valdivia’s son to drive his father home. On his way home, he died of heat stroke at the age of 53.

    “This summer, Americans across the country are grappling with some of the hottest temperatures on record. Yet workers in this country still have no legal protection against excessive heat—one of the oldest, most serious, and most common workplace hazards. Heat illness affects workers in our nation’s fields, warehouses, and factories, and climate change is making the problem more severe every year,” said Ranking Member Scott.  “This legislation will require OSHA to issue a heat standard on a much faster track than the normal OSHA regulatory process.  I was proud to advance this important bill in 2022, and I urge Chairman Walberg and Committee Republicans to do so again this Congress.  Workers deserve nothing less, particularly as heat-related illnesses and deaths rise.”

    “As we continue to experience record-breaking summer heat waves, we’re also seeing a distressing increase in cases of workers collapsing and even losing their lives due to excessive heat. I will never forget people like Asunción Valdivia or Esteban Chavez Jr., who passed away in Pasadena, California in 2022 after a day of delivering packages in 90-degree heat in a truck without air conditioning. Unfortunately, their tragic deaths were entirely preventable,” said Representative Chu. “Whether on a farm, driving a truck, or working in a warehouse, workers like Asunción and Esteban keep our country running while enduring some of the most difficult conditions—often without access to water or rest. To protect our workforce and save lives, we must pass this bill into law and establish comprehensive and enforceable federal standards addressing heat stress on the job.”

    “Asunción Valdivia’s death was completely preventable, yet his story is sadly not unique.  As the planet continues to grow hotter, there is still no federally enforceable heat safety standard for workers.  That’s not just dangerous for the farm workers and construction workers who work all day outside in the sun — it’s also dangerous for the factory and restaurant workers in boiling warehouses and kitchens,”said SenatorPadilla.  “Every family deserves to know that even on the hottest day, their loved one will come back home.  A national heat safety standard would provide that peace of mind and finally give workers the safety they deserve.”

    “As we face record temperatures, it has never been more important that we protect our workers facing extreme heat in the workplace,”said Representative Adams. “Last year, a North Carolina postal worker Wendy Johnson lost her life to heat illness after spending hours in the back of a postal truck on a 95-degree day with no air conditioning. Her death was entirely preventable, and Wendy should still be with us today. I’m proud to introduce this bill so we can honor her memory and ensure every worker has the protections from extreme heat that Wendy deserved.”

    According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024 was the warmest year on record for the United States.  The past decade, including 2024, was the hottest on record, marking a decade of extreme heat that will only get worse.  Heat-related illnesses can cause heat cramps, organ damage, heat exhaustion, stroke, and even death.  Between 1992 and 2017, heat stress injuries killed 815 U.S. workers and seriously injured more than 70,000.  The Washington Center for Equitable Growthestimates hot temperatures caused at least 360,000 workplace injuries in California from 2001 to 2018, or about 20,000 injuries a year. The failure to implement simple heat safety measures costs U.S. employers nearly $100 billion every year in lost productivity.

    From 2011-2020, heat exposure killed at least 400 workers and caused nearly 34,000 injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work; both are likely vast underestimates.  Farm workers and construction workers suffer the highest incidence of heat illness.  And no matter what the weather is outside, workers in factories, commercial kitchens, and other workplaces, including ones where workers must wear personal protective equipment (PPE), can face dangerously high heat conditions all year round.

    The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) , Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN-07), Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA-02), Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-09), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO-05), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Rep. Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Rep. Al Green (D-TX-09), Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-04), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM-03), Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Rep. John Mannion (D-NY-22), Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN-01), Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Rep. Luz Rivas (D-CA-29), Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS-02), Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Rep. Derek T. Tran (D-CA-45), Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY-07), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12).

    To read the fact sheet on the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act is availablehere.

    To read the section-by-section summary of the bill is available here.

    To read the bill text of the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman McCaul Delivers Opening Remarks at Task Force on Securing the Homeland for Special Events Inaugural Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman of the bipartisan Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events — held the task force’s first hearing, entitled “Lessons Learned: An examination of historic security incidents at mass gatherings.” Chairman McCaul highlighted several previous attacks on mass gatherings and emphasized the need for federal and state level cooperation in preventing future security incidents ahead of major events planned in the United States, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. 

    Click to watch 

    Full Transcript of Opening Remarks: 

    I’d like to welcome everyone to this inaugural hearing of the bipartisan House Committee on Homeland Security’s Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States. In the coming decade, the United States will host millions of international travelers for several major national and international special events, including the FIFA World Cup, the celebration of the United States 250th birthday in 2026, and the Los Angeles Summer Olympics of 2028. 

    Though these events present an opportunity to showcase everything that makes America great, we cannot forget that our adversaries and other violent extremists will view these events as targets for inflicting mass casualties and generating fear.

    To that end, I’m honored to chair the task force and lead the committee’s efforts in investigating and conducting oversight of the security needs of these major national and international events. Our goal is to develop and advance legislative solutions that will enhance our preparedness and security posture against all threats, and I look forward to working with the ranking member of the task force, Mrs. Nelly Pou of New Jersey, and with all the members assigned to this task force to empower state and local law enforcement and other first responders to carry out their missions.

    As we prepare to secure the major events ahead, this task force must begin by learning from past failures both here and abroad. In the United States, we’ve seen deadly attacks at mass gatherings: the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta and the 2025 New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. Abroad, the 1972 Munich Olympics, which are still emblazoned in my mind, saw terrorist murder [11] Israeli athletes after exploiting security gaps. In addition, in 2015, ISIS launched coordinated attacks across Paris, killing 130. 

    These tragedies make clear the cost of complacency, and we owe it to the American people to confront these lessons and ensure we don’t repeat them. This hearing is the first step.

    Today’s historic focus will lead us to discuss and consider [events] like the instance of vehicular terrorism on January 1st of this year in New Orleans, the crowd security breach at the Copa América final game at Miami Hard Rock Stadium last year, and the Kansas City parade shooting early last year.

    We will also discuss the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, which occurred during my tenure as chairman of this committee. And, Commissioner Davis, it’s great to see you again. We worked well together in our oversight and investigating the activities following that tragedy to find a constructive outcome so that something like that couldn’t happen again. 

    So, we look forward to hearing from our witnesses on these challenges, what we can do better and more importantly, we want to know what more Congress and the federal government can do to strengthen security ahead of these major events.

    One clear lesson from the past attacks is the need for strong intelligence sharing. Our state and local law enforcement rely on timely information from the federal intelligence community, especially our fusion centers. With rising tensions in the Middle East and the threat of Iran backed actors operating inside the United States, raising awareness and coordination is critical to stopping potential attacks before they happen.

    Earlier this month, Congress passed — and the president signed into law — supplemental funding for the World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics, which will be used in part to enhance information sharing. That same information sharing is critical in stopping human trafficking, which we see unfortunately all too well at these events. With millions of international visitors expected, criminal networks will look to exploit. 

    We also face a growing threat from drones. According to the NFL, there were over 2,800 drone incursions at stadiums during the 2023 season — a 4,000-percent increase from just five years prior. With minimal skill, bad actors can use these drones to launch attacks or create chaos. Yet most state and local agencies lack the authority to respond. We need to equip federal agencies so they can help the state agencies and close the gap to make these events safe. 

    We have a lot of work to do ahead of these events. I hope this hearing is a strong first step to ensure the incidents we discuss today will never happen again, and that the United States remains a global leader in providing safe and secure experiences for citizens and visitors alike. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul Votes to Pass Defense Appropriations Bill in Support of U.S. Servicemembers, Strengthen National Security

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — voted for the fiscal year 2026 Defense appropriations bill. 

    “After four years of President Biden’s weak leadership that fueled global chaos, the Trump administration has worked swiftly to reassert U.S. military superiority and restore peace through strength,” said Rep. McCaul. “Today, I was proud to help advance their work at this crucial moment in history by voting to fully fund our Department of Defense. This bill not only honors the brave service men and women who defend our freedoms each day, but it also readies our military with best-in-class defense technology, infrastructure, and training to ensure the U.S. will continue to lead on the world stage and deter our adversaries’ aggression.”

    The FY26 Department of Defense Appropriations Act will support our servicemembers and strengthen U.S. national security by: 

    • Raising all military personnel pay by 3.8 percent;
    • Funding border security and measures to counter drug trafficking;
    • Prioritizing fiscal sanity by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse at the Pentagon;
    • Drives a major shift to embed AI and advanced tech into defense by rapidly scaling innovation programs, streamlining procurement, and leveraging commercial breakthroughs to outpace future threats;
    • Investing in critical ships, aircraft, and next-generation military assets, including unmanned aerial systems, hypersonics, and missile warning systems; and
    • Bolstering medical and health programs and improving quality of life for servicemembers and families.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul, Vasquez Lead Stop Coyotes Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Homeland Security Committee — introduced the Stop COYOTES Act alongside Congressman Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.). The bipartisan bill is designed to address the continued threat of organized criminal activity in border communities by targeting drug cartels and human traffickers who exploit vulnerable populations, particularly children, and strengthening law enforcement’s ability to respond through enhanced coordination, resources, and accountability.

    “For too long, dangerous criminals have exploited our border crisis to traffic innocent children and smuggle deadly narcotics into our nation,” said Rep. McCaul. “It’s time we finally put a stop to these predators and ensure law enforcement agencies have the information-sharing infrastructure to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. I am proud to co-lead this bill alongside Rep. Vasquez to protect innocent children across Texas and support our local law enforcement officers as they work to counter cartel-sponsored crime.”

    “Representing 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, I’ve had the opportunity to hear directly from law enforcement, educators, and families about the very real challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations in border towns,” said Rep. Vasquez. “My bipartisan bills strengthen our ability to disrupt cartel activity, protect our kids from exploitation, and equip local law enforcement with the tools and coordination they need to keep communities safe.”

    Background:

    The Stop COYOTES Act improves public safety by imposing harsher penalties against human smugglers and fentanyl traffickers while also improving information sharing and reporting between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local law enforcement along the border. Under the bill, DHS must report on trafficking trends, smuggling routes, and cartel activity — ensuring that local communities have the data they need to respond in real time. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Al Green’s Remarks on CFPB Cuts That Leave Military Families Vulnerable to Exploitation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

    (Washington, DC) — On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “Dodd-Frank Turns 15: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead.”

    You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s remarks to witnesses on the panel here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Al Green Calls Out Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, & Collective Punishment of Palestinians in Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

    (Washington, D.C.) — On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor calling out the genocide, ethnic cleansing, and collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza. 

    You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Al Green Votes No to Sending Military Aid to Israel, Standing Against Injustice

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

    (Washington, D.C.) — On Friday, July 18, 2025, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor explaining why he voted no to sending more military aid to Israel and his stance against injustice towards Palestine. 

    You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Al Green Votes No to Sending Military Aid to Israel, Standing Against Injustice

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

    (Washington, D.C.) — On Friday, July 18, 2025, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor explaining why he voted no to sending more military aid to Israel and his stance against injustice towards Palestine. 

    You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHNEIDER STATEMENT ON PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN KILLED IN WEST BANK

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

    WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider, co-chair and co-founder of the Abraham Accords Caucus and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement in response to the death of Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet, who was killed in a confrontation with Israeli settlers on July 11:

    “I am appalled and heartbroken by news of the killing of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen from Florida, by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The attack took place in Area B as defined by the Oslo Accords, a space where Israel exercises security responsibility and no settlements may be constructed.

    “Palestinian militant attacks on Israelis and Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians are acts of terrorism. Terrorism is never justified.

    “As a lifelong and unyielding defender of Israel’s security, and a committed advocate for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, I’ve repeatedly called on the Israeli government to address the growing number of violent attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. This violence is a threat to Israel’s security and a barrier to a better, peaceful future for Israelis, Palestinians and the region as a whole. 

    “Israel’s democracy, like all democracies, depends on the rule of law and its equal application to all citizens. Israeli authorities must fully investigate this incident and hold the perpetrators to account.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Chu and Senator Padilla and Colleagues Join Union Workers to Introduce Legislation to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    Rep. Chu and Senator Padilla and Colleagues Join Union Workers to Introduce Legislation to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

    WATCH: Rep. Chu’s remarks on pushing for enforceable workplace heat stress protections after hottest year on record

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, following yet another extreme heat wave in California, U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), joined by co-leads Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.-03), Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), stood alongside union leaders, including Yaisy Villalobos of the United Farm Workers (UFW), Dorothy Bryant of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Roy Houseman of the United Steelworkers (USW) to announce their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to establish an enforceable federal workplace heat protection standard.

    To address the increasing risks from extreme temperatures, the lawmakers introduced the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act, legislation to protect the safety and health of indoor and outdoor workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. The legislation would protect workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish an enforceable federal standard to protect workers in high-heat environments with common sense measures like paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness. The bill would also direct employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on the proper procedures for responding to symptoms.

    The bill is named in honor of Asunción Valdivia, who died in 2004 in California after picking grapes for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. Mr. Valdivia fell unconscious, but instead of calling an ambulance, his employer told Mr. Valdivia’s son to drive his father home. On his way home, he died of heat stroke at the age of 53. 

    Ever since the United Farm Workers first shared Asunción Valdivia’s story with her, Rep. Judy Chu has been a tireless advocate to protect workers from dangerous heat exposure. She helped pass into law a state heat standard for outdoor workers when she was in the California state legislature. And she will continue to introduce this federal legislation each session of Congress until workers finally have a federal law protecting them from heat-related illness, injury, or death while on the job.

    “As we continue to experience record-breaking summer heat waves, we’re also seeing a distressing increase in cases of workers collapsing and even losing their lives due to excessive heat. I will never forget people like Asunción Valdivia or Esteban Chavez Jr., who passed away in Pasadena, California in 2022 after a day of delivering packages in 90-degree heat in a truck without air conditioning. Unfortunately, their tragic deaths were entirely preventable,” said Representative Chu. “Whether on a farm, driving a truck, or working in a warehouse, workers like Asunción and Esteban keep our country running while enduring some of the most difficult conditions—often without access to water or rest. To protect our workforce and save lives, we must pass this bill into law and establish comprehensive and enforceable federal standards addressing heat stress on the job.”

    “Asunción Valdivia’s death was completely preventable, yet his story is sadly not unique. As the planet continues to grow hotter, there is still no federally enforceable heat safety standard for workers. That’s not just dangerous for the farm workers and construction workers who work all day outside in the sun — it’s also dangerous for the factory and restaurant workers in boiling warehouses and kitchens,” said Senator Padilla. “Every family deserves to know that even on the hottest day, their loved one will come back home. A national heat safety standard would provide that peace of mind and finally give workers the safety they deserve.”

    “This summer, Americans across the country are grappling with some of the hottest temperatures on record. Yet workers in this country still have no legal protection against excessive heat—one of the oldest, most serious, and most common workplace hazards. Heat illness affects workers in our nation’s fields, warehouses, and factories, and climate change is making the problem more severe every year,” said Ranking Member Scott, House Committee on Education and Workforce. “This legislation will require OSHA to issue a heat standard on a much faster track than the normal OSHA regulatory process. I was proud to advance this important bill in 2022, and I urge Chairman Walberg and Committee Republicans to do so again this Congress. Workers deserve nothing less, particularly as heat-related illnesses and deaths rise.”

    “Even as heat waves become more frequent, longer-lasting, and more severe, red state politicians are rolling back heat protections and child labor protections across the country. It’s not rocket science—you cannot be pro-worker if you are anti-heat protection,” said Senator Markey. “Our legislation would provide workers with basic, effective protections: access to water, access to shade, time limits on high heat exposure, and procedures for emergency medical response. Every worker deserves to know when they clock in that they will return home safe at the end of their shift.  The thermometer is rising and the clock is ticking. Republicans want to sacrifice working Americans. Let’s save our workers instead.”

    “As we face record temperatures, it has never been more important that we protect our workers facing extreme heat in the workplace,” said Representative Adams. “Last year, a North Carolina postal worker Wendy Johnson lost her life to heat illness after spending hours in the back of a postal truck on a 95-degree day with no air conditioning. Her death was entirely preventable, and Wendy should still be with us today. I’m proud to introduce this bill so we can honor her memory and ensure every worker has the protections from extreme heat that Wendy deserved.” 

    “From farmhands to construction workers, America’s essential workforce is doing important work while under extreme heat conditions,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Temperatures continue to reach record highs in Nevada and across the United States. We must act now to protect our communities’ vital workers.”  

    According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024 was the warmest year on record for the United States. The past decade, including 2024, was the hottest on record, marking a decade of extreme heat that will only get worse. Heat-related illnesses can cause heat cramps, organ damage, heat exhaustion, stroke, and even death. Farm workers and construction workers suffer the highest incidence of heat illness. And no matter what the weather is outside, workers in factories, commercial kitchens, and other workplaces, including ones where workers must wear personal protective equipment (PPE), can face dangerously high heat conditions all year round. From 2011-2020, heat exposure killed at least 400 workers and caused nearly 34,000 injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work; both are likely vast underestimates. The Washington Center for Equitable Growth estimates hot temperatures caused at least 360,000 workplace injuries in California from 2001 to 2018, or about 20,000 injuries a year. The failure to implement simple heat safety measures costs U.S. employers nearly $100 billion every year in lost productivity.

    The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act has the support of a broad coalition of over 250 groups, including: Rural Coalition, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL-CIO, UNITE HERE!, AFSCME, Communication Workers of America, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Sierra Club, United Farm Workers, Farmworker Justice, Public Citizen, National Employment Law Project, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, United Auto Workers, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Steelworkers, National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, National Resources Defense Council, Service Employees International Union, American Lung Association, and Health Partnerships.

    “Every worker safety rule in America is written in blood,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “The UFW has been fighting for heat safety protections for decades. Over 20 years later, Asuncion Valdivia’s death still hurts. There are so many other farm workers — many whose names we do not know — who have also been killed by extreme heat on the job in the years since. Enough is enough. Every farm worker deserves access to water, shade, and paid rest breaks — it’s past time for Congress get this done.”

    “Too many workers – including AFSCME members – have lost their lives on the job as a result of blistering heat waves and record-breaking temperatures,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “As the number of heat-related illnesses and fatalities continue to rise, it is well past time we adopt nationwide safeguards to better protect the workers who maintain our infrastructure, keep our streets clean, harvest our food, and keep our economy moving. We at AFSCME thank Senator Padilla and Representative Chu for introducing the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act, which will ensure essential workers who brave the heat can do their jobs safely and effectively, and most importantly, make it home alive.”

    “For the Steelworkers Union, we represent workers in manufacturing settings and in a host of other areas where not only is it hot outside, but the areas that they work around are as hot as up to 3,000 degrees and they must wear protective equipment. The Asunción Valdivia Heat, Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act is important because it will provide a basic standard for not just outdoor, but indoor workplaces as well to ensure that there is proper rest breaks and the ability to stay cool. The Steelworkers are absolutely supportive of this bill and are going to work with Republicans and Democrats to ensure that heat illness is the last thing a worker should worry about,” said Roy Houseman, Legislative Director of United Steelworkers. 

    “Everyone deserves safe working conditions, but powerful corporations have not done enough to protect their workers from hot working environments, exacerbated by the climate crisis,” said Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO. “Extreme heat is increasingly causing indoor and outdoor workers to collapse or even die on the job, and our union family has already lost too many members to preventable, work-related heat illness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) must issue a strong heat rule, not a weak one, to ensure workers have specific protections they need and to be able to raise unsafe working conditions without fear of retaliation.”

    “It’s long past time for meaningful legislation to protect Teamsters and other workers from the effects of prolonged heat exposure and dangerous heat levels while at work,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, and limitations on time exposed to heat are simple common sense steps that should be mandated immediately. Waiting to implement these measures is unacceptable and will result in the further loss of lives.” 

    “Workers in America are facing unprecedented dangers from climate-driven heat and extreme weather, and things are only getting worse. It is far past time for a strong national standard to protect workers from illness and death caused by exposure to extreme heat. The provisions mandated in this bill, including temperature triggers, acclimatization, water, shade and paid rest breaks, would save countless lives. They represent a common sense and common decency approach that employers could quickly adopt. American workers deserve no less, and they urgently need it. Today, OSHA is in the final stage of issuing a final rule on this issue. It is imperative that the rule maintain the integrity and high standards called for in the Asuncíon Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act. We applaud Senators Padilla, Markey, and Cortez Masto and Representatives Chu, Adams, and Scott, as well as the dozens of Senators and Congresspersons who have joined them in this long effort. It’s time to bring a high quality, protective standard to the finish line for American workers,” said Ernesto Archila, Climate and Financial Regulation Policy Director, Public Citizen.

    “Every summer high temperature records get broken in states across the country, and while public health officials urge residents to stay inside and stay safe millions of workers have to report for work. From fields to warehouses, airports to schools, construction sites to manufacturing plants, and many more industries, too many workers are at risk of not getting home safely at the end of the day due to exposure to heat on the job. We know how to prevent these dangers. In fact, both outdoor and indoor workers in states like Oregon, California, and Maryland have strong, enforceable protections in place already. And in Washington, Colorado, and Minnesota at least some categories of workers are being kept safe from heat. But millions labor in other states where there are no protections; worker safety is left to the federal government in these states, and absent strong rules workers are left to protect themselves and hope for the best. We must extend workplace protections from heat to all workers. The National Employment Law Project thanks Senator Padilla and Representative Chu, as well as the dozens of Senators and Congresspersons who have cosponsored the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025,” said Anastasia Christman, Senior Policy Analyst, National Employment Law Project.

    This bill is originally cosponsored by 90 House Members, including Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03)*, Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12)*, Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07), Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02), Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35), Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06), Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02), Rep. Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Rep. Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Rep. Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Al Green (TX-09), Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Rep. Michael Lawler (NY-17), Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Rep. John Mannion (NY-22), Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04), Rep. Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-04), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (IN-01), Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Rep. Luz Rivas (CA-29), Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), Rep. Derek T. Tran (CA-45), Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33), Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

     A one-pager on the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act is available here.

    A section-by-section of the bill is available here.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Chu Honors Local Leaders at 2025 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards Ceremony

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – On Saturday, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) hosted her annual Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards Ceremony, honoring nine remarkable individuals and organizations from across California’s 28th Congressional District for their outstanding service and contributions to their communities. The event was emceed by acclaimed actress and community advocate Tamlyn Tomita, best known for her roles in The Karate Kid Part II, The Joy Luck Club, and Star Trek: Picard. 

     “After everything our communities have been through, especially in the wake of the Eaton Fire, these leaders stepped up,” said Rep. Chu. “Many of our honorees have helped families rebuild, uplifted young people, supported our seniors, empowered immigrant communities, and brought hope during some of the hardest times. They’re educators, volunteers, activists, and small business owners. I’m so proud to recognize them for all they’ve done and all they continue to do. They really do represent the very best of the San Gabriel Valley.”

    This year’s honorees include:

    • Wendy Sinnette – Educator of the Year (La Cañada Flintridge): Wendy Sinnette was recognized for her compassionate and resilient leadership as Superintendent of the La Cañada Unified School District, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.
       
    • San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity – Nonprofit of the Year: SGV Habitat for Humanity was celebrated for its decades-long commitment to affordable housing and rapid response to the Eaton Fire, including innovative rebuilding efforts and community-driven volunteer mobilization.
       
    • Pastor Jonathan “Jon” DeCuir – Community Activist of the Year (Altadena): Pastor DeCuir was honored for transforming Victory Bible Church into a relief hub after the Eaton Fire and launching the Legacy Land Project to support long-term recovery and housing.
       
    • Jason Kim & Johanna Quach – Businesspeople of the Year (San Gabriel): The leadership of Paris Baguette San Gabriel, Jason Kim & Johanna Quach, were recognized for their philanthropic support of local schools, emergency responders, and inclusive hiring practices. 
       
    • Rev. Gene Boutilier – Volunteer of the Year (Claremont): A lifelong advocate for social justice, Rev. Gene Boutilier has dedicated decades to volunteer service across Southern California and was instrumental in launching Claremont’s first low-income housing project – Larkin Place. 
       
    • National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) – Nonprofit of the Year (Pasadena): NDLON was commended for their leadership in defending day laborers and immigrants, including its response to ICE raids and coordination of fire recovery work through the Pasadena Community Job Center.
       
    • Tzi Ma – Community Activist of the Year (Pasadena): Tzi Ma is a renowned actor and activist, honored for decades of advocacy for AAPI representation in entertainment and media, civil rights activism, and his leadership in #WashTheHate social media campaign during the rise in anti-Asian hate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
       
    • Nic Arnzen – Building Bridges Award (Altadena): Nic Arnzen is the Vice Chair of the Altadena Town Council, recognized for his leadership during the Eaton Fire and for founding Altadena Pride, fostering visibility, inclusivity, and healing.
       
    • Edgar McGregor – Courageous Service of the Year (Altadena/Pasadena): Edgar McGregor is a local meteorologist awarded for issuing life-saving warnings ahead of the Eaton Fire, helping thousands of residents evacuate safely and avoid disaster.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Chu Demands Social Security Administration Restore Customer Service Performance Metrics Removed from Website

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    The Social Security Administration’s removal of key customer service metrics comes amid staffing cuts and widespread reports of longer wait times and delays at the agency

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep Judy Chu (CA-28) led 18 of her Ways & Means Committee colleagues in sending a letter to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano expressing concern that his agency recently removed a number of customer service performance metrics from its website and urging the restoration of all metrics as soon as possible.

    Until June 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) published and regularly updated on its website a variety of customer service metrics, including how long it would likely take for SSA to answer calls or process benefit applications. But early last month, SSA abruptly removed that comprehensive menu of data from its website and replaced it with a new page that provides more limited information on the agency’s performance. For example, it no longer includes the current callback wait time for SSA’s 1-800 number or any information on processing times for benefit claims.

    The letter expresses concern that the new, limited menu not only fails to adequately assist beneficiaries as they interact with SSA, but also limits the public’s ability to monitor the agency’s performance—particularly amid the agency’s recent “reorganization,” which will result in about 7,000 staff cuts and even longer delays and wait times at SSA.

     “The agency’s removal of comprehensive customer service data calls into question whether this Administration seeks to hide from the public the negative customer service impacts of its staffing cuts,” the Members wrote.

    “During your June 25th appearance before the Committee on Ways and Means, you testified that you want to improve customer service performance at the agency,” the Members continued. “While we appreciate this commitment, particularly after the significant damage done by the Trump Administration over the last several months, it will be difficult for the public to monitor whether you are making good on that goal going forward without the robust performance metrics your agency had previously reported to the public and regularly updated.”

    The Members concluded: “The tens of millions of Americans who paid into and rely on Social Security deserve transparency regarding wait times at SSA and other customer service performance metrics. And taxpayers deserve to know whether you are keeping your promise to improve customer service going forward. We therefore urge you to restore to SSA’s performance webpage all the robust public data that the agency had previously reported prior to June 2025, including historical data, and to regularly update that data.”

    This letter also follows Rep. Chu’s recent questioning of Commissioner Bisignano during a June 25, 2025 Ways and Means Committee hearing, where she pressed him to reinstate key performance metrics so Congress and the public could accurately evaluate the agency’s performance. Commissioner Bisignano repeatedly dodged the question until Rep. Chu’s time expired.

    Click here to read the letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Chu, Jayapal, and Colleagues Demand Answers on Funding Delay for Low-Income Senior Employment Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led 40 of their colleagues in a letter to the Trump Administration demanding the immediate release of federal funding for a vital senior jobs training and community service program. The current delay has left thousands of low-income older Americans without pay and deprived communities of needed services.

    In their letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, the Members urged the immediate release of funding for national grantees of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Through SCSEP, low-income seniors receive jobs training, earn a paycheck, and in return provide essential services to their communities. In Program Year (PY) 2022, over 42,000 seniors provided over 20.4 million hours of community service.

    The letter emphasizes that SCSEP grantees rely on the DOL’s timely release of the Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL), which provides annual allotments for grantees. Although the PY2025 TEGL for state and territorial grantees was published on July 1, 2025—the start of the Program Year—the DOL has still not published a TEGL for national grantees and has not provided a timeline for its publication.

    This delay has impacted national grantees operating in California, Washington, Indiana, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, among others.

    “We have already begun to see the devastating impacts of this delay,” wrote the Members. “For example, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and SCSEP national grantee, based in Washington, which serves limited-English proficient older adults from various ethnic groups, has already furloughed 800 low-income seniors due to this funding uncertainty.” 

    “Because there is no clear timeline for when furloughs will end, this uncertainty is causing deep distress among program participants, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck and rely on the income they earn through SCSEP to make ends meet. The funding delay is also harming entire communities, as nonprofits and other local businesses are losing the critical support of SCSEP-supported trainees and volunteers due to furloughs,” the Members continued.

    The letter concludes by urging DOL and OMB to expend PY25 SCSEP funds to national grantees immediately and make them retroactive to July 1, 2025. 

    This letter is endorsed by: the National Asian Pacific American Center for Aging, Easterseals, Goodwill Industries International, National Caucus & Center on Black Aging (NCBA), Life Skills of America, Inc., The WorkPlace, Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain Inc., Diverse Elders Coalition, National Urban League, National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), National Council on Aging (NCOA), Institute for Indian Development, Inc., and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF).

    Click here to access the full letter.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Biggs Urges Senate Leadership to Preserve Spending Cuts in the House Rescission Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

    Today, Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) led a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune urging the Senate to preserve the entire $9.4 billion in spending cuts contained in the House rescission package. The Senate has a chance to prove its commitment to President Trump’s America First mandate by passing the long-overdue cuts targeting wasteful bloat. Provisions in the House rescission package include:

    • $1.07 billion in cuts to National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS);
    • $900 million in cuts to Global Health Programs promoting abortion pills, LGBTQ+ activism, and DEI dogma abroad;
    • $125 million in cuts to the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), a vehicle for funneling billions into Green New Deal-style projects in foreign nations.

    “At $37+ trillion in debt, our nation is careening toward a financial cliff,” said Congressman Biggs. 

    “$9.4 billion is a small drop in the bucket of wasteful spending that must be reined in, but cutting taxpayer dollars to mouthpieces for the Left and radical, woke programs abroad is a commonsense start. If Congress refuses to support modest cuts like those included in the House’s rescission package, fiscal doom is inevitable.

    “I urge the Senate to stand firm and reject the D.C. status quo. Preserve the cuts passed by the House.”

    Cosigners of the letter include: Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD).

    Fox News covered the letter here.

    The letter may be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ICJ climate crisis ruling: Will world’s top court back Pacific-led call to hold governments accountable?

    By Jamie Tahana in The Hague for RNZ Pacific

    In 2019, a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific, frustrated at the slow pace with which the world’s governments were moving to address the climate crisis, had an idea — they would take the world’s governments to court.

    They arranged a meeting with government ministers in Vanuatu and convinced them to take a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ top court, where they would seek an opinion to clarify countries’ legal obligations under international law.

    Six years after that idea was hatched in a classroom in Port Vila, the court will today (early Thursday morning NZT) deliver its verdict in the Dutch city of The Hague.

    More than 100 countries – including New Zealand, Australia and all the countries of the Pacific – have testified before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alongside civil society and intergovernmental organisations. Image: UN Web TV/screengrab

    If successful — and those involved are quietly confident they will be — it could have major ramifications for international law, how climate change disputes are litigated, and it could give small Pacific countries greater leverage in arguments around loss and damage.

    Most significantly, the claimants argue, it could establish legal consequences for countries that have driven climate change and what they owe to people harmed.

    “Six long years of campaigning have led us to this moment,” said Vishal Prasad, the president of Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, the organisation formed out of those original students.

    “For too long, international responses have fallen short. We expect a clear and authoritative declaration,” he said.

    “[That] climate inaction is not just a failure of policy, but a breach of international law.”

    More than 100 countries — including New Zealand, Australia and all the countries of the Pacific — have testified before the court, alongside civil society and intergovernmental organisations.

    And now today they will gather in the brick palace that sits in ornate gardens in this canal-ringed city to hear if the judges of the world’s top court agree.

    What is the case?
     The ICJ adjudicates disputes between nations and issues advisory opinions on big international legal issues.

    In this case, Vanuatu asked the UN General Assembly to request the judges to weigh what exactly international law requires states to do about climate change, and what the consequences should be for states that harm the climate through actions or omissions.

    Over its deliberations, the court has heard from more than 100 countries and international organisations hoping to influence its opinion, the highest level of participation in the court’s history.

    That has included the governments of low-lying islands and atolls in the Pacific, which say they are paying the steepest price for a crisis they had little role in creating.

    These nations have long been frustrated with the current mechanisms for addressing climate change, like the UN COP conferences, and are hoping that, ultimately, the court will provide a yardstick by which to measure other countries’ actions.

    Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu . . . “This may well be the most consequential case in the history of humanity.” Image: IISD-ENB

    “I choose my words carefully when I say that this may well be the most consequential case in the history of humanity,” Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu said in his statement to the court last year.

    “Let us not allow future generations to look back and wonder why the cause of their doom was condoned.”

    But major powers and emitters, like the United States and China, have argued in their testimonies that existing UN agreements, such as the Paris climate accord, are sufficient to address climate change.

    “We expect this landmark climate ruling, grounded in binding international law, to reflect the critical legal flashpoints raised during the proceedings,” said Joie Chowdhury, a senior attorney at the US-based Centre for International Environmental Law (which has been involved with the case).

    “Among them: whether States’ climate obligations are anchored in multiple legal sources, extending far beyond the Paris Agreement; whether there is a right to remedy for climate harm; and how human rights and the precautionary principle define States’ climate obligations.”

    Pacific youth climate activist at a demonstration at COP27 in November 2022 . . . “We are not drowning. We are fighting.” Image: Facebook/Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change

    What could this mean?
     Rulings from the ICJ are non-binding, and there are myriad cases of international law being flouted by countries the world over.

    Still, the court’s opinion — if it falls in Vanuatu’s favour — could still have major ramifications, bolstering the case for linking human rights and climate change in legal proceedings — both international and domestic — and potentially opening the floodgates for climate litigation, where individuals, groups, Indigenous Peoples, and even countries, sue governments or private companies for climate harm.

    An advisory opinion would also be a powerful precedent for legislators and judges to call on as they tackle questions related to the climate crisis, and give small countries a powerful cudgel in negotiations over future COP agreements and other climate mechanisms.

    “This would empower vulnerable nations and communities to demand accountability, strengthen legal arguments and negotiations and litigation and push for policies that prioritise prevention and redress over delay and denial,” Prasad said.

    In essence, those who have taken the case have asked the court to issue an opinion on whether governments have “legal obligations” to protect people from climate hazards, but also whether a failure to meet those obligations could bring “legal consequences”.

    At the Peace Palace today, they will find out from the court’s 15 judges.

    “[The advisory opinion] is not just a legal milestone, it is a defining moment in the global climate justice movement and a beacon of hope for present and future generations,” said Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat in a statement ahead of the decision.

    “I am hopeful for a powerful opinion from the ICJ. It could set the world on a meaningful path to accountability and action.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard conducts bilateral maritime law enforcement operations with Republic of Marshall Islands

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    07/22/2025 08:43 PM EDT

    MAJURO, Republic of the Marshall Islands — The crew of national security cutter USCGC Stratton (WMSL 752) conducted at-sea boardings with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Sea Patrol within RMI’s exclusive economic zone from July 9 to 13. Stratton’s crew embarked three law enforcement officers from the RMI Sea Patrol, who provided a combined presence and conducted two successful maritime law enforcement boardings of commercial fishing vessels operating in the RMI EEZ. While no violations were initially reported from the boarding, potential issues with the catch emerged later and constituted further inspection from RMI.

    For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Maybe this is the last minutes you are living’: how the war is impacting young Ukrainians

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashley Humphrey, Lecturer in Social Sciences, Monash University

    Now into its fourth year, the war that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has taken a devastating toll.

    An estimated 60,000 to 100,0000 Ukrainian lives have been lost and more than 10 million citizens displaced, and entire cities have been devastated.

    Daily life in Ukraine is disrupted by frequent power outages, significant interruptions to school and work routines and the recurrent warnings of air raid sirens.

    We sought to understand the war’s impact on young Ukrainians by interviewing those still in, and outside of Ukraine.

    Stolen youth

    Young adults (aged 18-35) tend to be in a transitional phase of life, working towards establishing a career, starting a family and making future plans.

    For many young Ukrainians, these developmental processes have been severely impeded during the war.

    Our work provides insights into how young Ukrainians have navigated the severe intrusion to their development, as well as how they have coped psychologically during this time.

    Our research drew on in-depth interviews with young Ukrainians who had lived in Ukraine for either the entirety or part of the war.

    Conducted both in person in Ukraine as well as online, these interviews looked specifically at how the ongoing war has affected young people’s employment or study situation, their aspirations for the future and mental health, while also seeking to understand what support they need.

    Responses from the participants varied.

    Those who were working were now exclusively engaged in work centred on assisting the war effort, including in some cases having joined the armed forces.

    Those who were studying had shifted to online mediums. The COVID pandemic ensured online learning platforms were largely already in place, allowing some to continue their studies from locations outside of Ukraine.

    While perhaps an alluring prospect to some, this flexibility while studying was also accompanied by chaos and disorientation, with short-term visas forcing young Ukrainians to move from one country to another.

    As one student explained:

    We went to Ukraine for two weeks and then we moved to Georgia for three months. Now we’re in Thailand for one month, and now we’re going to be in Australia for two or three months. Then we’re probably going to go to Japan for a year maybe.

    Local residents walk past buildings damaged as a result of a missile strike in Odesa.
    OLEKSANDR GIMANOV/AFP via Getty Images

    Depression, stress and surprising optimisim

    Despite enduring the horrors of the war, the participants generally spoke of their futures with admirable optimism.

    Remarkably, many commented on the way the war had redefined their goals toward helping their country in some way. One respondent told us:

    When you are starting a new project, when you are applying for a job, you are having a constant filter: how does this affect Ukraine? Am I helping Ukraine? Am I helping Ukraine enough? What else can I do?’

    Another shared:

    I know we are fighting for our future. And I want to be a part of Ukraine and be a part of its reconstruction. Because I am like this bright future – I am the youth that will be reconstructing Ukraine because of their knowledge and money and everything else.

    Unsurprisingly, some were also apathetic or dismissive of their futures, commenting on broken dreams and stating it was not a time for making future plans. They felt let down by the United Nations and the “international global order”.

    Participants commented on the ways the war has affected their mental health.

    Symptoms of PTSD, elevated stress, depression, constant anxiety as well as existential dread were raised, with one young Ukrainian telling us:

    Every time when I hear alerts […] you’re thinking, maybe this is the last minutes you are living because the bomb can strike your flat.

    The fear of loud noises, the harrowing plight of their country and the associated stress were emergent themes.

    Yet, some indicated they had become resilient to this stress:

    I think I became quite resistant to the stress as well, because I think I faced the scariest moments of my life, where I can die, and I understand that when you cannot control the situation and what’s going on, I cannot control whether a missile is going to be in my house.

    This notion of resilience was both surprising and inspiring and this finding corroborated with past studies on war-affected Ukrainians.

    As one participant explained:

    If there was no war, I wouldn’t be who I am right now. It has really changed me. It has given me strength, this optimistic outlook.

    A need for greater support

    There is much to learn from these inspiring young people. But more pressingly, they need help.

    As the relentless shelling of Ukrainian cities continues, the participants call for greater access to mental health and counselling services, ongoing investment in online learning tools and job opportunities and basic resources to support their wellbeing.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. ‘Maybe this is the last minutes you are living’: how the war is impacting young Ukrainians – https://theconversation.com/maybe-this-is-the-last-minutes-you-are-living-how-the-war-is-impacting-young-ukrainians-260800

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mann Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Agricultural Supply Chain

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) led 16 of his colleagues in introducing legislation to remove regulatory roadblocks for heavy vehicle operators when renewing their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act enables seasonal drivers to renew their CDL online while providing greater flexibility in the types of commercial vehicles they can operate. As the American Trucking Association estimates a national truck driver shortage of 115,000 by the end of 2025, Rep. Mann’s legislation reforms the Farm-Related Restricted Commercial Driver’s License program by allowing states to develop an online registration and renewal system for farm-related service providers, enabling drivers to more easily renew their seasonal license.

    “Successfully feeding, clothing, and fueling the world doesn’t stop when crops are harvested,” said Rep. Mann. “The entire agriculture supply chain relies on timely and reliable delivery every step of the way from production to consumption. If our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers can’t access the machinery they need to operate their farms or transport their products to storage, it would be impossible for them to fulfill their calling or deliver products to consumers. Our bill strengthens the entire agricultural supply chain by enacting commonsense reforms that make it easier for farm-service drivers to simply do their jobs and serve customers and consumers. Food security is national security that we can and should protect by removing regulatory burdens.”

    Joining Rep. Mann in introducing the Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act are Reps. Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Ron Estes (KS-04), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Mark Messmer (IN-08), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Jack Berman (MI-01), John Rose (TN-06), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Mike Flood (NE-01), David Kustoff (TN-08), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Tim Burchett (TN-02), and Bruce Westerman (AR-04).

    “This bill delivers commonsense wins that will make it easier for the ag sector to keep essential goods moving,” said Rep. Flood. “By streamlining the CDL process and clarifying federal definitions, we’re reducing red tape without compromising safety. This is a smart step toward strengthening our nation’s ag supply chain.”

    “The work of Hoosier farmers never stops as they feed Americans and the world,” said Rep. Messmer. “I am proud to support Congressman Mann’s bill to get government red tape out of the way and let farmers do what they do best!”

    The Seasonal Ag CDL Modernization Act is supported by the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Sorghum Producers, Kansas Soybean Association, Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Agribusiness Association of Kentucky, Agribusiness Council of Indiana, Agricultural Council of Arkansas, Agricultural Retailers Association, Agriculture Transportation Coalition, American Cotton Shippers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Feed Industry Association, American Honey Producers Association, American Malting Barley Association, Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology, Far West Agribusiness Association, Farm Credit Council, Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Idaho Grain Producers Association, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, Michigan Agri-Business Association, Minnesota Crop Production Retailers, Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Montana Agricultural Business Association, National Aquaculture Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Grain and Feed Association, National Grange, National Farmers Union, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Sunflower Association, National Sorghum Producers, Nebraska Agri-Business Association, Nebraska Cooperative Council, North American Millers’ Association, North American Renderers Association, North Carolina AgriBusiness Council, North Dakota Agricultural Association, North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, Louisiana Ag Industries Association, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Pet Food Institute, Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association, South Dakota Agri-Business Association, Southern Crop Production Association, Texas Ag Industries Association, Texas Grain & Feed Association, The Fertilizer Institute, USA Rice, U.S. Canola Association, US Rice Producers Association, Virginia Agribusiness Council, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, Wyoming Ag Business Association and the Wyoming Wheat Growers Association.

    “This important legislation, championed by Representative Tracey Mann and the original co-sponsors, provides critical support for agricultural retailers who deliver essential products and services to our farms and livestock operations,” said Richard Gupton, the Senior Vice President of Public Policy for the Agricultural Retailers Association. “By modernizing outdated regulations, this bill empowers retailers to operate more efficiently and reliably, strengthening the entire agricultural supply chain and helping our rural communities thrive. Additionally, by allowing for increased load capacities, the proposal helps alleviate the industry’s chronic driver shortage, enabling businesses to make fewer trips with the same workforce and ensuring that essential goods reach their destinations in a timely manner.”

    “The Agriculture Transportation Coalition has long recognized that there is nothing we produce in agriculture in the United States that cannot be sourced somewhere else in the world,” said Peter Friedmann, Executive Director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition. “If we are unable to transport and deliver affordably and dependably, our international customers will buy from those other countries, and US farmers, ranchers, processors will lose those sales. The international agriculture supply chain begins at the farms here in the United States. The need to enhance transport efficiency at the very beginning of the supply chain, namely the harvest at the field, has never been greater. The Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act, will advance this essential component of the domestic and international export supply chain, to keep our agriculture competitive in the global and domestic marketplace. The AgTC strongly supports this bill.”

    “As America’s oldest grassroots agriculture and rural life advocacy organization, the National Grange appreciates Representative Mann taking the lead on the Seasonal Ag CDL Modernization Act,” said Burton Eller, Executive Director of National Grange. “The seasonal ag CDL is a critical link in the success of our harvest chain in rural America.”

    “The Seasonal Ag CDL Modernization Act is a major win for the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association and its members,” said Grace Howe, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association. “By extending the restricted seasonal CDL period and aligning licensing with the calendar year, it provides agribusinesses with more flexibility during peak planting and harvest seasons. This change reduces administrative burdens, streamlines compliance with federal and state rules, and ensures a more reliable seasonal workforce, and ultimately saving time, cutting costs, and supporting smoother operations across Wisconsin’s ag supply chain.”

    “The Pet Food Institute (PFI), whose members make the vast majority of dog and cat food and treats in the U.S., supports Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) in proposing updates to the Farm-Related Service Industries Restricted CDL program that will set a new federal definition for implements of husbandry,” said PFI’s president and CEO, Dana Brooks. “U.S. pet food is predominantly made with ingredients produced on American farms, and pet food manufacturing is a major contributor to agricultural and rural economies. We recognize that modern agriculture depends on a broad array of vehicles and equipment to operate efficiently, to innovate and to continue producing safe, quality food for people and pets.”

    “Montana agricultural businesses and producers already face major challenges, from weather and drought to delays getting product across our borders,” said Tanner Hoversland, Montana Agricultural Business Association Board Chair. “Legislation like the Seasonal Ag CDL Modernization Act is good government policy that makes improvements to this essential licensing process, and removes burdens instead of throwing up more roadblocks, especially for our rural operators. The Montana Agricultural Business Association and its members are grateful to Rep. Mann for introducing this commonsense proposal.”

    ###

    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES: “HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE MARCHING US TOWARD A POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT WILL HURT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Know Your Immigration Rights

    If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

    Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

    Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

    Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

    The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

    Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Getting the CFC provisions right

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Do you have clients with a substantial interest in a foreign company controlled by Australian residents?

    If so, make sure you’re correctly applying the CFC provisions. This involves disclosing all CFCs, and their income, in tax returns and the international dealings schedule.

    Our reviews have shown that some tax agents don’t fully understand the provisions, putting their clients at risk of lengthy reviews and costly amendments.

    Resources to use

    You can check your understanding of the CFC provisions by reviewing:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces Filing of Final Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) announced today that it has filed, and received receipt for, a final short form base shelf prospectus (the “Prospectus”). The Prospectus was filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. DIV’s prior short form base shelf prospectus dated June 19, 2023, expired on July 19, 2025. Accordingly, DIV filed the Prospectus to maintain financial flexibility and efficient access to Canadian capital markets to pursue strategic initiatives. A copy of the Prospectus is available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    The Prospectus is valid for a 25-month period during which time DIV may, from time to time, issue common shares, warrants, subscription receipts, debt securities, convertible securities or rights or any combination thereof, including in the form of units (collectively, the “Securities”). The specific terms of any offering of Securities will be described in one or more shelf prospectus supplements which will be filed at the time of the offering of such Securities. There is no certainty any Securities will be offered or sold under the Prospectus within the 25-month effective period.  

    About Diversified Royalty Corp.

    DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.

    DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions, BarBurrito and Cheba Hut trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care provider with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive janitorial, building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada. Cheba Hut is a fast casual toasted sub sandwich franchise with locations in the United States.

    DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.

    Forward-Looking Information

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”, “confident”, “plan” and “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: the Prospectus being filed to provide DIV with financial flexibility

    and efficient access to Canadian capital markets to pursue strategic initiatives; the specific terms of any offering of Securities will be described in one or more shelf prospectus supplements which will be filed at the time of the offering of such Securities; DIV’s objective to continue to pay predictable and stable monthly dividends to shareholders; and DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information.

    DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular there can be no assurance that: DIV will complete any offerings of Securities under the Prospectus; DIV will be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; or DIV will achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2025 and in its most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, copies of each of which are available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that, among other things: DIV will complete one or more offerings of Securities under the Prospectus and one or more shelf prospectus supplements and DIV will successfully deploy the proceeds therefrom; DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

    All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information included in this news release is presented as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

    THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    Additional Information

    Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Contact:
    Sean Morrison, Chief Executive Officer and Director
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8470

    Greg Gutmanis, President and Chief Financial Officer
    Diversified Royalty Corp.
    (236) 521-8471

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s large scientific facility attracts global scientists for cutting-edge research

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

    China’s large scientific facility attracts global scientists for cutting-edge research

    BEIJING, July 22 — The Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF), a major scientific infrastructure in Beijing’s suburban district Huairou, has attracted scientists from multiple countries to conduct cutting-edge research with its exceptional experimental conditions.

    A recent conference based on SECUF was held in Huairou, bringing together over 50 foreign scientists from 13 countries and more than 100 Chinese scientists.

    SECUF, led and operated by the Institute of Physics (IOP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is a comprehensive research infrastructure that integrates extreme experimental conditions such as ultralow temperatures, ultrahigh magnetic fields, ultrahigh pressures, and ultrafast optics.

    The facility has provided over 350,000 hours of experimental services to domestic and international research teams since its full trial operation began in early 2023, according to IOP.

    Chen Xianhui, an academician of CAS and a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, said: “SECUF is like an ‘all-rounder’ in scientific research. Its integrated capabilities across multiple extreme conditions are rare globally. This ‘one-stop’ research platform offers unique support for fundamental studies.”

    Cheng Jinguang, deputy director of IOP, said that the essence of SECUF lies in its “openness and sharing,” which is completely consistent with the concept of international large-scale scientific facilities. Operating under international standards, SECUF opens global user applications twice a year. Proposals are reviewed and selected by a user committee, and all approved experiments are offered free of charge to global researchers.

    “SECUF allows us to conduct experiments that cannot be done in Europe,” said Igor Vinograd, a young scientist from the Grenoble High Magnetic Field Laboratory in France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), adding that SECUF enables far more complex and time-intensive precision experiments.

    Yoshiya Uwatoko, a professor from University of Tokyo, affirmed SECUF’s global standing. He said that SECUF is a world-class research facility vital to the international condensed matter physics community.

    Its stable high magnetic fields, combined with low-temperature capabilities and high-precision measurement systems, allow scientists to probe subtle quantum states under pressure. Its ability to maintain experimental conditions over extended periods is invaluable for pressure studies which have extremely high requirements for precise control and stability, Uwatoko said.

    “China has become a global leader in materials research and experimental infrastructure. Collaborating with Chinese institutions grants access to cutting-edge facilities like SECUF. Such partnerships accelerate discovery and foster long-term scientific exchange,” he added.

    In 2024, IOP and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids in Germany established the Joint Research Center for Quantum Materials and Physics under Extreme Conditions, leveraging SECUF’s capabilities. Collaborative results have since been published in academic journals.

    “SECUF’s hardware is outstanding and fully capable of supporting frontier research. What impressed me most was the team’s execution efficiency — from agreement signing to project implementation. This reflects exceptional scientific management professionalism,” said Sergey Medvedev, a senior researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids.

    Ariando Ariando, a professor from the National University of Singapore, highlighted that China’s advancements in physics over the past two decades — both in research caliber and experimental facilities — have been astounding.

    “SECUF’s high-pressure and high-magnetic-field capabilities are precisely what our quantum research requires. We look forward to fruitful collaboration,” he said.

    In February this year, SECUF passed national acceptance inspection and is now fully operational. To create a seamless “barrier-free” soft environment, it is making efforts to enhance its global accessibility include optimizing its English website, preparing comprehensive English manuals, and ensuring all facility signage includes English descriptions, according to IOP.

    As a new facility, the experimental hours of international users at SECUF currently account for 3 percent to 4 percent of the total hours. This proportion is planned to increase to 20 percent by 2030, transforming the facility into a broader global “scientific stage,” said IOP.

    “We warmly welcome experts and scholars worldwide to conduct research here and share their valuable insights,” said Fang Zhong, a CAS academician and director of IOP.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US withdrawal contradicts fundamental principles of multilateralism: UNESCO head

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

    Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Tuesday that U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism.

    Deeply regretting the decision made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Azoulay warned that the withdrawal might affect foremost UNESCO’s partners in the United States, in particularly communities seeking site inscription on the World Heritage List, Creative City status, and University Chairs.

    On Tuesday, the United States announced a decision to withdraw from UNESCO by the end of December 2026, just two years after rejoining the organization. This marks the third time Washington has exited UNESCO.

    According to a statement by the U.S. State Department, the withdrawal was prompted by what Washington perceived as UNESCO’s tendency to “advance divisive social and cultural causes,” particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.

    In response, the UNESCO director-general expressed regret over the U.S. decision, rejecting the stated reasons. She emphasized that UNESCO remains a “rare forum for building consensus through concrete, action-oriented multilateralism.”

    “These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism,” she added.

    Despite the loss of funding from the United States, Azoulay affirmed that the U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO in 2026 will not affect the organization’s normal operations, as its financial position has been significantly strengthened.

    “We have implemented major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources. Thanks to the efforts made by the Organization since 2018, the decline in U.S. financial contributions has been effectively offset,” she stated.

    Azoulay also emphasized that UNESCO has intensified its efforts to take meaningful action wherever its mission can contribute to peace, reaffirming the critical importance of its mandate, even in the wake of the last U.S. withdrawal under President Trump in 2017. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Asia Pacific – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 23, 2025

    Asia Pacific: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 23, 2025.

    MIL-OSI China: China’s large scientific facility attracts global scientists for cutting-edge research
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News China’s large scientific facility attracts global scientists for cutting-edge research BEIJING, July 22 — The Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF), a major scientific infrastructure in Beijing’s suburban district Huairou, has attracted scientists from multiple countries to conduct cutting-edge research with its exceptional experimental conditions. A […]

    MIL-OSI: Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces Filing of Final Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) announced today that it has filed, and received receipt for, a final short form base shelf prospectus (the “Prospectus”). The Prospectus was filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces […]

    MIL-OSI Australia: Getting the CFC provisions right
    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin Do you have clients with a substantial interest in a foreign company controlled by Australian residents? If so, make sure you’re correctly applying the CFC provisions. This involves disclosing all CFCs, and their income, in tax returns and the international dealings schedule. Our reviews have shown that some […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Auckland is NZ’s ‘primate city’ but its potential remains caged in by poor planning and vision
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images The recent report comparing Auckland to nine international peer cities delivered an uncomfortable truth: our largest city is falling behind, hampered by car dependency, low-density housing and “weak economic performance”. The Deloitte […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Outlook (ADO) July 2025: Slower Growth Amid Tariffs and Uncertainty
    Source: Asia Development Bank Tariffs and trade uncertainty are dampening the outlook for developing Asia and the Pacific, with growth forecasts downgraded to 4.7% for 2025 and 4.6% for 2026. Risks include renewed tariff hikes, geopolitical tensions, and further property market weakness in the People’s Republic of China. MIL OSI Economics –

    MIL-Evening Report: Climate disasters are pushing people into homelessness – but there’s a lot we can do about it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Heffernan, Lecturer in Anthropology, Australian National University Almost half of all Australian properties are at risk of bushfire, while 17,500 face risk of coastal erosion. By 2030, more than 3 million will face riverine flood risk. Meanwhile, housing demand continues to outpace supply. With climate-related disasters […]

    MIL-Evening Report: UK bans Gaza protest group – could the same thing happen in Australia?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University More than 100 people were arrested in the United Kingdom on the weekend for supporting Palestine Action, a protest group that opposes Britain’s support of Israel. Palestine Action was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation, placing it in the […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – EPA approves new fruit fungicide
    Source: Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved a fungicide with a new active ingredient that controls blackspot and powdery mildew on apples and pears, and Botrytis on grapes. UPL New Zealand Limited applied to import or manufacture Rhapsody, a fungicide containing 218 g/L ipflufenoquin, a chemical new to New Zealand. UPL says […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Heritage NZ – Altared States concert series coming up at Old St Paul’s
    Source: Heritage New Zealand Wellington’s iconic Old St Paul’s (OSP) is partnering with Pyramid Club to present Altared States – a transcendent new series of concerts featuring electronic music by some of Wellington’s leading artists. Inspired by Brian Sweeney’s New York-founded Ambient Church, Altared States promises an immersive sonic experience that invites audiences to explore sound […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: New law to support safe, responsible space use
    Source: New Zealand Government Legislation regulating ground-based space infrastructure to deter foreign interference and protect New Zealand’s national interests has passed all stages under urgency in Parliament, Space Minister Judith Collins says. “The Outer Space High Altitude Activities Amendment Bill is a significant milestone and enhances New Zealand’s national security with immediate effect,” Ms Collins says. […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Initiative to Support U.S. Leadership in Indo-Pacific Passes Markup
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39) Washington, DC – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed out of markup H.R. 4490, the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) Act.  U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, helped […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Defence News – US and NZ Army leaders strengthen strategic partnership
    Source: New Zealand Defence Force United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Commanding General, General Ronald P. Clark, met this week with New Zealand Chief of Army, Major General Rose King, to reaffirm the strong and enduring military relationship between the two nations and advance efforts to bolster security cooperation, readiness, and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific region. […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers Statement on Greenpeace
    Source: Federated Farmers Federated Farmers Statement: Greenpeace vandals must lose charitable status Federated Farmers is renewing its call for Greenpeace to be stripped of its charitable status immediately, following the extreme activist group’s latest illegal publicity stunt. “Greenpeace need to be held accountable for their repeated illegal activity and the spread of harmful misinformation,” Southland […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Volunteers celebrated at Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards – Porirua
    Source: Porirua City Council  Ahu Charitable Trust (Pukerua Bay Hub) was crowned supreme Porirua winners at the 2025 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards last night. The event, held at Pātaka Art + Museum, highlighted outstanding volunteers and organisations making a difference in Porirua with their dedication and passion. Category winners were: Education and Child/Youth Development – […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade – NZ-UAE trade deal a boost to export and investment – ExportNZ
    Source: BusinessNZ ExportNZ welcomes news of the United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill passing into law last night, saying it marks the next step forward in seeing the Agreement between New Zealand and UAE provide a boost to exporters. Executive Director Joshua Tan says recent engagements with exporters nationwide proves there is […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Government’s Jewish Muslim ‘Harmony Initiative’ helps Israeli campaign to redefine Palestine conflict – PSNA
    Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa says a just-signed government-produced ‘Harmony Initiative’ will help in Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s recently announced ‘Eighth War Front’. This is an Israeli government propaganda campaign to present Israel’s brutal assault on Palestinians as a response to global antisemitism. Netanyahu has likened Israel’s worldwide […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: CE03162 [2025] NZPrivCmr2 – Finance business did not recognise that a fraud incident was also a notifiable privacy breach
    Source: Privacy Commissioner 21 Jul 2025, 09:00 What happened A finance business received a phone call from a person claiming to be an existing customer. They knew the name, date of birth and address of the customer and were able to mislead customer centre staff at the finance business. They obtained further personal information about […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: PBN29154 [2025] NZPrivCmr1 – Employee misuse of personal information: moral and Privacy Act implications
    Source: Privacy Commissioner 21 Jul 2025, 09:00 When people provide personal information to an agency, they trust that their information will be used only for legitimate purposes. However, there are cases where employees misuse this information, breaching both the organisation’s code of conduct and the Privacy Act. Our office saw one such case where an […]

    MIL-OSI Australia: Early warning system could prevent a stink when it comes to street tree roots blocking sewer pipes
    Source: 23 July 2025 Jacarandas are a favourite street tree in Australia, but also one of the major culprits for drain blockages due to their aggressive root systems that spread many metres. Researchers at the University of South Australia are calling for a major shift in how cities manage tree root intrusions into household sewer […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fast-track on track to help deliver infrastructure
    Source: New Zealand Government It’s been nearly six months since the Fast-track Approvals system opened for business, and updated statistics show the one-stop shop is on track to make it quicker and easier to build the projects New Zealand needs for economic growth, RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane […]

  • South America – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 23, 2025

    South America: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 23, 2025.

    MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Colleagues Push to Prevent Corporations From Using Trump’s Chaotic Tariffs as Cover to Price Gouge Americans
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Senate colleagues in a letter calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate and stop corporations that may be using Donald Trump’s tariffs as a cover to raise prices on all goods, regardless of whether […]

    MIL-OSI Security: 11 Venezuelan Nationals and One Columbian National Indicted for Financial Fraud in the District of Utah
    Source: Office of United States Attorneys SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An indictment was unsealed today charging a dozen foreign nationals of bank fraud and engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025 at the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. Eleven Venezuelan […]

    MIL-OSI Security: ‘We knocked her out with some gummies:’ trafficker sent to prison for conspiring to smuggle toddler from Mexico
    Source: Office of United States Attorneys LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old Laredo woman has been ordered to prison for her role in an unaccompanied minor smuggling ring, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Vanessa Valadez pleaded guilty Sept. 20, 2024, admitting she smuggled a child into the United States for financial gain. U.S. District Judge Keith […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Zuni Man Charged in Unprovoked Stabbing That Left Victim Seriously Injured
    Source: Office of United States Attorneys ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been charged in federal court for allegedly stabbing another man without provocation, causing serious injuries. According to court documents, on the night of June 16, 2025, Adrian Cheama, 36, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, allegedly approached the victim while he was […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Pentagon Nominees During SASC Hearing
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, President Trump’s nominee to be Admiral and Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to be General and Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) during […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Introduces African Diaspora Investment and Development Act (AIDA)
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district)) Unlocking the development potential of diaspora communities and helping reduce reliance on foreign aid WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Rep. Jonathan J. Jackson (D-IL) introduced the African Diaspora Investment and Development Act (AIDA), groundbreaking legislation that harnesses the […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Luján Statement on Latest CBO Analysis of Final Republican Budget Bill
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office Predicts Republican Bill Will Add $3.4 Trillion to National Debt Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published analysis […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Luján Secures Nearly $190 Million in Federal Investments for New Mexico in Committee-Passed Appropriations Bills
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced funding secured for New Mexico communities through the Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill and Fiscal Year (FY) […]

    MIL-OSI: First Busey Corporation Announces 2025 Second Quarter Earnings
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) LEAWOOD, Kan., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) Announces 2025 Second Quarter Earnings. Net Income   Diluted EPS   Net Interest Margin1   ROAA1   ROATCE1 $47.4 million   $0.52   3.49%   1.00%   11.24% $57.4 million (adj)2   $0.63 (adj)2   3.33% (adj)2   1.21% (adj)2 […]

    MIL-OSI Canada: Update 15: Alberta wildfire update (July 22, 3 p.m.)
    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2) Current situation (as of 3 p.m., July 22) There are 61 wildfires currently burning across Alberta in the Forest Protection Area, and three mutual aid fires. 16 are classified as out of control, 12 are being held and 33 are under control. There have been 10 new wildfires […]

    MIL-OSI: Weatherford Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) Second quarter revenue of $1,204 million increased 1% sequentially Second quarter operating income of $237 million increased 67% sequentially Second quarter net income of $136 million increased 79% sequentially; net income margin of 11.3% Second quarter adjusted EBITDA* of $254 million was flat sequentially; adjusted EBITDA margin* of 21.1% decreased 11 basis […]

    MIL-OSI: National Bank Holdings Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) DENVER, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — National Bank Holdings Corporation (the “Company”) reported:                                 For the quarter(1)   For the six months ended(1)   2Q25   1Q25   2Q24   2025   2024 Net income ($000’s) […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: US deploys nuclear weapons in UK for first time since 2008 – media
    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 LONDON, July 22 (Xinhua) — Several U.S. nuclear bombs have been delivered to a British air base, […]

    MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine
    Source: US FBI Defendant is known member of the Norteno gang, a Mexican American gang in Northern California, as well as the Bloods gang and the RideZilla prison gang BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trafficking and conspiring to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Marcos […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force
    Source: WTO Headline: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I warmly welcome Argentina’s formal acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As one of the world’s leading fishing nations and exporters, Argentina’s commitment underscores this Agreement’s importance for protecting marine ecosystems and promoting responsible practices […]

    MIL-OSI NGOs: EU/China: Joint NGO letter ahead of EU-China Summit
    Source: Amnesty International – Dear President Costa, Dear President von der Leyen, We write to urge you to prioritize human rights in the forthcoming European Union (EU)-China Summit to be held in China on July 24-25. At the recent G7 meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a “new China shock,” and […]

    MIL-OSI USA: July 22nd, 2025

    Heinrich Announces Committee Passage of Over $205 Million for New Mexico’s Military Installations and Significant Wins for Veterans
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich Investments Heinrich championed include childcare assistance, improved telehealth & rural health services, & expanded homelessness prevention programs WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related […]

    MIL-OSI USA: July 22nd, 2025

    Heinrich, Bennet, Hickenlooper Introduce Legislation to Expand and Improve Access to Clean Water for Tribal Families
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich Half of households on Native American reservations lack access to reliable water sources, clean drinking water, or adequate sanitation WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), introduced the Tribal Access to Clean […]

    MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Suspension of the EU-El Salvador Agreement in the light of massive human rights violations – E-002650/2025
    Source: European Parliament Question for written answer  E-002650/2025/rev.1to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security PolicyRule 144Per Clausen (The Left), Hanna Gedin (The Left) Human rights and the rule of law are being breached almost constantly in El Salvador, and the government barely tolerates any criticism […]

    MIL-OSI: OZ Studio, a Global Firm with Texas Roots, Showcases Ethical AI Governance Model at the United Nations
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) VIENNA, AUSTRIA , July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OZ Studio, a global technology firm with offices in Austin, Texas; Geneva, Switzerland; and Monterrey, Mexico, presented a groundbreaking model for municipal governance and ethical artificial intelligence at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna. The presentation marks a significant milestone for the company, […]

  • India – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 23, 2025

    India: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 23, 2025.

    MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Moore and Zinke Introduce Legislation to Codify Executive Order on National Parks
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02) Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore (WV-02) and Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) introduced the PATRIOT Parks Act — which codifies President Trump’s Executive Order “Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks.” Currently, the National Parks System faces more than $23 […]

    MIL-OSI: First Busey Corporation Announces 2025 Second Quarter Earnings
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) LEAWOOD, Kan., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) Announces 2025 Second Quarter Earnings. Net Income   Diluted EPS   Net Interest Margin1   ROAA1   ROATCE1 $47.4 million   $0.52   3.49%   1.00%   11.24% $57.4 million (adj)2   $0.63 (adj)2   3.33% (adj)2   1.21% (adj)2 […]

    MIL-OSI USA: U.S. House Passes Rep. Lauren Boebert’s Bipartisan Zip Code Bill
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3) WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) successfully passed her bipartisan Zip Code bill, H.R. 3095, through the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday evening. The final recorded vote total was 278-121, a significant bipartisan victory for the Congresswoman and the multiple towns and […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Major Montana Wins Included in the FY26 Interior Appropriations Bill
    Source: Zinke’s requests for clean water infrastructure, ESA reform, and forest management pass full committee markup Washington, D.C. – Today, Western Montana Congressman and former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced the inclusion of several key Montana priorities in the FY26 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. As a member of the subcommittee, Zinke […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Indianapolis CPA Sentenced for Participation in Illegal Tax Shelter
    Source: US State of North Dakota Defendant Helped Clients in Mississippi and Elsewhere File Returns Claiming False Business Deductions An Indiana CPA was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for assisting in the preparation of false tax returns on behalf of clients who participated in an illegal tax shelter. The following is according to […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Indianapolis CPA Sentenced for Participation in Illegal Tax Shelter
    Source: United States Attorneys General 1 Defendant Helped Clients in Mississippi and Elsewhere File Returns Claiming False Business Deductions An Indiana CPA was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for assisting in the preparation of false tax returns on behalf of clients who participated in an illegal tax shelter. The following is according to […]

    MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Relief to Indiana Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by Flooding
    Source: United States Small Business Administration ATLANTA–The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for Indiana small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents affected by the flooding occurring June 28-July 2, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Braun on […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Air India plane’s auxiliary power unit catches fire after landing
    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 NEW DELHI, July 22 (Xinhua) — An Air India passenger plane, flight AI-315, operating from Hong Kong […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Launches Galaxy F36 5G with Premium Leather Finish, Segment-Leading Camera and AI Innovations in India
    Source: Samsung   Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced the launch of Galaxy F36 5G to deliver a superior smartphone experience to users. Galaxy F36 5G comes with several segment-leading features that sets it apart from its predecessors. Galaxy F36 5G stands out with a premium leather finish, 50MP OIS triple camera with […]

    India’s global outreach continues: PM Modi to visit UK, Maldives
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation tour on Wednesday, visiting the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26, aiming to strengthen India’s global diplomatic engagements. At the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Modi will undertake an […]

    Vadhavan Port to add 23.2 million TEUs to India’s maritime capacity
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) The Vadhavan Port, a major infrastructure initiative located on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), is expected to significantly boost India’s container handling capacity by 23.2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). The development of this deep-draft port is set to strengthen India’s position as a leading […]

    PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan: Massive Development Scheme to Remake India’s Tribal Heartland
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India’s most extensive tribal development initiative, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA), has reached over 5 crore tribal citizens across 63,000 villages since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2024, from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. With a financial outlay of ₹79,156 […]

    Business, tech, research, education emerged as pillars of India-UK cooperation: MEA
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday enlisted areas that have emerged as pillars of India-UK bilateral cooperation, saying that the partnership has seen regular high-level exchanges across sectors such as trade, investment and defence. Addressing a special press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit […]

    PM JUGA: India’s largest tribal development scheme reaches over 5 crore beneficiaries
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India’s most extensive tribal development initiative, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA), has reached over 5 crore tribal citizens across 63,000 villages since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2024, from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. With a financial outlay of ₹79,156 […]

    India implements world’s largest grain storage plan in cooperative sector
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) The central government is moving swiftly to implement the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector,” an ambitious initiative aimed at revolutionizing rural agri-infrastructure and empowering Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across the country. Approved on May 31, 2023, the plan is currently being […]

    India expected to clock 6.6 pc growth in FY26 despite uncertain global outlook
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India is expected to expand close to its trend growth in FY26, supported by better consumption demand on recent monetary easing, income tax reductions, good monsoon rains, and the prospect of continued lower oil prices, according to a report on Tuesday. The Standard Chartered global outlook […]

    India’s BioE3 policy to spearhead green growth and biomanufacturing revolution
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) The Government’s ambitious BioE3 Policy—short for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment—emerged as the focal point of a high-level joint review meeting of all Science Ministries, chaired by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. Held in the national capital on Monday, the review convened top scientific officials […]

    Liam Dawson back in England team after eight-year absence for fourth test vs India
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (2) ngland’s Liam Dawson has been named in the team to play India in the fourth test of the series at Old Trafford, England’s cricket board (ECB) announced on Monday, marking the spinner’s first test appearance in eight years. The 35-year-old Hampshire left-armer, who replaces the injured […]

    Parliament passes ‘Bills of Lading, 2025’ to modernize maritime law in India
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) In a landmark development for India’s maritime sector, Parliament on Monday passed the Bills of Lading, 2025, replacing the 169-year-old colonial-era Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856. The Rajya Sabha cleared the bill on the first day of the Monsoon Session, following its earlier passage in […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Jewel Osco Stores in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa Voluntarily Recalls Select Items Containing Tuna Salad from Reser’s Fine Foods Due to an Ingredient Recall Linked to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3 Summary Company Announcement Date:July 17, 2025FDA Publish Date:July 21, 2025Product Type:Food & BeveragesFoodborne IllnessReason for Announcement: Recall Reason DescriptionPotential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes Company Name:Jewel OscoBrand Name: Brand Name(s)Jewel Osco Product Description: Product DescriptionTuna Salad Products Company AnnouncementJewel Osco stores in Illinois, Indiana and […]

  • China – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 23, 2025

    China: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 23, 2025.

    MIL-OSI China: US withdrawal contradicts fundamental principles of multilateralism: UNESCO head
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Tuesday that U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism. Deeply regretting the decision made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Azoulay warned that the withdrawal might affect foremost UNESCO’s […]

    MIL-OSI China: China’s large scientific facility attracts global scientists for cutting-edge research
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News China’s large scientific facility attracts global scientists for cutting-edge research BEIJING, July 22 — The Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF), a major scientific infrastructure in Beijing’s suburban district Huairou, has attracted scientists from multiple countries to conduct cutting-edge research with its exceptional experimental conditions. A […]

    MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientist details first planned Mars sample-return mission Tianwen-3
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Photo released on June 11, 2021 by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) shows a selfie of China’s first Mars rover Zhurong with the landing platform. [Photo/Xinhua] China’s first Mars sample-return mission, Tianwen-3, is scheduled for launch around 2028, with the goal of returning no less […]

    MIL-OSI China: China strengthens disability support systems in 14th Five-Year Plan period
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News A sign language interpreter works at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Millions of people living with disabilities have seen their lives improve as China made major strides in accessibility, inclusion and […]

    MIL-OSI China: China’s tech SMEs receive stronger credit support: central bank
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News BEIJING, July 22 — China has stepped up credit support for technology companies this year, with half of the sector’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receiving loans by the end of the second quarter, official data showed Tuesday. The proportion of tech SMEs receiving loan support […]

    MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier calls for strengthened agricultural production, poverty alleviation work
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese vice premier calls for strengthened agricultural production, poverty alleviation work NANNING, July 22 — Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has urged efforts to strengthen China’s production of key agricultural products, and to consolidate and expand the achievements of the country’s poverty alleviation campaign continuously. Liu, […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Vice Premier of China’s State Council calls for proper work on agricultural production, consolidation of poverty alleviation gains
    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 NANNING, July 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on Tuesday called for properly implementing the […]

    MIL-OSI NGOs: EU/China: Joint NGO letter ahead of EU-China Summit
    Source: Amnesty International – Dear President Costa, Dear President von der Leyen, We write to urge you to prioritize human rights in the forthcoming European Union (EU)-China Summit to be held in China on July 24-25. At the recent G7 meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a “new China shock,” and […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China’s non-bank financial sector recorded $127.3 billion in cross-border capital inflows in the first half of the year
    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 22 (Xinhua) — China’s non-bank financial sector saw cross-border capital inflows of $127.3 billion in […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China issues regulations on rural highways
    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 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Council Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council order on […]

    MIL-OSI China: 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo to open on Aug. 27
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo to open on Aug. 27 BEIJING, July 22 — The 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo will be held in Changchun City, Jilin Province, from Aug. 27 to 31, the Ministry of Commerce announced at a press conference Tuesday. Highlighting the importance of the […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China urges US to strengthen mutual understanding through dialogue and contacts /detailed version-1/
    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 22 (Xinhua) — China hopes the United States will work with China to enhance mutual […]

    MIL-OSI China: China’s police chief meets Belarusian interior minister
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News BEIJING, July 22 — China’s State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Ivan Kubrakov, Interior Minister of Belarus, in Beijing on Tuesday. Wang said that under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries, China-Belarus relations have been growing soundly […]

    MIL-OSI China: View of Zhengzhou, host city of SCO Media and Think Tank Summit
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News View of Zhengzhou, host city of SCO Media and Think Tank Summit Updated: July 22, 2025 21:33 Xinhua An aerial drone photo taken on March 31, 2025 shows interlaced railway tracks in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a […]

    MIL-OSI China: Passenger, freight ferry service resumed in Qiongzhou Strait, S China’s Hainan
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Passenger, freight ferry service resumed in Qiongzhou Strait, S China’s Hainan Updated: July 22, 2025 21:28 Xinhua An aerial drone photo taken on July 22, 2025 shows trucks driving into ferry ships at Xiuying Port in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. The passenger and freight ferry […]

    MIL-OSI China: China’s non-banking sector sees 127.3-bln-dollar cross-border capital inflow in H1
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News China’s non-banking sector recorded a cross-border capital inflow of 127.3 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2025, extending the net inflow trend that began in the second half of last year, data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange showed on Tuesday. During the […]

    MIL-OSI China: China urges US to enhance mutual understanding through dialogue, communication
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News China hopes the United States will work with China to enhance mutual understanding, reduce misunderstanding and strengthen cooperation through dialogue and communication, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday. Guo made the comment at a regular news briefing in response to a question concerning […]

    MIL-OSI China: China unveils regulations on rural roads
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree that unveils regulations to promote the high-quality development of rural roads so that they meet the needs of advancing rural revitalization across the board and accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. The new regulations, […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Over 95% of People with Disabilities Covered by Basic Health Insurance in China: Official
    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 22 (Xinhua) — The coverage rate of people with disabilities by basic medical insurance remains […]

    MIL-OSI China: Latest UAVs, Counter-UAVs Showcased in China

    2025-07-22 18:33:55

    On Monday, the theme day event on unmanned and counter-unmanned land combat systems in the military trade market held by the China North Industries Group (Norinco Group) kicked off in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense BEIJING, July 22 — On Monday, the theme day event on unmanned and counter-unmanned land combat systems in the military trade market held by the China North Industries Group (Norinco Group) kicked off in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The latest equipment such as […]

  • Economy – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 23, 2025

    Economy: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 23, 2025.

    MIL-OSI: Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces Filing of Final Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) announced today that it has filed, and received receipt for, a final short form base shelf prospectus (the “Prospectus”). The Prospectus was filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Announces Another Trump Cabinet Member as Featured Speaker at Entrepreneur Expo
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, announced that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin will be a featured speaker at her upcoming Entrepreneur Expo. The third annual event, taking place at Iowa State […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Auckland is NZ’s ‘primate city’ but its potential remains caged in by poor planning and vision
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images The recent report comparing Auckland to nine international peer cities delivered an uncomfortable truth: our largest city is falling behind, hampered by car dependency, low-density housing and “weak economic performance”. The Deloitte […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Outlook (ADO) July 2025: Slower Growth Amid Tariffs and Uncertainty
    Source: Asia Development Bank Tariffs and trade uncertainty are dampening the outlook for developing Asia and the Pacific, with growth forecasts downgraded to 4.7% for 2025 and 4.6% for 2026. Risks include renewed tariff hikes, geopolitical tensions, and further property market weakness in the People’s Republic of China. MIL OSI Economics –

    MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Lowers Economic Growth Forecast for Asia and the Pacific
    Source: Asia Development Bank ADB has lowered its growth forecasts for economies in developing Asia and the Pacific this year and next year. The downgrades are driven by expectations of reduced exports amid higher United States (U.S.) tariffs and global trade uncertainty, as well as weaker domestic demand. MIL OSI Economics –

    MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Sets the Record Straight on Trump Administration’s Harmful Mass Deportation Agenda
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) WATCH: Padilla Sets the Record Straight on Trump Administration’s Harmful Mass Deportation Agenda Highlighted testimony from Alejandro Barranco — a veteran and the son of Narciso, who was violently detained by masked CBP agents in Orange County WATCH: Padilla criticizes Trump and Republicans for backtracking […]

    MIL-OSI USA: At Nomination Hearing, Warren Secures Agreement from Trump Treasury Nominee to Work on Raising Deposit Insurance Limits for Business Transaction Accounts
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren July 22, 2025 “Raising FDIC insurance limits is a common-sense policy that levels the playing field for the small and mid-sized banks that actually lend to small businesses.” Watch here (YouTube) Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), member of the […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – EPA approves new fruit fungicide
    Source: Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved a fungicide with a new active ingredient that controls blackspot and powdery mildew on apples and pears, and Botrytis on grapes. UPL New Zealand Limited applied to import or manufacture Rhapsody, a fungicide containing 218 g/L ipflufenoquin, a chemical new to New Zealand. UPL says […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Colleagues Press FTC to Implement “Click-to-Cancel”
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led her colleagues in a letter to Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Andrew N. Ferguson, urging him to reissue and finalize its Negative Option Rule (known as “click-to-cancel”) that would make it easier for consumers to […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: UK Economy – UK borrowing blow makes tax hikes ‘inevitable’ – deVere Group
    Source: deVere Group July 22 2025 – UK government borrowing came in higher than forecast in June, a setback for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves that has markets jittery and households bracing for tax hikes. “Gilt yields climbed on the news—and so should awareness among individuals with UK assets. The time to protect your […]

    MIL-OSI Europe: Ministers Burke and Dillon Initiate Public Consultation on Review of Employment Permit Occupations lists
    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation 23rd July 2025 Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Small Business, Retail and Employment, have today announced the opening of the consultation period inviting submissions from stakeholders on the status of occupations on the employment permits Occupations […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers Statement on Greenpeace
    Source: Federated Farmers Federated Farmers Statement: Greenpeace vandals must lose charitable status Federated Farmers is renewing its call for Greenpeace to be stripped of its charitable status immediately, following the extreme activist group’s latest illegal publicity stunt. “Greenpeace need to be held accountable for their repeated illegal activity and the spread of harmful misinformation,” Southland […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fast-track on track to help deliver infrastructure
    Source: New Zealand Government It’s been nearly six months since the Fast-track Approvals system opened for business, and updated statistics show the one-stop shop is on track to make it quicker and easier to build the projects New Zealand needs for economic growth, RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Pentagon Nominees During SASC Hearing
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, President Trump’s nominee to be Admiral and Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to be General and Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) during […]

    MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Kudlow to Highlight President Trump’s Wins in First Six Months in Office
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business Network to highlight some of President Trump’s many wins since taking office six months ago, including historic tax cuts, increased military recruitment, protecting female athletes, securing the southern border, and making our food healthier. […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Moore and Zinke Introduce Legislation to Codify Executive Order on National Parks
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02) Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore (WV-02) and Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) introduced the PATRIOT Parks Act — which codifies President Trump’s Executive Order “Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks.” Currently, the National Parks System faces more than $23 […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New operational partnership with delivery giants to combat illegal working
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments News story New operational partnership with delivery giants to combat illegal working New agreement between Home Office and top food delivery firms will help stop illegal working in the delivery sector More delivery riders caught sharing their accounts with migrants who have no right to work in […]

    MIL-OSI Canada: A new partnership for economic cooperation
    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2) Premier Danielle Smith and Yukon Premier Mike Pemberton signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand economic cooperation while attending the Council of the Federation meeting in Huntsville, Ontario. The agreement will help Alberta businesses sell more goods and services into the Yukon, while giving Yukon companies new […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force
    Source: WTO Headline: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I warmly welcome Argentina’s formal acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As one of the world’s leading fishing nations and exporters, Argentina’s commitment underscores this Agreement’s importance for protecting marine ecosystems and promoting responsible practices […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Introducing Surface Laptop 5G: Seamless connectivity, built for business
    Source: Microsoft Headline: Introducing Surface Laptop 5G: Seamless connectivity, built for business We’re excited to announce the expansion of our Surface Copilot+ PC portfolio for business customers. The new Surface Laptop 5G, 13.8-inch powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors, will begin shipping Aug. 26, and the new Surface Laptop, 13-inch and Surface Pro, […]

  • Business – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 23, 2025

    Business: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 23, 2025.

    MIL-OSI USA: Budd Joins Young, Colleagues to Urge End to Foreign Free-Riding Burdening American Patients & Calls for IP Negotiator Appointment
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), and several of his Senate Republicans colleagues, in sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging the Trump Administration to use ongoing trade negotiations to […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Auckland is NZ’s ‘primate city’ but its potential remains caged in by poor planning and vision
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images The recent report comparing Auckland to nine international peer cities delivered an uncomfortable truth: our largest city is falling behind, hampered by car dependency, low-density housing and “weak economic performance”. The Deloitte […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Lowers Economic Growth Forecast for Asia and the Pacific
    Source: Asia Development Bank ADB has lowered its growth forecasts for economies in developing Asia and the Pacific this year and next year. The downgrades are driven by expectations of reduced exports amid higher United States (U.S.) tariffs and global trade uncertainty, as well as weaker domestic demand. MIL OSI Economics –

    MIL-Evening Report: UK bans Gaza protest group – could the same thing happen in Australia?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University More than 100 people were arrested in the United Kingdom on the weekend for supporting Palestine Action, a protest group that opposes Britain’s support of Israel. Palestine Action was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation, placing it in the […]

    MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – ABC RN Breakfast with Sally Sara
    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority SALLY SARA, HOST: Legislation aimed at stripping funding from child care centres that fail to meet minimum standards will be introduced to the Federal Parliament today here in Canberra. Child care safety has been pushed to the top of the agenda following a string of shocking allegations of child abuse. […]

    MIL-OSI USA: At Nomination Hearing, Warren Secures Agreement from Trump Treasury Nominee to Work on Raising Deposit Insurance Limits for Business Transaction Accounts
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren July 22, 2025 “Raising FDIC insurance limits is a common-sense policy that levels the playing field for the small and mid-sized banks that actually lend to small businesses.” Watch here (YouTube) Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), member of the […]

    MIL-OSI: Cre8 Enterprise Limited Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering and Listing on Nasdaq
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) Hong Kong, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cre8 Enterprise Limited (Nasdaq: CRE) (the “Company”), a Hong Kong-based integrated financial printing service provider, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 1,450,000 Class A ordinary shares (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) on July 22, 2025, at a price […]

    MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Arkansas Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by April Storms and Flooding
    Source: United States Small Business Administration SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Arkansas small businesses, private nonprofits and residents affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurring April 2‑22. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Sarah Sanders on […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Transportation Leaders to Fischer: EVs Must Pay Their Fair Share
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, pressed key transportation leaders on whether electric vehicles (EVs) should contribute to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which supports the construction and maintenance of U.S. roads and bridges. […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Calls on Senate Republicans to Reject Trump Administration’s Devastating Housing Cuts
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) called on the members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing housing funding to reject the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to affordable housing programs. The proposed 44 percent cut to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Colleagues Press FTC to Implement “Click-to-Cancel”
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led her colleagues in a letter to Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Andrew N. Ferguson, urging him to reissue and finalize its Negative Option Rule (known as “click-to-cancel”) that would make it easier for consumers to […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Opening Remarks at Spotlight Forum on the Consumer Product Safety Commission
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) Klobuchar Opening Remarks at Spotlight Forum on the Consumer Product Safety Commission WATCH KLOBUCHAR’S FULL REMARKS HERE WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) gave the following remarks at a spotlight forum she hosted titled “Buyers Beware: Attacks on Nation’s Product Safety Watchdog Threaten Americans’ […]

    MIL-OSI Europe: Ministers Burke and Dillon Initiate Public Consultation on Review of Employment Permit Occupations lists
    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation 23rd July 2025 Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Small Business, Retail and Employment, have today announced the opening of the consultation period inviting submissions from stakeholders on the status of occupations on the employment permits Occupations […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade – NZ-UAE trade deal a boost to export and investment – ExportNZ
    Source: BusinessNZ ExportNZ welcomes news of the United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill passing into law last night, saying it marks the next step forward in seeing the Agreement between New Zealand and UAE provide a boost to exporters. Executive Director Joshua Tan says recent engagements with exporters nationwide proves there is […]

    MIL-OSI: Altucher Releases Urgent Presentation Potentially Linking August 13 to Starlink’s Global Pivot
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) Austin, TX, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A newly released presentation by bestselling author and tech entrepreneur James Altucher is drawing attention for spotlighting a potential turning point in the rollout of Elon Musk’s satellite network, Starlink. Altucher outlines a series of developments—some public, some behind closed doors—that appear to be converging […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: CE03162 [2025] NZPrivCmr2 – Finance business did not recognise that a fraud incident was also a notifiable privacy breach
    Source: Privacy Commissioner 21 Jul 2025, 09:00 What happened A finance business received a phone call from a person claiming to be an existing customer. They knew the name, date of birth and address of the customer and were able to mislead customer centre staff at the finance business. They obtained further personal information about […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Tiffany’s Legislation to Help Wabeno Small Business Clears House
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07) WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany’s (WI-07) Wabeno Economic Development Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. H.R. 3937 will expedite the conveyance of 14 acres of land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest to Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix for fair market value. After years of not making […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Almost 3 Billion People Lack Safe Place to Live, Deputy Secretary-General Urges Investment in Adequate Housing as Both Development, Peace Infrastructure
    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the joint Economic and Social Council and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) high-level dialogue on adequate housing, today: It is a privilege to join you today for this important dialogue.  I thank […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces Legislation to Codify President Trump’s Executive Order on Showerheads
    Source: Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces Legislation to Codify President Trump’s Executive Order on Showerheads WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) introduced the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing (SHOWER) Act, a bill to codify President Trump’s clear and consistent definition of “showerhead” and put an end to the federal government’s overregulation […]

    MIL-OSI: Pulse Seismic Inc. Reports Strong Q2 2025 Financial Results and Declares Special and Regular Quarterly Dividends
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) CALGARY, Alberta, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pulse Seismic Inc. (TSX:PSD) (OTCQX:PLSDF) (“Pulse” or the “Company”) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, accompanying notes and MD&A are being filed on SEDAR+ […]

  • Defence News – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 23, 2025

    Defence News: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 23, 2025.

    MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Delegation Meets with Dylan Collins, Demands Accountability for Targeted Attack Against International Journalists in Lebanon 
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today met with Dylan Collins, a Vermonter and video journalist for the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, who was attacked and wounded by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) while reporting in Southern Lebanon. Representatives for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Defence News – US and NZ Army leaders strengthen strategic partnership
    Source: New Zealand Defence Force United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Commanding General, General Ronald P. Clark, met this week with New Zealand Chief of Army, Major General Rose King, to reaffirm the strong and enduring military relationship between the two nations and advance efforts to bolster security cooperation, readiness, and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific region. […]

    MIL-OSI: Rate and Chicago White Sox to Host Tribute Honoring Military Families at Rate Field on July 25
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) CHICAGO, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leading fintech company, will proudly honor America’s military families during its second annual Military Appreciation Game with the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Held on Friday, July 25, the event will be a powerful tribute to service, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit […]

    MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Kudlow to Highlight President Trump’s Wins in First Six Months in Office
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business Network to highlight some of President Trump’s many wins since taking office six months ago, including historic tax cuts, increased military recruitment, protecting female athletes, securing the southern border, and making our food healthier. […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Senate Intelligence Authorization Bill Advances with Key Provisions Authored by Senator Collins
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins Published: July 22, 2025 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced that the Committee advanced the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 by a 15-2 vote. The bill authorizes funding, provides legal […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Luján Secures Nearly $190 Million in Federal Investments for New Mexico in Committee-Passed Appropriations Bills
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced funding secured for New Mexico communities through the Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill and Fiscal Year (FY) […]

    MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER SECURES PROVISION IN SENATE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL TO ADDRESS FORT DRUM’S LONG-NEEDED EXPANSION FOR MATERNAL HEALTH CARE TO SUPPORT MILITARY MOMS & FAMILIES ON BASE – AND AT RURAL…
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer Fort Drum Has History Of OB/GYN Staffing Shortage & Relying on Local Hospitals & Providers For Maternal Care; Amid Nationwide OB/GYN Shortage, Senator Says Department of Defense Needs To Boost Access To Maternal Health Care At Fort Drum & In Watertown, As […]

    MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR BUILDING NEW CAPITAL DISTRICT ARMORY FOR NY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD’S 42ND INFANTRY DIVISION HEADQUARTERS
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer Current 42nd Infantry Division HQ Armory Built in 1971 Has Long-Been Running Out Of Space, Technology, And Infrastructure Needed To Maintain US Army Division HQ And Support Training, Readiness, And Mission Requirements After Months Of Work, Schumer Just Secured New $90M Authorization […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: China, Russia, Terrorist Networks Destabilizing Africa
    Source: United States Department of Defense Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson and Navy Vice Adm. Frank M. Bradley spoke about great-power rivalry and terrorism in Africa and the importance of U.S. Special Operations Command during a nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Armed Services in Washington. MIL Security OSI –

    MIL-OSI USA: House Foreign Affairs Committee Advances Measures to Codify Much-Needed Reforms to Foreign Arms Sales Process
    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Media Contact 202-321-9747 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced six bills aimed at improving the foreign arms sales process and strengthening the U.S. defense industrial as part of the panel’s second markup of the 119th Congress. The suite of measures, which were spearheaded by […]

    MIL-OSI USA: VA awards more than $2M in grants to memorialize Veterans
    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs Skip to content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( LockA locked padlock ) or https:// means […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Doctors shouldn’t be allowed to object to medical care if it harms their patients
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Savulescu, Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, The University of Melbourne HRAUN/Getty A young woman needs an abortion and the reasons, while urgent, are not medical. A United States Navy […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: US deploys nuclear weapons in UK for first time since 2008 – media
    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 LONDON, July 22 (Xinhua) — Several U.S. nuclear bombs have been delivered to a British air base, […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim’s ARMOR Act to Strengthen AUKUS Gains Momentum
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39) Washington, DC – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed out of markup the AUKUS Reform for Military Optimization and Review Act (ARMOR) Act (H.R. 4233), a bipartisan bill that would streamline and strengthen the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership.  […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: CMSAF Flosi highlights Airmen’s agility, readiness during East Africa tour
    Source: United States Airforce CMSAF Flosi met with Airmen during a recent multi-base visit, where he observed how small, agile teams are delivering results in one of the most strategically significant and operationally complex regions in the world. From low-resource expeditionary hubs to forward operating locations facing real threats, Airmen are staying mission-focused, supporting one […]

    MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Doctor Charged with Distributing Opioids in Exchange for Sexual Favors and Defrauding New Jersey Medicaid
    Source: US FBI NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey doctor was charged with distributing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose, soliciting sexual favors from patients in exchange for opioid prescriptions, and defrauding New Jersey Medicaid by billing for visits that never happened, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Ritesh Kalra, 51, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was […]

    MIL-OSI USA: #StopRansomware: Interlock
    News In Brief – Source: US Computer Emergency Readiness Team Summary Note: This joint Cybersecurity Advisory is part of an ongoing #StopRansomware effort to publish advisories for network defenders that detail various ransomware variants and ransomware threat actors. These #StopRansomware advisories include recently and historically observed tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and indicators of compromise […]

    MIL-OSI USA: July 22nd, 2025

    Heinrich Announces Committee Passage of Over $205 Million for New Mexico’s Military Installations and Significant Wins for Veterans
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich Investments Heinrich championed include childcare assistance, improved telehealth & rural health services, & expanded homelessness prevention programs WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Baldwin, Rep. Wied Introduce Bill to Honor Veterans of Operation End Sweep with the Vietnam Service Medal
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Tony Wied (R-WI-08) introduced a bipartisan bill to honor veterans who participated in Operation End Sweep with the Vietnam Service Medal. Currently, participants in Operation End Sweep, a mission to clear dangerous mines […]

    MIL-OSI USA: MBA’s Michael Bozzi Named Honorary Commander of Air National Guard Unit
    Source: US State of Connecticut Michael Bozzi, an adjunct faculty member in the MBA program and the Director of the MBA Office of Student Services, has been selected as the Honorary Commander for the Connecticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Maintenance Group. He is the first civilian to receive the appointment. During his three-year tenure, he […]