NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Deluzio Announces $1 Million Federal Grant to Support Western PA Seniors, Kids

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    CARNEGIE, PA – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced new senior positions in his congressional office in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. The positions are key to serving the people of Western Pennsylvania, with responsibilities for managing Congressman Deluzio’s district offices and overseeing a team of constituent services representatives.

    Seron Cox, District Director. Seron is a native of Beaver County and is stepping into this role after having previously served as Congressman Deluzio’s Deputy District Director and Director of Constituent Services. Before that, she worked in the offices of Congressmen Conor Lamb and Jason Altmire, as well as an Executive Administrative Assistant at the Shell cracker plant in Monaca, PA. She holds an associate’s degree in paralegal studies.

    Victoria Adamson, Director of Constituent Services. Victoria is moving into the position of Director of Constituent Services for Congressman Deluzio, having previously served the office as a Constituent Services Representative. She has also served as a Constituent Services Representative with the PA House of Representatives. Victoria is a native of Beaver County and attended the Community College of Beaver County. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio Introduces Bill to Limit Presidential Power to Deploy Troops on American Soil under the Insurrection Act

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) introduced a new bill to check presidential authority under the centuries-old Insurrection Act. The new Insurrection Act of 2025 would reform legislation from 1807 that provides the President broad and vague authority to deploy troops—with or without the request of a state—to suppress “any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.” Presidents have rarely used the current law, recognizing the long American tradition of keeping the military out of domestic law enforcement.

    “No President should have such wide-ranging power to deploy American troops against the American people,” said Congressman Deluzio. “This President has threatened to use the United States military to crush dissent among the American people, and Congress should act to reform and update the law that governs deployment of our troops for law enforcement in the United States. We need these urgent reforms to the centuries-old Insurrection Act so that no President has such expansive power to use military force against Americans.”

    Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) said, “The troubling scenes unfolding in Los Angeles give us a glimpse of what could happen nationwide if President Trump tries to invoke the Insurrection Act and turn U.S. troops on civilians. We’ve already seen him twist the law for political gain, so Congress must leave zero ambiguity about when—and for how long—any president can deploy the military for domestic law-enforcement purposes. That’s why I was relieved that last month, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine agreed with me that there’s currently no military invasion on our southern border that would justify invoking this law. Now we must go a step further by passing the Insurrection Act Reform Act of 2025—modernizing the 1807 statute for the 21st century to narrow this authority and mandate transparency, accountability, and consultation with Congress.”

    The new Insurrection Act of 2025 would:

    • Narrow and clarify the criteria for the domestic deployment of military troops for law enforcement purposes.
    • Specify that the use of the military is a last resort and is authorized only if the use of civilian law enforcement authorities would be insufficient.
    • Clarify that the law cannot be used to suspend habeas corpus, impose martial law, or deputize private militias to act as soldiers.
    • Require the President to consult with Congress prior to invoking the Insurrection Act and receive Congressional approval if the President seeks to exercise authority under the Act for longer than 7 days.
    • Require a report to Congress providing an explicit justification for the use of the Insurrection Act’s authority, as enumerated in this legislation, and a full description of the scope and duration of its use.
    • Provide for judicial review to ensure that individuals, or a state or local government, may bring a civil action if the President’s authority under the Insurrection Act is misused or abused.

    Full bill text of the version introduced in the House is available here. It is co-sponsored by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51). U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Senate version of the bill in June.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio: “Hardworking Western Pennsylvanians Need Healthcare More Than Billionaires Need Tax Giveaways”

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    Outside of a Local Nursing Home, Homecare Worker & Mom Whose Kids with Disabilities Rely on Medicaid Joined Congressman in Slamming Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill”

    HARMAR TOWNSHIP, PA – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) spoke out against Donald Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill” that will hurt Western Pennsylvania. Deluzio emphasized how it slashes healthcare for millions of hardworking Americans while giving tax handouts to the ultra rich—calling it “class warfare” and “fiscally reckless.” 

    Congressman Deluzio held his event outside of a local nursing home in Harmar Township. This is a sector where people count on Medicaid funding to pay for nursing home care for their loved ones, and businesses count on it as a revenue stream to fund their nursing home services and keep the doors open. At the press conference, a healthcare worker and a Pennsylvania mother whose kids rely on Medicaid shared their stories of how Medicaid is a lifeline for them that is now at risk.  

    “I was elected to do everything I can to make life better and less of a rip-off for my constituents. That’s exactly why I voted against this dangerous and unpopular bill that will rip away healthcare from hardworking Americans to pay for fiscally reckless tax giveaways to the richest and most powerful corporations and people to have ever walked our planet. Hardworking Western Pennsylvanians need healthcare more than billionaires need tax giveaways,” said Congressman Deluzio. “D.C. Republicans talk a lot about class warfare: they’re waging it against working class Americans.” 

    “I’m an Independent who voted for Trump, but these Medicaid cuts are a direct attack on the health of my family and my community,” said Denise Siters, a home care worker who lives in Beaver Falls. “I quit my job to become a full-time home care worker for my son David, who has schizoaffective disorder, autism and other health issues. His care is funded through Medicaid, and he also receives food support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Medicaid and SNAP cuts will put his life in danger and make it much harder for us just to get by. I am terrified about my son’s future. The fact that Pennsylvania Senator McCormick and nine of our Republican Congress members voted to sell out our healthcare just to fund huge tax giveaways to billionaires is sickening, it’s disgusting.” 

    “Medicaid is health coverage. But it is also so much more. Medicaid sustains our struggling hospitals, reduces levels of uncompensated care, and keeps insurance rates lower for everyone. Medicaid helps small businesses by covering low wage workers and ensuring that the local community is economically strong enough to support their local businesses,” said Erin Gabriel, Government Affairs Representative with the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, and the mother of children with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for care. “Ultimately, Medicaid means families like mine can stay together, seniors like my parents can age in place with the people they love, and people with disabilities can participate in their communities and live their lives – just like every other American.” 

    The “Big Ugly Bill”, which was signed into law by President Trump on July 4th, will: 

    Congressman Deluzio will continue to fight back against the efforts of this Administration and Congressional Republicans to hurt the hardworking people of Western PA.  

    Photos from the event are available here. Video/audio is available upon request.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: UNESCO grants World Heritage status to Khmer Rouge atrocity sites – paving the way for other sites of conflict

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Rachel Hughes, Associate Professor of Geography, The University of Melbourne

    A series of atrocity sites of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia have been formally entered onto the World Heritage list, as part of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee.

    This is not only important for Cambodia, but also raises important questions for atrocity sites in Australia.

    Before this, the World Heritage list only recognised seven “sites of memory” associated with recent conflicts, which UNESCO defines as “events having occurred from the turn of the 20th century” under its criterion vi. These sat within a broader list of more than 950 cultural sites.

    In recent years, experts have intensely debated the question of whether a site associated with recent conflict could, or should, be nominated and evaluated for World Heritage status. Some argue such listings would contradict the objectives of UNESCO and its spirit of peace, which was part of the specialised agency’s mandate after the destruction of two world wars.

    Sites associated with recent conflicts can be divisive. For instance, when Japan nominated the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, both China and the United States objected and eventually disassociated from the decision. The US argued the nomination lacked “historical perspective” on the events that led to the bomb’s use. Meanwhile, China argued listing the property would not be conducive for peace as other Asian countries and peoples had suffered at the hands of the Japanese during WWII.

    Heritage inscriptions risk reinforcing societal divisions if they conserve a particular memory in a one-sided way.

    Nonetheless, the World Heritage Committee decided in 2023 to no longer preclude such sites for inscription. This was done partly in recognition of how these sites may “serve the peace-building mission of UNESCO”.

    Shortly after, three listing were added: the ESMA Museum and Site of Memory, a former clandestine centre for detention, torture and extermination in Argentina; memorial sites of the Rwandan genocide at Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero; and funerary and memory sites of the first world war in Belgium and France.

    A number of legacy sites associated with Nelson Mandela’s human rights struggle in South Africa were also added last year.

    Atrocities of the Khmer Rouge

    The recently inscribed Cambodian Memorial Sites include prisons S-21 (now known as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum) and M-13, as well as the execution site Choeung Ek.

    These sites were nominated for their value in showing the development of extreme mass violence in relation to the security system of the Khmer Rouge in 1975–79. They also have value as places of memorialisation, peace and learning.

    The Khmer Rouge developed its methods of disappearance, incarceration and torture of suspected “enemies” during the civil conflict of 1970–75. It established a system of local-level security centres in so-called “liberated” areas.

    One of these centres was known as M-13, a small, well-hidden prison in the country’s rural southwest. A man named Kaing Guek Eav – also called Duch – was responsible for prisoners at M-13.

    Shortly after the entire country fell to the Khmer Rouge in April 1975, Duch was assigned to lead the headquarters of the regime’s security system: a large detention and torture centre known as S-21.

    Under his instruction, tens of thousands of people were detained in inhumane conditions, tortured and interrogated. Many detainees were later taken to the outskirts of the city to be brutally killed and buried in pits at a place called Choeung Ek.

    The sites operated until early 1979, when the Khmer Rouge was forced from power.

    The S-21 facility and the mass graves at Choeung Ek have long been memorialised as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre.

    However, the former M-13 site shows few visual clues to its prior use, and has only recently been investigated by an international team led by Cambodian archaeologist and museum director Hang Nisay. The site is on an island in a small river that forms the boundary between the Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu provinces.

    Further research, site protection and memorialisation activities will now be supported, with help from locals.

    From repression to reflection

    The Cambodian memorial sites have been recognised as holding “outstanding universal value” for the way they evidence one of the 20th century’s worst atrocities, and are now places of memory.

    In its nomination dossier for these sites, Cambodia drew on findings from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to verify and link the conflict and the sites.

    In 2010, the tribunal found Duch guilty of crimes against humanity and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions. Duch was sentenced to 30 years in prison (which eventually turned into life imprisonment). He died in 2020.

    While courts such as the International Criminal Court have previously examined the destruction of heritage as an international crime, drawing on legal findings to assert heritage status is an unusual inverse. It raises important questions about the legacies of former UN-supported tribunals and the ongoing implications of their findings.

    The recent listings also raise questions for Australia, which has many sites of documented mass killing associated with colonisation and the frontier wars that lasted into the 20th century.

    Might Australia nominate any of these atrocity sites in the future? And could other processes such as truth-telling, reparation and redress support (or be supported by) such nominations?

    Rachel Hughes has consulted to UNESCO Cambodia.

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

    – ref. UNESCO grants World Heritage status to Khmer Rouge atrocity sites – paving the way for other sites of conflict – https://theconversation.com/unesco-grants-world-heritage-status-to-khmer-rouge-atrocity-sites-paving-the-way-for-other-sites-of-conflict-260923

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 354th AEW provides combat airpower to REFORPAC 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — The 354th Air Expeditionary Wing is participating in exercise Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 25, to test its ability to quickly and effectively command and control air assets throughout the Pacific, July 10 – August 8, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Talisman Sabre 2025 Begins with Record Participation and Enduring Purpose

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    Sydney, Australia — Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 formally commenced today from the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide in Sydney Harbor, launching military activities involving 19 nations and over 30,000 service members across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. This marks the largest bilateral military training event between the United States and Australia to date.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 15, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 15, 2025.

    A warning from the future: the risk if NZ gets climate adaptation policy wrong today
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Logan, Senior Lecturer Above the Bar, Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury Getty Images New Zealand 2050: On the morning of February 27, the sea surged through the dunes south of the small town of Te Taone, riding on the back of Cyclone Harita’s

    ABC’s and CBS’s settlements with Trump are a dangerous step toward the commander in chief becoming the editor-in-chief
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael J. Socolow, Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine Will settlements by news companies with President Donald Trump turn journalists into puppets? MARHARYTA MARKO/iStock Getty Images Plus It was a surrender widely foreseen. For months, rumors abounded that Paramount would eventually settle the seemingly frivolous

    Is there any hope for the internet?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aarushi Bhandari, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Davidson College Hate and mental illness fester online because love and healing seem to be incompatible with profits. Ihor Lukianenko/iStock via Getty Images In 2001, social theorist bell hooks warned about the dangers of a loveless zeitgeist. In “All About Love:

    Hung parliament still likely outcome of Tasmanian election, with Liberals well ahead of Labor in new poll
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A new Tasmanian DemosAU poll gives the Liberals a 34.9–24.7 statewide vote lead over Labor, implying the Liberals will win the most seats but be short of

    Luxon and Peters to miss Cook Islands’ 60th Constitution Day celebrations
    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist New Zealand will not send top government representation to the Cook Islands for its 60th Constitution Day celebrations in three weeks’ time. Instead, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will represent Aotearoa in Rarotonga. On August 4, Cook Islands will mark 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand.

    Keith Rankin Analysis – Reporting International Migration: Less than the Truth
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. Yesterday I listened to RNZ’s political commentators. The principal topic was an aspect of the recently released May 2025 international migration. Kathryn Ryan starts by reminding us of the “old saying, would the last person to leave New Zealand please turn out the lights” (a saying which has been used in

    Antisemitism plan fails on a number of fronts – a contentious definition of hate is just the start
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Chappell, Scientia Professor, UNSW Sydney The antisemitism strategy presented to the Albanese government has attracted considerable – and wholly justifed – criticism. Produced by Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism, the blueprint falls short in a range of areas essential to good public policy.

    Do I have prostate cancer? Why a simple PSA blood test alone won’t give you the answer
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin M. Koo, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, The University of Queensland Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australia, with about 26,000 men diagnosed per year. The majority (more than 85%) are aged over 60. Prostate cancer kills around 3,900 Australians a year. Yet most prostate

    Many fish are social, but pesticides are pushing them apart
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kyle Morrison, PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UNSW Sydney Kazakov Maksim, Shutterstock Scientists have detected pesticides in rivers, lakes and oceans worldwide. So what are these pesticides doing to the fish? Long before pesticides reach lethal doses, they can disrupt hormones, impair brain function and

    Almost half of young workers expected to work unpaid overtime, while a quarter aren’t paid compulsory super
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Howe, Associate Dean (Research), Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Anna Kraynova/Shutterstock A young person gets a job, excited to earn their first paycheck. Over time, they realise the hours are long and the payslips small. They are told to stay back to clean up

    Israeli settlers shoot, beat to death 2 Palestinians in latest lynchings
    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied West Bank Two young Palestinians were shot and beaten to death on their land, and 30 injured, by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. A large group of settlers attacked the rural Palestinian village of Sinjil, in the Ramallah governorate, beating Sayfollah “Saif” Mussalet, 20,

    View from The Hill: Segal’s antisemitism plan gives government controversy, not clarity
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may be rueing what seemed a good idea at the time – the appointment of a special envoy to combat antisemitism (as well as an envoy to combat Islamophobia). Or perhaps Jillian Segal, a former president

    David Robie condemns ‘callous’ health legacy of French, US nuclear bomb tests in Pacific
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – A journalist who was on the Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap last night condemned France for its “callous” attack of an environmental ship, saying “we haven’t forgotten, or forgiven this outrage”. David Robie, the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the

    Was the Air India crash caused by pilot error or technical fault? None of the theories holds up – yet
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guido Carim Junior, Senior Lecturer in Aviation, Griffith University Over the weekend, the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released a preliminary report on last month’s crash of Air India flight 171, which killed 260 people, 19 of them on the ground. The aim of a preliminary report

    Confusing for doctors, inequitable for patients: why Australia’s medicinal cannabis system needs urgent reform
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine Mary Hallinan, Senior Research Fellow, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne Vanessa Nunes/Getty Images In 2024 alone, Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), authorised at least 979,000 prescription applications for medicinal cannabis

    Treasury warns the government it may not balance the budget or meet its housing targets
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra Kokkai Ng/Getty In the runup to each election, federal treasury produces a “blue book” and a “red book”, with advice tailored to the priorities of the two alternative governments. One of these is given to the incoming

    UNESCO grants World Heritage status to Khmer Rouge atrocity sites – paving the way for other sites of conflict
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Hughes, Associate Professor of Geography, The University of Melbourne A series of atrocity sites of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia have been formally entered onto the World Heritage list, as part of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee. This is not only important

    How do you stop an AI model turning Nazi? What the Grok drama reveals about AI training
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron J. Snoswell, Senior Research Fellow in AI Accountability, Queensland University of Technology Anne Fehres and Luke Conroy & AI4Media, CC BY Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling

    Author condemns ‘callous’ health legacy of French, US nuclear bomb tests in Pacific
    Asia Pacific Report A journalist who was on the Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap last night condemned France for its “callous” attack of an environmental ship, saying “we haven’t forgotten, or forgiven this outrage”. David Robie, the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, said at the launch

    Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse committing to a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Andy. LIU/Shutterstock The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies. Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 15, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 15, 2025.

    A warning from the future: the risk if NZ gets climate adaptation policy wrong today
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Logan, Senior Lecturer Above the Bar, Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury Getty Images New Zealand 2050: On the morning of February 27, the sea surged through the dunes south of the small town of Te Taone, riding on the back of Cyclone Harita’s

    ABC’s and CBS’s settlements with Trump are a dangerous step toward the commander in chief becoming the editor-in-chief
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael J. Socolow, Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine Will settlements by news companies with President Donald Trump turn journalists into puppets? MARHARYTA MARKO/iStock Getty Images Plus It was a surrender widely foreseen. For months, rumors abounded that Paramount would eventually settle the seemingly frivolous

    Is there any hope for the internet?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aarushi Bhandari, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Davidson College Hate and mental illness fester online because love and healing seem to be incompatible with profits. Ihor Lukianenko/iStock via Getty Images In 2001, social theorist bell hooks warned about the dangers of a loveless zeitgeist. In “All About Love:

    Hung parliament still likely outcome of Tasmanian election, with Liberals well ahead of Labor in new poll
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A new Tasmanian DemosAU poll gives the Liberals a 34.9–24.7 statewide vote lead over Labor, implying the Liberals will win the most seats but be short of

    Luxon and Peters to miss Cook Islands’ 60th Constitution Day celebrations
    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist New Zealand will not send top government representation to the Cook Islands for its 60th Constitution Day celebrations in three weeks’ time. Instead, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will represent Aotearoa in Rarotonga. On August 4, Cook Islands will mark 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand.

    Keith Rankin Analysis – Reporting International Migration: Less than the Truth
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. Yesterday I listened to RNZ’s political commentators. The principal topic was an aspect of the recently released May 2025 international migration. Kathryn Ryan starts by reminding us of the “old saying, would the last person to leave New Zealand please turn out the lights” (a saying which has been used in

    Antisemitism plan fails on a number of fronts – a contentious definition of hate is just the start
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Chappell, Scientia Professor, UNSW Sydney The antisemitism strategy presented to the Albanese government has attracted considerable – and wholly justifed – criticism. Produced by Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism, the blueprint falls short in a range of areas essential to good public policy.

    Do I have prostate cancer? Why a simple PSA blood test alone won’t give you the answer
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin M. Koo, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, The University of Queensland Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australia, with about 26,000 men diagnosed per year. The majority (more than 85%) are aged over 60. Prostate cancer kills around 3,900 Australians a year. Yet most prostate

    Many fish are social, but pesticides are pushing them apart
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kyle Morrison, PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UNSW Sydney Kazakov Maksim, Shutterstock Scientists have detected pesticides in rivers, lakes and oceans worldwide. So what are these pesticides doing to the fish? Long before pesticides reach lethal doses, they can disrupt hormones, impair brain function and

    Almost half of young workers expected to work unpaid overtime, while a quarter aren’t paid compulsory super
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Howe, Associate Dean (Research), Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Anna Kraynova/Shutterstock A young person gets a job, excited to earn their first paycheck. Over time, they realise the hours are long and the payslips small. They are told to stay back to clean up

    Israeli settlers shoot, beat to death 2 Palestinians in latest lynchings
    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied West Bank Two young Palestinians were shot and beaten to death on their land, and 30 injured, by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. A large group of settlers attacked the rural Palestinian village of Sinjil, in the Ramallah governorate, beating Sayfollah “Saif” Mussalet, 20,

    View from The Hill: Segal’s antisemitism plan gives government controversy, not clarity
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may be rueing what seemed a good idea at the time – the appointment of a special envoy to combat antisemitism (as well as an envoy to combat Islamophobia). Or perhaps Jillian Segal, a former president

    David Robie condemns ‘callous’ health legacy of French, US nuclear bomb tests in Pacific
    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – A journalist who was on the Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap last night condemned France for its “callous” attack of an environmental ship, saying “we haven’t forgotten, or forgiven this outrage”. David Robie, the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the

    Was the Air India crash caused by pilot error or technical fault? None of the theories holds up – yet
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guido Carim Junior, Senior Lecturer in Aviation, Griffith University Over the weekend, the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released a preliminary report on last month’s crash of Air India flight 171, which killed 260 people, 19 of them on the ground. The aim of a preliminary report

    Confusing for doctors, inequitable for patients: why Australia’s medicinal cannabis system needs urgent reform
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine Mary Hallinan, Senior Research Fellow, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne Vanessa Nunes/Getty Images In 2024 alone, Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), authorised at least 979,000 prescription applications for medicinal cannabis

    Treasury warns the government it may not balance the budget or meet its housing targets
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra Kokkai Ng/Getty In the runup to each election, federal treasury produces a “blue book” and a “red book”, with advice tailored to the priorities of the two alternative governments. One of these is given to the incoming

    UNESCO grants World Heritage status to Khmer Rouge atrocity sites – paving the way for other sites of conflict
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Hughes, Associate Professor of Geography, The University of Melbourne A series of atrocity sites of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia have been formally entered onto the World Heritage list, as part of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee. This is not only important

    How do you stop an AI model turning Nazi? What the Grok drama reveals about AI training
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron J. Snoswell, Senior Research Fellow in AI Accountability, Queensland University of Technology Anne Fehres and Luke Conroy & AI4Media, CC BY Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling

    Author condemns ‘callous’ health legacy of French, US nuclear bomb tests in Pacific
    Asia Pacific Report A journalist who was on the Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap last night condemned France for its “callous” attack of an environmental ship, saying “we haven’t forgotten, or forgiven this outrage”. David Robie, the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, said at the launch

    Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse committing to a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Andy. LIU/Shutterstock The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies. Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Asia-Pacific Power Summit 2025 Kicks Off Today Taipower Partners with International Utilities to Advance Smart Grid Resilience

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    In response to global trends such as the growth of renewable energy and the pursuit of net-zero emissions, the development and strengthening of smart grid resilience has become a priority for power utilities worldwide. Taipower, together with the Taiwan Smart Grid Industry Association (TSGIA), the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), and Moxa, is co-hosting the three-day Asia-Pacific Power Summit 2025, which opened today (May 26) at Taipower’s headquarters. The event brings together representatives from major international utilities for discussions and exchanges. The Summit gathers power companies from across the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, alongside industry leaders, system integrators, and technical experts. By sharing international technologies and hands-on experiences, the Summit aims to accelerate grid modernization and drive the smart transformation of the energy sector.

    This year’s Summit, themed Enhancing Smart Grid Resilience, features senior executives from eight power companies, including Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Kansai Electric Power Company, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Indonesia’s PLN, and Australia’s Endeavour Energy, as well as leading research institutions such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Salt River Project (SRP) from the United States. Representing Taipower, Vice President Chin-Chung Wu delivered a keynote speech outlining the Company’s comprehensive strategy to strengthen power supply stability and enhance grid resilience while expanding renewable energy integration.

    Vice President Chin-Chung Wu highlighted that from 2022 to 2024, Taipower ranked second globally in the Smart Grid Index (SGI), a prominent benchmark for smart grid development based in Singapore, demonstrating Taipower’s strong technical capabilities. In recent years, Taipower has continued to integrate and apply information and communications technology (ICT) across its power grid operations. Through smart dispatch and generation, grid management, distributed energy storage, demand response load management, and ICT infrastructure, Taipower has optimized supply-demand balancing, improved monitoring and automation, bolstering system resilience, and ensured stable power supply and high power quality.

    To further exchange practical experience, Taipower also held a three-way technical session with TEPCO and Japanese ICT company NESIC, sharing how the Geospatial Outage Management System (GeoOMS) is used during natural disasters to quickly assess damage and expedite power restoration. Additionally, Taipower met with KEPCO to discuss best practices for grid stability and reliability. Taipower emphasized that it will continue to deepen its cooperation with international utilities on smart grid applications, working together to build more resilent, smarter grids, and to achieve the shared goals of stable power supply, optimal energy utilization, and net-zero emissions.

    Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
    Tel: (02 )2366-6271/0958-749-333
    Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw

    Contact Person: Director of the Power Dispatch Department Fang-Cheng Chou
    Tel: (02 )2366-6600/0952-810-417
    Email: u027007@taipower.com.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS America arrives in Brisbane

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    BRISBANE, Australia – The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and embarked U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Brisbane, Australia, for a scheduled port visit July 9 while conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS America arrives in Brisbane

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    BRISBANE, Australia – The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and embarked U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Brisbane, Australia, for a scheduled port visit July 9 while conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: The Tri-Ship America Amphibious Ready Group Visits Brisbane

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    BRISBANE, Australia – The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), and embarked elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Brisbane for a scheduled port visit July 10 while conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: From TAGRS to Tigers: Bilateral refueling operation marks new milestone for MRF-D

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    DARWIN, Australia – In a first-of-its-kind operation, U.S. Marines with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) used the Tactical Air-Ground Refueling System (TAGRS) to refuel an Australian ARH Tiger helicopter for the first time, showcasing the expanding interoperability between allied forces in the Indo-Pacific.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: From TAGRS to Tigers: Bilateral refueling operation marks new milestone for MRF-D

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    DARWIN, Australia – In a first-of-its-kind operation, U.S. Marines with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) used the Tactical Air-Ground Refueling System (TAGRS) to refuel an Australian ARH Tiger helicopter for the first time, showcasing the expanding interoperability between allied forces in the Indo-Pacific.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: From TAGRS to Tigers: Bilateral refueling operation marks new milestone for MRF-D

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    DARWIN, Australia – In a first-of-its-kind operation, U.S. Marines with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) used the Tactical Air-Ground Refueling System (TAGRS) to refuel an Australian ARH Tiger helicopter for the first time, showcasing the expanding interoperability between allied forces in the Indo-Pacific.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Issues Statement on Ukraine Developments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued a statement after President Trump announced he would work with NATO to continue supplying Ukraine with military aid. The President also signaled he would implement U.S. tariffs on Russia if a deal to end the war in Ukraine was not reached in 50 days. After these announcements, Chairman Wicker released the following statement:

    “Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has been given every chance to negotiate in good faith with President Trump. Instead, he has chosen to further his terror campaign against the Ukrainian people and extend the illegal war he started. Today’s announcement by President Trump demonstrates his determination to implement a peace through strength policy against the Russian dictator. I also commend NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and our allies, especially Germany, for their commitment in this effort and for taking decisive action to transfer weapons immediately.

    Putin understands only strength. I hope President Trump’s decision to accelerate military aid to Ukraine and to threaten crippling sanctions will drive this conflict closer to its end.  The president should have every tool available to increase pressure on Putin. To that end, I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress and with officials at the Pentagon to rebuild the Arsenal of Democracy and improve the president’s ability to use European money to arm Ukraine.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Sherman, Lucas, Calvert, Kamlager-Dove & Moore Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.-03), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), and Blake Moore (R-Utah-01)  introduced bipartisan legislation to support and commemorate the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games set to take place in Los Angeles, California and Salt Lake City, Utah, respectively, through the minting of new commemorative coins. U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

    “The dedication demonstrated by the American athletes who participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games is truly inspiring and our nation is honored to host both the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games and Salt Lake City 2034 Winter Games. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating our athletes by introducing America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act. As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation, I look forward to Congress moving quickly to advance this important bill. As an Angelino, I am excited to witness the Olympics return to Los Angeles after 44 years, and I am proud to join with my colleagues to honor the Salt Lake City 2034 Games as well,” said Congressman Sherman.

    The America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue four types of coins each in commemoration of the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The coins would be minted at no cost to the federal government, and any proceeds collected from the sale of these commemorative coins would aid in the execution of the 2028 and 2034 Games as well as support their legacy programs, which include the promotion of youth sports in the United States.

     “After years of careful preparation and federal collaboration, Los Angeles will be under the world spotlight for the Olympic and Paralympic Games before we know it,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bipartisan legislation will help ensure Los Angeles has the resources it needs to put on a world-class event — with a token to commemorate the Games for years to come. There is strong congressional interest in promoting and supporting all upcoming U.S.-hosted Olympic events to showcase our nation and our athletes on the global stage, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to advance this bill.”

     “The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will showcase Utah’s pioneer spirit, community strength, and commitment to excellence,” said Senator Curtis. “These commemorative coins honor not just the athletes, but the values that built our state and the legacy we’ll pass on to future generations.”

     “It is such an honor that our Golden State will be hosting the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. And I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to commemorate these historic games and our incredible athletes,” said Senator Schiff.

     “American athletes are the pinnacle of our exceptionalism and I am looking forward to them leading the way as we host both the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. As Oklahoma’s world-class facilities will be home to multiple official venues, I am honored to join with my colleagues on this important legislation,” said Senator Mullin.

     “It is no small honor to host the Olympic Games, and no small feat to organize them either. That is why these commemorative coins would not only pay proper tribute to such a great honor, but also help pay for the preparations to ensure the upcoming Olympic games – including the 2028 games in my home state – receive the resources they need,” said Representative Lucas. 

     “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are incredible events that celebrate athletic achievement and the human spirit. I’m especially excited for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, which will allow southern California residents to get an up-close look at these remarkable competitions as well as deliver a tremendous boost to our tourism economy. I want to thank all of my colleagues who have worked together to advance the bipartisan America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act,” said Representative Calvert.

     “As we gear up for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I’m proud to co-lead the America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act,” said Representative Kamlager-Dove. “This commemorative coin will celebrate not only the upcoming games, but also nearly a century of Olympic history in Los Angeles. The 2028 Games in Los Angeles memorialized by this coin will be a feat all Angelenos and Americans can be proud of.”

     “I’m immensely proud to represent Utah in co-leading the America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act. The return of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to Salt Lake City in 2034 will mark only the second time in history that the Winter Olympics have returned to the same city, and I cannot wait to see Utah front and center on the world stage once again,” said Representative Moore. “This bid was supported by over 80% of Utahns and will bring billions in GDP growth, tens of thousands of jobs, and showcase the world’s best athletes on the Greatest Snow on Earth. I’m also thrilled that the Summer Olympics will return stateside to Los Angeles in 2028 and look forward to this bill quickly passing through both houses of Congress.”

     “The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will mark the historic return of the summer Games to America in more than 30 years,” said LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover. “The heart and dedication demonstrated by the athletes who participate in the Games is truly unparalleled. Los Angeles 2028, followed by Salt Lake 2034 will serve as an opportunity for American athletes to showcase their talent and resilience on the world’s stage. We’re grateful to Senators Padilla, Curtis, Schiff, and Mullin and Congressmembers Sherman, Lucas, Calvert, Kamlager-Dove and Moore for moving this bill forward to honor these athletes and our U.S. host cities for the 2028 and 2034 Games.”

     “As a four-time Olympian, I greatly appreciate the commemorative coin program as another means of showcasing our Olympic and Paralympic athletes,” said Catherine Raney Norman, Vice President Development and Athlete Relations, Salt Lake City-Utah 2034, A four-time Olympic speed skater. 

     Specifically, the America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue commemorative $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, half-dollar clad coins, and proof silver $1 coins in commemoration of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games set to be held in in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games set to be held in Salt Lake City.

     The United States has hosted the modern Olympic Games nine times, with the 2028 Games set to become the third time Los Angeles will host the summer Olympic Games and the 2034 Games set to become the second time Salt Lake City will host the Olympic Winter Games. 

     Senator Padilla has secured millions of dollars in federal investments to help prepare Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Last year, Padilla, Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), and former Representative Grace F. Napolitano celebrated nearly $900 million in federal investments in LA Metro to improve mobility and upgrade transportation infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This included $139 million for LA Metro’s “Removing Barriers and Creating Legacy” project, which will reconnect communities and strengthen mobility across highway and arterial barriers ahead of the Games. The funding comes through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program (RCN), which includes the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program that was modeled off the Reconnecting Communities Act that Padilla co-led in 2021. Padilla also traveled on a presidential delegation to Paris last year for the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

     Full text of the bill is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Zelensky holds phone talk with Trump

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

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday held a phone talk with U.S. President Donald Trump.

    In a post on X, Zelensky said that the discussion with Trump touched on the solutions needed to better protect Ukrainians from Russian attacks and to strengthen Ukraine’s positions.

    “We are ready to work as productively as possible to achieve peace,” he said.

    Zelensky said Trump shared details of his recent meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

    Zelensky had a phone call with the NATO chief the same day, during which Rutte outlined the details of U.S.-European cooperation to sustain and strengthen support for Ukraine.

    The United States, Germany and Norway are working jointly to provide additional Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine, Zelensky said.

    Earlier in the day, Trump announced an agreement with NATO regarding weapons to assist Ukraine while meeting Rutte in Washington, D.C. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CORRECTION: Coast Guard assists 11 people aboard flooding catamaran off Dana Point, Calif.

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/14/2025 10:45 PM EDT

     

    07/14/2025 10:22 AM EDT

    Corrections:  Coast Guard assisted 11 people aboard the charter catamaran. The previous published release stated the people were saved.  The Coast Guard cutter’s small boat crew assisted in using dewatering pumps to remove water from the vessel.   The 11 passengers were transferred to another charter vessel operated by the same company and no injuries were reported  DANA POINT, Calif. — U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies assist 11 people aboard a charter catamaran taking on water approximately 7 miles south of Dana Point Harbor, Saturday evening. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders received a distress call at approximately 6:20 p.m. from the operator of the 50-foot catamaran Manute’a, reporting flooding while still making way toward Dana Point Harbor.  The Dana Point Harbor Patrol and Orange County Sheriff’s Department were monitoring Channel 16 and immediately responded to assist. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach assumed command of the search and rescue mission, issued an urgent marine information broadcast, and launched a response boat from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach while diverting the Coast Guard Cutter David Duren. The cutter’s small boat crew, along with partner agency vessels, arrived on scene, and assisted with using dewatering pumps to remove water from the vessel.  The 11 passengers were transferred to another charter vessel, operated by the same company. The charter catamaran operator was able to safely transit back to port under the vessel’s own power with no other assistance needed.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CORRECTION: Coast Guard assists 11 people aboard flooding catamaran off Dana Point, Calif.

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/14/2025 10:45 PM EDT

     

    07/14/2025 10:22 AM EDT

    Corrections:  Coast Guard assisted 11 people aboard the charter catamaran. The previous published release stated the people were saved.  The Coast Guard cutter’s small boat crew assisted in using dewatering pumps to remove water from the vessel.   The 11 passengers were transferred to another charter vessel operated by the same company and no injuries were reported  DANA POINT, Calif. — U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies assist 11 people aboard a charter catamaran taking on water approximately 7 miles south of Dana Point Harbor, Saturday evening. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders received a distress call at approximately 6:20 p.m. from the operator of the 50-foot catamaran Manute’a, reporting flooding while still making way toward Dana Point Harbor.  The Dana Point Harbor Patrol and Orange County Sheriff’s Department were monitoring Channel 16 and immediately responded to assist. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach assumed command of the search and rescue mission, issued an urgent marine information broadcast, and launched a response boat from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach while diverting the Coast Guard Cutter David Duren. The cutter’s small boat crew, along with partner agency vessels, arrived on scene, and assisted with using dewatering pumps to remove water from the vessel.  The 11 passengers were transferred to another charter vessel, operated by the same company. The charter catamaran operator was able to safely transit back to port under the vessel’s own power with no other assistance needed.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New technology for restoring gas turbine engine blades patented at Novosibirsk State University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Employees Competence Center of the National Technology Initiative (NTI) in the direction of “Modeling and development of new functional materials with specified properties” based at NSU developed an innovative method for restoring damaged turbine blades of engines for aviation and energy (gas turbine units). The technology was developed with financial support from the NTI Foundation, successfully patented and is already beginning to be implemented in practice.

    Leading researcher of the NTI Center of Novosibirsk State University, head of the laser technology laboratory of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Engineering Alexander Malikov spoke in detail about the essence of the development and the prospects for its implementation:

    — Our new method allows us to restore heavily worn sections of gas turbine blades, fully preserving the original performance characteristics of the product. To do this, we use a special mode of laser pulse-periodic action, which allows us to form strong protective layers of metal or ceramic composites on the surface.

    According to Alexander Malikov, the task was to restore the thin edges of the blades, which are subject to intense exposure to high temperatures and pressure during engine operation. The advantage of the proposed technology is that using the traditional surfacing method would lead to overheating and destruction of sensitive areas of the parts.

    “We proposed an original solution to the problem by preliminary forming special protective layers before the main stage of surfacing. This approach allowed us to preserve the original geometric shape of the blade and ensure reliable adhesion of the restored layer to the main structure,” the scientist explained.

    The new method significantly reduces the cost of repairs, ensuring high strength and durability of restored elements of gas turbine units.

    The developed technology is in high demand on the Russian energy generation and aircraft manufacturing market. Modern gas turbine engines are used everywhere – from civil aviation to electric power engineering and natural gas transportation.

    Alexander Malikov noted the importance of this area of research:

    — The production of high-quality blades is one of the ten key technologies of the modern world. Their production requires complex solutions due to extreme operating conditions. Only four countries in the world have the necessary competencies: the USA, Great Britain, France and Russia.

    Previously, the energy segment of the Russian market was heavily dependent on foreign suppliers of spare parts and services for the restoration of parts. With the departure of Western companies from the Russian market, there was a need to develop our own technologies and services capable of replacing foreign analogues. The new technology created by Novosibirsk scientists is capable of significantly increasing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of servicing large industrial enterprises and facilities using gas turbine units.

    In the near future, it is planned to introduce the technology into serial production; a number of Russian companies have shown interest in it. Meanwhile, researchers continue to develop technologies for the restoration of various types of blades and other elements of industrial equipment.

    — To solve problems of this type, we first need to carefully study the properties of the material from which the product is made at the atomic level. In our work, we use synchrotron radiation, which provides great opportunities for emitting phase composition at a very high resolution level, and if we know the exact phase states of the material, the structural phases, then we can control it, — explained Alexander Malikov.

    Scientists will have even more opportunities with the launch of the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF), at one of whose workstations a number of studies in this area are already planned.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Conference by Secretary-General António Guterres at United Nations Headquarters

    Source: United Nations 4

    Following is a transcript of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ press conference to launch the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report, in New York today:

    Dear members of the media,

    Today, we launch the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025.  Under-Secretary-General Li will go through the details.  But allow me to kick things off.

    We are now 10 years into our collective journey toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  The Report is a snapshot of where we stand today.  Since 2015, millions more people have gained access to electricity, clean cooking and the Internet.  Social protection now reaches over half the world’s population — a significant increase from just a decade ago. Access to education has continued to increase and more girls are staying in school.  Child marriage is declining.  Renewable energy capacity is growing, with developing countries leading the way.  And women’s representation is rising — across governments, businesses and societies.

    These gains show that investments in development and inclusion yield results. But let’s be clear:  we are not where we need to be.  Only 35 per cent of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress.  Nearly half are moving too slowly.  And 18 per cent are going in reverse.  We are in a global development emergency.  An emergency measured in the over 800 million people still living in extreme poverty.  In intensifying climate impacts.  And in relentless debt service, draining the resources that countries need to invest in their people.

    We must also recognize the deep linkages between underdevelopment and conflicts.  That’s why we must keep working for peace in the Middle East.  We need an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access as a first step to achieve the two-State solution.  We need the ceasefire between Iran and Israel to hold.  We need a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions.  We need an end to the horror and bloodshed in Sudan.  From the DRC to Somalia, from the Sahel to Myanmar, we know that sustainable peace requires sustainable development.

    In the face of these challenges, the Report we are launching today points the way to progress.  Transformational pathways — in food, energy, digital access, education, jobs and climate — are our road map.  Progress in one area can multiply progress across all of them. But we must move faster, and we must move together.

    That means advancing affordable, quality healthcare for all.  Investing in women and girls as a central driver of progress.  Focusing on quality education and creating decent jobs and economic opportunities that leave no one behind.  Closing the digital divide and ensuring that technologies like artificial intelligence are used responsibly and inclusively.  And it means recognizing a fundamental fact.  Progress is impossible without unlocking financing at scale.

    The recent Sevilla Commitment reflected a commitment to get the engine of development revving again.  Through reform of the international financial architecture, real action on debt relief and tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks so countries can better access capital at scale and at a reasonable cost.  We have more opportunities to drive these priorities forward — from the High-Level Political Forum to the Second Food Systems Stocktake Summit to the World Social Summit and more.  We must maximize these moments for real commitments — and real delivery.

    Today’s Report shows that the Sustainable Development Goals are still within reach.  But only if we act — with urgency, unity and unwavering resolve.

    It’s a pleasure to be with you again and I will give the floor to my dear colleague Li.

    Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs:

    As the Secretary-General noted, we stand at a very defining moment.  This Report of 2025 serves as both our compass and call to action, providing the critical evidence needed to guide discussions at the HLPF and beyond.

    The data reveals in the Report a story of remarkable progress alongside turbulent challenges.  Over the past decade, we have seen the following tangible victories:

    • New HIV infections have decreased by nearly 40 per cent since 2010.
    • Malaria prevention efforts have saved more than 12 million lives since 2000.
    • [54] countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease.
    • An additional 110 million children have enrolled in school since 2015.
    • Access to electricity has reached 92 per cent of the global population, with 45 countries achieving universal electricity access in the past decade.
    • Internet use has increased by 70 per cent — reaching 68 per cent today globally.

    These are not mere statistics; they are the stories of lives transformed — more children in school, more families protected and more communities empowered.

    However, the Report also lays bare a harsh reality:  a challenging global context is stalling progress.  Conflicts are escalating, temperatures are breaking records and debt burdens are rising, while developing countries face an annual $4 trillion SDG financing gap.

    The world is not moving fast enough to achieve the SDGs amid overlapping crises.  Just to share some sobering facts from the Report:

    • Over 800 million people remain trapped in extreme poverty.
    • Billions of people lack access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
    • Women continue to devote 2.5 times as many hours to unpaid domestic and care work as men.
    • Climate change is accelerating, with 2024 marking the hottest year on record at 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.
    • Low- and middle-income countries faced record-high debt servicing costs of $1.4 trillion in 2023.

    Despite these monumental challenges, the path forward is clear.  In the Report, it shows that progress is possible if we scale up solutions and build on hard-won gains.  We must focus our efforts on six key transitions that represent our most promising levers for systemic change.  Recent global events such as UNOC3 and FFD4 have demonstrated a renewed spirit and commitment to collective action.  Let us seize this moment to recommit, to act decisively and deliver on our promise.

    Thank you.

    **Questions and Answers

    Spokesman: Edie, please.

    Question: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General, on behalf of the United Nations Correspondence Association for doing this briefing.  As you well know, my name is Edith Lederer from the Associated Press.  You said that there had been progress on 35 per cent of the SDG targets, but which, if any, of the 17 SDG Goals are on target to be achieved by 2030?  And if I may, what is your reaction to President Trump saying just an hour or two ago that if there is no peace deal in Ukraine in the next 50 days, he will impose biting sanctions on Russia.  And I think we also would all like to know what, if any, role the UN is being asked to play if there is a new ceasefire in Gaza?

    Thank you.

    Secretary-General:  There are many different questions.  [laughing]  First, there are only 35 per cent of the Goals that are on target. But that means that 35 per cent of the Goals are on target, and some are extremely important.  Extreme poverty has reduced.  Child mortality and women’s mortality have dramatically reduced, and the access of girls to education and, in general, the access to education has substantially increased.  So, if there were no Sustainable Development Goals, many of these achievements would never have been reached, because the Sustainable Development Goals have created a framework in which Governments and other entities could be united to deliver on some of the key priorities of development in today’s world.  So, the Sustainable Development Goals are a success already because at least one third of them are achieving the results that were determined.

    Now, but why is it not the same everywhere?  Where are the obstacles?  Let’s be clear.  There is something fundamentally wrong in the structure of the economic and financial architecture and in the way it operates to the detriment of developing countries.  And this has nothing to do with the Sustainable Development Goals.  The Sustainable Development Goals are objectives to improve the living conditions of everybody.  The problem is that the Sustainable Development Goals do not include the instruments that would be necessary to make them happen.  And that is why we have been strongly insisting for the need to deep reforms in the international financial architecture, and I would say, in the rules of the global economy, in order to make sure that it is possible for countries that are drowning in debt, for countries that have no access to concessional funding, for countries that are marginalized in international trade.  We need those reforms to create the conditions for those countries to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

    So, I think that the discussion is not whether or not we have reached enough.  The discussion is what are the roots in the injustices and inequalities of our global economic and financial system that make it so difficult to implement things that everybody will recognize are the things that are needed for us to live with dignity.

    The second question that you have asked is about the sanctions.  I would say that what we absolutely need is to have an immediate ceasefire and to have an immediate ceasefire paving the way for a political solution and the political solution based on the Charter, on international law and on the different resolutions of the bodies of the UN.  Whatever can contribute to these objectives will, of course, be important if it is done in line with international law.

    Question:  And on Gaza…

    Secretary-General:  Gaza is horrific.  We all condemned the horrible, terrible, attacks of Hamas, but what we are witnessing in Gaza is a level of death and destruction that has no parallel in recent times.  And it is something that undermines, I would say, undermines the most basic conditions of human dignity for the population of Gaza, independently of the enormous suffering that they are having.

    We absolutely need a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.  And I hope that the parties are able to overcome, both parties are able to overcome the difficulties that they still find for that ceasefire to take place.  But the ceasefire is not enough.  It is essential that that ceasefire leads to a solution, and that solution can only be possible if both Palestinians and Israelis can have a State where they can exercise their rights.  The idea, and that is why we are going to have in July, one conference on the two-State solution, the idea that it would be possible to have 5 million people inside a country, in their own lands, without any rights is something that is totally against humanity and totally against international law.

    Spokesman:  Sherwin Bryce-Pease.

    Question:  Secretary-General, Sherwin Bryce-Pease, South African Broadcasting.  What is your estimation, sir, of the impact of the decisions by the United States in recent months to withdraw from various development-related initiatives, including climate finance and the recent financing for development conference that you referred to in Sevilla.  Its rejection, also, of increased lending by development banks in particular, essentially pushing back at the reforms you are seeking to achieve in terms of the restructuring of the global financial institutions?  How are you going to fill the gaps that are going to be left by the United States’ withdrawal from these initiatives?

    Thank you.

    Secretary-General:  The problem is not the presence or not presence in international meetings.  The question is that, obviously, we need in an international economic and financial system that is fundamentally wrong and unfair, we need reforms.  And to put obstacles to those reforms is indeed something that is extremely negative.  And I hope that the countries that lead the global economy, the G7 countries, understand that it is better to lead the reforms of a system today than to wait and one day suffer the reforms of the system that will become inevitable.

    Spokesman:  Dezhi?

    Question:  Secretary-General, Xu Dezhi, China Central Television.  A similar question with Sherwin.  We know that Trump Administration now reversed multiple policies, it’s not only just the international financial institution.  It’s also about the clean energy policy.  It’s about its tariffs to bring instability of the world economy.  How much impact would that be to the SDGs?  And given the fact this is only the first year of this Administration, you will have four years, how would, how should other countries to do to achieve the SDGs?

    Thank you.

    Secretary-General:  Well first of all, about clean energy, I think that independently of the will of the Government of any country and in particular, the United States, we are witnessing irreversible movements towards the hegemonic role of renewables.  This is moving at a speed that nobody could forecast just a few months ago.  And the truth is that even in the United States, you have a number of states that are moving forward very strongly, and you have the private sector that makes their accounts and sees where profits are.  And today, the cheapest energy is renewable.  And so, you are not intelligent if you invest in more expensive forms of energy or if you invest in things that will be stranded in the near future.  So, I am pretty confident that the realities of the global economy will make any attempt to slow down the process ineffective.  And I’m optimistic about the capacity of renewable energy to very quickly assume a leading role in the global economy.

    About trade, it is clear that any trade war is something in which nobody wins.  Everybody loses.  And so, I strongly believe that it is absolutely essential to avoid trade wars.  And we don’t know yet what is going to happen.  Many things are changing every day, but I hope we come to the end of this with a rational global trade system.

    Spokesman:  Thank you, Pam, and then we’ll have to go.

    Question:  Thank you very much for a somewhat grim Report, but an optimistic view of it.  Pamela Falk from US News and World Report.  So, a big picture question.  The Pew Charitable Trust, other organizations, look at the UN and favourability around the world.  And although it’s still positive, it’s trending downward.  What can you do, particularly since global goals like nutrition that overlaps two SDGs, people at the N4D [Nutrition for Development] is looking for private sector funds, clusters of countries.  Is that the new multilateralism?  And what can you do to bring up the favourability of the UN?

    Thank you.

    Secretary-General:  What we are witnessing in the world today is a progressive trend for a multipolar world.  You see the emerging economies growing at a faster rate than developed countries.  We can talk about China, but we can talk about India, we can talk about Indonesia, we can talk about so many other countries.  So, the global economic relations are changing, and we see a trend more and more for these different entities to network.  And in that networking, multipolarity will tend to strengthen multilateralism.  So, I’m very optimistic about the future of multilateralism because I’m seeing that every single day, there is a bit more equilibrium in international relations.  Every single day, we move a little bit more to multipolarity.  And at every single day, we are heading into a direction that, because multipolarity by itself requires multilateralism, we are heading into a direction in which the present trends and the present attacks and the present, I would say, forms of undermining multilateralism, will inevitably fail.

    Spokesman: Thank you very much. We need to let our guests go.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/14/2025 Blackburn, Cortez Masto Bipartisan Bill to Help Americans Recover from Natural Disasters Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statements after their bipartisan bill to provide relief for impacted taxpayers in states that have issued state-level disaster declarations passed the Senate. The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would allow the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to postpone filing deadlines for taxpayers affected by state-declared natural disasters, instead of only presidentially-declared federal disasters. The legislation passed the House earlier this year and now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. It is also co-sponsored by Senators John Kennedy (R-La.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). 

    Under current law, families impacted by floods and fires in areas with a state-level disaster declaration are not eligible for any tax relief because the disaster was not also declared by the President of the United States. Senator Blackburn’s legislation will change that, ensuring that everyone impacted by fires, floods, and storms gets the tax relief they need.

    “When a disaster like Hurricane Helene hits, the last thing Tennesseans should have to worry about is meeting a tax-filing deadline,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act empowers the governor to extend tax deadlines, giving Tennesseans the flexibility to focus on disaster recovery and I’m thrilled it’s headed to President Trump’s desk.” 

    “A natural disaster is devastating for anyone. Impacted taxpayers should not have to worry about whether their state’s natural disaster has been recognized by the President for them to receive the support they deserve,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that anyone impacted by state-level emergencies can have some peace of mind when filling their taxes.”

    THE FILING RELIEF FOR NATURAL DISASTERS ACT

    • The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would allow the governor of a state or territory to extend a federal tax filing deadline in the event of a state-declared emergency or disaster, which happens automatically for federally-declared disasters. Extending this authority to states gives them the ability to provide relief independent of the federal government’s involvement in an emergency or natural disaster.
    • The legislation would also expand the mandatory federal filing extension from 60 days to 120 days.
    • Representatives David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, which also passed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CORRECTION: Coast Guard assists 11 people aboard flooding catamaran off Dana Point

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/14/2025 09:45 PM EDT

     

    07/13/2025 01:52 PM EDT

    DANA POINT, Calif. — U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies assists 11 people aboard a charter catamaran taking on water approximately 7 miles south of Dana Point Harbor, Saturday evening. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach watchstanders received a distress call at approximately 6:20 p.m. from the operator of the 50-foot catamaran Manute’a, reporting flooding while still making way toward Dana Point Harbor. The Dana Point Harbor Patrol and Orange County Sheriff’s Department were monitoring Channel 16 and immediately responded to assist.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CORRECTION: Coast Guard assists 11 people aboard flooding catamaran off Dana Point

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/14/2025 09:45 PM EDT

     

    07/13/2025 01:52 PM EDT

    DANA POINT, Calif. — U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies assists 11 people aboard a charter catamaran taking on water approximately 7 miles south of Dana Point Harbor, Saturday evening. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach watchstanders received a distress call at approximately 6:20 p.m. from the operator of the 50-foot catamaran Manute’a, reporting flooding while still making way toward Dana Point Harbor. The Dana Point Harbor Patrol and Orange County Sheriff’s Department were monitoring Channel 16 and immediately responded to assist.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Hails Enactment of Anti-IRS Snooping Provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, hailed the inclusion of the Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments (SNOOP) Act, in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. The SNOOP Act and its corresponding text in the OBBBA eliminates a Biden-era policy that massively expanded the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) 1099-K reporting requirements for small businesses, gig workers, and individual sellers.
    “Small businesses and Tennesseans were unreasonably targeted by the previous administration’s overreach,” said Senator Hagerty.  “By eliminating an ill-conceived and invasive Biden-era policy, the ‘One, Big Beautiful Bill’ provides much-needed tax relief and helps hardworking Americans keep their focus on serving their customers—not the IRS.”
    The SNOOP Act restores the 1099-K reporting thresholds to $20,000 and 200 transactions, their levels prior to the enactment of the American Rescue Plan during the Biden Administration. Senator Hagerty introduced the SNOOP Act in the 119th, 118th, and 117th Congresses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warnock Demands Answers on Trump Admin Re-Adding Medical Debt onto Credit Reports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Warnock Demands Answers on Trump Admin Re-Adding Medical Debt onto Credit Reports

    Senator Reverend Warnock leads the Democratic caucus in demanding the Trump administration explain its rollback of the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025

    In the final days of the Biden Administration, Senator Warnock successfully pressed the CFPB to ban credit lenders from including medical bills in credit reports and prohibit lenders from using medical information in lending decisions

    In Georgia, 27% of rural citizens have medical collections on their credit report, ten percentage points higher than the national average due in part to the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and 26 other senators pushed the Trump administration for answers regarding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025. The letter demands CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.

    “On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the senators said.

    “Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.

    At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.

    “On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,”    the senators closed.

    Senator Warnock continues to stand up in defense of Georgia consumers by holding the CFPB under President Trump accountable. In February, Senator Warnock questioned Trump administration CFPB nominees at a Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing. During the hearing, Senator Warnock asked the nominees if they agreed with President Trump on the CFPB being, ‘A very important thing to get rid of’ and if the agency would address the 266,560 outstanding complaints from Georgians in a timely manner. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency.

    In Georgia, roughly 640,000 people don’t have access to affordable health care because state leaders have refused to expand Medicaid. 27% of rural citizens have medical collections on their credit report – ten percentage points higher than the national average. Senator Warnock has a long track record of working to address the harmful consequences of medical debt on working families including calling on the CFPB to establish an ombudsman position for consumer medical debt and urging the CFPB to protect Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices. 

    In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Schumer, and Merkley the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

    Read the full letter HERE, and the text is below

    Dear Acting Director Vought,

    On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it. 

    Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.

    Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.

    Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier. 

    In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.

    Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:

    • Barriers to home and car ownership, including challenges getting loans or not being approved to rent or lease,
    • Paying higher premiums for auto, homeowner’s and other types of insurance,
    • Losing job opportunities as a result of credit reporting on background checks,
    • Obstacles to starting small businesses because of challenges with securing loans,
    • Paying more for everyday services such as household utilities or cell phone contracts

    We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Curtis, Schiff, Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Curtis, Schiff, Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced bipartisan legislationto support and commemorate the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games set to take place in Los Angeles, California and Salt Lake City, Utah, respectively, through the minting of new commemorative coins. Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.-03), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), and Blake Moore (R-Utah-01) introduced companion legislation in the House.

    The America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue four types of coins each in commemoration of the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The coins would be minted at no cost to the federal government, and any proceeds collected from the sale of these commemorative coins would aid in the execution of the 2028 and 2034 Games as well as support their legacy programs, which include the promotion of youth sports in the United States.

    “After years of careful preparation and federal collaboration, Los Angeles will be under the world spotlight for the Olympic and Paralympic Games before we know it,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bipartisan legislation will help ensure Los Angeles has the resources it needs to put on a world-class event — with a token to commemorate the Games for years to come. There is strong congressional interest in promoting and supporting all upcoming U.S.-hosted Olympic events to showcase our nation and our athletes on the global stage, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to advance this bill.”

    “The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will showcase Utah’s pioneer spirit, community strength, and commitment to excellence,” said Senator Curtis. “These commemorative coins honor not just the athletes, but the values that built our state and the legacy we’ll pass on to future generations.”

    “It is such an honor that our Golden State will be hosting the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. And I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to commemorate these historic games and our incredible athletes,” said Senator Schiff.

    “American athletes are the pinnacle of our exceptionalism and I am looking forward to them leading the way as we host both the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. As Oklahoma’s world-class facilities will be home to multiple official venues, I am honored to join with my colleagues on this important legislation,” said Senator Mullin.

    “The dedication demonstrated by the American athletes who participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games is truly inspiring and our nation is honored to host both the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games and Salt Lake City 2034 Winter Games. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating our athletes by introducing America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act. As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation, I look forward to Congress moving quickly to advance this important bill. As an Angelino, I am excited to witness the Olympics return to Los Angeles after 44 years, and I am proud to join with my colleagues to honor the Salt Lake City 2034 Games as well,” said Representative Sherman.

    “It is no small honor to host the Olympic Games, and no small feat to organize them either. That is why these commemorative coins would not only pay proper tribute to such a great honor, but also help pay for the preparations to ensure the upcoming Olympic games – including the 2028 games in my home state – receive the resources they need,” said Representative Lucas.

    “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are incredible events that celebrate athletic achievement and the human spirit. I’m especially excited for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, which will allow southern California residents to get an up-close look at these remarkable competitions as well as deliver a tremendous boost to our tourism economy. I want to thank all of my colleagues who have worked together to advance the bipartisan America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act,” said Representative Calvert.

    “As we gear up for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I’m proud to co-lead the America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act,” said Representative Kamlager-Dove. “This commemorative coin will celebrate not only the upcoming games, but also nearly a century of Olympic history in Los Angeles. The 2028 Games in Los Angeles memorialized by this coin will be a feat all Angelenos and Americans can be proud of.”

    “I’m immensely proud to represent Utah in co-leading the America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act. The return of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to Salt Lake City in 2034 will mark only the second time in history that the Winter Olympics have returned to the same city, and I cannot wait to see Utah front and center on the world stage once again,” said Representative Moore. “This bid was supported by over 80% of Utahns and will bring billions in GDP growth, tens of thousands of jobs, and showcase the world’s best athletes on the Greatest Snow on Earth. I’m also thrilled that the Summer Olympics will return stateside to Los Angeles in 2028 and look forward to this bill quickly passing through both houses of Congress.”

    “The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will mark the historic return of the summer Games to America in more than 30 years,” said LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover. “The heart and dedication demonstrated by the athletes who participate in the Games is truly unparalleled. Los Angeles 2028, followed by Salt Lake 2034 will serve as an opportunity for American athletes to showcase their talent and resilience on the world’s stage. We’re grateful to Senators Padilla, Curtis, Schiff, and Mullin and Congressmembers Sherman, Lucas, Calvert, Kamlager-Dove and Moore for moving this bill forward to honor these athletes and our U.S. host cities for the 2028 and 2034 Games.”

    “As a four-time Olympian, I greatly appreciate the commemorative coin program as another means of showcasing our Olympic and Paralympic athletes,” said Catherine Raney Norman, Vice President Development and Athlete Relations, Salt Lake City-Utah 2034, A four-time Olympic speed skater. 

    Specifically, the America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue commemorative $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, half-dollar clad coins, and proof silver $1 coins in commemoration of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games set to be held in in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games set to be held in Salt Lake City.

    The United States has hosted the modern Olympic Games nine times, with the 2028 Games set to become the third time Los Angeles will host the summer Olympic Games and the 2034 Games set to become the second time Salt Lake City will host the Olympic Winter Games.

    Senator Padilla has secured millions of dollars in federal investments to help prepare Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Last year, Padilla, Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), and former Representative Grace F. Napolitano celebrated nearly $900 million in federal investments in LA Metro to improve mobility and upgrade transportation infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This included $139 million for LA Metro’s “Removing Barriers and Creating Legacy” project, which will reconnect communities and strengthen mobility across highway and arterial barriers ahead of the Games. The funding comes through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program (RCN), which includes the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program that was modeled off the Reconnecting Communities Act that Padilla co-led in 2021. Padilla also traveled on a presidential delegation to Paris last year for the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Durbin, Kelly, Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration on Weaponization of Immigration Court Hearings to Trap, Arrest, Deport Immigrants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Durbin, Kelly, Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration on Weaponization of Immigration Court Hearings to Trap, Arrest, Deport Immigrants

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) led 21 Senate Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration on its recent initiatives to weaponize immigration court hearings as an inhumane trap to arrest immigrants just trying to follow the law by terminating their immigration court cases and deporting them without adequate due process.

    In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, the Senators condemned these predatory actions as an affront to due process. The Senators expressed serious concern over recent reporting of the Trump Administration’s inhumane initiatives of detaining noncitizens at their immigration court hearings, often suddenly dismissing their immigration cases and arresting them without prior notice.

    “These actions prevent noncitizens from having their fair day in court and raise serious legal and due process concerns,” wrote the Senators. “They also make clear that this Administration is not targeting the worst criminals and threats to public safety, instead redirecting staff and resources away from drug trafficking and human trafficking and towards these operations targeting noncriminal immigrants who are following the law and showing up for their day in court.”

    “These actions also place noncitizens in an impossible position. If noncitizens who fear arrest do not attend their immigration court hearing, they may receive an in absentia removal order that will newly subject them to swift detention and removal. If they do attend, they risk arrest, detention, and a swift deportation, possibly to South Sudan, Libya, or El Salvador—countries they may have no connection to. This manipulation of existing laws to enact this Administration’s mass deportation agenda is creating chaos in our immigration system while doing nothing to make our communities safer,” concluded the Senators.

    The Senators admonished the misuse of expedited removal (ER) as part of the Trump Administration’s efforts, noting that it typically has only been applied to noncitizens upon their arrival or within 14 days of their arrival if they are detained near the border. The widespread use of ER for law-abiding noncitizens entrenched in the United States — including those working or attending school — is unprecedented and violates due process protections.

    The Senators also underscored the insincerity and misleading nature of ICE’s intentions outside these hearings, arguing that ICE often did not give prior notice or explanation of their intentions for fast-track removals surrounding these hearings. This prevents noncitizens from seeking counsel or taking steps to oppose their removals. They also made a series of information requests.

    In addition to Padilla, Durbin, and Kelly, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Senators Padilla and Schiff, as well as Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), and Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), previously sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem expressing their concern over the deliberate targeting of immigrants trying to follow the legal process at courthouses, including at the San Diego Immigration Court located in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Secretary Noem, Attorney General Bondi, and Acting Director Lyons:

    We are extremely concerned by reports of a recent initiative to arrest and detain noncitizens at their immigration court hearings, and in many cases, dismiss their immigration cases without advance notice and while hiding the government’s intent to arrest them. Some reports indicated that plain-clothed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel stationed outside of immigration courtrooms had lists of cases marked for dismissal and even photos of the individuals they intended to arrest. Upon the granting of this request by an immigration judge, ICE officers have reportedly arrested individuals or families outside the courtrooms and placed them in a fast-track removal process known as expedited removal (ER). These actions prevent noncitizens from having their fair day in court and raise serious legal and due process concerns. They also make clear that this Administration is not targeting the worst criminals and threats to public safety, instead redirecting staff and resources away from drug trafficking and human trafficking and towards these operations targeting noncriminal immigrants who are following the law and showing up for their day in court.

    ER historically has applied only to a noncitizen who “is arriving in the United States” and certain other noncitizens apprehended close to the border less than 14 days after arrival in the United States. Individuals subject to ER are mandatorily detained and can be summarily deported without a hearing before a judge, administrative appeal or federal court review, unlike regular removal proceedings. The ER process offers very limited administrative review and no meaningful opportunity for a noncitizen to challenge whether they can legally be placed in ER. There is no real opportunity to provide documentation, for example, that would demonstrate they have continuously resided in the United States for more than two years, or that they were, in fact, admitted or paroled into the United States and therefore not subject to ER. ICE is now expanding the application of ER to noncitizens in the interior of the United States who have developed significant ties to the United States, including by lawfully working and attending school. Arresting law-abiding individuals and placing them in ER deprives them of the opportunity to have their fair day in court with the due process protections in immigration court proceedings.

    Nevertheless, we understand that ICE attorneys have been instructed to look for immigration court cases that can be dismissed and then orally request, without prior notice, that removal proceedings be dismissed or the Notice to Appear be withdrawn. ICE often did not inform immigration judges or the noncitizens that the purpose of their request was not relief from removal, but instead that ICE intended to arrest and place the individual in fast-track removal without a hearing. It has been a longstanding practice to dismiss cases that are not a priority for enforcement or that ICE chooses not to prosecute, allowing noncitizens to instead pursue immigration applications affirmatively through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Here, however, many noncitizens were not notified that their cases were being dismissed for a different purpose—to place them in ER—and effectively deny them access to a decision from an immigration judge as well as affirmative applications through USCIS. Because noncitizens did not understand the purpose of their dismissal, they did not, through counsel or otherwise, have an opportunity to take steps to oppose the ICE attorneys’ motions to terminate or withdraw.

    Immigration judges—who are not part of an independent judiciary but housed under the Executive Office of Immigration Review within the Department of Justice—have also received guidance encouraging immigration judges to grant the ICE attorneys’ motion to dismiss “with no additional documentation or briefing” or opportunity for a noncitizen to respond. In some cases, immigration judges were not made aware of the purpose of the dismissal. As a result, immigration judges could not take into account in their dismissal determination that the noncitizen will immediately be placed in ER. In some cases, the immigration judge did not give noncitizens adequate time to respond to ICE motions to dismiss, or ensure those appearing pro se were informed of the consequences of their cases being dismissed. And in some cases, the immigration judge dismissed the case over the strong objections from the noncitizen who wished for their immigration case to continue with the court.

    Noncitizens whose removal proceedings are abruptly dismissed in this manner lose the ability to request relief in immigration court for which they are otherwise eligible, such as asylum or adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident, or to request that an immigration judge hold their case while they pursue an immigration status with USCIS, such as classification as a Special Immigrant Juvenile. Many of these noncitizens who had their cases dismissed had reportedly already submitted an asylum application or other forms of relief to the immigration court, raising serious concerns that their applications were wrongfully denied any consideration. For example, a Mexican transgender woman with no criminal history who came to the United States in 2023 after being subject to abduction and rape by members of the Knights Templar drug cartel in Mexico, had applied for asylum; upon her appearance for her court hearing in Portland, Oregon, ICE moved to dismiss her case, the court granted the request, and she was subsequently arrested by ICE agents in the lobby. In another case, ICE requested the dismissal of a case of a Cuban man who entered the United States in 2021 and had an asylum application pending; an immigration judge in the Miami Immigration Court told the asylum seeker he could seek asylum affirmatively from USCIS after the dismissal; instead, ICE arrested and detained him.

    The U.S. Supreme Court recently stated, “[w]e have long held that no person shall be removed from the United States without opportunity, at some time, to be heard. Due process requires notice that is reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties and that affords[s] a reasonable time …to make an appearance.” Here, it appears that the ICE attorneys are being told to dismiss immigration cases and place noncitizens in expedited removal. At the same time, immigration judges are being told that they may dismiss such cases without any briefing or opportunity to respond. In addition, often noncitizens have not been notified of the purpose of their dismissal, in order to respond or contest the dismissal of their immigration cases, or the placement of their case into expedited removal. Taken together, these actions raise serious due process concerns.

    These actions also place noncitizens in an impossible position. If noncitizens who fear arrest do not attend their immigration court hearing, they may receive an in absentia removal order that will newly subject them to swift detention and removal. If they do attend, they risk arrest, detention, and a swift deportation, possibly to South Sudan, Libya, or El Salvador—countries they may have no connection to. This manipulation of existing laws to enact this Administration’s mass deportation agenda is creating chaos in our immigration system while doing nothing to make our communities safer.

    We request responses to the following questions by July 25, 2025:

    1. What specific guidance has DHS or DOJ/EOIR issued regarding the dismissal of standard 240 removal proceedings and the facilitation of enforcement actions in and around immigration courtrooms? Please provide a copy of the relevant guidance, email, memorandum, or other directives associated with this policy.

    2. How many individuals have been detained and placed in ER following dismissal of their cases from January 20th to May 19th, 2025? How many have been detained and placed in ER following dismissal since May 20, 2025? Provide the total number of individuals arrested and detained by week, and disaggregate by country of origin, gender, and age.

    a. What number of the total individuals detained and placed in ER following the dismissal of their removal proceedings have been referred for a credible fear interview (CFI)? How many have passed that interview with the asylum officer and how many did not? Of the total negative CFIs by an asylum officer, how many were reviewed by an Immigration Judge and reversed?

    b. Of the total individuals detained and placed in ER following dismissal of their cases, how many had applications pending with the immigration court in INA 240 proceedings at the time that the ICE attorney moved for dismissal? How many had applications pending with USCIS (e.g. adjustment of status, SIJ classification, T or U visa)? Of those with applications pending in immigration court, how many were asylum applications and how many were for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident?

    c. Of those individuals who had asylum applications pending in immigration court when the ICE attorney requested the dismissal of proceedings, how many were subsequently given a CFI after dismissal and their placement in ER? Of those, how many passed that interview with the Asylum Officer and were placed back into proceedings to again pursue their asylum claim? Of those with an asylum application pending who were subsequently given a CFI after dismissal and their placement in ER, how many had a negative CFI with an asylum officer which was subsequently reversed by an IJ and were placed back into proceedings?

    d. What number of the total individuals detained and placed in ER following the dismissal of their removal proceedings have been placed back into INA 240 proceedings for any reason?

    3. Are immigration judges being monitored or tracked on how they respond to ICE motions to dismiss the cases or to withdraw the NTA? If so, how is that information being utilized?

    4. There are reports of cases where the immigration judge did not immediately grant ICE’s motion to dismiss and did give the noncitizen additional time to respond, but ICE detained the noncitizen anyway.

    a) Since May 20th, in how many cases has an ICE attorney orally requested a dismissal, and the IJ has either denied such a motion or granted additional time for the noncitizen to respond?

    b) In how many of those cases did ICE arrest and detain the noncitizen despite the removal proceedings not being dismissed?

    c) In how many of those cases did ICE request a Change of Venue to a detained docket?

    d) For the subset of cases moved to the detained docket, in how many cases has ICE moved to dismiss again before a different immigration judge in order to place the noncitizen in ER?

    5. Of the total detained and placed in ER after the dismissal of their court cases, how many had a criminal conviction?

    6. Of the total detained and placed in ER after dismissal of their court cases, how many were continuously present in the United States for more than two years? Provide an explanation of the legal basis for their placement in ER.

    7. Of the total detained and placed in ER after dismissal of their court cases, how many were in removal proceedings after having been initially paroled into the United States at a port of entry? Provide the total number and disaggregate by country of origin, gender and age. Also, provide the total number of individuals who were initially paroled more than two years prior to the issuance of the I-860 ER order.

    8. Provide a complete list of all the immigration courts where ICE courthouse arrests and placements into ER have occurred since May 20, 2025. At each of these immigration courts, disaggregated by each individual court, have in abstentia removal orders increased and if so, by what percentage of the total scheduled court hearings? Provide a daily accounting of the number of in absentia removal orders issued in each immigration court since January 1, 2025, disaggregated by court.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US tariff threat on EU ‘absolutely unacceptable’: Danish FM

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

    EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic attends a joint press conference in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen condemned the Trump administration’s threat to impose 30 percent tariffs on European Union (EU) exports as “absolutely unacceptable” during a joint press conference with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic on Monday.

    Rasmussen said that the bloc views the threat as “absolutely unacceptable and unjustified” and is prepared to respond if talks with Washington fail to produce a viable outcome.

    “We are committed to continuing working with the United States on a negotiated outcome,” he said, but the agreement has to be “mutually acceptable” on both sides.

    He revealed that the EU will react with robust and proportionate countermeasures if required.

    Sefcovic noted that the 27-country bloc is preparing potential countermeasures worth 72 billion euros (84 billion U.S. dollars).

    “We must be prepared for all outcomes, including, if necessary, well-considered proportionate measures to restore balance in our transatlantic relationship,” he stressed.

    Sefcovic said that he believes there is “still a potential to continue the negotiations” but stressed any deal will need the backing of all EU member states and the European Parliament. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollar) 

    MIL OSI China News –