NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: New Analysis of Five Major U.S. LNG Export Projects Finds Every One Fails the “Climate Test” 

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    For Immediate Release 

    July 9, 2025

    Contacts: Katie Nelson, Greenpeace USA, [email protected], +1 (678) 644-1681, (GMT -8)

    Rebecca Stoner, Oil Change International, [email protected], +1 (917) 561-2607, (GMT -4)

    As the Trump administration barrels forward with its pro-fossil fuel agenda, and European and Asian governments and financial institutions debate whether to increase investments in U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) projects, a report published today by Greenpeace USA, Earthworks, and Oil Change International highlights the climate threats and financial risks posed by five major new liquefied gas export projects proposed for the United States Gulf Coast, all but one of them still awaiting a final investment decision. 

    “What we found was crystal clear – any further investment in LNG is not compatible with a livable climate,” says Andres Chang, Senior Research Specialist at Greenpeace USA and lead author of the report. “The massive growth in infrastructure along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast has already created significant public health and ecosystem impacts, threatening entire coastal communities. But it doesn’t stop there. We believe this report shows that if built, these projects would put global climate goals even further out of reach.” 

    The report analyzes five major U.S. LNG projects – Venture Global CP2, Cameron LNG Phase II, Sabine Pass Stage V, Cheniere Corpus Christi LNG Midscale 8-9 [1], and Freeport LNG Expansion – and finds that each and every one fails a “climate test” derived from models in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2024 LNG Export public interest studies. Contrary to industry claims, the report shows that decreasing methane venting and leaking during gas drilling, transportation, and liquefaction is not enough to make these projects “climate neutral.” 

    “Focusing the Department of Energy’s model on individual US LNG terminals that are yet to be built, we found that they all result in increased greenhouse gas emissions because they pollute the climate, displace renewable energy, and drive up gas demand,” says Lorne Stockman, Oil Change International Research Director and report co-author. “It is very clear that governments, investors, and insurers must stop supporting the reckless LNG buildout now and instead invest in a rapid and just transition to renewable energy that will protect our communities from toxic pollution and climate-fueled superstorms.” 

    Future administrations could revoke export authorizations that were rubber-stamped under Trump based on their failure to pass the DOE “climate test,” which introduces a new layer of uncertainty to these already-risky projects. This report adds to a rapidly growing body of evidence that financing U.S. LNG is not a sound decision for insurers, investors, or purchasers – something the EU and America’s Asian allies must keep in mind as President Trump pressures them to increase their imports of U.S. LNG under threat of sweeping tariffs. “Countries with climate commitments, such as those in the EU, should be very wary of the climate cost of importing US LNG,” says Dr. Dakota Raynes, Senior Manager of Research, Policy, and Data at Earthworks and report co-author.

    “Fossil fuel dependency has long externalized its true costs, forcing communities to bear the burden of pollution, sickness, and economic instability,” says James Hiatt, founder and director of For a Better Bayou. “For decades the oil and gas industry has known about the devastating health and climate impacts of its operations, yet it continues to expand, backed by billions in private and public financing. These harms are not isolated – they’re systemic, and they threaten all of us. This report is a call to conscience. It’s time we stop propping up deadly false solutions and start investing in a transition to energy systems that sustain life, not sacrifice it.”

    Notes:

    Read the full report here. 

    A recording of yesterday’s press briefing with authors, community members, and other subject experts can be found here. 

    [1] As of the drafting of the report, all five were awaiting a final investment decision. On June 24, 2025, Cheniere Corpus Christi LNG announced a positive final investment decision. 

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    Oil Change International campaigns to expose the true costs of fossil fuels and facilitate the ongoing transition towards clean energy. Oil Change International is dedicated to identifying and overcoming barriers to that transition.
    Earthworks protects communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral and energy development while promoting sustainable solutions.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation and Toxins While Serving in Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced a bill to ensure servicemembers and veterans who served at classified locations within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) since 1951 are able to prove that they served there, and can finally get the PACT Act benefits they deserve following exposure to radiation and toxins. 
    From the 1950s through the 1990s, the NTTR – and the Nevada Test Site contained within it – conducted over 900 explosive nuclear weapons tests and other dangerous, toxic activities. Currently, due to issues with the classified nature of their location while serving, veterans who served at the NTTR are unable to prove their service there to the VA and, therefore, are unable to receive care and benefits connected with exposure to radiation and toxins from burn pits. The Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act would help to correct a historic wrong and inequity by officially recognizing the risk that veterans assumed during their service at the NTTR, and other Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities, where DOE employees are already automatically presumed to have been exposed, while the servicemembers who served alongside them are not. Senator Rosen also worked to secure commitments from multiple high-ranking military officials to address this care gap.
    “Veterans have been exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals as a result of their selfless service to our nation, and the least we can do is ensure they get the treatment they need,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m introducing this bill to recognize the radiation and toxic exposure experienced at the Nevada Test and Training Range so our veterans can access the care and benefits they deserve. It is unconscionable that one U.S. government agency deems portions of the range as contaminated and their personnel exposed, while another U.S. government agency does not. I’ll continue working to make sure we take care of our veterans and their loved ones.”
    “As a nation, it is our obligation to take care of all veterans once their service has ended,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This is especially true for veterans of the Nevada Test and Training Range, who faced toxic exposure daily as part of their duties and should have parity with their civilian counterparts. I will continue to push for these brave men and women to receive the care and benefits they’re due.”
    “Today, after decades of denial by our own government, the veterans who were exposed to toxic radiation and materials on the Nevada Test and Training Range are closer than ever to getting the recognition and benefits they’ve earned,” said Dave Crete, Chairman of The Invisible Enemy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans who have experienced toxic exposure at the Nevada Test and Training Range. “We thank Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for making the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act a legislative priority in the U.S. Senate, and all of our allies in Congress who are dedicated to righting this wrong, and securing justice for the brave men and women who risked their lives and lost their lives fighting this invisible enemy.”
    The FORGOTTEN Veterans Act would: 

    Classify the Nevada Test and Training Range as contaminated.
    Require the Department of Defense (DOD) to document all exposures, including those that occur domestically, into the servicemember’s Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, so it can be seen by the VA when servicemembers transition to civilian life, while still protecting the classified nature of the location of their service. 
    Require the Secretary of the Air Force to identify all those who served within the NTTR since January 27, 1951, establish a process for servicemembers and veterans to provide proof of their assignment within the NTTR, and make all efforts to identify individuals, without requiring them to submit evidence of their stationing.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for DOD personnel who served at any Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities – such as those within the NTTR – where DOE employees have a presumption of exposure and are covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. One such DOE-covered facility within the NTTR is the Tonopah Test Range, which is both a DOE and DOD installation. 
    Add service at military installations within the NTTR to the list of recognized “radiation-risk activities” under VA law, dating back to January 27, 1951, including veterans who participated in the development, construction, operation, or maintenance of military installations at NTTR—beyond just nuclear test observers.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for veterans who served on or above NTTR, easing the burden of proof in VA claims.
    Expand presumptive conditions for service connection by adding lipomas and tumor-related conditions to the list of automatically presumed service-connected illnesses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation and Toxins While Serving in Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced a bill to ensure servicemembers and veterans who served at classified locations within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) since 1951 are able to prove that they served there, and can finally get the PACT Act benefits they deserve following exposure to radiation and toxins. 
    From the 1950s through the 1990s, the NTTR – and the Nevada Test Site contained within it – conducted over 900 explosive nuclear weapons tests and other dangerous, toxic activities. Currently, due to issues with the classified nature of their location while serving, veterans who served at the NTTR are unable to prove their service there to the VA and, therefore, are unable to receive care and benefits connected with exposure to radiation and toxins from burn pits. The Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act would help to correct a historic wrong and inequity by officially recognizing the risk that veterans assumed during their service at the NTTR, and other Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities, where DOE employees are already automatically presumed to have been exposed, while the servicemembers who served alongside them are not. Senator Rosen also worked to secure commitments from multiple high-ranking military officials to address this care gap.
    “Veterans have been exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals as a result of their selfless service to our nation, and the least we can do is ensure they get the treatment they need,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m introducing this bill to recognize the radiation and toxic exposure experienced at the Nevada Test and Training Range so our veterans can access the care and benefits they deserve. It is unconscionable that one U.S. government agency deems portions of the range as contaminated and their personnel exposed, while another U.S. government agency does not. I’ll continue working to make sure we take care of our veterans and their loved ones.”
    “As a nation, it is our obligation to take care of all veterans once their service has ended,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This is especially true for veterans of the Nevada Test and Training Range, who faced toxic exposure daily as part of their duties and should have parity with their civilian counterparts. I will continue to push for these brave men and women to receive the care and benefits they’re due.”
    “Today, after decades of denial by our own government, the veterans who were exposed to toxic radiation and materials on the Nevada Test and Training Range are closer than ever to getting the recognition and benefits they’ve earned,” said Dave Crete, Chairman of The Invisible Enemy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans who have experienced toxic exposure at the Nevada Test and Training Range. “We thank Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for making the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act a legislative priority in the U.S. Senate, and all of our allies in Congress who are dedicated to righting this wrong, and securing justice for the brave men and women who risked their lives and lost their lives fighting this invisible enemy.”
    The FORGOTTEN Veterans Act would: 
    Classify the Nevada Test and Training Range as contaminated.
    Require the Department of Defense (DOD) to document all exposures, including those that occur domestically, into the servicemember’s Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, so it can be seen by the VA when servicemembers transition to civilian life, while still protecting the classified nature of the location of their service. 
    Require the Secretary of the Air Force to identify all those who served within the NTTR since January 27, 1951, establish a process for servicemembers and veterans to provide proof of their assignment within the NTTR, and make all efforts to identify individuals, without requiring them to submit evidence of their stationing.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for DOD personnel who served at any Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities – such as those within the NTTR – where DOE employees have a presumption of exposure and are covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. One such DOE-covered facility within the NTTR is the Tonopah Test Range, which is both a DOE and DOD installation. 
    Add service at military installations within the NTTR to the list of recognized “radiation-risk activities” under VA law, dating back to January 27, 1951, including veterans who participated in the development, construction, operation, or maintenance of military installations at NTTR—beyond just nuclear test observers.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for veterans who served on or above NTTR, easing the burden of proof in VA claims.
    Expand presumptive conditions for service connection by adding lipomas and tumor-related conditions to the list of automatically presumed service-connected illnesses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Signs Legislation Protecting Missouri’s Most Vulnerable Citizens

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 9, 2025

    Jefferson City — This morning, Governor Mike Kehoe signed House Bills (HB) 121 and 737, and Senate Bill (SB) 43 into law, highlighting Missouri’s commitment to protecting the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

    “Today’s action on this legislation is about standing up for the most vulnerable Missourians; those who often times cannot advocate for themselves,” said Governor Kehoe. “Protecting these individuals is not just a priority, it’s a responsibility we all share, and we appreciate the General Assembly for sending this legislation to my desk. We must provide safety, support, and dignity to those who need it most.”

    HB 121, sponsored by Representative Jim Murphy and Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman, establishes the “Safe Place for Newborns Fund” for installing newborn safety incubators.  

    • Extends Missouri’s Safe Haven law and creates the “Safe Place for Newborns Fund,” giving parents in crisis a secure and anonymous option to safely surrender their child.
    • Establishes the Zero-Cost Adoption Fund to support families during the adoption process with non-recurring expenses and post-adoption assistance.
    • Expands tax credit programs that support maternity homes and diaper banks.

    HB 737, sponsored by Representative Melissa Schmidt and Senator Jamie Burger, modifies provisions relating to the protection of children.

    • Guarantees federal benefits are securely allocated to individual beneficiaries currently in the foster care system to help establish their future financial stability.
    • Strengthens legal options for families by establishing the “Child and Family Legal Representation Coordinating Commission,” to ensure families have uniform, high-quality legal representation.
    • Improves child and youth placement processes.

    SB 43, sponsored by Senator Travis Fitzwater and Representative Wendy Hausman, modifies provisions relating to protecting vulnerable persons.

    • Increases the protections and rights of children and vulnerable persons in legal proceedings.
    • Strengthens criminal provisions and penalties to help combat sexual abuse and trafficking in Missouri.
    • Expands tax credits to encourage more donations to organizations that help support children and youth.

    Governor Kehoe also signed Senator Ben Brown’s and Representative Jim Murphy’s SB 152, which bans foreign nationals from contributing donations to campaign committees for ballot measures, and Senator Rusty Black’s and Representative Cameron Parker’s SB 218, which modernizes court operations and enhances judicial efficiency, during an in-office signing ceremony.

    For more information on the legislation and additional provisions signed into law, visit house.mo.gov and senate.mo.gov. Photos from the bill signing will be uploaded to Governor Kehoe’s Flickr page. Additional bill signings will continue to take place over the next several days. For more information bill signings, view Governor Kehoe’s schedule.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde Investigates the Merger of CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRGX)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRGX) related to its sale to Concentra Biosciences, LLC for $4.379 in cash per CARGO share, plus one non-transferable contingent value right, representing the right to receive: (i) 100% of the closing net cash of CARGO in excess of $217.5 million; and (ii) 80% of the net proceeds from the sale, license, or other disposition of either (a) CRG-022, a CDRR CAR T-cell therapy, or (b) CRG-023, a CD19/CD20/CD22 tri-specific CAR T therapy, or (c) the Allogeneic Platform, that occurs within 2 years following the closing. Is it a fair deal?

    Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/cargo-therapeutics-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to Osaka, Japan, to Attend the World Expo

    Source: US Whitehouse

    President Donald J. Trump today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Osaka, Japan, to attend the World Expo on July 19, 2025.
     
    The Honorable Secretary Scott Bessent of the United States Department of the Treasury will lead the delegation.
     
    Members of the Presidential Delegation:
     
    The Honorable George Glass, Ambassador of the United States to Japan
     
    The Honorable Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of the United States Department of Labor
     
    The Honorable Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of State
     
    The Honorable William E. Grayson, Ambassador, USA Pavilion Commissioner General, Expo 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United Nations Command Marks 75 years Supporting Peace and Security on Korean Peninsula

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea — United Nations Command, which plays a pivotal role in supporting peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and enforces the terms of the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement hosted a ceremony today to mark its 75th anniversary.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde Investigates the Merger of PB Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ: PBBK)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating PB Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ: PBBK) related to its sale to Norwood Financial Corp. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, PB Bankshares’ shareholders will have the option to elect to receive either 0.7850 shares of Norwood common stock or $19.75 in cash for each common share of PB Bankshares they own. The election is subject to proration to ensure that, in the aggregate, 80% of the transaction consideration will be paid in the form of Norwood common stock. Is it a fair deal?

    Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/pb-bankshares-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

    No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Half-Year Statement on the Implementation of the Liquidity Contract as of June 30, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HALF-YEAR STATEMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIQUIDITY CONTRACT  AS OF JUNE 30, 2025

    Bernin (Grenoble), France, July 9, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext Paris) announces that, under the liquidity contract entrusted to BNP Paribas on July 3, 2023, on the settlement date of June 30, 2025, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account:

    • 72,325 Soitec shares, and
    • €904,901

    During the 1st semester of 2025, a total of:

    • 231,383 shares were bought for €14,129,177 (i.e. 2,855 transactions).
    • 208,969 shares were sold for €12,889,302 (i.e. 2,792 transactions).

    We remind you that:

    1. At the time of the previous half-yearly balance sheet, on the settlement date of December 31, 2024, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account:
    • 51,394 Soitec shares, and
    • €2,009,718
    1. During the 2nd semester of 2024, a total of:
    • 215,838 shares were bought for €19,591,223 (i.e. 3,775 transactions);
    • 197,982 shares were sold for €17,859,326 (i.e. 3,174 transactions).
    1. On July 3, 2023, the day before the start of trading, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account:  €8,000,000.

    Aggregate data for each trading day in the 1st semester of 2025 are given in the appendix to this press release.

    *****

    Agenda

    Annual General Meeting: July 22, 2025.

    First-quarter 2025-2026 revenue: July 22, 2025, after market close.

    *****

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of more than 2,200 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Nearly 4,300 patents have been registered by Soitec.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on LinkedIn and X: @Soitec_Official

    *****

    Media Relations: media@soitec.com

    Investor Relations: investors@soitec.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde Investigates the Merger of Core Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: CORZ)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating Core Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: CORZ) related to its sale to CoreWeave, Inc. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, each outstanding share of Core Scientific common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.1235 shares of CoreWeave Class A common stock. Core Scientific shareholders will own less than 10% of the combined company. Is it a fair deal?

    Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/core-scientific-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: USS George Washington Departs Manila, Continues Indo-Pacific Patrol

    Source: United States Navy

    MANILA, Philippines – Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), the flagship of the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWA CSG), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 embarked, departed Manila, Philippines, following a scheduled port visit, July 7, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Kaptur Statement on DOE Failure to Comply with Basic Spending Transparency Requirements As Highlighted in New GAO Report

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, DC — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development issued the following joint statement in response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issuing areport that finds the Department of Energy (DOE) is not in compliance with required reporting to help ensure transparency in spending.

    “This GAO report exposes a troubling failure by the Department of Energy to meet even the most basic budgeting responsibilities. Nearly a decade after Congress required forward-looking energy planning, DOE still hasn’t delivered — and now the Trump administration wants to do away with this basic good government requirement altogether. With nearly $50 billion in taxpayer funds at stake, this lack of accountability is unacceptable. At a time of fierce global competition, we can’t afford a Department flying blind. DOE must stop stonewalling and immediately implement GAO’s recommendations — as mandated by law — to deliver the transparency, accountability, and planning the American people deserve and that this administration has promised but routinely failed to deliver.”

    The fiscal year 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act required the Secretary of Energy to submit a future-years energy program (FYEP) alongside DOE’s annual budget justifications, starting with the fiscal year 2014 request and continuing each year thereafter.

    However, GAO found that DOE has failed to fully comply with this statutory requirement, offering no justification for its ongoing noncompliance. The Department’s FYEP submissions have been incomplete and inconsistent, and it lacks both a finalized strategic plan and the necessary budgeting processes to generate accurate estimates.

    Congress mandated this investigation in the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development bill. In a striking acknowledgment of this failure, the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal attempts to eliminate the reporting requirement altogether—undermining its own claims of promoting efficiency and exposing a broader disregard for transparency and fiscal accountability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: At HELP Markup on CDC Nominee, Senator Murray Slams Secretary Kennedy for Record Measles Outbreak, Highlights Republicans’ Refusal to Conduct Oversight

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: At HELP Hearing, Senator Murray Presses CDC Nominee on Commitment to Scientific Integrity, Vaccine Access, as RFK Jr. Fires ACIP Members, Pushes Vaccine Conspiracies

    Senator Murray, along with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), authored the PREVENT Pandemics Act that made the CDC Director a Senate confirmed position for the first time starting this year

    ***WATCH HERE: Murray remarks at HELP markup on measles outbreak***

    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup to advance the nomination of Susan Monarez, PhD to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Committee, spoke forcefully about how measles cases in the U.S. have reached a 33-year high, and yet our conspiracy-minded Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has only doubled down on his dangerous anti-vaccine activism, and the Republican leadership of the HELP Committee is refusing to exercise any serious oversight of the measles crisis or other public health disasters the Trump administration is fanning the flames of.

    At the markup, the HELP committee voted 12-11 to send Dr. Monarez’s nomination to the Senate floor—Senator Murray voted against advancing her nomination.

    The CDC Director is a Senate-confirmed position for the first time this year thanks to a provision in Senator Murray’s bipartisan PREVENT Pandemics Act, which she negotiated and passed with former Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) in 2022.

    Senator Murray’s full remarks at the HELP markup, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “I think it’s really important as we consider a CDC nominee today, we talk about the real elephant in the room.

    “Because we could actually have the best CDC director in the world, and it wouldn’t change the fact that we have a person leading HHS who is an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist—and a Committee that I fear is failing to do its bipartisan, public oversight of public health disasters.

    “Measles cases are at a record 33-year high. They have not been this high since before we eliminated the disease in 2000.

    “And now we are over 1,200 cases—that is really, we believe, also an undercount.

    “But instead of pounding the pavement to encourage people to get vaccinated—the single most effective protection against measles, as you know—RFK Jr. has been firing every single member of the CDC vaccine advisory panel, and he loaded it up with his favorite vaccine skeptics, so they can pursue debunked conspiracies.

    “And I am concerned because this Committee, it feels like, has all but abandoned serious oversight of this crisis. We haven’t had a hearing on the record-breaking number of measles outbreaks.

    “Or a hearing on how the CDC vaccine panel is now stacked with people who are actually not unvetted, and all the previous board members—every single one of them—was removed with no credible explanation.

    “So, I really believe we need public oversight.  

    “I really do hope that Dr. Monarez will defy my expectations, I hope she will stand up for science, and put public health first.

    “But again, I have hoped that for others, and here we are today. So, I just want to express my disappointment, and real feeling that this committee should have oversight and do hearings before it’s too late to do anything all.

    “And I would just say, my door is open to everyone. I think that we do need to work together and try and repair some of the harm that this anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists are doing to our country right now, and I hope that you take that into consideration.”

    _______________

    At her nomination hearing last month, under Senator Murray’s questioning, Dr. Monarez admitted she agreed with Senator Murray that the eight new members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP)—which Secretary Kennedy handpicked after firing every member of the Committee for no reason—should go through a thorough ethics review process before participating in ACIP meetings. At the hearing, Senator Murray also raised alarm over Secretary Kennedy bringing Lyn Redwood in to the ACIP meeting to give a presentation on thimerosal in vaccines, and pressed Dr. Monarez on how changes to the ACIP recommendation could force families to pay out of pocket for vaccines, or forgo vaccination altogether. Senator Murray has been speaking out for weeks against Secretary Kennedy’s reckless decision to fire the entire slate of ACIP members without cause—holding a press call with Dr. Helen Chu of Washington state, one of the 17 ACIP members who was fired, and calling on Secretary Kennedy to reinstate the ACIP members he fired and ensure any new members undergo appropriate vetting.

    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.

    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress against RFK Jr.’s dismantling of HHS and attacks on America’s public health infrastructure, raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans’ health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Remarks at “Children’s Congress” Hearing on Type 1 Diabetes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on accelerating research and a cure for Type 1 diabetes—the annual “Children’s Congress”—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered opening remarks underscoring the importance of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Special Diabetes Program and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biomedical research enterprise threatens to unravel decades of progress and set back hope for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “Thank you again Chair Collins for again convening this really important, impressive hearing to talk about the NIH Special Diabetes Program’s critical work that supports life-changing research for millions of people who are living with Type 1 Diabetes, and in particular, to hear from all the kids and young adults who are living with Type 1 diabetes who came all the way here today to talk about why this program matters.

    “I know all of you have traveled from all over the country, I don’t think anybody made it here from Washington state, it’s a long trip—oh in the back, awesome! Great to see you! I want you to know that your voices make a huge difference in making sure that Congress takes action to treat and, eventually, cure Type 1 diabetes. It’s important that all of us understand your experiences with diabetes, which is of course, what this hearing is all about.

    “And of course—it is important that we improve our understanding of this disease itself, which is what the NIH Special Diabetes Program is all about.

    “This program has a great history of accomplishment: getting new artificial pancreatic devices to market, bringing us a new medication to delay Type 1 diagnoses, and improving care for patients with serious complications, and more breakthroughs that we all know are just around the corner.

    “This work is life-changing. Which is why I do want to really express my concern today about the fact that the Trump administration is terminating or freezing more than 260 grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    “The care and research that people are counting on is really in jeopardy, and your voices are important today.

    “Four of those cancelled NIDDK grants are in my home state of Washington—including a clinical trial looking at blood pressure in 200 hemodialysis patients, and a grant to train the next generation of researchers.

    “And I know that at Columbia University, President Trump terminated funding for research on how Type 1 diabetes affects bone strength in kids.

    “I don’t think anyone here needs us to explain why that’s so important, we need to strengthen bones and avoid fractures—so everyone can run, and play, and compete in sports, and live life to its fullest.

    “So, I want to be clear here today: Trump does not get to decide funding for diabetes. Congress does. And I know members on both sides of the aisle are committed to making sure we maintain strong investments in this work.

    “But we need more than just talk right now, we need to stand up and reject what is happening right now to biomedical research at NIH. And I know that my colleagues understand that as well.

    “So again, I really want to thank all of you for being here today. Because when it comes to defending this research, when it comes to pushing back against these kinds of cuts and funding freezes that we are seeing—the most effective tool we have is our voices—like the advocates in this room. The strongest way all of you can push back is by speaking out, just like you are doing today, sharing your stories, which are so important, and making sure everyone knows what is at stake.

    “And I know that with the incredible advocates like all of you, we are going to keep making progress, and we’re going to keep investing in life-changing research, and—eventually—cure Type 1 diabetes.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 769, United States Research Protection Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 769 would clarify that the prohibition on receiving benefits related to participation in programs sponsored by foreign countries for researchers who receive federal funds includes the indirect provision of such benefits. CBO estimates that implementing S. 769 would have no effect on the federal budget over the 2025-2030 period.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Johnny Willing. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1605, SOPRA

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 1605 would authorize federal courts that review agency actions to decide all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions and rules, without deferring to previous legal determinations by the agency.

    Under the bill, federal courts could overturn some agency decisions that they would have upheld under current law. Some of those decisions could affect federal spending by overturning regulations that affect direct spending, revenues, and spending subject to appropriation. However, CBO has no basis for estimating either the likelihood that such actions would be overturned or what the effects on spending might be.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jon Sperl. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Improving Catskill Conservation and Public Access

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced two milestones that will both enhance recreational access for New Yorkers and ensure long-term protections in unique and ecologically important locations in the Catskill Forest Preserve. New York State acquired 900 acres in Ulster County that form the largest addition to the Catskill Forest Preserve since 2011 and will help ensure the long-term protection of drinking water in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed. In addition, expansive upgrades at the Peekamoose Blue Hole are now complete, helping enhance safety and accessibility to the popular attraction in the town of Denning, Ulster County.

    “The Catskill region provides countless ways to get offline, get outside and connect with nature,” Governor Hochul said. “With the acquisition of 900 acres of forested beauty and water quality protection, and enhancements at one of the State’s most frequented natural wonders, New York State is continuing to invest in the Catskills to ensure their continued natural legacy and the ability of all New Yorkers to enjoy it.”

    The State’s acquisition of 900 acres in the town of Olive ensures an undisturbed viewshed of the Catskills from all points east, including the Ashokan Reservoir and Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) worked closely with the Open Space Institute to secure the parcel after the organization took ownership in 2019. Notable landmarks include Wagon Wheel Notch, Low Point, and Little High Point, and the property provides significant opportunities for public recreation and expanded access to forest preserve lands. The property will be managed by DEC in conjunction with the adjoining State-owned forest preserve lands that make up the Sundown Wild Forest.

    The $4.2 million purchase was the State’s first land acquisition funded by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. This acquisition and others underway are part of the Governor’s ‘30×30’ Initiative to protect 30 percent of New York’s lands and waters by 2030.

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “With Governor Hochul’s leadership, DEC is making comprehensive and meaningful investments to support Catskill communities. We are protecting New York’s invaluable natural resources and improving access and safety to open spaces here in Ulster County and throughout the region. This marks our first land acquisition funded through the historic Environmental Bond Act and we are grateful to our partners at the Open Space Institute for ensuring the permanent protection of 900 acres in this special place. As we protect these important places, we are advancing significant upgrades to the Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor to improve safety and support local governments and we are addressing key aspects of visitor use management across the region. DEC is demonstrating our commitment to the Catskill Forest Preserve and the region’s communities.”

    Open Space Institute President and CEO Erik Kulleseid said, “The Open Space Institute celebrates the sale of the Golden properties to DEC as an addition to the Catskill Forest Preserve. By keeping these landscapes wild and undisturbed, we are protecting vital wildlife habitat, creating new recreational opportunities, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and preserving the land’s natural ability to filter water flowing into the Ashokan watershed, a critical resource for millions of people and businesses. These properties are in good hands with our partners at DEC, and we also thank the Golden family for preserving these landscapes and working with OSI and DEC to ensure that they are protected forever.”

    In addition to conserving land and providing watershed protections to ensure the Catskills region continues to provide clean water to the millions of New Yorkers who depend on it, DEC also continues to improve safety and access to public lands in the region. As part of Governor Hochul’s Get Offline, Get Outside initiative, the Peekamoose Blue Hole’s newly constructed parking lot and first phase of a 3,270-foot accessible connector trail improves the visitor experience and promotes sustainable use of natural resources in the three-mile Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor.

    The second and final phase of the connector trail will include constructing a footbridge and retaining wall. Visitors are reminded that a permit is required for use of the entire Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor between May 15 and September 15 annually and can be obtained through DEC’s website. A new video detailing the Blue Hole visitation requirements and recommendations can be found at DEC’s YouTube page.

    State Senator Pete Harckham said, “With this important land acquisition and land improvement project in the Catskill Forest Preserve, New York State continues to achieve its 30×30 goals of preserving its open spaces and protecting water sources while also offering unparalleled opportunities to experience the natural world. The collaboration between state government and land conservation advocates that has led to this remarkable expansion of protected land deserves thanks to all involved.”

    Assemblymember Deborah Glick said, “Digital addiction is a growing concern for both children and adults. It’s important to put down our devices and spend time outdoors, getting fresh air and exercise. We’re fortunate to have beautiful and ecologically significant spaces across the state, from forest preserves to city parks, where New Yorkers can unplug and reconnect with nature. Governor Hochul’s recent acquisition of 900 acres in the Catskills to protect water quality and preserve critical habitat is a prime example of how we can expand access to the outdoors. It’s also a meaningful investment of Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act funds, helping us reach our ‘30×30’ goal of protecting 30 percent of New York’s lands and waters by 2030.”

    Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said, “As someone who’s had the opportunity to walk these trails and see the transformation firsthand, I’m thrilled to celebrate these major milestones for Ulster County and the Catskills. The upgrades at Peekamoose Blue Hole will make this beloved destination safer and more accessible for all, while the 900-acre land acquisition in Olive — one of the largest additions to the Catskill Forest Preserve in recent memory — will protect critical watershed lands and expand opportunities for public recreation. I want to thank Governor Hochul, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Open Space Institute for their leadership and partnership in preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of our region for generations to come.”

    Town of Denning Supervisor David Brooks said, “The Town has been working closely with DEC for many years to assist with the management of the Peekamoose Blue Hole. The completed upgrades will make the area safer for both residents and visitors. I greatly appreciate the cooperation of all agencies involved.”

    Town of Olive Supervisor Jim Sofranko said, “The acquisition and preservation of forestland by DEC helps Olive achieve its goal of maintaining a rural character. It is satisfying to know this land will remain “forever wild” and sustain natural habitats for future generations.”

    This week, DEC also released a draft Visitor Use Management Plan for the Formerly Trailless Catskill High Peaks to help address impacts like soil compaction, increased erosion, and damage to vegetation and wildlife habitat from increased visitation. The draft plan is helping fulfill a recommendation from the Catskill Strategic Planning Advisory Group by outlining sustainable management strategies for ecologically sensitive high-elevation peaks in the Forest Preserve that were historically managed to be free of trails and other recreational facilities. DEC is holding a hearing on the draft plan August 6 and will be accepting public comments until September 15. Visit DEC’s website for more information.

    DEC encourages all visitors to forests, trails, waterways, and other natural areas to “Love Our New York Lands” and be safe, respectful, and responsible. Simple actions – like staying on trails, picking up trash, and being prepared – help keep these areas clean, healthy, and enjoyable for all. By working together, we can make sure that these beautiful lands and the habitat they provide stay accessible and protected for future generations. Learn more by visiting DEC’s website.

    New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
    On Nov. 8, 2022, New York voters overwhelmingly approved the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act. State agencies, local governments, and partners will be able to access funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs. Bond Act funding will support new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution, and protect communities and natural resources from climate change. Progress on implementing funding continues, with New York State awarding approximately $1.25 billion, or 25 percent, of Bond Act funds to date. For more information and to sign up for progress updates, go to the Environmental Bond Act webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moran, Sorensen Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Rural Weather Radar Coverage

    Source: Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01)

    Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) reintroduced the Rural Weather Monitoring Systems Act, a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen weather radar coverage in rural and underserved areas, including regions like East Texas that face consistent gaps in early warning systems.

    Today, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) reintroduced the Rural Weather Monitoring Systems Act, a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen weather radar coverage in rural and underserved areas, including regions like East Texas that face consistent gaps in early warning systems.

    Originally introduced in June 2023, key provisions from the bill were included in the Weather Act Reauthorization of 2023, which passed the House as H.R. 6093. Now, with the broader reauthorization effort moving forward, Moran and Sorensen are reintroducing this bill as a standalone measure to underscore its importance and ensure rural communities are not left behind.

    “When severe weather hits, every second counts,” said Congressman Moran. “But far too many rural communities lack the radar coverage they need to detect threats in time. This bill directs the National Weather Service to identify where rural radar coverage is falling short, so that communities like East Texas can get the tools they need to track storms earlier, respond faster, and save lives. While a key part of this effort is already included in the Weather Act Reauthorization of 2025, we’re reintroducing this bill to emphasize the necessity for making rural weather safety a national priority. Our families, first responders, and local officials deserve better, and we’re working together to deliver it.”

    “Having access to accurate and reliable weather forecasting is critically important for everyone, whether you’re a farmer trying to plant your harvest or a family determining if you need to shelter in place for a tornado,” said Congressman Sorensen. “During severe weather season, it is critical that we get an accurate picture of the state of our weather monitoring systems across the country. This bipartisan bill will help us ensure that we’re meeting the needs of my neighbors in rural communities who rely on the NOAA and the NWS to get their weather forecasts.” 

    Background:

    This legislation requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the current state of rural weather radar systems, identify gaps in coverage, and recommend actions to improve early detection of severe weather. The bill also calls on the GAO to outline regulatory, technical, and funding obstacles that delay or prevent the deployment of modern radar infrastructure.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US media “fueling” rhetoric about China’s “theft of intellectual property” — Chinese ambassador to Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 9 /Xinhua/ — In recent days, some American politicians and media outlets have once again “heated up” the hackneyed rhetoric about “intellectual property theft” and “forced technology transfer” by China. These accusations not only represent a malicious distortion of Sino-American trade and economic relations, but have also become an ideological tool for the United States to promote trade protectionism, according to an article by Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui published in the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

    “The thesis of ‘China’s theft of intellectual property’, which is being inflated by the American side, is essentially a manifestation of arrogance and prejudice, namely the theory of ‘racial superiority in technology,’” the ambassador writes. “The United States considers itself exceptional and technologically superior to the rest of the world, looks down on everyone and claims that China is allegedly incapable of independent breakthroughs in key technologies, and, ignoring the facts, fabricates accusations. It is noteworthy that such American technology giants as Apple, Google and Amazon, clearly stated during hearings in the US Congress that there is no evidence of China stealing technology from American companies.”

    According to the ambassador, China’s technological progress is “a breakthrough through the blockade as a result of hard work in independent development.” In terms of investment in research and development (R&D), China confidently ranks second in the world. China is one of the world leaders in such areas as 5G, high-speed rail, renewable energy and unmanned aerial vehicles. The country is making a successful transition from the largest importer of intellectual property to its creator and largest exporter.

    “China has become the first country in the world to have more than 4 million patents in force domestically, with high-quality patents accounting for 41.5 percent. In 2024, the number of international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) exceeded 70,000, ranking China first in the world for the sixth consecutive year,” Zhang Hanhui wrote.

    As he points out, the thesis spread by the American side about the alleged “unfair protection of intellectual property” in China actually aims to incite discord and hinder the influx of foreign investment into the Chinese market. In recent years, China has been continuously improving its legal system in the field of intellectual property. There are 30 arbitration courts for intellectual property, 115 national centers for the protection of intellectual property and rapid response centers operating throughout the country. Foreign companies have already effectively “put forward a vote of confidence” through their practical actions.

    The Chinese diplomat cites the following data: in 2024, Apple’s R&D investment in China increased by 22 percent, Pfizer established three research centers in Shanghai, Wuhan and Beijing. Medtronic opened its first digital health innovation base in China. “The accelerated establishment of research centers in China by foreign companies demonstrates the effectiveness of efforts in the field of intellectual property protection,” Zhang Hanhui emphasizes.

    The claims about “forced technology transfer” are a substitution of concepts, the article points out. The American side is trying to present the fact of mutually beneficial cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies as “forced technology transfer.”

    “It must be clearly emphasized: ‘forced technology transfer’ not only does not comply with Chinese law, but also directly contradicts the country’s basic state policy of openness to the outside world,” the Chinese ambassador writes.

    According to him, China has been steadily promoting opening up to the outside world at a high level: the negative list for foreign investment has been significantly shortened, restrictions in the manufacturing sector have been completely abolished, and restrictions on foreign capital participation have been continuously relaxed. These measures have greatly expanded the freedom and choice for foreign companies to invest in China.

    “Meanwhile, the US is forcing three major South Korean battery manufacturers that invest in the US to disclose key technologies, forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok and hand over its operating algorithms — these are true examples of forced technology transfer and outright robbery,” notes Zhang Hanhui –0–

    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 Russia: Permanent Gaza Ceasefire Talks to Take Place If Interim Agreement Reached – Israeli FM

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JERUSALEM, July 9 (Xinhua) — Israel is ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a temporary truce is reached with the Palestinian movement Hamas, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday.

    As noted in a statement released by the office of the head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, G. Saar made the relevant comments during a joint press conference with Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar in Bratislava.

    “Israel is seriously seeking to reach an agreement on the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza,” noted G. Saar.

    He added that an Israeli delegation remained in Doha, Qatar, for indirect talks with Hamas on a proposed 60-day truce that would include the release of 10 living hostages and the return of the bodies of several dead.

    Earlier, two meetings took place in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the second of which took place on Tuesday. –0–

    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 Russia: Moscow expects to continue dialogue with Washington – Russian President’s press secretary

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 9 /Xinhua/ — Moscow expects to continue dialogue with Washington and the line on improving relations between Russia and the United States, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

    “We expect to continue our dialogue with Washington and our line on repairing the badly damaged bilateral relations,” D. Peskov told journalists.

    According to him, Moscow and Washington want to resolve the situation in Ukraine by political and diplomatic means, there are no disagreements here. As D. Peskov noted, despite the US decision to resume arms supplies to Kyiv, Russia still expects that the American administration will continue its efforts “to bring the Ukrainian settlement process to the political and diplomatic plane.”

    As confirmed by the White House and the Pentagon on July 1, the United States has suspended the supply of some weapons to Ukraine. However, on July 7, D. Trump said that the United States was going to send more weapons to Ukraine. On July 8, he said that he had approved the sending of additional weapons to Ukraine. –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Announce over $21 Million in Federal Funding for Virginia Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $21,254,275 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at ten airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

    “We are thrilled to announce this funding for Virginia’s airports,” the senators said. “This investment is a major win for Virginia’s travelers and communities and will help to ensure our airports are safer, more efficient, and ready to meet growing demand in the years to come.” 

    The funding is broken down as follows:

    • $6,000,000 to the Peninsula Airport Commission to reconstruct 6,500 feet of existing paved taxiways at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport;
    • $5,927,653 to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission through grants to rehabilitate existing runway and taxiway at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport;
    • $4,000,000 to the Capital Region Airport Commission for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at Richmond International Airport;
    • $1,699,218 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority to upgrade and replace existing security equipment at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport;
    • $1,229,342 to the City of Lynchburg to rehabilitate runway at Lynchburg Regional Airport;
    • $750,000 to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to construct a new hangar for aircraft storage at Orange County Airport;
    • $600,000 to the County of Halifax to reconstruct runway lighting at William M. Tuck Airport;
    • $164,000 to the Dinwiddie County Airport and Industrial Authority to expand the terminal apron to allow for a wider variety of aircrafts at Dinwiddie County Airport;
    • $107,112 to the County of New Kent to remove trees obstructing operations at New Kent County Airport;
    • $76,950 to the Tazewell County Airport Authority to remove trees obstructing operations at Tazewell County Airport; and
    • $700,000 to the Commonwealth of Virginia to update Virginia’s existing airport system plan.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Sens. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last month, the senators announced over $5 million in federal funding, building on more than $12 million for improvements to Virginia’s airports announced in January of this year. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding for revitalizations efforts, and in September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Announce Over $21 Million in Federal Funding for Virginia Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $21,254,275 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at ten airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

    “We are thrilled to announce this funding for Virginia’s airports,” the senators said. “This investment is a major win for Virginia’s travelers and communities and will help to ensure our airports are safer, more efficient, and ready to meet growing demand in the years to come.” 

    The funding is broken down as follows:

    • $6,000,000 to the Peninsula Airport Commission to reconstruct 6,500 feet of existing paved taxiways at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport;
    • $5,927,653 to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission through grants to rehabilitate existing runway and taxiway at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport;
    • $4,000,000 to the Capital Region Airport Commission for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at Richmond International Airport;
    • $1,699,218 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority to upgrade and replace existing security equipment at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport;
    • $1,229,342 to the City of Lynchburg to rehabilitate runway at Lynchburg Regional Airport;
    • $750,000 to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to construct a new hangar for aircraft storage at Orange County Airport;
    • $600,000 to the County of Halifax to reconstruct runway lighting at William M. Tuck Airport;
    • $164,000 to the Dinwiddie County Airport and Industrial Authority to expand the terminal apron to allow for a wider variety of aircrafts at Dinwiddie County Airport;
    • $107,112 to the County of New Kent to remove trees obstructing operations at New Kent County Airport;
    • $76,950 to the Tazewell County Airport Authority to remove trees obstructing operations at Tazewell County Airport; and
    • $700,000 to the Commonwealth of Virginia to update Virginia’s existing airport system plan.

    Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last month, the senators announced over $5 million in federal funding, building on more than $12 million for improvements to Virginia’s airports announced in January of this year. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding for revitalizations efforts, and in September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Keeps Sounding the Alarm on Health Care Emergency Worsened by Trump Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, July 9 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today delivered remarks on the impact of the Republican reconciliation bill — which passed the Senate by one vote and will throw nearly 17 million Americans off the health care they have.

    There is no question that cybersecurity and protecting the privacy of Americans’ health care records are important issues that we need to deal with. 

    But, Mr. Chairman, let me be very clear. That is not the issue that is right now on the minds of the American people. What people are worried about is the catastrophic impact that the reconciliation bill that was passed last week will have on the health and well-being of the American people. And that is the issue that I’m going to be focused on today. 

    That legislation, passed by one vote here in the Senate, will be making the largest cut to Medicaid in American history to pay for the largest tax break for billionaires in American history. 

    At a time when our current health care system is broken, dysfunctional and cruel — 85 million today are uninsured or underinsured. This bill will make a horrible situation even worse. 

    This legislation will cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1.1 trillion. 

    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that this bill, along with the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, will cause 17 million people to lose their health insurance. 

    Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and health care economists at the University of Pennsylvania have found that these health care policies would cause over 50,000 people in our country to die unnecessarily every year. That’s what happens when you can’t get to a doctor. 

    I am delighted that one of the lead researchers of this report, Dr. Alison Galvani, is here with us today to talk more about that study.

    Mr. Chairman: it is not rocket science. You’re a doctor, you know this. If people don’t have access to health care, if they can’t get to a doctor when they need to, people will suffer and tens of thousands will die. It happens today and it will only get worse. 

    Make no mistake about it: This bill is a death sentence for working-class and low-income Americans. 

    Further, as a result of this bill, more than 300 rural hospitals are now at risk of closing down altogether or substantially reducing their services. That is not my estimate. That’s what the Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina recently estimated. 

    And we are already beginning to see the devastating impact this bill will have on rural America: The Curtis Medical Center in Southwest Nebraska has already announced that it will be shutting down because it cannot withstand the cuts to Medicaid contained in this bill. 

    It’s not just rural hospitals that are now in crisis as a result of this legislation.

    According to a recent survey from the American Health Care Association, as a result of this bill, 27% of nursing homes have indicated that they will be forced to close their doors and 58% will have to reduce staff. And it’s not just nursing homes. 

    Health care researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University have found that this bill will be a disaster for community health centers. 

    They have estimated that as a result of the passage of this bill, over 40% of community health center sites will shut down. Today, there are over 15,000 community health center clinics throughout America. This could result in the shutting down of some 9,000 of them. 

    And it’s not just community health centers, it’s not just nursing homes and it’s not just individuals. 

    This legislation will substantially increase the uninsured rate in every state in this country. 

    As a result of this bill, the uninsured rate in my own state of Vermont would go up from 3.3% to 6%.

    In Louisiana, the Chairman’s state, the uninsured rate will go up from 6.7% to 12.4%.

    In Florida, the uninsured rate will go up from 10.4% to 18.8%.  

    In Texas, the second largest state in this country, the uninsured rate will go up to 20% — in the United States, in the richest country in the history of the world.

    Mr. Chairman, this is an issue that needs to be explained to the American people, and I look forward to discussing it with all of our panelists. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Padilla, Booker in Cosponsoring New Bill to Require Immigration Officers to Display Clear Identification 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Welch also joined letter to DHS requesting information about ICE’s use of unidentified plainclothes agents 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in cosponsoring new legislation to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025 would strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability of the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate and alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities across the nation.  
    Under the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda, civil immigration enforcement operations have increasingly involved Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers engaging with the public while wearing unmarked tactical gear, concealing clothing, and face coverings that obscure both agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government officials. 
    This lack of transparency endangers public safety by causing widespread confusion and fear, especially in communities already subject to heightened immigration scrutiny. It also increases operational and safety risks for law enforcement personnel by creating an opportunity for immigration enforcement impersonators and compounding uncertainty in high-stress situations. Clear, consistent, visible identification helps reduce miscommunication during enforcement encounters, strengthens officer credibility, and improves public cooperation, all of which are vital to mission success.  
     “Public safety requires trust. When federal immigration agents are in plainclothes and unidentifiable, it threatens that public safety, undermines trust in government, and can even lead to escalating violence,” said Senator Welch. “This is about accountability and transparency.” 
    The VISIBLE Act would place a critical check on the government’s power, ensuring basic transparency safeguards that protect public trust and legitimacy in immigration enforcement operations. Specifically, the VISIBLE Act: 

    Requires immigration enforcement officers — including DHS personnel such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents detailed to immigration operations, and deputized state or local officers — to display clearly legible identification, including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number, in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing; 

    Prohibits non-medical face coverings (such as masks or balaclavas) that obscure identity or facial visibility, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; and 

    Requires DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations, report annually to Congress on compliance, and investigate complaints through its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 

    The bill does not apply to covert or non-public facing operations, nor does it prohibit face coverings when necessary for officer safety. It also does not apply to enforcement actions conducted solely under criminal authority. 
    The VISIBLE Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The bill is endorsed by the ACLU and Public Counsel. 
    Learn more about the VISIBLE Act. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 
    Earlier this week, Senator Welch joined Senator Padilla and 12 of their colleagues in criticizing ICE for engaging in counterproductive, theatrical enforcement activities — including raids on courthouses and restaurants — and requesting information from the agency on its mask and uniform policies. The Senators argued that these tactics are designed to sow fear and chaos and that allowing masked, plainclothes officers to engage in public raids creates situations where bad actors can commit crimes while claiming to be ICE agents. 
    In addition to Sens. Welch and Padilla, the letter was signed by Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Hirono, Schiff, Smith, Van Hollen, Wyden, Murray, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). Read the full text of the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville to ICE Agents Being Violently Attacked: “If you need to defend yourself, shoot back.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the Radical Democrats who are violently attacking ICE agents.
    Excerpts from Sens. Tuberville and Scott’s interview can be found below or on YouTube or Rumble.
    KUDLOW: “I want to get down to the point. You’ve got people shooting at ICE agents and Border Patrol agents, right? And cops in general. And according to the Daily Caller and according to Axios and some other sources now, the Democratic Party—the people at the bottom and the constituencies and so forth at the grassroots—are urging their leaders to urge this kind of violence. In fact, they’re telling their leaders to take a shot in order to show their resistance to Trump. This is insanity. In America, we don’t shoot cops, Senator Tuberville. What you have to say about this?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, first of all, it was a disaster what the Biden administration did for four years—open borders, it was insane. Senator Scott and I went down several times. You can’t put a number on what it is number one, gonna cost the American taxpayers over the next years to get all these illegals back out of the country. But the law and order in this country—and Rick will talk about this too—is vital. You can be educated, you can have money, you can have everything you want as an American citizen—if you don’t have safe streets and neighborhoods, you don’t have anything. And so, we have to take our country back. The Democrats did this on purpose. It was all by design. They want to run over our law and order. They want social justice people running our police departments. That’s not gonna happen. I’m all for ICE. If you need to defend yourself, shoot back. Do not take this from these people. Do not take it from the Democrats. We have to take our country and neighborhoods back.”
    KUDLOW: “Yeah. If you need to defend yourself, shoot back. That has to happen, Senator Scott. And you know, we had Tom Homan on just at the top of the show. A terrific man, really. A great patriot doing the job. We can’t let up. They’re crazy—they’re crazy people shooting now. They’re crazy people who illegally walked into this country. And they’re murderers. And they’re rapists, sex traffickers, drug traffickers. That battle’s not over yet, Senator Scott. We’ve got a lot of work to do. You all just put $175 billion dollars for it into the One Big Beautiful Bill. This has got to change.”
    SCOTT: “But, it’s like who do these Democrats represent? They’re insane. I mean, they represent actual criminals. People that are selling drugs to our kids to kill them. People that have murdered and raped people—[the Democrats are] out trying to make sure they don’t go to jail. And then the people that are trying to put them in jail, they wanna kill them, these ICE agents and Border Patrol. These Democrats have gone crazy, but this is—as Coach Tuberville said—this is all designed by the Democrats. They wanted to change this country by opening up the border to criminals and drug traffickers and terrorists, and they’ve done it. Donald Trump has got his work cut out for him, but he’s gonna do it. We’re gonna clean up this country.”
    KUDLOW: “You know, Senator Tuberville, I got a guy up here in New York. Trump calls him ‘Mamdani the Commi.’ This guy wants the city to run grocery stores. He wants to defund the police, and he’s a tremendous antisemite. Hates Jewish people. He claims he’s not gonna let ICE into his sanctuary city. I mean, he’s a Democrat. Okay? This is insanity. Utter insanity. The Democrats have been the stupid party. This makes them even stupider.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, you know, he’s showing his stripes. And I don’t think this will fly, even with the people in New York. You never know. But at the end of the day, the guy is truly a communist. He believes in the government taking care of everybody, and that doesn’t work in the greatest country ever. You can just go to Venezuela, some of the other countries. If he does win, you can sack the bats in New York, Larry. We will take you in Alabama in a heartbeat. We’ll put you a TV studio up, and we’ll let you preach the gospel from the State of Alabama.”
    KUDLOW: “You know I love the gospel, Senator. You got me there. Senator Scott, you know it too. Gentlemen, you’re both terrific. Thank you so much for coming on. Appreciate it very much.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assessing the U.S. Climate in June 2025

    Source: US National Oceanographic Data Center

    Key Point:

    A widespread late-June heatwave impacted much of the central and eastern U.S., and brought record-setting temperatures. More than 100 million people across 726 counties experienced record heat from June 22–25.

    Map of the U.S. selected significant climate anomalies and events in June 2025

    Other Highlights:

    Temperature

    June U.S. Mean Temperature Departures from Average Map

    The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) in June 2025 was 71.2°F, 2.8°F above the 20th-century average, and ranked seventh warmest in the 131-year record. Temperatures were above average across most of the Lower 48, with much-above-average warmth affecting large areas of the western third of the country, along with parts of the Florida Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Rhode Island saw its second-warmest June on record and its warmest for nighttime minimum temperatures, which were 5.8°F above average.

    Alaska’s average temperature for June was 50.8°F, 1.6°F above the long-term average and ranking in the warmest third of the 101-year record. While parts of the southeast Panhandle were slightly cooler than average, the North Slope was notably warm at more than 3 degrees above average.

    The average temperature for the CONUS during the first half of 2025 (January–June) was 49.6°F, 2.1°F above the 20th-century average, ranking in the warmest third of the 131-year record. All states recorded temperatures above their long-term averages for the six-month period, with much-above-average warmth observed across parts of the West, Southwest and portions of the East Coast. Alaska’s year-to-date average temperature was 26.8°F, 5.5°F above its long-term average, tying as the fourth-warmest January–June in the 101-year record.

    Precipitation

    June 2025 U.S. Total Precipitation Percentiles

    The average precipitation for the contiguous U.S. in June was 3.22 inches, 0.30 inch above the long-term average, ranking in the wettest third of the 131-year record. Much of the Southwest, the southern and central Plains, the middle and upper Mississippi Valley, parts of the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region and areas of the Deep South recorded above-average rainfall. In contrast, drier-than-average conditions prevailed from the central West Coast through the Northwest and into the Rockies. The Northwest region experienced its third-driest June on record—and driest since 2003—with Washington and Oregon each receiving less than half an inch of rain for the month. Parts of north-central California and south-central Washington recorded no measurable rainfall for the entire month.

    For the January–June period, the CONUS averaged 15.70 inches of precipitation, 0.40 inch above the long-term average, ranking in the middle third of the 131-year record. Most of the western half of the country, along with a narrow band from the central Plains through the mid-Mississippi Valley and parts of the Southeast, were drier than average. Above-average precipitation was recorded from the southern Plains through the lower Mississippi and Ohio Valleys into the Northeast, as well as in parts of the northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley.

    Alaska received 2.32 inches of precipitation in June, which was near the long-term average. Conditions were drier than average across the eastern interior and North Slope but wetter than normal in the western and southwestern parts of the state. For the first half of the year, Alaska recorded 16.58 inches of precipitation, 2.96 inches above average, marking its fifth-wettest start to the year on record.

    Drought

    According to the July 1 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 32.4% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, an increase of approximately 2.8% since the beginning of the month. Drought developed or intensified across much of the Northwest through the Rocky Mountains and in small areas of the Alaskan interior. Conversely, drought contracted or was reduced in intensity across parts of the Southwest and southern Texas, the central and northern Plains, the upper Mississippi Valley and parts of Florida.

    Monthly Outlook

    July temperatures are expected to be above normal across the entire contiguous U.S., with the highest likelihood of warmer-than-average conditions in the Mountain West, southern Texas and throughout much of the Great Lakes and the Northeast. For rainfall, parts of the Northwest and the southern and central Plains are expected to be drier than normal, while the interior East is favored to have a wetter-than-average July. Drought is likely to persist across much of the western U.S. in July, with some further development in the Northwest, while improvement is expected across southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and far West Texas, where above-average rainfall is favored.

    Visit the Climate Prediction Center’s Official 30-Day Forecasts and U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook website for more details.

    Significant wildland fire potential is above normal for July across the Northwest, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For additional information on wildland fire potential, visit the National Interagency Fire Center’s One-Month Wildland Fire Outlook.

    For more detailed climate information, check out our comprehensive June 2025 U.S. Climate Report scheduled for release on July 14, 2025. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit the Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chris Houser, Professor in Department of Earth and Environmental Science, and Dean of Science, University of Waterloo

    Between 2010 and 2017, there were approximately 50 drowning fatalities each year associated with rough surf and strong currents in the Great Lakes.

    In addition to the personal loss experienced by family and friends, these drownings create an annual economic burden on the regional economy of around US$105 million, and that doesn’t include the direct costs of search and rescue.

    Types of rip currents

    Rip currents — commonly referred to as rips or colloquially as rip tides — are driven by the breaking of waves. These currents extend away from the shoreline and can flow at speeds easily capable of carrying swimmers far from the beach.

    Structural rips are common throughout the Great Lakes (Grand Haven on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, for example) and develop when groynes, jetties and rock structures deflect the alongshore current offshore, beyond the breaking waves. Depending on the waves and the structure, a shadow rip can also develop on the other side of the groyne or jetty.

    Rips can also develop anywhere that variations in the bathymetry (the topography of the sand underwater) — such as nearshore bars — causes wave-breaking to vary along the beach, which makes the water thrown landward by the breaking waves return offshore as a concentrated flow at the water’s surface. These are known as channel or bathymetric rips and are they can form along sand beaches in the Great Lakes.

    While it can be difficult to spot a channel rip, they can be identified by an area of relatively calm water between breaking waves, a patch of darker water or the offshore flow of water, sediment and debris.

    A person caught in a rip is transported away from shore into deeper water, but they are not pulled under the water. If they are a weak swimmer or try to fight the current, they may panic and fail to find a way out of the rip and back to shore before submerging.

    Rip current hazards

    Most rip fatalities occur on unsupervised beaches or on supervised beaches when and where lifeguards are not present. While many popular beaches near large urban centres have lifeguards, many beaches don’t. Along just the east coast of Lake Huron, there are more than 40 public beaches, including Goderich, Bayfield, Southampton and Sauble Beach, but only two have lifeguard programs (Sarnia and Grand Bend).

    Simple warning signs are used on many beaches, but visitors either don’t pay attention or don’t know how to interpret the warning.

    Non-local visitors are a high-risk group for drownings. They are less likely to make safe swimming choices than residents or regular beach-goers, because visitors are generally unfamiliar with the beach and its safety measures, have poor knowledge of beach hazards like rip currents and breaking waves and are overconfident in their swimming ability.

    Recent findings from a popular beach on Lake Huron suggest that those with less experience at the beach tend to make decisions of convenience rather than based on beach safety. Residents with greater knowledge of the local hazards tend to avoid swimming near where the rip can develop.

    But even when people are aware of rip currents and other beach hazards, they may not make the right decisions. Despite the presence of warnings, people’s actions are greatly influenced by the behaviour of others, peer pressure and group-think. The social cost of not entering the water with the group may appear to outweigh the risk posed by entering the water.

    Rip channel and current on Lake Huron. (Chris Houser)

    The behaviour of beach users is affected by confirmation bias, a cognitive shortcut where a person selectively pays attention to evidence confirming their pre-existing beliefs and ignores evidence to the contrary. When someone enters the water and does not encounter strong waves or currents, they’re more likely to engage in risky behaviour on their next visit to that beach or a similar beach.

    Vacationers and day visitors can stay safe only if they are aware that there is the potential for rip currents and rough surf at beaches in the Great Lakes. Just because a beach is accessible and has numerous attractions does not mean it is safe.

    Advocating for beach safety

    In the United States, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration runs programs designed to educate beach users about surf and rip hazards. But Canada hasn’t implemented a national beach safety strategy.

    Education about rips and dangerous surf falls on the shoulders of advocates, many of whom have been impacted by a drowning in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has been tracking and educating school and community groups about rip currents and rough surf in the Great Lakes since 2010.

    Several new advocacy groups have started in recent years, including Kincardine Beach Safety on Lake Huron and the Rip Current Information Project on Lake Erie. Given that there is limited public interest in surf-related drownings and limited media coverage, these advocacy groups are helping to increase awareness of rip currents and rough surf across the Great Lakes.

    To ensure a safe trip to the beach, beachgoers should seek out more information about rip currents and other surf hazards in the Great Lakes.

    Chris Houser receives funding from NSERC.

    – ref. The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning – https://theconversation.com/the-great-lakes-are-powerful-learning-about-rip-currents-can-help-prevent-drowning-260060

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chris Houser, Professor in Department of Earth and Environmental Science, and Dean of Science, University of Waterloo

    Between 2010 and 2017, there were approximately 50 drowning fatalities each year associated with rough surf and strong currents in the Great Lakes.

    In addition to the personal loss experienced by family and friends, these drownings create an annual economic burden on the regional economy of around US$105 million, and that doesn’t include the direct costs of search and rescue.

    Types of rip currents

    Rip currents — commonly referred to as rips or colloquially as rip tides — are driven by the breaking of waves. These currents extend away from the shoreline and can flow at speeds easily capable of carrying swimmers far from the beach.

    Structural rips are common throughout the Great Lakes (Grand Haven on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, for example) and develop when groynes, jetties and rock structures deflect the alongshore current offshore, beyond the breaking waves. Depending on the waves and the structure, a shadow rip can also develop on the other side of the groyne or jetty.

    Rips can also develop anywhere that variations in the bathymetry (the topography of the sand underwater) — such as nearshore bars — causes wave-breaking to vary along the beach, which makes the water thrown landward by the breaking waves return offshore as a concentrated flow at the water’s surface. These are known as channel or bathymetric rips and are they can form along sand beaches in the Great Lakes.

    While it can be difficult to spot a channel rip, they can be identified by an area of relatively calm water between breaking waves, a patch of darker water or the offshore flow of water, sediment and debris.

    A person caught in a rip is transported away from shore into deeper water, but they are not pulled under the water. If they are a weak swimmer or try to fight the current, they may panic and fail to find a way out of the rip and back to shore before submerging.

    Rip current hazards

    Most rip fatalities occur on unsupervised beaches or on supervised beaches when and where lifeguards are not present. While many popular beaches near large urban centres have lifeguards, many beaches don’t. Along just the east coast of Lake Huron, there are more than 40 public beaches, including Goderich, Bayfield, Southampton and Sauble Beach, but only two have lifeguard programs (Sarnia and Grand Bend).

    Simple warning signs are used on many beaches, but visitors either don’t pay attention or don’t know how to interpret the warning.

    Non-local visitors are a high-risk group for drownings. They are less likely to make safe swimming choices than residents or regular beach-goers, because visitors are generally unfamiliar with the beach and its safety measures, have poor knowledge of beach hazards like rip currents and breaking waves and are overconfident in their swimming ability.

    Recent findings from a popular beach on Lake Huron suggest that those with less experience at the beach tend to make decisions of convenience rather than based on beach safety. Residents with greater knowledge of the local hazards tend to avoid swimming near where the rip can develop.

    But even when people are aware of rip currents and other beach hazards, they may not make the right decisions. Despite the presence of warnings, people’s actions are greatly influenced by the behaviour of others, peer pressure and group-think. The social cost of not entering the water with the group may appear to outweigh the risk posed by entering the water.

    Rip channel and current on Lake Huron. (Chris Houser)

    The behaviour of beach users is affected by confirmation bias, a cognitive shortcut where a person selectively pays attention to evidence confirming their pre-existing beliefs and ignores evidence to the contrary. When someone enters the water and does not encounter strong waves or currents, they’re more likely to engage in risky behaviour on their next visit to that beach or a similar beach.

    Vacationers and day visitors can stay safe only if they are aware that there is the potential for rip currents and rough surf at beaches in the Great Lakes. Just because a beach is accessible and has numerous attractions does not mean it is safe.

    Advocating for beach safety

    In the United States, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration runs programs designed to educate beach users about surf and rip hazards. But Canada hasn’t implemented a national beach safety strategy.

    Education about rips and dangerous surf falls on the shoulders of advocates, many of whom have been impacted by a drowning in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has been tracking and educating school and community groups about rip currents and rough surf in the Great Lakes since 2010.

    Several new advocacy groups have started in recent years, including Kincardine Beach Safety on Lake Huron and the Rip Current Information Project on Lake Erie. Given that there is limited public interest in surf-related drownings and limited media coverage, these advocacy groups are helping to increase awareness of rip currents and rough surf across the Great Lakes.

    To ensure a safe trip to the beach, beachgoers should seek out more information about rip currents and other surf hazards in the Great Lakes.

    Chris Houser receives funding from NSERC.

    – ref. The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning – https://theconversation.com/the-great-lakes-are-powerful-learning-about-rip-currents-can-help-prevent-drowning-260060

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Sues California for Violating Title IX, Denying Girls Athletic Opportunities

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division today filed suit to enforce Title IX and protect California female student athletes from unfair competition and reckless endangerment by male participation on female high-school sports teams.

    According to the complaint, the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) have engaged in illegal sex discrimination against female student athletes by allowing males to compete against them, depriving these girls of the equal education and athletic opportunities afforded to them by federal civil rights law. Thus, the suit seeks declaratory, injunctive, and damages relief for violations of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal funding.

    As alleged in the complaint, the U.S. Department of Education’s “current allocation of funds to CDE for fiscal year 2025 totals approximately $44.3 billion, of which approximately $3.8 billion remains available for drawdown by CDE, including both discretionary grants and formula grants.”

    “The Governor of California has previously admitted that it is ‘deeply unfair’ to force women and girls to compete with men and boys in competitive sports,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.  “But not only is it ‘deeply unfair,’ it is also illegal under federal law. This Department of Justice will continue its fight to protect equal opportunities for women and girls in sports.”

    “Title IX was enacted over half a century ago to protect women and girls from discrimination. The Justice Department will not stand for policies that deprive girls of their hard-earned athletic trophies and ignore their safety on the field and in private spaces,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “Young women should not have to sacrifice their rights to compete for scholarships, opportunities, and awards on the altar of woke gender ideology.”

    “California is on the wrong side of the law and the wrong side of history,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “Women deserve dignity, respect, and an equal opportunity to compete on their own sports teams. The time for talk is over. California must comply with Title IX and end its civil rights violations against women. No person, no state, is above the law.”

    CDE has authority over CIF and local school districts’ interscholastic athletic policies, and CIF oversees 1.8 million students and over 750,000 student-athletes in grades 9 through 12. The complaint is available here.

    MIL Security OSI –