Category: Military Intelligence

  • Israeli military prepares plan to ensure Iran cannot threaten Israel, defence minister says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Israeli military is preparing an enforcement plan to “ensure that Iran cannot return to threaten Israel”, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told senior military officials.

    He said the military must be prepared, both in intelligence and operations, to ensure Israel has air superiority and to prevent Tehran from reestablishing its previous capabilities.

    He made his remarks following a 12-day air war between the longtime enemies in June, during which Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the aim was to prevent Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.

    Iran denies seeking nuclear arms and that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.

    Israel and Iran agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended hostilities on June 24.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping Conveys Greetings to Famous Actor Who Joined CPC at Age 92

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has instructed officials of the Organizational Work Department of the CPC Central Committee (Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee) to convey words of support and greetings to renowned actor Yu Benchang, who recently joined the CPC at the age of 92.

    Xi Jinping, also China’s president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said he was glad to hear the news and called Yu Benchang’s faith in the CPC truly touching.

    Born in 1933, Yu Benchang is a first-class actor of the National Theater of China. During his many years of professional activity in theater, film and television, he has created many artistic images that have been loved by the people. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • President Murmu unveils Durand Cup trophies

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu on Friday unveiled the trophies of Durand Cup Tournament 2025 at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.

    The 2025 edition of the Durand Cup will be held from July 23 to August 23 across six venues in West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand.

    Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the tournament features matchups between Services teams and some of India’s top football clubs. In recent editions, the Durand Cup has also witnessed international participation, with Army teams from neighbouring countries joining the competition.

    Speaking at the event, the President emphasized the unifying power of sports, highlighting how they promote discipline, determination, and team spirit.

    “Sports have the unique power to connect people, regions, and countries. In India, they serve as a powerful tool for national integration,” she said, noting the collective pride felt when the Indian tricolour is raised at international events.

    Highlighting the enduring popularity of football, President Murmu said the sport is more than a game – it is a passion that inspires millions. “Football is about strategy, endurance, and teamwork. Events like the Durand Cup nurture this spirit and provide a vital platform for emerging talent,” she added.

    She also lauded the role of the Armed Forces in sustaining and promoting the legacy of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, which continues to play a key role in developing the sport in India.

  • Trump says he expects Hamas decision in 24 hours on ‘final’ peace proposal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether the Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a “final proposal” for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.

    The president also said he had spoken to Saudi Arabia about expanding the Abraham Accords, the deal on normalization of ties that his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term.

    Trump said on Tuesday Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war.

    He was asked on Friday if Hamas had agreed to the latest ceasefire deal framework, and said: “We’ll see what happens, we are going to know over the next 24 hours.”

    A source close to Hamas said on Thursday the Islamist group sought guarantees that the new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal would lead to the end of Israel’s war in Gaza.

    Two Israeli officials said those details were still being worked out. Dozens of Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza authorities.

    The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show.

    Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.

    A previous two month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Trump earlier this year proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the U.N. and Palestinians as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing.”

    ABRAHAM ACCORDS

    Trump made the comments on the Abraham Accords when asked about U.S. media reporting late on Thursday that he had met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House.

    “It’s one of the things we talked about,” Trump said. “I think a lot of people are going to be joining the Abraham accords,” he added, citing the predicted expansion to the damage faced by Iran from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.

    Axios reported that after the meeting with Trump, the Saudi official spoke on the phone with Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.

    Trump’s meeting with the Saudi official came ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Guam nuclear radiation survivors ‘heartbroken’ over exclusion from compensation bill

    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist

    People on Guam are “disappointed” and “heartbroken” that radiation exposure compensation is not being extended to them, says the president of the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors (PARS), Robert Celestial.

    He said they were disappointed for many reasons.

    “Congress seems to not understand that we are no different than any state,” he told RNZ Pacific.

    “We are human beings, we are affected in the same way they are. We are suffering the same way, we are greatly disappointed, heartbroken,” Celestial said.

    The extension to the United States Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was part of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress on Friday (Thursday, Washington time).

    Downwind compensation eligibility would extend to the entire states of Utah, Idaho and New Mexico, but Guam – which was included in an earlier version of the bill – was excluded.

    All claimants are eligible for US$100,000.

    Attempt at amendment
    Guam Republican congressman James Moylan attempted to make an amendment to include Guam before the bill reached the House floor earlier in the week.

    “Guam has become a forgotten casualty of the nuclear era,” Moylan told the House Rules Committee.

    “Federal agencies have confirmed that our island received measurable radiation exposure as a result of US nuclear testing in the Pacific and yet, despite this clear evidence, Guam remains excluded from RECA, a program that was designed specifically to address the harm caused by our nation’s own policies.

    “Guam is not asking for special treatment we are asking to be treated with dignity equal to the same recognition afforded to other downwind communities across our nation.”

    Moylan said his constituents are dying from cancers linked to radiation exposure.

    From 1946 to 1962, 67 nuclear bombs were detonated in the Marshall Islands, just under 2000 kilometres from Guam.

    New Mexico Democratic congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández supported Moylan, who said it was “sad Guam and other communities were not included”.

    Colorado, Montana excluded
    The RECA extension also excluded Colorado and Montana; Idaho was also for a time but this was amended.

    Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors (PARS) members at a gathering . . . “heartbroken” that radiation exposure compensation is not being extended to them. Image: RNZ Pacific/Eleisha Foon

    Celestial said he had heard different rumours about why Guam was not included but nothing concrete.

    “A lot of excuses were saying that it’s going to cost too much. You know, Guam is going to put a burden on finances.”

    But Celestial said the cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office for Guam to be included was US$560 million while Idaho was $1.4 billion.

    “[Money] can’t be the reason that Guam got kicked out because we’re the lowest on the totem pole for the amount of money it’s going to cost to get us through in the bill.”

    Certain zip codes
    The bill also extends to communities in certain zip codes in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alaska, who were exposed to nuclear waste.

    Celestial said it’s taken those states 30 years to be recognised and expects Guam to be eventually paid.

    He said Moylan would likely now submit a standalone bill with the other states that were not included.

    If that fails, he said Guam could be included in nuclear compensation through the National Defense Authorization Act in December, which is for military financial support.

    The RECA extension includes uranium workers employed from 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1990.

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

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi sends regards to renowned actor who joins CPC at 92

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

    BEIJING, July 4 — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, entrusted leading officials of the CPC Central Committee’s Organization Department to convey his encouragement and regards to renowned actor You Benchang, who recently joined the Party at the age of 92.

    Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said he was pleased to hear the news and described You’s faith in the Party as truly heartwarming.

    You, born in 1933, is a first-class actor with the National Theatre of China who has spent decades bringing beloved characters to life on stage and screen.

    MIL OSI China News

  • PM Modi pays tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his death anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his death anniversary, honouring his enduring legacy as a spiritual visionary, philosopher, and cultural icon.

    “I bow to Swami Vivekananda Ji on his Punya Tithi. His thoughts and vision for our society remains our guiding light. He ignited a sense of pride and confidence in our history and cultural heritage. He also emphasised on walking the path of service and compassion,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also remembered Swami Vivekananda, highlighting his role in reviving India’s spiritual and cultural pride.

    Hailing him as “the pioneer of the renaissance of Indian wisdom, philosophy, and cultural pride,” Amit Shah wrote on X:
    “On the Nirvana Day of Swami Vivekananda, the pioneer of the renaissance of Indian knowledge, philosophy, and cultural pride, I offer my respectful tribute. Swamiji not only inspired the people of the country towards spiritual advancement but also awakened moral strength and self-confidence among the youth. He reinstated the Indian knowledge tradition on the global stage and gave the clarion call to the youth: “Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached. Swami Vivekananda, who regarded education as the cornerstone of social development, will always remain a guiding force in the path of nation-building.”

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid homage, describing Swami Vivekananda as “an inspiration not only for the youth of India but for the entire world.”

    “On the death anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, I pay my heartfelt tribute to him. He is an inspiration not only for the youth of India but for the entire world. We are fully committed to fulfilling his dream of building a prosperous and progressive India,” Singh posted on X.

    Born on January 12, 1863, Swami Vivekananda was a revered monk, philosopher, and disciple of the mystic saint Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

    A leading figure in India’s spiritual and national renaissance, he championed the ideals of fearless living, self-realisation, and service to humanity.

    His teachings, rooted in Vedanta philosophy, continue to influence India’s social and political thought. He urged people—especially the youth—to realise their inner strength and work toward the upliftment of society.

    On May 1, 1897, Swami Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Mission to promote the values and teachings of his Guru. The mission remains one of India’s most respected spiritual and philanthropic institutions.

    His iconic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 introduced India’s ancient spiritual wisdom to the West, earning him international acclaim. His message of universal brotherhood and religious tolerance continues to resonate globally.

    Swami Vivekananda’s powerful exhortation, “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached,” remains one of the most enduring mantras of motivation, urging individuals to pursue their goals with resolve, self-awareness, and unwavering commitment.

    Swami Vivekananda passed away on July 4, 1902, at the age of 39.

  • 6,411 pilgrims depart Jammu for Amarnath shrine amid tight security

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    More than 12,300 pilgrims had darshan at the sacred Amarnath shrine on Thursday, marking a successful start to this year’s Amarnath Yatra, officials said.

    On Friday morning, another batch of 6,411 pilgrims departed from Jammu amid unprecedented security arrangements. According to officials, the pilgrims set out from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two heavily guarded convoys comprising 291 vehicles.

    Of the latest batch, 2,789 pilgrims are en route to the Baltal base camp, while 3,622 are heading to the Nunwan base camp near Pahalgam, officials added. 

    The enthusiasm among the devotees was palpable, as they chanted “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev,” unfazed by recent threats. Many yatris said their determination to undertake the pilgrimage was rooted in faith and devotion to Lord Shiva, whose spiritual call they had come to heed.

    This year’s Yatra is being held under a tightened security grid in the wake of the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-backed militants killed 26 civilians after targeting them based on their religious identity. To prevent any repeat of such incidents, the government has deployed an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), augmenting the existing presence of the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police.

    All transit camps and the complete pilgrimage route—from Jammu to the cave shrine—are under constant security surveillance, with multi-tier protection in place.

    Demonstrating their support, local Kashmiris were among the first to welcome the Yatra. In a heartwarming gesture, residents greeted the first batch of pilgrims with garlands and placards at Qazigund, shortly after they emerged from the Navyug Tunnel into the Valley. The warm reception sent a strong message of solidarity and unity in the face of violence.

    The 38-day-long pilgrimage, which began on July 3, will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Devotees can undertake the journey via two routes—either the traditional 46-kilometre trek from Pahalgam or the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route. The Pahalgam path takes four days to complete and involves stops at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, while the Baltal route allows pilgrims to return the same day.

    The cave shrine, located 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas, houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite believed to represent Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, it was inside this cave that Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality to Goddess Parvati.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • 6,411 pilgrims depart Jammu for Amarnath shrine amid tight security

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    More than 12,300 pilgrims had darshan at the sacred Amarnath shrine on Thursday, marking a successful start to this year’s Amarnath Yatra, officials said.

    On Friday morning, another batch of 6,411 pilgrims departed from Jammu amid unprecedented security arrangements. According to officials, the pilgrims set out from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two heavily guarded convoys comprising 291 vehicles.

    Of the latest batch, 2,789 pilgrims are en route to the Baltal base camp, while 3,622 are heading to the Nunwan base camp near Pahalgam, officials added. 

    The enthusiasm among the devotees was palpable, as they chanted “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev,” unfazed by recent threats. Many yatris said their determination to undertake the pilgrimage was rooted in faith and devotion to Lord Shiva, whose spiritual call they had come to heed.

    This year’s Yatra is being held under a tightened security grid in the wake of the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-backed militants killed 26 civilians after targeting them based on their religious identity. To prevent any repeat of such incidents, the government has deployed an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), augmenting the existing presence of the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police.

    All transit camps and the complete pilgrimage route—from Jammu to the cave shrine—are under constant security surveillance, with multi-tier protection in place.

    Demonstrating their support, local Kashmiris were among the first to welcome the Yatra. In a heartwarming gesture, residents greeted the first batch of pilgrims with garlands and placards at Qazigund, shortly after they emerged from the Navyug Tunnel into the Valley. The warm reception sent a strong message of solidarity and unity in the face of violence.

    The 38-day-long pilgrimage, which began on July 3, will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Devotees can undertake the journey via two routes—either the traditional 46-kilometre trek from Pahalgam or the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route. The Pahalgam path takes four days to complete and involves stops at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, while the Baltal route allows pilgrims to return the same day.

    The cave shrine, located 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas, houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite believed to represent Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, it was inside this cave that Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality to Goddess Parvati.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Denmark: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    Strong growth has continued, primarily driven by the expansion of pharmaceutical exports, while domestic demand has been relatively sluggish. Inflation has remained below 2 percent. Public finances and external positions are robust, and the financial system has demonstrated resilience to multiple shocks in recent years. Staff expects growth to moderate in the near term as external demand weakens, and the exceptional pharmaceutical expansion begins to normalize. While direct impacts from U.S. tariffs are expected to be limited, the escalated global trade tensions pose risks to the outlook. In response to increasing geopolitical tensions, early in 2025, the government announced a substantial increase in defense spending.

    Subject: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Climate change, Crime, Defense spending, Environment, Expenditure, Financial institutions, Financial sector policy and analysis, Financial sector stability, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stance, Insurance, Labor, Labor markets, Loans, Mortgages

    Keywords: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Climate change, Defense spending, Financial sector stability, Fiscal stance, Insurance, Labor markets, Loans, Mortgages, Securities

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Denmark: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    Strong growth has continued, primarily driven by the expansion of pharmaceutical exports, while domestic demand has been relatively sluggish. Inflation has remained below 2 percent. Public finances and external positions are robust, and the financial system has demonstrated resilience to multiple shocks in recent years. Staff expects growth to moderate in the near term as external demand weakens, and the exceptional pharmaceutical expansion begins to normalize. While direct impacts from U.S. tariffs are expected to be limited, the escalated global trade tensions pose risks to the outlook. In response to increasing geopolitical tensions, early in 2025, the government announced a substantial increase in defense spending.

    Subject: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Climate change, Crime, Defense spending, Environment, Expenditure, Financial institutions, Financial sector policy and analysis, Financial sector stability, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stance, Insurance, Labor, Labor markets, Loans, Mortgages

    Keywords: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Climate change, Defense spending, Financial sector stability, Fiscal stance, Insurance, Labor markets, Loans, Mortgages, Securities

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “War has an adult face”: a joint exhibition with the Main Archives Department opened in government service centers

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    As part of the project “Moscow – Caring for History”, the government service centers “My Documents” andMain Archival Administration capital carried out a large-scale renovation of the exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. The new exhibition “War has an adult face” can be seen in 30 public service centers, as well as online at Glavarkhiv website.

    The exhibition tells about the contribution of children to the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Young heroes worked in the rear, not inferior to adults, donated their earnings to the needs of the Red Army and even participated in battles themselves.

    Visitors to the public service centers will learn how the pioneers sent 18 tanks to the Red Army, as well as how children became sons and daughters of the regiment, participated in reconnaissance, and how the Timurovites movement developed. The exhibition also tells the story of a young pilot who stood among the best at the Victory Parade, as well as how Agniya Barto united families after the war.

    The infographics contain interesting facts about the children of war: how much money they donated to the army, where they worked during the hardest years, and how many medals they received. The video is dedicated to the sons of the regiment, their stories and awards, and the archival audio recording contains fragments of the memories of schoolgirl G. Akimova and historian and archivist Edda Cellini about their childhood in the capital during wartime.

    By participating in the quiz, adult visitors to the My Documents offices will be able to test their attentiveness and intuition, as well as learn about the exploits of young heroes. Children will enjoy interactive activities on the touch panel, thanks to which they will feel like assistants to the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War.

    You can visit the exhibition daily in district offices from 08:00 to 20:00, and in flagship offices from 10:00 to 22:00.

    Public Service Centers and the Main Archives Opened an Exhibition of Propaganda Posters from the Great Patriotic War at VDNKhDigitalization and robotization: how archival documents become more accessible to city residents

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156234073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New space squadron for NZDF

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Royal New Zealand Air Force has established its first dedicated space unit with the reactivation of the No. 62 Squadron today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.

    “This reflects our commitment to protecting New Zealand’s interests and security in the rapidly evolving space domain,” Ms Collins says.

    “Space is vital for modern life. We rely on space-based infrastructure for a range of critical services, from weather observation to financial transactions. 

    “This is an important signal that we’re taking space security seriously.”

    No. 62 Squadron was reactivated at a formal ceremony at RNZAF Base Auckland today. Originally active during World War II, the squadron supported Allied operations through the innovative use of radar technology. Now, its mission shifts to space domain awareness.

    “The squadron’s initial focus will be on monitoring, analysing, and understanding space activity to safeguard national and international interests,” Ms Collins says.

    “Recent global developments have highlighted the need for resilient, advanced defence capabilities. This move is part of the work the New Zealand Defence Force is doing to maintain a combat-capable, flexible force.”

    The reactivation supports the recent Defence Capability Plan which outlined $12 billion of planned commitments to upgrade the Defence Force over the next four years. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI China: Russian Navy’s deputy head killed in Ukrainian attack on Kursk

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

    Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy head of the Russian Navy, has been killed in a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Kursk Region, the governor of the far eastern Primorye Territory said Thursday.

    Calling Gudkov a “hero of Russia and hero of Primorye,” Governor Oleg Kozhemyako said in a Telegram post: “I express my deepest condolences to the families, friends and fellow servicemen of Mikhail Gudkov, Nariman Shikhaliyev and all other fighters who were killed in the Kursk Region.”

    The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday that Gudkov was killed in a combat mission in a border area of the Kursk Region on Wednesday.

    Gudkov, 42, was appointed deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy in March. He previously served as commander of the 155th Separate Guards Brigade of the Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry and participated in the special military operation starting on Feb. 24, 2022.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 4, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 4, 2025.

    Astronomers have spied an interstellar object zooming through the Solar System
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsten Banks, Lecturer, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology K Ly / Deep Random Survey This week, astronomers spotted the third known interstellar visitor to our Solar System. First detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on July 1, the

    Avoid bad breath, don’t pick partners when drunk: ancient dating tips to find modern love
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia Henryk Siemiradzki via Wikimedia Commons To love and be loved is something most people want in their lives. In the modern world, we often see stories about the difficulties of finding love and the

    Back to Back Theatre tackles an epic Shakespearian conflict – set in a factory, with cardboard props
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Hunter, Senior Lecturer in Art and Performance, Deakin University Jeff Busby/Back To Back Theatre/ACMI Back to Back Theatre is one of Australia’s national treasures. Over 30 years this dynamic Geelong-based company – an ensemble of actors who are perceived to have intellectual disabilities – has built

    Australia’s new lung cancer screening program has chosen simplicity over equity, and we’re concerned
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa J. Whop, Associate Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Yardhura Walani, National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University Thurtell/Getty Images Australia’s lung cancer screening program launched on July 1, and marks real progress and opportunity. It aims to reduce the

    Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Rattenbury, Associate Professor in Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Environmental Defense Fund, CC BY-SA This week’s announcement of the loss of a methane-detecting satellite, just days before New Zealand was meant to take over mission control, is a blow to the country’s space research

    Rare wooden tools from Stone Age China reveal plant-based lifestyle of ancient lakeside humans
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bo Li, Professor, Environmental Futures Research Centre, School of Science, University of Wollongong Excavation at the Gantangqing site. Liu et al. Ancient wooden tools found at a site in Gantangqing in southwestern China are approximately 300,000 years old, new dating has shown. Discovered during excavations carried out

    I’ve seen the brain damage contact sports can cause – we all need to take concussion and CTE more seriously
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Health Science, Swinburne University of Technology AAP Image/The Conversation, CC BY Concussion in sport continues to make headlines, whether it be class actions, young men flocking to the highly violent “RunIt” activity or debate about whether Australian rules football

    NZ will soon have no real interisland rail-ferry link – why are we so bad at infrastructure planning?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images) Another week, another Cook Strait ferry breakdown. As the winter maintenance season approaches and the Aratere prepares for its final months of service, New Zealand faces a self-imposed crisis. The government

    Mauna Loa Observatory captured the reality of climate change. The US plans to shut it down
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Sen Gupta, Associate Professor in Climate Science, UNSW Sydney Izabela23/Shutterstock The greenhouse effect was discovered more than 150 years ago and the first scientific paper linking carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere with climate change was published in 1896. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that

    6 simple questions to tell if a ‘finfluencer’ is more flash than cash
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, Associate Professor, Emerging Technologies and FinTech | FinTech Capability Lead, Swinburne University of Technology Oleg Golovnev/Shutterstock Images of flashy sports cars. Lavish lifestyle shots. These are just some of the red flags consumers should watch out for when they turn to social media for financial

    Grattan on Friday: how two once hot-button issues this week barely sparked media and political interest
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Political and news cycles often work in a certain and predictable way. Issues flare like bushfires, then rage for weeks or even months, until they are finally extinguished by action or fade by being overtaken by the next big thing.

    How many serious incidents are happening in Australian childcare centres? We don’t really know
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harper, Lecturer, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Catherine Delahaye/ Getty Images This week, a Melbourne childcare worker was charged over alleged sexual abuse of young children in his care. Families are justifiably appalled and furious – with 1,200 children urged to be

    Too much vitamin B6 can be toxic. 3 symptoms to watch out for
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Selena3726/Shutterstock Side effects from taking too much vitamin B6 – including nerve damage – may be more widespread than we think, Australia’s medicines regulator says. In an ABC report earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Therapeutic Goods

    Too much vitamin B6 can be toxic. 3 symptoms to watch out for
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Selena3726/Shutterstock Side effects from taking too much vitamin B6 – including nerve damage – may be more widespread than we think, Australia’s medicines regulator says. In an ABC report earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Therapeutic Goods

    10 steps governments can take now to stamp out child sexual abuse in care settings
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Mathews, Distinguished Professor, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology Recent cases of prolific alleged child sexual abuse in Melbourne and other Australian early childhood education and care settings have shocked even experienced people who work to prevent child sexual abuse. Parents are right to be

    Tears, trauma and unpaid work: why men in tinnies aren’t the only heroes during a flood disaster
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca McNaught, Research Fellow, Rural and Remote Health, University of Sydney Dan Peled/Getty Images When flooding strikes, our screens fill with scenes of devastated victims, and men performing heroic dinghy rescues in swollen rivers. But another story often goes untold: how women step in, and step up,

    The takeaway from the Venice Biennale saga: the art world faces deep and troubling structural inequality
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grace McQuilten, Professor of Art and Associate Dean, Research and Innovation, School of Art, RMIT University Creative Australia’s decision earlier this year to rescind the selection of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia’s 2026 representatives at the Venice Biennale sent shockwaves through the arts

    The Rainbow Warrior saga: 1. French state terrorism and NZ’s end of innocence
    COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Immediately after killing Fernando Pereira and blowing up Greenpeace’s flagship the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour, several of the French agents went on a ski holiday in New Zealand’s South Island to celebrate. Such was the contempt the French had for the Kiwis and the abilities of our police to pursue

    Does eating cheese before bed really give you nightmares? Here’s what the science says
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charlotte Gupta, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, CQUniversity Australia Phoenixns/Shutterstock, The Conversation, CC BY Have you heard people say eating cheese before bed will cause you to have vivid dreams or nightmares? It’s a relatively common idea. And this week, a new study

    Experiencing extreme weather and disasters is not enough to change views on climate action, study shows
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omid Ghasemi, Research Associate in Behavioural Science at the Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW Sydney STR / AFP via Getty Images Climate change has made extreme weather events such as bushfires and floods more frequent and more likely in recent years, and the trend is

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 4, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 4, 2025.

    Astronomers have spied an interstellar object zooming through the Solar System
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsten Banks, Lecturer, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology K Ly / Deep Random Survey This week, astronomers spotted the third known interstellar visitor to our Solar System. First detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on July 1, the

    Avoid bad breath, don’t pick partners when drunk: ancient dating tips to find modern love
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia Henryk Siemiradzki via Wikimedia Commons To love and be loved is something most people want in their lives. In the modern world, we often see stories about the difficulties of finding love and the

    Back to Back Theatre tackles an epic Shakespearian conflict – set in a factory, with cardboard props
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Hunter, Senior Lecturer in Art and Performance, Deakin University Jeff Busby/Back To Back Theatre/ACMI Back to Back Theatre is one of Australia’s national treasures. Over 30 years this dynamic Geelong-based company – an ensemble of actors who are perceived to have intellectual disabilities – has built

    Australia’s new lung cancer screening program has chosen simplicity over equity, and we’re concerned
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa J. Whop, Associate Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Yardhura Walani, National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University Thurtell/Getty Images Australia’s lung cancer screening program launched on July 1, and marks real progress and opportunity. It aims to reduce the

    Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Rattenbury, Associate Professor in Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Environmental Defense Fund, CC BY-SA This week’s announcement of the loss of a methane-detecting satellite, just days before New Zealand was meant to take over mission control, is a blow to the country’s space research

    Rare wooden tools from Stone Age China reveal plant-based lifestyle of ancient lakeside humans
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bo Li, Professor, Environmental Futures Research Centre, School of Science, University of Wollongong Excavation at the Gantangqing site. Liu et al. Ancient wooden tools found at a site in Gantangqing in southwestern China are approximately 300,000 years old, new dating has shown. Discovered during excavations carried out

    I’ve seen the brain damage contact sports can cause – we all need to take concussion and CTE more seriously
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Health Science, Swinburne University of Technology AAP Image/The Conversation, CC BY Concussion in sport continues to make headlines, whether it be class actions, young men flocking to the highly violent “RunIt” activity or debate about whether Australian rules football

    NZ will soon have no real interisland rail-ferry link – why are we so bad at infrastructure planning?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images) Another week, another Cook Strait ferry breakdown. As the winter maintenance season approaches and the Aratere prepares for its final months of service, New Zealand faces a self-imposed crisis. The government

    Mauna Loa Observatory captured the reality of climate change. The US plans to shut it down
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Sen Gupta, Associate Professor in Climate Science, UNSW Sydney Izabela23/Shutterstock The greenhouse effect was discovered more than 150 years ago and the first scientific paper linking carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere with climate change was published in 1896. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that

    6 simple questions to tell if a ‘finfluencer’ is more flash than cash
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, Associate Professor, Emerging Technologies and FinTech | FinTech Capability Lead, Swinburne University of Technology Oleg Golovnev/Shutterstock Images of flashy sports cars. Lavish lifestyle shots. These are just some of the red flags consumers should watch out for when they turn to social media for financial

    Grattan on Friday: how two once hot-button issues this week barely sparked media and political interest
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Political and news cycles often work in a certain and predictable way. Issues flare like bushfires, then rage for weeks or even months, until they are finally extinguished by action or fade by being overtaken by the next big thing.

    How many serious incidents are happening in Australian childcare centres? We don’t really know
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harper, Lecturer, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Catherine Delahaye/ Getty Images This week, a Melbourne childcare worker was charged over alleged sexual abuse of young children in his care. Families are justifiably appalled and furious – with 1,200 children urged to be

    Too much vitamin B6 can be toxic. 3 symptoms to watch out for
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Selena3726/Shutterstock Side effects from taking too much vitamin B6 – including nerve damage – may be more widespread than we think, Australia’s medicines regulator says. In an ABC report earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Therapeutic Goods

    Too much vitamin B6 can be toxic. 3 symptoms to watch out for
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Selena3726/Shutterstock Side effects from taking too much vitamin B6 – including nerve damage – may be more widespread than we think, Australia’s medicines regulator says. In an ABC report earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Therapeutic Goods

    10 steps governments can take now to stamp out child sexual abuse in care settings
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Mathews, Distinguished Professor, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology Recent cases of prolific alleged child sexual abuse in Melbourne and other Australian early childhood education and care settings have shocked even experienced people who work to prevent child sexual abuse. Parents are right to be

    Tears, trauma and unpaid work: why men in tinnies aren’t the only heroes during a flood disaster
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca McNaught, Research Fellow, Rural and Remote Health, University of Sydney Dan Peled/Getty Images When flooding strikes, our screens fill with scenes of devastated victims, and men performing heroic dinghy rescues in swollen rivers. But another story often goes untold: how women step in, and step up,

    The takeaway from the Venice Biennale saga: the art world faces deep and troubling structural inequality
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grace McQuilten, Professor of Art and Associate Dean, Research and Innovation, School of Art, RMIT University Creative Australia’s decision earlier this year to rescind the selection of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia’s 2026 representatives at the Venice Biennale sent shockwaves through the arts

    The Rainbow Warrior saga: 1. French state terrorism and NZ’s end of innocence
    COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Immediately after killing Fernando Pereira and blowing up Greenpeace’s flagship the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour, several of the French agents went on a ski holiday in New Zealand’s South Island to celebrate. Such was the contempt the French had for the Kiwis and the abilities of our police to pursue

    Does eating cheese before bed really give you nightmares? Here’s what the science says
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charlotte Gupta, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, CQUniversity Australia Phoenixns/Shutterstock, The Conversation, CC BY Have you heard people say eating cheese before bed will cause you to have vivid dreams or nightmares? It’s a relatively common idea. And this week, a new study

    Experiencing extreme weather and disasters is not enough to change views on climate action, study shows
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omid Ghasemi, Research Associate in Behavioural Science at the Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW Sydney STR / AFP via Getty Images Climate change has made extreme weather events such as bushfires and floods more frequent and more likely in recent years, and the trend is

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission

    Source: US Whitehouse

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

     Section 1.  Purpose.  The United States is blessed with vast beautiful landscapes, abundant natural resources, and a rich heritage of discovery by travelers and outdoorsmen.  America’s national parks, forests, waterways, and public lands have inspired generations and kindled our Nation’s spirit of exploration.  To ensure that the next generation of Americans inherits this same sense of duty and adventure, my Administration will prioritize conserving our great American national parks and outdoor recreation areas.

    Years of mismanagement, regulatory overreach, and neglect of routine maintenance require action.  Land-use restrictions have stripped hunters, fishers, hikers, and outdoorsmen of access to public lands that belong to them.  These bureaucratic restrictions have undermined outdoor traditions and threatened conservation funding.  The National Park Service and the United States Forest Service face more than $23 billion and $10.8 billion in deferred maintenance, respectively, leaving roads, trails, and historic landmarks in disrepair.  Despite these challenges, our Nation has proven that conservation and economic growth go hand in hand.  Since the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-152), the outdoor recreation economy has grown to $1.2 trillion in economic output, and, in 2023, comprised 3.1 percent of employees in the United States and supported 5 million jobs.

    Through both innovation and commonsense policies, America can preserve its natural beauty and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.  It is the policy of my Administration to prioritize responsible conservation, restore our lands and waters, and protect our Nation’s outdoor heritage for the enjoyment of the American people.

    Sec2.  General Policies. All Federal land management agencies, as defined by 16 U.S.C. 6801(3), shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that their policies:

    (a)  promote responsible stewardship of natural resources while driving economic growth;

    (b)  expand access to public lands and waters for recreation, hunting, and fishing;

    (c)  encourage responsible, voluntary conservation efforts;

    (d)  cut bureaucratic delays that hinder effective environmental management; and

    (e)  recover America’s fish and wildlife populations through proactive, voluntary, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts.

    Sec3.  Establishment and Composition of the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission. (a)  There is hereby established the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission (Commission), which shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Interior (Chair), with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy serving as Executive Director (Executive Director).

    (b)  In addition to the Chair and the Executive Director, the Commission shall include the following officials or their designees:

    (i)     the Secretary of Defense;

    (ii)    the Secretary of Agriculture;

    (iii)   the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

    (iv)    the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;

    (v)     the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers;

    (vi)    the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff;

    (vii)   the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;

    (viii)  the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality; and

    (ix)    other members of my Administration invited to participate, at the discretion of the Chair and the Executive Director.

    Sec4.  Conserving Our National Treasures. The Commission shall advise and assist the President regarding how best to responsibly conserve America’s national treasures and natural resources, including by:

    (a)  monitoring the implementation of this order and facilitating interagency coordination on conservation efforts;

    (b)  providing to the President actionable recommendations for improving conservation efforts;

    (c)  developing policies to recover fish and wildlife populations through collaboration rather than regulation, including policies involving coordination with State wildlife agencies;

    (d)  recommending to the President solutions to expand access to clean drinking water and restore aquatic ecosystems to improve water quality and availability; and

    (e)  developing policies to expand access to public lands, national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges while promoting a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, boating, off-roading, and wildlife viewing.

    Sec5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        July 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: We Have Only Just Begun

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    On July 1, after the longest vote-a-rama in Senate history, the Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by a vote of 51-50. Here is why I voted yes. 

    With President Biden in the White House and majorities in both chambers of Congress, Democrats had every opportunity to repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and increase taxes on “the rich.” They did not do so. Instead of returning to a reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending and deficits, once the economy recovered, they incurred deficits averaging $1.9 trillion over four years. If that wasn’t bad enough, President Biden also left office with open borders and raging wars.  

    By passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we have avoided a $4 trillion automatic tax increase and a default on our debt. Due to the enormous messes Biden and congressional Democrats left us, we are also providing additional funding for border security and defense.   

    While the bill is a step forward, we have only just begun the difficult task of reducing spending, and there is still a long way to go. A rigorous effort will soon be announced to review every program and every line of the federal budget, looking for ways to reduce spending to a reasonable pre-pandemic level. I look forward to being fully involved in that effort to put America on a path to fiscal sustainability.

    As a follow up to my May 21 Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations’ hearing entitled, The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies: How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccines, I asked witnesses to “send me the science” to back up their hearing testimony. 

    We kept the record open until June 5, during which time Majority’s witnesses submitted hundreds of documents — including peer-reviewed studies — and thousands of citations about COVID-19 vaccine adverse events to accompany their testimonies. These records provide substantial support for the witnesses’ claims regarding the serious health risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccines. 

    At the hearing we released a Majority staff interim report and over 2,400 pages of records detailing the failure of Biden health officials to properly warn the public of the risks of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The hearing featured testimony from Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Jordan Vaughn, Dr. James Thorp, Dr. Joel Wallskog, and Mr. Aaron Siri, all of whom were invited  to speak about COVID-19 vaccine adverse events.

    Hawaii Governor Josh Green, the Minority’s witness at the hearing, submitted 33 pages of testimony in his written statement for the hearing. He then submitted 19 links to studies and articles to support his claims about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines one week after the hearing record officially closed.   

    I allowed Governor Green’s late submission to be included in the official record so that the public can compare the evidence that the governor presented in support of the COVID-19 vaccines to the multitude of documentation indicating the clear health risks associated with the injections.

    Documents and citations that the Majority’s witnesses entered into the record can be viewed here. 

    Governor Green’s submission to the record can be viewed here.

    Congratulations to Class 171 of the Joseph Project. These seven participants spent the week learning how to prepare for opportunities to put them on a successful path in the job market.

    We connect graduates with employers who are ready to hire and help with the job application and interview process. Once employment is secured, the Joseph Project provides transportation (free for one month) to participants to help establish good work habits. 

    While the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is the only service academy that does not require a congressional nomination, my staff stays abreast of the academic and service opportunities provided by this institution for young people in Wisconsin. 

    The other service academies — U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy — require a congressional nomination in addition to your application.

    Wisconsin students should be aware the deadline for nomination applications is September 19, 2025. Visit my website for more information. 

    The Senate passed a resolution I introduced designating July as National Sarcoma Awareness Month. The resolution raises awareness of sarcoma, a form of cancer, and honors the life of Hartford’s Melissa Locke and the many other Americans that this disease affects.

    I am pleased that my resolution passed the Senate in honor of Melissa Locke and the countless other Americans who have struggled with this life-threatening disease. I hope we can continue to increase awareness of this complex form of cancer that is diagnosed thousands of times each year.

    My staff is part of the Capitol Brew Crew softball team which plays against other Congressional offices. They are 4-2 overall and the last game of the season is against the team from the Office of Sen. Tammy Baldwin on July 17. Stay tuned!

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Rattenbury, Associate Professor in Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Environmental Defense Fund, CC BY-SA

    This week’s announcement of the loss of a methane-detecting satellite, just days before New Zealand was meant to take over mission control, is a blow to the country’s space research sector.

    New Zealand invested NZ$29 million in the MethaneSat mission, built and operated by the US nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, with a goal of growing the nation’s space industry.

    This would have been accomplished through gaining experience in operating a satellite at the University of Auckland’s Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute, and through research led by a team at Earth Sciences New Zealand to use the satellite to measure agricultural sources of methane.

    But on June 20, the satellite lost power and contact with the ground, and appears to be irrecoverable. This is disappointing for everyone on the mission development and operations teams.

    Having been in that position personally when my team lost a miniature satellite after a successful launch, I sympathise. But the benefits New Zealand hoped to gain from the MethaneSat mission will now be limited, at best, and questions need to be asked to learn from the failure.

    Early issues and delays

    The MethaneSat satellite launched in March 2024. New Zealand was meant to take over mission control by the end of last year, but problems with the satellite’s thrusters meant this was delayed to June this year.

    The satellite’s main mission was to detect methane leaks from oil and gas production, but it was also used to track methane sources from agriculture.

    New Zealand was not likely involved in the chain of events leading to the under-performance and delays, nor the eventual loss of the satellite. But as investors in the project, we are entitled to an explanation.

    That a spacecraft fails in orbit is not surprising. The space environment is unforgiving. But there is a question about whether New Zealand should have taken a closer look “under the hood” before investing in MethaneSat.

    The principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware) applies to spacecraft as much as to purchasing a car. While we were not involved in the MethaneSat mission design, satellite construction and testing, we were certainly entitled to relevant information to make a fully informed decision on whether or not to invest.

    Questions remain. During the MethaneSat post-mortem, one could reasonably ask to what extent experts were consulted during the decision-making process to invest in the satellite mission, and who was applying due diligence on behalf of New Zealand taxpayers.

    When earlier issues emerged, to what extent should New Zealand taxpayers, as investors, have been happy with explanations veiled in reported obligations of confidentiality or commercial sensitivity?

    Lessons for future space missions

    New Zealand has scientists and engineers working at publicly-funded universities who can contribute to future decision-making processes for the next taxpayer-funded space mission.

    New Zealand scientists working in the space sector do so knowing full well that the nation’s capacity to fund space missions is limited. Apart from being hard, frustrating, rewarding and unforgiving, working in space is expensive – and there are often delays and setbacks.

    Some of us working in New Zealand space research have been trying to work through how best to advise government on where to spend limited public funding. This will not be an easy task.

    The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is an international organisation established in 1958 to promote global cooperation in space research. It provides a forum for the exchange of scientific results, sets standards for space data sharing, and advises on space policy and planetary protection.

    New Zealand participates in COSPAR as a national member and its committee comprises space science researchers from across the country. As chair of the New Zealand COSPAR committee, I sent a letter to Minister of Space Judith Collins last year offering our services:

    I believe closer collaboration between COSPAR’s initiatives and New Zealand’s aerospace goals would enhance our mutual objectives and strengthen our contribution to the global aerospace community. Specifically, we are uniquely placed to advise on the range of scientific endeavours currently underway […] that could be at the heart of a national space mission.

    Close scrutiny needed

    New Zealand has more talent and good research ideas than funding to support them. So there has to be a way of choosing between competing ideas.

    Crucially, that selection process has to be fully transparent so the investors – New Zealand taxpayers – can have confidence their investment is being safely bestowed.

    My vision is for a funding process for future space missions that addresses scientific goals relevant to New Zealand and takes advantage of the talent we have.
    There will be applicants who miss out, as there always are in any competitive process. But I would like to see support given to unsuccessful applicants to improve their chances in subsequent attempts.

    I work towards fostering the New Zealand space sector, especially in the areas where we can push back the boundaries of human knowledge via the safe, peaceful and sustainable use of space. This is the excitement I see reflected in the students I teach.

    For a nation with ambitions to utilise space for science, technological development and commercial gain, we also have to acknowledge that failure is a part of that journey. To make the best use of our very limited resources, we must examine our processes in the fullest light of disclosure – regardless of whether the failure was technological or in our decision-making processes.

    Nicholas James Rattenbury works for The University of Auckland. He has received funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Royal Society Te Apārangi. He is affiliated with Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute. He is the current Chair of the New Zealand Committee of COSPAR.

    None of the viewpoints expressed in this article necessarily reflect those held by any of the abovementioned organisations or any other organisation or entity mentioned in the article.

    ref. Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now – https://theconversation.com/lost-in-space-methanesat-failed-just-as-nz-was-to-take-over-mission-control-heres-what-we-need-to-know-now-260407

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Delivers $5,000+ SALT Relief, Cuts Middle-Class Taxes, Protects Social Security, and Strengthens Long Island’s Economy

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Nick LaLota (R–Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 1 – the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping legislative package that delivers the most significant tax relief for the middle class in a generation, includes historic investments in national security and workforce development, and provides direct financial relief to Long Island families.

    “It’s official—Congressional Republicans’ signature budget bill passed the House and is heading to President Trump’s desk,” said LaLota. “This bill quadruples the SALT cap for five years, boosts the Child Tax Credit, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, and delivers the biggest middle-class tax cut in decades. Just the SALT provision alone means that a Long Island family earning $250,000 and paying $18,000 in property taxes will get $5,000 more back when they file their 2025 taxes—real relief I fought tooth and nail to deliver.”

    A taxpayer can calculate his or her gain under the new SALT cap here.

    “This is a pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth bill. It avoids the $1,700 Biden tax hike that would have taken the equivalent of eight weeks of groceries from many households. Instead, it expands 529 education savings, creates newborn savings accounts, and protects Social Security and Medicare—while finally ending the provider tax scam that let states game Medicaid. Taxpayers deserve transparency, not gimmicks,” LaLota added.

    “Raising the SALT cap was the toughest legislative fight of my time in Congress. Some on the right called it a ‘blue state bailout.’ Many on the left dismissed it as welfare for the wealthy and refused to fix it—despite years of empty rhetoric. But despite opposition from 213 Members and 53 Senators, I didn’t blink. The SALT cap is now $40,000. That’s a hard-earned win for Long Island families,” said LaLota.

    Background

    What’s in the One Big, Beautiful Bill. The legislation delivers direct, measurable benefits to Suffolk County and middle-class families across the country. 

    State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction Relief. Raises the SALT deduction cap to $40,000 for five years for households earning under $500,000, indexed to inflation. For many Long Island families, this restores nearly all the tax relief lost in 2017.

    Direct Tax Relief for Working Families. Eliminates taxes on tips, overtime, and car loan interest—putting more money back into workers’ paychecks. Prevents the $1,700 tax hike previously projected under the Biden administration.

    Pro-Family Provisions. Increases the Child Tax Credit to $2,200, expands 529 accounts to cover apprenticeships and job training, and establishes childcare and newborn savings accounts.

    Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and PTET Fixes. Permanently raises the AMT exemption and phase-out thresholds to prevent surprise tax hikes for upper-middle-income families. Fixes the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) to help small businesses grow and reinvest locally.

    Deficit Reduction Without Touching Social Security or Medicare. Closes the Medicaid provider tax loophole that allowed states to inflate federal reimbursements—ending a long-running budget gimmick. Requires able-bodied adults to work, volunteer, or train to receive Medicaid benefits, promoting accountability while preserving care for those truly in need. All without touching a penny of Social Security or Medicare.

    Defense and Workforce Investment. $18.5 billion in warship procurement and $3.8 billion to expand the maritime industrial base—supporting local shipbuilding. Also includes:

    • $750 million for supplier development
    • $450 million for maritime workforce development grants
    • $250 million for Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

    Support for Long Island Agriculture

    • $3.3 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
    • $1.375 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program
    • $100 million in Specialty Crop Block Grants
    • Expanded crop insurance access for small and specialty growers

    Healthcare and Hospital Funding. Delays harmful Medicaid DSH cuts through 2029, preserving critical funding for hospitals like Stony Brook. Extends Medicare telehealth access and expands Medicaid flexibility for outpatient and behavioral health care.

    Border Security and Immigration Reform. Adds immigration judges and infrastructure to clear case backlogs. Enhances ICE capacity and legal resources to adjudicate up to 1 million removal cases annually.

    Critical Infrastructure and Safety Investments

    • $12.5 billion to modernize air traffic control and hire more controllers
    • $625 million to support law enforcement and emergency coordination for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

    For a comprehensive list of policies included in the bill, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Next Stop, POTUS’ Desk: Ezell Votes In Support of the One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)

    Today, U.S. Representative Mike Ezell (MS-04) proudly voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping legislative package that delivers on President Donald Trump’s America First agenda by cutting taxes, securing the border, unleashing American energy, and protecting taxpayer dollars.

    “This legislation is a major win for Mississippi families, workers, and businesses,” Ezell said. “It restores common sense to Washington by making the Trump tax cuts permanent, securing our borders, stopping taxpayer abuse, and ensuring American energy powers our economy, not foreign adversaries. This bill reflects the priorities of the people I represent—faith, freedom, and a fair shot at the American Dream. I’m proud to stand with President Trump and House Republicans in delivering real results for the American people.”

    Key provisions included in the legislation:

    • Makes the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts Permanent – prevents a 22% tax hike on the average American by locking in tax relief for working families, small businesses, and job creators.
    • Delivers Pro-Growth, Pro-Worker Reforms – eliminates taxes on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest, while providing new tax relief for seniors.
    • Includes $24.6 billion in investments to strengthen the U.S. Coast Guard’s mission.
    • Historic Border Security Investment – provides over $175 billion to complete the wall, build 900 miles of new river barriers, hire thousands of Border Patrol agents and customs officers, and expand detention and removal operations.
    • Protects Benefits for Those Who Need Them – restores work requirements for able-bodied adults on SNAP, prevents states from gaming the system, and ensures that Medicaid serves those truly in need, not non-citizens.
    • Ends Government Benefits for Non-Citizens – refocuses limited federal resources on vulnerable American families, not those here unlawfully.
    • Unleashes American Energy Dominance – Mandates regular lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and on federal lands to ensure American energy independence and create thousands of good-paying jobs, including my legislation, the BRIDGE Act, which I championed this Congress.
    • Strengthens National Defense – invests nearly $150 billion to modernize our military, deter adversaries, and support service members at home and abroad.
    • Reformers Higher Education by streamlining student loan repayment options, supports student success, and cuts government waste.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Presidential Message on the 162nd Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

    Source: US Whitehouse

    Today, our Nation solemnly commemorates the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg—the single deadliest battle of the Civil War and a defining milestone in America’s epic struggle to preserve our Union and secure the sacred blessings of freedom and democracy. 

    In the spring of 1863, the Civil War had been raging for over 2 years, and the future of the United States hung in the balance.  Emboldened by a string of recent Confederate victories, General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia launched an invasion of the North with a set of clear goals: push the fighting from war-torn Virginia past the Mason-Dixon line, defeat the Union troops on their own soil, and force President Abraham Lincoln into peace negotiations.

    With the very fate of the Republic at stake, the Union forces remained steadfast in their resolve to defend the freedom of their fellow countrymen as their last full measure of devotion.  The Union Army of the Potomac—led first by General Joseph Hooker and then by General George Meade—marched north to pursue the Confederate forces.  Divisions of the two forces met near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1863.

    What began as an unplanned encounter quickly erupted into an epochal struggle with the entire war and the very fate of our Nation at stake.  As Union defensive lines, known as the famed “fishhook,” came under attack by Confederate forces from three directions, brother met brother amid fierce clashes in places whose names have been indelibly marked in the chapters of American history: Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, and the Peach Orchard, to name but a few.  With the failure of Pickett’s Charge on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, the battle was won, the high-water mark of the Confederacy had been reached, and the course of the remaining years of the Civil War was set.  The Confederacy would never recover from their loss at Gettysburg—paving the way to the ultimate surrender of Lee’s Army at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, and the end of the Confederacy itself.

    From July 1-3, 1863, of the estimated 51,000 casualties on both side, 7,058 souls were lost—3,155 Union and 3,903 Confederate were, making the Battle of Gettysburg the bloodiest battle to ever take place on American soil.  Just months later, in November of 1863, President Lincoln would stand on these hallowed grounds and immortalize these heroic sacrifices in his historic Gettysburg Address, proclaiming that “we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

    These words continue to inspire citizens all across our land.  In the darkest days of our Nation’s history, thousands of courageous men left behind their homes and families for the noble causes of duty, honor, and country.  On the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, we pay tribute to the patriots who valiantly shed their blood to cast out slavery and preserve our glorious Union.  Their unwavering courage, selfless sacrifice, and unfailing devotion to our founding principles define the eternal triumph of the American spirit. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: The One, Big, Beautiful Bill delivers on President Trump’s promises to the American people. It secures massive tax cuts for American families and businesses, complete border security, a supercharged economy, and accountability in taxpayer-funded programs,

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Dale W. Strong (AL-05) issued the following statement after final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

    “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill delivers on President Trump’s promises to the American people. It secures massive tax cuts for American families and businesses, complete border security, a supercharged economy, and accountability in taxpayer-funded programs, while reducing out-of-control government spending,” said Representative Dale Strong.  

    “From our space, defense, and manufacturing sectors to our working families, farmers, and small business owners — all of North Alabama will benefit from President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill,” continued Strong.  

    ALABAMA WINS

    Marshall Space Flight Center

    • $4.1 billion for two Space Launch System rockets for the Artemis IV and V missions through Fiscal Year 2029
    • $20 million for Orion and integration of Orion with SLS
    • $100 million for construction and infrastructure projects at Marshall Space Flight Center

    Rural Healthcare

    • Locks in Alabama’s 6% hospital provider tax rate  
    • $50 billion national fund to support rural health through 2030, with $500 million in funding for Alabama in formula dollars alone  

    Farmers and Agriculture

    • Delivers much-needed enhancements in the farm safety net – including higher reference prices that reflect the current agricultural economy
    • Expands access to more affordable crop insurance while making it more responsive to risk

    National Defense  

    • $25 billion for the Golden Dome which Redstone Arsenal will play a significant role in supporting
    • $150 billion for defense spending through 2034, including $19 billion to restock America’s arsenal  

    Tax Cuts for Families and Small Businesses

    • Prevents a 22% tax hike for the average worker
    • Take-home pay for a family of 4 increases by $7,600-$10,900 per year  
    • No tax on tips, overtime pay, and made in America car loan interest
    • Additional tax relief for seniors

    AMERICA FIRST WINS
     

    Border Security Investments

    • 701 miles of primary wall and construction, and 900 miles of river barriers
    • Increases funding to ICE for transportation and mass deportation operations  
    • 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, 5,000 new Office of Field Operations customs officers

    Restores Fiscal Sanity

    • Cuts waste, fraud abuse of programs to preserve them for people who truly need them
    • Implements work requirements for able-bodied Americans without young dependents to receive SNAP and Medicaid  
    • Ends Medicaid benefits for 1.4 million illegal immigrants
    • Repeals Biden-era Green New Deal agenda  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS Gabrielle Giffords arrives in Seattle

    Source: United States Navy Pacific Fleet 1

    SEATTLE – The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) departed Naval Base San Diego June 23 and arrived at its new homeport of Seattle June 28, following an 18-month rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Actions on regulating third-party election campaigning and financing – E-002462/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002462/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR), Kosma Złotowski (ECR), Tomasz Froelich (ESN), Michał Dworczyk (ECR), Alexander Jungbluth (ESN), Małgorzata Gosiewska (ECR), Branko Grims (PPE), Anna Zalewska (ECR), Volker Schnurrbusch (ESN), Daniel Obajtek (ECR), Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR), Petr Bystron (ESN), Jacek Ozdoba (ECR), Marlena Maląg (ECR), Patryk Jaki (ECR), Tobiasz Bocheński (ECR), Joachim Stanisław Brudziński (ECR), Waldemar Buda (ECR), Jadwiga Wiśniewska (ECR), Bogdan Rzońca (ECR), Adam Bielan (ECR), Piotr Müller (ECR), András László (PfE)

    The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe / Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) report on Poland’s election campaign highlights unregulated third-party activities. Akcja Demokracja funded 600 digital billboards and ads on Meta and Google. The Committee for the Defence of Democracy rented a train and buses for a Rafał Trzaskowski support rally (25 May 2025). Fat Frogs Media spent PLN 131 000 on Google ads. Spontaniczny Sztab Obywatelski promoted Trzaskowski, denigrating Karol Nawrocki. Wiesz Jak Nie Jest paid PLN 321 484 for 104 ads, Stół Dorosłych – PLN 165 958 for 32, and ‘Wybierzmy Przyszłość’ – PLN 804 000 from 24 April to 28 May 2025.

    The ODIHR notes that the lack of regulation over third-party campaigns breaches international standards and recommendations. These entities, including civic organisations, supported Trzaskowski, incurring significant costs.

    • 1.What steps could the Commission take to regulate third-party campaigns in line with ODIHR recommendations?
    • 2.Will the Commission investigate the matter on its own initiative?
    • 3.How will the Commission support Member States in ensuring fair elections?

    Submitted: 18.6.2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – ‘ReArm Europe’ package and the use of cohesion programmes and funding for defence – E-001065/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The ReArm Europe Plan foresees the possibility to incentivise defence-related investments in the EU budget. This has been deemed necessary to support Member States’ defence readiness as underlined in the Joint White Paper for European Defence — Readiness 2030[1].

    The ReArm Europe Plan has been devised, in light of the current geopolitical tensions, by the Commission to respond to a European Council tasking, notably to present a set of ‘developed options […] for public and private funding to strengthen the defence technological and industrial base and address critical capability gaps’[2].

    As part of this plan, the Commission adopted on 1 April 2025 measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review[3] of cohesion policy funds via amendments to existing cohesion policy regulations.

    Those aims at incentivising Member States to voluntarily adjust their cohesion programmes to invest in the EU’s emerging strategic priorities.

    In particular, the proposal enables Member States to make better use of current possibilities to build resilient infrastructures to foster military mobility and to support and enhance productive capacities of small and large enterprises in the defence sector. Furthermore, the proposal will also encourage skills development in the defence industry to narrow the existing skills gap.

    All proposals by the Commission respect the procedures foreseen in terms of impact assessment and stakeholder consultations, as outlined in the appropriate Commission Staff Working Document[4].

    Rules for adoption of cohesion policy programme amendments are not modified and therefore will be subject to approval by the monitoring committees as applicable to ensure scrutiny by stakeholders.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6d5db69-e0ab-4bec-9dc0-3867b4373019_en?filename=White%20paper%20for%20European%20defence%20%E2%80%93%20Readiness%202030.pdf.
    • [2]  European Council conclusions, 27 June 2024 (conclusion 26, p. 8).
    • [3]  COM(2025)123 final; https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/communication/mid-term-review-2025/communication-mid-term-review-2025_en.pdf.
    • [4] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d0bbd77f-bee5-4ee5-b5c4-6110c7605476_en?filename=swd2021_305_en.pdf.
    Last updated: 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – EU-UK 2025 Leaders’ Summit: Setting the path for further rapprochement – 03-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Amid Brexit’s negative consequences for the British economy and with the 2024 leadership change in the United Kingdom, the shift towards closer European Union-UK relations has gained momentum. After months of negotiation, the first EU-UK leaders’ summit took place in London on 19 May 2025. Both sides agreed on global priorities of common strategic interest, such as support for multilateralism and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The parties also established a Security and Defence Partnership, based on biannual structured foreign policy dialogue and consultation mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of information and cooperation. To this end, regular thematic dialogues on a range of security issues will commence. The partnership paves the way for UK participation in the EU’s common joint defence procurement (SAFE initiative). The summit cemented an accord on full reciprocal access to fishing waters until 30 June 2038. The UK and EU also agreed to extend energy cooperation on a permanent basis. Further negotiations will continue, on the youth mobility scheme (including UK participation in Erasmus+), UK participation in the EU’s internal electricity market, linking emission trading systems and establishing a common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area. Many experts see the summit as an important step towards further rapprochement, as the UK indicated willingness to dynamically align some of its laws with the EU legal framework, recognise the authority of the Court of Justice of the EU and cooperate closely on security and defence issues. However, some point to a lack of milestones and solid progress monitoring tools. In numerous resolutions, the European Parliament has called for closer cooperation on trade, security and for UK participation in several EU programmes. Parliament will be involved in scrutinising any implementing legislation and giving or refusing consent if further binding international agreements, such as the SPS area, materialise as a result of the London summit.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger, Colleagues Sound the Alarm on Urgent Need for U.S. Drone Defenses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — As first reported in Fox News, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) joined 24 of his colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem inquiring about the status of defense measures for U.S. military installations, government buildings, and critical infrastructure from the threat of drones. This letter follows a growing number of drone attacks launched by Israel and Ukraine to penetrate deep into Iranian and Russian territory, respectively. 

    In part, the members wrote, “Since 9/11, our nation has not suffered a major coordinated attack on our own soil. While the government has done good work in preventing an attack like 9/11 from happening again, we want to ensure that we are preparing for a new paradigm in which relatively cheap drones can quickly and effectively wipe out core military and government infrastructure.” 

    “While American threat projection globally is strong among all the branches of the military, we need to be prepared for a new paradigm of covert, but potentially disastrous, threats to our core military interests, including our nuclear triad in the homeland.”

    Other signers of the letter include U.S. Reps. Mike Carey (OH-15), Brian Babin (TX-36), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Aaron Bean (FL-04), Nicholas Begich (AK-AL), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Ben Cline (VA-06), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Troy Downing (MT-02), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Mike Flood (NE-01), Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Clay Higgins (LA-03), French Hill (AK.-02), Jim Jordan (OH-04), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Bob Latta (OH-05), John McGuire (VA-05), Max Miller (OH-07), Chip Roy (TX-21), Michael Rulli (OH-06), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Beth Van Duyne (TX-24).

    In addition to this letter, Rep. Pfluger also introduced the COUNTER Act earlier this year to unleash the military on enemy drones in the U.S. 

    See the full letter HERE or read the full text below. 

    Dear Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem:

    We write to inquire with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the current state of drone attack countermeasures for our military installations, government buildings, embassies, and consulates, both domestic and abroad. 

    The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated that large-scale, highly coordinated mass-drone attacks can be highly effective if the defender lacks adequate counter-drone defenses. 

    Since the beginning of the Russo-Ukraine war, drones have played a decisive role in deterring Russian armored and infantry assaults. With the relatively cheap cost to produce, maintain, and operate these systems, Ukraine can field drones to strike targets deep in occupied territories and Russian soil. The Russian Federation quickly adopted drone weaponry and surveillance equipment in response. 

    Drone technology has spread to other conflicts, including Israel’s confrontations with Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. On multiple occasions, Iran had used a tiered attack against Israel using drones alongside ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.

    Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web and Israel’s Operation Rising Lion have demonstrated thedevastating threat of a large-scale drone attack upon military installations and critical infrastructure far beyond one’s own borders. These operations are complemented by deep infiltration operations among each country’s respective intelligence services. Not only that, but the cost asymmetry to produce and operate drones against the damage they can cause is incredibly valuable for this guerrilla tactic.

    With the former administration’s open border policies and most drones being purchased from DJI, a Chinese Communist Party drone company, it is becoming increasingly likely that we could see a similar attack upon our country that could threaten our service members and cripple our lethality if we are not prepared. 

    Since 9/11, our nation has not suffered a major coordinated attack on our own soil. While thegovernment has done good work in preventing an attack like 9/11 from happening again, we want to ensure that we are preparing for a new paradigm in which relatively cheap drones can quickly and effectively wipe out core military and government infrastructure.

    While American threat projection globally is strong among all the branches of the military, we need to be prepared for a new paradigm of covert, but potentially disastrous, threats to our core military interests, including our nuclear triad in the homeland.

    Following the successful U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, it is imperative that we ensure the readiness and security of our military bases, critical infrastructure, and overseas diplomatic installations. A potential Iranian response could involve direct attacks here at home or abroad. We must take all necessary measures to safeguard our service members and defend our interests at this time.

    Any information you can provide in response to the following questions would be helpful:

    • What is the status of American countermeasures to deter and counter mass drone attacks against military installations, government facilities (including Washington D.C.), and critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, and manufacturing sites?
    • If defenses are currently inadequate to deter or repel drone attacks similar to those referenced above, what steps are being taken to address them, and what is the timeline for implementation?
    • Is the DOD or DHS aware of or actively working to deter potential threats posed by foreign-owned land near critical military and infrastructure sites in the United States that could be a launching point for a mass drone attack like we saw in Russia by Ukrainian forces?
    • Is there a concern of any sort of weaponized drone buildup already happening in theUnited States from drones that may have been smuggled in due to the former administration’s open border policies?
    • Will counter-drone technology be considered for President Trump’s Golden Dome air defense project?

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger, Colleagues Sound the Alarm on Urgent Need for U.S. Drone Defenses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — As first reported in Fox News, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) joined 24 of his colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem inquiring about the status of defense measures for U.S. military installations, government buildings, and critical infrastructure from the threat of drones. This letter follows a growing number of drone attacks launched by Israel and Ukraine to penetrate deep into Iranian and Russian territory, respectively. 

    In part, the members wrote, “Since 9/11, our nation has not suffered a major coordinated attack on our own soil. While the government has done good work in preventing an attack like 9/11 from happening again, we want to ensure that we are preparing for a new paradigm in which relatively cheap drones can quickly and effectively wipe out core military and government infrastructure.” 

    “While American threat projection globally is strong among all the branches of the military, we need to be prepared for a new paradigm of covert, but potentially disastrous, threats to our core military interests, including our nuclear triad in the homeland.”

    Other signers of the letter include U.S. Reps. Mike Carey (OH-15), Brian Babin (TX-36), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Aaron Bean (FL-04), Nicholas Begich (AK-AL), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Ben Cline (VA-06), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Troy Downing (MT-02), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Mike Flood (NE-01), Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Clay Higgins (LA-03), French Hill (AK.-02), Jim Jordan (OH-04), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Bob Latta (OH-05), John McGuire (VA-05), Max Miller (OH-07), Chip Roy (TX-21), Michael Rulli (OH-06), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Beth Van Duyne (TX-24).

    In addition to this letter, Rep. Pfluger also introduced the COUNTER Act earlier this year to unleash the military on enemy drones in the U.S. 

    See the full letter HERE or read the full text below. 

    Dear Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem:

    We write to inquire with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the current state of drone attack countermeasures for our military installations, government buildings, embassies, and consulates, both domestic and abroad. 

    The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated that large-scale, highly coordinated mass-drone attacks can be highly effective if the defender lacks adequate counter-drone defenses. 

    Since the beginning of the Russo-Ukraine war, drones have played a decisive role in deterring Russian armored and infantry assaults. With the relatively cheap cost to produce, maintain, and operate these systems, Ukraine can field drones to strike targets deep in occupied territories and Russian soil. The Russian Federation quickly adopted drone weaponry and surveillance equipment in response. 

    Drone technology has spread to other conflicts, including Israel’s confrontations with Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. On multiple occasions, Iran had used a tiered attack against Israel using drones alongside ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.

    Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web and Israel’s Operation Rising Lion have demonstrated thedevastating threat of a large-scale drone attack upon military installations and critical infrastructure far beyond one’s own borders. These operations are complemented by deep infiltration operations among each country’s respective intelligence services. Not only that, but the cost asymmetry to produce and operate drones against the damage they can cause is incredibly valuable for this guerrilla tactic.

    With the former administration’s open border policies and most drones being purchased from DJI, a Chinese Communist Party drone company, it is becoming increasingly likely that we could see a similar attack upon our country that could threaten our service members and cripple our lethality if we are not prepared. 

    Since 9/11, our nation has not suffered a major coordinated attack on our own soil. While thegovernment has done good work in preventing an attack like 9/11 from happening again, we want to ensure that we are preparing for a new paradigm in which relatively cheap drones can quickly and effectively wipe out core military and government infrastructure.

    While American threat projection globally is strong among all the branches of the military, we need to be prepared for a new paradigm of covert, but potentially disastrous, threats to our core military interests, including our nuclear triad in the homeland.

    Following the successful U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, it is imperative that we ensure the readiness and security of our military bases, critical infrastructure, and overseas diplomatic installations. A potential Iranian response could involve direct attacks here at home or abroad. We must take all necessary measures to safeguard our service members and defend our interests at this time.

    Any information you can provide in response to the following questions would be helpful:

    • What is the status of American countermeasures to deter and counter mass drone attacks against military installations, government facilities (including Washington D.C.), and critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, and manufacturing sites?
    • If defenses are currently inadequate to deter or repel drone attacks similar to those referenced above, what steps are being taken to address them, and what is the timeline for implementation?
    • Is the DOD or DHS aware of or actively working to deter potential threats posed by foreign-owned land near critical military and infrastructure sites in the United States that could be a launching point for a mass drone attack like we saw in Russia by Ukrainian forces?
    • Is there a concern of any sort of weaponized drone buildup already happening in theUnited States from drones that may have been smuggled in due to the former administration’s open border policies?
    • Will counter-drone technology be considered for President Trump’s Golden Dome air defense project?

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger: A Spectacular Airstrike on Iran — and a Sobering Warning

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Pfluger: A Spectacular Airstrike on Iran — and a Sobering Warning

    Washington, June 27, 2025

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman August Pfluger(TX-11)and retired U.S.Air Force Lt. General David Deptula penned an op-ed in The Hill outlining how the spectacular airstrike we witnessed last week that successfully destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities should be a wake-up call if we are serious about preparing for sustained conflict with adversaries like China. In the op-ed, they argue that Congress must invest in U.S.Air Power because, to put it simply, we lack the depth to conduct this kind of operation repeatedly, or at scale.

    In the op-ed, the two wrote in part, “Today, America faces the greatest set of threats it has ever faced at the same time the Air Force is at its force-structure nadir. This is why Congress must significantly increase funding for Air Force modernization and expand end-strength if we are serious about preparing for sustained conflict against peer adversaries and countering the other threats we face. President Trump deserves credit for reversing the previous administration’s shortsighted cuts to the F-47 program —a vital next-generation capability. But more must follow.”

    You can read the full op-ed here or by clicking the image below.

    MIL OSI USA News