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  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Collins, 44 Senators Team Up on Bill to Fight for Tax Equality for Married LGBTQ+ Couples

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 27, 2025
    Legislation would retroactively give refunds to same-sex married couples who were denied opportunity to lower tax bill by filing jointly
    Bill Text (PDF) | One Pager (PDF) 
    Washington, D.C. – On the ten-year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, which recognized a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, and the twelve-year anniversary of U.S. v. Windsor, which struck down as unconstitutional the federal definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) led the reintroduction of the bipartisan Refund Equality Act to ensure that married same-sex couples can amend their tax returns back to the date of their marriage, helping them secure an estimated total of $55 million in refunds. 
    The legislation will be reintroduced in the House by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) as part of the PRIDE Act, which combines the Refund Equality Act and Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act. Senator Warren originally introduced this legislation with Representative Richard Neal (D-Mass.), along with 71 of their congressional colleagues, in 2017.
    “No one should ever have to pay more in taxes because of who they love,” said Senator Warren. “I’m fighting to reverse this discrimination and get couples the refunds they are owed.”
    “For years, legally married same-sex couples were not allowed to file joint tax returns and missed out on refunds they otherwise would have received,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill takes the practical step of giving those couples the opportunity to file amended returns and receive the full refunds they are entitled to.”
    “For years, same-sex married couples were denied the ability to file taxes jointly and claim tax refunds they had rightfully earned because of the Defense of Marriage Act. Twelve years ago, the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision corrected this injustice, but IRS rules about amending tax returns have prevented these couples from claiming all of the refunds they should have earned,” said Rep. Chu. “The PRIDE Act would finally address this by enabling same-sex couples to rightfully claim the tax refunds they deserve as well as update the tax code to promote dignity and equality by erasing gendered language of husband and wife that leaves out same-sex couples. This Pride Month, I am proud to join with my House and Senate colleagues in introducing this pro-equality legislation.”
    “My marriage with my wife Elizabeth would not be recognized across the country if not for Obergefell. This Supreme Court decision is fundamental to achieving equality and laid the foundation to address all the ways same-sex couples have been systematically discriminated against,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.). “Change needs to be more than symbolic. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation to fight for tax equality for married LGBTQI+ couples and help to right the wrongs of the past.”
    “The fight for equality is always ongoing. This legislation embodies that fight by ensuring LGBTQ+ couples finally get the tax refunds they are owed. This is legislation long overdue – let’s get it done,” said Senator Alsobrooks.
    “For years, legally-married same-sex couples were denied the ability to file taxes jointly and missed out on the full refunds they earned, all because of who they love. This critical legislation corrects that injustice and provides same-sex couples with the opportunity to amend their tax returns and file jointly retroactively, ensuring same-sex couples can access the benefits that are rightfully theirs,” said Senator Blumenthal. 
    “It is absolutely unacceptable that same-sex couples are still being denied nearly a decade of tax refunds that they are rightfully owed,” said Senator Duckworth. “The bipartisan Refund Equality Act would right this wrong and reform our tax code to ensure same-sex couples receive the same protections and benefits for their marriage as everyone else.”
    “Our pursuit of equal justice for all requires us to admit to past wrongs. For years, LGBTQ+ couples were denied tax benefits offered to other married couples simply because of who they love. This bill would allow those couples to amend their tax returns to secure the benefits that they are owed, and passing this legislation will help us get a step closer to achieving equality,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 
    “In 2013, I was the first and only elected official in Western PA willing to officiate a gay marriage when it was still illegal.  It was one of the greatest honors of my career because every couple deserves dignity and respect,” said Senator Fetterman. “The Refund Equality Act applies to our tax code that same principle of not punishing anyone for who they are or who they love. It’s long past time for Congress to make this right and ensure same-sex couples get the tax refunds they’re owed.”
    “Every married couple deserves to be treated equally under the law. But for years, same-sex married couples across the country were denied their joint tax returns,” said Senator Gallego. “I’m proud to back this bill to give those couples the refunds they’re entitled to.”
    “Who you love shouldn’t determine how you’re taxed,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Legally married same-sex couples deserve the tax refunds they were denied because of outdated laws.”
    “For too long, same-sex couples were unable to file taxes jointly, resulting in them losing out on tax refunds, simply because of who they love,” said Senator Hirono. “By enabling these couples to amend their tax returns, this long-overdue legislation would address this injustice, helping to promote equity in the tax filing system by allowing couples to receive the benefits that are rightfully theirs.”
    “In many states, same-sex couples were married for years before the 2013 Windsor decision, yet they were denied the legal right to file their federal taxes jointly. With this legislation, we’re fighting to right the wrongs these couples faced and ensure they are able to receive the refunds they have been unfairly denied,” said Senator Van Hollen.
    “It is time we right this egregious wrong and return money long owed to married LGBTQ+ couples,” said Senator Andy Kim. “Let’s get rid of this discriminatory red tape and stand up for the fairness and equality under the law every American deserves.”
    “For years, same-sex married couples were forced to file their taxes as individuals, which meant missing out on the benefits other married couples received,” said Senator Luján. “This legislation is an important step toward making things right by ensuring same-sex married couples get the tax refunds they are owed.”
    “On the anniversary of the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision, we must ensure same-sex couples receive the equal rights protections guaranteed to them by law,” said Senator Markey. The Refund Equality Act would correct a historic wrong and allow same-sex couples to claim tax refunds that discriminatory tax policies denied them previously. This bill is a step in the right direction to fully realize equality for same-sex couples across the country.”
    “Same-sex couples deserve to be treated as persons equal in dignity, equal in opportunity, and equal under the law,” said Senator Jeff Merkley, author of the Equality Act. “However, legally married same-sex couples were unfairly forced to file taxes as individuals for many years, oftentimes paying more in taxes than other legally married couples. Our bipartisan bill is a step forward for equality by ensuring that married same-sex couples can amend their tax returns and get the refunds they are owed.”
    “Every married couple deserves equal treatment under the law,” said Senator Padilla. “The discrimination of same-sex married couples in our tax code and denial of certain benefits — simply because of who they love — was deeply wrong and un-American. The Refund Equality Act would finally make these couples whole by providing tax refunds on hard-earned income that never should have been taken from them in the first place.”
    “For years, same-sex couples were discriminated against and unfairly denied the ability to file their taxes jointly or access the tax benefits afforded to other married couples,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation to help right that wrong and ensure that all married couples are treated equally under the law.”
    “Everyone deserves to be treated equally under the law, regardless of who they love,” said Senator Smith. “For years, our tax system unfairly discriminated against same-sex couples by making them file separately on their taxes, despite being legally married. The Refund Equality Act would help take an enormous step toward righting these wrongs and allow same-sex couples to access the tax benefits they should have always received.”
    “The right to marry whoever you love may be recognized as the law of the land, but the work toward true equality is far from over,” Senator Wyden said. “The opponents of marriage equality are working to roll back the clock on the progress we’ve made in recent years and decades. That’s all the more reason to root out the remnants of discrimination from the laws on the books, including in our tax code.”
    Specifically, the Refund Equality Act would:
    Allow same-sex couples who were married in jurisdictions that recognized same-sex marriage prior to 2013 – including Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, D.C – to file for income tax adjustments for those years, back to the date of their marriage; 
    Creates exceptions for two tax code limitations: Section 6013(b), which gives married couples three years to begin filing jointly after their most recent separate returns, and Section 6511(a), which requires a claim for tax credits or refunds to be filed within three years of the initial return; and   
    Creates exemptions including adjustments to capital loss carryback and adjustments for retired service members who receive an award of disability compensations. 
    According to a 2021 estimate by the Joint Committee on Taxation, this bill would return $55 million in refunds to taxpayers whose marriages were systematically discriminated against.
    The legislation is also co-sponsored by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-Or.), and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Haw.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Me.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Or.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Cal.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Haw.), Adam Schiff (D-Cal.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
    This legislation is being reintroduced alongside Senator Wyden’s Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act, which Senator Warren co-sponsors and would protect LGBTQ+ Americans from inequality and discrimination by removing gender-specific references to marriage in the tax code. 
    The legislation is also endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE), the Movement Advancement Project, and MassEquality.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: V. Putin announced Russia’s readiness for the third round of negotiations with Ukraine

    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

    Moscow/Minsk, June 27 (Xinhua) — Russia is ready for a third round of talks with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday after a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk.

    “The subject of negotiations with Ukraine should be the discussion of memoranda between the two countries,” the Russian president said.

    He recalled that Russia and Ukraine are currently fulfilling agreements on the exchange of prisoners of war, as well as the bodies of dead soldiers. The humanitarian component is important. This creates conditions for further resolution of the essence of the problem, the Russian leader added.

    “We have already given away over six thousand bodies and are ready to give away almost three thousand more,” said V. Putin.

    The leaders of both delegations are in constant contact with each other, the Russian President concluded.

    Earlier, according to Ukrainian media reports citing the words of Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Ukraine plans to propose holding a meeting between V. Zelensky and V. Putin after the completion of the humanitarian exchange. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell on War Powers Resolution: Divorced From Strategic And Constitutional Reality

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement ahead of today’s Senate vote on the Kaine War Powers Resolution: 
    “Iran’s war against the United States is decades old. Through direct and proxy attacks, it has killed and wounded thousands of Americans.
    “Five years ago, President Trump’s correct decision to remove Iran’s terrorist mastermind, Qassem Soleimani, from the battlefield restored a meaningful measure of deterrence. Within weeks, the Senate was forced to defeat an effort to constrain the President’s authority to take similar action in the future.
    “Regrettably, under the Biden Administration, this hard-won deterrence eroded away. With the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan came a sobering reminder that the perception of American retreat emboldens our adversaries. Iran and its terrorist network shrugged off empty threats of deterrence and spilled yet more American blood.
    “This weekend, the President seized a strategic opportunity to restore deterrence. In response to Iran’s ongoing war, U.S. forces dealt a devastating blow to the regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
    “Now, less than a week later, the Senate will again need to defeat an attempt to limit the Commander in Chief’s authority. And once again, the restrainers behind this effort on both sides of the aisle face simple questions:
    “In what ways does this discrete and limited exercise of American power exceed the limits within which President Clinton directed operations in Kosovo or President Obama in Libya? In what ways does it differ from the strikes in Syria or Yemen for which President Biden invoked his Article II authorities?
    “Was degrading Iran’s nuclear capability without expanding the U.S. military footprint in the Middle East a mistake? Was it wrong to seize the rare opportunity made possible by Israel’s operations over the last 20 months? Did it not demonstrably advance U.S. interests in the region? Or are isolationists correct in suggesting that such interests do not exist?
    “I have not heard the frequent flyers on War Powers resolutions reckon seriously with these questions. Until they do, efforts like this will remain divorced from both strategic and constitutional reality.
    “I will oppose Senator Kaine’s resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.”
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons announces support for War Powers Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement announcing he would vote for the War Powers Resolution offered by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.):

    “A week after President Trump’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, it is too early to conclude how far Iran’s dangerous nuclear program has been set back and whether it will continue to pursue nuclear weapons. American forces being called back into action for an extended period of time, unfortunately, remains a possibility. Congress, not the president, has the sole power to commit our troops to action. If President Trump chooses to do so, he must consult with Congress and seek our approval. This is why I will vote for Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution. We cannot afford risky military measures against an unpredictable adversary without a clear understanding of the costs and a plan for what comes next.”

    Senator Coons is Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Leads Alabama Delegation in Celebrating Marshall Space Flight Center 65th Anniversary

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Dale Strong, with the support of Alabama’s entire Congressional delegation, led a resolution commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center and reaffirming continued support for the Center’s mission, programs, and workforce.  

    “Marshall Space Flight Center is a pillar of North Alabama, and the road to space runs straight through the Rocket City,” said Rep. Dale Strong (AL-05). “From the Apollo missions to the Shuttle program, and now to the Space Launch System and everything in between, the United States’ leadership in space cannot happen without Marshall Space Flight Center.” 

    On July 1, 1960, nearly 4,000 employees from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal swapped their Army badges for NASA credentials, joining the space race to beat the Soviet Union to the moon. At the same time, Redstone transferred roughly 1,900 acres to NASA, and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was born.  

    Since then, MSFC has led the development of every NASA rocket designed to carry humans into space and continues to lead efforts to return Americans to the Moon. The center has played a pioneering role in propulsion systems and hardware development, space and materials science research, advanced manufacturing, and life support systems, advancing nearly every aspect of space exploration. 

    “For 65 years, the Marshall Space Flight Center has led the way in American space innovation — from launching Saturn V to powering Artemis and beyond. We’re proud to call Huntsville, Alabama our home, and we’re deeply grateful to Congressman Strong and our entire congressional delegation for their steadfast support. Together, we are making history, driving American excellence, and reaching for the stars — and we’re just getting started,” said Marshall Space Flight Center Director Joseph Pelfrey.  

    “I’m proud to join my Alabama colleagues in recognizing the 65th anniversary of the Marshall Space Flight Center. For over six decades, the Marshall Space Flight Center has propelled America’s leadership in space,” said Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01). “From putting a man on the Moon to pioneering the next chapter of deep space exploration through the Space Launch System and the Artemis program, the Marshall Space Flight Center continues to embody the best of American ingenuity and innovation. The men and women at Marshall represent the kind of commitment and excellence that make our state and nation great, and I’m proud to join this resolution recognizing them for their help in advancing the future of human spaceflight.” 

    “Marshall Space Flight Center represents the very best of American innovation and engineering. It also stands as a powerful example of the contributions Alabama makes to our nation and the world,” said Rep. Shomari C. Figures (AL-02). “I am proud to join Rep. Strong and my colleagues in the delegation in honoring the legacy of this institution and the extraordinary men and women whose work continues to shape the future of space exploration.”  

    “I was proud to join my colleagues and all Alabamians in celebrating the Marshall Space Flight Center’s 65th anniversary,” said Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03). “The Marshall Space Flight Center has played a pivotal role in establishing Alabama as a cornerstone of space innovation. In its 65 years, this center has played key roles in the Apollo Program, the Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station, and the Artemis program, among many others. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a proud Alabamian, I cannot express how much this center has contributed to this country and this state.” 

    “For 65 years, the Marshall Space Flight Center has stood as a symbol of American ingenuity, exploration, and innovation. From the earliest days of the space race to today’s cutting-edge advancements, this center has played a vital role in our nation’s space story,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04). “It continues to inspire future explorers and stands as a testament to what America can achieve when we reach for the stars.” 

    “For 65 years, the Marshall Space Flight Center has played a pivotal role in U.S. space flight research and innovation. From developing the Saturn V rocket, leading the Skylab project, supporting the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, and spearheading development of the Space Launch System and NASA’s most powerful rocket since Saturn V, the Marshall Space Flight Center has made itself indispensable and placed Alabama on the map as a headquarters for space exploration,” said Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06). “Congratulations to the engineers, scientists, technicians, and support staff who have made the Marshall Space Flight Center what it is today. I look forward to seeing how the center continues to advance NASA’s mission. Thank you to Representative Strong for his leadership on this resolution.” 

    “The Marshall Space Flight Center has been at the core of American aeronautics and space exploration for the past 65 years,” said Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07). “MSFC continues to be a point of pride for our state from the creation of the Apollo program to today’s low-orbit technology impacting every American’s daily life.” 

    “From helping put the first man on the moon to the Artemis I mission, Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center has led the way in space exploration for the last 65 years. This is because of the talented scientists, technicians, and support staff who’ve poured their heart and soul into earning Huntsville the title of “Rocket City,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). “I’m tremendously proud to represent a state that’s home to this world-renowned facility, and I look forward to seeing MSFC continue to lead the way in space exploration as we look to Artemis II and beyond.”  

    “I couldn’t be prouder to recognize the 65th anniversary of Marshall Space Flight Center along with our entire Alabama delegation. The U.S. space program is vitally important, and Alabama and MSFC continue to play an integral role in redefining the boundaries of human imagination and the heights of human achievement,” said Senator Katie Britt (R-AL).  “As the incredible men and women at MSFC continue to make historic leaps that fuel a new age of American excellence in space exploration, I will continue to ensure that this groundbreaking work is supported now and long into the future.” 

    The bipartisan, bicameral resolution was led in the Senate by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Operation Sindhu: Over 4,400 Indians evacuated from Iran and Israel, says MEA

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a press release issued on Friday, announced the successful completion of Operation Sindhu—a major evacuation effort launched by the Government of India to bring back its nationals from conflict-affected regions in Iran and Israel. The operation, which commenced on June 18, was undertaken in response to the escalating security situation in West Asia.

    According to the MEA, a total of 4,415 Indian nationals were evacuated—3,597 from Iran and 818 from Israel—using 19 special evacuation flights, including three Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft. The coordinated efforts were supported by Indian diplomatic missions across the region and were made possible with the cooperation of several foreign governments.

    The press release also noted that in addition to Indian citizens, 14 Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, 9 Nepali nationals, 4 Sri Lankan nationals, and one Iranian spouse of an Indian national were also safely evacuated. Among those rescued were over 1,500 women and 500 children, underscoring the humanitarian nature and urgency of the mission.

    For the Iran segment of the operation, Indian embassies in Tehran, Yerevan, and Ashgabat coordinated the movement of Indian nationals across land borders into Armenia and Turkmenistan on June 17 and 18. The first evacuation flights began on June 18. A key breakthrough occurred on June 20, when Iran agreed to reopen its airspace for evacuation flights following India’s request. This enabled the operation to proceed swiftly via Mashhad. Between June 18 and 26, 15 evacuation flights brought Indian citizens back to New Delhi from Yerevan, Ashgabat, and Mashhad. The evacuees included a diverse group of individuals—students, workers, professionals, pilgrims, and fishermen—from more than 15 Indian states.

    The Israel phase of Operation Sindhu began on June 23. Indian embassies in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Amman, and Cairo facilitated the safe passage of Indian nationals into Jordan and Egypt through land corridors. From Amman and Sharm al Sheikh, 818 Indian citizens were evacuated via four special flights between June 22 and 25, including three IAF-operated C-17 aircraft.

    The MEA stated that the evacuation efforts were paused on June 25, following the reopening of regional airspace. It added that any further action would be determined based on developments in the ongoing West Asia crisis.

    “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Operation Sindhu is yet another demonstration of the Government’s unwavering commitment to the safety and welfare of Indian citizens abroad,” the MEA said. The ministry also extended its gratitude to the governments of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Armenia, and Turkmenistan for their crucial support and cooperation.

    Indian diplomatic missions remain in close contact with local authorities and Indian communities across the West Asia region to ensure their continued safety and well-being, the release concluded.

  • Operation Sindhu: Over 4,400 Indians evacuated from Iran and Israel, says MEA

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a press release issued on Friday, announced the successful completion of Operation Sindhu—a major evacuation effort launched by the Government of India to bring back its nationals from conflict-affected regions in Iran and Israel. The operation, which commenced on June 18, was undertaken in response to the escalating security situation in West Asia.

    According to the MEA, a total of 4,415 Indian nationals were evacuated—3,597 from Iran and 818 from Israel—using 19 special evacuation flights, including three Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft. The coordinated efforts were supported by Indian diplomatic missions across the region and were made possible with the cooperation of several foreign governments.

    The press release also noted that in addition to Indian citizens, 14 Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, 9 Nepali nationals, 4 Sri Lankan nationals, and one Iranian spouse of an Indian national were also safely evacuated. Among those rescued were over 1,500 women and 500 children, underscoring the humanitarian nature and urgency of the mission.

    For the Iran segment of the operation, Indian embassies in Tehran, Yerevan, and Ashgabat coordinated the movement of Indian nationals across land borders into Armenia and Turkmenistan on June 17 and 18. The first evacuation flights began on June 18. A key breakthrough occurred on June 20, when Iran agreed to reopen its airspace for evacuation flights following India’s request. This enabled the operation to proceed swiftly via Mashhad. Between June 18 and 26, 15 evacuation flights brought Indian citizens back to New Delhi from Yerevan, Ashgabat, and Mashhad. The evacuees included a diverse group of individuals—students, workers, professionals, pilgrims, and fishermen—from more than 15 Indian states.

    The Israel phase of Operation Sindhu began on June 23. Indian embassies in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Amman, and Cairo facilitated the safe passage of Indian nationals into Jordan and Egypt through land corridors. From Amman and Sharm al Sheikh, 818 Indian citizens were evacuated via four special flights between June 22 and 25, including three IAF-operated C-17 aircraft.

    The MEA stated that the evacuation efforts were paused on June 25, following the reopening of regional airspace. It added that any further action would be determined based on developments in the ongoing West Asia crisis.

    “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Operation Sindhu is yet another demonstration of the Government’s unwavering commitment to the safety and welfare of Indian citizens abroad,” the MEA said. The ministry also extended its gratitude to the governments of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Armenia, and Turkmenistan for their crucial support and cooperation.

    Indian diplomatic missions remain in close contact with local authorities and Indian communities across the West Asia region to ensure their continued safety and well-being, the release concluded.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republic Services Responds to Dingell Questions About Hazardous Waste at Wayne Disposal

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today shared a letter from Republic Services in response to questions raised at her June 18 Western Wayne Community Town Hall regarding hazardous waste and safety at Wayne Disposal Inc. 

    In the letter, Russ Knocke, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for Republic, writes:

    “Per our recent telephone conversation, we would like to provide some answers to questions we believe were raised by participants at your Western Wayne Town Hall event on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Specifically, we would like to provide details regarding the testing and characterization procedures in place for all waste being shipped to WDI for disposal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of its Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (“FUSRAP”).”

    Excerpts from the letter:

    “WDI is not permitted to accept waste any more radioactive than a traditional non-hazardous solid waste landfill in Michigan- USACE simply chooses to dispose of this material at WDI because of its highly engineered construction and robust environmental monitoring programs.”

    “WDI has an approved Radiological Monitoring Plan for the collection of data specifically designed to ensure the safe management and disposal of radiological waste. As part of that plan, the site monitors worker exposure, perimeter air samples, leachate, surface water, radon and groundwater data for radionuclides. All data collected is submitted to EGLE for its review. Site worker exposure has always been well below occupational safety levels, all monitoring results are consistent with natural background concentrations and below established action levels, and landfill leachate meets drinking water standards for radioactivity even before it is treated. In summary, WDI has a robust radiological monitoring program and makes the data publicly available via submission to EGLE as part of its regular compliance reporting cadence.”

    “WDI remains firmly committed to transparency, active community engagement, and the responsible management of all materials accepted at the facility. We are confident in the strength and rigor of our environmental monitoring programs, which are designed to ensure that site operations remain protective of human health and the environment, with no adverse offsite impacts.”

    View the full text of the letter here.

    In addition to the information provided in the letter, Republic informed Dingell they are sending two of their team members to a nuclear training program at Harvard University in August and offered for someone from VBT Fire to join them. They also stated that if there’s ever a similar program with the University of Michigan, they would be open to such a training in state.

    In addition, at Rep. Dingell’s request, Republic agreed to create a website for the landfill for transparency and community engagement.

    The letter comes ahead of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public information session on Republic Services’ application to expand operations at Wayne Disposal.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Air Force Leaders Detail Support and Updates for Little Rock, Fort Smith Missions to Boozman

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a Senate Air Force Caucus Co-Chair and member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, elicited strong support for the missions and personnel at both Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base, home of the F-35 foreign pilot training center, from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

    Boozman noted the recent graduation of the first two pilots as part of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission, now hosted in Fort Smith at Ebbing, and how the milestone reflects the growing importance of training our allies on U.S. platforms and systems. 
    “We’ve discussed the critical role the F-35 FMS training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base plays not only in maintaining our air superiority but also in strengthening alliances,” Boozman said. “[There is] excitement [among] our allies [in] having this type of plane.”
    “I think the training – training with international partners – that’s stuff that helps forever. I think it’s a combination of simplifying FMS so it allows them to get the platforms, and then allowing them to train with us on the platforms, is one of the best ways to get integrated effects between us and our international partners,” Meink stated.
    “If we’re selling them the best equipment, you want them to be trained by the best. So we want to be able to do that at Ebbing,” Allvin added.
    The senator also noted an announcement about the Air Force’s Deployable Combat Wing concept and the change it represents with how the service seeks to ensure readiness upon deployment. 
    “Earlier this year the Air Force announced that Little Rock Air Force Base and four other installations were selected as the first tranche of the Deployable Combat Wing initiative. Can you talk about what that means?” Boozman asked.
    “The Deployable Combat Wing allows us to move away from a pattern we’ve had over the past few decades in which we crowdsource airmen from across our Air Force, put them together, and then put them over in the theater. I can’t in good conscience continue to send airmen over that are trained as individuals, and not trained as units, to fight as units and understand the new complexities of the strategic environment,” Allvin responded. “I think we’re going to see not only an impact on fighting effectiveness, but also morale. Units that train together have a common esprit de corps that I think is pushing that warrior ethos we’re trying to enhance.”
    According to the Air Force, the installations selected will see growth in the population of assigned airmen to ensure adequate staffing for accomplishing their missions.
    “We have an increase in airmen that will make sure when that entire wing picks up and goes, that the base is still supported,” Allvin confirmed.
    Boozman again echoed his and his colleagues’ ongoing concerns with the impact that temporary funding and authorities – in the form of continuing resolutions – have on military missions and commitments.
    He also reiterated his desire to work with the Air Force and Department of Defense to pursue legislative solutions for combating the threat of armed drones to U.S. military installations and assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Air Force Leaders Detail Support and Updates for Little Rock, Fort Smith Missions to Boozman

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a Senate Air Force Caucus Co-Chair and member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, elicited strong support for the missions and personnel at both Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base, home of the F-35 foreign pilot training center, from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

    Boozman noted the recent graduation of the first two pilots as part of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission, now hosted in Fort Smith at Ebbing, and how the milestone reflects the growing importance of training our allies on U.S. platforms and systems. 
    “We’ve discussed the critical role the F-35 FMS training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base plays not only in maintaining our air superiority but also in strengthening alliances,” Boozman said. “[There is] excitement [among] our allies [in] having this type of plane.”
    “I think the training – training with international partners – that’s stuff that helps forever. I think it’s a combination of simplifying FMS so it allows them to get the platforms, and then allowing them to train with us on the platforms, is one of the best ways to get integrated effects between us and our international partners,” Meink stated.
    “If we’re selling them the best equipment, you want them to be trained by the best. So we want to be able to do that at Ebbing,” Allvin added.
    The senator also noted an announcement about the Air Force’s Deployable Combat Wing concept and the change it represents with how the service seeks to ensure readiness upon deployment. 
    “Earlier this year the Air Force announced that Little Rock Air Force Base and four other installations were selected as the first tranche of the Deployable Combat Wing initiative. Can you talk about what that means?” Boozman asked.
    “The Deployable Combat Wing allows us to move away from a pattern we’ve had over the past few decades in which we crowdsource airmen from across our Air Force, put them together, and then put them over in the theater. I can’t in good conscience continue to send airmen over that are trained as individuals, and not trained as units, to fight as units and understand the new complexities of the strategic environment,” Allvin responded. “I think we’re going to see not only an impact on fighting effectiveness, but also morale. Units that train together have a common esprit de corps that I think is pushing that warrior ethos we’re trying to enhance.”
    According to the Air Force, the installations selected will see growth in the population of assigned airmen to ensure adequate staffing for accomplishing their missions.
    “We have an increase in airmen that will make sure when that entire wing picks up and goes, that the base is still supported,” Allvin confirmed.
    Boozman again echoed his and his colleagues’ ongoing concerns with the impact that temporary funding and authorities – in the form of continuing resolutions – have on military missions and commitments.
    He also reiterated his desire to work with the Air Force and Department of Defense to pursue legislative solutions for combating the threat of armed drones to U.S. military installations and assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Air Force Leaders Detail Support and Updates for Little Rock, Fort Smith Missions to Boozman

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a Senate Air Force Caucus Co-Chair and member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, elicited strong support for the missions and personnel at both Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base, home of the F-35 foreign pilot training center, from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

    Boozman noted the recent graduation of the first two pilots as part of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission, now hosted in Fort Smith at Ebbing, and how the milestone reflects the growing importance of training our allies on U.S. platforms and systems. 
    “We’ve discussed the critical role the F-35 FMS training mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base plays not only in maintaining our air superiority but also in strengthening alliances,” Boozman said. “[There is] excitement [among] our allies [in] having this type of plane.”
    “I think the training – training with international partners – that’s stuff that helps forever. I think it’s a combination of simplifying FMS so it allows them to get the platforms, and then allowing them to train with us on the platforms, is one of the best ways to get integrated effects between us and our international partners,” Meink stated.
    “If we’re selling them the best equipment, you want them to be trained by the best. So we want to be able to do that at Ebbing,” Allvin added.
    The senator also noted an announcement about the Air Force’s Deployable Combat Wing concept and the change it represents with how the service seeks to ensure readiness upon deployment. 
    “Earlier this year the Air Force announced that Little Rock Air Force Base and four other installations were selected as the first tranche of the Deployable Combat Wing initiative. Can you talk about what that means?” Boozman asked.
    “The Deployable Combat Wing allows us to move away from a pattern we’ve had over the past few decades in which we crowdsource airmen from across our Air Force, put them together, and then put them over in the theater. I can’t in good conscience continue to send airmen over that are trained as individuals, and not trained as units, to fight as units and understand the new complexities of the strategic environment,” Allvin responded. “I think we’re going to see not only an impact on fighting effectiveness, but also morale. Units that train together have a common esprit de corps that I think is pushing that warrior ethos we’re trying to enhance.”
    According to the Air Force, the installations selected will see growth in the population of assigned airmen to ensure adequate staffing for accomplishing their missions.
    “We have an increase in airmen that will make sure when that entire wing picks up and goes, that the base is still supported,” Allvin confirmed.
    Boozman again echoed his and his colleagues’ ongoing concerns with the impact that temporary funding and authorities – in the form of continuing resolutions – have on military missions and commitments.
    He also reiterated his desire to work with the Air Force and Department of Defense to pursue legislative solutions for combating the threat of armed drones to U.S. military installations and assets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Responsibility to Protect More Than a Principle — It Is a Moral Imperative’, Secretary General Tells General Assembly

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    As the General Assembly marked the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, the UN Chief emphasized that the principle remains a moral imperative amid growing global turmoil, escalating identity-based violence, widespread breaches of international law and deepening impunity.

    Opening the session, Philémon Yang (Cameroon), President of the General Assembly, recalled that, 20 years ago, at the 2005 World Summit, world leaders affirmed the responsibility of individual States to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.  Born from the horrors of Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, that commitment represented a pledge that “never again would the international community stand silent as innocent lives were destroyed by the gravest crimes”.

    Nevertheless, today, two decades later, “we must ask ourselves how we have allowed ourselves to fall short”, he said.  From Gaza to Ukraine, from Sudan to Myanmar, there is blatant disregard for human rights, early warnings are ignored and the Security Council is failing to act.

    Also acknowledging commendable gains, he noted the establishment of international mechanisms for atrocity prevention.  Prevention and protection strategies have been implemented across peacekeeping operations.  “We must find ways to deliver on the promise of ‘never again’,” he stressed.

    Picking up that thread, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the world is witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War.  Further, conflicts are becoming more protracted, complex and interconnected, while emerging threats such as the weaponization of new technologies and the proliferation of advanced weaponry require a constant adaptation to prevent the commission of atrocity crimes and to protect populations.

    However, he continued, too often, early warnings go unheeded, and alleged evidence of crimes committed by States and non-State actors is met with denial, indifference, or repression.  “Responses are often too little, too late, inconsistent or undermined by double standards,” he said, adding that “civilians are paying the highest price”.

    “We must recognize that the responsibility to protect is more than a principle — it is a moral imperative, rooted in our shared humanity and the UN Charter,” he emphasized, spotlighting the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on the responsibility to protect.

    The report highlights efforts achieved through national prevention mechanisms or under regional leadership, demonstrating that early diplomacy, early warning and institutional innovation can be effective in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes.  It also underscores the need to mainstream atrocity prevention across the United Nations system — from humanitarian action to peacekeeping to human rights.  Additionally, it calls for integrating early warning, supporting national prevention mechanisms and embedding atrocity prevention in the broader agendas of sustaining peace, human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    “No society is immune from the risk of atrocity crimes,” he asserted, emphasizing that “prevention must begin at home — with leadership that protects rights, embraces diversity and upholds the rule of law”. And it must be supported globally through multilateral cooperation, principled diplomacy, and early and decisive action to effectively protect populations.  Two decades on, the responsibility to protect remains both an urgent necessity and an unfulfilled promise.  “Let us keep the promise, deepen our commitment, strengthen our cooperation and ensure that atrocity-prevention and protecting populations becomes a permanent and universal practice,” he stated.

    In the ensuing debate, numerous Member States emphasized that — amid growing violence against civilians and worsening humanitarian crises — the responsibility to protect must remain central to efforts aimed at promoting peace and security.

    Speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Responsibility to Protect, the representative of Morocco expressed concern that, despite unanimous support for ending atrocity crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law persist.  “This growing gap between rhetoric and action is especially concerning given the international community’s improved understanding of risk factors and increased capacity to respond,” he pointed out.  He also acknowledged the key role of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect in advancing this principle.

    Expressing concern about the increased use of the veto in the Council, the representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, said all Member States — especially those holding veto power — must support both the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as well as the French-Mexican initiative on refraining from the use of veto in the case of mass atrocities.

    “While some advances in military technology can bring increased precision and a reduction of civilian harm,” she said, the recent evolution of warfare, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), may lead to diluted human control and increased brutality in conflict.  Further, “when prevention fails, we need to make every effort to ensure that the perpetrators of atrocity crimes are held accountable,” she said, reaffirming support for the International Criminal Court.

    Relatedly, Denmark’s delegate, also speaking for Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, urged the Council “to renew and strengthen its focus on prevention” and acknowledged the efforts of the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, as well as civil society experts.  Stressing the importance of the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, she added:  “Independent and impartial international courts and tribunals, in particular the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, are central to accountability for the most serious crimes.”

    Slovenia’s delegate stressed that the veto power in the Council should not be used in situations where there is a clear threat of mass atrocity crimes, as it hinders effective decision–making and prevents action that would help to protect populations in a timely and effective manner. Her country was among the first to appoint a national Responsibility to Protect Focal Point, she said, highlighting the Ljubljana-Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes.  “This is the first major international treaty in the field of international criminal law since the Rome Statute that enables States to cooperate effectively internationally in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes by filling legal gaps in the fields of international legal assistance and extradition,” she pointed out.

    The representative of France, speaking also for Mexico, said that while civilians worldwide are victims of large-scale violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, “the Council is too often paralysed by the use of the veto”.  He welcomed the mention in the Secretary-General’s report of the French-Mexican initiative on the voluntary regulation of the use of the veto in the Council in cases of mass atrocities.  “The veto is not a privilege but a responsibility,” he said, noting that this proposal is already supported by over 100 States and inviting all other States to join this commitment, starting with the Council’s elected and permanent members.  He also emphasized the crucial role of national human rights institutions, civil society and the Human Rights Council’s mechanisms as essential tools for early warning, prevention and accountability.

    “Now, more than ever, we must continue to promote and defend our collective political commitment to [the] responsibility to protect and its implementation,” said Australia’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand.  The world is facing the highest level of conflict since the Second World War, with reported violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen.  “We cannot allow impunity,” he asserted, calling for full accountability for atrocity crimes through appropriate national and international investigative and justice mechanisms, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

    However, other delegates voiced concern that the responsibility to protect principle is increasingly being instrumentalized to justify interventions under a humanitarian pretext, or to undermine States’ sovereignty through the application of unilateral coercive measures.

    Among them was the representative of Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, who cited the notion as “non-consensual and controversial”.  Accordingly, he voiced concern over the principle “selective and politically motivated” application.

    Paradoxically, at the same time, the world is witnessing a “resounding failure” to ensure the protection of civilians caught in the armed conflict in Gaza, where the Palestinian people are suffering an increasingly brutal Israeli occupation, which represents a systematic violation of international law and requires urgent action to protect and save civilian lives, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

    Poland’s representative emphasized that invoking the responsibility to protect to justify military aggression — such as the Russian Federation’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — constitutes a deliberate distortion of the principle.  In March 2022, the International Court of Justice issued a preliminary ruling finding that Moscow did not have grounds to attack Ukraine based on claims of genocide, he noted.  He also expressed support for the mandates of the Special Advisers on Genocide Prevention and on the Responsibility to Protect.

    Other delegates highlighted their countries’ experiences with genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

    “The crisis in Myanmar is the heartbreaking case in point,” said that country’s representative, adding that the military junta continues to commit widespread atrocities with impunity, violating the core principles of the responsibility to protect.  Noting that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applied in 2024 for an arrest warrant against Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, he said a swift decision is vital.  He also called for the issuance of the arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing “to save lives and protect the people of Myanmar from the military junta’s further heinous crimes”.  The Security Council must act decisively, he asserted, noting that a follow-up to resolution 2669 (2022) should include monitoring and enforcement.

    Noting that the application of the responsibility to protect principle “remains uneven”, Burundi’s delegate emphasized that it “cannot be selective on the basis of temporal or material considerations”.  Drawing attention to the 1972 genocide committed against the Hutu ethnic group, he said that, during this “massacre of terrible proportions”, which occurred between April and July 1972, hundreds of thousands of Burundians of the Hutu ethnic group were hunted down, arrested, executed without trial and very often buried in mass graves.

    “This has a name in international law:  genocide,” he said.  And while Burundi’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission officially described the events of 1972 as such, identifying over 4,000 potential mass graves and collecting thousands of witness testimonies, “no international body has recognized this crime as such”.  Citing this silence as “a form of abandoning innocent victims whose souls need to be put to rest”, he underscored that “the responsibility to protect is not a slogan”, but a “legal, moral and political commitment”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Responsibility to Protect More Than a Principle — It Is a Moral Imperative’, Secretary General Tells General Assembly

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    As the General Assembly marked the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, the UN Chief emphasized that the principle remains a moral imperative amid growing global turmoil, escalating identity-based violence, widespread breaches of international law and deepening impunity.

    Opening the session, Philémon Yang (Cameroon), President of the General Assembly, recalled that, 20 years ago, at the 2005 World Summit, world leaders affirmed the responsibility of individual States to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.  Born from the horrors of Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, that commitment represented a pledge that “never again would the international community stand silent as innocent lives were destroyed by the gravest crimes”.

    Nevertheless, today, two decades later, “we must ask ourselves how we have allowed ourselves to fall short”, he said.  From Gaza to Ukraine, from Sudan to Myanmar, there is blatant disregard for human rights, early warnings are ignored and the Security Council is failing to act.

    Also acknowledging commendable gains, he noted the establishment of international mechanisms for atrocity prevention.  Prevention and protection strategies have been implemented across peacekeeping operations.  “We must find ways to deliver on the promise of ‘never again’,” he stressed.

    Picking up that thread, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the world is witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War.  Further, conflicts are becoming more protracted, complex and interconnected, while emerging threats such as the weaponization of new technologies and the proliferation of advanced weaponry require a constant adaptation to prevent the commission of atrocity crimes and to protect populations.

    However, he continued, too often, early warnings go unheeded, and alleged evidence of crimes committed by States and non-State actors is met with denial, indifference, or repression.  “Responses are often too little, too late, inconsistent or undermined by double standards,” he said, adding that “civilians are paying the highest price”.

    “We must recognize that the responsibility to protect is more than a principle — it is a moral imperative, rooted in our shared humanity and the UN Charter,” he emphasized, spotlighting the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on the responsibility to protect.

    The report highlights efforts achieved through national prevention mechanisms or under regional leadership, demonstrating that early diplomacy, early warning and institutional innovation can be effective in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes.  It also underscores the need to mainstream atrocity prevention across the United Nations system — from humanitarian action to peacekeeping to human rights.  Additionally, it calls for integrating early warning, supporting national prevention mechanisms and embedding atrocity prevention in the broader agendas of sustaining peace, human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    “No society is immune from the risk of atrocity crimes,” he asserted, emphasizing that “prevention must begin at home — with leadership that protects rights, embraces diversity and upholds the rule of law”. And it must be supported globally through multilateral cooperation, principled diplomacy, and early and decisive action to effectively protect populations.  Two decades on, the responsibility to protect remains both an urgent necessity and an unfulfilled promise.  “Let us keep the promise, deepen our commitment, strengthen our cooperation and ensure that atrocity-prevention and protecting populations becomes a permanent and universal practice,” he stated.

    In the ensuing debate, numerous Member States emphasized that — amid growing violence against civilians and worsening humanitarian crises — the responsibility to protect must remain central to efforts aimed at promoting peace and security.

    Speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Responsibility to Protect, the representative of Morocco expressed concern that, despite unanimous support for ending atrocity crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law persist.  “This growing gap between rhetoric and action is especially concerning given the international community’s improved understanding of risk factors and increased capacity to respond,” he pointed out.  He also acknowledged the key role of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect in advancing this principle.

    Expressing concern about the increased use of the veto in the Council, the representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, said all Member States — especially those holding veto power — must support both the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as well as the French-Mexican initiative on refraining from the use of veto in the case of mass atrocities.

    “While some advances in military technology can bring increased precision and a reduction of civilian harm,” she said, the recent evolution of warfare, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), may lead to diluted human control and increased brutality in conflict.  Further, “when prevention fails, we need to make every effort to ensure that the perpetrators of atrocity crimes are held accountable,” she said, reaffirming support for the International Criminal Court.

    Relatedly, Denmark’s delegate, also speaking for Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, urged the Council “to renew and strengthen its focus on prevention” and acknowledged the efforts of the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, as well as civil society experts.  Stressing the importance of the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, she added:  “Independent and impartial international courts and tribunals, in particular the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, are central to accountability for the most serious crimes.”

    Slovenia’s delegate stressed that the veto power in the Council should not be used in situations where there is a clear threat of mass atrocity crimes, as it hinders effective decision–making and prevents action that would help to protect populations in a timely and effective manner. Her country was among the first to appoint a national Responsibility to Protect Focal Point, she said, highlighting the Ljubljana-Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes.  “This is the first major international treaty in the field of international criminal law since the Rome Statute that enables States to cooperate effectively internationally in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes by filling legal gaps in the fields of international legal assistance and extradition,” she pointed out.

    The representative of France, speaking also for Mexico, said that while civilians worldwide are victims of large-scale violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, “the Council is too often paralysed by the use of the veto”.  He welcomed the mention in the Secretary-General’s report of the French-Mexican initiative on the voluntary regulation of the use of the veto in the Council in cases of mass atrocities.  “The veto is not a privilege but a responsibility,” he said, noting that this proposal is already supported by over 100 States and inviting all other States to join this commitment, starting with the Council’s elected and permanent members.  He also emphasized the crucial role of national human rights institutions, civil society and the Human Rights Council’s mechanisms as essential tools for early warning, prevention and accountability.

    “Now, more than ever, we must continue to promote and defend our collective political commitment to [the] responsibility to protect and its implementation,” said Australia’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand.  The world is facing the highest level of conflict since the Second World War, with reported violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen.  “We cannot allow impunity,” he asserted, calling for full accountability for atrocity crimes through appropriate national and international investigative and justice mechanisms, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

    However, other delegates voiced concern that the responsibility to protect principle is increasingly being instrumentalized to justify interventions under a humanitarian pretext, or to undermine States’ sovereignty through the application of unilateral coercive measures.

    Among them was the representative of Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, who cited the notion as “non-consensual and controversial”.  Accordingly, he voiced concern over the principle “selective and politically motivated” application.

    Paradoxically, at the same time, the world is witnessing a “resounding failure” to ensure the protection of civilians caught in the armed conflict in Gaza, where the Palestinian people are suffering an increasingly brutal Israeli occupation, which represents a systematic violation of international law and requires urgent action to protect and save civilian lives, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

    Poland’s representative emphasized that invoking the responsibility to protect to justify military aggression — such as the Russian Federation’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — constitutes a deliberate distortion of the principle.  In March 2022, the International Court of Justice issued a preliminary ruling finding that Moscow did not have grounds to attack Ukraine based on claims of genocide, he noted.  He also expressed support for the mandates of the Special Advisers on Genocide Prevention and on the Responsibility to Protect.

    Other delegates highlighted their countries’ experiences with genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

    “The crisis in Myanmar is the heartbreaking case in point,” said that country’s representative, adding that the military junta continues to commit widespread atrocities with impunity, violating the core principles of the responsibility to protect.  Noting that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applied in 2024 for an arrest warrant against Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, he said a swift decision is vital.  He also called for the issuance of the arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing “to save lives and protect the people of Myanmar from the military junta’s further heinous crimes”.  The Security Council must act decisively, he asserted, noting that a follow-up to resolution 2669 (2022) should include monitoring and enforcement.

    Noting that the application of the responsibility to protect principle “remains uneven”, Burundi’s delegate emphasized that it “cannot be selective on the basis of temporal or material considerations”.  Drawing attention to the 1972 genocide committed against the Hutu ethnic group, he said that, during this “massacre of terrible proportions”, which occurred between April and July 1972, hundreds of thousands of Burundians of the Hutu ethnic group were hunted down, arrested, executed without trial and very often buried in mass graves.

    “This has a name in international law:  genocide,” he said.  And while Burundi’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission officially described the events of 1972 as such, identifying over 4,000 potential mass graves and collecting thousands of witness testimonies, “no international body has recognized this crime as such”.  Citing this silence as “a form of abandoning innocent victims whose souls need to be put to rest”, he underscored that “the responsibility to protect is not a slogan”, but a “legal, moral and political commitment”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: PLA Support Base in Djibouti participates in military parade marking 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence 2025-06-27 19:33:06 At the invitation of the Ministry of Armed Forces of Madagascar, a detachment of the Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti participated in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar on June 26, local time.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      A detachment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti participates in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, on June 26, local time.

      By Wang Zongyang and Dong Mingli

      ANTANANARIVO, June 27 — At the invitation of the Ministry of Armed Forces of Madagascar, a detachment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti participated in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar on June 26, local time.

      The Chinese detachment consists of more than 50 troops. This is the first time that the Chinese PLA has participated in Madagascar’s military parade.

      This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Madagascar. In recent years, cooperation between the two countries in multiple fields and at multiple levels has gradually entered the fast lane. In September 2024, the two countries jointly announced that they would upgrade China-Madagascar relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

      Ji Ping, Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar, said that China’s participation in the military parade reflects the two sides’ high attention to developing relations between the two countries and the two militaries.

      A senior Malagasy military official said that China and Madagascar are sincere and trustworthy friends and partners of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Madagascar sincerely thanks the Chinese military for participating in this military parade, which fully reflects the profound friendship between China and Madagascar.

      A detachment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti participates in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, on June 26, local time.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: PLA Support Base in Djibouti participates in military parade marking 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence 2025-06-27 19:33:06 At the invitation of the Ministry of Armed Forces of Madagascar, a detachment of the Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti participated in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar on June 26, local time.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      A detachment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti participates in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, on June 26, local time.

      By Wang Zongyang and Dong Mingli

      ANTANANARIVO, June 27 — At the invitation of the Ministry of Armed Forces of Madagascar, a detachment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti participated in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar on June 26, local time.

      The Chinese detachment consists of more than 50 troops. This is the first time that the Chinese PLA has participated in Madagascar’s military parade.

      This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Madagascar. In recent years, cooperation between the two countries in multiple fields and at multiple levels has gradually entered the fast lane. In September 2024, the two countries jointly announced that they would upgrade China-Madagascar relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

      Ji Ping, Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar, said that China’s participation in the military parade reflects the two sides’ high attention to developing relations between the two countries and the two militaries.

      A senior Malagasy military official said that China and Madagascar are sincere and trustworthy friends and partners of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Madagascar sincerely thanks the Chinese military for participating in this military parade, which fully reflects the profound friendship between China and Madagascar.

      A detachment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti participates in the military parade marking the 65th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and the founding of the Armed Forces of Madagascar in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, on June 26, local time.

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Mayor raises flag for Armed Forces Day | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Ahead of Armed Forces Day (28th June) , the Lord Mayor of Westminster raised the Armed Forces flag above City Hall. Joined by serving personnel, veterans and their families, he paid tribute to their sacrifices and the tireless work they do in the UK and abroad. 

    Speaking at a reception following the flag raising, The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg said:

    In raising the flag for Armed Forces Day, it is a chance to honour those serving, our veterans and all their families who keep us safe. 

    To serve or have served in the armed forces, be it the Army, the Navy, or the RAF is to live a life of sacrifice. So that is why the Armed Forces Covenant is so important to uphold. It ensures they receive the support and care they deserve, both during and after their service.  

    He also re-affirmed Westminster City Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant, resigned in 2023, outlines principles which ensure the fair treatment of those who serve and have served in the Armed Forces and their families. The Covenant aims to prevent the Armed Forces community from facing disadvantage and also to ensure special considerations are given where needed, such as in cases of injury or mobilisation.

    More information about the council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant on our website. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman, McDonald Rivet Introduce Bill to Improve PFAS Cleanup Around Military Facilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) introduced the bipartisan Military PFAS Transparency Act to shine a light on PFAS cleanup efforts by the Department of Defense (DoD), and get more answers for over 600 communities across the country that have been contaminated by “forever chemicals.”

    “Our government owes the communities and people affected by PFAS clarity and answers,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “The Military PFAS Transparency Act will help Michigan families by requiring regular updates from DoD on their PFAS cleanup efforts, making the process more responsive and accountable. Congressman Bergman has been a terrific partner, and I won’t stop fighting to get communities in Michigan and across the country the answers they deserve.”

    “I’m proud to introduce this important bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. McDonald Rivet as we push federal bureaucracies to take real, meaningful action on PFAS cleanup. The problem has been studied extensively—it’s time to act,”said Congressman Bergman. “This bill is about turning analysis into accountability and moving the Pentagon from paperwork to real-world cleanup.”

    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” are used in a wide array of products like firefighting foams, food packaging, cosmetics, and fabrics. Their widespread use has contaminated soil, surface water, groundwater, and food across the country. These forever chemicals have also contaminated hundreds of military installations and surrounding communities across the country, including over a dozen in Michigan. Some PFAS can cause harmful health effects and have been linked to health complications, including damage to the immune system and an increased risk of developing certain cancers. 

    The Military PFAS Transparency Act would: 

    • Require Annual Reporting on DoD PFAS Cleanup Efforts: The bill requires DoD to submit annual reports detailing site-specific funding, progress, and barriers for all interim PFAS remediation and cleanup efforts. This includes timelines, performance metrics, and the status of the actions.
    • Establish Better Cleanup Strategies: The bill requires DoD to commit to more efficient cleanup strategies. These strategies will prioritize cleanup based on risk, increase lab testing capacity, and set standards for evaluating cleanup efforts.
    • Improve Transparency through a Public Dashboard: The bill requires DoD to create a public online dashboard within one year to display updated PFAS cleanup data, funding, timelines, and community points of contact.

    The Military PFAS Transparency Act is endorsed by the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and the Great Lakes Commission. 

    “This bipartisan bill is an important step to put impacted communities at the center of Pentagon PFAS cleanups and to encourage real collaboration with people on the ground who best understand what needs to be done,” said Tony Spaniola, Co-Chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. “The Pentagon’s interim action policy, which was developed by community experts in Oscoda, Michigan, is designed to strategically cut off PFAS exposures and make every federal dollar count.  I commend Representatives McDonald Rivet and Bergman for their critical work to ensure that the policy actually brings results for the people and communities it is supposed to protect.”

    “For far too long, people living near military bases exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals have been in the dark in terms of Department of Defense cleanup efforts, which puts our water and our health in danger,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “The Military PFAS Transparency Act will make sure that impacted residents and the general public know the status of the military PFAS remediation, which can help reduce exposure to contamination. Better transparency and improved cleanup strategies will save lives, and so we applaud the bill’s sponsors and urge that Congress enact this critical legislation into law.”

    “PFAS pose a grave threat to drinking water and public health – a threat that is felt acutely in the Great Lakes. It is critical, then, that residents of the Great Lakes region and beyond know how their government is responding, in order to improve outcomes for all affected communities,” said Dr. Michael J. Goff, President and CEO of the Northeast-Midwest Institute. “We thank Congresswoman McDonald Rivet and Congressman Bergman for their leadership on this important issue.”

    This legislation is also supported by the other co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Chaotic new aid system means getting food in Gaza has become a matter of life – and often death

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Leonie Fleischmann, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, City St George’s, University of London

    With all eyes on the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which came into effect 12 days after Israel launched a major attack on Iran’s nuclear and military structure, attention towards Gaza has waned. This is at a time when attempting to gain access to food under a new model of aid distribution has been described by the United Nations as a “death trap”.

    According to the UN World Food Programme, more than 470,000 people are facing “catastrophic” hunger and the entire population is experiencing “acute” food insecurity. This was exacerbated when Israel imposed a blockade on the Strip in mid-March 2025, preventing the entry of food, medication and other aid for a period of 70 days.

    Following international pressure, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the resumption of humanitarian aid through a new model of distribution, which bypasses the existing UN and NGO channels. It was devised by Israel and handed to a United States-backed organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to operate.

    According to Netanyahu, taking control of aid delivery would prevent Hamas from seizing and selling supplies. Two of his cabinet ministers, far-right politicians Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, objected to any aid entering Gaza, due to the risk of it serving to bolster Hamas.

    A video was circulated on social media on June 26 allegedly showing armed men from Hamas commandeering aid trucks in northern Gaza. Smotrich threatened to leave the coalition if supplies continued to reach the hands of Hamas. In response, Netanyahu has since halted the entry of humanitarian aid into the north of Gaza.

    GHF was ostensibly established to improve the distribution of aid in Gaza. But the UN swiftly condemned its new distribution model as “inadequate, dangerous and a violation of impartiality rules”.

    Reports from one distribution site on its first day of operation on May 27 showed scenes of chaos and confusion. The site outside Rafah was described as overwhelmed with hundreds of people rushing towards the aid boxes. The New York Times reported that Israel Defense Force (IDF) personnel fired several warning shots, which sent the crowed running away in panic.

    In the past two months, there have been continued reports of violence and chaos at the distribution sites, with deadly incidents a near daily occurrence. On the day the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was confirmed (June 24) at least 46 Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza were shot by Israeli forces in two separate incidents, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed around the four aid distribution centres since they began operating.

    Inbuilt chaos and lethal violence

    Arguably, this chaos and violence is inbuilt in the new aid delivery system. Even before it began operations, the GHF received widespread criticism.



    Read more:
    Lethal humanitarianism: why violence at Gaza aid centres should not come as a surprise

    A letter signed by leading aid and human rights organisations criticised the GHF for not meeting the four universally recognised principles for humanitarian action: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

    Critics say that the GHF system effectively militarises aid distribution. GHF’s leadership is made up of retired military officers and private security contractors, with some humanitarian aid officials. It coordinates with a private US security company on the ground in Gaza. Meanwhile the IDF patrols the perimeters at what it calls “secure distribution sites”.

    Critics argued that the proposed model would be insufficient. The plan called for only four aid distribution centres to be established in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, compared with about 400 UN-led sites in operation across Gaza prior to October 7 2023.

    The reduced number and location of the aid sites can be understood as a mechanism of forced displacement. It appears to be consistent with Netanyahu’s plan to relocate Palestinians to a “sterile zone” in Gaza’s far south. UN officials argued that the requirement for civilians to travel long distances and to cross Israeli military lines and combat zones to collect aid from the sites would “put civilian lives in danger and cause mass displacement while using aid as ‘bait’”. Forced displacement is illegal under international law.

    Countering the criticisms

    The GHF rejected claims that the IDF have attacked Palestinians at the aid sites. Reports from Israeli news outlets have also countered the widespread media claims.

    Israel Hayom, a free Israeli Hebrew-language daily newspaper criticised “inflammatory” reports that the IDF had opened fire on Palestinians lining up for food. The right-leaning news outlet, argued that it was Hamas which had shot at Gazan civilians.

    The broadcaster 7 Israel National News reported that Hamas killed eight aid workers from the GHF in early June. A more positive spin from the same news outlet highlighted that improvements that have been made to security at the centres and that enough supplies for 1.4 million meals had been distributed in a single day on June 5.

    Despite these claims from within Israel, evidence presented by the UN has suggested that the aid mechanisms are not only failing to meet the humanitarian needs in Gaza, but are making “a desperate situation worse”.

    Following two months in operation, 15 human rights and legal organisations have called for the GHF to be suspended. They argue that “this new model of privatised, militarised aid distribution constitutes a radical and dangerous shift away from established international humanitarian relief operations”.

    As a consequence of both the controversial establishment of the GHF and its failures on the ground, they believe that its operations may amount to grave violations of international humanitarian, human rights and criminal law.

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

    – ref. Chaotic new aid system means getting food in Gaza has become a matter of life – and often death – https://theconversation.com/chaotic-new-aid-system-means-getting-food-in-gaza-has-become-a-matter-of-life-and-often-death-259815

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks

    Source: United States Spaceforce

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks

    Source: United States Air Force

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks

    Source: United States Air Force

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Hurricane Helene set up future disasters, from landslides to flooding – cascading hazards like these are upending risk models

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brian J. Yanites, Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Professor of Surficial and Sedimentary Geology, Indiana University

    The Carter Lodge hangs precariously over the flood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village, N.C., on May 13, 2025, eight months after Hurricane Helene. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed

    Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.

    Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.

    Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve.

    These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.

    Satellite images before (top) and after Hurricane Helene (bottom) show how the storm altered landscape near Pensacola, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Google Earth, CC BY

    I study these disasters as a geomorphologist. In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the U.S. Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.

    The science behind cascading hazards

    Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.

    For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.

    That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.

    A strong aftershock after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, China, in May 2008 triggered more landslides in central China.
    AP Photo/Andy Wong

    Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.

    The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.

    An intensifying threat in a changing world

    These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfire-mudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.

    Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.

    The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.

    Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.

    Mount St. Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in downstream communities.

    Rethinking risk and building resilience

    Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.

    But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.

    A March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range wiped out trees in its path.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025
    A drone image of the same March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range shows where it temporarily dammed the river below.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025

    Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.

    Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.

    Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.

    Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.

    Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognize the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.

    Brian J. Yanites receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Hurricane Helene set up future disasters, from landslides to flooding – cascading hazards like these are upending risk models – https://theconversation.com/hurricane-helene-set-up-future-disasters-from-landslides-to-flooding-cascading-hazards-like-these-are-upending-risk-models-259502

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Hurricane Helene set up future disasters, from landslides to flooding – cascading hazards like these are now upending risk models

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brian J. Yanites, Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Professor of Surficial and Sedimentary Geology, Indiana University

    The Carter Lodge hangs precariously over the flood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village, N.C., on May 13, 2025, eight months after Hurricane Helene. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed

    Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.

    Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.

    Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve.

    These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.

    Satellite images before (top) and after Hurricane Helene (bottom) show how the storm altered landscape near Pensacola, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Google Earth, CC BY

    I study these disasters as a geomorphologist. In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the U.S. Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.

    The science behind cascading hazards

    Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.

    For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.

    That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.

    A strong aftershock after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, China, in May 2008 triggered more landslides in central China.
    AP Photo/Andy Wong

    Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.

    The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.

    An intensifying threat in a changing world

    These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfire-mudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.

    Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.

    The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.

    Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.

    Mount St. Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in downstream communities.

    Rethinking risk and building resilience

    Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.

    But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.

    A March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range wiped out trees in its path.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025
    A drone image of the same March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range shows where it temporarily dammed the river below.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025

    Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.

    Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.

    Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.

    Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.

    Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognize the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.

    Brian J. Yanites receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Hurricane Helene set up future disasters, from landslides to flooding – cascading hazards like these are now upending risk models – https://theconversation.com/hurricane-helene-set-up-future-disasters-from-landslides-to-flooding-cascading-hazards-like-these-are-now-upending-risk-models-259502

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Natural disasters don’t disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops – they evolve

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brian J. Yanites, Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Professor of Surficial and Sedimentary Geology, Indiana University

    The Carter Lodge hangs precariously over the flood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village, N.C., on May 13, 2025, eight months after Hurricane Helene. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed

    Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.

    Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.

    Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve.

    These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.

    Satellite images before (top) and after Hurricane Helene (bottom) show how the storm altered landscape near Pensacola, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Google Earth, CC BY

    I study these disasters as a geomorphologist. In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the U.S. Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.

    The science behind cascading hazards

    Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.

    For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.

    That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.

    A strong aftershock after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, China, in May 2008 triggered more landslides in central China.
    AP Photo/Andy Wong

    Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.

    The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.

    An intensifying threat in a changing world

    These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfire-mudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.

    Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.

    The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.

    Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.

    Mount St. Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in downstream communities.

    Rethinking risk and building resilience

    Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.

    But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.

    A March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range wiped out trees in its path.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025
    A drone image of the same March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range shows where it temporarily dammed the river below.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025

    Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.

    Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.

    Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.

    Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.

    Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognize the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.

    Brian J. Yanites receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Natural disasters don’t disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops – they evolve – https://theconversation.com/natural-disasters-dont-disappear-when-the-storm-ends-or-the-earthquake-stops-they-evolve-259502

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Natural disasters don’t disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops – they evolve

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brian J. Yanites, Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Professor of Surficial and Sedimentary Geology, Indiana University

    The Carter Lodge hangs precariously over the flood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village, N.C., on May 13, 2025, eight months after Hurricane Helene. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed

    Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.

    Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.

    Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve.

    These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.

    Satellite images before (top) and after Hurricane Helene (bottom) show how the storm altered landscape near Pensacola, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Google Earth, CC BY

    I study these disasters as a geomorphologist. In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the U.S. Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.

    The science behind cascading hazards

    Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.

    For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.

    That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.

    A strong aftershock after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, China, in May 2008 triggered more landslides in central China.
    AP Photo/Andy Wong

    Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.

    The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.

    An intensifying threat in a changing world

    These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfire-mudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.

    Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.

    The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.

    Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.

    Mount St. Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in downstream communities.

    Rethinking risk and building resilience

    Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.

    But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.

    A March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range wiped out trees in its path.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025
    A drone image of the same March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range shows where it temporarily dammed the river below.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025

    Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.

    Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.

    Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.

    Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.

    Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognize the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.

    Brian J. Yanites receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Natural disasters don’t disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops – they evolve – https://theconversation.com/natural-disasters-dont-disappear-when-the-storm-ends-or-the-earthquake-stops-they-evolve-259502

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Natural disasters don’t disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops – they evolve

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brian J. Yanites, Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Professor of Surficial and Sedimentary Geology, Indiana University

    The Carter Lodge hangs precariously over the flood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village, N.C., on May 13, 2025, eight months after Hurricane Helene. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed

    Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.

    Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.

    Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve.

    These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.

    Satellite images before (top) and after Hurricane Helene (bottom) show how the storm altered landscape near Pensacola, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Google Earth, CC BY

    I study these disasters as a geomorphologist. In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the U.S. Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.

    The science behind cascading hazards

    Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.

    For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.

    That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.

    A strong aftershock after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, China, in May 2008 triggered more landslides in central China.
    AP Photo/Andy Wong

    Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.

    The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.

    An intensifying threat in a changing world

    These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfire-mudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.

    Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.

    The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.

    Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.

    Mount St. Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in downstream communities.

    Rethinking risk and building resilience

    Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.

    But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.

    A March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range wiped out trees in its path.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025
    A drone image of the same March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range shows where it temporarily dammed the river below.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025

    Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.

    Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.

    Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.

    Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.

    Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognize the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.

    Brian J. Yanites receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Natural disasters don’t disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops – they evolve – https://theconversation.com/natural-disasters-dont-disappear-when-the-storm-ends-or-the-earthquake-stops-they-evolve-259502

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEBANON COUNTY – Governor Shapiro and Major General Pippy to Open New Lickdale Veterans’ Outreach Center outside Fort Indiantown Gap

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    June 27, 2025 – Jonestown, PA

    ADVISORY – LEBANON COUNTY – Governor Shapiro and Major General Pippy to Open New Lickdale Veterans’ Outreach Center outside Fort Indiantown Gap

    Governor Josh Shapiro and Major General John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s Adjutant General and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new Lickdale Veterans’ Outreach Center.

    The Lickdale Veterans’ Outreach Center provides veterans and their families with convenient, in-person access to accredited veteran service officers who can assist them in discussing and applying for military benefits. The Center also includes training facilities and meeting space for larger veterans’ advocacy groups and service organizations. The Center is open to the public for walk-in service Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
    Pennsylvania is home to nearly 700,000 veterans – the fifth-largest veteran population in the country.

    WHO:
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Major General John Pippy

    WHERE:
    Lickdale Veterans’ Outreach Center
    40 Fisher Avenue
    Jonestown, PA 17038

    WHEN:
    Friday, June 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM

    LIVE STREAM:
    pacast.com/live/gov
    governor.pa.gov/live/

    RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why energy markets fluctuate during an international crisis

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Skip York, Nonresident Fellow in Energy and Global Oil, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University

    Stock and commodities traders found themselves dealing with various price swings as energy markets responded to Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Imagesf

    Global energy markets, such as those for oil, gas and coal, tend to be sensitive to a wide range of world events – especially when there is some sort of crisis. Having worked in the energy industry for over 30 years, I’ve seen how war, political instability, pandemics and economic sanctions can significantly disrupt energy markets and impede them from functioning efficiently.

    A look at the basics

    First, consider the economic fundamentals of supply and demand. The risk most people imagine in the current crisis between Israel, the U.S. and Iran is that Iran, which is itself a major oil-producing country, might suddenly expand the conflict by threatening the ability of neighboring countries to supply oil to the world.

    Oil wells, refineries, pipelines and shipping lanes are the backbone of energy markets. They can be vulnerable during a crisis: Whether there is deliberate sabotage or collateral damage from military action, energy infrastructure often takes a hit.

    For instance, after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Iraqi forces placed explosive charges on Kuwaiti oil wells and began detonating them in January 1991. It took months for all the resulting fires to be put out, and millions of barrels of oil and hundreds of millions of cubic meters of natural gas were released into the environment – rather than being sold and used productively somewhere around the world.

    Scenes of Kuwaiti life during and after the Gulf War of 1990 and 1991 include images of oil wells burning as a result of Iraqi sabotage.

    Logistics can mess markets up too. For instance, closing critical maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz or the Suez Canal can cause transportation delays.

    Whether supply is lost from decreased production or blocked transportation routes, the effect is less oil available to the market, which not only causes prices to rise in general, but it also makes them more volatile – tending to change more frequently and by larger amounts.

    On the flip side, demand can also shift radically. During the 1990-1991 Gulf War, demand rose: U.S. forces alone used more than 2 billion gallons of fuel, according to an Army analysis. By contrast, during the COVID-19 pandemic, industries shut down, travel came to a halt and energy demand plummeted.

    When crisis looms, countries and companies often start stockpiling oil and other raw materials rather than buying only what they need right now. That creates even more imbalance, resulting in price volatility that leaves everyone, both consumers and producers, with a headache.

    Regional considerations

    In addition to uncertainties around market fundamentals, it’s important to note that many of the world’s energy reserves are located in regions that have not been models of stability. In the Middle East, wars, revolutions and diplomatic disputes there can raise concerns about supply, demand or both.

    Those worries send shock waves through the world’s energy markets. It’s like walking on a tightrope: One wrong move – or even the perception of a misstep – can make the market wobble.

    Governments’ economic sanctions, such as those restricting trade with Iran, Russia or Venezuela, can distort production and investment decisions and disrupt trade flows. Sometimes markets react even before sanctions are officially in place: Just the rumor of a possible embargo can cause prices to spike as buyers scramble to secure resources.

    In 2008, for example, India and Vietnam imposed rice export bans, and rumors of additional restrictions fueled panic buying and nearly doubled prices in months.

    In those scrambles, the role of investor speculation enters the picture. Energy commodities, such as oil and gas, aren’t just physical resources; they’re also traded as financial assets like stocks and bonds. During uncertain times, traders don’t wait around for actual changes in supply and demand. They react to news and forecasts, sometimes in large groups, which can shift the market just with the actions that result from their fears or hopes.

    The events on June 22, 2025, are a good example of how this dynamic works. The Iranian parliament passed a resolution authorizing the country’s Supreme Council to close the Strait of Hormuz. Immediately, oil prices started rising, even though the strait was still open, with oil tankers steaming through unimpeded.

    The next day, Iran launched a missile strike on Qatar, but coordinated in advance with Qatari officials to minimize damage and casualties. Traders and analysts perceived the action as a de-escalatory signal and anticipated that the Supreme Council was not going to close the strait. So prices started to fall.

    It was a price roller coaster, fueled by speculation rather than reality. And computer algorithms and artificial intelligence, which assist in making automated trades, only add to the chaos of price changes.

    Shipping activity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz decreased after Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    A broader look

    International crises can also cause wider changes in countries’ economies – or the global economy as a whole – which in turn affect the energy market.

    If a crisis sparks a recession, rising inflation or high unemployment, those tend to cause people and businesses to use less energy. When the underlying situation stabilizes, recovery efforts can mean energy consumption resumes. But it’s like a pendulum swinging back and forth, with energy markets caught in the middle.

    Renewable energy is not immune to international crisis and chaos. The supply is less affected by market forces: The amount of available sunlight and wind isn’t tied to geopolitical relations. But overall economic conditions still affect demand, and a crisis can disrupt the supply chains for the equipment needed to harness renewable energy, like solar panels and wind turbines.

    It’s no wonder energy markets are so jittery during international crises. A mix of imbalances between supply and demand, vulnerable infrastructure, political tensions, corporate worries and speculative trading all weave together into a complex web of volatility.

    For policymakers, investors and consumers, understanding these dynamics is key to navigating the ups and downs of energy markets in a crisis-prone world. The solutions aren’t simple, but being informed is the first step toward stability.

    Skip York is a nonresident fellow for Global Oil and Energy with the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. He also is the Chief Energy Strategist at Turner Mason & Company, an energy consulting firm.

    – ref. Why energy markets fluctuate during an international crisis – https://theconversation.com/why-energy-markets-fluctuate-during-an-international-crisis-259839

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Cascading disasters like those created by Hurricane Helene show why hazard models can’t rely on the past

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Brian J. Yanites, Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Professor of Surficial and Sedimentary Geology, Indiana University

    The Carter Lodge hangs precariously over the flood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village, N.C., on May 13, 2025, eight months after Hurricane Helene. AP Photo/Allen G. Breed

    Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.

    Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.

    Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve.

    These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.

    Satellite images before (top) and after Hurricane Helene (bottom) show how the storm altered landscape near Pensacola, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Google Earth, CC BY

    I study these disasters as a geomorphologist. In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the U.S. Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.

    The science behind cascading hazards

    Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.

    For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.

    That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.

    A strong aftershock after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province, China, in May 2008 triggered more landslides in central China.
    AP Photo/Andy Wong

    Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.

    The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.

    An intensifying threat in a changing world

    These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfire-mudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.

    Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.

    The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.

    Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.

    Mount St. Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in downstream communities.

    Rethinking risk and building resilience

    Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.

    But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.

    A March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range wiped out trees in its path.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025
    A drone image of the same March 2024 landslide in the Oregon Coast Range shows where it temporarily dammed the river below.
    Brian Yanites, June 2025

    Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.

    Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.

    Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.

    Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.

    Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognize the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.

    Brian J. Yanites receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Cascading disasters like those created by Hurricane Helene show why hazard models can’t rely on the past – https://theconversation.com/cascading-disasters-like-those-created-by-hurricane-helene-show-why-hazard-models-cant-rely-on-the-past-259502

    MIL OSI Analysis –