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Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Provides Update on State of Missouri’s Continued Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 2, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe shared the following updates on the State of Missouri’s support for communities recovering from the severe weather and flooding that has affected much of the state in 2025.  

    “Our state team members have done an outstanding job this year, working shoulder to shoulder with local counterparts to aid Missouri families and businesses recovering from an unprecedented string of damaging storms,” Governor Kehoe said. “These efforts—along with the work of our faith-based and volunteer disaster response partners, and the federal disaster support approved by President Trump—are making a tremendous difference as we move forward together as a state.”

    On Monday, Governor Kehoe signed Executive Order 25-27 extending a State of Emergency in Missouri through August 31, 2025. The extension will help further assist with disaster recovery efforts, as additional flooding and severe storms occurred in Southwest Missouri over this past weekend. Governor Kehoe first declared a State of Emergency on March 14, 2025, through Executive Order 25-19 in preparation for severe weather. The State of Emergency declaration in Executive Order 25-19 was subsequently extended by Executive Order 25-22, Executive Order 25-23, and now Executive Order 25-27.

    Some recent highlights on the state’s response include:

    • More than $22 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) assistance has been provided to over 4,600 families in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis, and Scott counties. This funding follows President Trump’s June 9 approval of a federal Major Disaster Declaration for the May 16 tornado and severe storms that devastated parts of Missouri.
    • During the activation of the Missouri National Guard to the City of St. Louis, guard members supported debris management collection at four drop-off sites and hauled hundreds of dump truck loads to the landfill. This support enabled the city and its residents to remove the equivalent of well over 200 football fields piled one foot high with debris.
    • On June 14, Governor Kehoe signed Senate Bill 1 into law after the special session, allocating $100 million to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for disaster relief to help the City of St. Louis recover from the May 16 tornado that damaged or destroyed thousands of homes.
    • More than $3.8 million in FEMA/SEMA assistance has been provided to over 750 households impacted by the March 14-15 storms and wildfires in Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Wayne, Webster, and Wright counties. President Trump approved Governor Kehoe’s federal Major Disaster Request for this disaster on May 21.
    • Currently eight Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are open for residents impacted by the May 16 or March 14-15 severe storms to help with disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents. Search Missouri locations at fema.gov/DRC. The fastest way to apply is at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If residents were impacted March 14-15, the deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is July 22. For those impacted on May 16, the deadline is August 11.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CORRECTION: The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Wins Global Trade Review (GTR) Best Deals of 2025 for Türkiye Earthquake Response Financing

    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has been recognized with a GTR (Global Trade Review) Best Deals of 2025 for its innovative US$150 million Murabaha financing facility, to support Türkiye’s post-earthquake economic recovery.

    Executed in close partnership with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye, the Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye (TSKB), and the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB), this landmark Shariah-compliant financing was the first Islamic trade finance facility designed for post-disaster recovery.

    The financing was developed in response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye in February 2023, resulting in an estimated US$100 billion in damages and disrupting over 220,000 businesses. The facility delivered working capital support and laid the foundation for sustainable economic revival in key sectors including food security, agriculture, and trade.

    Commenting on the award, Nazeem Noordali, Chief Operating Officer, ITFC highlighted, “This award is a testament to our continued commitment to support trade-driven resilience. By partnering with Türkiye’s public sector and key development banks, we have introduced an Islamic finance solution that strengthens recovery and supports long-term trade sustainability.”

    Ms. Sedef Aydaş Head of Department the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Treasury and Finance, stated that ITFC is one of the first financing organizations showing its willingness to support Türkiye’s post-earthquake economic recovery and added that: “We as Ministry of Treasury and Finance are delighted and thankful to receive GTR Best Deal of 2024 with the first transactions with ITFC for its financing support to Türkiye regarding food security, agriculture and SME trade financing in the earthquake region. I hope the deals we had with ITFC will be one of the landmark projects for future transactions in various areas.”

    The project has also accelerated the adoption of Islamic trade finance solutions in Türkiye’s public sector. TSKB and TKYB utilized the opportunity to develop new Shariah-compliant frameworks with strategic impact across other sectors like renewable energy, climate resilience, employment and inclusive development. It also opened new avenues for Islamic financing in Türkiye’s public sector, paving the way for future Murabaha based financing from international players.

    Commenting on the award, Ms. Meral Murathan, Executive Vice President & Sustainability Leader of TSKB, said: “As Türkiye’s first privately-owned development and investment bank, we have been committed to supporting sustainable and inclusive development for the past 75 years. In the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquake, we placed the sustainable redevelopment of the affected regions at the core of our mission. The US$ 150 million Murabaha-based agreement we signed with ITFC in August 2024 marks the first cooperation between TSKB and ITFC. We are pleased to have structured this partnership to support trade-driven recovery and resilience in the earthquake-impacted areas by addressing the urgent needs of local businesses.”

    The award was presented at the GTR Best Deals 2025 ceremony, where ITFC representative alongside officials from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye and TSKB.

    İbrahim H. Oztop, the CEO of the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye commented “We are very pleased to be involved in this transaction, executed in collaboration with ITFC, our partner institution. This financing not only represents a step forward in strengthening our corporate financing structure but also helps us to achieve our strategic goals. We consider this award as a recognition of our institution’s vision and mission on an international level.”

    This recognition reinforces ITFC’s leadership in Islamic trade finance solutions and its contribution to achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure).

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

    Contact Us:
    Tel: +966 12 646 8337 
    Fax: +966 12 637 1064  
    E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org

    Social Media:
    Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/449UUsq
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    About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC):
    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving the socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$83 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, enabling them to successfully compete in the global market.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Republic of Korea supports food security for vulnerable communities in northern Mozambique


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    The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes generous contributions from the Republic of Korea for the second consecutive year, totalling US$ 7.6 million to improve food security for communities affected by multiple shocks in northern Mozambique.

    The contributions, comprising more than 5,000 metric tonnes of high-quality rice, will enable WFP to deliver life-saving food assistance to over 233,000 vulnerable people in Cabo Delgado Province.

    The Republic of Korea has been a key partner to WFP in Mozambique, providing critical support at a time marked by protracted internal conflict, recurring climate shocks, and growing funding gaps. During the 2024-2025 cyclone season, northern Mozambique was hit by three cyclones in as many months, affecting more than 1.4 million people — many of whom were already reeling from the effects of the ongoing conflict in Cabo Delgado province.

    This generous contribution from the Republic of Korea will help prevent a further deterioration in food and nutrition security for the most vulnerable groups in the north.

    “This support comes at a crucial time — it’s more than a donation, it’s a lifeline that helps protect people’s dignity and restore hope in a region that has endured far too much,” said Antonella D’Aprile, WFP Country Director in Mozambique.” Thanks to the continued solidarity of the Republic of Korea, we can reach the most fragile communities in Cabo Delgado with food assistance.

    “This contribution reflects the strong partnership between the Republic of Korea and Mozambique, and our shared commitment to humanitarian values. In the face of conflict and climate shocks, it is essential to act with urgency and compassion. The ROK will continue to stand by Mozambique on the path to recovery and resilience,” referred Bok Won KANG, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Mozambique.

    The Republic of Korea has been a long-standing partner of WFP in Mozambique. Since 2019, it has contributed more than US$ 16.3 million to support the country’s most vulnerable populations with lifesaving assistance and restoration of livelihoods.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DfE Update: 2 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    DfE Update: 2 July 2025

    Latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers.

    Applies to England

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    DfE Update further education: 2 July 2025

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    DfE Update academies: 2 July 2025

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    DfE Update local authorities: 2 July 2025

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    Latest for further education

    Article Title
    Information Add apprentice details to the Apprenticeship Service account using ILR data
    Information Funding rules and guidance update for apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary
    Information Apprenticeship carry-in allocations for the 2025 to 2026 funding year
    Information Updated learning aim references for generation 2 T Levels
    Information Free courses for jobs allocations for the 2025 to 2026 funding year
    Reminder Deadline to submit post-16 subcontracting standard report
    Your feedback Tell us about your experience of our funding service
    Events and webinars Minister for Skills live event on post-16 education and skills development

    Latest information for academies

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    Information Updated learning aim references for generation 2 T Levels
    Information Shorter teaching apprenticeships available from August 2025
    Your feedback Tell us about your experience of our funding service
    Events and webinars Get help buying for schools webinar
    Events and webinars Hiring supply teachers and agency workers for your school or trust webinar
    Events and webinars Academy Finance Professionals July Power Hour: Academy Trust Handbook
    Events and webinars Academies technical update 2025 to 2026
    Events and webinars School flooding solution

    Latest information for local authorities

    Article Title
    Information Apprenticeship carry-in allocations for the 2025 to 2026 funding year
    Information Add apprentice details to the Apprenticeship Service account using ILR data
    Information Funding rules and guidance update for apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary
    Information Shorter teaching apprenticeships available from August 2025
    Information Updated learning aim references for generation 2 T Levels
    Information Free courses for jobs allocations for the 2025 to 2026 funding year
    Reminder Deadline to submit post-16 subcontracting standard report
    Reminder Early years 2025 summer term data collection
    Your feedback Tell us about your experience of our funding service
    Events and webinars Get help buying for schools webinar
    Events and webinars Hiring supply teachers and agency workers for your school or trust webinar
    Events and webinars Minister for Skills live event on post-16 education and skills development

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    Published 2 July 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The Republic of Korea supports food security for vulnerable communities in northern Mozambique

    Source: World Food Programme

    MAPUTO – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes generous contributions from the Republic of Korea for the second consecutive year, totalling US$ 7.6 million to improve food security for communities affected by multiple shocks in northern Mozambique.

    The contributions, comprising more than 5,000 metric tonnes of high-quality rice, will enable WFP to deliver life-saving food assistance to over 233,000 vulnerable people in Cabo Delgado Province.

    The Republic of Korea has been a key partner to WFP in Mozambique, providing critical support at a time marked by protracted internal conflict, recurring climate shocks, and growing funding gaps. During the 2024-2025 cyclone season, northern Mozambique was hit by three cyclones in as many months, affecting more than 1.4 million people — many of whom were already reeling from the effects of the ongoing conflict in Cabo Delgado province.

    This generous contribution from the Republic of Korea will help prevent a further deterioration in food and nutrition security for the most vulnerable groups in the north.

    “This support comes at a crucial time — it’s more than a donation, it’s a lifeline that helps protect people’s dignity and restore hope in a region that has endured far too much,” said Antonella D’Aprile, WFP Country Director in Mozambique.” Thanks to the continued solidarity of the Republic of Korea, we can reach the most fragile communities in Cabo Delgado with food assistance.

    “This contribution reflects the strong partnership between the Republic of Korea and Mozambique, and our shared commitment to humanitarian values. In the face of conflict and climate shocks, it is essential to act with urgency and compassion. The ROK will continue to stand by Mozambique on the path to recovery and resilience,” referred Bok Won KANG, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Mozambique.

    The Republic of Korea has been a long-standing partner of WFP in Mozambique. Since 2019, it has contributed more than US$ 16.3 million to support the country’s most vulnerable populations with lifesaving assistance and restoration of livelihoods.

    ###

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media @wfp_mozambique

    Follow the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs on X, formerly Twitter, via @MOFAkr_eng @mofa_kr.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Surveillance & Monitoring Expected to be Largest Revenue Opportunity for Drone as a Service (DaaS) Market Through 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The drone surveying market is expected to continue to sustain and continue to gain momentum due to increasing demand for aerial intelligence and high-precision mapping across major sectors such as agriculture, mining, construction, and environmental monitoring. A report from Fact.MR analysis indicates that the industry will be valued at USD 1.97 billion in 2025 and will grow to USD 11.49 billion by 2035, at a strong CAGR of 19.3% during the period. The report said: “Technological improvements in LiDAR, thermal imaging, and real-time stream of data over the past three years have dramatically improved safety and efficiency in drone surveying. Drones are increasingly being employed by governments and institutions for commercial use as they are safe, accurate, and cost-effective. Fact.MR believes that support from the authorities, especially in Europe and North America, is fueling commercial usage with better codes in the law. The increasing demand for high-precision geospatial intelligence is one of the key drivers of the adoption of drone surveying. Fact.MR research is of the view that the mining, agriculture, oil & gas, and infrastructure sectors increasingly depend on drones to maximize planning, minimize human risk, and digitize high-resolution terrain information with cost-efficient scalability across vast and inaccessible areas. The enormous digital revolution in the industrial sectors continues to accelerate demand. Combining drones with AI analytics, GIS platforms, and cloud systems enables real-time processing and decision-making. Fact. MR believes that the combination of drone technology with automation and IoT is revolutionizing conventional surveying processes into dynamic data-driven ecosystems.”   Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).

    Fact.MR continued: “The drone surveying industry is segmented by survey type into land survey, property survey, rail survey, and infrastructure survey. By end-use industry, it is categorized into energy, construction, transportation & warehouse, agriculture, mining, oil & gas extraction, public administration, and real estate & industrial plant. Regionally, the industry spans North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. IT concluded: “During the period 2025 to 2035, the infrastructure survey will be the most remunerative survey type segment, driven by the worldwide boom in urbanization, smart city programs, and projects for modernizing public infrastructure. Due to this increasing dependence and favorable regulatory changes across UAV use in civil infrastructure, the infrastructure survey segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2025 to 2035, ahead of the industry average of 19.3%.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone as a Service (DaaS) to California with Offer to Acquire an Engineering and Surveying Firm, Tapping into Precision Agriculture and Viticulture Market – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), and enterprise SaaS, has signed an offer to acquire a California-based civil engineering and land surveying firm with a well established history of operations. This marks ZenaTech’s first proposed transaction in the US West Coast or Southwest region, creating a strategic entry point into California ─ a high-value market for drone-based precision agriculture due to a massive agriculture economy, crop diversity, labor and water challenges, and an openness to innovation.

    With a commercial, construction and sustainability solution customer base and a deep regional presence, the proposed acquisition positions ZenaTech to scale its Drone as a Service or DaaS survey operations. It also provides significant opportunity to expand into California’s wine and agriculture sectors using advanced drone capabilities including aerial imaging, precision spraying, irrigation analytics, and wildfire detection and monitoring in high-risk areas.

    “This proposed acquisition is more than just our first Southwest region location — it’s a strategic foothold into a high-value, high-growth state for precision agriculture,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. “The firm is a natural fit to help execute our growth strategy for crop health monitoring and precision spraying to serve viticulture, large estates, and commercial farming operations across California.”

    With the global agricultural drone market projected to reach USD 10.3 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for precision technologies in farming, California stands out as a key growth region as well as being home to nearly 90% of all US vineyard acreage. Considering California’s mounting climate and agricultural challenges, ZenaTech’s AI-powered autonomous drone solutions offer timely, scalable innovation that serves the needs of commercial enterprises, cooperatives, agriculture consultants, and public sector stakeholders.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service (DaaS) business model offers both business and government customers reduced costs and convenience to utilize drones to streamline legacy processes and manual tasks such as inspections, surveying, maintenance, precision agriculture and inventory management ─ there is no need to purchase drone hardware and software, find a drone pilot, manage maintenance and operation, or acquire regulatory approvals. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and utilizes ZenaDrone’s multifunction AI autonomous drones.

    The company has closed six acquisitions across the US to date as part of its DaaS business model and strategy and has announced it plans to complete approximately 20 more in the next 12 months. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) recently announced that its subsidiary, American Robotics Inc., has entered into a strategic partnership with Mistral Inc. (“Mistral”), a Maryland-based business development and defense contracting firm. The agreement focuses on joint marketing, sales, and integration of the Optimus drone system and Iron Drone Raider into the United States defense and homeland security markets.

    Under the agreement, Mistral will support American Robotics’ business development by opening sales channels through its well-established relationships with U.S. governmental buyers, including federal, state, local law enforcement, military, and homeland security entities. The initial term of the agreement is three years, with an automatic renewal option and a structured success fee model based on realized sales.

    “This collaboration with Mistral accelerates and strengthens our commercial strategy in the U.S., enhancing our ability to deliver mission-ready autonomous systems to the homeland security and defense sectors,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings. “We are witnessing increased demand for advanced aerial intelligence and counter-drone solutions, and Mistral’s deep relationships, experience, and operational know-how make them an ideal partner to scale our footprint in this critical market.”

    Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB)‘s Trimble Stratus – With Trimble Stratus Software, one can use drone data to map, measure, and manage worksite and assets. Connect the right information to the right people at the right time.

    Survey Frequently and Faster – Get accurate, up-to-date topographic surveys whenever you need without having to bring in a survey crew – Avoid information bottlenecks by getting answers to questions yourself with an intuitive, web-based tool – Survey inaccessible or hazardous areas safely using a drone.

    NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) – Nvidia AI Technology Added to Vision for Autonomous Drones – Generative AI modules aim to upgrade Foresight’s vision systems with additional computing power – Vision software company Foresight Autonomous Holdings has integrated Nvidia’s Jetson Orin generative AI computing modules into its 3D-perception system.

    Foresight is using Nvidia’s Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson AGX Orin modules to improve the capabilities of its perception systems deployed in various use cases, with a major focus on autonomous drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

    The Jetson modules, which are used in generative AI, computer vision and advanced robotics, upgrade Foresight’s vision system with the computing power needed for autonomous drones and UAVs, according to Foresight.

    Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon’s drones deliver items in 60 minutes or less—here’s how we simplified the process. – Prime Air built an easy-to-use customer experience to make ordering and receiving a wide selection of items via drone delivery faster than ever. It’s never been easier to receive a drone delivery from Amazon if you live in one of the locations where we currently offer it. From tapping the “place your order” button to seeing the item delivered, the entire process takes 60 minutes or less. So, if you realize you need more sunscreen or forgot you needed more batteries, but don’t have time to make a trip to the store, Amazon has you covered.

    It all starts at Amazon.com or in the Amazon Shopping app. Customers can choose more than 60,000 items for drone delivery as our selection continues to grow. Recently, we received FAA approval to deliver several new categories of items, including devices like Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy cellphones, Apple AirTags, Apple AirPods, Ring doorbells, and Alpha Grillers Instant Read Food Thermometers. All you need to do is select the drone delivery option when you check out if you’re in an eligible area and the item in your cart is 5 pounds or less.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.  The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.  All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.  For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Surveillance & Monitoring Expected to be Largest Revenue Opportunity for Drone as a Service (DaaS) Market Through 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The drone surveying market is expected to continue to sustain and continue to gain momentum due to increasing demand for aerial intelligence and high-precision mapping across major sectors such as agriculture, mining, construction, and environmental monitoring. A report from Fact.MR analysis indicates that the industry will be valued at USD 1.97 billion in 2025 and will grow to USD 11.49 billion by 2035, at a strong CAGR of 19.3% during the period. The report said: “Technological improvements in LiDAR, thermal imaging, and real-time stream of data over the past three years have dramatically improved safety and efficiency in drone surveying. Drones are increasingly being employed by governments and institutions for commercial use as they are safe, accurate, and cost-effective. Fact.MR believes that support from the authorities, especially in Europe and North America, is fueling commercial usage with better codes in the law. The increasing demand for high-precision geospatial intelligence is one of the key drivers of the adoption of drone surveying. Fact.MR research is of the view that the mining, agriculture, oil & gas, and infrastructure sectors increasingly depend on drones to maximize planning, minimize human risk, and digitize high-resolution terrain information with cost-efficient scalability across vast and inaccessible areas. The enormous digital revolution in the industrial sectors continues to accelerate demand. Combining drones with AI analytics, GIS platforms, and cloud systems enables real-time processing and decision-making. Fact. MR believes that the combination of drone technology with automation and IoT is revolutionizing conventional surveying processes into dynamic data-driven ecosystems.”   Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).

    Fact.MR continued: “The drone surveying industry is segmented by survey type into land survey, property survey, rail survey, and infrastructure survey. By end-use industry, it is categorized into energy, construction, transportation & warehouse, agriculture, mining, oil & gas extraction, public administration, and real estate & industrial plant. Regionally, the industry spans North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. IT concluded: “During the period 2025 to 2035, the infrastructure survey will be the most remunerative survey type segment, driven by the worldwide boom in urbanization, smart city programs, and projects for modernizing public infrastructure. Due to this increasing dependence and favorable regulatory changes across UAV use in civil infrastructure, the infrastructure survey segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2025 to 2035, ahead of the industry average of 19.3%.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone as a Service (DaaS) to California with Offer to Acquire an Engineering and Surveying Firm, Tapping into Precision Agriculture and Viticulture Market – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), and enterprise SaaS, has signed an offer to acquire a California-based civil engineering and land surveying firm with a well established history of operations. This marks ZenaTech’s first proposed transaction in the US West Coast or Southwest region, creating a strategic entry point into California ─ a high-value market for drone-based precision agriculture due to a massive agriculture economy, crop diversity, labor and water challenges, and an openness to innovation.

    With a commercial, construction and sustainability solution customer base and a deep regional presence, the proposed acquisition positions ZenaTech to scale its Drone as a Service or DaaS survey operations. It also provides significant opportunity to expand into California’s wine and agriculture sectors using advanced drone capabilities including aerial imaging, precision spraying, irrigation analytics, and wildfire detection and monitoring in high-risk areas.

    “This proposed acquisition is more than just our first Southwest region location — it’s a strategic foothold into a high-value, high-growth state for precision agriculture,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. “The firm is a natural fit to help execute our growth strategy for crop health monitoring and precision spraying to serve viticulture, large estates, and commercial farming operations across California.”

    With the global agricultural drone market projected to reach USD 10.3 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for precision technologies in farming, California stands out as a key growth region as well as being home to nearly 90% of all US vineyard acreage. Considering California’s mounting climate and agricultural challenges, ZenaTech’s AI-powered autonomous drone solutions offer timely, scalable innovation that serves the needs of commercial enterprises, cooperatives, agriculture consultants, and public sector stakeholders.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service (DaaS) business model offers both business and government customers reduced costs and convenience to utilize drones to streamline legacy processes and manual tasks such as inspections, surveying, maintenance, precision agriculture and inventory management ─ there is no need to purchase drone hardware and software, find a drone pilot, manage maintenance and operation, or acquire regulatory approvals. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and utilizes ZenaDrone’s multifunction AI autonomous drones.

    The company has closed six acquisitions across the US to date as part of its DaaS business model and strategy and has announced it plans to complete approximately 20 more in the next 12 months. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) recently announced that its subsidiary, American Robotics Inc., has entered into a strategic partnership with Mistral Inc. (“Mistral”), a Maryland-based business development and defense contracting firm. The agreement focuses on joint marketing, sales, and integration of the Optimus drone system and Iron Drone Raider into the United States defense and homeland security markets.

    Under the agreement, Mistral will support American Robotics’ business development by opening sales channels through its well-established relationships with U.S. governmental buyers, including federal, state, local law enforcement, military, and homeland security entities. The initial term of the agreement is three years, with an automatic renewal option and a structured success fee model based on realized sales.

    “This collaboration with Mistral accelerates and strengthens our commercial strategy in the U.S., enhancing our ability to deliver mission-ready autonomous systems to the homeland security and defense sectors,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings. “We are witnessing increased demand for advanced aerial intelligence and counter-drone solutions, and Mistral’s deep relationships, experience, and operational know-how make them an ideal partner to scale our footprint in this critical market.”

    Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMB)‘s Trimble Stratus – With Trimble Stratus Software, one can use drone data to map, measure, and manage worksite and assets. Connect the right information to the right people at the right time.

    Survey Frequently and Faster – Get accurate, up-to-date topographic surveys whenever you need without having to bring in a survey crew – Avoid information bottlenecks by getting answers to questions yourself with an intuitive, web-based tool – Survey inaccessible or hazardous areas safely using a drone.

    NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) – Nvidia AI Technology Added to Vision for Autonomous Drones – Generative AI modules aim to upgrade Foresight’s vision systems with additional computing power – Vision software company Foresight Autonomous Holdings has integrated Nvidia’s Jetson Orin generative AI computing modules into its 3D-perception system.

    Foresight is using Nvidia’s Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson AGX Orin modules to improve the capabilities of its perception systems deployed in various use cases, with a major focus on autonomous drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

    The Jetson modules, which are used in generative AI, computer vision and advanced robotics, upgrade Foresight’s vision system with the computing power needed for autonomous drones and UAVs, according to Foresight.

    Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon’s drones deliver items in 60 minutes or less—here’s how we simplified the process. – Prime Air built an easy-to-use customer experience to make ordering and receiving a wide selection of items via drone delivery faster than ever. It’s never been easier to receive a drone delivery from Amazon if you live in one of the locations where we currently offer it. From tapping the “place your order” button to seeing the item delivered, the entire process takes 60 minutes or less. So, if you realize you need more sunscreen or forgot you needed more batteries, but don’t have time to make a trip to the store, Amazon has you covered.

    It all starts at Amazon.com or in the Amazon Shopping app. Customers can choose more than 60,000 items for drone delivery as our selection continues to grow. Recently, we received FAA approval to deliver several new categories of items, including devices like Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy cellphones, Apple AirTags, Apple AirPods, Ring doorbells, and Alpha Grillers Instant Read Food Thermometers. All you need to do is select the drone delivery option when you check out if you’re in an eligible area and the item in your cart is 5 pounds or less.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels.  FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein.  FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.  The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.  All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.  All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.  Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.  For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Drone as a Service (DaaS) Market is Booming Expected to Reach $179 Billion By 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture will increasingly involve a sophisticated interplay of robots, drones, remote sensors, and computer imaging. A report from MarketsAndMarkets said: “The overall drones as a service market will reach $179.3 billion by 2030. Surveillance and monitoring will be the largest revenue opportunity through 2030 High potential industry verticals include construction, insurance, aerospace and real estate Surveillance and mapping remain largest opportunities with maintenance and inspection rapidly gaining ground as high ROI solutions and Developing countries are fastest growing for many solutions due largely to substantial cost avoidance for expensive professional services.” It continued: “The fundamental principle underpinning cloud computing is the decentralization of computational resources. It posits that the physical infrastructure required for processing data and running applications no longer necessitates a local presence within a customer’s own facilities. Furthermore, the precise geographical location of these computing resources becomes largely immaterial to the end-user. Imagine, if you will, computational power existing almost ubiquitously, like a utility that can be tapped into whenever and wherever the need arises. This abstract notion of computing residing “in the ether” highlights the on-demand and location-independent nature of the cloud.” Active Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Deere & Company (NYSE: DE), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS).

    MarketsAndMarkets added: “This shift in paradigm has yielded significant advantages. Firstly, it has dramatically improved the utilization of computing assets. Instead of individual organizations maintaining underutilized servers and infrastructure, cloud providers can aggregate demand from numerous customers, leading to far greater efficiency. The evolution of cloud computing has fostered the “as a service” delivery model. This framework provides computational capabilities – be it processing power, storage, or specialized software – as a service that can be accessed over a network, typically the internet. This “as a service” approach has proven to be an exceptionally adaptable and scalable method for organizations to introduce and expand their computational capabilities without the upfront investment and management overhead associated with traditional IT infrastructure. This transformative “as a service” paradigm is now profoundly impacting the field of robotics. It is paving the way for “automation as a service”, where robotic capabilities are offered as a readily available service rather than requiring the outright purchase and maintenance of physical robots. This shift unlocks new possibilities for businesses that may have previously found robotics cost-prohibitive or lacked the in-house expertise to deploy and manage them effectively.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Drone as a Service (DaaS) to California with Offer to Acquire an Engineering and Surveying Firm, Tapping into Precision Agriculture and Viticulture Market – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), and enterprise SaaS, has signed an offer to acquire a California-based civil engineering and land surveying firm with a well established history of operations. This marks ZenaTech’s first proposed transaction in the US West Coast or Southwest region, creating a strategic entry point into California ─ a high-value market for drone-based precision agriculture due to a massive agriculture economy, crop diversity, labor and water challenges, and an openness to innovation.

    With a commercial, construction and sustainability solution customer base and a deep regional presence, the proposed acquisition positions ZenaTech to scale its Drone as a Service or DaaS survey operations. It also provides significant opportunity to expand into California’s wine and agriculture sectors using advanced drone capabilities including aerial imaging, precision spraying, irrigation analytics, and wildfire detection and monitoring in high-risk areas.

    “This proposed acquisition is more than just our first Southwest region location — it’s a strategic foothold into a high-value, high-growth state for precision agriculture,” said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. “The firm is a natural fit to help execute our growth strategy for crop health monitoring and precision spraying to serve viticulture, large estates, and commercial farming operations across California.”

    With the global agricultural drone market projected to reach USD 10.3 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for precision technologies in farming, California stands out as a key growth region as well as being home to nearly 90% of all US vineyard acreage. Considering California’s mounting climate and agricultural challenges, ZenaTech’s AI-powered autonomous drone solutions offer timely, scalable innovation that serves the needs of commercial enterprises, cooperatives, agriculture consultants, and public sector stakeholders.

    ZenaTech’s Drone as a Service (DaaS) business model offers both business and government customers reduced costs and convenience to utilize drones to streamline legacy processes and manual tasks such as inspections, surveying, maintenance, precision agriculture and inventory management ─ there is no need to purchase drone hardware and software, find a drone pilot, manage maintenance and operation, or acquire regulatory approvals. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and utilizes ZenaDrone’s multifunction AI autonomous drones.

    The company has closed six acquisitions across the US to date as part of its DaaS business model and strategy and has announced it plans to complete approximately 20 more in the next 12 months. Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) recently announced it has purchased Sentera, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based agriculture startup that uses smart imagery technology to monitor crop health via drone cameras.

    The acquisition, announced May 23, allows the John Deere tractor maker to integrate Sentera’s technologies into its digital farm management system to help farmers make more data-backed decisions. Drones equipped with Sentera’s cameras can fly over fields at high speeds and take high-resolution images that are then processed to generate digital maps that locate harmful weeds and pests, assess crop health and identify any disease pressures, according to Deere.

    EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, recently announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Reignwood Aviation Group. Leveraging their respective strengths, the two parties will collaborate under China’s national strategy for developing the low-altitude economy, guided by the principles of technology empowerment, scenario-driven innovation, and global expansion. Together, they aim to set a global standard for integrating traditional general aviation with next-generation electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft.

    According to the agreement, Reignwood Aviation Group plans to deploy eVTOLs at scale, prioritizing at its operational hubs in key cultural and tourism destinations. The partnership will begin with consumer-facing applications such as low-altitude tourism and related ground services. Over time, the cooperation will further expand to UAM field to build a three-dimensional urban transportation network. In the long term, the two parties aim to expand to more scenarios and low-altitude services including passenger transportation, aerial logistics, emergency response, etc.

    AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, recently announced it has entered into a set of agreements with Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (“TAFE”). The agreements resolve all outstanding disputes and other matters related to the commercial relationship between AGCO and TAFE as well as TAFE’s shareholding in AGCO, ownership and use of the Massey Ferguson brand in India and certain other countries, and other key governance issues between the parties.

    The agreements will become effective upon the completion by AGCO and TAFE of certain governmental and other processes in India relating to the repurchase of the shares held by AGCO in TAFE.

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), a leading provider of advanced drone and aerial imaging solutions, recently announced the sale of two additional eBee X drones to South Korea, expanding the country’s installed base of AgEagle’s eBee drones to more than 100 units. This milestone strengthens AgEagle’s strategic partnership with South Korea and reinforces its position as a leader in the Asia-Pacific drone market.

    The eBee X, AgEagle’s flagship fixed-wing mapping drone, is engineered for high-precision geospatial data collection and is ideally suited for applications including surveying, mapping, and photogrammetry. This latest sale builds on a well-established fleet, further strengthening AgEagle’s reputation as a trusted provider of cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems.AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “Achieving our 100th eBee drone sale in South Korea represents a key growth milestone. It reflects the growing global demand for our advanced aerial solutions and validates the strength of our platform across a range of industries and geographies. As adoption accelerates in international markets like South Korea, we remain focused on scaling operations, deepening customer relationships, and delivering high-performance drone systems that meet evolving mission needs. This progress directly supports our commitment to building sustainable value for all our stakeholders.”

    About FN Media Group:
    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia
    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup
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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:
    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: International Rescue Committee (IRC) Chad prepares for cholera outbreak as World Health Organisation (WHO) warns of regional spread


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    Alain Rusuku, Country Director, IRC Chad, said:

    “Following concerns expressed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) about the spread of the unprecedented Cholera epidemic in Sudan to neighbouring countries, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is launching prevention efforts, including raising awareness amongst vulnerable communities of how to prevent the spread of disease, to prepare for a possible cholera outbreak. With the rainy season approaching in Chad, health teams warn that the risk of an epidemic is increasing. We know how quickly flooding can overwhelm sanitation systems and create ideal conditions for the rapid spread of cholera. We’re working closely with communities to raise awareness and reduce risks before the disease reaches eastern Chad. This includes surveillance at the borders and awareness-raising in the camps, where the IRC is actively involved, alongside coordination with the Ministry of Health, local authorities, and partners to strengthen overall response preparedness.”

    In Sudan, which is now the largest displacement crisis in the world, the epidemic saw a dramatic resurgence at the end of May, with more than 82,000 cases and over 2,100 deaths reported across the country, with Khartoum, South Darfur and East Darfur showing increasing trends. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Rescue Committee (IRC) .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leaders Across Vermont Support Welch’s Bill to Reform FEMA 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    “I appreciate Senator Welch taking on the challenge to create an expedited, more efficient, and flexible emergency management system.” 
    “Nearly every municipal leader impacted by recent flooding in Vermont has told me that FEMA has been difficult to work with. I’m pleased to see Senator Welch proposing reforms to address these concerns.” 
    “What is needed, and what this bill would do, is build state and local capacity to prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover while making more efficient and effective use of federal resources.” 
    “We are grateful to Senator Welch for proposing a commonsense solution that would provide technical assistance, simplified procedures and support for long-term resiliency to municipalities that are in need.” 
    “Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act provides a path toward more timely and effective recovery, especially for Vermont’s hardest-hit towns.” 
    “This legislation represents a fundamental shift in the way we administer hazard mitigation funding.” 
    WESTON, VT—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)’s Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act has earned the support of community leaders across Vermont.  
    Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act will cut red tape and empower state and local governments to access recovery assistance when it is needed. The bill will support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns and communities impacted by natural disasters, and block the White House from withholding funding for disaster response. He will officially introduce the Disaster AID Act next week, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2023 and 2024 floods.  
    “FEMA does lifesaving and important work after a disaster, but we need to find a way to fix the agency so it works better to help communities recover in the weeks, months, and years after a disaster. Vermont saw it firsthand: there’s too much red tape, and the long-term recovery process is inefficient,” said Senator Welch. “The Disaster AID Act is inspired by the experiences of flood-impacted Vermont communities that had to wait too long—and jump through far too many hoops—to get the federal support needed to build back after a disaster. I am proud the Disaster AID Act has earned the support of community and disaster recovery leaders across our state, and thank them for helping shape this commonsense bill.” 
    Vermont Governor Phil Scott, and Kristin Atwood, Barton Town Clerk; Ted Brady, Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns; Michele Braun, Executive Director of the Friends of the Winooski River; Chris Campany, Executive Director of the Windham Regional Commission, and Chair of the VAPDA Emergency Management Committee; Jon Copans, Executive Director, Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience; Ben Doyle, Executive Director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont; Peter Gregory, Executive Director of the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC); Thom Lauzon, Mayor of Barre City; Kristen Leahy, Zoning and Floodplain Administrator and Resilience & Adaption Coordinator for Hardwick; Jim Linville, Selectboard Vice Chair and Recovery Director of Weston; Julie Moore, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources; Stephanie Smith, Vermont Hazard Mitigation Officer; Justin Smith, Municipal Administrator for the Town of Lyndon; and Beverley Wemple, Director of the University of Vermont’s Water Resources Institute.    
    “After facing devastating floods over the last two summers, Vermonters have seen firsthand, the value of federal support and assistance from FEMA workers. However, we’ve also experienced gaps between response and recovery, and we need to make changes that better support responders on the ground and those trying to rebuild. I appreciate Senator Welch taking on the challenge to create an expedited, more efficient, and flexible emergency management system,” said Governor Phil Scott.  
    “The Town of Barton, Vermont, has been hit two years in a row on the same date by disastrous flooding. The unknowns of funding around that have us delaying needed normal maintenance until FEMA funds are received to cover flooding repairs, and slowing down the repairs to make sure those funds flow in before the next project is underway. This unknown funding element has the Town worrying as we look to the future instead of confident FEMA will have our backs. Our ability to prepare for and mitigate the next storm is significantly impacted by our unwillingness to overextend ourselves in case FEMA funding does not come through. This puts us at greater risk of damage if another storm were to come before we have completed recovery from the prior two,” said Kristin Atwood, Barton Town Clerk.   
    “Vermont municipalities can’t prepare for or recover from a disaster without the federal government’s help. Nearly every municipal leader impacted by recent flooding in Vermont has told me that FEMA has been difficult to work with. I’m pleased to see Senator Welch proposing reforms to address these concerns. The ballooning federal bureaucracy, rotating FEMA staff, inconsistent funding, and requirement to take on debt have combined to make recovering from the flooding here in Vermont another disaster. The Disaster AID Act addresses these challenges by providing technical assistance to municipalities before a disaster hits, providing disaster aid immediately to reduce the debt towns need to take on, and cutting down on the red tape communities need to navigate to access federal assistance,” said Ted Brady, Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.   
    “Having helped dozens of towns to recover from devastating floods, we know firsthand that FEMA’s procedures are a barrier to accessing critical funds. Friends of the Winooski River appreciates Senator Welch’s efforts to improve access to the resources our communities desperately need for flood recovery and future health and safety,” said Michele Braun, Executive Director of the Friends of the Winooski River.  
    “FEMA provides critical resources and structure for disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, but it needs reform to make it work better for people and their communities. I don’t think there’s disagreement there, including among FEMA rank and file personnel. Congress needs to act. What is needed, and what this bill would do, is build state and local capacity to prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover while making more efficient and effective use of federal resources,” said Chris Campany, Executive Director of the Windham Regional Commission, and Chair of the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) Emergency Management Committee.  
    “While it is far from perfect, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has repeatedly proven to be a critical part of disaster response here in Central Vermont.  I commend Senator Peter Welch for his efforts to improve FEMA’s process and provide support to small municipalities as we struggle to navigate the bureaucracy to help our communities recover.  The Disaster Assistance and Decentralization Act takes important steps to reform and strengthen federal disaster response so that cities and towns across the country can recover more quickly and make critical investments in future resilience,” said Jon Copans, Executive Director, Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience.  
    “One thing that became clear very quickly after the 2023 flood is that if you’ve seen one small town dealing with a disaster, you’ve seen one small town dealing with a disaster. The impacts on homes, businesses, and infrastructure, were all significant, but they were different depending on the community—and the capacity of municipalities to respond and support residents varied widely. While FEMA representatives were on the ground and well-intentioned, the truth is they were often more prepared to tell people what they couldn’t do because of regulations than to help them rebuild their lives. We need the federal government to meet people where they are—regardless of the size of the community or the scale of the disaster—and provide tailored technical assistance, financial support, and, most importantly, hope.” said Ben Doyle, Executive Director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.  
    “We are very appreciative of Senator Welch’s proposal to reform FEMA and how it interacts with Vermonters. His proposal explicitly enables regional planning commissions to work as agents of municipalities when interacting with FEMA. We were pleased to offer this idea and even more pleased to help our communities,” said Peter Gregory, Executive Director of the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC).   
    “The City of Barre was hit hard by the 2023 and 2024 floods, and we are grateful to the many people who have and continue to help us rebuild better and stronger. While we’ve made significant progress, there’s much more work to be done. We are grateful to Senator Welch for proposing a commonsense solution that would provide technical assistance, simplified procedures and support for long-term resiliency to municipalities that are in need. We need to fix FEMA, not kill it,” said Thom Lauzon, Mayor of Barre City.   
    “Hardwick has faced devastating impacts from back-to-back floods in 2023 and 2024, with repeated damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure along the Lamoille River. One example is 41 Brush Street, a residential property now hanging precariously over the riverbank due to severe erosion. The home is slated for a FEMA-funded buyout, and additional stabilization is needed to protect surrounding properties. FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program is essential for communities like ours, not only for rebuilding but for implementing long-term solutions that reduce future risk. Without sustained and accessible funding, rural towns will be left in a cycle of damage and short-term fixes. Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act provides a path toward more timely and effective recovery, especially for Vermont’s hardest-hit towns,” said Kristen Leahy, Zoning and Floodplain Administrator and Resilience & Adaption Coordinator for Hardwick.  
    “The support for small towns in Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act is crucial in enabling towns in Vermont and nationwide to obtain the expert assistance they require in responding to disasters, as well as identifying, designing and funding mitigation projects. Five months after the July 2023 flood in Weston, we applied for and received an MTAP grant that allowed us to retain professional help to guide us through the grant maze and get a head start on modeling the flooding and designing mitigation projects. Our hope is that with passage of the Disaster AID Act, this sort of assistance will be available soon after the next (inevitable) disaster event so our town fathers and mothers aren’t wringing their hands trying to figure out what to do, how to do it and how to pay for it,” said Jim Linville, Selectboard Vice Chair and Recovery Director of Weston.  
    “Vermont has experienced multiple federally-declared disasters since 2023 which laid bare Vermont municipalities’ need for additional technical assistance,” said ANR Secretary Julie Moore. “The Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization Act would help fill this critical need. In particular, we are grateful to Sen. Welch for his continued efforts to simplify procedures for complex relocation projects for critical facilities, such as the wastewater treatment facilities in Johnson, Hardwick and Ludlow – all of which have experienced repeated flood damage.”  
    “The BRIC program greatly improved Vermont’s ability to do the planning and scoping work necessary in order to develop important flood reduction projects in our communities,” said Stephanie Smith, Vermont Hazard Mitigation Section Chief. “This legislation represents a fundamental shift in the way we administer hazard mitigation funding that would allow us to successfully and efficiently utilize federal resources to reduce future flood risk in Vermont.”  
    “Like many rural towns in Vermont, Lyndon is not blessed with a large staff to handle the volume of paperwork required to receive funding from FEMA when a disaster occurs.  Many towns in rural Vermont are not even fortunate enough to have a Municipal Administrator or Manager in place to handle the paper trail and are forced to rely solely on volunteers in their community. We understand and support the necessity of ensuring that funds are being properly spent and accounted for.  However, there is a strong need to create a system where communities have one point of contact throughout the entirety of a declared disaster. Small Vermont communities such as ours, do not have the resources or the personnel work hours to start and re-start the process of disaster re-imbursement from scratch because a FEMA PDMG has reached their 50-week time limit and must move on,” said Justin Smith, Municipal Administrator for the Town of Lyndon. “Taking away a single employee from their normal day to day responsibilities to devote to disaster recovery severely understaffs any rural community, and extending this length of time attempting to get a new PDMG or multiple PDMGs up to speed is time and money that rural communities don’t have the luxury of wasting.”  
    “The Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act will provide critical assistance to communities impacted by flooding and other disasters. The bill’s provisions will get assistance into the hands of those who need it more rapidly following disasters. In Vermont and communities across the country, investments in hazard mitigation projects enabled by the Act, like reconnecting rivers to floodplains that store and dissipate the energy of floodwaters, will make communities safer and ensure we are prepared for the future in a way that also supports healthy ecosystems,” said Beverley Wemple, Director of the University of Vermont’s Water Resources Institute. “Thank you, Senator Welch, for introducing this important piece of legislation that will support all Americans in meeting the challenges of future natural disasters.”  
    •••
    Over the course of consecutive summers in July 2023 and July 2024, Vermont experienced severe storms which caused catastrophic flooding, washouts, and mudslides. Homes, farms, businesses, and public infrastructure were destroyed, and communities were left reeling. In the immediate aftermath of the destruction, FEMA provided lifesaving on-the-ground assistance, working with local organizations and the state. In the long-term, however, FEMA’s response has not met the needs of communities.   
    Many of Vermont’s towns operate with limited resources and lack the administrative capacity needed to navigate the complex web of federal disaster assistance—especially in the aftermath of a brutal flood. FEMA has failed to provide necessary support and burdensome FEMA policies have slowed or blocked communities from accessing federal funds. Towns were not empowered to capitalize on their understanding of conditions on the ground. To make matters worse, under the Trump Administration, communities must now contend with uncertain federal funding streams, including for reimbursement of projects already approved and under way.  
    Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act will cut red tape and ease cumbersome requirements that restrict state and local governments from tailoring solutions to local circumstances. The bill will also provide technical and financial resources for small towns and communities that lack administrative capacity, and restrain future administrations from arbitrarily turning off the funding spigot for communities in the midst of disaster recovery.  
    Learn more about the Disaster AID Act.  
    Read a section-by-section summary of the Disaster AID Act.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement on Iran and the Middle East

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement on Iran and the Middle East

    Joint Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers on Iran and the Middle East

    Joint statement:

    We the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in The Hague on June 25, 2025, where we discussed recent events in the Middle East.

    We reiterate our support for the ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced by U.S. President Trump, and urge all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.

    We appreciate Qatar’s important role in facilitating the ceasefire and express our full solidarity to Qatar and Iraq following the recent strikes by Iran and its proxies and partners against their territory. We welcome all efforts in the region towards stabilization and de-escalation.

    We reaffirm that the Islamic Republic of Iran can never have nuclear weapons, and urge Iran to refrain from reconstituting its unjustified enrichment activities. We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran’s nuclear program.

    In order to have a sustainable and credible resolution, we call on Iran to urgently resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as required by its safeguards obligations and to provide the IAEA with verifiable information about all nuclear material in Iran, including by providing access to IAEA inspectors. We condemn calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi.

    We underscore the centrality of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. It is essential that Iran remains party to and fully implements its obligations under the Treaty.

    We reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we reaffirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Nearly Three-Quarters of World Heritage Sites Are at High Risk from Water-Related Hazards

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    A new analysis by UNESCO and World Resources Institute (WRI) reveals that 73% of World Heritage sites are highly exposed to water-related hazards, such as drought, water stress, or riverine and coastal flooding. Strengthening water stewardship is essential to protect these sites and the communities and ecosystems they sustain.

    A Precious Resource Under Growing Threat

    Water-related hazards—including floods, droughts, and storms—have accounted for over 90% of the world’s major disasters since 1970, resulting in more than 2 million deaths and economic losses exceeding USD 3.6 trillion, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). World Heritage sites have not been exempted from these hazards and face increasing threats to their natural and cultural values. These sites stand as powerful reminders of humanity’s enduring relationship with water. From awe-inspiring landscapes shaped over millennia to cultural landmarks forged through human ingenuity—such as ancient irrigation systems, historic canals, and modern engineering achievements—they reflect the cooperation with nature that has enabled societies to flourish across generations. Yet, while water is fundamental to their significance, it can also pose serious risks when its balance is disrupted, threatening the integrity of these irreplaceable places.

    A new analysis by UNESCO and World Resources Institute (WRI) highlights the scale of these threats: 73% of World Heritage sites are highly exposed to at least one water-related hazard—such as drought, water stress, or riverine and coastal flooding—and 21% face multiple overlapping risks. Around the world, World Heritage sites are increasingly caught between the extremes of too much and too little water, with climate change, urbanization, river regulation, and upstream water withdrawals intensifying these pressures, especially in regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, parts of South Asia, and northern China.

    “The Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas gives us critical data to track how water risks are evolving around the world. These insights are more urgent than ever, helping governments, site managers, and communities take targeted action — before floods, droughts, or water shortages cause irreversible damage to treasured places that serve as lifelines for both people and ecosystems,”

    Approximately 600 World Heritage sites are highly exposed to water scarcity conditions — reflected in water stress or drought— making it the most widespread water-related risk, threatening nearly half of all properties. The vast majority (around 90%) of these exposed sites are cultural properties . While natural sites face a comparatively lower level of exposure, they are increasingly experiencing conditions that place growing stress on ecosystems and biodiversity. Sites such as the Ahwar of Southern Iraq and Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls (Zambia / Zimbabwe) have endured severe multi-year droughts since 2020. Drought also heightens the risk of wildfires, compounding the damage: in the Pantanal Conservation Area (Brazil) and Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (Bolivia), prolonged dry conditions have fueled intense fires with severe impacts on flora, fauna, and local communities.

    Drought at Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls (Zambia / Zimbabwe) in 2019 / Source: Copernicus Browser

    Severe flood risk, both riverine and coastal, affects approximately 400 World Heritage sites. Floods have already impacted both natural and cultural World Heritage properties, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened resilience. In 2020, Rwenzori Mountains National Park (Uganda) experienced significant climate-related flooding that that disrupted river systems, posing challenges for both local communities and wildlife. In 2022, major flooding led to the temporary closure of Yellowstone National Park (United States of America), with over $20 million required for infrastructure repairs before the park could reopen. More recently, in 2024, severe flooding in Kaziranga National Park (India) resulted in the loss of more than 200 animals, including 10 endangered rhinos, while Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal) has been affected by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) linked to accelerating glacial retreat.

    © ICIMOD

    Cultural sites have also experienced serious impacts from flooding. The catastrophic floods that left nearly one-third of Pakistan submerged in 2022 caused significant damage to the Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro. Other ancient sites such as the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan), Angkor (Cambodia) and Petra (Jordan), have also been affected by flooding, with damage to their integrity. In parts of Africa, communities in Timbuktu (Mali) and the Historic Centre of Agadez (Niger) are facing the compounded challenges of severe drought followed by intense flooding — a clear illustration of increasing climate variability.

    Flood at Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro (Pakistan) in 2022 / Source: Copernicus Browser

    Around 50 World Heritage sites are highly exposed to coastal flooding. Some cultural sites are already experiencing the impacts, with growing risks to their integrity. The Complex of Hué Monuments (Viet Nam) has endured repeated flooding in recent years, accelerating deterioration. The Forts and Castles along the coast of Ghana, face increasing danger from shoreline erosion and rising seas, putting at risk these important remains of fortified trading posts that formed part of early global trade history. While coastal flooding has not yet caused major reported damage at natural World Heritage sites, the risk is rising. Sites such as the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China and Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) are highly vulnerable, as sea level rise could transform or submerge critical coastal habitats essential for migratory species.

    “This analysis underscores the urgent need to address water-related risks to World Heritage sites, which are being intensified by climate change. Strengthening resilience through innovation, traditional knowledge, and cooperation is essential to safeguarding these irreplaceable places for future generations.”

    Towards Solutions: Protecting Heritage Through Water Stewardship

    Despite these challenges, examples of effective action demonstrate that solutions are possible—particularly when supported by international cooperation, innovation, and traditional knowledge. UNESCO actively supports States Parties in addressing water-related threats through a combination of emergency mechanisms, technical guidance, and long-term cooperation. Emergency support is provided through instruments such as the World Heritage Fund’s International Assistance, the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) and the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF), while expert missions under the World Heritage Convention’s Reactive Monitoring process help guide response efforts. UNESCO also provides capacity building and technical support to strengthen local responses, contributing to long-term resilience, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable water management at World Heritage sites through programmes such as the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP).

    Integrated water resource management (IWRM) — which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources — is increasingly being incorporated into conservation strategies for World Heritage properties. At Petra (Jordan) and the Old City of Sana’a (Yemen), for example, IWRM principles are guiding flood risk reduction strategies such as early warning systems, which help safeguard monuments from increasingly severe flash floods. Similarly, in the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China, a government ban on land reclamation, followed by wetland restoration efforts, has led to a fivefold increase in bird populations in some areas, providing renewed habitat for migratory species.

    © UNESCO / Community Engagement through Risk Prevention in Petra

    Heritage-sensitive climate adaptation is also key. The Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru) illustrates how site managers are applying innovative water management measures — including drainage improvements and protective earthworks — to reduce the impact of increasingly intense rainfall and flooding on fragile adobe structures. At the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan), UNESCO has supported emergency measures to stabilize the structure following flood events that endangered its integrity, along with technical assistance for improved flood management in the surrounding valley.

    © UNESCO / The Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, a UNESCO project to safeguard the iconic site

    Transboundary cooperation plays a vital role where shared water systems support World Heritage values. The Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM), through collaboration between Angola, Namibia, and Botswana, coordinates efforts to protect the seasonal flooding that sustains the Okavango Delta’s biodiversity and local livelihoods. Similarly, at Iguaçu National Park, on the border between Brazil and Argentina, park managers work with upstream stakeholders to maintain sustainable water flows that protect the falls’ ecosystem while supporting vital hydroelectric production at the Itaipu Dam. To address the consequences of melting glaciers and increased occurrences of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) due to climate change impacts, UNESCO is engaging with communities in the Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal) to identify potential adaptation pathways using the Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA).

    Traditional knowledge, community stewardship, and partnerships between local communities, national authorities, and international organizations are central to many successful initiatives. In the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, the revitalization of ancient irrigation systems and forest restoration supports both cultural heritage and resilience to drought and erosion. In the Ahwar of Southern Iraq, joint efforts have facilitated the restoration of marshlands, enhancing water governance and helping buffer against drought and salinity.

    Modern technology further complements these approaches. Tools such as GIS mapping, remote sensing, and water quality monitoring provide real-time data to inform decision-making and enable site managers and authorities to respond effectively to emerging threats. To support this, UNESCO’s World Heritage Online Map Platform (WHOMP), serves as an important resource for monitoring water-related risks and informing site-level planning.

    These efforts and solutions are among the many actions contributing to the protection of World Heritage sites and the strengthening of their resilience for generations to come. World Heritage sites are not static relics of the past, but dynamic systems shaped by human ingenuity, natural forces, and the enduring relationship between people and water. Strengthening their protection calls for an integrated approach that combines time-honoured practices with scientific innovation, draws on both traditional knowledge and modern science, and fosters inclusive governance and transboundary cooperation. Advancing water stewardship that supports both cultural and natural heritage is essential to safeguarding their Outstanding Universal Value and ensuring their continued contribution to sustainable development and the well-being of communities worldwide.

    UNESCO gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Flanders (Belgium) for the World Heritage Online Map Platform (WHOMP), which made this analysis possible.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNESCO Launches Groundbreaking Report on Climate Change Impacts in Mediterranean World Heritage Cities

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    UNESCO World Heritage Centre has launched a groundbreaking new report Climate Change in Mediterranean World Heritage Cities during a high-level online event attended by over 140 participants from international organisations, national authorities, academia, and civil society. The report addresses the intersection of three important concerns around impacts of climate change on cultural heritage, the Mediterranean region as a global climate hotspot, and cities as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions as well as of climate action. It marks a milestone in UNESCO’s efforts to bridge the knowledge gap between climate science and heritage-based adaptation planning. Combining qualitative analysis of reports from cities and settlements and Earth observation data, the study provides both Earth system models and regional climate models to identify the hazards already experienced and projections for future climate risks that the World Heritage properties should prepare for. This publication aims to raise global awareness of the gravity and urgency of the climate crisis, as well as recognise cultural heritage as a valuable resource for climate action.

    The launch event was opened by Mr Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture who provided a broad introduction to ongoing engagements of UNESCO with regard to climate change and culture. Ms Yana Gevorgyan, Director of the GEO Secretariat emphasized the potential of Earth Intelligence and GEO’s global platforms to guide local responses to climate risks, referencing the Urban Heritage Climate Observatory (UHCO) and the Global Heat Resilience Service. While reiterating the importance of the report H.E. Ms Christina Kokkinakis, Ambassador of the European Union to UNESCO highlighted the urgency of climate change in Europe and the European Union’s priorities for achieving climate neutrality, while reflecting that “Mediterranean cities have survived for centuries—we don’t just lose a momentum, but our collective future. It is not about what we inherit, but what we choose for the future.”

    Presented by its lead co-authors, Ms Jyoti Hosagrahar, Deputy Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and Mr Evangelos Gerasopoulos, Director of the Greek GEO Office, the new publication is the first comprehensive, data-driven assessment of climate change risks to World Heritage cities in the Mediterranean region. Drawing on Earth observations, local climate projections, and qualitative reports from site managers, the study assesses 114 cities inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The results are alarming: nearly two-thirds of these cities already experience at least one climate-related hazard, such as extreme heat, flooding, droughts, or storms; and nearly a fifth of the Mediterranean World Heritage Cities report already facing 3 or more climate hazards.

    Under the worst-case scenario for 2100, coastal World Heritage cities in the region will additionally face sea-level rise, and the majority will be exposed to multiple, compounding climate hazards.

    Despite the challenges posed by climate change, World Heritage Cities are immense repositories of traditional knowledge accumulated over millennia. The report highlights key heritage-informed policies and actions, including urban planning responses to enhance resilience. Urban climate mitigation and adaptation strategies could also include adapting traditional building techniques and planning solutions to optimise climate conditions in historic cities and settlements. Case studies featured in the publication illustrate how such measures are already making a difference. Looking ahead, the report considers that a wide range of actions are required, from international policies to national and local strategies. Regular monitoring is key, as is the integration of cultural heritage into climate action plans and policies at all governmental levels. Better planning allows cities to harness resilience, adaptation and mitigation offered by their cultural heritage.

    Comments by experts during the launch event reinforced the report’s urgency and relevance. Sir Jim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), stressed the importance of scaling up climate knowledge for local action, and commended the report’s multidisciplinary approach reminding participants that the impacts of climate change are not uni-dimensional, as well as the necessity of engaging with more diverse forms of knowledge, including indigenous and local one – as demonstrated in the publication. Professor Christos S. Zerefos, Secretary General of the Academy of Athens, noted that “The culture we inherit should be preserved—not by ignoring the discomforts our monuments endure, as they can’t speak.” Ms Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice-Chair of IPCC Working Group III and Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee for the upcoming IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change, recognised the report as an important and timely contribution aligned with global scientific efforts. All the experts noted that the value of the lessons learned from the 114 World Heritage Cities in the Mediterranean region extended far beyond the entire world.

    Mr Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Centre, closed the event reiterating the importance of this report for UNESCO and the World Heritage Centre, emphasising that the report is “more than a diagnosis – it is a roadmap for protecting cultural heritage in the face of climate change”, especially as we prepare for the start of the 2025 World Heritage Committee session. He called for expanded partnerships and long-term monitoring, and stated: “As the climate crisis accelerates, so must our collaborations. This is an opportunity to ensure more resilient, just, and sustainable cities where our shared heritage is safeguarded for generations to come.”

    The full publication is now available on the UNESCO platform. It aims to serve as a knowledge resource and decision-making tool for States Parties, site managers, urban planners, and heritage professionals working across the region and beyond.

    Read the publication

    Here

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to wildfires in Scotland, including in the Highlands and Moray

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on wildfires in Scotland. 

    Prof Rory Hadden, Chair of Fire Science, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “It is widely expected that the number of wildfires will increase in Scotland (and the UK) as we see more periods of extreme weather driven by climate change.  The recent fine weather means that vegetation has dried out and becomes susceptible to ignition sources.  Even a small heat source such as a BBQ or campfire can initiate a wildfire either by direct flame contact with vegetation, or by igniting a smouldering fire in dry vegetation and soils which will later transition to a flaming fire.

    “Once vegetation is ignited, a fire will grow extremely rapidly especially if there is wind and/or dense vegetation.  This is especially true given the recent weather conditions in Scotland and means that typically it will be challenging to fight without proper resources.  Also a smouldering fire in soils may only transition to flaming some hours after it is ignited (and there may be no obvious signs that smouldering has been ignited).  Once ignited a fire will spread rapidly through vegetation, moving fastest in the direction of the wind and up slopes.  Poor access, difficult terrain and extensive vegetation coverage means that the fire can spread over large areas relatively quickly.

    “The impacts of these fires are of course significant.  There is a huge cost to the fire and rescue services in fighting and managing these fires – drawing resources from a wide area.  There is the destruction of natural capital – the countryside provides important ecosystem services that we all rely on and these are impacted negatively by wildfires.  Loss of vegetation impacts on wildlife.  The smoke is harmful and can impact on people large distances away, exacerbating respiratory conditions.  If the fire burns into peat soils then the loss of carbon to the atmosphere will be significant and may drive future climate change.  There is also possibility of loss of property as fires move towards settlements (farms, villages, towns).

    “While there is ongoing research on this topic, there is lots we do not know around the changes in risk to people, property and environment posed by wildfires in Scotland and the UK.  The fire and rescue services are adapting but there is currently no national fire danger assessment tool or clear coordination at Government level in Scotland.  We need to work on finding measures to manage fire risk in Scotland and the UK, including fuel load management (e.g. prescribed burning, mechanical means) as well as communications with stakeholders and the public to advise of periods of higher fire danger.  This is critical because as well as climate change, we are in a period of significant changes in land use (including rewilding) across Scotland and the UK.

    “It is important to note that the leading cause of wildfires is people.  We all need to do our part when visiting the countryside to ensure we do not bring ignition sources – pack a picnic instead of a BBQ, and only have campfires in designated areas.”

    Declared interests

    Prof Rory Hadden: “Funding declaration:

    US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service;

    US Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology;

    Funding on unrelated projects from Defence and Security Accelerator;

    UKRI EPSRC.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Trump tax-cut plan returns to US House, Republicans divided on bill

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The debate within President Donald Trump’s Republican Party over a massive tax-cut and spending bill returns to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, as party leaders try to overcome internal divisions and meet a self-imposed July 4 deadline.

    The Senate passed the legislation, which nonpartisan analysts say will add $3.3 trillion to the nation’s debt over the next decade, by the narrowest possible margin on Tuesday after intense debate on the bill’s hefty price tag and substantial cuts to the Medicaid health care program.

    Similar divides exist in the House, which Republicans control by a 220-212 margin and where a fractious caucus has regularly bucked its leadership in recent years — though members have so far not rejected major Trump priorities.

    “The House will work quickly to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill that enacts President Trump’s full America First agenda by the Fourth of July,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement on Tuesday, citing the bill’s extension of Trump’s 2017 individual tax cuts and increased funding for the military and immigration enforcement.

    House Republican leaders set an initial procedural vote on the bill for 9 a.m. ET (1300 GMT).

    Some of the loudest Republican objections against it come from party hardliners angry that it does not sufficiently cut spending and a $5 trillion increase in the nation’s debt ceiling, which lawmakers must address in the coming months or risk a devastating default on the nation’s $36.2 trillion debt.

    “What the Senate did was unconscionable,” said Representative Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican, one of several fiscal hawks who spoke out against the Senate bill’s higher price tag, accusing the Senate of handing out “goodie bags” of spending to satisfy holdouts.

    Norman said he would vote against advancing the bill on Wednesday.

    Democrats are united in opposition to the bill, saying that its tax breaks disproportionately benefit the wealthy, while cutting services that lower- and middle-income Americans rely on. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that almost 12 million people could lose health insurance as a result of the bill.

    “This is the largest assault on American healthcare in history,” Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday, pledging that his party will use “all procedural and legislative options” to try to stop – or delay – passage.

    The version of the bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday would add more to the debt than the version first passed by the House in May and also includes more than $900 million in cuts to the Medicaid program for low-income Americans.

    Those cuts also raised concerns among some House Republicans.

    “I will not support a final bill that eliminates vital funding our hospitals rely on,” Representative David Valadao of California said before Senate passage.

    TIMING DIFFICULTIES

    But some House Republicans worried about social safety-net cuts could find solace in the Senate’s last-minute decision to set aside more money for rural hospitals, funding that Representative Nick Langworthy, a New York Republican, called “a lifeline that will be very helpful to districts like mine.”

    Any changes made by the House would require another Senate vote, making it all but impossible to meet the July 4 deadline.

    Further complicating the timeline, a wave of storms in the Washington area on Tuesday night canceled flights, and some lawmakers from both parties detailed on social media plans to drive from their home districts to the Capitol for Wednesday’s expected vote.

    A senior White House official said on Tuesday that Trump is expected to be “deeply involved” in the whip operation this week.

    Trump for weeks has pushed for passage ahead of the July 4 Independence Day holiday, though he has also in recent days softened that deadline, describing it as less than critical.

    Any public opposition to the bill risks irking Trump, as was the case when the president slammed Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who announced his retirement after coming out in opposition to the bill.

    Another former Trump ally, the world’s richest person Elon Musk, this week resumed an active campaign against the bill over social media, blasting its deficit-building effects. That has reignited a feud between Trump and Musk.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Wins Global Trade Review (GTR) Best Deals of 2024 for Türkiye Earthquake Response Financing


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    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has been recognized with a GTR (Global Trade Review) Best Deals of 2024 for its innovative US$150 million Murabaha financing facility, to support Türkiye’s post-earthquake economic recovery.

    Executed in close partnership with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye, the Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye (TSKB), and the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB), this landmark Shariah-compliant financing was the first Islamic trade finance facility designed for post-disaster recovery.

    The financing was developed in response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye in February 2023, resulting in an estimated US$100 billion in damages and disrupting over 220,000 businesses. The facility delivered working capital support and laid the foundation for sustainable economic revival in key sectors including food security, agriculture, and trade.

    Commenting on the award, Nazeem Noordali, Chief Operating Officer, ITFC highlighted, “This award is a testament to our continued commitment to support trade-driven resilience. By partnering with Türkiye’s public sector and key development banks, we have introduced an Islamic finance solution that strengthens recovery and supports long-term trade sustainability.”

    Ms. Sedef Aydaş Head of Department the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Treasury and Finance, stated that ITFC is one of the first financing organizations showing its willingness to support Türkiye’s post-earthquake economic recovery and added that: “We as Ministry of Treasury and Finance are delighted and thankful to receive GTR Best Deal of 2024 with the first transactions with ITFC for its financing support to Türkiye regarding food security, agriculture and SME trade financing in the earthquake region. I hope the deals we had with ITFC will be one of the landmark projects for future transactions in various areas.”

    The project has also accelerated the adoption of Islamic trade finance solutions in Türkiye’s public sector. TSKB and TKYB utilized the opportunity to develop new Shariah-compliant frameworks with strategic impact across other sectors like renewable energy, climate resilience, employment and inclusive development. It also opened new avenues for Islamic financing in Türkiye’s public sector, paving the way for future Murabaha based financing from international players.

    Commenting on the award, Ms. Meral Murathan, Executive Vice President & Sustainability Leader of TSKB, said: “As Türkiye’s first privately-owned development and investment bank, we have been committed to supporting sustainable and inclusive development for the past 75 years. In the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquake, we placed the sustainable redevelopment of the affected regions at the core of our mission. The US$ 150 million Murabaha-based agreement we signed with ITFC in August 2024 marks the first cooperation between TSKB and ITFC. We are pleased to have structured this partnership to support trade-driven recovery and resilience in the earthquake-impacted areas by addressing the urgent needs of local businesses.”

    The award was presented at the GTR Best Deals 2024 ceremony, where ITFC representative alongside officials from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye and TSKB.

    İbrahim H. Oztop, the CEO of the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye commented “We are very pleased to be involved in this transaction, executed in collaboration with ITFC, our partner institution. This financing not only represents a step forward in strengthening our corporate financing structure but also helps us to achieve our strategic goals. We consider this award as a recognition of our institution’s vision and mission on an international level.”

    This recognition reinforces ITFC’s leadership in Islamic trade finance solutions and its contribution to achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure).

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

    Contact Us:
    Tel: +966 12 646 8337 
    Fax: +966 12 637 1064  
    E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org

    Social Media:
    Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/3TnUU1I
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/401UMZA
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    About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC):
    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving the socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$83 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, enabling them to successfully compete in the global market.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Dayforce offre aux PME canadiennes les moyens de réussir grâce à Powerpay par Dayforce

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dayforce, Inc. (NYSE : DAY; TSX : DAY), un chef de file mondial en gestion du capital humain qui améliore la vie au travail, a annoncé aujourd’hui le repositionnement de marque de sa solution de gestion de la paie et de gestion des RH pour les PME sous le nom de Powerpay par Dayforce, ce qui signifie que l’entreprise met l’accent sur une nouvelle approche stratégique et s’engage de manière continue à répondre aux besoins uniques et en constante évolution de plus de 46 000 clients à travers le Canada.

    Les PME représentent le moteur de l’économie canadienne, en ajoutant des milliards de dollars à son PIB chaque année et en représentant presque l’ensemble du paysage commercial. Mais il n’a jamais été aussi complexe de gérer une PME. Avec l’apport de centaines de modifications législatives chaque année, les propriétaires d’entreprise doivent composer avec un contexte de conformité et de réglementations sur l’emploi en constante évolution. Pour demeurer concentrés sur la croissance de leur entreprise, ils ont besoin d’outils simples et fiables qui les aident à payer leurs employés de manière exacte et conforme.

    « Powerpay représente notre engagement envers les PME canadiennes. Nous comprenons vos défis, soutenons vos ambitions et favorisons votre réussite », déclare David Ossip, président et chef de la direction chez Dayforce. « Powerpay est une solution conçue pour simplifier la conformité, permettre aux propriétaires d’entreprises de gagner du temps et les aider à se concentrer sur ce qui compte le plus, c’est-à-dire leur entreprise. Nous sommes fiers de contribuer à transformer l’exploitation, la croissance et la prospérité des entreprises canadiennes ».

    En plus du repositionnement de la marque, la solution Powerpay offre également une expérience plus intuitive et conviviale grâce à des fonctions améliorées de suivi des heures et de rémunération. Les mises à jour récentes apportées à la solution, notamment l’Assistant Nouvelle embauche et la fonction d’inscription libre-service de masse, sont axées sur les employés et les gestionnaires afin de les aider à rationaliser l’intégration et les tâches quotidiennes. Ces améliorations favorisent l’efficacité, offrent une meilleure visibilité sur les données relatives aux effectifs et soutiennent une prise de décisions plus rapide et plus confiante.

    « Powerpay a transformé la façon dont nous gérons la paie », indique Krista Hanes, directrice de l’administration et des services aux entreprises chez Apollo Property Management. « La plateforme est intuitive, évolutive et convient parfaitement à une entreprise comme la nôtre qui gère plusieurs traitements de la paie. Elle offre une tranquillité d’esprit à nos équipes des RH et des finances, en sachant que la paie est toujours traitée de façon exacte et à temps. Nous considérons Powerpay comme un partenaire de confiance et sommes enthousiastes à l’idée de savoir ce que nous réserve l’avenir. »

    Croissance de l’équipe de direction de Powerpay

    Dans le cadre de l’engagement de l’entreprise envers une croissance et une innovation durables, Behrad Bayanpour a été nommé directeur général de Powerpay. Dans son rôle de vice-président directeur de la stratégie et de la croissance chez Dayforce, il supervise les ventes, les produits, l’ingénierie et les services, et apporte une vision ciblée pour faire évoluer la mission de Powerpay qui consiste à fournir des solutions fiables, sécurisées et conformes aux propriétaires d’entreprise à travers le Canada.

    « Tandis que nous tirons parti de l’élan de Powerpay, notre engagement à autonomiser les PME canadiennes n’a jamais été aussi élevé », déclare M. Bayanpour. « Nous ne fournissons pas seulement une plateforme, nous forgeons également des partenariats qui alimentent la croissance, stimulent l’innovation et aident les PME à naviguer avec confiance et optimisme dans un monde en constante évolution. »

    Pour en savoir plus, veuillez consulter le nouveau site Web powerpay.ca.

    À propos de Dayforce
    Dayforce améliore la vie au travail. Tout ce que nous faisons en tant que chef de file mondial en technologie de gestion du capital humain vise à aider des milliers de clients et des millions d’employés à travers le monde à accomplir leur vocation. Grâce à notre plateforme de gestion du capital humain optimisée par l’IA qui facilite la gestion des RH, de la paie, des heures, des talents et des analyses de données, les organisations de toutes tailles et de tous les secteurs d’activité bénéficient de la simplicité à grande échelle qu’offre Dayforce pour aider à libérer le potentiel de leurs effectifs, à exercer leurs activités en toute confiance et à réaliser une valeur quantifiable. Pour en savoir plus, visitez le dayforce.com.

    Pour communiquer avec l’équipe de relations publiques de Dayforce
    Patrick Allen
    patrick.allen@dayforce.com
    647 417-2208

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Sudan: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls for urgent scale up in water and sanitation programs amidst rising cholera cases in Abyei


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    A cholera outbreak in Abyei Special Administrative Area risks spreading further if water and sanitation (WASH) conditions are not urgently improved, warns Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Health authorities in Abyei officially declared a cholera outbreak on 11 June 2025, following a continued rise in reported cases.

    South Sudan has been grappling with a widespread cholera outbreak since September 2024, with cases reported across multiple states, including Unity, Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria, which hosts the capital, Juba. Abyei Special Administrative Area in the north western part of South Sudan is one of the latest areas to be affected. People in Abyei, whether displaced people, or host communities, are living in overcrowded areas with limited access to basic services. The situation is particularly concerning in informal settlements like Amiet market, where over 50,000 people who fled the war in Sudan live with limited access to safe drinking water and sanitation infrastructure such as latrines. Many are forced to defecate in the open due to a lack of latrines, posing further risks of the spread of diseases.

    “The situation in Amiet is critical. The patients admitted with cholera to Ameth Bek Hospital in Abyei Town confirm an active outbreak. The risk of spread to Abyei town is high, especially with the return of the rains, extremely poor hygiene conditions, and the continued increase in the number of people arriving from Sudan coming into an already overcrowded space,” says Stéphanie Dongmo, MSF Project Coordinator in Abyei.

    MSF has been responding to the crisis, treating patients with symptoms consistent with cholera such as acute watery diarrhoea at its 20-bed cholera treatment unit (CTU) set up at Ameth Bek Hospital since 11 April. Between 2 and 28 June, a total of 333 suspected cholera cases were treated at the MSF CTU. The last three weeks have seen a significant surge, with 80 patients received between 9 and 15 June; 77 between 16 and 22 June; and 94 between 23 and 28 June being treated at the MSF CTU in Abyei.

    While there are ongoing medical response efforts, the onset of the rainy season poses an immediate and severe threat. Ensuing floods are likely to cut off access, complicate logistical movements for aid, and accelerate the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera.

    “MSF calls for the urgent rollout of cholera vaccines and vastly improved water, sanitation, and hygiene programs by all relevant actors in affected areas. Immediate and comprehensive actions, including deploying water trucks to provide clean water, soap, constructing more latrines, and improving the drainage systems are critical to mitigate the crisis. These immediate actions are crucial to save lives and prevent further escalation of this critical public health emergency in Abyei,” Stephanie adds.

    Since the start of the outbreak in September 2024, more than 75,000 cases and over 1,300 deaths from cholera had been reported nationwide according to the World Health Organisation by 27 June 2025.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Trump’s ceasefire statement raises hopes in Gaza as Israel presses on with attacks

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Word from U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel has agreed to the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza raised hopes on Wednesday in the enclave, where health officials said at least 20 people had been killed in Israeli attacks.

    A “final” proposal would be delivered by the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, to Hamas, Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday, after what he described as a “long and productive” meeting between his representatives and Israeli officials.

    Gazans said even a temporary pause would bring relief.

    “I hope it would work this time, even if for two months, it would save thousands of innocent lives,” Kamal, a resident of Gaza City, said by phone.

    There is growing public pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-long war, a move strongly opposed by hardline members of his right-wing ruling coalition.

    Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X on Wednesday that a majority within the coalition government would back an agreement that would see the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza.

    “If there is an opportunity to do so – we must not miss it!”, he wrote on X. Of 50 hostages still held, around 20 are believed to be still alive.

    For Gazans, who have fled multiple times and face daily struggles to find food 21 months into Israel’s military campaign, the statements provided a glimmer of hope.

    “Everyone is hopeful that it would work this time, there is no room for more failures, every day more costs us our lives,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a businessman.

    “We are living the most difficult days. People want an end to the war, an end to the starvation and humiliation.”

    There was no immediate official comment by either Israel or Hamas to Trump’s latest statement on the progress of the plan.

    “Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump’s statement said, without specifying the conditions.

    IRAN LINK

    The U.S. president appeared to be seeking to use any momentum from U.S. and Israeli strikes on nuclear sites in Iran and a recently agreed ceasefire in that conflict to put pressure on Hamas, which is backed by Tehran. Israeli leaders also believe that, with Iran weakened by last month’s 12-day war, other countries in the region have an opportunity to forge ties with Israel.

    A Hamas official declined immediate comment on Trump’s statement. A source close to the group said leaders of the Islamist faction were expected to debate the proposal and seek clarifications from mediators before giving an official response.

    At the end of May, Hamas had said it was seeking amendments to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, which Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said was “totally unacceptable.”

    That proposal had involved a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of other Palestinians; Hamas would release the remaining hostages as part of a deal that guarantees the end of the war.

    Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X on Wednesday that his party could provide the government with a safety net if hardline members of the Israeli cabinet opposed a deal, effectively pledging not to back a no-confidence motion in parliament that could topple the government.

    Gaza health authorities said Israeli gunfire and military strikes killed at least 20 Palestinians in separate attacks in north and southern areas, and the Israeli military ordered more evacuations late on Tuesday.

    In response to questions from Reuters about the reports, the Israeli military stated that its operations aimed to dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities and mitigate civilian harm, without commenting on specific incidents.

    The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 hostages back to Gaza in a surprise attack that led to Israel’s single deadliest day.

    Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, displaced almost the whole 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.

    More than 80% of the territory is now an Israeli-militarized zone or under displacement orders, according to the UN.

    (Reuters)

  • What’s in the Republican tax and spending plan?

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Republican-controlled Congress on Wednesday could pass a sweeping budget package that would fulfill many of President Donald Trump’s priorities. It has already passed the Senate and needs to be approved again by the House of Representatives before Trump can sign it into law.

    Here is a summary of the major elements of the package, with cost and savings estimates by the Congressional Budget Office or the Joint Committee on Taxation when available.

    CBO estimates the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the $36.2-trillion debt over 10 years, reduce revenues by $4.5 trillion and cut spending by $1.2 trillion. The number of people without health insurance would increase by 10.9 million over that period due to changes to programs such as Medicaid.

    INDIVIDUAL TAX CUTS

    • Makes permanent the lower income tax rates in Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that are currently due to expire at the end of 2025 (Cost: $2.2 trillion)

    • Extends the standard deduction. (Cost: $1.4 trillion)

    • Extends and expands the alternative minimum tax exemption. (Cost: $1.4 trillion)

    • Expands the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 and indexes to inflation. (Cost: $817 billion)

    • Raises the estate tax exemption to $15 million. (Cost: $212 billion)

    • Exempts taxes on overtime pay until 2029. (Cost: $90 billion)

    • Exempts taxes on some tipped income until 2029. (Cost: $32 billion)

    • Creates a new deduction of up to $6,000 for people age 65 and older until 2029

    • Creates a tax break for some interest payments on auto loans until 2029. (Cost: $31 billion)

    • New tax-advantaged savings accounts for newborns. (Cost: $15 billion)

    • Expands deduction for state and local tax (SALT) payments from $10,000 to $40,000 until 2029

    • Exempts up to $1,700 for contributions to scholarship funds for private schools (Cost: $26 billion)

    BUSINESS TAX BREAKS

    • Extends and increases a tax break for owners of “pass-through” businesses, such as sole proprietorships and LLCs (Cost: $737 billion)

    • Full expensing for business equipment purchases (Cost: $363 billion)

    • Full expensing of business research and development costs (Cost: $141 billion)

    • Expands tax break for business interest expenses (Cost: $61 billion)

    OTHER TAX CHANGES

    • Raises taxes on the biggest private university endowments from 1.4% to 21% (New revenue: $761 million)

    • Imposes a new 1% tax on funds sent by immigrants to their home countries (New revenue: $10 billion)

    • Eliminates taxes on firearm silencers (Cost: $1.7 billion)

    • Gives the government power to strip tax exempt status from organizations found to be “terrorist supporting”

    MEDICAID AND OTHER HEALTH PROGRAMS

    Total savings: $1.1 trillion

    • Requires able-bodied adults who have no dependents to work, volunteer or be in school at least 80 hours a month starting in 2027

    • Bolsters eligibility verification measures for participants and healthcare providers and removes rules that make it easier to enroll

    • Excludes some non-citizens from the program and penalizes states that use their own funds to provide coverage to them

    • Blocks regulations that required minimum staffing levels at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

    • Prohibits funding for gender transition therapies for minors

    • Prohibits payments to large providers like Planned Parenthood that specialize in birth control, abortion and other reproductive health services

    • Limits state “provider taxes” that are used to raise the federal government’s contribution

    • Adds $50 billion to rural providers to help offset the loss of revenue from the provider-tax limitation

    • Imposes stricter eligibility requirements for Affordable Care Act exchange insurance coverage

    ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS

    • Repeals grant programs for purchasing electric heavy-duty vehicles

    • Repeals grants to reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions

    • Creates incentives for pipelines, natural gas exports and exploration

    • Ends tax breaks for electric vehicles

    • Ends tax breaks for clean electricity and green energy

    • Restricts incentives for nuclear power

    • Cancels funding for green-energy grant programs in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, including vehicle manufacturing, home efficiency upgrades, electricity transmission and wind power

    • Weakens enforcement of fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles and pickup trucks

    • Makes more electromagnetic communication spectrum bands available for auction

    IMMIGRATION AND JUSTICE

    Total cost: $178 billion

    • Provides money for border wall construction

    • Funds surveillance towers, drones and other border-security equipment

    • Increases staffing for immigration enforcement, border control and immigration courts

    • Increases detention capacity for immigration enforcement

    • Increases law enforcement protection of the president

    • Adds funding to investigate visa fraud and other immigration-related crimes

    • Imposes new fees of up to $5,000 for immigrants’ work permits, court hearings, applications for asylum and other matters

    • Reimburses states for border-security costs

    • Allows courts to require plaintiffs to post a bond when they sue to block government policies

    MILITARY

    Total cost: $153 billion

    • Increases spending on shipbuilding

    • Adds funds for air and missile defense

    • Pays for munitions, nuclear weapons

    • Funds military operations to assist with border security

    FOOD ASSISTANCE

    Total savings: $186 billion

    • Increases work requirements for some of the 41 million participants in the SNAP food aid program

    • Shift some costs from federal government to states

    • Bars some noncitizens from benefits

    EDUCATION

    • Changes student loan repayment plans (Savings: $287 billion)

    • Imposes borrowing limits for some student loan programs (Savings: $51 billion)

    • Limits the government’s ability to cancel student debt (Savings: $18 billion)

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Chicken Road Game India 2025 Announce – Play This Trending Game and Win Real Money

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    India and its people are famous for tracking down their fun and making the most out of what they have got. Indian crowd loves online games, and one game is stealing this show, none other than the Chicken Road. It’s a super fun, simple game where a cartoon chicken runs across a dangerous path.

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    The Chicken Road game was launched on April 4, 2024, by InOut Games. This game is a hit because it’s easy to play, works on phones, and gives you a chance to win big. In this game, players will be dealing with a silly chicken that dodge traps while deciding whether to grab your money or keep going for more. 
    In this article, we’ll explain what Chicken Road is, why Indians love it, how to play, and what it means for gaming in India.

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    What Is Chicken Road?

    Chicken Road is a game that asks, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” The answer: to win you cash obviously. This game is made by InOut Games. It is a company with a gaming license from Curacao. 

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    Chicken Road game is a  “crash-style” game. You bet money here, and watch the chicken run across a path that is full of traps like fire or holes, and decide when to stop and take your winnings. Each step the chicken takes makes your prize bigger, but if it hits a trap, then you will lose it all in a single second.

    The game has four levels:

    • Easy: 24 steps, very small chance of losing, and prizes up to 24.5x your bet.
    • Medium: A bit harder, and bigger rewards.
    • Hard: More risk, and obviously even bigger prizes.
    •  Hardcore: 15 steps, super risky, but you could win up to ₹1,810,000 on a ₹16,500 bet.

    The game is fair and legal with a 98% chance of giving back some money to players.

    How to Download Chicken Road India?

    You can download Chicken Road easily on your phone or play it online. These are the different platforms.

    You can download the Chicken road game on mobile phones as: 

    • Google Play Store: Search “Chicken Road” for arcade versions. 
    • TapTap: Download the latest APK for Android.
    •  APKPure: A safe place to get the APK file for Android phones.

    If you aren’t planning on downloading then you can play on Casino Websites:

    • Visit licensed online casinos partnered with InOut Games to play the real-money version.
    •  No app is needed.

    There are also official website for you to play on:

    • Check chickenroad.in or chicken-road.com for download links or free demo modes.

    Why Indians Love Chicken Road Game?

    Do you know that India has over 500 million smartphone users? And do you know what runs best on these phones? Obviously, Chicken Road game.This game is perfect for them. The following are the reasons why indians love it more:

    • Works on Any Phone: You don’t need a fancy phone or fast internet. The game is light and needs only 26.2 MB if you download it and runs smoothly on 4G or even 3G. You can play it on a bus, at home, or anywhere.
    • Super Easy to Play: Pick a bet that can go as low as ₹1, then choose a level, and then finally tap “Go.” The chicken starts running, and you can tap “Cash Out” when you want to stop. The funny chicken and goofy animations will definitely make you laugh.
    • Made for India: You can bet in rupees, and feel just at home. There are casinos like 1Win or Pin-Up that give special bonuses, like some extra money when you deposit. The game also has a silly story that feels like an Indian cartoon or joke.
    • Bragging and Winning: Players love chasing the “Golden Egg Jackpot” or setting high scores. They share wins on WhatsApp or Instagram. You can also try it free in demo mode before betting real money.

    How to Play and Win?

    Chicken Road is played with a big blend of luck, and smart thinking. It’s fair because you can check if each round is honest using special codes. 

    How It Works:

    • Pick a bet from ₹1 to ₹16,500.
    • Choose a level from the options of Easy, Medium, Hard, or Hardcore.
    • Tap “Go” to start the chicken’s run.
    • Each step raises the prize multiplier.
    • Tap “Cash Out” to keep your money.
    • Or just keep going for a bigger prize. 
    • The chicken will lose if it hits a trap.

    Chicken Road: Tips to Win:

    • Start Easy: Try Easy or Medium mode first when you are playing as a beginner or just playing casually.
    • Bet Small: Start with ₹100 or ₹500. If you win, bet a bit more next time. Don’t bet all your money.
    • Cash Out Early: Try stoping at 2x–5x in easy mode for small, steady wins. In Hard or Hardcore, you might wait longer, but it’s risky.
    • Practice Free: Use demo mode to test when to cash out without losing money.
    • Be Smart: Don’t chase losses. Set a budget, like ₹500 a day, and stop when it’s gone.

    How to Sign Up for Chicken Road Casino India?

    You can start playing this game by following the steps below.

    • Choose a Trusted Casino: Choose a licensed platform that offers Chicken Road and supports INR and UPI payments.
    • Go to the Website/App: Visit the casino’s official site or app and find the “Sign Up” button.
    • Select Registration Option: You can now sign up using your email, phone number, or social media.
    • Enter Basic Details: Just fill in the personal info that is asked for on the form. Also, create a secure password.
    • Verify and Play: Confirm your account via email/SMS, deposit funds, and search for Chicken Road to start playing.

    Is Chicken Road Legal in India?

    Chicken Road app is safe and legal in most Indian states. The only exceptions in this case are Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Gambling laws of these states are stricter and does not allow online gambling. The gme also has Curacao license and fair-play technology to make sure that there is trust and reliability.

    • Age Limit: Players must be 18 or older.
    • ID Check: KYC verification needed for real-money play.
    • Play Responsibly: Use bet limits or timers to stay in control.
    • Secure Payments: Supports trusted apps like UPI.
    • Help Available: Email or app chat for support.

    Chicken Road Game: Terms and Conditions

    • The Goal: You have to get that chicken to the golden egg while stepping up multipliers.
    • Betting Options: You can start small with ₹1 or go all-in with ₹16,500.
    • Multipliers: These multipliers grow with each step. The minimal level is from a modest x1.02 in Easy Mode to a surprising x3,203,384.80 in Hard Mode.
    • Cash-Out Freedom: You can hit the cash-out button whenever you’re ready to take out your winnings.
    • Fair Play: The game uses blockchain technology to prove every round is legitimate. You can check “My Bet History” to see for yourself.

    Conclusion

    Chicken Road Game in India is winning hearts and hearts. You shouldn’t wait out on this jackpot opportunity that does not require a resume of gambling for making millions by the day. It’s fun, cheap to play, and works for everyone, from students to office workers. Its mix of laughs, risks, and rewards makes it feel like an Indian festival. 

    The game is full of excitement and surprises. If you are planning to play it safe with small bets or going big for the jackpot, then Chicken Road is a wild adventure for you.

    Company Name – Chicken Road
    Address – 673, JMD Building, Gurugram, Haryana
    Company Website: https://chicken-roadd.com/
    Email: sumit@chicken-roadd.com
    Phone: +91-2049157035
    Contact Person Name: Sumit

    Disclaimer
    This information is for general and entertainment purposes only—not legal, financial, or gambling advice. Always verify details and follow your local laws. Gambling carries risks; wager responsibly and only what you can afford to lose, and seek help if you feel out of control. Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you, and wild may be unavailable or restricted in certain regions.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Free Spin No Deposit Casino 2025 – Wild Casino Introduces a No Deposit Bonus Casino Experience Like No Other

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Hut 8 Secures Five-Year Capacity Contracts with IESO for 310 MW of Power Generation Assets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq | TSX: HUT) (“Hut 8” or the “Company”), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing, today announced that each of its four natural gas-fired power plants in Ontario (collectively, the “Portfolio”) has been awarded a five-year capacity contract with the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (“IESO”). The Portfolio is owned and operated by Far North Power Corp. (“Far North”), an entity formed by Hut 8 and Macquarie Equipment Finance Ltd. (“Macquarie”), a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited, a global financial services group.

    The contracts were awarded to Far North following successful bids submitted into the competitive IESO Medium-Term 2 (“MT2”) capacity auction and will commence on May 1, 2026. The contracted assets total 310 MW of nameplate capacity across four sites: Iroquois Falls, Kingston, Kapuskasing, and North Bay. The contracts include a weighted average capacity payment of approximately CAD $530 per MW-business day in Year 1 with partial inflation indexation that allows for potential increases over time.

    “Securing these contracts is a testament to the commercial and regulatory fluency of our power-native team,” said Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8. “It reflects our proactive approach to portfolio management and our focus on identifying value-accretive opportunities to maximize returns on our Power assets.”

    “This milestone for Far North is affirmation of the business and our relationship with Hut 8,” said Joshua Stevens, Managing Director in Macquarie Group’s Commodities and Global Markets business. “These contracts position the Far North power plants in Ontario for long-term relevance in a capacity-constrained power market, demonstrating the value we strive to bring as a capital provider.”

    Transaction Highlights

    • Creditworthy Offtaker: Government-backed counterparty rated AA3 (Positive) by Moody’s
    • Cash Flow Stabilization: Transition from short-term seasonal capacity agreements to fixed five-year contracts enhances revenue certainty and reduces earnings volatility
    • Upside Potential: Additional cash flow potential through energy sales into the Ontario market, where IESO projects 75% electricity demand growth by 2050 and a capacity shortfall of up to 5.8 GW by 2030, supporting increased reliance on existing dispatchable assets

    About Hut 8 

    Hut 8 Corp. is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing. We take a power-first, innovation-driven approach to developing, commercializing, and operating the critical infrastructure that underpins the breakthrough technologies of today and tomorrow. Our platform spans 1,020 megawatts of energy capacity under management across 15 sites in the United States and Canada: five Bitcoin mining, hosting, and Managed Services sites in Alberta, New York, and Texas, five high performance computing data centers in British Columbia and Ontario, four power generation assets in Ontario, and one non-operational site in Alberta. For more information, visit www.hut8.com and follow us on X at @Hut8Corp.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward–Looking Information

    This press release includes “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, “forward-looking information”). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the commencement date of the MT2 contracts, the pricing and other terms of the MT2 contracts, the upside and additional cash flow potential through energy sales into the Ontario market anticipated, and the benefits to Hut 8 and Far North of the MT2 contracts, and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “allow”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “predict”, “can”, “might”, “potential”, “predict”, “is designed to”, “likely,” or similar expressions.

    Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; construction of new data centers, data center expansions, or data center redevelopment; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; operating and expanding internationally; failing to grow hashrate; purchasing miners; relying on third-party mining pool service providers; uncertainty in the development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network; Bitcoin halving events; competition from other methods of investing in Bitcoin; concentration of Bitcoin holdings; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company’s recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Hut 8 Corp. Investor Relations
    Sue Ennis
    ir@hut8.com

    Hut 8 Corp. Public Relations
    Gautier Lemyze-Young
    media@hut8.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protection of the Sixena murals and EU cultural heritage safeguards – E-002541/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002541/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE)

    The European Union plays a supportive and complementary role in preserving and promoting Europe’s cultural heritage, as outlined in the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage[1]. This framework promotes evidence-based decision-making and urges Member States to protect fragile heritage from irreversible damage, including threats resulting from human actions.

    The case of the Romanesque murals from the Monastery of Sixena raises serious concerns. Severely damaged by fire during the Spanish Civil War, the murals were rescued and have since been preserved, studied, and permanently exhibited at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC). Experts warn that their forced relocation, following a court ruling, could cause irreparable harm. MNAC itself has declared the transfer technically unfeasible.

    • 1.In the light of the objectives and recommendations set out in the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage, does the Commission consider that the relocation of the Sixena murals, despite expert warnings, is consistent with the EU’s strategic approach to safeguarding fragile and endangered cultural heritage?
    • 2.Given that cultural heritage protection is also an EU responsibility under the Treaties, what tools or mechanisms can the Commission provide to help prevent actions that may lead to the destruction of irreplaceable assets, and will it engage with the competent authorities to ensure their protection?

    Submitted: 24.6.2025

    • [1] European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5a9c3144-80f1-11e9-9f05-01aa75ed71a1.
    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Disaster Recovery Center in St. Louis City to Close Temporarily

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City to Close Temporarily

    A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City to Close Temporarily

    A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City will close temporarily from July 6-13 due to a previously scheduled event at that location

     Temporarily Closed July 6-13LOCATIONHOURS OF OPERATIONUnion Tabernacle M

    B

    Church626 N

    Newstead Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63108Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -8 p

    m

    Sunday: ClosedOpen July 1-3 and July 5Closed July 6-13Reopens July 14Four additional Disaster Recovery Centers are open in St

    Louis City and St

    Louis County to assist residents and businesses affected by the May 16 tornado and storms

     At all locations, FEMA and the U

    S

    Small Business Administration will help impacted residents with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents

    Other Open LocationsLOCATIONS HOURS OF OPERATIONSt

    Louis County LibraryMid-County Branch7821 Maryland Ave

    Clayton, MO 63105Monday-Thursday: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Friday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -5 p

    m

     Sunday: ClosedSt

    Louis County LibraryPrairie Commons Branch915 Utz Ln

    Hazelwood, MO 63042Monday-Thursday:  8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Friday-Saturday:  8 a

    m

    -5 p

    m

     Sunday: ClosedUrban League Entrepreneurship and Women’s Business Center 4401 Natural Bridge Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63115Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -8 p

    m

    Sunday: 8 a

    m

    -6 p

    m

    Sumner High School — Parking Lot4248 Cottage Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63113Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Sunday: 8 a

    m

    -6 p

    m

    All Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed on Friday, July 4 and reopen on Saturday, July 5

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center, no matter where you are staying now

    To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a Disaster Recovery Center

    Apply online at DisasterAssistance

    gov or by calling 800-621-3362

     If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you

     The FEMA application deadline for the May 16 disaster is August 11, 2025

     If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed

    sara

    zuckerman
    Tue, 07/01/2025 – 17:22

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Disaster Recovery Center in St. Louis City to Close Temporarily

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City to Close Temporarily

    A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City to Close Temporarily

    A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City will close temporarily from July 6-13 due to a previously scheduled event at that location

     Temporarily Closed July 6-13LOCATIONHOURS OF OPERATIONUnion Tabernacle M

    B

    Church626 N

    Newstead Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63108Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -8 p

    m

    Sunday: ClosedOpen July 1-3 and July 5Closed July 6-13Reopens July 14Four additional Disaster Recovery Centers are open in St

    Louis City and St

    Louis County to assist residents and businesses affected by the May 16 tornado and storms

     At all locations, FEMA and the U

    S

    Small Business Administration will help impacted residents with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents

    Other Open LocationsLOCATIONS HOURS OF OPERATIONSt

    Louis County LibraryMid-County Branch7821 Maryland Ave

    Clayton, MO 63105Monday-Thursday: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Friday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -5 p

    m

     Sunday: ClosedSt

    Louis County LibraryPrairie Commons Branch915 Utz Ln

    Hazelwood, MO 63042Monday-Thursday:  8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Friday-Saturday:  8 a

    m

    -5 p

    m

     Sunday: ClosedUrban League Entrepreneurship and Women’s Business Center 4401 Natural Bridge Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63115Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -8 p

    m

    Sunday: 8 a

    m

    -6 p

    m

    Sumner High School — Parking Lot4248 Cottage Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63113Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Sunday: 8 a

    m

    -6 p

    m

    All Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed on Friday, July 4 and reopen on Saturday, July 5

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center, no matter where you are staying now

    To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a Disaster Recovery Center

    Apply online at DisasterAssistance

    gov or by calling 800-621-3362

     If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you

     The FEMA application deadline for the May 16 disaster is August 11, 2025

     If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed

    sara

    zuckerman
    Tue, 07/01/2025 – 17:22

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Disaster Recovery Center in St. Louis City to Close Temporarily

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City to Close Temporarily

    A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City to Close Temporarily

    A Disaster Recovery Center in St

    Louis City will close temporarily from July 6-13 due to a previously scheduled event at that location

     Temporarily Closed July 6-13LOCATIONHOURS OF OPERATIONUnion Tabernacle M

    B

    Church626 N

    Newstead Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63108Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -8 p

    m

    Sunday: ClosedOpen July 1-3 and July 5Closed July 6-13Reopens July 14Four additional Disaster Recovery Centers are open in St

    Louis City and St

    Louis County to assist residents and businesses affected by the May 16 tornado and storms

     At all locations, FEMA and the U

    S

    Small Business Administration will help impacted residents with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents

    Other Open LocationsLOCATIONS HOURS OF OPERATIONSt

    Louis County LibraryMid-County Branch7821 Maryland Ave

    Clayton, MO 63105Monday-Thursday: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Friday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -5 p

    m

     Sunday: ClosedSt

    Louis County LibraryPrairie Commons Branch915 Utz Ln

    Hazelwood, MO 63042Monday-Thursday:  8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Friday-Saturday:  8 a

    m

    -5 p

    m

     Sunday: ClosedUrban League Entrepreneurship and Women’s Business Center 4401 Natural Bridge Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63115Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -8 p

    m

    Sunday: 8 a

    m

    -6 p

    m

    Sumner High School — Parking Lot4248 Cottage Ave

    St

    Louis, MO 63113Monday-Saturday: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Sunday: 8 a

    m

    -6 p

    m

    All Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed on Friday, July 4 and reopen on Saturday, July 5

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center, no matter where you are staying now

    To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a Disaster Recovery Center

    Apply online at DisasterAssistance

    gov or by calling 800-621-3362

     If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you

     The FEMA application deadline for the May 16 disaster is August 11, 2025

     If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed

    sara

    zuckerman
    Tue, 07/01/2025 – 17:22

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Missions Help Explain, Predict Severity of Solar Storms

    Source: NASA

    An unexpectedly strong solar storm rocked our planet on April 23, 2023, sparking auroras as far south as southern Texas in the U.S. and taking the world by surprise. 
    Two days earlier, the Sun blasted a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a cloud of energetic particles, magnetic fields, and solar material — toward Earth. Space scientists took notice, expecting it could cause disruptions to Earth’s magnetic field, known as a geomagnetic storm. But the CME wasn’t especially fast or massive, and it was preceded by a relatively weak solar flare, suggesting the storm would be minor. But it became severe.
    Using NASA heliophysics missions, new studies of this storm and others are helping scientists learn why some CMEs have more intense effects — and better predict the impacts of future solar eruptions on our lives.

    Why Was This Storm So Intense?
    A paper published in the Astrophysical Journal on March 31 suggests the CME’s orientation relative to Earth likely caused the April 2023 storm to become surprisingly strong.
    The researchers gathered observations from five heliophysics spacecraft across the inner solar system to study the CME in detail as it emerged from the Sun and traveled to Earth.
    They noticed a large coronal hole near the CME’s birthplace. Coronal holes are areas where the solar wind — a stream of particles flowing from the Sun — floods outward at higher than normal speeds.
    “The fast solar wind coming from this coronal hole acted like an air current, nudging the CME away from its original straight-line path and pushing it closer to Earth’s orbital plane,” said the paper’s lead author, Evangelos Paouris of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. “In addition to this deflection, the CME also rotated slightly.”
    Paouris says this turned the CME’s magnetic fields opposite to Earth’s magnetic field and held them there — allowing more of the Sun’s energy to pour into Earth’s environment and intensifying the storm.

    Cool Thermosphere
    Meanwhile, NASA’s GOLD (Global-scale Observations of Limb and Disk) mission revealed another unexpected consequence of the April 2023 storm at Earth.
    Before, during, and after the storm, GOLD studied the temperature in the middle thermosphere, a part of Earth’s upper atmosphere about 85 to 120 miles overhead. During the storm, temperatures increased throughout GOLD’s wide field of view over the Americas. But surprisingly, after the storm, temperatures dropped about 90 to 198 degrees Fahrenheit lower than they were before the storm (from about 980 to 1,070 degrees Fahrenheit before the storm to 870 to 980 degrees Fahrenheit afterward).
    “Our measurement is the first to show widespread cooling in the middle thermosphere after a strong storm,” said Xuguang Cai of the University of Colorado, Boulder, lead author of a paper about GOLD’s observations published in the journal JGR Space Physics on April 15, 2025.
    The thermosphere’s temperature is important, because it affects how much drag Earth-orbiting satellites and space debris experience.
    “When the thermosphere cools, it contracts and becomes less dense at satellite altitudes, reducing drag,” Cai said. “This can cause satellites and space debris to stay in orbit longer than expected, increasing the risk of collisions. Understanding how geomagnetic storms and solar activity affect Earth’s upper atmosphere helps protect technologies we all rely on — like GPS, satellites, and radio communications.”
    Predicting When Storms Strike
    To predict when a CME will trigger a geomagnetic storm, or be “geoeffective,” some scientists are combining observations with machine learning. A paper published last November in the journal Solar Physics describes one such approach called GeoCME.
    Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence in which a computer algorithm learns from data to identify patterns, then uses those patterns to make decisions or predictions.
    Scientists trained GeoCME by giving it images from the NASA/ESA (European Space Agency) SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) spacecraft of different CMEs that reached Earth along with SOHO images of the Sun before, during, and after each CME. They then told the model whether each CME produced a geomagnetic storm.
    Then, when it was given images from three different science instruments on SOHO, the model’s predictions were highly accurate. Out of 21 geoeffective CMEs, the model correctly predicted all 21 of them; of 7 non-geoeffective ones, it correctly predicted 5 of them.
    “The algorithm shows promise,” said heliophysicist Jack Ireland of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who was not involved in the study. “Understanding if a CME will be geoeffective or not can help us protect infrastructure in space and technological systems on Earth. This paper shows machine learning approaches to predicting geoeffective CMEs are feasible.”

    Earlier Warnings
    During a severe geomagnetic storm in May 2024 — the strongest to rattle Earth in over 20 years — NASA’s STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) measured the magnetic field structure of CMEs as they passed by.
    When a CME headed for Earth hits a spacecraft first, that spacecraft can often measure the CME and its magnetic field directly, helping scientists determine how strong the geomagnetic storm will be at Earth. Typically, the first spacecraft to get hit are one million miles from Earth toward the Sun at a place called Lagrange Point 1 (L1), giving us only 10 to 60 minutes advanced warning.
    By chance, during the May 2024 storm, when several CMEs erupted from the Sun and merged on their way to Earth, NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft happened to be between us and the Sun, about 4 million miles closer to the Sun than L1.
    A paper published March 17, 2025, in the journal Space Weather reports that if STEREO-A had served as a CME sentinel, it could have provided an accurate prediction of the resulting storm’s strength 2 hours and 34 minutes earlier than a spacecraft could at L1.
    According to the paper’s lead author, Eva Weiler of the Austrian Space Weather Office in Graz, “No other Earth-directed superstorm has ever been observed by a spacecraft positioned closer to the Sun than L1.”

    By Vanessa ThomasNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Missions Help Explain, Predict Severity of Solar Storms

    Source: NASA

    An unexpectedly strong solar storm rocked our planet on April 23, 2023, sparking auroras as far south as southern Texas in the U.S. and taking the world by surprise. 
    Two days earlier, the Sun blasted a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a cloud of energetic particles, magnetic fields, and solar material — toward Earth. Space scientists took notice, expecting it could cause disruptions to Earth’s magnetic field, known as a geomagnetic storm. But the CME wasn’t especially fast or massive, and it was preceded by a relatively weak solar flare, suggesting the storm would be minor. But it became severe.
    Using NASA heliophysics missions, new studies of this storm and others are helping scientists learn why some CMEs have more intense effects — and better predict the impacts of future solar eruptions on our lives.

    Why Was This Storm So Intense?
    A paper published in the Astrophysical Journal on March 31 suggests the CME’s orientation relative to Earth likely caused the April 2023 storm to become surprisingly strong.
    The researchers gathered observations from five heliophysics spacecraft across the inner solar system to study the CME in detail as it emerged from the Sun and traveled to Earth.
    They noticed a large coronal hole near the CME’s birthplace. Coronal holes are areas where the solar wind — a stream of particles flowing from the Sun — floods outward at higher than normal speeds.
    “The fast solar wind coming from this coronal hole acted like an air current, nudging the CME away from its original straight-line path and pushing it closer to Earth’s orbital plane,” said the paper’s lead author, Evangelos Paouris of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. “In addition to this deflection, the CME also rotated slightly.”
    Paouris says this turned the CME’s magnetic fields opposite to Earth’s magnetic field and held them there — allowing more of the Sun’s energy to pour into Earth’s environment and intensifying the storm.

    Cool Thermosphere
    Meanwhile, NASA’s GOLD (Global-scale Observations of Limb and Disk) mission revealed another unexpected consequence of the April 2023 storm at Earth.
    Before, during, and after the storm, GOLD studied the temperature in the middle thermosphere, a part of Earth’s upper atmosphere about 85 to 120 miles overhead. During the storm, temperatures increased throughout GOLD’s wide field of view over the Americas. But surprisingly, after the storm, temperatures dropped about 90 to 198 degrees Fahrenheit lower than they were before the storm (from about 980 to 1,070 degrees Fahrenheit before the storm to 870 to 980 degrees Fahrenheit afterward).
    “Our measurement is the first to show widespread cooling in the middle thermosphere after a strong storm,” said Xuguang Cai of the University of Colorado, Boulder, lead author of a paper about GOLD’s observations published in the journal JGR Space Physics on April 15, 2025.
    The thermosphere’s temperature is important, because it affects how much drag Earth-orbiting satellites and space debris experience.
    “When the thermosphere cools, it contracts and becomes less dense at satellite altitudes, reducing drag,” Cai said. “This can cause satellites and space debris to stay in orbit longer than expected, increasing the risk of collisions. Understanding how geomagnetic storms and solar activity affect Earth’s upper atmosphere helps protect technologies we all rely on — like GPS, satellites, and radio communications.”
    Predicting When Storms Strike
    To predict when a CME will trigger a geomagnetic storm, or be “geoeffective,” some scientists are combining observations with machine learning. A paper published last November in the journal Solar Physics describes one such approach called GeoCME.
    Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence in which a computer algorithm learns from data to identify patterns, then uses those patterns to make decisions or predictions.
    Scientists trained GeoCME by giving it images from the NASA/ESA (European Space Agency) SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) spacecraft of different CMEs that reached Earth along with SOHO images of the Sun before, during, and after each CME. They then told the model whether each CME produced a geomagnetic storm.
    Then, when it was given images from three different science instruments on SOHO, the model’s predictions were highly accurate. Out of 21 geoeffective CMEs, the model correctly predicted all 21 of them; of 7 non-geoeffective ones, it correctly predicted 5 of them.
    “The algorithm shows promise,” said heliophysicist Jack Ireland of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who was not involved in the study. “Understanding if a CME will be geoeffective or not can help us protect infrastructure in space and technological systems on Earth. This paper shows machine learning approaches to predicting geoeffective CMEs are feasible.”

    Earlier Warnings
    During a severe geomagnetic storm in May 2024 — the strongest to rattle Earth in over 20 years — NASA’s STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) measured the magnetic field structure of CMEs as they passed by.
    When a CME headed for Earth hits a spacecraft first, that spacecraft can often measure the CME and its magnetic field directly, helping scientists determine how strong the geomagnetic storm will be at Earth. Typically, the first spacecraft to get hit are one million miles from Earth toward the Sun at a place called Lagrange Point 1 (L1), giving us only 10 to 60 minutes advanced warning.
    By chance, during the May 2024 storm, when several CMEs erupted from the Sun and merged on their way to Earth, NASA’s STEREO-A spacecraft happened to be between us and the Sun, about 4 million miles closer to the Sun than L1.
    A paper published March 17, 2025, in the journal Space Weather reports that if STEREO-A had served as a CME sentinel, it could have provided an accurate prediction of the resulting storm’s strength 2 hours and 34 minutes earlier than a spacecraft could at L1.
    According to the paper’s lead author, Eva Weiler of the Austrian Space Weather Office in Graz, “No other Earth-directed superstorm has ever been observed by a spacecraft positioned closer to the Sun than L1.”

    By Vanessa ThomasNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Handling of yard waste

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that the yard waste recycling centre Y·PARK mainly receives yard waste such as tree trunks that are six metres long or below, as well as branches, twigs and leaves. Regarding the handling of yard waste, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as some members of the public have relayed that uncollected yard waste is often seen on streets and in parks, whether the Government has formulated guidelines requiring the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and their outsourced contractors to first sort the collected yard waste and send the yard waste that can be processed by Y·PARK to the collection point of the Environmental Protection Department; if not, of the reasons for that;
     
    (2) according to the existing procedures, how the LCSD, FEHD and their outsourced contractors handle yard waste that cannot be processed by Y·PARK; of the approximate tonnage of such yard waste in each year since 2019; and
     
    (3) given that Y·PARK has imposed a number of restrictions on the recovery of yard waste, and it is learnt that some companies in the Mainland and the United States adopt anaerobic digestion technology to convert yard waste into biogas for electricity generation, whether the Government will consider adopting such technology to process yard waste, so as to enhance recycling and conversion of waste into energy; if not, of the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

         The super typhoon Mangkhut that hit Hong Kong in 2018 caused severe damage, uprooting numerous trees, many of which were large trees that could be suitable for timber production. In 2021, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) set up the temporary yard waste recycling centre, Y·PARK, in accordance with the Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035, to collect and process yard waste generated from regular vegetation maintenance and public works projects, and to assist in treating large quantities of yard waste generated shortly after typhoons when needed.
     
         Yard waste includes grass, leaves, shrubs, twigs and woody tree trunks. Some of them may be affected by pests or diseases. Y·PARK mainly collects and sorts out the high quality and suitable portion of yard waste for recycling into recyclable products of relatively higher values so as to achieve both converting waste to resources and enhancing cost-effectiveness.
     
         The current Y·PARK is temporary in nature. In future, the Government reserves land in the New Territories North New Town to develop a larger-scale yard waste recycling facility to enhance yard waste handling capacity. 
     
         Having consulted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), our consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Dennis Leung is as follows:
     
    (1) The Government has established guidelines to drive various government departments, including the FEHD and the LCSD, adhering to the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, to shred and reuse yard waste as much for gardening on-site as far as possible, while yard waste that cannot be treated or reused on-site could be delivered to suitable recycling facilities for treatment. The EPD has also continuously liaised with government departments, providing relevant guidelines to promote the proper sorting of recyclable yard waste at source and its delivery to Y·PARK for processing. In 2024, the quantity of yard waste disposed of at landfills was about 230 tonnes per day, accounting for about 2 per cent of the municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal of at landfills.
     
    (2) Not all yard waste is suitable for delivering to Y·PARK for processing. According to prevailing handling procedures, when the FEHD, the LCSD and their contractors encounter yard waste unsuitable for recycling, such as yard waste infected by bacteria, infested with pests, or containing large amount of impurities, while providing street cleansing or park management services, such yard waste will be sent directly or via refuse transfer stations to landfills for disposal. From 2019 to April 2025, the LCSD transported an average of about seven tonnes of yard waste unsuitable for recycling to landfills per day, whilst the FEHD does not maintain relevant data.
     
    (3) The Government is developing two main types of waste-to-energy facilities currently. The first type of facilities is the Organic Resources Recovery Centre (O·PARK), adopting anaerobic digestion technology to process food waste. The second type of facilities adopts modern incineration technology to treat waste, such as T·PARK which incinerates sludge to generate electricity, and the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase I (I·PARK1) under construction which will incinerate MSW to generate electricity.
     
         The O·PARKs are designed to treat food waste which contains proteins, sugars, fats and high water content. These substances decompose more easily during anaerobic digestion process, and produce more biogas, resulting in a higher energy conversion efficiency for electricity generation. Under feasible technical conditions, we also make the best use of the existing waste management facilities to test out the treatment of other waste. For instance, while O·PARK2 is mainly for treating food waste, we conducted trials for treating pig waste by anaerobic digestion since its commissioning in March 2024. Following the successful trials, we have fully replaced the previous practice of disposing pig waste at landfills with anaerobic digestion technology since July 2024, which significantly reduced the potential odour issues associated with disposal of pig waste at landfills.
     
         However, there are significant differences between yard waste and food waste. It requires different treatment methods for yard waste. Yard waste comprises woody waste, such as tree trunks and branches, as well as non-woody waste, such as leaves and grass.  Tree trunks and branches are high in wood fiber content and low in moisture content, so they are not easily decomposed by anaerobic digestion. If treating the yard waste by co-digestion by anaerobic digestion technology in O.PARKs, it would not only occupy substantial space in the digestion tanks but would also significantly reduce food waste processing capacity and efficiency. In addition, as woody waste is hard and bulky, it is more difficult to be crushed into pieces as compared with food waste, such that additional energy and water will be required to turn the woody waste into slurry for further treatment. The installation of necessary pre-treatment facilities in O·PARKs and modifications to the existing operation mode will incur a substantial amount of cost but result in low energy efficiency. According to the understanding of the EPD, there are few examples of utilising anaerobic digestion technology to process woody waste in the Mainland or overseas. Even for such cases, they mainly involve processing small amount of non-woody yard waste such as grass and leaves.
     
         Non-woody garden waste such as grass and leaves can be processed through anaerobic digestion technically, but the process would be less efficient than treating food waste. Considering that such waste contains a certain calorific value and is often mixed with other MSW during collection, treating yard waste by incineration can reduce the need for additional space, processing, and costs associated with sorting yard waste from mixed waste while achieving the same outcome of turning waste into energy. The Government is working full steam on developing two modern large-scale incineration facilities, namely I·PARK1 and I·PARK2. These facilities will handle up to 9 000 tonnes of MSW per day in total in the future, converting waste into electricity. I·PARK1 is expected to commence operation by the end of this year and can assist in handling yard waste.

         Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –