NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev: Over the past month, the area of wildfires in Russia has decreased by 2.5 times

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting on the issue of passing the flood-hazardous period and fire-hazardous season. It was attended by the heads of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Federal Forestry Agency, the Federal Water Resources Agency, the Federal Hydrometeorological Service and other relevant departments, as well as heads of regions.

    Dmitry Patrushev reported that the spring flood this year passed without significant damage to populated areas and economic facilities. The Deputy Prime Minister noted the coordinated work of federal agencies and regions and emphasized that the Government allocated 6.5 billion rubles to organize preventive measures. The funds were also used to strengthen the coastlines, clear river beds and under-bridge spaces. A timely hydrometeorological flood forecast also made it possible to take the necessary preventive measures.

    Despite the favorable situation with the passage of the spring flood period, a number of water bodies in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East still have a fairly high water level. In this regard, Rosvodresursy, together with the regions, will continue to constantly monitor the hydrological situation, and if necessary, the operation of reservoirs will be adjusted. Dmitry Patrushev also instructed that issues of rapidly developing floods, typical for the territories of the Far Eastern, North Caucasian and Southern Federal Districts, be regularly considered during meetings of the headquarters of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the regions.

    “The situation with wildfires has been difficult since the beginning of the season, but is currently generally stabilizing. About 20 billion rubles have been allocated for the implementation of measures to protect forests from fires in 2025, which is significantly more than a year earlier. Thanks to the systemic measures taken at the level of the Government, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other responsible agencies, the timely transfer of forces and, of course, the heroic efforts of firefighters, the total area of fires has decreased by 2.5 times in the last month alone. And now the figure for the country is less than 300 thousand hectares, although a month ago it exceeded 800 thousand,” said Dmitry Patrushev.

    The Deputy Prime Minister noted that against the backdrop of a warm winter and early spring, the first fires were recorded in April, which is much earlier than in previous years. In total, the fire has already passed through almost 4 million hectares. The most difficult situation remains in the Zabaikalsky Krai, which accounts for almost 80% of the area of active forest fires throughout the Russian Federation. Since April, a federal emergency regime has been in effect in the region.

    Dmitry Patrushev emphasized that the federal authorities had taken maximum measures to qualitatively influence the situation. In preparation for the fire season, the Government allocated 1.8 billion rubles to the Zabaikalsky Krai, including an additional 800 million to increase forces and resources. In addition, a new forest fire center has been operating in the region since the beginning of 2025. All available aircraft were additionally sent to Zabaikalsky Krai, including a Cyclone aircraft for artificially inducing precipitation, and specialists from other regions and most of the federal reserve of Avialesookhrana were also transferred.

    “The peak of the fire season has not yet passed. Therefore, the risks remain. Constant monitoring is necessary, first of all, in the regions of the Far East and Siberia, where dry weather and thunderstorm activity are observed. It is necessary to organize the work in such a way as to ensure prompt detection of fires and timely deployment of the necessary forces and means. The goal is to extinguish at least 80% of fires in the first day. In this case, this is the key to efficiency,” said Dmitry Patrushev.

    Following the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister instructed federal agencies to continue providing all necessary assistance to the regions. He also drew the attention of the heads of the subjects to the need to monitor the development of the fire situation and strengthen monitoring aimed at promptly detecting fires and eliminating them within the first 24 hours. The Zabaikalsky Krai and Buryatia need to mobilize resources as much as possible to quickly localize and eliminate the current fires.

    Dmitry Patrushev stressed the importance of monitoring the situation in hard-to-reach areas to identify fires before they become large-scale. The Deputy Prime Minister drew special attention to the effectiveness of the current measures of the special headquarters for the prevention of natural fires at the level of the Central Federal District.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Surface Copilot+ PCs: Built for teaching, learning and security

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Surface Copilot+ PCs: Built for teaching, learning and security

    Educators today are navigating more than ever. They are supporting diverse student needs, integrating new technologies and managing complex IT and security demands, all while keeping students engaged and prepared for a rapidly changing world.

    Now with the rise of AI, the expectations are even higher. School leaders and educators are being asked to define how AI will be used in classrooms to support learning, improve operations and promote equity. That journey starts with the right devices.

    Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs bring together the best of Microsoft—hardware, software and AI—to help schools rise to this challenge. Informed by educator feedback and powered by Microsoft Copilot and a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU), Surface enables intelligent experiences that run securely on the device or in the cloud, all managed seamlessly by IT.

    What we heard from the classroom, reflected in the devices

    Educators told us they need tools that feel natural to use while offering the latest capabilities. They need devices that are trusted, reliable and easy-to-manage, with experiences that support every student. That input shaped the design of Surface Copilot+ PCs, including the new Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch.

    • Security and trust, built into every Surface device
      We are making security our top priority at Microsoft, above all else—over all other features. Students, families, educators and institutions trust Microsoft to power learning and protect data. Surface devices build on that trust with enterprise-grade security, simplified management through Microsoft Intune, and deep integration with Microsoft Entra and Purview to help schools control access, safeguard sensitive information and govern AI responsibly as classroom needs evolve. Together, these tools help defend your school’s devices and data while putting the security, privacy and compliance needs of students, educators and school districts at the center.
    • Device experiences that support natural learning
      Students learn best when they can interact with content in ways that feel intuitive. Surface Pro supports digital inking with Slim Pen,i voice input with Studio Mics and natural language interaction with Copilotii. These features help students express themselves and stay engaged in their own way.
    • Reliable and adaptable for the school day
      Educators need devices that are fast, durable and ready for a full day of learning. Surface Copilot+ PCs are built to last and easy to repairiii. Their lightweight designs and all-day battery life make them easy to carry and use across classrooms, libraries, labs and home.
    • Inclusive and collaborative by design
      Learning is both personal and social. Surface Copilot+ PCs work seamlessly with Microsoft 365 to support collaboration through Microsoft Teams, OneNote and other familiar tools. Built-in accessibility features, along with the Surface Adaptive Kit and Microsoft Adaptive Accessories, help students personalize their experience and stay connected in any learning environment.
    • Ready for the tools schools already use
      Surface Copilot+ PCs are built to support the full range of learning needs by delivering the performance and experience required for the education tools students and educators depend on every day. Common apps like TestNav for assessments, Google Classroom for assignments, Minecraft Education for STEM, Adobe Express for creativity, and assistive technologies like JAWS are ready to use on Surface devices powered by Snapdragon X Series and Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors.

    Trusted by educators, evolving with their needs

    Around the world, schools that have long relied on Surface are continuing to invest in new devices that support the future of learning. Their experiences reflect many of the same priorities we heard during the development of Surface Copilot+ PCs: performance, reliability, flexibility and the ability to unlock the potential of AI in the classroom. These schools continue to choose Surface devices not just because of the technology itself, but because they trust them to evolve alongside their needs.

    At Royal Grammar School Newcastle in the United Kingdom, Surface is already deeply embedded in teaching and learning. Now the school is exploring how Copilot+ PCs can further enhance collaboration and student engagement through on-device AI.

    “We wouldn’t be doing our duty if we weren’t incorporating 21st century technology into our curriculum. Educators are going to have to spend a time considering the choice of device and the applications used to harness the power of AI and the possibilities to support our student’s learning. The use of the Surface device in the classroom has totally changed the dynamics.”

    — Sarah Buist, Head of Digital Strategy, Royal Grammar School Newcastle

    In Japan, the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education has deployed Surface Pro devices across more than 200 high schools. Teachers have praised the fast-processing speed and large touchscreens, which make daily tasks like digital grading more intuitive and efficient. Combined with Microsoft 365 Copilot, they are also seeing meaningful time savings in their everyday work.

    “The new Surface is easy to use with its fast-processing speed. The large screen allows simple operation by touch, making it straight-forward for digital grading. Grading previously took an hour by hand, but now it only takes about 40 minutes.”
    — Haruhiko Goto, Chief Coordinator of Super Science High School, Aichi Prefecture Ichinomiya High School

    Security and management that’s built for education IT

    Surface leads the Windows ecosystem in security innovation. Designed and built by Microsoft, Surface helps schools protect student data, simplify IT management and reduce risk at every layer of the device—from silicon to cloud.

    • Security that starts at the core
      Surface Copilot+ PCs are Secured-core PCs with Microsoft Pluton built in. Pluton is a Microsoft-designed security chip integrated directly into the processor. It protects sensitive data like passwords and sign-ins, even if a device is lost or stolen. Updates are delivered automatically through Windows Update, so schools always have the latest protections without extra tools or effort.
    • Management designed for education
      With tools like Device Firmware Configuration Interface (DFCI) and Surface Enterprise Management Mode (SEMM), IT administrators can remotely control settings such as disabling cameras, USB ports and Bluetooth—even before the operating system loads. QR codes etched directly onto Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices provide instant access to serial numbers, making asset tracking, deployment and servicing faster and more accurate without manual entry.
    • Surface is secure by design and secure by default
      Every Surface device comes with Windows 11 Pro security features enabled right out of the box, which minimizes setup time and reduces risk. Firmware, drivers and OS updates are delivered through a single trusted channel, Windows Update. This unified approach simplifies management, reduces the number of tools IT teams need to support and helps schools respond to threats more quickly while staying focused on teaching and learning.

    AI that works for the classroom

    Transforming the classroom with on-device AI, powered by the NPU

    Surface Copilot+ PCs are built to meet the needs of today’s classrooms and support future AI innovations that will continue to shape teaching and learning. These experiences run locally on the device using a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which allows them to operate quickly, securely and without relying on the internet. This unlocks new ways for students and educators to enhance instruction, simplify daily tasks and create more inclusive classroom experiences.

    These are just a few ways Surface Copilot+ PCs bring AI to life in the classroom, with each experience powered by the NPU and with more innovations to come.

    • Microsoft Learning Zone: AI that empowers every educator
      Designed for education, Microsoft Learning Zoneiv is a free, AI-powered app coming to Copilot+ PCs, available in public preview later this year. It uses local AI processing to create personalized lessons, adapt content from trusted sources like OpenStax, generate interactive games with Kahoot and track student progress—saving time and making the classroom experience more flexible and engaging.
    • Click to Do (preview): Personalized support at your fingertips
      Click to Dov enables students to highlight text or images and instantly receive contextual help—such as summarizing a paragraph or explaining a graph. Activated with the Windows key and a click, this AI-powered feature runs entirely on-device, using the NPU to deliver support that is fast, secure and always available when they need it.
    • Accessibility features: Inclusive by design and powered by AI
      Surface Copilot+ PCs include built-in tools that help more students participate fully in learning. Voice Accessvi now offers greater flexibility and a more natural way to navigate using speech, improving on earlier voice interaction tools with faster response times and support for conversational commands. Live Captionsvii provide real-time subtitles and translations for spoken content. Both are powered by the NPU to deliver instant performance across multiple languages, supporting more inclusive and accessible classrooms.

    Read the blog to see how Microsoft Learning Zone and other AI features from Microsoft are transforming the classroom experience.

    Ready for what’s next

    With Windows 10 support ending on Oct. 14, 2025, now is the time to modernize your school’s device fleet with Windows 11. The new 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro for Business, part of the Surface Copilot+ PC portfolio, will be available to education institutions starting July 22. These devices are secure by design and default with built-in security to help protect against evolving cyberthreats and include new silicon capable of 40+ TOPS (trillions of operations per second). Copilot+ PCs offer all-day battery life to support learning anywhere, powerful performance for multitasking and content creation, and AI experiences tailored specifically for education.viii

    Learn more about how to get ahead of Windows 10 end of support and take the next steps.

    These new devices expand the Surface Copilot+ PC portfolio and give schools flexible options to match the right device to every role. Whether you are empowering IT teams, supporting educators or enabling students to learn in more personalized and accessible ways, there is a Surface Copilot+ PC to fit your needs.

    If you are attending ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, be sure to visit the Microsoft booth starting June 29 to experience Surface Copilot+ PCs in action, connect with education experts and explore how Microsoft is helping shape the future of learning.

    Visit Surface.com/Business to learn more and request a quote for your school or district through an authorized reseller.

    Students, parents and educators can explore the new Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch at the Microsoft Store, where they can also save up to 10% on select Surface devices and moreix.

    End Notes

    i Sold separately

    ii Minimum age limits may apply to use of Copilot and certain AI features. Details

    iii Replacement components available through online Microsoft Store and iFixIt for out-of-warranty repair. Components can be replaced by individuals with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices following Microsoft’s Service Guide. Microsoft tools (sold separately) may also be required. Availability of replacement components and service options may vary by product, market and over time. See Self-repair information for your Surface device – Microsoft Support. Opening and/or repairing a device can present electric shock, device damage, fire and personal injury risk, and other hazards. Use caution if undertaking self-service repairs. Unless required by law, damage caused during repair is not covered under Microsoft’s Limited Hardware Warranty or protection plans.

    iv Microsoft Learning Zone is available with a Copilot+ PC and Microsoft Education license (A1, A3, A5). Initial availability will be English only.

    v Click to Do (preview) available image and text actions may vary by device, region, language and character set. Subscription required for some actions. Click to Do coming to the European Economic Area later in 2025. See aka.ms/copilotpluspcs

    vi Voice Access with flexible commands available now on Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X Series processor. Supports multiple languages, some features only available in English. See what’s new in Voice Access.

    vii Translation for video and audio subtitles into English from 40+ languages and from 27 languages into Chinese (Simplified). See aka.ms/copilotpluspcs

    viii Battery life varies significantly based on usage, network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings and other factors. See aka.ms/SurfaceBatteryPerformance for details.

    ix Microsoft Store Education discount is available to K-12 and higher education students, faculty and parents. Education discount only valid on select products, and may not be combinable with other offers. See terms and conditions at Education & Student Discounts on Laptops, Microsoft 365, Windows, Surface | Microsoft Store

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael R. Allen, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, West Virginia University

    The iconic ‘Walking Man’ Hawkes sign in Westbrook, Maine, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

    President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 discretionary budget is called a “skinny budget” because it’s short on line-by-line details.

    But historic preservation efforts in the U.S. did get a mention – and they might as well be skinned to the bone.

    Trump has proposed to slash funding for the federal Historic Preservation Fund to only $11 million, which is $158 million less than the fund’s previous reauthorization in 2024. The presidential discretionary budget, however, always heads to Congress for appropriation. And Congress always makes changes.

    That said, the Trump administration hasn’t even released the $188 million that Congress appropriated for the fund for the 2025 fiscal year, essentially impounding the funding stream that Congress created in 1976 for historic preservation activities across the nation.

    I’m a scholar of historic preservation who’s worked to secure historic designations for buildings and entire neighborhoods. I’ve worked on projects that range from making distressed neighborhoods in St. Louis eligible for historic tax credits to surveying Cold War-era hangars and buildings on seven U.S. Air Force bases.

    I’ve seen the ways in which the Historic Preservation Fund helps local communities maintain and rehabilitate their rich architectural history, sparing it from deterioration, the wrecking ball or the pressures of the private market.

    A rare, deficit-neutral funding model

    Most Americans probably don’t realize that the task of historic preservation largely falls to individual states and Native American tribes.

    The National Historic Preservation Act that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law in 1966 requires states and tribes to handle everything from identifying potential historic sites to reviewing the impact of interstate highway projects on archaeological sites and historic buildings. States and tribes are also responsible for reviewing nominations of sites in the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of properties deemed worthy of preservation.

    However, many states and tribes didn’t have the capacity to adequately tackle the mandates of the 1966 act. So the Historic Preservation Fund was formed a decade later to alleviate these costs by funneling federal resources into these efforts.

    The fund is actually the product of a conservative, limited-government approach.

    Created during Gerald Ford’s administration, it has a revenue-neutral model, meaning that no tax dollars pay for the program. Instead, it’s funded by private lease royalties from the Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas reserves.

    Most of these reserves are located in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Alaska. Private companies that receive a permit to extract from them must agree to a lease with the federal government. Royalties from their oil and gas sales accrue in federally controlled accounts under the terms of these leases. The Office of Natural Resources Revenue then directs 1.5% of the total royalties to the Historic Preservation Fund.

    Congress must continually reauthorize the amount of funding reserved for the Historic Preservation Fund, or it goes unfunded.

    Boston’s Fenway Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012, making it eligible for preservation grants and federal tax incentives.
    Winslow Townson/Getty Images

    Despite bipartisan support, the fund has been threatened in the past. President Ronald Reagan attempted to do exactly what Trump is doing now by making no request for funding at all in his 1983 budget. Yet the fund has nonetheless been reauthorized six times since its inception, with terms ranging from five to 10 years.

    The program is a crucial source of funding, particularly in small towns and rural America, where privately raised cultural heritage funds are harder to come by. It provides grants for the preservation of buildings and geographical areas that hold historical, cultural or spiritual significance in underrepresented communities. And it’s even involved in projects tied to the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, such as the rehabilitation of the home in New Jersey where George Washington was stationed during the winter of 1778-79 and the restoration of Rhode Island’s Old State House.

    Filling financial gaps

    I’ve witnessed the fund’s impact firsthand in small communities across the nation.

    Edwardsville, Illinois, a suburb of St. Louis, is home to the Leclaire Historic District. In the 1970s, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The national designation recognized the historic significance of the district, protecting it against any adverse impacts from federal infrastructure funding. It also made tax credits available to the town. Edwardsville then designated LeClaire a local historic district so that it could legally protect the indelible architectural features of its homes, from original decorative details to the layouts of front porches.

    Despite the designation, however, there was no clear inventory of the hundreds of houses in the district. A few paid staffers and a volunteer citizen commission not only had to review proposed renovations and demolitions, but they also had to figure out which buildings even contributed to LeClaire’s significance and which ones did not – and thus did not need to be tied up in red tape.

    The Allen House is one of approximately 415 single-family homes in the Leclaire neighborhood in Edwardsville, Ill.
    Friends of Leclaire

    Edwardsville was able to secure a grant through the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office thanks to a funding match enabled by money disbursed to Illinois via the Historic Preservation Fund.

    In 2013, my team created an updated inventory of the historic district, making it easier for the local commission to determine which houses should be reviewed carefully and which ones don’t need to be reviewed at all.

    Oil money better than no money

    The historic preservation field, not surprisingly, has come out strongly against Trump’s proposal to defund the Historic Preservation Fund.

    Nonetheless, there have been debates within the field over the fund’s dependence on the fossil fuel industry, which was the trade-off that preservationists made decades ago when they crafted the funding model.

    In the 1970s, amid the national energy crisis, conservation of existing buildings was seen as a worthy ecological goal, since demolition and new construction required fossil fuels. To preservationists, diverting federal carbon royalties seemed like a power play.

    But with the effects of climate change becoming impossible to ignore, some preservationists are starting to more openly critique both the ethics and the wisdom of tapping into a pool of money created through the profits of the oil and gas industry. I’ve recently wondered myself if continued depletion of fossil fuels means that preservationists won’t be able to count on the Historic Preservation Fund as a long-term source of funding.

    That said, you’d be hard-pressed to find a preservationist who thinks that destroying the Historic Preservation Fund would be a good first step in shaping a more visionary policy.

    For now, Trump’s administration has only sown chaos in the field of historic preservation. Already, Ohio has laid off one-third of the staffers in its State Historic Preservation Office due to the impoundment of federal funds. More state preservation offices may follow suit. The National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers predicts that states soon could be unable to perform their federally mandated duties.

    Unfortunately, many people advocating for places important to their towns and neighborhoods may end up learning the hard way just what the Historic Preservation Fund does.

    Michael R. Allen is a member of the Advisor Leadership Team of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

    – ref. Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history – https://theconversation.com/trump-administration-aims-to-slash-funds-that-preserve-the-nations-rich-architectural-and-cultural-history-258889

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Checking in on New England fisheries 25 Years after ‘The Perfect Storm’ hit movie theaters

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stephanie Otts, Director of National Sea Grant Law Center, University of Mississippi

    Filming ‘The Perfect Storm’ in Gloucester Harbor, Mass.
     The Salem News Historic Photograph Collection, Salem State University Archives and Special Collections, CC BY

    Twenty-five years ago, “The Perfect Storm” roared into movie theaters. The disaster flick, starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, was a riveting, fictionalized account of commercial swordfishing in New England and a crew who went down in a violent storm.

    The anniversary of the film’s release, on June 30, 2000, provides an opportunity to reflect on the real-life changes to New England’s commercial fishing industry.

    Fishing was once more open to all

    In the true story behind the movie, six men lost their lives in late October 1991 when the commercial swordfishing vessel Andrea Gail disappeared in a fierce storm in the North Atlantic as it was headed home to Gloucester, Massachusetts.

    At the time, and until very recently, almost all commercial fisheries were open access, meaning there were no restrictions on who could fish.

    There were permit requirements and regulations about where, when and how you could fish, but anyone with the means to purchase a boat and associated permits, gear, bait and fuel could enter the fishery. Eight regional councils established under a 1976 federal law to manage fisheries around the U.S. determined how many fish could be harvested prior to the start of each fishing season.

    Fishing has been an integral part of coastal New England culture since its towns were established. In this 1899 photo, a New England community weighs and packs mackerel.
    Charles Stevenson/Freshwater and Marine Image Bank

    Fishing started when the season opened and continued until the catch limit was reached. In some fisheries, this resulted in a “race to the fish” or a “derby,” where vessels competed aggressively to harvest the available catch in short amounts of time. The limit could be reached in a single day, as happened in the Pacific halibut fishery in the late 1980s.

    By the 1990s, however, open access systems were coming under increased criticism from economists as concerns about overfishing rose.

    The fish catch peaked in New England in 1987 and would remain far above what the fish population could sustain for two more decades. Years of overfishing led to the collapse of fish stocks, including North Atlantic cod in 1992 and Pacific sardine in 2015.

    As populations declined, managers responded by cutting catch limits to allow more fish to survive and reproduce. Fishing seasons were shortened, as it took less time for the fleets to harvest the allowed catch. It became increasingly hard for fishermen to catch enough fish to earn a living.

    Saving fisheries changed the industry

    In the early 2000s, as these economic and environmental challenges grew, fisheries managers started limiting access. Instead of allowing anyone to fish, only vessels or individuals meeting certain eligibility requirements would have the right to fish.

    The most common method of limiting access in the U.S. is through limited entry permits, initially awarded to individuals or vessels based on previous participation or success in the fishery. Another approach is to assign individual harvest quotas or “catch shares” to permit holders, limiting how much each boat can bring in.

    In 2007, Congress amended the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to promote the use of limited access programs in U.S. fisheries.

    Ships in the fleet out of New Bedford, Mass.
    Henry Zbyszynski/Flickr, CC BY

    Today, limited access is common, and there are positive signs that the management change is helping achieve the law’s environmental goal of preventing overfishing. Since 2000, the populations of 50 major fishing stocks have been rebuilt, meaning they have recovered to a level that can once again support fishing.

    I’ve been following the changes as a lawyer focused on ocean and coastal issues, and I see much work still to be done.

    Forty fish stocks are currently being managed under rebuilding plans that limit catch to allow the stock to grow, including Atlantic cod, which has struggled to recover due to a complex combination of factors, including climatic changes.

    The lingering effect on communities today

    While many fish stocks have recovered, the effort came at an economic cost to many individual fishermen. The limited-access Northeast groundfish fishery, which includes Atlantic cod, haddock and flounder, shed nearly 800 crew positions between 2007 and 2015.

    The loss of jobs and revenue from fishing impacts individual family income and relationships, strains other businesses in fishing communities, and affects those communities’ overall identity and resilience, as illustrated by a recent economic snapshot of the Alaska seafood industry.

    When original limited-access permit holders leave the business – for economic, personal or other reasons – their permits are either terminated or sold to other eligible permit holders, leading to fewer active vessels in the fleet. As a result, the number of vessels fishing for groundfish has declined from 719 in 2007 to 194 in 2023, meaning fewer jobs.

    A fisherman unloads a portion of his catch for the day of 300 pounds of groundfish, including flounder, in January 2006 in Gloucester, Mass.
    AP Photo/Lisa Poole

    Because of their scarcity, limited-access permits can cost upward of US$500,000, which is often beyond the financial means of a small businesses or a young person seeking to enter the industry. The high prices may also lead retiring fishermen to sell their permits, as opposed to passing them along with the vessels to the next generation.

    These economic forces have significantly altered the fishing industry, leading to more corporate and investor ownership, rather than the family-owned operations that were more common in the Andrea Gail’s time.

    Similar to the experience of small family farms, fishing captains and crews are being pushed into corporate arrangements that reduce their autonomy and revenues.

    Consolidation can threaten the future of entire fleets, as New Bedford, Massachusetts, saw when Blue Harvest Fisheries, backed by a private equity firm, bought up vessels and other assets and then declared bankruptcy a few years later, leaving a smaller fleet and some local business and fishermen unpaid for their work. A company with local connections bought eight vessels from Blue Harvest along with 48 state and federal permits the company held.

    New challenges and unchanging risks

    While there are signs of recovery for New England’s fisheries, challenges continue.

    Warming water temperatures have shifted the distribution of some species, affecting where and when fish are harvested. For example, lobsters have moved north toward Canada. When vessels need to travel farther to find fish, that increases fuel and supply costs and time away from home.

    Fisheries managers will need to continue to adapt to keep New England’s fisheries healthy and productive.

    One thing that, unfortunately, hasn’t changed is the dangerous nature of the occupation. Between 2000 and 2019, 414 fishermen died in 245 disasters.

    Stephanie Otts receives funding from the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program through the U.S. Department of Commerce. Previous support for fisheries management legal research provided by The Nature Conservancy.

    – ref. Checking in on New England fisheries 25 Years after ‘The Perfect Storm’ hit movie theaters – https://theconversation.com/checking-in-on-new-england-fisheries-25-years-after-the-perfect-storm-hit-movie-theaters-255076

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory F. Treverton, Professor of Practice in International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    Iranians protest the U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Tehran on June 22, 2025. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    The Trump administration’s decision to bomb Iran dramatically marks the now nearly half-century of hostility between the United States and Iran, which began in 1979 with Iran’s takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the taking of 52 diplomatic hostages.

    It remains uncertain whether the Iran-Israel ceasefire will hold, given President Donald Trump’s seemingly impulsive policy decisions and an Israeli leader who critics say pursues war to stay in power.

    Additional unpredictability can be seen in a weakened Iran government that is unpopular with its own people but must also bet that standing up to the U.S. and Israel will induce its people to rally around the flag, even if they don’t like who holds that flag.

    As a U.S. international relations scholar, I think whatever comes next will be well informed by what has already happened in U.S.-Iran history. That includes an offer from Trump – who considers himself the consummate negotiator – to Iran to return to the negotiating table.

    The shah’s last visit to Washington

    The opening bracket in modern U.S.-Iran relations was the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi,“ whom a CIA covert action had restored to leadership a quarter-century earlier.

    As a young National Security Council staffer, I stood on the South Lawn of the White House as the shah’s helicopter landed in 1977 for a state visit to his close ally, the United States.

    The episode was perhaps a metaphor for the two countries’ relationship. I stood next to a colleague who had written for President Jimmy Carter remarks that included fulsome praise of the shah, but his crack to me was: “You’ll recognize the shah. He’s the one with blood under his fingernails.” Beneath a formal alliance, there was a good deal of cynicism on the U.S. part about the shah’s repressive regime and use of secret police to suppress opposition.

    Pro- and anti-shah protesters were demonstrating at the bottom of the Ellipse, the park south of the White House grounds. The U.S. Park Police, understandably but unwisely, sought to separate them with tear gas, which then wafted over the proceedings on the South Lawn.

    The Shah of Iran wipes tear gas from his eyes as President Jimmy Carter speaks on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 15, 1977.
    AP Photo

    The impact of the hostage crisis

    It’s impossible to overstate the effect of the 1979 hostage crisis, when Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding 62 American hostages for 444 days.

    The Carter administration negotiated the Algiers Accords, which led to the release of the hostages in January 1981. There have been persistent accounts, none ever fully validated, that the incoming Reagan administration dealt with Iran to delay the release until after the new president’s inauguration.

    The crisis not only cost Carter his job, but it also cast an enduring shadow over the U.S.-Iran relationship, compounding Americans’ difficulty in understanding a regime that was not only theocratic but Muslim.

    The 1980s witnessed a whipsaw of relations.

    From 1980 to 1988, as Iran and Iraq fought a bloody war to a stalemate, the U.S. saw the power of both countries contained, but it did provide intelligence and logistical support to Iraq.

    Then came the Iran-Contra Affair of 1985 to 1987. It was the Reagan administration’s most serious scandal, in which White House officials illegally sold sanctioned arms to Iran and secretly diverted the proceeds to the Nicaraguan Contras. In a moment straight out of comic opera, National Security Council aides brought a goodwill chocolate cake to Tehran during a secret diplomatic mission in May 1986.

    Unidentified U.S. hostages arrive on Jan. 21, 1981, at Rhein-Main U.S. Air Force base in Frankfurt, West Germany, one day after their release from Iran.
    AP Photo

    In 1988, a U.S. ship struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. retaliated by destroying oil platforms and damaging Iranian ships in “Operation Praying Mantis,” and tragically – and mistakenly – shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing 290 civilians.

    The 1990s and 2000s again displayed the limits of the relationship.

    In 1995, President Bill Clinton imposed an oil and trade embargo against Iran, and Congress passed the Iran–Libya Sanctions Act in 1996, which imposed economic sanctions on companies doing business with Iran and Libya.

    In 1998, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called for a “dialogue of civilizations,” prompting cautious U.S. signals of engagement.

    Then, in 2002, President George W. Bush labeled Iran part of the “axis of evil,” a sharp rhetorical escalation. For its part, Iran alleged U.S. drone incursions and covert operations. Limited diplomatic back channels emerged, but to no outcome.

    In 2009, President Barack Obama reached out to Tehran amid post-election unrest in Iran, but two years later Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil shipments to the West.

    In 2015, the two countries were party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with Iran agreeing to limit its nuclear program under international oversight.

    Two years later, though, President Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed sweeping sanctions in a “maximum pressure” campaign.

    In 2019 and 2020, a series of tit-for-tat escalations culminated in the Jan. 3, 2020, U.S. drone strike that assassinated senior Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on U.S. bases in the region.

    U.S. sanctions continued in the Biden administration as Iran pursued deeper ties with Russia, China and nonstate proxies, especially Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

    What lessons?

    What can be learned from this tangled history?

    First, that negotiations are possible between the two countries, but they are neither easy nor likely to produce more than limited outcomes. Indeed, high-level indirect talks mediated by Oman began in April 2025, though they were in suspension when the U.S. bombers struck.

    Second, despite the Iran regime’s unpopularity, regime change in Iran is unlikely. Assassinating Ayatollah Ali Khameini would likely abet the “rally ‘round the flag” effect, as did the assassination of Soleimani.

    Third, Iran has been careful in its responses even to Israeli aggression but especially in engaging the U.S. in military conflict, a caution the American B-2 bombings on June 21 can only underscore.

    Iran had to retaliate, so the attack on the U.S. base in Qatar came as no surprise. But Iran was careful in retaliating, even notifying the U.S. in advance.

    The dropping of U.S. bombs, followed by Iran’s careful retaliation, was the opportunity for Trump to make an offer Iran couldn’t refuse.

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

    – ref. What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history – https://theconversation.com/what-happens-next-in-us-iran-relations-will-be-informed-by-the-two-countries-shared-history-259607

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President El-Sisi Speaks with Iranian President Pezeshkian


    Download logo

    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said President El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s absolute rejection of the recent Iranian missile attack targeting the State of Qatar. 

    The President emphasized Egypt’s condemnation of any actions that infringe upon the sovereignty of states, particularly Arab and Islamic countries. 

    President El-Sisi welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, affirming the importance of underpinning and adhering to this agreement, in light of the regional escalation that almost plunged the region into widespread chaos and violence.

    The call also reviewed Egypt’s intensive efforts and contacts over the past days with various concerned parties, mainly the United States, to curb the escalation and restore calm and stability to the region. 

    The call underscored Egypt’s continued endeavors to exert all necessary efforts to solidify the ceasefire agreement.

    The two presidents concurred that the current delicate and sensitive phase necessitates advancing comprehensive political solutions and adopting approaches that consider the various dimensions related to regional security. 

    Both Presidents also reiterated the significance of resuming negotiations on the nuclear program between Washington and Tehran and the indispensability to address concerns related to nuclear non-proliferation, in addition to advocating the establishment of a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone.

    The Iranian president expressed his gratitude and appreciation to President El-Sisi, valuing Egypt’s wise and supportive stances for restoring stability in the region, and the efforts to prevent bloodshed among all parties.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Convicted of Carjacking Resulting in Death

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On Friday, June 20, 2025, a federal jury convicted Joseph Payne-Pabón for carjacking resulting in death of an 82-year-old woman on January 7, 2020, in the municipality of San Juan.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2020, Joseph Payne-Pabón, a 34-year-old homeless man, entered the home of Eulalia Combas Sancho during the blackout resulting from the earthquakes, violently killed her and took her Hyundai Sonata. The evidence showed that Mr. Payne Pabón used a cement block to hit the victim in the back of the head causing a fracture to her skull and trauma to her brain that resulted in her death. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2025, at 10:30 am before United States District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón.

    “This verdict is a direct result of the tireless efforts and outstanding work of agents and officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and federal prosecutors and professional staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “I commend their exceptional efforts and dedication from the beginning of the investigation of the carjacking and murder of the victim to the guilty verdict at trial.”

    “This verdict reflects our community’s intolerance for senseless acts of violence, and our commitment to bring violent offenders who endanger innocent persons to justice,” said Gordon Mallory, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Miami Field Division. “In partnership with the US Attorney’s Office in San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police Department, and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, Mr. Payne-Pabón is being held accountable for his violent, and life-altering actions.  It is our hope that this conviction can bring some closure to the victim’s family.”

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz and César Rivera-Díaz prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Previously convicted felon sentenced to over five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico County man was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, on Aug. 15, 2024, Henrico County Police responded to a report of gunshots at an apartment complex where Michael Anthony Nolan, 35, had been arguing with his ex-girlfriend. On arriving, officers observed Nolan, who was intoxicated, standing in the apartment complex’s parking lot next to the driver-side door of a vehicle inside which officers observed a handgun on the floorboard.

    In 2010, Nolan was convicted of robbing and attempting to rob pizza delivery drivers with a knife, and subsequently found guilty of two felony probation violations. As a previously convicted felon, Nolan cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-179.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 63 Months for Unlawful Firearm Possession

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Willie Green, age 42, of Albany, was sentenced on Monday to 63 months in prison following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.

    In previously pleading guilty, Green admitted that on January 1, 2022, he possessed a loaded pistol in Albany. A prior felony conviction prohibited him from possessing the pistol. Green has an extensive criminal history that includes a 2024 murder conviction, which was secured by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. The sentence in this case will run consecutive to the 25 years-to-life term he is serving on his state murder conviction.

    United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Willie Green cannot serve enough prison time for the crimes he’s committed. He should never get out, and if he is granted parole by New York State, he will be immediately taken to federal prison to start serving his term of imprisonment in this case. Albany is safer if this murderer stays locked up for good.”

    ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated: “This sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders accountable—especially those who continue to possess firearms despite felony convictions. This individual not only admitted to carrying a loaded firearm illegally, but he is also serving a 25-to-life sentence for murder. His actions represent the very threat to public safety that ATF and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to prevent. Thank you to our partners at Albany PD and U.S. Attorney’s Office NDNY for their efforts.”

    Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin when Green is released from federal prison.

    ATF investigated this case with the assistance of the Albany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Ignis Energy Announces Final Close of $13.6M Series A Round To Advance Global Geothermal Exploration Portfolio

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ignis H2 Energy Inc. (“Ignis Energy”), a geothermal exploration and development company, today announced the final close of its Series A funding round, securing $13.6 million from a global consortium of investors. This milestone builds on the initial close announced in February, which was led by sustainable energy investor alfa8 and included drilling contractor Nabors Industries, climate technology investor The Twynam Group, GEOLOG, and several private investors and family offices.

    Ignis Energy is building a globally diversified, risk-balanced geothermal portfolio focused on near-term viability and long-term growth. The company specializes in locating, de-risking, and delivering commercially viable geothermal power. The capital secured in this round enables key projects to reach technical maturity and prepare for capital-intensive development phases.

    “In a market chasing breakthrough headlines, Ignis Energy brings the spotlight back to the geology,” said Richard Calleri, CEO, Ignis Energy. “Without proven heat in the ground, there’s nothing to scale. Ignis finds it, proves it, and produces it.”

    “Ignis has demonstrated strong execution on its strategy and is already moving rapidly onto the next milestones,” said Guillermo Sierra, VP, Strategic Initiatives, Nabors Industries. “Their commercial focus and speed stand out, and we look forward to continued collaboration on near-term projects and beyond.”

    Building a Global, Fit-for-Resource Geothermal Platform

    Leveraging decades of oil and gas expertise, Ignis applies proven technologies and exploration workflows to de-risk geothermal projects across high-enthalpy regions. Rather than betting on a single breakthrough, Ignis uses a ‘fit-for-resource’ strategy—tailoring each project to the best commercial technology for its reservoir and market. This includes conventional hydrothermal systems as well as emerging approaches like Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS), where appropriate.

    Platform Momentum & Outlook

    Ignis is rapidly advancing high-priority assets in Türkiye and the U.S.:

    • Türkiye: In Eastern Anatolia, Ignis drilled its first temperature gradient well in Q4 2024, confirming reservoir temperatures and artesian flow. Two deep wells will follow this summer to fully de-risk the Kaynarpınar field and position it as Ignis’ first commercial project—and a model for underexplored geothermal basins.
    • Western U.S.: Ignis is advancing surface exploration across five Nevada and one Utah lease, supported by its proprietary AI targeting engine. Drilling in Nevada is expected in 2026, with development of a data center-aligned power plant targeted for 2027.
    • Alaska: The Alaska Railbelt grid—supplying two-thirds of the state’s population—faces urgent pressure to replace aging gas-fired capacity and reduce high electricity prices. GeoAlaska, Ignis’ regional partner, plans to drill its first well by mid-2026, backed by three Letters of Intent from major offtakers in the utility, mining, and data center sectors.

    “Our vision is pragmatic and region-first,” said Marcus Oesterberg, COO, Ignis Energy. “We don’t chase speculative breakthroughs—we match the right technology to the right resource and build local momentum. Ignis is a geothermal opportunity engine, unlocking real heat under real projects.”

    AI-Driven Exploration for a Cleaner Future

    Ignis applies AI not as a gimmick, but as a precision tool. Its hybrid system—combining machine learning and computer vision—has already improved lease targeting and accelerated early-stage decision-making. This allows Ignis to move confidently and cost-effectively into underexplored geothermal basins.

    About Ignis Energy

    Ignis Energy develops commercially viable geothermal projects in the U.S., Türkiye, Indonesia, and Italy. Its region-first, technology-flexible model enables early de-risking and smarter development. The company is targeting 1 GW of producible geothermal reserves by 2030. https://ignisenergy.com/

    About alfa8
    alfa8 is an entrepreneurial family office that backs builders and technologies driving the energy transition, with a passion for geothermal energy. https://alfa8.co/

    About Nabors Industries
    Nabors Industries is a global drilling and energy technology leader advancing low-carbon solutions, including geothermal. https://www.nabors.com/

    About Twynam
    Twynam is a climate-focused investment firm supporting bold, scalable technologies for deep decarbonization. https://www.twynam.com/

    About GEOLOG
    GEOLOG delivers advanced formation evaluation and real-time geoscience services for energy operators worldwide.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/358150ec-2d98-480e-a9d8-c3360087b896

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Apostolos Voulgarakis, AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate Director, Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment & Climate Change, Technical University of Crete

    Understanding how wildfires influence our planet’s climate is a daunting challenge. Although fire occurs nearly everywhere on Earth and has always been present, it is still one of the least understood components of the Earth system. Recently, unprecedented fire activity has been observed in boreal (northern) and Arctic regions, which has drawn the scientific community’s attention to areas whose role in the future of our planet remains a mystery. Climate change likely has a major role in this alarming trend. However, high-latitude wildfires are not just a symptom of climate change; they are an accelerating force that could shape the future of our climate in ways that we are currently incapable of predicting.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    The rising threat of northern fires

    As global temperatures rise, wildfires are advancing further north and reaching into the Arctic. Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Scandinavia and even Greenland, all in northern high-latitude regions, have recently experienced some of the most intense and prolonged wildfire seasons on record. With climate change occurring more rapidly in these areas, the future of northern fires appears even grimmer.

    Apart from typical forest fires that consume surface vegetation, many high-latitude fires burn through peat, the dense, carbon-rich layers of partially decayed organic material. Despite covering only 3% of the terrestrial surface, peatlands are one of the world’s most important carbon storage environments, containing around 25% of the carbon existing in the Earth’s soils.

    Climate warming, which is even faster at high northern latitudes due to polar amplification – the phenomenon of greater climate change near the poles compared to the rest of the hemisphere or globe – is increasing the vulnerability of these ecosystems to fire, with potentially severe implications for the global climate. When peatlands ignite, they release massive amounts of “fossil carbon” that have been locked away for centuries or even millennia. The largest and most persistent fires on Earth, peat fires can smoulder for extended periods, are difficult to extinguish and can continue burning underground throughout the winter, only to reignite on the surface in spring. They have recently been described as “zombie” fires.

    Warmer and drier conditions driven by climate change, apart from making boreal forests more flammable, are expected to intensify and increase the frequency of peat fires, potentially transforming peatlands from carbon sinks into net sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Such a shift could trigger a feedback loop, meaning that a warming climate will cause more carbon emissions, which in turn will accelerate climate change.

    Air pollution and weather patterns

    Wildfires release large quantities of smoke particles (aerosols) into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to both local and widespread air quality degradation. These particles are harmful to human health and can cause serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, while prolonged exposure may lead to smoke-induced stress, hospitalizations and increased mortality. Wildfires can also cause mental health strains associated with evacuations, loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.



    À lire aussi :
    Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs

    Beyond their long-term effects on climate, wildfire emissions can also influence weather patterns in more short-term ways via their impacts on atmospheric pollution levels. Smoke particles interact with sunlight and cloud formation processes, subsequently affecting temperatures, wind patterns and rainfall.

    For example, our recent study on the large-scale atmospheric impacts of the 2023 Canadian wildfires, which we presented at the European Geosciences Union general assembly this spring, demonstrated that wildfire aerosols led to a surface air temperature decrease that expanded to the entire northern hemisphere. The cooling was particularly pronounced over Canada (up to -5.5°C in August), where the emissions were located, but was also significant over remote areas such as Eastern Europe and even Siberia (up to around -2.5°C in July). The average hemispheric temperature anomaly we calculated (close to -1°C) highlights the potential for large regional emissions from wildfires to perturb weather conditions for weeks across a whole hemisphere, with profound implications for forecasting. Unreliable weather forecasts can disrupt daily activities and pose risks to public safety, especially during extreme events such as heatwaves or storms. They also have serious consequences for industries such as farming, fishing and transport, where planning depends heavily on accurate, timely predictions.

    Peat fires and the climate puzzle

    While incorporating peatland fire feedbacks into Earth System Models (ESMs) is essential for accurate climate projections, most existing models lack a representation of peat fires. Understanding the smouldering behaviour of organic soils when they burn, their ignition probability, and how these processes can be represented at a global scale is of utmost importance. Recent research efforts are focusing on bridging this knowledge gap. For example, at the Technical University of Crete, we are collaborating with the Hazelab research group at Imperial College London and the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society to perform field research and cutting-edge experiments) on peat smouldering, with the aim of shedding light on the complex mechanisms of peat fires.

    Integrating these lab results into ESMs will enable game-changing fire emission modelling, which holds potential for groundbreaking outcomes when it comes to our skill level for predicting the future of the Earth’s climate. By quantifying how the present-day atmosphere is influenced by fire emissions from boreal forests and peatlands, we can enhance the quality of projections of global temperature rise. This integration will also sharpen forecasts of regional climate impacts driven by fire-related aerosols, such as changes in rainfall patterns or accelerated Arctic ice melt.

    Tackling the challenge of northern fires

    Undoubtedly, we have entered an era of more frequent megafires – wildfires of extreme size, intensity, duration or impacts – with catastrophic consequences. Recent megafire events at boreal and Arctic regions unveil the dramatic change in wildfire patterns in northern high latitudes, which is a matter that demands urgent attention and action.

    As the planet continues to warm, high-latitude fires are expected to help shape the future of our planet. Massive wildfire events, such as those in Canada in 2023, not only burned millions of hectares but also forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. Unprecedented amounts of smoke blanketed parts of North America in hazardous air, prompting school closures and health warnings, and obliging citizens to remain indoors for days. Events like this reflect a growing trend. They underscore why advancing research to better understand and predict the dynamics of northern peat and forest fires, and to mitigate their climate impacts, is not only a scientific imperative but also a moral responsibility.

    Created in 2007 to help accelerate and share scientific knowledge on key societal issues, the Axa Research Fund has supported nearly 700 projects around the world conducted by researchers in 38 countries. To learn more, visit the website of the Axa Research Fund or follow @AXAResearchFund on X.

    Dimitra Tarasi has received funding from the AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate, the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society and the A.G. Leventis Foundation Educational Grants.

    Apostolos Voulgarakis ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate – https://theconversation.com/how-high-latitude-peat-and-forest-fires-could-shape-the-future-of-earths-climate-258721

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Apostolos Voulgarakis, AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate Director, Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment & Climate Change, Technical University of Crete

    Understanding how wildfires influence our planet’s climate is a daunting challenge. Although fire occurs nearly everywhere on Earth and has always been present, it is still one of the least understood components of the Earth system. Recently, unprecedented fire activity has been observed in boreal (northern) and Arctic regions, which has drawn the scientific community’s attention to areas whose role in the future of our planet remains a mystery. Climate change likely has a major role in this alarming trend. However, high-latitude wildfires are not just a symptom of climate change; they are an accelerating force that could shape the future of our climate in ways that we are currently incapable of predicting.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    The rising threat of northern fires

    As global temperatures rise, wildfires are advancing further north and reaching into the Arctic. Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Scandinavia and even Greenland, all in northern high-latitude regions, have recently experienced some of the most intense and prolonged wildfire seasons on record. With climate change occurring more rapidly in these areas, the future of northern fires appears even grimmer.

    Apart from typical forest fires that consume surface vegetation, many high-latitude fires burn through peat, the dense, carbon-rich layers of partially decayed organic material. Despite covering only 3% of the terrestrial surface, peatlands are one of the world’s most important carbon storage environments, containing around 25% of the carbon existing in the Earth’s soils.

    Climate warming, which is even faster at high northern latitudes due to polar amplification – the phenomenon of greater climate change near the poles compared to the rest of the hemisphere or globe – is increasing the vulnerability of these ecosystems to fire, with potentially severe implications for the global climate. When peatlands ignite, they release massive amounts of “fossil carbon” that have been locked away for centuries or even millennia. The largest and most persistent fires on Earth, peat fires can smoulder for extended periods, are difficult to extinguish and can continue burning underground throughout the winter, only to reignite on the surface in spring. They have recently been described as “zombie” fires.

    Warmer and drier conditions driven by climate change, apart from making boreal forests more flammable, are expected to intensify and increase the frequency of peat fires, potentially transforming peatlands from carbon sinks into net sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Such a shift could trigger a feedback loop, meaning that a warming climate will cause more carbon emissions, which in turn will accelerate climate change.

    Air pollution and weather patterns

    Wildfires release large quantities of smoke particles (aerosols) into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to both local and widespread air quality degradation. These particles are harmful to human health and can cause serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, while prolonged exposure may lead to smoke-induced stress, hospitalizations and increased mortality. Wildfires can also cause mental health strains associated with evacuations, loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.



    À lire aussi :
    Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs

    Beyond their long-term effects on climate, wildfire emissions can also influence weather patterns in more short-term ways via their impacts on atmospheric pollution levels. Smoke particles interact with sunlight and cloud formation processes, subsequently affecting temperatures, wind patterns and rainfall.

    For example, our recent study on the large-scale atmospheric impacts of the 2023 Canadian wildfires, which we presented at the European Geosciences Union general assembly this spring, demonstrated that wildfire aerosols led to a surface air temperature decrease that expanded to the entire northern hemisphere. The cooling was particularly pronounced over Canada (up to -5.5°C in August), where the emissions were located, but was also significant over remote areas such as Eastern Europe and even Siberia (up to around -2.5°C in July). The average hemispheric temperature anomaly we calculated (close to -1°C) highlights the potential for large regional emissions from wildfires to perturb weather conditions for weeks across a whole hemisphere, with profound implications for forecasting. Unreliable weather forecasts can disrupt daily activities and pose risks to public safety, especially during extreme events such as heatwaves or storms. They also have serious consequences for industries such as farming, fishing and transport, where planning depends heavily on accurate, timely predictions.

    Peat fires and the climate puzzle

    While incorporating peatland fire feedbacks into Earth System Models (ESMs) is essential for accurate climate projections, most existing models lack a representation of peat fires. Understanding the smouldering behaviour of organic soils when they burn, their ignition probability, and how these processes can be represented at a global scale is of utmost importance. Recent research efforts are focusing on bridging this knowledge gap. For example, at the Technical University of Crete, we are collaborating with the Hazelab research group at Imperial College London and the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society to perform field research and cutting-edge experiments) on peat smouldering, with the aim of shedding light on the complex mechanisms of peat fires.

    Integrating these lab results into ESMs will enable game-changing fire emission modelling, which holds potential for groundbreaking outcomes when it comes to our skill level for predicting the future of the Earth’s climate. By quantifying how the present-day atmosphere is influenced by fire emissions from boreal forests and peatlands, we can enhance the quality of projections of global temperature rise. This integration will also sharpen forecasts of regional climate impacts driven by fire-related aerosols, such as changes in rainfall patterns or accelerated Arctic ice melt.

    Tackling the challenge of northern fires

    Undoubtedly, we have entered an era of more frequent megafires – wildfires of extreme size, intensity, duration or impacts – with catastrophic consequences. Recent megafire events at boreal and Arctic regions unveil the dramatic change in wildfire patterns in northern high latitudes, which is a matter that demands urgent attention and action.

    As the planet continues to warm, high-latitude fires are expected to help shape the future of our planet. Massive wildfire events, such as those in Canada in 2023, not only burned millions of hectares but also forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. Unprecedented amounts of smoke blanketed parts of North America in hazardous air, prompting school closures and health warnings, and obliging citizens to remain indoors for days. Events like this reflect a growing trend. They underscore why advancing research to better understand and predict the dynamics of northern peat and forest fires, and to mitigate their climate impacts, is not only a scientific imperative but also a moral responsibility.

    Created in 2007 to help accelerate and share scientific knowledge on key societal issues, the Axa Research Fund has supported nearly 700 projects around the world conducted by researchers in 38 countries. To learn more, visit the website of the Axa Research Fund or follow @AXAResearchFund on X.

    Dimitra Tarasi has received funding from the AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate, the Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society and the A.G. Leventis Foundation Educational Grants.

    Apostolos Voulgarakis ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. How high-latitude peat and forest fires could shape the future of Earth’s climate – https://theconversation.com/how-high-latitude-peat-and-forest-fires-could-shape-the-future-of-earths-climate-258721

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 June 2025 Joint News Release Energy Access Has Improved, Yet International Financial Support Still Needed to Boost Progress and Address Disparities

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025 finds that almost 92% of the world’s population now has basic access to electricity Although this is an improvement since 2022, which saw the number of people without basic access decrease for the first time in a decade, over 666 million people remain without access, indicating that the current rate is insufficient to reach universal access by 2030. Clean cooking access is progressing but below the rates of progress seen in the 2010s, as efforts remain hobbled by setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, following energy price shocks, and debt crises.

    Released today, the latest edition of the annual report that tracks progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 highlights the role of distributed renewable energy (a combination of mini-grid and off-grid solar systems) to accelerate access, since the population remaining unconnected lives mostly in remote, lower-income, and fragile areas. Cost-effective and rapidly scalable, decentralised solutions are able to reach communities in such rural areas.

    Decentralised solutions are also needed to increase access to clean cooking. With an estimated 1.5 billion people residing in rural areas still lacking access to clean cooking, the use of off-grid clean technologies, such as household biogas plants and mini-grids that facilitate electric cooking, can provide solutions that reduce health impacts caused by household air pollution. Over 670 million people remain without electricity access, and over 2 billion people remain dependent on polluting and hazardous fuels such as firewood and charcoal for their cooking needs.

    Notable progress was made in different indicators. The international financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy grew for the third year in a row to reach USD 21.6 billion in 2023.  Installed renewables capacity per capita continued to increase year-on-year to reach a new high of 341 watts per capita in developing countries, up from 155 watts in 2015.

    Yet regional disparities persist, indicating that particular support is needed for developing regions. In sub-Saharan Africa – which lags behind across most indicators – renewables deployment has rapidly expanded but remains limited to 40 watts of installed capacity per capita on average which is only one-eighth of the average of other developing countries. Eighty-five percent of the global population without electricity access reside in the region, while four in five families are without access to clean cooking. And the number of people without clean cooking access in the region continues to grow at a rate of 14 million people yearly.

    The report identified the lack of sufficient and affordable financing as a key reason for regional inequalities and slow progress. To build on the achievements to date and avoid any further regressions on access to electricity and clean cooking due to looming risks in global markets, the report calls for strengthened international cooperation of public and private sectors, to scale up financial support for developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Urgent actions include reforms in multilateral and bilateral lending to expand the availability of public capital; more concessional finance mobilisation, grants, and risk mitigation instruments; improvement in risk tolerance among donors; as well as appropriate national energy planning and regulations.

    Key findings across primary indicators

    • Almost 92% of the world’s population now has access to electricity, leaving over 666 million people without electricity in 2023, with around 310 million people gaining access since 2015. Eighteen of the 20 countries with the largest electricity access deficits in 2023 were in sub-Saharan Africa. The greatest growth in access between 2020 and 2023 occurred in Central and Southern Asia, with both regions making significant strides towards universal electricity access, reducing their basic access gap from 414 million in 2010 to just 27 million in 2023.
    • Little to no change was observed in access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking between 2022 and 2023. Although the number of the world’s population with access to clean cooking fuels and technologies increased from 64% in 2015 to 74% in 2023, around 2.1 billion people remain dependent on polluting fuels and technologies. If current trends continue, only 78% of the global population will have access to clean cooking by 2030.
    • In 2022, the global share of renewable energy sources in total final energy consumption (TFEC) was 17.9% as TFEC continued to increase gradually, while installed renewable energy capacity reached 478 watts per capita in 2023, indicating almost 13% growth from 2022. But progress is not sufficient to meet international climate and sustainable development goals. In addition, global efforts must address significant disparities. Despite progress in expanding renewable capacity, least developed countries and sub-Saharan Africa had only 40 watts per capita in installed renewables capacity, compared to developed countries which had over 1,100 watts installed.
    • Global energy efficiency experienced sluggish progress in recent years. The global trend shows that primary energy intensity, defined as the ratio of total energy supply to gross domestic product, declined by 2.1% in 2022. Although it is an improvement of more than four times the weak 0.5% improvement rate of 2021, it is insufficient to meet the original SDG 7.3 target. Going forward, energy intensity needs to improve by 4% per year on average. 
    • International public financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy increased by 27% from 2022, reaching USD 21.6 billion in 2023.  However, the report reveals that the developing world received fewer flows in 2023 than in 2016, when commitments peaked at USD 28.4 billion. Despite gradual diversification, funding remained concentrated, with only two sub-Saharan African countries in the top five recipients. Debt-based instruments drove most of the increase in international public flows in 2023, accounting for 83% in 2023, while grants made up only 9.8% of flows.

    The report will be presented to decision-makers at a special launch event on 16 July 2025 at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, which oversees progress on the SDGs.

    Quotes

    Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency

    “Despite progress in some parts of the world, the expansion of electricity and clean cooking access remains disappointingly slow, especially in Africa. This is contributing to millions of premature deaths each year linked to smoke inhalation, and is holding back development and education opportunities. Greater investment in clean cooking and electricity supply is urgently required, including support to reduce the cost of capital for projects.”

    Francesco La Camera, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency

    “Renewables have seen record growth in recent years, reminding the world of its affordability, scalability, and its role in further reducing energy poverty. But we must accelerate progress at this crunch time. This means overcoming challenges, which include infrastructure gaps. The lack of progress, especially on infrastructure, is a reflection of limited access to financing. Although international financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy grew to USD 21.6 billion in 2023, only two regions in the world have seen real progress in the financial flows. To close the access and infrastructure gaps, we need strengthened international cooperation to scale up affordable financing and impact–driven capital for the least developed and developing countries.”

    Stefan Schweinfest, Director, United Nations Statistics Division

    “This year’s report shows that now is the time to come together to build on existing achievements and scale up our efforts. Despite advancements in increasing renewables-based electricity, which now makes up almost 30 percent of global electricity consumption, the use of renewables for other energy-related purposes remains stagnant. While energy intensity improved in 2022, overall progress remains weak, threatening economic growth and the energy efficiency goals agreed upon at COP28. The clock is ticking. The findings of this year’s report should serve as a rallying point, to rapidly mobilize efforts and investments, so that together, we ensure sustainable energy for all by 2030.”

    Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure, World Bank

    “As we approach the five-year mark to achieve the SDG7 targets, it is imperative to accelerate the deployment of electricity connections, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where half of the 666 million people lacking access reside. As part of the Mission 300 movement, 12 African nations have launched national energy compacts, in which they commit to substantial reforms to lower costs of generation and transmission, and scale up distributed renewable energy solutions. Initiatives such as this unite governments, the private sector, and development partners in a collaborative effort.

    Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, World Health Organization

    “The same pollutants that are poisoning our planet are also poisoning people, contributing to millions of deaths each year from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, particularly among the most vulnerable, including women and children,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We urgently need scaled-up action and investment in clean cooking solutions to protect the health of both people and planet—now and in the future.”

    About the report

    This report is published by the SDG 7 custodian agencies, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO) and aims to provide the international community with a global dashboard to register progress on energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy and international cooperation to advance SDG 7.

    This year’s edition was chaired by IRENA.  

    The report can be downloaded at https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/

    Funding for the report was provided by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    Donald Trump’s latest forthright outburst was made as part of his attempts to create a peace deal with Iran and Israel. “I’m not happy with Israel,” he told reporters on June 24. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

    This came a day after Trump had announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. By the next day, the ceasefire had been violated by both Iran and Israel. Trump was clearly furious, and his language showed it.

    This was not a verbal slip – there was no immediate correction, no apology, no nonverbal indication of embarrassment. He just stormed off, clearly angry.

    This is not the kind of language that is normally associated with a president. Some have been reported to use the f-word before, but usually behind closed doors.

    Donald Trump uses the f-word in a press conference.

    We expect presidents to be calm, measured, thoughtful, considered. Trump’s comment was none of these things. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, once recommended a foreign policy strategy that was based on: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He was suggesting quiet menace, but Trump showed frustration, barely contained. His furious, aggressive response was like something straight out of an old psychology textbook.

    In the 1930s, psychologists developed the frustration-aggression hypothesis to explain how aggressive behaviour can arise. The hypothesis suggested that when a person’s goal is blocked in some way, it leads to frustration, which then results in aggression. Aggression was considered a “natural” way of releasing this unpleasant state of frustration. They were clearly different times.

    Over the next few decades, this hypothesis was thought by most psychologists to be a gross oversimplification of complex human behaviour. It assumed a direct causal relationship between frustration and aggression, ignoring all the other situational and cognitive factors that can intervene.

    Human beings are more complex than that, psychologists argued — they find other ways of dealing with their frustrations. They use their rational system of thought to find solutions. They don’t have to lash out when they’re frustrated in this seemingly primitive way.

    Perhaps, that’s why many people feel shocked when they watch this US president in certain situations. To many of us, it all seems so basic, so unsophisticated, so frightening.

    Fast v slow thinking

    The Nobel laureate and psychologist Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow (2011), characterised the two systems that underpin everyday decision-making. His work may help with understanding of what’s going on here.

    He describes system one as the evolutionary, basic system. It operates unconsciously, automatically and very quickly, handling everyday tasks like reading other people’s emotions, without any effort. It is an intuitive system designed to work in a world full of approach and avoidance, scary animals and friendly animals. It is heavily reliant on affect to guide decision-making.

    In contrast, system two is slower, more deliberative. It requires conscious effort and is used for complex thinking, solving difficult problems, or making careful decisions.

    The relationship between the two systems is critical, and that may get us thinking about Trump in more detail.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Kahneman says that system one is a bit of a “workaholic”, beavering away all the time, making “suggestions” for system two to endorse. Good decisions – depend upon system two checking the suggestions of system one. But system one often jumps quickly and unconsciously to certain conclusions. System two should check them, but often doesn’t, even when it would be easy.

    Here is a well-known example. Answer the following question: “A bat and ball cost one pound ten pence, the bat costs one pound more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

    One answer looks blatantly obvious – but it isn’t correct. The correct answer (after a bit of thought) is five pence.

    About 80% of university students give the very quick and incorrect answer of ten pence because it “looks” right. Their system two never checked.

    In many people, it seems system two is not used nearly enough. There are striking individual differences in the way that people rely on emotion and gut instinct versus the rational system in making decisions.

    Emotional decisions?

    It appears that Trump makes decisions very quickly (classic system one), often without extensive deliberation or consultation with advisers. Both in his presidency and in his business career, he seemed to prioritise immediate action over any sort of prolonged and thoughtful analysis. That’s why he changes his mind so often.

    His decisions seem to be driven by strong emotions. His response to events, opponents and issues are often passionate and visceral. This could lead to to decisions being unduly influenced by personal feelings, first impressions based on arbitrary cues, and interpersonal perceptions, rather than anything more substantial.

    Trump’s style of decision-making emphasises immediacy and emotional conviction, which can be effective in rallying supporters and creating a sense of decisiveness. However, it also can lead to unpredictable outcomes and, as has been seen again and again, somewhat controversial, impulsive actions.

    Many suggest that Trump’s decision-making style reflects his background in the high-pressure and high-stakes world of business, where quick judgements and gut instinct can be advantageous in these sorts of competitive winner-takes-all environments

    But the world at war is a more precarious place, where system one needs to be kept more firmly in check. Gut instincts may have a role to play, but that old lazy system two needs to be more vigilant. Especially, it would seem, in Trump’s case.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

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

    – ref. Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements – https://theconversation.com/trumps-f-bomb-a-psychologist-explains-why-the-president-makes-fast-and-furious-statements-259735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    Donald Trump’s latest forthright outburst was made as part of his attempts to create a peace deal with Iran and Israel. “I’m not happy with Israel,” he told reporters on June 24. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

    This came a day after Trump had announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. By the next day, the ceasefire had been violated by both Iran and Israel. Trump was clearly furious, and his language showed it.

    This was not a verbal slip – there was no immediate correction, no apology, no nonverbal indication of embarrassment. He just stormed off, clearly angry.

    This is not the kind of language that is normally associated with a president. Some have been reported to use the f-word before, but usually behind closed doors.

    Donald Trump uses the f-word in a press conference.

    We expect presidents to be calm, measured, thoughtful, considered. Trump’s comment was none of these things. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, once recommended a foreign policy strategy that was based on: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He was suggesting quiet menace, but Trump showed frustration, barely contained. His furious, aggressive response was like something straight out of an old psychology textbook.

    In the 1930s, psychologists developed the frustration-aggression hypothesis to explain how aggressive behaviour can arise. The hypothesis suggested that when a person’s goal is blocked in some way, it leads to frustration, which then results in aggression. Aggression was considered a “natural” way of releasing this unpleasant state of frustration. They were clearly different times.

    Over the next few decades, this hypothesis was thought by most psychologists to be a gross oversimplification of complex human behaviour. It assumed a direct causal relationship between frustration and aggression, ignoring all the other situational and cognitive factors that can intervene.

    Human beings are more complex than that, psychologists argued — they find other ways of dealing with their frustrations. They use their rational system of thought to find solutions. They don’t have to lash out when they’re frustrated in this seemingly primitive way.

    Perhaps, that’s why many people feel shocked when they watch this US president in certain situations. To many of us, it all seems so basic, so unsophisticated, so frightening.

    Fast v slow thinking

    The Nobel laureate and psychologist Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow (2011), characterised the two systems that underpin everyday decision-making. His work may help with understanding of what’s going on here.

    He describes system one as the evolutionary, basic system. It operates unconsciously, automatically and very quickly, handling everyday tasks like reading other people’s emotions, without any effort. It is an intuitive system designed to work in a world full of approach and avoidance, scary animals and friendly animals. It is heavily reliant on affect to guide decision-making.

    In contrast, system two is slower, more deliberative. It requires conscious effort and is used for complex thinking, solving difficult problems, or making careful decisions.

    The relationship between the two systems is critical, and that may get us thinking about Trump in more detail.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Kahneman says that system one is a bit of a “workaholic”, beavering away all the time, making “suggestions” for system two to endorse. Good decisions – depend upon system two checking the suggestions of system one. But system one often jumps quickly and unconsciously to certain conclusions. System two should check them, but often doesn’t, even when it would be easy.

    Here is a well-known example. Answer the following question: “A bat and ball cost one pound ten pence, the bat costs one pound more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

    One answer looks blatantly obvious – but it isn’t correct. The correct answer (after a bit of thought) is five pence.

    About 80% of university students give the very quick and incorrect answer of ten pence because it “looks” right. Their system two never checked.

    In many people, it seems system two is not used nearly enough. There are striking individual differences in the way that people rely on emotion and gut instinct versus the rational system in making decisions.

    Emotional decisions?

    It appears that Trump makes decisions very quickly (classic system one), often without extensive deliberation or consultation with advisers. Both in his presidency and in his business career, he seemed to prioritise immediate action over any sort of prolonged and thoughtful analysis. That’s why he changes his mind so often.

    His decisions seem to be driven by strong emotions. His response to events, opponents and issues are often passionate and visceral. This could lead to to decisions being unduly influenced by personal feelings, first impressions based on arbitrary cues, and interpersonal perceptions, rather than anything more substantial.

    Trump’s style of decision-making emphasises immediacy and emotional conviction, which can be effective in rallying supporters and creating a sense of decisiveness. However, it also can lead to unpredictable outcomes and, as has been seen again and again, somewhat controversial, impulsive actions.

    Many suggest that Trump’s decision-making style reflects his background in the high-pressure and high-stakes world of business, where quick judgements and gut instinct can be advantageous in these sorts of competitive winner-takes-all environments

    But the world at war is a more precarious place, where system one needs to be kept more firmly in check. Gut instincts may have a role to play, but that old lazy system two needs to be more vigilant. Especially, it would seem, in Trump’s case.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

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

    – ref. Trump’s f-bomb: a psychologist explains why the president makes fast and furious statements – https://theconversation.com/trumps-f-bomb-a-psychologist-explains-why-the-president-makes-fast-and-furious-statements-259735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why there’s a growing backlash against plant-based diets

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Beacham, Research Fellow, University of Bristol Business School, University of Bristol

    Geinz Angelina/Shutterstock

    People in the UK are eating too much meat – especially processed meat – according to a recent report from the Food Foundation, a UK charity.

    The report recommends revisiting school food standards, which advises schools to serve meat three times a week. The consequence? Children often eat a higher proportion of processed meat than adults.

    The effects of meat-heavy diets are well documented. Some analyses estimate that overconsumption of meat, especially processed red meat, costs the global economy around £219 billion annually, in terms of harms to human health and the environment. At the same time, a growing body of evidence shows that a transition toward more plant-based diets is not just beneficial, but essential.

    And yet efforts to reduce meat consumption haven’t always been well received. In Paris, for instance, the mayor’s initiative to remove meat from municipal canteen menus twice a week triggered an angry backlash from unions and workers who called for the return of steak frites.

    A few years ago, meat consumption in the UK was falling, and interest in initiatives like Veganuary was surging. Venture capital flooded into plant-based startups, from cricket burgers to hemp milk.

    But enthusiasm, and investment, has since declined. Meanwhile, populism and “culture war” narratives have fuelled social media misinformation about food, diet and sustainability, hampering progress. So what has changed? And why is meat once again a flashpoint in the food debate?

    Working with the H3 Consortium, which explores pathways to food system transformation in the UK, our research has focused on why the backlash against plant-based diets is growing and what it means for people, animals and the planet.

    Part of the answer lies in coordinated messaging campaigns that frame meat and dairy not just as “normal” but as “natural” and essential to a balanced diet. One example is the Let’s Eat Balanced campaign, run by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board since 2021. It promotes meat and dairy as key sources of micronutrients such as Vitamin B12 and implicitly positions plant-based diets as nutritionally inadequate.

    But here’s the irony: many intensively farmed animals don’t get B12 from their diet naturally. Their feed is supplemented with vitamins and minerals, just as vegan diets are supplemented. So is meat really a more “natural” source of B12 than a pill?

    That raises a broader question: what could a fair and sustainable transition to plant-based protein look like – not just for consumers, but for farmers and rural communities? Some analyses warn that rapid shifts in land use toward arable farming could have serious unintended consequences, such as disrupting rural economies and threatening livelihoods.

    There are also legitimate questions about the healthiness of meat and dairy alternatives. Despite the early hype around alternative proteins, many products fall under the category of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – a red flag for consumers wary of additives and artificial ingredients.

    The popularity of books like Chris van Tulleken’s Ultra-Processed People has stoked concerns about emulsifiers, ingredients used to bind veggie burgers or prevent vegan milk from curdling, and some headlines have asked whether they “destroy” our gut health.

    Still, it’s a leap to suggest that conventional red meat is the healthier alternative. The health risks of processed meat are well established, especially the carcinogenic effects of nitrites used to keep meat looking fresh in packaging.

    Some people suggest eating chicken instead of read meat because it produces less greenhouse gas. But raising chickens also causes problems, like pollution from chicken manure that harms rivers, and it depends a lot on soy feed, which can be affected by political and trade issues.

    There’s a strong case for reducing meat consumption, and the scientific evidence to support it is robust. But understanding the backlash against plant-based eating is essential if we want to make meaningful progress. For now, meat is not disappearing from our diets. In fact, the food fight may be just getting started.

    Jonathan Beacham receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1).

    David M. Evans receives funding from the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (grant ref: BB/V004719/1). He is affiliated with Defra (the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) as a member of their Social Science Expert Group.

    – ref. Why there’s a growing backlash against plant-based diets – https://theconversation.com/why-theres-a-growing-backlash-against-plant-based-diets-259455

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to work with other BRICS countries for peace, stability in Middle East: FM spokesperson

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

    China is ready to join hands with other BRICS countries to continue working for a peaceful and stable Middle East, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

    Brazil, the BRICS chair, released the BRICS Joint Statement on the Escalation of the Security Situation in the Middle East Following Military Strikes on the Territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

    In response to a related query, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a daily news briefing that BRICS is a force for progress that champions global peace and stability and defends international fairness and justice.

    Following the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, BRICS released a joint statement calling for ceasefire, dialogue and consultation, which played a constructive role for deescalation of tensions in the region, Guo said.

    At last year’s BRICS Summit in Kazan, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that BRICS should be “committed to peace” and “act as defenders of common security,” Guo said, adding China stands ready to work with other BRICS countries to continue working for a peaceful and stable Middle East. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Internet access in Iran returns to pre-war levels: minister

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

    Iran’s Internet access has returned to pre-war levels, the country’s communications minister said Wednesday, following a temporary shutdown during the recent conflict with Israel.

    Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s minister of Information and Communications Technology, made the announcement in a post on the social platform X, a day after a ceasefire was declared between Iran and Israel, ending 12 days of fighting.

    Iran imposed restrictions on Internet access shortly after Israel launched a series of airstrikes across the country on June 13, targeting nuclear and military sites. The strikes killed several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and hundreds of civilians, according to Iranian officials.

    In the wake of the attacks, pro-Israeli hackers also claimed that they launched cyberattacks on Iran’s banking system, disrupting services at several banks. Enditem

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Powering African Economies: African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 to Host Program Track on Power, Infrastructure Sectors

    African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies – taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town – will feature a Power Africa Track as part of its main conference program. The track, dedicated to addressing emerging opportunities across the continent’s power and infrastructure sectors, will examine the state of play of Africa’s power market. Government representatives, private sector investors, independent power producers and public utilities will come together to discuss Africa’s future power systems – laying the foundation for new deals to be signed. 

    While many developed nations prioritize renewable energy developments, African nations continue to face significant energy access challenges. Approximately 43% of the continent’s population lives without access to electricity, with rural and remote communities struggling to gain access to national grid networks. At the same time, Africa is also the continent most-effected by climate change impacts globally. This highlights a need – and emerging opportunity – for a coordinated approach by both the private and public sectors to develop infrastructure that meets the demands of both urbanized and rural communities. The AEW: Invest in African Energies Powering Africa Track offers a platform to discuss strategies for expanding energy access across the continent. Sessions will explore the role public-private collaboration plays, how market liberalization can bolster investments and the impact of integrated power pools. Panel discussions include: Energy Leaders Dialogue: Strengthening Public & Private Collaborations for Increased Energy Access; Empowering Africa’s Energy Future: Market Liberalization and Private Sector Leadership; Scaling Renewable Innovation: Bridging the Energy Access Gap with Off-Grid and Smart Technologies; and Connecting Africa: Advancing Regional Trade Through Integrated Power Pools.

    Many countries in Africa are pursuing investment to support sustainable energy developments, seeking to both strengthen and expand power systems. Challenges related to inadequate generating capacity, transmission disruptions and maintenance have plagued many countries, resulting in unreliable power supply that hinders economic growth. South Africa, for example, Africa’s largest economy, struggles with intermittent power, largely due to an ageing coal fleet. To address this, the country is leveraging policy such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer program and Integrated Resource Plan to incentivize private sector investment in alternative energy sources. To date, the country has introduced 6.4 GW of renewable energy capacity to the grid through 122 independent power producers. AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 sessions on Balancing Investment Strategies and the Integration of Renewable into the Energy Mix and The Role of African Energy in a World Where Climate is No Longer the First Priority will explore the role of renewable energy in Africa’s power systems and how Africa’s priorities have shifted to power expansion.

    Beyond renewables, Africa is well-positioned to leverage its natural gas and uranium resources to diversify its energy mix and strengthen power capacity. Wit over 620 trillion cubic feet of proven gas resources, the continent is turning to gas-based power to enhance access and support industrialization. Major projects include Angola’s 750 MW Soyo combined cycle power plant; Senegal’s 300 MW Cap des Biches power plant; Algeria’s 660 MW dual-fired Hassi Messaoud Gas Turbine plant, among others. In the nuclear sector, several African countries are pursuing power projects in collaboration with international partners. Projects are being planned in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, and more, all of which will complement the continent’s sole operating nuclear facility: South Africa’s Koeberg plant. Sessions on gas-to-power and nuclear at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will explore the emerging role these resources will play in Africa’s power sector. Sessions include Gas-to-Power: Meeting Africa’s Growing Domestic Energy Demand Now; Overcoming Infrastructure and Regulatory Hurdles to Nuclear Deployment; Energy Efficiency: The Cornerstone of Africa’s Sustainable Growth; and Powering Africa’s Industrial Revolution.

    “With over 600 million people living without access to electricity, there has never been a more imperative time to advance the development of integrated power systems in Africa. While the continent’s population continues to grow, securing power supply becomes critical. By investing in African resources, strengthening infrastructure and introducing off-grid power solutions, Africa will be able to both alleviate energy poverty while driving long-term, sustainable growth,” states Sergio Pugliese, President for the African Energy Chamber, Angola.

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Reconstruction of the M-1 Belarus highway section is more than half complete

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    “We are carrying out systematic work across the country to expand and modernize roadways on key highways and city roads where this is necessary to improve transport accessibility. These measures allow us to increase the capacity of the road network, reduce travel time, reduce accidents and minimize logistics costs. In particular, we are reconstructing the M-1 Belarus high-speed highway from the 66th to the 84th km. We will expand this section from four to six lanes. Currently, specialists are constructing the roadbed at the site; 80% of the excavation work has been completed to date, amounting to about 440 thousand cubic meters. At the same time, work is being carried out to install the road surface. 178 thousand tons of asphalt concrete have already been laid, which is almost half of the planned volume. As of today, the overall readiness of the site is more than 50%. There is still a lot of work ahead, it is important to maintain the current momentum,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that work is underway at the site to install a cable duct for the installation of an automated traffic control system. Barrier and reinforced concrete parapet fencing are being installed; 10 km and 14 km, respectively, have been installed so far. In addition, for safe travel at night, it is planned to install outdoor lighting lines in the dividing strip of the road throughout the site. Currently, the foundations of lighting poles are being installed on the section from the 66th to the 71st km.

    According to the Chairman of the Board of the state company Avtodor, Vyacheslav Petushenko, construction and installation work is being carried out on the reconstruction site to erect 12 artificial structures. These are bridges, overpasses and overground pedestrian crossings.

    “The main artificial structures at the site are two bridges across the Nara and Kapanka rivers. The bridge across the Nara river is 45% complete. A reinforced concrete monolithic superstructure has already been installed here, the embankment is being filled on the approaches with subsequent installation of transition slabs. The bridge across the Kapanka river is half ready, now it is being prepared for laying asphalt concrete on the junctions and the bridge deck. Also among the key structures are two overpasses. One is part of the interchange at the 74th km, and the other is in the turnaround loop from the village of Lyakhovo at the 72nd km. Their readiness is 70 and 50%, respectively. Small artificial structures are also being built in parallel. These include culverts necessary to ensure uninterrupted water flow under the roadway and prevent flooding, which directly affects road safety,” said Vyacheslav Petushenko.

    For the convenience of drivers and passengers, a rest area is being set up at the 74th km of the M-1 “Belarus”. Here, excavation work, road surface construction and storm sewer installation are nearing completion. At the moment, the site is being prepared for the installation of asphalt concrete pavement.

    In total, 355 units of equipment and approximately 1,080 people are involved in the reconstructed section.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China and Kazakhstan work together to fight border fires

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    URUMQI, June 25 (Xinhua) — The ongoing summer heat wave has increased the risk of forest and grassland fires in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which borders Kazakhstan, with fires most common in the border areas of the two countries, which are rich in wetlands, mountains and dense vegetation.

    The Xinjiang General Forest Fire Brigade accredited in the above-mentioned county (hereinafter referred to as the “Ili Fire Brigade”) is responsible for internal fire safety along the 800-km border line. In order to prevent fires from breaking out, the fire brigade is currently actively practicing various firefighting scenarios. They are equipped with special-purpose equipment, including helicopters and armored tracked fire trucks.

    Under the influence of various factors, forest and steppe fires on the borders of the two countries can pose a threat to both environmental safety and human safety. In recent years, the Ili fire brigade, consisting of 200 people, has taken part in fire and rescue operations in the border area three times.

    The last fire on the border occurred late at night three years ago. More than 130 people and over 30 vehicles, as well as 800 units and sets of firefighting equipment and communication and command devices were sent to the scene. As a result of their coordinated actions, the large fire was extinguished within 4 days.

    In early June this year, the Ili Fire Brigade and representatives of the firefighters of Kazakhstan took part in joint exercises near the Dulat checkpoint, which involved numerous forces. Six years ago, a secondary forest caught fire in the area adjacent to the same border crossing on the territory of Kazakhstan. As was established following a meeting between the border guards of the two countries, the fire was caused by grass burning and did not require the participation of the rescue forces of China to extinguish it. Thus, the fire brigade simply broke through a fire barrier 63 km long and about 50 m wide along the border line on the Chinese side, effectively preventing the indiscriminate spread of the fire.

    “If a fire breaks out on the border between China and Kazakhstan, our side must take the initiative and actively participate in the rescue operation, and if necessary, at the request of the Kazakh side, a cross-border firefighting operation can be carried out” – this is the principle that prevails in the actions of the Ili Fire Brigade.

    To combat forest and grassland fires in border areas, China has set up several teams ready to go to fight similar cross-border fires, said Cao Lihong, a research fellow at the Belt and Road Development Research Institute at Ili Normal University.

    She stressed that China and Kazakhstan’s joint response to common natural disasters is a concrete embodiment of the good-neighborliness and friendship between the two countries. According to her, China and Kazakhstan are continuously exploring ways to resolve problems arising in cooperation in firefighting and rescue work, thereby deepening mutual trust and cooperation, which can provide wisdom and useful experience for other countries in dealing with similar border fires. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Ministry: China is ready to continue efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East together with BRICS countries

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The BRICS countries are progressive forces in maintaining world peace and stability and upholding international fairness and justice. China stands ready to continue efforts with other BRICS countries to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on a joint statement issued by Brazil, which holds the BRICS presidency, in which the grouping countries expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the region following the military strikes on Iran.

    The BRICS countries, by calling in a joint statement for a ceasefire and ceasefire, dialogue and consultation, are playing a constructive role in de-escalating the situation in the Middle East, Guo Jiakun said.

    The diplomat cited the words of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who in his speech at last year’s BRICS summit in Kazan stated the importance of “promoting the BRICS peace agenda in the name of protecting common security.” -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mainland China has promised comprehensive assistance to Taiwanese compatriots in evacuating from the Iran-Israel conflict zone

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The Chinese mainland will make every effort to help evacuate Chinese citizens, including Taiwan compatriots, affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Wednesday.

    The Chinese Embassy in Israel recently issued an announcement asking Chinese citizens, including Taiwanese compatriots, who hold a mainland entry card to register for evacuation assistance due to rising tensions in the region.

    Zhu Fenglian said at a press conference that some Taiwanese compatriots have now been safely evacuated to neighboring countries.

    “We always reach out to our Taiwanese compatriots in a timely manner to provide them with the necessary assistance, whether it is during natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes, or emergency evacuations related to conflicts and wars,” she stressed. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Media Advisory – Energy Sector Gains New Edge in Vegetation and Methane Emissions Monitoring with Maxar and Satelytics Partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PERRYSBURG, Ohio, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maxar and its partner Satelytics are announcing today an expansion of their offerings to the energy industry. In addition to the methane monitoring solution that has been on the market for several years, Satelytics is now introducing a vegetation encroachment solution that leverages Maxar’s very high-resolution satellite imagery.

    Monitoring vegetation growth along utility lines and pipelines

    Caption: Satelytics’ vegetation monitoring product leverages Maxar’s very high-resolution satellite imagery to identify vegetation, like the coniferous tree in the above screenshot, that could possibly fall on electrical distribution networks. This alert enables a utility company to go into the field and mitigate specific vegetation issues instead of spending time monitoring the whole transmission line from a truck.

    Satelytics will generate risk profiles of vegetation in and around customer assets using mono- and stereo-imagery collections from the Maxar constellation, including the recently launched WorldView Legion satellites. This solution will lean on Maxar’s collection capability of 6 million sq km of capacity per day, which significantly outpaces any other commercial provider.

    Monitoring vegetation growth along utility lines or pipelines with Maxar’s 30 cm-class resolution satellite imagery and Satelytics’ value-added insights allows an energy company to prioritize sending ground crews to specific locations that are known to need trimming maintenance instead of having ground crews drive the entire lengths of lines, which can be hundreds of miles in distance. This targeted vegetation maintenance allows the energy company to reduce search time and increase efficiency of field crews, proactively identify and address potential threats outside the immediate corridor, verify completed work and optimize contractor management, and improve overall grid reliability by reducing vegetation-related outages.

    • “Maxar’s recently expanded capacity with the new WorldView Legion satellites creates new opportunities for us to reliably collect fresh, very high-resolution satellite imagery along our customers’ rights-of-way to analyze for vegetation encroachment. Our customers will benefit from the high-quality of Maxar’s imagery as value-added products like our vegetation risk assessments improve with better input data.”

    — Sean Donegan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Satelytics

    Producing methane detection alerts

    Maxar’s WorldView-3 satellite hosts a shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensor that collects imagery in wavelengths outside what the human eye can see. Satelytics uses this SWIR sensor to create a methane detection and measurement product for energy companies. Duke Energy’s Piedmont Gas division, a local distribution company that operates in the Midwest and Southeast U.S., uses Satelytics’ methane solution to improve operational efficiency, safety and reporting by quickly finding leaks, repairing them and reducing emissions across a five-state service territory. Since the beginning of 2022, Duke Energy has reduced recordable leaks by over 85% using Satelytics’ solution. To learn more about Satelytics’ methane detection and quantification alerts, read their blog post.

    • “Satelytics has been innovating with Maxar’s very high-resolution satellite imagery for nearly a decade, and we’re excited to see them expand their offerings to include vegetation management for utilities. The quality, currency and accuracy of our data enables use cases that require precision to make informed decisions and Satelytics is taking it a step further with their energy industry-focused products.”

    — Todd Surdey, SVP and GM of Enterprise at Maxar

    Geospatial insights for informed monitoring and mitigation
    The combined power of Maxar’s high revisit, very high-resolution satellite imagery and Satelytics’ AI-driven algorithms provides energy companies with early detection geospatial insights and alerts that enable informed decision-making and minimize environmental risks.

    About Satelytics
    Satelytics is a software company producing geospatial analytics for early detection, location and — in many instances — quantification of our customers’ most pressing challenges. The Ohio-based company uses science, software, and technology to deliver valuable services to customers to identify problems before they become disasters – environmentally, financially, or otherwise.

    About Maxar Intelligence
    Maxar Intelligence is a leading provider of secure, precise geospatial insights. Operating the most advanced commercial Earth observation constellation in orbit, we use the power of very high-resolution satellite imagery and software technology to deliver mission success on Earth and in space. Our secure, AI-powered products and services deliver ground truth in near real-time to keep nations safe, improve navigation, protect our planet, speed up disaster response and more. For more information, visit www.maxar.com.

    Media Contact:

    Michele Nachum
    Firecracker PR
    michele@firecrackerpr.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/223f51a2-25c9-4d75-b653-4eb05608a42d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f28ffb1d-70d8-4426-8d43-c3604a6a0eea

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Operation Vala Umgodi nets 142 suspects

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Operation Vala Umgodi nets 142 suspects

    The South African Police Service (SAPS) says Vala Umgodi operations continue to be conducted across the country to combat illegal mining and associated criminal activities.

    The most recent operations have led to the arrest of 142 suspects of different nationalities for illegal mining activities.

    “These suspects were arrested for illegal mining related offences and various other crimes that include, among others, trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of unpolished diamonds, unlawful possession of explosives, contravention of Immigration Act and drug trafficking,” the police said in a statement.

    Police made several notable arrests and confiscated large quantities of gold bearing material in the past week.

    In a series of targeted interventions, Operation Vala Umgodi teams successfully apprehended 130 undocumented foreign nationals directly involved in illicit mining activities and related offences across the Free State province. 

    Police actions led to the seizure of substantial quantities of gold-bearing material and equipment crucial to these illegal activities, as well as three unlicensed firearms, 16 rounds of ammunition and a vehicle.

    In the Northern Cape, on 17 June 2025, members executed intelligence-driven operation and arrested 15 suspects for contravention of the Immigration Act, illegal mining activities and possession of suspected unpolished diamonds in the Koingnaas and Beefmaster illegal mining camps, respectively. The team seized unpolished diamonds and a significant quantity of dagga.

    On 19 June 2025, four suspects were arrested for trespassing, contravention of the Immigration Act in the Free State. One suspect was also arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniform, dagga and suspected gold bearing material. The team also arrested three suspects aged between 45 and 32 years, after being found in possession of gold-bearing material at Theunissen. Police also seized packaged and sealed food items destined for the illegal miners underground, along with explosive detonators.

    An intelligence-driven disruptive Vala Umgodi operation conducted at the Clovedene Informal Settlement in Crystal Park, Ekurhuleni in Gauteng, led to the arrest of eight illegal foreign nationals and suspected illegal miners. Police confiscated equipment used for illegal mining activities.

    In Limpopo, on 17 June 2025, the Sekhukhune District’s Operation Vala Umgodi team apprehended nine suspects aged between 22 and 44 years for illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act. Several items including three wheelbarrows, a generator, a jackhammer, two shovels, three chisels, and bottles of petrol were confiscated.

    In KwaZulu-Natal, on 17 June 2025,  40-year-old Sydwell Shane Mkhantswa appeared briefly in the Kwa-Mbonambi Periodical Court in connection with a case of theft of minerals over R800 000 from Richards Bay Minerals (RBM). Further investigation linked the suspect with another Kwa-Mbonambi case of theft of minerals in which he allegedly delivered RBM minerals to Isipingo in Durban, where police found over R24 million worth of suspected stolen minerals. 

    “Operation Vala Umgodi remains committed to dismantling illegal mining syndicates and ensuring law and order to the affected provinces as well as safeguarding the country’s mineral resources,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: KZN Premier commends arrest in Umlazi mass murder case

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    KZN Premier commends arrest in Umlazi mass murder case

    KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has commended the arrest of a suspect in connection with the recent brutal mass murder that shocked the Umlazi community.

    This comes after the arrest of a 28-year-old man in connection with the murder of eight people on 16 May 2025, at Zama informal settlement in U-section, Umlazi, south of Durban.

    The victims, including six men and two women, aged between 22 and 40 years, were found lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds.

    According to the police report, the incident took place when unknown armed men entered an informal settlement and opened fire. Eight victims died on the scene.

    The mass killing, which left multiple lives lost and families shattered, drew national attention and widespread condemnation.

    Ntuli visited the affected area and called for a multi-agency response to restore peace and strengthen community policing.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Ntuli hailed the arrest as a significant breakthrough.

    “This arrest is a clear indication that our law enforcement agencies are capable, committed, and determined to restore safety and dignity in our communities. We commend the SAPS (South African Police Service), the Hawks, and all intelligence-led operations that worked relentlessly around the clock to ensure this progress,” Ntuli said.

    Ntuli emphasised that people of Umlazi and KwaZulu-Natal at large deserve to live without fear, and “no individual or group has the right to undermine the safety and security of our communities.”

    He added that the provincial government is intensifying its collaboration with the police and other safety structures to dismantle criminal syndicates, improve visibility in hotspots, and fast-track the installation of community-based crime prevention programmes.

    The Premier also appealed to community members to work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies.

    “Our fight against crime is a collective one. We urge residents to report any suspicious activities and to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations. It is only through unity and active citizenry that we can defeat crime and reclaim our communities.”

    As the case proceeds through the justice system, Ntuli assured that the provincial government will continue to provide the necessary psychosocial support to the victims’ families, and work to ensure that justice is served without delay. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    GabiK

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Legal routes for climate justice in Africa

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Anglia Ruskin University

    Climate change lawsuits have become a new way for countries to assert their rights against actions that degrade the environment. But African countries have yet to fully exploit this route.

    In the Netherlands, the court found that greenhouse gas emissions breached the rights to life and private and family life that are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.

    In Germany, the court found that the government had breached the Climate Protection Act by not setting out a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after 2030. This meant that future generations would unfairly bear the burden of trying to limit climate change.

    Africa is the continent that’s most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. At the same time, it has contributed least in the world to greenhouse gas emissions.

    However, African countries have not taken up many climate court cases, mainly because they lack resources. They are also hampered by weak climate laws, limited expertise to gather and present evidence in court, and their economic reliance on extractive industries which they may not want to sue in court.

    One of the few African climate lawsuits was brought by the South African environmental justice group EarthLife Africa Johannesburg. It took the country’s environment ministry to court to cancel the government’s approval of new coal-fired power plants. The Pretoria high court held that the approval was unlawful because it had failed to consider how new coal-fired power stations would make climate change worse.

    Another case was filed in 2020 by civil society groups that sued the governments of Uganda and Tanzania over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline for breaching human rights and damaging the environment. The East African Court of Justice dismissed the case after the activists missed the deadline to file documents. The groups have appealed against the dismissal, but this highlights some of the difficulties in bringing international climate litigation.

    In May 2025, the Pan African Lawyers’ Union asked the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for an advisory opinion (still to be issued) on the obligations of African states to protect human rights in a time of climate crisis. This case was brought in collaboration with the Africa Climate Platform, the Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa, Natural Justice, resilient40, and other environmental justice organisations.

    I am an environmental justice researcher who examines how ecocentrism (valuing the entire interests of ecosystems over human interests or individual companies interests) can be taken forward in African legal systems.

    I argue that Africa should use three key international legal routes to amplify its voice in litigating against climate change.

    1. The International Court of Justice

    In December 2024, the International Court of Justice agreed for the first time to provide an advisory opinion on what states are obliged to do to fight climate change and set out the legal consequences for states that do not meet these obligations.

    In late 2024, the court accepted inputs from countries that had already been affected by climate change. These included members of the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States and the African Union, and South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Senegal. The court will hand down the opinion in late 2025.

    Even though International Court of Justice advisory opinions are not legally binding, these proceedings were a milestone. They provided African countries with a good platform to raise their demands about the obligations of countries to protect the climate system in this time of global warming.

    2. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

    In June 2023, the African Union submitted a written statement in support of the request made by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. The island states had asked the tribunal to set out how governments were obliged by the international marine treaty to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

    This was the first time the tribunal had formally considered the impacts of climate change on the marine environment. The African Union relied on important international environmental legal principles in its statement. These include the duty to avoid polluting the atmosphere and to prevent harm that takes place across borders.

    These principles have been used by different countries in lawsuits previously. These cases form the legal basis for many climate lawsuits today.

    The tribunal’s advisory opinions are not legally binding, but they also contribute to the development of international law, and again, could be useful for Africa to assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.

    3. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    This 1992 convention has been ratified by many African states. It is a central international legal framework that guides global action on climate change. It has been the foundation for many international agreements on how governments will prevent climate change.

    African countries will need to include international climate change agreements into their laws and policies. Not all African countries have climate change laws. Countries with climate change laws include Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. More must follow.

    Africa lacks the resources to prevent the worst effects of climate change and recover from the damage caused by global warming.

    African countries must now take climate lawsuits forward to demand accountability, shape climate policies and safeguard the future.

    By embracing regional mechanisms like the African court, using international legal instruments, and developing national climate laws, Africa can assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.

    Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Lecturer in Law, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dozens Charged in South Florida with Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Crimes, 80 Firearms and Multiple Kilos of Fentanyl, Other Dangerous Drugs Seized

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge Gordon Mallory of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Miami Field Division announced today the results of a two-month, multi-agency effort targeting repeat offenders in South Florida during a press conference.  

    In April, the ATF launched “Operation Showdown,” an enhanced enforcement initiative focused on combating violent crime and the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms in South Florida. As part of this initiative, ATF personnel from around the country were deployed to work alongside federal and local law enforcement agencies, bringing with them a broad range of expertise—including tactical operations, technical support, and undercover capabilities.

    So far, the ATF-led initiative has resulted in federal charges and arrests of 31 Miami-Dade and Broward County residents with firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses. In total, 80 firearms were seized along with 900 rounds of ammunition. The seized firearms include automatic and semiautomatic weapons, rifles, handguns, and machine gun conversion devices. Additionally, approximately 10 kilograms of illegal narcotics were confiscated, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack, oxycodone, and others.

    “Drugs and guns continue to fuel the violence that threatens the safety of our community,” said U.S. Attorney O’Byrne. “By prosecuting violent offenders, in close collaboration with ATF and other federal and local law enforcement agencies, we send a clear and unified message that South Florida will not be defined by fear but by safety and justice. I commend the agents and officers that made Operation Showdown a success.”

    “This Enhanced Enforcement Initiative in Southern Florida has resulted in long term results,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Mallory. “ATF will continue to prioritize keeping violent offenders, those who traffic, possess, and utilize firearms illegally, and narcotics traffickers, out of our communities, because it is a critical component of keeping our communities safe.  This targeted program could not have been possible without the support and collaboration from our local and federal partners. ATF strives to foster and maintain these relationships to ensure that we safeguard the public that we serve.”

    U.S. Attorney O’Byrne and acting ATF Miami Special Agent in Charge Mallory acknowledged and commended the investigative support and assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and The Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

    The federal cases are being coordinated by Deputy Chief Sharad Motiani of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.

    United States v. Bethel, Case No. 25-cr-20256, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Montes.

    United States v. Breedlove, Case No. 25-mj-06411, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gerarde.

    United States v. Doe, Case No. 25-mj-06390, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Carre.

    United States v. Downing, Case No. 25-mj-06403, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Killoran.

    United States v. Ferdinand, Case No. 25-mj-06409, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mahoney.

    United States v. Graham, Case No. 25-cr-60143, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mahoney.

    United States v. Harris, Case No. 25-cr-20264, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli.

    United States v. Holmes, Case No. 25-cr-60136, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Koffsky.

    United States v. James et al., Case No. 25-cr-20212, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kseniya Smychkouskaya.

    United States v. Jefferson, Case No. 25-cr-20206, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Koffsky.

    United States v. McIntyre, Case No. 25-cr-20113, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Fugate.

    United States v. Memnon et al., Case No. 25-mj-06406, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gerarde.

    United States v. Moultry, Case No. 25-cr-60131, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Thompson.

    United States v. Rodriguez, Case No. 25-cr-20246, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brianna Coakley.

    United States v. Roxton, Case No. 25-mj-06404, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mahoney.

    United States v. Washington et al., Case No. 25-mj-03196, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Smukler.

    United States v. Williams, Case No. 25-mj-06402, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Killoran.

    United States v. Williams, Case No. 25-cr-20112, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Fugate.

    United States v. Worthy, Case No. 25-cr-60139, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kseniya Smychkouskaya.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The charges contained in indictments and complaints are not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Note: images on display during the press conference can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Sensex, Nifty rise for 2nd day as geopolitical tensions ease, oil prices fall

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian stock markets extended their gains for the second straight day on Wednesday, supported by strong buying in media and technology shares.

    Investors were relieved after crude oil prices dropped and tensions between Iran and Israel eased following a ceasefire.

    The Sensex closed 700.4 points higher at 82,755.51, gaining 0.85 per cent. The Nifty also rose by 200.40 points to settle at 25,244.75, up 0.8 per cent.

    Titan Company, M&M, Infosys, Power Grid, TCS and Bharti Airtel emerged as the top gainers on the Sensex, with gains of up to 3.6 per cent.

    On the other hand, BEL, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Axis Bank were the major laggards, falling as much as 3 per cent.

    The broader markets saw a positive trend as well. The Nifty MidCap index gained 0.44 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index jumped 1.5 per cent.

    Among sectoral indices, Nifty Media was the top performer with a 1.99 per cent rise, followed by Nifty IT which went up 1.64 per cent, and Nifty Consumer Durables which gained 1.43 per cent.

    Market sentiment improved due to the drop in oil prices and reduced geopolitical risk, which helped boost risk appetite among investors.

    Analysts believe that these developments have brought temporary relief to the markets, despite continued selling by foreign investors.

    Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services, said that the easing of tensions in the Middle East and the softening of crude oil prices have played a key role in the market’s recovery.

    “Indian equity markets have staged a recovery, supported by easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a moderation in crude oil prices,” Nair stated.

    He added that domestically, a favourable monsoon forecast, and moderating inflation are further underpinning the optimism.

    Meanwhile, the Indian Rupee traded flat near 86.10 after a sharp rally of over 0.75 seen in the previous session, taking a breather within a narrow range of 86.00-86.15.

    “Market participants are now eyeing upcoming triggers from the US, including the PCE Price Index and GDP data later this week. The Rupee is expected to trade in a range of 85.70 to 86.25,” Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities mentioned.

    (IANS)

  • Cabinet approves revised Jharia Master Plan with ₹5,940 crore financial outlay

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP), aimed at tackling long-standing issues of fire, land subsidence, and the rehabilitation of affected families in the Jharia Coalfield. The total financial outlay for this revised plan is ₹5,940.47 crore.

    The revised JMP adopts a phased approach to address fire and subsidence and rehabilitate affected families on a priority basis, starting with the most vulnerable sites. A strong emphasis is placed on sustainable livelihood generation to support resettled communities, ensuring they are not only housed but also economically empowered.

    As part of the rehabilitation strategy, skill development programmes will be introduced to enhance the employability of those displaced. Additionally, rehabilitated families—both Legal Title Holders (LTH) and Non-Legal Title Holders (Non-LTH)—will receive a Livelihood Grant of ₹1 lakh and will have access to credit support of up to ₹3 lakh through an institutional credit pipeline.

    The plan also includes the development of robust infrastructure and amenities at all resettlement sites, including roads, electricity, water supply, sewerage, schools, hospitals, skill-development centres, and community halls. These provisions will be implemented according to the recommendations of the Committee for Implementation of the Revised Jharia Master Plan, ensuring a holistic and humane approach to rehabilitation.

    Furthermore, a Jharia Alternative Livelihoods Rehabilitation Fund will be set up to support livelihood-related activities, and skill-development initiatives will be conducted in collaboration with Multi-Skill Development Institutes in the region. These measures aim to promote self-reliance and sustainable income-generation opportunities for all displaced families, making the Revised JMP a significant step toward long-term socioeconomic progress.