NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Trump’s Brazil tariffs point more to his enduring bond with far-right Bolsonaro than economic concerns

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Rafael R. Ioris, Professor of Modern Latin America History, University of Denver

    U.S. President Donald Trump and then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attend a joint news conference at the White House on March 19, 2019. Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool/Getty Images

    After much back-and-forth over several months, President Donald Trump announced on July 9, 2025, that he planned to levy a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports to the United States. While Brazilian authorities, along with leaders of most other countries, have been expecting new tariffs given their centrality to Trump’s economic agenda, the announcement seemingly caught Brazilian officials off guard, as trade negotiations between the two nations were still ongoing.

    Brazil President Lula da Silva was quick in reacting, stating his country could respond in kind, if tariffs indeed come into effect on Aug. 1.

    There has been much speculation about the reasons behind Trump’s decision and timing, with some onlookers noting the proximity to the recent meeting of the BRICS nations, a grouping of emerging economies, including Brazil, which had already drawn Trump’s ire. Others argued that this was a protective measure to defend key U.S. industries, such as steel, which have been facing continued difficulties against cheaper products from Brazil.

    The clearest answer, however, came from Trump himself.

    In a letter to Lula, the U.S. president indicated that his main grievance with Brazil is in fact the trial that former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces in front of that country’s highest court. The former far-right firebrand is charged for refusing to recognize the result of the last presidential election in October 2022 and for allegedly having led an attempted coup against the democratic institutions and rule of law in January 2023. If convicted, Bolsonaro and some of his closest associates could face long prison sentences.

    A history of meddling

    The only economic rationale mentioned in Trump’s letter, that of a deficit that his country is said to face with Brazil, is belied by the numbers. The U.S. has sustained consistent surpluses in trade with the South American nation for close to two decades now.

    And Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser, active cheerleader and primary conduit between the Trump camp and Bolsonaro, was even more blunt than the U.S. president. In an interview with one of Brazil’s main news site, he stated: “Stop the trial and we will reverse the tariffs.”

    Bolsonaro meets with Trump during the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019.
    Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

    As the history of U.S.-Latin American relations ably demonstrates, this is far from the first time Washington has meddled in the region in order to satisfy its own political proclivities. Indeed, particularly during the Cold War, a slew of U.S. decision-makers actively intervened to support friendly right-wing regimes or to otherwise remove from power administrations considered unacceptably independent.

    This was nonetheless the first time in recent history that the official U.S. position is that a foreign nation should face harsh economic punishment unless its current government illegally circumvent the judicary’s constitutional role to stop a major investigation against someone accused of high crimes.

    Trump-Bolsonaro: Mutual admiration

    Of course, Trump’s overt support for Bolsonaro is not surprising, nor new. Their relationship of mutual admiration and ideological affinity hearkens back to the latter’s first presidential campaign in 2018, when he was labeled, to great reciprocal delight, the “Trump of the Tropics.”

    During the subsequent two years when their terms coincided (2019-2000), both men pledged to have a mutual special relationship, though to little consequence – no consequential bilateral projects were put in place.

    Both leaders also share the experience of having failed to obtain a second consecutive term and having supported the derailment of the peaceful transfer of power.

    Now that Trump is back in power, Bolsonaro hopes that the U.S. president will come to his rescue.

    Seeking to obtain explicit support, Bolsonaro’s third son, Eduardo, a member of Brazil’s lower house of congress and his family’s most eloquent international voice, took a leave from his legislative duties and moved to the U.S. early this year. He did so to lobby on behalf of his father based on the fallacious argument that Lula is a left-wing dictator, that Bolsonaro faces a politically motivated trial, and that the U.S. government should act against Lula’s administration.

    Given Trump’s tariff notice and the explicit reasons he gave for it, it seems safe to assume that Eduardo’s actions paid dividends.

    Which direction will Brazil head?

    Like the U.S., Brazil is deeply fractured along left and right political lines. So it was no surprise that the local reactions to Trump’s announcement manifested along ideological camps.

    Despite their leader’s legal travails, Bolsonaro’s supporters remain very influential in politics, the media and among important economic areas, such as the agribusiness sector. Whether Trump’s decision will serve to help people rally around and in support of Lula and against a case of foreign interference is unclear. Lula’s initial pronouncement that Brazil would respond in kind was seen favorably among his supporters, though the opposition and many in the media pinned the blame on Lula for not being able to forge compromise with the Trump administration.

    Key industrialists in the powerful state of Sao Paulo, where Bolsonaro’s powerful ally Tarcisio de Freitas serves as governor, will be the first ones affected by the new tariffs. But the pain will likely spread into other activities, including in the countryside.

    And given that the bulk of the country’s agricultural exports go to China rather than to the U.S., the important question is whether these powerful exporters will act pragmatically and work with Lula to enlarge trade with the Asian giant and other countries, or whether they will continue to act ideologically and continue to support Bolsonaro’s enduring partnership with Trump against their own economic interests.

    Dialogue has been a hallmark of Brazil’s diplomacy, and even in the middle of these latest heated diplomatic exchanges, Lula reiterated his willingness to negotiate. It is unclear, though, whether the Trump adminstration’s actions in Latin America will be conducted on the basis of rationality and actual numbers, or if they will indeed bring back some old ideologically driven behaviors of picking sides in the internal political disputes of foreign nations. Should one consider at face value Trump’s latest letter, there is reason for concern.

    Rafael R. Ioris 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. Trump’s Brazil tariffs point more to his enduring bond with far-right Bolsonaro than economic concerns – https://theconversation.com/trumps-brazil-tariffs-point-more-to-his-enduring-bond-with-far-right-bolsonaro-than-economic-concerns-260993

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ivey, Van Hollen, Klobuchar Lead Over 70 Members in Pressing Administration on Conflicting Orders Fueling Uncertainty Among Afghans Living in U.S.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), .S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.),, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led 73 of their colleagues in pressing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for answers on the Trump Administration’s inconsistent policies regarding Afghanistan and the legal status of Afghan nationals living in the U.S. – many of whom played important roles in supporting American servicemembers during the war in Afghanistan over two decades. In the letter, the lawmakers point out that the justifications for the decisions to implement a large-scale travel ban, which applies to Afghanistan, and terminate Temporary Protected Status conflict with one another. The lawmakers ask Secretary Rubio how the State Department arrived at these determinations and whether it can guarantee that Afghans who may be forced to leave the U.S. will not face danger upon their return to their home country – should the termination of Afghanistan’s TPS designation be upheld. 

    The lawmakers’ concerns over the safety of Afghan nationals who may be forced to leave the U.S. stem from a recent State Department human rights report covering Afghanistan finding that the Taliban has increased restrictions on freedom of expression and significantly eroded women’s rights. Additionally, Afghanistan remains gripped by violence and instability; the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, many risk being caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP, threatening their human rights and freedoms. These risks are on top of those already incurred by the men and women who have previously assisted the United States military and face retribution for their support to our armed forces. 

    “We write to you with deep concern over President Donald Trump’s recently announced so-called travel ban and its striking inconsistency with the Department of Homeland Security’s justification for termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. We respectfully request that you provide detailed information regarding the State Department’s assessment of the conditions in Afghanistan to clarify the Trump Administration’s position,” the lawmakers began.

    They quoted the determination that Secretary Rubio made upon consultation over the decision to include Afghanistan in the Administration’s travel ban proclamation, writing, “Specifically, the proclamation bans most entry into the United States from Afghanistan, stating the following as justification: ‘The Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan. Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.’

    “As you know, the U.S. visa vetting system is a multi-layered process involving extensive background checks, biometric data collection, interagency information sharing, and screening against a range of national security databases that works to keep residents of our country safe,” the lawmakers continued. “According to the Brennan Center for Justice, “[m]ore than 40 national security experts from across the political spectrum have unequivocally told courts that travelers to the U.S. should not be vetted on religious or national stereotypes, but rather on specific threat information.” Categorically banning foreign nationals from coming to the United States based on their country of origin is discriminatory and harmful to our nation’s international relations and security interests. 

    Highlighting the inconsistencies between the reasoning for including Afghanistan in the travel ban and ending the country’s TPS designation, they wrote, “This [travel ban] determination appears to be at odds with the Trump Administration’s stated position just weeks ago. May 12, 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem announced that DHS was ending TPS for Afghanistan. The basis offered in the Federal Register notice for this decision was ‘notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.’

    “As you are aware, many Afghan allies that received TPS stood shoulder to shoulder with American servicemembers for nearly two decades during the war in Afghanistan. Many fled to the United States out of fear of persecution by the Taliban or retaliation for such cooperation with the United States. It is unsafe for political targets of the Taliban to be forced to return against their will. TPS protections must be maintained for Afghan nationals in the United States,” they went on to write.

    They asked Secretary Rubio to address the following questions:

    1. Please provide detailed reports or information that the State Department is relying upon in advising the Department of Homeland Security and the White House as to the conditions in Afghanistan.
    2. How can you assure Afghan nationals fearing persecution in Afghanistan that the Taliban will not retaliate against them based upon their relationship with the United States?

    In addition to Congressman Ivey, Senator Van Hollen, and Senator Klobuchar, the letter was signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Ami Bera (D-Calif.), André Carson (D-Ind.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Calif.), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).

     

    The full text of the letter is available here and below.

    Dear Secretary Rubio:

    We write to you with deep concern over President Donald Trump’s recently announced so-called travel ban and its striking inconsistency with the Department of Homeland Security’s justification for termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. We respectfully request that you provide detailed information regarding the State Department’s assessment of the conditions in Afghanistan to clarify the Trump Administration’s position. 

    On June 4, 2025, President Trump announced via a proclamation entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats” that he was imposing travel restrictions for foreign nationals entering the United States. Among the countries included in this proclamation is Afghanistan. Specifically, the proclamation bans most entry into the United States from Afghanistan, stating the following as justification: 

    “The Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan. Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.” 

    As you know, the U.S. visa vetting system is a multi-layered process involving extensive background checks, biometric data collection, interagency information sharing, and screening against a range of national security databases that works to keep residents of our country safe. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, “[m]ore than 40 national security experts from across the political spectrum have unequivocally told courts that travelers to the U.S. should not be vetted on religious or national stereotypes, but rather on specific threat information.” Categorically banning foreign nationals from coming to the United States based on their country of origin is discriminatory and harmful to our nation’s international relations and security interests.

    The proclamation further states that you, as the Secretary of State, were directed to make this determination, in consultation with other members of the President’s Cabinet including the Secretary of Homeland Security. Per the proclamation, you ultimately determined that “a number of countries remain deficient with regards to screening and vetting,” including the country of Afghanistan. Placing a blanket ban on another country’s citizens is a severe action, and the title of the proclamation states that it is being done “to protect the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats.” This determination appears to be at odds with the Trump Administration’s stated position just weeks ago. On May 12, 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem announced that DHS was ending TPS for Afghanistan. The basis offered in the Federal Register notice for this decision was “notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.” Specifically, the notice points to:

    1. the totality of Taliban rule and lessening overt presence of ISIS-K and other various terrorist organizations;
    2. a decrease in large-scale violence and humanitarian need;
    3. a growing economy; and
    4. increased tourism, with tourists “sharing their experiences on social media, highlighting the peaceful countryside, welcoming locals, and the cultural heritage.”

    Further, Secretary Noem found that “permitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States.” The Federal Register notice cited consultation with your Department in making this determination.

    These seemingly incompatible recent decisions indicate a troubling lack of consistency in the Administration’s analysis of country conditions in Afghanistan. Either Afghanistan is safe for the return of Afghan refugees and nationals that fled following the return of the Taliban to power or it is not. 

    According to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls, who are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women’s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk. Additionally, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP.  

    As you are aware, many Afghan allies that received TPS stood shoulder to shoulder with American servicemembers for nearly two decades during the war in Afghanistan. Many fled to the United States out of fear of persecution by the Taliban or retaliation for such cooperation with the United States. It is unsafe for political targets of the Taliban to be forced to return against their will. TPS protections must be maintained for Afghan nationals in the United States. 

    We would request that you immediately provide answers to the following questions:

    1. Please provide detailed reports or information that the State Department is relying upon in advising the Department of Homeland Security and the White House as to the conditions in Afghanistan.
    2. How can you assure Afghan nationals fearing persecution in Afghanistan that the Taliban will not retaliate against them based upon their relationship with the United States?

    Congress has a strong interest in understanding what information the Trump Administration is using to carry out its policies and how it is making national security decisions that impact all of our constituents. We look forward to receiving your response.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Wyoming Private Nonprofits Affected by Wildfires

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Wyoming of the Aug. 13, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by wildfires occurring Aug. 21-31, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Wyoming counties of Campbell and Johnson.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible private nonprofits cover both physical damage as well as economic injury after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help private nonprofits get back on their feet but help them rebuild.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 13.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to the Crow Tribe of Montana Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by August Storm

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Crow Tribe of Montana of the Aug. 14, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm and straight-line winds occurring Aug. 6, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Crow Tribe of Montana as well as the Montana counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, and Yellowstone and the Wyoming counties of Big Horn and Sheridan.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 14.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Curtis Island compliance

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 14 Jul 2025

    Open larger image

    The people constructed an illegal hut and used that as a base for other illegal activity.

    Targeted patrols conducted in the Curtis Island National Park in August 2024 led to the discovery of an illegal hut and evidence of significant illegal activity.

    Rangers from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) identified the people who built the hut in a remote area of the park.

    Regional Director Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks Region Tina Alderson said it is illegal to build any structure in a protected area and rangers will have the hut removed.

    “Building an illegal structure in a protected area essentially excludes others from the area and causes damage to the environment. This hut was also used as a base for other illegal activities,” Ms Alderson said.

    “People who want to build a hut for their own personal use for activities such as fishing, hunting and vehicle-based activities can do so on private land but not in a national park.

    “Multiple fines and warnings have been issued for illegal activity within the protected areas of Curtis Island, and eighteen offenders have been identified.

    “QPWS is serious about compliance and anyone who builds an illegal structure in a protected area will be caught.

    “So far we have issued 22 penalty infringement notices totalling $7606, which includes two people receiving fines of more than $1000 each for their role in the offending.”

    The illegal activities include:

    • Illegal fires in a protected area putting rangers, neighbours and other park users at risk
    • Bringing domestic dogs into a protected area impacting the environment and native wildlife
    • Hunting, including the use of firearms and other weapons putting rangers, neighbours and other park users at risk.
    • Multiple driving offences including driving in restricted access areas, use of unregistered vehicles and traveling with unrestrained people.
    • Illegal clearing and harvest of trees to construct the hut.

    Anyone with information about illegal activities in Queensland’s protected areas is encouraged to call 1300 130 372. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong, agency leaders meet with Turtle Mountain officials in Belcourt to strengthen partnerships

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong and representatives from more than a dozen state agencies visited the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) today in Belcourt to strengthen state-tribal partnerships and identify shared priorities for further collaboration.

    The visit was part of Armstrong’s commitment to visit all five tribal nations in North Dakota during his first year in office. The North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission is facilitating the visits to the tribal nations introduce the new administration and build stronger relationships and effective partnerships.

    “We want to build on our relationships, partnerships and conversations that began at the Government to Government seminar and bring these conversations to you,” Armstrong said.  “These visits serve as listening sessions, opportunities to hear directly from tribal leaders and community members, gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities each nation faces and foster mutual respect rooted in history, culture and sovereignty.”

    The governor and Cabinet agency leaders met with TMBCI Chairman Jamie Azure and Tribal Council members and agency representatives, District 9 state legislators and other stakeholders at Sky Dancer Event Center. Discussion covered a wide range topics including health care and behavioral health, education, economic and workforce development, public safety and law enforcement, corrections, emergency management, transportation, gaming, natural resources, hunting access, and the need to extend natural gas service to the reservation.

    State agencies and offices represented in today’s discussions included the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Department of Commerce, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Health and Human Services including the Commissioner of Recovery and Reentry, Department of Public Instruction, State Fire Marshal, Governor’s Office, Game and Fish Department, and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Job Service ND, Insurance & Securities Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the state-tribal Northland Narcotics Task Force. Other participating partners included the North Dakota Tribal College System, First Nation Women’s Alliance (MMIP), Broadband Association of North Dakota, Spirit Lake Nation, and United and Turtle Mountain Communications, Tribal Nations Research Group, USDA Rural Development, Turtle Mountain Recovery Center and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    Before breakout sessions, Armstrong challenged participants to move the dialogue forward into actionable solutions and address problems before they become crises. He emphasized the importance of open lines of communication, citing as an example the state’s role in helping Turtle Mountain battle wildfires that burned thousands of acres in early May.

    Azure, the TMBCI chairman, said he’s hoping the dialogue and “hard discussions” can lead to more substantive action, and he thanked Armstrong for bringing his administration and other state agencies to Belcourt.

    “We appreciate people coming to our lands,” he said. “You can see with your own eyes … a lot of the issues, a lot of the infrastructure needs. While you’re here, you are guests, you are friends.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong, agency leaders meet with Turtle Mountain officials in Belcourt to strengthen partnerships

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong and representatives from more than a dozen state agencies visited the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) today in Belcourt to strengthen state-tribal partnerships and identify shared priorities for further collaboration.

    The visit was part of Armstrong’s commitment to visit all five tribal nations in North Dakota during his first year in office. The North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission is facilitating the visits to the tribal nations introduce the new administration and build stronger relationships and effective partnerships.

    “We want to build on our relationships, partnerships and conversations that began at the Government to Government seminar and bring these conversations to you,” Armstrong said.  “These visits serve as listening sessions, opportunities to hear directly from tribal leaders and community members, gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities each nation faces and foster mutual respect rooted in history, culture and sovereignty.”

    The governor and Cabinet agency leaders met with TMBCI Chairman Jamie Azure and Tribal Council members and agency representatives, District 9 state legislators and other stakeholders at Sky Dancer Event Center. Discussion covered a wide range topics including health care and behavioral health, education, economic and workforce development, public safety and law enforcement, corrections, emergency management, transportation, gaming, natural resources, hunting access, and the need to extend natural gas service to the reservation.

    State agencies and offices represented in today’s discussions included the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Department of Commerce, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Health and Human Services including the Commissioner of Recovery and Reentry, Department of Public Instruction, State Fire Marshal, Governor’s Office, Game and Fish Department, and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Job Service ND, Insurance & Securities Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the state-tribal Northland Narcotics Task Force. Other participating partners included the North Dakota Tribal College System, First Nation Women’s Alliance (MMIP), Broadband Association of North Dakota, Spirit Lake Nation, and United and Turtle Mountain Communications, Tribal Nations Research Group, USDA Rural Development, Turtle Mountain Recovery Center and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    Before breakout sessions, Armstrong challenged participants to move the dialogue forward into actionable solutions and address problems before they become crises. He emphasized the importance of open lines of communication, citing as an example the state’s role in helping Turtle Mountain battle wildfires that burned thousands of acres in early May.

    Azure, the TMBCI chairman, said he’s hoping the dialogue and “hard discussions” can lead to more substantive action, and he thanked Armstrong for bringing his administration and other state agencies to Belcourt.

    “We appreciate people coming to our lands,” he said. “You can see with your own eyes … a lot of the issues, a lot of the infrastructure needs. While you’re here, you are guests, you are friends.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests 1,361 criminal aliens in Houston area in June

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    July 14, 2025Houston, TX, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

    Among the aliens arrested were 32 child predators, 9 murderers, 16 gang or cartel members, and one alien convicted for hijacking an airplane

    HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 1,361 illegal aliens in the Houston area during the month of June who are currently charged with, or have been convicted of, a criminal offense after illegally entering the United States. Among the criminal aliens arrested were 32 aliens convicted of child sex offenses, nine aliens convicted for homicide-related offenses, 16 documented members of a transnational gang or drug cartel, and one alien convicted for hijacking an airplane on its way to Key West from Cuba.

    “Despite attempts by some to undermine our mission by spreading false and malicious rumors, the brave men and women of ICE continue to work tirelessly around the clock targeting dangerous criminal aliens to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system and bolster public safety in our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez. “The number of dangerous criminal aliens that they removed from local communities across Southeast Texas last month is just another example of their selfless and unyielding efforts to return our local communities to places where we can all raise our families without having to worry about child predators, gang members, or other violent criminal aliens preying on our loved ones.”

    Among the criminal aliens arrested in June by the ICE ERO Houston field office were: 

    • Adermis Wilson-Gonzalez, a 56-year-old criminal alien from Cuba, arrested by ICE June 29 who was convicted in 2003 of hijacking an airplane traveling from Cuba to Key West, Florida.
    • Arnulfo Olivares Cervantes, a 47-year-old criminal alien from Mexico and former Mexicles gang member, arrested by ICE June 13 who has illegally entered the U.S. six times and been convicted twice for trafficking cocaine, and once for attempted murder, evading arrest, illegal entry, and drug possession.
    • Luis Pablo Vasquez-Estolano, a 29-year-old, six-time deported criminal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE June 10 who has been convicted of homicide, aggravated robbery, burglary of a vehicle, and drug possession.
    • Jose Meza, a 40-year-old criminal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE June 24 who has illegally entered the U.S. four times and been convicted of sexual assault of a minor and theft.
    • Javier Escobar Gonzalez, a 51-year-old criminal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE June 23 who has been convicted of sexual indecency with a minor, criminal trespass with a deadly weapon, driving while intoxicated, and unauthorized use of a firearm.

    The arrests were part of the ERO Houston field office’s routine immigration enforcement activities being conducted alongside federal, state and local law enforcement agencies daily throughout Southeast Texas to enhance public safety, national security and border security.

    To learn more about ICE’s mission to combat illegal immigration in Southeast Texas follow us on X at @EROHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: READOUT: Heinrich, Luján Meet with New Mexicans Affected by Severe Flooding in Ruidoso

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    PHOTOS & VIDEO
    RUIDOSO, N.M. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) met with New Mexicans affected by severe flash flooding in Ruidoso, received an update on the disaster and future recovery efforts, and delivered supplies to flood victims.
    PHOTO: U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) meet with local leaders in Ruidoso, July 11, 2025. 
    “What we saw yesterday was devastation – to businesses, properties, and families whose lives changed overnight. But we also saw enormous community strength. It will take time, resources, and work to rebuild, and this community is ready. Talking with the local leaders and impacted residents, it’s clear that we can all support their work, and we must,” said Heinrich. “I am grateful to all those, on the ground and from afar, who are working to support Ruidoso in this critical time. My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy. And I will keep urging President Trump to approve a full Major Disaster Declaration to unlock all the federal support needed to rebuild.”
    “Seeing the devastation from the flooding in Ruidoso firsthand is heartbreaking and tragic,” said Luján. “My prayers are with the families who lost loved ones, and with those who were injured or forced from their homes. I’m deeply grateful to the first responders whose quick action saved lives, and to the local leaders whose tireless work is guiding the community through this crisis. With more rain projected this weekend, I encourage residents to stay vigilant. The road to recovery is just getting underway, but the approval of an emergency declaration is a critical first step. I’ll keep working with our Congressional Delegation to push for a Major Disaster Declaration and to deliver the federal support that Ruidoso families need to rebuild.”
    Earlier this week, Heinrich, Luján, and the rest of the N.M. Congressional Delegation welcomed the President’s granting of an emergency declaration for Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, and Valencia Counties, while renewing their call for President Trump to grant a Major Disaster Declaration in the wake of severe flooding that took the lives of three people and damaged homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
    The emergency declaration opens up access to specific FEMA funds for immediate disaster response, including support for search and rescue and incident management efforts. An emergency declaration does not preclude a subsequent Major Disaster Declaration. Therefore, the N.M. Delegation will continue to push President Trump to approve a Major Disaster Declaration request from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
    Through a Major Disaster Declaration request, the State of New Mexico has requested Public Assistance, Category A through G, including Direct Federal Assistance for Lincoln County, Chaves County, Otero County, and Valencia County, as well as Individual Assistance, including Housing Assistance, Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance, Disaster Case Management, Transitional Sheltering Assistance, Serious Needs Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Unemployment, and Displacement Assistance for Lincoln County and Valencia County. The State also requested Hazard Mitigation statewide, as facilitated by New Mexico’s Natural Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plan.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Philipp Kastner, Senior Lecturer in International Law, The University of Western Australia

    The governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda concluded a peace treaty in June 2025, aimed at ending a decades-long war in eastern DRC. The United Nations welcomed the agreement as “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and stability” in the region.

    I have analysed several different peace negotiations and agreements. It’s important to distinguish between what’s needed to get warring parties to the table, and what’s eventually agreed on. In this article, I examine whether the DRC-Rwanda deal has got the four essential components that usually signal that an agreement will hold.

    Two broad points about peace agreements, first – and one particular complication in the DRC-Rwanda case.

    Firstly, one agreement is rarely enough to resolve a complex conflict. Most deals are part of a series of agreements, sometimes between different actors. They often mention previously concluded ones, and will be referred to by subsequent ones.

    Secondly, peace is a process, and requires broad and sustained commitment. It is essential that other actors, like armed groups, are brought on board. Importantly, this also includes civil society actors. An agreement will be more legitimate and effective if different voices are heard during negotiations.

    One major complication in relation to the DRC-Rwanda deal is that the United States has been the prime broker. But rather than acting as a neutral mediator trying to bring about peace, Washington seems to be pursuing its own economic interests. This does not bode well.

    There is no simple recipe for a good peace agreement, but research shows that four elements are important: a serious commitment from the parties, precise wording, clear timelines and strong implementation provisions.

    What underpins a good agreement

    First, the parties need to be serious about the agreement and able to commit to its terms. It must not be used as a cover to buy time, re-arm or pursue fighting. Moreover, lasting peace cannot be made exclusively at the highest political level. Agreements that are the result of more inclusive processes, with input by and support from the communities concerned, have a higher success rate.

    Second, the agreement must address the issues it aims to resolve, and its provisions must be drafted carefully and unambiguously. When agreements are vague or silent on key aspects, they are often short-lived. Previous experiences can guide peace negotiators and mediators in the drafting process. Peace agreement databases established by the United Nations and academic institutions are a useful tool for this.

    Third, clear and realistic timelines are essential. These can concern the withdrawal of armed forces from specified territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and the establishment of mechanisms providing reparations or other forms of transitional justice.

    Fourth, an agreement should include provisions on its implementation. External support is usually helpful here. Third states or international organisations, liked the United Nations and the African Union, can be mandated to oversee this phase. They can also provide security guarantees or even deploy a peacekeeping operation. What is crucial is that these actors are committed to the process and don’t pursue their own interests.



    Read more:
    DRC and Rwanda sign a US-brokered peace deal: what are the chances of its success?

    To know what to realistically expect from a specific peace agreement, it’s important to understand that such agreements can take very different forms. These range from pre-negotiation arrangements and ceasefires to comprehensive peace accords and implementation agreements.

    A lasting resolution of the conflict should not be expected when only a few conflict parties have concluded a temporary ceasefire.

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement: an important step with lots of shortcomings

    It’s difficult to tell at this point how serious the DRC and Rwanda are about peace, and if their commitment will be enough.

    Their assertion that they will respect each other’s territory and refrain from acts of aggression is certainly important.

    But Rwanda has a history of direct military activities in the DRC since the 1990s. And the treaty only includes rather vague references to the “disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda”. It doesn’t specifically mention the withdrawal of the reportedly thousands of Rwandan troops deployed to eastern DRC.

    The Paul Kagame-led Rwandan government has also supported Tutsi-dominated armed groups in the DRC since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) is the current primary military actor in eastern DRC. But the agreement between the governments of DRC and Rwanda didn’t include the M23 or other groups. The two governments only commit themselves to supporting the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the M23 facilitated by Qatar.

    The agreement also foresees the “neutralisation” of another armed group, the Hutu-dominated Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR). This group claims to protect Rwandan Hutu refugees in the DRC, but is considered “genocidal” by the Rwandan government. The group has reacted to this plan by calling for a political solution and a more inclusive peace process.

    What’s needed

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement includes provisions that are vital to the people most affected by the conflict, such as the return of the millions of people displaced because of the fighting in eastern DRC. But it does not address other key issues.

    For instance, aside from a general commitment to promote human rights and international humanitarian law, there is no reference to the widespread violations of human rights and war crimes reportedly committed by all sides. These include summary executions, and sexual and gender-based violence, including violence against children.

    Some form of justice and reconciliation mechanism to deal with such large-scale violence should be considered in this situation, as for instance in the fairly successful 2016 agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC). This could contribute to preventing further violations as it sends a clear signal that committing crimes will not be rewarded. It also helps the population heal and gives peace a better chance.

    There is no single model for this, and so-called transitional justice (defined as the “range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation”) remains highly controversial. For instance, insisting on war crimes trials can be seen as endangering a fragile peace process.

    But peace agreements across the world, from Libya to the Central African Republic, have over past decades moved away from blanket amnesties. They have increasingly included provisions to ensure accountability, especially for serious crimes. The DRC-Rwanda deal is silent on these questions.

    A twist in the tale

    The DRC-Rwanda deal is complicated by Washington’s role and pursuit of economic interests.

    The two states agreed to establish a joint oversight committee, with members of the African Union, Qatar and the United States. It foresees a “regional economic integration framework”, which has been criticised as opening the door for foreign influence in the DRC’s rich mineral resources. The country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, for instance, which is essential for the renewable energy sector.

    Such a neocolonial “peace for exploitation bargain” does not send a positive signal. And it will probably not contribute to ending an armed conflict that has been fuelled by the exploitation of natural resources.

    Philipp Kastner 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. 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up – https://theconversation.com/4-things-every-peace-agreement-needs-and-how-the-drc-rwanda-deal-measures-up-260944

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twelfth Individual Charged in Alvarado Police Officer Shooting at Prairieland Detention Center

    Source: US FBI

    A twelfth individual has been charged for his role in the shooting of an Alvarado police officer at the Prairieland Detention Center, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.  

    According to a criminal complaint filed today, Benjamin Hanil Song, a former United States Marine Corps reservist, joined ten others in an organized attack against officers at the Prairieland Detention Center just after 10:30 p.m., Friday, July 4.

    The complaint alleges that group was dressed in black military style clothing.  The group began shooting fireworks towards the detention center.  Some then sprayed graffiti on vehicles and a guard structure in the parking lot at the facility.  Correctional officers called 911 to report suspicious activity.  An Alvarado police officer responded to the scene and, upon exiting his vehicle, the officer was shot in the neck by a defendant positioned in nearby woods. Another alleged assailant across the street fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers who had stepped outside the facility.

    As alleged in the complaint, Song purchased four of the guns that were found in connection with the shooting.  Two AR-style rifles were found at the scene, which records show were purchased by Song.  One of the abandoned rifles at the scene had a binary trigger, used to “double” a regular rate of fire, allowing a shooter to fire more rapidly than a standard semiautomatic gun.  Police also recovered additional firearms in searches of residences and vehicles, including another AR-15 style rifle in the back of a van driven that night by Bradford Morris, who was charged in a separate complaint on Monday.  Song also purchased that rifle, according to court documents.  Joy Gibson—also charged in Monday’s complaint—had a pistol in her backpack when apprehended.  Records show that Song purchased this firearm in October 2024.

    Ten assailants charged in Monday’s complaint fled from the detention center but were apprehended by additional responding law enforcement officers.  Song, however, was not located by law enforcement officers that night.  As alleged, the location data associated with Song’s cellular telephone indicates that his phone was located within several hundred meters of the Prairieland Detention Center from late in the evening of July 4, 2025, until after dark on July 5, the day after the shooting.  Additionally, the complaint alleges that on July 6, a white Mercedes Benz registered to a relative of Song was found on the same block of Bradford Morris’s residence.  A DFW Airport camera captured an individual—believed to be Song—driving the Mercedes on May 23, 2025.

    Song has been charged by federal complaint with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.  The ten others charged with these offenses in Monday’s complaint include Cameron Arnold, Savanna Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto.  The FBI has deemed Song a wanted individual and advises that he should be considered armed and dangerous.  As described in the attached notice, the FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in Song’s apprehension.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson praised the tireless efforts of all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this case to date. “The swift response of nearly 70 law enforcement officers to the site of the shooting hemmed in several of the attackers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “The quick action and professionalism of our state and local law enforcement officers in the immediate aftermath of the shooting resulted in the prompt capture of ten of the assailants. Though Song escaped the scene by hiding overnight, he will be relentlessly pursued until he is in custody.”

    “Benjamin Hanil Song is wanted by the FBI for his connection to the violent assault that occurred at the Prairieland Detention Center. He is considered armed and dangerous, and we ask that the public contact law enforcement immediately if he is seen,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We are committed to apprehending Song and are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.  If you have any information, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI or you can submit a digital tip to fbi.govprairieland.”

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence.  Like all defendants, Song is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

    The investigation was conducted by the FBI—Dallas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Office (ICE ERO), ATF, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Links are below to the FBI Wanted Notice for Song, and the Criminal Complaint filed.
     

    https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/additional/benjamin-hanil-song

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Huntsville Resident Arrested on Arson and Fraud Charges After Deaths of Two

    Source: US FBI

    HOUSTON – A 52-year-old year-old resident of Kansas City, Missouri, has been charged with multiple counts related to a conspiracy to commit arson against a property used in interstate or foreign commerce resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Authorities arrested Mario Raynard Roberson in the Houston area. He is now making his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray.

    A federal grand jury in Houston returned the 12-count indictment July 1. It alleges Roberson was responsible for a Huntsville house fire June 14, 2023, which killed two people.

    According to the charges, Roberson held a State Farm Insurance policy on the home and recruited others to set it on fire to file a fraudulent insurance claim. The indictment alleges the two individuals died while igniting the blaze at Roberson’s residence.

    “The defendant is alleged to have orchestrated a scheme to collect an insurance payout through a purported racially-motivated arson, which led to two deaths,” said Ganjei. “Now that he is in federal custody he will answer these charges, and, if found guilty, be held accountable for the death of these two men.”

    Roberson is charged with conspiracy to commit arson against a property used in interstate or foreign commerce resulting in death which carries a possible life sentence, if convicted.

    He is also facing nine counts of wire fraud for attempting to defraud the insurance company; conspiracy to violate the Travel Act related to the use of an interstate facility, the telephone, to commit arson; and with conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a federal felony offense. Each of those charges have varying possible prison terms up to a maximum of 20 years. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.   

    FBI – Bryan Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Zenón-Matos, Byron Black and Alexander Alum are prosecuting this case.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Philipp Kastner, Senior Lecturer in International Law, The University of Western Australia

    The governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda concluded a peace treaty in June 2025, aimed at ending a decades-long war in eastern DRC. The United Nations welcomed the agreement as “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and stability” in the region.

    I have analysed several different peace negotiations and agreements. It’s important to distinguish between what’s needed to get warring parties to the table, and what’s eventually agreed on. In this article, I examine whether the DRC-Rwanda deal has got the four essential components that usually signal that an agreement will hold.

    Two broad points about peace agreements, first – and one particular complication in the DRC-Rwanda case.

    Firstly, one agreement is rarely enough to resolve a complex conflict. Most deals are part of a series of agreements, sometimes between different actors. They often mention previously concluded ones, and will be referred to by subsequent ones.

    Secondly, peace is a process, and requires broad and sustained commitment. It is essential that other actors, like armed groups, are brought on board. Importantly, this also includes civil society actors. An agreement will be more legitimate and effective if different voices are heard during negotiations.

    One major complication in relation to the DRC-Rwanda deal is that the United States has been the prime broker. But rather than acting as a neutral mediator trying to bring about peace, Washington seems to be pursuing its own economic interests. This does not bode well.

    There is no simple recipe for a good peace agreement, but research shows that four elements are important: a serious commitment from the parties, precise wording, clear timelines and strong implementation provisions.

    What underpins a good agreement

    First, the parties need to be serious about the agreement and able to commit to its terms. It must not be used as a cover to buy time, re-arm or pursue fighting. Moreover, lasting peace cannot be made exclusively at the highest political level. Agreements that are the result of more inclusive processes, with input by and support from the communities concerned, have a higher success rate.

    Second, the agreement must address the issues it aims to resolve, and its provisions must be drafted carefully and unambiguously. When agreements are vague or silent on key aspects, they are often short-lived. Previous experiences can guide peace negotiators and mediators in the drafting process. Peace agreement databases established by the United Nations and academic institutions are a useful tool for this.

    Third, clear and realistic timelines are essential. These can concern the withdrawal of armed forces from specified territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and the establishment of mechanisms providing reparations or other forms of transitional justice.

    Fourth, an agreement should include provisions on its implementation. External support is usually helpful here. Third states or international organisations, liked the United Nations and the African Union, can be mandated to oversee this phase. They can also provide security guarantees or even deploy a peacekeeping operation. What is crucial is that these actors are committed to the process and don’t pursue their own interests.

    Read more: DRC and Rwanda sign a US-brokered peace deal: what are the chances of its success?

    To know what to realistically expect from a specific peace agreement, it’s important to understand that such agreements can take very different forms. These range from pre-negotiation arrangements and ceasefires to comprehensive peace accords and implementation agreements.

    A lasting resolution of the conflict should not be expected when only a few conflict parties have concluded a temporary ceasefire.

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement: an important step with lots of shortcomings

    It’s difficult to tell at this point how serious the DRC and Rwanda are about peace, and if their commitment will be enough.

    Their assertion that they will respect each other’s territory and refrain from acts of aggression is certainly important.

    But Rwanda has a history of direct military activities in the DRC since the 1990s. And the treaty only includes rather vague references to the “disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda”. It doesn’t specifically mention the withdrawal of the reportedly thousands of Rwandan troops deployed to eastern DRC.

    The Paul Kagame-led Rwandan government has also supported Tutsi-dominated armed groups in the DRC since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) is the current primary military actor in eastern DRC. But the agreement between the governments of DRC and Rwanda didn’t include the M23 or other groups. The two governments only commit themselves to supporting the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the M23 facilitated by Qatar.

    The agreement also foresees the “neutralisation” of another armed group, the Hutu-dominated Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR). This group claims to protect Rwandan Hutu refugees in the DRC, but is considered “genocidal” by the Rwandan government. The group has reacted to this plan by calling for a political solution and a more inclusive peace process.

    What’s needed

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement includes provisions that are vital to the people most affected by the conflict, such as the return of the millions of people displaced because of the fighting in eastern DRC. But it does not address other key issues.

    For instance, aside from a general commitment to promote human rights and international humanitarian law, there is no reference to the widespread violations of human rights and war crimes reportedly committed by all sides. These include summary executions, and sexual and gender-based violence, including violence against children.

    Some form of justice and reconciliation mechanism to deal with such large-scale violence should be considered in this situation, as for instance in the fairly successful 2016 agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC). This could contribute to preventing further violations as it sends a clear signal that committing crimes will not be rewarded. It also helps the population heal and gives peace a better chance.

    There is no single model for this, and so-called transitional justice (defined as the “range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation”) remains highly controversial. For instance, insisting on war crimes trials can be seen as endangering a fragile peace process.

    But peace agreements across the world, from Libya to the Central African Republic, have over past decades moved away from blanket amnesties. They have increasingly included provisions to ensure accountability, especially for serious crimes. The DRC-Rwanda deal is silent on these questions.

    A twist in the tale

    The DRC-Rwanda deal is complicated by Washington’s role and pursuit of economic interests.

    The two states agreed to establish a joint oversight committee, with members of the African Union, Qatar and the United States. It foresees a “regional economic integration framework”, which has been criticised as opening the door for foreign influence in the DRC’s rich mineral resources. The country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, for instance, which is essential for the renewable energy sector.

    Such a neocolonial “peace for exploitation bargain” does not send a positive signal. And it will probably not contribute to ending an armed conflict that has been fuelled by the exploitation of natural resources.

    – 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up
    – https://theconversation.com/4-things-every-peace-agreement-needs-and-how-the-drc-rwanda-deal-measures-up-260944

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Estes Talks One Big Beautiful Law with Andy Hooser

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

    U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) joined the Voice of Reason with Andy Hooser to talk about the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4, 2025.

    Rep. Estes spoke about provisions within the OBBBA that will improve the lives of Americans through tax cuts, economic growth and the promotion of American innovation. He also spoke about border security funding and the creation of a Golden Dome to strengthen our national security.

    Listen to the interview here. 

    On passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

    “…It was a monumental thing just because of the amount of work that we had to go through. In fact, we started this years ago. We knew after we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017 that there were provisions that were going to expire. Some of them already have expired and we’ve seen some slowdown in the economy because of that. Others are expiring this year and so we wanted to make sure that we address those provisions and we looked at the future and how do we move forward from here. And so it was a lot of heavy lifting in terms of a lot of work and how do you sort through that process. 

    “I said in a lot of cases, it’s one step at a time. The first step was to get the Republicans elected in the majority in the House and the Senate and President Trump elected in the White House. That was the first thing we had to do to make this happen. It’s just been a series of steps since then.”

    On how the One Big, Beautiful Bill will grow the economy:

    “…We’ve seen over and over again the Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, has missed on scoring. In fact, they scored that the Inflation Act was not going to increase the deficit when as soon as the act was passed by the Democrats, then it showed, well now it’s really going to cost hundreds of billions of dollars more than what was described. We really have to come up with some better guestimates in terms of the decisions we make because we’re making trillion-dollar decisions. We’ve got to do that.

    “When we look at the One Big, Beautiful Bill on paper, in a static world, they’re saying it costs over $3 trillion dollars. But that’s if you say, somebody gets a tax cut or they don’t get a tax increase, because that’s really a lot of cases what it was, that their behavior wouldn’t change.

    “And I would say the argument is that if we raise taxes on people, they don’t have the money to invest. Businesses don’t have the money to invest. Individuals don’t have the money to go out and buy the new car, to go out and do the other decisions that they want to make for their family. 

    “And so when we were going through this on the Budget Committee, we were looking at, you know, even if the economic growth went from roughly 1.8%, 1.9%, where CBO was project it, up by less than 1%, that would raise almost $3 trillion in extra tax revenue over 10 years. Yet that’s not included in some of these numbers that are being reported about what the true cost of that is. 

    “We really wanted to focus on, how do we make good economic growth? How do we put as much as we could permanent, whether it was for small businesses … or whether it’s things like research and development, which Americans have led the innovation across the world for years. And I’ve been a big advocate that when you invest money on research and development or new ideas, that you can deduct that off your taxes in the year that incurs. And that’s one of those provisions that expired three years ago, and we’ve seen a slowdown in research and development spending.

    “In fact, we’ve seen … after 2017, it increased by 18%. And now, it has dropped. And the important thing about that is three-fourths of that money goes to jobs. And then those research and development jobs lead to more manufacturing work in the United States. So for over a longer period of time, it is a jobs program. And we need to make sure that those provisions, and that was a big piece of what we wanted to make sure were permanent in the bill, to help make sure that the economy continued to grow and people had more money in their pocket and paid less in taxes.”

    On Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries holding up the vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

    “Here’s what he was trying to advocate for. He was trying to advocate that able-bodied adults without children should be entitled to Medicaid and not have to go look for a job. Americans want to, we’re beneficial people, we’re charitable. We want to give hand ups to people. But we also expect that you should do your own part and have the responsibility.

    “Basically, the Democrat position was, ‘No these people shouldn’t have to go look for a job.’Their argument was that illegal aliens should be entitled to getting free Medicaid. And this bill is going to prohibit that. And this bill is also going to prohibit people who maybe they qualified one year, but their income’s gone up this year because they have gone to work, but states weren’t required to certify that their income is as low as it was. Therefore, they were automatically re-enrolled. 

    “We’re saying, ‘Let’s go make sure that these processes work. Let’s go make sure that the money’s saved on people that shouldn’t be receiving Medicaid so that we have the money available for the disabled and the low income.’” 

    On improving national security at home and abroad:

    “We need to make sure that we clean up the mess that President Biden left the country in. Looking at new things on the defense side. You know, the world’s a dangerous place as we see now with Iran and North Korea and China and even Russia, in some of the things they’re doing. And [we] need to make sure that we have the next generation of technology out there to help with the sport. That we look at the Golden Dome process.”

    “I’ve been amazed going to Israel and seeing the Iron Dome and seeing that work. Seeing the interaction of technology to be able to detect a missile launch and track it and determine where it’s going and determine is it going to land in a field or is it going to land in a populated area? And then, how do you fire a missile to stop it? And to be successful at that and to make that process work. It’s great technology, great interaction there. It’s the type of thought process that we need to have to protect our country going forward.” 

    On the United States investing in a strong military and national defense:

    “One, we’ve seen, ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, we saw a huge decline in the 1990s, the so-called peace dividend. And that really led into, there was a slight buildup with the fighting Al-Qaeda after 2001. And 9/11 results out of that. But then after that, there started to be a wind down again in terms of that.

    “We’re at an inflection point now and we’ve seen it both in Israel, and we’ve seen it in Ukraine. We’re at a point where some of the old technology or some of the things that may not be the right answers going forward. 

    “For example, we can shoot down a lot of the missiles that are fired at Israel but if you take a million dollar missile to shoot down a $50,000 drone that’s being fired at it, that’s not a smart use of resources. So we’ve got to look at some of those new technologies and things that we do going forward.”

    On the budget reconciliation process:

    Basically the reconciliation process is driven off of the budget process. And you want to prepare a budget each year, each fiscal year. This was off of the 2025 fiscal year budget … We’re now working on the 2026 fiscal year budget, and we’ll also have to work on the 2027 fiscal year before the end of next year.

    “Obviously, there’s a lot of work to do. I mean, we made some great strides in this One Big, Beautiful Bill. One of the things we want to really push on is, let’s get as much done as we could, knowing that we couldn’t get everything done.

    “So we’ve got a lot more to do, and we still have a whole lot of work we have to do to actually address some of the things with the spending at the federal level and making sure we address the budget and making sure, how do we make the United States stronger again.”

    On working towards a balanced budget:

    “We’ve still got a lot of work to do in that regards. I mean, we’re borrowing one out five dollars that the federal government is spending. So, it’s a terrible place to be in. It’s something that … our predecessors should not have gotten into that situation. And, it’s not something that we want to leave to our kids and grandkids. And really, that debt’s mostly being spent on today’s lifestyle. That’s the bad part about it. 

    “It’s not like it’s investing in a whole lot more infrastructure and other things. It’s today’s preferences that [it] is being spent on. So we’ve got to focus on both the discretionary side, which is the smallest piece of the budget, it’s really about 25% of it. And that’s what we’ll look at on the 2026 appropriations. 

    “But then we’ve got some big mandatory spending projects we’ve got to work on now. And those are the ones that are growing the fastest. Part of it’s the Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, … we put money into Social Security and Medicare, but it’s not enough for what’s being spent out of those programs.

    “The SNAP food stamp program, which got some improvements now, obviously that’s growing. And that’s what, 80% of the Farm Bill? We really should be calling it the Farm and Food Stamp Bill. And so we’ve got a lot of work as we focus on that.

    On drafting the FY2026 budget:

    “Technically for 2026 we’ve already missed the date in terms of what we wanted to do. But with the discussion now that we’ve passed, and part of that was because we focused so much on the One Big, Beautiful Bill. We knew we had to get that done. There are some things we needed to get done in July. There are some things we wanted to get done now instead of waiting until December so that people could start making decisions about, because they know what their tax bill is going to be next year through that process. That’s good. Now let’s go focus on the 2026 budget and how that’s going to drive reconciliation. At the parallel process, which we’re working on appropriations for the discretionary pieces, and we can attack them both directions in terms of the problems that we’re trying to face.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán Celebrates Grand Opening of Urban Orchard After Securing Funding to Improve Underserved Communities’ Access to Outdoor Recreation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    July 13, 2025

    Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

    Rep. Barragán Celebrates Grand Opening of Urban Orchard After Securing Funding to Improve Underserved Communities’ Access to Outdoor Recreation

    South Gate, CA — Yesterday, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) celebrated the grand opening of the Urban Orchard, a new park located in South Gate, along the Los Angeles River. 

    Rep. Barragán secured a $3 million federal grant through the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 2023 for this project, as well as another $50,000 grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. Furthermore, the Congresswoman authored the Outdoors for All Act to improve access to outdoor recreation in urban and underserved communities. This legislation was ultimately included in the EXPLORE Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden this past January.

    “I am proud to return to Urban Orchard to celebrate its grand opening. This is more than just a park — it is a powerful investment in health, equity, and environmental justice,” said Rep. Barragán. “Urban Orchard is a safe, welcoming place for families to gather and learn. Donald Trump wants to destroy our community resources and safe spaces, like Urban Orchard, through the devastating cuts against our conservation programs and community green space funding in his Big Ugly Bill. But House Democrats will continue to fight in Congress to protect these investments because every family, no matter their zip code, deserves access to clean air, public safety, and a space for community.”

    “This park is the result of years of vision, hard work, and collaboration,” said Maria Davila, Mayor of South Gate. “Urban Orchard Park proves what’s possible when a city invests in its people and its environment. This is how we build a better future together. Urban Orchard Park is for everyone. Whether you’re walking your dog, enjoying a sunny afternoon with your kids, or simply enjoying the fresh air and fruit trees, this is a space for community and connection.”

    “Urban Orchard is a national model for how partnership and strategic planning can curb some of the most pressing issues of our time. The 200 fruit trees, educational garden, storm water infrastructure, wetland, walking paths, and long-term job opportunities are all testimony to how non-profits, donors, city leaders and agencies can partner to achieve shared goals even amidst challenging economic times,” said Nola Talmage, the Los Angeles Parks for People Program Director. “Trust for Public Land is proud to see years of partnership coming to fruition, as the collective investment in Urban Orchard will improve community health, provide climate resilience, spur economic growth for the city, and provide essential access to the outdoors, now and for many generations to follow.” 

    Communities like South Gate have long faced the harmful impacts of pollution, overcrowded housing, and limited green space. The park was designed to address these issues by diverting and treating storm water run-off from the Los Angeles River, as well as providing a space for outdoor recreation for South Gate residents. The park is fully furnished with green space, fruit trees, wetlands, an education garden, and now stands as a model for stormwater capture, climate resilience, and equitable access to green space, and a replicable approach for other underserved areas.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán and Sen. Markey Introduce Resolution to Confront Rising Public Health Threats from Climate Change

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    For Immediate Release

    July 12, 2025

    Contact: jin.choi@mail.house.gov

    Rep. Barragán and Sen. Markey Introduce Resolution to Confront Rising Public Health Threats from Climate Change

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced a resolution recognizing climate change as a growing threat to public health and calling for a coordinated federal strategy to protect communities from worsening climate-fueled harms. The resolution urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies to lead a whole-of-government effort to protect public health and improve resiliency against climate-related threats throughout the health sector. Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) co-led the resolution in the House.

    The climate crisis is here. In 2024, the United States experienced 27 climate disasters that caused more than a billion dollars each in damage. Increasingly frequent and extreme events—like wildfires, floods, and heat waves—are driving spikes in illness, displacement, and death. More than 150 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy air, and people with disabilities are 2 to 4 times more likely to die or be injured in climate-related disasters. Frontline workers in agriculture, construction, delivery, and manufacturing face growing health risks from extreme heat and poor air quality on the job. 

    “The climate crisis affects us all, but especially economically disadvantaged communities, communities of color, and other marginalized communities,” said Representative Barragán. “Now more than ever, we see families across the country facing significant health risks as a result of climate disasters such as extreme heat, excessive flooding, and unpredictable storms. Yet the Trump Administration has dangerously chosen to ignore the threat of climate change to our public health – firing staff and canceling programs that were focused on improving our resilience to harmful environmental exposures, such as the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. That is why I am proud to lead this bicameral resolution with Senator Markey and Representatives Carbajal, Matsui, and Schneider to acknowledge the federal government’s responsibility to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the health and well-being of all Americans.”

    “With deadly extreme weather disasters, devastating heat waves, and pollution that triggers asthma and other health crises all on the rise, climate change is a full-blown public health emergency—and we need to treat it that way,” said Senator Markey. “This resolution calls on our government to protect the people most at risk from climate-related threats—those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, including Black and Indigenous communities, low-income families, and workers, especially those in construction, delivery, manufacturing, and warehouses. While Republicans pass bills that kick people off their health care, we are fighting for a resilient health system that helps everyone survive a warming and increasingly chaotic world.”

    “It doesn’t matter if you live in a red or blue state, every American will be affected by climate change,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal. “We’re calling on the Administration to reinstate the OCCHE because it’s essential to protecting the health and well-being of every community in this country.”

    “Over the past six months, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have launched a full-scale attack on the environment and public health,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “By blatantly disregarding climate change, they are driving us towards a dangerous future. Climate change is already harming human health nationwide, driving up heat-related deaths, increasing vector-borne illnesses, and disrupting medical care. This resolution demands urgent action to address the health impacts from climate change to prevent countless deaths across the country.”

    “Climate change threatens every corner of our nation and must be mitigated through swift, coordinated action by our government,” said Congressman Schneider. “The Office of Climate Change and Health Equity is a critical asset in understanding the dire health implications of climate change and mobilizing strategies that ensure no community is left behind. The decision by the Trump Administration to place all OCCHE staff on leave poses a real threat to American lives and wellbeing. I’m proud to join my colleague Rep. Barragan in urging the Trump Administration to reinstate of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) and its Office of Environmental Justice.”

    Specifically, the resolution:

    • Demands the release of funding appropriated by Congress that would help to address climate-related health threats that has been held up by Federal agencies;
    • Details the public health dimensions of the climate crisis, including increased risks of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, mental health stressors, pregnancy complications, infectious disease outbreaks, and disaster-related displacement;
    • Highlights the disproportionate health burdens on children, people with disabilities, low-income households, communities of color, Tribal nations, and workers in high-risk occupations;
    • Calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to lead cross-agency coordination to strengthen health system climate resilience, support frontline providers, close gaps in climate-health data, and help the health sector lower its own environmental impact;
    • Affirms the importance of engaging environmental justice and community-based organizations in local climate-health preparedness and response efforts;
    • Urges the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt a national worker heat protection standard; and,
    • Calls for annual public reporting on federal climate-health resilience investments and progress.

    The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15). 

    The resolution is endorsed by Health Care Without Harm, Center for American Progress, Climate Justice Alliance, International Transformational Resilience Coalition, Climate and Community Institute, Earthjustice Action, Public Citizen, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the American College of Physicians.

    “Health Care Without Harm applauds Senator Markey for introducing this important resolution and is pleased to endorse it,” said Jenny Keroack, Director of Program Strategy & Management in the U.S. Climate Program. “Climate change is causing more severe and frequent storms, wildfires, and extreme heat events, creating safety and public health crises across our country. Our government must have a science-based, coordinated approach to prepare for and respond to these growing threats, and the Department of Health and Human Services has an indispensable role to play as the guardian of our nation’s health and well-being. Vital programs have been attacked, including a grant program that assists families with energy costs so they can afford to cool and heat their homes, funding that helps hospitals stay open and operational when the grid goes down, and research on how best to protect farmworkers from increasing heat waves. Such programs and the expert civil servants who help protect our communities from environmental health threats like climate change must be immediately reinstated and supported. Now is not the time to retreat.”

    “With climate change and extreme weather events driving illness, injury, and death across the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services must harness its resources, leverage its authorities, and coordinate its expertise and action to prepare for and respond to the health and financial impact,” said Jill Rosenthal, Director of Public Health at the Center for American Progress.

    “This resolution is crucial because climate change isn’t just an environmental problem; it’s a public health crisis hurting families right now,” said KD Chavez, Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance. “Low-income communities bear the brunt – suffering more asthma attacks, heatstroke, and toxic exposure. But these communities also have the answers! They’ve developed practical, replicable solutions. We need bold action: stronger environmental safeguards, smart investments in resilient infrastructure, and policies that prioritize everyone’s health and safety, no matter where they live. Let’s protect our families and build a healthier future for all.”

    “The International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC) strongly endorses this resolution,” said ITRC Founder and Coordinator Bob Doppelt. “We do so because the climate crisis is a public health crisis that requires significant leadership, support, and investments by the federal government to prevent and heal the accelerating climate-generated mental health, psychosocial, and physical health issues experienced by newborns, young children, adolescents, working age, and older adults nationwide.”

    “Our hospitals and clinics are already seeing the devastating health effects of climate change every day – from children struggling to breathe polluted air to seniors collapsing in extreme heat,” said Ranjani Prabhakar, Legislative Director of Healthy Communities, Earthjustice Action. “Over 200 medical journals have called climate change the greatest threat to human health this century, and Senator Markey’s resolution affirms this data by putting health at the center of environmental solutions. Recognizing this crisis for the public health emergency that it is, is essential to protect our families and communities.”

    “As the planet enters a period of increasing climate chaos, our collective response will either deepen disparities or address the drivers of climate breakdown and health inequity together,” said Batul Hassan, Labor Director at the Climate and Community Institute. “This resolution from Senator Markey establishes the urgent need for coordinated action across health and public health systems to ensure all people and generations to come can thrive in a warming world.”

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Introduces Bill to Close Loopholes Allowing Pre-Trial Defendants to Access Firearms

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Delays in Background Check Reporting Mean Those on Pre-Trial Release Are Oftentimes Still Able to Buy Firearms Despite Court Prohibition

     

    Patchwork State Background Check Laws Create Dangerous Loopholes for Gun Purchases 

    Read the Bill Here 

    Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today introduced the ‘Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act,’ a bill that would close a critical loophole in the federal background check system and prevent individuals on pretrial release who are deemed a public safety risk from obtaining firearms. Senator Cory Booker (NJ-D) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. 

    “Improving our background check system and closing loopholes that allow potentially dangerous individuals to access firearms is a commonsense step we can take to address America’s tragic gun violence crisis,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “I am proud to be jointly re-introducing the Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act in the House, which will close a dangerous loophole in our background check system by flagging individuals on pretrial release who are legally barred from purchasing firearms as a condition of their release. Congress must stop twiddling our thumbs and start taking decisive steps to close these deadly loopholes and prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands.” 

     

    Senator Cory Booker said, “We must close the existing loopholes in the background check system, especially when individuals who are known risks to public safety are still able to buy a firearm,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will ensure that individuals subject to a pretrial release court order cannot walk into a gun store and buy one. We must act to close the dangerous gaps in our background check system so we can save lives and keep our communities safe.” 

    Current federal law requires licensed gun dealers to conduct a background check of a firearm buyer using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to ensure that the buyer is not legally prohibited from purchasing a firearm. Unfortunately, differences between various state and federal background check processes have exposed numerous vulnerabilities in this system. One vulnerability is that jurisdictions are unable to effectively and accurately report the pretrial status of individuals who, as a condition of their pretrial release, are prohibited by a court from purchasing or possessing a firearm.  

    The Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act would: 

    • Amend federal law to prevent firearm sales to any person subject to a pretrial releasecourt order that prohibits the person from purchasing to possessing a firearm before trial.  

    • Prohibit any person from providing firearms to individuals in this category. 

    • Provide $25 million in funding to aid states in paying for timely and accurate reporting of pretrial orders involving firearms restrictions to NICS 

    The Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act has been endorsed by Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, and GIFFORDS. 

    Congressman Dan Goldman remains committed to protecting families and communities by ensuring firearms do not end up in the hands of those who pose a threat to public safety. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. 

    In January of 2024, the Congressman also cosponsored the ‘Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act’ to strengthen the United States Department of Homeland Security’s response to the growing threat of untraceable firearms, which can be bought online without a background check. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Couple found guilty of killing their newborn baby following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A couple who were arrested following a police search across the UK have been found guilty of killing their newborn baby.

    Mark Gordon, 51 (08.06.74) and Constance Marten, 38 (16.05.87), both of no fixed address, lived outside in a tent in freezing conditions with their baby Victoria.

    The court heard they went on the run with Victoria to evade the authorities after their previous four children were taken into care.

    After a 53-day search, they were arrested in Brighton on 27 February 2023 and officers later found the body of their child in a shopping bag at an allotment where they had been living.

    Today, Monday, 14 July following a trial at the Old Bailey, they were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.

    Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the homicide investigation into Victoria’s death, said: “The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby who would have recently had her second birthday and should have had the rest of her life ahead of her.

    “This was an incredibly challenging investigation for the hundreds of officers across the UK who were involved in the search. Our main focus throughout the search was finding Victoria alive and we were devastated by the outcome.

    “We know today’s verdict won’t bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our investigation has resulted in the couple who caused her death finally being brought to justice.”

    Investigation launched

    Concerns were first raised on 5 January 2023 when the couple’s car broke down and caught fire on the M61 in Greater Manchester. Firefighters found the pair had abandoned their car and left the motorway before help had arrived.

    The car was full of items, including nappies and clothing. A placenta was also found and there was concern that whoever had been in the car had recently given birth and could be in need of urgent medical care.

    Officers were called and a missing person’s investigation was launched. Marten’s passport was found in the wreckage of the fire.

    Through speaking to witnesses and viewing CCTV it later became clear that the couple had travelled to Bolton and then to Liverpool that evening.

    Moving across the country

    From Liverpool the couple paid a taxi driver £350 to take them 270 miles away to Harwich in Essex.

    The reason for them choosing this location is unclear, however it is thought they may have been trying to leave the country by boat.

    They arrived in the town in the early hours of 6 January 2023 and checked into a hotel. Marten gave staff a fake surname and CCTV showed she had a baby underneath her coat.

    Concerned about the welfare of the couple and their newborn child, officers shared a public appeal for information.

    This was being widely reported in the media and on 7 January 2023 they were stopped by a member of the public who asked if they were the people who were on the news.

    Avoiding authorities

    From Harwich the couple took a taxi to Colchester and then on to east London. They arrived in East Ham at around midday on the same day and went to buy a buggy from a branch of Argos.

    The buggy they bought was too big for a newborn baby. They dumped it in an alleyway and transferred their child into a supermarket bag for life.

    CCTV also showed them sitting in a restaurant in Whitechapel. This footage was the first time baby Victoria had been seen alive on camera since her birth.

    The couple’s erratic and unpredictable movements across the country made it difficult for officers to trace them.

    Travelling to Newhaven

    Shortly after midnight on 8 January 2023 they couple paid £475 for a taxi to Newhaven in East Sussex.

    Soon after arriving in the town they were seen on CCTV entering the South Downs Way.

    This is a huge area of open land in the south of England. Officers carried out searches, but could not locate the pair.

    On 16 January 2023 a member of the public spotted them in a tent at the Stanmer Park Nature Reserve near Brighton. It was winter and temperatures regularly dropped below freezing.

    There were further sightings over the following weeks. These were not reported to police at the time.

    Arrests

    After more than a month living in a tent, the couple visited a shop in Hollingbury Place in Brighton on 27 February 2023.

    A member of the public, who recognised them from the media appeals, called police and officers from Sussex Police responded quickly.

    They were arrested nearby in Golf Drive, however there was no sign of baby Victoria.

    Officers carried out emergency interviews and asked them both where their child was. Both refused to share any information and Gordon instead continually asked for food.

    Finding baby Victoria

    Over the following days, hundreds of officers from the Met travelled to Sussex to search the area near to where the couple were arrested.

    On 1 March 2023, following an extensive search, officers found the body of a baby inside a carrier bag at a shed on an allotment where they had been staying.

    Pathologists were unable to confirm how Victoria had died. Marten told officers she had died while the couple was sleeping but did not share any further information.

    Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the search for the couple, said:     “Victoria’s death was completely avoidable. The couple had plenty of opportunities to do the right thing and come forward to ask for help. They knew that officers were looking for them.

    “We have waited more than two years to secure justice for baby Victoria and I am pleased we have now been able to get that for her – despite her parents trying to disrupt and derail not one, but two trials.

    “I would like to thank the media for the support they showed throughout the search, as well as the many members of the public who reported sightings. I’d also like to thank the jury for their patience and resilience in having to sit through a long trial where they had to listen to Marten and Gordon’s horrific actions.

    “This information was incredibly important, and officers travelled across the country to track down CCTV and speak to witnesses.

    “Speaking personally as a father, I find it hard to comprehend how, instead of providing the warmth and care their child needed, Mark Gordon and Constance Marten chose to live outside during freezing conditions to avoid the authorities.”

    Chief Superintendent James Collis, from Sussex Police, said:     “The search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon ended in the most tragic circumstances and had a profound effect on the local community in Sussex.

    “Our thoughts remain with baby Victoria and extend to her wider family after what must have been an extremely difficult time.

    “I hope the conclusion of these criminal proceedings will everyone the space to begin to come to terms with the traumatic events of the last 28 months.

    “I would once again like to thank the public for their compassion and support throughout this process, and of course the police officers, staff and volunteers who took part in the extremely challenging search as well as those who have supported the investigation.”

    The pair will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date to be set.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Couple found guilty of killing their newborn baby following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A couple who were arrested following a police search across the UK have been found guilty of killing their newborn baby.

    Mark Gordon, 51 (08.06.74) and Constance Marten, 38 (16.05.87), both of no fixed address, lived outside in a tent in freezing conditions with their baby Victoria.

    The court heard they went on the run with Victoria to evade the authorities after their previous four children were taken into care.

    After a 53-day search, they were arrested in Brighton on 27 February 2023 and officers later found the body of their child in a shopping bag at an allotment where they had been living.

    Today, Monday, 14 July following a trial at the Old Bailey, they were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.

    Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the homicide investigation into Victoria’s death, said: “The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby who would have recently had her second birthday and should have had the rest of her life ahead of her.

    “This was an incredibly challenging investigation for the hundreds of officers across the UK who were involved in the search. Our main focus throughout the search was finding Victoria alive and we were devastated by the outcome.

    “We know today’s verdict won’t bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our investigation has resulted in the couple who caused her death finally being brought to justice.”

    Investigation launched

    Concerns were first raised on 5 January 2023 when the couple’s car broke down and caught fire on the M61 in Greater Manchester. Firefighters found the pair had abandoned their car and left the motorway before help had arrived.

    The car was full of items, including nappies and clothing. A placenta was also found and there was concern that whoever had been in the car had recently given birth and could be in need of urgent medical care.

    Officers were called and a missing person’s investigation was launched. Marten’s passport was found in the wreckage of the fire.

    Through speaking to witnesses and viewing CCTV it later became clear that the couple had travelled to Bolton and then to Liverpool that evening.

    Moving across the country

    From Liverpool the couple paid a taxi driver £350 to take them 270 miles away to Harwich in Essex.

    The reason for them choosing this location is unclear, however it is thought they may have been trying to leave the country by boat.

    They arrived in the town in the early hours of 6 January 2023 and checked into a hotel. Marten gave staff a fake surname and CCTV showed she had a baby underneath her coat.

    Concerned about the welfare of the couple and their newborn child, officers shared a public appeal for information.

    This was being widely reported in the media and on 7 January 2023 they were stopped by a member of the public who asked if they were the people who were on the news.

    Avoiding authorities

    From Harwich the couple took a taxi to Colchester and then on to east London. They arrived in East Ham at around midday on the same day and went to buy a buggy from a branch of Argos.

    The buggy they bought was too big for a newborn baby. They dumped it in an alleyway and transferred their child into a supermarket bag for life.

    CCTV also showed them sitting in a restaurant in Whitechapel. This footage was the first time baby Victoria had been seen alive on camera since her birth.

    The couple’s erratic and unpredictable movements across the country made it difficult for officers to trace them.

    Travelling to Newhaven

    Shortly after midnight on 8 January 2023 they couple paid £475 for a taxi to Newhaven in East Sussex.

    Soon after arriving in the town they were seen on CCTV entering the South Downs Way.

    This is a huge area of open land in the south of England. Officers carried out searches, but could not locate the pair.

    On 16 January 2023 a member of the public spotted them in a tent at the Stanmer Park Nature Reserve near Brighton. It was winter and temperatures regularly dropped below freezing.

    There were further sightings over the following weeks. These were not reported to police at the time.

    Arrests

    After more than a month living in a tent, the couple visited a shop in Hollingbury Place in Brighton on 27 February 2023.

    A member of the public, who recognised them from the media appeals, called police and officers from Sussex Police responded quickly.

    They were arrested nearby in Golf Drive, however there was no sign of baby Victoria.

    Officers carried out emergency interviews and asked them both where their child was. Both refused to share any information and Gordon instead continually asked for food.

    Finding baby Victoria

    Over the following days, hundreds of officers from the Met travelled to Sussex to search the area near to where the couple were arrested.

    On 1 March 2023, following an extensive search, officers found the body of a baby inside a carrier bag at a shed on an allotment where they had been staying.

    Pathologists were unable to confirm how Victoria had died. Marten told officers she had died while the couple was sleeping but did not share any further information.

    Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the search for the couple, said:     “Victoria’s death was completely avoidable. The couple had plenty of opportunities to do the right thing and come forward to ask for help. They knew that officers were looking for them.

    “We have waited more than two years to secure justice for baby Victoria and I am pleased we have now been able to get that for her – despite her parents trying to disrupt and derail not one, but two trials.

    “I would like to thank the media for the support they showed throughout the search, as well as the many members of the public who reported sightings. I’d also like to thank the jury for their patience and resilience in having to sit through a long trial where they had to listen to Marten and Gordon’s horrific actions.

    “This information was incredibly important, and officers travelled across the country to track down CCTV and speak to witnesses.

    “Speaking personally as a father, I find it hard to comprehend how, instead of providing the warmth and care their child needed, Mark Gordon and Constance Marten chose to live outside during freezing conditions to avoid the authorities.”

    Chief Superintendent James Collis, from Sussex Police, said:     “The search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon ended in the most tragic circumstances and had a profound effect on the local community in Sussex.

    “Our thoughts remain with baby Victoria and extend to her wider family after what must have been an extremely difficult time.

    “I hope the conclusion of these criminal proceedings will everyone the space to begin to come to terms with the traumatic events of the last 28 months.

    “I would once again like to thank the public for their compassion and support throughout this process, and of course the police officers, staff and volunteers who took part in the extremely challenging search as well as those who have supported the investigation.”

    The pair will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date to be set.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Most of the planned coal capacity retirements are in the Midwest or Mid-Atlantic regions

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    July 14, 2025

    Based on what power plant owners and operators have reported to EIA, the total operating capacity of U.S. coal-fired power plants is scheduled to fall from 172 gigawatts (GW) in May 2025 to 145 GW by the end of 2028, according to our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. On a regional basis, 58% of the planned coal capacity retirements are in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

    Coal consumption in the U.S. electric power sector has fallen since its peak in the late 2000s because of increased competition from other electricity sources, especially from natural gas and renewables. Furthermore, coal-fired power plants have been subject to regulations regarding emissions that require plants to add equipment, modify processes, or stop operation.

    Our inventory of operating capacity and planned retirements reflects power plant operators’ responses to our monthly survey as of May 2025. These plans may change as operators respond to changing environmental and other policies and power market dynamics.

    For example, Talen Energy, in collaboration with the PJM Interconnection and other entities, recently agreed to delay retirement of its Brandon Shores coal-fired power plant in Maryland until 2029. Talen Energy had previously planned to retire Brandon Shores in June 2025. Similarly, in May 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy ordered a 90-day delay of the planned retirement of Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan.

    Potential changes to regulations add uncertainty to power plant operation and retirement decisions. In particular, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reconsidering several regulations that would affect coal plants. For example, in April 2024, EPA released new steam electric effluent limitations guidelines (ELG) that limit the discharge of toxic metals and other pollutants in wastewater coming from coal-fired power plants. These more stringent limitations are currently set to take effect in 2028 but are among the regulations EPA is reconsidering.

    In addition, an April 8 executive order provided 47 companies with a two-year exemption from more stringent Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) issued by EPA last year. The exemption runs from July 8, 2027, to July 8, 2029. Many coal-fired plants added pollution-control systems in the previous decade to comply with MATS regulations.

    Principal contributor: Jonathan Church

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AI in K-12 Education: Partners in Progress, Not Replacements

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.

    Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.

    “Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”

    “While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.

    He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.

    One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.

    “AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”

    Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..

    “Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”

    Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. &#8212 Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA

    Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.

    “Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”

    Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”

    He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.

    “AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”

    Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.

    “We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”

    AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.

    Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. &#8212 Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student

    “We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”

    Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.

    “It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”

    Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.

    “AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”

    He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.

    “In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”

    Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.

    “AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.

    AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. &#8212 Del Siegle

    Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.

    “Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.

    AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.

    “AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.

    Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.

    As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.

    “Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.

    Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AI in K-12 Education: Partners in Progress, Not Replacements

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.

    Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.

    “Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”

    “While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.

    He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.

    One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.

    “AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”

    Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..

    “Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”

    Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. &#8212 Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA

    Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.

    “Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”

    Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”

    He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.

    “AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”

    Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.

    “We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”

    AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.

    Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. &#8212 Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student

    “We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”

    Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.

    “It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”

    Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.

    “AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”

    He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.

    “In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”

    Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.

    “AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.

    AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. &#8212 Del Siegle

    Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.

    “Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.

    AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.

    “AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.

    Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.

    As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.

    “Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.

    Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia to deploy private 5G network for Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s grid modernization initiative

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia to deploy private 5G network for Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s grid modernization initiative

    • Private 5G wireless network will provide a secure, scalable, and high-performance network designed for critical applications and future mobility needs.
    • Nokia’s technology will modernize communications systems, cyber defense and operations to enhance power distribution, reduce outages and improve the efficiency of service restoration.
    • Collaboration marks a major milestone in building a smarter, more resilient, and future-ready utility infrastructure for the Memphis community in the U.S.

    14 July 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced it has been selected by Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW), the largest three-service municipal utility in the United States, to deploy a comprehensive private 5G wireless network. The project will support MLGW’s long-term, multi-year grid modernization strategy across Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, ultimately enhancing power distribution to its customers, which will reduce the risk and customer impact of unplanned outages and enable MLGW to restore service to the public more efficiently.

    This landmark project positions MLGW as the first municipal utility in the U.S. to implement a full-scale standalone 5G private wireless network to better serve its more than 420,000 customers. Nokia’s state-of-the art solution will unify and enhance communications across all of MLGW’s electric, gas and water services, improving data connectivity, resilience and operational efficiency and provide a secure, scalable, and high-performance network designed for critical applications and future mobility needs.

    “The 5G Network Deployment is a foundational aspect of MLGW’s Grid Modernization Initiative. We will be able to meet the requirements for a modern electric grid. We will have fast and reliable communication for grid devices; increased reliability during storms or cyber events that will help us restore power even faster after outages. This enables more automation and smart control operations and supports future technology like electric vehicles and battery storage,” said Doug McGowen, President and CEO, MLGW.

    The solution will enable real-time communication and automation across MLGW’s operations, supporting critical applications including automated meter reading, grid monitoring, fault detection, and remote operations while laying the foundation for innovations like connected mobility, voice, and video services. Nokia’s technology will also enable secure interoperability with both existing infrastructure and modern IoT devices, including grid sensors, smart meters, automation systems and field equipment to ensure continuity while expanding capabilities.

    “This collaboration marks a major milestone in advancing MLGW’s power grid modernization and their commitment to building a smarter, more resilient, and future-ready utility infrastructure for the community. It also underscores Nokia’s leadership in delivering end-to-end private wireless networks that empower utilities to accelerate their digital transformation and enhance service reliability for their customers,” added Jeff Pittman, Head of North America Enterprise, Mobile Networks, Nokia.

    Nokia will deliver a private 5G wireless network, including its AirScale radio access equipment and its 5G Core Enterprise Solution. The contract also includes a microwave backhaul solution and towers supported by Nokia managed services, as well as Nokia’s NetGuard cybersecurity products for proactive threat detection and response and privileged access management.

    Multimedia, technical information and related news
    Web Page: Private networks
    Product Page: AirScale Radio Access
    Product Page: Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions
    Product Page: Nokia NetGuard Cybersecurity
    YouTube: Private Wireless Core for Large Enterprises
    Web Page: About Memphis Light, Gas and Water

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow us on social media
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 95 Border-Related Cases This Week

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

    SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 95 border-related cases this week so far, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).

    In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.

    A sample of border-related arrests this week:

    • On July 6, Lorenzo Arturo Bernabe-Alejo, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the U.S. after a Border Patrol agent spotted him lying on the ground about a quarter mile north of the border near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. According to a complaint, the defendant was previously deported on June 26, 2025, at the Calexico Port of Entry.
    • On July 7, Luis Fernando Ramos-Mendez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain and Aiding and Abetting. According to a complaint, a Customs and Border Protection officer found an undocumented Mexican immigrant hiding in a modified rear bench seat compartment near the trunk of the defendant’s car as he attempted to cross at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
    • On July 7, Refugio Ramos Daniel, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, a Customs and Border Protection officer found 198 packages containing 200 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a non-factory compartment in the bed of the defendant’s truck as he tried to cross the border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

    Also this week, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here are some of those cases:

    • On July 7, Eliseo Gonzalez Chaidez, a citizen of Mexico who previously was convicted of a federal immigration and a drug trafficking crime that resulted in an eight-year sentence, was sentenced in federal court to 24 months in custody for illegally reentering the United States.
    • On July 9, Francisco Ramirez, a Mexican national, was sentenced in federal court to 36 months in custody for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

    Pursuant to the Department’s Operation Take Back America priorities, federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.

    The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 95 Border-Related Cases This Week

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

    SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 95 border-related cases this week so far, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).

    In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.

    A sample of border-related arrests this week:

    • On July 6, Lorenzo Arturo Bernabe-Alejo, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the U.S. after a Border Patrol agent spotted him lying on the ground about a quarter mile north of the border near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. According to a complaint, the defendant was previously deported on June 26, 2025, at the Calexico Port of Entry.
    • On July 7, Luis Fernando Ramos-Mendez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain and Aiding and Abetting. According to a complaint, a Customs and Border Protection officer found an undocumented Mexican immigrant hiding in a modified rear bench seat compartment near the trunk of the defendant’s car as he attempted to cross at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
    • On July 7, Refugio Ramos Daniel, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, a Customs and Border Protection officer found 198 packages containing 200 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a non-factory compartment in the bed of the defendant’s truck as he tried to cross the border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

    Also this week, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here are some of those cases:

    • On July 7, Eliseo Gonzalez Chaidez, a citizen of Mexico who previously was convicted of a federal immigration and a drug trafficking crime that resulted in an eight-year sentence, was sentenced in federal court to 24 months in custody for illegally reentering the United States.
    • On July 9, Francisco Ramirez, a Mexican national, was sentenced in federal court to 36 months in custody for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

    Pursuant to the Department’s Operation Take Back America priorities, federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.

    The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Environment Deputy Minister urges G20 leaders to prioritise climate action

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, has urgently called for global leaders to address climate action and provide the necessary support for mitigation and adaptation.

    Singh was speaking during the second Group of 20 (G20) Environment and Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, on Monday. 

    “I wish to reiterate what was said during the first G20 ECSWG meeting in March this year: we are less than five years away from our deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the end of this critical decade for climate action. 

    “Yet, we are still far from attaining these goals and action targets,” he said. 

    According to the Deputy Minister, poverty levels are worsening, pollution from hazardous chemicals has been increasing, and greenhouse gas emissions reached record highs last year.  

    “This calls for an urgent acceleration of our efforts. Our commitment to achieve these goals must not waver, as we are all negatively affected. That is why South Africa has placed solidarity, equality and sustainability at the centre of our G20 Presidency.” 

    South Africa’s G20 Presidency has outlined an ambitious agenda for this Working Group following the successful convening of the inaugural virtual meeting earlier this year. 

    Singh said the five interrelated priorities have now been expanded into six, with the splitting of the climate change and air quality priorities into separate areas of focus. 

    “This will provide us with an opportunity to delve into these two key issues more deeply and systematically.” 

    During this five-day meeting, delegates from G20 member nations will focus on several key priorities. 

    These include biodiversity and conservation; land degradation, desertification, drought; chemicals and waste management; air quality; oceans and coasts; and climate change, with a particular emphasis on Just Transitions.

    According to Singh, Just Transition encompasses energy transition, adaptation, resilience, loss and damage.

    “This priority also includes a sub-priority on mitigation within the context of low-carbon economic development and other co-benefits beyond the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.” 

    Singh stated that the G20 process offers a chance to discuss and agree on actions that can expedite climate action and support at the necessary scale, as highlighted in the results of the first global stocktake.

    As a primary outcome of South Africa’s G20 Presidency this year, the country will explore ways that the G20 can leverage opportunities to increase the scale and flows of climate finance. 

    “It is paramount for developing economy countries to be actively supported in their efforts to achieve ‘whole of society and whole of economy’ Just Transitions to sustainable development on the ground, through scaled access to low-cost finance, technology, capacity development, and skills transfer,” the Deputy Minister said.

    Singh believes that the blue economy approach can make a significant contribution to the livelihood of coastal communities around the globe, as well as addressing climate change. 

    “It’s sustainable, long-term development should be promoted and enhanced through collective action at the level of the G20. 

    “It is also recognised that plastic pollution poses a significant threat to coastal and marine environments, affecting marine life, human health, and livelihoods, which needs to be addressed in an integrated and coordinated manner.” 

    Singh announced that the final meetings of the Working Group and Ministerial sessions will be held from 13-15 October in Cape Town. 

    During these meetings, the final versions of the technical papers and the draft of the Ministerial Declaration will be discussed.

    This will be followed by the G20 ECSWG Ministerial meeting scheduled for 16 – 17 October in Cape Town, where the Ministerial Declaration and other deliverables of the Working Group will be presented. – SAnews.gov.za

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SYRIA – Archbishop Jacques Mourad: Jesus wants His Church to remain in Syria

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    L’Œuvre d’Orient

    by Gianni ValenteHoms (Agenzia Fides) – Archbishop Jacques Mourad returned just a few days ago from participating in the Synod of Bishops of the Syriac Catholic Church in Rome. And he had a lot to do after his return to Homs. “These days, I am celebrating the First Communion of boys and girls in the village parishes. This is a joy that touches the heart. We thank the Lord for all these signs of hope that He gives us in our poverty,” said Bishop Maurad.He weighs every word when speaking about the present situation his homeland and its people are currently experiencing. The monk of the Deir Mar Musa community, who was appointed Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs, Hama, and Nabek, is particularly moved by the massacre of Christians who were murdered in Damascus on June 22 while they were gathered with their brothers and sisters for Sunday Mass at St. Elias Church.The words of Bishop Jacques, who was born in Aleppo and joined the monastic community founded by the Roman Jesuit Paolo Dall’Oglio, are at times moving when he speaks about the current situation in Syria.He reiterates that “Syria as a country is at an end today.” But he also recognizes that the Church in Syria must nevertheless continue its path and its work for the good of all. And this, he says, is only happening “because this is the will of Jesus. Jesus wants His Church to remain in Syria. And the idea of emptying Syria of Christians is certainly not the will of God.”The Massacre of ChristiansThe new rulers in Damascus are trying to reassure the people. Even after the massacre at St. Elias’s Church, government representatives reiterated that Christians are an indelible part of the Syrian people. “And I would like to say,” Archbishop Mourad emphasizes, “that the government bears direct responsibility for everything that has happened. Because every government is responsible for the security of the people. And I’m not just talking about the Christians. Many Sunnis, many Alawites have also been killed, many have disappeared. If a team sent by an international organization were to inspect the prisons, they would find many people who had nothing to do with the crimes of the previous regime. I think it’s fair to say that this government is persecuting the people. The entire people.”The Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs also sees hostility in the new Syrian regime’s toward the baptized: “Every time I hear about ‘protecting’ Christians, I feel like we’re being accused, that we’re being threatened. These are words that don’t serve to show benevolence; they burden us. I must say that this government is doing the same things the Assad regime did against the population. Both regimes, the Assad regime and the current one, have no respect for the Syrian people and their history.”Syria is at an endSyria, according to the aArchbishop, has a great heritage and the presence of its young people. But the latest governments “seem to want to erase, to destroy this civilization, the civilization of this people. This is a global crime; it’s not just about us.””UNESCO has declared so many places in Syria as World Heritage Sites. But no one protects them. And today we must protect our living heritage, not just the monuments.”First loudspeakers, then terrorThe acronyms of terror often change their “labels.” Syrian government sources have blamed unidentified Islamic State (IS) fighters for the attack on the church in Damascus. However, the massacre of Christians was claimed by a newly formed jihadist group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, possibly created by defectors from Tahrir al-Sham.Marketing strategies, “professional” management of communications and propaganda.The Orthodox Christians of St. Elias Church in Damascus—as repeated by several sources and witnesses on the ground—were massacred “as punishment” after some of them had a confrontation with militant Islamists who, with car-mounted loudspeakers, continually drove up to the church, blaring Koranic verses at high volume to call for conversion to Islam. The same thing, Archbishop Jacques confirms, is happening in Homs and throughout Syria: “They drive up in state security vehicles and use loudspeakers to call on Christians to convert. But when we question the security personnel about this behavior, they reply that these are individual initiatives. People no longer believe in this government.”Western sponsorsMeanwhile, those in charge in Syria continue to seek approval from external circles and powers. Government officials have declared that they are ready to renegotiate the 1974 ceasefire with Israel.”I,” Archbishop Mourad admits, “am not a politician. And I see that almost the entire Syrian people want peace. They also want a peace agreement with Israel, for all the countries of the Middle East. After all these years, everyone is really tired of this war and of seeing the Jews as enemies. But if we were to sign an agreement with Israel now, it would only happen because Syria is weak now. And such an agreement, at a time like this, would only be another act of humiliation of the people.” “So before the president signs such an agreement,” the Archbishop continued, “he should at least speak clearly and unequivocally to the people and explain to them what such an agreement means and what it entails. What the conditions are for Israel and for the Syrians.”The Israeli army, the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs continued, “has occupied many Syrian territories since the end of the Assad regime. This means that we may have to forget the Golan Heights forever. And this means that the Syrian people, especially in Damascus, will always be threatened with the instrument of thirst, because the water in Damascus comes from the Golan. And if we remain dependent on Israel for water, we can imagine other things as well…”Today, the Archbishop adds, referring to the dramatic situation in Syria: “Syria as a country is at its end. We keep repeating that it is the first country in the world, that Damascus and Aleppo are the oldest cities in the world, but that means nothing today. It is at its end; most people live below the poverty line; we are massacred and humiliated, and we are tired. We don’t have the strength to reclaim our dignity ourselves. If there is no sincere political support for the people and not for the government, we are at our end.” And: “No one should condemn the Syrian people for emigrating and seeking their fortune outside Syria. No one has the right to judge.” And this in a situation where the entire economy, the education system, and even the healthcare system are on the brink.Where to start againIs it possible to find ways forward when the horizon is so dark and there seems to be no respite? The Archbishop chooses challenging words to outline the situation and mission of the Syrian churches and Christians today.”In my opinion,” he says, “the Church is the only point of reference for hope for the entire Syrian people. For everyone, not just Christians. Because we are doing everything we can to support our people.””After the fall of Assad, many in our communities and parishes fell into crisis and fear. A terrible despair. I, too, visited the parishes, in every village, to encourage Christians and speak about the future. Thank God, I feel accompanied by the Lord each time, in the words I speak to the people. And so, in this situation, we are busy organizing regular meetings for young people, for children, for groups involved in the Church in various ways.”Even in a situation that is tragic in many respects, the normal life of the church communities continues. And it is precisely the parishes that, in a torn, painful context, are trying to promote dialogue for the coexistence of all groups and components.”In Aleppo and also in Damascus, they are truly committed. The bishops have also given lay people space to reflect and take the initiative,” the Archbishop said. “In Homs, we are trying to organize meetings with all other communities: Alawites, Ismailis, Sunnis, Christians,” he continued. “The people we meet are all concerned about the government’s policies, even the Muslims. We are united because we are all in the same boat, as Pope Francis repeatedly said.”The Encounter with Pope LeoIt was Pope Leo who asked the Syriac Catholic bishops to come to Rome to hold their Ordinary Synod in the Eternal City, which took place from July 3 to 6. “It was a wonderful opportunity to meet him, get to know him, and receive his blessing.” “I followed his speeches on the Eastern Churches and the Christian East with great attention. I used this meeting to thank him and ask him to encourage the entire Catholic Church to take the initiative to support the Syrian people, in particular, in their basic needs.”Hope is reflected in concrete works”For me,” Jacques Mourad emphasizes, “it is important that the Church work intensively on the reconstruction of schools and the entire education system in Syria.” We already have schools in Aleppo and Damascus, but they are not enough. In Homs there is nothing. We must work on this, because it can also help curb Christian emigration. All parents think about the future of their children. And if they cannot guarantee them schools where they can learn and functioning hospitals, their only choice is to leave.””We need everything. We must also revitalize pastoral and cultural centers that can accompany the human and cultural growth of our young people. And also houses for young people who want to get married. In this way, we can encourage all young people to stay in the country and not leave,” the Archbishop emphasizes. Resources are lacking, but the horizon is clear: “And this is how we can advance on the path of our Church in Syria. Because that is certainly the will of Jesus. Jesus wants his Church to remain in Syria. This idea of emptying Syria of Christians is certainly not the will of God,” he affirms. “And we, the disciples of Christ and those who bear responsibility in his name, have, first and foremost, the duty to protect our faithful and do everything possible to ensure the future of the Church in Syria,” he concluded. (Agenzia Fides, 14/7/2025)
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  • BIS urges use of certified helmets: A life-saving call for two-wheeler riders

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a strong push for road safety, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Department of Consumer Affairs have launched a nationwide campaign urging two-wheeler riders to use only BIS-certified helmets. The initiative, themed “Helmet – More Than Just a Shell. Choose Smart. Ride Safe,” highlights the critical importance of wearing scientifically tested and approved head protection, especially in a country where two-wheelers account for nearly 45% of road accident deaths.

    Modern helmets, though commonplace today, trace their legacy to ancient headgear used for protection in battle and harsh environments. Yet despite advances in design and technology, helmet usage in India is still driven more by fear of penalties than genuine concern for safety. Many riders don helmets only near police checkpoints, often opting for low-cost, uncertified versions that offer little to no real protection.

    According to the World Health Organisation, wearing a proper helmet can reduce the risk of death by six times and brain injury by up to 74%. However, thousands of substandard helmets -often with fake ISI marks – continue to flood roadside markets. These counterfeit products fail key safety checks and can shatter or slip off in accidents, providing a false sense of security that can prove fatal.

    Under a Quality Control Order in effect since 2021, only helmets conforming to IS 4151:2015 and certified by BIS are legally permitted for use by two-wheeler riders. As of June 2025, 176 manufacturers across India are licensed to produce BIS-certified helmets. These helmets undergo rigorous testing for impact absorption, strap strength, visibility, sound penetration, and durability in extreme conditions.

    To combat the menace of fake helmets, BIS has intensified enforcement. In 2024–25 alone, it carried out over 30 raids, seizing more than 2,500 non-compliant helmets from illegal manufacturers in Delhi and over 500 from retail points across 17 locations. Legal action against offenders is underway. Meanwhile, District Magistrates and police departments have been instructed to take action against the sale of non-certified helmets, and awareness drives are being conducted in cities like Chennai through public roadshows and free distribution campaigns.

    BIS is also stepping up consumer outreach. Tools like the BIS Care App now allow riders to verify certification details and report suspicious products. Campaigns such as “Quality Connect,” led by local volunteers called Manak Mitras, are actively engaging with communities to raise awareness about helmet safety and the risks of uncertified gear.

    As India’s roads grow busier and accidents more frequent, the message is clear: helmets are not just accessories – they are life-saving equipment. Choosing a BIS-certified helmet is not about avoiding fines, but about valuing life. In the critical moments of an accident, it’s not the look of the helmet that matters, but the science behind it. The difference between a certified and a counterfeit helmet is not just a label – it’s the difference between life and death.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A state of emergency has been declared in the forests of Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 14 /Xinhua/ – Due to hot weather and the threat of forest fires, a state of emergency has been declared in the forests of Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory, TASS reported on Monday, citing a regional government decree.

    “In connection with the established dry and hot weather, high thunderstorm activity, which contributes to the occurrence of forest fires, in order to prevent and eliminate the emergency situation caused by forest fires, I decree: to introduce a state of emergency in the forests of Krasnoyarsk Krai,” the document says.

    Last week, the region experienced hot weather up to plus 30 degrees Celsius. As of Monday morning, there are 21 forest fires burning in Krasnoyarsk Krai covering a total area of 765.1 hectares. 303 people are involved in extinguishing the fires, and seven units of equipment are involved. –0–

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

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Senate Trump assassination report questions Secret Service discipline

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    NEW YORK, July 14 (Xinhua) — A U.S. Senate report on the assassination attempt on U.S. President Donald Trump last year found “numerous, unacceptable failures” in Secret Service discipline.

    The report comes a year after then-presidential candidate Trump was wounded when a 20-year-old gunman fired eight shots at him at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

    The gunman was later killed by a sniper. But the shooting, which left one protester dead and two wounded, showed the Secret Service was lax in its planning and response, the report said, calling for tougher discipline.

    “This was not an isolated lapse in judgment. This was a complete collapse of security at every level, fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act when there was a direct threat,” Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a statement.

    Noting that the Secret Service learned of a suspicious person “nearly 45 minutes before the shooting and took no action,” the report’s authors noted a series of errors that showed “a disturbing pattern of communication breakdowns and negligence that led to a preventable tragedy.”

    Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after the shooting, and six employees responsible for protecting Donald Trump at the Butler rally have been suspended for 10 to 42 days, the service said Thursday. –0–

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –