NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scholten Introduces Bill to Install Inspector General in the Executive Office of the President

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03), alongside U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT.-03) and Eugene Vindman (VA.-07), introduced the Bringing Executive Accountability, Clarity, and Oversight Now (BEACON) Act, legislation to establish an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in the Executive Office of the President (EOP). 

    “The American people deserve transparency and accountability from every corner of our government, especially the White House. The BEACON Act is a necessary step to ensure that no Administration is above the law or immune from scrutiny,” said Rep. Scholten. “By creating a truly independent Inspector General for the Executive Office of the President, this bill strengthens the oversight necessary to protect taxpayer dollars, prevent abuse of power, and promote trust in our public institutions. I’m proud to join Senator Schiff and Representatives DeLauro and Vindman to push forward this essential legislation that puts the public interest ahead of partisan politics.”

    The bill would require the same presidential appointment process as other inspectors general, with additional protections to ensure independence from the President. It would also direct the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) to annually audit the EOP OIG to ensure political pressure does not weaken the inspector general’s ability to effectively conduct oversight of the President and the Executive Office of the President.

    U.S. Senator Adam Schiff introduced the Senate version while U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten, Rosa DeLauro, and Eugene Vindman introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). 

    “Inspectors general conduct important independent oversight throughout different agencies in the executive branch. But the same is not true when it comes to the President and the White House — where there is no inspector general. That should change, regardless of who is in office. Establishing an Office of the Inspector General inside the Executive Office of the President will help ensure that no President or administration is above the law. Inspectors general hold federal agencies accountable by rooting out fraud and abuse, and this legislation would implement the same oversight of our nation’s highest office,” said Senator Schiff.

    “With the most corrupt President in the history of our country, it’s important we have the necessary guardrails in place to keep him and any President in check,” said Rep. Vindman. “As a former JAG and National Security Council ethics lawyer, I’m proud to introduce the BEACON Act that will install the right guardrails to make sure that even the most powerful office in our democracy is accountable to the people it serves. An independent Inspector General in the Executive Office of the President is long overdue. Our founders never intended for the President to operate in the shadows.”

    “In America, no one is above the law, and that should include President Trump. His reckless and illegal impoundment spree, during which he has stolen at least $425 billion in government funding from the American people, must end. Congressional Republicans’ desperate efforts to defund organizations like the Government Accountability Office, which investigates waste, fraud, and abuse, and President Trump’s efforts to fire independent Inspectors General across the government, show that this Administration is terrified of accountability and allergic to transparency. If they will not tell the American people the truth, then we must discover the truth. The BEACON Act would ensure that the President is accountable to the people, by installing an independent Inspector General in the Executive Office of the President. This is a vital check on executive power that is long overdue,” said Rep DeLauro.

    The bill has been endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Democracy Defenders Action, and Public Citizen.

    “For decades, inspectors general across the executive branch have saved American taxpayers billions of dollars by identifying and helping to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse throughout federal agencies,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Yet the Executive Office of the President—the epicenter of federal policymaking and governance—lacks this key form of internal oversight, allowing corrupt actors at the highest levels of government to evade public accountability. It is time to establish an inspector general within the White House and begin the process of restoring the public’s confidence in their government. We thank Senator Schiff for introducing this common sense legislation and urge the Senate to pass it.”

    “The Office of Inspector General is widely credited with providing independent oversight and accountability of federal agencies. The White House does not have a single, designated Inspector General the same way as federal agencies. That oversight role has been placed with the Attorney General and Congress. It has become painfully clear that neither the AG nor Congress is living up to their oversight responsibilities. Sen. Schiff’s BEACON Act would fill that void by assigning a truly independent IG to oversee the otherwise secretive dealings of the White House,” said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen.

    “Establishing an Inspector General for the President’s closest advisors promotes accountability at the highest levels of government,” said Virginia Canter, Anticorruption and Ethics Chief Counsel and Director at Democracy Defenders Action. “The BEACON Act would create an independent watchdog to strengthen oversight of the Executive Office of the President’s operations, spending, and integrity. It would enhance our democracy by shining a light on waste, fraud, and abuse among top government officials.”

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon and Golden Introduce Back the Blue Act to Protect Federal Judges, Law Enforcement and Public Safety Officers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon and Golden Introduce Back the Blue Act to Protect Federal Judges, Law Enforcement and Public Safety Officers

    Bacon’s 118th Congress legislation reintroduced with bipartisan support

    Washington – Today, Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02) and Jared Golden (ME-02) reintroduced the Back the Blue Act, which seeks to ensure that those who risk their lives to protect others are afforded greater protections.

    This bipartisan bill creates new criminal provisions regarding the killing of, or attempting, or conspiring to kill federal law enforcement officers, U.S. judges, and federally funded public safety officers. This includes firefighters, chaplains, and members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew. It carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if a death occurs, and the offender would be subject to the death penalty. Otherwise, the offender would face a minimum sentence of 10 years.

    In addition, the legislation creates a new federal crime with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. An offender who attempted to flee from justice to avoid prosecution would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

    Finally, it creates a specific aggravating factor for federal death penalty prosecutions; expands self-defense and Second Amendment rights for law enforcement officers; and opens grant funding to strengthen relationships between police and communities. The full text of the Back the Blue Act, can be found here.

    “Those who protect our communities – whether it’s on the beat, from the bench, behind a hose, or performing CPR – deserve extra protection from violence directed at them, including assault, intent to kill, or conspiracy to kill,” said Rep. Bacon. “The anger and violence have risen against these community guardians and this legislation is needed now. I am looking forward to working with Rep. Golden to get this long-overdue legislation passed into law.”

    “At a time when violence against law enforcement is trending upward, we must do more to protect the protectors,” Rep. Golden said. “This bill takes a strategic two-pronged approach: First, it makes clear with new criminal provisions that violence against federal law enforcement officers, judges and other federally funded public safety officers will not be tolerated. Second, it opens new federal funds to strengthen the relationship between officers and the communities they serve and protect. It’s a tough, smart bill to ensure those who attack or kill officers pay a steep price, and to help reduce violence against officers before it happens.”  

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon and Golden Introduce Back the Blue Act to Protect Federal Judges, Law Enforcement and Public Safety Officers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon and Golden Introduce Back the Blue Act to Protect Federal Judges, Law Enforcement and Public Safety Officers

    Bacon’s 118th Congress legislation reintroduced with bipartisan support

    Washington – Today, Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02) and Jared Golden (ME-02) reintroduced the Back the Blue Act, which seeks to ensure that those who risk their lives to protect others are afforded greater protections.

    This bipartisan bill creates new criminal provisions regarding the killing of, or attempting, or conspiring to kill federal law enforcement officers, U.S. judges, and federally funded public safety officers. This includes firefighters, chaplains, and members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew. It carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if a death occurs, and the offender would be subject to the death penalty. Otherwise, the offender would face a minimum sentence of 10 years.

    In addition, the legislation creates a new federal crime with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. An offender who attempted to flee from justice to avoid prosecution would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

    Finally, it creates a specific aggravating factor for federal death penalty prosecutions; expands self-defense and Second Amendment rights for law enforcement officers; and opens grant funding to strengthen relationships between police and communities. The full text of the Back the Blue Act, can be found here.

    “Those who protect our communities – whether it’s on the beat, from the bench, behind a hose, or performing CPR – deserve extra protection from violence directed at them, including assault, intent to kill, or conspiracy to kill,” said Rep. Bacon. “The anger and violence have risen against these community guardians and this legislation is needed now. I am looking forward to working with Rep. Golden to get this long-overdue legislation passed into law.”

    “At a time when violence against law enforcement is trending upward, we must do more to protect the protectors,” Rep. Golden said. “This bill takes a strategic two-pronged approach: First, it makes clear with new criminal provisions that violence against federal law enforcement officers, judges and other federally funded public safety officers will not be tolerated. Second, it opens new federal funds to strengthen the relationship between officers and the communities they serve and protect. It’s a tough, smart bill to ensure those who attack or kill officers pay a steep price, and to help reduce violence against officers before it happens.”  

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ADDRESSES FEDERAL RECONCILIATION BILL IMPACTS AND VIRGIN ISLANDS RECOVERY PRIORITIES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

    For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
    July 10, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

    PRESS RELEASE

    CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ADDRESSES FEDERAL RECONCILIATION BILL IMPACTS AND VIRGIN ISLANDS RECOVERY PRIORITIES 

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement on the federal reconciliation bill signed into law by President Trump and its potential impacts on the U.S. Virgin Islands: 

    “Last week President Trump signed into law his tax and spending bill, H.R. 1, which passed the House and Senate narrowly with solely Republican votes and several Republican defections.  While the inclusion of permanent rum cover-over in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, represents a major win for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and the culmination of years-long efforts by elected officials and stakeholders, as I have consistently indicated from the beginning of the year, the bill will also bring significant challenges to our territory through cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and other critical programs.

    “My office has reached out to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the Government of the Virgin Islands finance team to share our concerns and offer our support as we hope the local government will begin the efforts to prepare for these impacts over the coming years. It will be imperative for the Virgin Islands local government to focus on finding new revenues and act creatively to remedy the impacts of federal cuts locally. This legislation will require us to find additional sources for increasing revenues to the general fund to continue providing support to families—supporting new businesses, jump starting local small businesses and training our own local workforce to support the rebuilding and construction projects that must come online.” 

    Congresswoman Plaskett emphasized the importance of the Government of the Virgin Islands taking advantage of the rebuild to create additional revenue, ancillary businesses and increased workforce.  Doing so means capitalizing on the cost-share waiver granted by the Biden-Harris administration, which has allocated billions of federal dollars for recovery projects across the territory. 

    “Seven years ago, our community’s infrastructure was devasted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, leaving our critical infrastructure decimated. Out of devastation came the opportunity to transform our territory and rebuild our critical infrastructure in a more resilient manner with profound funding from the federal government. In the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, I obtained provisions to allow the Virgin Islands to rebuild critical infrastructure with resilient design and features, up to the latest industry building standards and notwithstanding pre-disaster conditions in the Virgin Islands (the standard that normally applies).

    “That change in law has meant the Government of the Virgin Islands has been allocated billions in federal funding for our schools, hospitals, water systems, power grid, communications infrastructure, and other critical projects. In 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that rebuild projects approved before September 30, 2024, require only a 2 percent local match instead of the original 10 percent, with other projects requiring just 5 percent – projected cost savings for the local government of almost $1.5 billion. This represents an unprecedented opportunity to complete our hurricane recovery while stimulating economic growth. However, the cost share is for a ten-year period.  We must capitalize on this timeframe and utilize this opportunity not only to rebuild our infrastructure but also to attract small businesses and other industries to our territory,” Plaskett added. 

    “Now that the battle for the permanent increased rum cover-over rate of $13.25 is over, we need to focus on two critical areas related to the rum cover over: ensuring the Virgin Islands receives our fair share of worldwide rum cover-over revenue and working with rum companies to understand the utilization of funds for marketing and potentially increase the amount that comes directly to the Virgin Islands Government. Under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), rum produced outside the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and then imported into the US also has a rum cover over that is divided between the two territories.  Under the CBI, that ratio should be based upon the rum produced by each, however there was never a change in ratio made when Diageo came to the Virgin Islands from Puerto Rico.  I previously engaged both the Mapp-Potter and Bryan-Roach Administrations on this issue, and it is my hope that the Bryan Administration will take this matter up so the Virgin Islands will receive its fair share of the cover over. Additionally, we need to ensure the rum companies are utilizing these funds for the maximum benefit for our community.” 

    “While federal cuts will create challenges, we also have untapped resources and underutilized opportunities at our disposal. The key is acting decisively during this critical recovery window while building sustainable economic growth for our future. My team and I remain ready to work with Governor Bryan and his team along with the Legislature of the Virgin Islands to ensure that we can not only weather these changes but emerge stronger.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ADDRESSES FEDERAL RECONCILIATION BILL IMPACTS AND VIRGIN ISLANDS RECOVERY PRIORITIES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

    For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
    July 10, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

    PRESS RELEASE

    CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT ADDRESSES FEDERAL RECONCILIATION BILL IMPACTS AND VIRGIN ISLANDS RECOVERY PRIORITIES 

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement on the federal reconciliation bill signed into law by President Trump and its potential impacts on the U.S. Virgin Islands: 

    “Last week President Trump signed into law his tax and spending bill, H.R. 1, which passed the House and Senate narrowly with solely Republican votes and several Republican defections.  While the inclusion of permanent rum cover-over in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, represents a major win for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and the culmination of years-long efforts by elected officials and stakeholders, as I have consistently indicated from the beginning of the year, the bill will also bring significant challenges to our territory through cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and other critical programs.

    “My office has reached out to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and the Government of the Virgin Islands finance team to share our concerns and offer our support as we hope the local government will begin the efforts to prepare for these impacts over the coming years. It will be imperative for the Virgin Islands local government to focus on finding new revenues and act creatively to remedy the impacts of federal cuts locally. This legislation will require us to find additional sources for increasing revenues to the general fund to continue providing support to families—supporting new businesses, jump starting local small businesses and training our own local workforce to support the rebuilding and construction projects that must come online.” 

    Congresswoman Plaskett emphasized the importance of the Government of the Virgin Islands taking advantage of the rebuild to create additional revenue, ancillary businesses and increased workforce.  Doing so means capitalizing on the cost-share waiver granted by the Biden-Harris administration, which has allocated billions of federal dollars for recovery projects across the territory. 

    “Seven years ago, our community’s infrastructure was devasted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, leaving our critical infrastructure decimated. Out of devastation came the opportunity to transform our territory and rebuild our critical infrastructure in a more resilient manner with profound funding from the federal government. In the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, I obtained provisions to allow the Virgin Islands to rebuild critical infrastructure with resilient design and features, up to the latest industry building standards and notwithstanding pre-disaster conditions in the Virgin Islands (the standard that normally applies).

    “That change in law has meant the Government of the Virgin Islands has been allocated billions in federal funding for our schools, hospitals, water systems, power grid, communications infrastructure, and other critical projects. In 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that rebuild projects approved before September 30, 2024, require only a 2 percent local match instead of the original 10 percent, with other projects requiring just 5 percent – projected cost savings for the local government of almost $1.5 billion. This represents an unprecedented opportunity to complete our hurricane recovery while stimulating economic growth. However, the cost share is for a ten-year period.  We must capitalize on this timeframe and utilize this opportunity not only to rebuild our infrastructure but also to attract small businesses and other industries to our territory,” Plaskett added. 

    “Now that the battle for the permanent increased rum cover-over rate of $13.25 is over, we need to focus on two critical areas related to the rum cover over: ensuring the Virgin Islands receives our fair share of worldwide rum cover-over revenue and working with rum companies to understand the utilization of funds for marketing and potentially increase the amount that comes directly to the Virgin Islands Government. Under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), rum produced outside the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and then imported into the US also has a rum cover over that is divided between the two territories.  Under the CBI, that ratio should be based upon the rum produced by each, however there was never a change in ratio made when Diageo came to the Virgin Islands from Puerto Rico.  I previously engaged both the Mapp-Potter and Bryan-Roach Administrations on this issue, and it is my hope that the Bryan Administration will take this matter up so the Virgin Islands will receive its fair share of the cover over. Additionally, we need to ensure the rum companies are utilizing these funds for the maximum benefit for our community.” 

    “While federal cuts will create challenges, we also have untapped resources and underutilized opportunities at our disposal. The key is acting decisively during this critical recovery window while building sustainable economic growth for our future. My team and I remain ready to work with Governor Bryan and his team along with the Legislature of the Virgin Islands to ensure that we can not only weather these changes but emerge stronger.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong authorizes ND National Guard to provide aerial support in search for Texas flood victims

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong has authorized the North Dakota National Guard to provide aerial support in the search for victims of catastrophic flash flooding in central Texas that has claimed the lives of 120 people, with more than 170 still missing.

    A seven-person crew from the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing is operating an MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft to aid search efforts. Armstrong approved the request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the national interstate mutual aid system that allows states to share resources during disasters.

    “Other states have come to our aid in extremely challenging times, and North Dakota stands ready to help Texas through this catastrophe however we can,” Armstrong said. “We pray for everyone affected by the flash flooding, especially those families grieving lost loved ones, and thank all the first responders, volunteers, search and rescue teams, and emergency management personnel working day and night to provide safety, shelter and closure.”

    The Fargo-based 119th Wing remotely pilots the MQ-9 Reaper, providing air support and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to ground forces. This is the first time the 119th Wing has provided MQ-9 support for an EMAC request.

    “Our North Dakota National Guard Airmen are working with Texas as they continue search and rescue missions and provide assessment of impacted areas following this flash flooding,” said Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard and director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, which coordinates EMAC requests with other states. “We are controlling a Texas-based MQ-9 from Fargo in order to support emergency management teams on the ground with meaningful and effective information.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong authorizes ND National Guard to provide aerial support in search for Texas flood victims

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong has authorized the North Dakota National Guard to provide aerial support in the search for victims of catastrophic flash flooding in central Texas that has claimed the lives of 120 people, with more than 170 still missing.

    A seven-person crew from the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing is operating an MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft to aid search efforts. Armstrong approved the request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the national interstate mutual aid system that allows states to share resources during disasters.

    “Other states have come to our aid in extremely challenging times, and North Dakota stands ready to help Texas through this catastrophe however we can,” Armstrong said. “We pray for everyone affected by the flash flooding, especially those families grieving lost loved ones, and thank all the first responders, volunteers, search and rescue teams, and emergency management personnel working day and night to provide safety, shelter and closure.”

    The Fargo-based 119th Wing remotely pilots the MQ-9 Reaper, providing air support and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to ground forces. This is the first time the 119th Wing has provided MQ-9 support for an EMAC request.

    “Our North Dakota National Guard Airmen are working with Texas as they continue search and rescue missions and provide assessment of impacted areas following this flash flooding,” said Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard and director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, which coordinates EMAC requests with other states. “We are controlling a Texas-based MQ-9 from Fargo in order to support emergency management teams on the ground with meaningful and effective information.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced To Prison For Illegal Possession Of A Firearm

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

    The Defendant Discharged a Stolen Gun Inside a Residence with Minor Children Present

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Angelo Crank, 44, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to court records and court proceedings, on August 15, 2024, an individual identified as T.T. called 911 to report that Crank had discharged a firearm. Officers responding to the service call arrived at the residence and spoke with Crank, T.T. and three minor children. T.T. told the officers that Crank had fired a gun during an argument while her young children were at home. Officers executed a search warrant on the residence where they located and seized five discharged 9mm shell cases; a 9mm Glock, model 17 semiautomatic pistol; one 30-round magazine for the Glock; one 17-round magazine for the Glock; a 9mm Hi-Point model C9 semiautomatic pistol; and several rounds of various ammunition. Officers also reviewed footage from the home security system. The footage captured Crank following T.T. and her minor children into the front yard with a gun in his hand. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that both seized firearms had been reported stolen. Crank has a criminal history that includes state felony convictions of Assault on a Female and Felony Possession of Cocaine, and a federal conviction in South Carolina for conspiracy and using, carrying, and possessing firearms during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    On October 29, 2024, Crank pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Thomas is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    The ATF and CMPD led the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Introduces Legislation to Improve Livestock Indemnity Program and Support Iowa Cattle Producers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    HULL, IOWA – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced legislation – the Livestock Indemnity Program Improvement Act – to make needed updates to the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) so that Iowa cattle and livestock producers receive a fair market price for their livestock.

    Under current law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency only makes annual updates to LIP payment rates. Feenstra’s legislation would make these price updates quarterly to accurately account for turbulent and unpredictable market conditions.

    “When severe storms strike or animal disease spreads, Iowa cattle producers deserve a fair price for deceased livestock. However, under current law, payment rates from the Livestock Indemnity Program are only updated once a year – a lengthy period that does not accurately reflect unpredictable market conditions or support family farms,” said Rep. Feenstra. “My bill – the Livestock Indemnity Program Improvement Act – will cut that timeframe down to every three months so that our producers receive a fair and more accurate price for their livestock. Allowing the free market to work as intended will ensure that cattle producers are fairly compensated for losses out of their control.” 

    “Livestock producers work tirelessly to prevent disease, mitigate risk, and remain resilient in the face of disaster. Yet, even with every precaution, losses still occur. That’s why regular updates to payment rates in the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) are essential to help producers recover. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association appreciates Congressman Feenstra’s commitment to cattlemen and ensuring LIP payments reflect the current market value of livestock,” said Rob Medberry, President of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

    The National Milk Producers Federation also supports this legislation.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The Bangladesh delta is under a dangerous level of strain, analysis reveals

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Md Sarwar Hossain, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science & Sustainability, University of Glasgow

    The Ganges delta in Bangladesh. Emre Akkoyun/Shutterstock

    Bangladesh is known as the land of rivers and flooding, despite almost all of its water originating outside the territory. The fact that 80% of rivers that flow through Bangladesh have their sources in a neighbouring country, can make access to freshwater in Bangladesh fraught. And the country’s fast-growing cities and farms – and the warming global climate – are turning up the pressure.

    In a recent analysis, my colleagues and I found that four out of the ten rivers that flow through Bangladesh have failed to meet a set of conditions known as their “safe operating space”, meaning that the flow of water in these rivers is below the minimum necessary to sustain the social-ecological systems that rely on them. These rivers included the Ganges and Old Brahmaputra, as well as Gorai and Halda.

    This puts a safe and reliable food and water supply not to mention the livelihoods of millions of fishers, farmers and other people in the region, at risk.

    Water flow on the remaining six rivers may be close to a dangerous state too, due to the construction of hydropower dams and reservoirs, as well as booming irrigated agriculture.

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

    The concept of a safe operating space was devised by Stockholm University researchers in 2009 and typically assesses the Earth’s health as a whole by defining boundaries such as climate warming, water use and biodiversity loss which become dangerous to humanity once exceeded. A 2023 update to this research found that six of the nine defined planetary boundaries have been transgressed.

    Since the Bangladesh delta is one of the world’s largest and most densely populated (home to around 170 million people), we thought it prudent to apply this thinking to the rivers here. We found that food, fisheries and the world’s largest intertidal mangrove forest, a haven for rich biodiversity, are all under strain from water demand in growing cities such as Dhaka.

    The knock-on effects

    During all seasons but winter, river flows in the Bangladesh delta have fallen over the past three decades.

    No river in the Bangladesh delta is within its safe operating space.
    Kabir et al. (2024)

    Our analysis highlights the limits of existing political solutions. The ability of the Ganges river to support life and society is severely strained, despite the Ganges water sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh, which was signed in 1996.

    Rivers in Bangladesh have shaped the economy, environment and culture of South Asia since the dawn of human civilisation here. And humans are not the only species suffering. Hilsha (Tenualosa ilisha), related to the herring, is a fish popular for its flavour and delicate texture. It contributes 12% to national fish production in Bangladesh but has become extinct in the upper reaches of the Ganges due to the reduction of water flow.

    Excessive water extraction upstream, primarily through the Farakka barrage, a dam just over the border in the Indian state of West Bengal, has also raised the salinity of the Gorai river. A healthy river flow maintains a liveable balance of salt and freshwater. As river flows have been restricted, salinity has crept up, particularly in coastal regions that are also beset by sea level rise. This damages freshwater fisheries, farm yields and threatens a population of freshwater dolphins in the Ganges.

    Low river flows and increasing salinisation now threaten the destruction of the world’s largest mangrove forest, the loss of which would disrupt the regional climate of Bangladesh, India and Nepal. It would also release a lot of stored carbon to the atmosphere, accelerating climate change and the melting of snow and ice in the Himalayan mountain chain.

    Resilience to climate change

    Solving this problem is no simple task. It will require cooperation across national boundaries and international support to ensure fair treaties capable of managing the rivers sustainably, restoring their associated ecosystems and maintaining river flows within their safe operating spaces.

    The mighty Ganges is running dry in some parts of Bangladesh during the hotter months.
    Md Sarwar Hossain

    This is particularly challenging in the Bangladesh delta, which contains rivers that drain many countries, including China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The political regimes in each country might oppose transboundary negotiations, which could nevertheless resolve conflict over water which is needed to sustain nearly 700 million people.

    There have been success stories, however. The Mekong river commission between Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam is a useful template for bilateral and multilateral treaties with India and Nepal for the Ganges, and China and Bhutan for the Jamuna river.

    Tax-based water sharing can help resolve conflicts and decide water allocation between countries in the river basin. The countries using more water would pay more tax and the revenue would be redistributed among the other countries who share rivers in the treaty. Additionally, water sharing should be based on the historical river flow disregarding existing infrastructure and projections of future changes.

    Reducing deforestation, alternating land use and restoring wetlands could enhance resilience to flooding and drought and ensure water security in the Bangladesh delta. Ultimately, to secure a safe operating space for the rivers here is to secure a safe future for society too.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Md Sarwar Hossain 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. The Bangladesh delta is under a dangerous level of strain, analysis reveals – https://theconversation.com/the-bangladesh-delta-is-under-a-dangerous-level-of-strain-analysis-reveals-241097

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on Bradford-on-Avon flood alleviation scheme

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Update on Bradford-on-Avon flood alleviation scheme

    The Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Bradford-on-Avon Town Council will focus on strengthening community-level flood resilience.

    The Environment Agency, in partnership with Wiltshire Council, Bradford-on-Avon Town Council and Wessex Water, has concluded that a permanent flood scheme for Bradford-on-Avon is currently unviable. 

    A review of a proposed flood scheme from 2017, which involved low walls and pumping stations, found that costs have risen significantly, increasing from £4.5 million to over £11 million. This is not possible with the current central government funding available. 

    Efforts to find more cost-effective alternatives—such as replacing permanent surface water pumping with temporary pumps—would still require around £1.7 million in additional partnership funding.

    After discussions with partners, no funding opportunities have been identified to bridge this gap. 

    Bradford-on-Avon’s historic character is vital to its tourism and local economy, adding further complexity to designing a flood scheme that balances protection with preservation.

    While the proposed 2017 scheme was designed to be more in keeping with the town’s character, it would still have been overtopped by flooding during Storm Bert in November 2024. 

    Weighing up these considerations, partners have agreed that a permanent flood scheme is financially unviable at this time.

    Even if a scheme were possible, the flood risk benefits would not outweigh the potential harm to the town’s historic and economic importance. 

    A range of alternative flood management options—including dredging, upstream and underground flood storage, automated barriers, a bypass channel, natural flood management and temporary barriers—have been explored, but each was found to be either ineffective, impractical or also financially unviable. 

    Moving forward, the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council, and the Town Council will focus resources on strengthening community-level flood resilience. Residential properties may be eligible for Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures. 

    Committed to supporting community

    Ron Curtis, Operations Manager from the Environment Agency, said: 

    We understand this will be disappointing news for those affected by recent flooding, and we recognise the ongoing challenges faced by the community.  

    We remain committed to supporting Bradford-on-Avon in adapting to flood risks through community resilience measures.  

    This does not mean that a permanent scheme will never be possible, as changes in government policy, funding availability or advancements in technology could create future opportunities. 

    We continue to ask residents and businesses to check their flood risk.

    The Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council, Bradford-on-Avon Town Council and Wessex Water are hosting a flood drop-in session on Monday 21 July at Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LW from 2 – 6:30pm.  

    With national expert “Flood Mary” Mary Long-Dhonau OBE in attendance with the Flood Pod, this event will allow the community to ask questions, discuss concerns, and learn more about flood resilience measures and ongoing efforts to manage flood risk in the area. 

    Councillor Jack Vittles, Mayor of Bradford on Avon, said: 

    We’re pleased to be able to facilitate this valuable opportunity for the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Wessex Water to come and update residents on their work regarding flooding in the town.

    These agencies will explain their plans, share their flood resilience support and highlight the opportunities to enable the town to prepare for future flooding events.  This is the perfect chance for residents and businesses to drop in, ask questions, discuss concerns directly with them and pick up advice on making your property as resilient as possible. 

    I’d like to thank all the agencies involved for engaging so positively with our community and look forward to hearing what they can do for Bradford on Avon and our residents. 

    Background

    More information on the Bradford on Avon drop-in session on July 21 is available on the Bradford on Avon Council site here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Tackling the chaos at home might be the secret to a more successful work life

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yasin Rofcanin, Professor of Management Strategy & Organisation, University of Bath

    Maria Svetlychnaja/Shuttersotck

    In a world of hybrid working and four-day weeks, most workers are asked to be agile, creative and strategic – not just at work but also at home. But what if the energy and focus workers invest into solving family life challenges could actually make them better at adapting and innovating in their jobs?

    Our recent study suggests that managing household life – what we call “strategic renewal at home” – doesn’t just benefit family functioning. It also boosts employees’ ability to generate ideas, reshape their roles and respond effectively to change at work.

    In short, proactively adapting and reorganising your home life could be a hidden asset for your career.

    “Strategic renewal” is a concept long associated with business transformation – think of a company reinventing its operations to respond to shifts in the market. But we argue that this same concept can apply to people managing life at home.

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

    Imagine a working parent who streamlines their childcare routine, redistributes chores with their partner or introduces a new system for managing family meals. These efforts – far from mundane – are proactive, forward-thinking moves to adapt to a changing environment. That’s strategic renewal, just in a different setting.

    Our findings show that when people engage in this kind of domestic renewal, it creates powerful ripple effects, shaping how they think, feel and perform at work.

    The hidden power of home life

    We followed 147 dual-earning couples in the US over six weeks. Each week, employees reported how much they engaged in strategic renewal at home and at work. We also captured their experiences of “flow” at home (those rare, deeply focused and enjoyable moments).

    For instance, when someone is completely absorbed in gardening, painting a room, or even following a complex recipe – activities that are both enjoyable and require focus – time seems to fly. We also captured their confidence in handling challenges (self-efficacy), and their partner’s view of how well they were managing work–family balance.

    We uncovered several interesting points. Employees who took proactive steps to improve family routines felt more “in flow” at home.

    These moments of flow built their confidence (self-efficacy), making them feel more capable of tackling future challenges – not just at home, but at work too. That confidence translated into more strategic renewal at work. Employees were more likely to change how they approached tasks, pitch ideas or redesign their roles.

    Crucially, their partners also noticed. Employees high in self-efficacy were rated as better at balancing work and family, as well as being more effective in family life.

    In other words, strategic behaviour at home doesn’t stay there – it travels with us. What happens at the breakfast table can spill over into the boardroom.

    But not all environments are equal. The benefits of home-based strategic renewal were much stronger when the family was supportive of creativity. When people felt free to try new things, take risks and share ideas at home, the gains from their efforts were amplified.

    This could be as simple as trying out a new meal, brainstorming weekend plans together or encouraging a partner to experiment with a new hobby. These activities reflect openness, curiosity and support for creative expression in everyday life.

    The same was true at work. Employees who felt their organisations fostered a climate of creativity – valuing new ideas, experimentation and autonomy – were more likely to act on their confidence and engage in strategic behaviour.

    We found a big takeaway for workers. Cultivating open, creative climates in both domains makes all the difference. Encouraging new ideas at home or at work doesn’t just make people feel good – it helps workers to be flexible and adaptive.

    What employers can do

    There’s a crucial lesson here for organisations too. The home is not a “black box” – some kind of impenetrable space that has no bearing on work. Instead, home life can play an active and meaningful role in shaping employees’ energy, confidence and creative capacity. Home can be a source of renewal, resilience and even innovation.

    Forward-thinking companies should avoid treating home and work as separate silos. Instead, they can invest in developing self-efficacy in employees. This could be providing training, coaching and feedback that reinforces workers’ belief in their ability to handle challenges.

    They should also encourage family-supportive leadership. Managers who ask about employees’ home life, support flexible arrangements and accommodate caring responsibilities help create the space for home-based renewal to thrive.

    Celebrating employees – for things beyond their professional achievements – is important.
    La Famiglia/Shutterstock

    And they should recognise “off-the-clock” moments. Celebrating life milestones, offering childcare support or simply acknowledging the mental load of home life all signal that organisations value the full person, not just the professional.

    For decades, companies have looked inward for solutions to innovation and adaptability – to things like better tech, better processes and better metrics. But our study found leaders should instead look outward — toward employees’ lives beyond work.

    When employees reorganise their domestic life, they’re demonstrating foresight, adaptability and leadership. These are precisely the qualities workplaces are looking for in a world of constant disruption.

    When workplaces start seeing the home not just as a stressor but as a source of strength, they can open the door to smarter, more sustainable strategies for resilience, creativity and growth.

    So the next time you redesign your morning routine, don’t think of it as just surviving the chaos. You might just be sharpening your edge for the workday ahead.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Tackling the chaos at home might be the secret to a more successful work life – https://theconversation.com/tackling-the-chaos-at-home-might-be-the-secret-to-a-more-successful-work-life-258487

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $21M for Flood Protection in the Southern Tier 

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $21 million to support flood protection projects in the Southern Tier. The projects address vital stormwater management and resilient infrastructure projects in communities including Binghamton, Elmira, Olean, and Whitney Point to help advance New York’s comprehensive clean water and resiliency efforts that will safeguard New Yorkers from extreme weather and the costly expenses of rebuilding after a flood.

    “As we face more and more devastating extreme storms, we must do everything we can to ensure our communities are resilient, sustainable and ready,” Governor Hochul said. “We saw the flooding in Binghamton almost 15 years ago, and we don’t want to see it again. These projects help us get ahead of the storm damage, save taxpayers millions of dollars in the long run, and prevent post-flood recovery costs for homeowners and businesses alike.”

    The $21 million provided through the ‘Restoration and Flood Risk’ category of the historic $4.2 billion Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 will support projects implemented by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The initial four projects announced today will help make necessary updates and bolster the resilience of existing flood infrastructure like levees and flood walls, to help ensure these structures’ long-term effectiveness in protecting communities from flooding. These flood control structures were originally constructed under the federal 1936 Flood Control Act to specifically address flooding along the Southern Tier of New York State and built in the 1940s and early 1950s.

    Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership and historic investments, New York State is making important progress to protect communities and infrastructure from the devastating impacts of flooding. By supporting DEC’s repairs and upgrades in Binghamton, Elmira, Olean, and Whitney Point with the record funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, the Governor is advancing key projects in communities that are susceptible to flooding, helping provide residents the support they need to avoid potential costly repairs if flooding occurs.”

    Assemblymember Deborah Glick said, “As climate change continues to intensify storms and flooding across New York, proactive investments like these are critical to protecting communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems. The $21 million in Environmental Bond Act funding announced today will strengthen flood control systems in the Southern Tier, projects that are not only long overdue, but essential for public safety and long-term resiliency. I applaud Governor Hochul and Commissioner Lefton for advancing these vital efforts to build a safer, more climate-resilient New York.” 

    City of Binghamton Flood Control Project

    DEC is making improvements to the Binghamton Flood Control Project located along the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers in the City of Binghamton. Rehabilitation of the floodwalls is necessary to ensure Binghamton has a resilient working flood protection system. The construction includes replacement of two floodwall panels, replacing deteriorated concrete, and application of a protective coating on the floodwalls to extend the useful life of the concrete walls.    

    City of Elmira Flood Control Project

    DEC is making improvements to the Elmira Flood Control Project along the Chemung River, which provides flood protection for the city of Elmira. The project consists of levees, and flood walls with appurtenant drainage structures. The project will install 65 relief wells along with collector pipes to provide pressure relief caused by floodwaters and will ensure the structure meets U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements.    

    City of Olean Flood Control Project

    DEC is making improvements to the Olean Flood Control Project located on the Allegheny River and Olean Creek in the city of Olean. The project will stabilize a section of existing levee system, mitigate erosion, and improve access to the levee for regular DEC maintenance.   

    Village of Whitney Point Flood Control Project

    DEC is making improvements to the Whitney Point Flood Control Project located on the Tioughnioga River in the village of Whitney Point. The project will upgrade the manual gate system and install a new swing gate closure structure to more efficiently and effectively close the existing stoplog railroad closure.   

    On Nov. 8, 2022, New Yorkers overwhelmingly approved the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act ballot proposition to make $4.2 billion available for environmental and community projects. The Environmental Bond Act supports new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution, and protect communities and natural resources from climate change. State agencies, local governments, and partners can access this historic funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs.

    The projects announced today complement other state investments and opportunities to protect communities from flood damage. In May, Governor Hochul announced more than $78 million in funding available through the Water Quality Improvement Project Program and $22 million in Climate Smart Community grants, which both support projects that include flood risk reduction. Applications for these latest rounds of funding are due by July 31, 2025. In April, the Governor also announced $60 million in Environmental Bond Act funding for the next round of Green Resiliency Grants. The program supports vital stormwater management and resilient infrastructure projects in flood-prone communities across New York State. Applications for this program are due by Aug. 15, 2025. To learn more about resources available for resilient Bond Act-supported projects, visit environmentalbondact.ny.gov.

    New York’s Commitment to Water Quality

    New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure. With an additional $500 million for clean water infrastructure in the 2025-2026 enacted State Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $6 billion in water infrastructure since 2017. The budget also maintains a strong commitment to environmental conservation with a $425 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). This funding bolsters a wide array of vital programs, including land acquisition for habitat and open space preservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives, and water quality improvement projects.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Statement from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H: 100 Days of Embracing Gold-Standard Science, Transparency and Common Sense

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 10, 2025
    Statement From:

    As I mark my hundredth day on the job at the FDA, I’m proud to celebrate the agency’s accomplishments in the bipartisan effort to Make America Healthy Again. I came here with big questions: Why does it take ten years for a drug to reach patients? How can we fix America’s  food supply so it is not filled with harmful chemicals and additives? Why are childhood chronic diseases so prevalent? We are taking bold action to address these big, obvious problems, and more, which have been staring at us for years.
    The FDA regulates products that account for 20% of all U.S. consumer spending, and our work impacts the lives of every American. Over the past 100 days, we’ve launched dozens of key initiatives across the full range of the FDA’s purview to help make food healthier for children and families, accelerate meaningful cures and treatments, and modernize the agency with transparency, gold-standard science and common sense. Highlights include:  
    Food – Healthier Food for Children

    Fixing America’s Food Supply

    Petroleum-based food dye removal – Took action to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply, which are linked to numerous health risks.
    Improving infant formula – Continued the work of Operation Stork Speed by hosting an expert roundtable on infant formula and exploring new ways to bring additional and healthier options without ingredients like seed oils, added sugars and heavy metals to market.
    Food chemical review – Initiated a robust, transparent review of chemicals currently in the food supply, such as BHT, BHA and ADA; and expedited the review of chemicals currently under review, such as phthalates, propylparaben and titanium dioxide.
    GRAS reform – Exploring rulemaking to require “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) submissions to FDA to stop industry’s long-standing practice of introducing ingredients into the food supply without FDA knowledge or oversight.
    Natural food dyes – Approved uses of three food colors derived from natural sources: Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate, and initiated an accelerated the review of other natural alternatives.
    Began revising broken dietary guidelines – Launched the Nutrition Regulatory Science Program in partnership with NIH to better address highly relevant questions for Americans’ health, such as the impact of ultra-processed foods and the effect of certain food additives.
    Defining ultra-processed foods – Will launch FDA/USDA request for data and information to help develop a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, and industry roundtable, paving the way for additional study and action.

    More Meaningful Cures, Treatments and Diagnostics

    Accelerating Cures  

    Reducing animal testing – Published a roadmap to transition away from animal testing for investigational new drug applications wherever possible and use more effective, human-relevant methods, such as organ-on-a-chip systems, advanced computer simulations, and pre-existing international data. Announced the intent to launch a pilot program in which select monoclonal antibody developers may pursue a primarily non-animal-based testing strategy, under close FDA consultation.
    Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program – Announced a pilot program to expedite drug review processes from 10-12 months to 1-2 months following submission of a final application addressing U.S. national priorities, such as tackling a major health crisis or unmet public health need, increasing domestic drug manufacturing, and delivering more innovative cures for the American people.
    Revised Covid-19 vaccine regulatory framework – Adopted a new evidence-based approach to Covid-19 booster approvals, replacing a one-size-fits-all regulatory framework and broad marketing authorizations with a risk-stratified approach that is already embraced by most doctors and parents. Updated labeling of mRNA shots to include new safety information about myocarditis and pericarditis.
    Addressed industry influence – Limited the circumstances where individuals employed at FDA-regulated companies, such as pharmaceutical companies, may serve as members of FDA advisory committees, where statutorily possible, to mitigate perceived conflicts of interest and strengthen integrity to the review process.
    CEO Listening Tour – Launched a six-city listening tour to meet directly with pharmaceutical and biotech executives, gathering honest feedback and big ideas to help the agency better accelerate cures and innovation.
    Cell and Gene therapy innovation – Engaged dozens of industry experts in a roundtable to shape actions that will ensure America leads at the forefront of innovation in this space.
    Removed restrictions on certain gene therapies – Removed REMS requirement for currently approved BCMA- and CD19-directed autologous chimeric antigen receptor CAR T cell immunotherapies, the first of many steps towards a more common-sense regulatory approach in this space.
    Diagnostics to empower healthy decisions – Cleared the first in vitro diagnostic device that tests blood to aid in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.  Initiated process to remove regulations on Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs).
    Extended-release drug labeling change – Revised labeling on extended-release stimulants for ADHD treatment, cautioning parents and providers about the risks of adverse reactions, including weight loss, when used by children under six.

    Administration – Gold-Standard Science & Common Sense

    Protecting American Consumers

    Combatting illegal vapes – In collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seized nearly $34 million worth of illegal, youth-appealing e-cigarette products originating in China.
    Protecting the microbiome from fluoride tablets – Initiated action to remove concentrated ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the market, which were not FDA-approved and have been shown to alter the gut microbiome.
    Examining talc – Hosted an expert panel to review the latest evidence and discuss potential health risks associated with talc used in food, drugs and cosmetics.
    Unannounced foreign inspections – Expanded the use of unannounced foreign inspections where appropriate, holding domestic and international drug manufacturers to the same high standard.
    Holistic inspection policy review – Began comprehensive review of the agency’s policies and practices for foreign inspections (including policies related to travel accommodations), ensuring the FDA remains the gold standard for regulatory oversight.
    Protecting American’s biological samples – Initiated action to review and, where necessary, halt clinical trials which involve exporting Americans’ living cells and DNA to labs in hostile countries, such as China, for genetic engineering and subsequent infusion back into U.S. patients.
    Enhancing drug importation – Fought high prescription drug prices by working to streamline the process by which states can pursue importation of safe, effective and affordable drugs from Canada, without imposing additional risk to public health and safety.
    Cracking down on falsified data – Discovered that third-party testing companies in China were producing falsified or otherwise invalid data; acted swiftly to protect the integrity of the premarket application process and the medical device supply chain.
    Fighting “gas station heroin” –Issued warning letters against companies distributing and selling unlawful tianeptine products, warned health care professionals and the general public about the extensive adverse events associated with tianeptine use.
    FDA import alerts – Updated several import alerts – for certain dietary supplements, cheeses, seafood, fish products and more – to help prevent illegal and unauthorized products flooding the U.S. market and risking American’s safety and health.

    Unleashing AI and Big Data

    AI-assisted review – Completed a successful first AI-assisted scientific review pilot, demonstrating that internal AI tools can greatly reduce the time reviewers spend on mundane tasks or non-productive busywork.
    Equipping reviewers with internal AI tools – Launched Elsa, a generative AI tool designed to help all FDA employees – from scientific reviewers to investigators – work more efficiently. Elsa is just an initial step in the FDA’s larger plans to integrate AI into agency processes.
    Building a better adverse event reporting database – Launched a comprehensive effort to consolidate disparate adverse event reporting databases, which will enable far more effective post-market monitoring of drug products.

    Modernization and Radical Transparency

    Transparent communications – Created FDA Direct, a regular channel for communicating directly with the public through frequent, unscripted conversations with the FDA Commissioner about strategic updates and the thinking behind key agency decisions.
    Transparent agenda – In the Journal of the American Medical Association, provided a clear outline of FDA leadership’s priorities for modernizing and improving the agency in the months ahead.
    Transparent decision making – Began publishing, to the greatest extent possible, decision letters issued in response to applications for new drugs and biological products.

    I’m excited by what the talented FDA team have been able to achieve in 100 days by embracing gold-standard science, radical transparency and common sense. This is just the beginning. We’ll continue to introduce initiatives to modernize the agency, protect consumers, bring more meaningful cures, treatments and diagnostics to patients, and make healthier food available for children, using the best science and data to Make America Healthy Again.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Content current as of:
    07/10/2025

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: For Immediate Release: Congressman Hunt Statement on Hill Country Flooding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Wesley Hunt (Texas 38th District)

    Contact: James Kyrkanides, Chief of Staff

    Houston, TX – Congressman Wesley Hunt issued a statement today about his active involvement with federal, state, and local leaders regarding the flash flooding in Hill Country, Texas. 

    Many members of the Houston community had children enrolled at Camp La Junta and Camp Mystic while the flash flooding hit Hill Country. 

    “I am closely monitoring the flooding situation in Kerville, Texas,” said Rep. Hunt. “I have been in contact with Secretary Kristi Noem, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that those in danger are rescued immediately. 

    “Emily and I are praying for all those affected by this tragedy, including those in our Houston Community. May God watch over the victims, the first responders, and all the families impacted. May God bless Texas.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Introduces Bill to Reform FEMA 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Welch’s Disaster AID Act filed on the anniversaries of Vermont’s July 2023 and July 2024 floods  
    Legislation would cut red tape and improve processes for FEMA’s Public Assistance and long-term recovery efforts 
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today introduced the Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act, new legislation to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Senator Welch filed the Disaster AID Act on the anniversary of the July 2023 and July 2024 floods in Vermont. The bill was inspired and shaped by the disaster recovery experiences of communities around the you saw a lot of agonized republicans they all voted for it but a lot of across Vermont. 
    Senator Welch’s bill will cut red tape at FEMA and empower state and local governments to access recovery assistance when it is needed. The bill will support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns and expedite funding for disaster response. 
    “FEMA does lifesaving and important work after a disaster, but we need to find a way to fix the agency so it works better to help communities recover in the weeks, months, and years after a disaster. Vermont saw it firsthand: there’s too much red tape, and the long-term recovery process is inefficient,” said Senator Welch when he unveiled the bill. “My commonsense bill is inspired by the experiences of flood-impacted Vermont communities that had to wait too long—and jump through far too many hoops—to get the federal support needed to build back after a disaster.”   
    Last week, Senator Welch visited with Vermonters and community leaders impacted by the July 2023 and July 2024 floods across Vermont—including in Killington, Ludlow, Weston, Barre and Montpelier.   
    Over the course of consecutive summers in July 2023 and July 2024, Vermont experienced severe storms which caused catastrophic flooding, washouts, and mudslides. Homes, farms, businesses, and public infrastructure were destroyed, and communities were left reeling. In the immediate aftermath of the destruction, FEMA provided lifesaving on-the-ground assistance, working with local organizations and the state. In the long-term, however, FEMA’s response has not met the needs of communities.   
    Many of Vermont’s towns operate with limited resources and lack the administrative capacity needed to navigate the complex web of federal disaster assistance—especially in the aftermath of a brutal flood. FEMA has failed to provide necessary support and burdensome FEMA policies have slowed or blocked communities from accessing federal funds. Towns were not empowered to capitalize on their understanding of conditions on the ground. To make matters worse, under the Trump Administration, communities must now contend with uncertain federal funding streams, including for reimbursement of projects already approved and under way.  
    Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act will cut red tape and ease cumbersome requirements that restrict state and local governments from tailoring solutions to local circumstances. The bill will also provide technical and financial resources for small towns and communities that lack administrative capacity, and restrain future administrations from arbitrarily turning off the funding spigot for communities in the midst of disaster recovery.  
    The Disaster AID Act is supported by leaders across Vermont, including Vermont Governor Phil Scott; Kristin Atwood, Barton Town Clerk; Ted Brady, Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns; Michele Braun, Executive Director of the Friends of the Winooski River; Chris Campany, Executive Director of the Windham Regional Commission, and Chair of the VAPDA Emergency Management Committee; Jon Copans, Executive Director, Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience; Ben Doyle, Executive Director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont; Peter Gregory, Executive Director of the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC); Thom Lauzon, Mayor of Barre City; Kristen Leahy, Zoning and Floodplain Administrator and Resilience & Adaption Coordinator for Hardwick; Jim Linville, Selectboard Vice Chair and Recovery Director of Weston; Julie Moore, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources; Stephanie Smith, Vermont Hazard Mitigation Officer; Justin Smith, Municipal Administrator for the Town of Lyndon; and Beverley Wemple, Director of the University of Vermont’s Water Resources Institute.   
    “After facing devastating floods over the last two summers, Vermonters have seen firsthand, the value of federal support and assistance from FEMA workers. However, we’ve also experienced gaps between response and recovery, and we need to make changes that better support responders on the ground and those trying to rebuild. I appreciate Senator Welch taking on the challenge to create an expedited, more efficient, and flexible emergency management system,” said Governor Phil Scott.  
    “The Town of Barton, Vermont, has been hit two years in a row on the same date by disastrous flooding. The unknowns of funding around that have us delaying needed normal maintenance until FEMA funds are received to cover flooding repairs, and slowing down the repairs to make sure those funds flow in before the next project is underway. This unknown funding element has the Town worrying as we look to the future instead of confident FEMA will have our backs. Our ability to prepare for and mitigate the next storm is significantly impacted by our unwillingness to overextend ourselves in case FEMA funding does not come through. This puts us at greater risk of damage if another storm were to come before we have completed recovery from the prior two,” said Kristin Atwood, Barton Town Clerk.   
    “Vermont municipalities can’t prepare for or recover from a disaster without the federal government’s help. Nearly every municipal leader impacted by recent flooding in Vermont has told me that FEMA has been difficult to work with. I’m pleased to see Senator Welch proposing reforms to address these concerns. The ballooning federal bureaucracy, rotating FEMA staff, inconsistent funding, and requirement to take on debt have combined to make recovering from the flooding here in Vermont another disaster. The Disaster AID Act addresses these challenges by providing technical assistance to municipalities before a disaster hits, providing disaster aid immediately to reduce the debt towns need to take on, and cutting down on the red tape communities need to navigate to access federal assistance,” said Ted Brady, Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.   
    “Having helped dozens of towns to recover from devastating floods, we know firsthand that FEMA’s procedures are a barrier to accessing critical funds. Friends of the Winooski River appreciates Senator Welch’s efforts to improve access to the resources our communities desperately need for flood recovery and future health and safety,” said Michele Braun, Executive Director of the Friends of the Winooski River.  
    “FEMA provides critical resources and structure for disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, but it needs reform to make it work better for people and their communities. I don’t think there’s disagreement there, including among FEMA rank and file personnel. Congress needs to act. What is needed, and what this bill would do, is build state and local capacity to prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover while making more efficient and effective use of federal resources,” said Chris Campany, Executive Director of the Windham Regional Commission, and Chair of the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies (VAPDA) Emergency Management Committee.  
    “While it is far from perfect, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has repeatedly proven to be a critical part of disaster response here in Central Vermont.  I commend Senator Peter Welch for his efforts to improve FEMA’s process and provide support to small municipalities as we struggle to navigate the bureaucracy to help our communities recover.  The Disaster Assistance and Decentralization Act takes important steps to reform and strengthen federal disaster response so that cities and towns across the country can recover more quickly and make critical investments in future resilience,” said Jon Copans, Executive Director, Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience.  
    “One thing that became clear very quickly after the 2023 flood is that if you’ve seen one small town dealing with a disaster, you’ve seen one small town dealing with a disaster. The impacts on homes, businesses, and infrastructure, were all significant, but they were different depending on the community—and the capacity of municipalities to respond and support residents varied widely. While FEMA representatives were on the ground and well-intentioned, the truth is they were often more prepared to tell people what they couldn’t do because of regulations than to help them rebuild their lives. We need the federal government to meet people where they are—regardless of the size of the community or the scale of the disaster—and provide tailored technical assistance, financial support, and, most importantly, hope.” said Ben Doyle, Executive Director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.  
    “We are very appreciative of Senator Welch’s proposal to reform FEMA and how it interacts with Vermonters. His proposal explicitly enables regional planning commissions to work as agents of municipalities when interacting with FEMA. We were pleased to offer this idea and even more pleased to help our communities,” said Peter Gregory, Executive Director of the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC).   
    “The City of Barre was hit hard by the 2023 and 2024 floods, and we are grateful to the many people who have and continue to help us rebuild better and stronger. While we’ve made significant progress, there’s much more work to be done. We are grateful to Senator Welch for proposing a commonsense solution that would provide technical assistance, simplified procedures and support for long-term resiliency to municipalities that are in need. We need to fix FEMA, not kill it,” said Thom Lauzon, Mayor of Barre City.   
    “Hardwick has faced devastating impacts from back-to-back floods in 2023 and 2024, with repeated damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure along the Lamoille River. One example is 41 Brush Street, a residential property now hanging precariously over the riverbank due to severe erosion. The home is slated for a FEMA-funded buyout, and additional stabilization is needed to protect surrounding properties. FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program is essential for communities like ours, not only for rebuilding but for implementing long-term solutions that reduce future risk. Without sustained and accessible funding, rural towns will be left in a cycle of damage and short-term fixes. Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act provides a path toward more timely and effective recovery, especially for Vermont’s hardest-hit towns,” said Kristen Leahy, Zoning and Floodplain Administrator and Resilience & Adaption Coordinator for Hardwick.  
    “The support for small towns in Senator Welch’s Disaster AID Act is crucial in enabling towns in Vermont and nationwide to obtain the expert assistance they require in responding to disasters, as well as identifying, designing and funding mitigation projects. Five months after the July 2023 flood in Weston, we applied for and received an MTAP grant that allowed us to retain professional help to guide us through the grant maze and get a head start on modeling the flooding and designing mitigation projects. Our hope is that with passage of the Disaster AID Act, this sort of assistance will be available soon after the next (inevitable) disaster event so our town fathers and mothers aren’t wringing their hands trying to figure out what to do, how to do it and how to pay for it,” said Jim Linville, Selectboard Vice Chair and Recovery Director of Weston.  
    “Vermont has experienced multiple federally-declared disasters since 2023 which laid bare Vermont municipalities’ need for additional technical assistance,” said ANR Secretary Julie Moore. “The Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization Act would help fill this critical need. In particular, we are grateful to Sen. Welch for his continued efforts to simplify procedures for complex relocation projects for critical facilities, such as the wastewater treatment facilities in Johnson, Hardwick and Ludlow – all of which have experienced repeated flood damage.”  
    “The BRIC program greatly improved Vermont’s ability to do the planning and scoping work necessary in order to develop important flood reduction projects in our communities,” said Stephanie Smith, Vermont Hazard Mitigation Section Chief. “This legislation represents a fundamental shift in the way we administer hazard mitigation funding that would allow us to successfully and efficiently utilize federal resources to reduce future flood risk in Vermont.”  
    “Like many rural towns in Vermont, Lyndon is not blessed with a large staff to handle the volume of paperwork required to receive funding from FEMA when a disaster occurs.  Many towns in rural Vermont are not even fortunate enough to have a Municipal Administrator or Manager in place to handle the paper trail and are forced to rely solely on volunteers in their community. We understand and support the necessity of ensuring that funds are being properly spent and accounted for.  However, there is a strong need to create a system where communities have one point of contact throughout the entirety of a declared disaster. Small Vermont communities such as ours, do not have the resources or the personnel work hours to start and re-start the process of disaster re-imbursement from scratch because a FEMA PDMG has reached their 50-week time limit and must move on,” said Justin Smith, Municipal Administrator for the Town of Lyndon. “Taking away a single employee from their normal day to day responsibilities to devote to disaster recovery severely understaffs any rural community, and extending this length of time attempting to get a new PDMG or multiple PDMGs up to speed is time and money that rural communities don’t have the luxury of wasting.”  
    “The Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act will provide critical assistance to communities impacted by flooding and other disasters. The bill’s provisions will get assistance into the hands of those who need it more rapidly following disasters. In Vermont and communities across the country, investments in hazard mitigation projects enabled by the Act, like reconnecting rivers to floodplains that store and dissipate the energy of floodwaters, will make communities safer and ensure we are prepared for the future in a way that also supports healthy ecosystems,” said Beverley Wemple, Director of the University of Vermont’s Water Resources Institute. “Thank you, Senator Welch, for introducing this important piece of legislation that will support all Americans in meeting the challenges of future natural disasters.”  
    • • •  
    Senator Welch has been outspoken in opposing any attempt by the Trump Administration to dismantle FEMA. Earlier this year, Senator Welch published a guest essay in The New York Times entitled: “Don’t Kill FEMA. Fix It.” In his piece, Senator Welch outlined why President Trump’s actions to undermine and potentially dissolve FEMA are misguided—but also committed to working on good faith efforts to reform the agency’s long-term recovery process.    
    In December 2024, Senator Welch helped shape and pass a comprehensive disaster aid package, which delivered more than $100.4 billion of relief for states like Vermont recovering from climate disasters. The disaster aid package contained many of Senator Welch’s top priorities for the State: dedicated help for Vermont’s flood-impacted farmers, flexible spending through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief fund, money for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and support for businesses, among many other important provisions.   
    Learn more about the Disaster AID Act.  
    Read a section-by-section summary of the Disaster AID Act.  
    Read the bill text of the Disaster AID Act. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement of the Coalition of the Willing meeting by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine: 10 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Statement of the Coalition of the Willing meeting by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine: 10 July 2025

    Today the leaders of member states and international organisations of the Coalition of the Willing gathered in London, Rome and virtually to discuss strengthening support to Ukraine and further pressure on Russia.

    Today the leaders of member states and international organisations of the Coalition of the Willing gathered in London, Rome and virtually to discuss strengthening support to Ukraine and further pressure on Russia. They welcomed the participation of United States Special Presidential Envoy, General Keith Kellogg, and Senators Graham and Blumenthal – the first time representatives of the United States have joined in the Coalition of the Willing meeting. 

    The leaders congratulated Prime Minister Meloni of Italy on hosting the Ukraine Recovery Conference, from where President Zelenskyy and fellow leaders joined the meeting.

    The Leaders reiterated that President Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and a threat to their security interests. They underlined their unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. 

    They commended President Zelenskyy’s sincere support for US-led efforts to reach peace. Four months have passed since Ukraine agreed to a full, unconditional ceasefire. In this time, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population, killing more than 700 and injuring over 3,500 in the most intense air strikes of the invasion to date. The Leaders called on Russia to end attacks against civilians, and to commit to a full and unconditional ceasefire in order to negotiate a just and lasting settlement.

    The Leaders supported further peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, praising efforts by President Trump on establishing a peace process backed by the United States and other close partners. This should make progress towards a meeting of leaders.  

    Leaders also agreed to step up action against Russia’s war economy. They agreed to develop further restrictive measures, in coordination with all relevant actors, against Russia’s energy and financial sectors, including Russian oil and gas exports, the ‘shadow fleet’, and third country supply to Russia’s war machine.

    The Leaders reiterated that strong Ukrainian armed forces are the primary guarantee of the country’s sovereignty and security. They agreed that, while Russia’s aggression continues, this group would prioritise making sure that Ukraine gets the military and financial support it needs to defend itself in the fight now. Furthermore, they reaffirmed agreement to provide at least €40bn in military support to Ukraine in 2025 to bolster the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine – matching the commitment made by the NATO Alliance in 2024. They agreed to work through the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) and the Capability Coalitions to accelerate support for Ukraine’s future forces. 

    A primary priority for support is the strengthening of Ukraine’s integrated air-defence capabilities. Leaders also agreed on further support to deter Russian massive drone attacks, and to increase financing for the production of drone interceptors. 

    They reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security and to building Ukraine’s ability to deter and defend against future armed attack by Russia. They welcomed the development of mature operational plans to deploy a reassurance force  – the ‘Multinational Force Ukraine’ – once hostilities have ceased, and to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces. They welcomed the establishment of a UK/French led operational headquarters to support planning activity, the commitments made by partners to contribute to the force, as well as Ukraine’s readiness to issue an invitation to the force and enter into formal agreements with participating countries where necessary.

    Leaders also underlined the importance of ensuring fiscal and economic support for Ukraine. They agreed to draw up a collective plan to support Ukrainian public finances in 2026. They also recognised that free and safe navigation in the Black Sea will strengthen Ukraine’s economy and restore food security, and reiterated their commitment to support demining efforts in the Black Sea. The Leaders also agreed to continue to explore all lawful routes to ensure that Russia pays for the damage that it has done to Ukraine, including looking at further options for the use of revenues stemming from Russian immobilised sovereign assets.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Coalition of the Willing headquarters as leaders step up support for Ukraine’s immediate flight

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New Coalition of the Willing headquarters as leaders step up support for Ukraine’s immediate flight

    The Coalition of the Willing will have a new permanent headquarters in Paris, with plans in place for a future coordination cell in Kyiv, as command structures for the future reassurance force are finalised.

    The Coalition of the Willing will have a new permanent headquarters in Paris, with plans in place for a future coordination cell in Kyiv, as command structures for the future reassurance force are finalised. 

    It comes after leaders from the Coalition of the Willing met virtually today, with the Prime Minister and President Macron joining from the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood and President Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Meloni and other leaders joining from the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome to discuss the latest planning and our wider efforts to support Ukraine.

    For the first time, representatives of the United States, including Special Presidential Envoy, General Keith Kellogg, Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal, joined the meeting.

    Military chiefs updated on the significant progress made, including the completion of reconnaissance visits to Ukraine, to better understand how a post-ceasefire force could best help regenerate the strength and firepower of Ukrainian forces and provide reassurance in the years to come.

    Following agreement on command structures for the force, leaders agreed that planning should continue on an enduring, business as usual footing, to ensure that a force can deploy in the days following the cessation of hostilities.

    That will include a 3-star multi-national operational headquarters in Paris, led by the UK and France, to oversee all tactical and operational arrangements.

    The headquarters, which will rotate to London after the first 12 months, will allow partners to contribute forces flexibly and deploy military teams for different operational strands of work.

    When the force deploys, a co-ordination cell, headed up by a UK 2-star military officer will also be set up in Kyiv.

    Following the cessation of hostilities, the force is expected to:

    • Regenerate land forces: providing logistic, armament and training experts to assist with the regeneration and reconstitution of Ukraine’s land forces.
    • Secure Ukraine’s skies: The Coalition will provide safe skies alongside Ukraine’s Air Force using Coalition aircraft to deliver Air Policing, reassuring the Ukrainian population and establishing the conditions for normal international air travel to re-commence. 
    • Support safer seas: The existing Black Sea Task Force of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria will be bolstered by additional specialist staff to accelerate the clearance of mines from the Black Sea and ensure safe and secure maritime access for all vessels transiting to and from Ukraine ports. 

    During the meeting, leaders condemned President Putin’s brutal attacks on Ukrainian cities and disregard for peace talks and reaffirmed their determination to continue applying pressure on Putin to stop his illegal attacks and engage meaningfully in negotiations. They also welcomed progress made at the Ukraine Recovery Conference to help Ukraine grow its economy and protect its infrastructure against Russia’s attacks. 

    They agreed their priority effort must be to focus on Ukraine’s immediate defence in the face of relentless Russian attacks on critical national infrastructure and civilians.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Supporting Ukraine is not just the right thing to do, it’s essential for delivering security at home. That is why the Coalition of the Willing is ensuring we have a future force that can deploy following a ceasefire to deter Russian aggression for years to come.

    But as we continue to prepare for peace, our focus must also be on making it happen. So, alongside our partners, in the coming days and weeks, we will step up our support to keep Ukraine in the fight now, increasing pressure on Putin through crippling sanctions and ensuring Ukraine’s Armed Forces have the equipment they need to defend their sovereign territory.

    I am clear that the more we do to counter Russia’s aggression, the safer we will keep the British people, our allies and the Euro-Atlantic area.

    President Putin has made it clear with his barbaric missile strikes that he is not ready for peace – underscoring the need for the international priority to be to strengthen Ukraine in the fight now.

    Despite this, Coalition of the Willing members have been steadfast about their commitment to making sure they are ready to support Ukraine to deter future Russian attacks when the conditions for peace are right. 

    The ‘Multinational Force Ukraine’ will bolster Ukraine’s ability to return to peace and stability by supporting the regeneration of Ukraine’s own forces. Strong Ukrainian armed forces is the best way to deter Russia – and ensure the country is able to rebuild a thriving economy and attract international investment.

    The military plan comes after military chiefs met in Paris on Monday to agree the strategy for the force and coordinate plans with the EU, NATO and the US and more than 200 planners from 30 international partners.

    Leaders have now met six times to further planning and political support for the plans. The meeting comes after Ukraine’s friends and partners pledged €40bn of military support for the country in 2025 at the NATO Summit last month.

    This year, the UK will contribute £4.5 billion of military support to Ukraine – more than ever before, as well as launching a new landmark partnership share battlefield technology.

    That agreement, reached last month, will boost Ukraine’s drone production capacity and link the UK’s defence industry with the cutting-edge technology being developed on the front lines in Ukraine.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assessing the Global Climate in June 2025

    Source: US National Oceanographic Data Center

    June Highlights:

    • June saw widespread warmer-than-normal temperatures across most of the globe.
    • Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent was below average in June.
    • Sea ice extent was near-record low for the Arctic and third lowest for the Antarctic.
    • Global tropical cyclone activity was above average with nine named storms.
    Map of global selected significant climate anomalies and events in June 2025.

    Temperature

    June 2025 had the third-warmest June global surface temperature in NOAA’s 176-year record, with a temperature 1.76°F (0.98°C) higher than the 20th-century baseline. This June was cooler than June 2023 (second warmest) and June 2024 (warmest). According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, there is a very high likelihood that 2025 will rank among the five warmest years on record. However, it is unlikely that 2025 will rank as the warmest year on record. 

    Land and Ocean Temperature Percentiles for June 2025 (°C). Red indicates warmer than average and blue indicates colder than average.

    June saw widespread above-average temperatures across much of the globe’s surface. Warm temperature departures were most notable in parts of North America, Europe, central Asia, western and eastern Antarctica and the northern Pacific Ocean. Pockets of below-average temperatures were present across parts of the higher latitudes of the Arctic, Greenland and the North Atlantic, as well as parts of northwestern and northern Asia, India, north and eastern Australia, southern South America, central Antarctica and the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

    Regionally, Europe and Asia both had their fifth-warmest June on record. North America had its eighth-warmest and Africa its ninth-warmest. South America, Oceania, the Arctic, the Antarctic and the Caribbean and Hawaiian regions also recorded above-average temperatures for June; however, their anomalies did not place among their respective top 10 warmest Junes on record.

    Precipitation

    As is typical, precipitation patterns varied globally. Regions that experienced drier-than-average conditions included parts of northern Canada and the western contiguous U.S., as well as the southern half of Europe, the central and western parts of Asia and southwestern and eastern Australia. Southern and western Alaska, the eastern half of the U.S., northern South America, northern Europe and much of Asia had wetter-than-average conditions.

    Snow Cover

    The Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent was the 12th-smallest June extent on record, with 610,000 square miles below average. Snow cover over North America and Greenland was below average by 280,000 square miles and was the 11th-smallest snow cover extent in the 59-year record. Eurasia was also below average by 330,000 square miles—tying with 2009 as the 13th-smallest June extent. 

    Sea Ice

    Global sea ice extent was the second-smallest June extent on record at 850,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average. Arctic sea ice extent was also the second-smallest extent at 320,000 square miles below average. The Antarctic sea ice extent was the third-smallest for June at 540,000 square miles below average.

    Map of the Antarctic (left) and Arctic (right) sea ice extent in June 2025.

    Tropical Cyclones

    Globally, tropical cyclone activity was above average during June, with a total of nine named storms. The Atlantic basin had two named storms: Tropical Storm (TS) Andrea and TS Barry. Notably, Barry brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of eastern Mexico. Its remnants also contributed to extreme flooding over parts of central Texas in early July.

    The East Pacific basin was more active, with five named storms: Hurricane Barbara, TS Cosme, TS Dahlia, Hurricane Erick and TS Flossie. Among these, Hurricane Erick stands out as the earliest major hurricane on record to make landfall in Mexico.

    The West Pacific saw two named storms: Typhoon Wutip and TS Sepat. Wutip, an equivalent Category 1 typhoon, brought heavy rain and strong winds to southern China.

    No tropical cyclones formed in the North Indian Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere basins.

    For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our June 2025 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Calls from Senator Budd, USDA Opens Aid Applications for Farmers to Receive Natural Disaster Recovery Assistance

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened applications for natural disaster recovery assistance for farmers. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP).

    “Our farmers are the lifeblood of our nation, sustaining our communities and our economy. When severe weather events, like Hurricane Helene, and drought struck North Carolina last year, it devastated our crops and shattered countless livelihoods. Unfortunately, this tragic pattern repeats itself whenever major natural disasters strike. Without swift disaster relief, agricultural producers face the stark reality of downsizing or closing their operations altogether. This is why I am deeply grateful to the Trump administration for ensuring that critical aid reaches our farmers, in North Carolina and across the country, helping them recover and continue feeding America,” said Senator Budd.

    BACKGROUND

    In March, Senator Budd led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the USDA urging the department to expedite the rulemaking process on administering disaster relief aid for farmers, which was provided by Congress in December 2024. A lack of clarity in the federal government’s rulemaking process for natural disaster programs threatened the ability of farmers to fully utilize the allocated aid. In the letter, Senator Budd called on the Trump administration to ensure a fair and efficient disbursement of federal dollars for rural Americans to access emergency funding.

    In May, Senator Budd received news that his effort was successful when the USDA released a plan to get critical aid to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters.

    ***

    Applications for Supplemental Disaster Assistance for agricultural producers open today, July 10, 2025.

    The SDRP will aid eligible producers for necessary expenses due to losses of revenue, quality, or production of crops due to weather-related events in 2023 and 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering SDRP assistance in two stages. Producers can receive payments in both stages, if applicable, and for one or both years, depending on losses.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/supplemental-disaster-relief-program-sdrp

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to New Jersey Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New Jersey of the Aug. 11 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought occurring June 8, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the New Jersey counties of Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem; Kent and New Castle counties in Delaware as well as Delaware and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania.

    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 small 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.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    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.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is Aug. 11, 2025.

    ###

    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 or 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 –

  • Rivers in southwest China breach warning levels, thousands evacuated

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Twenty-five rivers in southwestern China exceeded safe levels on Thursday, state media said, after more than 10,000 people were evacuated as the remnants of former typhoon Danas converged with East Asian monsoon rains.

    Extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which meteorologists link to climate change, increasingly pose major challenges as they threaten to overwhelm ageing flood defences, displace millions and wreak havoc on a $2.8-trillion agricultural sector.

    Heavy rains also hit the capital, Beijing, with one area in the sprawling Chaoyang district receiving 68.2 mm (2.7 inches) of rain in a single hour on Thursday morning, the state-run Beijing Daily said.

    Ten southwestern rivers, including the Longyan, which flows through the densely populated region of Chongqing, could burst their embankments and levees at any time, broadcaster CCTV warned, citing the water resources ministry.

    The remaining 15 had exceeded levels at which they could burst their banks, but posed less of a risk, it added.

    More than 24 hours of torrential rain took levels in the Chishui River of Guizhou province to their highest since records began in 1953, the broadcaster said, while the Xiaocao River in Sichuan province stood at its highest in 29 years.

    More than 10,000 people were evacuated on Wednesday from cities in the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, state media said, as the East Asian monsoon rains pushed north from India.

    One county in Yunnan recorded 227.8 mm (9 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours, for its highest total in a single day since records began in 1958 while two people died as torrential rain hit Yunnan’s Zhaotong city, Xinhua said on Thursday.

    Beijing health authorities warned that the combination of frequent downpours, high temperatures and humidity increased the risk of water and food contamination.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Trump’s budget cuts are adding to risk in life-threatening floods and emergencies

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Clodagh Harrington, Lecturer in American Politics, University College Cork

    Acclaimed author Michael Lewis wrote a book about the first Trump administration entitled The Fifth Risk, outlining the consequences when people who don’t understand how the government of a vast, complex and multifaceted nation works are put in charge of said government.

    The bestseller was more gripping and fascinating than any work of fiction. It outlined the realities that followed Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign promises to shrink the federal bureaucracy. In it, Lewis quotes lawyer Max Stier, who he describes as the American with the greatest understanding of how his nation’s government worked. Stier offers the truism that “the basic role of governments is to keep us safe.”

    You might deduce that this means those in charge during, and ahead of, emergencies should know what to do and how to do it. And, they have to want to do it. In the case of Trump term one, there was often evidence that some or all of these three elements were lacking. Evidently, planning for distant risk was not something that Trump and his team were interested in prioritising.

    Fast forward to July 2025, and US headlines are filled with images of devastating flash floods in which more than 100 Texans, many of them children, lost their lives. In Kerr County, outside of San Antonio, water levels of the Guadalupe River rose to what was considered a once in a “100-year catastrophe”. Nobody saw it coming, or at least not to the extent that it did. Despite official warnings, the result was one of the worst natural disasters ever faced by the state.

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

    Days earlier, Trump’s “big beautiful bill” was passed in the Senate with a tight 51:50 majority. Republican Texas senator Ted Cruz was among the supporters of a bill which will cut funding for the National Weather Service (NWS) by 6.7% in 2026. These come on the back of earlier resource reductions to the NWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

    Within days of the Texas floods, Democrats were calling for an investigation into whether previous budget cuts might have affected capacity for flood preparedness in Kerr County.



    Read more:
    How Donald Trump’s economic policies, including uncertainty around tariffs, are damaging the US economy

    For the bereaved, talk of culpability will hardly bring solace. And any immediate political blame game presents as unseemly in the middle of so much personal tragedy. But a New York Times article reported that “some experts say that staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate response”. Such speculative language does not offer clarity or reassurance, and even the often brash president has thus far refrained from finger pointing.

    Nonetheless, uncomfortable conversations are necessary, as it is clear that slashing federal funding does not serve the nation well. Trump already had budget cutting form, as his first-term efforts to slash NOAA and related programme funding demonstrated.

    In 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was also targeted for staff and funding reductions. This came along with the appointment of EPA chiefs who appeared uninterested in prioritising the climate crisis. More recently, the controversial spending cuts agency the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), headed by Elon Musk, included NOAA in its sights.



    Read more:
    Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed dozens, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding

    Yale University’s Center for Environmental Communication said that while there was no clear evidence that budget cuts had affected weather forecasting in the Texas case, Trump’s planned additional cuts would affect some of NOAA’s key flash flood forecast tools. This includes the Flash project, which improves accuracy, timing and specificity of warnings, such as those that occurred in Texas on July 4. It also said that the weather service had lost many of its most senior staff, which would increase the risks associated with weather-related tragedies.

    Flood water in Texas rose spectacularly fast causing dozens of deaths.

    Cuts and the climate

    Across the board, Doge has targeted other agencies that the public rely on in a crisis, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), where plans to reduce staffing by about 20% are currently coming into effect. With responsibility for managing natural and climate-fuelled disasters from hurricanes to floods, the agency has become busier in recent years as disasters have evolved from seasonal to perennial.

    Rob Moore, the director of flooding solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an influential environmental body, argued that “America’s disaster safety net is unraveling.”

    There are likely to be more floods, and other nature-based catastrophes with multiple probable causes and features. While outright prevention may not always be possible, governmental risk and disaster management can help to preclude the devastation seen on July 4 in Texas.

    The problem with responding to long-term risk with short-term or inadequate solutions is that one day, an existential threat could arrive for which the US will not be ready. The danger may not even be as overwhelming as a global pandemic or nuclear threat. It could be as mundane as a local river overflowing. For those who lost their loved ones in Texas, there is nothing distant about their anguish.

    A country with the world’s largest economy does not have to cut federal bureaucracy corners. Wasting tax dollars is never a vote winner, but funding vital emergency services like Fema and the National Weather Service is a fundamental feature of an advanced democracy. As is investing in the technology and personnel to do all possible to predict flash floods. Trump would do well to remember this as he meets the bereaved in Kerr County.

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

    – ref. Trump’s budget cuts are adding to risk in life-threatening floods and emergencies – https://theconversation.com/trumps-budget-cuts-are-adding-to-risk-in-life-threatening-floods-and-emergencies-260710

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nigeria: Violence and widespread displacement leave Benue facing a humanitarian disaster

    Source: APO


    .

    • At least 510,182 internally displaced people (IDPs) across Benue state
    • Dire conditions in IDP camps
    • Children and pregnant women amongst most vulnerable

    The Nigerian authorities must take urgent steps to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the central state of Benue where attacks by gunmen have displaced at least 500,000 people, many of whom are languishing in squalid camps without access to sufficient water, poor sanitation, food and healthcare, Amnesty International said today.

    In the most recent attack on 14 June, gunmen raided the town of Yelewata, killing more than 100 people and forcing over 3,941 more to flee their homes. The smell of decomposing bodies hung in the air during a visit to the affected community by Amnesty International in the aftermath of the attacks. Signs of the recent violence were unmistakable with bullet shells littering the ground, and mass graves that had been newly dug to bury the dead.

    Survivors were seen carrying bags of grain, bundles of firewood and other household items as they sought safety and shelter in camps for internally displaced persons (IDP). According to interviews with IDPs in Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum, Kwande, Logo, Guma and Makurdi IDP camps, as well as a makeshift IDP camp at Makurdi Modern Market, communities who come under attack are often left to fend for themselves with security forces only arriving long after the gunmen had left.

    “The Nigerian authorities have failed the people of Benue state again and again. Rampant attacks by gunmen have deprived thousands of people of their rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, freedom of movement and access to livelihoods. Survivors of these harrowing attacks face the fresh torment of being displaced in overcrowded, unhygienic camps where disease runs rampant and essentials such as  food and clean water are scarce,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

    “The situation risks creating a humanitarian disaster, which the authorities must urgently address by ensuring that people’s essential needs are met by providing desperately needed aid.”

    Besides interviews with IDPs, Amnesty International also spoke to camps officials, medical workers and non-governmental organizations in the affected areas. It found that communities across Benue state, including Gwer West, Gwer-East, Agatu, Apa, Ukum, Kwande, Logo,and Guma, continue to face a brutal pattern of violence.

    This is typically unleashed at night, although daytime attacks also occur, with gunmen systematically overrunning villages, using firearms to carry out indiscriminate or targeted killings from a distance. This is accompanied by brutal close-range violence with machetes and knives used to inflict grievous injuries, including hand amputations.

    Misery of the IDP camps

    As of 31 December 2024, an estimated 500,182 people had fled to IDPs camps in Benue state to escape years of attacks by gunmen. More than 10,000 additional people have been displaced since the start of 2025 following attacks on communities in Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum (Gbagir), Kwande (Anwase), Logo, and Guma (Yelewata, Agan, and Gbajimba), among others.

    Amnesty International’s visits to IDP camps reveal wholly inadequate shelter, exposing IDPs to harsh weather, overcrowding, and heightened risks of disease, as well as gender-based violence, including rape and domestic violence.

    Access to healthcare is also a major challenge in the IDP camps with a lack of treatment for the most common diseases and ailments, such as malaria, typhoid, and stomach ulcers. According to a camp official, births occur almost daily in the IDP camps, with many pregnant women requiring medical attention but also contracting infections because of inadequate hygiene facilities.

    An IDP told Amnesty International: “If we don’t get drugs, we just sit and watch the sick person helplessly.”

    Many children are unable to exercise their right to an education in the camps.

    “Our children no longer go to school and there are no arrangements by the authorities to teach children in the IDP camp. The government should bring an end to insecurity in our local government area and Benue state. Before that, provide us with food and proper shelter at the IDP camps,” an IDP told Amnesty International.

    A camp official told Amnesty International that a makeshift school built in one of the camps had been shut down for over three years because camp authorities could not continue paying ad-hoc teachers their stipends. 

    There are hundreds of minors who fled their homes due to attacks and now live without parental care. The children were separated from their families while fleeing attacks on their villages and communities. The authorities have been unable to provide these vulnerable children with a safe place to live and essential services. Two female IDPs told Amnesty International:

    “When we arrived, they [my children] left. I do not know where they have gone. I can’t speak with them; I don’t have a phone….I have 8 children and because we do not have enough space here in the IDP camp, many of them have left me and I do not know where they are.”

    Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian authorities to take immediate steps to provide sufficient and accessible humanitarian support to the survivors of these attacks. Authorities must take steps to domesticate and effectively implement the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons within the country’s legal system.

    “The authorities’ persistent failure to hold suspected perpetrators to account is fueling a cycle of impunity that is making everyone feel unsafe. Authorities must now end the growing culture of impunity for these attacks.”

    “We call on the authorities to ensure that all people displaced because of the attacks in Benue state are provided with adequate relief, including protection, shelter, food, clean water, sanitation and healthcare. Authorities must ensure that all people who have suffered losses from the crisis are also provided with adequate compensation,” said Isa Sanusi.

    Background

    Amnesty International Nigeria has been monitoring the escalating bandit attacks and clashes between herders and farmers in Benue state since 2016. In 2020, the organization investigated the authorities’ failure to protect rural communities from attacks, and in 2025, it investigated the mounting death toll and looming humanitarian crisis amid unchecked attacks by armed groups.

    Nigeria is state party to a number of treaties that guarantee the human rights of everybody in the country regardless of the circumstances. This includes the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which requires Nigerian authorities to ensure equal access to amongst others the rights to housing, health, food, water, sanitation and education.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: President El-Sisi Meets Premier of the State Council of China

    Source: APO


    .

    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Premier of the State Council of China, Li Qiang, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, along with several ministers and senior officials from both sides.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said that the Premier of the State Council of China conveyed the greetings of the Chinese president to President El-Sisi. He also emphasized that President El-Sisi is a dear friend of China and is always warmly welcomed in Beijing. He expressed China’s pride in having close relations with Egypt, which are built on a long history of strategic partnership, mutual respect, and common interests. The Premier noted the rapid development in bilateral relations and the close coordination between the two countries on both regional and international levels, appreciating Egypt’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.

    President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with China in various areas of mutual interest and working to activate the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, especially with the upcoming celebration, to be held in 2026, of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China.

    President El-Sisi lauded the contributions of Chinese companies to implementing development projects in Egypt and expressed the country’s interest in attracting more Chinese investments, particularly in the sectors of new and renewable energy and electric vehicle manufacturing. This is in addition to enhancing the flow of Chinese tourism and strengthening cooperation in the manufacturing and development fields in general.

    President El-Sisi also expressed Egypt’s interest in continuing coordination with China on the issue of debt swaps and the effective and efficient implementation of related agreements.

    Views were exchanged on regional and international developments. Both sides stressed the importance of underpinning the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, and resuming the diplomatic path to resolve the crisis through peaceful means. Both parties also underscored the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensuring the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, and the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Stakeholder Support for the Big, Beautiful Bill Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Stakeholder Support for the Big, Beautiful Bill Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, President Trump signed H.R. 1, the Big, Beautiful Bill Act, into law. This legislation delivers tax relief for working families and small businesses, protects nuclear energy investments, and strengthens the agriculture industry. 

    Here’s what they are saying about the Big, Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1): 

    Michelle Hennings, Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, said, “We want to recognize Congressman Newhouse’s efforts to make sure our growers have the support they need to continue supplying the nation and the world with top quality wheat. The increase in the wheat reference price will more closely match the actual cost of production, giving much-needed support to growers who are struggling to make a profit when prices are low. We are also appreciative of the Congressman’s work to protect crop insurance, making it more affordable for farmers to adequately cover their crops in the face of drought or other natural disasters.” 

    Bob Schuetz, CEO, Energy Northwest, said, “I am pleased that Congress acknowledges the key role of nuclear power for America’s energy future. While policymaking involves hard choices, Representative Newhouse has consistently championed the U.S. as a leader in advanced nuclear technology. I am excited about actively pursuing the expansion of carbon-free and reliable electricity, marking the next chapter for nuclear energy in America.” 

    Former Congressman Rodney Davis, Head of Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said, “The One Big Beautiful Bill not only prevented the largest tax increase on the American people in history, it made permanent critical pro-growth provisions that will enable businesses of all sizes, especially small businesses, to grow and thrive. This will strengthen America’s economy and result in greater economic prosperity for all. We thank Congressman Newhouse for his leadership and for supporting this crucial legislation.” 

    David Reeploeg, Vice President for Federal Programs, TRIDEC, said, “Congressman Newhouse worked incredibly hard to prevent nuclear energy tax credits from being removed from H.R. 1. Retaining these tax credits will help our existing nuclear energy facilities while also supporting advanced nuclear development, which is an area where we see huge opportunities for the Tri-Cities. Not only do the power plants create direct jobs, they also provide the baseload energy needed to attract industry and create even more family wage jobs. We sincerely appreciate Congressman Newhouse’s understanding of how important these tax credits, and nuclear energy, are for his district.” 

    Ted Tschirky, 2025 President, National Potato Council, and grower from Pasco, said, “We give great credit to Congressman Newhouse and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for taking the opportunity to deliver on key priorities for the specialty crop industry. The tax certainty provided by the bill, coupled with the historic enhancements in essential Farm Bill programs serving specialty crops will significantly improve our competitiveness against foreign competition well into the future.” 

    Clay Sell, CEO, X-energy, said, “For next-generation advanced nuclear companies, tax credits are more than just financial incentives—they’re a catalyst for market entry. For early movers, these credits significantly reduce capital risk, unlock private investment, and enable us to compete on a level footing with other energy technologies. Without them, commercialization slows and investor confidence erodes. With them, we’re positioned to scale faster and deliver reliable, always-on abundant power to the market.” 

    Bill Lampson, Chairman and CEO, Lampson International LLC, said, “Congressman Dan Newhouse’s support of the Big Beautiful Bill was essential for all Americans to avoid the Largest Tax Hike in history, which would have crippled future investments of all types. In our case, we have watched the construction industry struggle with the high cost of overly burdensome regulations, costly and lengthy permitting process and high taxes of all types.  The Big Beautiful Bill will allow the construction industry to flourish and create real jobs for many that would have otherwise gone without opportunity.   We are so thankful to have a Congressman who truly cares about the ability of his constituents to make a decent living and care for their families.

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FEDERAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST TALLAHASSEE MAN FOR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON

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

    TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Antre Grantsteadman, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.

    Grantsteadman appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick yesterday for his arraignment at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.

    If convicted, he faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshall Service, and the Tallahassee Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

    An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Sentenced For Possession Of A Machinegun

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

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Joshua Michael Jenkins, 22, of Charlotte, was sentenced yesterday to 88 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    According to court records, on October 30, 2022, a trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol attempted to stop Jenkins for speeding on the interstate. Jenkins refused to stop and instead proceeded to drive at a high rate of speed, reaching speeds of 130 miles per hour. Court documents show that Jenkins exited the highway and ran a red light, where his vehicle collided with four other vehicles at an intersection. Jenkins then fled on foot and ran toward a shopping center. The state trooper ran after Jenkins and observed Jenkins holding a firearm in his hand, which he pointed at the trooper. Jenkins was eventually apprehended.

    According to court documents, law enforcement searched a trashcan in a parking lot nearby after a witness saw Jenkins drop something in it. Law enforcement recovered from the trashcan a Glock model 23, .40 caliber pistol, with an affixed machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch.” During the investigation, law enforcement located multiple social media posts of Jenkins posing with firearms that appeared to be equipped with Glock switches, and a video showing muzzle flash and the sound of repeated firing of an automatic weapon.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Huntersville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Charges Brought After Man Fired at Nash County Deputy

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

    RALEIGH, N.C. – Federal charges were brought Tuesday against a Rocky Mount man, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Montrel Devon Ingram, 36, appeared in federal court for his initial appearance.

    “We will act swiftly and relentlessly to investigate anyone who threatens our law enforcement officers and violates federal law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “This case reflects the strong, coordinated response from our federal and local partners, and I’m proud of the quick work that brought the defendant into custody.”

    “Keeping dangerous individuals and illegal firearms off our streets is critical to protecting our neighborhoods,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Thanks to the dedication of our deputies and the support of our federal partners, we were able to quickly apprehend the suspect and recover the weapon ensuring the safety of our community.”

    According to the information presented in the criminal complaint, Ingram was a passenger during a traffic stop in which the driver was suspected of driving under the influence. When backup arrived, Ingram fled on foot near the intersection of Ravenwood Drive and Canary Drive in Rocky Mount. A deputy from the Nash County Sheriff’s Office pursued Ingram after noticing him reaching into his waistband. The deputy shouted loud verbal commands for Ingram to show his hands. Shortly after, the deputy heard a gunshot and saw a muzzle flash coming from Ingram’s direction. Seeking cover while maintaining a clear line of sight on Ingram, the deputy observed him throw a firearm into the front yard of a nearby residence and then attempt to jump the fence into the backyard. The deputy quickly closed in on Ingram, ordering him to the ground. With the assistance of NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) troopers, the deputy was able to apprehend Ingram and take him into custody. They later located the thrown firearm, which had a spent shell casing stuck in the ejector port, causing it to jam. The magazine contained five additional rounds of ammunition.

    Ingram faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted with the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart is prosecuting the case.

    Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-MJ-01851.

    A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Albuquerque Mother and Son Sentenced for Manufacturing and Selling Machinegun Conversion Devices

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

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque mother and son who used Instagram and a 3D printer to traffic illegal machine gun conversion devices were sentenced in federal court following an undercover investigation by the ATF that uncovered a cache of firearms.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, between February 3 and February 7, 2023, Joe Jasso, 21, used Instagram to advertise and sell illegal machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) which are used to convert firearms to fully automatic fire. Jasso communicated with an undercover detective from the ATF about selling AR-15 auto sears and MCDs. On February 7, 2023, Joe Jasso and his mother, Rachael Jasso, 43, met the undercover detective at Kiva Park, where Joe Jasso demonstrated how to install an MCD. Later that day, at a second meeting at Buffalo Wild Wings, Joe Jasso delivered an AR auto sear to the detective, and both Joe and Rachael Jasso confirmed they could make additional devices.

    On February 16, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at the Jasso residence in Northeast Albuquerque, where they found approximately ten firearms, five machine gun conversion devices, large quantities of ammunition, and a 3D printer used to manufacture the devices. Joe Jasso admitted to using Instagram to sell the switches and acknowledged modifying firearms, while neither Joe nor Rachael Jasso had the required federal licenses to possess or manufacture machine guns or conversion devices.

    Joe Jasso and Rachel Jasso both pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and possession of a machine gun conversion device. Joe Jasso was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, and Rachael Jasso was sentenced to 30 months. Upon their release from prison, they will both be subject to two years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case.

    Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are illegal devices that transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of continuous firing with a single trigger pull. The possession, manufacture, and sale of these devices without proper licensing is a federal offense carrying severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.

    The proliferation of these devices poses an immediate and critical threat to public safety. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of machine gun conversion devices, indicating an alarming trend in their availability and use. Violent street gangs are increasingly employing these devices, devastating communities and neighborhoods with unprecedented firepower.

    This dramatic increase in illegal automatic weapons puts both civilians and law enforcement at extreme risk. Officers responding to incidents may find themselves severely outgunned, facing weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. The potential for mass casualties in such encounters is staggering.

    Law enforcement agencies are racing against time to intercept these devices before they can be used in violent crimes. Public cooperation is crucial in combating this threat. If you have information about illegal firearms or conversion devices, please contact the ATF immediately:

    Call: 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477)

    Email: ATFTips@atf.gov

    Visit: www.atf.gov/atf-tips

    Your tip could save lives and prevent these dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The time to act is now, before our community fall victim to the devastating impact of these illegal automatic weapons. 

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