NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Russia sanctions target enablers of war, including Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced new sanctions on crucial enablers of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

    This latest round of sanctions targets actors involved in Russia’s military-industrial complex, supporters from North Korea, Iran, and Belarus, as well as vessels that are part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.

    “New Zealand must continue to hold Russia and its enablers accountable. Military support from actors in North Korea, Iran, and Belarus has helped Russia sustain its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Mr Peters said.

    These new sanctions target a further 18 individuals and entities who have been assisting Russia’s war efforts.

    In addition, 27 ‘shadow fleet’ vessels have also been designated. Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ enablers are involved in illegal activities to avoid sanctions, including through the transport of Russian oil at above the G7 Plus oil price cap, which New Zealand adopted last year.

    “The designation of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ reflects a joint effort with likeminded international partners to prevent sanctions evasion and to maintain the pressure on Russia in support of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” Mr Peters says.

    Since the Russia Sanctions Act entered into force in March 2022, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on more than 1,800 individuals, entities, and shipping vessels, along with a range of trade measures. 

    More information about sanctions, travel bans, and export controls against Russia, as well as diplomatic, military and economic support to Ukraine, can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website here

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Marshall Introduce Bill to Lower Costs and Improve Reliability of Freight Rail Service for American Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) reintroduced the Reliable Rail Service Act to help address the unreliable service and high costs of rail shipping for Wisconsin farmers and manufacturers. The legislation would strengthen our rail supply chain and ensure the largest freight railroads provide American businesses reliable services at reasonable rates so products can get to market more efficiently, and costs are lower for families. The Reliable Rail Service Act is supported by members of the agricultural industry, labor organizations, energy producers, and manufacturers who know firsthand how poor service, significant disruptions, and sky-high prices are impacting their businesses and prices for consumers.
    “Across the Badger State, our farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers rely on rail service to get their products to market and make ends meet,” said Senator Baldwin. “But when rail service is unreliable, it puts their livelihoods on the line, disrupts supply chains, and drives up costs for hardworking Wisconsin families. That’s why I am proud to work with my Republican colleague to once again introduce our Reliable Rail Service Act and help level the playing field for Wisconsin workers, grow our Made in Wisconsin economy, and keep costs down for consumers.”
    “Kansas’s farmers and ranchers depend upon reliable transport of their world-class goods to the rest of the country, and Class 1 railroads are not meeting expectations – this is a disservice to hard-working Kansans,” said Senator Marshall. “This bill lays out reasonable requirements for rail carriers to meet these important obligations, and I look forward to working with Senator Baldwin on getting this to the finish line.”
    Rail shippers including farmers, energy producers, and manufacturers continue to face poor service, significant service disruptions, and sky-high prices that are impacting communities and consumers, all while profits for the nation’s largest railroads are at record highs.
    The Reliable Rail Service Act takes a commonsense approach to addressing high costs and unreliable service by clarifying the “common carrier obligation,” which under current law requires rail carriers to serve the wider shipping public “on reasonable request.” Current ambiguity around this principle has contributed to insufficient rail services and exorbitant costs for American products to get to market. Clearly defining the “common carrier obligation” has taken on greater importance as the railroad industry faces consolidation and has undertaken Wall Street practices that reduce capacity on the rail network.
    The bill establishes specific criteria for the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to consider when evaluating whether carriers are meeting their common carrier obligation to give shippers much-needed certainty that is currently lacking.
    “For years, dairy processors have struggled to use America’s rail system because of lack of reliability and reduced service schedules. The Reliable Rail Service Act is commonsense legislation that will provide greater clarity to the railroad’s common carrier obligations and ensure that they provide more dependable service at sensible rates,” said Dr. Michael Dykes, President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “IDFA applauds Sen. Baldwin and Sen. Marshall for introducing this legislation to improve transparency in the rail industry and restore the balance between carriers and shippers so the U.S. dairy industry can move products more reliably by rail.”
    “Senators Baldwin and Marshall have proposed smart, and a much-needed reforms to help fix persistent freight rail service failures that are plaguing chemical manufacturers,” said Chris Jahn, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Chemistry Council. “If members of Congress are serious about bringing jobs back, leading global trade, and making more in America—not China—they should back this bill. We urge Democrats and Republicans to support this important legislation because it will help ensure that railroads deliver on their obligation to provide reliable service to U.S. manufacturers.”
    “IWLA strongly supports the Reliable Rail Service Act and thanks Senator Baldwin for reintroducing this important bill,” said Jay D. Strother, International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) President & CEO. “Clarifying the common carrier obligation is critical to ensuring that railroads provide consistent, fair, and timely service. This legislation gives the Surface Transportation Board the tools it needs to hold carriers accountable, enforce meaningful service standards, and support the 3PL warehouses that keep America’s supply chain moving.”
    “We applaud Senators Baldwin and Marshall for reintroducing the Reliable Rail Service Act to improve our nation’s freight rail network,” said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. “Unfortunately, America’s freight rail companies too often fail to provide the equal, timely, and affordable service required of them by federal law. Let’s hold railroads accountable and better serve the small businesses, farmers, and other customers who rely on freight rail to transport their goods.”
    “Clarification of the common carrier obligation has been needed for decades and this bipartisan bill provides STB with clear oversight rules to help address our nation’s freight railroad supply chain challenges and improve rail service for agricultural shippers,” said Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association. “NGFA members appreciate Senator Baldwin and Senator Marshall’s leadership in responding to rail service issues and for cosponsoring this legislation, which will help regulators respond to service disruptions that cause hardship for livestock producers, grain exporters, and grain processing facilities.”
    “The Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciates the work of Sen. Baldwin to address the definition of common carrier service obligation and increase the authority of the Surface Transportation Board to address agricultural rail needs,” said Brad Olson, President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. “Wisconsin farmers are dependent on the movement of agricultural goods by rail and we hope this increased authority will lead to greater efficiency within the rail industry.”
    The Reliable Rail Service Act is endorsed by the Agricultural Retailers Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Chemistry Council, American Forest & Paper Association, American Soybean Association, Consumer Brands Association, Essential Minerals Association, Freight Rail Customer Alliance, Glass Packaging Institute, Growth Energy, International Dairy Foods Association, International Warehouse Logistics Association, National Grain and Feed Association, National Industrial Transportation League, National Milk Producers Federation, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, North American Millers’ Association, Private Rail Car Food and Beverage Association, The National Grange, Western Coal Traffic League, American Cement Association, Recycled Materials Association, Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), National Farmers Union, Great Lakes Timber Professionals, American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED)-IBT, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC), Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Rail Conference, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, SEIU (NCFO), Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Division (SMART-MD), Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), Transportation Communications Union (TCU), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), and Transportation Trades Department (TTD).
    A one-pager on the legislation is available here. Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Urges U.S. Senate to Reject the ‘Big Ugly Betrayal’ of Working Families That Cuts Medicaid Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Finance Committee released their portion of the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Reconciliation Bill,’ which U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) has dubbed a ‘Big Ugly Betrayal’ of working families. 

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities outlines how the Senate Republican version of the reconciliation bill, which requires just 50 votes to pass the U.S. Senate, would decimate family and state budgets.  It includes steeper cuts to Medicaid than the House bill, which would terminate health care coverage for 16 million people, raise health care costs across the board, and cut more than $1 trillion from America’s health care system in order to give tax breaks to billionaires.

    Today, Senator Reed issued the following statement:

    “Somehow, Senate Republicans took the House’s terrible bill and made it worse.  They are going to decimate our health care system in order to give bigger tax breaks to billionaires and corporations.

    “This deficit-shattering bill would take Medicaid from even more Americans who need it and inflict a heavier financial burden on patients, hospitals, and blue states.  Instead of shuttering hospitals, raising premiums, and making it harder for families to find a quality, affordable nursing home for their loved ones, Congress should be supporting access to essential health care for those who need it most.

    “While Medicaid and SNAP nutrition assistance are targeted for massive cuts, Big Oil gets a big handout.  Big Oil lobbyists were able to get their preferred industry-backed language in the bill that would solely benefit fossil-fuel companies at the expense of tax payers and clean energy.  This would be a job killer and a giveaway to polluters.

    “Gun lobbyists got a big gift in this bill too: Shockingly, it removes registration requirements not just for silencers but short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and other weapons too.

    “Notably, the Senate Republican bill would shift considerable new costs to states and localities, posing a serious risk to critical public services such as schools, health care, and transportation projects.

    “President Trump and Congressional Republicans are prioritizing tax cuts for the rich and powerful at the expense of average Americans.  Billionaires and corporations get tax giveaways while more Americans are being squeezed and living paycheck to paycheck.  Yet the bulk of the benefits here go to the wealthiest while the safety net and basic services for average Americans gets shredded.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Demanding Meaningful Stablecoin Guardrails, Reed Votes Against So-Called “GENIUS Act”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Citing a lack of consumer and taxpayer protections and serious crypto corruption and national security concerns, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) voted against the so-called GENIUS Act (S.1582), which passed the U.S. Senate on a vote of 68-30.

    The controversial bill places a government stamp of approval on “stablecoins,” which are crypto dollars that could be minted by big retailers, big tech companies, foreign companies, and even President Trump’s family. In a similar way that banks allow customers to send and receive money, stablecoins claim to do the same in a faster and cheaper way.

    Exposing taxpayers, consumers, and the financial system to high levels of risk, the GENIUS Act says that stablecoin companies would not need to comply with dozens of the same consumer protection laws that apply to similar firms and that help prevent scams and fraud.

    This legislation repeats some of the same mistakes that led to the 2008 financial crisis, fostered by the mistaken belief that stablecoin issuers are simple and safe companies that are unlikely to get into trouble and do not need significant regulation to protect customer funds.

    Rather than provide meaningful protections for consumers, the legislation weakens existing state laws on cryptocurrency to make it possible for stablecoin companies to operate with near-zero capital, meaning that companies could be unable to weather a financial crisis.  This leaves U.S. taxpayers exposed to bailouts if crypto markets crash.

    Furthermore, the bill makes it possible for stablecoin companies to avoid getting an independent audit and makes it virtually impossible for the government to revoke a stablecoin company’s charter, even if the company engages in fraudulent activity. And if a stablecoin company goes bankrupt, consumers must get in line to get their money back and hope that they will make a full recovery.

    The bill coincides with the launch of the Trump family’s own stablecoin venture called “USD1,” which has already been used by a foreign government to funnel at least $2 billion to the President.  The bill actually includes an express provision greenlighting the ability to name a stablecoin “USD,” as President Trump has done.

    Another beneficiary of this bill is Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin that is based in El Salvador and is used by North Korea, Russian arms dealers, ransomware attackers, the Iranian military, drug cartels, and many other criminal organizations.  Russia, Iran, and North Korea will continue to have venues to use dollar alternatives to bypass U.S. sanctions.

    The GENIUS Act allows Tether to operate freely in the United States with minimal oversight and without providing sufficient tools for the government to stop its abuse for weapons proliferation, war, human trafficking, scams, and other illegal activity.

    Senator Reed says that Congress should be fostering innovation while protecting consumers and national security, however unless these issues are fixed, the GENIUS Act would not balance these two important goals.

    “The so-called GENIUS Act is deeply flawed and doesn’t do enough to protect consumers, national security, and U.S. taxpayers.  Instead of strengthening consumer protections and building clear guardrails that prevent America’s adversaries from using stablecoins to their advantage, this bill greenlights President Trump using his office to line his own pockets while looking the other way at North Korea’s crypto abuses,” said Senator Reed.  “As the popularity of stablecoins continues to grow, we need to provide real guardrails and authorities for regulators.  Nevertheless, Senate Republicans have prioritized the wants of President Trump over the needs of American consumers.”

    Senator Reed has taken to the Senate floor twice recently to outline his concerns with the GENIUS Act, including in a speech Monday night. In remarks on the Senate floor last Thursday, Senator Reed called on Republicans to work across the aisle to better serve American consumers and strengthen crypto guardrails.

    The full transcript of those remarks follows:

    Mr. President, I rise today to discuss S. 1582, the so-called GENIUS Act.

    Several weeks ago, when the Majority Leader said we would have votes on amendments, I took him seriously and was one of the first to file. 

    We could have been voting on my amendments and those of my colleagues at any time in the last few weeks, but that hasn’t happened.  That is regrettable, because the GENIUS Act, as it is currently drafted, is fundamentally flawed. 

    The GENIUS Act exposes taxpayers, consumers, and the financial system to unacceptable risk.  And it creates venues for criminals, terrorists, and rogue governments to finance their illicit activities.  

    Among other things, this bill places the U.S. government’s stamp of approval on Tether—the world’s largest stablecoin, which is based in El Salvador and favored by North Korea, Russian arms dealers, ransomware attackers, the Iranian military, the drug cartels, and so many other criminal organizations. 

    It takes already weak state laws, makes them weaker, and applies them nationwide…making it possible for stablecoin companies to operate with near-zero capital and unable to weather a financial crisis.  It’s possible for stablecoin companies to avoid getting an audit.  It’s impossible for the government to revoke a stablecoin company’s charter—even if it turns out to be a Ponzi scheme or if an executive dips into customer funds.

    The GENIUS Act buys into the belief that the billionaires running the industry know what they’re doing and that the marriage of complex financial products and complex technology simply can’t fail.  The one thing the billionaires know how to do is protect their interests. 

    Not surprisingly this bill leaves open the door to bailouts, which we have seen time and time again for other lightly regulated nonbanks that got into trouble, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, AIG, and Bear Stearns. 

    When there is a run on a stablecoin…and there will be a run one day…the industry will run to the American taxpayer for a bailout, and the GENIUS Act paves the way for that to happen with no limits on the Federal Reserve’s authority to prop up the industry.

    Finally, this bill perpetuates Donald Trump’s naked corruption.  It actually greenlights the name of Trump’s stablecoin—USD1—and allows Trump’s hand-picked regulators to write the rules of the road governing his most recent business venture. 

    Mr. President, we need to provide real guardrails for financial regulators to protect consumers, real tools for national security agencies to address this new technology, and real authority for the government to intervene before a crisis gets out of hand. 

    Real guardrails and real tools . . .  not words on a page that give only the “aura” of regulation and protection with no teeth. 

    My amendments and those offered by colleagues on the both sides of the aisle would help provide these tools and authorities.  However, it appears that we won’t have the opportunity to consider a single one of them and fix this bill.

    I urge my colleagues to oppose this highly flawed bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 18th, 2025 Heinrich Raises Alarm About New Mexico Public Lands at Risk in Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member on the U.S. Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a list of public lands in New Mexico that are at risk of being sold off if Republicans’ reconciliation package becomes law. Senate Republicans’ reconciliation package mandates the unprecedented sale of two to three million acres of public land, including in both Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands.

    “Our public lands hold our shared identity: they are where we gather, fish, hunt, and hike. These lands house our collective history, support jobs, and sustain our rural economies. From the hiking trails near the Sandia Crest to the biking trails of the Monumental Loop to the lands surrounding the Santuario de Chimayo, these places are the anvil on which our identities are forged. We can’t let Republicans take them from us.

    “Republicans can’t fool us: their scheme to sell public lands has nothing to do with affordable housing or lowering costs for families. It’s a direct attack on every New Mexican, whether you have an elk tag, a fishing license, a backpack, a tent, a mountain bike, or a soft spot, special memory, or sacred connection to a particular place important to you, your family, and your ancestors.

    “Now is the time to raise your voices and join our fight to keep public lands in public hands – before we lose these lands forever.”

    The following list includes many, but not all, of the places in New Mexico at risk of being sold off if Senate Republicans’ reconciliation bill becomes law:

    BERNALILLO COUNTY

    • Manzanita Mountains Recreation Zone
      • Oak Flat
      • Pine Flat
      • Tunnel Canyon
      • Cedro Trailheads
    • Sandia Mountains
      • Forest Service Lands East of Sandia Crest
      • 10K Trail

    CHAVES COUNTY

    • BLM Land Surrounding Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

    CIBOLA COUNTY

    • Mount Taylor (Except Mines)
    • Lobo Canyon
    • La Jara Mesa
    • Zuni Canyon
    • Quartz Hill

    DOÑA ANA COUNTY

    • BLM Land Northeast of Las Cruces
    • Monumental Loop Mountain Biking Route

    EDDY COUNTY

    • La Cueva Trail System

    GRANT COUNTY

    • Fort Bayard Trail System
    • Little Walnut Trail
    • Dragonfly Trail

    LINCOLN COUNTY

    • Grindstone Canyon Loop Trail
    • Ski Run Road

    LOS ALAMOS COUNTY

    • St. Peter’s Dome Trail
    • Forest Service Land and Trails Around Pajarito Ski Area
    • Hiking Trails North and East of Los Alamos

    LUNA COUNTY

    • Little Florida Mountains, via Rockhound State Park
    • Florida Mountains Wilderness Study Area
    • Access to Cooke’s Peak WSA

    MCKINLEY COUNTY

    • Quaking Aspen Campground
    • Sixmile Canyon
    • The Hogback
    • Jagged Edge
    • Zuni Mountain Trail System

    OTERO COUNTY

    • Alamo Canyon trail
    • Dog Canyon Trail
    • Lower Karr Campground

    RIO ARRIBA COUNTY

    • Sombrillo Area of Critical Environmental Concern

    SAN JUAN COUNTY

    • Glade Run Recreation Area

    SAN MIGUEL COUNTY

    • Skyline Trailhead
    • Access to Pecos Wilderness

    SANDOVAL COUNTY

    • Ball Ranch/Espinosa Ridge Area of Critical Environmental Concern
    • Placitas Trailhead
    • Crest of Montezuma
    • Buffalo Tract
    • Strip Mine Trailhead

    SANTA FE COUNTY

    • Lands Between Santuario de Chimayo and Santa Cruz Lake
    • Diablo Canyon
    • Caja del Rio
    • Atalaya Trail
    • La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site
    • Borrego Mesa Trailhead and Campground

    SIERRA COUNTY

    • East Side of Caballo Lake

    SOCORRO COUNTY

    • The Box Recreation Area
    • San Lorenzo Canyon
    • Quebradas Backcountry Byway
    • Socorro Nature Area

    TAOS COUNTY

    • Lands Surrounding Historic High Road to Taos
    • Recreation Areas on Highway 64 Towards Angel Fire
    • Cabresto Lake and Access to the Latir Peak Wilderness
    • NMDGF Unit 49 Hunting Area

    VALENCIA COUNTY

    • Manzano Wilderness Study Area
    • Encino Trailhead
    • Trigo Canyon Trailhead

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Van Hollen, Davis Introduce Bicameral World Sickle Cell Awareness Day Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced a resolution to designate June 19, 2025 as “World Sickle Cell Awareness Day” to increase public awareness about sickle cell disease and the continued need for research, early detection, and effective treatments that lead to a cure. U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-12) will introduce companion legislation in the House.

    Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare, inherited disorder that causes a person’s red blood cells to become deformed and get stuck in their veins, blocking oxygen flow throughout the body. In the United States, 100,000 people are affected by SCD, including 1 in every 365 African-American births, and 1 in every 16,300 Hispanic-American births. Around the world, sickle cell disease affects millions of people, particularly in some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, South Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean basin. In countries with fewer resources, more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with sickle cell disease do not live to see adulthood. Despite being the most common inherited blood disorder in our country, research, treatment, and awareness efforts for the disease still lag far behind other chronic illnesses.

    “Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in our county, but despite its prevalence and severe health consequences, Americans battling sickle cell still face barriers to accessing care they need,” said Senator Booker. “We must continue allocating resources for research and treatment of this disease that primarily affects communities of color. I’m proud of the progress we have made over the past few decades in combating sickle cell, but know we must do more. I’m introducing a resolution to designate June 19 as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, and am committed to continuing to fight for improved, comprehensive, high-quality care for those diagnosed with sickle cell.”

    “Sickle cell disease has claimed the lives of too many people here in the U.S. and around the world far too soon, including a former staff member of mine, John Amara. With this resolution, we recognize all those we’ve lost to this terrible disease – and reinforce our commitment to working toward a better future for today’s sickle cell warriors and their families. We will not stop fighting to raise awareness, strengthen networks of care and support, and ultimately make sickle cell disease a thing of the past,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing June 19th as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day.  Considering the health difficulties that sickle cell disease creates for millions of individuals both in the United States and globally, we need to invest more resources in improving awareness, comprehensive care, better treatments, and new cures that are accessible for those sickle cell warriors suffering from this dreadful disease,” said Representative Davis.    

    To read the full text of the resolution, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Colleagues Urge Senate Leaders to Protect State and Local Pesticide Regulations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a group of 20 of his colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to oppose any efforts to limit existing state and local authority to regulate pesticides in the upcoming Farm Bill or any other legislation.  

    “More than thirty states and hundreds of cities and counties have adopted pesticide laws and ordinances to protect workers, children, rural communities, and wildlife. State and local governments have long acted to supplement federal pesticide laws to protect people from the serious health problems—including neurological and behavioral issues, cancer, and Parkinson’s Disease—that can be caused by unsafe exposure to pesticides,” the lawmakers wrote. “States and localities have implemented protective measures that fit their local needs, such as posting warnings when pesticides have been sprayed near schools and parks, protecting drinking water supplies, protecting and informing workers, and restricting the use of some pesticides on playgrounds. States and localities have also taken measures to protect endangered species that are especially susceptible to pesticides, like pollinators.”

    The lawmakers continued, “While federal regulations provide a base level of protection against the harms of pesticides, only localities and states are in the position to implement protective measures that are designed specifically to meet the needs of their citizens… Preempting these state and local laws prevents state and local officials from addressing local needs in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach.”

    The lawmakers also expressed strong opposition to any proposed legislation which would prohibit states from requiring manufacturers to disclose known risks about their pesticide products, such as carcinogenicity. 

    “Preemption proposals like these would eliminate laws that give consumers the ability to make informed decisions about using a pesticide product, based on the product’s risks to their health. These proposals would also take away consumers’ opportunity for redress if a manufacturer fails to issue warnings,” the lawmakers concluded. 

    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    The Senators are joined by 133 state and local leaders and 187 organizations, who called on Congress to oppose federal pesticide preemption. You can read their letters here and here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A solution to the Iran-Israel conflict can be found – Russian President V. Putin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    St. Petersburg, June 19 /Xinhua/ — The Iranian-Israeli conflict can be resolved in a way that ensures both Iran’s interests in the peaceful nuclear sector and Israel’s interests in terms of its security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in St. Petersburg during a meeting with heads of leading global news agencies.

    “It would be right for everyone to look for ways to end the hostilities and find ways for all parties to this conflict to reach an agreement with each other in order to ensure both the interests of Iran on the one hand in its nuclear activities – including peaceful nuclear activities, of course, I mean both peaceful nuclear energy and peaceful nuclear energy in other areas – and to ensure the interests of Israel, from the point of view of the unconditional security of the Jewish state,” noted V. Putin.

    As the Russian leader emphasized, this is a very delicate issue, the solution of which must be very careful. “In general, such a solution can be found,” he added. But the decision, according to him, is up to Iran and Israel. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Applauds SCOTUS for Protecting Children from Mutilation and Sterilization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) praised the United States Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on dangerous puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children.
    “Today was not just a win for basic biology and common sense, but for human decency, sound medicine, and the dignity and safety of children everywhere,” said Senator Marshall. “As a doctor for over 25 years, I understand the gravity of these harmful so-called treatments radical activists have been pushing on children. They leave permanent scarring, sterilization, and other horrible side effects. Make no mistake, there’s more work to do, and I remain committed to eliminating taxpayer-funded transgender procedures on both minors and adults.”
    Senator Marshall’s legislation – the No Subsidies for Gender Transition Procedures Act – is the framework for the text in the President’s One Big, Beautiful Bill that would bar Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from covering gender-transition procedures (including surgeries and hormone therapy) for all ages. This provision would save taxpayers $2.5 billion over ten years and would prevent irreversible surgical interventions, which often lead to significant health complications, sterilization, and long-term medical costs.
    Background:
    Senator Marshall has long fought to protect the safety, health, and dignity of children from the pernicious forces of the radical left by:
    Introducing the Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors Act, which prohibits any person, or the minor in question, from engaging in interstate commerce to perform, attempting to perform, conspiring to perform, or providing a referral for any gender transition procedure, including surgeries, hormone treatments, and other therapies, on a minor.
    Bringing together a coalition to sound the alarm on the extreme gender ideology war being waged against America’s children and to talk about solutions, including the Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Introduces Legislation Mandating English Proficiency for Commercial Vehicle Operators

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) English Proficiency Act, which would require those applying to operate CMVs to be tested for English proficiency before receiving a CMV license.
    “Common sense would tell us that anyone driving on American roads, especially those operating large trucks and trailers, should be capable of understanding what the road signs say or how to communicate with police,” said Senator Marshall. “Kansans deserve to know that commercial operators are held to the highest safety standards. I am proud to introduce legislation that ensures those driving the largest vehicles on the road can understand the official language of America: English.” 
    U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) joined Senator Marshall in sponsoring the bill.
    “English proficiency for commercial truck drivers isn’t just practical, it can be a matter of life and death. The unwillingness of previous administrations to enforce this commonsense regulation undermines roadway safety and puts all drivers at risk,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “I’m proud to work with Senator Marshall to restore this critical safety standard. This legislation is a straightforward, sensible step that will make our roads and highways safer for everyone.”
    Under the bill, all CMV applicants will be tested on their ability to read and understand traffic signs, communicate in English with law enforcement, and provide and receive feedback and directions in English. Additionally, this bill prohibits these tests from being administered in languages other than English.
    This bill comes on the heels of President Trump’s executive order to enhance enforcement of English language requirements for drivers on the road and rescind Obama-era guidance relaxing the enforcement of these requirements.
    Click here to read the full text of the legislation. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $12+ MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK THROUGH THE NORTHERN BORDER REGIONAL COMMISSION

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Communities From North Country, Finger Lakes, CNY, Capital Region Win Funding For Critical Community Projects Such As Upgrading Wastewater Infrastructure, Expanding Access To Healthcare & More 

    Schumer, Gillibrand: Fed $$ Is Flowing To Improve Upstate NY Infrastructure, Expand Healthcare & Create Jobs!

    U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $12,349,291 in federal funding for 14 projects across Upstate New York through the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which the senators recently fought to reauthorize and expand. Schumer and Gillibrand said these projects will help address critical needs across the region, including upgrading wastewater infrastructure, expanding access to healthcare services, and more to improve quality of life and spur economic development in the region.

    “From expanding wastewater systems in the Finger Lakes Region to boosting access to healthcare in the North Country, this $12+ million in federal money via the excellent Northern Border Regional Commission will support major infrastructure upgrades and increase in vital services in Upstate New York. These federal investments will help create new jobs, strengthen our infrastructure, expand healthcare and boost quality of life across the region,” said Senator Schumer. “I have long fought to secure and increase funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission and expand this important federal support because it has played a unique and pivotal role in spurring economic development, upgrading infrastructure, improving quality of life, and creating jobs in communities across Upstate New York. I’m proud to have delivered this critical funding to help families and communities lay the foundation for a better future here in Upstate New York.”

    “These federal investments will support essential upgrades to infrastructure, expand access to health care, create jobs, and drive economic growth across Upstate New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Northern Border Regional Commission has already backed more than 75 projects in our state, and this additional $12 million will build on that progress and help communities thrive. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding, and I’ll keep fighting to protect the NBRC to ensure our families, workers, and small businesses have the resources they need to succeed.”

    A full list of projects can be found below:

    Recipient

    Region

    County

    Amount

    Description

    Town of Hunter

    Capital Region

    Greene

    $1,000,000

    The Town of Hunter will design, construct, and equip the Mountaintop Community Hall, supporting workforce development, business incubation, community programming, and emergency preparedness.

    Village of Whitehall

    Capital Region

    Washington

    $1,000,000

    The Village of Whitehall will upgrade its water infrastructure following a State of Emergency due to water supply disruptions. This project will safeguard drinking water for residents and businesses by enhancing the Pine Lake reservoir and Village Water Treatment Plant with modern monitoring and control systems.

    East Hill Family Medical, Inc

    Central NY

    Cayuga

    $1,000,000

    East Hill Family Medical, Inc will transform a newly acquired site in Sennett, NY into a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The project will improve access to primary care, behavioral health, and dental services, serving an estimated 4,500 additional patients and addressing regional provider shortages.

    Town of Schroeppel

    Central NY

    Oswego

    $80,000

    The Town of Schroeppel will conduct a comprehensive water infrastructure feasibility study, ensuring long-term access to safe and reliable water for residents and businesses.

    Town of Webb

    Mohawk Valley

    Herkimer

    $485,000

    The Town of Webb will modernize its aging wastewater collection system, addressing critical infrastructure deficiencies and environmental risks. This project will rehabilitate high-risk sewer lines, improve wastewater conveyance, and enhance treatment facility operations.

    Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board

    North Country

    Essex

    $240,000

    The Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board will identify development sites, conduct buildout analyses, and complete pre-development work for workforce housing in four Essex County communities. This initiative will address housing shortages while supporting workforce growth, economic stability, and community sustainability in the region.

    City of Plattsburgh

    North Country

    Clinton

    $100,000

    The City of Plattsburgh will conduct a feasibility study of its wastewater system in the Rugar Street corridor, ensuring capacity for future development. This study will assess infrastructure needs to support 150 new workforce housing units, additional commercial growth, and industrial expansion at the former Clinton County airport.

    Lake Placid Association for Music, Drama and Art

    North Country

    Essex

    $1,000,000

    Lake Placid Association for Music, Drama and Art will renovate and modernize a 52-year-old theatre, enhancing accessibility, energy efficiency, and performance capabilities. This revitalization will transform the auditorium, expand stage space, upgrade theatre technology, and improve visitor experience, ensuring the venue remains a vital hub for cultural tourism and community engagement.

    United Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Inc.

    North Country

    St.Lawrence

    $615,625.72

    United Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Inc. will expand pediatric healthcare services at its Federally Qualified Health Centers in Canton and Ogdensburg, NY. This project will increase clinic capacity by constructing exam rooms, improving patient flow, and enhancing access to preventive care, vaccinations, and chronic disease management for children in medically underserved communities.

    Village of Waddington

    North Country

    St.Lawrence

    $793,000

    The Village of Waddington will replace deteriorating water mains in its downtown district, ensuring reliable access for residents and businesses while preventing further economic decline.

    Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority

    Rochester Finger-Lakes

    Livingston

    $1,000,000

    Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority will implement the LCWSA/Geneseo Water Interconnection Project, enhancing water system capacity, resiliency, and regional connectivity across multiple municipalities in Livingston County, NY.

    Village of Dansville

    Rochester-Finger Lakes

    Livingston

    $1,979,586.00

    The Village of Dansville will construct a public sewer extension, pedestrian infrastructure, and ADA-accessible playground equipment, improving community health and economic development. This project will provide wastewater service to Noyes Memorial Hospital and the planned YMCA, facilitating expansion and workforce growth, while new sidewalks, a walking trail, and a pedestrian bridge will enhance accessibility and safety.

    Village of Waterloo

    Rochester-Finger Lakes

    Seneca

    $3,000,000

    Village of Waterloo will improve storm sewer infrastructure, road drainage, sidewalks, and curbing, ensuring resilience against frequent flooding and supporting downtown revitalization efforts. These upgrades complement the Village’s recent $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding, enhancing economic stability, pedestrian safety, and stormwater management.

    Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Commission

    Rochester-Finger Lakes

    Wyoming

    $56,080

    The Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Commission will conduct a Housing Needs Assessment and Market Analysis, evaluating demographic and economic trends to inform comprehensive housing strategies. This study will identify gaps in the housing market and guide planning for projects that address the needs of low-to-moderate-income households, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

    After years of advocacy, Schumer and Gillibrand announced late last year that they had successfully reauthorized the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) for another 5 years, increasing funding and expanding the critical grant program that has delivered tens of millions of dollars for the North Country and Upstate NY. Despite the wide bipartisan support to reauthorize the NBRC, President Trump’s recent budget for Fiscal Year 2026 calls for the elimination of this program, an effort that the senators are actively pushing back against to ensure NBRC continues to be funded to provide critical investment to Upstate NY. From 2010-2024, the NBRC has invested in over 78 projects, totaling more than $48 million in federal funding for Upstate New York. Schumer introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Reauthorization Act of 2023 which paved the way for these key changes.

    In addition to reauthorizing the NBRC for an additional 5 years, the bill that passed into law at the end of last year also increased funding for the program from $33 million to $40 million. The bill made critical enhancements to the range of projects the NBRC is able to support to foster growth in the region, including a new program focused on addressing childcare and healthcare needs, increasing support for addiction treatment, and new support for capacity building for business retention, job training, and job creation. The NBRC reauthorization was included as part of the Economic Development Administration reauthorization in the bipartisan, bicameral Water Resources Development Act.

    Schumer and Gillibrand have a long history of championing the Northern Border Regional Commission and its positive economic impacts on Upstate New York. In 2021, the senator successfully secured $150 million for the NBRC, over triple its funding from previous years, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.

    Established in 2008, the NBRC is a federal-state partnership focused on the economic revitalization of communities across the Northern Border region, which includes New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Commission is composed of the governors of the four Northern Border states and a federal co-chair and provides financial and technical assistance to communities in the region to support entrepreneurs, improve water, broadband, and transportation infrastructure, and promote other initiatives to improve the region’s economy. The northern border region of New York State currently includes 30 counties: Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Washington, Warren, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to final draft guidance on donanemab and lecanemab

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on final NICE draft guidance on the use of donanemab and lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease. 

    Prof Charles Marshall, Professor of Clinical Neurology, Queen Mary University of London, said:

    “This will be very disappointing news to people living with Alzheimer’s disease. However, the decision is understandable given the high cost to the NHS of giving the drugs for a relatively modest benefit. There are several things which would help to get disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’ disease approved in the future. Firstly, we need better information about the true impact of living with Alzheimer’s disease for both the person affected and their family, so that we can better capture all of the benefit on quality of life that these drugs might have. Secondly, we need improved NHS clinics that can offer high quality diagnosis and monitoring of dementia so that the costs of setting up this diagnosis and monitoring are not weighed against the benefit of the drugs. Finally, we need more effective drugs so that the magnitude of benefit becomes indisputable, and there is currently good reason to be hopeful about this.”

    Prof Rob Howard, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, UCL, said:

    “Nobody should be surprised that NICE have confirmed their earlier view that the new Alzheimer’s disease treatments would not be cost-effective if used within the NHS. Well-conducted clinical trials demonstrated that the actual size of benefits experienced by patients were too small to be noticeable, treatment carries risks of side-effects, and the annual cost of the drugs and safety monitoring required would have been close to the cost of a nurse’s salary for each treated patient.

    “We need better treatments that can make an appreciable difference to the lives of people with dementia and these can only come from further research and study.”

     

    Prof Paresh Malhotra, Head, Division of Neurology, Imperial College London, said:

    “The draft guidance documents from NICE on lecanemab and donanemab mean that these treatments will not be available for people with Alzheimer’s Disease via the NHS. This is not totally unexpected but does create a significant gap between what is done in other countries as well as the private sector, and what will be done for NHS patients. The modest effects and significant costs of these drugs have, understandably, been used to justify these decisions. The treatments would require major infrastructure changes to deliver to all those who are potentially eligible. Perhaps the biggest impact (or lack of it), is that there will be no impetus to change our general approach to make dementia diagnosis faster and to provide longer-term specialist input for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease. New and initially controversial treatments catalysed services and healthcare provision for other neurological conditions such as MS and stroke. People with Alzheimer’s Disease, and Dementia more broadly, will have to continue to wait. In the meantime, we will try to push against the more nihilistic attitudes that are sometimes associated with this very common devastating disease.”

     

    Hilary Evans-Newton, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

    “This rejection is a painful setback for people affected by Alzheimer’s — but sadly not a surprising one. The drugs’ modest benefits, combined with the significant costs of delivering them in the NHS, meant they faced insurmountable challenges. People with early Alzheimer’s in England and Wales now face a long wait for innovative new treatments as they won’t be able to access lecanemab or donanemab unless they can afford to pay privately.

    “This decision sends a troubling signal to the life sciences sector — undermining confidence in the UK as a home for research, innovation and clinical trials. That risks lasting damage to both patients and the economy. NICE’s decision should ring alarm bells for a government that, only a year ago, pledged to make the UK a global leader in dementia treatments.

    “While these drugs are not a cure and do come with potentially serious side effects, they represent an important first step in changing the course of Alzheimer’s. With over 30 Alzheimer’s drugs now in late-stage trials globally, momentum is building – and more will enter regulatory systems in the years ahead. Without intervention from government, people with Alzheimer’s will continue to miss out — not because science is failing, but because the system is. Government must work with NICE, the NHS and industry to pilot licensed drugs, gather more data, and prepare the health system for what’s ahead.

    “One major barrier remains early and accurate diagnosis. Without it, patients can’t access current – or future – treatments. Alongside piloting, urgent investment in diagnostic services is vital if we are to give people a fair chance at the vast progress dementia research is making.”

    Professor Fiona Carragher, Alzheimer’s Society’s Chief Policy and Research Officer, said: 

    “There is no doubt that today’s decision is a setback for people with Alzheimer’s disease. It is highly disappointing that we are in a situation where treatments that slow the progression of the condition are not available on the NHS. 

    “The reality we’re faced with is that these treatments remain out of reach of both the NHS and most eligible people with Alzheimer’s disease. In other diseases like cancer, treatments have become more effective, safer and cheaper over time. It’s essential we see similar progress in dementia.  

    “The fact is, even if donanemab and lecanemab were made available on the NHS tomorrow, too many patients wouldn’t be able to access them because the health system isn’t ready to deliver them. The science is flying but the system is failing. 

    “What we need now is for the UK government to commit to the long-term investment needed to fundamentally change dementia diagnosis so that we are ready for new treatments.  This relies on an early diagnosis and access to specialist diagnostic tests, yet currently a third of people with dementia don’t have a diagnosis at all.  

    “The needs of people with dementia have long been overlooked and this cannot continue. We are heading towards a future where disease-slowing treatments reduce the devastating impact of dementia, and we cannot afford to delay preparing the NHS for them.” 

    NICE published final draft guidance on donanemab and final draft guidance on lecanemab at 00:01 UK time on Thursday 19th June. 

    Declared interests

    Prof Charles Marshall: I have received personal fees from Lilly, Eisai and Roche

    Prof Rob Howard: No COI

    Prof Paresh Malhotra:

    National Specialty Lead for Dementia and Neurodegeneration, NIHR Research Delivery Network

    Honorary Consultant Neurologist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

    Serviced Practice Consultant Neurologist, Cleveland Clinic London

    NHSE Working Group Member (Lecanemab and Amyloid PET)

    Trustee, Alzheimer’s Society

    Recipient of ‘Drugs Only’ Grant for NIHR funded Trial, Shire/Takeda

    Independent Data Monitoring Committee, J&J

    Research funding from NIHR, ARUK, Alzheimer’s Society, MRC, DPUK, BHF, Lifearc, FIFA, FA, UK DRI

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: China allocates 60 mln yuan to aid flood relief efforts in Guangdong

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

    BEIJING, June 18 — The National Development and Reform Commission on Wednesday said that it has allocated 60 million yuan (about 8.36 million U.S. dollars) from China’s central budget to bolster flood relief efforts in Guangdong Province.

    The funds will be directed toward restoring infrastructure and public services in Guangdong’s affected regions, according to the commission.

    Severe flooding has recently struck the province, with Zhaoqing City among the hardest-hit areas.

    As of noon on Wednesday, continuous heavy rainfall had affected approximately 300,000 residents of Huaiji County, which is administered by Zhaoqing City, and about 70,000 people had been relocated to safer areas, according to local authorities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Strong interest in new programme for overseas-trained doctors

    Source: New Zealand Government

    A total of 180 overseas-trained doctors have expressed interest in a new Government-funded training programme aimed at boosting New Zealand’s primary care workforce, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
    “New Zealand needs more doctors – particularly in primary and rural healthcare care settings – and this Government is taking action to make that happen,” Mr Brown says.
    “That’s why we’ve launched a new two-year training programme to support up to 100 additional overseas-trained doctors across the country.”
    Announced in March, the programme supports qualified international doctors to become registered in New Zealand, with a particular focus on those wanting to enter general practice roles – creating a clear pathway for doctors already in the country and ready to contribute to our health system.
    “It makes no sense that overseas-trained doctors already living here, ready and willing to work in primary care, are held back simply due to a lack of supported clinical training opportunities. We are changing that.”
    Applications for the programme closed on 31 May, with 184 expressions of interest received – well exceeding the number of places available. The first group of 10 overseas-trained doctors will begin in Waikato this July, with Health New Zealand currently working to match the remaining placement locations with district and primary care providers.
    “This strong response shows the scale of untapped potential in New Zealand. These doctors are eager to work where they are most needed – and this Government is opening the door for them to do so.
    “I’ve also requested advice from Health New Zealand on how to provide clear, structured pathways for doctors who have passed the NZREX to begin practising under limited scopes while they wait for a placement in general practice training.
    “This is part of our broader plan to strengthen primary and rural healthcare and ensure New Zealanders get timely access to the care they need, no matter where they live,” Mr Brown says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Govt set to surpass both law and order targets

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New quarterly data shows the Government is on track to deliver on both law and order targets ahead of schedule, Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say.

    “We’re determined to protect communities, reduce victimisation, and to encourage young people not to continue down the path of serious crime and incarceration,” Mrs Chhour says.

    “A year ago we set a target of reducing the number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour by 15 per cent by 2029. 

    “A 13 per cent reduction in the most recent quarter shows we are hot on the heels of achieving our goal.  

    “We’ve trialled bold new responses to this long-standing issue and have ensured agencies work in greater collaboration with each other.

    “Proactive data-driven regional responses have also helped. It has truly been a team effort. 

    “Budget 2025 saw further investment in multiple complementary ways to address recidivism amongst young people, including future iterations of the military-style academies and the Youth Serious Offender declaration.

    “We continue to want better for, and from, these young people. This is a strong start, but we’re committed to sustained and meaningful success for our communities.”

    “This success comes off the back of the Government tracking ahead of its violent crime reduction target,” Mr Goldsmith says.

    “Our Government has wasted no time overhauling a culture of excuses left behind by the last administration. Victims are our priority, and we’ve returned them to the heart of the justice system.

    “The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey shows that for the year to February, there were 157,000 victims of violent crime. This is 28,000 fewer victims than the baseline set in October 2023. Specifically, there were 12,000 fewer victims in Auckland and 5,000 fewer in Canterbury.

    “There is a lot more work to do, but these results are a good early sign we are heading in the right direction.

    “We’ve provided police and the courts with extra tools to go after gangs, brought back a revised three strikes sentencing regime, restored real consequences for crime by limiting sentence discounts, and scrapped Section 27 reports.

    “We do, however, expect the data to remain volatile, and there’s still more work to do to continue driving these numbers down.”

    Updated Government Target data is available here.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: HVO Bulletin Series, published 1913-1929, now available online

    Source: US Geological Survey

    HVO Bulletin Series, published 1913-1929, now available online

    The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Bulletin series was an informal publication issued between the years 1913 to 1929. Individual issues contain information on volcanic and earthquake activity, volcano research, and volcano monitoring in Hawaii, and issues often included photographs, sketches, and data plots. These resources were previously only available in print format. 

    Dr. Thomas Jaggar founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in 1912 and authored many of the Bulletins. 

    The Bulletin series was published by HVO through the Hawaiian Volcano Research Association. Print archives of these materials are housed by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and other USGS archival repositories. HVO staff have scanned these resources and made them available digitally through the USGS Publications Warehouse: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory bulletins.

    Weekly Bulletins (initially called Reports) were issued between June 28, 1913, and July 1, 1914. Bulletins were issued monthly after July 1, 1914, though they were still named Weekly Bulletins until January 1919. Starting with the February 1919 issue, the Bulletins were named Monthly Bulletins, and they continued to be issued monthly until the series ceased in July 1929. 

    During a single year, 1915, Seismometric Bulletins were also issued quarterly. These four issues contain summaries of seismic observations recorded by the then-nascent Whitney Laboratory of Seismology, located underground in a vault near the summit of Kīlauea.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals in Connecticut Arrest Ecuador Most Wanted

    Source: US Marshals Service

    New Haven, CT – The U.S. Marshals District of Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force on Tuesday arrested in Oxford a man for being in violation of U.S. immigration law and he is wanted in connection with a 2011 homicide in Ecuador.

    Richard Cabrera, aka Ricardo Dionicio Cabrera-Erreyes, 50, is accused of fatally stabbing a woman in Loja, Ecuador, on Nov. 24, 2011, and Ecuadoran authorities charged him with femicide. INTERPOL issued a Red Notice on Cabrera for homicide following the attack.

    Recent evidence surfaced through international cooperation between Ecuador and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the support of INTERPOL Washington, and Cabrera was eventually located in Connecticut where he had been living under an assumed identity.

    U.S Marshals confirmed Cabrera entered the United States without legal documentation and had been residing in the country unlawfully for several years. He is currently in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending immigration removal proceedings.

    Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force in 1999, these partnerships have resulted in over 11,046 arrests. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators. Membership agencies include Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments and Homeland Security Investigations. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tucson Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison on Child Pornography Charges

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Sergio Herran, 47, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on June 17, 2025, by Senior United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to a term of 8 years in prison and a term of 5 years in prison, to be served concurrently. Following a four-day trial in March, a jury convicted Herran of Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Herran will be on lifetime supervision upon release from prison and must register as a sex offender. Herran was also ordered to pay restitution to identified victims.

    Herran was previously tried and convicted in 2019 before a jury, but the conviction was reversed on appeal by the Ninth Circuit. On retrial, the evidence presented showed that Herran was responsible for downloading, viewing, and sharing images and videos of child pornography. These videos and images were located on Herran’s computer hard drive, phone SD card, and a tablet, which were found in Herran’s bedroom within an arm’s reach from where he slept. In total, there were over 10,000 images and 1,500 videos of child pornography on Herran’s devices, although only a representative sample was charged in the indictment. Herran was found guilty of distribution of two videos of child pornography, possession of 13 images of child pornography, and possession of eight videos of child pornography.

    Homeland Security Investigations’ Tucson Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Sandra M. Hansen and Anshul Krishn, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-01026-TUC-RCC
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-096_Herran

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: OPEC Fund Development Forum 2025 concludes with new commitments to accelerate global development impact

    Source: OPEC Fund

    18 June 2025 – Highlights:  

    – Announcement of over US$1 billion new financing: OPEC Fund signs US$362 million new loan agreements during the Forum and announces approval of US$720 million in new financing in the second Quarter
     – A Country Partnership Framework agreement with Rwanda earmarks US$300 million financing in the next three years 
    – At the high-level Mauritania roundtable hosted by the OPEC Fund, the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) announced a pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next 5 years to support Mauritania’s development priorities.
    June 18, 2025: The fourth OPEC Fund Development Forum concluded today with a strong slate of new commitments, loan agreements and strategic partnerships to advance inclusive transition and sustainable development. The Forum, which took place in Vienna, Austria brought together more than 600 global leaders, including government representatives, development institutions and private sector stakeholders, under the theme “A Transition That Empowers Our Tomorrow”.
    The OPEC Fund announced some US$720 million in new financing to support development efforts across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and saw the signing of US$362 million in new loan agreements. A new Trade Finance Initiative is set to secure vital supplies and help close trade-related liquidity gaps in partner countries.
    OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The OPEC Fund Development Forum reflects our conviction that partnerships must deliver results. Today we achieved tangible progress – with new signings, new partnerships and new approaches to help our partner countries turn ambition into action. Whether in energy, infrastructure, agriculture or finance, we are responding with solutions that make a difference.”
    As part of its Small Island Developing States (SIDS) initiative, the OPEC Fund signed cooperation agreements with Grenada, and the Solomon Islands, expanding support for climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.
    Deepening Country Partnerships for Long-term Impact: New country-level agreements and cooperation frameworks include:  
    – A US$212 million loan agreement with Oman to finance the Khasab-Daba-Lima Road Project (Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road), improving local and regional connectivity, as well as a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to strengthen cooperation over the next five years.
    – A US$25 million loan agreement with Cameroon to strengthen the Rice Value Chain Development Project, supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening food security in vulnerable regions, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Kuwait Fund.
    – A CPF with Rwanda to allocate up to US$300 million in financing for 2025 – 2028, supporting the country’s development priorities, including quality infrastructure, improved essential basic services and the promotion of entrepreneurship and the private sector.
    – Other country partnership agreements included: Azerbaijan to support infrastructure, energy transition and sustainable development; Botswana to support infrastructure, renewable energy, innovation and digital transformation, as well as private sector export-led growth over the next three years; Grenada to build resilience through sustainable development initiatives; Kyrgyz Republic to increase cooperation in transport, water supply and sanitation, energy, agriculture and banking sectors; and Solomon Islands to expand engagement and increase cooperation including in the private sector.
    Scaling up Private Sector Support : The OPEC Fund continues to prioritize private sector-led growth with targeted financing to financial institutions across Africa:
    – In Côte d’Ivoire, a €30 million loan agreement with Coris Bank International Côte d’Ivoire and a €35 million loan agreement with NSIA Banque will facilitate access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
    – A US$40 million loan agreement with the East African Development Bank (EADB) will boost economic investments across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, strengthening regional integration and inclusive growth.
    New Trade Finance Initiative: At the Forum the OPEC Fund also announced a new Trade Finance Initiative to boost trade resilience in partner countries by facilitating access to essential imports, closing liquidity gaps and strengthening resilience to external shocks in vulnerable economies.
    Advancing global cooperation: The Forum also featured new agreements to deepen multilateral cooperation:
    – A new cooperation agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) will strengthen collaboration in infrastructure, energy and human development projects across the Latin America and Caribbean region.
    – The OPEC Fund and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) formalized a cooperation agreement to coordinate efforts on climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems.
    – A cooperation agreement with the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) will support training programs to promote institutional transparency and anti-corruption capacity building in partner countries.
    Ahead of the Forum, the OPEC Fund hosted the Annual Meeting of the Heads of Institutions of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG). Delegates participated in a high-level roundtable with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to strengthen development collaboration and mobilize investment flows to Mauritania. 
    The roundtable resulted in an ACG joint pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next five years. This will be directed to vital sectors, including energy, water, transportation and digital infrastructure to stimulate economic growth. A dedicated Arab Donors Roundtable on the Sahel addressed strategies to mobilize greater support for the region’s urgent challenges. It was organized by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CLISS) and sponsored by the OPEC Fund’s partner institution, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
    About the OPEC Fund
    The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: OPEC Fund Development Forum 2025 concludes with new commitments to accelerate global development impact

    Source: OPEC Fund

    18 June 2025 – Highlights:  

    – Announcement of over US$1 billion new financing: OPEC Fund signs US$362 million new loan agreements during the Forum and announces approval of US$720 million in new financing in the second Quarter
     – A Country Partnership Framework agreement with Rwanda earmarks US$300 million financing in the next three years 
    – At the high-level Mauritania roundtable hosted by the OPEC Fund, the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) announced a pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next 5 years to support Mauritania’s development priorities.
    June 18, 2025: The fourth OPEC Fund Development Forum concluded today with a strong slate of new commitments, loan agreements and strategic partnerships to advance inclusive transition and sustainable development. The Forum, which took place in Vienna, Austria brought together more than 600 global leaders, including government representatives, development institutions and private sector stakeholders, under the theme “A Transition That Empowers Our Tomorrow”.
    The OPEC Fund announced some US$720 million in new financing to support development efforts across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and saw the signing of US$362 million in new loan agreements. A new Trade Finance Initiative is set to secure vital supplies and help close trade-related liquidity gaps in partner countries.
    OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The OPEC Fund Development Forum reflects our conviction that partnerships must deliver results. Today we achieved tangible progress – with new signings, new partnerships and new approaches to help our partner countries turn ambition into action. Whether in energy, infrastructure, agriculture or finance, we are responding with solutions that make a difference.”
    As part of its Small Island Developing States (SIDS) initiative, the OPEC Fund signed cooperation agreements with Grenada, and the Solomon Islands, expanding support for climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.
    Deepening Country Partnerships for Long-term Impact: New country-level agreements and cooperation frameworks include:  
    – A US$212 million loan agreement with Oman to finance the Khasab-Daba-Lima Road Project (Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road), improving local and regional connectivity, as well as a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to strengthen cooperation over the next five years.
    – A US$25 million loan agreement with Cameroon to strengthen the Rice Value Chain Development Project, supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening food security in vulnerable regions, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Kuwait Fund.
    – A CPF with Rwanda to allocate up to US$300 million in financing for 2025 – 2028, supporting the country’s development priorities, including quality infrastructure, improved essential basic services and the promotion of entrepreneurship and the private sector.
    – Other country partnership agreements included: Azerbaijan to support infrastructure, energy transition and sustainable development; Botswana to support infrastructure, renewable energy, innovation and digital transformation, as well as private sector export-led growth over the next three years; Grenada to build resilience through sustainable development initiatives; Kyrgyz Republic to increase cooperation in transport, water supply and sanitation, energy, agriculture and banking sectors; and Solomon Islands to expand engagement and increase cooperation including in the private sector.
    Scaling up Private Sector Support : The OPEC Fund continues to prioritize private sector-led growth with targeted financing to financial institutions across Africa:
    – In Côte d’Ivoire, a €30 million loan agreement with Coris Bank International Côte d’Ivoire and a €35 million loan agreement with NSIA Banque will facilitate access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
    – A US$40 million loan agreement with the East African Development Bank (EADB) will boost economic investments across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, strengthening regional integration and inclusive growth.
    New Trade Finance Initiative: At the Forum the OPEC Fund also announced a new Trade Finance Initiative to boost trade resilience in partner countries by facilitating access to essential imports, closing liquidity gaps and strengthening resilience to external shocks in vulnerable economies.
    Advancing global cooperation: The Forum also featured new agreements to deepen multilateral cooperation:
    – A new cooperation agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) will strengthen collaboration in infrastructure, energy and human development projects across the Latin America and Caribbean region.
    – The OPEC Fund and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) formalized a cooperation agreement to coordinate efforts on climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems.
    – A cooperation agreement with the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) will support training programs to promote institutional transparency and anti-corruption capacity building in partner countries.
    Ahead of the Forum, the OPEC Fund hosted the Annual Meeting of the Heads of Institutions of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG). Delegates participated in a high-level roundtable with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to strengthen development collaboration and mobilize investment flows to Mauritania. 
    The roundtable resulted in an ACG joint pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next five years. This will be directed to vital sectors, including energy, water, transportation and digital infrastructure to stimulate economic growth. A dedicated Arab Donors Roundtable on the Sahel addressed strategies to mobilize greater support for the region’s urgent challenges. It was organized by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CLISS) and sponsored by the OPEC Fund’s partner institution, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
    About the OPEC Fund
    The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study comparing evidence on intermittent fasting and traditional calorie reduction diets for weight loss

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in The BMJ compares the evidence around intermittent fasting and calorie restriction for weight loss. 

    Prof Maik Pietzner, Chair in Health Data Modelling, Queen Mary University of London’s Precision Health University Research Institute; and co-lead of the Computational Medicine Group at Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, said:

    “The study is well executed, and results are presented in a balanced way reflecting the results of the analysis.  The press release is also well written and is in line with the evidence in the field, that any strategy reducing calorie intake results in a proportional weight loss, either at each meal (CER) or by skipping meals (intermittent fasting).  The missing additional benefit on cardiovascular risk markers of any intermittent fasting schemes aligns with our study that indicated that much longer periods fasting would be needed to change those.  However, we’ve seen that even those reverse quickly to levels seem before the intervention.

    “One point to stress might be the rather moderate level of weight loss achieved with any intervention and the missing long-term follow-up in terms of weight maintenance and reduction in the onset of major diseases.  For example, all dietary regimens, including the different forms of intermittent fasting, are unlikely to be sustainable.  A fact also indicated by the decline in adherence in most studies.

    “In brief, eating less leads to weight loss, irrespective on how you do it.  Aspects that are missed but would have been of interest, are any effects on muscle mass, which is a major concern for current pharmacological interventions on obesity.”

    Prof Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine/Honorary Consultant, University of Glasgow, said:

    “This meta-analysis of mainly small trials helps to give a general sense of the benefits of intermittent fasting, even if some of the included trials were suboptimal.  Overall, the results do not surprise as there is nothing magical about intermittent fasting for weight loss beyond being another way for people to keep their total calorie intake lower than it would be otherwise – this helps people maintain a lower weight than they would normally.  Hence, it becomes another lifestyle option for weight management.  Whether it is sustainable over the longer term is worth to examine, whereas for those who need to lose much more weight, other options are now clearly available.”

    Dr Amanda Avery, Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nottingham, said:

    “This systematic review has compared the weight loss achieved by people in clinical trials who have undertaken intermittent fasting compared to the more traditional dietary approaches to losing weight which involve a continuous reduction in energy (calorie) intake (CER).  Systematic reviews are considered gold standard in research hierarchy and a meta-analysis allows a deeper understanding of the results – meta-analyses statistically interpret the overall findings for us.  This systematic review involved a novel network meta-analysis which is an advanced statistical technique that enables comparisons of multiple interventions including those that have not been compared in head-to-head trials.

    “Given that nearly 100 clinical trials were included in this systematic review, although some with a small number of participants, this research probably provides as good an insight as we are going to find as to whether intermittent fasting (IF) is as effective as traditional dietary approaches to weight management involving a consistent reduction in calories on a daily basis.

    “The authors have carefully considered most of the factors that could affect the interpretation of the findings – the first being that there is no definition for what we mean by IF and a number of different approaches to IF such as time restricted eating, alternate day fasting and the 5:2 approach.  The second factor that makes interpreting the findings difficult is that there are different approaches to achieving CER and the support and resources that people are offered to reduce their daily energy intake may affect how successful they are in losing weight and maintaining weight loss.  Compliance to any intervention will make a difference and people are individuals – one approach may work for one person but not for another.

    “Some of the studies included in the review had a very short intervention period – that is the time when participants were following the different approaches to losing weight.  The authors did conclude that more emphasis should be put on interventions that have been conducted over a longer period of time.  Perhaps as we may have expected, for the studies that had been conducted for 24 weeks or more, it was found that there was no difference between IF and CER in the weight changes seen – but at least they were both more effective compared to no dietary intervention.

    “The pros and cons of IF and CER have been debated for some time now.  This review can hopefully end the debate with the conclusion that if someone choses IF and overall a nutritionally balanced diet is still achieved then it could be used as one of the options to support weight loss with the more traditional dietary approaches still remaining as key strategies – alongside appropriate support.  The majority of the participants in the included studies had higher BMIs and an associated health condition and thus the findings are appropriate for many people who would benefit from weight management.  However I would like to emphasise that IF is not recommended during pregnancy.”

    ‘Intermittent fasting strategies on body weight and other cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials’ by Zhila Semnani-Azad et al. was published in the BMJ at 23:30 UK time on Wednesday 18 June 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-082007

    Declared interests

    Prof Maik Pietzner: “Professor Pietzner has received funding from industry partners (SomaLogic Inc.) to attend conferences unrelated to this work.  No other conflict of interest.”

    Prof Naveed Sattar: “NS has consulted for and/or received speaker honoraria from Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Afimmune, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carmot Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Menarini-Ricerche, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Metsera, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Roche; and received grant support paid to his University from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Roche.  No shares in any medical areas.”

    Dr Amanda Avery: “Besides my academic position at the University of Nottingham, I also hold a position at Slimming World as Consultant dietitian in the Nutrition, Research & Health Policy team. 

    I have no other conflicts of interest to declare.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Farmers’ market program delivers another bountiful harvest

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    People in British Columbia will continue to have improved access to nutritious, locally grown foods through the B.C. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program. 

    “As the weather warms up and more people take advantage of British Columbia’s amazing farmers’ markets, we are helping people and families on lower incomes access fresh and nutritious foods grown in their communities,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program promotes healthy eating and gives people an opportunity to connect with and support local farmers and producers.”

    The B.C. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is operating in more than 90 communities throughout the province, reaching families, seniors and pregnant people from more than 8,500 households.

    “We all want people to be able to access nutritious, healthy food in their communities,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “Our funding will help more people, including seniors and families, put fresh food on the table, while also investing in local agriculture.”

    Delivered by the B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM), the B.C. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program is a healthy-eating initiative that strengthens local food systems throughout the province by providing an additional source of income for B.C. farmers during the market season. With funding from the Province, the program provides coupons to community partners supporting people and families with lower incomes. Coupons can be used to buy fresh, nutritious and locally grown food at more than 100 participating B.C. farmers’ markets.

    “This program helps people on a low income get fresh and nutritious food grown by local farmers,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “I’m so thankful farmers in B.C. participate in this program, helping to build community and sharing the bounty of their hard work.”

    This year, the Province is providing the program with $4.25 million. Households enrolled in the program can receive as much as $27 a week in coupons to use at participating farmers’ markets for as long as 16 weeks. The coupons can be used to buy fresh produce, nuts, eggs, dairy products, herbs, vegetable and fruit plants, honey, meat and fish. To receive the coupons, participants register with community partners, which distribute the coupons to those eligible. However, the 2025 program is currently at capacity for this year and is no longer taking applications.

    “The B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets is grateful and proud to have delivered this beloved program for many, many years,” said Heather O’Hara, executive director, BCAFM. “Through the program, we reach diverse people and communities in all corners of the province every year. In 2025, we know people want to taste B.C. like never before at our incredible farmers’ markets.”

    Farmers’ markets are a central part of many communities in B.C. Every year, they generate more than $232 million for local economies, helping farmers, small businesses and communities thrive. Support for farmers’ markets strengthens local food systems and helps foster the sector’s resilience and self-reliance.

    Quick Facts:

    • The Ministry of Health has been funding the B.C. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program since 2012.
    • In 2024, the program supported 8,609 participants through 235 community partners in 94 B.C. communities.
    • Each year, almost five million people visit B.C. farmers’ markets, which are a gateway to experiencing the culture, flavours and food of the province.
    • BCAFM is a registered B.C. non-profit society that strengthens farmers’ markets, supports B.C. farmers and educates the public about choosing healthy, B.C.-grown products.
    • The group is committed to nurturing a secure food system and ensuring the viability of farming for the future.

    Learn More:

    For more information about the B.C. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program, visit: https://bcfarmersmarket.org/coupon-program/how-it-works/

    To locate a participating farmers’ market in your community, visit the B.C. Farmers’ Market Trail: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com

    To learn more about government supports for B.C. farmers, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025AF0001-000001

    To discover how you can enjoy more B.C. food and beverages, visit: https://buybc.gov.bc.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National Australia Bank pays $751,200 in penalties for alleged breaches of Consumer Data Right Rules

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    National Australia Bank Limited (NAB) has paid penalties totalling $751,200 after the ACCC issued it with four infringement notices for alleged contraventions of the Consumer Data Right (CDR) Rules.

    The infringement notices relate to alleged failures by NAB to disclose, or accurately disclose, credit limit data in response to four separate requests made by different CDR accredited providers on behalf of consumers.

    The CDR is an economy-wide data sharing program that empowers Australians to leverage the data businesses hold about them for their own benefit.

    For the CDR to be effective it is critical that the data which a consumer has consented to be shared is accurate, up-to-date, complete and in the required format. 

    “Poor data quality prevents consumers from experiencing the full benefits of the CDR. When banks or energy retailers don’t provide accurate data, consumers can’t take advantage of CDR products and services to compare products, find better deals, manage their finances or make informed decisions about product switching,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

    In this case, a failure to provide accurate information in relation to credit card limits impacted the service a number of fintechs provided to consumers, including some fintechs who offer mortgage broking tools using CDR data. These tools are designed to provide consumers with faster, simpler and more secure loan applications which better leverage their own data. 

    NAB’s payment of these penalties is the highest amount paid for alleged contraventions of the CDR Rules to date. NAB cooperated with the ACCC’s investigation and has rectified the data quality issues identified.

    Data holders in the banking sector have had several years to understand and implement their CDR obligations. As the CDR continues to mature, data quality within the CDR remains a priority conduct area for the ACCC. In the second half of 2024, CDR participants reported to the ACCC that over 530,000 consumers successfully used CDR products and services across the banking and energy sectors, representing an increase of 135 per cent from the previous six months. During the same period, approximately 582 million consumer data requests were made. 

    “All CDR participants are reminded that failure to comply with the CDR rules will result in scrutiny by the ACCC and may result in enforcement action,” Ms Lowe said.

    Notes to editors

    The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the CDR rules.

    The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain provisions of the CDR rules.

    More information on the obligations of data holders can be found in the Compliance guide for data holders.

    At the time of the alleged conduct the penalty amount for each infringement notice was fixed at $187,800 for a listed corporation. Since 7 November 2024, the penalty has been increased to $198,000 for each infringement notice.

    Background

    CDR gives consumers the right to safely transfer data about themselves from data holders to accredited persons, potentially to access new products and services, including better deals on everyday products and services.

    CDR is an economy-wide reform that is being rolled out sector by sector. The CDR has been rolled out to banking (from July 2020) and energy (from November 2022), with the non-bank lending sector to follow from mid-2026.

    The transfer of consumer data occurs between data holders and accredited persons, or accredited providers. The Australian Government has designed and oversees the system to ensure it is safe and secure for consumers. Accredited providers must go through a rigorous process to become accredited by the Data Recipient Accreditor (currently the ACCC) to provide services to consumers using CDR data. A list of current providers (along with further information about CDR) is available on the CDR website.

    The ACCC, together with its co-regulator, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, is responsible for ensuring CDR participants, including accredited providers and data holders, comply with their CDR obligations.

    The Treasury leads CDR policy, including development of rules and advice to government on which sectors CDR should apply to in the future. Within Treasury, the Data Standards Body develops the standards that prescribe how data is shared under CDR.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Narda-MITEQ Awarded Prototype to Optimize Power Dividers in Growler Aircrafts for DoN

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Program Manager Air (PMA)–265 and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), in partnership with NSTXL through the S²MARTS OTA, have announced a prototype award to optimize Power Dividers for the EA–18G aircraft. NAVAIR is qualifying a new design and source of supply for the Power Dividers, which are utilized in the ALQ-218(V)2 Tactical Jamming Subsystem Receiver (TJSR). The prototyping and qualification will be awarded to Narda-MITEQ.

    Prior to the award, NAVAIR participated in an event in which organizations interested in submitting could engage with NAVAIR and ask questions about the opportunity, as well as clarify government needs. The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), the agreement vehicle for the opportunity, hosted the event as well as an industry networking event to encourage teaming. OTAs are a modern, efficient prototyping vehicle suitable for opportunities like Power Dividers that need to move quickly.

    The S2MARTS OTA is managed by National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). NSTXL is a consortium manager focused on revolutionizing government innovation. With accelerated prototyping processes through OTAs, DoD can make leading technologies like power dividers available to the Warfighter faster than ever.

    About S2MARTS
    The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT agreement vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts.

    For media inquiries contact:
    NSTXL Press
    press@nstxl.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Narda-MITEQ Awarded Prototype to Optimize Power Dividers in Growler Aircrafts for DoN

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Program Manager Air (PMA)–265 and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), in partnership with NSTXL through the S²MARTS OTA, have announced a prototype award to optimize Power Dividers for the EA–18G aircraft. NAVAIR is qualifying a new design and source of supply for the Power Dividers, which are utilized in the ALQ-218(V)2 Tactical Jamming Subsystem Receiver (TJSR). The prototyping and qualification will be awarded to Narda-MITEQ.

    Prior to the award, NAVAIR participated in an event in which organizations interested in submitting could engage with NAVAIR and ask questions about the opportunity, as well as clarify government needs. The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), the agreement vehicle for the opportunity, hosted the event as well as an industry networking event to encourage teaming. OTAs are a modern, efficient prototyping vehicle suitable for opportunities like Power Dividers that need to move quickly.

    The S2MARTS OTA is managed by National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). NSTXL is a consortium manager focused on revolutionizing government innovation. With accelerated prototyping processes through OTAs, DoD can make leading technologies like power dividers available to the Warfighter faster than ever.

    About S2MARTS
    The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT agreement vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts.

    For media inquiries contact:
    NSTXL Press
    press@nstxl.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China once again calls on G7 to stop interfering in its internal affairs – Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) — China once again calls on the Group of Seven (G7) to recognize the global development trend, abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudices, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, stop provoking conflicts and confrontation, and do more for the interests of the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular briefing on Wednesday.

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a G7 summit chairman’s summary released on June 17 local time that participants stressed the need for constructive and stable relations with China, calling on China to avoid “market distortions” and “overcapacity,” and expressed serious concern about China’s “destabilizing activities” in the East China Sea and South China Sea and the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

    Commenting on the above document, Guo Jiakun noted that the G7 summit participants once again resorted to manipulating issues related to China. According to him, the G7 countries made irresponsible statements on Taiwan, the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and falsely accused China of “excess production capacity” and “market distortions.”

    “This is interference in China’s internal affairs and a violation of the basic norms of international relations. The Chinese side firmly opposes this and has made stern representations to the relevant parties,” Guo Jiakun said.

    The main factor undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait today is the activities of separatists advocating “Taiwan independence” and the interference of external forces, the official representative noted. According to him, if the G7 countries truly care about peace in the Taiwan Strait, they should strictly adhere to the one-China principle, clearly oppose “Taiwan independence,” and support China’s reunification.

    Guo Jiakun pointed out that the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea is generally stable at present. He called on the G7 to respect the joint efforts of regional countries to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation, maintain peace and stability, and stop using maritime issues to sow discord among regional countries and increase tensions in the region.

    The Chinese diplomat said the allegations of “market distortions” and “excess production capacity” were completely untrue. As Guo Jiakun emphasized, the G7 countries resort to such claims to justify their trade protectionism, and in fact, to contain and suppress China’s industrial progress, politicize and weaponize trade and economic issues. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Review: BRICS Cooperation Space Constantly Expands – SPIEF Participants

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    St. Petersburg, June 18 (Xinhua) — The cooperation space between the BRICS countries is constantly expanding, especially after the expansion of the association began in 2024. This was stated on Wednesday by participants of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the session “BRICS and Partners: Creating a Joint Business Future.”

    Director of the Beijing-Moscow International Trade and Economic Center Ma Shuang noted that China has a long-term strategy for building relations with the BRICS countries. Among the areas that have the greatest potential for joint investment and opening up new markets, she named information technology and the Internet.

    Vice President of the India-South Africa Chamber of Commerce Lebohan Zulu stressed that the main barrier to increasing cooperation among BRICS countries is the legacy of the unipolar world system, which is expressed in the dominance of one currency in the world market, and the insufficient development of international transport and logistics networks. In her opinion, work in these areas, as well as the development of e-commerce platforms, can open up a huge number of prospects and opportunities for BRICS members and partners.

    According to Anna Nesterova, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Global Rus Trade and Chairperson of the Russian Part of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, the expansion of the association has demonstrated broad interest in it among countries around the world. She believes that education and the involvement of more and more women in entrepreneurial activity are relevant areas for the development of cooperation in BRICS. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carter helps secure Critical Funding for Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Carter helps secure Critical Funding for Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport

    Carter helps secure Critical Funding for Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport

    Washington, June 18, 2025

    SAVANNAH- Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today announced $11.4 million in Department of Transportation grants for the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

    Combined, the three grants provide $1.3 million to update the existing airport master plan, $3.7 million to construct a new taxiway, and $6.4 million to expand the existing general aviation apron.  

    “The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is a crown jewel of Georgia’s First Congressional District. These funds will help the airport improve its already stellar operations, connecting the world to our beautiful coast and providing best-in-class service for all passengers,” said Rep. Carter.

    “It is great to hear that we will be receiving these three grants to help pay for necessary airfield infrastructure projects at our airport as we continue to grow. These grants will help us facilitate aircraft movements to our new air cargo complex and our expanding Business/General Aviation campus in the Southeast Quadrant of the airport,” said Greg Kelly, A.A.E., Executive Director, Savannah Airport Commission

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New day stay unit at Starship Children’s Hospital will increase capacity

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Health Minister Simeon Brown today officially opened the new Athlae Lyon Day Stay Unit at Starship Children’s Hospital, marking a major milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of New Zealand’s largest children’s hospital.
    “Starship plays a critical role in caring for our most vulnerable children, not just from Auckland but from right across New Zealand. It provides lifesaving care and specialist services that families depend on during some of the most challenging times they will face,” Mr Brown says.
    “This new, purpose-built medical day stay unit is a significant step toward delivering the modern, fit-for-purpose health services that children and their families deserve. 
    “It offers a dedicated, child-friendly space for procedures that don’t require an overnight stay – such as infusions, allergy testing, medical reviews for chronic conditions, and sleep studies. The bright, welcoming environment is designed to support a positive experience for both patients and their families.”
    The new unit replaces a much smaller area that accommodated just three procedure chairs, nearly tripling capacity to six chairs along with two flexible rooms that can be used for sleep studies or as isolation spaces when infection control is required.
    “Shifting appropriate procedures to this new day stay unit will help hospital teams work more efficiently, allowing more children to receive timely care with fewer delays caused by inpatient bed shortages – leading to shorter wait times and improved access to essential treatments for children and their families.
    “At the same time, freeing up inpatient beds will ensure those requiring acute or planned overnight care have access to the space they need – enabling the hospital to use its capacity more effectively, improving care for all patients.
    “I know that hospital visits can be stressful for children and their families. This new unit is designed with their wellbeing in mind, helping to ease that stress through a more supportive environment, and providing smarter, more efficient care – ensuring every child receives the right treatment, at the right time,” Mr Brown says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Rwandan genocide perpetrator charged with immigration fraud following ICE investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    DAYTON, Ohio – A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation resulted in an indictment that was unsealed June 13, charging a Dayton man with lying on his applications for a green card and United States citizenship by concealing his past role as a leader and perpetrator of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

    According to court documents, Vincent Nzigiyimfura, 65, was a prominent businessman and shop owner in Rwanda in 1994 when the genocide began. He allegedly used his wealth and leadership position in Rwandan society to organize violence against and killings of Tutsis, the minority population persecuted in the genocide.

    “ICE HSI is committed to pursuing justice for victims of genocide by ensuring that those who committed atrocities in foreign lands cannot hide in Ohio or any other community in the United States,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “No one wants a war criminal as their neighbor and these allegations paint a grim picture of the horror Nzigiyimfura inflicted on the Tutsi people. His indictment and arrest is a step toward justice for those victims.”

    “The indictment alleges this defendant facilitated the killings of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide and then lied about it on immigration applications in the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio. “This egregious conduct will not be tolerated.”

    “As alleged, Vincent Nzigiyimfura directed and encouraged murders during the genocide in Rwanda and then lied to U.S. authorities to start a new life in this country,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The United States is not a safe haven for human rights violators. Those, like the defendant, who commit immigration fraud to hide their violent pasts will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

    As alleged in the indictment, Nzigiyimfura directed groups of armed Hutus – the majority population – to kill Tutsis. He allegedly set up roadblocks during the genocide to detain and kill Tutsis, including a roadblock directly in front of his home, where Tutsis were allegedly killed at his direction. Nzigiyimfura also allegedly participated in killings. According to court filings, the defendant was subsequently convicted in absentia by a Rwandan court for genocide.

    Court documents detail that Nzigiyimfura applied for a visa to enter the U.S. and was granted lawful permanent resident status in 2008. In 2014, he submitted an application for naturalization. Nzigiyimfura allegedly lied to U.S. immigration officials in his immigration applications, including by falsely denying any involvement as a perpetrator of the Rwandan genocide.

    Nzigiyimfura was arrested June 12 and charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud. If convicted as charged, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

    ICE HSI Detroit is investigating this case, with assistance from the interagency Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

    Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the U.S, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Currently, HSI has more than 180 active investigations into suspected human rights violators and is pursuing more than 1,945 leads and removals cases involving suspected human rights violators from 95 different countries. Since 2003, the HRVWCC has issued more than 79,000 lookouts for potential perpetrators of human rights abuses, and stopped over 390 human rights violators and war crimes suspects from entering the U.S.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney George Painter of the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are representing the United States in this case.

    Members of the public who have information about potential former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or the online tip form. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov

    An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –