NewzIntel.com

Category: Weather

  • MIL-OSI Global: Freedom in an age of climate crisis and trade wars: Lessons from philosopher Immanuel Kant

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rafael Ziegler, Professor, Department of Managment, HEC Montréal

    A decade ago, the majority of nations committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, pledging to “leave no one behind” by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions globally by 2050.

    Ten years on, the sentiment regarding such aspirations is skeptical and the mood gloomy. With the rise of autocracies and the influence of libertarian tech-billionaires on politics, goals such as development for all and climate neutrality seem to be relics of the past.

    The United States, the most powerful country in the world, is at the heart of this shift. In 1776, the U.S. declared independence and was founded on the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Today, however, it is increasingly known for its disregard of life, legislative attacks on civil liberties and creating global insecurity through tariffs.

    In the midst of all this, it’s important to remember ours is not the first generation to face dark times. As my recent research argues, Immanuel Kant’s philosophy can offer us valuable tools for navigating today’s challenges.

    Kant’s vision of possible progress

    A painted portrait of German philosopher and Enlightenment thinker Immanuel Kant circa 1790.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    In 1776, the same year the U.S. was founded, Kant was preparing his breakthrough critical philosophy and lecturing on freedom and pragmatic anthropology, all while living in the absolutist monarchy of Prussia.

    At the time, Prussia was using its military to expand its territory and enforce internal colonization over land and peoples.

    Amid this, Kant observed the contradictions of human nature — people who acted both good and bad, cruel and respectful of others — and described humanity as “crooked timber.” Yet Kant insisted on viewing this “crooked timber” through the lens of freedom.

    At the centre of Kant’s universalist, freedom-focused vision for the future was the idea of a world where all people lived in dignity. It is focused on autonomy as the capacity to self-legislate. Freedom served as his North Star for what is today called “backcasting,” or thinking backward from a desired future to identify possible paths toward achieving it.



    Read more:
    Explainer: the ideas of Kant

    In this spirit, Kant observed the rise of competitive markets that rewarded selfishness and greed, and argued that law and international co-operation — what he called a federation of republics — could turn antagonism into springs of progress. In other words, he analyzed the discord and conflict of his present for signs of possible progress.

    Crucial for the identification of such possibilities was the freedom of public reason: people thinking for themselves and contributing to public debate.

    Thinking long-term about freedom

    What can we learn from Kant about navigating today’s multiple crises?

    First, focus on freedom from a long-term perspective. The current trade war will likely reduce economic growth, but they may also advance the re-regionalization of economies — an idea long supported by post-growth economists seeking sustainable prosperity.

    However, regional production is not inherently good. Rather, we need a public discussion about which essential goods — food, for example — are best mostly supplied regionally, by whom and where international co-operation is called for.

    The climate crisis requires plans not fixes

    Second, Kant’s insights remind us that freedom must be pursued within the reality of a shared, finite planet. Climate change is not a problem that can be solved overnight. Emissions don’t care about the threats and angry fits of autocrats. It’s a global, complex challenge that requires long-term planning processes.

    There are signs of progress in this regard: in 2024, the United Kingdom reported greenhouse gas emissions to be at their lowest levels since 1872 thanks to long-term planning. Canada, after opting out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2011, finally saw emissions start to fall in 2025 following a renewed commitment to international climate goals and planning.

    But this progress is fragile. The chaos of Trump’s tariff wars must not lead our politicians and policymakers to prioritize short-term economic and political gains over long-term climate strategies.

    Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s support for pipelines, for instance, is at odds with evidence that fossil fuel expansion will lock in emissions.

    It also diverts public money away from cheaper sources of renewable energy and supporting citizens through a just energy transition. With trade wars and economic insecurity, inflation will likely increase costs of living. This will hit poorer households harder, making this a matter of both environmental and social justice.

    Rebuilding the public sphere

    Third, for Kant, current lifestyle expectations are no guide for the core of future freedom. So if the American treasury secretary asserts that “cheap goods are not part of the American dream,” can we, paradoxically, detect an unexpected sign of possible progress?

    The answer is yes — if we take that example as evidence that worthwhile aspirations cannot be captured by consumerism but call for a more sustained effort.

    While modern consumers are willing to make big efforts — such as for daily gym and running routines — can similar energy be released to collective dreams of progress and saving the planet? For Kant, future freedom requires seeing beyond individual to collective aspirations. This relies on shared goals that can be articulated through foresight and supported by a vibrant, critical public sphere.

    In Kant’s time, the public sphere mainly consisted of the Republic of Letters, a network made of intellectuals and writers in the late 17th and 18th centuries engaging in open debate.

    Today, by contrast, much of our communication takes place on social media platforms that prioritize short-form formats, reward anger over analysis and are owned by a few global corporations structured to maximize profits rather than the quality of public deliberation. To counter this trend, regionally diverse, independent news providers are needed along with decentralized, open source social media.

    But above all, in an era of climate crisis, political polarization and economic instability, Kant reminds us of what he called a “Denkungsart:” an “art of thinking” or mindset based on freedom and possibility in a long-term perspective.

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

    – ref. Freedom in an age of climate crisis and trade wars: Lessons from philosopher Immanuel Kant – https://theconversation.com/freedom-in-an-age-of-climate-crisis-and-trade-wars-lessons-from-philosopher-immanuel-kant-254442

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Meet our new Director for BC!

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Meet our new Director for BC!

    As British Columbia Director, Patricia Lightburn will represent CanREA members and help advance policy outcomes in the province.

    Ottawa, May 1, 2025—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association CanREA) is excited to welcome Patricia Lightburn as our new Director, British Columbia. She will represent CanREA members in BC, lead the BC Network, engage with stakeholders and work with members to advance CanREA’s strategic policy priorities in the BC market.  

    “We are thrilled to welcome Patricia to CanREA, especially at this critical time for renewable energy and energy storage industry in BC,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO. 

    Prior to joining CanREA, Lightburn was a managing consultant at Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors. She has also held roles at Innergex Renewable Energy, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Ontario Power Authority (now the IESO).  

    “BC has embarked on a once-in-a-generation energy transition and I couldn’t be more excited to join the CanREA team, to support a thriving and sustainable renewable energy and storage industry in this province,” she said.   

    Lightburn holds a master’s degree from Sciences Politiques in Paris, France. She is based in Squamish, British Columbia.   

    To see CanREA’s growing roster of professionals serving Canada’s renewable energy industry, visit the “Our team” webpage.
    The post Meet our new Director for BC! appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Internal FBI Emails Provide Behind-the-Scenes Look at Biden DOJ’s Plot to Take Down Trump Advisor Peter Navarro

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is further exposing the Biden Justice Department’s (DOJ) aggressive efforts to target President Donald Trump and his associates. Internal Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) emails released by Grassley show Biden FBI agents planning and celebrating the indictment of Trump advisor Peter Navarro in 2022.

    The series of emails, which Grassley made public in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, detail preparations by the Biden FBI and D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office to arrest and press criminal charges against Navarro for contempt of Congress. Navarro was ultimately the first White House official in history to be jailed on a contempt of Congress conviction, serving four months in prison in 2024. Upon receiving news of Navarro’s impending indictment, former anti-Trump FBI official Timothy Thibault replied, “Wow. Great.”

    “According to the FBI’s own statistics, violent crime rose 4.5% in 2022. Meanwhile, the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office refused to prosecute two-thirds of the criminals arrested in our nation’s capital that very same year. Instead of focusing on the rampant cases of murder and rape perpetrated against everyday Americans, personnel in the FBI’s Washington Field Office and D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office were obsessing over ways to target President Trump and his allies. Their conduct is disgraceful and un-American,” Grassley said of his letter. “Transparency brings accountability, which is why I’m requesting AG Bondi and Director Patel produce all records that further demonstrate this political rot.” 

    Grassley’s letter notes that three of the FBI officials involved in investigating Navarro also spearheaded the anti-Trump Arctic Frost investigation: Special Agent Walter Giardina, Supervisory Special Agent Blaire Toleman and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault.

    Grassley earlier this week requested Patel declassify the FBI’s analysis of the congressional criminal referral issued for Nellie Ohr, a former Fusion GPS contractor involved in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation against Trump. Despite feloniously making false statements to Congress in 2018, the FBI and DOJ chose not to press charges against Ohr. 

    Read Grassley’s letter to Bondi and Patel HERE, and view the related FBI email records HERE.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses

    Governor Stein Announces $55 Million in Grants Have Been Distributed to Nearly 3,000 Western North Carolina Businesses
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the Dogwood Health Trust, the Duke Endowment, and the State of North Carolina have distributed $55 million to 2,812 small businesses through the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative. These grants are supporting western North Carolina businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene and bolstering regional economic recovery. More than 7,300 businesses applied.

    “These grants will go a long way in helping western North Carolina’s beloved small business owners keep their doors open after Helene,” said Governor Josh Stein. “But the volume of unfunded applications makes it crystal clear – more help is desperately needed. I’m ready to work with the legislature to deliver support for small businesses that power our mountain economy.”

    “The Dogwood Health Trust is proud of this partnership’s work to support small business owners in western North Carolina,” said Dogwood President and CEO Dr. Susan Mims. “The Dogwood Health Trust created the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative last fall as part of our larger Helene relief efforts. These businesses are vital to the health of our communities, and we must continue to support them.”

    The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative, initiated by the Dogwood Health Trust and then expanded by the State of North Carolina and the Duke Endowment, awarded grants of up to $50,000 to small business with an annual revenue of up to $2.5 million. Earlier this week, Governor Stein announced the new $55 million Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, which directs up to $1 million in grants to local governments to rebuild public infrastructure like sewers and sidewalks, which small businesses rely upon to attract business. Governor Stein’s second Hurricane Helene relief budget proposal will include increased support for small businesses in western North Carolina. 

    May 1, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Issues New Executive Order on Burn Ban

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Issues New Executive Order on Burn Ban

    LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has issued a new executive order stipulating that central and western Nebraska remain under a burn ban. Conditions in that half of the state are still very dry. Burning is prohibited through midnight May 10 due to the potential wildfire risk.

    Last week, Gov. Pillen ordered a burn ban across Nebraska, after a prescribed fire got out of control in Plum Creek. The new order, effective today, specifies the border where burning is still not permitted. The line runs south along U.S. Highway 81 from the South Dakota border to Highway 92. The line then goes west to U.S. Highway 281 and runs south to the Kansas border. It should be noted that counties may be split when it comes to areas where burning is still prohibited.

    Burning outside of that area is permitted, except when a red flag warning is issued by the National Weather Service and for the duration of the warning.

    A map, as well as the executive order, are included with this release.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Britt Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Refocus National Hydrology Research, Boost Flood Resiliency Bill would make permanent the hydrology research center at UVM

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) this week reintroduced the bipartisan Water Research Optimization Act of 2025, legislation to streamline hydrological forecast modeling within the National Weather Service. The Senators’ legislation would place America’s 13 River Forecast Centers under the supervision and oversight of the Office of Water Protection and solidify existing hydrology work conducted through the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), the United States’ first-ever center for water forecast operations.  
    CIROH has evolved into a revolutionary, collaborative hub between the public and private sector for research and development. The Water Research Optimization Act of 2025 would make CIROH’s research center at the University of Vermont (UVM) permanent and align UVM’s hydrology work with the National Weather Service to boost flood resiliency research.  
    “Investing in hydrology modeling and prediction is crucial to boosting flood resilience across the country, from Vermont to Alabama. That includes supporting important hydrology research and programs at the University of Vermont that improve hydrologic forecasting, such as the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will strengthen and align current hydrology research at the National Weather Service with vital research at UVM to foster flood resilience and help communities rebuild better after natural disasters.”  
    “The National Water Center has been instrumental to NOAA’s efforts to strengthen America’s water forecasting capabilities, improve weather-preparedness, and modernize water research technologies,” said Senator Britt. “I’m proud of the Center’s world-class capabilities, and I have no doubt this legislation will further enhance critical research and applied sciences that benefit our entire nation. I’m grateful to Senator Welch for his support and leadership through our bipartisan bill.” 
    “We are grateful to Senators Welch and Britt for their leadership in introducing pivotal legislation to support CIROH. Funding for these efforts allows the University of Vermont to continue vital research on water that impacts the quality of life of Vermonters and communities across the country. We are proud to be able to contribute to this work,” said Kirk Dombrowski, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Vermont. 
    CIROH’s national coalition of academic, industry, and non-profit partners includes the University of Vermont, which functions closely alongside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Water Center to support stakeholders with hydrological data and important weather-related forecasts and warnings. This legislation would place CIROH Centers under the supervision and oversight of the National Weather Service’s Office of Water Protection and codify the National Water Center’s authority to lead the transition of water resources research.  
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Laudato Si’: A look back on Pope Francis’s environmental legacy

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Donald Wright, Professor of Political Science, University of New Brunswick

    The Vatican’s College of Cardinals will soon gather in Rome to elect a new head of the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis.

    As the church prepares for the papal conclave, the world is assessing Francis’s legacy and his stance on the role of women in the church, LGBTQ+ rights and the needs of migrants and refugees.

    However, every assessment should include a discussion of Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, his 2015 encyclical on climate change.

    In many ways, it’s a remarkable document. At once rational and urgent, it calls on all of us — “every person living on this planet” — to think about what we are doing to the only planet we have.



    Read more:
    Three ways Pope Francis influenced the global climate movement

    Our common home, Francis wrote, “is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” And yet, we “have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.”

    The end result? Runaway climate change in the form of higher temperatures, extreme weather events and biodiversity loss. In this sense, reading Laudato Si’ — “Praise be to you” in Italian — is like reading an assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

    Unlike the IPCC report, however, Francis didn’t pull his punches. “The Earth, our home,” he wrote, “is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.”

    Francis didn’t hold back

    A few months after the publication of Laudato Si’, the world gathered in Paris to draft a new climate treaty. It too is a remarkable document. However, if the authors of the Paris Agreement couldn’t mention the economic roots of the climate crisis – they couldn’t even use the term fossil fuels — the pope could and did.

    Francis relentlessly called out our “models of growth which have proved incapable of ensuring respect for the environment,” our “irrational confidence in progress and human abilities” and our “blind confidence in technical solutions.”

    He was critical of “current models of production and consumption” and our faith in “the invisible forces of the market,” as well as our “misguided anthropocentrism” and our “throwaway culture.”

    Francis pointed a finger at obstructionism and denial. He worried about the rise of social media, which has led to disconnection from each other and from nature. And he was critical of “the idea of infinite or unlimited growth.”

    Although terribly “attractive to economists, financiers, and experts in technology,” it’s a fantasy based on the lie “that there is an infinite supply of the Earth’s goods.” There isn’t, and the planet is “being squeezed dry beyond every limit.”

    Using ironic quotation marks, he even criticized “green” rhetoric, so fashionable in eco-capitalist circles.

    It wasn’t the first time Francis talked about a global economy that doesn’t work. A few years earlier, in 2012, he caused a minor fit in some circles with the publication of Evangelli Gaudium. Wealth moves up, not down, he argued, while the poor are excluded and grow in number.

    The late American pundit Rush Limbaugh called it “pure Marxism.” Undeterred, Francis went further in Laudato Si’ when he linked the climate crisis to an economy premised on constant consumption.

    Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a Catholic convert and at the time a presidential aspirant, told him to stick to his knitting: “I don’t get economic policy from my bishops or my cardinal or my pope.”

    Laudato Si’ and abortion

    Of course, Francis had stuck to his knitting in one important way: on at least four separate occasions in Laudato Si’, he singled out abortion — or, in his words, “eliminating children” — as part of the climate problem. He wrote:

    “Thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.”

    No, it doesn’t. Moreover, empowering women through access to birth control and abortion care is part of the solution to poverty in both the Global South and the Global North, something Francis cared deeply about, like his namesake St. Francis of Assisi.



    Read more:
    Francis − a pope who cared deeply for the poor and opened up the Catholic Church

    In 2023, Francis published Laudate Deum, a short followup to Laudato Si’. At the same time as he urged the world to act, he condemned those who blame climate change on the poor for having so many children and who “attempt to resolve the problem by mutilating women in less developed countries.”

    According to one Catholic news and information site, this was an apparent reference “to campaigns in favour of contraception and abortion regularly conducted by the West.”

    Centuries of pro-life absolutism in the Catholic Church meant that Francis couldn’t make the connection between women’s lack of bodily autonomy and poverty, and between reproductive justice and climate justice, and, in part, the idea that climate change disproportionately impacts women.

    Still, Laudato Si’ invites all of us to connect the dots between growth, consumption, poverty and climate breakdown. One doesn’t need to be Catholic, or even religious, to read Pope Francis’s encyclical on climate change for what it is: a powerful and deeply moral reminder that the climate is not something separate from us.

    To quote Francis, it’s a “common good” that belongs to all of us.

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

    – ref. Laudato Si’: A look back on Pope Francis’s environmental legacy – https://theconversation.com/laudato-si-a-look-back-on-pope-franciss-environmental-legacy-255604

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FMQs: Scotland cannot afford more broken climate promises

    Source: Scottish Greens

    01 May 2025 Climate

    Climate inaction could leave Scotland billions of pounds poorer.

    More in Climate

    The First Minister must ensure that his Government does not backtrack their targets for tackling Scotland’s climate emergency, says Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater.

    Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Ms Slater highlighted the importance of keeping promises when it comes to climate action, after news that the SNP have cut their car use reduction targets. 

    In her first question to the First Minister, Ms Slater said: 

    “As with their climate targets, the Scottish Government is not on track to meet its targets to cut car use. 

    “Instead of putting forward a practical plan for success, it sounds like their preferred solution is to just drop the target altogether. 

    “We urgently need to cut car use to tackle the climate emergency.

    “We need cheaper trains, buses and ferries to drive up passenger numbers.

    “We need better connections for rural communities.

    “And we need public ownership of bus services so that they are run for the people who use them, not for private profit.

    “Will the First Minister confirm, is the Scottish Government scrapping their car use reduction target?”

    Following a response from the First Minister, Ms Slater laid out the financial loss Scotland will face if our governments fail to take climate action now.

    In her second question, Ms Slater said: 

    “Scotland cannot afford any more broken promises on climate. 

    “If we don’t act now, economists have found that Scotland could be up to £140 billion poorer by 2035. 

    “People have been paying the price of a lack of progress to insulate our homes and move away from expensive gas heating, through their soaring energy bills 

    “There is no route to net zero by 2045 that doesn’t involve making our homes warmer and cheaper to heat by insulating them and replacing moving away from gas heating systems. 

    “Bold action is needed on climate to get Scotland back on track.

    “What new action will next week’s Programme for Government contain to reduce our sky high energy bills, and achieve the rapid cut needed in the use of fossil fuels?”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: USA: Trump’s first 100 days have ‘led with cruelty and chaos, creating a human rights emergency’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    From targeting immigrants to undermining press freedom to marginalising vulnerable minorities, Trump’s government has devastated the lives of people in the US and beyond

    ‘The Trump administration has fully embraced authoritarian tactics more commonly associated with repressive [regimes] to silence and punish those who disagree with him’ – Paul O’Brien

    As President Donald Trump marks his first 100 days in office, Amnesty International highlights the human rights crisis fuelled by President Trump’s administration’s authoritarian practices, discriminatory and racist policies, and dangerous rhetoric.  

    In Chaos & Cruelty: 10 Compounding Assaults on Human Rights, Amnesty reviews President Trump’s attacks on domestic and international human rights in his first 100 days in office. From suppressing dissent to demonising and targeting immigrants, to retreating from multilateral bodies that protect human rights around the world, the Trump administration has systematically eroded human rights protections, fostering a climate of fear and division, and undermining the rule of law. 

    Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said:

    “One hundred days into his second term, President Trump has led with cruelty and chaos, creating a human rights emergency that has affected millions of people by suppressing dissent, undermining the rule of law, and eroding norms and institutions essential to the protection of human rights.

    “The Trump administration has fully embraced authoritarian tactics more commonly associated with repressive leaders to silence and punish those who disagree with him, while weaponising the government against people and institutions in the US and beyond to entrench his own power and further an anti-rights agenda.”  

    The Trump administration’s policies in the first 100 days have already had devastating consequences on the lives of people in the US and in other parts of the world: 

    • Ending asylum and targeting immigrants: Mass deportations, enforced disappearances under the Alien Enemies Act, family separations, and harsh restrictions on the right to asylum have violated international law. These actions have torn communities apart and created a reality in which immigrants, including those who have come to the US seeking safety, are pushed into the shadows, living in fear. 
    • Attacking freedom of expression and the right to protest: Crackdowns on student protestors, especially those in support of Palestinian rights, have threatened the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Especially targeted are students who are not US citizens as they are threatened with detention and deportation for exercising their right to free speech.  
    • Undermining the rule of law: Disregarding court orders, threatening impeachment of judges, attacking law firms and lawyers, abusing executive power and eroding checks and balances are authoritarian practices the Trump administration has used to push forward his anti-rights agenda.   
    • Undermining press freedom: Targeting journalists, suing media outlets, pulling funding that supports free press globally, and abusing regulatory power through the Federal Communications Commission undermine the critical role of independent media in fostering debate, discussion, and dissent, which are essential to the defence of human rights. 
    • Attacking the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ communities: Anti-trans policies and executive orders have contributed to a dangerous climate of discrimination and indicate an attempt to erase transgender people’s existence under the law. Measures have also been taken to weaken sexual and reproductive rights guarantees for all people, particularly the right to abortion for women and people who can get pregnant. 
    • Marginalising Black and other racialised communities: Forced closures of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and threats to defund universities that embrace racial equity are a blatant attack on racial justice. 

    President Trump’s attacks on human rights are overlapping and compounding. Hundreds of university students have been targeted for deportation. One emblematic example of the Trump administration’s racist actions, repression, and disregard for human rights is the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student and lawful permanent resident, detained and placed in deportation proceedings for participating in peaceful protests at Columbia University. 

    O’Brien added:

    “Mahmoud Khalil’s case sends a chilling message: if you speak out for human rights, you will be targeted, you will be punished, and you will not have due process. That is a terrifying prospect, not just for students, not just for immigrants, but for everyone.  When we look at the cumulative effect of the Trump administration’s actions, it amounts to a sweeping attack on human rights and the systems that uphold them. From this perspective, the damage and devastation of the first 100 days are undeniably clear.”  

    President Trump’s chaotic and cruel agenda is also undermining the rights of people around the world, creating instability and uncertainty that harms safety and security not just of people globally but also those in the US, and undermines their prosperity.  

    • Abruptly dismantling US foreign assistance: Sweeping and abrupt cuts to foreign aid have had a catastrophic impact on global humanitarian, development and human rights efforts. These cuts are not just financial—they represent an abandonment of the U.S. stated commitments to human rights, public health, and global peace and security. 
    • Retreating from multilateral bodies that protect human rights around the world: By retreating from global leadership, withdrawing from the Human Rights Council (HRC), the World Health Organisation and the Paris Climate Agreement, reviewing membership in UNESCO and imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Trump Administration has intensified efforts to undermine global mechanisms for justice and accountability. 
    • Retreating from civilian harm mitigation efforts: From shrinking offices aimed at reducing civilian harm caused by US military operations to reversing executive orders aimed at ensuring the US’ arms transfers do not contribute to violations of international law, the Trump Administration has demonstrated a dangerous disregard for the lives of civilians endangered by armed conflicts.   
    • Demolishing checks on corporate accountability: President Trump and his administration have taken down existing checks on corporate accountability and slashed efforts to fight corruption, including pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Tech firms have long facilitated discriminatory and authoritarian practices, but President Trump’s actions have exacerbated this trend. Meanwhile, President Trump has seemingly given carte blanche to the wealthiest man on Earth, Elon Musk, to run rampant with DOGE, directing actions that appear to violate federal law, including accessing sensitive, personal data of millions of Americans. 

    The perilous state of human rights in the US comes at a time when authoritarian practices have been increasing globally. In fact, the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on human rights are turbocharging harmful trends already present, gutting international human rights protections and endangering billions across the planet. 

    Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, said:

    “We are witnessing an alarming escalation of state-sponsored repression and abandonment of the rule of law and human rights norms around the world.

    “As the largest grassroots human rights organisation in the world, we are mobilising to protect civic space, push back against authoritarian practices, and build long-term people power. Human rights should not be a political pawn.

    “Governments must actively oppose and denounce authoritarian practices that violate human rights and take steps to address their impact wherever they occur, including in the US. People around the world, including those in human rights and justice movements, are resisting and standing firmly against trends that threaten to lead present and future generations into an abyss. Political leaders must seize this pivotal moment to uphold and defend the rights and dignity of all.” 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: President Trump’s First 100 Days: Attacks on Human Rights, Cruelty and Chaos

    Source: Amnesty International –

    As President Donald Trump marks his first 100 days in office, Amnesty International highlights the human rights crisis fueled by President Trump’s administration’s authoritarian practices, discriminatory and racist policies, and dangerous rhetoric.  

    In Chaos & Cruelty: 10 Compounding Assaults on Human Rights, Amnesty International reviews President Trump’s attacks on domestic and international human rights in his first 100 days in office. From suppressing dissent to demonizing and targeting immigrants, to retreating from multilateral bodies that protect human rights around the world, the Trump administration has been systematically eroding human rights protections, fostering a climate of fear and division, and undermining the rule of law. 

    “One hundred days into his second term, President Trump has led with cruelty and chaos, creating a human rights emergency that has affected millions of people by suppressing dissent, undermining the rule of law, and eroding norms and institutions essential to the protection of human rights,” said Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA. “The Trump administration has fully embraced authoritarian tactics more commonly associated with repressive leaders to silence and punish those who disagree with him, while weaponizing the government against people and institutions in the United States and beyond to entrench his own power and further an anti-rights agenda.”  

    One hundred days into his second term, President Trump has led with cruelty and chaos, creating a human rights emergency that has affected millions of people by suppressing dissent, undermining the rule of law, and eroding norms and institutions essential to the protection of human rights

    Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA

    The Trump administration’s policies in the first 100 days have already had devastating consequences on the lives of people in the U.S. and in other parts of the world: 

    • Ending asylum and targeting immigrants: Mass deportations, enforced disappearances under the Alien Enemies Act, family separations, and harsh restrictions on the right to asylum have violated international law. These actions have torn communities apart and created a reality in which immigrants, including those who have come to the U.S. seeking safety, are pushed into the shadows, living in fear. 
    • Attacking freedom of expression and the right to protest: Crackdowns on student protestors, especially those in support of Palestinian rights, have threatened the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Especially targeted are students who are not U.S. citizens as they are threatened with detention and deportation for exercising their right to free speech.  
    • Undermining the rule of law: Disregarding court orders, threatening impeachment of judges, attacking law firms and lawyers, abusing executive power and eroding checks and balances are authoritarian practices the Trump administration has used to push forward his anti-rights agenda.   
    • Undermining press freedom: Targeting journalists, suing media outlets, pulling funding that supports free press globally, and abusing regulatory power through the Federal Communications Commission undermine the critical role of independent media in fostering debate, discussion, and dissent, which are essential to the defense of human rights. 
    • Attacking the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ communities: Anti-trans policies and executive orders have contributed to a dangerous climate of discrimination and indicate an attempt to erase transgender people’s existence under the law. Measures have also been taken to weaken sexual and reproductive rights guarantees for all people, particularly the right to abortion for women and people who can get pregnant. 
    • Marginalizing Black and other racialized communities: Forced closures of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and threats to defund universities that embrace racial equity are a blatant attack on racial justice. 

    President Trump’s attacks on human rights are overlapping and compounding. Hundreds of university students have been targeted for deportation. One emblematic example of the Trump administration’s racist actions, repression, and disregard for human rights is the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student and lawful permanent resident, detained and placed in deportation proceedings for participating in peaceful protests at Columbia University. 

    “Mahmoud Khalil’s case sends a chilling message: if you speak out for human rights, you will be targeted, you will be punished, and you will not have due process,” said O’Brien. “That is a terrifying prospect, not just for students, not just for immigrants, but for everyone.  When we look at the cumulative effect of the Trump administration’s actions, it amounts to a sweeping attack on human rights and the systems that uphold them. From this perspective, the damage and devastation of the first 100 days are undeniably clear.”  

    When we look at the cumulative effect of the Trump administration’s actions, it amounts to a sweeping attack on human rights and the systems that uphold them. From this perspective, the damage and devastation of the first 100 days are undeniably clear

    Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA

    President Trump’s chaotic and cruel agenda is also undermining the rights of people around the world, creating instability and uncertainty that harms safety and security not just of people globally but also those in the U.S., and undermines their prosperity.  

    • Abruptly dismantling U.S. foreign assistance: Sweeping and abrupt cuts to foreign aid have had a catastrophic impact on global humanitarian, development and human rights efforts. These cuts are not just financial—they represent an abandonment of the U.S. stated commitments to human rights, public health, and global peace and security. 
    • Retreating from multilateral bodies that protect human rights around the world: By retreating from global leadership, withdrawing from the Human Rights Council (HRC), the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement, reviewing membership in UNESCO and imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Trump Administration has intensified efforts to undermine global mechanisms for justice and accountability. 
    • Retreating from civilian harm mitigation efforts: From shrinking offices aimed at reducing civilian harm caused by U.S. military operations to reversing executive orders aimed at ensuring the U.S.’s arms transfers do not contribute to violations of international law, the Trump Administration has demonstrated a dangerous disregard for the lives of civilians endangered by armed conflicts.   
    • Demolishing checks on corporate accountability: President Trump and his administration have taken down existing checks on corporate accountability and slashed efforts to fight corruption, including pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Tech firms have long facilitated discriminatory and authoritarian practices, but President Trump’s actions have exacerbated this trend. Meanwhile, President Trump has seemingly given carte blanche to the wealthiest man on Earth, Elon Musk, to run rampant with DOGE, directing actions that appear to violate federal law, including accessing sensitive, personal data of millions of Americans. 

    The perilous state of human rights in the United States comes at a time when authoritarian practices have been increasing globally. In fact, the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on human rights are turbocharging harmful trends already present, gutting international human rights protections and endangering billions across the planet. 

    “We are witnessing an alarming escalation of state-sponsored repression and abandonment of the rule of law and human rights norms around the world. As the largest grassroots human rights organization in the world, we are mobilizing to protect civic space, push back against authoritarian practices, and build long-term people power,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns. “Human rights should not be a political pawn. Governments must actively oppose and denounce authoritarian practices that violate human rights and take steps to address their impact wherever they occur, including in the United States. People around the world, including those in human rights and justice movements, are resisting and standing firmly against trends that threaten to lead present and future generations into an abyss. Political leaders must seize this pivotal moment to uphold and defend the rights and dignity of all.” 

    We are witnessing an alarming escalation of state-sponsored repression and abandonment of the rule of law and human rights norms around the world. As the largest grassroots human rights organization in the world, we are mobilizing to protect civic space, push back against authoritarian practices, and build long-term people power

    Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy, and Campaigns

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Myanmar earthquake: Investing in disaster risk reduction to save lives and protect sustainable development

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    One month has passed since the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025, which was also felt in Thailand and southwest China. UN-Habitat and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) reiterate their condolences for the tragic loss of life and call for greater investment in disaster risk reduction and urban resilience in earthquake-prone countries – to help prevent such tragedies in the future. This call carries special significance today, as the UN General Assembly votes to designate 29 April as the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes.

    Earthquakes are among the deadliest natural hazards and are responsible for some of the most devastating disasters in human history. Their sudden nature means proactive disaster risk reduction is essential to reducing deaths and economic losses. And as it is often said, it is not earthquakes that kill people, but the collapse of buildings. Hence, countries in earthquake-prone zones must proactively invest in building their resilience. This means updating and enforcing building codes to ensure all new structures are earthquake-resistant as well as retrofitting old ones to meet resilience standards.

    The impact of the earthquake in Myanmar, which as of 24 April resulted in the death of over 3,700 people, injuries of nearly 4,800, and the destruction of almost 65,000 structures, including homes, schools, and hospitals, is a sad reminder of the terrible cost of disasters.  Moreover, the existing vulnerabilities, from years of conflict and instability, worsened the earthquake’s impact, highlighting the importance of disaster risk reduction in countries affected by conflict, violence, or fragility.

    However, there is an opportunity for Myanmar to emerge from this disaster more resilient if the recovery process is based on the “build back better” approach, as called for in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. UN-Habitat and UNDRR are committed to supporting countries to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the remaining five years to help them avoid the worst impacts of disasters.

    This includes recognizing the vital role of housing in resilience building, as Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, states: “In these challenging times, our unwavering commitment is to support the communities affected by the earthquake. Since establishing our office in Myanmar following Cyclone Nargis, we have focused on risk-sensitive urban development to enhance resilience. Earthquakes do more than just damage buildings; they profoundly affect lives and the fabric of communities. Together with our partners and the communities themselves, we are dedicated not only to rebuilding housing and infrastructure but also to instilling hope, ensuring that each step we take makes the rebuilt areas stronger and more resilient than before.”

    UN-Habitat has been engaged in a range of projects across Myanmar, as detailed in the Country Programme Overview 2024–2026, which include essential initiatives such as solid waste management, climate action, and the implementation of nature-based solutions for disaster risk reduction. These efforts are complemented by upcoming initiatives aimed at developing nature-based solutions, climate-resilient schools, and resilient villages. This integrated approach ensures that resilience-building activities are both comprehensive and inclusive, addressing the immediate and long-term needs of Myanmar’s communities.

    Enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation is key to responding to these challenges, and the United Nations stands ready to support on this front. That is why international assistance to Myanmar must be increased to address urgent humanitarian needs, in urban and in hard-to-reach rural areas, and to support recovery efforts. This includes support to help Myanmar better understand the climate and disaster risks it faces and to strengthen its early warning system, which was impacted by the earthquake. 

    Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR, echoed the call made by the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, urging the international community to step up its support in this critical time: “The people of Myanmar urgently require unwavering support from the international community in these trying times. I call on all nations to redouble their efforts in reducing disaster risks and bolstering resilience, ensuring that communities are better protected against all hazards.”

    He also emphasized the importance of proactive measures to reduce earthquake disaster losses, noting: “Our understanding of the physics of earthquakes has improved. We also understand how buildings and infrastructure respond to earthquakes, and we know how to make them safer. From designing a simple structure to a complex physical infrastructure, engineering knowledge is at an all-time high. Yet the risk of losses from earthquakes is rising in most seismic countries. But trend is not destiny. It can be arrested. It can be reversed.”

    UN-Habitat and UNDRR are committed to supporting countries to build their disaster resilience and are cooperating in several areas. UN-Habitat has been an active member of the UNDRR-hosted International Recovery Platform since its inception. Additionally, both UN agencies are co-organizing sessions on resilient housing and reconstruction ahead and during the 8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025), which will be held this June in Geneva.  

    Little can be done to prevent hazards like earthquakes from occurring. However, plenty can be done to prevent the damage they cause. Investing in disaster risk reduction and urban resilience building is the best way to save lives and protect sustainable development.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry Very Light Rail test ride bookings are now open!

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council is excited to announce that online bookings for a first ride on Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) in the city centre are now open.

    This will be the first opportunity for people to experience a ride on the prototype battery powered vehicle and to give feedback on the experience. 

    Free, bookable rides will be available for four weeks between the end of May and the end of June on the 220-metre demonstration track which was constructed in under 8 weeks. 

    The vehicle will accommodate up to 17 seated passengers, plus space for a wheelchair or pushchair user during the test rides. Once in full operation the vehicle will hold 60 passengers – seated and standing.  

    Coventry Very Light Rail is a new and innovative transport system like a tram, but more flexible and affordable, using the city and region’s advanced automotive expertise.  Battery-powered and with no overhead cables, CVLR will provide an alternative to the car, complementing existing public transport, and helping to improve air quality while reducing congestion.  

    Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “I’m really pleased that people now have the chance to get on and take a ride on our new system. It will run on tracks that were laid in just 8 weeks – proving what we said about speed and cost of this system, and it is of course developed and bult here thanks to the skills we have in this city in manufacturing.  

    “Coventry Very Light Rail is just one part of our plans to revolutionise transport in our city, tackle climate change, improve air quality, and provide a new reliable and accessible travel option. 

    “We will be running Very Light Rail for four weeks, and residents will have the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind vehicle and track system and provide feedback on the experience.   

    “I look forward to traveling in our vehicle on our track in our city and I hope lots of people sign up to experience it for themselves too.” 

    The online booking form for the CVLR city demonstrator can be booked here: www.coventry.gov.uk/VLRRoadTest 

    The Department for Transport funds Coventry Very Light Rail through the WMCA City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement.  

    Thursday, 1st May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Floods Give Way to a Burst of Desert Life

    Source: NASA

    Floodwaters transformed the typically parched Australian interior as they flowed across the continent. In late March 2025, more than a year’s worth of rain fell in one week in parts of Queensland, setting off intense and destructive flooding in Channel Country. Swollen rivers submerged towns and pasturelands while draining toward Lake Eyre (also called Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre). But as waters receded, swathes of green emerged.
    The reawakening of desert life along Cooper Creek is on display in these false-color images. On April 6 (left), floodwaters filled the river channel downstream of Windorah, a town that saw some of its highest river levels on record in the preceding days. By April 22 (right), water levels had subsided somewhat, allowing vegetation to spring up from the moist ground. The images were acquired with the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9. The band combination (6-5-4) helps distinguish where water and vegetation are present.
    Downstream of this area, floodwater isolated the small town of Innamincka. On April 10, the highest-ever river level was recorded in that location, according to news reports, and residents braced for weeks of impassable roadways into and out of town. The water level surpassed the previous record set in 1974, a historic year for outback flooding. Beyond Innamincka, floods forced Coongie Lakes National Park to close.

    By April 28, levels along Cooper Creek at Coongie Lakes had begun to fall slowly, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. But the surge of water would continue to transform the desert. The false-color image above, captured by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite on April 28, shows a wider view of Channel Country and the ephemeral flooding and greening.
    The image reveals Cooper Creek spilling into Strzelecki Creek, which feeds Lake Blanche. The lake typically fills only in years with large floods or when Cooper Creek sees high flows for consecutive years. According to one analysis, Lake Blanche filled only six times in 100 years starting in 1895. When water does reach this area, it creates wetland habitat that can attract hundreds of thousands of waterbirds.
    Cooper Creek and other large seasonal rivers in the outback drain toward Lake Eyre (about 200 kilometers west of Lake Blanche), which is situated at the continent’s lowest point and is dry much of the time. Every few years, enough water remains in rivers after partially evaporating and soaking into the floodplains to flow all the way to the lake, but it is rare for it to fill completely. Meteorologists think the volume of water coming across the desert in early 2025 might lead to the most substantial filling of Lake Eyre in at least 15 years.
    NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Juno Mission Gets Under Jupiter’s and Io’s Surface

    Source: NASA

    New data from the agency’s Jovian orbiter sheds light on the fierce winds and cyclones of the gas giant’s northern reaches and volcanic action on its fiery moon.
    NASA’s Juno mission has gathered new findings after peering below Jupiter’s cloud-covered atmosphere and the surface of its fiery moon, Io. Not only has the data helped develop a new model to better understand the fast-moving jet stream that encircles Jupiter’s cyclone-festooned north pole, it’s also revealed for the first time the subsurface temperature profile of Io, providing insights into the moon’s inner structure and volcanic activity.
    Team members presented the findings during a news briefing in Vienna on Tuesday, April 29, at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly.
    “Everything about Jupiter is extreme. The planet is home to gigantic polar cyclones bigger than Australia, fierce jet streams, the most volcanic body in our solar system, the most powerful aurora, and the harshest radiation belts,” said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. “As Juno’s orbit takes us to new regions of Jupiter’s complex system, we’re getting a closer look at the immensity of energy this gas giant wields.”

    Lunar Radiator
    While Juno’s microwave radiometer (MWR) was designed to peer beneath Jupiter’s cloud tops, the team has also trained the instrument on Io, combining its data with Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) data for deeper insights.
    “The Juno science team loves to combine very different datasets from very different instruments and see what we can learn,” said Shannon Brown, a Juno scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “When we incorporated the MWR data with JIRAM’s infrared imagery, we were surprised by what we saw: evidence of still-warm magma that hasn’t yet solidified below Io’s cooled crust. At every latitude and longitude, there were cooling lava flows.”
    The data suggests that about 10% of the moon’s surface has these remnants of slowly cooling lava just below the surface. The result may help provide insight into how the moon renews its surface so quickly as well as how as well as how heat moves from its deep interior to the surface.
    “Io’s volcanos, lava fields, and subterranean lava flows act like a car radiator,” said Brown, “efficiently moving heat from the interior to the surface, cooling itself down in the vacuum of space.”
    Looking at JIRAM data alone, the team also determined that the most energetic eruption in Io’s history (first identified by the infrared imager during Juno’s Dec. 27, 2024, Io flyby) was still spewing lava and ash as recently as March 2. Juno mission scientists believe it remains active today and expect more observations on May 6, when the solar-powered spacecraft flies by the fiery moon at a distance of about 55,300 miles (89,000 kilometers).

    Colder Climes
    On its 53rd orbit (Feb 18, 2023), Juno began radio occultation experiments to explore the gas giant’s atmospheric temperature structure. With this technique, a radio signal is transmitted from Earth to Juno and back, passing through Jupiter’s atmosphere on both legs of the journey. As the planet’s atmospheric layers bend the radio waves, scientists can precisely measure the effects of this refraction to derive detailed information about the temperature and density of the atmosphere.
    So far, Juno has completed 26 radio occultation soundings. Among the most compelling discoveries: the first-ever temperature measurement of Jupiter’s north polar stratospheric cap reveals the region is about 11 degrees Celsius cooler than its surroundings and is encircled by winds exceeding 100 mph (161 kph).
    Polar Cyclones
    The team’s recent findings also focus on the cyclones that haunt Jupiter’s north. Years of data from the JunoCam visible light imager and JIRAM have allowed Juno scientists to observe the long-term movement of Jupiter’s massive northern polar cyclone and the eight cyclones that encircle it. Unlike hurricanes on Earth, which typically occur in isolation and at lower latitudes, Jupiter’s are confined to the polar region.
    By tracking the cyclones’ movements across multiple orbits, the scientists observed that each storm gradually drifts toward the pole due to a process called “beta drift” (the interaction between the Coriolis force and the cyclone’s circular wind pattern). This is similar to how hurricanes on our planet migrate, but Earthly cyclones break up before reaching the pole due to the lack of warm, moist air needed to fuel them, as well as the weakening of the Coriolis force near the poles. What’s more, Jupiter’s cyclones cluster together while approaching the pole, and their motion slows as they begin interacting with neighboring cyclones.
    “These competing forces result in the cyclones ‘bouncing’ off one another in a manner reminiscent of springs in a mechanical system,” said Yohai Kaspi, a Juno co-investigator from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. “This interaction not only stabilizes the entire configuration, but also causes the cyclones to oscillate around their central positions, as they slowly drift westward, clockwise, around the pole.”
    The new atmospheric model helps explain the motion of cyclones not only on Jupiter, but potentially on other planets, including Earth.
    “One of the great things about Juno is its orbit is ever-changing, which means we get a new vantage point each time as we perform a science flyby,” said Bolton. “In the extended mission, that means we’re continuing to go where no spacecraft has gone before, including spending more time in the strongest planetary radiation belts in the solar system. It’s a little scary, but we’ve built Juno like a tank and are learning more about this intense environment each time we go through it.”
    More About Juno
    NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. Juno is part of NASA’s New Frontiers Program, which is managed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The Italian Space Agency funded the Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built and operates the spacecraft. Various other institutions around the U.S. provided several of the other scientific instruments on Juno.
    More information about Juno is at: https://www.nasa.gov/juno
    News Media Contacts
    DC AgleJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-393-9011agle@jpl.nasa.gov
    Karen Fox / Molly WasserNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov
    Deb SchmidSouthwest Research Institute, San Antonio210-522-2254dschmid@swri.org
    2025-062

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Soars to New Heights in First 100 Days of Trump Administration

    Source: NASA

    Today is the 100th day of the Trump-Vance Administration after being inaugurated on Jan. 20. In his inaugural address, President Trump laid out a bold and ambitious vision for NASA’s future throughout his second term, saying, “We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” NASA has spent the first 100 days in relentless pursuit of this goal, continually exploring, innovating, and inspiring for the benefit of humanity.
    “In just 100 days, under the bold leadership of President Trump and acting Administrator Janet Petro, NASA has continued to further American innovation in space,” said Bethany Stevens, NASA press secretary. “From expediting the return of American astronauts home after an extended stay aboard the state-of-the-art International Space Station, to bringing two new nations on as signatories of the Artemis Accords, to the historic SPHEREx mission launch that takes us one step closer to mapping the secrets of the universe, NASA continues to lead on the world stage. Here at NASA, we’re putting the America First agenda into play amongst the stars, ensuring the United States wins the space race at this critical juncture in time.”
    A litany of victories in the first 100 days set the stage for groundbreaking success throughout the remainder of the term. Read more about NASA’s cutting-edge work in this short, yet dynamic, period of time below:
    Bringing Astronauts Home Safely, Space Station Milestones

    America brought Crew-9 safely home. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, and Nick Hague, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth after a successful mission aboard the International Space Station, splashing down in the Gulf of America. Their safe return reflects America’s unwavering commitment to the agency’s astronauts and mission success.
    A new, American-led mission launched to space. The agency’s Crew-10 mission is currently aboard the space station, with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, joined by international partners from Japan and Russia. NASA continues to demonstrate American leadership and the power of space diplomacy as we maintain a continuous human presence in orbit.
    The agency welcomed home NASA astronaut Don Pettit, concluding a seven-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory. Pettit landed at 6:20 a.m. Kazakhstan time, April 20 on his 70th birthday, making him NASA’s oldest active astronaut and the third oldest person to reach orbit.
    NASA astronaut Jonny Kim launched and arrived safely at the International Space Station, marking the start of his first space mission. Over eight months, he’ll lead groundbreaking research that advances science and improves life on Earth, proving once again that Americans are built to lead in space.
    The four members of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-11, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov were named by NASA. Launching no earlier than July 2025, this mission continues America’s leadership in long-duration human spaceflight while strengthening critical global partnerships.
    NASA announced Chris Williams will launch in November 2025 for his first spaceflight. His upcoming mission underscores the pipeline of American talent ready to explore space and expand our presence beyond Earth.
    NASA is inviting U.S. industry to propose two new private astronaut missions to the space station in 2026 and 2027 – building toward a future where American companies sustain a continuous human presence in space and advance our national space economy.
    NASA and SpaceX launched the 32nd Commercial Resupply Services mission, delivering 6,700 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station. These investments in science and technology continue to strengthen America’s leadership in low Earth orbit. The payload supports cutting-edge research, including:

    New maneuvers for free-flying robots

    An advanced air quality monitoring system

    Two atomic clocks to explore relativity and ultra-precise timekeeping

    Sending Humans to Moon, Mars

    Teams began hot fire testing the first of three 12-kW Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) thrusters. These high-efficiency thrusters are a cornerstone of next-generation spaceflight, as they offer greater fuel economy and mission flexibility than traditional chemical propulsion, making them an asset for long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. For Mars in particular, SEP enables three key elements required for success:

    Sustained cargo transport

    Orbital maneuvering

    Transit operations

    NASA completed the fourth Entry Descent and Landing technology test in three months, accelerating innovation to achieve precision landings on Mars’ thin atmosphere and rugged terrain.
    NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment aboard Psyche broke new ground, enabling the high-bandwidth connections vital for communications with crewed missions to Mars.
    Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission One successfully delivered 10 NASA payloads to the Moon, advancing landing, autonomy, and data collection skills for Mars missions.
    Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission achieved the southernmost lunar landing, collecting critical data from challenging terrain to inform Mars exploration strategies.
    NASA cameras aboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander captured unprecedented footage of engine plume-surface interactions, offering vital data for designing safer landings on the Moon and Mars.
    The agency’s Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS) 1.1 aboard Blue Ghost collected more than 9,000 images of lunar descent, providing insights on lander impacts and terrain interaction to guide future spacecraft design.
    New SCALPSS hardware delivered for Blue Origin’s Blue Mark 1 mission also is enhancing lunar landing models, helping build precision landing systems for the Moon and Mars. The LuGRE (Lunar Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver Experiment) on Blue Ghost acquired Earth navigation signals from the Moon, advancing autonomous positioning systems crucial for lunar and Mars operations.
    The Electrodynamic Dust Shield successfully cleared lunar dust, demonstrating a critical technology for protecting equipment on the Moon and Mars.
    Astronauts aboard the space station conducted studies to advance understanding of how to keep crews healthy on long-duration Mars missions.
    NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture Workshop gathered industry, academic, and international partners to refine exploration plans and identify collaboration opportunities.

    Artemis Milestones

    NASA completed stacking the twin solid rocket boosters for Artemis II, the mission that will send American astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. This is a powerful step toward returning our nation to deep space.
    At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, teams joined the core stage with the solid rocket boosters inside the Vehicle Assembly Building.
    Engineers lifted the launch vehicle stage adapter atop the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage, connecting key systems that will soon power NASA’s return to the Moon.
    Teams received the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and moved the SLS core stage into the transfer aisle, clearing another milestone as the agency prepares to fully integrate America’s most powerful rocket.
    NASA attached the solar array wings that will help power the Orion spacecraft on its journey around the Moon, laying the groundwork for humanity’s next giant leap.
    Technicians installed the protective fairings on Orion’s service module to shield the spacecraft during its intense launch and ascent phase, as NASA prepares to send astronauts farther than any have gone in more than half a century.
    The agency’s next-generation mobile launcher continues to take shape, with the sixth of 10 massive modules being installed. This structure will carry future Artemis rockets to the launch pad.
    NASA and the Department of Defense teamed up aboard the USS Somerset for Artemis II recovery training, ensuring the agency and its partners are ready to safely retrieve Artemis astronauts after their historic mission around the Moon.
    NASA unveiled the Artemis II mission patch. The patch designates the mission as “AII,” signifying not only the second major flight of the Artemis campaign but also an endeavor of discovery that seeks to explore for all and by all.

    America First in Space

    NASA announced the first major science results from asteroid Bennu, revealing ingredients essential for life, a discovery made possible by U.S. leadership in planetary science through the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer) mission. The team found salty brines, 14 of the 20 amino acids used to make proteins, and all five DNA nucleobases, suggesting that the conditions and ingredients for life were widespread in our early solar system. And this is just the beginning – these results were from analysis of only 0.06% of the sample.
    NASA was named one of TIME’s Best Companies for Future Leaders, underscoring the agency’s role in cultivating the next generation of American innovators.
    NASA awarded contracts to U.S. industry supporting Earth science missions,  furthering our understanding of the planet while strengthening America’s industrial base.
    As part of the Air Traffic Management-Exploration project, NASA supported Boeing’s test of digital and autonomous taxiing with a Cessna Caravan at Moffett Federal Airfield. The test used real-time simulations from the agency’s Future Flight Central to gather data that will help Boeing refine its systems and safely integrate advanced technologies into national airspace, demonstrating American aviation leadership.
    NASA successfully completed its automated space traffic coordination objectives between the agency’s four Starling spacecraft and SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. Teams demonstrated four risk mitigation maneuvers, autonomously resolving close approaches between two spacecraft with different owner/operators.  
    In collaboration with the National Institute of Aeronautics, NASA selected eight finalists in a university competition aimed at designing innovative aviation solutions that can help the agriculture industry. NASA’s Gateways to Blue Skies seeks ways to apply American aircraft and aviation technology to enhance the productivity, efficiency, and resiliency of American farms. 
    In Houston, United Airlines pilots successfully conducted operational tests of NASA-developed technologies designed to reduce flight delays. Using technologies from the Air Traffic Management Exploration project, pilots flew efficient re-routes, avoiding airspace with bad weather upon departure. United plans to expand the use of these capabilities, another example of how NASA innovations benefit all humanity. 
    On March 11, NASA’s newest astrophysics observatory, SPHEREx, launched on its journey to answer fundamental questions about our universe, thanks to the dedication and expertise of the agency’s team. Riding aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, SPHEREx will scan the entire sky to study how galaxies formed, search for the building blocks of life, and look back to the universe’s earliest moments. After launch, SPHEREx turned on its detectors, and everything is performing as expected.

    Also onboard were four small satellites for NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, which will help scientists understand how the Sun’s outer atmosphere becomes solar wind. These missions reflect the best of the agency – pushing the boundaries of discovery and expanding our understanding of the cosmos.

    On March 14, NASA’s EZIE (Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer) mission launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This trio of small satellites will study auroral electrojets, or intense electric currents flowing high above Earth’s poles, helping the agency better understand space weather and its effects on our planet. The mission has taken its first measurements, demonstrating that the spacecraft and onboard instrument are working as expected.
    The X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft cleared another hurdle on its way to first flight. The team successfully completed an engine speed hold test, confirming the “cruise control” system functions as designed. 
    NASA researchers successfully tested a prototype that could help responders fight and monitor wildfires, even in low-visibility conditions. The Portable Airspace Management System, developed by NASA’s Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations project, safely coordinated simulated operations involving drones and other aircraft, tackling a major challenge for those on the front lines. This is just one example of how NASA’s innovation is making a difference where it’s needed most. 
    NASA’s Parker Solar Probe completed its 23rd close approach to the Sun, coming within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface while traveling at 430,000 miles per hour – matching its own records for distance and speed. That same day, Parker Solar Probe was awarded the prestigious Collier Trophy, a well-earned recognition for its groundbreaking contributions to heliophysics. 
    In response to severe weather that impacted more than 10 states earlier this month, the NASA Disasters Response Coordination System activated to support national partners. NASA worked closely with the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency serving the central and southeastern U.S. to provide satellite data and expertise that help communities better prepare, respond, and recover. 
    As an example of how NASA’s research today is shaping the transportation of tomorrow, the agency’s aeronautics engineers began a flight test campaign focused on safely integrating air taxis into the national airspace. Using a Joby Aviation demonstrator aircraft, engineers are helping standardize flight test maneuvers, improving tools to assist with collision avoidance and landing operations, and ensuring safe and efficient air taxis operations in various weather conditions.
    NASA premiered “Planetary Defenders,” a new documentary that follows the dedicated team behind asteroid detection and planetary defense. The film debuted at an event at the agency’s headquarters with digital creators, interagency and international partners, and now is streaming on NASA+, YouTube, and X. In its first 24 hours, it saw 25,000 views on YouTube – 75% above average – and reached 4 million impressions on X. 
    Finland became the 53rd nation to sign the Artemis Accords, reaffirming its commitment to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space. This milestone underscores the growing global coalition led by the United States to establish a sustainable and cooperative presence beyond Earth.
    In Dhaka, Bangladesh, NASA welcomed a new signatory to the Artemis Accords. Bangladesh became the 54th nation to commit to the peaceful, safe, and responsible exploration of space. It’s a milestone that reflects our shared values and growing global momentum, reaffirming the United States’ leadership in building a global coalition for peaceful space exploration. 
    At NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, engineers conducted calibration flights for a new shock-sensing probe that will support future flight tests of the X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator. Mounted on a research F-15D that will follow the X-59 closely in flight, the probe will gather data on the shock waves the X-59 generates, providing important data about its ability to fly faster than sound, but produce only a quiet thump.
    In its second asteroid encounter, Lucy flew by the asteroid Donaldjohanson and gave NASA a close look at a uniquely shaped fragment dating back 150 million years – an impressive performance ahead of its main mission target in 2027.
    A celebration of decades of discovery, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 35th anniversary with new observations ranging from nearby solar system objects to distant galaxies – proof that Hubble continues to inspire wonder and advance our understanding of the universe.
    The SPHEREx team rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, spotlighting NASA’s newest space telescope and its bold mission to explore the origins of the universe.
    NASA received six Webby Awards and six People’s Voice Awards across platforms – recognition of America’s excellence in digital engagement and public communication.
    The NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed and Advanced Air Transport Technology project concluded testing of a 2.5-megawatt Wright Electric motor designed to eventually serve large aircraft. The testing used the project’s capabilities to simulate altitude conditions of up to 40,000 feet while the electric motor, the most powerful tested so far at the facility, ran at both full voltage and partial power. NASA partnered with the Department of Energy on the tests.
    U.S. entities can now request the Glenn Icing Computational Environment (GlennICE) tool from the NASA Software Catalog and discover solutions to icing challenges for novel engine and aircraft designs. A 3D computational tool, GlennICE allows engineers to integrate icing-related considerations earlier in the aircraft design process and enable safer, more efficient designs while saving costs in the design process.

    For more about NASA’s mission, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Bethany StevensHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Key markers on the bumpy road to this election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    When we look back, we can see the road to election day has had a multitude of signposts, flashing red lights, twists, turns and potholes. Some came before the formal campaign; others in the final countdown days; some have been major, others symbolic.

    The importance of certain markers has been obvious in the moment; the significance of others became clear in retrospect. Here is a recap of a few of those that have shaped this campaign and its battle for votes.

    1. Anthony Albanese’s January 6 $7.2 billion announcement to upgrade the Bruce Highway

    Why start here? Because this was the prime minister jumping out of the blocks at the start of January, with multiple announcements over the summer. Albanese laid down policy groundwork in these weeks, giving voters time to absorb the initiatives.

    In contrast, Peter Dutton, although he had a “soft” launch on January 12, was running slowly, believing voters weren’t yet paying attention.

    2. Donald Trump’s inauguration

    January 21 unleashed a tsunami; its waves would wash over the coming months, and profoundly affect the election. At first, the Coalition thought – wrongly – that the election of Trump would favour it, but Labor became the beneficiary. Many Australians (including Dutton) were appalled at the way Trump and Vice President JD Vance treated Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Later, Trump’s tariffs hit Australia (although not as hard as many countries).

    Dutton argued he’d be better able than Albanese to handle the capricious president, but it became a spurious debate. Labor painted Dutton as Trump-lite and some of his decisions played into its hands, notably appointing in late January Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to a Musk-like role to pursue efficiencies in government. She later made the comparison even more obvious by saying the Coalition would “make Australia great again”.

    But the central factor was this: suddenly, the world had become more uncertain and many voters would think it wasn’t the time to change.

    3. The Reserve Bank’s cut in interest rates on February 18

    The amount was modest, 25 basis points, but the psychology was the thing. The cut reinforced Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ argument that the worst was over and the outlook was positive. In the campaign’s final week, just at the right time for the government, inflation figures pointed to another expected cut in May.

    4. Cyclone Alfred’s March 7 election delay

    Albanese appeared set to call an April 12 poll, when the approaching winds blew the plan off course. The prime minister was able to put himself at the middle of the response to the cyclone, projecting himself as a national leader as distinct from a partisan one; he appeared with Queensland LNP Premier David Crisafulli, and at the Canberra National Situation Room.

    The election delay meant Labor had to bring down the March 25 budget. Many in the government had wanted to avoid a budget, because of its deficits into the distance. But the budget became a useful frame for the start of the formal campaign, with Albanese going to Government House at the end of budget week.

    5. Dutton’s budget reply

    The opposition leader’s reply contained his proposal to cut petrol excise but did not include tax cuts. The opposition had already voted against the government’s budget tax cut package, and committed to repealing it.

    The excise move was popular – Dutton would visit countless service stations over coming weeks – but the government was able to say a Coalition government would raise taxes.

    At his campaign launch subsequently, Dutton promised a $1,200 tax offset, despite earlier flagging he would not be able to announce any income tax relief during the campaign. The tax offset was an attempt to rectify what had been the mistake of thinking that the Coalition – traditionally committed to lower taxes – could go to the election on the wrong side of the tax argument.

    6. Dutton’s April 7 backtrack on working from home

    The opposition policy to get public servants back into the office all week was a disaster-in-the-making from the start. Workers in the private sector would, rightly, see it as sending a signal to non-government employers.

    Women hated the policy, and it would further alienate the female vote. Dutton had to ditch the idea and apologise. Finance spokeswoman Jane Hume didn’t help the retreat by saying it was a good policy that hadn’t found its appropriate time.

    7. News on April 15 that the Russians wanted to base planes in Papua

    The story appeared on the respected military site Janes, and Dutton rushed to pick it up, but went off half-cocked, declaring wrongly that the Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto had announced the Russian request. It was symptomatic of Dutton being under-prepared. He had to make another apology.

    8. Neo-Nazis heckle during the Welcome to Country at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance Anzac Day Dawn Service

    This led to Dutton launching into “culture wars” in the final days of the campaign. In criticising the disruption, he at first said, “We have a proud Indigenous heritage in this country and we should be proud to celebrate it as part of today”.

    Subsequently he said most veterans didn’t want the Welcome to Country as part of the Anzac Day ceremonies, although it was a matter for the organisers. In general, he believed Welcome to Country ceremonies were used too frequently.

    Dutton segued the controversy back to criticism of the Voice, and seized on confusing remarks by Foreign Minister Penny Wong to claim Labor was still committed to bringing in a Voice, something Albanese flatly denied.

    9. The price of eggs

    In the last of the four debates neither leader could specify the cost of a dozen eggs. Dutton was way out ($4.20); Albanese rather closer (“$7, if you can find them.”. It was a small moment but sent the message that even in a cost-of-living election, the leaders do live in bubbles.

    10. Dutton comments on Thursday

    Almost at the road’s end, the opposition leader appealed to voters to overlook a flawed campaign. “This election really is a referendum not about the election campaign but about the last three years.”

    Asked if there was anything he could have done differently, he said “we should have called out Labor’s lies earlier on”.

    It was as though he was speaking to a postmortem, while praying for a miracle.

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

    – ref. Grattan on Friday: Key markers on the bumpy road to this election – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-key-markers-on-the-bumpy-road-to-this-election-255613

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 4.29.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 29, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Kristina “Kris” Thayer, of Raleigh, North Carolina, has been appointed Director of The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer has been Director of the Director of the Integrated Risk Information System Division at the United States Environmental Protection Agency since 2019, where she has held multiple positions since 2017, including Director of the Integrated Risk Information System and Director of the Chemical and Pollution Assessment Division. She held multiple positions at the National Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences from 2003 to 2017, including Deputy Director of the Division of Analysis, Director of the Office of Health Assessment and Translation, Director of the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, Staff Scientist at the Center for the Evaluation of Risk to Human Reproduction, Deputy Director of the Office of Risk Assessment Research, and Staff Scientist in the Office of Liaison and Scientific Review. Thayer is a member of the Society of Toxicology. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Missouri, Columbia and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University, University Park. This position requires Senate confirmation, and compensation is $217,000. Thayer is a Democrat.

    Jason D. Johnson, of Redlands, has been appointed Undersecretary of Operations at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Johnson has been Acting Undersecretary of Operations since 2024 at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he has held several positions since 2006, including Director of the Division of Adult Parole Operations, Chief Deputy Regional Administrator, Parole Administrator I, Parole Agent III Supervisor, Parole Agent II Supervisor, and Parole Agent I. Johnson was a Probation Officer II at San Bernardino County Probation Department from 2001 to 2006. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs’ Association, the Orange County Chiefs’ and Sherriffs’ Association, and the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice. Johnson earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $239,796. Johnson is a Democrat.

    Joshua Prudhel, of Ceres, has been appointed Warden of Sierra Conservation Center, where he has been serving as Acting Warden since 2024. Prudhel was Chief Deputy Administrator at California State Prison, Sacramento from 2022 to 2024. He was a Correctional Administrator at California State Prison, Corcoran in 2022. Prudhel was Acting Chief Deputy Administrator at Correctional Training Facility from 2021 to 2022. He was a Correctional Administration at California State Prison, Corcoran from 2020 to 2021. Prudhel was Captain at California Health Care Facility from 2016 to 2020, where he was previously a Correctional Lieutenant from 2014 to 2016. He was a Correctional Lieutenant at California State Prison, Corcoran from 2011 to 2014, where he was previously a Correctional Sergeant from 2008 to 2011. Prudhel was a Correctional Sergeant at Deuel Vocational Institution from 2007 to 2008, and at Correctional Training Facility from 2005 to 2007. He was a Correctional Officer at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center from 2003 to 2005, and at Richard A. Mcgee Correctional Training Center from 2002 to 2003. Prudhel is a member of the California Correctional Supervisors Organization. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $193,524. Prudhel is a Republican.

    Megan Mekelburg, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Legislation at the California Natural Resources Agency. Mekelburg has been Deputy Appointments Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2024. She was Senior Associate at Environmental & Energy Consulting from 2023 to 2024. Mekelburg was Legislative Director in the Office of Senator Aisha Wahab in the California State Senate in 2023. She held multiple roles in the Office of Senator Josh Newman in the California State Senate from 2021 to 2023, including Legislative Director and Acting Chief of Staff. Mekelburg held multiple roles in the Office of Senator Henry Stern in the California State Senate from 2019 to 2021, including Legislative Aide and Executive Assistant. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy and Administration from California State University, Sacramento and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $160,008. Mekelburg is a Democrat.

    Matthew Sage, of Fair Oaks, has been appointed Commander of the State Threat Assessment Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Sage has been the Deputy Commander of Intel/Analysis at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services since 2023. He was an Account Executive at Echo Analytics Group from 2021 to 2022. He was a Supervisory Intelligence Specialist at the Department of the Army from 2015 to 2021. Sage was an Operations and Integrations Officer at Dyncorp International from 2012 to 2015. He was a Staff Officer at Sytera LLC. from 2011 to 2012. Sage was an Atmospherics Manager at AECOM/McNeill Technologies in 2011. He served as rank E-5 in the United States Army from 2006 to 2010. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $161,062. Sage is registered without party preference.

    Davina Hurt, of Belmont, has been appointed to the California Water Commission. Hurt has been the California Climate Policy Director at Pacific Environment since 2025. She was an Attorney/Civic Advocate at Davina Hurt Esq. from 2005 to 2024. Hurt held multiple positions with the City of Belmont from 2015 to 2024, including Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Councilmember. She was a Campaign Manager at the Democratic Volunteer Center from 2014 to 2015. Hurt was a Securities Case Assistant at Heller Ehrman White and McAuliffe LLP from 2004 to 2005. She was a Senior Counsel and Civic Advocate at Tyson and Mendes LLP in 2004. Hurt was a Law Clerk at Bay Area Legal Aid from 2002 to 2004. She was a Law Clerk at the United States District Court for Northern District of California from 2002 to 2003. Hurt was a Summer Associate at Milberg, Weiss, Bershad, Hynes & Lerach LLP in 2002. She earned a Juris Doctor Degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in History and Political Science from Baylor University. This position requires Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem. Hurt is a Democrat.

    Peter Stern, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board. Stern has been Chief Revenue Officer at Skedulo and an Advisor at Berkeley SkyDeck since 2025. He held several roles at Authorium from 2024 to 2025, including Advisor and Executive Vice President. He was the Co-Founder of VoiceBrain from 2021 to 2023. He was a Commissioner at California State Lottery Commission from 2019 to 2022. He held several positions at Inxeption from 2017 to 2021, including Executive Vice President of Business Operations and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. Stern was the Airport Commissioner at the San Francisco International Airport from 2010 to 2019. He was Chief Revenue Officer at Skedulo from 2015 to 2017. Stern was the Chief Revenue Officer at Autopilot from 2013 to 2015. Stern was the Vice President of Sales at Kenandy, Inc. from 2011 to 2013. He held numerous positions at Salesforce from 2007 to 2011, including Vice President of Enterprise Corporate Sales and Corporate Sales Manager. Stern was Regional Manager at Oracle from 2005 to 2007. He was an Account Executive at Macromedia from 2002 to 2004. Stern was an Account Executive at Oracle from 2000 to 2000. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Stern is registered without party preference.

    Dyan Whyte, of Berkeley, has been appointed to the California State Mining and Geology Board. Whyte has been the Chief Financial Officer at Dataway US since 2019. She held multiple positions at the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region from 1988 to 1999, including Assistant Executive Officer and Senior Engineering Geologist. Whyte earned a Master of Science degree in Environmental Geology from University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies and Geology from California State University, Sonoma. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Whyte is a Democrat.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Apr 29, 2025

    News What you need to know: California continues to improve efficiency and engagement in state government by advancing its first-in-the-nation project to integrate cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology into state operations. Los Angeles, California –…

    Apr 29, 2025

    News What you need to know: California is filing a lawsuit today against the Trump administration for dismantling AmeriCorps, which puts service and volunteer programs across the country and in California at risk. SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney…

    Apr 28, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement congratulating newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney:“Jennifer and I warmly congratulate Prime Minister Mark Carney on his party’s election victory in Canada. California looks…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Commission’s response to the recent DANA in Spain – E-001087/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. In January 2025 , the Spanish authorities submitted an application for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund[1]. The Commission’s assessment confirmed that the application is eligible and an advance of EUR 100 million to help kick-start recovery operations has been paid[2]. Next, it will determine the amount of the assistance, within the limits of the available financial resources, and submit a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council for approval which takes at least 6 weeks.

    2. In December 2024, the Commission-proposed amendment to the European Regional Development Fund/Cohesion Fund Regulation and the European Social Fund+ Regulation (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE))[3] was adopted, which allows national, regional and local authorities to quickly mobilise Cohesion Policy funds to respond to disasters. RESTORE funds disaster reconstruction, prevention and the mitigation of socioeconomic impacts[4]. The Commission is yet to receive a request from Spain to redirect funds.

    3. The European Climate Law[5] mandates Member States to ensure progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. Member States are required to adopt and implement national adaptation strategies and plans and consider the particular vulnerability of relevant sectors.

    The Commission also announced[6] a European Climate Adaptation Plan to further support Member States in preparedness and resilience planning. The Commission will also ensure that all relevant EU programmes contribute to climate resilience[7]. For instance, Member States are encouraged to reprogram their Cohesion Policy programmes towards climate adaptation, particularly in high-risk regions.

    • [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9).
    • [2] The EU Solidarity Fund may cover part of the costs for emergency and recovery operations incurred by public authorities. This includes, for example, the recovery of essential infrastructure, provision of temporary accommodation to the population, cleaning-up operations, and protection of cultural heritage.
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202403236
    • [4] Measures under the RESTORE priorities will benefit from an increased maximum co-financing rate of 95%, along with an additional pre-financing rate of 25%.
    • [5] Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (′European Climate Law′) (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, pp. 1-17).
    • [6] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf
    • [7] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52024DC0091
    Last updated: 30 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Iceland: Sidekick Health Secures €35 Million Venture Debt from EIB to Accelerate R&D and Global Expansion

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €35 million venture debt facility with Sidekick Health, a leading digital health and therapeutics company operating across Europe and the US.
    • The funding will accelerate Sidekick’s therapy development and AI-driven platform innovation across multiple chronic and specialty care areas.
    • The R&D-focused facility is backed by the European Commission’s InvestEU initiative and complemented by a €7M capital injection from existing and new investors to accelerate Sidekick’s commercial growth.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Sidekick Health — a global leader in integrated digital health and therapeutics — today announced the signing of a €35 million venture debt facility, backed by a dedicated life science venture debt window of the European Commission’s InvestEU programme. It provides Sidekick with dedicated capital to accelerate R&D activities, expand its digital therapeutics portfolio, enhance AI capabilities, and strengthen its data and platform infrastructure — delivering scalable, secure, and impactful solutions for patients, payers, and pharmaceutical partners worldwide. The agreement represents the EIB Group’s first venture debt transaction in Iceland, where Sidekick is headquartered.

    In parallel, Sidekick closed an additional €7M growth-focused financing, reflecting strong investor confidence and providing additional capital to scale its commercial footprint and strategic partnerships.

    At the signing ceremony today in Luxembourg, Tryggvi Thorgeirsson, MD, MPH, CEO and Co-Founder of Sidekick Health, commented:

    “This strategic financing from the EIB enables us to double down on our mission to improve and save lives by digitizing care. It strengthens our ability to invest in R&D, therapy development, and AI, while focusing future equity on scaling our commercial impact. Together with the strong backing of our investors, our diversified funding strategy — now including non-dilutive venture debt — positions Sidekick to accelerate innovation, deepen our partnerships, and continue transforming healthcare at scale.”

    Thomas Östros, Vice-President of the EIB, said:

    “The EIB has a solid track record in financing European med-tech companies through its venture debt instrument. The competitiveness of these companies is very important for our EU strategic autonomy. This is already the fifth InvestEU project in Iceland, building on a long tradition of EU-guaranteed funding for Icelandic projects.”

    Sidekick partners with leading pharmaceutical companies, health insurers, and healthcare providers to deliver AI-enhanced digital health and therapeutics solutions across chronic and specialty care, including oncology, cardiovascular, metabolic, women’s health, and inflammatory conditions. The company’s platform has demonstrated improved patient outcomes and supported cost reduction in collaboration with partners, helping drive the shift toward personalized, proactive care.

    EU Ambassador to Iceland Clara Ganslandt added:

    “It was only in January last year, 2024, that Iceland’s participation in InvestEU was formally launched but we now already have five InvestEU projects in Iceland. That is certainly worth celebrating. The EU is committed to fuelling research and innovation and making use of impactful investments – in a world of increased global competition, it is in our common interest for Iceland and the European Union to work together. For three decades, since 1994, Icelandic organisations have been remarkably active, valued and successful participants in EU programmes, and Sidekick Health will certainly make this financing agreement a success.”

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    InvestEU

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable economy. It helps generate additional investments in line with EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal, the digital transition and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. This guarantee increases their risk-bearing capacity, thus mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    Sidekick Health

    Sidekick Health is a digital health innovation company offering a uniquely broad portfolio of digital health and therapeutic programs across oncology, cardiovascular, metabolic, women’s health, and inflammatory conditions. Our solutions engage and empower people to improve health outcomes and quality of life. Sidekick works with health insurers, including leading national US health plans, pharmaceutical companies, including half of the world’s top 10 life sciences companies, and develops fully regulated prescription digital therapeutics — prescribed by over 17,000 physicians — designed to improve patient outcomes, enhance clinical efficiency, and reduce the cost of care.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Three scientists speak about what it’s like to have research funding cut by the Trump administration

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    The Trump administration’s cuts to funding for American universities and research have left many scientists reeling and very worried. At the National Institutes of Health, which has an annual budget of US$47 billion to support medical research both in the U.S. and around the world, nearly 800 grants have been terminated. The administration is considering cutting the overall budget of the NIH by 40%.

    In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to three scientists, two in the U.S. and one in South Africa, about what it’s like to be a scientist whose funding has been cut by the Trump administration.

    Sunghee Lee was in a meeting when she received an email to say that her $5 million, five-year grant from the NIH had been terminated. It was March 21, and Lee, a research professor at the University of Michigan, was stunned.

    “ It was very short and opaque, which is very different than how NIH usually operates”, she said. Lee’s project, which started in 2024, looked at different risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease across racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. The termination email cited diversity, equity and inclusion studies, an early target of the Trump administration’s cuts to federal research funding, which it said no longer “effectuates agency priorities.”

    Lee was confused. “ Our study looks at everybody,” she said. “So if looking at everybody is a DEI study, just about any data collection in this country should be classified as DEI studies and terminated.”

    An arduous application process

    A few weeks earlier, Brady West, a colleague of Lee’s at the University of Michigan, had received similar news. West’s access to a federal research data center, a secure room to access restricted personal data, was withdrawn. He was told that one of his NIH-funded projects, which looked at measuring health disparities between people of different sexual identities, was no longer in compliance with recent executive orders. “Fortunately for me,” he said, “I was nearing the end of this project.”

    West explains that it can take up to two years for researchers to win a grant from a federal funding agency like the NIH. That money then supports a whole team of people, including researchers and administrators. All grant applications are reviewed by a panel of experts from the field who judge whether it’s novel, important research.

     ”A big misconception is that an administration chooses to fund these grants based on what they believe are important topics to research,“ West said. “That’s not the case.”

    HIV vaccine research

    The vast majority of NIH funding goes to institutions and researchers in the U.S., but a recent analysis by the journal Nature found 811 grants to international teams in more than 60 countries worth more than $340 million.

    In South Africa, where tensions are running high with the new Trump administration over land reform and other diplomatic fault lines, scientists have had NIH-funded research grants suspended.

    Glenda Gray is a professor at the infectious disease and oncology research institute at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and chief scientific officer at South Africa’s Medical Research Council. She’s at the forefront of research efforts to find a vaccine for HIV, work supported largely by grants from the NIH and aid from the United States Agency for International Development.

    In January, a $46 million project funded by USAID on experimental HIV vaccines that Gray ran was terminated after the Trump administration dismantled the aid agency. Then in mid-April, she saw that funding for a clinical trial unit in Soweto involved in trials for HIV vaccines had been marked as “pending.” On top of that,  four global research networks on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment strategies that the Soweto unit was affiliated with were told by NIH that they could no longer spend any money in South Africa.

    Gray says the level of funding, which was won in a competitive, global process, is “irreplacable” and will have drastic impact on HIV research.

    “ Basically you lose the knowledge or the value of understanding HIV prevention, HIV vaccines or therapeutics. We have the infrastructure, we have the burden of disease, and we have the ability to answer these questions,” Gray said. “And so it’s going to take much longer to answer these questions than if you had South Africa there. Basically, we slow down HIV vaccine research … you slow down the process of knowledge generation.”

    Listen to Sunghee Lee, Brady West and Glenda Gray talk about their experiences and what it means for their research on The Conversation Weekly podcast. It also includes an introduction with Alla Katsnelson, associate health editor at The Conversation in the U.S.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Gemma Ware and Katie Flood. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.

    Newsclips in this episode from CBS News, Firstpost, ABC 7 Chicago, ABC News, CNN and PBS NewsHour.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Brady Thomas West has received funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation. Sunghee Lee has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Justice. Glenda Gray has received funding from USAID co-operative agreement for HIV vaccine research and US-NIH funding for HIV vaccines.

    – ref. Three scientists speak about what it’s like to have research funding cut by the Trump administration – https://theconversation.com/three-scientists-speak-about-what-its-like-to-have-research-funding-cut-by-the-trump-administration-255459

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Coping Before, During, and After Disasters

    Source: US State of Oregon

    strong>SALEM, OR—Disasters don’t just impact physical safety; they take a significant toll on mental health. As communities across Oregon observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management is encouraging individuals, responders, and communities to prioritize emotional well-being before, during, and after emergencies.

    The Hidden Toll of Disasters

    Hurricanes, wildfires, pandemics, and other crises disrupt lives in unexpected ways. Survivors may experience anxiety, depression, grief, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vulnerable populations, including children and older adults, often struggle the most. Meanwhile, first responders face cumulative stress, increasing the risk of burnout and secondary trauma.

    Overcoming Barriers to Mental Health Support

    Seeking help in times of crisis is not always easy. Common obstacles include:

    • Limited awareness of available mental health resources
    • Stigma surrounding mental health conversations
    • Overburdened healthcare systems struggling to meet increased demand
    • Access issues in rural or underserved areas

    For those displaced by disasters, housing instability and financial stress can compound emotional distress. Recognizing and addressing these challenges is key to improving mental health outcomes.

    Building Resilience Through Preparedness

    While disasters cannot always be prevented, individuals can take proactive steps to mitigate their mental health impact:

    • Emergency Preparedness: Creating a disaster plan and keeping emergency supplies ready can alleviate anxiety. Learn more about how to be prepared on the Be2Weeks Ready webpage.
    • Strengthening social bonds: Community support systems play a crucial role in recovery. Joining a Community Response Team (CERT), becoming a Be2Weeks Ready coordinator, joining a Search and Rescue Team can help you feel less lonely.
    • Equipping responders: Training first responders in mental health care enhances their ability to support themselves and others.

    Accessing Mental Health Resources

    The Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990), 988 Lifeline, local emergency management agencies, and organizations like the Red Cross provide crisis counseling and mental health assistance during and after emergencies. Telehealth services are increasingly bridging gaps for those in remote areas. For instance, the AgriStress Hotline serves those in the farming, ranching, fisheries and forestry communities. Call 833-897-2474 or visit their website.

    In addition, Oregon’s 211 Info webpage and hotline includes information on both physical safety and mental health resources to ensure residents can access the support they need. You can find more resources and support lines on the Oregon Health Authority’s Crisis Lines webpage.

    Breaking the Stigma

    Mental health conversations need to be normalized, especially during disasters. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Community storytelling and shared experiences of resilience can empower others to seek assistance and prioritize their emotional well-being. By embracing and sharing your experiences, you empower others to do the same.

    As part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is encouraging people to share their stories. You can use their list of questions to begin the discussion, and (if you want) you can share your mental health story with NAMI by sending in a video, a message, a quote, or using #MyMentalHealth on social media or submitting your story on the NAMI website.

    NAMI Sample questions to start sharing your story:

    • What do you wish people knew about mental health?
    • What misconceptions about mental health do you encounter in your work?
    • What have you learned on your mental health journey?
    • How does your mental health impact how you show up within your community?
    • What do you share with your friends or family in moments when they need support?
    • How do you help reduce stigma surrounding mental health?
    • In one word, how would you describe your mental health journey?
    • What inspires you to support mental health in your life, work, or community?
    • What motivates you to be an ally in the mental health movement?

    Hope in Recovery

    While disasters present significant challenges, recovery is possible. Investing in mental health resources, reducing stigma, and fostering connected communities can lead to stronger, healthier futures.

    For anyone struggling after a disaster, help is available. Whether through a friend, hotline, or professional counselor, reaching out is the first step toward healing.

    Additional Resources

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Red Warning issued for Winds in Wellington – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 1st – Friday 2nd May – MetService has issued a Red Warning for Winds in Wellington from 10am Thursday to 3am Friday. This is the first Red Warning issued for Wellington. MetService Red Warnings are reserved for the most extreme weather events where significant impact and disruption is expected.

    Wind speeds have already reached at least 150 km/h in exceptionally exposed areas and 118 km/h elsewhere, with winds expected to peak early afternoon, with gusts of 140 km/h possible. The combined effects of heavy rain (the region is currently under an Orange Warning for Heavy Rain), high tides and large waves of 7 metres have the potential to exacerbate the impacts from the damaging gusts affecting the area. In addition, the unusual direction of these very strong winds – being from the southwest rather than the more common strong northerly winds, is also expected to increase the likelihood of wind-induced damage.

    Impacts include falling trees and flying debris. Destructive winds is also expected to cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport, communications, and power supply.

    A Red Warning signifies that people need to act now as immediate action is required to protect people, animals and property from the impact of the weather. People are encouraged to stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel if possible, and follow any advice from Civil Defence and other agencies.

    This is the first Red Warning MetService has issued this year, and it’s the 16th Red Warning weather event since the highest alert level was introduced back in May 2019. Keep up to date with weather and warnings via metservice.comor our free MetService weather app.

    MetService also now provides push notifications for Red Severe Weather Warnings via our app. More information can be found here about enabling them.: https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=68e2d48ca4&e=852c839bf9

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Leads Kansas Delegation Republicans Asking President Trump for Support After Severe Kansas Storms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    GARDEN CITY – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) led Republican members of the Kansas federal delegation in asking President Donald Trump to support the state’s request for a federal disaster declaration and public assistance funding to ensure necessary repairs and rebuilding of public infrastructure following multiple rounds of severe weather in March 2025. In addition to Senator Marshall, the letter is signed by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (R-Kansas-01), Ron Estes (R-Kansas-04), and Derek Schmidt (R-Kansas-02).
    Kansas was impacted by two back-to-back strong, mid-latitude cyclone storm systems that moved through the state March 14 – 19. The systems brought strong winds, low humidity, blowing dust, and blizzard conditions. According to the National Weather Service, the near-record low pressure in one of the systems measured close to the pressure found in a category 1 hurricane.
    Upon approval of the disaster declaration, local governments and public utility providers would be eligible to submit storm-related expenses to FEMA for reimbursement.
    In the letter, the members wrote: 
    “We write today in support of Governor Laura Kelly’s request for a major disaster declaration for the state of Kansas following the severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and wildfires that swept across the state March 14–19, 2025. The impact of this storm system cannot be adequately described, as it ultimately led to the demolition of essential infrastructure and the tragic loss of life. It is imperative that federal support is provided to allow our communities to recover from the damage.
    “The severe weather that impacted Kansans in March was recognized by the National Weather Service as ‘two back-to-back strong mid-latitude cyclone storm systems’ that brought ‘strong winds and low humidity, which exacerbated extreme fire conditions, brought blowing dust, and created blizzard conditions. Both systems had near-record low pressure, with the system on the 14th measuring close to the pressure found in category 1 hurricanes.’
    “The storms moved across Kansas in two separate but equally damaging systems, impacting all corners of the state and creating measurable damage in nearly one-third of the state’s counties. Due to the impacts on rural infrastructure and municipal and cooperative-owned utilities, federal assistance is needed to help electrical providers and municipalities cover the costs of repairing and replacing vital infrastructure.
    “The state of Kansas has estimated more than $8.5 million in damage that would be eligible for public assistance funding.
    “We would like to express our support for the Governor’s request to the Administration to provide assistance to the state of Kansas. We look forward to federal support being made available swiftly to support local governments and utility providers in their efforts to respond to the desolation left by these natural disasters.”
    Click HERE to read the full text of the letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Moves to Declassify FBI Analysis of Nellie Ohr’s Criminal Referral

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today requested Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel declassify the FBI’s analysis of a congressional criminal referral issued for Nellie Ohr following her false statements to Congress in 2018.

    Grassley transmitted the mostly unclassified FBI analysis document to Patel, along with an accompanying cover letter. The public letter outlines Ohr’s obstructive conduct and makes the case for declassification.

    “As you are aware, Nellie Ohr played a key role in the genesis of Crossfire Hurricane while working for Fusion GPS and coordinating with her husband, Bruce Ohr, who was a Justice Department official at that time,” Grassley wrote. “The [FBI’s] document provides background with respect to Crossfire Hurricane’s origins as well as the criminal case against Nellie Ohr.”

    “I request that a full declassification be done immediately for the following reasons,” Grassley continued: “(1) the document is largely unclassified and the portions that are classified are at a very low level of classification; (2) the information that is classified is similar to the information subject to declassification Executive Orders for Crossfire Hurricane records issued by President Trump in 2020 and 2025 and, at this point, may already be declassified; (3) other Crossfire Hurricane document declassifications separate from those Executive Orders occurred in the first Trump term; (4) the overriding public interest.”

    “Declassification of the document in full would be consistent with past practices and to the benefit of public transparency and accountability. There is no legitimate basis to keep the document from the public,” Grassley concluded.

    Read the full cover letter HERE.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: B.C. pronounces provincial day of remembrance and mourning for victims of tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival

    The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.  

    Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured while celebrating Filipino culture and history in a senseless attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver. As we learn more about the victims, we are also learning their loss is felt deeply across the province.

    This tragedy has had profound impact on the Filipino community in B.C. and many others in Vancouver and throughout the province.

    The day of remembrance and mourning is an opportunity for people in British Columbia to come together, grieve the loss of innocent lives and recognize the contributions the victims made to their communities and the province. It is also a time to offer comfort to all of those impacted, including those who have lost loved ones, those recovering and those who witnessed the horrific scene, and to offer deep appreciation to community partners, the police, paramedics and those working at the hospitals for their dedicated service at a trying time. Hundreds of volunteers and community members are also stepping up to help at a trying time.

    A backgrounder follows.

    People in British Columbia impacted by the tragic events at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival can access the following supports:

    • Anyone who witnessed or experienced trauma at the event is encouraged to access resources through the VPD Victim Services Unit: 604 717-3321 and VictimLinkBC: call or text 1 800 563-0808, or email 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca to be connected to services that can help, including counselling resources. For details, visit: https://victimlinkbc.ca/
    • ICBC supports are available for people who have been injured, as well as witnesses and the family members of those killed, including counselling. For more information, visit: https://icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/2025-04-27-lapu-lapu-tragedy
    • B.C.’s crisis line at 310-6789 (no area code needed) is available for anyone who needs mental-health supports. Crisis lines provide immediate support in the moment, as well as connections to ongoing supports.
    • Crime Victim Assistance Program benefits are available to victims, immediate family members and witnesses: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/financial-assistance-benefits
    • School districts are also taking action to support students, staff and families, including making more counsellors available. A list of resources has also been sent out to districts throughout the province to provide to students and their families looking for support.
    • Supports are available for first responders and health-care workers who are on the front lines, and we encourage all workers to reach out to their employers and/or unions if they are struggling.
    • BC Emergency Health Service’s (BCEHS) Critical Incident Management Stress team is providing mental-health and wellness support to employees who have been affected by these events in addition to the support provided by BCEHS leaders and supervisors. 
    • Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) staff and medical staff can contact the VCH Employee and Family Assistance Program to access confidential counselling and wellness any time, 24/7.

    The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) is working closely with the City of Vancouver and meeting with Filipino BC, the Vancouver Emergency Management Agency (VEMA), the Red Cross, United Way and other partners to identify further supports required.

    Those wishing to sign the book of condolences for victims of this tragedy can visit the Hall of Honour at the B.C. legislature or visit: https://submit.digital.gov.bc.ca/app/form/submit?f=f4944988-5402-45a8-bb9c-7b2a95f928d9

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: B.C. streamlines permitting for renewable-energy projects

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is taking action to speed up permitting for renewable-energy projects to meet growing demand for clean power, address climate change and secure energy independence for British Columbians in the face of unprecedented trade threats.

    Government introduced the renewable energy projects (streamlined permitting) act to the legislative assembly on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. If passed, the act will expand the authority of the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) to oversee renewable-energy projects, building on the Province’s investments to generate the clean power needed to create a healthier environment and sustainable future for British Columbians.

    “B.C. has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become a world leader in clean-energy production and we will take every action possible to see that all British Columbians benefit from this opportunity,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “Renewable energy projects like wind and solar are urgently needed to provide affordable clean power, create jobs, and strengthen and diversify our economy, especially during this period of global market uncertainty.”

    If approved, these changes will establish the BCER as the primary permitting agency for renewable-energy projects and transmission lines. The legislation will help simplify the approvals process for these projects, eliminating the need for cross-ministry and agency permitting, by establishing the BCER as the single window for permitting in accordance with strict environmental standards. This will be completed in a staged approach through regulation.

    The BCER’s initial focus will be on the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) project and the wind- and solar-power projects in BC Hydro’s 2024 call for power. This will help accelerate the expansion of British Columbia’s electricity grid and meet the demand in growth arising from critical-mineral and metal mining, port electrification, hydrogen and fuel processing, and shipping projects under consideration.

    The proposed legislation would also:

    • exempt the NCTL project and the nine wind projects selected in the 2024 call for power from the environmental assessment processes and allow government to do the same for other wind-power projects in the future; and
    • enable the BCER to establish a new rigorous regulatory framework for renewable-energy projects through consultation with First Nations, ensuring that environmental standards are upheld.

    “The BC Energy Regulator is pleased to see the introduction of this legislation and has been engaging with ministries and others to prepare for this expanded mandate that will include permitting processes and engagement functions,” said Michelle Carr, CEO and commissioner, BC Energy Regulator. “Our staff are working across seven regional offices to ensure energy activities are carried out safely, responsibly and in alignment with provincial goals and BCER’s vision for a resilient energy future.”

    The Province is committed to accelerating decisions on renewable-energy projects responsibly.

    The BCER has demonstrated expertise at getting projects moving quickly, while providing robust regulatory oversight through the lifecycle of projects. This is a natural evolution of the BCER’s role, which initially focused on oil, gas and geothermal development, then expanded to include hydrogen and now, renewable energy.

    Quotes:

    Doug Slater, vice-president, Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs, FortisBC —

    “Our focus is on delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy to the families and businesses we serve. Collaborating with local power providers and Indigenous organizations helps us meet the energy demands of homes and businesses in the southern Interior while supporting regional development. Our hope is that these legislative and regulatory changes will help streamline processes and accelerate projects to efficiently deliver power to our customers, including our plans to add up to 1,100 GWh of energy supply as soon as 2030.”

    Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, executive director, Clean Energy Association of British Columbia —

    “This legislation is an important step toward a balanced regulatory framework that encourages responsible clean-energy development at a critical time for our communities, our economy and our climate. The Clean Energy Association of British Columbia is proud to work with the Province and the BC Energy Regulator to help build a framework that is efficient, transparent and aligned with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Together, we can build a cleaner, stronger and more resilient future.”

    Quick Facts:

    • Under the renewable energy projects (streamlined permitting) act, a renewable or clean resource means biomass, biogas, geothermal heat, hydro, solar, ocean, wind or any other clean-energy resource.
    • The BCER has a team of more than 300 employees in seven offices throughout B.C.
    • The BCER’s staff includes biologists, engineers, hydrologists, agrologists, compliance and enforcement officers, First Nations liaison officers, heritage conservation officers and archeologists.
    • The BCER will hire additional staff and subject-matter experts to support the additional responsibilities.
    • In 2024, FortisBC issued a request for expression of interest for new power to identify projects from lower-carbon and renewable sources in British Columbia that could add up to 1,100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy supply for its approximately 190,000 electricity customers in the south Okanagan by 2030.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about the BC Energy Regulator, visit: https://www.bc-er.ca/

    For more information about B.C. legislation, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/Legislation

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sharc Energy Announces 2024 Year End Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) (“SHARC Energy” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has filed financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024. All figures are in Canadian Dollars and in accordance with IFRS unless otherwise stated.

    Fourth Quarter and Year-end Financial Highlights:

    • Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 (“YE 2024”) is $2.17M representing a 36% increase over the $1.59M of revenue reported in the year ended December 31, 2023 (“YE 2023”).
    • As of April 30, 2025, the Company has a Sales Pipeline1 of 16.8 million (M) and Sales Order Backlog2of $3.0M. This represents a $0.5M increase or 20% growth in Sales Order Backlog since November 27, 2024 disclosure. Sales Pipeline saw a marginal decrease of 2% since November 27, 2024 disclosure reflecting the deliberate efforts by the Company to refill the pipeline once projects convert to the order book. The combined pipeline showed an aggregate growth of 1% or $0.1M from the previous disclosure on November 27, 2024. Entering 2025, the $3.0M Sales Order Backlog, which is estimated to be converted to revenue within an average of 12 months from disclosure, represents a 38% improvement compared to YE 2024 revenue of $2.17M. The Company continues to observe the maturity of its Sales Pipeline providing the Company’s revenue more consistency and with reduced volatility, providing a solid platform to scale and grow.
    • During the three months ended December 31, 2024 (“Q4 2024”), the Company reported revenues of $(0.18M), a loss of $1.41M and an Adjusted EBITDA3 loss of $0.9M. In the same period in the prior year (“Q4 2023”) the company reported revenues of $(0.14M), a loss of $1.34M and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.85M.
    • During YE 2024, the Company reported revenues of $2.17M, a loss of $3.72M and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $2.57M. Revenue increased 36% over revenue comparative in 2023 of $1.59M, the loss decreased 5% over comparative in 2023 of $3.9M and Adjusted EBITDA loss increased 5% over 2023 comparative of $2.45M.
    • Gross margins for YE 2024 were 42% compared to 43% in YE 2023. Management remains optimistic that this margin range aligns with our expectations for the coming quarters but the margin percentage varies dependent on sales mix and stage of completion of each project.

    Michael Albertson, Chief Executive Officer and President of SHARC Energy, said, “2024 was a strong growth year for the Company with revenues growing by 36% from $1.59M in 2023 to $2.17M in 2024. We enter 2025 poised to continue revenue growth momentum with nearly $3.0M in purchase orders, or Sales Order Backlog, to fulfil which would represent a 38% improvement over 2024 revenue if all realized within the year. This is without consideration of jobs that will purchase order during 2025.”

    “SHARC Energy’s pipeline has reached a key maturity milestone as Sales Order Backlog averaged approximately $2.75 million in each disclosure since April 29, 2024 despite recognizing year over year revenue growth. Sales Order Backlog currently contains 9 projects made up of 3 SHARC projects and 6 PIRANHA projects. This compares to 9 projects being included in Sales Order Backlog as of April 29, 2024, consisting of 4 SHARC projects and 5 PIRANHA projects. We see this as a strong indication that the Company’s future revenue is not only growing but diversifying & stabilizing. There are several projects, including larger SHARC supported Thermal Energy Network projects, indicating signs of conversion from Sales Pipeline to Sales Order Backlog which should affirm continued stability and growth of revenue in the near and long term.”

    Mr. Albertson continues, “Thermal Energy Networks, commonly referred to as TENs or District Energy Systems, is a growing solution for managing small to large scale thermal energy loads efficiently and cost-effectively. WET supported solutions continue to grow in awareness and acceptance with the Company learning of projects in planning across North America and globally. In the Greater Vancouver, British Columbia region alone, there are several municipal or utility supported TENs ranging in size and scale, similar to the False Creek Neighborhood Energy Utility or leləm̓ projects, in different stages of development that will increase SHARC Energy’s local footprint over the next few years. In the United States, legislation allowing or mandating utilities to develop thermal energy network demonstration projects or pilots have been passed in eight states, including the State of New York and recently added California, where the Company has installations in progress, projects in design and a growing list of leads looking to implement Wastewater Energy Transfer with District Energy Systems and TENs.”

    “We are continuing to progress into new sectors for the SHARC and PIRANHA with promising opportunities developing within wastewater treatment facilities, universities, water utilities, correctional facilities and the design & build/energy sectors. These sectors are increasingly receptive to SHARC Energy’s offerings which is promising as these sectors can provide fewer regulatory hurdles, long-term customer relationships, shorter sales cycles, and the potential for larger-scale projects. The Company anticipates the closing of new business in these adjacent sectors as early as this year.”

    “Furthermore, SHARC Energy is gearing up to launch new products in its portfolio which will be introduced to the market soon. With the support of original equipment manufacturer relationships SHARC Energy has, we feel there is significant opportunity to better serve more customers and increase our revenue and margin dollars earned going forward. SHARC Energy’s tailwinds are strong and set to propel the Company to profitability in the coming years. We are very excited about our position in the thermal energy market!” stated Mr. Albertson.

    Q4 2024 Highlights and Subsequent Events

    • Michael Albertson appointed CEO, President and Director. On December 12, 2024, the Company announced the appointment of Michael Albertson as the new Chief Executive Officer, President and Director. Lynn Mueller has led SHARC Energy as CEO, President and Chairman of the Board since 2014 and will stay on as Executive Chairman of SHARC Energy’s Board of Directors.
    • Fred Andriano appointed to the Board of Directors. The Company announced the appointment of Fred Andriano to its Board of Directors on November 7, 2024. Mr. Andriano was previously CFO at WaterFurnace International, where his leadership was critical in strategic acquisitions, international joint ventures and impressive growth, with revenues doubling from $65M to $130M culminating in a $364M acquisition by NIBE Group in 2014. He continued as CFO and eventually moving to Vice President of Financial and Administrative Services for NIBE North America. During this time, Mr. Andriano played a pivotal role in securing major acquisitions, such as Enertech and The Climate Control Group, expanding NIBE’s footprint in the renewable energy space. 
    • Closing of $2 Million 8.0% Debenture financing. The Company closed a non-brokered private placement of debenture units of the Company (“Debenture units”) at a price of $1,000 per Debenture Unit, for gross proceeds of $2,000,000. Each Debenture Unit will be comprised of: (i) a $1,000 principal amount of 8.0% unsecured debenture of the Company (the “Debenture”); and (ii) 5,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company (the “Warrants”). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a “Share”) at an exercise price of $0.20 per Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.
    • False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility (“NEU”) Expansion. The Company continued work on the supply and maintenance agreement with the City of Vancouver for the provision and maintenance of five SHARC systems for the False Creek NEU Expansion. During the period, the Company completed and billed milestone 3.5 of 5 of the agreement, where all components have been delivered to site. The remaining milestones were achieved in Q1 and Q2 2025.
    • SHARC WET system key in Whitney Young retrofit featured in NYSERDA Empire Building Challenge. The Company shipped a SHARC WET system for the Whitney Young Manor recapitalization project in Yonkers, New York during Q1 2024. The Whitney Young Manor will undergo a $22 million renovation, with nearly $12 million allocated to the project’s decarbonization effort, inclusive of all energy efficiency measures. The retrofit project will highlight how to leverage a recapitalization opportunity to comprehensively retrofit energy systems and modernize an affordable housing complex.
    • Insiders, including management and directors, have purchased 5,653,396 common shares of the Company during YE 2024. Insider ownership represents 16% of the current outstanding float.

    For complete financial information for the year ended December 31, 2024, please see the Audited Annual Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

    About SHARC Energy  

    SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy recovery from the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy’s systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as “District Energy”.

    SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

    Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

    The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information because of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. 

    _______________________________________

    1 Sales Pipeline is a non-IFRS measure. Please see discussion of Alternative Performance Measures and Non-IFRS Measures in the Year End 2024 MD&A.
    2 Sales Order Backlog is a non-IFRS measure. Please see discussion of Alternative Performance Measures and Non-IFRS Measures in the Year End 2024 MD&A.
    3 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure. Please see discussion of Alternative Performance Measures and Non-IFRS Measures in the Year end 2024 MD&A.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CLIMATEROCK ANNOUNCES ADJOURNMENT OF SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO 11:00 AM EASTERN TIME MAY 1, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClimateRock (“ClimateRock” or the “Company”) (OTC: “CLRCF”, “CLRUF”, “CLRWF”, “CLRRF”) announced today that, in connection with the Company’s extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) to consider and approve, among other things, an extension of time for the Company to consummate an initial business combination from May 2, 2025 to November 2, 2025, or such earlier date as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Extension”), the Company is adjourning the Special Meeting from 12:00 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 1, 2025. 

    As a result of this change, the deadline for holders of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares issued in the Company’s initial public offering to submit their shares for redemption in connection with the Extension, is being extended to 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

    About ClimateRock

    ClimateRock is a special purpose acquisition company led by Chairman, Charles Ratelband, and CEO, Per Regnarsson, and is incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses in any industry or geographic location, but it is focused on acquiring a target within the sustainable energy industry in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, including climate change, environment, renewable energy and emerging, clean technologies. For more information, please visit Driving The Energy Transition – ClimateRock (climate-rock.com).

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, uncertainties relating to the Company’s shareholder approval of the Extension, its inability to complete an initial business combination within the required time period or, and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other reports the Company has filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    ClimateRock and its directors, executive officers, other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the securityholders of the Company in favor of the approval of the proposals to be presented to shareholders at the Special Meeting. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of the Company’s directors and officers in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 17, 2025 (as may be amended, the “Proxy Statement”), which may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Extension. This communication shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    ClimateRock urges investors, shareholders and other interested persons to read the Proxy Statement as well as other documents filed by the Company with the SEC, because these documents will contain important information about the Company and the Extension. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Proxy Statement, without charge, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Advantage Proxy, Inc., P.O. Box 10904, Yakima, WA 98909, Attn: Karen Smith.

    INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

    ClimateRock
    Phone number: +44 208 050 7820
    Email: info@climate-rock.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tigerton Man Sentenced for Shotgun Assault on a Postal Carrier

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 30, 2025, Benjamin L. Joos (age 44) of Tigerton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for firing a shotgun at a U.S. Postal Carrier while she was on duty, injuring her and damaging her vehicle.

    According to court records, the victim was delivering mail at approximately 3:00 p.m. on September 24, 2024, when she heard her passenger side window shatter and felt pain in her arms. She observed Joos holding a shotgun which was pointed at her. Joos was yelling “get away from my box” and “leave my mail alone.” The victim quickly left the area and notified law enforcement. By his own admission, Joos had consumed “4 to 5 whisky and cokes” prior to the incident. Hours later his blood alcohol level was determined to be 0.178 g/100ml, more than twice the legal limit for a presumption of intoxication.

    At the sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Court Judge William C. Griesbach noted Joos’s lack of criminal record, strong community engagement, and a positive work history. However, Judge Griesbach determined that the serious nature of the offense and the profound effect his actions had on the victim required a prison term. Following his 18-month prison sentence, Joos will serve 3 years on supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $10,000 in restitution to the victim.

    This case was investigated by the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

    # #  #

    For Additional Information Contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    414-297-1700

     

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Week 6 of “Dirty Dems” campaign highlights failures of Bakersfield legislators

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    BAKERSFIELD, CA (April 29, 2025)—As part of the ongoing “Dirty Dems” campaign, Greenpeace USA, in collaboration with the California Working Families Party and Courage California, continues to hold California State legislators accountable for their damaging connections to the oil and gas industry and their failure to support critical climate, economic justice, and progressive priorities.

    This week, the spotlight falls on Bakersfield – and two legislators who have continuously received failing grades from every major environmental and progressive scorecard across the state. Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, who has accepted $54,000 from the oil and gas industry in just the last session alone, and Senator Melissa Hurtado, who has accepted $79,500 herself since 2018, have made a name for themselves through supporting corporate polluters instead of fighting for their communities. 

    Amy Moas, Ph.D., Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner, said: “Assemblymember Bains’s and Senator Hurtado’s behavior accepting dirty money, and then voting against policies that would have made their communities healthier and more resilient, is inexcusable. Bakersfield and its surrounding communities deserve elected leaders who are fighting for everyday, working families – not delaying protections that would keep people safe.”

    Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains – “Big Oil Bains” 

    Though Assemblymember Bains has only been in office for two full legislative sessions – and though she represents communities bearing the brunt of the toxic oil industry – she has repeatedly chosen not to protect the very people she was elected to represent. Assembly Member Bains was the only Democrat to choose corporate profits over protecting her constituents when she voted against a bill aimed at ensuring oil companies are not ripping off Californians in order to rake in historic profits (SBX1-2). During the same session, she also did the oil industry’s bidding by introducing a bill requiring an increase in toxic oil production in the state. 

    Some additional low points of Assembly Member Bains’ time in office include voting no on programs to lower air pollution and smog (AB 126) and skipping voting on a bill to monitor noxious pollutants in neighborhoods that have been linked to asthma and cancer (SB 674).  She also skipped a vote to mandate California speed up the plugging of the thousands of leaking idle wells throughout the state (AB 1866), as well as on a bill to incentivize the clean up of the low producing oil wells polluting the largest urban oil field in the country (AB 2716). Assembly Member Bains does not just vote down and skip votes on public health and environmental issues, however; she also skipped voting on a bill to improve the working conditions for janitorial labor in California (AB 2364). 

    Senator Melissa Hurtado

    Senator Hurtado’s contributions from Chevron, the California Independent Petroleum Association (CIPA), and one of California’s largest oil refiners, PBF Energy, show in her voting record. While it is common in the California Legislature for legislators to skip votes in order to avoid taking a stand on difficult bills, Senator Hurtado has one of the most up front and brazen records with her actual voting down numerous environmental justice and public health bills for the purpose of protecting the profits of her corporate donors. 

    Senator Hurtado’s time in office includes a series of low points. First, she voted no on one of the largest environmental justice priorities for more than a decade aimed at reducing pollution from oil drilling in neighborhoods (SB 1137), and voted no on multiple bills aimed at cleaning up toxic idle oil wells and ensuring taxpayers are not stuck with the bill (AB 1866 and AB 1167) – despite her district having more than 11,000 idle wells. Additionally, she voted against a bill to incentivize the cleanup of low producing wells in the largest urban oil field (AB 2716), and another to strengthen the enforcement measures for oil and gas regulations (AB 631). 

    Senator Hurtado has also pushed back against workers’ rights. She skipped voting on a number of other progressive priorities including a major labor priority bill in 2022 aimed at establishing a council to shape minimum wage and working conditions for fast food workers (AB 257), as well as a bill to end employment discrimination by outlawing forced arbitration agreements (AB 51). 

    Holding the Bakersfield Legislators Accountable

    Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains and Senator Melissa Hurtado are the eighth and ninth Dirty Dems to be named. They join a growing list of California’s elected officials who have repeatedly chosen to prioritize corporate donations over the well-being of their constituents. 

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO –