U.S. clears nuclear-technology exports to Thailand.
Today's events
Thailand nuclear.
A final Energy Department rule cleared Thailand for U.S. exports of controlled nuclear technology and assistance, adding it to the authorized-destinations list after the Secretary's April determination that the trade is not inimical to U.S. interests.1Jun 16 · DOEChip materials.
The Commerce Department's CHIPS program signed a letter of intent to give Coherent up to $50 million to expand the largest U.S. indium-phosphide plant, in Sherman, Texas — the photonics that move data inside AI data centers.2Jun 16 · CommerceChinese MSG.
Commerce set the antidumping rate on monosodium glutamate from China at 56.54%, ruling the sole exporter under review part of the China-wide entity and ineligible for a lower separate rate.3Jun 16 · CommerceFactory-control flaws.
CISA issued five advisories for Rockwell Automation industrial controllers and software, flagging denial-of-service and authentication-bypass flaws in CompactLogix, FLEX I/O, and FactoryTalk products deployed across critical manufacturing worldwide.4Jun 16 · CISAAI data center.
The Justice Department moved to intervene and dismiss a citizen suit to power down xAI's Southaven, Mississippi data center, arguing the Clean Air Act case would cut power the War Department's AI work relies on.5Jun 16 · DOJRace-based payments.
The Justice Department moved to intervene against Evanston, Illinois's reparations program, which pays $25,000 in cash or housing aid to Black residents and descendants, alleging it violates the Fourteenth Amendment's equal-protection guarantee.6Jun 16 · DOJCobalt recycling.
Sandia National Laboratories unveiled a microwave method that converts 95% of spent battery cathodes into reusable nanosheets in two hours, not seven days — a potential domestic source of cobalt, 70% of which is mined in Congo.7Jun 16 · DOEDrug-price rule.
A proposed Medicare rule would codify the drug-price negotiation program created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and set new policies for negotiated prices, with public comments due August 17.8Jun 16 · HHSFleet Exercise 250.
The U.S. 2nd Fleet opened Fleet Exercise 250 at Norfolk — the first in the Atlantic — with 31 warships and crews from the U.S. and 18 partner nations, among them Brazil, Cameroon, and Morocco, timed to the Navy's 250th anniversary.9Jun 16 · DOD
Allied Governments
UK Russia sanctions.
Britain blacklisted 70 more Russia-linked targets during the G7 summit — over 20 shadow-fleet oil tankers, Arctic liquefied-gas carriers, and a military-intelligence procurement network — bringing its 2026 Russia designations near 500.aJun 16 · UK FCDOJapan presses Israel.
Japan's foreign minister pressed Israel to steadily implement the new U.S.–Iran memorandum and exercise maximum restraint in Lebanon, voicing serious concern over civilian casualties and continued settlement expansion.bJun 16 · Japan MoFAG7 Ebola response.
G7 leaders called for a coordinated response to the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda, commending a U.S. pledge of over $370 million plus up to $500 million more, alongside €493 million from the European Union.cJun 16 · G7
Voices
“Indium phosphide photonics are essential for enabling high speed data transmission within AI systems, telecommunications, and advanced networks.”
Bill Frauenhofer, Commerce Dept. CHIPS · Jun 162
“Ultimate responsibility for enforcing federal law belongs to the Executive Branch, not private interest groups.”
Assoc. Atty. Gen. Stanley Woodward, DOJ · Jun 165
“[The] City of Evanston has chosen to distribute millions of dollars in cash and housing benefits to people because of the color of their skin.”
AAG Harmeet K. Dhillon, DOJ Civil Rights · Jun 166
“Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could cause a denial-of-service condition that may result in a major nonrecoverable fault.”
CISA Rockwell Logix Advisory · Jun 164
“Since there's only one main source of cobalt, it would be very easy for the cobalt supply chain to just disappear.”
Clare Davis-Wheeler Chin, Sandia National Laboratories · Jun 167
“Training and operating as an integrated team sharpens our competitive edge and demonstrates our shared commitment to maritime security and stability in the Atlantic.”
Vice Adm. Doug Perry, U.S. 2nd Fleet · Jun 169
Sources
- Federal Register / DOE NNSA, “Assistance to Foreign Atomic Energy Activities” (adds Thailand to authorized destinations), June 16, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/foreign-atomic-energy-thailand
- NIST / U.S. Dept. of Commerce, “The Department of Commerce's CHIPS Program Announces a Letter of Intent with Coherent for up to $50 Million to Expand Indium Phosphide Production,” June 16, 2026. nist.gov/news-events/…/chips-coherent-indium-phosphide
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce, “Monosodium Glutamate From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024,” June 16, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/msg-from-china-antidumping
- CISA, “Rockwell Automation ICS Advisories” (ICSA-26-167-01 through -05), June 16, 2026. cisa.gov/ics-advisories/…/rockwell-automation
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Justice Department Files to Intervene and Dismiss Lawsuit that Would Hamper America's AI Innovation and Security,” June 16, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/xai-clean-air-act
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “U.S. Justice Department Moves to Intervene in Race Discrimination Lawsuit Challenging Reparations Program in Evanston, Illinois,” June 16, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/evanston-reparations
- Sandia National Laboratories (DOE), “Mining Batteries, in a Microwave,” June 16, 2026. newsreleases.sandia.gov/…/mining-batteries-in-a-microwave
- CMS / U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, “Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program” (Proposed Rule), June 16, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/medicare-drug-price-negotiation
- U.S. Dept. of War (War.gov), “U.S. 2nd Fleet, International Partners Commence Fleet Exercise 250,” June 16, 2026. war.gov/News/…/fleet-exercise-250
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO), “UK clamps down on shady networks supplying Putin's illegal war with new sanctions package,” June 16, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/uk-russia-sanctions-package
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Japan-Israel Foreign Ministers' Telephone Talk,” June 16, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/release/…/japan-israel-fm-call
- UK Prime Minister's Office (No.10), “G7 Leaders' call for a coordinated response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak,” June 16, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/g7-ebola-response