Category: AM-NC

MIL-OSI Security: Sixth Person Convicted in Connection with Fatal Kidnapping in Wilmington, Delaware
Source: Office of United States Attorneys

WILMINGTON, Del. – Dylan J. Steinberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that, on June 5, 2025, a federal jury convicted a Philadelphia man for participating in the kidnapping and murder of a Wilmington resident in July 2021.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dwayne Alexander, 41, was a high-ranking member of the Shotgun Crips street gang. In the summer of 2021, a lower-ranking Shotgun Crip named Kimon Burton-Roberson became embroiled in a dispute with a Wilmington man. A group of Shotgun Crips then invaded the man’s home, beat him with multiple blunt objects, bound his hands behind his back with zip ties, and drove him to Alexander’s home in Philadelphia. After picking up Alexander, the gang then drove the victim to an industrial park in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, where they executed the victim by shooting him in the head. Alexander supplied the murder weapon and approved the killing.

Alexander is the sixth person convicted in connection with the fatal kidnapping. Other persons convicted federally include:
- Kimon Burton-Roberson – pending sentencing
- Stephanie Bultes-Ramirez – pending sentencing
- Rodney Chambers – pending sentencing
- Jamil Salahuddin – pending sentencing
A sixth person, Josiah Rivera, who was a minor at the time of the crime, has been convicted in the Superior Court for the State of Delaware.

Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg stated, “This conviction marks yet another step forward on the path toward securing full justice for the victim of a brutal and senseless crime. We thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless work on the case. Together, we have sent a message that we hope reaches every corner of Delaware: violent gang activity in this State will be detected, investigated vigorously, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“We appreciate the continued commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold each party responsible for their role in this kidnapping and murder,” said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. “It is our hope that this latest conviction will continue to offer some degree of comfort to the family of the victim, that the law enforcement community will leave no stone unturned in delivering justice in this case.”

“Dwayne Alexander committed a horrific and ruthless murder with his fellow gang members. This guilty verdict is the result of years of painstaking investigation and constant collaboration between our dedicated law enforcement partners and the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Together we will relentlessly pursue justice and ensure that dangerous criminals who target our communities are held accountable.”

The FBI, the Wilmington Police Department, the Yeadon Borough Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Delaware Probation and Parole investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle L. Morgan and Benjamin L. Wallace are prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina boost practical cooperation

Source: NATO

Four military police vehicles were donated to the Military Police of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina at a ceremony held today (10 June 2025), at the Rajlovac barracks. The ceremony marked the completion of the delivery of this equipment and associated training, under Slovenia’s lead, in the framework of NATO’s Defence Capacity Building Package for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Piers Cazalet, Director for Defence and Security Cooperation at NATO Headquarters in Brussels participated, together with high-level representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the International Community, including Zukan Helez, Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borut Sajovic, Minister of Defence of Slovenia, Brigadier General Matthew Valas, Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, and Ambassador Vladimir Vucinic, Head of the NATO Political Engagement Support Cell.

“Today, we take stock of an important milestone in NATO’s cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Mr. Cazalet said. “Slovenia’s steadfast leadership has been key to complete this programme. Slovenia is the first NATO Ally that stepped up its support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, when the NATO Defence Capacity Building Package of assistance was agreed; thanks to Slovenia, the Armed Force of Bosnia and Herzegovina are now better equipped and trained to conduct military police tasks, to cooperate with civilian authorities in the event of emergencies, and to be interoperable with NATO in operations and missions; this is a win-win for all,” he added.

In February 2023, Allied Defence Ministers endorsed a new Defence Capacity Building package for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assistance package will strengthen the country’s defence and security capabilities, including in areas such as crisis management, cyber defence, aero-medical evacuation and countering terrorism.

MIL Security OSI –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Children in urgent need of immunization as measles spreads in Darfur News Jun 10, 2025

Source: Doctors Without Borders –

Outbreaks of measles have spread widely across Sudan’s Darfur region over the past year, affecting people in many communities where Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams are treating patients. While mass vaccination campaigns are finally underway in several locations across the region, it is vital to increase efforts to reach children who have never been vaccinated.

MSF first observed a surge in measles cases in June 2024 in Rokero, Central Darfur, where MSF teams have been running the local Ministry of Health hospital without interruption since 2020. At the start of 2025, cases were also reported in East Jebel Marra in South Darfur, and in Forbrenga in West Darfur. More recently, new surges are occurring in Zalengei, Sortony, and in Tine, eastern Chad—all places where MSF operates.

From June 2024 until the end of May 2025, more than 9,950 patients were treated for measles in health facilities run or supported by MSF in the region. Around 2,700 were complicated cases requiring hospitalization, and 35 deaths were recorded. To manage the influx of patients, MSF had to expand pediatric bed capacity in three hospitals.

Zubeida holds her 21-month-old, Halima, in one of three measles isolation wards MSF set up in Rokero Hospital. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

Conflict and low immunization coverage compound threat

One of the root causes of this situation is the region’s already-low immunization coverage. “In Forbrenga, 30 percent of the measles patients we are receiving are above the age of 5 years and only 5 percent of them are vaccinated,” explains Sue Bucknell, MSF’s deputy head of mission in West Darfur. “This suggests that the lack of vaccination dates back further than the recent conflict.”

“The ongoing conflict is also contributing to this outbreak, constraining the capacities of medical actors to both prevent and respond to outbreaks of contagious diseases,” adds Dr. Cecilia Greco, MSF medical coordinator for Central Darfur. “Mass population displacement has made the illness spread even faster across the region, further complicating the situation.”

Reactive campaigns are only a Band-Aid on an open wound unless massive efforts are put in place for immunization and prevention across Darfur, including its most remote areas.
Dr. Cecilia Greco, MSF medical coordinator for Central Darfur

Since the war broke out in Sudan in April 2023, constant administrative impediments and regular blockades of key supply roads have caused vaccine shortages throughout Darfur. This led to the disruption of routine immunization programs in several locations, sometimes for months. In Sortony, for example, a camp for internally displaced people in North Darfur hosting more than 55,000 people, vaccination stopped completely from May 2024 to February 2025.

These constraints and shortages have also limited MSF’s ability to respond. Last year, MSF carried out several vaccination campaigns, including one in North Jebel Marra in November 2024 in which 9,600 children were vaccinated. However, due to limited vaccine supplies, MSF teams were forced to exclude children over 5 years old, despite clear needs. This inevitably reduced the long-term impact of these campaigns. While the vaccination campaign in North Jebel Marra initially slowed the outbreak, cases began to rise sharply again in February.

Asha rests in MSF’s isolation ward in Tawila Hospital, where her 14-month-old child, Marwan, was admitted with measles symptoms two days prior. MSF has had to triple its pediatric bed capacity in response to the measles outbreak. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

Massive efforts are needed for prevention

Although mass vaccination campaigns are now underway in different parts of Darfur, they were delayed by lengthy negotiations. After MSF first raised the alarm about multiple surges in measles cases, it took months for the federal Ministry of Health in Port Sudan and UNICEF to release the needed vaccines from their stocks, finally enabling mass vaccination campaigns to be launched in different areas of Darfur.

Last week, 55,800 children from nine months to 15 years old were vaccinated in Forbrenga as part of a campaign led by the Ministry of Health and supported by MSF. In a similar campaign, 93,000 more children are set to receive the vaccine in North Jebel Marra and Sortony by the end of this week.

“Even if they represent a certain achievement, these campaigns should have happened much sooner,” says Dr. Greco. “Many measles cases and their consequences could have been prevented. And as much as they are needed, such reactive campaigns are only a Band-Aid on an open wound unless massive efforts are put in place for immunization and prevention across Darfur, including its most remote areas.”

The threat of further outbreaks of disease will persist unless such efforts are initiated. “Measles is not the only contagious illness currently present in Darfur with the potential to turn into outbreaks,” says Bucknell. Over the last 10 days, about 200 people with suspected cases of cholera arrived in MSF-supported health facilities in two different Darfur states. This follows a significant cholera outbreak in Khartoum state and other parts of Sudan.

“It is essential that federal and local health authorities, UN agencies, and all medical actors on the ground collaborate not only to catch up on the vaccination of all the children left behind by immunization programs over the years, but also to enhance their ability to respond quickly and efficiently should any other outbreaks, like cholera, start spreading in Darfur,” adds Dr. Greco. “This includes the capacity to supply vaccines in and across Sudan, without facing the same impediments anymore.”

We speak out. Get updates.

MIL OSI NGO –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Banker confronts criminal behind $50k scam
Source: Premier of Victoria
- 84-year-old customer saved from scam
- Banker confronts “spineless coward” scammer after he threatened elderly customer
- Customers warned of callers pressuring them to move money
When Stella* walked into her local NAB branch and asked to increase her internet banking limit, the East Maitland team immediately knew something didn’t add up.

The 84-year-old nervously asked for her daily limit to be lifted from $5,000 to $50,000 so she could transfer money to her son’s account.

Behind the counter of the branch in NSW’s Hunter Valley, customer advisor Tiffany Bailey noticed Stella was on the phone to someone.

“The phone line went dead as soon as the caller heard my voice. Alarm bells started ringing for me straight away. I knew from my training and experience that something is not right here,” Ms Bailey said.

Tiffany then Googled the phone number, which revealed it was linked to a known scam.

“That’s when we were able to sit down with Stella and ask what was really going on,” Ms Bailey said.

“Stella burst into tears, telling us she was being threatened by a man claiming to be from a major tech company. He’d been pressuring her for days into making a $50,000 transfer to settle an outstanding debt. Stella’s adult son was waiting out the front of the branch. He had no idea she was being scammed.”

The criminal also gained remote access to Stella’s computer, generated images to convince her of the debt and coached her what to say to bank staff.

It was then he started calling again.

Branch manager Vanessa Kruger offered to answer the call and Stella agreed. “I told him that we were from NAB and we were on to him,” Ms Kruger said.

“I told him to stop calling Stella and leave her alone. We’d also be reporting him to police. He hung up straight away like a spineless coward.”

The branch team put a temporary block on Stella’s accounts and reassured her no money had been taken. They also sought advice from NAB’s Fraud Operations team, based in Melbourne, who advised Stella her computer should be cleaned.

“She was instantly relieved. It could have so easily been my grandmother in that situation,” Ms Bailey said.

The following week Stella came back into the branch to thank the team.

“She came up to me and gave me a big hug to say thank you. She was still rattled but feeling a lot better. Stella told us she would have been wiped out financially,” Ms Bailey said.

NAB Executive, Group Investigations Chris Sheehan said NAB remained focused on its fight against criminals as part of a bank-wide scam strategy to help protect customers.

“Remote access scams often start with a phone call or computer pop up from someone claiming there’s a problem they can help ‘fix’,” Mr Sheehan, a former Australian Federal Police executive, said.

“Recognising scam red flags is crucial. These include a sense of urgency, unexpected contact, being asked to grant someone access to your device and ‘needing’ to move money to keep it ‘safe’.

“If you’re unsure, call the organisation the person claims to be from using details you’ve found yourself. For example, look up the organisation’s website or log in to its app.

“Stopping scams is like playing whack-a-mole. That’s why Australia’s all of ecosystem approach to tackling scams is world-leading.”

MIL OSI News –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Bacon, Min Reintroduce Orozco Act

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

Bacon, Min Reintroduce Orozco Act

The legislation allows immediate relatives of first responders who die in the line of duty to continue to process their immigration application in a timely manner despite the death of their loved one.

Washington – Yesterday, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02), along with Rep. Dave Min (D-CA-47), re-introduced H.R. 3832, the “Kerrie Orozco First Responders Family Act.” This legislation allows immediate relatives of first responders who die in the line of duty to continue to process their immigration application in a timely manner despite the death of their loved one. It simply extends the privilege to first responders that current law affords to spouses of U.S. military serving our country.

The legislation is named after Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco, who was gunned down ten years ago on May 20 while serving a felony arrest warrant as part of the city’s gang unit. Orozco, who had delayed her maternity leave until her premature baby girl Olivia could come home, was due to pick her up hours later that day. In addition to her husband Hector, she was survived by her stepchildren Natalie and Santiago.

“Four years ago, when Officer Kerrie Orozco was killed, her husband Hector was going through the immigration process. His immigration status should not have been put in jeopardy because his wife made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our community,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our first responders put their lives on the line every time they go to work ensuring our families and communities are safe. If they are killed in the line of duty, we owe them peace of mind knowing their families will be taken care of and not forgotten.”

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Min. “The families of the officers who make the ultimate sacrifice for us shouldn’t be forced to deal with extra red tape as they’re grieving. I’m proud to support this common-sense legislation to support the brave law enforcement families around our nation.”
Under current law, the surviving family members of first responders who have pending immigration applications face delays in the naturalization process.

The legislation is supported by: American Business Immigration Coalition (AIBC), FWD.us, National Immigration Forum, Police Officers’ Defense Coalition, and the U.S. Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

“This bill is a compassionate, commonsense step toward honoring those who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and local communities, and the families who carry their legacy forward. It recognizes that many of our country’s heroes are part of immigrant families, and that their spouses and children are deeply rooted in our communities. These families embody the strength and values that hold our country together. Protecting them isn’t just the right thing to do, it reflects who we are as a nation,” said ABIC CEO, Rebecca Shi.

“In the aftermath of a line of duty death, the FOP, the fallen heroes department and the community grieve together and do what they can to support the family and loved ones they leave behind. In the tragic case of Officer Kellie Orozco, who was shot and killed just days before she was to bring home her baby—a daughter that was born prematurely—she left behind a husband who faced a lengthy nationalization process while caring for their three children as a single parent. Modeled on the Gold Star Families program, the legislation would provide that a surviving spouse, child or parent of a U.S. citizen public safety officer who died in service or as a result of their service to apply for U.S. citizenship more quickly by waiving the five-year continuous residence and the 30-month physical presence requirements for naturalization. The FOP is proud to support the bill,” said Patrick Yoe, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.

“The National Immigration Forum supports The Kerrie Orozco First Responders Act, a commonsense, bipartisan immigration reform that recognizes the sacrifice of fallen first responders and their family members. This bill helps surviving non-citizen spouses, parents, or children of U.S. citizen public safety officers by streamlining their process for obtaining citizenship, providing them a measure of stability and peace of mind. This compassionate and sensible reform would afford these family members a more direct path to permanent status and citizenship, an important and well-deserved gesture at a particularly difficult time,” said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum.

“This important legislation stands as a profound and compassionate testament to the brave men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. By allowing the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen public safety officer to be naturalized- provided the officer’s death resulted from a line-of-duty injury and all relevant immigration law requirements are met-this bill affirms a deep moral truth: that our nation not only values the lives of those who serve, but also honors and supports the families they leave behind,” said Bert Eyler, President of the Police Officers’ Defense Coalition.

This legislation is part of Rep. Bacon’s overall approach to immigration, which includes securing our borders and fixing our broken immigration system.

Click here to read the legislation.

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MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Joins California Republican Delegation in Condemning LA Riots
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) and the rest of the California Republican delegation to introduce a resolution formally condemning the riots in Los Angeles.

“I support the First Amendment right to peacefully protest, but the violence and vandalism happening in Los Angeles is unacceptable,” said Congressman Valadao. “Standing for law and order should be common sense, and ICE should continue to prioritize the removal of known criminals from our country. With this resolution, California Republicans urge Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass to condemn the chaos and work with the administration to restore peace to our streets.”

“Peaceful protests are a constitutional right, but vandalism, looting, violence, and other crimes are not. Protecting public safety shouldn’t be controversial, which is why I am leading the California Republican delegation in a resolution to support law and order as we continue to see unrest,” said Congresswoman Young Kim. “I hope Governor Newsom can come together with President Trump to stop the riots, lower the temperature, and keep our communities safe.”

Congresswoman Young Kim added, “Let’s be clear: the riots escalated before the National Guard was sent in and were enabled by California’s soft-on-crime policies – peddled for years by Governor Newsom, Sacramento, and local prosecutors – that have allowed for lawlessness and endangered public safety of hardworking Californians.”

This resolution expresses that the U.S. House of Representatives:
- Recognizes the right to assemble and protest peacefully.
- Condemns unequivocally the violence perpetrated against Federal, State, and local law enforcement.
- Calls on local and State elected leadership to work with the Federal government to end the violent riots and restore peace.
- Expresses gratitude to law enforcement officers for keeping our communities safe in the face of danger.
Read the full resolution here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Scott Perry Introduces the “No Desire for Streetcars Act”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) introduced the No Desire for Streetcars Act, a bill prohibiting mass transit pet projects masquerading as legitimate public infrastructure.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, unless we’re talking about publicly-funded streetcars – expensive, ugly, and slow,” said Congressman Perry. “Academic, out-of-touch city planners are the only proponents of building roads to nowhere. Streetcars are the worst of the worst – dysfunctional and expensive at best, and funnel tax dollars to large coastal cities and out of the pockets of hardworking Americans.”

The No Desire for Streetcars Act ends funding for the D.C. streetcar boondoggle, and for any current or future copycat transit infrastructure projects. In Washington, the streetcar cost exceeded $200 million, took years to implement, and never collected a single fare.

Washington D.C. is phasing out the streetcar line by 2025, and replacing it with an electric bus after the abject failure of the decades-long project. Taxpayers can’t afford another failed mass transit project, and the No Desire for Streetcars Act eliminates the risk of one by codifying common sense.

Read more here.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: World’s most powerful ex-New Yorker gets a DC military parade, not a ticker-tape celebration in Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lincoln Mitchell, Lecturer, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

Heavy equipment and military vehicles arrive in Jessup, Md., for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade on June 14, 2025, which coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trump’s plan for a military parade on June 14, 2025, officially to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army as well as coinciding with the president’s 79th birthday, is yet another indication of his affinity for authoritarian leaders and regimes.

Although the parade, which will include 6,000 soldiers, 150 military vehicles and 50 helicopters − and will temporarily close Reagan National Airport and cost more than US$45 million − is ostensibly to celebrate the military, the idea is pure Trump.

When pressed about his desire for the parade, the president has explained his reasoning for having the parade.

“We had more to do with winning World War II than any other nation. Why don’t we have a Victory Day? So we’re going to have a Victory Day for World War I and for World War II.”

While big military parades in Washington, D.C., other than immediately following a major military victory, are largely without precedent, there is another American city that has a much richer tradition of parades. That city is New York.

Melania Trump and President Donald Trump joined French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, to watch the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris on July 14, 2017, an event that inspired Trump to seek a parade in Washington, D.C.
Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Trump vs. NYC

New York is a parade town. It’s also a city with which Trump has a long, complex relationship.

Trump was born in New York and began his business career there. Before Trump was a politician, or even a reality TV star, he was a fixture in the New York tabloids. His marriages, divorces, dating life and business successes and failures were splashed across more headlines than can be easily counted beginning in the early 1980s, but Trump was always presented as a clownish figure, albeit a very rich one.

In those years, continuing into the first decade of this century, the local media always presented him as gaudy, loud and not quite as business savvy as he claimed – hence the coverage of his bankruptcies.

While much of the rest of the country bought the Trump narrative that he was a brilliant businessman surrounded by beautiful women, doting staff and fawning celebrities, many New Yorkers never did.

New Yorkers, including me, remembered an earlier Trump who almost ran the family business into the ground over many years. Nonetheless, New York has always been important to Trump. Although he still is a well-done steak with ketchup kind of guy, while New York is a soup dumplings, or bagels and lox, or arroz con pollo, or even caviar kind of town, Trump still has a connection to this city and wants to be celebrated here.

Politicians, heroes and ticker tape

And the city celebrates with big parades honoring everything from sports championships, which used to be much more common for New York teams, to the U.S. winning wars, most recently following the first Gulf War in 1991. Additionally, New York has parades for many of the hundreds of ethnic groups that make up the city.

For decades on Thanksgiving Day, as they roast their turkey, prepare the stuffing and finalize preparations for the traditional feast, millions of Americans have watched the Thanksgiving parade, which is always held in Manhattan, frequently referred to as the Macy’s Day parade because Macy’s has long sponsored the event.

In many of New York City’s legendary parades, including those celebrating LGBTQ+ pride, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, St. Patrick’s Day, West Indian American Day and others, politicians march, often in the lead, alongside their constituents.

Some, like the Thanksgiving parade, have their own rituals, such as watching the balloons being inflated behind the American Museum of Natural History on the evening before Thanksgiving.

However, the most famous of all parade types in New York is the ticker-tape parade. Dating from the days when paper, not computers, dominated trading floors and offices, people would throw ticker tape and other papers out their windows as the parade passed through the Financial District area that became known as the Canyon of Heroes.

Not all New York parades are the same. Some, like the Thanksgiving parade, are simply fun and celebratory. Ticker-tape parades honor individuals or groups that have accomplished something significant, like landing on the Moon or winning the Super Bowl. They can recognize important foreign guests and dignitaries, while other parades celebrate the contributions of various peoples or groups of New Yorkers.

But New Yorkers never throw parades for their politicians and tend to favor drums and floats rather than tanks and soldiers at these events.

An avalanche of confetti rains down on Aug. 13, 1969, honoring the three astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission, who became the first people to walk on the Moon.
Bettman/Getty Images

No ticker tape for Trump

While there are parades for all kinds of people and events in New York, there has never been a parade there for Donald Trump. There was a pretty massive street party in the city when it was announced that Trump had lost the 2020 election.

Although Trump changed his primary residence to Florida in 2019, Trump was a New Yorker for many years and like many longtime residents had the chance to see many heroes – Mickey Mantle, John Glenn, Tom Seaver, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Nelson Mandela, American war veterans, numerous foreign leaders and many others – feted with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes. Jeter was celebrated five times, John Glenn and Mickey Mantle twice.

It is impossible to know Trump’s motivations for pushing the parade in the nation’s capital. But we also know that he is a man who holds himself in high regard and craves attention. Trump will likely never get a parade in his erstwhile hometown, so Washington must be the next best thing.

Trump’s newfound parade fetish underscores his love-hate relationship with New York.

New York is the city that made him famous and made his family, primarily because of his father’s work, very rich. It is also the city that has repeatedly rejected Trump. It is the home of some of his worst real estate deals, the place where the business community lost patience with his antics and unwillingness to pay contractors, and where three times the voters turned out in huge numbers against him.

A Washington, D.C., parade celebrating an unappreciated New Yorker who years ago decamped to Florida and Washington is a pale imitation of the Canyon of Heroes, where New Yorkers honor beloved leaders, war heroes, explorers and their favorite sports stars. But it is all Trump has.

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

– ref. World’s most powerful ex-New Yorker gets a DC military parade, not a ticker-tape celebration in Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes – https://theconversation.com/worlds-most-powerful-ex-new-yorker-gets-a-dc-military-parade-not-a-ticker-tape-celebration-in-manhattans-canyon-of-heroes-258110

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Reaching out for a clearer view of the economy
Source: Bank of Canada

We’re gathering more information

Traditional data on inflation, jobs and housing are key to our decisions about whether to lower, raise or maintain our policy interest rate. But they often just give the big picture. And they show what has already happened, weeks later.

Non-traditional data can help us see what’s happening under the surface—and in a timelier way. That’s especially helpful in uncertain and rapidly changing situations.
- At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we used data on restaurant reservations, flight bookings and credit card transactions to see how consumer spending patterns were shifting in real time.
- Today, to gauge the early impact of tariffs, we’re looking at changes in the number of trucks crossing the Canada-US border and the volume of ships entering and leaving ports.
Similarly, our surveys give us a clearer sense of the evolution of the economy, and timelier insights from Canadians across regions and sectors. The quarterly Business Outlook Survey (BOS), the monthly Business Leaders’ Pulse (BLP) and the quarterly Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations have been especially helpful in recent years.

MIL OSI Canada News –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Speech: C.D. Howe Institute

Source: Bank of Canada

The Canadian economy ended 2024 in a strong position. However, the trade conflict and tariffs are expected to slow growth and add to price pressures. The outlook is very uncertain because of the unpredictability of US trade policy and the magnitude of its impact on the Canadian economy.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada Media Interview – This Matters podcast

Source: Bank of Canada

The Canadian economy ended 2024 in a strong position. However, the trade conflict and tariffs are expected to slow growth and add to price pressures. The outlook is very uncertain because of the unpredictability of US trade policy and the magnitude of its impact on the Canadian economy.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada Media Interview – Des matins en or

Source: Bank of Canada

Nicolas Vincent, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, will speak to David Chabot of Ici Radio-Canada Première’s Des matins en or at around 6:45 a.m. (ET). Check your local listings or the Radio-Canada website for programming information. The interview will also be posted online.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada holds policy rate at 2¾%

Source: Bank of Canada

The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 2.75%, with the Bank Rate at 3% and the deposit rate at 2.70%.

Since the April Monetary Policy Report, the US administration has continued to increase and decrease various tariffs. China and the United States have stepped back from extremely high tariffs and bilateral trade negotiations have begun with a number of countries. However, the outcomes of these negotiations are highly uncertain, tariff rates are well above their levels at the beginning of 2025, and new trade actions are still being threatened. Uncertainty remains high.

While the global economy has shown resilience in recent months, this partly reflects a temporary surge in activity to get ahead of tariffs. In the United States, domestic demand remained relatively strong but higher imports pulled down first-quarter GDP. US inflation has ticked down but remains above 2%, with the price effects of tariffs still to come. In Europe, economic growth has been supported by exports, while defence spending is set to increase. China’s economy has slowed as the effects of past fiscal support fade. More recently, high tariffs have begun to curtail Chinese exports to the US. Since the financial market turmoil in April, risk assets have largely recovered and volatility has diminished, although markets remain sensitive to US policy announcements. Oil prices have fluctuated but remain close to their levels at the time of the April MPR.

In Canada, economic growth in the first quarter came in at 2.2%, slightly stronger than the Bank had forecast, while the composition of GDP growth was largely as expected. The pull-forward of exports to the United States and inventory accumulation boosted activity, with final domestic demand roughly flat. Strong spending on machinery and equipment held up growth in business investment by more than expected. Consumption slowed from its very strong fourth-quarter pace, but continued to grow despite a large drop in consumer confidence. Housing activity was down, driven by a sharp contraction in resales. Government spending also declined. The labour market has weakened, particularly in trade-intensive sectors, and unemployment has risen to 6.9%. The economy is expected to be considerably weaker in the second quarter, with the strength in exports and inventories reversing and final domestic demand remaining subdued.

CPI inflation eased to 1.7% in April, as the elimination of the federal consumer carbon tax reduced inflation by 0.6 percentage points. Excluding taxes, inflation rose 2.3% in April, slightly stronger than the Bank had expected. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation, as well as other measures of underlying inflation, moved up. Recent surveys indicate that households continue to expect that tariffs will raise prices and many businesses say they intend to pass on the costs of higher tariffs. The Bank will be watching all these indicators closely to gauge how inflationary pressures are evolving.

With uncertainty about US tariffs still high, the Canadian economy softer but not sharply weaker, and some unexpected firmness in recent inflation data, Governing Council decided to hold the policy rate as we gain more information on US trade policy and its impacts. We will continue to assess the timing and strength of both the downward pressures on inflation from a weaker economy and the upward pressures on inflation from higher costs.

Governing Council is proceeding carefully, with particular attention to the risks and uncertainties facing the Canadian economy. These include: the extent to which higher US tariffs reduce demand for Canadian exports; how much this spills over into business investment, employment and household spending; how much and how quickly cost increases are passed on to consumer prices; and how inflation expectations evolve.

We are focused on ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in price stability through this period of global upheaval. We will support economic growth while ensuring inflation remains well controlled.

Information note

The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is July 30, 2025. The Bank will publish its next MPR at the same time.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada Media Interview – Midi info

Source: Bank of Canada

Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada, will speak to Alec Castonguay of Ici Radio-Canada Première’s Midi info at around 12:10 p.m. (ET). Check your local listings or the Radio-Canada website for programming information. The interview will also be posted online.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada Media Interview – The Canadian Press

Source: Bank of Canada

The Canadian economy ended 2024 in a strong position. However, the trade conflict and tariffs are expected to slow growth and add to price pressures. The outlook is very uncertain because of the unpredictability of US trade policy and the magnitude of its impact on the Canadian economy.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Speech by Sharon Kozicki, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada

Source: Bank of Canada

OTTAWA – On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Sharon Kozicki, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, will speak before C.D. Howe Institute in Toronto.

Topic

Talking to Canadians: How real-world insights shape monetary policy

Time

12:35 (Eastern Time)

Place

Toronto, ON

Lock-Up

At 10:50 (ET), journalists are invited to review copies of the speech, under embargo, at the Bank’s head office in Ottawa. Please use the Bank of Canada Museum entrance, located at 30 Bank Street (corner of Bank and Wellington), and bring photo ID.

For security reasons, journalists wishing to attend must confirm their presence by contacting Media Relations before 14:00 (ET) on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Those who have not registered will not be admitted to the lock-up.

The embargo will be lifted at 12:20 (ET).

Distribution

The Deputy Governor’s text will be available on the Bank’s website at 12:20 (ET).

Media Availability

There will be no media availability for this event.

Accredited journalists who wish to participate remotely must contact Media Relations for connection information before 14:00 (ET) on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Audience Q&A

There will be an audience Q&A period.

Webcast

Audio and video webcasts of the speech and media questions will be available.

Note

Media wishing to attend the event need to email
to register.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: SMWDC 10 Year Anniversary

Source: US Navy (video statements)

Short documentary celebrating 10 years since the founding of Naval Surface Mine and Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjNfqn8TdaI

MIL OSI Video –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: POTUS speaks on deploying the National Guard to California: ‘I went right by every rule.’

Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uxwsHDA-zg

MIL OSI Video –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Care Reform (Scotland) Bill passed
Source: Scottish Government

Transforming social care.

Plans to transform social care across Scotland will be progressed after the Scottish Parliament approved the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Thousands of people with experience of accessing, delivering and receiving social care, social work and community health services have helped co-design the legislation, putting people at the heart of reform.

The Bill will bring forward a number of enhancements to social care that include:
- enshrining Anne’s Law into legislation to uphold the rights of people living in adult care homes to see loved ones and identify an essential care supporter
- strengthening support for unpaid carers by establishing a legal right to breaks, following the additional £13 million already allocated for up to 40,000 carers to take voluntary sector short breaks
- empowering people to access information on their care and improving the flow of information across care settings
- improving access to independent advocacy to guarantee people are heard and involved in decisions about their own care
- creating a National Chief Social Work Adviser role to provide professional leadership and champion the sector, as part of plans for a new National Social Work Agency.
Alongside the Bill, an advisory board will be established to drive progress and scrutinise reform, replacing an interim board that met for the first time in May.

Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: “More than 200,000 people across Scotland access care each year.

“Anyone may need care during their lives, and that care should be high quality and delivered consistently across Scotland. That is why we have been so determined to bring forward much-needed reform, alongside the work we are already doing through the near £2.2 billion total investment in social care and integration in 2025-26.

“Reform is not easy to deliver and it is being made more challenging by recent UK Government changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions and changes to migration. These will undoubtedly impact on care delivery.

“However, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to deliver the sustainable change to social care that people urgently need.

“This is a significant step that will strengthen the rights of people living in care homes, support unpaid carers and social workers and improve experiences for the many people who access social care across Scotland.”

Background
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Israel and the OPTs: Minister for the Middle East Statement

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Written statement to Parliament

Israel and the OPTs: Minister for the Middle East Statement

Minister for the Middle East statement to Parliament on UK sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich

With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The two-state solution is in peril.

Catastrophic conflict in Gaza…

and a shocking deterioration in the West Bank.

This is an affront to the rights of Palestinians…

but is also against the interests of Israelis…

against their long-term security and their democracy.

Today, I will update the House on new actions we are taking…

to uphold human rights…

and defend the vision and viability of two sides living side-by-side in peace.

Mr Speaker, 2024 saw the worst settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank in the last two decades.

2025 is on track to be just as violent.

Between 1996 and 2023, an average of seven illegal settler outposts were established annually.

In 2024, settlers erected 59.

These outposts are illegal under both Israeli and international law.

Two weeks ago, the Israeli government itself announced 22 new settlements in the West Bank.

Every outpost…

every building the settlers erect…

is a flagrant breach of international law…

and disregards the views of Israel’s partners.

There are now in excess of five hundred thousand settlers living in the West Bank…

and over 100,000 in East Jerusalem…

the territory that must form the heart of a sovereign, viable and free Palestine.

Mr Speaker, the sharp growth in settlements alone is dangerous enough.

But it has been accompanied by a steep rise in settler violence and extremist rhetoric.

Itamar Ben-Gvir has led seven provocative intrusions into Haram Al Sharif/Temple Mount since 2022.

In 2023, settlers rampaged through the village of Huwara…

in what Israel’s own West Bank military commander described as a “pogrom done by outlaws”.

Last month, the villagers of Mughayyir ad-Deir fled their homes in fear after the construction of an illegal outpost 100m away.

This month, settlers attacked the town of Deir Dibwan…

setting fire to houses and injuring residents.

This violence and rhetoric is deeply concerning.

An assault not just on Palestinian communities…

but on the very fundamentals of a two-state solution.

An attempt to entrench a one-state reality, where there are no equal rights.

The two-state solution remains the only viable framework for a just and lasting peace…

I know it is supported on every side of this House.

Israelis living in secure borders…

recognised and at peace with their neighbours…

free from the threat of terrorism.

Palestinians living in their own state…

with dignity and security…

free of occupation.

Mr Speaker, we are steadfastly committed to defending that vision…

not just with words, but with action.

That is why we have pledged £101m in additional support to the Palestinian people this year.

Why we are working to strengthen and reform the Palestinian Authority…

Why My Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary signed a landmark agreement with Prime Minister Mustafa…

and why my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister welcomed him to Downing Street.

Why we are clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally, and that Hamas can have no role in Palestinian governance.

Why we are committed to working with civil society – Israeli and Palestinian – to support those who believe in peace and coexistence.

However, Mr Speaker, the gravity of the situation demands further action.

The reality is that these human rights abuses…

incitement to violence…

the extremist rhetoric…

comes not just from an uncontrolled fringe…

but from individuals who are Ministers in this Israeli government.

We have to hold them to account and protect the viability of the two-state solution.

And so today, we are sanctioning Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir…

acting alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway…

who have also announced their own measures today.

These two men are responsible for inciting settler violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank…

violence which has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole towns and villages.

This violence constitutes an abuse of Palestinians human rights.

It is cruel and degrading…

and completely unacceptable.

We have told the Israeli Government repeatedly that we would take tougher action if this did not stop.

It still didn’t.

The appalling rhetoric has continued unchecked.

Violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.

So let me tell the House now…

when we say something, we mean it.

Today, with our partners…

we have shown the extremists we will not sit by while they wreck the prospects of future peace.

Mr Speaker, our actions today do not diminish our support for the security of Israel and the Israeli people.

The agendas of these two men are not even supported by the majority of Israelis…

Israelis recognise that these individuals are not working in their interest.

As the Foreign Secretary said to this House last month…

we want a strong friendship with Israel based on shared values and our many close ties.

Our condemnation of Hamas, a proscribed organisation…

and the appalling attacks of October 7th is unequivocal.

Our commitment to Israel’s security and future is unwavering.

We will continue to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza…

the release of the hostages still held so cruelly by Hamas…

a ramping up of aid to those Gazans in desperate need.

The repeated threats by Hamas to the lives of the hostages are grotesque…

and prolongs the agony of their families and loved ones.

Hamas should release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally.

Mr Speaker, the situation in the West Bank cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza.

Extremist rhetoric advocating forced displacement of Palestinians…

denial of essential aid…

the creation of new Israeli settlements in the Strip…

is equally appalling and dangerous.

This Government will never accept the unlawful transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza…

nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic.

While Israel’s ground and air operations expand, Gazans have been pushed into less than 20% of the territory.

Hospitals have been destroyed and damaged.

Gaza’s entire population is at risk of famine.

Meanwhile, Israel’s newly introduced measures for aid delivery endanger civilians and foster desperation.

They are inhumane.

The Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah reported last week that it has responded to an unprecedented five mass casualty incidents in the two weeks prior…

in each case, Palestinians have been killed or injured trying to access aid sites in Gaza.

Desperate civilians who have endured twenty months of war should never face the risk of death or injury simply to feed themselves and their families.

We need further action from the Israeli government now…

to lift all restrictions on aid…

to enable the UN and aid partners to do their work…

and to ensure food and other critical supplies can reach people safely wherever they are.

We will continue to support the UN and other trusted NGOs as the most effective and principled partners for aid delivery.

Our support has meant over 465,000 people have received essential healthcare…

640,000 have received food…

and 275,000 people have improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

We support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

And we welcome France and Saudi Arabia’s initiative to chair an international conference later this month to advance a two-state solution.

Mr Speaker, it is a two-state solution that is the only way to bring the long-lasting peace that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.

But it must not remain an empty slogan…

repeated by generations of diplomats and politicians…

but increasingly divorced from the reality on the ground.

Mr Smotrich said there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation.

Mr Ben Gvir has spoken of his rights in the West Bank…

a territory his government is occupying…

as more important than the rights of millions of Palestinians.

Their own words condemn them, Mr Speaker.

To defend those Palestinians’ rights…

to protect the two-state solution…

to see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in safety and security…

this Government is taking action.

I commend this statement to the House.

Updates to this page

Published 10 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Bilirakis Bill to Crack Down on Crime By Eliminating Inmate Cell Phone Use

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

Washington, DC: Earlier today, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) re-filed the Eliminate Non-approved Devices and Contraband Electronics Limiting Links to Society (END CELLS) Act. Congressman Bilirakis was prompted to take action after countless reports of rising rates of prisoners using contraband cellphones to facilitate crime in communities throughout the country despite being locked behind bars. The END CELLS Act will provide additional penalties on prisoners who are found to illegally possess cellphones while incarcerated and on those who have smuggled or attempted to smuggle wireless devices into prisons. Specifically, the legislation will amend the federal Communications Act to make it unlawful for anyone to provide or attempt to provide a federal, state or local prisoner with a wireless communications device and further make it unlawful for a prisoner to possess such a device while incarcerated. Additionally, the measure creates criminal and civil penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation.

“Americans deserve the confidence of knowing that once a criminal has been locked away, that the perpetrator cannot continue to victimize others from behind bars,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “We have seen prisoners use illegal devices to facilitate escape attempts, coordinate murders, and endanger children to sexual predators. Enough is enough!We can lower the incidence of criminal acts taking place from behind bars by cracking down on those who smuggle electronic devices into prisons and on those who are found in possession of these illegal devices.”

“One of the most fundamental rules in securing a facility is controlling an inmate’s ability to plan an escape or contraband introduction with someone on the outside,” said Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis. “It is also important, when trying to dismantle a criminal enterprise, to limit the ability of those incarcerated leaders to run the organization from prison. Therefore, if we want to give our prison administrators the tools they need to prevent escapes, reduce contraband, and hold criminals accountable, we must send a very clear message that prisoner accessible cell phones will not be tolerated. It is simply a common sense measure from Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who is known for his common sense approach to these criticality important public safety issues.”

“My primary focus is keeping our community safe,” said Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco. “I fully support, and thank Congressman Bilirakis for his leadership in, any efforts to reduce victimization in our community and to hold those who commit crime in our community accountable for their actions, which includes not being able to commit any further offenses while they are incarcerated.”

“As President of the American Jail Association (AJA), which represents the dedicated men and women working in our nation’s local jails, I applaud Congressman Bilirakis for his bold action to address a serious threat to public and facility safety. Contraband cell phones undermine security, compromise investigations, and endanger communities. Jail professionals work hard to prevent escapes and disrupt criminal enterprises, and this legislation gives us stronger tools to stop criminal activity behind bars,” noted Shaun Klucznik, President of AJA.

Kelly Cole, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs of CTIA remarked, “CTIA applauds Representative Gus Bilirakis for reintroducing the END CELLS Act, which expressly makes it illegal for a prisoner to possess a cellphone, setting new penalties for violations. The unauthorized use of cellphones by the incarcerated is a serious issue, and the wireless industry is committed to working with policymakers, corrections officials and other stakeholders to advance solutions that keep cellphones out of prisons, while also protecting lawful communications.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand Veterinary Association Award Evening

Source: New Zealand Government

Good evening,
It’s a real privilege to be here with you tonight, among people who play such a vital role in the wellbeing of our animals, our communities, and our economy.

Veterinarians are essential to New Zealand. Upholding our global reputation for world-leading animal welfare standards, something we are known for and proud of.
Let’s not forget, we are a country with one of the highest rates of companion animal ownership in the world, and large parts of our economy rely on production animals.

Our food and fibre sector is the backbone of this country, making up 10% of our GDP and supporting around 360,000 jobs. In the year to April 2025, dairy exports brought in $26.8 billion, and meat exports $9.7 billion. None of this would be possible without the work of our veterinarians.

You are essential to the success of our animal-based industries. You’re not just treating animals; you’re enabling our trade, our economy, and our reputation.

You make market access possible, protect the health and welfare status of our animals, and serve as trusted advisors on farms—the first line of defence in our surveillance programmes. Those of you working at MPI ensure our compliance with international standards, manage disease control and quarantine, and give markets confidence in our systems.

Take our biosecurity system, one of the best in the world. This system, which helps us detect threats like Mycoplasma bovis early, relies on your vigilance, expertise, and commitment. Without vets, we don’t maintain those crucial disease-free statuses, and without those, we don’t trade. It’s that simple.

Looking ahead, climate change and sustainability are rising priorities, not just here but for our trading partners too. Veterinarians, with your deep understanding of the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and the environment, are uniquely placed to be a part of this conversation, and I believe your insights are key.

As a government, we absolutely recognise your value. That’s why, back in 2009, we established the Veterinary Bonding Scheme. Since then, it has helped 483 graduate vets into rural practice, where they are most needed. Each year, over 30 new graduates join the scheme, and in 2024, we saw the highest intake yet: 35.

We’re continuing to listen to the profession to hear what you need. Just this April, I announced a change to the regulations allowing trained non-veterinarians, under a vet’s authorisation, to perform subgingival dental procedures on cats and dogs.

As a farmer, I know how stretched vets are, and I also know how skilled our veterinary nurses are. This change gives them the legal protection to put those skills to use, meaning better dental care for our pets, allowing vets to focus on more complex cases, and overall, providing better service for pet owners.
I want to sincerely thank the New Zealand Veterinary Association, particularly the Companion Animal Veterinarians Branch, for your work with MPI to develop this regulation. Your advocacy and collaboration, alongside other industry voices, have made a real difference.
Thank you for everything you do to keep our animals well, safeguard our biosecurity, and protect our food safety systems.
And finally, a massive congratulations to the eight award winners we’re celebrating tonight. Your excellence lifts the whole profession. And as I know a few of you I am looking forward to congratulating you in person.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Police remind public not to download or provide funding to mobile application endangering national security

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Police remind public not to download or provide funding to mobile application endangering national security

The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force reminds the public today (June 10) not to download a mobile application named “Reversed Front: Bonfire” or provide funding to the application developer for engaging in acts and activities endangering national security.Issued at HKT 17:59

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AFCD investigates Mainland fisherman deckhands and local coxswain suspected of using snake cages for fishing (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A joint operation was conducted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) together with the Hong Kong Police Force and Zhuhai Municipal Marine Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team in the southern waters of Hong Kong yesterday (June 9).

During the operation, the AFCD personnel intercepted a local fishing vessel suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages (a type of cage trap banned in Hong Kong waters) in waters off Cheung Chau at around 9.30pm for investigation. Some fishing gear (including snake cages and winches) on board was seized by the AFCD.

     The AFCD is investigating a local coxswain and six Mainland fisherman deckhands on board suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages, in violation of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171).

     Only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters and only the fishing methods listed on its Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel can be employed for fishing by the vessel. The conditions of the Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel regarding cage traps also stipulate that any collapsible cage traps should not be connected in any way to another; or should not exceed five metres in any of its extended dimensions. Hence, it is unlawful to fish using snake cages. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

     A spokesman for the AFCD stressed, “The Government is committed to combatting illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will continue to step up patrols and take stringent enforcement action.”

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Talking to Canadians: How real-world insights shape monetary policy

Source: Bank of Canada

Surveying Canadians

Now on to another important tool: surveys.

Like other central banks, the Bank conducts a number of surveys with the financial sector. The results provide us with information on important issues like lending conditions as well as the demand for and supply of credit. We also gain important insights on risks and resiliency in the financial system. And we talk to financial market professionals to hear their views on where the economy and inflation are headed.

But today, in talking about surveys, I want to focus more on how our regional offices inform our monetary policy deliberations by reaching out to households and businesses.

Since the late 1990s, the Bank has been expanding its reach into the diverse regions that make up this great country. This work has included opening regional offices, and surveying businesses and consumers about their economic views. Our regional staff are well positioned to strengthen our ties with key local stakeholders such as industry, government, educational institutions and community organizations.

Currently, the Bank’s regional offices conduct three key macroeconomic surveys: the Business Outlook Survey, the Business Leaders’ Pulse and the Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations.^, ^,

I’ll go over each one in greater detail in a moment. But overall, surveys like these accomplish three main goals.

First, they help inform our outlooks for the economy and inflation. We hear from individuals and businesses about how they’re feeling—a measure of their current levels of confidence. We also ask what they expect to happen to prices and their own spending in the future.

This gives the Bank forward-looking views on economic activity, demand, capacity pressures and inflation. That makes surveys particularly helpful in providing early indications of how the economy is reacting during times of great uncertainty, like the current trade conflict.

Surveys also shine a light on trends that may be simmering beneath the surface. They help us understand behavioural changes that don’t always show up in aggregated data reports—at least not immediately.

Finally, these surveys help us gather a wide range of views on how current economic conditions are playing out in communities across Canada.

Our national economy is made up of diverse regional economies. Economic conditions may differ across regions, and regions may respond differently to broad-based upswings and downturns. Survey data give us a clearer view of the differences in how households and businesses are experiencing the economy.

Let me now turn to each of the surveys.

The Business Outlook Survey—or BOS for short—is a quarterly survey of businesses across the country. It has existed since 1997, which provides us a rich, long dataset for comparisons.

Staff in our regional offices meet with local business leaders to discuss their views on the economy. We ask about their expectations for sales and demand, as well as their investment intentions. We probe their views about labour shortages, as well as hiring and wages. And we ask for their outlooks on costs and pricing, as well as economy-wide inflation. This gives us a broad range of perspectives about how businesses view the economy.

For example, the results of the BOS for the fourth quarter of 2021 helped us better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting firms. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, we saw that businesses were planning to pass along cost increases stemming from supply chain pressures. They had concluded that customers understood these pressures and were willing to accept price increases.

More recently, firms told us that uncertainty about tariffs has been affecting them in multiple ways. These impacts include weaker demand from their business customers that would be directly affected by tariffs.

Now on to the Business Leaders’ Pulse, or BLP for short. This is our newest survey, created in 2021. It’s a short monthly online questionnaire to assess firms’ expectations for growth in sales and employment. It also asks about perceived risks to their business outlook, and poses other topical questions.

The BLP provides a flexible and nimble pulse of evolving situations. It complements the BOS with timely feedback from firms about the effects of rapid changes in the economy.

And the BLP has been very helpful in monitoring effects from the situation south of the border. For example, businesses were reporting an increase in both uncertainty and inflation expectations as early as November 2024. In December, we also began noting a decline in business sentiment—even before the new US administration was sworn in.

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Republican Colleagues Demand End to Biden-Era Flood Insurance Premiums

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) led the charge of nine Republican Senators in demanding the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finally end the Biden era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, which caused flood insurance premiums to skyrocket.
“Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system,” said the senators.
“The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike,” continued the senators.
Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Justice (R-WV), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and John Cornyn (R-TX).
Read the full letter here or below:
Dear Acting Administrator Richardson,
We write to draw your urgent attention to the increasingly untenable flood insurance premiums paid by American homeowners as a result of the Biden era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We respectfully ask for your leadership to halt further premium increases under Risk Rating 2.0 and implement much needed transparency from FEMA.
On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 13990, directing every federal agency to target and modify Trump era regulations under the auspice of combating climate change. A few months later, Biden signed EO 14030, requiring agencies to integrate up-to-date flood risk considerations into federal actions. Collectively, both of these EOs laid the groundwork for FEMA’s implementation of a new rating system known as Risk Rating 2.0, which was enacted on October 1, 2021.
Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system. According to a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, premiums on primary residences under Risk Rating 2.0 are subject to a maximum 18 percent increase each year until such premiums reflect “the full risk loss of the insured property,” as determined by FEMA.
Families in the following Republican states are especially hard-hit.
Louisiana:
It is estimated that 80 percent of Louisiana NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
In 2023 alone, the average flood insurance premium in our state jumped by 234 percent, forcing more than 52,000 Louisianans—many of them seniors on fixed incomes—out of the program.
Coastal parishes, which depend on flood insurance to secure mortgages and rebuild after storms, are now facing premiums that exceed 2 percent of median household income—a threshold that federal guidance deems “cost prohibitive.”
West Virginia:
It is estimated that 83% of West Virginia NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in West Virginia by ~176%.
Over the last 12 months, ~600 West Virginians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
Texas:
It is estimated that 86% of Texas NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Texas by ~53%.
Over the last 12 months, ~26,300 Texans have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
Alabama:
It is estimated that 79% of Alabama NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Alabama by ~106%.
Over the last 12 months, ~1,200 Alabamians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
Mississippi:
It is estimated that 84% of Mississippi NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Mississippi by ~103%.
Over the last 12 months, ~2,200 Mississippians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
Rural and low-income homeowners, along with high-risk coastal areas, are being priced out at far higher rates than urban or wealthier communities. In ten states, full risk NFIP premiums today exceed 2 percent of median household income.  This undermines home values, depresses property tax revenues, and ultimately inflates federal disaster assistance costs when uninsured homeowners cannot rebuild.
The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike.
The President has long championed policies that reduce federal overreach and protect everyday Americans from burdensome costs. To limit the damage caused by this harmful Biden era policy, we urge you to:
Direct FEMA to terminate the Risk Rating 2.0 pricing methodology.
Require FEMA to publish all actuarial inputs and outputs of future flood insurance premium increases exceeding the 5% statutory minimum so stakeholders can verify fairness and accuracy.
Restore targeted affordability measures for coastal, low income, and historically underinsured communities—ensuring NFIP remains accessible to those who need it most.
Time is of the essence. Each month that Risk Rating 2.0 continues unchecked, more families are forced to abandon their insurance coverage, neighborhoods face economic strain, and entire communities risk collapse after the next disaster. We respectfully urge you to act now—before further harm is done—to protect vulnerable Americans, preserve homeownership, and ensure the NFIP fulfills its mission as Congress intended.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: Corps Awards More than $23 Million Contract for Garrison Dam Spillway Rehabilitation

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
06.05.25
BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded a $23.8 million contract for dredging and placement of riprap protection as part of the Garrison Dam Spillway Rehabilitation project. The project is estimated to be completed in April 2028.
“The Garrison Dam is crucial infrastructure in our region, and vital to ensuring that we have a reliable water supply for communities and agriculture, as well as recreation and tourism. At the same time, it’s a key component to controlling Missouri River water levels and protecting communities from flooding. This federal contract will help advance rehabilitation of the spillway, which is an important component to ensuring the dam’s long-term integrity,” said Hoeven.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Condemn Provisions on GOP Tax Plan that Would Eliminate Gun Safety Measures

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement condemning provisions in the Republican tax plan that would weaken gun safety measures that have been in place since 1934 by eliminating registration and ownership requirements for gun silencers under the National Firearms Act, increasing danger for law enforcement officers while saving gun manufacturers millions in unpaid manufacturer taxes:
“The Republican tax plan being pushed through Congress not only cuts critical services Virginians rely on in order to give huge tax breaks to billionaires, but it also makes our communities less safe by weakening gun safety measures on silencers. Part of the reason that these registration and ownership requirements exist is because silencers, like the one that was used in the Virginia Beach mass shooting, make it harder for law enforcement to locate and respond to an active shooter. Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities, and we will oppose this disastrous bill when it comes to the Senate floor.”
A gun silencer, also known as a suppressor, is attached to the barrel of a firearm in order to curb its sound, muzzle flash, and kickback. A silencer poses great danger to the public and makes it more difficult for law enforcement officers to detect the location of and respond to an active shooter. A silencer also diminishes the effectiveness of gunshot detection technology that relies on audio sensors to record the sound, time, and location of loud noises. A gun silencer was used in the Virginia Beach mass shooting on May 31, 2019. Law enforcement has historically supported silencer regulations because silencers make it harder, if not impossible, to figure out where the shooter is in an active shooter situation.
Sens. Warner and Kaine have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia families if Republicans in Congress continue to insist on gutting vital programs in order to pay for tax breaks for the richest Americans. The senators have noted that the GOP bill would strip health insurance from more than 262,000 Virginians, cut SNAP benefits for more than 204,000 people in Virginia, raise energy costs for Virginia households, and jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs. The bill would also raise the deficit by $3.8 trillion, eliminate a program allowing Americans to file federal taxes for free, and raise taxes on minimum-wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Advances Ranching, Grasslands Priorities with USDA Under Secretary Nominee

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
06.06.25
Senator Urges Nominee to Ensure USFS Works with North Dakota Ranchers on Grazing Access, Wildfire Management & Pest Control
WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven advanced key priorities for North Dakota ranchers with Michael Boren, the nominee to serve as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment. In this role, Boren will oversee the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which includes the national grasslands in North Dakota. Accordingly, Hoeven urged Boren to work with him on:
Ensuring access to USFS lands for multiple use, including grazing and energy production.
Hoeven stressed to Boren that section line rights-of-way are critical for enabling ranchers to access their cattle in the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

Coordinating with local ranchers and rural fire departments on wildfire management, including protecting against impacts from controlled burns on federal lands.
Better management of pests on USFS lands, such as prairie dogs and noxious weeds.
Hoeven and Boren discussed the need for adequate buffers on federal lands to help prevent damage to private and state-held lands.
Hoeven previously worked with USFS Deputy Chief Chris French on efforts to address noxious weeds on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands and urged Boren to maintain these efforts.

“North Dakota is home to the largest national grasslands in the country, with the USFS managing more than a million acres of land in our state. That creates real challenges that require the federal government to work cooperatively with our local stakeholders, including our ag and energy producers,” said Hoeven. “In both the committee hearing and my meeting with Michael Boren, we drove home the importance of ensuring access to the grasslands for our grazers. Fair grazing agreements are essential, as is access through section lines to ensure ranchers can actually get to their cattle. At the same time, we’ve seen poor land management on federal acreage impacting private and state lands through the spread of noxious weeds, uncontrolled prairie dog colonies and wildfires. I appreciate Mr. Boren’s commitment to work with us on these critical issues.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China to Build National Heritage Route Along Ancient Silk Road

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

LANZHOU, June 10 (Xinhua) — China plans to build its first national heritage route along the historically significant Hexi Corridor in northwest China within the next 10 years, part of its goal to strengthen the protection, preservation and utilization of cultural and natural heritage.

The plan was announced on Tuesday at a press conference by the people’s government of Gansu Province in northwest China.

According to He Xiaozu, head of the provincial department of culture and tourism, a series of projects will be implemented in Gansu focusing on heritage protection and utilization, infrastructure construction, tourism facility distribution, and international exchanges and cooperation. They will cover a total of 52 representative cultural and natural heritage sites and 20 national-level intangible cultural heritage projects along the Hexi Corridor, he said.

The total investment to support the implementation of 120 specific tasks related to the construction of the route will amount to 610 million yuan (US$84.9 million), He Xiaozu said.

For many years, China has carried out large-scale work to preserve and rationally utilize the cultural heritage in the Hexi Corridor. Thus, the Chinese government has invested a total of 540 million yuan in preserving the cultural heritage of the relevant section of the Great Wall of China and has facilitated the implementation of more than 110 protection and restoration projects.

The Hexi Corridor, part of the ancient Silk Road and stretching for nearly 1,000 km across Gansu Province, is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 53 grottoes.

“The national heritage route will be built in strict accordance with the principle of minimal interference and will become an important platform for China to share cultural achievements with the rest of the world and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations,” said Qiu Jian, head of the Gansu Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 11, 2025