Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day” Set for Saturday, June 14

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York’s “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day” celebrations will be held on Saturday, June 14 this year with events happening at more than 20 locations across New York State as part of the Governor’s initiative to “Get Offline, Get Outside,” and to ensure inclusivity of access to state public lands. The events bring people of all abilities, ages, identities, and backgrounds together for a day of fun and healthy activities.

    “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is an opportunity for every New Yorker to visit our world-renowned state parks and public lands, and gather with family and friends while learning something new,” Governor Hochul said. “My Administration has prioritized accessibility and our state parks and lands are here for all New Yorkers to enjoy, no matter their background or abilities. Everyone is welcome.”

    This year’s event is hosted by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Perseveration (Parks), in partnership with the Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.

    At 23 locations across the state, participants will be encouraged to discover new skills and enjoy a range of introductory-level outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, nature walks and hikes, birding, archery, paddling, camping demonstrations, and more. Each event will highlight ways to enjoy the outdoors safely and sustainably. All locations will offer a selection of accessible activities, and use of adaptive equipment and demonstrations will be provided at many sites, including trail and beach mobility aids, archery assist stands, arm supports for fishing, and more. Certain sites will also feature sample assistive technology device loans from New York’s regional Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) centers.

    New York’s Get Outdoors & Get Together Day coincides with National Get Outdoors Day, an annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun. Most “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day” celebrations will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., with a few exceptions. Exact times and locations are available on the Parks and DEC websites.

    New York State Chief Disability Officer Kimberly Hill Ridley said, “As New York’s Chief Disability Officer, I am proud we are co-sponsoring ‘Get Outdoors and Get Together’ day since our office was created in 2022. We thoroughly enjoy both co-sponsoring this event, but more importantly, participating in the event, which has consistently demonstrated the beauty that our parks have to offer and the accessibility that we strive to provide each and every day. We know how important the outdoors is to all New Yorkers, including those with disabilities, in the quest to spend as much time outside as possible to benefit both our physical and mental health.”

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “DEC is thrilled to once again host ‘Get Outdoors & Get Together Day’ events across the state in partnership with our sister State agencies. We remain committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive outdoor experience for New Yorkers of all ages, abilities, identities, and lived experiences. New York’s public lands are for everyone and we invite all New Yorkers to join us to celebrate the outdoors and try something new, safely and responsibly.”

    New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Willow Baer said, “This event is important to our agency, especially considering that as little as fifty years ago, many people with developmental disabilities lived in institutions and were denied the same opportunities to enjoy the outdoors as everyone else. When we see people with and without disabilities enjoying the great outdoors together, we’re reminded that true inclusion goes beyond integration. I encourage everyone to come out for Get Outdoors & Get Together Day and see what it is all about.”

    New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Perseveration Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day highlights New York’s amazing public lands and recreational opportunities that are accessible for everyone to enjoy. Parks are natural gathering places where everyone can connect with nature and build memories, and New York State is committed to ensuring that all people of all abilities feel welcome and can experience the joy of the outdoors together. We are excited to once again partner with other state agencies to make this event possible and continue connecting more people to the outdoors.”

    New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen said, “Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is a beautiful reminder that connection and community can be found in enjoying the scenic beauty of New York’s great outdoors. For Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families, this inclusive event offers a powerful way to recharge, reconnect, and feel truly welcomed in every corner of our state.”

    New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Being outdoors and connecting with nature can have a powerful and positive impact on our mental health. As New Yorkers, we are very fortunate to have a beautiful park system that is both accessible and expansive — from nearby our cities and through the rural areas of upstate. As a proud partner of Get Outdoors and Get Together Day this year, we encourage all New Yorkers to explore the parks in their community and elsewhere throughout our state.”

    New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi-Murray said, “Our job at the Justice Center is to protect the health, safety, and dignity of individuals with special needs in New York State and that includes promoting programs like TRAID. Funded through federal grants, TRAID is administered through the Justice Center and offers assistive technology device loans to any New Yorker, free of charge. Our regional TRAID centers across NY will be demonstrating some of these technologies at various Get Outdoors & Get Together Day sites. We are honored to serve as a sponsor for this year’s events and to help all individuals experience the great outdoors.”

    State Senator José Serrano said, “As the Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, I am a firm believer that time spent outdoors in our green spaces is critical for our health and well-being. New York’s Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is a great opportunity for people of all ages to get outside and engage in recreational activities. My sincere thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul, Parks, DEC and all the partner state agencies for organizing this annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun in our communities.”

    2025 DEC-led Programs:

    Activities at DEC facilities may include the following:

    • Camping 101: Visitors can try their hand at camping basics by pitching a tent on the lawn and learning how to pack for a camping trip.
    • Birding: Participants can learn how easy and fun it is to enjoy birdwatching almost anywhere.
    • Hiking: Participants can take a short hike and learn the basics of finding the perfect trails on their own.
    • Outdoor safety: Learn the basics of being prepared and safe so all outdoor adventures are good ones.
    • Accessible outdoor recreation: Experience and learn about accessible outdoor recreation opportunities on State lands including hiking, camping, birding, fishing and boating.
    • Select locations will also include I Fish NY catch-and-release clinics with rods and reels available for loan, introductory paddling on the water, and introductory archery, including important safety tips.

    Wheelchair-accessible features, including restrooms, as well as activities and select recreation opportunities are offered at all locations. Please contact the event coordinator directly with accommodation requests and to find out about the adaptive equipment and activities offered at each site. Details, including schedules and activity lists, can be found on the DEC’s website on the “Outdoors Day” page.

    2025 State Parks-led Programs:

    Program and scheduling details for each location can be found by visiting parks.ny.gov. No parking fee will be charged during event times. For details about visitor amenities at each location, visit parks.ny.gov.

    The New York City and Long Island events located at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park, Mount Loretto Unique Area, Hempstead Lake State Park, and Sunken Meadow State Park are very popular, and there is no parking available for oversized vans accommodating larger groups at these sites with the exception of Sunken Meadow State Park. If you have a bus or oversized van you need to park at any park or DEC site, please contact the facility directly to inquire about parking availability in advance of your arrival.

    The Department of Environmental Conservation manages five million acres of public lands, including three million acres in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve, 55 campgrounds and day-use areas, more than 5,000 miles of formal trails and hundreds of trailheads, boat launches, and fishing piers. Plan your next outdoor adventure and connect with us on Facebook, Bluesky, X, Flickr and Instagram.

    The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 88 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518-474-0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.

    The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities provides high quality person-centered support and services to people with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurological impairments. OPWDD provides services directly and through a network of not-for-profit providers. OPWDD’s mission is to help people live richer lives that include meaningful relationships, good health, personal growth and a home that supports them to participate in their community. For more information visit opwdd.ny.gov or connect with us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

    The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services, and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website – veterans.ny.gov – to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.

    The New York State Office of Mental Health is committed to promoting the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. The agency oversees a large, multi-faceted mental health system serving nearly 800,000 individuals annually. OMH operates 3,597 inpatient beds at 23 psychiatric centers statewide, while also overseeing the Nathan S. Kline Institute and New York Psychiatric Institute. In addition, the agency is tasked with regulating, certifying, and overseeing more than 6,500 programs operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies, which are dedicated to serving individuals and families living with mental illness.

    The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs was established in 2013 by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act. The agency was created to restore public trust in the institutions and individuals charged with caring for vulnerable populations by protecting the health, safety, and dignity of all people with special needs. For more information on the agency, visit: justicecenter.ny.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Youth, community leaders take center stage in launch of gun safety effort

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 6, 2025

    Reduce the Risk campaign educates people about the 9 protection orders available

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced a comprehensive campaign to engage youth and community leaders on the available protection orders to keep Californians safer from gun violence during Gun Violence Awareness Month. 

    SACRAMENTO  – As California continues its nationwide leadership with the strongest gun safety laws in the country, Governor Gavin Newsom launched a campaign aimed at engaging the state’s youth and key leaders about the gun violence protection orders available during times of crisis.  

    Year after year, California continues to step up to protect families statewide from senseless gun incidents. As many of our youth experience a crisis of connection and belonging, we are welcoming them in the ongoing movement to bring communities together around these common-sense solutions.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Underscoring the state’s commitment to using every tool available to prevent gun violence, the Reduce the Risk campaign will be led by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and aims to close the gap in public knowledge through key engagement about California’s nine types of protection orders, which temporarily remove firearms to prevent larger tragedies. A recent survey shows nearly 80 percent of Californians are concerned about how little they know about these legal tools. 

    “Protection orders have been a driving factor in reducing shootings, suicides, and domestic violence,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. “Yet many Californians don’t know they exist. This campaign continues the work we began in 2023 to make sure every community knows how to use them.”

    The Reduce the Risk campaign is informed by the Champions Advisory Council,  composed of experts in law enforcement, legal practice, and health care, as well as the Youth Advisory Council, a group of young leaders on the frontlines of gun violence prevention. These youth advisors are helping shape campaign activities to better reach and engage younger Californians, who will be critical to sustaining progress in the future.

    California’s youth as a solution

    Nationwide, firearms are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Compared to the rest of the nation, California has made substantial long-term progress in reducing per capita rates of youth firearm homicide. CDC data showed that in 2022, California’s firearm homicide rate for youth under 25 was about 50% below the rate recorded for the rest of the U.S. By contrast, nationwide youth gun homicides increased over 46% from 2019-2021.

    “The Youth Advisory Council plays a vital role in shaping real solutions to gun violence by bringing the voices of those directly impacted into the conversation,” said Maxwell Martinez of Sacramento, Youth Advisory Council member, who is a survivor of gun violence and recent graduate from Chico State. “Young people are not just the future, we are the present. Our perspectives are essential in driving urgent, lasting change.”

    California has long been a national leader in gun violence prevention, with laws like universal background checks, assault weapons bans, and mandatory waiting periods. These efforts have paid off: California consistently has one of the lowest gun death rates in the nation. But the toll remains high – about 3,200 Californians lose their lives to gun violence each year, with suicides making up a significant share, especially among men

    “Gun violence affects every community, and for too long, young people have been left out of the conversation. Through my work producing a documentary on gun violence prevention, I saw the power of youth voices firsthand,” said Sarah Youssef of San Diego, Youth Advisory Council member, high school senior, and active participant in the local chapter of the Brady Campaign. “Reduce the Risk gives us the platform we need to push for real change and make sure no more lives are lost to preventable violence.” 

    Community leaders come together

    Experts from the Champions Advisory Council include community leaders who see the daily toll that gun violence has on families statewide. 

    “There is solid evidence that restraining orders can help prevent interpersonal violence, including domestic violence and mass shootings, and suicide. Reduce the Risk will help Californians put these important tools to work,” said Garen Wintemute, MD, MPH, Director of the Centers for Violence Prevention at the University of California, Davis.

    In California, men aged 15–44 die by suicide at 3 to 4 times the rate of women, often by firearms. While violence is focused both internally and externally, affecting all people in the community, men are responsible for almost 80% of violent crime. Almost half of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.

    “Too often we see the devastation that could have been prevented if someone had spoken up or taken action. Protection orders are a proven tool that can interrupt violence before it happens,” said Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper. “Through the Reduce the Risk campaign, we are making sure every Californian knows how to use these lifesaving laws.”

    Protection orders reduce gun violence 

    California was the first state in the nation to adopt a “red flag law” in 2016. In the first three years of their existence, these protection orders were used to prevent 58 cases of threatened mass shootings. The protection orders available in California include:

    • Gun Violence Restraining Order
    • Domestic Violence Restraining Order
    • Civil Harassment Restraining Order
    • Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order
    • Juvenile Restraining Order
    • Postsecondary School Violence Restraining Order
    • Workplace Restraining Order
    • Criminal Protective Order
    • Emergency Protective Orders

    California’s strong leadership

    California is ranked as the #1 state in the country for its strong gun safety laws — along with some of the lowest rates of gun deaths — by Giffords Law Center and Everytown for Gun Safety. In states where officials have passed gun safety laws, fewer people die by gun violence. Texas and Florida, which ranked 32nd and 21st, respectively in gun law strength, had firearm mortality rates more than 50% higher than California. Click here to download the updated gun safety fact sheet.

    California has reduced its gun violence rate because of its leading gun safety laws. If the gun death rate in the rest of the U.S. matched California’s over the past decade, there would have been nearly 140,000 lives saved and potentially hundreds of thousands fewer gunshot injuries.

    Last year, Governor Newsom signed a bipartisan legislative package to further reinforce California’s nation-leading gun laws, prevent traumatic incidents of mass violence, and establish the first in the nation Office of Gun Violence Prevention

    California has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California’s Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.

    Resources

    The campaign also launched a new website, ReduceTheRisk.ca.gov, which will offer educational materials in multiple languages and free training resources for community organizations across the state.

    Recent news

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the Golden State Literacy Plan — a step-by-step strategy to improve student reading achievement across California, building on existing efforts and proposing bold new investments. The Golden State…

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today after a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must restore funding to AmeriCorps in California. This comes after Governor Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of…

    News What you need to know: California is launching the CalAssist Mortgage Fund on June 12, 2025, to provide $105 million in relief offering up to $20,000 to homeowners whose homes were destroyed in recent disasters, including the Los Angeles firestorms. LOS ANGELES —…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Newmarket — RCMP arrest individual for exporting banned technology to Russia

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Ontario RCMP have arrested a Canadian businessman for violating Canadian sanctions that prohibit technology trade and exports to Russia.

    Following a three-year investigation, the Ontario RCMP’s Sanctions Unit has obtained Attorney General of Canada consent to commence a criminal prosecution under the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c. 17, and the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, SOR/2014-58.

    Anton Trofimov (43) of Toronto, Ontario, is facing the following charges for sanctions evasion:

    • Export, sell, supply or ship a good referred to in Column 1 of Schedule 7 to Russia, contrary to section 3.9 (1) of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2014-58), thereby committing an offence contrary to section 8 of the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c.17;
    • Export, sell, supply or ship a good referred to in the Restricted Goods and Technologies List to Russia, contrary to section 3.6 (1) of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2014-58), thereby committing an offence contrary to section 8 of the Special Economic Measures Act, S.C. 1992, c.17;
    • Possess proceeds of property obtained by crime, contrary to section 354(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

    Trofimov made a first appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice at Toronto on May 22, 2025.

    “Canada’s sanctions are a critical component to our economic security, and these types of violations pose serious risks in maintaining international peace and global security. Individuals and businesses are responsible for ensuring the end destination of all exports do not fall under these sanctions. The RCMP will continue to pursue individuals or groups who attempt to profit from illegal trade.”- Chief Superintendent Chris Leather Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations, RCMP Central Region

    The RCMP works closely with domestic and international partners, including the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Global Affairs Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to prevent and disrupt the illicit trade of technologies with sanctioned states.

    “This arrest is an example of how close collaboration with our Canadian partners can result in significant impact such as disruptions to Russia’s attempts to evade U.S. and Canadian sanctions.” – Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office.

    “This arrest demonstrates both the importance of the CBSA’s ongoing work to interdict the proliferation of strategic Canadian technology and the crucial cooperation between the CBSA and RCMP in identifying exporters intent on violating sanctions. The CBSA’s Counter Proliferation Operations Section examines more than 1 million export declarations per year and collaborates with external and internal partners to meet Canada’s commitment to enforcing sanctions on strategic exports to Russia.” – Daniel Anson, Director General, Intelligence and Investigations, Canada Border Services Agency

    Prosecutions under the Special Economic Measures Act are conducted by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

    Fast facts

    • The purpose of the Canada Sanctions regime is to enable the Government of Canada to take economic measures against certain persons in circumstances where an international organization of states, of which Canada is a member, calls on its members to do so.
    • The RCMP Sanctions Program performs several roles within the Government of Canada’s sanctions regime, including conducting investigations into potential contravention of sanctions, the receipt of information from third parties in accordance with the legislation, and providing assistance to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. For more information on Canadian sanctions enforcement, please visit our website.
    • For more information about the high priority items list subject to export controls, please visit the Global Affairs Canada website.

    If you have any information related to violation of Canada’s sanctions legislation, you can contact the RCMP at Federal_Policing_Intake_Unit@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS and Idaho Team up in Joint Immigration Enforcement Operation

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

     Idaho is helping DHS keep America safe 

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Idaho Governor Brad Little announced that the state of Idaho has signed a new agreement to support President Trump’s deportation agenda.

    Idaho State Police will be working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to send hundreds of criminal illegal aliens in Idaho jails to ICE detention facilities for deportation. This agreement was made under the 287g authority of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

    “287(g) is critically important to our strategy of having the enforcement that we need to really address the criminal activities that we’ve seen out on the ground,” said Secretary Noem. “It has been wonderful to see people jump in and be a part of it to make sure that we have not just the authorities that we need to go out there and to work, but also to have the local knowledge and the people in the community that really want to be a part of the solution. We are looking for more agreements like that across the country, and we will continue to build on it.”

    Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS has expanded enforcement cooperation with state and local law enforcement to historic levels. Since President Trump took office, ICE has signed hundreds of new agreements, bringing the current total to 649.

    Announcing the agreement, Governor Little said: “Idaho is stepping up to help the Trump administration transport illegal immigrants with criminal histories out of our jails and to ICE facilities, where they will be deported out of our country. These criminals here illegally have committed crimes such as domestic violence, robbery, driving under the influence, and other dangerous activities that threaten Idaho families, but in counties across our state they are being released back into our communities after arrest. This is unacceptable. Idaho has taken many steps to increase our coordination with the Trump administration in the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws, and I want to further strengthen our state’s partnership with President Trump to help address the national emergency posed by years of reckless border policies under the Biden-Harris administration.”

    “I’m really encouraged to see Idaho making its communities safer by signing on with our 287(g) program,” said Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons. “You have to remember that we’re talking about criminals — and often, they won’t take an arrest sitting down — so when local jails are allowed to turn them over to ICE in a safe setting, we don’t need to send dozens of federal law enforcement officers into the public to make arrests. Partnerships like this one keep offenders out of communities and protect our families, friends and neighbors.”

    DHS has recently conducted several successful 287g operations with its partners, including:

    • Operation Tidal Wave in Florida, which arrested nearly 1,200 criminal illegal aliens.
    • An operation in Nashville, TN that arrested nearly 200 criminal illegal aliens.
    • An operation in Salt Lake City, UT that arrested 52 criminal illegal aliens.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Hong Kong: New charges against Joshua Wong designed to prolong his stay behind bars

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Responding to jailed Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong being newly charged with “conspiring to collude with foreign forces” under the city’s National Security Law, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:

    “Hong Kong’s National Security Law is turning five years old at the end of the month, and these new charges against Joshua Wong show that its capacity to be used by the Hong Kong authorities to threaten human rights in the city is as potent and present as ever.

    “Once again, the vague and sweeping offence of ‘collusion with foreign forces’ is being weaponized to justify an attack on the freedoms of expression and association.

    “Wong, already jailed for his participation in informal primaries, would have been released in a year and a half. But if this case goes forward, he could face as much as a life sentence.

    “This latest charge against him underscores the authorities’ fear of prominent dissidents and shows the lengths they will go to keep them behind bars for as long as possible – in so doing, continuing a chilling effect on civic activism in the city. The Hong Kong government must drop these charges and cease enforcing the National Security Law immediately, as called for by UN bodies. All people jailed simply for exercising their human rights must be set free.”

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Video: #NoToHate: The Cost of Hate Speech | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    We calculate the cost of just about everything: global warming, potholes, sleep deprivation. But we don’t calculate the cost of hate.

    Hate has a cost—likely a huge one. But what is the figure? Professor Michael Martell estimates that the measurable annual cost of hate crimes is nearly $3.4 billion, with the actual cost likely much higher.

    The #NoToHate campaign is a global initiative that aims to counter hate speech and promote tolerance and inclusion. It’s part of a larger UN effort to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia, racism, discrimination, and intolerance, focusing on preventing human rights violations and promoting peace and equality.

    The campaign is in line with the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.

    The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is 18 June.

    https://www.un.org/en/hate-speech

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfe5TUJeDQ

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Video: Fast Rope Proficiency Training | CBP

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) UH-60 Black Hawk crew members complete ‘Fast Rope’ currency and proficiency training and an operational patrol mission southwest of Tucson, with agents from the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Special Operations Detachment.

    Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/CBPgov
    Facebook ➤ https://facebook.com/CBPgov
    Twitter ➤ https://twitter.com/CBP
    Official Website ➤ https://www.cbp.gov

    #cbp
    #borderpatrol
    #training
    #dog
    #helicopter

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1isNBYQmVw

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Video: Inside Interior | June 6, 2025

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    This week, Secretary Burgum traveled to Alaska to highlight the state’s energy potential and natural beauty. He toured the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, met with Alaska Native leaders, and announced plans to unleash oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr1NwD6bWLk

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Video: PREVIEW: 72 arrested in #ICE S.C. nightclub operation: int’l fugitive + cartel and gang members

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — 72 illegal aliens arrested at a nightclub Sunday by ICE, FBI and other partners include:
    • Fugitive and suspected alien smuggler Tomas Reyna Flores — wanted for murder in Honduras — and several gang members.
    • Los Zetas cartel member Benjamin Reyna Flores.
    • 10 others w/prior criminal convictions.

    6 juveniles — including one listed as missing — were released to family members.

    Firearms, bulk cash, drugs and vehicles were seized on-site.

    Watch the full video on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/b9yqczUPsE4

    #shorts #shortsviral #shortvideos

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTn1JpxGoIA

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Video: 🚨66 arrested in S.C. nightclub #ICE targeted operation, including fugitive and gang members.

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — 72 illegal aliens arrested at night club Sunday by ICE with FBI and other partners include:

    • Fugitive and suspected alien smuggler Tomas Reyna Flores — wanted for murder in Honduras — and several gang members.
    • Los Zetas cartel member Benjamin Reyna Flores
    • 10 others w/ prior criminal convictions

    6 juveniles—including one listed as missing—were released to family members.

    Firearms, bulk cash, drugs and vehicles were seized in ongoing investigation.

    #shorts #shortvideo #short #alien

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9yqczUPsE4

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Airspace Sovereignty

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    ENSURING AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY OVER ITS SKIES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure American sovereignty over its skies and a safe and secure airspace.
    Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, pose a growing threat as criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors increasingly weaponize these technologies to endanger public safety and national security. 
    The Order establishes the Federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty to review and propose solutions to UAS threats.
    It directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a process to restrict drone flights over critical infrastructure and other public facilities.  
    It instructs the FAA Administrator to make Notices to Airmen and Temporary Flight Restrictions freely available online for drone geofencing and Aircraft Navigation and Guidance system purposes.
    The Order requires the Attorney General and FAA Administrator to increase enforcement of civil and criminal laws against drone operators endangering the public, violating airspace restrictions, or committing a crime.
    It authorizes Federal agencies to use existing authorities to detect, track, and identify drones and drone signals, and enables state, local, tribal, and territorial  law enforcement agencies to access grant programs for similar equipment.
    The Order mandates the publication of guidance to help private critical infrastructure owners and operators employ drone detection technologies.
    It calls for a risk-based assessment to designate borders, large airports, Federal facilities, critical infrastructure, and military installations as protected areas.
    The Order directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to explore integrating counter-UAS operation responses as part of Joint Terrorism Task Forces that are stood up for mass gathering events.
    It also directs the Administration to create a National Training Center for Counter-UAS to build the needed counter-UAS capacity to secure major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.  
    ADDRESSING GROWING DRONE THREATS: President Trump is taking decisive action to counter the escalating misuse of drones.
    Criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of drone technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland.
    Drug cartels use drones to smuggle fentanyl across our borders, deliver contraband into prisons, surveil law enforcement, and otherwise endanger the public.
    Mass gatherings are vulnerable to disruptions and threats by unauthorized drone flights.
    Critical infrastructure, including military bases, is subject to frequent—and often unidentified—drone incursions.
    ADVANCING NATIONAL SECURITY: President Trumphas consistently prioritized making America safe and secure. 
    Immediately upon taking office, President Trump fulfilled his promise to address the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey by clarifying that these were FAA-authorized flights, not a national security threat.
    President Trump has deployed drones to patrol the southern border, strengthening national security through advanced surveillance and monitoring capabilities.
    President Trump has advanced cutting-edge drone technologies through smart, targeted regulation, unlocking economic growth while strengthening safety, security, and innovation.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reprioritizes Cybersecurity Efforts to Protect America

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    STRENGTHENING THE NATION’S CYBERSECURITY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity by focusing on critical protections against foreign cyber threats and enhancing secure technology practices.
    The Order amends problematic elements of Obama and Biden-era Executive Orders (14144 and 13694).
    The Order directs the Federal government to advance secure software development.
    It directs department and agency level action on border gateway security to defeat hijacking of network interconnections.
    The Order directs department and agency level actions on post-quantum cryptography to ensure protection against threats that may leverage next generation compute architectures.
    The Order directs adoption of the latest encryption protocols.
    It refocuses artificial intelligence (AI) cybersecurity efforts towards identifying and managing vulnerabilities, rather than censorship.
    The Order directs technical measures to promulgate cybersecurity policy, including machine readable policy standards and formal trust designations for “Internet of Things” as a way to ensure that Americans can know that their personal and home devices meet basic security engineering principles.
    It limits the application of cyber sanctions only to foreign malicious actors, preventing misuse against domestic political opponents and clarifying that sanctions do not apply to election-related activities.
    The Order strips away inappropriate measures outside of core cybersecurity focus, including removing a mandate for U.S. government issued digital IDs for illegal aliens that would have facilitated entitlement fraud and other abuse.
    REPRIORITIZING CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS: President Trump is taking decisive action to address real technical challenges and enduring cyber security threats.
    Just days before President Trump took office, the Biden Administration attempted to sneak problematic and distracting issues into cybersecurity policy. This included:
    Introducing digital identity mandates that risked widespread abuse by enabling illegal immigrants to improperly access public benefits.
    Imposing unproven and burdensome software accounting processes that prioritized compliance checklists over genuine security investments.
    Micromanaging technical cybersecurity decisions better handled at the department and agency level, where budget tradeoffs and innovative solutions can be more effectively evaluated and implemented.

    Cybersecurity is too important to be reduced to a mere political football.
    Adversaries routinely threaten our critical infrastructure, personal devices, and the fabrics of our digital lives.
    ADVANCING NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY: President Trump is advancing cybersecurity for the safety of all Americans.
    President Trump has made it clear that this Administration will do what it takes to make America cyber secure—including focusing relentlessly on technical and organizational professionalism to improve the security and resilience of the nation’s information systems and networks.
    Since the first day he entered office, President Trump has been steadfast in his commitment to eliminate fraud and abuse across the Federal Government.
    President Trump has already taken action to remove barriers to AI innovation, ensuring that our technology sector remains competitive at the cutting edge of new developments and free from ideological bias.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Unleashes American Drone Dominance

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    UNLEASHING AMERICAN DRONE DOMINANCE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure continued American leadership in the development, commercialization, and export of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—otherwise known as drones. 
    The Order directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand drone operations by enabling routine “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” drone operations for commercial and public safety missions, and to accelerate the development, testing, and scaling of American drone technologies, including advanced air mobility and autonomous operations.
    The Order establishes an electric “Vertical Takeoff and Landing” integration pilot program to accelerate the deployment of safe and lawful vertical operations in the United States, selecting at least five pilot projects to advance applications like cargo transport and medical response.
    It directs the FAA Administrator to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline and expedite UAS waiver reviews.
    The Order directs the FAA Administrator to publish an updated roadmap for the integration of civil UAS into the National Airspace System.
    It strengthens the domestic drone industrial base by prioritizing U.S.-manufactured UAS, promoting their export and taking action to ensure our technology remains secure from undue foreign influence and exploitation.
    It enhances global competitiveness by streamlining regulations, expanding market access, and utilizing federal financing tools.
    The Order supports the warfighter by expanding access to U.S.-manufactured high-performing drones while streamlining airspace and spectrum access.
    DRIVING INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: President Trump is harnessing the potential of drones to boost American productivity and global leadership.
    Drones enhance U.S. productivity, create high-skilled jobs, and are reshaping the future of aviation in areas such as logistics, infrastructure inspection, precision agriculture, emergency response, and public safety.
    Emerging technologies, such as vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, promise to modernize methods for cargo delivery, passenger transport, and other advanced air mobility capabilities.
    For too long, unfair foreign competition has posed a national security risk, disincentivizing our drone industrial base. This order is removing regulatory barriers and directing federal agencies to prioritize U.S.-manufactured drones, secure our supply chains, and promote American leadership in production, certification, and export.
    ADVANCING DRONE TECHNOLOGIES: President Trump is advancing drone technologies for economic, security, and public safety benefits.
    In his first term, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to speed up commercial drone integration, launching a UAS Integration Pilot Program to test innovative applications with State, local, and tribal partners.  
    President Trump has deployed UAS to patrol the southern border, strengthening national security through advanced surveillance and monitoring capabilities.
    President Trump has advanced cutting-edge drone technologies through smart, targeted regulation, unlocking economic growth while strengthening safety, security, and innovation.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Takes Action to Lead the World in Supersonic Flight

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    LEADING THE WORLD IN SUPERSONIC FLIGHT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to promote supersonic aviation in the United States.
    America once led the world in supersonic aviation, but decades of stifling regulations grounded progress. This Order removes regulatory barriers so that U.S. companies can dominate supersonic flight once again.
    The Order directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to repeal the prohibition on overland supersonic flight, establish an interim noise-based certification standard, and repeal other regulations that hinder supersonic flight.
    The Order instructs the FAA Administrator to establish a standard for supersonic aircraft noise certification that considers community acceptability, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility.
    The Order advances the coordination of supersonic research, development, test and evaluation efforts through the National Science and Technology Council with leadership from the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
    It promotes international engagement through the FAA and other agencies to align global supersonic flight regulations and secure bilateral agreements for international operations.
    USHERING IN A NEW CHAPTER IN AEROSPACE INNOVATION: President Trump is launching a historic national effort to reestablish the United States as the undisputed leader in high-speed aviation.
    For more than fifty years, outdated and overly restrictive regulations have grounded the promise of supersonic flight, stifling American ingenuity and weakening our global competitiveness in aviation.
    Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction now make supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.
    American companies developing supersonic aircraft have already entered into government contracts and agreements with major commercial airlines, such as United Airlines and American Airlines, who have committed to purchase supersonic jets to enhance their fleets with faster travel options.
    By removing decades-old regulatory barriers and promoting cutting-edge supersonic technology, President Trump is Making Aviation Great Again.
    ADVANCING AMERICA’S TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP: President Trump is ensuring U.S. dominance in cutting-edge technologies, prioritizing innovation and global competitiveness.
    President Trump signed Executive Orders to enhance America’s global artificial intelligence (AI) dominance and advance AI education for America’s youth.
    He signed multiple Executive Orders to advance nuclear technologies and ensure a reliable, clean, and affordable domestic energy supply.
    The President signed an Executive Order to restore Gold Standard Science as the cornerstone of Federal scientific research and ensure that Federal decision-making is informed by the most credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence available. 
    President Trump has prioritized deregulation to spur innovation and economic growth.
    This includes issuing Executive Orders mandating the repeal of 10 regulations for each new one proposed, requiring the automatic rescission of outdated regulations, and eliminating anti-competitive regulations.  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Slam House GOP’s Effort to Help Trump Ignore Court Orders

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a former civil rights attorney and constitutional law professor, (both D-VA) issued the following statement regarding a provision in the tax proposal passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives that would make it harder for federal judges to hold government officials accountable when they act lawlessly:

    “The reason district courts are blocking many of President Trump’s actions is because these actions are illegal. Presidents are not kings, no American is above the law, and House Republicans’ attack on checks and balances through this obscure provision hidden in their partisan tax bill is irresponsible and cowardly. Now it’s up to our Republican counterparts here in the Senate to figure out two things – first, how the heck this provision is even relevant to a tax bill; and second, whether they have the courage and the respect for the U.S. Constitution to vote this down.”

    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 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 explode the deficit, eliminate a program allowing Americans to file federal taxes for free, raise taxes on minimum-wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut, and eliminate gun safety measures.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Wake of DCA Tragedy, Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 to strengthen aviation safety. The legislation follows Warner and Kaine’s years-long advocacy against further crowding in the capital area airspace – which will continue – and comes in direct response to the January 29, 2025 collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional commercial jet operating as American Airlines flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that took the lives of 67 people.

    The crash exposed multiple system failures, including the Army Black Hawk not transmitting safety-enhancing ADS-B technology (radio systems that aircraft use to share their positions with each other and with air traffic control), unsafe route design for mixed traffic near DCA, and lack of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) coordination to prevent future incidents. The Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 addresses these specific failures, as well as broader long-standing FAA air traffic controller shortages, FAA internal safety management systems, and the need for important post-accident safety reviews.

    “Ensuring the safety of our nation’s air travel is critical, and as we have seen with tragedies and incidents in Virginia and across the country, an urgent matter,” said Sen. Warner. “The legislation takes important steps to strengthen critical safety measures, boost job training and recruitment efforts, and ensure coordination between the Department of Defense and FAA in order to better protect the millions of Americans who travel by air daily.”

    “The crash at DCA was a tragedy, and we have a responsibility to the loved ones of those we lost and the American public to make changes to ensure this never happens again,” said Sen. Kaine. “This bill includes a number of important steps, such as mandating a safety review of flight operations in the National Capital Region, improving air traffic controller hiring and training, and enhancing employee reporting and transparency. I will continue to do more to prevent another crash like this from occurring, including pushing to remove slots at DCA to address the congested airspace in the region.”

    “We are grateful to Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, whose teams were the very first we met with on Capitol Hill as we began our advocacy journey. Over the past four months, they have remained consistently engaged, responsive, and supportive. Senator Warner’s and Senator Kaine’s dedication to aviation safety – both for the people of Virginia and across our national airspace – has been clear and unwavering. We thank them for joining with Senator Cantwell and putting forth this comprehensive aviation safety bill,” said the families of Flight 5342.

    The Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 includes several of Sens. Warner and Kaine’s priorities and will: 

    • Strengthen Aviation Safety to Protect the Flying Public by:
      • Closing the ADS-B Out Military Loophole: The bill ends certain Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agency exemptions from using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out near DCA and other busy airports. The Army Black Hawk involved in the Jan. 29 crash was equipped with ADS-B Out, but it was not transmitting. The Army operated “100% of missions” in the National Capital Region with this critical safety technology deactivated and not transmitting, making military aircraft invisible to air traffic controllers and nearby planes.
      • Expanding Use of ADS-B In to Boost Safety: Within four years of enactment, the legislation requires all mainline and regional airlines to install ADS-B In and operate with it activated unless otherwise instructed by FAA air traffic control. This technology allows pilots to see nearby aircraft on their displays, and ensures better separation from other aircraft, dramatically improving situational awareness.
      • Initiating FAA Safety Review of DCA Airspace Management and Other Busy Airports to Prevent Close Calls and Tragic Crashes: The bill requires a comprehensive FAA/DoD safety review of DCA airspace to assess how helicopter, drone and military flights impact commercial operations and to better prevent future incidents. And it ensures a thorough evaluation of all non-commercial flight routes near the airport. The bill requires the same comprehensive FAA/DoD safety review of other busy U.S. airports (other Class B airports), prioritizing safety reviews of such airports with high volumes of mixed flight traffic.
      • Creating Independent Expert Review Panel for Effective SMS at FAA:  The legislation creates an independent expert panel to review FAA’s Safety Management System and ensure it is effective and integrated across all FAA operations within 180 days. The panel will include aviation safety experts, labor representatives, and NASA officials to lend their specific expertise to ensure the review is comprehensive.
      • Requiring Risk Assessments After Major Aircraft Accidents: The bill requires FAA to do a safety risk assessment – specifically a Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology (TARAM) analysis – following any major, fatal airline crash, regardless of whether the crash is linked to an aircraft design or manufacturing issue.
    • Grow and Protect FAA Staffing Now and in the Future by:
      • Expanding High-Quality Controller Training Pipeline and Boosts Hiring: The bill codifies FAA’s existing Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training (Enhanced AT-CTI) program, which boosts FAA controller training capacity and allows FAA to hire highly qualified college graduates directly into air traffic control facilities to begin as controller trainees. The graduates have to have completed FAA-certified air traffic curriculums and meet other FAA controller qualifications, which would ensure an equivalent level of education and training from qualified evaluators to that of the FAA Academy. By adding nine certified Enhanced AT-CTI schools for a target of 15 total schools, FAA will be able to hire hundreds more controller trainees each year into its controller training pipeline to boost controller staffing. The bill also extends the requirement for FAA to hire as many controllers as possible through 2033.
      • Protecting FAA Workforce from Cuts and Hiring Freezes: The legislation reverses the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze and prohibits future hiring freezes on FAA’s safety workforce. It also prohibits any Executive Branch action to offer deferred resignation programs or voluntary buyouts to FAA workforce.
      • Closing Medical Review Backlogs: The bill requires FAA to hire more licensed medical professionals to fully staff its Aviation Medical Examiner team, addressing persistent backlogs in medical reviews for controllers, pilots, and other safety critical aviation professionals.
      • Creating New Controller Instructor Recruitment Program: The legislation requires a new FAA outreach program recruiting experienced controllers approaching retirement to become instructors at FAA’s Academy or at understaffed air traffic facilities.
    • Ensure Better FAA Oversight and Demand Information Sharing and Communication Between FAA and DOD
      • Establishing First-Ever FAA Oversight Office for Military Aviation Coordination: The bill establishes a dedicated FAA oversight office to oversee and coordinate military aircraft and helicopter flights and carry out airspace safety reviews, ensuring stronger communication between the Department of Defense and FAA offices to prevent future incidents.
      • Establishing a New Joint FAA-DoD Council on ADS-B: The bill establishes a joint FAA-Department of Defense Council to regularly review Federal government operations using ADS-B Out exemptions to ensure they meet the law.
      • Improving FAA and Military Aviation Safety Information Sharing: The bill would require aviation safety data sharing between the Department of Defense and the FAA via MOUs with each military service. For example, the Army does not typically share safety information from its Aviation Safety Management Information System with FAA except through lengthy Freedom of Information Act requests.
      • Preventing Conflicts of Interest at FAA: The legislation requires a Department of Transportation (DOT) rulemaking to ensure the DOT and the FAA are abiding by Federal government-wide financial conflicts of interest law and a DOT Inspector General Review of conflicts of interest at the DOT and FAA.
      • Requiring GAO Investigation of DOD Exemption Abuse: The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies have been misusing ADS-B, and determine whether agencies followed the law.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have been closely involved with the in the investigation of the January 29th collision, meeting with first responders and offering condolences to the families and loved ones of the 67 lives lost immediately following the tragedy. The senators also saw through passage of a legislation to remember the victims of the crash. Sens. Warner and Kaine also requested answers from FAA on its plans to protect the flying public in the wake of the January 29 collision. In March of this year, the senators responded to the preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the crash. The senators have also sounded the alarm for years about the need for increased safety for the flying public, including fighting against additional flights out of DCA that contribute to overcrowding. 

    A copy of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Defence Secretary’s speech on D-Day 81 anniversary

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Defence Secretary’s speech on D-Day 81 anniversary

    The Defence Secretary John Healey gave the following speech at the International Commemoration at Utah Beach to mark 81 years since the D-Day Landings. This year’s event focussed on the US contribution to the Normandy campaign, but paid tribute to all who died in the operation.

    Bonjour tout le monde. 

    81 years ago today, tyranny bowed when the courage of free men forced open the gates of liberation. 

    Within hours, the people of Sainte-Mère-Église had control of their destiny again. 

    Within three months, the Tricolor once again flew from the Eiffel Tower. 

    Within a year the continent of Europe would once again know peace. 

    It is a rare thing to have changed the course of history, but that is what the veterans of Normandy did. 

    They fought for a future that they knew they may not live to see. 

    And through their valour we inherited a free world. 

    We are humbled to be in your company. We give eternal thanks for your sacrifice.

    And I’m also grateful to the Comité du Débarquement, as the stewards of our shared history. With every year that passes, your work becomes more important. 

    And 81 years on, we return to Normandy to ask:

    What principle guided 150,000 souls across that body of water?

    What belief compelled the paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st to thunder through the skies above us?

    What force drove the ‘Ivy’ men to charge these dunes at Utah?

    …all to liberate people they had never known in a land they had never seen.

     And that is the power of unity, the power of friendship, the faith in democracy and freedom. 

    And through the sacrifices made on these shores we learn the true strength of alliances.

    The strength of our war-fighters standing together as they continue to do on operations today – personnel from Manchester, from Marseilles, from Minnesota. 

    The strength of our nations standing together in NATO to deter current conflicts and adversaries. 

    The responsibility to safeguard D-Day’s legacy and freedom rests today with us.

    So, let us give everlasting honour to our Normandy veterans… for whom the Longest Day never ended.

    And let us find the strength to carry on in their names and to carry forward their cause.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s public security minister calls for consistency in fighting organized crime

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong on Friday stressed the need to make the fight against organized crime regular and continuous, improving mechanisms and enhancing the effectiveness of methods in this fight.

    At a meeting on the sustained campaign to combat organized crime, Wang Xiaohong, also a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, said it was necessary to “crush all crime, eliminate all villains, expose all patrons, combat all forms of corruption, and restore order wherever chaos reigns.”

    Wang Xiaohong called for intensifying targeted strikes against crime, maintaining the principle of “zero tolerance,” emphasizing “efficiency, precision and toughness,” and not giving criminal structures a second’s respite.

    The Minister also called for the creation of an effective mechanism for long-term prevention and combating organized crime, decisively destroying the breeding ground for such structures. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The President of the Republic of Korea held a telephone conversation with D. Trump

    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

    SEOUL, June 6 (Xinhua) — President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae-myung held a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump at 10 p.m. local time on Friday, the South Korean leader’s office said.

    As noted by the presidential office, the call lasted about 20 minutes, during which the leaders discussed a number of issues, including ways to develop the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States.

    In addition, D. Trump invited Lee Jae-myung to visit the United States, the presidential administration said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck 107 km west-southwest of Diego de Almagro, Chile – USGS

    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

    NEW YORK, June 6 (Xinhua) — An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 jolted 107 km west-southwest of Diego de Almagro, Chile, at 17:15:04 GMT on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

    According to initial data, the epicenter of the tremors was located at a point with coordinates 26.60 degrees south latitude and 71.10 degrees west longitude. The hypocenter was located at a depth of 96 km. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Holds Phone Talk with French Foreign Minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Friday.

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron recently held a telephone conversation during which an important consensus was reached on strengthening strategic coordination between the two countries.

    The two sides should make proper preparations for further exchanges at all levels, and China invites senior French officials to attend the World Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Shanghai in 2025, the Chinese Foreign Minister said.

    Noting that the two sides have reached consensus on resolving trade and economic issues through dialogue and consultation, Wang Yi stressed the need to expand cultural, humanitarian and educational exchanges to promote the healthy development of the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership and China-EU ties.

    Wang Yi noted that China and France, adhering to the traditions of independence and self-reliance, should strengthen strategic mutual trust and respect each other’s core interests.

    He stressed that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter of China, which affects the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and is fundamentally different from the Ukrainian problem. China attaches great importance to France’s commitment to the one-China policy, the diplomat noted, adding that China believes that France will implement this commitment.

    Wang expressed hope that France will take a correct stance and oppose NATO’s interference in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing that the two countries should jointly adhere to multilateralism and safeguard free trade, and oppose the practice of unilateral bullying.

    J.-N. Barrot, for his part, said that Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Han Zheng has been invited to attend the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in France, noting that in the context of growing global uncertainty, French-Chinese relations are taking on particular importance.

    France always regards China as a friend and partner, firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and hopes to maintain high-level exchanges and enhance strategic communication with China, the French diplomat assured.

    Strengthening bilateral cultural and humanitarian exchanges will send a strong signal of openness, which is particularly relevant in the current circumstances, continued Jean-Nicolas Barrot, adding that France is against trade and tariff wars and is ready to continue to properly resolve trade and economic frictions through consultations.

    The parties also exchanged views on issues related to Ukraine, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the Iranian nuclear program. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Recruitment campaign for doctors, nurses launches in U.S.

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in the U.S. are now seeing targeted advertisements encouraging them to follow their hearts to B.C., as the Province launches a recruitment marketing campaign in Washington state, Oregon and California.

    “Our message to U.S. doctors, nurses and allied health workers is strong and clear – there has never been a better time to come to British Columbia, and for Canadian health professionals currently living and working in the U.S., now is the time to come home,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “With the chaos and uncertainty happening in the U.S., we are seizing the opportunity to attract the talent we need to join and strengthen our public, universal health-care system in British Columbia.”

    The campaign, which launched on June 2, 2025, includes video, audio, digital, social media and print placements in Washington, Oregon and select cities in California. The ads will be served across nearly 14,000 digital screen locations, which have been targeted based on a 16-kilometre radius of health-care facilities. The locations are made up of restaurants, grocery stores, ride-share screens and outdoor placements, such as digital billboards, transit shelters and urban panels.

    The print advertisements are also being placed in six renowned medical trade publications with total circulation of more than 500,000. The six-week campaign is expected to reach approximately 80% of health-care professionals in the target areas. 

    Health-care workers will be directed to visit B.C.’s comprehensive recruitment website to explore opportunities and access personalized support to help with their move.

    This is part of the Province’s “Team BC” approach to recruiting health-care workers from the U.S. in collaboration with health authorities, regulatory colleges and other partners, such as local government and communities. This includes tailored support and guidance in navigating the process, provided free by Health Match BC. Recruiters are highlighting job opportunities in the areas they are most needed, such as cancer care and emergency departments, as well as rural communities facing health-care worker shortages.

    Since announcing its co-ordinated recruitment campaign in March 2025, nearly 1,600 people have expressed interest in moving to the province, including 704 doctors and 525 nurses.

    U.S. nurses, doctors and allied health professionals arriving in B.C. will be able to work in a variety of health-care settings throughout the province, including primary care, where they can be part of team-based care.

    “Local governments like Colwood are uniquely positioned to positively impact the well-being of residents through community planning, recreation and active living. Working with provincial partners to ensure residents have a family doctor is a logical next step,” said Doug Kobayashi, mayor of Colwood. “As a municipality we are able to offer an attractive municipal benefit package while also taking administrative responsibilities off the shoulders of doctors so they can focus on providing great care.”

    One example is the growing team of family physicians at Colwood Clinic, a municipally run family-medicine clinic. Established in partnership with the Province, Colwood Clinic offers an innovative approach that weaves together the strengths of each level of government for the benefit of patients.

    “My experience practising in the states has been especially eye-opening regarding social determinants of health and due to the extremely high fees compared to insurance coverage, patients seeking appropriate care is measured against their ability to afford it,” said Dr. Muthanna Yacoub, a U.S. doctor who is planning to start practising at the Colwood Clinic this year. “The opportunity to practise in British Columbia makes perfect sense to me. It’s time to give my best efforts to communities similar to those that gave me the welcome, safety and compassion in my vulnerable youth.”

    This announcement builds on actions B.C. is taking to make it easier for nurses and doctors working in the U.S. to register in the province. In April 2025, the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives streamlined the application process so U.S. nurses can be registered in just a few days, compared to the previous average of four months.

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. is also working to implement bylaw changes that will allow U.S. doctors to apply directly to become fully licensed in B.C. without the need for further licensing examinations. More information will be shared soon.

    Learn More:

    To see some of the visuals used for advertising, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QAmzTt1K_4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETXiqTiUBe8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDssmB0WwtI

    To learn more about health career opportunities in B.C., visit: https://bchealthcareers.ca/

    To learn more about B.C.’s actions to strengthen health care, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/health-care/

    To learn more about Colwood Clinic, visit: https://www.colwood.ca/community-services/health-well-being/colwood-clinic

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Anand will hold a virtual media availability in Paris, France

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 6, 2025 – The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will hold a media availability following her visit to the United Kingdom and France.

    Media Availability
    Date
    : June 7, 2025
    Time: 9:30 a.m. ET (15:30 CET)

    Location: virtual

    Notes:

    This event is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca for temporary access.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Suspected use of fraudulent life-saving attendants certificates at swimming pool of San Francisco Towers, Happy Valley

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Suspected use of fraudulent life-saving attendants certificates at swimming pool of San Francisco Towers, Happy ValleyIssued at HKT 22:40

    ​The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (June 6) that a life-saving attendant at the swimming pool of San Francisco Towers, located at 29-35 Ventris Road, Happy Valley, is suspected of using a fraudulent life-saving attendant certificate. As the qualification of the life-saving attendant is in doubt and the swimming pool has allegedly failed to provide a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants as required by law, the department has ordered the immediate closure of the pool and is considering prosecuting its licensee. The incident has been reported to the Police, and the FEHD has also notified the Property Management Services Authority to take parallel follow-up action.

    Officers from the FEHD today verified a batch of lifeguard records with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society, and discovered that the credentials of a life-saving attendant on duty at the aforementioned swimming pool on June 4 did not match the records of the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society. The FEHD immediately took action regarding the pool.

    The FEHD has implemented a series of enhancement measures from May 19 to further prevent the employment of unqualified life-saving attendants at private swimming pools. During May, the FEHD officers conducted inspections at 713 licensed swimming pools and verified the qualifications of 1 041 life-saving attendants with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society. Apart from the suspected case of fraudulent certification discovered today, no other irregularities regarding suspected employment of unqualified life-saving attendants have been identified by the FEHD.

    The FEHD will continue to implement the relevant measures straightly to enhance the safety standards of licensed swimming pools and safeguard the safety of swimming pool users. Members of the public are called on to take part in the monitoring and report suspected cases of irregularities to the department.

    Ends/Friday, June 6, 2025
    Issued at HKT 22:40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Urges the U.S. Senate to Protect the Health and Well-Being of North Carolinians and Oppose Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Urges the U.S. Senate to Protect the Health and Well-Being of North Carolinians and Oppose Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid

    Governor Stein Urges the U.S. Senate to Protect the Health and Well-Being of North Carolinians and Oppose Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Josh Stein today sent a letter to U.S. Senators Tillis and Budd laying out the consequences of the U.S. House reconciliation bill for North Carolina families, including cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That bill, along with impending expiration of health care marketplace subsidies, could cause nearly half a million North Carolinians to lose their health care. 

    Recent modeling estimates show that 255,000 North Carolinians are at risk of losing coverage under the Medicaid provisions alone in the House bill and a Kaiser Family Foundation study projected that the combination of Medicaid and Marketplace changes in the House Bill would increase the number of uninsured North Carolinians to an estimated 470,000 if Marketplace subsidies expire at the end of 2025. 

    “Medicaid and SNAP improve the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, support our economy, and provide critical support to local governments, hospitals, farmers, and grocers,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolina has taken bipartisan steps to strengthen our health system and protect working families. I urge the Senate to continue that progress by opposing these unprecedented cuts to SNAP and Medicaid that would leave North Carolinians, especially those in rural communities, without food assistance and health care.”  

    Estimates show that 255,000 North Carolinians would be at risk of losing health coverage under the House bill. The U.S. House bill also contains provisions that could jeopardize the enhanced federal matching funds (FMAP) for Medicaid expansion, which could immediately end health insurance coverage for the more than 650,000 North Carolinians who benefit from Medicaid expansion. 

    In March, Governor Stein sent a letter to Congress urging them to change course on proposed cuts to Medicaid. He has met with North Carolinians across the state, listening to their stories and hearing how cuts to Medicaid would impact beneficiaries, health care providers, and hospitals, especially those in rural communities. Medicaid is crucial to the state’s most vulnerable people, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, and potential cuts would put their well-being and the stability of the state’s health care system at risk.

    Proposals to shift up to 25 percent of SNAP food benefit costs to the states would force North Carolina to come up with $700 million annually to make up the difference or cut vital nutrition services. Rural counties in the state are already stretched thin, and these additional requirements and an administrative cost sharing increase from 50 percent to 75 percent would have a detrimental economic impact on local communities. SNAP adds $2.8 billion directly to North Carolina’s economy and supports local farmers, grocers, and the larger food distribution pipeline. The U.S. House Bill forces the state to make an unacceptable tradeoff between providing essential food support and health insurance coverage or diverting resources from public schools, law enforcement, and economic development. 

    Click here to read Governor Stein’s full letter to the U.S. Senate.  

    Click here to view county enrollment data for the SNAP program.  

    Jun 6, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Ireland’s compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) and EU standards to protect the environment – P-002280/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002280/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Michael McNamara (Renew)

    The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC)[1] requires the Member States to ensure the adequate collection and treatment of wastewater in all agglomerations. Despite this, 16 towns and villages in Ireland were discharging raw sewage in 2024 and 10 Irish towns and cities had wastewater treatment facilities that breached the standards required by the directive. Furthermore, 547 settlements in Ireland are unsewered, many of which are coastal summer holiday destinations whose average weekly loading exceeds 2 000 population equivalent (PE) during the summer months.

    • 1.Has the Commission received any compliance data from Ireland in respect of any of the 547 unsewered settlements, some of which have an average weekly loading in excess of 2 000 PE during the summer months?
    • 2.Given that the statutory body responsible for wastewater networks and treatment in Ireland, Uisce Éireann, does not assess locations that do not have existing sewerage networks or treatment facilities, and is instead focused on upgrading existing sewerage networks and treatment facilities, who does the Commission consider responsible for the assessment of sub-threshold agglomerations where the PE varies greatly during the summer season?
    • 3.What measures are under consideration by the Commission to address the ongoing environmental and public health risk from unsewered settlements in Ireland which have an average weekly loading in excess of 2 000 PE during the summer months?

    Submitted: 5.6.2025

    • [1] Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1991/271/oj).
    Last updated: 6 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Potassium phosphonate – E-002162/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002162/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Eric Sargiacomo (S&D)

    At the request of Germany, the expert group for technical advice on organic production (EGTOP) is going to, for the third time (having issued two negative opinions), give their assessment on whether potassium phosphonate should be introduced into the legislation on organic farming. This synthetic substance might therefore be included in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 as a phytosanitary treatment against downy mildew on grapevine.

    However, adding it would be at odds with the basic regulation, Regulation (UE) 2018/848, which governs organic farming. In fact, Article 5(g) expresses the need for ‘the restriction of the use of external inputs; where external inputs are required or the appropriate management practices and methods referred to in point (f) do not exist, the external inputs shall be limited to natural or naturally-derived substances’.

    In addition, using synthetic potassium phosphonate would be a stumbling block to clear communication on organic farming, as it would mean that consumers cannot be told ‘no synthetic pesticides used’, which is the main promise organic farming makes to EU citizens.

    • 1.In the undesired event that potassium phosphonate is authorised for use in organic farming, what would the legal implications be?
    • 2.Would a revision of the legislation on organic farming be required as a result?

    Submitted: 28.5.2025

    Last updated: 6 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Impact of Israeli colonial exploitation and extractivism on Palestinian agriculture – E-002150/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002150/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE)

    The State of Israel is pursuing a colonial policy of extraction and plundering, including in relation to water. Israel is turning water into a tool that it can use to prey on Palestinian agriculture, through permits to build or destroy infrastructure, refusal of permits, confiscation of water resources (including rainwater), discriminatory price setting and water distribution prioritising Israelis and settlers ahead of Palestinians – including Israeli Palestinians. Israel controls the borders and the permits for exporting and importing products and inputs, as well as the entry of Palestinian products in occupied territories. This hampers trade and makes it more costly, while also reducing the market for Palestinian agricultural products.

    The defence of free competition, equal opportunities and non-discrimination for Palestinian farmers is contradicted by continued support for Israeli colonial agriculture under an apartheid regime, going against the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024.

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to suspend agricultural imports from Israel and the occupied territories in light of these discriminatory practices towards Palestinian products?
    • 2.What action will the Commission take in relation to Israeli agricultural products that arrive in the EU?

    Submitted: 28.5.2025

    Last updated: 6 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News