NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Introduces Bill to Require Federal Officials in Charge of D.C. Supervision Agencies to Reside in D.C.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill today to require the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) and the Director of the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA) to be D.C. residents during their tenure. CSOSA is a federal agency, and PSA is an independent entity within CSOSA.

    “There are residency requirements for government positions in federal law, D.C. law and the laws of jurisdictions throughout the United States. The primary reason such laws exist is to ensure that certain government officials have a connection to the residents they serve and in-depth knowledge of the unique issues and challenges these residents face,” Norton said. 

    Norton has also introduced the District of Columbia Federal Judicial Officials Residency Equality Act to require federal district court judges, federal circuit court judges, the U.S. Attorney, the two U.S. Marshals, and the federal court clerk who serve in D.C. to reside in D.C., just as such officials are required to do in other jurisdictions.

    Norton’s introductory statement follows.

    Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

    on the Introduction of

    A Bill to Require the Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia and the Director of the District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency to Reside in the District of Columbia

    April 28, 2025

    Today, I introduce a bill that would require the Directors of two federal agencies, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) and the District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), to reside in the District of Columbia during their terms. There are residency requirements for government positions in federal law, D.C. law and the laws of jurisdictions throughout the United States.  The primary reason such laws exist is to ensure that certain government officials have a connection to the residents they serve and in-depth knowledge of the unique issues and challenges these residents face.  The House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed this bill in the 117th Congress.

    CSOSA and PSA are federal agencies that focus exclusively on D.C.  CSOSA supervises individuals on probation, parole or supervised release for violations of D.C. law.  PSA makes recommendations regarding pretrial release and supervises defendants for the D.C. Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for D.C.  The Directors of CSOSA and PSA should be required to be D.C. residents since these agencies serve only D.C. 

    Congress has justifiably required that certain federal officials live in the jurisdictions to which they are appointed, including U.S. district court judges, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Attorneys. Similarly, Congress, which controls the local D.C. court system, has justifiably required local D.C. judges and members of the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission and the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure to reside in D.C.

    There is no reason that the Directors of CSOSA and PSA should not be required to live in D.C.  These federal officials need to be part of the community they serve.  A D.C. residency requirement for these federal officials will lead to better outcomes in the criminal justice system and is a matter of fairness for D.C. residents.

    I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Introduces Resolution to Designate May 1, 2025, as “D.C. Statehood Day”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a resolution expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2025, as “D.C. Statehood Day” and calling for statehood for the District through enactment of her Washington, D.C. Admission Act.

    “Taxation without representation is alive and well in D.C.,” Norton said. “D.C. residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita and more federal taxes than 19 states. D.C. residents have fought and died in every war since the Revolution, and they deserve voting representation in Congress and full local self-government.

    “Highlighting the District’s need for statehood as often as possible only serves to help us reach statehood sooner, and I introduced this resolution to name May 1st, or 5/1, ‘Statehood Day’ for this very reason.”

    The text of the resolution follows.

    H. RES. __

    Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2025, as “D.C. Statehood Day”.

    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    Ms. Norton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

    RESOLUTION

    Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2025, as “D.C. Statehood Day”.

    Whereas the United States was founded on the principles of consent of the governed and no taxation without representation;

    Whereas District of Columbia residents are denied voting representation in Congress and full local self-government;

    Whereas the District of Columbia pays more per capita Federal taxes than any State and pays more Federal taxes than 19 States;

    Whereas statehood would give District of Columbia residents voting representation in Congress and full local self-government;

    Whereas Congress has the constitutional authority to pass the District of Columbia statehood bill, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51), which would admit the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and reduce the size of the Federal district;

    Whereas the Admissions Clause of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to admit new States, and all 37 new States were admitted by Congress;

    Whereas no State would have to consent to the admission of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth;

    Whereas the District Clause of the Constitution gives Congress plenary authority over the Federal district and establishes a maximum size of the Federal district, but not a minimum size nor a location of the Federal district;

    Whereas the 23d Amendment to the Constitution allows the Federal district to participate in the electoral college, while not establishing a minimum size nor a location of the Federal district;

    Whereas the Constitution does not establish any prerequisites for new States, but Congress has generally considered 3 factors— 

    (1) population and resources;

    (2) support for statehood; and

    (3) commitment to democracy;

    Whereas the District of Columbia has a larger population than 2 States;

    Whereas the District of Columbia has a larger gross domestic product than 15 States and a higher per capita gross domestic product than any State;

    Whereas the District of Columbia has a higher per capita personal income than any State;

    Whereas 86 percent of District of Columbia residents voted for statehood in 2016; and

    Whereas District of Columbia residents have been fighting for voting representation in Congress and full local self-government for more than 200 years: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

    (1) supports the designation of “D.C. Statehood Day”; and

    (2) calls on Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Introduces Bill to Provide Access to Restrooms in Retail Establishments for Individuals with Certain Medical Conditions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced her bill to require retail establishments to provide individuals who have medical conditions requiring immediate access to restrooms, such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis, access to employee-only bathrooms when such establishments do not have public facilities. The individual would need to present documentation of their medical condition and the bill will include provisions to protect the safety of employees.

    “Individuals living with chronic illnesses such as Crohn’s disease, IBS and ulcerative colitis often need immediate access to restrooms,” Norton said. “When public restrooms are not available, these individuals should be able to use facilities that are reserved for employees.”

    Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted similar legislation.

    Norton’s introductory statement follows.

    Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Restroom Access Act of 2025

    May 8, 2025

    Today, I introduce the Restroom Access Act of 2025, which would require a retail establishment to provide an individual who has a medical condition requiring immediate use of a restroom, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, access to an employee-only restroom when such an establishment does not have a public restroom. Individuals would be required to present a Department of Labor-issued identification card certifying that they have an eligible medical condition.

    Individuals who have certain medical conditions need immediate access to a restroom. When public restrooms are not available, these individuals may experience uncomfortable or embarrassing situations. As long as there are no safety concerns, which this bill addresses, these individuals should be able to use an employee-only restroom.

    I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Releases Remarks From Press Conference on the Proposed Cut to the District of Columbia’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from today’s press conference with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and city officials about the proposed cut to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in the fiscal year (FY 25) 2025 budget resolution, which she said will catastrophically harm District residents. 

    “Cutting D.C.’s FMAP would not only harm our residents, but also federal employees, officials and visitors from across the country.  It would jeopardize care for children and families from all fifty states who come to our region’s renowned hospitals for treatment,” Norton said.

    “A reduction in D.C.’s FMAP would destabilize our healthcare system and adversely impact the hundreds of thousands of constituents who live, work, and receive care in D.C. each day,” Norton said.

    Norton’s full remarks follow.

    Remarks of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

    Press Event on Proposed Cut to District of Columbia’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, 

    May 2, 2025

    Throughout my years in Congress, I have been a staunch supporter of Medicaid, consistently advocating for legislation to enhance its benefits for D.C. residents. 

    I strongly oppose the proposed Medicaid cuts in the FY 25 budget resolution, especially those targeting the federal match rate for D.C., known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage or FMAP. 

    Reducing D.C.’s FMAP from seventy percent to the proposed fifty percent would be devastating for the nation’s capital.  It would create a $1.1 billion gap in D.C.’s local budget, an impact that would be catastrophic.  A reduction in D.C.’s FMAP would destabilize our healthcare system and adversely impact the hundreds of thousands of constituents who live, work, and receive care in D.C. each day.

    The proposal to reduce D.C.’s FMAP is the latest in a series of attacks on D.C.  The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have consistently undermined D.C. from anti-home rule executive orders targeting the District to House Republicans’ efforts to force D.C. to revert to FY 24 spending levels by omitting a longstanding provision in the continuing resolution. 

    In 1997, Congress passed the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act to help rescue D.C. from insolvency.  The Revitalization Act transferred certain functions and costs from the D.C. government to the federal government, including pensions, courts, prisons and community supervision of offenders.  It also established the current 70 percent D.C. FMAP to reflect these obligations.

    Congress also imposes several revenue limitations on D.C.  For example, D.C. cannot tax income earned in D.C. by non-residents, depriving D.C. of more than three billion dollars in annual revenue.  Nor can D.C. permit buildings to exceed certain height limitations or tax its sizable federal property.  These constraints are why our FMAP is set higher than many states—to ensure D.C. can continue to provide vital services despite its restricted tax base.

    Cutting D.C.’s FMAP would not only harm our residents, but also federal employees, officials and visitors from across the country.  It would jeopardize care for children and families from all fifty states who come to our region’s renowned hospitals for treatment.  To even consider these cuts is misguided and irresponsible.

    I urge my colleagues, particularly those on the Energy and Commerce Committee, to reject all Medicaid cuts during budget reconciliation, especially any reduction to D.C.’s FMAP.  The stakes are too high and our providers, our patients and our region cannot afford this.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sinner wins in return from doping ban at ATP Italian Open

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

    Top seed and current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner secured a straight-sets victory in his comeback match, defeating Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the ATP Italian Open on Saturday.

    The Italian had served a three-month ban for his two doping offences after accepting the punishment following a case resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February this year. He tested positive for clostebol in March 2024.

    Sinner’s doping ban officially ended on May 5. As the top seed in Rome, he received a first-round bye and made his debut on clay this season.

    In the opening set, Sinner built a 4-2 lead in the first six games. Both players then held serve comfortably by winning four straight points in the next two games, before Sinner consolidated his advantage with a hold in the ninth game to take the set 6-3.

    The second set was tighter, with both players holding serve through the first six games for 3-3. In a tense seventh game, Sinner finally converted his fourth break point. However, Navone immediately broke back in the following game. Sinner responded strongly, breaking once more and then holding serve to close out the set 6-4.

    “I feel like that we prepared ourselves in the best possible way. Of course, I was missing the feedback of official matches, which are the best feedbacks a player can get. So now I have a bigger picture of what I’m doing well and what I have to improve,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference, adding that his main target for this tournament is to win one or two more matches to gauge his current level.

    In the third round, Sinner will face Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: De Arrascaeta strike keeps Flamengo top in Brazil’s Serie A

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

    Giorgian de Arrascaeta continued his prolific scoring form as leader Flamengo recorded a 1-0 home win over Bahia in Brazil’s Serie A championship on Saturday.

    Flamengo took the lead at the Maracana stadium when Michael Oliveira delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left wing and De Arrascaeta timed his run to perfection to head home.

    The Uruguay international midfielder has now scored seven times and provided three assists in seven league outings for Flamengo this season.

    Flamengo controlled the match thereafter but had to endure a tense final 15 minutes after midfielder Gerson was sent off for an ugly challenge on Erick Pulga.

    The result leaves Flamengo top of the 20-team Brazilian Serie A standings with 17 points from eight games, ahead of second-placed Bragantino on goal difference.

    Bahia, which had won each of its previous three games, is sixth, five points off the pace.

    In other Brazilian Serie A fixtures on Saturday, Mirassol won 2-1 at home to Corinthians, Vitoria prevailed 2-1 at home to Vasco da Gama, Gremio was held to a 1-1 home draw by Bragantino, and hosts Fortaleza romped to a 5-0 victory over Juventude. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

    The G20 claims to be “the premier forum for international economic cooperation”.

    But is it?

    As scholars of global economic governance, we are sceptical of this claim. Here are our main reasons.

    • The G20 is insufficiently representative of the 193 member states of the United Nations plus the small number of non-member states.

    • It is a self-selected group of 19 countries and the European and African Unions.

    • It has no mandate to act or speak on behalf of the international community.

    • It has no transparent or formal mechanisms through which it can communicate with actors who do not participate in the G20 but have a stake in its deliberations and their outcomes.

    The growing tensions in the world make it more urgent to improve the efficacy of the G20. Firstly, because there is growing evidence of the loss of interest in global cooperation. Secondly, because rich states are cutting their official development assistance and are failing to meet their commitments to help countries deal with loss and damage from climate impacts and make their economies more resilient to shocks.

    And thirdly, because rich countries are also reluctant to discuss financing sustainable and inclusive development in forums like the upcoming Fourth Financing for Development Conference or the UN, where all states can participate. They prefer exclusive forums like the G20.

    Here, after briefly describing the structure of the G20, we argue that its lack of representation is a major problem. We offer a solution and argue that, as chair of the G20 this year, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution.

    What is the G20 and how does it function?

    The G20 was established in the late 1990s in the wake of the East Asian financial crisis. Its members were invited by the US and Germany based on a proposal from the Canadian government. Initially only finance ministers and central bank governors of major advanced and emerging economies were involved. After the financial crisis of 2008-2009 it was upgraded to summit level with the same membership.

    A summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating presidency.

    The group accounts for 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and 75% of global trade. The membership comprises 19 of the “weightiest” national economies plus the European Union and the African Union. The 19 national economies are the G7 (US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada), plus Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. These countries are permanently “in”. The remaining 90% of countries in the world are excluded unless invited as “special guests” on an ad hoc basis.

    Representatives of a select group of international organisations including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization also participate, together with those from some UN entities.

    The G20’s work is managed by a troika consisting of the current president with the assistance of the past president and the incoming president. In 2025 this troika consists of South Africa as the current chair, Brazil as the past chair and the US, which will become the G20 president in 2026. The G20 has no permanent secretariat.

    The consistency in G20 membership has proven to be an advantage because it helps foster a sense of familiarity, understanding and trust at the technical level among the permanent members. This is helpful in times of crisis and in dealing with complex problems.

    But its exclusivity and informal status have limited its ability to address major challenges such as the global response to the economic and health consequences of the COVID pandemic. This is because an effective response required agreement and coordinated action by all states and not just those in the G20.

    A solution

    We think that the governance model of the Financial Stability Board offers a solution.

    The Financial Stability Board was established under the umbrella of the G20 in 2009. Its job is to coordinate international financial regulatory standard-setting, monitor the global financial system for signs of stress, and to make recommendations that can help avert potential financial crises.

    It is also an exclusive club. Its membership consists of the financial regulatory authorities in the G20 countries plus those in a few other countries that are considered financially systemically important.

    However, unlike the G20, the Financial Stability Board has made a systematic effort to learn the views of non-members. It has established six Regional Consultative Groups, one each for the Americas, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.

    The objective is to expand and formalise the Financial Stability Board’s outreach activities beyond its membership and to better reflect the global character of the financial system.

    The regional consultative groups operate in a framework which promotes compliance within each region with the Financial Stability Board’s policy initiatives. The framework enables the group members to share among themselves and with the board their views on common problems and solutions and on the issues on the board’s agenda.

    Importantly, each regional group is co-chaired by an official from a Financial Stability Board member and an official from a non-member institution.

    Applying this model to the G20 would allow the current G20 membership to continue, while obliging the members to establish a consultation process with regional neighbours. This would create a limited form of representation for all the world’s states.

    It would also empower the smaller and weaker members of the G20 because it would enable them to speak with more confidence and credibility about the challenges facing their region.

    This arrangement would also establish a limited form of G20 accountability towards the international community.

    Next steps

    As chair of the G20 chair for 2025, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution to the group’s representation problem. It should work with the African Union to establish an African G20 regional consultative group. South Africa and the African Union could invite each African regional organisation to select one representative to serve on the initial consultative group.

    South Africa could also commit to convey the outcomes of G20 regional consultative group meetings to the G20.

    South Africa can then use this example to demonstrate to the G20 the value of having a G20 regional consultative group and advocate that other regions should adopt the same approach.

    Danny Bradlow, in addition to his position at the University of Pretoria, is the Senior G20 Advisor, South African institute of International Affairs.

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

    – ref. G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists – https://theconversation.com/g20-is-too-elite-theres-a-way-to-fix-that-though-economists-255783

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

    The G20 claims to be “the premier forum for international economic cooperation”.

    But is it?

    As scholars of global economic governance, we are sceptical of this claim. Here are our main reasons.

    • The G20 is insufficiently representative of the 193 member states of the United Nations plus the small number of non-member states.

    • It is a self-selected group of 19 countries and the European and African Unions.

    • It has no mandate to act or speak on behalf of the international community.

    • It has no transparent or formal mechanisms through which it can communicate with actors who do not participate in the G20 but have a stake in its deliberations and their outcomes.

    The growing tensions in the world make it more urgent to improve the efficacy of the G20. Firstly, because there is growing evidence of the loss of interest in global cooperation. Secondly, because rich states are cutting their official development assistance and are failing to meet their commitments to help countries deal with loss and damage from climate impacts and make their economies more resilient to shocks.

    And thirdly, because rich countries are also reluctant to discuss financing sustainable and inclusive development in forums like the upcoming Fourth Financing for Development Conference or the UN, where all states can participate. They prefer exclusive forums like the G20.

    Here, after briefly describing the structure of the G20, we argue that its lack of representation is a major problem. We offer a solution and argue that, as chair of the G20 this year, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution.

    What is the G20 and how does it function?

    The G20 was established in the late 1990s in the wake of the East Asian financial crisis. Its members were invited by the US and Germany based on a proposal from the Canadian government. Initially only finance ministers and central bank governors of major advanced and emerging economies were involved. After the financial crisis of 2008-2009 it was upgraded to summit level with the same membership.

    A summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating presidency.

    The group accounts for 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and 75% of global trade. The membership comprises 19 of the “weightiest” national economies plus the European Union and the African Union. The 19 national economies are the G7 (US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada), plus Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. These countries are permanently “in”. The remaining 90% of countries in the world are excluded unless invited as “special guests” on an ad hoc basis.

    Representatives of a select group of international organisations including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization also participate, together with those from some UN entities.

    The G20’s work is managed by a troika consisting of the current president with the assistance of the past president and the incoming president. In 2025 this troika consists of South Africa as the current chair, Brazil as the past chair and the US, which will become the G20 president in 2026. The G20 has no permanent secretariat.

    The consistency in G20 membership has proven to be an advantage because it helps foster a sense of familiarity, understanding and trust at the technical level among the permanent members. This is helpful in times of crisis and in dealing with complex problems.

    But its exclusivity and informal status have limited its ability to address major challenges such as the global response to the economic and health consequences of the COVID pandemic. This is because an effective response required agreement and coordinated action by all states and not just those in the G20.

    A solution

    We think that the governance model of the Financial Stability Board offers a solution.

    The Financial Stability Board was established under the umbrella of the G20 in 2009. Its job is to coordinate international financial regulatory standard-setting, monitor the global financial system for signs of stress, and to make recommendations that can help avert potential financial crises.

    It is also an exclusive club. Its membership consists of the financial regulatory authorities in the G20 countries plus those in a few other countries that are considered financially systemically important.

    However, unlike the G20, the Financial Stability Board has made a systematic effort to learn the views of non-members. It has established six Regional Consultative Groups, one each for the Americas, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.

    The objective is to expand and formalise the Financial Stability Board’s outreach activities beyond its membership and to better reflect the global character of the financial system.

    The regional consultative groups operate in a framework which promotes compliance within each region with the Financial Stability Board’s policy initiatives. The framework enables the group members to share among themselves and with the board their views on common problems and solutions and on the issues on the board’s agenda.

    Importantly, each regional group is co-chaired by an official from a Financial Stability Board member and an official from a non-member institution.

    Applying this model to the G20 would allow the current G20 membership to continue, while obliging the members to establish a consultation process with regional neighbours. This would create a limited form of representation for all the world’s states.

    It would also empower the smaller and weaker members of the G20 because it would enable them to speak with more confidence and credibility about the challenges facing their region.

    This arrangement would also establish a limited form of G20 accountability towards the international community.

    Next steps

    As chair of the G20 chair for 2025, South Africa is well placed to promote this solution to the group’s representation problem. It should work with the African Union to establish an African G20 regional consultative group. South Africa and the African Union could invite each African regional organisation to select one representative to serve on the initial consultative group.

    South Africa could also commit to convey the outcomes of G20 regional consultative group meetings to the G20.

    South Africa can then use this example to demonstrate to the G20 the value of having a G20 regional consultative group and advocate that other regions should adopt the same approach.

    – G20 is too elite. There’s a way to fix that though – economists
    – https://theconversation.com/g20-is-too-elite-theres-a-way-to-fix-that-though-economists-255783

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Sen. Markey, Rep. Pressley Welcome Rümeysa Öztürk Back to Massachusetts Upon Öztürk’s Release from ICE Detention

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Senator Markey and Representative Pressley with Rümeysa Öztürk
    Boston (May 10, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) today joined Rümeysa Öztürk and members of her legal team at a press conference after Ms. Öztürk arrived home from ICE detention in Louisiana. Yesterday, the United States District Court for the District of Vermont granted bail to Ms. Öztürk and directed the Trump administration to release her from detention.
    On March 25, 2025, Ms. Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, was abducted by six plainclothes ICE agents off the streets of Somerville, Massachusetts. She was quickly moved across state lines and taken more than 1,500 miles away from her community to a detention facility in Louisiana, where she spent more than six weeks in retaliation for on op-ed she co-wrote in the Tufts Daily.
    “Today is a day of joy: We welcome Rümeysa Öztürk back to Massachusetts and back to her community in Somerville,” said Senator Markey. “Rümeysa should have never been abducted off the streets of Somerville. She should have never been taken out of Massachusetts and sent to a detention site in Louisiana more than 1,500 miles away from her community. And she should have never had to suffer intolerable living conditions and multiple and worsening asthma attacks while unlawfully detained for more than six weeks. Rümeysa’s case affects every one of us. We cannot allow this administration to trample individuals’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process. Her homecoming is only the beginning of the fight for justice – not only for Rümeysa, but for every family, for every neighbor, and for everyone who wishes to ensure they can live free.”               
    “Today we’re welcoming with open arms a beloved member of our Massachusetts 7th community, a brilliant scholar, a courageous advocate, and a survivor of a shameful injustice – Rümeysa Öztürk. And we’re sending a message to this hostile White House that their efforts to silence Rümeysa, crush dissent, and undermine our constitutional rights are being rejected,” said Representative Pressley. “While we take stock of this important progress, we know this fight isn’t over. We will not rest until Rümeysa is fully exonerated, her visa is restored, and she is free to continue her studies and her service to our community.”
    On April 22, Senator Markey and Representatives Pressley and Jim McGovern (MA-02), along with Representative Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of House Committee on Homeland Security, and Representative Troy Carter (LA-02), visited the Louisiana ICE facility where Ms. Öztürk was being held. Also on April 22, Senator Markey, Representative Pressley, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons to demand answers about the Trump administration’s concerning practice of detaining individuals, such as Ms. Öztürk, far from their attorneys and communities and in legal environments where their rights are more difficult to defend. The Trump administration is forum shopping to obtain a legal outcome favorable to its deportation agenda.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel carries out 60 airstrikes on Gaza in 24 hours

    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

    JERUSALEM, May 11 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday said it carried out airstrikes on 60 terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.

    The statement added that, based on intelligence from the Shin Bet, the IDF killed the militants and destroyed terrorist infrastructure both above and below ground.

    Two militants were reportedly killed in the northern Gaza Strip after approaching Israeli armored forces, posing a threat to them.

    At the same time, IDF armored forces operating in Rafah and along the Morag corridor in the southern Gaza Strip struck a mined complex from which several militants were operating, posing a threat to the troops, the statement said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia is ready for serious negotiations with Ukraine to establish long-term peace – V. Putin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    MOSCOW, May 11 (Xinhua) — Russia is ready to hold serious talks with Ukraine to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and establish long-term peace, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday in a statement to reporters in the Kremlin.

    “We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their purpose is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to establish a long-term, durable peace in the historical perspective,” he said.

    As the Russian leader noted, Moscow’s proposal for negotiations is on the table, and the decision is up to Kiev. In his opinion, those who want peace cannot but support this proposal from Russia. “There are military actions, a war, and we propose to resume negotiations that were interrupted by someone else. What’s wrong with that? Those who really want peace cannot but support this,” he emphasized.

    V. Putin also expressed gratitude to foreign partners who are making efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Among them, he named China, Brazil, African and Middle Eastern countries, and the new US administration. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Delivers Commencement Address at Northern Maine Community College

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: May 10, 2025

    Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos
    Presque Isle, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered the keynote address at Northern Maine Community College’s (NMCC) 60th Commencement ceremony at the Presque Isle Forum. NMCC’s Class of 2025 includes more than 200 graduating students.
    “Since the first students came to class 62 years ago, this terrific school has opened doors of opportunity. Many of you came here directly from high school. Many are the first in your families to earn college degrees. Many of you came here from the workforce, seeking a brighter future. All of you are here today because you have demonstrated those County values of determination, optimism, hard work, and pitching in,” said Senator Collins during her remarks.
    “The diplomas you receive today represent a great deal of hard work on your part, but they also represent a great debt you owe those who made it possible. There are many ways you can repay this debt. I urge you to apply your talent, energy, and enthusiasm right here in Maine. Whether this is the beginning of your career or later on, Maine needs what you have to offer,” she continued.
    Senator Collins has visited more than 200 schools throughout Maine during her Senate service, in addition to speaking at dozens of high school and college commencement ceremonies, most recently at Presque Isle High School, York County Community College, and Maine Maritime Academy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Participates in Groundbreaking for New Terminal at Presque Isle International Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: May 10, 2025

    Supported by $20.4 million in Congressionally Directed Spending secured by Senator Collins

    Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos
    Presque Isle, ME — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in the groundbreaking for a new passenger terminal at Presque Isle International Airport (PQI). Senator Collins secured $20,462,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending in Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations legislation for the new terminal construction. She was joined at the groundbreaking by Airport Director Scott Wardwell, Presque Isle Interim City Manager Sonja Eyler, Aroostook County Administrator Ryan Pelletier, and other elected leaders of local, county, and state government.
    “Presque Isle International Airport is a vital hub for Aroostook County, connecting Northern Maine to the rest of the country and supporting economic development throughout the region,” said Senator Collins. “This new terminal will replace a facility that has served the community for 70 years and will improve the passenger experience, ensure compliance with federal safety standards, and support future growth for generations to come.”
    The new passenger terminal will fully replace the airport’s outdated 1954 existing terminal, incorporate modern features, be fully ADA compliant to ensure accessibility for all passengers, and meet updated Federal Aviation Administration design standards. Senator Collins toured PQI in June 2023 to learn more about the need for the new terminal.
    Through her role on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion in Congressionally Directed Spending for more than 500 projects throughout the state, and continues to advocate for investments that strengthen rural infrastructure and support Maine communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Crypto Casino Canada: JACKBIT Awarded as the Best BTC Casino for Canadian Players for 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The online gambling landscape in Canada has been transformed by the rise of crypto casinos, which have become increasingly popular due to their security, anonymity, and convenience. These platforms have captured the attention of Canadian players seeking a modern, private gaming experience in the thriving Canadian crypto casino market.

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    FAQs

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    Email: support@JACKBIT.com

    Disclaimer

    This material is for purposes of information only and serves as no financial or legal advice. Online gambling, including at crypto casinos like JACKBIT, carries risks, and players should gamble responsibly. Ensure you are of legal age and that online gambling is permitted in your jurisdiction. If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, get professional treatment.

    Casino and Gambling Disclaimer

    Online gambling involves risks and may not be suitable for everyone. Gambling laws vary by jurisdiction, and compliance is your responsibility. We do not promote gambling, and participation is at your own risk. JACKBIT is a third-party platform, and we are not liable for any losses or disputes arising from its use. Always gamble responsibly and seek professional advice if needed.

    Affiliate Disclosure
    Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured, our recommendations are made without bias.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bc833847-8335-4cfe-b448-089d1acfd1c9
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6ddd5008-355c-4366-93fc-63ecbf7a538d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Wang/Zheng suffer narrow defeat in first round of Italian Open

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

    Wang Xinyu (R) and Zheng Saisai react during the women’s doubles round of 32 match between Wang Xinyu/Zheng Saisai of China and Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei/Giuliana Olmos of Mexico at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

    China’s Wang Xinyu and Zheng Saisai lost to Chan Hao-ching of Chinese Taipei and Giuliana Olmos of Mexico in three sets in the first round of the women’s doubles at the WTA Italian Open on Saturday.

    It was the first meeting between the two pairs. In the opening set, Wang and Zheng started out trailing 4-1. They rallied to level the score at 4-4, only for Chan and Olmos to hold serve in the ninth game and edge ahead 5-4.

    In the crucial 10th game, Wang fired an ace and, together with Zheng, saved two break points. However, they couldn’t hold off their opponents and dropped the set 6-4.

    Wang and Zheng responded strongly in the second set. They earned an early break in the opening game and then consolidated with a solid service hold to go up 2-0. Although their opponents managed to get on the board in the third game, Wang and Zheng took control from there, dominating the rest of the set to take it 6-1.

    In the deciding match tiebreak, Wang and Zheng carried their momentum forward, racing to a 3-0 start and later extending their lead to 7-3. But Chan and Olmos mounted a comeback, reeling off seven straight points to seal the win, 10-7. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese men’s 4x400m team breaks national record at 2025 World Athletics Relays

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

    Team China celebrate after the men’s 4x400m relay heat at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 2025 in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, May 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

    Team China set a new national record in the men’s 4x400m in 3 minutes and 1.87 seconds at the 2025 World Athletics Relays on Saturday in rain.

    The competition serves as a main qualification for relay events at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, features 6 events including men’s, women’s and mixed 4x100m and 4x400m. The top 14 teams in each event (except for mixed 4x100m) will earn berths for Tokyo 2025.

    According to the rules, the top 14 teams in men’s and women’s 4x100m, 4x400m and mixed 4x400m consist of 8 spots booked Saturday and 6 spots Sunday. In each event, the top 2 teams in each of the 4 heats qualified for the finals and Tokyo 2025, with the remaining teams competing for 6 other spots per event in the second qualification round Sunday.

    The Chinese squad for the men’s 4x400m, composed of rookies Liang Baotang, Li Yiqing, Zhang Qining and Fu Haoran, finished second in Heat 1, breaking the national record, reaching the final and qualifying for Tokyo 2025.

    “My mind was blank when I was running, just to do my best,” said the fourth leg Fu, who caught up to the second place by surpassing a Spainish runner.

    Mixed 4x100m is a newly-introduced event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, yet was not included in Tokyo 2025. In the event’s global debut, Team Canada finished first in qualification with a time of 40.90 seconds. The Chinese quartet of Huang Shuping, Kong Lingyao, Chen Jinfeng and Chen Guanfeng qualified for the final by clocking 41.30 seconds.

    “It’s interesting to mix and mingle boys and girls in 4X100m. We are really excited and happy for the introduction of the event,” said Chen Guanfeng.

    Veteran Xie Zhenye led Team China in men’s 4x100m, and the squad clocked 38.30 seconds to finish third in Heat 4, only 0.005 seconds shy of Team Italy, who finished second in the heat. South Africa and Japan set a new world-leading mark with 37.84 seconds.

    Drama unfolded in the women’s 4x100m as China’s third-leg runner Liang Xiaojing and fourth-leg runner Ge Manqi made a mistake in passing the baton, finishing sixth in the heat.

    Elsewhere, the United States made a world-leading mark of 3 minutes and 11.37 seconds in the mixed 4x400m. Spain set a new women’s 4x100m national record of 42.18 seconds. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Pressley, Markey Welcome Rümeysa Öztürk Back to Massachusetts at Her Request Following Her Release from ICE Detention

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Lawmakers Joined Öztürk, Her Legal Team, and ACLU of Massachusetts at Logan Airport in Her First Public Appearance Since March Abduction

    Pressley, Markey, McGovern Met with Öztürk at Louisiana ICE Facility in April

    BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) welcomed Tufts PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk at Logan Airport in Boston at her request following her arrival home from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in Louisiana. Ms. Öztürk, a Somerville resident and constituent of the Congresswoman’s, was released on bail yesterday by a federal judge from Vermont after being unlawfully detained for over six weeks.

    Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Markey joined Ms. Öztürk, her legal team, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts at a press conference. Last month, Rep. Pressley, Sen. Markey, and Rep. James P. McGovern traveled to ICE facilities in Basile and Jena, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil were being unlawfully detained and subjected to inhumane conditions in retaliation for their protected speech.

    “Today we’re welcoming with open arms a beloved member of our Massachusetts 7th community, a brilliant scholar, a courageous advocate, and a survivor of a shameful injustice – Rümeysa Öztürk. And we’re sending a message to this hostile White House that their efforts to silence Rümeysa, crush dissent, and undermine our constitutional rights are being rejected,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “While we take stock of this important progress, we know this fight isn’t over. We will not rest until Rümeysa is fully exonerated, her visa is restored, and she is free to continue her studies and her service to our community.”

    “Today is a day of joy: We welcome Rümeysa Öztürk back to Massachusetts and back to her community in Somerville,” said Senator Markey. “Rümeysa should have never been abducted off the streets of Somerville. She should have never been taken out of Massachusetts and sent to a detention site in Louisiana more than 1,500 miles away from her community. And she should have never had to suffer intolerable living conditions and multiple and worsening asthma attacks while unlawfully detained for more than six weeks. Rümeysa’s case affects every one of us. We cannot allow this administration to trample individuals’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process. Her homecoming is only the beginning of the fight for justice – not only for Rümeysa, but for every family, for every neighbor, and for everyone who wishes to ensure they can live free.” 

    A full transcript of Congresswoman Pressley’s remarks at the press conference today is available below, and full video is available here.

    Transcript: Rep. Pressley Welcomes Rümeysa Öztürk Home Following Her Release from ICE Detention

    Boston Logan Airport

    May 10, 2025

    Thank you, Ed. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your ongoing partnership on so many issues of consequence. In particular, we’ve been shoulder to shoulder in the work of oversight of our carceral settings, our prisons, our jails, our detention facilities. 

    But before I get started, I do just, again, want to reiterate that if you care about mass incarceration, you should care about mass deportation. If you care about mass deportation, you should care about mass incarceration. 

    This is not only the grave injustice that Rümeysa, Mahmoud, Mohsen and many more have experienced is not only inhumane and cruel, but incredibly profitable. These are facilities owned by corporations, and the same way that those private prisons benefit from mass incarceration, these private detention centers, facilities benefit from mass deportation and incarceration. So I did just want to name that.

    You know, y’all, I don’t know if I can stick to my remarks here, because I’m just overwhelmed. One, Rümeysa is home, and two, the Celtics won. But you know, seriously, just bringing a little levity, because we’re long overdue for some joy. 

    The second I saw Rümeysa, I just exclaimed loudly “My sister.” I felt an immediate kinship with her. 

    And as we approach Mother’s Day, it is important that – and I think the public outcry and the rallying has been a testament to the fact that we see Rümeysa as our sister, we see Rümeysa as our daughter. 

    And that is, in fact, how a community should rally and see one another when a harm is done to anyone, because we are one human family and our destinies are truly tied. 

    I was also excited to be able to gift Rümeysa with a polished stone with the word “Hope” engraved that I had been carrying for weeks. 

    I had two stones with me when we went to rural Louisiana. And again, I thank Senator Markey for steadfast leadership and partnership, my brother colleague, Jim McGovern, for journeying together to rural Louisiana, and I had a polished stone with the word “Courage” engraved for Mahmoud, and a polished stone with the word “Hope” engraved for Rümeysa. 

    But ultimately, having visited Jena and the Basile facilities, I decided not to gift it to them, because I was pretty sure it would be confiscated. So I was so excited to be able to place that in the palm of her hand today, because I just wanted her to not lose hope and to know that we had come to see about her, and we were going to continue to do that until she was free. 

    So today we come together to welcome home a beloved member of the Massachusetts 7th community, a brilliant scholar, a courageous advocate, and a survivor of a shameful injustice: Rümeysa Öztürk. 

    Today marks a significant step forward and a victory, a victory for Rümeysa, a victory for due process, and a victory for our democracy. 

    But it is also a somber day, and I know it is bittersweet for Rümeysa, because Rümeysa should never have been abducted and ripped away from her community in Somerville in the first place. 

    She should never have had her visa revoked. She should never have been transported almost 2,000 miles away to an ICE facility in rural Louisiana and subjected to squalid, inhumane conditions. 

    She should never have suffered multiple asthma attacks and feared for her life so far away from home. 

    Last year, Rümeysa authored an op-ed that centered the dignity and humanity of every person and was critical of her university’s response to the crisis in Gaza. She exercised her fundamental First Amendment right. In citing nothing more than an op-ed, she was met with the full force of Donald Trump’s authoritarian project, silenced, detained and punished. 

    Rümeysa, we work each morning — since then, we’ve worked with you on our mind. 

    Massachusetts did not forget about you for a minute. Your classmates and your neighbors peacefully gathered in the street, lawyers, elected officials and people of good conscience from every walk of life spoke your name daily.

    Carol, Mahsa, Jesse ensured that this was the case. 

    I also have the incredible good fortune to spend time with people who’ve been privileged enough to know Rümeysa, some for five years, some for seven years, some for 10 years. And I was remarking that I’m jealous they’ve known her that long, because true enough, she is courageous and a bright light, and all of it is contagious. 

    But we refused to be silent, sounding the alarm on this injustice and elevating your story time and again, Rümeysa. 

    And yesterday, the federal court ordered Rümeysa released on bail. 

    When we traveled to Louisiana last month to meet with Rümeysa, what we saw was unconscionable. Rümeysa was being denied proper medical care, left to suffer through intense and worsening asthma attacks without prescribed medications, forced to endure inadequate meals and religious accommodations, denied even basic necessities and subjected to inhumane living conditions. 

    Rümeysa, I shared upon our arrival, when Senator Markey and Congressman McGovern and I landed here at Logan, upon leaving here, I went right to Somerville for what had been a long scheduled town hall, and I shared with our Somerville community and the public what you told me of the constant fear, the trauma of being torn away from the community you love, the community that you have given so much to.

    But Rümeysa’s spirit was unwavering, and her light shone through for all of us to see. 

    When you sat down with us Rümeysa, you spoke first of the women detained alongside you. You carried with you in your heart and in neatly copious written notes, like the qualified researcher that you are, their stories, their fears, their urgent medical conditions, their worry that they had been abandoned. 

    I was haunted by those words where Rümeysa said, “the women here have cried aloud. Has God forgotten about us? Has the world forgotten about us?”

    Rümeysa’s experience was not just an act of cruelty. Was a deliberate, coordinated attempt to intimidate, to instill fear, and to send a chilling message to anyone who dares to speak out against injustice. 

    I’ve said it before, Donald Trump is a dictator. A dictator seeks to silence dissenting voices. He wants a citizenry that is ignorant and uninformed, a citizenry that is indifferent to the suffering of a neighbor, a citizenry that is inactive. 

    Today, we’re sending a message of our own to this White House: your efforts to silence Rümeysa, to crush dissent, to undermine our fundamental rights are being rejected.

    Rümeysa, my sister, our sister, we welcome you home with open arms. 

    We never forgot about you. You are loved, you are seen, and we will not rest until you are fully exonerated, your visa is restored, and you are free to continue your studies and your service to our community. 

    But let us also be clear, this fight is not over. Rümeysa is released on bail, but her deportation proceedings continue. 

    So while we take stock of this important victory, made possible because of the dedicated people behind me and thousands more, because of public outcry, we are clear-eyed about the work that remains.

    To everyone who has stood with Rümeysa, who was spoken out, who has joined in this fight — in Congress, in the courts and in community — thank you. 

    We would not be here today if it weren’t for you. Our work is not done, but we are stronger together. 

    Throughout my time in public life, I’ve had the privilege and emotional honor throughout these years to say these two words to many people upon their return from prisons, jails and detention facilities: welcome home.

    This week, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Markey, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Congressman Troy Carter sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking more information on the detention conditions of immigrants held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (CLIPC) and the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center (SLIPC) after an oversight trip to the facilities last month.

    On May 7, 2025, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern applauded the Second Circuit for ordering Rümeysa’s transfer from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont and rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to delay complying with a lower court order to do so.

    In a powerful New York Times op-ed, Pressley, Markey, and McGovern discussed their meeting with Ms. Öztürk in detention and warned the American people of the dangers posed by the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process. Full text of the op-ed is available here.

    Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, have pushed for answers and action since Öztürk’s March arrest. In March, they led over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about Öztürk’s arrest and detention as well as similar incidents across the country.

    In April, the lawmakers sounded the alarm on Öztürk’s medical neglect in DHS custody and renewed urgent calls for her release. Last week, Pressley, Warren and Markey demanded Secretary of State Rubio released any documents related to her arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest and detention was false. Last month, Congresswoman Pressley issued a statement condemning reports that ICE arrested and detained Rümeysa Öztürk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. Earlier in the week, Rep. Pressley issued a statement following reports of ICE activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi reaffirms China’s commitment to friendly cooperation, international equity

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

    Soldiers march during a grand parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

    Chinese President Xi Jinping left here Saturday after paying a state visit to Russia and attending the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    During bilateral meetings with leaders of several countries here Friday on the sidelines of the Victory Day celebrations, Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to enhancing cooperation and strengthening ties with these countries, and emphasized the importance of upholding multilateralism and working together to address global challenges.

    REMEMBERING HISTORY

    On Friday, the Chinese president joined his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and leaders from more than 20 countries and international organizations to lay red flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

    The solemn ceremony marked a moment of remembering and paying tribute to those who perished in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War.

    The Soviet Union was the principal theater of World War II in Europe, losing 27 million lives, while China was the main theater in Asia, suffering 35 million casualties in its resistance against the bulk of Japanese militarist forces.

    Together, the two countries were the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, making pivotal contributions to the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.

    This was the second time for Xi to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. Ten years ago, he traveled to Moscow for the 70th anniversary. In the same year, Putin also attended China’s Victory Day parade on Sept. 3 in Beijing to commemorate the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    The past decade has been one of profound turbulence and transformation in the international landscape, Xi noted when meeting the press with Putin on Thursday.

    In the face of the changes of the world, of the times and of historical significance, China and Russia should keep a firm grasp on the development direction of bilateral ties and the general trend of the development of human society, Xi said, calling for greater joint efforts in safeguarding international fairness and justice.

    Ahead of Xi’s visit, Russian media published the Chinese leader’s signed article titled “Learning from History to Build Together a Brighter Future.”

    “Indeed, historical memory and truth will not fade with the passage of time. They serve as inspirations that mirror the present and illuminate the future. We must learn from history, especially the hard lessons of the Second World War,” he wrote.

    IRONCLAD FRIENDSHIPS

    During bilateral meetings with Venezuelan, Cuban and Serbian leaders attending Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, Xi reaffirmed ironclad friendships between China and the three countries, emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation in various sectors.

    In his meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Xi noted that China and Venezuela have forged an ironclad friendship amid the changing international situation.

    Since the two countries elevated bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership in 2023, exchanges across various sectors and at all levels have been vigorous, bilateral trade has grown continuously, new progress has been made in investment cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and friendship between the two sides has become increasingly popular among the two peoples, Xi said.

    He said China has always viewed and developed relations with Venezuela from a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to enhance the exchange of governance experience with Venezuela, continue to deepen practical cooperation in various areas and take bilateral ties to new heights, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

    While meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Xi noted that this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Cuba, adding that China is willing to further consolidate the ironclad friendship with Cuba, build a closer China-Cuba community with a shared future, and set an example of solidarity and cooperation among socialist countries and sincere mutual assistance among developing countries.

    Xi called on both sides to promote steady progress in exchanges at all levels and cooperation in various fields, and ensure that high-level political mutual trust always remains a distinct feature of relations between the two ruling parties and the two countries.

    In his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Xi urged the two sides to carry forward the ironclad friendship, boost mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the high-quality building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future.

    China is ready to deepen strategic communication with Serbia, enhance mutual support, strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, continue supporting the construction and operation of relevant projects, give full play to their demonstrative effect, and achieve more outcomes that deliver mutual benefit and win-win results, Xi said.

    UPHOLDING MULTILATERALISM

    In these bilateral meetings on Friday, Xi also reaffirmed China’s commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation, and emphasized the importance of working together to address global challenges.

    During his meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Xi said that China stands ready to work with Slovakia and other countries to jointly address challenges through solidarity and cooperation and safeguard international fairness and justice.

    Fico said that the Slovak side stands ready to join efforts with China to uphold multilateralism, safeguard free trade rules, and maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

    During the meeting with Maduro, Xi said that China is ready to work with Venezuela and other Latin American countries to firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law.

    For his part, Maduro said that Venezuela is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to uphold multilateralism, defend international fairness and justice, and safeguard the common interests of the international community.

    In the meeting with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, Xi urged the two sides to jointly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

    In the meeting with Diaz-Canel, Xi urged the two sides to enhance coordination and cooperation within such frameworks as the BRICS and the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, oppose power politics and unilateral bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

    Diaz-Canel said Cuba supports the three major global initiatives proposed by China, and is willing to work with China to jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and to safeguard the common interests of the international community.

    In his meeting with Serbia’s Vucic, Xi said China is ready to work with all countries in the world, including Serbia, to unite and cooperate to meet challenges, jointly safeguard world peace and international fairness and justice, safeguard the achievements of economic globalization, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

    Vucic commends China’s steadfast support for multilateralism, noting that China’s visions and actions have bolstered the international community’s courage and confidence in safeguarding common interests.

    Serbia stands ready to unite with China in addressing the challenges posed by unilateralism and protectionism, Vucic added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: CORRECTION: Standard Bots Expands Production Facility and Unveils New 30kg Payload Robot

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GLEN COVE, N.Y., May 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Standard Bots, a fast-growing American robotics company, has launched an expanded production facility in Glen Cove, New York, this month. The new 16,000-square-foot factory doubles the size of its previous Long Island location, cementing Standard Bots’ status as one of the few companies manufacturing robots at scale in the United States. This expansion aligns with the company’s unveiling of a new 30kg payload, 2m reach robot at The Automate Show, showcasing its commitment to advancing automation technology.

    “This new facility marks a pivotal moment for Standard Bots as we scale to meet growing demand for American-made robotics,” said Evan Beard, Co-Founder & CEO of Standard Bots. “We’re thrilled to debut both our expanded factory and our latest innovations at Automate.”
    At The Automate Show, Standard Bots will demonstrate its in-house-developed physical AI, a groundbreaking technology designed specifically for its robots and powered by the NVIDIA Isaac platform. This AI enables users to teach robots tasks through demonstration, eliminating the need for traditional coding or programming. Then users can annotate and augment their demonstration data through NVIDIA Isaac Sim, a reference application built on NVIDIA Omniverse for rapid deployment. Having undergone extensive private beta testing, this end-to-end model will be released to a broader audience in 2025, promising to simplify automation for thousands of complex processes previously out of reach through conventional robotics. Alongside this, the company will unveil its new 30kg payload, 2m reach robot. This model combines collaborative features—such as a compact footprint, user-friendly programming, and advanced safety—with robust specifications suited for heavy-duty tooling and large workpieces, a combination highly valued across industries like automotive, aerospace, and logistics. Notably, Standard Bots offers this American-built robot at a more competitive price than its rivals, strengthening its market position.

    The robotics industry is poised for significant growth, with the International Federation of Robotics reporting that global robot installations in manufacturing rose by 31% in 2022 alone. “Robotics has been the unlock for the repatriation of manufacturing, but the potential has been hindered by two major barriers: cost and flexibility,” said Quentin Clark, Managing Director of General Catalyst. “We look forward to supporting Standard Bots and seeing how their technology will open up new possibilities for robotics across American manufacturing.”

    Standard Bots invites the public to celebrate this milestone at a grand opening event on June 12 at the new Glen Cove facility. Interested attendees can contact Alex Thesken at alex@standardbots.com for more details or to RSVP.

    About Standard Bots
    Standard Bots is a leading American robot manufacturer dedicated to making robots simple so humans can do more. Headquartered in Glen Cove, NY, Standard Bots designs and assembles industrial robots in the USA that are bolstered by programming software and AI training models developed in-house to provide a robust physical AI platform to the world. The company has received over $63M in funding led by General Catalyst with participation from Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Samsung Next.

    Standard Bots is building the critical infrastructure for the robotics revolution, empowering every business to shape the future of work.

    Media Contact
    Alex Thesken
    Marketing Manager, Standard Bots
    (513) 330-4748
    alex@standardbots.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Stefanik Joined Fox News’ Mark Levin on Antisemitism in Higher Education, Pro-Terrorist Rioters at Columbia University

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)

    ICYMI: Stefanik Joined Fox News’ Mark Levin on Antisemitism in Higher Education, Pro-Terrorist Rioters at Columbia University | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Celebrates Court Order Halting Mass Firings Across Federal Government

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement in response to a court granting a temporary restraining order (TRO) in a case challenging the Trump Administration’s mass firing of federal workers across the nation. On Thursday, Attorney General Bonta and a coalition of 21 attorneys general submitted an amicus brief in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, et al. v. Trump, in support of the request for a TRO. The TRO issued yesterday immediately blocks the Trump Administration from illegally firing federal workers throughout the federal government until the court considers a preliminary injunction on May 22, 2025. 

    “The Trump Administration is attempting to bring the federal government — and the vital services and programs Americans rely on — to a screeching halt,” said Attorney General Bonta. “A court has ordered President Trump to end his illegal mass firing rampage pending a ruling on a preliminary injunction. This won’t undo the damage already sown, but it does send a clear message: The President does not hold the power to illegally fire anyone he wants — and as of Friday night, he must stop doing so.” 

    Massive federal layoffs substantially disrupt the ability of the states to protect and serve their residents and pose serious risks and harms to their citizens’ health, safety, and lives by impacting state programs focused on  emergency planning and response, infrastructure repair, environmental protection, and  public health, among many more issues.

    Attorney General Bonta has forcefully stood up to the Trump Administration’s illegal efforts to dismember and impair the federal government though mass firing. 

    This week, Attorney General Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging the unlawful mass firing of roughly 10,000 full-time U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees, the consolidation of 28 HHS divisions into 15 divisions, and the closing of half of HHS’s ten regional offices  — in addition to previously filed lawsuits challenging the illegal firing of probationary federal workers and U.S. Department of Education workers. 

    Attorney General Bonta has submitted two amicus briefs (here and here) in lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau — actions that include issuing a suspension of work across the agency and terminating probationary employees. These actions rapidly and substantially increase the burden on state agencies to protect consumers. 

    Last month, Attorney General Bonta filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit challenging operational changes to Social Security Administration (SSA) policies. These changes, including staffing cuts, field office closures, and the illegal shuttering of departments, have hampered SSA’s ability to help older adults and persons with disabilities access the benefits and services they depend on.

    A copy of the TRO can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s Russia trip advances friendships, defends int’l equity: Chinese FM

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

    BEIJING, May 10 — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia has further consolidated the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, led the world in jointly maintaining the postwar international order, and promoted the multi-polarization of the world and the reconstruction of the international political landscape, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.

    At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi paid a state visit to Russia and attended the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War from Wednesday to Saturday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi’s visit has great historical significance.

    During his visit, Xi and Putin had in-depth communication on issues of common concern for nearly 10 hours, Wang said, adding that the most important political outcome of the visit was the signing of a joint statement on deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era by the two heads of state.

    The two sides agreed to continue expanding cooperation and to consolidate the foundation of economic, trade and energy cooperation, Wang said, adding that the two sides signed a new version of the investments protection agreement, effectively countering the countercurrent of protectionism.

    Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Xi noted that China welcomes all efforts conducive to peace, and believes it is important to accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all countries and eliminate the root causes of the crisis.

    Xi’s attendance at the May 9 Victory Day celebrations once again demonstrated China’s commitment to working with other countries to uphold a correct historical perspective on World War II (WWII) and jointly safeguard the postwar international order, Wang said.

    Amid a complex and turbulent international landscape, Xi said, China and Russia must firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law.

    Wang said that Taiwan’s restoration to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order.

    No matter how the situation on the Taiwan island evolves or what troubles external forces may make, the historical trend toward China’s ultimate and inevitable reunification is unstoppable, Xi said.

    During his visit, Xi also had extensive contacts with political leaders from various countries attending the celebrations and held bilateral meetings with several national leaders from three continents, reaching broad consensus on firmly supporting each other, defending multilateralism and opposing power politics and bullying.

    During his meeting with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, Xi emphasized that the Chinese side supports Myanmar in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national stability, and steadily advancing its domestic political agenda.

    While meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, respectively, Xi pointed out that Latin American and Caribbean States are sovereign and independent nations, not anyone’s backyard.

    Diaz-Canel and Maduro spoke highly of Xi’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. They expressed readiness to work with China in opposing unilateralism and protectionism.

    In his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, respectively, Xi emphasized that China and the EU should firmly pursue multilateralism, jointly oppose unilateral bullying, safeguard the achievements of economic globalization, and maintain the global free trade system and international economic and trade order.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: VOICE: Tammy Nobles Speaks Out About Daughter Kayla

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

    The Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office today released a video featuring the mother of Kayla Hamilton. On July 27, 2022, 20-year-old Kayla was brutally raped and murdered by an illegal alien and MS-13 member released into the United States by the Biden Administration.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump stand with the victims of illegal alien crimes and their families. Secretary Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration.

    If you or a loved one has been impacted by a crime committed by an illegal alien, you are not alone.
    Call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAadxc8xGzs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Public-Private partnerships: strategic investment for comprehensive resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Disasters continue to generate significant impacts across Latin America and the Caribbean. Many occur suddenly, such as storms or hurricanes; others unfold gradually, like droughts. Yet their consequences are consistent: loss of life, disruption of livelihoods, infrastructure damage, and severe economic impacts. Between 2000 and 2024, more than 2,350 disasters were recorded in the region, affecting over 320 million people.

    International cooperation and public budgets are limited and remain largely reactive. In this context, private sector engagement has become essential to enhancing investments in prevention and, in so doing, to help protect employees, communities, and business operations. Resilience is not only a matter of public policy but a collective effort that requires the involvement of industry, business networks, and productive territories.

    Sustainable business development is closely tied to the resilience of the communities in which they operate. Private sector actors are increasingly cognizant that risk is not an external factor but a direct threat to their workforce, infrastructure, and operational continuity. In response, more and more companies are stepping up and taking on active roles in disaster risk reduction such as by co-investing in early warning systems, contributing to territorial planning, and providing data, expertise, logistics, or technological solutions to strengthen collective resilience.

    These partnerships do not form automatically. They require clear regulatory frameworks, long-term vision, sustained political will, and strong leadership. They also require a shared understanding that resilience is not built overnight, nor in isolation. Disaster risk reduction and resilience-building are progressive, collective processes that face challenges and demand ongoing commitment, cross-sectoral coordination, and a strategic focus on prevention.

    From the perspective of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the way forward is clear: investing in prevention and mitigation not only saves lives—it also protects economic value. For every dollar invested in resilience, four to seven dollars are saved in response and recovery. However, according to case studies featured in the 2024 Regional Assessment Report on Disaster Risk in Latin America and the Caribbean (RAR24), only about 6% of public spending in the region is allocated to disaster prevention. Eighty percent is still directed toward compensatory measures.

    “Disaster risk reduction is not solely an institutional responsibility. It is a shared task that requires vision, political leadership, and coordinated action among governments, the private sector, and communities. Only through concrete partnerships can we anticipate threats and protect what matters most: people, livelihoods, and the stability of our territories,” said Nahuel Arenas, Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean.

    According to the latest report from the Swiss Re Institute, only approximately 17% of total economic losses from disasters in Latin America in 2024 were insured. This gap highlights the structural limitations of the insurance system in the face of increasing threats and sends a clear warning: without substantial risk reduction, the risk of uninsurability will grow—particularly in highly exposed areas where some insurers have already begun to withdraw their operations.

    The good news is that solutions already exist. UNDRR promotes a diversified strategy that includes prospective, corrective, and compensatory risk management—a model that not only helps companies avoid losses, but also improves the return on their investments. Integrating resilience into investment decisions, applying seismic building codes, replacing flammable materials, upgrading drainage systems, supporting multi-hazard early warning systems, allocating risk-informed dedicated budgets, establishing emergency funds, and preparing and updating contingency plans are some of the measures that can make the difference between business continuity and operational disruption.

    Resilience-focused business networks are already active in the region. ARISE, the global private sector initiative led by UNDRR, brings together more than 250 companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the potential to influence over 100,000 businesses. Through this platform, the private sector works in coordination to build capacities, share knowledge, and advance a safer, more sustainable, and risk-informed economy.

    This regional commitment will be further reflected next week in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, during the Sustainability Week and IV ARISE Forum 2025 for the Americas and the Caribbean. From 13 to 16 May, under the theme “Shaping a Sustainable and Resilient Future,” the event will bring together private sector leaders, governments, international organizations, ARISE networks, civil society, and financial system actors to address key topics such as resilient supply chains, climate action finance, early warning systems, risk transfer mechanisms, resilience education, and will highlight the vital role of women in business continuity and resilience. It provides a valuable opportunity to consolidate partnerships, exchange concrete solutions, and reinforce the role of the private sector as a key player in building a safer and more sustainable future.

    Resilience doesn’t happen by chance. It requires intent, strategy, collaboration, and sustained effort. Recognizing risks is not enough—we must anticipate them and act accordingly. Resilience is a key component of any business strategy that requires investment, coordination and planning.  And above all, it is built in partnership. In a time of increasing risks and mounting uncertainty, the private sector faces two paths: take action or bear the consequences. Failing to invest in resilience is, in effect, financing the disasters of the future. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Belize advances toward inclusive, multi-hazard early warning systems

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The first national consultation on the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative marked a significant step in assessing Belize’s current state of early warning systems and identifying gaps that will inform an actionable national roadmap. This roadmap will guide the country towards a multi-hazard, accessible, and inclusive early warning systems—that goes beyond meteorological hazards to address a broader range of risks.

    Held from 5 to 7 May and convened by the Government of Belize, the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, and partners including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the consultation served to consolidate a national diagnosis of gaps and opportunities, and to outline the pillars and areas of improvement that will shape a coordinated national strategy.

    “Let this workshop be the catalyst for a renewed national commitment—where we strengthen our multi-hazard early warning systems, mobilize the financial and human resources we need, and align our efforts with ongoing initiatives. ‘Early Warnings for All’ is not just a UN vision—it must be Belize’s vision. Together, with knowledge, partnership, and will, we can build a more resilient and inclusive Belize for generations to come,” said Mr. Carlos Pol, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Economic Development, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. John Briceño.

    This national process is supported by a set of complementary initiatives. Central among them is the development of the Country Work Programme (CWP), led by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) with support from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which sets disaster risk management priorities for the next four years. The Climate Risk Early Warning Systems (CREWS) project—implemented jointly by UNDRR and WMO—enhances the enabling environment for early warning systems. These efforts are further reinforced by Belize’s participation in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative.

    “We recognize the Government of Belize’s strong commitment to disaster risk reduction, clearly reflected in the development of its CWP and its focus on building inclusive and integrated early warning systems,” said Nahuel Arenas, Chief of UNDRR’s Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean. “At UNDRR, we reaffirm our support to work alongside local governments to strengthen resilience and protection for all,” he added.

    The consultation also served as a platform to launch the UN Joint SDG Fund Programme Belize Inclusive Resilience in Safe and SMART Spaces, implemented by UN Women and UNDRR, in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government. The programme focuses on urban resilience, gender equality, and community safety, promoting safe and smart spaces and the development of inclusive local disaster resilience action plans for Belize City.

    The launch began with the official signing ceremony of Belize City’s entry into the MCR2030 initiative. During the event, His Worship Mayor Bernard Wagner formally handed over the signed Letter of Commitment to UNDRR’s Regional Chief of Office, signaling Belize City’s role as the newest member of the global MCR2030 network and reinforcing its commitment to building a safer, more resilient urban future.

    “Our participation in MCR2030 is more than symbolic. It is a declaration that Belize City is committed to a future where safety, preparedness, sustainability, and inclusive urban development are not optional, but essential,” said Mayor Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City.

    “This effort is about ensuring that more people—especially in the most vulnerable communities—receive early warnings in time and know what to do,” said Hon. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service, Governance, and Disaster Risk Management.

    Beyond reports and diagnostics, the true impact of these initiatives will be measured by their capacity to save lives and protect livelihoods, especially in vulnerable communities and among historically excluded communities.

    “Belize’s commitment to linking national policies with concrete local action is an encouraging step toward the goals of the Sendai Framework. This progress reminds us that when we work in coordination and keep people at the center, resilience becomes both possible and real,” said Raúl Salazar, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Belize and El Salvador.

    Resilience is more than a policy; it is a daily practice that demands coordination, evidence, participation, and political will. In this journey, Belize and El Salvador stand as natural partners. What is learned in one context can—and should—strengthen action in the other. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – Statement – BLNR ruling on Pōhakuloa Training Area

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Office of the Governor – Statement – BLNR ruling on Pōhakuloa Training Area

    Posted on May 9, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI 
    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI 
     
    JOSH GREEN, M.D. 
    GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA 

    STATEMENT ON BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DECISION ON FINAL EIS BY U.S. ARMY FOR PŌHAKULOA TRAINING AREA
     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    May 9, 2025 

    HONOLULU — The following is a statement from Governor Josh Green, M.D., relating to the Board of Land and Natural Resources decision on the final EIS by the U.S. Army for the Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawai‘i Island.

    “I respect the Board’s decision and the community voices that guide it. Military members who utilize this area to train for local and national security and emergency missions are our neighbors, our children’s classmates, and often our own ʻohana. While the rejection of the Final EIS presents challenges, it is not the end of the conversation. We remain committed to finding new paths that protect Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural resources while supporting national security. This is a time for collaboration, not division, as we seek balanced solutions that honor both our heritage and our future.”

    # # #

    Media Contacts:   
    Erika Engle
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
    Office: 808-798-6081
    Email: [email protected] 

    Makana McClellan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
    Cell: 808-265-0083
    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Sat May 10 21:05:02 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated:  Sat May 10 21:17:06 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Garbarino, Kiggans, Valadao, Newhouse, Amodei Fight to Secure America’s Energy Future

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) joined Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) to introduced the Certainty for Our Energy Future Act, a bill to strengthen America’s energy independence and national security. Specifically, this legislation would responsibly reform clean energy tax credits by phasing out subsidies for advanced renewable technologies, while bolstering national security by imposing restrictions on foreign adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran. This bill would maintain investment certainty during the transition, promote innovation in emerging energy sectors, and support American manufacturers. This bill was introduced alongside Representatives David Valadao (R-CA-22), Mark Amodei (R-NV-02), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04).

    “Certainty for the energy industry is essential to securing American energy dominance, driving innovation, and lowering costs for consumers,” said Rep.Garbarino. “The Certainty for Our Energy Future Act provides the predictability businesses need to invest with confidence while protecting taxpayers from foreign threats. I look forward to working with my colleagues to responsibly deliver on the President’s energy agenda and meet our nation’s growing energy demand with a stronger, more secure energy future.”

    “The Certainty for Our Energy Future Act is a critical step toward aligning our clean energy priorities with today’s economic and national security realities,” said Rep. Kiggans. “By responsibly phasing out subsidies for technologies like wind and solar and ensuring foreign adversaries like China and Russia can’t exploit American tax benefits, we are safeguarding both our energy independence and our taxpayers. Energy security is national security, and the bottom line is that in order to increase American energy dominance, we need to protect as much production and innovation as possible. I am proud to introduce this legislation and help secure America’s energy future!”

    “The Central Valley is leading the way in renewable energy production, and our communities deserve policies that provide stability and certainty for the future,” said Rep.Valadao. “The Certainty for our Energy Future Act preserves the clean energy tax credits farmers and energy producers rely on, while phasing out long-term subsidies for technologies that can now stand on their own. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill to expand domestic energy production and keep the door open for new technologies to grow and compete.”

    “America’s path to energy independence must involve an all-of-the-above clean energy approach that puts American manufacturers at the center,” said Rep. Amodei. “By excluding foreign adversaries from tax benefits and prioritizing American innovation, we are one step closer to a more secure and self-reliant energy future.”

    “The United States has the opportunity to lead the world in clean energy production while lowering costs for consumers,” said Rep.Newhouse. “By phasing out tax incentives supporting wind and solar projects, Congress can provide long-term certainty to utilities and investors. This legislation provides critical protections to ensure federal investments are not being utilized by foreign adversaries, including Communist China. I thank Rep. Kiggans for her leadership as we work to ensure American clean energy is safe, reliable, and affordable as new forms of energy emerge.

    “CRES is grateful for the leadership of Reps. Kiggans, Garbarino, Valadao, Newhouse and Amodei on introducing the Certainty for Our Energy Future Act,” said Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. “Right sizing policies in parallel with offering business and investment certainty is both critical and commonsense.  As America seeks to beat China in the global AI race, legislation like this strengthens our nation’s competitive edge while also ensuring American energy remains abundant and affordable.”

    “As electric companies work to meet growing customer demands for electricity and to strengthen our nation’s energy security, we must have policy certainty. We are grateful to Reps. Kiggans, Amodei, Garbarino, Newhouse, and Valadao for their ongoing leadership and for recognizing that clear timelines for tax credits and access to tools like transferability support investment in critical energy infrastructure, while helping to keep costs to customers as low as possible,” said Edison Electric Institute interim President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn. “We look forward to continuing to work with Reps. Kiggans, Amodei, Garbarino, Newhouse, Valadao, and other leaders in Congress as they deliberate on tax policy changes that could impact the costs customers pay for electricity.”

    “We commend Rep. Kiggans for introducing the Certainty for our Energy Future Act,” said Frank Macchiarola, Chief Advocacy Officer, American Clean Power Association. “The Act ensures that we protect business certainty for projects currently under planning and development and offers a very constructive starting point for discussions on the clean energy tax credits. With electricity demand projected to increase by up to 50% over the next 15 years, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy. This legislation helps provide a roadmap to lawmakers as they continue to address this important issue.”

    The full bill text can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Health Profession Programs Brings Interprofessional Education and Collaboration to Northeast Connecticut Communities

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    “Our committee has been engaged in a variety of efforts to collaborate with community partners to help address unmet health needs in communities in northeast Connecticut,” according to Devra Dang, clinical professor of pharmacy practice and a co-chair of CIPEH. Its Northeast CT Initiative was developed in response to a rural health summit hosted by State Comptroller Sean Scanlon.  

    CIPEH faculty at the Northeast CT Family Health and Wellness Day

    The event hosted interactive booths and activities aimed at promoting health and wellness for individuals of all ages. Attendees received free health screenings such as blood pressure and hearing loss tests, learned about lung health and asthma inhaler techniques, prescription medication affordability tips, healthy nutrition, and balance assessment and fall prevention. According to Stephanie Gernant, assistant professor of pharmacy practice and a CIPEH co-chair, “The focus was not just on learning about health conditions that attendees may already have developed, but also on prevention and wellness across the lifespan.” 

    Nicole Gallagher, a clinical professor of speech-language and CIPEH secretary was especially fond of the hands-on experiences the event provided children and their families: “The foundation of good health habits should start early in life. We all loved seeing the kids who attended the health fair be so engaged with our fun, interactive topics.” In addition, children and teens had opportunities to discuss health career options with UConn health profession students and got to visualize themselves as future healthcare professionals at the photo booth.  

    “[It] was excellent. Seeing all the different programs, and hearing from current students, really shows what a wonderful University we have, so close to home. Everyone we encountered was excited to share about their program, and very engaging with my kids!” - Cassie Kiley from Brooklyn, CT who attended with her family

    Community partner organizations were a key component of this collaborative event. The Northeast District Department of Health co-hosted the family health and wellness day and worked with Dang and two Master of Public Health students over a number of weeks to develop activities for this multi-faceted event. In total, nine community organizations brought a variety of health-related topics and resources, including Generations Family Health Center, Day Kimball Hospital, Hartford Healthcare Community Health, and AHEC/ Health Education Center. Participants from UConn’s Master Gardener Program provided science-based tips on gardening topics and distributed free seeds.  

    The event also provided an excellent avenue for UConn health profession students to engage in interprofessional education and collaboration, learning with, from, and about each profession as they teamed up to present health topics. “Brainstorming health fair plans and developing Psychological Sciences’ materials promoting stress management across the lifespan tapped into creative and collaborative skills. We enjoyed the planning process, learning from other UConn faculty and students, and look forward to strengthening future efforts to serve those in Northeast Connecticut,” stated Christine Yantz, assistant clinical professor and assistant director of the Psychological Services Clinic. 

    CIPEH consists of 11 UConn heath profession programs across three campuses (Storrs, Farmington, Hartford): athletic training/kinesiology, audiology, clinical psychology, dietetics, dental medicine, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and social work, and reports to the health profession deans and the Vice Provost for Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Amy Gorin. Established in 2013 with the support of the deans of health profession programs, CIPEH’s primary goal is to advance interprofessional collaboration in education, community outreach and patient care, and research. 

    Brother and sister at the health careers photo booth

    According to Dang, the Northeast Connecticut Family Health and Wellness Day was just one of several community-based events that CIPEH faculty and students have actively participated in at towns in Windham and Tolland County during this academic year. Other recent community outreach events included a health fair for older adults hosted by the town of Thompson, the Coventry Winter Farmers’ Market, and vaccine clinics at senior centers in collaboration with the Eastern Hyland Health District. A number of upcoming health-related outreach activities are being planned, including events during the summer.   

    Christine Haines, clinical professor of audiology noted that, “Interprofessional education within health profession training is crucial so that our students know how to best work together to optimize patient care when they become clinicians.”

    “I look forward to collaborating with students and faculty from across UConn health disciplines in supporting the wellbeing of Connecticut’s residents in future community engagement efforts.” – Christine Haines

    UConn programs and community organizations interested in collaborating with CIPEH on future health-related community outreach events can reach out to Devra Dang at devra.dang@uconn.edu. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia contributed to the development of friendship and upholding justice – Chinese 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, May 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia has further strengthened the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, set a benchmark for the world’s joint efforts to safeguard the post-war international order, and promoted the transition to a multipolar world and the reconstruction of the international political architecture, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

    At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10 and took part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    As Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, noted during a briefing for journalists, Xi Jinping’s visit is of great historical significance.

    The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry pointed out that during the visit, Xi Jinping and V. Putin spent almost 10 hours in-depth communication on issues of mutual interest. The most important political outcome of the visit was the signing by the heads of the two states of a joint statement on further deepening Chinese-Russian relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction in the new era, Wang Yi stated.

    The parties agreed to continue to expand cooperation and strengthen the foundation of trade, economic and energy cooperation, Wang Yi continued, adding that the parties signed an updated version of the investment protection agreement, thereby giving a powerful response to the regressive trend of protectionism.

    Speaking about the crisis in Ukraine, Xi Jinping noted that China welcomes all efforts to promote peace and considers it necessary to take into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and eliminate the root causes of the crisis.

    Xi Jinping’s presence at the Victory Day celebration on May 9 once again demonstrated China’s desire to work with other countries to promote a correct view of the history of World War II and jointly uphold the post-war international order, the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted.

    Xi Jinping said that in the face of a volatile and turbulent international situation, China and Russia should firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law.

    Wang Yi noted that the return of Taiwan to China is the result of the victory in World War II and an important integral part of the post-war international order.

    No matter how the situation on Taiwan develops and no matter what problems external forces create, the historical trend of China’s inevitable and inevitable reunification is unstoppable, Xi Jinping pointed out.

    During his visit, the Chinese leader also held extensive contacts with politicians from various countries who attended the celebrations, as well as bilateral meetings with a number of national leaders from three continents, reaching broad consensus on firm mutual support, upholding multilateralism and opposing power politics and bullying.

    During his meeting with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, Xi Jinping stressed that China supports Myanmar in following a development path suited to its national conditions, safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national stability, and confidently advancing its domestic political agenda.

    During separate meetings with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Xi Jinping noted that Latin American and Caribbean states are sovereign and independent nations, not someone’s “backyard.”

    M. Diaz-Canel and N. Maduro praised Xi Jinping’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. They expressed their readiness to work with China to counter unilateralism and protectionism.

    During meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, Xi Jinping stressed that China and the EU should firmly adhere to multilateralism, jointly oppose unilateral bullying, safeguard the achievements of economic globalization, and uphold the global free trade system and the international economic and trade order. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –