NewzIntel.com

Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mongolia’s foreign trade turnover fell by 6.7 percent in the first four months of 2025.

    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

    ULAN BATOR, May 14 (Xinhua) — Mongolia’s foreign trade turnover fell 6.7 percent to $7.8 billion in the first four months of 2025, the country’s National Statistical Committee said Wednesday.

    During the specified period, exports from Mongolia decreased by 14.1 percent, amounting to $4.2 billion. Meanwhile, imports increased by 3.9 percent, reaching $3.6 billion.

    The decline in exports was mainly due to a reduction in supplies of coal, crude oil, iron ore and combed cashmere from Mongolia to foreign countries. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Released lists shed light on Japanese germ warfare units’ activities in China

    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

    TOKYO, May 14 (Xinhua) — The National Archives of Japan on Wednesday released lists of personnel of three biological warfare units of the Imperial Japanese Army.

    The documents contain detailed personal information on members of Units 1644, 8604 and 8609, including names, dates of birth, family register details, addresses and assignment details.

    These lists, originally under the control of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, were transferred to the National Archives in March 2024 and were included in the list of documents to be released to the public in March 2025.

    The documents were released at the request of researchers, including renowned bacteriological warfare expert and professor emeritus at the Shiga Prefectural University of Medical Sciences, Katsuo Nishiyama.

    Kazuo Nishiyama said Wednesday that the discovery of the lists disproves previous claims that the germ warfare units existed.

    During the invasion of China, the Japanese army formed several biological warfare units, including the infamous “Unit 731.” –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Head of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee Visits Morocco

    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

    RABAT, May 14 (Xinhua) — Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, led a CPC delegation to Morocco from May 12 to 14 at the invitation of the National Rally of Independents (NRII) Party.

    During the visit, Li Shulei held separate meetings with senior Moroccan officials, including Prime Minister and PON Chairman Aziz Ahannouch, Speaker of the House of Representatives (lower house of parliament) Rachid al-Talbi Alami, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Equipment and Water Resources Nizar Baraka, and held talks with leaders of other major Moroccan political parties.

    Li Shulei noted that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Morocco relations have developed rapidly and are enjoying the best period in history. He said China is willing to work with Morocco to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, strengthen political mutual trust, deepen strategic interaction, expand mutual learning between civilizations, and jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits everyone.

    The head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee called for promoting high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples, and making China-Morocco cultural and humanitarian exchanges and cooperation a model for implementing the Global Civilization Initiative.

    Li Shulei added that the CPC hopes to deepen exchanges of governance experience with friendly political parties in Morocco to promote the further development of the China-Morocco strategic partnership through inter-party channels.

    Representatives of the Moroccan side, in turn, stated that King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan government attach great importance to the development of relations with China and are ready to further advance practical cooperation in such areas as infrastructure construction, new energy sources and investment, strengthen exchanges at all levels, constantly enriching the content of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

    In addition, Moroccan political parties expressed their willingness to deepen dialogue with the CPC, strengthen the exchange of ideas and experiences in order to more effectively promote the development of bilateral ties. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Decades of neglect: Migrant farm worker housing needs national regulatory standards

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By C. Susana Caxaj, Associate Professor, Nursing, Western University

    Housing for migrant workers in Western Canada. Many workers live in poorly maintained housing and face surveillance and harassment from employers. (Elise Hjalmarson/RAMA Okanagan)

    In today’s political climate, temporary migrants in Canada are being scapegoated for everything from rising grocery bills to the affordable housing crisis. Yet migrant workers, particularly farm workers, face a hidden housing crisis that needs urgent attention.

    Much of Canada’s ability to produce food hinges on hiring migrant agricultural workers from countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica and elsewhere. Yet, housing for migrant agricultural workers in Canada is often overcrowded, dangerous and undignified.

    Amid government inaction, our group of 29 researchers, clinicians and advocates with the Coalition for National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers (CoNaMi), have developed a proposal for national housing standards. This work is backed by clinical experience, hundreds of interviews and surveys and migrant agricultural workers’ own advocacy.

    Inadequate housing

    When two of us — Anelyse and Susana — interviewed 151 migrants in Ontario and British Columbia as part of our research, workers described conditions of isolation, crowding, inadequate ventilation, poor maintenance and close proximity to hazards such as agrochemicals.

    Both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers struggled to access health care, groceries and social services. In addition, their phone and internet access was often unreliable.

    Some workers reported employer-imposed restrictions on leaving the property, and bans on visitors. These living conditions pose serious risks to workers.

    Similarly to research led by the Centre for Climate Justice in British Columbia, we also encountered several workers who endured significant hardships as a result of extreme weather events.

    Consistent with recent research in Nova Scotia, we found that a lack of meaningful union representation, precarious status and low wages created coercive conditions in which workers felt forced to accept poor living conditions.

    Marginalization and exploitation

    As migrant workers typically live on the farms where they work, the lines between work and home can be blurred. This living arrangement often contributes to isolation and surveillance by employers. It may also enable harassment and abuse.

    Furthermore, migrants are geographically separated from their families for months or years at a time. Research that Adam has conducted in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, Jill in Québec and Susana in Ontario and British Columbia, outlines how poor housing conditions not only threaten workers’ health and well-being, but also contribute to their marginalization and exploitation.

    Workers often describe feeling demeaned and controlled, and they wonder why Canada, a country so willing to accept their labour, is so reluctant to accept their common humanity.

    In 2024, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery has described Canada’s temporary foreign worker program, accessed by migrant agricultural workers to come to Canada, as “a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery,” a statement echoed by international human rights watchdog Amnesty International.

    Yet the federal government has failed to meaningfully improve housing conditions or establish clear, enforceable and mandatory standards. This inaction persists despite years of reviews, consultations and recommendations.

    In fact, a study commissioned by the federal government to review the possibility of a national housing standard for migrant agricultural workers in 2018 called for greater consistency in housing quality assessments.

    Academic experts have long called for a national housing standard, as well as proactive and unannounced housing inspections. Other professional and labour organizations have identified the need for greater inter-jurisdictional co-ordination and attention to issues of safety, pandemic preparedness, privacy and dignity.

    Furthermore, safeguarding housing quality requires policy changes that provide meaningful status and adequate collective bargaining representation to migrant workers, as these conditions underlie their vulnerability in housing.

    In the 2020 Auditor General of Canada report, the need for national minimum accommodation requirements for migrant agricultural workers was identified. However, housing remains a key concern for these workers who have not yet benefited from such proposed recommendations.

    National housing standard

    A national housing standard for migrant agricultural workers is a crucial step towards protecting their rights and mitigating their vulnerability. These standards must include:

    1. Appropriate and enforced housing standards: Ensure robust and proactive enforcement of housing standard. Living quarters must be well-constructed, safe and dignified.

    2. Privacy, security, access and freedom: Guarantee workers’ rights to privacy, movement, access to health and social services and freedom from surveillance. Workers must have access to transportation and be able to enjoy rest, leisure and a social life.

    3. Dignified living conditions: Safeguard basic rights to comfort, storage and personal care by prescribing minimum standards and ratios for private bedrooms, common areas, laundry and cooking facilities. Workers should have private bedrooms and reliable internet access.

    4. Health and safety in housing: Protect workers from the spread of illness, extreme weather events and other hazards through proper air conditioning, ventilation and reduced occupancy ratios for bathrooms and kitchens.

    5. Co-ordinated government leadership: Prevent different jurisdictions passing the buck by mandating co-ordination, data-sharing and training among federal, provincial and municipal governments. For example, inspectors should be trauma-informed and armed with strategies to mitigate implicit bias and to anticipate barriers this group faces because of their precarious status. The federal government must lead with adequate funding and policy reform to address barriers that prevent workers from advocating for decent housing.

    The evidence is clear. Canadian governments must raise the bar from the floor, and create national standards for migrant agricultural workers’ housing.

    C. Susana Caxaj has received Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to carry out this research. Previously, her work has been funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research, Vancouver Foundation and Western University. She is a co-founder and member of the Migrant Worker Health Expert Working Group.

    Anelyse Weiler receives funding from SSHRC and the Hari Sharma Foundation. She is a board member with the B.C. Employment Standards Coalition and is involved with the Worker Solidarity Network.

    J. Adam Perry receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Jill Hanley receives funding from SSHRC and CIHR for her research on farmworkers. She is affiliated with the Immigrant Workers Centre and the SHERPA University Institute.

    – ref. Decades of neglect: Migrant farm worker housing needs national regulatory standards – https://theconversation.com/decades-of-neglect-migrant-farm-worker-housing-needs-national-regulatory-standards-255709

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Yemen: Special Envoy’s Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Comments to the media by Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, on the situation in the Middle East.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6P6zbWne9E

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Greece on women, peace and security in Yemen | Security Council Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Joint statement delivered by Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, on behalf of the signatories of the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security, on the situation of women in Yemen, at the Security Council Stakeout.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT9pJkoGfVU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary-General/Peacekeeping, Yemen & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Secretary-General/peacekeeping
    Peacekeeping ministerial meeting
    Yemen
    Security Council
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Lebanon
    Syria
    Syria returnees
    Deputy Secretary-General/trip announcement
    Somalia
    Haiti
    José “Pepe” Mujica
    Noon briefing guests – tomorrow
    Noon briefing guest – Andrew Saberton

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/PEACEKEEPING
    The Secretary-General is continuing his meetings in Berlin. As you know, he is in Berlin to attend the Ministerial Meeting on Peacekeeping. Right now, he is meeting with Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of Germany and they are just starting a press stakeout.
    Earlier today, he said that he is heartened by the exceptional turn-out of Ministers from across the globe, representing the full range of peacekeeping partners. Just to let you know that we have an update that more than 130 Member States were present and 74 Member States made pledges to support peace operations.
    The Secretary-General added that this meeting comes at a time when unfortunately, peacekeeping operations are facing serious liquidity problems. He called on all Member States to respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time.
    These remarks were made during a joint press conference with the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul, and Federal Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius. He noted that he is especially pleased to be in Berlin so soon after the new Government took office, and he looks forward to building on our partnership in the time ahead.
    Mr. Guterres also met today with Ms. Reem Alabali-Radovan, Minister for Development and Economic Cooperation of Germany. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to hold discussions with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany, before he departs to Iraq to attend the League of Arab States Summit.  

    PEACEKEEPING MINISTERIAL MEETING 
    During the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, the United Nations unveiled a new multi-year initiative funded by the Federal Republic of Germany to provide women troops deployed in Peace Operations with gender-specific protective gear, including ballistic vests and helmets. During an award ceremony held earlier today during the Member States’ gathering, Nils Hilmer, State Secretary at the German Ministry of Defense and Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, announced the selection of Fiji, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia and Tanzania, to receive the equipment – in recognition of their commitment to the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy and the deployment of women in operational roles. The project, worth one million Euros in total, aims to enhance the performance, safety and security of women peacekeepers in complex and volatile mission environments and ultimately promote their participation in peacekeeping efforts.

    YEMEN
    Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy for Yemen, briefed the Security Council this morning and welcomed the announcement on 6 May of a cessation of hostilities between the USA and Ansar Allah. He said that this step represents an important and necessary de-escalation in the Red Sea and in Yemen following the resumption, on 15 March, of US airstrikes against targets in Ansar Allah-controlled areas.
    He said that events in recent weeks, however, have also served as stark reminders that Yemen is ensnared in the wider regional tensions. The attack carried out by Ansar Allah on Ben Gurion Airport on 4 May, and the subsequent strikes by Israel on Hudaydah Port, Sana’a Airport, and other locations in response, represent a dangerous escalation, and the threats and attacks, regrettably, continue.
    Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told Council members that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, and those most in peril are the country’s children. Half of Yemen’s children – or 2.3 million – are malnourished, he said, and 600,000 of them are severely so.
    Mr. Fletcher warned that Yemen’s 2025 humanitarian response plan is barely 9 per cent funded – less than half of what we received at the same time last year. These shortfalls have very real consequences. He said that we expect pipeline gaps as early as June or July – right when malnutrition numbers will peak.  
    Mr. Grundberg will speak at the stakeout once he is done in the Council and we will let you know when that happens.

    Full Highlights:
    https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=14%20May%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoV4ApxYiYE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: What helps uniformed women’s participation in peacekeeping? | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Women peacekeepers and uniformed leaders reflect on how to strengthen the full, equal and meaningful participation of uniformed women in UN Peacekeeping.

    Hear from members of the Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers and uniformed leaders in the UN Peacekeeping Operations in Abyei, South Sudan and Western Sahara on how to promote an enabling environment, where women feel safe, supported and empowered – and the role of leaders in ensuring that women and men have equal opportunities to participate. Ultimately to ensure UN Peacekeeping better implement its mandates.

    More info: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/women-peacekeeping

    More info on the Network: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/how-network-is-supporting-women-peacekeepers

    #WomenPeaceSecurity

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vRLRa7KYEM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Gaza: UN Urges Immediate Action to Save Lives – OCHA Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher today (13 May) asked the Security Council Members “to reflect for a moment on what action we will tell future generations we each took to stop the 21st century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza.”

    Fletcher, briefing the Council on the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave, said, “Israel is deliberately un unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory. For more than ten weeks. Nothing has entered Gaza. No food, medicine, water, or tents. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have again been forcibly displaced and confined into ever shrinking spaces, as 70 percent of Gaza’s territory is either within Israeli militarized zones or under displacement orders.”

    The humanitarian official said Israel denies humanitarians access, “placing the objective of depopulating Gaza before the lives of civilians.”

    He said, “we have lifesaving supplies ready now at the borders. We can save hundreds of thousands of survivors. We have rigorous mechanisms to ensure our aid gets to civilians, and not to Hamas. But

    He asked Council Members, “what more evidence do you need now? Will you act decisively to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead that we did all we could?”

    The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director of its Liaison Office with the United Nations, Angélica Jácome, told the Council that “agrifood systems have collapsed in the Gaza Strip while food prices have soared.”

    Jácome said, “we are witnessing the systemic breakdown of conditions essential for survival. People in Gaza are not only experiencing lack of food, but they are going through a profound breakdown of health, livelihood, and social structures, leaving entire communities in a state of desperation, devastation, and death.”

    Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told the Council that “930,000 children are at critical risk of famine” in Gaza, “not because there is no food. Food is there. A few meters away. Rotting instead of reaching those who desperately need it. But because Israel has been openly and brazenly blocking humanitarian aid for over two months now.”

    Mansour said, “this is engineered starvation. It is the most inhumane form of torture and killing.”

    He noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Israeli Knesset on Sunday “we are destroying more and more homes. They have nowhere to return to. The only inevitable outcome will be the wish of Gazans to immigrate outside of the Gaza Strip.”

    For his part, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said, “we will not accept a humanitarian mechanism that props up the terror organization that butchered our people. We will not sit idly by as food, fuel and funds meant for civilians are funnelled into the Hamas terror machine. We will never allow our morality to be weaponized against us again.”

    Danon said Secretary-General António Guterres had “refused to engage” in a new humanitarian distribution plan proposed by Israel, alleging that the plan “in his view, does not meet the principles of and I quote, ‘impartiality, humanity, independence and neutrality.”

    The Israeli Ambassador said, “the irony is unbelievable, as the previous mechanism made a mockery of every one of those principles. That is not diplomacy. That is not neutrality. That is sabotage disguised as principle.”

    Danon said, “to Secretary-General Guterres I say this; the aid that ended up in Hamas hands did not bring hope. It did not bring progress. It brought death. That path leads nowhere, Mr. Guterres, you are invited to return to the table. But if you do come with open eyes, and open ears, something can be achieved.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqP4zwbZxoU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Peacekeeping: UN Chief urges stronger global support |Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    “Blue helmets can mean the difference between life and death,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged renewed global commitment to peacekeeping during the opening of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, warning that operations are facing unprecedented financial and political pressure.

    “My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment,” Guterres said. “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one United’s human family. That is what our peace operations are about.”

    Highlighting the symbolic and operational importance of the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the Secretary-General stated, “The UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.”

    Guterres pointed to several countries that transitioned from war to stability with the help of UN missions. “There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN peacekeeping, including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste. Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops,” he said.

    However, he also emphasized the human cost of these missions. “Through the decades, 4400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said, inviting participants to join him in a moment of silence.

    As part of a broader reform process initiated by Member States, Guterres referenced the “Pact for the Future,” which calls for a comprehensive review of peace operations. “The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep,” he said.

    He acknowledged the difficulties of operating in increasingly polarized geopolitical contexts. “We see increasing differences of views around our peacekeeping operations work, and then what circumstances with what mandates they should be deploys. And for how long,” he noted.

    Guterres also addressed the challenge of shrinking financial resources. “Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical,” he stated. “It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have and use them well.”

    Concluding his address, the Secretary-General called for continued Member State engagement. “Supported at every step by Member States, we look forward to your government’s support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together,” he said.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6sqSjouK68

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Joint Stakeout on the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza- Media Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Joint Press Encounter delivered by ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza on behalf of the UK, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLh0JEtLckE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Reconnecting Communities in Western North Carolina, One Bridge at a Time

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

    After Tropical Storm Helene reshaped Western North Carolina, thousands of private bridges were washed out or severely damaged, limiting access to thousands of homes in the region.

    In response, FEMA continues to partner with state and county emergency management agencies, faith-based organizations, and local communities to restore safe access and help survivors return home.

    Through the Bridging Together initiative – spearheaded by the Mennonite Disaster Service and the Lutheran Disaster Response – these partnerships are making a difference in survivors’ lives.

    In Henderson County’s Stoney Creek Bridge community, the recent completion of a 60-foot bridge has supported 16 households and moved the neighborhood one step closer to recovery.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s9uV_GVMNw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Rising to the challenge: Europe’s path to growth and resilience

    Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)

    The sharply deteriorating global order is adding further complications to Europe’s already challenging economic situation. New tariffs come at a time when economies are grappling with structural transformations in demographics and energy, and amidst increasing security spending needs. Export markets are shrinking, uncertainty is undermining firms’ willingness to innovate, and public expenditure needs are rising. Without a turnaround in growth, Europe’s ability to deliver on its social welfare promises is in jeopardy. If European policymakers were to seize the moment, the region’s growth potential and resilience to shocks could rise substantially.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: 🎥Watch the roadside arrest of two illegal illegals alien near Canton, Ga.

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

    Watch the roadside arrest of two illegal illegals alien near Canton, Ga.

    This arrest was part of a larger immigration enforcement operation that included Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta and the surrounding areas.

    Don’t wait for an ICE arrest. Self-deport.

    Learn more: ICE.gov/self-deportation

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKqGZ5DUpaw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Will the Sun Ever Burn Out? We Asked a NASA Expert

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

    Will the Sun ever burn out? Not quite, but it will change dramatically. Like all stars, it’s going through a life cycle powered by nuclear fusion. Right now, it’s halfway through its 10-billion-year lifetime.

    Eventually, the Sun will expand into a red giant, engulfing the inner planets, then collapse into a white dwarf — a small, hot, dim remnant of its former self.

    A NASA scientist explains what’s ahead for our star.

    Learn more about our Sun: https://nasa.gov/sun

    Download this video at: https://images.nasa.gov/details/Will%20the%20Sun%20Ever%20Burn%20Out

    Producers: Scott Bednar, Pedro Cota, Jessie Wilde
    Editor: James Lucas

    Credit: NASA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_qpt3eYn0c

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Glad You Asked: Higher Level Review

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

    In this episode, Deputy Secretary, Dr. Paul Lawrence breaks down higher-level review. If you believe VA made a mistake deciding your claim, a second, more experienced VA reviewer will take a fresh look.

    To learn more, go to https://www.va.gov/decision-reviews/higher-level-review/.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGWSBQ1m7S4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Over the past two days, 130 Member States participated at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin – with more than 60 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense participating. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, briefed the media following a ceremony where more than 70 Member States made pledges of needed capabilities and support to UN Peacekeeping, including 81 military and police units, as well as in the areas of capacity-building partnerships, Women, Peace, and Security, Safety and Security, Technology, environment, conduct and accountability and strategic communications and Information Integrity.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-PvZ73Hc5U

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: 🎥Two illegal aliens were arrested during a routine enforcement operation in Nashville May 10.

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

    Don’t wait for an ICE arrest. Self-deport.

    Learn more: ICE.gov/self-deportation

    Two illegal aliens were arrested during a routine enforcement operation in Nashville May 10.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4MW1IMj4Ko

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Honoring The Fallen – Police Week 2025 | CBP

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

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) participates at the 31st Annual Blue Mass held in Washington D.C. at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Law enforcement and first responders gather to remember the contributions of those who have served and the brave men and women who have died in the line-of-duty.

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

    #cbp
    #policeweek
    #memorial
    #lawenforcement

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSfbsh8WqM0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons recaps major recent achievements and his duty to the fallen

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

    ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons recaps major recent achievements going into National Police Week and discusses his sacred duty to ensure those who’ve given their lives in the line of duty are never forgotten.

    Visit our virtual Hall of Heroes: https://www.ice.gov/topics/eow

    #ice #police #lawenforcement #shortvideo

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XQmLyv86No

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins Colleagues to Applaud Passage of Resolution Recognizing National Police Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 79 of their Senate colleagues in welcoming the Senate’s unanimous passage of a resolution designating May 12 through 17 as National Police Week.
    This resolution is an annual tradition going back more than 60 years and reiterates the unwavering support for law enforcement officers across the nation who keep our communities safe, our borders secure, and drugs and criminals off our streets. 
    “My dad was the chief of police in my hometown, and I grew up watching him put his life on the line every day to protect our community,” said Senator Marshall. “Law enforcement officers in the state of Kansas – and across the United States – work tirelessly every day to protect our country and uphold the rule of law. America’s law enforcement officers deserve the highest level of recognition. I am proud to support this resolution alongside my Senate colleagues and see its unanimous passage.”
    “Law enforcement officers in Iowa and across the nation work tirelessly to protect and serve our communities. This week, and every week, we should give our thanks to the brave men and women in blue, who have sacrificed so much to ensure our safety,” said Senator Grassley. “As always, I’m proud to back the blue and will continue my efforts in Congress to protect and support our courageous officers.” 
    The resolution:
    Recognizes the need to ensure that law enforcement officers have the equipment, training, and resources that are necessary in order to protect the health and safety of the officers while the officers protect the public.
    Acknowledges that police officers and other law enforcement personnel, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, should be remembered and honored.
    Expresses condolences and solemn appreciation to the loved ones of each law enforcement officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
    Encourages the people of the United States to observe National Police Week by honoring law enforcement personnel and promoting awareness of the essential mission that law enforcement personnel undertake in service to their communities and the United States.
    Read the full resolution here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins The Daily Signal to Discuss Justice for Angel Families Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington, – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Tony Kinnett with The Daily Signal yesterday to discuss the Justice for Angel Families Act, legislation that would amend the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to expand financial coverage for Angel Families – the immediate relatives of victims killed by illegal aliens, including in drunk driving accidents. This legislation would allow federal funds to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs, easing the financial burden on grieving families.
    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview with Tony Kinnett
    Highlights from the interview include:
    On why we need to support Angel Families:
    Senator Marshall: “You know, for every Laken Riley, there’s dozens of other people that have been murdered by violent, illegal criminal aliens. A lot of them, again, is the DUI issue as well.
    “Those loved ones are often left with… funeral bills, with large hospital bills, as well. And this just helps a little bit of a bridge for that family. And to your point, to take responsibility that we didn’t keep our families safe.”
    On what’s next for immigration reform:
    Senator Marshall: “I think that the emphasis, to me, right now is ‘Promises made, promises kept.’ If President Trump was in this conversation today, right now, he would say, and he has looked at me more than once, said, ‘Roger, I campaigned – No. 1 – more than anything else, more than the economy, was securing the border and making your family safe.’
    “Now, we need legislation, and I have confidence in President Donald Trump. Maybe in the third or fourth year we could go back and fix our broken immigration system. But in the meantime, part of this big, ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ is $50 billion to finish the wall. And then beyond that there’s another $50 billion for raises for our Border Patrol and bonuses… as well.”
    On codifying President Donald Trump’s executive orders:
    Senator Marshall: “We rescinded… major orders, regulatory orders of Joe Biden, rolling back regulations, helping set American energy free, help setting American business free as well.
    “So, that’s one thing that we have done. Rescission packages are the other opportunity…. What the Department of Government Efficiency work has done here, to turn that into law, it takes a rescission package. The White House has to initiate it. It only takes 50 votes as well. And then beyond that, let’s see.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Scott, Coons Reintroduce Legislation to Remove Unnecessary Burdens on Nuclear Licensing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) reintroduced the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, which would boost the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by eliminating outdated processes currently required of the NRC when reviewing new nuclear reactor applications. More specifically, the bill removes the NRC’s mandatory hearing requirement created by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 without limiting opportunities for public engagement.
    “As we work to address efficiency and remove burdensome red tape, refining the NRC’s nuclear reactor license process will ensure South Carolina remains a leader in domestic nuclear energy production while also paving the way for other states to follow our lead,” said Senator Scott. “Our efforts will move us in the right direction for a more secure and robust energy future.”
    “To lower costs for consumers and combat climate change, we have to deliver reliable sources of clean and abundant power, including nuclear energy,” said Senator Coons.“The U.S has only opened a handful of new units in the last three decades, and with electrification and new data centers for artificial intelligence driving tremendous increases in demand for power, we need to remove unnecessary barriers to deploying our world-class nuclear energy technology. This bill takes an important step in cutting red tape that limits the expansion of nuclear construction.”
    “NIA applauds Senators Tim Scott and Chris Coons for introducing the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act. This bill removes the duplicative requirement for Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearings on uncontested reactor license applications. The legislation builds on NRC’s ongoing improvements in effectiveness and efficiency, while allowing for robust public engagement. Timely licensing is important to the successful commercialization of new nuclear technologies,” said Judi Greenwald, Executive Director of Nuclear Innovation Alliance. 
    “An efficient and predictable licensing process is key for companies considering new nuclear technologies,” said Niko McMurray, ClearPath Action’s Managing Director of International and Nuclear Policy. “Removing duplicative processes that do not limit opportunities for public engagement or negatively impact public health and safety allows the NRC staff to focus on what is important. The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act strikes that balance.”
    “Mandatory hearings increase NRC Staff hours by 5-15% beyond the necessary safety and environmental reviews. Since many of these hearings are uncontested, they often involve merely rehashing already-examined topics and do not result in new findings or improve the protection of the public or the environment. This legislation will provide the NRC with the flexibility it previously requested, allowing it to focus resources on critical efforts while maintaining public engagement and retaining the option to hold a hearing when necessary,” said Adam Stein, Director of Nuclear Energy and Innovation of the Breakthrough Institute.
    “Nuclear energy is a key component to an all-of-the-above strategy. The process to build new nuclear power plants is outdated and must be rethought to ensure rapid deployment,” said Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams. “CRES is proud to support Sen. Tim Scott’s bipartisan Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, a commonsense improvement that will streamline the approval process for nuclear reactors and save taxpayer dollars while still upholding the high licensing standards of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.”
    The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act is also supported by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), Third Way, The Nuclear Company (TNC), and Conservatives for Clean Energy.
    The full text of the bill can be found here.
    Background:
    The NRC is currently required by law to hold a mandatory public hearing on every reactor license application towards the end of the licensing process, even after the NRC conducts statutorily required environmental and safety reviews that leave ample room for public engagement by stakeholders and interested citizens. 
    While these “mandatory hearings” provide the public with an opportunity to petition the NRC to intervene and contest the application, in many cases, the hearings are noncontroversial and go uncontested. In these situations where the applications go uncontested, the NRC is still required by statute to hold the hearing, devoting thousands of manhours to provide a public hearing with negligible impacts on the actual public.
    The original justification for an uncontested mandatory hearing was to provide an open forum in which the details of reactor project applications were aired publicly and debated. In 1957, when the mandatory hearing was created in statute, nuclear energy was undoubtedly in a “developmental” period, as the United States had zero commercial nuclear power reactors in operation. Today, the U.S. has over 90 commercial reactors operating in 54 nuclear power plants in 28 different states.
    Getting rid of this duplicative hearing requirement will create more efficiency at the NRC at a time when the agency’s resources should be streamlined by Congress in order to bring its licensing processes into the 21st century.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Judge Orders Release Of Dr. Badar Khan Suri From Detention

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

    Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement celebrating a ruling by Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ordering the release of Beyer’s constituent, Georgetown postdoctoral fellow Dr. Badar Khan Suri, from detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

    “This ruling is a taste of justice for Dr. Badar Khan Suri at last, hopefully the first of many. The administration must comply with this ruling with all possible haste. I am grateful that thanks to Judge Giles’ ruling, Dr. Khan Suri will be returned to be with his family as his case goes forward. His wife and children deserve nothing less, just as Dr. Khan Suri did not deserve to be taken from them and held in a distant detention center for two months.

    “The Trump Administration punished Dr. Khan Suri for rights protected by the First Amendment, denied him due process, then whisked him out of Virginia and into Texas as quickly as it could in search of a more favorable judicial environment to further trample his rights and the Constitution. As the case progressed, the administration failed to offer any evidence of wrongdoing by Dr. Khan Suri, and failed to offer even basic legal justification for its actions. The administration’s claims were rife with dishonesty, and Judge Giles was right to reject them, as she said, to end the chilling impact of this and other related cases on free speech across the country.

    “Dr. Khan Suri was targeted because the Trump Administration wanted to instill fear on American campuses by responding with unnecessarily and illegally draconian force to students and scholars who expressed views they dislike. The administration’s treatment of Dr. Badar Khan Suri and the growing list of others like him has been authoritarian and is a gross betrayal of American values. This persecution of dissent must end.”

    Judge Giles issued an order today requiring ICE to release Dr. Khan Suri and ensure his return to Virginia as his case continues to move through the legal system. In her ruling, she denied that Khan Suri is a flight risk, and did not require bond for his release. Judge Giles made clear that her ruling was motivated by protection of the First Amendment and the right to due process, and noted that her ruling is in the public interest, to end the administration’s chilling impact on free speech across the country. She also noted that the administration has not provided documents or evidence to support its claims about Dr. Khan Suri, which includes failure to provide Secretary of State Rubio’s initial determination that Dr. Khan Suri poses a threat to American foreign policy.

    Dr. Badar Khan Suri is a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University who lives in Arlington, Virginia. He was in the country legally on a visa when he was detained without charges on orders from the Trump Administration in March by masked agents outside his home in Rosslyn, and moved to a series of prisons and detention centers, ultimately ending in Texas. He is still being held there today, over 1,300 miles away from his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, and three young children. According to Khan Suri’s counsel, “His son spent days crying uncontrollably following his father’s disappearance, and has now stopped speaking.” Dr. Khan Suri has never been charged with a crime and the government has never produced evidence that he did anything wrong.

    Beyer met with Dr. Khan Suri’s counsel last month and attended his previous hearing before Judge Giles, which preceded this ruling. Beyer was represented by staff in the audience at today’s hearing. Beyer also previously wrote to the Acting Director of ICE seeking reevaluation of Dr. Khan Suri’s status, including consideration of his eligibility for release and alteration of his “high-risk” custody status.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: It’s up to us to harness our union’s power

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    We are committed to shaping a resilient and forward-thinking future for the Boilermakers union. Being from the field, we know the challenges that Boilermakers face.

    Clint Penny, International Secretary-Treasurer

    Working in the field, I watched craftsmen pour their hearts and souls into their work as Boilermakers. Their dedication and pride in their craft left a lasting impression on me. I remember the first time I walked into a job site as an apprentice: the smell of grinding, the sound of welding.

    And from my early days working on the tools at Local 11 to serving as the President of the Montana State Building Trades Council to today, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of unity and dedication. International President Simmons and the entire International Executive Council share this commitment. Having served in various crucial roles, from working on the tools to leading recruitment and organizing for our union to serving as International leaders, this is a team with a wealth of experience.

    We see a clear vision in harnessing the power of our union—the power of our unity. To strengthen our organization; to increase member engagement by encouraging active participation in political campaigns, building relationships and alliances with other unions and organizations, encouraging community involvement, growing our digital communications and public and media relations. For too long, our union has shied away from these important elements of unionism.

    Providing resources and training on political activism, for example, will empower members to be vocal advocates for their rights. Too many Boilermakers have shrunk away from our union’s duty to political involvement—adding our labor voices to impact our work and our union rights.

    Building stronger alliances with other labor unions, advocacy groups and community organizations will also help us by forming a united front on labor issues. Collaborating on joint initiatives will amplify our collective impact. Enhancing our digital presence through social media and online campaigns will allow us to engage with a broader audience and raise awareness about our union’s activities and achievements. Building relationships through social media outlets and launching public awareness campaigns will educate the public about our union’s efforts, fostering a positive image and garnering support for our causes.

    Our vision is to focus on these key areas:

    • Member Engagement: We will increase member engagement by encouraging active participation in political campaigns, town hall meetings and community events. We will provide resources and training on political activism to empower members to be vocal advocates for their rights.

    • Alliances and Coalitions: Building stronger alliances with other labor unions, advocacy groups and community organizations will help us form a united front on labor issues. Collaborating on joint initiatives will amplify our collective impact.

    • Digital Platforms: Enhancing our digital presence through more social media and online campaigns will allow us to engage with a broader audience and raise awareness about our union’s activities and achievements.

    • Public Relations: Building relationships with media outlets and launching public awareness campaigns will educate the public about our union’s efforts, fostering a positive image and garnering support for our cause.

    • The M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund: To maximize the impact of the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund, we will strategically allocate resources to key areas. In marketing, we will use advertising campaigns, public relations and outreach to industries to enhance our efforts to showcase the benefits of joining the Boilermakers union. For organizing, we will identify potential workplaces for unionization, build relationships with workers and provide support throughout the organizing process to bring more workers into the union. In recruitment, we will highlight the advantages of union membership, including our exceptional training programs and opportunities for career advancement, attracting new members to our ranks. For employment, we will create job opportunities by partnering with employers, advocating for labor-friendly policies and promoting our skilled workforce to potential employers.

     Our M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund is a strategic initiative that embodies our commitment to growth and sustainability. By focusing on Marketing, Organizing, Recruitment and Employment, we aim to increase membership and man-hours. Through targeted efforts in these areas, we will promote the Boilermakers union, attract new members and create job opportunities for our skilled workforce. The M.O.R.E. Work program has already seen success, and we are committed to expanding and innovating to ensure its continued impact.

    Together, under the leadership of Tim Simmons, the full International Executive Council and myself, we are committed to shaping a resilient and forward-thinking future for the Boilermakers union. Being from the field we know the challenges that Boilermakers face; and by focusing on strengthening our union and leveraging the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund, we will remain strong advocates for workers’ rights, industry advancements and the well-being of Boilermaker members. Let us move forward with determination, unity and a shared vision of a brighter tomorrow.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: $190M Raised: Canada’s Top 20 Moonshot Ventures™ of 2025 Unveiled After Closed-Door NACO Showcase

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Canada’s most promising early-stage companies officially unveiled today following a closed-door showcase at the NACO Summit, with ventures spanning AI, cleantech, healthtech, and space.

    OTTAWA, Ontario, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) today unveiled Canada’s Top 20 Moonshot Ventures™ of 2025—emerging companies led by bold entrepreneurs building transformative solutions across sectors.

    These ventures were selected through a rigorous, member-driven process. NACO invited its 100 member organizations—Canada’s leading angel groups, incubators, accelerators and early-stage venture capital funds—to each nominate one high-potential company. From this curated pool, 23 ventures were selected by NACO’s investment committee to take the Moonshots Stage™ at a closed-door NACO showcase held at the National Arts Centre during NACO Summit 2025. The audience featured top-tier angel investors, venture capitalists, and senior corporate leaders.

    “Ontario’s future depends on entrepreneurs, risk takers, and the investors who believe in them” said Premier Doug Ford, “That’s what makes events like this so important. As we face global economic uncertainty, Ontario’s innovators are leading the way, building new companies and creating jobs.”

    Collectively, the selected Moonshots companies have raised over $190 million to date. They represent the future of Canadian innovation—driving breakthroughs in AI, cleantech, healthtech, space, deeptech, consumer products, and more. Founders hailed from across the country, with companies based in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. The 2025 Moonshots cohort includes founders from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and regions—reflecting the inclusive strength and geographic breadth of Canada’s innovation economy.

    “These founders represent the bold ideas, entrepreneurial drive, and global ambition within Canada’s innovation economy,” said Claudio Rojas, CEO of NACO. “The Moonshots Venture Showcase is designed to elevate the country’s most promising ventures by connecting them with the capital and networks they need to scale. We are proud to spotlight these exceptional companies as they take bold steps toward transformative growth and impact.”

    Top 20 Moonshots Stage™ Ventures of 2025

    Organized by sector and listed alphabetically

    AI & Next Gen Computing

    • Dreamwell AI — Co-Founder and CEO Kazzy Khazaal (Nominated by Panache Ventures)
    • Inner Logic — Co-Founder and CEO Bryce Tully (Nominated by Maple Leaf Angels)

    AI & Bioelectronics

    • Panaxium — Founder and CEO Brad Schmidt (Nominated by Brampton Angels / Altitude Accelerator)

    Cleantech

    • BluWave-ai — Founder and CEO Devashish Paul (Nominated by Capital Angel Network)
    • Evercloak — Co-Founder and CEO Evelyn Allen (Nominated by Capital Angel Network)

    Cleantech & Trade

    • PemPem — Founder and CEO Joann de Zegher (Nominated by Anges Quebec)

    Consumer Packaged Goods & Retail

    • The Little Cacao Co. — Founder and CEO Suzie Yorke (Nominated by Maple Leaf Angels)

    Enterprise, Software, & Deeptech

    • Cinareo — Co-Founder and CEO Karen Elliott (Nominated by SheBoot)
    • Depix AI — Founder and CEO Philip Lunn (Nominated by TandemLaunch)
    • H2 Analytics — Founder and CEO Hugo Hodgett (Nominated by Invest Ottawa)

    Healthtech & Biotech

    • Arbutus Medical — Founder and CEO Lawrence Buchan (Nominated by ThresholdImpact)
    • Hyivy Health — Founder and CEO Rachel Bartholomew (Nominated by Women’s Equity Lab)
    • JVP Labs — Founder and CEO Paul Weber (Nominated by Golden Triangle Angel Network)
    • mDetect — Founder and CDO Dr. Irsa Wiginton (Nominated by KNDL, Kingston Economic Development Corporation)
    • MedInclude — Founder and CEO Seun Adetunji (Nominated by Communitech)
    • Sparrow Bio — Founder and VP Rachel Collier (Nominated by The Firehood)
    • Zilia — Founder and CEO Dr. Patrick Sauvageau (Nominated by Anges Quebec)

    Insurtech, Femtech, & AI

    • Flora Fertility — Co-Founder and CEO Laura McDonald (Nominated by Highline Beta)

    Robotics, IoT, and Hardware

    • Solace Power — Founder, COO and CFO Colin Ryan

    Space, Mining, and Oceans

    • Mission Control Space Services — Founder and CEO Ewan Reid (Nominated by GreenSky President’s Club)
    • Open Ocean Robotics — Founder and CEO Julie Angus (Nominated by Spring Activator)

    Supply Chain / Inventory Management

    • Moselle — Founder and CEO Lakhveer Jajj (Nominated by Highline Beta, Angel One Investor Network)

    Travel & Media

    • The Hotel Communication Network — Founder and CEO Kevin Bidner (Nominated by Keiretsu Forum Canada)

    About the Nominating Organizations

    Canada’s Top 20 Moonshots Ventures™ of 2025 are shaped by the insight and leadership of NACO’s national member network. These organizations—spanning angel groups, accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs—play a vital role in identifying Canada’s most promising early-stage ventures.

    Each year, members are invited to nominate one high-potential Seed or Series A company they believe is ready for scale. This peer-driven process creates a national filter rooted in trust, experience, and proximity to innovation on the ground. The result is a curated group of ventures with strong traction, compelling leadership, and global ambition—brought together to engage with the country’s most sophisticated investors at the Moonshots Venture Showcase.

    About the Moonshots Stage™

    Launched in 2022, the Moonshots Stage™ is Canada’s premier platform for investment-ready Seed and Series A ventures. Unlike traditional pitch events, this showcase puts storytelling front and center—each founder delivers a personal, TED-style presentation designed to spark connection and catalyze opportunity with one of the most curated investor audiences in the country.

    Selected companies join the Moonshots Alumni Network™, a national peer community of ventures recognized for innovation, ambition, and global potential. It is a key pillar of NACO Summit, Canada’s most exclusive gathering of early-stage investors and innovation leaders.

    Learn more at nacosummit.com

    Media Contact:

    media@nacocanada.com / www.nacocanada.com

    About National Angel Capital Organization (NACO)

    Established in 2002, NACO is Canada’s professional association representing over 4,000 angel investors, serving as the national umbrella for more than 100 member organizations—including angel groups, venture funds, incubators, and accelerators. Collectively, NACO members have invested more than CAD $1.8 billion into over 2,000 Canadian ventures.

    Angel investors are individuals and funds deploying capital at the earliest stages of growth. They include limited partners (LPs) investing in venture funds, family offices backing pre-seed and seed-stage ventures, and individuals investing directly or through angel groups.

    High-growth companies backed by angel investment that went on to achieve significant global scale include Slack (British Columbia), Verafin (Newfoundland and Labrador), Wealthsimple (Ontario), Hopper (Québec), and Jobber and Neo Financial (Alberta). Recent standouts include CoLab (NL) and 7shifts (Saskatchewan). These successes illustrate how angel investment drives Canada’s pipeline of innovative ventures, fueling future global success stories.

    Learn more at nacocanada.com

    For media inquiries, contact:
    Claudio Rojas, CEO, National Angel Capital Organization
    Email: media@nacocanada.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05dbaabe-343b-48f0-981f-6280c5881a57

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Elmhurst University

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Located just west of Chicago, Elmhurst University combines a well-rounded academic experience with a focus on practical, hands-on learning. In our inclusive community, students gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel. Students collaborate in its inclusive community with faculty members who are scholars, practitioners and passionate teachers. Its students develop a versatile skillset that sets them up for enduring success in their career and beyond.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Philippine Academic Society for Climate and Disaster Resilience (PASCDR)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Philippine Academic Society for Climate and Disaster Resilience (PASCDR) is an organization dedicated to consolidate academic resources and expertise to assist in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR).

    PASCDR is conceived as a platform where the Filipino academic community can share knowledge, experiences, resources and commitment towards our resilience to disasters and climate crises.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNIFIL Statement (14 May 2025)

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    UNIFIL is concerned by the recent aggressive posture of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) involving UNIFIL personnel and assets near the Blue Line, including yesterday’s incident in which a direct fire hit the perimeter of a UNIFIL position south of the village of Kfar Shouba.

    In yesterday’s incident, peacekeepers observed two shots fired from south of the Blue Line with one of them hitting the UNIFIL base.

    This marks the first time a UNIFIL position has been directly hit since the 27 November cessation of hostilities understanding while in this period UNIFIL has observed at least four other incidents involving IDF fire near its positions along the Blue Line.

    In recent days, UNIFIL has also observed other aggressive behaviour by the IDF towards peacekeepers performing operational activities in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701.

    Also yesterday, UNIFIL peacekeepers performing a patrol with the Lebanese army near Maroun ar-Ra’s reported being targeted by a laser from a nearby IDF position.

    In another incident south of Alma ash-Shaab on 7 May, laser beams were pointed towards a UNIFIL patrol from two IDF Merkava tanks. As the patrol began to move, a drone flew approximately five metres above it, following the patrol for about a kilometre. Separately, on the same day, an aerial vehicle repeatedly flew over a UNIFIL position east of Houla.

    UNIFIL protests all such and we continue to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN assets and premises at all times.

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    https://t.me/UNIFIL_Lebanon

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: 2025 Civil Society Forum: African Development Bank and Civil Society Reaffirm Alliance for Africa’s Transformation

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 14, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank www.AfDB.org has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to collaborating with African civil society to advance the continent’s development agenda. This was a key message of the 2025 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum, which was successfully held on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Abidjan.

    The forum, organized under the theme: “Celebrating the Contribution of Civil Society to Africa’s Development,” brought together over 150 participants at the Bank’s headquarters, with thousands more connected online across Africa and the diaspora.

    A Novel Action Plan to Deepen Engagement

    This edition of the CSO Forum marked a pivotal step in reinforcing a solid, transformative, and trust-based partnership between the African Development Bank and civil society organizations. This enduring alliance is essential for collectively serving African populations and achieving impactful development across the continent.

    The forum provided an opportunity for the Bank to present its Civil Society Engagement Action Plan (2024–2028), reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive and participatory development process.

    Zeneb Touré, Manager of the Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, presented the strategic framework to Beth Dunford, the African Development Bank Group’s Vice-President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development, who accepted it on behalf of the institution’s President, Akinwumi Adesina.

    Demonstrating the Bank’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive partnership, Dunford shared the Action Plan with representatives of key civil society components: the Bank-Civil Society Committee, the Climate and Energy Coalition, and a continental network of women entrepreneurs’ associations.

    Augustine Njamnshi, a prominent voice in the civil society climate and energy movement, welcomed its adoption: “The approval of this Action Plan marks a historic turning point in our collaboration with the African Development Bank Group. Born from a shared vision, this document becomes our collective legacy. We express our sincere gratitude to the Bank for this profound act of trust.”

    Highlighting the essential role of civil society as an integral part of Africa’s progress, Kolyang Palebele, representative of the Platform of Farmers’ Organizations of Africa, expressed the spirit of collaboration, praising “the Bank’s unique power to unite the continent’s driving forces around a common vision of improving the lives of African people.” “Civil society is not on the margins of development dynamics; it is the very essence, its living memory and its engine for change,” Mr. Palebele stated.

    “Over the years, civil society engagement has become a cornerstone of the African Development Bank’s work. What was once an aspiration has become evolved into a structured, institutionalized, and results-oriented collaboration partnership.” Ms. Dunford emphasized.

    Empowering Communities Through Decentralized Engagement

    During the forum, an important session highlighted the progress made in decentralizing the Bank’s engagement with civil society. Successful experiences from the five regions of Africa were presented. This localized approach was strongly commended by the Vice-President for Regional Development, Integration and Service Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo, who appreciated a transformative cross-border initiative between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project has provided over 2.4 million people with access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, while strengthening community resilience and fostering cooperation.

    Fostering Mutual Accountability Through Open Dialogue

    The forum culminated in an unprecedented and frank dialogue between senior representatives from seven strategic departments of the Bank and leaders of civil society organizations. Discussions focused on crucial areas such as access to information, environmental and social safeguards, climate action, agriculture, gender equality, youth empowerment, and grievance mechanisms. This essential interaction highlighted a shared commitment to transparency, responsiveness, and mutual accountability in the pursuit of sustainable development outcomes.

    MIL OSI Africa –