NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA announces one-year extension of trial visa-free entry for nationals of New Southbound Policy partner countries Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA announces one-year extension of trial visa-free entry for nationals of New Southbound Policy partner countries Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026

    • Date：2025-06-14
    • Data Source：Bureau of Consular Affairs

    June 14, 2025

    In line with efforts to promote the New Southbound Policy (NSP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) convened a meeting on April 16 with relevant government agencies on further improving visa measures for nationals of NSP partner countries traveling to Taiwan. The meeting conducted a comprehensive review of existing visa and entry measures, focusing on the trial visa-free entry program for nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines; the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries; and conditional visa-free entry through the Online Application for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) scheme for nationals of Southeast Asian countries.

    After evaluating the effectiveness of the above measures over the past years, participating agencies decided to extend the trial visa-free entry program for one year for nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. In addition, the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries will be extended for a further year through December 31, 2026, and the conditional visa-free entry through the TAC scheme will remain in place.

    MOFA will continue to review and fine-tune visa policies, with a view to strengthening bilateral relations and attracting more visitors while ensuring border and public security. MOFA will also continue to communicate with the governments of related countries to enhance visa treatment for Taiwan nationals and make their overseas travel more convenient.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin presents Friendship Medal of Diplomacy to former French Senator Gattolin

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin presents Friendship Medal of Diplomacy to former French Senator Gattolin

    • Date：2025-06-16
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 16, 2025  

    No. 211  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung presented the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy to former French Senator André Gattolin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on the morning of June 16 in recognition of his long-standing efforts to promote Taiwan-France relations and his staunch support of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

     

    In his speech, Minister Lin stated that Mr. Gattolin had long been a good friend of Taiwan in the French Senate, sparing no effort to speak up for Taiwan over the years. He pointed out that during the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020, Mr. Gattolin had taken the lead in bringing together a total of 110 members from both chambers of the French Parliament to sign an open letter calling for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization, helping Taiwan gain widespread recognition in France and paving the way for the first passage of resolutions supportive of Taiwan in 2021 by both chambers. 

     

    He also mentioned that Mr. Gattolin had worked with French parliamentarians friendly to Taiwan to facilitate the adoption of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023, reiterating France’s continued defense of freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. He added that during Mr. Gattolin’s tenure as French cochair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in 2020, he had enthusiastically encouraged French parliamentarians to participate in various IPAC initiatives. On behalf of MOFA, Minister Lin extended sincere appreciation to Mr. Gattolin for having actively deepened Taiwan-France relations and expressed hope that he would continue to leverage his influence to further this bilateral friendship.

     

    Mr. Gattolin said in his remarks that the honor of receiving the medal was not only a recognition of him personally but also a commendation of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group. He observed that the French Parliament’s support for Taiwan had continued to expand, noting that the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group had grown to over 60 members and that they continued to exhort the French government to attach greater importance to Taiwan. He stated that he was profoundly pleased to have been able to facilitate the training of Taiwan’s Olympic and Paralympic teams in his electoral district of Levallois-Perret last year. And as current vice chair of the IPAC Alumni Council, Mr. Gattolin affirmed that he continued to pay close attention to the situation across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

     

    Deputy Director of the French Office in Taipei Cléa Le Cardeur, former Minister of Taiwan’s Council for Cultural Affairs Tchen Yu-chiou, and Chair of the Egret Cultural and Educational Foundation Lu Chia-hui attended the award ceremony and offered their congratulations. The atmosphere was heartfelt and earnest. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alternating lane closures on LaSalle Causeway

    Source: Government of Canada News

    For immediate release

    Kingston, Ontario, June 18, 2025 – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise motorists of intermittent alternating lane closures on the LaSalle Causeway to continue with carrying out modifications to the bridge structure during the following periods:

    • Thursday, June 19, from 12 to 3 pm, and from 7 to 10 pm  

    During these periods, single-lane closures may be encountered. Motorists can expect short delays.

    Pedestrians will have access to the sidewalk.

    Please obey all signage and instructions given by flag persons on site.

    PSPC encourages users to exercise caution when travelling on the bridge and thanks them for their patience.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Xia Baolong arrives in HK

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong arrived in Hong Kong this evening.

    Mr Xia will attend the 5th Anniversary of Promulgation & Implementation of Hong Kong National Security Law Forum organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on June 21. He will also take the opportunity to inspect the latest economic and social developments of Hong Kong.

    Upon arrival in Hong Kong, Mr Xia went to Government House to meet Chief Executive John Lee and heads of the executive authorities, the legislature and the judiciary, and had exchanges with senior officials of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

    Mr Lee expressed gratitude to Mr Xia for his continued concern and support for Hong Kong. He also extended his warmest welcome to Mr Xia on his visit to Hong Kong for the forum and inspection.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Rosanna Law ends Shanghai visit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law today visited the Shanghai Museum on People’s Square and a CPC memorial hall, met Shanghai Administration of Sports Director Xu Bin, and attended the WestK Shanghai Week 2025 opening ceremony and dinner.

    At the Shanghai Museum on People’s Square, Miss Law was given a guided tour of the exhibition, “On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt”, and met Shanghai Museum Deputy Director Huang He who shared his experiences in developing and designing creative products.

    At a working lunch with Mr Xu, Miss Law shared Hong Kong’s progress and achievements in promoting sports development.

    Miss Law hoped through today’s exchange to learn from Shanghai’s experiences in hosting the same events and further improve the preparatory work for the 15th National Games, and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities & the 9th National Special Olympic Games.

    In the afternoon, she visited the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and met the memorial’s Party Committee Secretary and Director Xue Feng.

    Noting that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is setting up a museum on the country’s developments and achievements, and preparing shows related to the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Miss Law said she intended to seek guidance through the visit.

    In the evening, the culture chief attended the WestK Shanghai Week 2025 opening ceremony and dinner.

    Addressing the event, she said the WestK Shanghai Week, kick-started today by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), is the first time a series of exhibitions and performing arts programmes and cultural exchange activities have been brought outside Hong Kong.

    This is not only an important milestone of the Hong Kong SAR Government driving top-notch arts, cultural and creative programmes to go global, but also attracts local and overseas visitors to Hong Kong, she added.

    In the morning, Miss Law visited the “WestK x MANNER” limited-edition art collaboration themed store, jointly rolled out by the WKCDA and Shanghai’s beloved coffee brand MANNER COFFEE.

    On Tuesday, upon arrival, she had a working lunch with representatives of the Shanghai Shendi Group management to exchange information on the latest tourism situation in Shanghai and Hong Kong as well as toured the Shanghai Disney Resort to learn about its operation and development.

    Miss Law returned to Hong Kong this evening.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE worksite enforcement operation uncovers widespread identity theft affecting more than 100 victims across the nation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    OMAHA, Neb. — A recent worksite enforcement operation led by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed massive identity theft impacting unsuspecting U.S. citizens whose personal information was used by illegal aliens to gain unlawful employment at Glenn Valley Foods.

    The ICE-led multiagency investigation uncovered approximately 70 illegal aliens who were using stolen Social Security numbers and identities to unlawfully obtain wages, health benefits and employment authorization, leaving more than 100 real victims to face devastating financial, emotional and legal consequences.

    “There have been individuals who have gone on the record recently referring to the identity thieves we arrested last week as ‘good, hardworking, and honest,’” said Mark Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City, which covers Omaha. “These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans. If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant, criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”

    Some examples of the impact of these stolen identities include:

    • A healthcare provider was forced to deny medically necessary prescriptions to a victim in Pennsylvania after his identity was stolen. It was later determined that someone used the victim’s name and Social Security number to illegally gain employment and healthcare benefits based on fraudulent employment at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A disabled victim in Texas, who was unable to work, struggled to get their Social Security disability payments because an illegal alien was fraudulently using their identity and earning wages at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • The IRS requested a victim in Colorado to repay more than $5,000 after their income was falsely increased due to an illegal alien stealing their identity and using it to work at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A full-time nursing student from Missouri lost their college tuition assistance because it was fraudulently reported that they earned too much money. The investigation revealed that an illegal alien at Glenn Valley Foods was using their Social Security number for employment. The same victim was also unable to renew their Missouri driver’s license, until HSI contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles on their behalf, because the alien who stole her identity has multiple unpaid traffic violations.
    • A victim in California has been working for nearly 15 years to regain their identity and fix the financial damage done by an illegal alien who was working at Glenn Valley Foods.

    “The criminals who stole these identities didn’t just break the law, they upended lives,” concluded Zito. “These victims aren’t faceless statistics; they’re real people who are being denied healthcare and have lost educational opportunities.”

    The investigation is ongoing.

    Members of the public with information about suspected immigration violations or related criminal activity are encouraged to contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit information online via the ICE Tip Form.

    To schedule an interview please contact Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman at Tanya.Roman@hsi.dhs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE worksite enforcement operation uncovers widespread identity theft affecting more than 100 victims across the nation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    OMAHA, Neb. — A recent worksite enforcement operation led by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed massive identity theft impacting unsuspecting U.S. citizens whose personal information was used by illegal aliens to gain unlawful employment at Glenn Valley Foods.

    The ICE-led multiagency investigation uncovered approximately 70 illegal aliens who were using stolen Social Security numbers and identities to unlawfully obtain wages, health benefits and employment authorization, leaving more than 100 real victims to face devastating financial, emotional and legal consequences.

    “There have been individuals who have gone on the record recently referring to the identity thieves we arrested last week as ‘good, hardworking, and honest,’” said Mark Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City, which covers Omaha. “These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans. If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant, criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”

    Some examples of the impact of these stolen identities include:

    • A healthcare provider was forced to deny medically necessary prescriptions to a victim in Pennsylvania after his identity was stolen. It was later determined that someone used the victim’s name and Social Security number to illegally gain employment and healthcare benefits based on fraudulent employment at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A disabled victim in Texas, who was unable to work, struggled to get their Social Security disability payments because an illegal alien was fraudulently using their identity and earning wages at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • The IRS requested a victim in Colorado to repay more than $5,000 after their income was falsely increased due to an illegal alien stealing their identity and using it to work at Glenn Valley Foods.
    • A full-time nursing student from Missouri lost their college tuition assistance because it was fraudulently reported that they earned too much money. The investigation revealed that an illegal alien at Glenn Valley Foods was using their Social Security number for employment. The same victim was also unable to renew their Missouri driver’s license, until HSI contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles on their behalf, because the alien who stole her identity has multiple unpaid traffic violations.
    • A victim in California has been working for nearly 15 years to regain their identity and fix the financial damage done by an illegal alien who was working at Glenn Valley Foods.

    “The criminals who stole these identities didn’t just break the law, they upended lives,” concluded Zito. “These victims aren’t faceless statistics; they’re real people who are being denied healthcare and have lost educational opportunities.”

    The investigation is ongoing.

    Members of the public with information about suspected immigration violations or related criminal activity are encouraged to contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit information online via the ICE Tip Form.

    To schedule an interview please contact Public Affairs Officer Tanya Roman at Tanya.Roman@hsi.dhs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 1397, International Quantum Research Exchange Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 1397 would require the Department of State to promote international research in quantum information science, a field that uses subatomic particles to store, carry, and process data. Under the bill, the department would award grants to institutions of higher education and scientist exchange programs focused on quantum information science. The bill also would direct the department to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of those efforts.

    S. 1397 would authorize the appropriation of $20 million for the department to support quantum research. Under the bill, the authority to conduct such research activities would terminate 10 years after enactment. CBO expects that the department would spend $2 million annually during the authorized term of the program. Thus, subject to the appropriation of the specified amounts, implementing S. 1397 would cost $10 million over the 2025-2030 period and $20 million over the 2025-2035 period, CBO estimates.

    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 150 (international affairs).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under S. 1397
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		  
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2025-2030

    Authorization

    0

    20

    0

    0

    0

    0

    20

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    2

    2

    2

    2

    2

    10

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aldo Prosperi. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 1397, International Quantum Research Exchange Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 1397 would require the Department of State to promote international research in quantum information science, a field that uses subatomic particles to store, carry, and process data. Under the bill, the department would award grants to institutions of higher education and scientist exchange programs focused on quantum information science. The bill also would direct the department to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of those efforts.

    S. 1397 would authorize the appropriation of $20 million for the department to support quantum research. Under the bill, the authority to conduct such research activities would terminate 10 years after enactment. CBO expects that the department would spend $2 million annually during the authorized term of the program. Thus, subject to the appropriation of the specified amounts, implementing S. 1397 would cost $10 million over the 2025-2030 period and $20 million over the 2025-2035 period, CBO estimates.

    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 150 (international affairs).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under S. 1397
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		  
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2025-2030

    Authorization

    0

    20

    0

    0

    0

    0

    20

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    2

    2

    2

    2

    2

    10

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aldo Prosperi. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Launches PATH NC – Statewide Child Welfare Information System to Support Better Outcomes for Children and Families

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Launches PATH NC – Statewide Child Welfare Information System to Support Better Outcomes for Children and Families

    NCDHHS Launches PATH NC – Statewide Child Welfare Information System to Support Better Outcomes for Children and Families
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    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina), a new statewide information system that marks a major step forward in modernizing the administration of child welfare services. PATH NC equips child welfare staff with real-time data and decision-making tools to better protect children and to improve outcomes for children and families across the state.

    Until now, North Carolina’s 100 county departments of social services, who administer child welfare services, have operated with a patchwork of independent data systems – nearly half of counties are still largely reliant on manual processes and paper records for child welfare operations. PATH NC will bring all 100 counties together for the first time into a unified system.

    “PATH NC is more than a technology upgrade – it’s an investment in North Carolina’s children and families,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “By providing social services staff with better tools, clearer data and integrated support, we are laying the foundation for a safer, more responsive child welfare system that delivers better, more consistent results – no matter where you live.”

    NCDHHS’ goal for PATH NC was not merely to create a system that collects information, but also to improve child welfare practice through evidence-based tools and actionable insights for the workforce. While developing the new system, the department worked in close collaboration with county leaders to fully redesign the state’s Structured Decision-Making (SDM) tools. Nationally certified by Evident Change for accuracy and consistent results, the new SDM tools within PATH NC help frontline staff better identify and assess risk and safety concerns when responding to reports of child abuse or neglect.

    Over the last five years, NCDHHS has worked hand-in-hand with North Carolina’s county departments of social services to plan, develop and test both PATH NC and the SDM tools. The department’s projected total investment for the new system’s design, development, training and implementation is approximately $65 million. An early review of cases supported by PATH NC and the new SDM tools shows promising results – county intake decisions are consistently aligned with state policies and best practice in child protective services.

    “We’ve built PATH NC from the ground up in collaboration with county leaders to ensure it meets the current, real-world needs of North Carolina’s child welfare social workers,” said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs. “It’s designed to improve the everyday experience of staff while making it easier to track, report and respond to what’s happening in real time. PATH NC is a critical part of our work to transform the child welfare system and improve the lives of children and families in North Carolina.”

    The new system aligns with NCDHHS’ broader efforts to strengthen system oversight and modernize service delivery. Key features of PATH NC include:

    • Mobile-Friendly Design – The system supports documentation from the field, including some offline functionality, so that staff can update case records while conducting assessments, facilitating family visits, attending court and more.
    • Decision-Making Tools – PATH NC’s new certified SDM tools provide built-in risk and safety assessments, dashboards and real-time alerts for county staff and supervisors.
    • Advanced Capabilities – The system features global search functionality, comprehensive data analytics and dashboards. The platform also has the capability to add automated policy support functions and dedicated portals for providers and families in the future.
    • Comprehensive Case Management – Fully implemented, PATH NC will include modules for intake, assessment, in-home services, foster care, adoption, financials, licensing and eligibility all together in one system.
    • Data Accessibility – Once all counties have transitioned to PATH NC, staff will be able to access statewide data, including a family’s full history with child welfare services, regardless of whether they move or transfer to a different county.
    • Integrated Systems – PATH NC is designed to interface with other child-serving systems such as NC Medicaid, the NC Department of Public Instruction and other partner agencies in the future, which will streamline information sharing and reduce administrative burden across the system.

    The statewide rollout of PATH NC began June 2, 2025, with an initial cohort of 15 counties using the system to support child welfare intakes and assessments. Over the next eight months, all remaining counties will transition to PATH NC for intake and assessment. Implementation for ongoing case management modules will begin in early 2026 and is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026. This phased rollout allows NCDHHS to provide targeted training and individualized support as each cohort of counties prepares to transition to PATH NC. The department will continue to update and improve the system based on user feedback throughout the implementation process.

    “PATH NC is going to be a game changer for the state, and we’re excited to be among the first counties leading the way,” said Christa Smith, Director of Forsyth County DSS. “The system gives our staff the right tools to make timely, informed decisions, and it gives our supervisors the data they need to identify trends and improve practice. We look forward to seeing everything PATH NC will do for us and our DSS partners across the state.”

    PATH NC is a critical step forward in NCDHHS’ ongoing effort to transform child welfare in North Carolina through systemic change, increased access to services, better data and stronger alignment among state and county systems. By streamlining documentation processes and providing real-time access to child welfare data for users across the system, PATH NC offers more opportunity for state and county staff to pinpoint trends or challenges in child welfare practice and address them sooner – ultimately leading to a stronger system and better outcomes for children and families.

    To learn more about ongoing initiatives to transform child welfare services in North Carolina, read NCDHHS’ Transforming Child Welfare in North Carolina: A Unified Vision for Children and Families. 

    Click here for NCDHHS B-roll footage of PATH NC for intake and assessments.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anunció hoy el lanzamiento del centro de colaboración y tecnología PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina), un nuevo sistema de información estatal que marca un importante paso adelante en la modernización de la administración de los servicios de bienestar infantil. PATH NC equipa al personal de bienestar infantil con datos en tiempo real y herramientas de toma de decisiones para proteger mejor a los niños y mejorar los resultados para los niños y las familias en todo el estado.

    Hasta ahora, los 100 departamentos de servicios sociales del condado de Carolina del Norte que administran los servicios de bienestar infantil han operado con una mezcla de sistemas de datos independientes: casi la mitad de los condados todavía dependen en gran medida de procesos manuales y registros en papel para las operaciones de bienestar infantil. PATH NC reunirá a los 100 condados por primera vez en un sistema unificado.

    “PATH NC es más que una actualización tecnológica: es una inversión en los niños y las familias de Carolina del Norte”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Al proporcionar al personal de servicios sociales mejores herramientas, datos más claros y apoyo integrado, estamos sentando las bases para un sistema de bienestar infantil más seguro y receptivo que ofrece resultados mejores y más consistentes, sin importar dónde viva”.

    El objetivo del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) para PATH NC no era simplemente crear un sistema que recopile información, sino también mejorar la práctica de bienestar infantil a través de herramientas basadas en evidencia e información procesable para la fuerza laboral. Mientras desarrollaba el nuevo sistema, el departamento trabajó en estrecha colaboración con los líderes del condado para rediseñar completamente las herramientas de toma de decisiones estructuradas del estado (Structured Decision-Making, o SDM, por sus siglas en inglés). Las nuevas herramientas de SDM dentro de PATH NC están certificadas a nivel nacional por Evident Change por su precisión y resultados consistentes y ayudan al personal de primera línea a identificar y evaluar mejor los riesgos y las preocupaciones de seguridad al responder a los reportes de abuso o negligencia infantil.

    Durante los últimos cinco años, el NCDHHS ha trabajado mano a mano con los departamentos de servicios sociales del condado de Carolina del Norte para planificar, desarrollar y probar tanto PATH NC como las herramientas de SDM. La inversión total proyectada del departamento para el diseño, desarrollo, capacitación e implementación del nuevo sistema es de aproximadamente $ 65 millones. Una revisión temprana de los casos respaldados por PATH NC y las nuevas herramientas de SDM muestra resultados prometedores: las decisiones de admisión del condado están alineadas consistentemente con las políticas estatales y las mejores prácticas en los servicios de protección infantil.

    “Hemos construido PATH NC desde cero en colaboración con los líderes del condado para garantizar que satisfaga las necesidades actuales y reales de los trabajadores sociales de bienestar infantil de Carolina del Norte”, dijo Michael Leighs, subsecretario de Oportunidades y Bienestar del NCDHHS. “Está diseñado para mejorar la experiencia diaria del personal al tiempo que facilita el seguimiento, la presentación de informes y la respuesta a lo que está sucediendo en tiempo real. PATH NC es una parte fundamental de nuestro trabajo para transformar el sistema de bienestar infantil y mejorar las vidas de los niños y las familias en Carolina del Norte “.

    El nuevo sistema se alinea con los esfuerzos más amplios del NCDHHS para fortalecer la supervisión del sistema y modernizar la prestación de servicios. Las características clave de PATH NC incluyen:

    • Diseño compatible con dispositivos móviles: el sistema admite documentación desde el campo, incluidas algunas funciones fuera de línea, para que el personal pueda actualizar los registros de casos mientras realiza evaluaciones, facilita visitas familiares, asiste a la corte y más.
    • Herramientas de toma de decisiones: Las nuevas herramientas certificadas de SDM de PATH NC proporcionan evaluaciones integradas de riesgos y seguridad, tableros y alertas en tiempo real para el personal y los supervisores del condado.
    • Capacidades avanzadas: el sistema cuenta con funcionalidad de búsqueda global, análisis de datos completos y tableros. La plataforma también tiene la capacidad de agregar funciones automatizadas de apoyo de políticas y portales dedicados para proveedores y familias en el futuro.
    • Gestión integral de casos: Completamente implementado, PATH NC incluirá módulos para admisión, evaluación, servicios en el hogar, cuidado de crianza, adopción, finanzas, licencias y elegibilidad, todo en un solo sistema.
    • Acceso a datos: Una vez que todos los condados hayan hecho la transición a PATH NC, el personal podrá acceder a los datos de todo el estado, incluido el historial completo de una familia con los servicios de bienestar infantil, independientemente de si se mudan o se transfieren a un condado diferente.
    • Sistemas integrados: PATH NC está diseñado para interactuar con otros sistemas de servicio infantil como NC Medicaid, el Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte y otras agencias asociadas en el futuro, lo que agilizará el intercambio de información y reducirá la carga administrativa en todo el sistema.

    El despliegue estatal de PATH NC comenzó el 2 de junio de 2025, con un conjunto inicial de 15 condados que utilizan el sistema para apoyar las admisiones y evaluaciones de bienestar infantil. Durante los próximos ocho meses, todos los condados restantes harán la transición a PATH NC para admisiones y evaluaciones. La implementación de los módulos de gestión de casos en curso comenzará a principios de 2026 y se espera que se complete en el verano de 2026. Esta implementación gradual permite al NCDHHS proporcionar capacitación específica y apoyo individualizado a medida que cada conjunto de condados se prepara para la transición a PATH NC. El departamento continuará actualizando y mejorando el sistema en función de los comentarios de los usuarios durante todo el proceso de implementación.

    “PATH NC va a cambiar las reglas del juego para el estado, y estamos entusiasmados de estar entre los primeros condados que lideran el camino”, dijo Christa Smith, directora del Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado de Forsyth. “El sistema brinda a nuestro personal las herramientas adecuadas para tomar decisiones oportunas e informadas, y brinda a nuestros supervisores los datos que necesitan para identificar tendencias y mejorar la práctica. Esperamos ver todo lo que PATH NC hará por nosotros y nuestros socios del Departamento de Servicios Sociales en todo el estado “.

    PATH NC es un paso crítico en el esfuerzo continuo del NCDHHS para transformar el bienestar infantil en Carolina del Norte a través de un cambio sistémico, un mayor acceso a los servicios, mejores datos y una mayor alineación entre los sistemas estatales y del condado. Al agilizar los procesos de documentación y proporcionar acceso en tiempo real a los datos de bienestar infantil para los usuarios de todo el sistema, PATH NC ofrece más oportunidades para que el personal estatal y del condado identifique tendencias o desafíos en la práctica de bienestar infantil y los aborde antes, lo que en última instancia conduce a un sistema más sólido y mejores resultados para los niños y las familias.

    Para obtener más información sobre las iniciativas en curso para transformar los servicios de bienestar infantil en Carolina del Norte, lea Transforming Child Welfare in North Carolina: A Unified Vision for Children and Families del NCDHHS. 

    Haga clic aquí para ver el video adicional del NCDHHS de PATH NC para la admisión y las evaluaciones.

    Jun 18, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson declares victory in Supreme Court ruling upholding Tennessee’s law banning child gender-transitionsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Tennessee’s law banning gender-transition procedures for minors, marking a major victory for common sense, parental rights, and the protection of vulnerable children.

    “This is a win for sanity and for the safety of our kids,” said Attorney General Wilson. “From the start, my office stood with Tennessee, filing legal briefs, attending the Supreme Court hearing, and defending the rights of states to keep kids safe from being the left’s guinea pigs for dangerous, experimental, and irreversible medical procedures disguised as healthcare.

    I was proud to personally stand on the steps of the Supreme Court during oral arguments and declare what so many Americans know to be true: children are not political pawns, and states have both the right and the responsibility to protect them.

    In South Carolina, we backed this fight every step of the way. We joined multi-state legal briefs defending Tennessee’s law in federal court, supported Florida’s similar legislation, and proudly pushed for our own ‘Help Not Harm’ law to shield minors from experimental and irreversible medical procedures.

    Today’s decision affirms what we’ve long argued that there is no constitutional right to subject children to life-altering, experimental medical interventions. The Court has made clear: states do not have to surrender to radical gender ideology. We will continue to stand up for parents, for biological reality, and for the truth.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Wilson responds to the ruling in the Colucci murder caseRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    “Yesterday, in a court hearing regarding the case against Michael Colucci, Judge Roger Young quashed the indictment without prejudice, which means the State can reevaluate the case and remedy any issues addressed by the court’s order before another trial. 

     

    We respect the decision of the court and note that Judge Young did not find intentional misconduct by prosecutors from the Attorney General’s office.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 06/18/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn Scorches World Anti-Doping Agency for Refusing to Investigate Chinese Swimmers for Doping

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy led a hearing to hold the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accountable following the organization’s refusal to investigate Chinese swimmers testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs before the Tokyo Olympics.
    Senator Blackburn asked former Olympic swimmer Katie McLaughlin about the bombshell reporting that revealed top Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned drug and then went on to win Olympic Gold medals ahead of American athletes. Senator Blackburn also spoke with Travis Tygart, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, on why it is completely implausible that Chinese Olympic swimmers were unwittingly contaminated.

    Click here to download video of Senator Blackburn’s remarks during the Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing.
    On Chinese Doping Scandal’s Impact on Olympic Athletes:
    Blackburn: “Miss McLaughlin, I want to come to you first. Talk to me a minute about how it made you feel when you read the New York Times expose, and you felt like it was confirmed to you that you had been beat because somebody was a cheater, and here you were putting your heart and soul into your training, and you get to that moment to get that medal, and it’s not there because somebody cheated you out of it.”
    McLaughlin: “Yeah, thank you for your question. It was devastating, honestly. I remember getting the call from USADA letting me know that the New York Times article was going to break, and I was just so taken aback and heartbroken, and I think I spent a lot of my career trusting in the powers that be, and it was really sad to find out that that’s not someone who could be trusted, meaning WADA. I think a lot of my teammates and I were just pretty let down, and I think, you know, at the end of the day, all I can control was myself and my own race, and my teammates could only control their part of the race, so that’s something to kind of hold on to. But I think, just pretty devastating, heartbreaking all around, but thank you.”
    On Why It Is Completely Implausible That Chinese Swimmers Were Unwittingly Contaminated
    Blackburn: “Mr. Tygart, as we’ve mentioned before, as soon as the allegations came to light, I got a letter out to WADA demanding to know why they felt like they could ignore this doping, and their answer back to me was insufficient, and of course, they blame everyone but themselves, which is not a surprise to us. And they even said that there was no basis to challenge that contamination and that the source was TMZ. And so there you go. We find out, of course, that they have lied about this, and I know you’ve reviewed their response. I want you to just talk for a minute about why it is completely implausible that the Chinese swimmers were unwittingly contaminated.”
    Tygart: “WADA did no investigation, just blindly accepted the factual scenario that was provided by the Chinese. And in fact, months before these positive tests showed up on their desk, they had interviewed a defector, a whistleblower from China, who had indicated to them that TMZ was being given in a systemic fashion to athletes, but yet, WADA leaders never brought in their independent investigative unit. They have a 16 person, very experienced investigative unit. They were not involved at all with investigating the facts of this case. TMZ is a prescription medication in some countries, it does not just show up in the kitchen. It’s unbelievable to think that, you know, Tinker Bell showed up and sprinkled it within the kitchen…”
    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 06/12/2025 Blackburn, Booker, Boozman, Rosen, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Female Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate June 12, 2025, as “Women Veterans Appreciation Day” to honor the women who have served in the Armed Forces both on and off the battlefield throughout American history. June 12 marks the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948:

    “From the women who disguised themselves to fight in the American Revolution and Civil War to the Hello Girls of World War I to today’s brave female service members, women have always answered the call to defend our nation,” said Senator Blackburn. “Millions of female veterans have served our country throughout its history, and Women Veterans Appreciation Day honors their courage, sacrifice, and vital contributions to our military.”

    “Since the Revolutionary War, women have proudly served in our armed forces with skill, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to defending the pillars of our nation’s democracy,” said Senator Booker. “By designating June 12 as Women Veterans Appreciation Day, we honor the over three million women who have served valiantly in our armed forces. This recognition is long overdue, and we as a country are forever indebted to these women for their bravery.” 

    “Our nation can be proud to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions and achievements of our women in uniform,” said Senator Boozman. “The Natural State is home to 19,000 female veterans who have served with valor, dedication and courage and I am proud to join my colleagues to celebrate their vital efforts as well as champion policies that ensure they receive the care and benefits they’ve earned.”

    “Women in Nevada and across the nation have served our country selflessly as members of our military, and we are forever grateful for their heroism and sacrifice,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan resolution to honor women veterans and the incredibly important role they’ve played in defending our nation. I will always work to advocate for all our nation’s veterans.”

    “On Women Veterans Appreciation Day, we honor the millions of American women whose service has strengthened both our military and our nation,” said Senator Collins. “As we prepare to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Army, it is fitting that we recognize the vital contributions that women have made throughout the history of America’s armed forces. Over the years, their roles have expanded from support positions to senior leadership, and at every step, women have answered the call of duty, serving with courage, skill, and distinction.”

    Click here for resolution text.

    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To End Food Deserts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to reintroduce her Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act, legislation to help end food deserts. Food deserts are areas where a significant portion of residents don’t have easy access to a grocery store and affordable, nutritious food. Instead, they are forced to rely on corner and convenience stores, which often sell little to no fresh produce, meat or dairy and whose prices are higher than those of a typical supermarket. 

    Gillibrand’s legislation would provide $50 million annually in mandatory federal funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). HFFI is a USDA program that offers loans and grants to incentivize grocery stores to establish locations in areas where residents lack easy access to fresh food retailers.

    “An easily accessible grocery store is a basic necessity, but hundreds of communities across our state don’t have consistent access to one,” said Senator Gillibrand. “That means residents have to travel miles outside their neighborhood just to buy staple groceries, a trip that can take hours on foot or by public transit for those without access to a car. It’s unacceptable. This legislation would provide $50 million each year to a federal program that incentivizes grocers to open new locations or expand existing ones to bring fresh food to areas that need it. It is a commonsense bill that would help communities across our country, and I look forward to working to get it passed.” 

    A map of food deserts across New York State is available here.

    In New York State, HFFI has provided financial or technical assistance to 4 fresh food retailers in Troy, Rochester, Buffalo, and Brooklyn, as well as dozens more nationwide. A full list of recipients is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Crapo Releases Finance Committee Reconciliation Text

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today released legislative text within the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction for inclusion in Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill.
    “This bill prevents an over-$4 trillion tax hike and makes the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, enabling families and businesses to save and plan for the future. 
    “It delivers additional tax relief to middle-class families still recovering from record inflation under the Biden Administration.  It powers the economy by permanently extending critical pro-growth provisions and introduces new incentives for domestic investment, providing certainty for American job creators to spur domestic economic activity and invest in their workers.
    “The legislation also achieves significant savings by slashing Green New Deal spending and targeting waste, fraud and abuse in spending programs while preserving and protecting them for the most vulnerable. 
    “I look forward to continued coordination with our colleagues in the House and the Administration to deliver President Trump’s bold economic agenda for the American people as quickly as possible.”
    Click HERE to view bill text.
    Click HERE for a section-by-section.
    Click HERE for a bill overview.
    Click HERE to view the 2025 Tax Reform landing page.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo: Senate Republican Plan Powers Economic Growth, Delivers Tax Relief

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to talk about Senate Republicans’ plans to prevent the largest tax hike in U.S. history, power the economy through pro-growth tax policy, provide additional tax relief for working families and address wasteful spending.

    Click here or above to watch the interview

    On the importance of making pro-growth tax policy permanent: 

    [T]he Council of Economic Advisors has indicated that—together with some regulatory reform that President Trump is doing and some of the DOGE activities—we ought to generate somewhere between 4 and 6 percent growth in GDP, and what that translates into with regard to our tax bill is trillions of dollars for growth in capital formations, jobs, wages, benefits and new revenue to the treasury to pay down our deficits.

    This tax package will stop a $4.3 trillion tax increase, and it will make these taxes cuts permanent so that we don’t have to face another tax cliff like this in the future.

    Bonus depreciation—permanent; R&D—permanent; and the EBITDA accounting rules—permanent.  Those three business taxes that are now permanent are a big part of what is going to generate that capital formation in this country and help us grow back to the strength we did when we originally passed the [Tax Cuts and Jobs Act].

    . . .

    [The] 20 percent small business deduction is now permanent.  Our passthrough entities can get treated fairly like corporations do, and be a part of that incredible capital formation and growth that our country is going to see.

    On additional tax relief for American workers, seniors and businesses:

    [I]n addition to stopping a $4.3 trillion tax increase, we’ve got full factory expensing, as President Trump has asked for as well, and a number of other tax cuts. 

    We’ve got no tax on tips, an increase in the deduction for seniors, and we also have no tax on overtime.

    On Republican efforts to reduce spending: 

    We reduce actual spending in our entitlement programs by somewhere between one-and-a-half and $2 trillion, and that spending, as well as the growth element of these tax policies is going to generate a deficit reduction, not a deficit increase.

    The $1.5 to $2 trillion in actual spending reduction is the biggest entitlement reform that has ever been done by Congress.

    Legislative text within the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction can be found here, a section-by-section here and summary here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • PM Modi’s Call sparks village-level movement; “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” to guide celebrations

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a nationwide show of unity and enthusiasm, Gram Panchayats across India are preparing to make the upcoming International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 a historic grassroots celebration. This momentum follows a personal appeal from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, in a letter addressed to Gram Pradhans, urged them to spearhead community-level participation and integrate yoga into daily life.

    “Yoga has positively transformed lives not only in India but across the world,” the Prime Minister wrote, emphasizing the transformative impact of yoga and the importance of making it a collective practice. This year’s IDY also marks a decade of its observance on the global stage, making it a significant milestone in India’s cultural and wellness journey.

    The theme for IDY 2025, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” reflects the interconnectedness of individual health, community well-being, and environmental balance. PM Modi described yoga as a timeless part of India’s heritage and a vital tool for achieving a balanced and harmonious life.

    Across the country, panchayats are taking up the Prime Minister’s call with fervour. Villages are organising regular yoga sessions, public demonstrations of the Common Yoga Protocol, and community outreach events in schools, anganwadis, health centres, and open public spaces. These efforts aim to make IDY 2025 a jan-andolan—a people’s movement that reaches every corner of rural India.

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, praised the collective spirit of the nation. He noted that the overwhelming response from Gram Panchayats demonstrated the inspiring influence of Prime Minister Modi. “His heartfelt call has transformed IDY into a mass movement, with villages across the country embracing yoga as a vital part of rural life,” the Minister said.

    In Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district, Om Prakash Yadav, Sarpanch of Pariyari village, shared that the Prime Minister’s letter had a profound impact on his community. Motivated by the message, the village initiated weekly yoga sessions at the Panchayat Bhavan and introduced yoga competitions for school children. A special ‘Yoga Yatra’ was also organised to foster awareness and unity.

    In Madhya Pradesh, Sunil Kumar W, Gram Pradhan of Bandakpur in Damoh district, expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s initiative, calling it a historic moment for rural India. He shared that the panchayat is preparing a large community yoga session under the Common Yoga Protocol, accompanied by an awareness campaign to ensure every household is informed and involved.

    Similarly, in Khera Kursi village of Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh, Sarpanch Pawani Mishra expressed pride and appreciation for the Prime Minister’s outreach. Inspired by the letter, the panchayat established an open-air yoga site in their hilly terrain, which now hosts daily sessions. Women’s groups have also launched campaigns promoting the theme “Health is Wealth,” while schools have conducted painting and essay competitions on Prosperity through Yoga’ to engage children.

    In his message, the Prime Minister urged Gram Pradhans to ensure inclusive participation, encouraging involvement from children, youth, women, and the elderly alike. He expressed confidence that these grassroots efforts would make yoga a household practice and turn IDY 2025 into a deeply meaningful national celebration.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Rosneft’s Green Investments Reach RUB 74 Billion in 2024

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: Rosneft’s Green Investments Reach RUB 74 Billion in 2024

    The 5th of June is World Environment Day and the aim is to raise public interest in actions that protect ecosystems. In Russia, this date coincides with Ecologist’s Day.

    Rosneft carries out a wide range of activities and projects aimed at preserving a healthy environment. In 2024, the Company’s green investments totalled 74 billion roubles, which was a 16% increase on the previous year. Over the past three years, this figure totalled almost 200 billion roubles.

    The key components of the Company’s long-term environmental agenda are captured in the Rosneft 2030: Reliable Energy and Global Transition strategy. The top priorities in this field for the Company and its subsidiaries are the implementation of programmes to remediate land, including historical heritage land; the improvement of pipeline reliability; and the preservation of water resources and biodiversity in the regions where the Company operates.

    For instance, in 2024, Samotlorneftegaz completed a large-scale programme to remediate historical heritage lands, with the total area exceeding 2.2 thousand hectares. Approximately 85% of all remediation works were carried out by the Company’s own environmental department. The project has led to the development of new technologies and unique experiences that are in demand by other enterprises.

    Rosneft devotes considerable attention to reforestation activities, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and combating climate change. The Company is working in partnership with the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory to develop a far-reaching environmental forestation project. This project aims to unlock the region’s forests’ climate-regulating potential and to promote sustainable development. In 2024, the Company and its subsidiaries planted almost 11 million trees of various types in the regions where they operate.

    Rosneft is committed to the principles of the circular economy and is taking positive steps to implement them across its operations. Improving the efficiency of waste management processes is one of the priority goals of the Company’s 2030 strategy. The Company’s production enterprises have been successfully implementing zero-waste technologies that enable the production of artificial soil – an environmentally friendly construction material – from drilling cuttings.

    Furthermore, the Company’s Samara Group enterprises recycled almost 300 tonnes of exhausted catalyst. A total of 8,000+ tonnes of non-ferrous and ferrous metals were sent for processing by the Achinsk, Saratov, Syzran, Kuibyshev, Novokuibyshevsk refineries, RN-Vankor and Bashneft subsidiaries.

    Approximately 4,500 tonnes of waste oils and emulsions were sent for processing by the Kuibyshev Refinery, the Novokuibyshevsk Refinery, RN-Vankor and Bashneft enterprises.

    Biodiversity conservation is another important area of Rosneft’s environmental activities. For over a decade, the Company has been implementing annual initiatives to replenish Russia’s aquatic bioresources. In 2024, Rosneft’s enterprises released over 21.7 million young fish into the country’s water bodies.

    Volunteers from the Company, its subsidiaries and design institutes are also actively involved in various environmental initiatives and contribute to the development of a culture of rational and responsible consumption of natural resources. Employees and their children participate in activities involving the planting of greenery, with a view to enhancing both urban and natural recreational areas. These activities form part of federal environmental campaigns such as Green Spring, Memory Garden, Water of Russia, Clean Shores, etc.

    For more than 15 years, Samotlorneftegaz volunteers have been organising cleanup days to treat the shoreline of Lake Kymyl-Emtor as part of the nation-wide campaign Water of Russia.

    Samara oil workers assist the staff of the Botanical Garden of Samara University in a number of ways. These include the removal of deadwood and leaves, the purchase of rare plant species and plant seedlings, and the restoration and improvement of springs in the region. In 2024, volunteers in the Samara region collected over 30 cubic metres of rubbish from the banks of the Volga and Sok rivers. Volunteers from the Novokuibyshevsk Petrochemical Company participated in an environmental race, collecting a total of 930 kg of household waste.

    In 2024, RN-Nyaganneftegaz oil workers collected approximately 3 tonnes of household rubbish from the shoreline of the Nyagan-Yugan River.

    On the eve of Victory Day, Rosneft employees organised the cleaning of parks, memorial complexes and monuments dedicated to the Soviet people’s military achievements during the Great Patriotic War.

    The Company’s initiatives play a significant role in preserving natural resources by organising campaigns to collect used batteries, plastic, and waste paper for recycling. In 2024, Rosneft employees recycled over 1,100 kg of waste batteries, uninterruptible power supplies, and disposable batteries. They also handed over seven tonnes of plastic for recycling and collected approximately 180 tonnes of waste paper.

    Rosneft volunteers actively promote environmental education among young people, organising environmental quests, workshops, quizzes and eco-classes for schoolchildren. For instance, in 2024, Orenburgneft implemented the Eco-School project, collecting more than 10 tonnes of waste paper, over 70 kg of batteries, and over 17 kg of plastic caps with the help of students from regional schools.

    For the past 14 years, the company has organised annual environmental safety competitions, which contribute to raising the level of environmental awareness and encourage subsidiaries to develop their expertise and improve their work in this area.

    The public highly appreciated the successful environmental activities of Rosneft’s subsidiaries. In 2024, the Company’s Syzran, Novokuibyshevsk and Kuibyshev refineries received top honours at the nationwide Russian Environmental Leader contest.

    Department of Information and Advertising
    Rosneft
    5 June 2025

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Rosneft Supports Construction of a Large Cultural Centre in Yakutia

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: Rosneft Supports Construction of a Large Cultural Centre in Yakutia

    The foundation stone laying ceremony of the Multifunctional Cultural Centre took place in the administrative centre of Botuobuya village in the Tas-Yuryakh district of Yakutia. Rosneft and the Republic of Sakha signed a financing agreement for its construction at the IX Eastern Economic Forum.

    Aysen Nikolaev, the head of the Sakha Republic, attended the ceremony and thanked the oil company for helping to implement the project, which is very important for the Republic.

    Rosneft actively supports social projects aimed at creating favourable living conditions in the regions where it operates. The Company pays great attention to cultural and educational projects.

    The centre will become the focal point of the village’s social and cultural life. The 1,533-square-metre building houses a cinema-concert hall equipped with ergonomic seating and state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video technology. The centre will also house an exhibition hall, a library, a reading room and a billiards room, as well as spaces for creative and folklore activities. There is a multipurpose sports hall for basketball, volleyball, mini-football and other activities.

    The project also involves equipping the building with modern heating, water supply and ventilation systems. The building’s architecture combines modern solutions with national traditions.

    Rosneft focuses on supporting educational, social, cultural and outreach projects in Yakutia. A new building for the Small Academy of Sciences, complete with a boarding school for 100 children, has opened in the village of Chapayevo in the Khangalassky District. The building was constructed and equipped by Rosneft. The Academy has become a hub for research and project activities involving schoolchildren from across the Far East region. A training centre called the ‘Factory of Oil and Gas Full Cycle Processes’ was established on the basis of the Regional Technical College in the town of Mirny for the practical training of oil and gas industry specialists.

    In the village of Tas-Yuryakh, oil workers have created a comfortable environment for local residents by renovating the school rooms for robotics, 3D modelling and the school press centre. In addition, the school boasts a TV studio, a language laboratory, a history museum and a local history museum with exhibitions and educational displays, as well as a modern stadium and a children’s playground.

    For reference:

    Rosneft is represented in Yakutia by Taas-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha, the enterprise responsible for developing the Srednebotuobinskoye oil and gas condensate field. The enterprise is one of Rosneft’s three largest production assets in Eastern Siberia. It is responsible for developing 11 licence blocks, including the Central Block and the Kurungsky licence block of the Srednebotuobinskoye oil and gas condensate field.

    Department of Information and Advertising
    Rosneft
    April 18, 2025

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Tax challenges facing the European defence union – 18-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament 2

    Confronted with warfare on the European continent since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU Member States, along with other European partners, have backed the need for a substantial increase in defence spending. This budgetary challenge has in turn raised important questions about the role of taxation in financing these efforts.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Miniature mice return to Breary Marsh after 50 years

    Source: City of Leeds

    Harvest mice, Europe’s smallest rodent, have been found in Breary Marsh in Leeds after last having been recorded there in 1975.

    The miniature mammal, which weighs less than a 50p coin, was once widespread across the UK but has seen rapid declines in many areas, including Leeds, over the last few decades. This is largely thought to be due to a change in farming practices resulting in a loss of their natural habitat.

    The harvest mouse lives in long, tussocky grassland, reed beds, hedgerows and around woodland edges. Their spherical nests are made from tightly woven grass, elevated from the ground in tall grasses.

    They can’t breed in thin vegetation which has been cut in the last two years, short grasses or those where the stems are too weak to support their nests.

    Thanks to a change in the way staff at Breary Marsh care for the land, including going back to traditional scything instead of mowing and leaving areas of wildflower meadow, verges, woodland edge and wetland areas uncut, harvest mice have now moved back.

    David L Preston, countryside ranger at Leeds City Council, said: “It is fantastic to see that harvest mice are back in Breary Marsh, a discovery I did alongside our brilliant volunteers from Friends of Breary Marsh. It shows that all the work we’ve been doing in changing our practices have worked wonders for the natural habitat.”

    The team will now continue their work, alongside Yorkshire Mammal Group, in setting up a monitoring programme for Breary Marsh and the surrounding area to better understand the spread of populations.

    Breary Marsh is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest which borders onto Golden Acre Park and is a short walk away from Adel Nature Reserve.

    Success has also been seen in other areas of Leeds in reversing the decline of harvest mice. In 2012, Rodley Nature Reserve reintroduced mice bred in captivity through a collaboration with Leeds City Council’s parks and green spaces service. More releases have taken place since and numerous nests were found during recent surveys in 2022.

    It is the only British mammal with a prehensile tail, meaning it works as a fifth limb able to grasp and hold things.

    Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “To hear that we are seeing an increase in harvest mice in Leeds is wonderful, proving that our teams are working hard to look after our natural habitats and green spaces.

    “In the last few years, we have restored two areas of Roundhay Park to wildflower meadows to increase the habitat for native butterfly species within the park, and we are also working on our ambition to plant 5.8million trees which we started in 2020.”

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister for the Cabinet Office speech at Constitution Unit Conference

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Minister for the Cabinet Office speech at Constitution Unit Conference

    Delivered on Wednesday 18th of June 2025 by The Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office.

    Introduction

    It’s a pleasure to be here with you all.

    Before I start, let me commend the Constitution Unit…

    …not just for hosting today’s conference…

    …but for – this year – reaching its 30th birthday. 

    Don’t worry, I’m not going to sing…

    …but I will sing your praises…just a little.

    The esteem in which you are held speaks to the high quality and rigor of your work…

    …and I could not imagine a better audience to speak to on today’s topic.

    Today, I want to focus on Constitutional reform…

    …what it means for our democracy…

    …and, most importantly, what it means for the public.

    But before I start talking about the future, I would like to focus – briefly – on the past.

    Magna Carta

    This year, we celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the 1225 edition of Magna Carta.

    The definitive edition that, arguably, set the template for the United States Declaration of Independence…

    …and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    It may be surprising, then, to learn that the original Magna Carta from 1215 was revoked as quickly as it was ratified.

    King John wrote to Pope Innocent the Third to repudiate the agreement that he himself had struck…

    …and it was annulled a few months after it was sealed.

    As the comedian David Mitchell puts it: “King John thought the country was his to do with what he liked…

    …and the idea that the Kingdom could generate rules that he would then have to obey was absurd to him…

    …as if a billionaire found a ‘No Diving’ sign next to their private swimming pool”.

    But it was the determination of a few people that ensured it was reintroduced…

    …ratified by King John’s son, Henry III, and found its proper place on the statute book.

    Magna Carta began a constitutional thread…

    …to the Bill of Rights in 1689, which established parliamentary sovereignty and the right to free election…

    …the Reform Acts of the 19th Century, which led to the modern electoral system…

    …all the way up to the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law through the Human Rights Act 1998.

    For one of the country’s oldest historic written documents, it still delivers a few new surprises…

    …with Harvard University recently uncovering a Magna Carta original from 1300, after believing it was a much more recent copy. 

    Recent Context

    But what isn’t surprising is what a foundation that Magna Carta creates for our modern constitution…

    …made up of laws, conventions and rules…

    …that, crucially, outlined how no one person is above the law…

    …and that we must all be held to the same standard.

    That’s right in historical principle…

    …but when it comes to Government, has that always been the modern practice?

    To put it plainly: we have reached record levels of distrust and dissatisfaction with how the Government works…

    …and how it can get things done.

    The most recent National Centre for Social Research report found that 45% of people surveyed say they ‘almost never’ trust governments – of any party – to place the needs of the nation above their political party.

    That is at one level a remarkable statistic – but it is hardly surprising. 

    [political content removed]

    No wonder people became exhausted with Westminster… it felt like politics wasn’t working for them.

    What a shocking indictment of our political and constitutional system.

    Especially, when I know the change I can help secure for my constituents through Parliament…

    …and how MPs across parties are motivated by making a difference.

    Parliament remains the forum through which the British people can give an instruction for change.

    …but that is not to say it cannot – or should not – be strengthened.

    Nor is it to say that we should not, always, be looking at the adequacy of checks and balances.

    But, fundamentally, I believe that, through that change, we can restore the public’s faith in our constitution…

    …restore their capacity to feel like political choices can make their lives better… 

    …and make ordinary people feel like they have a stake.

    That couldn’t be more important to this Government. 

    [political content removed]

    Driven by the desire for change. To rebuild our country. National renewal. Returning politics to public service.

    These were not just words on a leaflet. They were something we felt angry about, driven by.

    After fourteen years, we have the opportunity to make people feel like they have a stake in their communities again…

    …a stake in their country again…

    …for people to see their politicians governing as an act of public service, not personal gratification.

    To put country before party.

    Changes to Date

    And we can do this in sensible ways, with tangible steps.

    Take the small task of restoring trust. 

    All of us in this room know that accountability and integrity are core parts of protecting our constitution.

    But what do those things mean to the majority of the population? 

    How can we show action … 

    …convey what that action represents, 

    …and what it will do. 

    If we want to govern in the name of public service, we need to show we care about it.

    That is why we brought in changes – holding our Government Ministers to account in a much stronger way than ever before. 

    The Prime Minister has given the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards the power to independently initiate investigations…

    …without retaining a veto. 

    And the new Ministerial Code, published in November last year, strengthened and clarified standards across the board…

    …enshrining the ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’ directly into the Code. 

    For too long, standards slipped…

    …and few were interested in re-establishing the ideals and principles that should define the Government’s work.

    This is precisely what the Prime Minister promised… 

    …that we would get a grip on the problems we face. 

    And, crucially, that we would be judged by our actions, not by our words. 

    This is a Government focused on national renewal…

    …and, as part of that renewal, embedding higher standards in public life. 

    House of Lords

    Nowhere is our desire for sensible change more evident than in the House of Lords…

    …and the reforms we are finally bringing to that Chamber. 

    Now, I know that there are many hardworking Peers across the Lords…

    …I am incredibly fortunate, in working in the Cabinet Office, to work alongside the Leader of the House of Lords. 

    Peers are, undeniably, a crucial part of our democracy…

    …who use their expertise and experience to ensure legislation is scrutinised to an incredibly high standard.

    But that doesn’t mean we cannot improve it. 

    This belief is at the heart of our Hereditary Peers Bill, which is soon to have its Report Stage in the House of Lords.

    It is shaping up to be the largest constitutional reform to Parliament in the last 25 years…

    …and it was introduced in our first 100 days in office. 

    This could not be more important. 

    It is wholly indefensible that, in the 21st century, there are seats in our legislature allocated by an accident of birth. 

    So, finally, that historic wrong is being put right. 

    It is, in an important way, a gesture towards young people across our country. 

    I want people growing up in Blaenavon, Pontypool and Cwmbran in my constituency…

    …and, indeed, in every part of the country…

    …to feel that they have the same chance as anyone else to play a part in making the laws of the land.

    To remove the barriers, piece by piece, to ordinary people being able to feel like they have a stake in politics, and in parliamentary democracy.

    This sits alongside our other manifesto commitments on Lords reform…

    …like setting a retirement age, minimum participation requirements and making the appointments process more transparent

    …all making Parliament fit for modern Britain. 

    House of Commons

    But our ideas of constitutional reform are not solely focused on the House of Lords.

    No, we must look at the Commons, too…

    …and consider what we could improve. 

    So much of our constitution is wrapped up in the tradition displayed in the Commons. 

    Everything from the architecture, the layout, the procedures…

    …so much of it is symbolic of parliamentary sovereignty…

    …and the great tradition of open parliamentary debate. 

    But while tradition and ritual often protects the principles of our constitution, it can sometimes become a barrier if not updated for today’s world.

    I know that the vast majority of our MPs work hard to serve their constituents…

    …but they can often find that work is hamstrung by arcane procedures and outdated working practices.

    We should not forget that over half of MPs elected in the most recent General Election are new to Parliament.

    So, we need to make sure that the Commons is brought into the 21st Century…

    …and that these new MPs are able to navigate the historic system and use it to create modern, progressive change. 

    This is the precise objective of our Modernisation Committee.

    It’s headed up by my ministerial colleague, the Leader of the House of Commons…

    …and is considering many important issues to make the Commons more up-to-date so that MPs are enabled to deliver for their constituents.

    Everything from the accessibility of the physical parliamentary estate…

    …as well as the accessibility of procedures, language and information.

    It will also examine how to use MPs’ time better…

    …ensuring that sitting hours provide enough time to scrutinise legislation…

    …and give backbenchers a fair opportunity to raise issues on behalf of their constituents.

    The Modernisation Committee has, building on the changes we made in July 2024, asked the Committee on Standards to go further… 

    …exploring how the rules on MPs outside interests can be tightened even further, to ensure MPs are prioritising their constituents…

    …as I know the vast majority already do.

    This is all about making sure that those who turn up in Westminster are not blocked from speaking up for those they represent.

    Union and Devolution

    But I wouldn’t want anyone listening to think that we’re solely focused on what’s going on in Westminster. 

    England is one of the most centralised countries…

    …and my colleague the Deputy Prime Minister and I believe that it’s time we change that. 

    That’s why, in the English Devolution White Paper, we set out our plans to move power out of Westminster…

    …and move it back to those who know their areas best.

    We need to ensure that there is proper devolution throughout England…

    …and hand more power over to cities and communities to make the changes they see needed.

    I believe that devolution is crucial if we want communities to combat the challenges they recognise as uniquely their own…

    …while giving ordinary people a greater stake in shaping their region. 

    Only with strong local leadership and empowered institutions will we fix the foundations of the economy…

    …and bring about the kind of economic growth that is at the very heart of our ‘Plan for Change’.

    But it would be a mistake to think that the UK Government is only concerned with England. 

    We are a government of and for the whole of the UK. 

    My own constituency is in Wales…

    …and many of my ministerial colleagues are from Scotland. 

    But even if we weren’t, the UK Government has a responsibility for the entire UK. 

    Which is why the nations are – and always will be – at the heart of our thinking.

    In fact, an important part of delivering on our missions is rebuilding the UK Government’s  relationship with the devolved governments. 

    We’re putting an end to the disrespect that has been shown to the legitimate devolved Governments and Parliaments…

    …and focusing on a future built on partnership and recognition. 

    We introduced the Council of the Nations and Regions…

    …which creates genuine partnership between the UK Government, the devolved governments, and the mayors of England’s regions. 

    This has met twice since the General Election, most recently on 23rd May…

    …when the discussion was on trade and AI…

    …and how we can harness its potential and use it across the public sector to improve services.

    It’s about letting local leaders have more of a say…

    …and we will work together across the UK on legislation…

    …strengthening the Sewel Convention, which defines how the UK Government interacts with devolved legislatures.  

    A new Memorandum of Understanding will underpin this work. 

    It has been 25 years since power was devolved to governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland…

    …and it is through strengthening this partnership that we can make sure that all UK-wide decisions don’t just benefit one part of our nation…

    …but are made in the national interest – with every region and nation contributing, and shaping, that interest.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, I would like to thank you for joining me today…

    …and UCL, for putting on this important conference. 

    Outside of these four walls, the phrase ‘constitutional reform’ may not immediately mean much to the ordinary person.

    But they are more than familiar with the rationale for it. 

    Politics that feels divorced from their day-to-day lives…

    …decisions about their local area being made in another nation…

    …a system that seems to safeguard a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ approach to public life. 

    All that has to change…

    …and this Government is making that a reality. 

    We are serious about ensuring our political systems represent every member of our society.

    This isn’t going to be an overnight change…

    …but we have shown – whether it’s in the Lords, the Commons or in our approach to devolution, this is a Government that has heard the calls for change.

    People want to have more of a stake in how they live their lives…

    …and they want a system of Government that represents and empowers them. 

    Through our constitution’s historic foundations, we are building a modern and thriving society…

    …one that serves the people of this country better than before.

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Great British Railways in action – passengers benefit from track and train being united on South Eastern Railway

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Great British Railways in action – passengers benefit from track and train being united on South Eastern Railway

    Collaboration has seen consistently low levels of cancellations, with operational costs expected to reduce by £50 million every year.

    Credit: South Eastern Railway

    • Southeastern and Network Rail unite to operate under a single, more efficient leadership team known as South Eastern Railway 
    • under public ownership, Southeastern are delivering some of the lowest cancellation rates nationally and has forecast a £50 million reduction in taxpayer subsidy
    • South Eastern Railway marks a significant milestone towards Great British Railways and creating clear accountability for performance, delivering better public transport

    Southeastern and Network Rail Kent route have united under a single leadership team to drive investment and efficiency and deliver for passengers and freight in an important step towards Great British Railways (GBR). Further regional arrangements will come into place as other services transfer into public ownership.

    Operating as the South Eastern Railway team and overseen by Managing Director Steve White, the streamlined structure will allow for a more responsive railway with a common purpose and clear accountability for railway performance across the network.

    Already under public ownership, Southeastern has been able to work increasingly closely with Network Rail, which manages railway infrastructure, for over a year. This collaborative approach has resulted in greater efficiency with better, faster decisions for customers and taxpayers, leading to an improved railway. For example:

    • consistently low levels of cancellations
    • customer satisfaction at 86%
    • subsidy required to operate Southeastern expected to reduce by £50 million year on year

    Joint planning has led to more efficient and innovative solutions for reducing delays. This includes enabling engineers to access the track during the day to carry out repairs more efficiently, while maintaining a service for customers. Collaboration has also seen the railway trial drones up and down the network to identify and reduce incidents of trespass. More joined-up working also means matching trains to when passengers want to take them, delivering at least £3 million a year in additional revenue for the rail industry.

    This is a significant milestone in the government’s plans to overhaul the railways through the creation of Great British Railways, uniting train and track with the sole focus of delivering for passengers.

    This new integrated, collaborative approach across the south-east sets the path for how GBR will operate, including the high standards expected before the branding is given to operators. The standards, which will be tailored for each operator, will revolve around delivering high-performing, better-coordinated, more efficient and more responsive services.

    Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:

    Track and train are 2 sides of the same coin, but for too long they have operated independently of each other – leaving customers and taxpayers to bear the consequences of this illogical approach.

    Uniting track and train leadership in the south-east is the first step in our journey to create a railway we can all be proud of; delivering the government’s Plan for Change with better connectivity, leading to more growth, jobs and homes and ultimately to the creation of Great British Railways.

    Under the new ways of working, South Eastern Railway have further plans to deliver for passengers and taxpayers over the next year/few years. This includes:

    • investing over £40 million in station improvements, including the country’s largest Access for All Scheme at Hither Green
    • modernising the rolling stock on the Metro service to deliver more accessible and passenger-focused journeys
    • fitting passenger trains with thermal imaging cameras and AI CCTV to monitor tracks and give early indications of issues that should be addressed before they affect customers – improving performance and reducing delays
    • recruiting the next generation of talent for a more inclusive and diverse workforce and delivering real social value and social mobility

    South Eastern Railway Managing Director, Steve White, said:

    We know that for our customers, what matters most is a railway they can depend on, is reliable and responsive when things go wrong. By joining together track and train under a single leadership team, with accountability for the whole railway instead of different parts, we can remove friction and make better, faster decisions to deliver a better service.

    This new way of working puts customer needs front and centre, and will deliver a more joined up, responsive and sustainable railway.

    This follows on from a watershed moment last month when South Western Railway (SWR) services became the first to transfer back into public control since the passing of the Public Ownership Bill, ending almost 30 years of fragmentation and waste under privatisation.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza Statement

    Source: World Food Programme

    Over the last four weeks, WFP has been able to dispatch just 9,000 metric tons of food aid inside Gaza – a tiny fraction of what a population of 2.1 million hungry people needs.

    What is even worse is that far too many people have died while trying to access the trickle of food aid coming in.

    Only a massive scale-up in food distributions can stabilize the situation, calm anxieties and rebuild the trust within communities that more food is coming.

    Safer and more reliable convoy routes, faster permission approvals, dependable communication services, and the opening of additional border crossings are urgently needed now.

    The fear of starvation and desperate need for food is causing large crowds to gather along well-known transport routes, hoping to intercept and access humanitarian supplies while in transit. 

    Any violence resulting in starving people being killed or injured while seeking life-saving assistance is completely unacceptable.

    WFP continues to call for the protection of all civilians and all aid workers delivering life-saving assistance.

    During the ceasefire, WFP facilitated as many as 600 trucks per day into Gaza, which helped push back the tide of hunger. 

    WFP stands ready.We have food in the corridors, experienced teams on the ground, and proven systems in place to respond at scale.

    What is urgently needed now is another ceasefire, so we can reach families with critical food supplies in a consistent, orderly and safe manner — wherever they are across the Gaza Strip.

    The time to act is now. Delays cost lives. We must be allowed to safely do our jobs.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA extends condolences following plane accident in India

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA extends condolences following plane accident in India

    Date：2025-06-12
    Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

    June 12, 2025No. 205On June 12, Air India flight 171 crashed shortly after taking off from the airport in Ahmedabad in western India. On behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) promptly conveyed condolences to the India-Taipei Association and instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India to also express sympathies to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. In addition, TECC in India and TECC in Mumbai, after contacting relevant Indian agencies, have so far determined that no Taiwanese nationals were on the accident flight. MOFA and its missions in India will continue to closely follow developments, maintain contact with Indian agencies, and provide necessary assistance in a timely manner.Taiwanese nationals visiting India who require emergency assistance may call the hotlines of TECC in India (+91-9810642658), TECC in Mumbai (+91-8850842243), or TECC in Chennai (+91-9600099511). They may also ask friends or family in Taiwan to call the MOFA emergency hotline (0800-085-095). (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to joint statement by leaders of Japan and Finland emphasizing importance of Taiwan Strait peace and stability

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to joint statement by leaders of Japan and Finland emphasizing importance of Taiwan Strait peace and stability

    Date：2025-06-12
    Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

    June 12, 2025Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Finnish President Alexander Stubb met in Tokyo on June 11. In a joint statement, they said that Japan and Finland strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the South and East China Seas by force or coercion, emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element in the security and prosperity of the international community, and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.This is the first time that the leaders of Japan and Finland have expressed their high concern for Taiwan Strait peace in a joint statement. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes this concrete action by Japan and Finland to support peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and appreciates Japan and other like-minded nations continuing to call the international community’s attention to the Taiwan Strait situation during international gatherings, including the US-Japan leaders’ summit in February, the meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in April, and Japan’s summit meetings with Latvia and Guatemala in May. This shows the high degree of consensus and common interest that the international community has for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that democracies around the world will continue to take preventative action and countermeasures to stop the expansion of authoritarianism from posing a threat to regional peace and stability and challenging the rules-based global democratic order. Taiwan will uphold the ideals of integrated diplomacy as it continues to deepen cooperation with friends and allies, jointly advancing peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region and around the globe.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA announces one-year extension of trial visa-free entry for nationals of New Southbound Policy partner countries Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA announces one-year extension of trial visa-free entry for nationals of New Southbound Policy partner countries Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026

    Date：2025-06-14
    Data Source：Bureau of Consular Affairs

    June 14, 2025In line with efforts to promote the New Southbound Policy (NSP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) convened a meeting on April 16 with relevant government agencies on further improving visa measures for nationals of NSP partner countries traveling to Taiwan. The meeting conducted a comprehensive review of existing visa and entry measures, focusing on the trial visa-free entry program for nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines; the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries; and conditional visa-free entry through the Online Application for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) scheme for nationals of Southeast Asian countries.After evaluating the effectiveness of the above measures over the past years, participating agencies decided to extend the trial visa-free entry program for one year for nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. In addition, the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries will be extended for a further year through December 31, 2026, and the conditional visa-free entry through the TAC scheme will remain in place.MOFA will continue to review and fine-tune visa policies, with a view to strengthening bilateral relations and attracting more visitors while ensuring border and public security. MOFA will also continue to communicate with the governments of related countries to enhance visa treatment for Taiwan nationals and make their overseas travel more convenient.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin presents Friendship Medal of Diplomacy to former French Senator Gattolin

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Foreign Minister Lin presents Friendship Medal of Diplomacy to former French Senator Gattolin

    Date：2025-06-16
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 16, 2025  
    No. 211  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung presented the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy to former French Senator André Gattolin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on the morning of June 16 in recognition of his long-standing efforts to promote Taiwan-France relations and his staunch support of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
     
    In his speech, Minister Lin stated that Mr. Gattolin had long been a good friend of Taiwan in the French Senate, sparing no effort to speak up for Taiwan over the years. He pointed out that during the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020, Mr. Gattolin had taken the lead in bringing together a total of 110 members from both chambers of the French Parliament to sign an open letter calling for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization, helping Taiwan gain widespread recognition in France and paving the way for the first passage of resolutions supportive of Taiwan in 2021 by both chambers. 
     
    He also mentioned that Mr. Gattolin had worked with French parliamentarians friendly to Taiwan to facilitate the adoption of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023, reiterating France’s continued defense of freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. He added that during Mr. Gattolin’s tenure as French cochair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in 2020, he had enthusiastically encouraged French parliamentarians to participate in various IPAC initiatives. On behalf of MOFA, Minister Lin extended sincere appreciation to Mr. Gattolin for having actively deepened Taiwan-France relations and expressed hope that he would continue to leverage his influence to further this bilateral friendship.
     
    Mr. Gattolin said in his remarks that the honor of receiving the medal was not only a recognition of him personally but also a commendation of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group. He observed that the French Parliament’s support for Taiwan had continued to expand, noting that the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group had grown to over 60 members and that they continued to exhort the French government to attach greater importance to Taiwan. He stated that he was profoundly pleased to have been able to facilitate the training of Taiwan’s Olympic and Paralympic teams in his electoral district of Levallois-Perret last year. And as current vice chair of the IPAC Alumni Council, Mr. Gattolin affirmed that he continued to pay close attention to the situation across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
     
    Deputy Director of the French Office in Taipei Cléa Le Cardeur, former Minister of Taiwan’s Council for Cultural Affairs Tchen Yu-chiou, and Chair of the Egret Cultural and Educational Foundation Lu Chia-hui attended the award ceremony and offered their congratulations. The atmosphere was heartfelt and earnest. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Connecting Communities to Ocean Exploration: Outreach from the Aleutian Arc Expedition

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Alaska’s rich and dynamic ecosystems draw scientists from around the world. But for the people who live here—many of whom have deep cultural, historical, and personal connections to the land and sea—it’s especially important that scientific research feels local, accessible, and relevant.

    As part of the deep-sea research and exploration cruise in the Aleutian Arc, the expedition team, including scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Smithsonian Institute (SI) partnered with local organizations to host a series of community engagement events in Unalaska. These events provided a chance to connect with residents, share deep-sea research, and celebrate the incredible biodiversity and geology of this region. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

    Ship Tours of the R/V Atlantis

    Community members—including representatives from the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, the Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaska City Council, local students, and other organizations—toured the 274-foot research vessel Atlantis. One of the biggest highlights? Seeing the deep-diving submersible HOV Alvin in person!

    Dive into Tidepools – Museum of the Aleutians

    Christina Bonsell, marine ecologist with BOEM, had the pleasure of leading this hands-on event at the Museum of the Aleutians, where visitors of all ages got an up-close look at the incredible marine life found right in their own backyard. From sea stars to anemones, attendees explored tidepool creatures and learned about local biodiversity through interactive touch tanks and engaging conversations about life in the nearshore ocean.

    “Exploring the Deep Sea: Hidden Habitats, Volcanoes, and More!” – Public Talk at the Unalaska Library

    Scientists from the expedition team—including Bonsell, Cathleen Yung (NOAA), Ashton Flinders (USGS), Katlin Bowman Adamczyk (USGS), and Stephanie Bush (SI)—gave a public presentation at the library, sharing the goals and the exciting science behind the 2025 Aleutian Arc Expedition.

    Ocean Discovery Day – Hands-on Science with Local Students

    In partnership with the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska and the Museum of the Aleutians, the science team hosted a day of hands-on activities that brought deep sea science to life for local students:

    • Deep Sea Biodiversity: Students learned how scientists use Alvin to explore life in the deep sea, led by Rhian Waller (Gothenburg University) and Lauren Rice (Florida State University).
    • Traditional Boatbuilding: Keegan Salners, Matt Tutiakoff, and Anfesia Tutiakoff of the Qawalangin Tribe introduced students to iqyax (Aleutian kayak) design—and the students even built their own boats!
    • Volcanoes and Earthquakes: Ashton Flinders (USGS) got students moving and learning as they became “earthquake-makers” and explored seismic waveforms.
    • Archaeological Discoveries: Thomas McLenigan from the Museum of the Aleutians guided students through sorting fish, bird, and mammal bones from ancient midden material to reveal clues about past ecosystems.
    • Deep Sea Pressure: Shannon Cofield (BOEM) explained the effects of deep-sea pressure, and students decorated foam cups that will travel to the ocean depths and shrink to amusingly-small size.
    • Community Science and Ecosystem Knowledge: Shanoy Anderson from the Qawalangin Tribe led a discussion on local ecosystem observations and how to share them using the Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network.
    Students sort animal bones from ancient midden material in a hands-on archaeological activity during the Ocean Discovery Day. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats. Photographer: Art Howard. 

    It was an honor to collaborate with dedicated local partners and organizations to make this action-packed week of activities a success. These events offered an incredible opportunity to share our science, inspire curiosity, and build lasting connections with the community.

    We can’t wait to share the discoveries we make as this deep-sea expedition unfolds.

    Members of the local community including representatives from the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, the Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaska City Council, local students, and other organizations had the chance to tour the research vessel Atlantis (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) in Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. Image courtesy of The Aleutian Arc: Integrated Exploration of Biodiversity at Priority Benthic Habitats. Photographer: Art Howard. 

    MIL OSI USA News –