NewzIntel.com

    • Checkout Page
    • Contact Us
    • Default Redirect Page
    • Frontpage
    • Home-2
    • Home-3
    • Lost Password
    • Member Login
    • Member LogOut
    • Member TOS Page
    • My Account
    • NewzIntel Alert Control-Panel
    • NewzIntel Latest Reports
    • Post Views Counter
    • Privacy Policy
    • Public Individual Page
    • Register
    • Subscription Plan
    • Thank You Page

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Says Chatbots Are No Replacement for Federal Workers

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said in today’s Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (COGR) hearing on artificial intelligence that chatbots are no replacement for federal workers, as demonstrated by the current state of the Social Security Administration, where senior citizens now face 98-minute wait times to speak with customer service.

    “AI is a tool that can empower our public servants, but it is not a substitute for passionate and committed federal workers,” Norton said. “As a direct result of the interference with the Social Security Administration, senior citizens now face 98-minute wait times to speak with customer service, crowded lobbies at field offices, and being turned away from scheduled appointments because the agency simply does not have the employees to perform its mission. Poor customer service is not efficiency; it is failing to uphold the government’s responsibility to our constituents.

    “As we discuss the use of artificial intelligence in government, we must have people at the center of the conversation, including the people we represent and the federal workers who serve our country.”

    Norton’s remarks follow.

    Federal Workers Cannot Be Replaced By Chatbots

    Government must leverage the best technology possible to meet the ever-changing needs of the people it serves.

    From the creation of a national postal service to the discoveries that led to the internet, the federal government has a long history of embracing new technology to better deliver for our constituents. 

    But our north star must always be service to the American people—not tax breaks for billionaires or backroom deals to benefit the richest man in the world at the public’s expense. 

    As we discuss the use of artificial intelligence in government, we must have people at the center of the conversation, including the people we represent and the federal workers who serve our country.

    AI is a tool that can empower our public servants, but it is not a substitute for passionate and committed federal workers.

    Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency have gutted so much of the federal workforce, firing tens of thousands of people under the guise of greater efficiency.  But Americans know better:  They see the negative impacts every day.

    As a direct result of the interference with the Social Security Administration, senior citizens now face 98-minute wait times to speak with customer service, crowded lobbies at field offices, and being turned away from scheduled appointments because the agency simply does not have the employees to perform its mission.  Poor customer service is not efficiency; it is failing to uphold the government’s responsibility to our constituents.

    Now, the Social Security Administration wants to cut an additional seven thousand employees and somehow use AI to handle calls from seniors.  That does not work, because I know that when my constituents have a problem with their Social Security, they would rather talk to a person than a computer program. The Department of Government Efficiency cuts are wreaking havoc in our communities, and it will take years to clean up the mess Elon Musk left behind.

    Thank you.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Statement on House Passage of Two Anti-D.C. Bills

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the two anti-D.C. home rule bills passed by the House today demonstrate the Republican view of D.C. as property they can exert control over to score political points instead of working on behalf of their own constituents. The first bill, introduced by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), would prohibit D.C. residents who are not citizens from voting in local D.C. elections. The second, introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), would repeal parts of D.C.’s 2022 local police accountability and transparency law.

    “Once again, House Republicans have used countless hours of their offices’ time that rightly belongs to their own constituents to try to repeal local D.C. laws and policies, and they’ll waste even more tomorrow,” Norton said. “These bills, introduced by members elected to serve other districts, seek to bully and micromanage the affairs of local D.C. Yesterday, Chair of the House Rules Committee, Rep. Virginia Foxx, inadvertently revealed how Republicans think of D.C. when she referred to D.C. as ‘a special piece of property,’ ignoring the more than 700,000 Americans who reside in the nation’s capital.

    “Noncitizen voting has been allowed in the United States since its founding, with nearly 20 cities allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. Republicans introduced 26 bills or amendments to change local D.C. voting laws, including 14 to prohibit noncitizens from voting in D.C. or to repeal, nullify or prohibit the carrying out of the local D.C. law that allows residents who are not citizens to vote in local elections last Congress. Yet Republicans refuse to make the only election law change D.C. has requested: making D.C. a state so that it can hold elections for voting members of the House and Senate.

    “Like with voting, Republicans regularly introduce legislation to repeal other types of local D.C. laws. What is different about Rep. Garbarino’s bill is it also overrides the longstanding wishes of the D.C. police department. For at least a quarter century, the D.C. police department had requested increased authority to discipline officers for misconduct. The local D.C. legislature gave the department this authority after the murder of George Floyd, which Rep. Garbarino’s bill would remove. The bill says it is necessary to combat rising violent crime and to improve the retention and recruitment of police officers but this bill has its facts wrong. Last year, violent crime in D.C. reached a more than 30-year low and is down 22 percent this year compared to the same period last year.”

    “If Republicans cared about D.C. residents or democracy, they would take up H.R. 51, the D.C. statehood bill. H.R. 51 would admit the residential and commercial areas of D.C. as a state, giving D.C. residents voting representation in Congress and full local self-government.

    “I will continue to fiercely fight any further advancement of these bills.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Opposes Two Anti-D.C. Home Rule Bills on the House Floor

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

    Norton released her remarks after speaking on the House floor opposing two anti-D.C. home rule bills.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from the House floor where she spoke twice today in fierce opposition to two anti-home rule bills the House will vote on this week to repeal local D.C. laws. The first bill, introduced by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), would prohibit D.C. residents who are not citizens from voting in local D.C. elections. The second, introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), would repeal parts of D.C.’s 2022 local police accountability and transparency law.

    “Last Congress, Republicans introduced 26 bills or amendments to change local D.C. election laws, including 14 to prohibit noncitizens from voting in D.C. or to repeal, nullify or prohibit the carrying out of the local D.C. law that allows noncitizens to vote in local elections,” Norton said. Yet, Republicans refuse to make the only election law change D.C. has requested, which is to make D.C. a state so that it can hold elections for voting members of the House and Senate.

    “D.C. allows noncitizens to vote in local elections because it believes that all adult residents deserve a say in their local government. While local D.C. law allows noncitizens to vote only in local elections, 40 states and the federal government allowed noncitizens to vote in local, state, territorial and federal elections at various points, including at the founding. The federal government first prohibited noncitizens from voting in federal elections only 29 years ago. Today, nearly 20 cities allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.”

    The second bill Norton addressed on the House floor would repeal parts of D.C.’s 2022 local police transparency law.

    “Republicans regularly introduce legislation to repeal local D.C. laws. What is different about this bill is it also overrides the longstanding wishes of the D.C. police department,” Norton said. “For at least a quarter century, the D.C. police department had requested increased authority to discipline officers for misconduct. The local D.C. legislature gave the department this authority after the murder of George Floyd. This bill would take away this authority.

    “This bill says it is necessary to combat rising violent crime in D.C. and to improve the retention and recruitment of D.C. police officers. This bill has its facts wrong. Last year, violent crime in D.C. reached a more than 30-year low.  This year, violent crime in D.C. is down 22% compared to the same period last year. Police departments throughout the country, in both red and blue states, are struggling to retain and recruit officers, and they have been for many years.

    “If Republicans cared about D.C. residents or democracy, they would take up H.R. 51, the D.C. statehood bill. H.R. 51 would admit the residential and commercial areas of D.C. as a state, giving D.C. residents voting representation in Congress and full local self-government.

    Norton’s full remarks follow, as prepared for delivery.

    Floor Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

    H.R. 884, to prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022

    June 10, 2025

    I strongly oppose this undemocratic, paternalistic bill, which would repeal a law enacted by the locally elected District of Columbia government and impose a new law in D.C.  I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter from every member of D.C.’s locally elected legislature, the Council, opposing this bill. I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter from D.C.’s locally elected Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, opposing this bill.

    Last Congress, Republicans introduced 26 bills or amendments to change local D.C. election laws, including 14 to prohibit noncitizens from voting in D.C. or to repeal, nullify or prohibit the carrying out of the local D.C. law that allows noncitizens to vote in local elections. Yet, Republicans refuse to make the only election law change D.C. has requested, which is to make D.C. a state so that it can hold elections for voting members of the House and Senate. 

    While Congress has the authority to legislate on local D.C. matters, it is not required to do so.  In Federalist #43, James Madison said of D.C. residents: “[A] municipal legislature for local purposes, derived from their own suffrages, will of course be allowed them.”  In 1953, the Supreme Court held that “there is no constitutional barrier to the delegation by Congress to the District of Columbia of full legislative power.”

    I want to discuss democracy, or lack thereof in D.C. There are over 700,000 D.C. residents. D.C. residents are required to pay federal taxes, register with Selective Service and serve on federal juries in the same manner as residents of states.  Yet, D.C. residents have no voting representation in Congress, and Congress has the ultimate say on local D.C. matters.

    The Council has 13 members.  If D.C. residents do not like how the members vote, residents can vote them out of office or pass a ballot measure.  That is called democracy.

    Congress has 535 voting members.  None are elected by D.C. residents.  If D.C. residents do not like how the members vote on local D.C. matters, residents cannot vote them out of office or pass a ballot measure. That is the antithesis of democracy.

    The substance of this bill is irrelevant, since there is never justification for Congress to legislate on local D.C. matters. However, I will briefly discuss it.

    D.C. allows noncitizens to vote in local elections because it believes that all adult residents deserve a say in their local government.  While local D.C. law allows noncitizens to vote only in local elections, 40 states and the federal government allowed noncitizens to vote in local, state, territorial and federal elections at various points, including at the founding. The federal government first prohibited noncitizens from voting in federal elections only 29 years ago. Today, nearly 20 cities allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. 

    As the House has considered this bill, Republicans have repeatedly said the franchise is a right of citizenship.  If that is what Republicans believe, I hope they will finally grant the American citizens who live in D.C. the right to vote for voting representation in Congress.  I have introduced H.R. 51 to do so.  Pursuant to the Admissions and District clauses of the Constitution, H.R. 51 would admit the residential and commercial areas of D.C. as a new state.  Statehood would not only give D.C. voting representation in Congress, it would also give D.C. full local self-government.

    I urge members to respect the will of D.C. residents by voting NO on H.R. 884.

    Floor Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

    H.R. 2096, the Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act

    June 10, 2025

    I strongly oppose this antidemocratic bill, which would repeal provisions of a law enacted by the locally elected District of Columbia government.  The over 700,000 D.C. residents, the majority of whom are Black and Brown, are capable and worthy of local self-government.

    I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter from D.C.’s locally elected chief executive, Mayor Muriel Bowser, opposing this bill.  I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter from every member of D.C.’s locally elected legislature, the Council, opposing this bill.  I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter from D.C.’s locally elected Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, opposing this bill.

    Republicans regularly introduce legislation to repeal local D.C. laws.  What is different about this bill is it also overrides the longstanding wishes of the D.C. police department. 

    For at least a quarter century, the D.C. police department had requested increased authority to discipline officers for misconduct.  The Council gave the department this authority after the murder of George Floyd. This bill would take away this authority. 

    I will discuss the justification and timing of this bill, though it is always wrong and never the right time for Congress to legislate on local D.C. matters.  This bill says it is necessary to combat rising violent crime in D.C. and to improve the retention and recruitment of D.C. police officers.  This bill has its facts wrong.

    Last year, violent crime in D.C. reached a more than 30-year low.  This year, violent crime in D.C. is down 22% compared to the same period last year. Police departments throughout the country, in both red and blue states, are struggling to retain and recruit officers, and they have been for many years.

    The timing of the introduction and consideration of this bill is stunning.  It was introduced the same day Congress cut the local D.C. budget by more than $1 billion. This fiscal sabotage did not save the federal government any money, since the local D.C. budget consists entirely of locally raised revenue.  The Senate immediately passed the D.C. Local Funds Act to reverse this cut.  Although President Trump and the National Fraternal Order of Police called for the House to immediately pass the D.C. Local Funds Act, the D.C. Local Funds Act has been sitting in the House for three months. 

    I will close by discussing democracy, or lack thereof in D.C.  The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation.  Yet, D.C. residents cannot consent to any action taken by Congress, whether on local D.C. or federal matters, and they pay full federal taxes while being denied voting representation in Congress.

    If Republicans cared about D.C. residents or democracy, they would take up H.R. 51, the D.C. statehood bill.  H.R. 51 would admit the residential and commercial areas of D.C. as a state, giving D.C. residents voting representation in Congress and full local self-government. 

    Congress has the authority to admit this new state. The Admissions Clause of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to admit new states.  All 37 new states were admitted by an act of Congress.  The District Clause of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to reduce the size of the federal district, which it has previously done. 

    I urge the House to vote NO on H.R. 2096 and to pass the D.C. statehood bill and the D.C. Local Funds Act.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brookfield — RCMP Northeast Traffic Services arrests a man for Flight from Police

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Northeast Traffic Services (NETS) has arrested a man involved in a flight from police in Brookfield.

    On June 5, at approximately 11:15 a.m. an RCMP officer from NETS attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle travelling on Hwy. 2 in Brookfield, for an expired plate. The driver of the Volkswagen Jetta refused to stop, accelerated and fled from police at a high rate of speed. In the interest of public safety, a pursuit was not initiated.

    RCMP officers later located the Jetta abandoned on an isolated dead-end road in Pleasant Valley.

    A search of the area, assisted by RCMP Police Dog Services, Colchester Country District RCMP, the Department of Natural Resources Air Services and an RCMP remotely piloted aircraft system operator, was successful in locating the driver and passenger fleeing the area on foot.

    The 24-year-old male driver from Dutch Settlement was subsequently safely arrested.

    He was later released on conditions and will appear in Truro Provincial Court at a later date to face charges of Flight from Police (two counts) and Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance.

    The driver was also issued summary offence tickets under the Motor Vehicle Act for:

    • Driving a Motor Vehicle Without a Motor Vehicle Liability Policy
    • Operating and Unregistered Vehicle
    • Failing to Display Number Plates for Current Registration Year
    • Operator of Vehicle Operating Vehicle Without a Valid Inspection Sticker in Place or Possession Valid Certificate for Vehicle

    File # 2025-777295

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner to mark state visit by Marshall Islands President Heine

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner to mark state visit by Marshall Islands President Heine

    • Date：2025-06-04
    • Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

    June 4, 2025
    No.193

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a dinner on June 3 to mark a state visit by President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Minister Lin conveyed a warm welcome on behalf of the government of Taiwan and thanked the Marshall Islands for firmly backing Taiwan’s international participation. He said that Taiwan hoped to build upon the solid foundation of cooperation with the Marshall Islands to continue to advance the bilateral partnership and advance development in all areas.

    In his remarks, Minister Lin stated that in the 27 years since diplomatic relations were established, Taiwan and the Marshall Islands had seen fruitful results from cooperation in many areas, which demonstrated that ties were close and friendly. During President Heine’s state visit, the two sides had signed the Letter of Intent on Sports Exchange and Cooperation, the Memorandum of Understanding on the ROC (Taiwan)-RMI Presidents’ Scholarship, and an agreement on enhancing cooperation in air travel as ways of strengthening the bilateral partnership. Minister Lin further emphasized that since taking office, he had overseen implementation of the integrated diplomacy policy, the three pillars of which were values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic and trade diplomacy. He had also promoted the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, under which Taiwan would continue to assist the Marshall Islands in realizing sustainable economic development based on the Taiwan model.

    In her remarks, President Heine said that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands had cooperated closely in such key sectors as medical care, education, agriculture, and climate change adaptation. This, she declared, had profoundly enhanced the welfare of the people of the Marshall Islands and contributed to national development. She further recognized that her state visit served as a milestone in improving bilateral relations. She particularly thanked Taiwan for providing scholarships, which had helped the Marshall Islands nurture professional talent and train medical personnel and which had greatly benefited the Marshallese people and boosted momentum for the nation’s economic development. President Heine reiterated that diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands were grounded in shared democratic values. As Taiwan’s steadfast friend and ally, the Marshall Islands would, she pledged, continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and work with Taiwan to facilitate peace, prosperity, and development in both nations.

    Among other attendees at the dinner were Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi; International Cooperation and Development Fund Secretary General Huang Yu-lin; Sports Administration Deputy Director-General Fang Jui-wen; Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General Lin Ding-rong; and Shuang-Ho Hospital Vice Superintendent Chan Lung. At the conclusion of the banquet, members of the Marshallese delegation sang traditional folk songs, demonstrating their Austronesian cultural heritage. Minister Lin and the Taiwanese attendees also joined in. The atmosphere of the event was warm and cordial. (E)

     

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin meets with delegation led by Mayor Zdanowska of Polish city of Łódź

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin meets with delegation led by Mayor Zdanowska of Polish city of Łódź

    • Date：2025-06-05
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 5, 2025  

    No. 196  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on the morning of June 4 met with a delegation led by Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź, Poland. The six-member delegation also included Łódź University of Technology Rector Krzysztof Jóźwik, Łódź City Councilors Beata Bilska and Maciej Rakowski, and Łódź city government officials. The two sides engaged in an in-depth exchange of opinions regarding Taiwan-Poland interactions on economics and trade, culture, and academic and city affairs.

     

    During the meeting, Minister Lin began by once again welcoming Mayor Zdanowska to Taiwan and thanking her for the warm reception extended to him during his visit to Łódź in November 2024. Noting that city-to-city diplomacy played an important role in Taiwan’s overall external relations, Minister Lin said he was delighted that the delegation would be meeting with Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che to formally conclude a sister-city agreement. He said that Tainan and Łódź had many things in common and that he looked forward to the two cities continuing to deepen substantive cooperation, further expanding mutual interactions and exchanges in a range of areas, and developing a mutually beneficial partnership.

     

    Mayor Zdanowska said that Łódź, a city with a long history at the heart of Poland, enjoyed convenient transport links, a rich cultural heritage, and a solid industrial foundation. Remarking that the development of special economic zones and road and airport infrastructure had much improved the city’s economic prospects in recent years, she said she hoped that Taiwanese industries would work with Łódź to generate mutual prosperity. Mayor Zdanowska also stated that Łódź had recently been active in developing its film and television and arts and cultural industries, and said she believed there was room for collaboration with related sectors in Taiwan.

     

    Taiwan and Poland share such values as freedom and democracy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to promote close cooperation between Taiwan and Poland and seek to deepen their resilient partnership so as to create enduring prosperity and well-being for the peoples on both sides. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner to mark state visit by Guatemala President Arévalo

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner to mark state visit by Guatemala President Arévalo

    • Date：2025-06-06
    • Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

    June 6, 2025  

    No. 198  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a dinner on June 5 to mark a state visit by President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado. Minister Lin conveyed a sincere welcome on behalf of the government of Taiwan and said that Taiwan hoped to build upon the existing solid foundation of cooperation with Guatemala to jointly forge an even more strategically significant partnership.

     

    In his remarks, Minister Lin said that Taiwan and Guatemala enjoyed a deep friendship and had maintained diplomatic ties for more than 90 years, adding that cooperation between the two sides had yielded fruitful results across various domains. He noted that during this state visit, President Arévalo had signed a letter of intent on semiconductor cooperation with President Lai Ching-te and that the two presidents had also witnessed the signing of an MOU on a political consultation mechanism between their respective foreign ministers and the signing of a letter of intent on bilateral investment in supply chains between their respective economic ministers. He stated that these actions not only demonstrated the two countries’ staunch and cordial relations but would also further deepen bilateral cooperation. Minister Lin emphasized that Taiwan’s government would continue to work hand in hand with the Guatemalan government under President Arévalo’s leadership to advance Guatemala’s national development; deepen trade, economic, and investment ties and semiconductor cooperation; and jointly advance comprehensive bilateral collaboration across all sectors. Minister Lin also mentioned how cordially he was received by President Arévalo and First Lady Peinado when he visited Guatemala last October. He said that he had brought home and continued to cherish a menu, signed by President Arévalo, from the banquet held at the president’s residence.

     

    In his remarks, President Arévalo thanked Minister Lin for his warm reception and expressed delight at being able to meet in Taipei again after October 2024, when his wife had visited Taiwan for National Day celebrations and Minister Lin and his wife had visited Guatemala. He said that their interactions had always been convivial and sincere. President Arévalo also pointed out that the attendees of the dinner were experts and leaders in different fields, highlighting how Taiwan-Guatemala cooperation had become more comprehensive and diverse. He said that the documents signed on the morning of June 5 would serve as guideposts for the direction of future cooperation between the two nations and voiced his firm conviction that the Taiwan-Guatemala partnership would continue to grow even closer.

     

    Among other attendees at the dinner were International Cooperation and Development Fund Secretary General Huang Yu-lin; National Taiwan University Professor Chang Pei-zen; Vice Superintendent of National Taiwan University Hospital Lou Pei-jen; President of Chunghwa Telecom Lin Rong-shy; and CIECA Chairman Joseph Jye-cherng Lyu. Interactions at the event were lively and cordial. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA strongly refutes Chinese Foreign Ministry’s baseless claims regarding Taiwan-Guatemala diplomatic relations

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA strongly refutes Chinese Foreign Ministry’s baseless claims regarding Taiwan-Guatemala diplomatic relations

    • Date：2025-06-07
    • Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

    June 7, 2025  

    No. 199  

    In response to a media inquiry on June 6 regarding the visit to Taiwan by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and his wife, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied with tired rhetoric, urging Guatemala to “see the ultimate trend” and “make the right choice at an early date,” as well as making false claims regarding the so-called “one China principle.” MOFA strongly condemns these statements, which seek to sabotage diplomatic relations between Taiwan and its allies. 

     

    MOFA solemnly reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country and strives to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait; that China, on the other hand, frequently engages in malevolent behavior that undermines regional peace and stability; and that the cross-strait status quo is an objective fact recognized by the international community. In carrying out its sovereign rights, Taiwan maintains with its allies diplomatic relations that are founded on the principles of mutual respect, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. Other countries have no right whatsoever to interfere in them. 

     

    The Republic of China (Taiwan) and Guatemala established diplomatic relations in 1933, long before the People’s Republic of China was founded. Forged more than nine decades ago on a solid foundation of mutual trust, these relations cannot be swayed by any spurious claims. President Arévalo’s visit to Taiwan demonstrates Guatemala’s concrete support for this alliance and underlines expectations that bilateral cooperation will grow even more comprehensive and diverse. Looking ahead, the governments of Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to support each other and work hand in hand on the path of democracy, freedom, and justice. (E) 

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for delegation led by Chair Battistel of French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for delegation led by Chair Battistel of French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group

    • Date：2025-06-09
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 9, 2025  

    No. 204  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on June 9 to welcome a delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, Chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. He extended appreciation to the French Parliament for its staunch support and close friendship with Taiwan.

     

    In his speech, Minister Lin congratulated Ms. Battistel on her election as chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group earlier this year and thanked the French Parliament for its long-standing and cross-party support of Taiwan, including the overwhelming endorsement in a resolution in 2021 supporting Taiwan’s international participation, the passage of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023 supporting freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, and its enthusiastic response to sending a joint letter to the director-general of the World Health Organization in May backing Taiwan’s bid. Minister Lin noted that Europe’s support for Taiwan was crucial, that Taiwan-France relations continued to grow and thrive, and that there was great potential to deepen collaboration between Taiwan and France in key technological domains and innovative industries. He expressed hope that the two sides would further contribute to global prosperity and development through closer exchanges and cooperation in the future.

     

    In her speech, Chair Battistel said that she was honored to serve as chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group and emphasized that she would continue to lead the group in its steadfast support of Taiwan, in line with French values and global common interests. She indicated that China’s threats and attempts to suppress Taiwan had had wide-ranging impacts on the world and urged democratic countries to jointly support Taiwan. She added that she believed Taiwan’s participation in international organizations was pivotal and that the entire international community stood to benefit from Taiwan’s knowledge and experience.

     

    This is the second delegation from the French National Assembly to visit Taiwan this year, following a visit in May by Guillaume Kasbarian, former French Minister of Civil Service and member of the National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. 

     

    At the invitation of Minister Lin, Professor Lee Hahn-ming of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, along with Wu Min-hsuan, CEO of Doublethink Lab, attended the luncheon and exchanged views with the delegation on such issues as how Taiwan and France could jointly cope with the use of artificial intelligence by foreign forces to manipulate information. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: CNB issues its first-ever coin with an optical see-through element

    Source: Czech National Bank

    The Czech National Bank (CNB) is issuing a CZK 500 commemorative silver coin featuring the legendary Czech jet trainer, the Aero L‑39. The coin features a unique optical see-through element, which allows the aircraft’s silhouette to be seen in three-dimensional space. The coin is available for purchase from 11 June 2025.

    This latest silver coin is the fifth and final in the thematic series Famous Means of Transport in this issuance period. “The Aero L‑39 symbolises top-tier Czechoslovak aerospace engineering. This legendary aircraft has become both a technical and export icon and marks a significant milestone in Czech industrial history. It has rightly earned its place among the five coins for which we at the CNB chose exceptional technical processing,” said CNB Bank Board member Karina Kubelková.

    This is the first coin in the history of the CNB’s numismatic issues to feature an optical see-through element. “If you shine a laser through the coin’s see-through section, you will see the silhouette of two aircraft,” Karina Kubelková highlighted the creative element. She added that the silhouette can also be viewed without a laser by looking through the coin towards a point light source, such as a phone flashlight or pocket torch.

    The CNB is issuing a total of 30,000 coins: 10,760 in normal quality and 19,240 in proof quality. The coin is minted from an alloy containing 925 parts silver and 75 parts copper. It weighs 25 grams and has a diameter of 40 mm. It is issued in two versions, normal quality and proof quality. Proof-quality coins have a polished field and a matt relief.

    The design of the coin was chosen in an art competition. At the recommendation of an expert committee, the CNB Bank Board selected the design submitted by Zbyněk Fojtů. On the obverse side of the CZK 500 coin, he depicted the front view of the Aero L‑39 jet with part of the instrument panel below it, containing three flight instruments. The central flight instrument with an artificial horizon is depicted as an optical see-through element. The reverse side of the coin features two jets in flight and a mirror-reversed depiction of the flight instrument with an artificial horizon.

    The coin’s denomination of CZK 500 does not equal the sale price, which is higher and reflects, among other things, the current price of silver, production costs and VAT. The coins were minted by Česká mincovna, a. s., in Jablonec nad Nisou and are available for purchase from selected contractual partners (in Czech only). The CNB does not sell numismatic material directly to the public.

    The Aero L‑39 silver coin is the fifth in the Famous Means of Transport series. Previous coins in the series feature the Škoda 498 Albatros steam locomotive, the Jawa 250 motorcycle, the Tatra 603 car and the ČKD Tatra T3 tram. More commemorative coins will be issued in the Famous Means of Transport II series from 2026 to 2030. The whole schedule of issuance of coins and banknotes is available on the CNB website.

    Aero L-39 jet

    The Czechoslovak company Aero Vodochody began developing the new L‑39 Albatros jet trainer in the 1960s, building on experience with the L‑29 Delfín. The project was led by Jan Vlček in cooperation with the Soviet Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. The aircraft was powered by the Ivchenko AI‑25 turbofan engine, which was produced under license as the AI‑25W at the Motorlet plant in Prague. The first flight took place in 1968 and serial production began in 1971. The Aero L‑39 received many accolades, was showcased at the Paris Air Show in 1977 and was successfully exported to many countries. By 1993, nearly 2,800 jets had been produced. The aircraft’s development continued with modernised versions, including the L‑159 and the latest L‑39NG.

    Jaroslav Krejčí
    CNB Spokesperson

    MIL OSI Economics –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Resilient, sustainable food systems are Canada’s best defence against American tariffs

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Érick Duchesne, Professeur, Département de science politique, Université Laval

    Earlier this year, Donald Trump’s administration in the United States reimposed tariffs on Canadian items, including agricultural products, citing supposed national security concerns. Agricultural products have little to do with defence, and the move sent shockwaves through Canada’s farming community.

    We are members of the Common Ground Network, a national initiative of about 100 scholars promoting collaboration for sustainable agriculture and food systems in Canada.

    The Common Ground Network is closely monitoring the impact of tariffs and trade tensions on Canadian communities and the transition to a net-zero economy across all regions of Canada.

    The consequences for Canadian and American agriculture run deep — and could prove long-lasting. According to RealAgristudies’s survey of 660 Canadian farmers, 59 per cent expected a negative impact on their business, rising to 88 per cent in the livestock sector.

    Structural risk ahead if tariffs remain

    Trump’s tariffs have sharply reduced Canada’s agricultural exports to the U.S., with beef, pork and canola hit hardest. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows an eight to five per cent drop in beef and pork exports in early 2025 compared to 2024.

    Fed cattle prices plummeted 22.6 per cent, with estimated revenue losses of C$4.02 billion. Canola exports are also expected to decline significantly.

    If current tariffs persist, Canada is at risk not just of short-term disruption but long-term structural damage to its agri-food sector. Rising input costs, shrinking revenues and market volatility are squeezing farmers and weakening overall competitiveness. Some Canadian producers are already struggling with oversupply due to market disruption.

    The tariffs could also threaten the economic sovereignty and food access of Indigenous farmers who rely on cross-border trade, and remote communities that depend on imported goods for food supply. If prolonged, these trade shocks could cut Canada’s GDP by three per cent, spark a recession and fuel lasting price volatility.

    American farmers also feeling the pain

    Ironically, Trump’s protectionism is also hurting American farmers. Canada, which supplies 20 per cent of agri-food imports to the U.S., has imposed retaliatory tariffs on goods like cheese and apples, prompting Canadian buyers to shift to other suppliers. That could result in long-term market share loss for U.S. producers.

    Integrated supply chains are strained, with American processors now facing higher costs for Canadian products like canola oil, beef and pork. Combined with domestic issues like water restrictions and labour shortages, U.S. agriculture is under mounting pressure on various fronts.

    Canada and the U.S. have built one of the world’s most integrated agri-food systems. In 2023, bilateral trade in the sector reached US$72.6 billion.

    This interdependence matters: a hamburger might include Canadian beef raised in the U.S., processed in Ontario and served on a Canadian wheat bun. But tariffs and mistrust now threaten this co-operation. Once lost, these market positions may be hard to recover, even after tariffs are lifted, as rebuilding supply chains and cross-border trust will be slow.

    Trade tensions are affecting food security and grocery baskets in multiple ways. Higher costs are passed on to consumers, creating lasting price increases — especially for goods with few substitutes, like coffee.

    The Consumer Price Index shows that prices of food purchased from stores increased 3.9 per cent between January 2025 and April 2025, fuelled by tariffs. Infant formula increased by six per cent, coffee by about 10 per cent and some beef cuts by about 13 per cent.



    Read more:
    Trump tariffs have sparked a ‘Buy Canadian’ surge, but keeping the trend alive faces hurdles

    Shortages from rising costs and reduced U.S. demand limit choices and drive prices up — especially hurting low-income households. These tariffs fuel food inflation and reduce access to essentials.

    Tariffs are also shifting behaviour: Food Processing Skills Canada found that 67 per cent of Canadians are buying more local products, 76 per cent are avoiding U.S. goods and 43 per cent have changed their grocery habits significantly. These trends were echoed in Angus Reid’s February 2025 study.

    The net-zero transition

    The tariffs will probably disrupt Canada’s ability to meet its net-zero emissions targets by 2050. Food processors and farmers in Canada relying on U.S. machinery and clean-tech components now face higher costs, slowing the adoption of low-emission technologies and sustainable agricultural practices.

    The tariffs are likely to undermine efforts to build a resilient, adaptive food system in Canada capable of withstanding climate-related disruptions. Dealing with the tariffs along with the need to reconfigure supply chains will likely increase Canada’s carbon footprint, whether that’s due to the increased transport emissions of distant markets or delayed or cancelled investments in carbon-reducing technologies.

    These trade disruptions also risk diverting political attention away from long-term sustainability goals. The current political focus may prioritize short-term economic stabilization, potentially stalling the momentum needed for a transformative food system change in Canada.



    Read more:
    Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council: A collaborative approach to strengthening food systems

    Canada needs to respond boldly

    Canada can diversify exports through its 15 trade deals, including the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as CETA, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Canada’s 15 trade agreements provide access to 51 countries, representing 66 per cent of global GDP, which is the total value of all goods and services produced in the world during a specific time period.

    Furthermore, Canada can pursue new trade agreements and partnerships in emerging markets and invest more to further help the agri-food sector expand globally.

    Canada can challenge unfair trade practices through the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement’s state-to-state dispute panels and the binational panel review mechanism to challenge U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.

    Canada can also leverage trade alliances like the Ottawa Group — a 14-member coalition that works on addressing multilateral trade challenges — to voice its concerns on the global stage.

    Investing in agricultural innovation can also boost productivity, reduce emissions, enhance global competitiveness and build resilience against tariff shocks.

    Improvements to transportation networks, storage and processing facilities, and broadband connectivity are also critical for reducing supply chain bottlenecks and enabling rural producers to access broader markets.

    Trump has repeatedly threatened Canada’s supply management system, which controls the dairy, egg and poultry industries. Supply management has been a reliable system for Canadian farmers and consumers. Easing interprovincial trade and supporting local food systems to reduce the unnecessary exports of dairy products and cold-climate fruits, beef and seafood could result in greater national self-reliance.

    Dairy cows at a Québec farm.
    THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

    Strategy over retaliation

    In response to American tariffs, there has been a shift in consumer sentiment. This presents an opportunity to encourage consumers to support local producers, reduce dependence on imports and build national economic resilience.

    Canada must rethink its trade and agricultural frameworks for the decades ahead.

    The future of Canada’s farming sector — and by extension its food security, rural communities and economic sovereignty — will depend on its ability to turn today’s crisis into tomorrow’s opportunity.

    Érick Duchesne is a member of the Common Ground Network, which is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    Gregory Cameron is a member of the Common Ground Network, which is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    Gumataw Abebe is a member of the Common Ground Network, which is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    Monika Korzun is a member of the Common Ground Network. She receives research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) as well as Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Monika Korzun is a board member of the Atlantic Food Action Coalition (AFAC).

    – ref. Resilient, sustainable food systems are Canada’s best defence against American tariffs – https://theconversation.com/resilient-sustainable-food-systems-are-canadas-best-defence-against-american-tariffs-257946

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Musk apologizes but the bromance is over: What network science tells us about the Trump-Musk breakup

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Anthony Bonato, Professor of Mathematics, Toronto Metropolitan University

    The proverbial gauntlet has been thrown down. The friendship and partnership between United States President Donald Trump and “special government employee” Elon Musk has collapsed in spectacular fashion.

    On X on June 3, Musk posted about the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it a “disgusting abomination.”

    An argument ensued, and two days later, Trump called Musk “CRAZY” on Truth Social. The fight escalated and Trump’s slur was followed by Musk’s suggestion the president should be impeached and alleging he appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

    These Musk posts in particular were seen as a step too far by many in Trump’s circle, even after the Tesla CEO deleted them.

    Trump and Musk’s storied bromance contributed to one of the greatest comebacks in American presidential history, with Trump winning a second term despite his numerous legal troubles. Musk actively campaigned for Trump, contributing more than $250 million to his re-election bid.

    While we can only speculate about what exactly went wrong between the world’s most powerful man and the world’s richest, their feud reveals a potentially highly impactful disruption in American politics. It also illustrates what happens when social networks fall apart and the impact those types of fissures have on social structures.

    Enter Zachary’s Karate Club

    Feuds between political figures are nothing new, and neither are fissures in social groups. The latter has been studied for decades by network scientists who measure the strength of ties between people.

    Networks, consisting of nodes and links, appear everywhere. They measure interactions and provide us with another lens through which to view the world. For example, we can consider networks of neurons in our brains, networks of banking transactions, or likes and follows on social media.

    Over three years from 1970 to 1972, Temple University anthropologist Wayne Zachary studied the social network of 34 members in a university karate club. He observed a split between the club’s instructor and its administrator. What ensued was a partition of the club into factions, centred on the two respective leaders. Zachary referred to this as fission within the group in his 1977 paper.

    “Communities” in a social network are groups of like-minded individuals who are more likely to interact with one another than those outside the group. Think of a community as a clique in a high school, with separate groups of teenagers who are into football, members of the math club or fans of Taylor Swift.

    The Zachary Karate Club network is a well-cited and early example of the emergence of two distinct communities from one. The network became a popular example of community structure in networks after its use by physicist Michelle Girvan and network scientist Mark Newman in 2002.

    How the split could affect voters

    The split between Trump and Musk echoes the split in the Zachary Karate Club network. While the Karate Club network is much smaller than the the 160 million-plus group of likely U.S. voters, it does suggest the kind of polarization that can occur when powerful individuals go their separate ways.

    Imagine each voter as a node, with two nodes linked if they voted for the same presidential candidate. That would split voters into two main groups: one that voted Republican and the other that voted Democrat, with a smaller group comprising the roughly three million people who voted for independent candidates like Jill Stein in 2024.

    U.S. presidential elections can be razor-close, as was the case with George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. Even a minor split among voters can upend the results. For example, in the 1992 presidential election, independent candidate Ross Perot garnered almost 19 per cent of the popular vote, which likely siphoned off Republican votes and contributed to George H.W. Bush’s loss.

    On June 5, Musk polled X about creating a new political party — The America Party. Within hours, about 80 per cent of 1.3 million people who took his poll supported his idea.

    That party could fracture the traditional voting base of Republicans and Democrats, leaving the fate of the White House uncertain for the foreseeable future. While die-hard MAGA voters will likely always support Trump, tech-savvy millennial and Gen Z voters may be more receptive to Musk’s disruptive third-party aspirations.

    Friends and enemies

    Social networks adhere to two core principles that govern ties between individuals. These principles are well accepted and are also common sense.

    The first is the adage that friends of friends are more likely to be friends. Given Musk’s strong past ties to Trump, followers of Musk would more likely consider voting for Trump.

    The second and equally important principle is that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. That could be bad news for Republicans, as independent-leaning voters who don’t like Trump but voted for him in 2024 may consider supporting the hypothetical “America Party.”

    Another possibility is that the feud ends — Musk is already expressing regrets, saying his posts about Trump “went too far.” That could go a long way to reversing the fissure, though it may not ease the hard feelings that could linger among either Musk or Trump fans.

    We can view both Trump and Musk as powerful attractors who influence the social network of U.S. voters.

    While the majority of Democrats may reject the policies and ideology of both men, the 49.9 per cent of Americans who supported Trump in 2024 could splinter.

    Because this is the official final term of Trump’s presidency, Musk could also support Vice President JD Vance or another Republican frontrunner, dropping his musings about a third party altogether.

    Whatever happens next — just like everything else in the Trump presidency — network science tells us it won’t be predictable.

    Anthony Bonato receives funding from NSERC.

    – ref. Musk apologizes but the bromance is over: What network science tells us about the Trump-Musk breakup – https://theconversation.com/musk-apologizes-but-the-bromance-is-over-what-network-science-tells-us-about-the-trump-musk-breakup-258554

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Spending Review presents challenges

    Source: Scottish Government

    Funding for Scotland falls behind UK Government departments.

    The UK Spending Review fails to deliver for Scotland, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said.

    Spending levels for public services will fail to offset the impact of proposed cuts to welfare support and the rise in National Insurance contributions, the Finance Secretary warned in response to the Chancellor’s statement.

    Shona Robison said: 

    “This Spending Review is business as usual from the UK Government, which is yet again treating Scotland as an afterthought and failing to provide us with the funding we need.

    “Today’s settlement for Scotland is particularly disappointing, with real terms growth of 0.8% a year for our overall Block Grant, which is lower than the average for UK Departments. Had our resource funding for day-to-day priorities grown in line with the UK Government’s overall spending, we would have £1.1 billion more to spend on our priorities over the next three years. In effect, Scotland has been short-changed by more than a billion pounds.

    “This all comes on top of the UK Government’s failure to fully fund their employer National Insurance increase, depriving us of hundreds of millions of pounds in funding, and their proposed cuts in support for disabled people that will push 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.

    “It is also disappointing that despite apparent briefing to media in advance, we are still awaiting clarity on funding for the vital Acorn project in the North East of Scotland.

    “We made extensive representations to the UK Government on our priorities for the Spending Review, including calls for an end to spending that bypasses devolution, but there has been limited opportunity to engage with them. It appears that the continuation of local growth funding – which fails to match the European Structural Funds it was supposed to replace – will come directly from Whitehall, yet again bypassing devolved governments.

    “We will now take the time to digest the detail of this statement and will set out our formal response on 25 June as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stoke-on-Trent secures £20 million regeneration money as UK “trailblazer”

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 11th June 2025

    Stoke-on-Trent will receive up to £20 million to transform Bentilee and Ubberley through regeneration projects led by the local community.

    The money – announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of today’s Comprehensive Spending Review – will support to drive forward the changes they want to see over the next decade.

    Bentilee and Ubberley was chosen as one of only 25 “trailblazer” neighbourhoods across the UK which will receive the funds.

    The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will now work with partners in the trailblazer areas to develop schemes and provide a direct route in to Whitehall.

    MHCLG said the money would “support improvements people can see on their doorstep, champion local leadership, foster community engagement and strengthen social cohesion”.

    The city council will provide support to the community to bring forward proposals, align them to ongoing council work, and ensure benefits are felt across the wider city.

    Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This is a truly transformational sum of money which will make a real difference to people’s lives for decades to come.

    “It is also recognition of the work we have already been doing to empower communities to have more control over the places where they live.

    “We will support the people of Bentilee and Ubberley to secure the maximum benefits from this investment, and ensure that those benefits are felt as widely as possible by the people who need it most.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Democratic HELP Members Call for Hearings on Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and Its Impact on Americans’ Health

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, June 11 – As President Trump and Senate Republicans rush forward with their budget reconciliation bill – which would throw 16 million people off of their health insurance – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), alongside every Democratic member of the HELP Committee, today sent a letter to committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) urging him to schedule hearings with patients and health care providers to hear about the legislation’s disastrous impact on the health and well-being of the American people and markup this bill before it reaches the Senate floor for consideration. 

    “We are deeply concerned that if these policies were signed into law they would create a national health care emergency,” wrote Sanders and the senators. “Not only would millions of Americans lose their health insurance and tens of thousands of our constituents die as a result of the House-passed reconciliation bill, the cost of prescription drugs would go up for seniors, hospitals and community health centers in rural and underserved areas would close or shut down access to services that patients rely on, and nursing homes would be made less safe.” 

    Last week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the House-passed budget reconciliation bill would slash more than $1 trillion from federal health care programs. The bill, coupled with the expiration of health care premium tax credits that Republicans have refused to extend, would lead to 16 million Americans losing the health insurance they currently have according to CBO. New research from Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania found that more than 51,000 additional Americans will die each year if Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” becomes law. The bill would also defund Planned Parenthood, slash funding for women’s health care, and restrict reproductive health care coverage across the country. 

    “Regardless of your views on the merits of these policies, we hope you would agree with us that the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has a solemn responsibility to hold extensive hearings on the impact these policies would have on the health and well-being of the American people and our entire health care system,” conclude Sanders and the senators. “Failure to hold hearings and a markup on this reconciliation bill before it is considered on the Senate floor would be an abdication of our duty to the American people.” 

    Joining Sanders as cosigners on this letter are Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). 

    Read the letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Building Permit Growth Up 31.5 Per Cent, Leading the Nation

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 11, 2025

    Province’s Strong Year-Over-Year Growth Ranks First Among the Provinces

    Statistics Canada’s latest figures indicate a 31.5 per cent increase from April 2024 to April 2025 (seasonally adjusted) in the value of building permits issued in Saskatchewan. The value reached $290 million (seasonally adjusted) in April 2025.

    “The continued rise in building permits demonstrates how our strong economy is delivering for Saskatchewan people,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “Our stable business environment and competitive incentives are bringing jobs, investments and opportunities to everyone who calls this province home.” 

    Month-over-month figures also saw growth, with the value increasing 2.9 per cent from March 2025. Non-residential building permits increased by 57.1 per cent.

    The total value of building permits represents the dollar value of construction permits for residential and non-residential buildings.

    Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2024 real GDP reached an all-time high of $80.5 billion, increasing by $2.6 billion, or 3.4 per cent. This ranks Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth and above the national average of 1.6 per cent. 

    Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces for growth. Private capital investment is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.1 per cent over 2024. This is the second highest anticipated percentage increase among the provinces.  

    Last year, the province released Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, in conjunction with the launch of the investSK.ca website. These initiatives are positioned to amplify growth in Saskatchewan, serving as pivotal instruments in driving further development. 

    For more information, visit: InvestSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Introduces Bill to Codify Trump’s Rescissions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement after introducing H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to codify the Trump Administration’s rescissions request:“As last month’s credit rating downgrade by Moody’s reaffirmed, we need to drastically reduce deficit spending in Washington and get back to focusing on the top priorities of the American taxpayer. The rescissions request sent to Congress by the Trump Administration takes the federal government in a new direction where we actually cut waste, fraud, and abuse and hold agencies accountable to the American people.  “I’m excited to introduce H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which codifies President Trump’s cuts to wasteful foreign aid initiatives within the State Department and USAID, as well as woke public broadcasting, including NPR and PBS, at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is a business the federal government shouldn’t even be in.  “This legislation cuts $9.4 BILLION in waste, delivering on the mandate given to President Trump and Republicans in November and fulfilling the promises we made to the American people to restore fiscal responsibility – and it’s only the beginning.  “Along with the One Big Beautiful Bill that will achieve savings of more than $1.6 trillion, these cuts will help put us on a path to fiscal sanity and undo years of reckless spending that drives inflation. I look forward to seeing this legislation come to the floor next week as House Republicans fight to change the trajectory of Washington spending and restore commonsense to the federal government.” To view the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Corrects Record on Faulty CBO Projections

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congressman Mark Messmer (R-Ind.) to discuss how the One Big Beautiful Bill will reduce our deficit and unleash economic growth. Leader Scalise slammed the Congressional Budget Office’s false projections, noting their history of miscalculating opportunities for economic growth like they did with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Leader Scalise highlighted how House Republicans will continue to rally around legislation that protects taxpayer dollars, pointing to the White House-requested rescissions package that Leader Scalise is bringing to the House Floor next week. Additionally, Leader Scalise condemned the horrific antisemitic terror attacks that continue around the country.

    Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
    On the rise in antisemitic terror attacks:“We all mourn those who were the victims of these attacks here in Washington, D.C., as well as in Boulder, Colorado. And it just unfortunately highlights this continued antisemitism we’ve seen around the country. Last week, I met with Jewish leaders, and they’re understandably concerned about this trend that keeps going on. It’s been going on for years. You know, you go back to October 7th, and ever since then, it’s been a growing equivocation between almost trying to equivocate what the people who attacked and murdered Jews in Israel and Americans and kept hostages with those in Gaza who we’ve seen what Gaza has become in and all of those who want to clean up Gaza. President Trump has made it clear, Prime Minister Netanyahu has made it clear, they want to turn Gaza back into a place where you don’t have to fear for your life that it’s going to be a terrorist hotbed. And yet there are people there that want to sympathize with the very terrorists who want to continue to not only carry out evil against Israelis, but against people here in America and all across the globe. It’s got to stop. We’re going to continue to bring legislation on the House Floor to address it.”On House Republicans unifying around reconciliation:“Now, I do want to talk about the one big beautiful bill. This House came together in a way that maybe surprised some people here in Washington. We’ve defied the odds every step of the way, from the first vote on the budget to the second vote on the budget to final passage. But there’s a reason for that.“And, you know, as the Whip just said, we’ve said all along, failure is not an option. I’ve been asked by some in the press, ‘What’s plan B?’ when there were reports that the bill was going to fail. And we were very clear, and it wasn’t just a talking point, we said there is no plan B. The American economy, the voters of this country demanded that Congress deliver on the promises that President Trump made to get this country turned around. And what we do in this bill delivers on so many different fronts to help grow America’s economy, to create jobs, to put more money in the pockets of hardworking families. That’s been the focus of this bill from the very beginning.”On CBO’s history of miscalculating economic growth: “I think there are some people that start reading too many Congressional Budget Office reports and ignore the lessons of history. And there’s an old saying that if you ignore the lessons of history, you’re doomed to repeat it. But I think it’s important to go down that road of history and go back to 2017. You don’t need to go back that far to see how wrong the CBO has been when it comes time to make prognostications on economic growth. They’ve always been wrong, and they’ve always ignored what tax cuts will do to grow the American economy. In 2017, when we started this process, when President Trump came in and said, ‘We’re going to make America competitive again,’ we were at a 35% corporate rate, and we were losing jobs all across the globe. Every month, you’d see a great American company move to a foreign country, and they would take the jobs along with them. Millions of jobs were leaving America. They were called inversions. You don’t maybe know that term as well anymore, because we haven’t had an inversion since we passed TCJA in 2017.“But if you go back, look at what CBO said about that bill. They said it would cost a decrease in revenue to the tune of one and a half trillion dollars. One and a half trillion. Now you go look at the numbers, they were off by more than one and a half trillion dollars. Because what they left out of that report, just like they’re leaving it out again, CBO is making the same mistakes. They ignore economic growth. What we saw in 2017 when we cut taxes is that businesses started growing. They started giving pay raises to their workers. They hired millions more people. Unemployment went virtually to zero. Inflation dropped dramatically. People had more money in their pockets because wages were up.And all of those things produced more money for the American Treasury. It all happened, and yet CBO failed to recognize that. And they’re making the same mistake again. And anybody who repeats CBO’s analysis is also making those same mistakes.”On the historic growth this bill will generate for hardworking Americans:“If you ignore the growth that will come with keeping tax rates low, with helping businesses invest more in their workers, giving pay raises, putting more money in the pockets of waiters and waitresses, overtime workers not having to pay taxes on overtime, bonus depreciation, immediate expensing, all the things that will generate economic growth and ultimately put more money in the pockets of workers and send more money up to the federal Treasury here in Washington. CBO missed all of that in 2017, and they’re missing it again this time. That’s the only way they’ve come to a conclusion that it would increase the deficit. This bill will actually reduce the deficit if you recognize the historical economic growth that has always been there. To say you’re going to get 1.8% growth, at a minimum, we think you can get 2.5 to 4% growth. Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, says over 4% economic growth. So I get that, you know, we’ve got to play by the rules of the referee, but the referee has been wrong. You know, we got a referee that tries to sack our quarterback a lot, and yet we still manage to play by those rules and deliver for the American people. Because when this bill is passed and signed into law, hopefully by July 4th, when the Senate does their work, you’re going to see economic growth in this country like we haven’t seen in generations, meaning more pay in the pockets of workers. And you’re going to see more Treasury money coming in because of the growth in the American economy. It’s happened before, and it will happen again. We just need to keep moving forward. And the Senate’s got the bill now, and I’m confident they’re going to move it on and ultimately back to us to the president’s desk.”On putting the rescissions package on the House Floor:“And finally, you saw yesterday the White House sent the rescissions package. This is the first maybe of many. We are now putting that in bill format. We’ll file that bill hopefully by tomorrow and then bring it up to the floor quickly and get rid of more waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. This will deal with, obviously, the abuses we all saw at USAID, NPR, and public broadcasting. So those are the things that are going to be in this rescissions package. We’re going to continue working with President Trump to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and get the American economy turning around again.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise: Democrats’ Vote Against OBBB is a Vote for More Riots in LA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Congressman Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) to discuss how the One Big Beautiful Bill would directly address the violent riots in Los Angeles by providing funding for more ICE and Border Patrol Agents. Leader Scalise also highlighted the Office of Management and Budget’s report detailing how the One Big Beautiful Bill will unleash economic growth for hardworking Americans through no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and the largest tax cuts in history, and also reduce the national deficit by over $1.4 trillion.

    Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
    On the need for the One Big Beautiful Bill to help address the lawlessness in California:“Anybody who watched these just inflammatory scenes roll out in Los Angeles over the weekend sees one more example why we need to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill and why we need to get it to President Trump’s desk as soon as possible. One of the many great provisions in this bill that we came together to pass through the House are provisions that allow our ICE agents and our Border Patrol Agents to get more resources, to get more support hiring more Border Patrol Agents and more ICE agents. Frankly, it’s one of the reasons that every single Democrat voted no on the bill. Because they want open borders, they want the chaos and the mayhem that comes with sanctuary cities and sanctuary states that we’ve been standing up against. They had the opportunity to join us, and they deliberately chose to vote no because they want higher taxes, they want open borders, they want to close off our energy resources, all the things that were in that bill.“So we’re going to continue moving forward. The Senate is doing their work now, and I’m confident the Senate is going to move through quickly to get that bill through the Senate, ultimately back to the House for any minor changes, and then to the President’s desk so that we can hire those additional Border Patrol Agents, hire those additional ICE agents to keep Americans safe. And by the way, if you’re a citizen of the state of California while your governor is failing you miserably, at least we have a president, Donald Trump, who is willing to say that he will step up and try to protect those same people. Law-abiding people who are sick and tired of the lawlessness. They are disgusted by a foreign flag being waved in an American city and their governor defending the people that are actually burning down the city, trying to call it a peaceful protest. Don’t insult the intelligence of the American people. They see what’s happening. They know why it’s happening. The far-left Democrat Party wants open borders. There was an election run on this. The American people said enough is enough, we want secure borders, and that’s why they sent Donald Trump and a Republican House and Senate to Washington. And we’re going to keep fighting for those families who are sick and tired of what they’re seeing in cities like Los Angeles and other lawless cities in America. So we’re going to deliver on our promise.”On OMB’s projection of massive economic growth:“One more really positive thing that came out just a few days ago, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget did their assessment on the House’s version of the One Big Beautiful Bill, and confirmed what we knew, that with the economic growth you’ll get, with the job creation, the increased wages for families, we will end up seeing about a trillion and a half dollar reduction in the national deficit over the next 10 years – trillion and a half dollar reduction because of the growth we’ll get from this bill, because workers will have more money in their pockets when the government doesn’t have a four and a half trillion dollar tax increase that every Democrat voted to impose upon them. Waiters and waitresses at all of your local restaurants will have more money in their pockets because of no taxes on tips. Your blue-collar workers who go to work and sometimes have the opportunity to work overtime and maybe wonder if they should do it because of all the taxes that they’ll end up paying on that overtime to be away from their family, will no longer have to worry about paying taxes on overtime. And that’s going to spur investment. It’s going to spur more job creation. It’s going to spur more money in the pockets of those blue-collar workers. So that’s going to be another really big, important aspect, so that OMB report coming out really underscores one more reason why this bill is so important to the people of the United States.”On Leader Scalise’s rescissions package that will codify DOGE cuts:“And then, of course, this week, we’re taking up the rescissions package. Thursday, we will vote on that. We’ve been answering questions from our members, but our members are ready to go lock in some of those DOGE cuts. DOGE identified waste, fraud, and abuse in so many areas of the federal government. This is a start. It’s a good start. It’s an important first step, and we’re going to take it on Thursday.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster Statement on GOP Reconciliation Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement:

    “Early this morning, I voted NO on Republicans’ disastrous reconciliation bill: the largest cut to health care, food assistance, and scientific research in American history. I watched in disgust as Republicans cheered for ripping health care from 13.7 million Americans and taking food from families, children, and seniors—all to hand out more tax breaks to their billionaire donors.

    “In 2010, I spent three days reading the Affordable Care Act before voting for it, knowing it would cost me my reelection. I did it to provide health care to millions of Americans with preexisting conditions. Last night, Republicans gave us just two and a half hours in the dead of night to read the final version of their Big Ugly Bill to take health care away from millions.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster, Obernolte Introduce CRISIS Act to Capitalize on Russian Brain Drain

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the bipartisan Countering Russian Innovation and Safeguarding Individual Scientists (CRISIS) Act. This bill would make certain vetted Russian nationals with advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees eligible for permanent resident status in the U.S., allowing them to contribute to American research and innovation.

    “Welcoming vetted STEM experts to the United States is a strategic investment in our own future—one that allows some of the world’s top scientific and technical minds to contribute to our economy and advance critical research,” said Rep. Foster. “The CRISIS Act is an important bipartisan step that strengthens our national security and global leadership.”

    “The United States has long benefited from being a destination for the world’s brightest minds,” said Rep. Obernolte. “The CRISIS Act helps ensure that highly skilled, fully vetted scientists and engineers—many of whom were trained at American universities—can continue their work here, contributing to our economy, advancing innovation, and strengthening our global competitiveness.”

    The CRISIS Act is endorsed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the National Immigration Forum.

    A copy of the bill is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA solemnly refutes false claims made in Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting joint statement

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA solemnly refutes false claims made in Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting joint statement

    Date：2025-05-29
    Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

    May 29, 2025No. 186The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sternly refutes and condemns the joint statement issued after the Third China-Pacific Island Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held from May 28 to 29. In the statement, China falsely claimed that Taiwan was “an inalienable part of China’s territory” and “firmly opposed Taiwan independence in all forms,” as well as inappropriately citing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758.MOFA reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other and that authoritarian China has never governed Taiwan. This is an internationally recognized fact and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The PRC has never governed Taiwan, and Taiwan has never been part of the PRC. Only Taiwan’s democratically elected government has the right to represent its 23.5 million people in the UN system and at other international venues. China has no say in the matter.MOFA once again emphasizes that UNGA Resolution 2758 only determined China’s representation in the United Nations. The resolution never mentions Taiwan. It does not state that Taiwan is part of the PRC, nor does it authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the United Nations.MOFA calls on the international community to recognize that China has repeatedly taken every opportunity when convening or participating in Pacific regional meetings to attempt to downgrade Taiwan’s sovereignty, undermine unity and harmony in the Pacific, and twist UNGA Resolution 2758 through legal maneuvering. China has also misrepresented Taiwan as an internal issue and hindered international support for Taiwan. MOFA continues to take concrete action, countering China’s repeated distortion of the resolution and its efforts to change the cross-strait status quo, to jointly safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST and Partners Use Quantum Mechanics to Make a Factory for Random Numbers

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Members of the team who created the CURBy quantum random number generator. From left to right, Jasper Palfree (University of Colorado Boulder), Gautam Kavuri (NIST) and Krister Shalm (NIST).

    Credit: NIST

    Randomness is incredibly useful. People often draw straws, throw dice or flip coins to make fair choices. Random numbers can enable auditors to make completely unbiased selections. Randomness is also key in security; if a password or code is an unguessable string of numbers, it’s harder to crack. Many of our cryptographic systems today use random number generators to produce secure keys.

    But how do you know that a random number is truly random? Classical computer algorithms can only create pseudo-random numbers, and someone with enough knowledge of the algorithm or the system could manipulate it or predict the next number. An expert in sleight of hand could rig a coin flip to guarantee a heads or tails result. Even the most careful coin flips can have bias; with enough study, their outcomes could be predicted. 

    “True randomness is something that nothing in the universe can predict in advance,” said Krister Shalm, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Even if a random number generator used seemingly random processes in nature, it would be hard to verify that those numbers are truly random, Shalm added.

    Einstein believed that nature isn’t random, famously saying, “God does not play dice with the universe.” Scientists have since proved that Einstein was wrong. Unlike dice or computer algorithms, quantum mechanics is inherently random. Carrying out a quantum experiment called a Bell test, Shalm and his team have transformed this source of true quantum randomness into a traceable and certifiable random-number service. Their results were just published in Nature. 

    “If God does play dice with the universe, then you can turn that into the best random number generator that the universe allows,” Shalm said. “We really wanted to take that experiment out of the lab and turn it into a useful public service.”

    To make that happen, NIST researchers and their colleagues at the University of Colorado Boulder created the Colorado University Randomness Beacon (CURBy). CURBy produces random numbers automatically and broadcasts them daily through a website for anyone to use.

    Instrumentation for the quantum random number generator in the NIST Boulder laboratories. 

    Credit: NIST

    At the heart of this service is the NIST-run Bell test, which provides truly random results. This randomness acts as a kind of raw material that the rest of the researchers’ setup “refines” into random numbers published by the beacon. 

    The Bell test measures pairs of “entangled” photons whose properties are correlated even when separated by vast distances. When researchers measure an individual particle, the outcome is random, but the properties of the pair are more correlated than classical physics allows, enabling researchers to verify the randomness. Einstein called this quantum nonlocality “spooky action at a distance.”

    This is the first random number generator service to use quantum nonlocality as a source of its numbers, and the most transparent source of random numbers to date. That’s because the results are certifiable and traceable to a greater extent than ever before.

    “CURBy is one of the first publicly available services that operates with a provable quantum advantage. That’s a big milestone for us,” Shalm explained. “The quality and origin of these random bits can be directly certified in a way that conventional random number generators are unable to.”

    NIST performed one of the first complete experimental Bell tests in 2015, which firmly established that quantum mechanics is truly random. In 2018, NIST pioneered methods to use these Bell tests to build  Really Random Numbers”>the world’s first sources of true randomness.

    However, turning these quantum correlations into random numbers is hard work. NIST’s first breakthrough demonstrations of the Bell test required months of setup to run for a few hours, and it took a great deal of time to collect enough data to generate 512 bits of true randomness. Shalm and the team spent the past few years building the experiment to be robust and to run automatically so it can provide random numbers on demand. In its first 40 days of operation, the protocol produced random numbers 7,434 times out of 7,454 attempts, a 99.7% success rate.

    “If God does play dice with the universe, then you can turn that into the best random number generator that the universe allows.” —Krister Shalm, NIST physicist

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Microreactor pilot reaches major project milestone

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: Microreactor pilot reaches major project milestone

    The Department of the Air Force, in coordination with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy Office, reached a critical milestone in piloting advanced nuclear energy technology with the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Award (NOITA) to Oklo, Inc.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Carolina Suicide Prevention Action Plan Posted for Public Comment

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: North Carolina Suicide Prevention Action Plan Posted for Public Comment

    North Carolina Suicide Prevention Action Plan Posted for Public Comment
    kcano1
    Tue, 06/10/2025 – 13:12

    As part of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services commitment to transforming mental health care, the department is seeking public comment on its Suicide Prevention Action Plan (2026-2030). This work is critical in improving the lives of all North Carolinians and addressing the mental health crisis. The public is invited to read the plan and provide feedback by July 9, 2025.

    The Suicide Prevention Action Plan is a collaboration between NCDHHS, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Strategies highlighted in the plan include having a statewide coordinated infrastructure, implementing and promoting safe storage practices, providing expanded mental health training in non-traditional settings and ensuring at-risk populations are reached effectively.  

    “We have to ensure people receive care when they need it, before they reach a crisis, especially among groups that are more vulnerable, like our teenagers, young adults and veterans,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “This collaborative effort is a step forward in creating a system that works for everyone that will have impact for generations to come.”

    Suicide is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in North Carolina for people ages 10-65, according to data from the N.C. State Center for Health Statistics. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10-18 in North Carolina, and the second leading cause of death for those ages 19-34.
     

    Additionally, military veteran residents are disproportionally impacted by suicide with the average suicide rate from 2018-2022 being 2.7 times higher among North Carolina veterans than non-veterans.
     

    “Public input is essential to strengthening and shaping the continuum of mental health care in North Carolina,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “We want to meet people where they are, in schools and in their communities, to ensure the right care at the right time.”   
     

    NCDHHS is also partnering with the UNC Suicide Prevention Institute, NC DPI and Village of Care on the development of a strategic plan dedicated to preventing suicide among Black youth.  This is the first strategic plan of its kind in the history of NCDHHS and was driven by data that show Black people, including the 10-24 age group, are overrepresented in suicide-related emergency department visits.
     

    *** 
     

    If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or need someone to talk to, you are not alone. Resources are available on the NCDHHS Suicide Prevention website for social or family situations, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, alcohol or drug use, or if you just need someone to talk to. Our Crisis Services Communications Toolkit includes free flyers, posters and other resources to promote and explain crisis services in your community in English and Spanish. 

    • For those in a mental health crisis, NCDHHS provides somewhere to go, someone to talk to and someone to respond. The 988 Lifeline Chat and Text – 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone 24/7 by call, text, or chat. Targeted resources are available for Veterans, Spanish speakers, and LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
    • North Carolinians can call the Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC [855-733-7762] 24/7) to speak with a Peer Support Specialist. Peer Support Specialists (or “peers”) are people living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder who provide support to others who may have similar life experiences and can benefit from their lived experiences.
    • NCDHHS crisis services include mobile crisis teams that can come to you and community crisis centers, which are safe places where you can get help from a licensed clinician, without needing to go to the emergency room.

    Como parte del compromiso del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte para transformar la atención de salud mental, el departamento está buscando comentarios públicos sobre su Plan de Acción para la Prevención del Suicidio (2026-2030). Este trabajo es fundamental para mejorar las vidas de todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte y abordar la crisis de salud mental. Se invita al público a leer el plan y proporcionar comentarios antes del 9 de julio de 2025. 

    El Plan de Acción para la Prevención del Suicidio es una colaboración entre el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés), la Oficina de Prevención de la Violencia (OVP, por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Carolina del Norte, y el Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del norte (NC DPI, por sus siglas en inglés). Las estrategias destacadas en el plan incluyen tener una infraestructura coordinada a nivel estatal, implementar y promover prácticas de almacenamiento seguro, proporcionar una capacitación más amplia sobre la salud mental en entornos no tradicionales y garantizar que las poblaciones en riesgo sean atendidas de manera efectiva. 

    “Tenemos que asegurarnos de que las personas reciban atención cuando la necesiten, antes de que lleguen a una crisis, especialmente entre los grupos más vulnerables, como nuestros adolescentes, adultos jóvenes y veteranos”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Este esfuerzo de colaboración es un paso adelante en la creación de un sistema que funcione para todos y que tendrá un impacto en las generaciones venideras”.

    El suicidio es una de las 10 principales causas de muerte en Carolina del Norte para personas de 10 a 65 años, según datos del Centro Estatal de Estadísticas de Salud. El suicidio es la tercera causa principal de muerte entre los jóvenes de 10 a 18 años en Carolina del Norte, y la segunda causa principal de muerte entre los de 19 a 34 años.

    Además, los habitantes veteranos militares se ven afectados de manera desproporcionada por el suicidio, siendo la tasa promedio de suicidio del 2018 al 2022, 2.7 veces mayor entre los veteranos de Carolina del Norte que entre los no veteranos.

    Las aportaciones del público son esenciales para fortalecer y dar forma a la continuación de la atención de salud mental en Carolina del Norte”, dijo Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, directora de la División de Salud Mental, Discapacidades del Desarrollo y Servicios de Uso de Sustancias  del NCDHHS. “Queremos atender a las personas allí donde se encuentren, en las escuelas y en sus comunidades, para garantizarles la at  ención adecuada en el momento adecuado”. 

    El NCDHHS también se está asociando con el Instituto de Prevención del Suicidio de la UNC, NC DPI y Village of Care para desarrollar un plan estratégico dedicado a prevenir el suicidio entre los jóvenes negros.  Este es el primer plan estratégico de este tipo en la historia del NCDHHS y fue impulsado por datos que muestran que las personas negras, incluido el grupo de edad de 10 a 24 años, están sobrerrepresentadas en las visitas al departamento de emergencias relacionadas con el suicidio.

    *** 
     

    Si usted o alguien que conoce está luchando con su salud mental o necesita a alguien con quien hablar, no está solo. Los recursos están disponibles en el sitio web de Prevención del Suicidio del NCDHHS para situaciones sociales o familiares, depresión, ansiedad, ataques de pánico, pensamientos de suicidio, consumo de alcohol o drogas, o si solo necesita a alguien con quien hablar. Nuestro Kit de herramientas de comunicaciones de servicios de crisis incluye volantes gratuitos, carteles y otros recursos para promover y explicar los servicios de crisis en su comunidad en inglés y español. 

    • Para aquellos en una crisis de salud mental, el NCDHHS proporciona un lugar a donde ir, alguien con quien hablar y alguien que responda. La línea 988 de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis es gratuita, confidencial y está disponible para todos, las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, por llamada, mensaje de texto o chat. Los recursos específicos están disponibles para veteranos, para los que hablan español, y para jóvenes y adultos jóvenes LGBTQ+.
    • Los habitantes de Carolina del Norte pueden llamar a la línea de ayuda entre pares Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC o 1-855-733-7762, a cualquier hora, los 7 días de la semana) para hablar con un especialista en apoyo entre pares. Los especialistas en apoyo entre pares (o “pares”) son personas que viven en recuperación con enfermedades mentales y/o trastornos por uso de sustancias que brindan apoyo a otras personas que pueden tener experiencias de vida similares y pueden beneficiarse de sus experiencias vividas.
    • Los servicios de crisis del NCDHHS incluyen equipos móviles de respuesta a crisis que pueden acudir a usted y centros comunitarios de crisis, que son lugares seguros donde puede obtener ayuda de un médico con licencia, sin necesidad de ir a la sala de emergencias.
    Jun 11, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pickleball Company Owner Waives Discharge of Over $47M in Unsecured Debt After USTP Investigation

    Source: US State of California

    A pickleball entrepreneur who was forced into bankruptcy by investors he lured with promises of generous returns recently agreed to waive his bankruptcy discharge after an investigation by the Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP), preventing the discharge of more than $47 million in unsecured debt.

    On May 14, the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana approved a voluntary waiver of discharge by debtor Rodney Grubbs, owner of All About Pickleball LLC, an apparel and equipment company that did business as Pickleball Rocks. As a result, Grubbs remains personally liable for his debts, and creditors are free to pursue payment from him after the case is closed.

    Grubbs solicited investments from pickleball players and fans from across the United States, usually in the form of promissory notes with purportedly guaranteed interest rates of 10 percent or higher. In December 2023, several unpaid investors filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Grubbs under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. Grubbs opposed the petition, but after a hearing in which he testified to using new investors’ funds to pay back previous investors, the bankruptcy court granted the involuntary petition and ordered the case to proceed. Grubbs eventually disclosed nearly $1.6 million in assets and more than $47 million in liabilities, the vast majority of them unsecured debts owed to hundreds of individuals.

    As part of its extensive investigation, the USTP’s Indianapolis office obtained Grubbs’ personal and business financial records and examined him under oath. Ultimately, Grubbs — who also faced allegations from multiple creditors consistent with a Ponzi scheme — elected to waive his bankruptcy discharge.

    “The USTP is committed to addressing fraudulent and abusive conduct that threatens the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said U.S. Trustee Nancy J. Gargula for Region 10, which includes the Southern District of Indiana. “Our commitment to protecting consumers and those who fall victim to various schemes that come to light in bankruptcy is unwavering.”

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pickleball Company Owner Waives Discharge of Over $47M in Unsecured Debt After USTP Investigation

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A pickleball entrepreneur who was forced into bankruptcy by investors he lured with promises of generous returns recently agreed to waive his bankruptcy discharge after an investigation by the Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP), preventing the discharge of more than $47 million in unsecured debt.

    On May 14, the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana approved a voluntary waiver of discharge by debtor Rodney Grubbs, owner of All About Pickleball LLC, an apparel and equipment company that did business as Pickleball Rocks. As a result, Grubbs remains personally liable for his debts, and creditors are free to pursue payment from him after the case is closed.

    Grubbs solicited investments from pickleball players and fans from across the United States, usually in the form of promissory notes with purportedly guaranteed interest rates of 10 percent or higher. In December 2023, several unpaid investors filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Grubbs under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. Grubbs opposed the petition, but after a hearing in which he testified to using new investors’ funds to pay back previous investors, the bankruptcy court granted the involuntary petition and ordered the case to proceed. Grubbs eventually disclosed nearly $1.6 million in assets and more than $47 million in liabilities, the vast majority of them unsecured debts owed to hundreds of individuals.

    As part of its extensive investigation, the USTP’s Indianapolis office obtained Grubbs’ personal and business financial records and examined him under oath. Ultimately, Grubbs — who also faced allegations from multiple creditors consistent with a Ponzi scheme — elected to waive his bankruptcy discharge.

    “The USTP is committed to addressing fraudulent and abusive conduct that threatens the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said U.S. Trustee Nancy J. Gargula for Region 10, which includes the Southern District of Indiana. “Our commitment to protecting consumers and those who fall victim to various schemes that come to light in bankruptcy is unwavering.”

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Microreactor pilot reaches major project milestone

    Source: United States Air Force

    The Department of the Air Force, in coordination with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy Office, reached a critical milestone in piloting advanced nuclear energy technology with the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Award (NOITA) to Oklo, Inc.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Westchester Mountain — Cumberland County District RCMP investigating multi-vehicle collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Cumberland County District RCMP is investigating a multi-vehicle collision that occurred on Hwy. 104.

    On June 9 at approximately 11:42 a.m., Cumberland County District RCMP, fire and EHS responded to a report of a collision involving three-vehicles and a fifth wheel trailer on Hwy. 104 near Westchester Mountain.

    Responding officers learned that a Ford F250 truck that was towing a fifth-wheel trailer had pulled over to the side of the highway due to a blown tire. As a Nissan Rogue and a Ford F150 were passing by the trailer a collision occurred between them. This collision caused the F150 to veer into the parked fifth wheel trailer. The driver of the Ford F250 and fifth wheel was outside the vehicle when the trailer was struck.

    The driver and of the Ford 250 truck, a 65-year-old man of Valley suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital by EHS LifeFlight. The passenger of the Ford 250 truck, a 65-year-old woman of Valley, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene. The driver of the Ford F150 truck, a 41-year-old woman, and passenger, a 59-year-old woman, both of Ontario suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene. The driver and sole occupant of the Nissan Rogue, a 69-year-old woman of Donkin was transported by EHS with minor injuries.

    The investigation is ongoing and is being led by Cumberland County District RCMP, with assistance of RCMP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction.

    Anyone with information about the collision or who may have dash cam footage is asked to contact Cumberland County District RCMP at 902-667-3859. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    Hwy. 104 was closed for a period of time while RCMP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction completed their work.

    Note: On Monday, the collision was reported to have involved a tractor-trailer. The trailer involved has since been confirmed to be a fifth wheel.

    File #: 2025-799700

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 12, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crime and Policing Bill: government amendments for committee and report stage

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Crime and Policing Bill: government amendments for committee and report stage

    Correspondence relating to the Crime and Policing Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025.

    Documents

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Matt Vickers MP detailing government amendments for report stage: 10 June 2025 (accessible)

    HTML

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Matt Vickers MP detailing government amendments for report stage: 10 June 2025

    PDF, 350 KB, 12 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Letter from Ministers Johnson and Davies-Jones to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 25 April 2025 (accessible)

    HTML

    Letter from Ministers Johnson and Davies-Jones to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 25 April 2025

    PDF, 322 KB, 6 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 23 April 2025

    HTML

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 23 April 2025

    PDF, 245 KB, 4 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 26 March 2025

    HTML

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 26 March 2025

    PDF, 200 KB, 2 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Details

    Ministerial correspondence relating to the Crime and Policing Bill.

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 12, 2025
←Previous Page
1 … 1,294 1,295 1,296 1,297 1,298 … 5,175
Next Page→
NewzIntel.com

NewzIntel.com

MIL Open Source Intelligence

  • Blog
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Authors
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Patterns
  • Themes

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress