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Category: India

  • Seeds of change: India’s agricultural evolution under PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Agriculture has long been the soul of India’s economy and society. Over the past eleven years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s agricultural landscape has been redefined by a holistic, inclusive, and tech-driven approach that is embodied in the principle of Beej Se Bazaar Tak, or Seed to Market. This transformation puts the farmer at the center of policy-making, with a focus on income security, smart farming, traditional wisdom, and global competitiveness.

    Rising investment in the agriculture sector

    Recognising the critical role of agriculture, the government substantially increased funding to the sector. The Budget Estimates for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare rose from ₹27,663 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1,37,664 crore in 2024–25. This more than fivefold jump in allocation has enabled investments in infrastructure, innovation, and farmer welfare.

    Growth in foodgrain and climate-resilient crops

    India’s foodgrain production has grown significantly, from 265.05 million tonnes in 2014–15 to an estimated 347.44 million tonnes in 2024–25. This includes major staples like rice, wheat, pulses, and oilseeds. The focus has also shifted toward increasing production of climate-resilient and nutrition-rich crops, with support for coarse grains, pulses, and oilseeds witnessing sharp growth.

    Strengthening procurement and minimum support prices

    The government has significantly increased Minimum Support Prices and procurement. Between 2014 and 2025, procurement of 14 Kharif crops reached 7871 LMT, compared to 4679 LMT in the previous decade. The MSP for wheat rose from ₹1,400 in 2013–14 to ₹2,425 in 2024–25, and payments to farmers more than doubled. The MSP for paddy increased from ₹1,310 to ₹2,369 per quintal in the same period. Procurement and MSP support for pulses and oilseeds grew exponentially, empowering farmers in previously underserved regions.

    Financial empowerment through direct benefit and credit

    Financial empowerment of farmers has become a central theme. Under the PM-KISAN scheme, ₹3.7 lakh crore has been directly transferred to over 11 crore farmers, ensuring income support with full transparency via Direct Benefit Transfer. Kisan Credit Cards have been issued to 7.71 crore farmers, enabling credit access worth ₹10 lakh crore. The credit limit has been raised from ₹3 to ₹5 lakh.

    Insurance, irrigation and sustainable practices

    Risk management and sustainability are also key components of the new agricultural strategy. The PM Fasal Bima Yojana has enrolled over 63 crore farmers and paid ₹1.75 lakh crore in crop loss claims. The PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has invested ₹93,000 crore in irrigation infrastructure, making farming more drought-resistant. The Soil Health Card Scheme has issued 1.75 crore cards and upgraded 8,272 testing labs, encouraging balanced fertiliser use.

    Laying the foundation for long-term prosperity

    With increased investment, income support, insurance, and irrigation, India’s agricultural foundation has been strengthened. These reforms are not just about enhancing output, but about empowering every farmer with dignity, stability, and opportunity.

    June 7, 2025
  • From innovation to inclusion: Empowering rural India through agriculture

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s agricultural landscape has undergone a historic transformation over the past decade. As the sector becomes more resilient and productive, the focus under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved beyond traditional methods to a broader vision—market access, diversification, climate-smart farming, and inclusive rural empowerment.

    Infrastructure driving change

    At the heart of this transformation is robust infrastructure development. The ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is supporting over 42,000 projects across India, including modern warehouses and food processing units. These facilities are key to reducing post-harvest losses and increasing farmers’ profits.

    The PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, now numbering 1.8 lakh, serve as integrated agri-service centers, providing inputs, guidance, and market linkages. Simultaneously, the digital revolution in agriculture is taking root with the e-NAM platform connecting 1,473 mandis across 23 states and 4 union territories, enabling seamless trade worth ₹4 lakh crore. Mega Food Parks have surged from just two in 2014 to 41 in 2025, significantly boosting agro-processing and value addition.

    Innovation and entrepreneurship at the grassroots

    Innovation and women’s empowerment have emerged as defining features of this new era. The Namo Drone Didi initiative empowers 15,000 women-led self-help groups with drones, enhancing precision farming and creating new income streams. Meanwhile, the AgriSURE fund by NABARD, with a corpus of ₹750 crore, is backing high-potential agri-startups. Already, nearly 2,000 startups have scaled operations under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, integrating technology with grassroots farming.

    Diversifying income sources for farmers

    Diversification beyond conventional crops is reshaping rural livelihoods. India continues to be the world’s top milk producer, with indigenous milk production rising by 69 percent and providing sustenance to 8 crore individuals. The fisheries sector has nearly doubled in output, supported by renewed attention to inland and marine ecosystems. Food processing capacity expanded from 12 to 242 lakh metric tonnes, while exports have doubled to $9 billion. Beekeeping, another high-value activity, reached 1.42 lakh metric tonnes in honey production, with exports tripling. Under the “Sweet Revolution,” 167 women self-help groups are actively participating.

    Towards sustainability and organic farming

    Green energy and organic farming are driving the shift towards sustainability. The Ethanol Blending Programme has reached nearly 18 percent blending, ensuring better returns for sugarcane farmers and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The PM-KUSUM scheme is helping farmers adopt solar pumps and generate clean energy. Natural farming practices, promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and the National Mission on Natural Farming, are gaining traction for being eco-friendly and cost-effective.

    Reviving traditional grains and future foods

    India has also emerged as a global leader in the millet renaissance. After the United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, India rebranded millets as “Shree Anna” and began promoting them as a health and climate-resilient food option. This revival has reintroduced traditional grains into modern diets and markets, both domestically and internationally.

    Strengthening the seed-to-market value chain

    The entire agricultural chain—from seed to market—is now more robust than ever. The SMSP Scheme has enabled over six lakh seed villages, ensuring the supply of 530 lakh quintals of quality seeds. Digital tools like the SATHI Portal have brought transparency and traceability to seed distribution systems, empowering farmers with information and access.

    Expanding reach through new schemes

    To consolidate these gains, new schemes have been introduced. The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana targets productivity enhancement in 100 underperforming districts, impacting over 1.7 crore farmers. The One District One Product initiative encourages regional agri-specialties, promoting rural entrepreneurship. Additionally, the newly formed Makhana Board will strengthen the value chain and exports of this specialty crop from Bihar.

    India’s agricultural journey today reflects more than just rising yields—it embodies a social and economic shift. From modernisation and digitisation to women-led innovation and renewable energy, the sector is poised to lead the way for rural prosperity. As the farmer transitions from food provider to growth driver, a new chapter in India’s development story is being written—one that is inclusive, entrepreneurial, and future-ready.

    June 7, 2025
  • Shubman Gill-led Indian team lands in London for Test series against England

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Shubman Gill-led Indian team arrived in London on Saturday ahead of the much-anticipated five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20.

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of the team’s arrival in London on its social media handles. “Touchdown UK. Team India have arrived for the five-match Test series against England,” read the caption.

    Jasprit Bumrah, Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, and Prasidh Krishna were all smiles during the journey. The squad appeared upbeat and ready for the long tour in English conditions.

    Before departing from India, newly-appointed Test captain Shubman Gill reflected on the challenge of playing without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who retired from the format last month.

    “There is pressure every time you play a match or start a tour. So yes, there is pressure ahead of this series as well, but not any extra pressure. Rohit and Virat are very experienced players, and it’s difficult to fill their shoes. But as a team, we have plenty of experience and have played a lot of matches,” Gill said at the pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Thursday.

    “The players and the team are used to handling pressure. We are not an inexperienced side. The batting and bowling combinations in our team are quite strong,” the newly appointed Test skipper added.

    Gill also spoke about his reaction upon learning he would be India’s new Test captain and said that the team has not yet decided on his batting position. He has previously opened the innings and also played at No. 3. With Rohit no longer in the mix, the team management must now decide who will partner Gill at the top—Yashasvi Jaiswal or Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, who is yet to make his debut.

    “When I first heard that I would be getting this opportunity, it was quite overwhelming. It’s a big responsibility, and I’m looking forward to it. We still haven’t decided on the batting position yet—we have time. We’ll be playing a warm-up match in London, so that will help us finalize the batting order,” Gill said.

    India are aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. This series also marks India’s first assignment in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.

    June 7, 2025
  • Om Birla urges BRICS unity on terror, trade and tech as India prepares to host next summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in Brasília with a call for stronger cooperation among member nations on key global challenges, including terrorism, artificial intelligence (AI), and economic inclusion.

    Addressing the forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla thanked the Brazilian Parliament, government, and people for hosting the summit. He said the forum witnessed “meaningful dialogue” and an “exchange of views” aimed at enhancing parliamentary ties among BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

    In its final declaration, the forum strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Member states agreed on the need for a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and underlined the importance of joint global efforts. The Speaker reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for all countries to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.

    The discussions also covered the future of AI, with consensus emerging on the importance of its responsible use. Birla noted that while AI is essential, its deployment must be guided by transparency and accountability.

    Economic cooperation was another key focus area. The forum explored ways to deepen intra-BRICS trade and promote inclusive growth. “India has always supported the rule of law, global cooperation, and dialogue on the world stage,” Birla said.

    India will host the next edition of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum. Birla said the agenda would cover a wide range of issues including AI, trade, and social development, and added that India would ensure the summit is “successful and productive.”

    The LS Speaker expressed confidence that strengthened parliamentary exchanges and the sharing of best practices among BRICS members would bring about meaningful progress. He also extended his warm wishes to the Speakers and parliamentary leaders of all BRICS nations.

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Jackson Wang’s new single, festival show build hype for July album

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

    Pop icon Jackson Wang released his new single “Hate to Love” and its music video on June 6, following his electrifying performance at Head in the Clouds Festival 2025 in Los Angeles. The release builds momentum for his upcoming album, due in July.

    The single cover art for Jackson Wang’s “Hate to Love.” [Photo courtesy of Team Wang Records]

    Wang explores the sting of broken trust and the weight of betrayal on “Hate to Love.” The slow-burning, dreamy track delves deeper into the grief explored across the four chapters on Jackson’s upcoming album, “MagicMan 2,” set for release July 18. In this chapter, Jackson stands on the edge of everything he has known, holding a crown he never wanted, finally ready to let it fall before stepping into who he is meant to become.

    “I’ve always questioned when I’m going to find love,” Jackson said. “But maybe the question is, ‘When am I going to love myself?’”

    The release of “Hate to Love” is accompanied by a music video directed by James Mao, amplifying the song’s raw emotion. Itfeatures MagicMan, Jackson Wang’s alter ego, alone in darkness, grappling with the catharsis of confronting reality and choosing growth over illusion.

    “People say to surround yourself with ‘good’ people, but I believe it’s really about finding the ‘right’ people— those who share a similar vision and values in life. But in reality, that’s not always how it works,” Wang said.”I wrote this song after realizing the only person I could trust was myself. I want you to know that I’m a better version of myself because of what happened to me.”

    The singer, who boasts more than 100 million followers and is China’s most-followed artist on Instagram, stopped short of naming names. Far from a love song, this track delivers a raw revelation about exploitation, laying bare the emotional turmoil of broken trust and betrayal. His lyrics expose the pain: “Wish I could still trust you, trust you,” he sings. “It’s funny how people can be selfish. I give it all, give it all, give it all. But you still want more.”

    Jackson’s self-produced album, created during a yearlong break from the spotlight, is his most personal and ambitious work to date. It channels unaddressed emotions into a raw, unfiltered journey. The album moves from manic highs fueled by denial to the painful process of facing a lost identity, setting boundaries, letting go of people-pleasing habits and, ultimately, finding peace through acceptance.

    “Hate to Love,” the fourth single from the album, reached No. 34 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart, and its video drew more than 210,000 YouTube views in its first 19 hours.

    Pre-orders for “MagicMan 2” are now available. The release follows the album’s four-chapter thematic structure, with phased product drops: Chapter One is on sale now, and Chapter Two will launch June 10. Retail-specific versions of the album will also be released in the coming weeks.

    The album’s lead single,”High Alone,” debuted at No. 1 on Apple Music in 22 countries and regions. The follow-up, “GBAD,” went viral with more than 32 million YouTube views, fueled by popular remixes. The third single, “Buck,” featuring Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh, has attracted more than 8.3 million views for its music video.

    Jackson Wang performs on stage at Head in the Clouds Festival 2025 in Los Angeles, June 1, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Team Wang Records]

    Wang and his friends lit up the stage at Head in the Clouds Festival 2025 on June 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, celebrating the event’s 10th anniversary. The pop star closed the night with the debut live performance of “Buck,” followed by a show-stopping “GBAD” remix featuring seven guest artists, including Higher Brothers and Number i. The explosive collaboration brought the crowd to its feet, instantly becoming one of the festival’s most talked-about moments.

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 7, 2025
  • India calls for global action on extreme heat risk at UNDRR session in Geneva

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Calling extreme heat a “global crisis,” Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. P. K. Mishra urged coordinated international action during a keynote address at the Special Session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in Geneva on Thursday.

    Dr. Mishra’s remarks echoed the urgency expressed by the UN Secretary-General, highlighting that rising temperatures now pose a systemic threat to public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience worldwide.

    “Heatwaves are no longer seasonal inconveniences; they are transboundary, systemic risks—especially for densely populated urban areas,” Dr. Mishra said, emphasizing the need for global collaboration on early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and equity-focused interventions.

    India’s Proactive Heat Risk Management

    Detailing India’s experience, Dr. Mishra said the country has shifted from reactive disaster response to proactive and integrated heat risk management under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    He noted that since 2016, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued comprehensive national guidelines for heatwave management—revised in 2019—which have enabled decentralized action through Heat Action Plans (HAPs).

    India now has over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states operating localized HAPs, supported by NDMA’s advisory and technical frameworks. The Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, a pioneering model, was cited as a successful example of how early warning systems, inter-agency coordination, and community outreach can significantly reduce mortality during heatwaves.

    Whole-of-Government, Whole-of-Society Approach

    Dr. Mishra highlighted India’s “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” strategy, engaging ministries including health, agriculture, urban development, labor, power, education, and infrastructure.

    “Extreme heat deeply impacts communities, and India has actively incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences into its response,” he said, pointing to the role of schools in spreading climate awareness and of primary health centers in delivering frontline care during heat events.

    India’s response also includes long-term urban resilience measures such as cool roof technologies, passive cooling centers, greening of urban spaces, and the revival of traditional water bodies. Importantly, the integration of Urban Heat Island (UHI) assessments into urban planning is becoming a standard practice in several cities.

    Policy Shift to Enable Funding for Mitigation

    Announcing a major policy shift, Dr. Mishra said that National and State Disaster Mitigation Funds (SDMF) can now be used for heatwave mitigation, allowing local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and individuals to co-finance adaptation projects. This move, he said, reflects India’s commitment to shared responsibility and community-driven resilience.

    A Call for Global Cooperation

    While acknowledging India’s progress, Dr. Mishra identified key global challenges, including the need for a localized heat-humidity index using real-time data, and the development of affordable, culturally appropriate passive cooling innovations.

    He stressed that vulnerable populations—such as women, outdoor workers, the elderly, and children—are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat, and called for international mechanisms to ensure equitable adaptation.

    Concluding his address, Dr. Mishra affirmed India’s support for the UNDRR’s Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance, describing it as a vital platform for shared learning, data sharing, institutional capacity building, and joint research.

    “India is fully committed to sharing its expertise, technical capacities, and institutional strengths with global partners,” he said. “We must ensure a resilient, coordinated, and proactive global response to the rising threat of extreme heat.”

    June 7, 2025
  • Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar begins today; slashes travel time to just three hours

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major boost to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, regular services of the Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra commence on Saturday.

    The Northern Railway has confirmed that the semi-high-speed trains will operate six days a week, significantly reducing travel time between the Kashmir Valley and the prominent pilgrimage hub in Katra.

    This development marks a transformative step in the region’s transport infrastructure.

    The new Vande Bharat service will cut travel time between Srinagar and Katra to just three hours—less than half of the current six to seven hours required by road.

    Two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains—Train Nos. 26404/26403 and 26401/26402—will run on the newly inaugurated Srinagar–Katra–Srinagar route, with scheduled halts at Banihal.

    These trains are specially designed to function in extreme winter conditions and are equipped with advanced heating systems, thermally insulated lavatories, heated windshields, and defrosting technology for improved driver visibility.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the inaugural run of these trains, following the successful completion of the 272-kilometer Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project—a long-awaited engineering feat that includes the iconic Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge.

    Until now, train services in the region were limited to the Banihal–Baramulla section in the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu–Udhampur–Katra section in the Jammu region.

    The extension of Vande Bharat services will not only provide a faster and more reliable mode of transportation for residents and tourists but is also expected to facilitate easier access for pilgrims visiting the revered Vaishno Devi shrine.

    With seamless all-weather operations and premium onboard amenities, the Vande Bharat Express promises to enhance the travel experience and strengthen regional connectivity, linking North India more closely with the Valley.

    IANS

    June 7, 2025
  • PM Modi greets people on occasion of Eid ul-Adha

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha today, calling for the festival to “inspire harmony and strengthen the fabric of peace in our society.”

    “Best wishes on Eid ul-Adha. May this occasion inspire harmony and strengthen the fabric of peace in our society. Wishing everyone good health and prosperity,” the PM said in his post on X.

    Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also extended his wishes on the occasion. Posting his greetings in Urdu, he said, “Happy Eid al-Adha! Heartfelt congratulations to all Muslim brothers and sisters on this auspicious occasion.”

    Earlier today, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also wished people, urging them to unite and foster a stronger bond to work towards a peaceful, harmonious, and just society.

    “Eid al-Adha celebrates the noble values of selfless sacrifice, trust, and forgiveness. As we celebrate this joyous occasion, may we all unite to foster stronger fraternity and work towards a peaceful, harmonious, and just society. Eid Mubarak!” his post read.

    As people across the country celebrated Eid, dargahs and mosques were filled with devotees offering prayers early in the morning. In Mumbai, people gathered at Jama Masjid Mahim Dargah, while in Delhi, many turned to the historic Jama Masjid at dawn to offer their prayers.

    The air echoed with chants of “Eid Mubarak” as families—young and old—embraced and celebrated the spirit of sacrifice and compassion that the festival symbolises.

    Eid al-Adha, also known as Id-ul-Adha in Arabic and Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent due to the tradition of sacrificing a goat or bakri, is celebrated across India with great fervour and joy.

    (ANI)

    June 7, 2025
  • Indian delegation meets US officials, discusses Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, met with key American lawmakers and officials to brief them on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and India’s response through Operation Sindoor.

    During the visit, the delegation held a significant meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The Indian Embassy in Washington shared an update on social media platform X, stating that the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor had a warm and candid conversation with US Deputy Secretary of State. The Indian delegation briefed him on the atrocities of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

    The delegation also met Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the influential US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In that meeting, the Indian lawmakers discussed the cross-border nature of the Pahalgam attack and reiterated India’s firm stance against terrorism.

    The Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor had a productive meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The delegation briefed him on the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, discussed India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor, and reiterated India’s firm resolve to counter cross-border terrorism in all its forms. The Senator expressed sympathy for the victims of repeated terror attacks in India, affirmed that the US stands with India in the fight against terrorism, and expressed support for India’s right to defend itself, the embassy posted on X.

    Earlier, the Indian delegation also engaged in candid conversations with members of the US Congress, senior government officials, and representatives from American think tanks and media at a reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to the United States.

    The visit is part of an ongoing diplomatic effort to build bipartisan support in Washington for stronger counter-terrorism cooperation and to deepen strategic ties between India and the US in the face of growing regional security threats.

    On Thursday, the delegation had an “excellent meeting” with United States Vice President J.D. Vance in Washington, during which they briefed him on Operation Sindoor, the terrorism challenges India faces, and broader regional security issues.

    The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor called on Vice President J.D. Vance. The conversation focused on strengthening the India-US partnership, including cooperation in the counter-terrorism domain, the Indian Embassy posted on X

    IANS

    June 7, 2025
  • Bakrid 2025: Muslims across India celebrate Eid al-Adha with prayers, sacrifice

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Muslims across India are celebrating Bakrid, also known as Eid al-Adha, on Saturday with religious fervour and devotion. 

    The day began with special congregational prayers held at mosques and Eidgahs in cities and towns nationwide, as people gathered in large numbers to mark the sacred festival.

    Eid al-Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” honours the unwavering faith and obedience of Prophet Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God.

    In commemoration of this act of devotion, Muslims around the world perform ‘qurbani’, the ritual sacrifice of animals such as goats, sheep, or buffalo, and distribute the meat among family, friends, and those in need.

    In India, the festival is being observed with great enthusiasm. In Delhi and Noida, large numbers of devotees offered Bakrid prayers early in the morning at major mosques. According to announcements from local mosque committees, Namaz timings varied slightly, in Noida, prayers were held around 7:00 a.m., while in Greater Noida, the timings ranged from 6:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. depending on the mosque.

    In Kalyan, Thane district of Maharashtra, police presence was heightened near the historic Durgadi Fort due to parallel events planned by the Thackeray and Shinde factions, both claiming to continue the legacy of Dharmaveer Anand Dighe’s “Ghantanaad” movement, a 39-year-old tradition.

    In other parts of India, the celebrations continued peacefully.

    In Khurja, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, large crowds assembled at the Eidgah for morning prayers.

    In Bhagalpur (Bihar), thousands gathered at Tatarpur Masjid, CTS Ground, and Shahjangi Maidan to offer prayers. Similarly, in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Eidgah Mosque saw significant attendance during the morning Eid al-Adha Namaz.

    Bakrid celebrations are expected to continue throughout the day, with families coming together for festive meals, acts of charity, and community bonding.

    Authorities across major cities have deployed additional security to ensure peaceful observances.

    (IANS)

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: August Egg Company Recalls Shell Eggs Because of Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    June 06, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    June 06, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & Beverages
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Salmonella

    Company Name:
    August Egg Company
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Multiple brand names

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs

    Company Announcement
    August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is recalling 1,700,000 dozen brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
    The eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 15, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, within California and Nevada. The eggs were distributed at retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
    The eggs were also distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 6, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025, to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois.
    The recalled eggs will have printed on the carton or package a plant code number P-6562 or CA5330 with the Julian Dates between 32 to 126. The recalled retail eggs will be in fiber or plastic cartons, with the above codes printed on one side of the carton. (See photo following for Julian date location.)

    Item Name
    Plant Number
    Carton UPC

    Clover Organic Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    070852010427

    First Street Cage Free Large Brown Loose 1 case=150 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    041512039638

    Nulaid Medium Brown Cage Free 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    071230021042

    Nulaid Jumbo Brown Cage Free 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    071230021011

    O Organics Cage Free Large Brown 6 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    079893401522

    O Organics Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    079893401508

    O Organics Large Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    079893401546

    Marketside Organic Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122771

    Marketside Organic Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122801

    Marketside Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122764

    Marketside Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    681131122795

    Raley’s Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567033310

    Raley’s Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567040325

    Raley’s Organic Large Cage Free Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567028798

    Raley’s Organic Large Cage Free Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    046567040295

    Simple Truth Medium Brown Cage Free 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    011110099327

    Simple Truth Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    011110873743

    Sun Harvest Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    041512131950

    Sun Harvest Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    041512131950

    Sunnyside Large Brown Cage Free 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544211747

    Sunnyside Large Brown Cage Free 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544211754

    Sunnyside Organic Cage Free Large Brown 12 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544201441

    Sunnyside Organic Cage Free Large Brown 18 eggs
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    717544211761

    Loose Small Brown Cage Free-1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Medium Brown Cage Free -1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Medium Brown Organic -1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Large Brown Organic-1 box= 6 flats (1 flat= 30 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Jumbo Brown Cage Free -1 box=5 flats(1 flat=20 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    Loose Jumbo Brown Organic -1 box=5 flats(1 flat=20 eggs)
    P-6562 or CA-5330
    NA

    This recall is associated with an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses. Products were distributed in AZ, CA, IL, IN, NE, NM, NV, WA and WY.
    August Egg Company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time. Our firm has voluntarily been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any potential foodborne pathogens.
    Consumers who may have eggs produced in this plant, as identified by the plant code on one side of the egg carton, should return it to their place of purchase for a full refund. Further questions may be directed to the company at 1-800-710-2554, between 9am and 5pm PT.
    ######
    Additional Comments from August Egg Company:
    “August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,700,000 dozen shell eggs processed at our California plant and sold to various grocery customers. This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes.
    “It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens.
    “August Egg Company’s internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.”

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Customer Service
    800-710-2554

    Product Photos

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Leading a Methamphetamine Conspiracy within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Rapid City Area

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

    Guillermo Calderon, a/k/a “Memo,” age 38, was sentenced on June 6, 2025, to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

    “Methamphetamine is ravaging communities throughout South Dakota, leaving a trail of heartbreaking addiction in its path,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Calderon played a significant role in perpetuating this problem by trafficking methamphetamine into Rapid City and within the Pine Ridge Reservation. Thanks to our skilled federal and tribal law enforcement partners, Calderon will now spend serious time in federal prison.”

    “Calderon led a dangerous operation that funneled large amounts of methamphetamine into Pine Ridge and Rapid City, bringing violence and addiction into vulnerable communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Today’s sentencing reaffirms that those who bring cartel-linked drugs into our communities will be brought to justice. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect our communities from the devastating impact of cartel-sourced narcotics.”

    Calderon was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024, and pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025. The investigation showed that Calderon and others distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine in Pine Ridge and Rapid City. Calderon was the leader of the conspiracy, trafficking significant amounts of methamphetamine into the community from Mexican cartel operatives. Calderon utilized firearms and threats of violence throughout his drug distribution scheme. In January 2024, Iowa law enforcement arrested Calderon while he was driving approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine to South Dakota. 

    In sentencing Calderon, Judge Schreier denounced how Calderon’s actions severely damaged the South Dakota community, and found he was the most culpable and violent member of the drug conspiracy. Judge Schreier also noted the drugs Calderon distributed constituted 100% pure methamphetamine and came from a Mexican cartel. 

    This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.

    Calderon was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and India to bolster economic and migration ties as Foreign Secretary delivers on Plan for Change during visit

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK and India to bolster economic and migration ties as Foreign Secretary delivers on Plan for Change during visit

    Bolstering economic and migration ties and delivering further growth opportunities for British businesses are set to be at the top of the Foreign Secretary’s visit to India this weekend.

    • Talks with the Indian Government to deepen and diversify the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries to deliver for working people in the UK. 
    • Comes after historic Free Trade Agreement was agreed between the UK and India set to increase trade by more than £25bn every year.  
    • Foreign Secretary will meet with Prime Minister Modi on his second visit to India to discuss ongoing economic and migration partnership

    Bolstering economic and migration ties and delivering further growth opportunities for British businesses are set to be at the top of the Foreign Secretary’s visit to India this weekend.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy will travel to New Delhi to further advance an ambitious UK-India relationship during talks with the Indian Government, including Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, alongside government officials.

    The visit follows the historic Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries and will deliver on this government’s commitment to boost jobs and prosperity back in the UK, as part of the government’s Plan for Change. The new deal with India is expected to increase bilateral trade by over £25 billion every year, UK GDP by £4.8 billion, and wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long run, putting money back in the pockets of working people.

    The Foreign Secretary will also welcome progress in our migration partnership, including ongoing work on safeguarding citizens and securing borders in both countries. Addressing migration remains a top priority for the government – the Foreign Secretary is focused on working internationally with global partners to secure the UK’s borders at home.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:  

    India was one of my first visits as Foreign Secretary, and since then has been a key partner in the delivery of our Plan for Change. Our relationship has gone from strength to strength – securing our future technologies, adding over £25bn in trade every year between our countries and deepening the strong links between our cultures and people.   

    Signing a free trade agreement is just the start of our ambitions – we’re building a modern partnership with India for a new global era. We want to go even further to foster an even closer relationship and cooperate when it comes to delivering growth, fostering innovative technology, tackling the climate crisis and delivering our migration priorities, and providing greater security for our people.

    The Foreign Secretary will also meet with leading figures in Indian business to discuss how we can unlock even greater investment by Indian business in the UK. Our investment relationship supports over 600,000 jobs across both countries, with over 950 Indian-owned companies in the UK and over 650 UK companies in India. In 2023-24, India was the UK’s second largest source of investments in terms of number of projects for the fifth consecutive year. 

    Talks will also take stock of progress, following a commitment by the UK and Indian Prime Ministers to take forward an ambitious UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The trade deal is a key example of the progress being made since the last meeting between the Foreign Secretary and his Indian counterpart. It follows the signing of the UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation Agreement in May and £400m of trade and investment wins boosting the British and the Indian economy at the Economic and Financial Dialogue in April. 

    The Foreign Secretary is also expected to address the recent escalation in tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and how the welcomed sustained period of peace can be best supported in the interests of stability in the region.   

    The visit comes as some of India’s top business leaders endorsed the trade deal which will increase opportunities for trade and investment between the UK and India. It also comes ahead of the launch of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, which will make it quicker, easier and cheaper to do business in the UK. 

    Notes to Editors:

    • On 2 May, the UK and India signed a new UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation to boost collaboration across the arts and culture, creative industries, tourism and sport sectors. The agreement will open the door for increased UK creative exports to India and enable more partnerships between UK and Indian museums and cultural institutions, helping to grow UK soft power. 
    • At the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in April, Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed £400m of trade and investment wins set to boost the British and the Indian economy and deliver economic growth and security for working people.
    • David Lammy travelled to India on his first official visit as Foreign Secretary in July last year, when he announced the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative. The initiative is delivering crucial collaboration on telecoms security and unlocking investment across emerging technologies – telecoms, critical minerals, AI, quantum, health/bio tech, advanced materials and semiconductors.

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    Published 7 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20: SA champions shift in global financial inclusion

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    South Africa is championing a critical shift in global financial inclusion: moving beyond mere access to financial institutions but ensuring meaningful usage of these services.

    This according to National Treasury’s Director of Financial Inclusion, Nontobeko Lubisi, who was speaking during a G20 outreach programme with institutions of higher learning.

    The outreach programme shed light on South Africa’s presidency of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) which it took the mantle of when the country became G20 President last December.

    “For our presidential priority for 2025, for the GPFI…we wanted to explore how we can move people from access to usage of financial products and services.

    “We chose this particular presidential priority because we felt that it aligned very closely with the G20 theme of solidarity, equality and sustainability. It also then basically demonstrates the Minister of Finance’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the financial services ecosystem globally,” Lubisi said.

    She highlighted that although progress has been made to improve access to financial services, “we still have about 1.5 billion people globally that still lack bank accounts”.

    “So, this then highlights the need for ongoing efforts to expand both excess and enhance the usage of financial services particularly in [the] global South countries where substantial gaps exist.

    “We felt that this deliverable is crucial and it advances financial inclusion and aligns with the GPFI mandate of addressing the needs of both G20 and non-G20 countries. This particular presidential priority builds on the work that was started by Brazil in 2024, which actually focussed on…access through digital public infrastructure,” she said.

    Lubisi explained what the focus and role of the GPFI is and how this impact countries.

    “The GPFI efforts include helping countries to put into practise the G20 principles of innovative financial inclusion, strengthening data for measuring financial inclusion, as well as developing methodologies for countries that actually wish to set targets for financial inclusion.

    “So…the work of the GPFI is executed via the Financial Inclusion Action Plan, which was then developed and currently we are on the second year of implementing that action plan as the presidency and it will then end next year with the US. 

    “However, what you see [in] how we’re working in the GPFI is that when a country is the president of the GPFI, you are then given an opportunity to come up with a financial inclusion related priority that you would basically prefer to elevate to during your presidential term,” Lubisi said.

    For Africa, by Africans
    Also speaking during the outreach programme, National Treasury Chief Director and G20 Lead, Marlon Geswint, emphasised government’s position that the impact of the South African Presidency of the G20 goes well beyond the country’s borders.

    “South Africa is the only African country who is a member of the G20. The African Union [AU] was admitted to the G20 during the Indian presidency in 2023…but South Africa is the only African country.

    “So therefore, we found it very important to ensure that our Presidency is not only a South African Presidency, but it’s an African Presidency. So that we can showcase the issues that are pertinent to Africa, and then we help find solutions to issues that Africa is grappling with.

    “It is a very important feature of our Presidency, and it runs through the finance track and the Sherpa track. We are not just taking an inward-looking approach to say, this is all about South Africa, but…we have a responsibility to the continent because we are not operating in a vacuum and it’s important that we also advance the African cause,” Geswint said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA, Finland launch youth mediators programme

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    An initiative aimed at empowering a new generation of peacebuilders has been launched by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.

    The Minister launched the South African segment of the South Africa–Finland Youth Peace Mediators Mentoring Programme on Friday. 

    This innovative initiative, jointly implemented by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, aims to empower a new generation of peacebuilders in their efforts to promote global conflict resolution and achieve sustainable peace.  

    The one-year capacity-building initiative will establish a dynamic network of young peace mediators, providing them with practical tools to contribute effectively to peace negotiations, mediation, conflict resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction.

    The programme directly supports the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, the African Union Agenda 2063, particularly its youth-focused governance, peace, and security pillars, and the inclusion of youth in formal peace processes worldwide.  

    Lamola stressed the importance of launching the programme during South Africa’s Youth Month, which honours the legacy of young activists in the fight against apartheid, particularly the heroes of the 1976 Soweto Uprising.

    “We know too well that ethnic hatred poisons communities, that religious intolerance fractures societies, and that ideological fanaticism suffocates debate. 

    “When violence rises, freedoms crumble and the very light of democracy flickers under the storm of conflict. This is not some distant tragedy; it is the lived reality of women and children in Eastern DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], Sudan, Gaza, and other places across our wounded world,” the Minister said.  

    By building bridges across continents, Lamola believes the world reaffirms that young people are not merely beneficiaries of peace, “but are essential agents of its creation.”

    The department announced that 15 “exceptional” young peacebuilders were selected through a joint initiative by DIRCO’s Diplomatic Academy and Finland’s Centre for Peace Mediation. 

    These individuals will participate in various programmes, which include in-person workshops held in South Africa and Finland, study visits to the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) headquarters, and online sessions led by experts on specific themes related to peace mediation.

    The participants come from conflict-affected and post-conflict societies, as well as nations that are leaders in global peacebuilding efforts. 

    This diverse group includes representatives from South Africa, Finland, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Qatar, South Sudan, Turkey, and Ukraine.

    Strengthening international partnerships 

    Aligned with the South Africa-Finland Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the programme will advance a strategic peace mediation partnership between the two countries. 

    The department said it will also foster networking and knowledge-sharing among young peace mediators and provide mentorship by seasoned international peace practitioners.  

    The Minister underscored South Africa’s role in shaping inclusive, youth-driven solutions to global challenges, ensuring that the voices of the next generation define the future of peace. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: NDB signs 1.2 bln yuan loan agreement to finance environmental projects in China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    SHANGHAI, June 6 (Xinhua) — The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) on Friday announced the signing of a 1.2 billion yuan (about 167 million U.S. dollars) syndicated loan agreement to support environmental projects in China.

    As noted by the NBR, the agreement, concluded jointly with the Bank of China and the Chinese company Haitong Unitrust International Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., is aimed at financing green leasing sub-projects focused on environmental goals and climate commitments of the PRC.

    Under the agreement, the NDB will provide more than 713.32 million yuan, while the Bank of China will provide an additional 500 million yuan. Haitong Unitrust, in turn, will use the funds to purchase and lease equipment for projects in areas such as wastewater treatment, solid waste management and power generation from iron and steel exhaust gases.

    To promote balanced regional development, eligible sub-projects will be implemented outside China’s first-tier cities, bringing investment to less developed areas of the country.

    “This initiative meets the needs for climate resilience and environmental protection, and also helps increase investment in less developed regions of China,” said Vladimir Kazbekov, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the NDB.

    The NDB was established in 2015 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It is a multilateral development bank that aims to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the BRICS region and other emerging market and developing economies. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help Coastal Workforce, Fisheries, and Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    06.06.25

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME), reintroduced the Working Waterfronts Act, legislation which includes more than a dozen provisions aimed at boosting the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of coastal communities in Alaska and across the country. The bill will also support efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and strengthen federal conservation research projects.

    In October 2022, Senator Murkowski began soliciting feedback from Alaskans to help draft the Working Waterfronts legislation. After a two-year period of close collaboration with stakeholders and colleagues in the Senate, she introduced the legislation for the first time in February of 2024.

    “One of my priorities this Congress was reintroducing the Working Waterfronts Act, a comprehensive and collective effort to harness the potential of the blue economy for Alaska’s coastal communities,” said Senator Murkowski. “With 66,000 miles of coastline, it is vital Alaska strengthens our shoreside infrastructure and supports workforce development to ensure the sustainability and growth of our fisheries, tourism, and mariculture sectors. This legislation will provide essential resources for alternative energy initiatives, improve community processing facilities, and promote safety and wellness in the maritime workforce. Together, we can build a resilient future for our coastal communities while addressing climate change and preserving our precious marine ecosystems.”

    “Maine’s coastal communities are changing. From a warming climate to an evolving economy, the Gulf of Maine faces both historic opportunities and challenges that will define our state’s success for generations,” said Senator King. “The Working Waterfronts Act would provide Maine’s working waterfronts up and down the coast with the necessary financial, energy and infrastructure resources to adapt to the rapidly shifting dynamics of natural disasters affecting economic and tourism operations. It would also help support the necessary workforce to sustain our coastal businesses. Thanks to my colleagues for working with me to ensure our waterfronts have the necessary tools and resources to thrive for years to come.”

    “The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) thanks Senator Murkowski for her continued efforts to support Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, which provides tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact across the state. The Working Waterfronts Act would make impactful changes that are needed now, such as expanding access for fishermen and processors to USDA loans, grants for improving waterfront infrastructure that benefit commercial fishermen, and creating a new program to improve maritime workforce development. These changes, along with many others in the Act, provide needed help the Alaska seafood industry, a critical pillar of Alaska’s economy,” said Greg Smith, Communications Director at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).

    “Senator Murkowski’s Working Waterfronts Act highlights the key priorities vital to the future of Alaska’s seafood industry. From modernizing infrastructure to building a resilient workforce and supporting innovation, this bill addresses the real challenges facing our coastal communities. We’re proud to support this effort and stand with Senator Murkowski in securing a strong future for Alaska’s working waterfronts,” said Kristy Clement, CEO of Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation.

    “Senator Murkowski’s Working Waterfronts Act is a comprehensive bill that invests in the modernization of our vital working waterfronts and the resiliency and success of our fishing and seafood industries,” said Robert Vandermark, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network. “This bill champions crucial improvements to shoreside facilities and infrastructure that support thriving coastal economies and promotes the development of a stronger future workforce to ensure American fishing traditions can continue for generations. This legislation also supports research and stewardship of economically important ocean ecosystems and fisheries to help them endure in a changing climate. The Network supports the Working Waterfronts Act and thanks Senator Murkowski for listening to the needs of our fishing communities and providing a foresighted path to support their businesses and ways of life.”

    “The seafood industry has always been a critical part of the Blue Economy, even before the phrase was coined.  Alaska’s seafood industry produces an economic impact of $15 billion in the U.S. annually.  Senator Murkowski’s wholistic approach to a thriving waterfront is visionary.  The Working Waterfront Act supports and expands access to critical infrastructure and resources upon which the seafood industry relies.  Specific to seafood harvesting and processing, the Working Waterfront Act incentives co-investment by providing access to USDA loan programs which will help American fishermen and processors compete with other countries – an excellent example of good domestic economic policy,” Julie Decker, President, Pacific Seafood Processors Association.

    Bill Highlights:

    Investing in Energy and Shoreside Infrastructure

    • Tax Credits for Marine Energy Projects supports projects that produce electricity from waves, tides, and ocean currents.
    • Fishing Vessel Alternative Fuels Pilot Program provides resources to help transition fishing vessels from diesel to alternative fuel sources such as electric or hybrid, and funds research and development of alternative fuel technologies for fishing vessels.
    • Rural Coastal Community Processing and Cold Storage Grant increases support for community infrastructure such as cold storage, cooperative processing facilities, and mariculture/seaweed processing facilities by establishing a competitive grant program through the Department of Commerce for rural and small-scale projects.
    • Working Waterfronts Development Act establishes a grant program for infrastructure improvements for facilities benefitting commercial and recreational fishermen, mariculturists, and the boatbuilding industry.

    Boosting Maritime Workforce Development and Blue Economy

    • Maritime Workforce Grant Program establishes a Maritime Workforce Grant Program, directing the Maritime Administrator to award competitive grants supporting entities engaged in recruiting, educating, or training the maritime workforce.
    • Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement (FISH Wellness) Act expands the Coast Guard and CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fishing Safety Research and Training (FRST) Grant Program to include projects supporting behavioral health in addition to the projects currently supported dedicated to occupational safety research and training.
    • Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act establishes at least one ocean innovation cluster in each of the five domestic NOAA Fisheries regions, as well as the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico regions. The ocean cluster model fosters collaboration between different sectors – including public, private, and academic – within a geographic region to promote economic growth and sustainability in the Blue Economy.

    Supporting Sustainable and Resilient Ecosystems

    • Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act enhances collaboration on ocean acidification research and monitoring through ongoing mechanisms for stakeholder engagement on necessary research and monitoring. This provision would also establish two Advisory Board seats for representatives from Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia affected by ocean acidification and coastal acidification.
    • Vegetated Coastal Ecosystem Inventory establishes an interagency working group for the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive national map and inventory detailing vegetated coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems. This inventory encompasses habitat types, species, ecosystem conditions, ownership, protected status, size, salinity and tidal boundaries, carbon sequestration potential, and impacts of climate change.
    • Marine Invasive Species Research and Monitoring provides resources and tools to mitigate the impact of invasive species and help limit their spread by authorizing research and monitoring grants for local, Tribal, and regional marine invasive prevention work. This includes training, outreach, and equipment for early detection and response to invasions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Ready-to-Use Dataset Details Land Motion Across North America

    Source: NASA

    An online tool maps measurements and enables non-experts to understand earthquakes, subsidence, landslides, and other types of land motion.
    NASA is collaborating with the Alaska Satellite Facility in Fairbanks to create a powerful web-based tool that will show the movement of land across North America down to less than an inch. The online portal and its underlying dataset unlock a trove of satellite radar measurements that can help anyone identify where and by how much the land beneath their feet may be moving — whether from earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, or the extraction of underground natural resources such as groundwater.
    Spearheaded by NASA’s Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the effort equips users with information that would otherwise take years of training to produce. The project builds on measurements from spaceborne synthetic aperture radars, or SARs, to generate high-resolution data on how Earth’s surface is moving.

    Formally called the North America Surface Displacement Product Suite, the new dataset comes ready to use with measurements dating to 2016, and the portal allows users to view those measurements at a local, state, and regional scales in a few seconds. For someone not using the dataset or website, it could take days or longer to do a similar analysis.
    “You can zoom in to your country, your state, your city block, and look at how the land there is moving over time,” said David Bekaert, the OPERA project manager and a JPL radar scientist. “You can see that by a simple mouse click.”
    The portal currently includes measurements for millions of pixels across the U.S. Southwest, northern Mexico, and the New York metropolitan region, each representing a 200-foot-by-200-foot (60-meter-by-60-meter) area on the ground. By the end of 2025, OPERA will add data to cover the rest of the United States, Central America, and Canada within 120 miles (200 kilometers) of the U.S. border. When a user clicks on a pixel, the system pulls measurements from hundreds of files to create a graph visualizing the land surface’s cumulative movement over time.

    “The OPERA project automated the end-to-end SAR data processing system such that users and decision-makers can focus on discovering where the land surface may be moving in their areas of interest,” said Gerald Bawden, program scientist responsible for OPERA at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This will provide a significant advancement in identifying and understanding potential threats to the end users, while providing cost and time savings for agencies.” 
    For example, water-management bureaus and state geological surveys will be able to directly use the OPERA products without needing to make big investments in data storage, software engineering expertise, and computing muscle.
    How It Works
    To create the displacement product, the OPERA team continuously draws data from the ESA (European Space Agency) Sentinel-1 radar satellites, the first of which launched in 2014. Data from NISAR, the NASA-ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Synthetic Aperture Radar mission, will be added to the mix after that spacecraft launches later this year.

    Satellite-borne radars work by emitting microwave pulses at Earth’s surface. The signals scatter when they hit land and water surfaces, buildings, and other objects. Raw data consists of the strength and time delay of the signals that echo back to the sensor. 
    To understand how land in a given area is moving, OPERA algorithms automate steps in an otherwise painstaking process. Without OPERA, a researcher would first download hundreds or thousands of data files, each representing a pass of the radar over the point of interest, then make sure the data aligned geographically over time and had precise coordinates.
    Then they would use a computationally intensive technique called radar interferometry to gauge how much the land moved, if at all, and in which direction — towards the satellite, which would indicate the land rose, or away from the satellite, which would mean it sank.
    “The OPERA project has helped bring that capability to the masses, making it more accessible to state and federal agencies, and also users wondering, ‘What’s going on around my house?’” said Franz Meyer, chief scientist of the Alaska Satellite Facility, a part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute.
    Monitoring Groundwater
    Sinking land is a top priority to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. From the 1950s through the 1980s, it was the main form of ground movement officials saw, as groundwater pumping increased alongside growth in the state’s population and agricultural industry. In 1980, the state enacted the Groundwater Management Act, which reduced its reliance on groundwater in highly populated areas and included requirements to monitor its use.
    The department began to measure this sinking, called subsidence, with radar data from various satellites in the early 2000s, using a combination of SAR, GPS-based monitoring, and traditional surveying to inform groundwater-management decisions.
    Now, the OPERA dataset and portal will help the agency share subsidence information with officials and community members, said Brian Conway, the department’s principal hydrogeologist and supervisor of its geophysics unit. They won’t replace the SAR analysis he performs, but they will offer points of comparison for his calculations. Because the dataset and portal will cover the entire state, they also could identify areas not yet known to be subsiding.
    “It’s a great tool to say, ‘Let’s look at those areas more intensely with our own SAR processing,’” Conway said.
    The displacement product is part of a series of data products OPERA has released since 2023. The project began in 2020 with a multidisciplinary team of scientists at JPL working to address satellite data needs across different federal agencies. Through the Satellite Needs Working Group, those agencies submitted their requests, and the OPERA team worked to improve access to information to aid a range of efforts such as disaster response, deforestation tracking, and wildfire monitoring.

    News Media Contacts
    Andrew Wang / Jane J. LeeJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-379-6874 / 818-354-0307andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov / jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov
    2025-076

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 7, 2025
  • PM Modi meets Central Asian Foreign Ministers, calls for deeper regional cooperation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in New Delhi today, following the conclusion of the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue.

    During the joint meeting, the visiting ministers briefed PM Modi on the positive outcomes of the day’s deliberations, which focused on enhancing multilateral ties between India and the Central Asian region. The dialogue emphasized cooperation in trade, energy, security, and emerging technologies.

    Highlighting India’s longstanding historical and cultural ties with Central Asia, PM Modi underscored that the region remains a vital priority in India’s foreign policy. He laid out a comprehensive vision for deeper economic interconnections, expanded connectivity, enhanced defence and security cooperation, and collaboration in emerging areas such as digital technology and climate resilience.

    “A strong India-Central Asia partnership acts as a force multiplier in tackling regional and global challenges,” Prime Minister Modi said, reaffirming India’s commitment to a stable and prosperous Central Asia.

    In a show of solidarity, the Central Asian ministers strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and voiced their firm support for India’s ongoing efforts to combat cross-border terrorism.

    Looking ahead, PM Modi extended formal invitations to the leaders of all five Central Asian nations for the Second India-Central Asia Summit, to be hosted by India.

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Salt Lake City Remarks at Press Conference on Search for Sa’Wade Birdinground

    Source: US FBI

    Prepared for delivery by Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed

    Good morning.  Thank you all for being here today. My name is Mehtab Syed, and I’m the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office, which covers Montana, Utah, and Idaho. 

    We are grateful to Little Big Horn College for allowing us the use of this beautiful space to hold today’s important event. 

    We are also grateful to the Crow Tribe Executive Branch and the Tribe’s Search and Rescue for their support and dedication to bringing Sa’Wade home. Thank you, Chairman Frank White Clay, for being with us today.  

    I’m pleased to be joined by our partner law enforcement agencies: the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office.

    I also want to acknowledge Sa’Wade Birdinground’s family, including her father, Wade Birdinground, and her grandparents, Wilford and Lorna Birdinground, her siblings, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins, who are here today in support of our collective efforts to bring Sa’Wade home to them, and to this community. They have remained steadfast through this difficult time. Please know, we are here with you. 

    Eight months ago today, on October 6, 2024, Sa’Wade disappeared from her family home in Garryowen. This was the last time those of you who know and love Sa’Wade saw her.  

    Eight months is an incomprehensible amount of time for any family to be without their child. For eight months, Sa’Wade’s family have had to know life without her. For eight months, they’ve been waiting for answers.  

    Sa’Wade is only 13 years old, and we are concerned for her safety. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are doing everything we can to bring her home. 

    I’ve never met Sa’Wade but I’ve learned a lot about what kind of teen she is. Quiet with strangers but outgoing with family and friends, kind, artistic – often drawing in her notebook. She is well-liked by her friends and teachers, many of whom talked about her sense of humor and how Sa’Wade makes them laugh. Sa’Wade loves to go to Subway; it is her favorite restaurant. Sa’Wade enjoyed spending time with her siblings, and they miss her dearly. 

    After learning of Sa’Wade’s disappearance from BIA, members of the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team traveled to Montana to provide their specialized expertise in missing children cases.  

    Since that time, the FBI has been and remains fully committed to leveraging our resources to find Sa’Wade and bring her home safely. Our agents and staff in our Billings, Resident Agency, are investigating every lead and running down every tip. To date, we have conducted dozens of interviews, searched hundreds of acres of land, and brought every technical resource to bear. 

    You may have heard; the FBI is surging resources to tribal areas for Operation Not Forgotten for the third consecutive year.  

    As part of this year’s initiative, the FBI has more than doubled the number of special agents working Indian Country in the Billings Resident Agency. These agents were placed where they are most needed and will focus on Sa’Wade’s disappearance and other important cases.  
    We take all cases seriously and continue to make strides in identifying, acknowledging, and addressing the needs that exist in Indian Country. We are deeply aware of the responsibility that we carry in seeking justice for loved ones and will utilize our strong tribal and federal partnerships to investigate these cases. 

    We want our Native American communities to know, you are not forgotten. We hear you; you matter. 

    Sa’Wade is not forgotten, she matters, and we are doing everything in our power to bring her home. 

    Today, we are renewing the call for the public’s help and announcing additional efforts to bring Sa’Wade home to her family and her community. 

    The FBI is offering a five-thousand-dollar reward for information that leads to her recovery.  

    We have established a new tip line, solely dedicated to Sa’Wade’s case. 

    That number is 801-579-6195. Again, that number is 801-579-6195. 

    We know someone out there knows something and we urge them to come forward with information that can help bring Sa’Wade home. No tip is too small or insignificant. 

    We are confident that with the community’s help, we can reunite Sa’Wade with her family. Please reach out to the tip line, 801-579-6195. 
    I will now turn over the time to Chairman White Clay for his remarks.  

    Thank you. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 7, 2025
  • India assumes chair of 12th BRICS parliamentary forum as member nations unite against terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in Brasilia, Brazil, on June 5, with participating parliaments from all 10 BRICS member countries unanimously condemning the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. The forum also saw India assume the chairmanship of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, to be hosted next year.

    Led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the Indian delegation played a key role in shaping the joint declaration. The expanded BRICS parliamentary forum now includes India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.

    A major outcome of the two-day event was the collective agreement among member nations to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. India’s firm stance on countering terrorism—through enhanced intelligence sharing, curbing financial support to terror groups, and preventing the misuse of emerging technologies—received widespread support.

    During his address, Birla strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and emphasized India’s long-standing commitment to a “strong and befitting response” to terrorism. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a united global front against terror and underlined the need for a balanced international order, technological cooperation, and democratic dialogue among nations.

    Apart from terrorism, the BRICS delegates discussed key issues such as the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, inter-parliamentary cooperation, global trade, economic development, and peace and security. India’s approach to these matters was lauded and incorporated into the final declaration.

    At the closing ceremony, India was officially handed over the chairmanship of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, scheduled to be held in 2026. Shri Birla said India would work to deepen collaboration between BRICS parliaments and build consensus on addressing global challenges.

    The Indian delegation also included Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Members of Parliament Surendra Singh Nagar, Vijay Baghel, Shri Vivek Thakur, Dr. Shabari Byreddy, and senior parliamentary officials including Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh and Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody.

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Indiana Woman Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

    Source: US FBI

    SAN ANTONIO – An Indiana woman was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 300 months in prison for sexually exploiting a six-year-old child.

    According to court documents, Veronica Solis, 35, of Valparaiso, produced child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in August and September 2019 with codefendant Gerald Talman Brann. An investigation showed that Solis and Brann sexually assaulted the child victim, recorded the sexual assaults using their cell phones, and then shared the CSAM with each other, as well as others. The two were arrested on March 14, 2023.

    Solis pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2023 and, on June 3, 2025, was sentenced by Judge Fred Biery.

    Brann, who pleaded guilty to the same charge on Nov. 28, 2023, was sentenced in May 2024 to 360 months in federal prison by Judge Jason K. Pulliam.

    U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The FBI’s San Antonio and Indianapolis divisions investigated the case with assistance from the Indiana State Police.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Offers Reward for Information About Missing Montana Teen

    Source: US FBI

    The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Sa’Wade Birdinground. There have been no known contacts with family or friends since Sa’Wade was last seen at her family’s residence in Garryowen, Montana, on October 6, 2024.

    Sa’Wade is 13 years old. She is 5’4″ to 5’5″ tall, weighs 130-140 pounds, and has brown eyes and brown, curly hair.

    Birdinground was last seen wearing a black hoodie with mushrooms on it, an anime t-shirt, basketball shorts, and purple slip-on Skechers-brand shoes. She may have a black and purple Adidas backpack with her and is known to wear an elk tooth necklace.

    “Eight months is an incomprehensible amount of time for a family to be without their child,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI is fully committed to finding Sa’Wade and bringing her home. No tip is too small or insignificant.”

    The FBI is working this case jointly with Crow BIA law enforcement and the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office.

    The FBI, BIA, and tribal partners work together to search for and investigate missing persons cases. Such efforts include FBI’s Operation Not Forgotten, launched in 2023, and BIA’s Murdered and Missing Unit, which dedicates additional federal resources specifically to address missing persons on American Indian reservations.

    As part of this year’s Operation Not Forgotten, the FBI has doubled the number of special agents working Indian Country cases in the Billings Resident Agency, who will assist with the Birdinground case, among other important investigations.

    If you have any information about Sa’Wade’s disappearance, go to tips.fbi.gov, or call the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office at (801) 579-6195.

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 7, 2025
  • PM Modi receives call from Canadian PM Mark Carney, invited to G7 Summit in Kananaskis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a congratulatory call from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, during which the leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties and confirmed India’s participation in the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.

    In their first direct interaction since Carney’s recent electoral victory, Prime Minister Modi congratulated his Canadian counterpart and expressed appreciation for the formal invitation to attend the G7 Summit scheduled for later this month. The conversation marked a key step in revitalizing high-level engagement between the two nations.

    The two leaders acknowledged the strong people-to-people bonds that connect India and Canada, emphasizing their shared democratic values and longstanding cultural and economic linkages. Both reaffirmed their commitment to work together with renewed energy, guided by mutual respect and shared strategic interests.

    PM Modi expressed optimism about deepening cooperation across various sectors and said he looked forward to meeting Prime Minister Carney at the Kananaskis Summit.

    PM Modi wrote in a post on X, “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.”

    The upcoming G7 Summit is expected to focus on pressing global challenges including climate action, economic resilience, and geopolitical security.

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province supports emergency operations centres to keep communities safe

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund supports projects that help local governments and First Nations to better prepare for emergencies. This funding is provided by the Province and administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

    Local governments and First Nations throughout British Columbia will receive nearly $7 million from the emergency operations centre (EOC) equipment and training funding stream as follows:

    ?Esdilagh First Nation – Cargo trailer for mobile EOC, foundational training and tabletop exercise for staff.
    Amount: $39,720

    Abbotsford – Training and hands‑on mock event exercises to practice essential procedures.
    Amount: $39,587

    Adams Lake Indian Band – Comprehensive EOC training, tabletop exercise and supplies for EOC.
    Amount: $40,000

    Regional: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District – This project provides EOC training and a multi-jurisdictional simulation exercise, and supplies IT equipment, communications equipment and office supplies.
    Amount: $117,790
    Sub-applicants: Port Alberni, Tofino

    Regional: Alert Bay – Cormorant Island’s EOC will receive EOC training and IT, operational and communications equipment, including solar power system.
    Amount: $80,000
    Sub-applicant: ‘Namgis First Nation

    Anspayaxw Band– The project boosts EOC capacity by supplying essential IT equipment and conducting a functional exercise.
    Amount: $40,000

    Armstrong – This project delivers EOC essentials and radio training, and supplies office equipment and drones to bolster EOC readiness.
    Amount: $30,083

    Ashcroft – Equips emergency operations centre with portable EOC kits, delivers Level 1 EOC training and runs exercises to practice essential emergency procedures.
    Amount: $40,000

    Barriere – This project provides EOC with office supplies, provides introductory EOC training and conducts tabletop exercises to practice critical procedures.
    Amount: $37,944

    Belcarra – This project provides a mobile trailer for storing and relocating EOC equipment.
    Amount: $33,150

    Blueberry River First Nations – Communications equipment, office supplies and training to manage emergency situations.
    Amount: $39,984

    Bowen Island – This project supplies mobile EOC equipment, distributes Rapid Damage Assessment kits and delivers a one-day EOC refresher course.
    Amount: $40,000

    Bulkley-Nechako Regional District – Facilitates EOC exercises and evacuation workshops to rehearse response co-ordination and safe evacuation procedures.
    Amount: $36,863

    Capital Regional District – This project provides EOC training and exercise to rehearse procedures and strengthen co-ordinated response.
    Amount: $40,000

    Cariboo Regional District – Mobile EOC and foundational training for staff.
    Amount: $21,966

    Central Coast Regional District – This project provides foundational EOC training, IT equipment and internet connectivity.
    Amount: $39,999

    Regional: Central Okanagan Regional District – This project provides staff development and training to enhance EOC capabilities.
    Amount: $240,000
    Sub-applicants: Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation

    Central Saanich – This project provides EOC training, exercises and IT equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Chawathil First Nation – This project provides portable/deployable EOC kits.
    Amount: $39,102

    Clearwater – This project provides EOC training, office supplies and IT, operational and communications equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Coldstream – This project provides EOC training, tabletop exercise and IT, operational and communications equipment.
    Amount: $39,979

    Columbia Shuswap Regional District – This project provides a workflow-management system and EOC staff training.
    Amount: $39,350

    Colwood – This project provides EOC training and supplies office, IT and operational equipment.
    Amount: $24,184

    Regional: Comox Valley Regional District – This project provides multi‑jurisdictional EOC training and supplies IT and operational equipment.
    Amount: $195,000
    Sub-applicants: Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, K’ómoks First Nation

    Cook’s Ferry Indian Band – This project provides EOC training and IT equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Coquitlam – This project provides Incident Command System 200 training and exercises.
    Amount: $40,000

    Cowichan Tribes – This project provides IT, communications and office supplies.
    Amount: $40,000

    Regional: Cowichan Valley Regional District – This project provides EOC position training and supplies office, IT and operational equipment.
    Amount: $200,000
    Sub-applicants: Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, North Cowichan

    Creston – This project provides EOC training, exercises and IT equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Doig River First Nation – Radio equipment and evacuation-operation supplies.
    Amount: $29,328

    Regional: East Kootenay Regional District – This project provides full‑scale EOC training and exercises and supplies operational, communications and IT equipment.
    Amount: $320,000
    Sub-applicants: ʔaq’am, Canal Flats, Cranbrook, Fernie, Invermere, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs, Shuswap Band

    Elkford – This project provides drone training and EOC training (Introduction, Essentials and Incident Command System courses).
    Amount: $40,000

    Enderby – This project provides IT equipment, office supplies and operational-equipment upgrades.
    Amount: $23,435

    Esk’etemc First Nation – This project provides communications equipment and operational supplies.
    Amount: $31,818

    Regional: Fort St. James – This project provides EOC training and supplies IT, communications and operational equipment.
    Amount: $79,198
    Sub-applicant: Nak’azdli Whut’en

    Fraser Valley Regional District – Simulation exercise and emergency operations centre supplies.
    Amount: $40,000

    Fraser-Fort George Regional District – Operation supplies and EOC essentials training.
    Amount: $40,000

    Gibsons – Operations training and supplies to create and maintain an EOC in an existing facility.
    Amount: $40,000

    Gitga’at First Nation – This project provides training and supplies IT and communications equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Golden – This project provides operational supplies and first-aid kits.
    Amount: $38,490

    Granisle – This project provides EOC training and supplies IT and communications equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Haisla Nation – This project provides IT equipment, electrical upgrades for sea can storage radios and tabletop exercises.
    Amount: $39,755

    Harrison Hot Springs – This project provides section training and operational equipment.
    Amount: $34,835

    Hope – This project provides foundational training and operational equipment, including a generator.
    Amount: $40,000

    Houston – This project provides EOC training through the emergency-management program.
    Amount: $40,000

    Hudson’s Hope – Portable/deployable emergency operations centre kit and sections training.
    Amount: $40,000

    Huu-ay-aht First Nations – This project provides IT and operational equipment, training and tabletop exercises.
    Amount: $39,830

    Iskut First Nation – This project provides IT and communications equipment, including drone for communications and supplies a backup generator for reliable power and situational awareness.
    Amount: $40,000

    Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations – EOC capacity expanded with a mobile trailer for on‑site emergency co-ordination.
    Amount: $40,000

    Kamloops – This project provides IT equipment, EOC materials and staff training.
    Amount: $40,000

    Kanaka Bar Indian Band – This project provides EOC kits and staff grab-and-go bags.
    Amount: $37,240

    Kent – Foundational training and functional exercise.
    Amount: $39,911

    Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation – IT, communications and operational equipment, including generator and trailer.
    Amount: $40,000

    Kitimat – Communication equipment and training enhancements.
    Amount: $21,549

    Kitselas First Nation – This project provides training and exercises and supplies IT, communications and operational equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Kwakiutl Band Council – This project provides IT and communications equipment, orientation and exercises.
    Amount: $40,000

    Kwikwetlem First Nation – Tabletop exercise and operational equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Langley City – This project provides section‑specific and foundational training.
    Amount: $39,870

    Langley Township – Operational equipment and foundational training.
    Amount: $40,000

    Lheidli-T’enneh First Nation (Northside) – This project provides tabletop walkthrough and foundational training.
    Amount: $34,794

    Lheidli-T’enneh First Nation (Southside) – This project provides tabletop walkthrough and foundational training.
    Amount: $34,794

    Lhtako Dene Nation – Radio equipment, generator and operation supplies.
    Amount: $30,000

    Lillooet – This project provides refresher training and IT equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Lytton First Nation – This project provides office and communications equipment.
    Amount: $38,947

    Mackenzie – This project provides communications equipment and training.
    Amount: $39,890

    Maple Ridge – Functional exercise and operational equipment.
    Amount: $39,538

    McLeod Lake Indian Band – Operations supplies and EOC training.
    Amount: $39,190

    Merritt – EOC capacity building through training and new equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Metchosin – Mobile EOC and power-supply project, includes office supplies, operational and communications equipment, and training and exercises.
    Amount: $39,700

    Mission – Functional exercise and operation supplies.
    Amount: $32,776

    Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations – Enhancements to the emergency-management program, including EOC training.
    Amount: $39,765

    Nanaimo – This project provides IT equipment, communications equipment and operational supplies.
    Amount: $34,000

    Regional: Nanaimo Regional District – This project provides section training, mock exercises, operational equipment and office supplies, including rapid damage assessment kits.
    Amount: $80,000
    Sub-applicant: District of Lantzville

    Nelson – EOC improvements through IT and communications equipment and staff-training exercise.
    Amount: $40,000

    North Okanagan Regional District – This project provides IT and communications equipment and EOC training.
    Amount: $40,000

    North Saanich – This project provides operational equipment, including a generator to operate during power outage.
    Amount: $40,000

    Regional: North Vancouver District – Functional exercise to test municipal evacuation plan and section-specific training.
    Amount: $120,000
    Sub-applicants: North Vancouver City, West Vancouver

    Northern Rockies Regional Municipality – Mobile EOC and operation supplies.
    Amount: $39,000

    Nuxalk Nation – This project provides operational equipment, including a generator.
    Amount: $40,000

    Oak Bay – This project provides EOC training and supplies office and operational equipment.
    Amount: $39,800

    Regional: Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District – This project provides EOC section training and supplies grab‑and‑go kits, communication and mapping tools, identification equipment and operational supplies.
    Amount: $199,600
    Sub-applicants: Keremeos, Oliver, Osoyoos, Summerland

    Pacheedaht First Nation – This project provides training, exercises and supplies sea can storage, IT equipment and first-aid supplies.
    Amount: $38,655

    Peace River Regional District – This project provides office, IT and operational equipment, including 72-hour kits.
    Amount: $39,853

    Pemberton – Conferencing equipment and foundational training.
    Amount: $40,000

    Penticton – This project provides EOC training and tabletop exercises and supplies IT and communications equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Pitt Meadows – Mobile emergency operations centre equipment and functional exercise.
    Amount: $40,000

    Port Coquitlam – Tabletop exercise and section training.
    Amount: $40,000

    Port Edward – This project provides emergency support services training and supplies office, IT and communications equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Port Hardy – This project provides EOC exercises and supplies operational equipment, including solar backup power.
    Amount: $37,200

    Port Moody – Functional tabletop exercise and operational equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Princeton – This project provides first-aid supplies, incident command vests, communications equipment and EOC training.
    Amount: $40,000

    qathet Regional District – This project provides operational equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Regional: Qualicum Beach – This project provides training, exercises and IT equipment.
    Amount: $80,000
    Sub-applicant: Parksville

    Quatsino First Nation – This project provides training and supplies operational and communications equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Saanich – This project provides EOC with conferencing equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Saik’uz First Nation – This project provides a mobile EOC trailer, IT, communications and operational equipment.
    Amount: $38,425

    Seabird Island Band – Functional exercise, foundational training and operation supplies.
    Amount: $33,660

    Sékw’elw’as – This project provides communications equipment and tabletop exercises.
    Amount: $40,000

    Sidney – EOC training for staff.
    Amount: $35,500

    Regional: Siska Band – This project enhances the operation of EOC through communications equipment.
    Amount: $159,043
    Sub-applicants: Nicomen Indian Band, Oregon Jack Creek Band, Shackan Indian Band

    Skeetchestn Indian Band – This project provides operational equipment, including an auxiliary power generator.
    Amount: $39,128

    Skowkale First Nation – This project provides foundational and section training.
    Amount: $30,173

    Skwláx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw – This project provides EOC with IT, communications equipment and activation exercises.
    Amount: $39,904

    Smithers – Joint training operations and communications equipment.
    Amount: $39,900

    SnPink’tn – Implementing technology into the EOC through IT equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Songhees Nation – This project provides training and supplies operational and office equipment, including storage and a generator.
    Amount: $39,935

    Sooke – This project provides EOC training, exercises and operational equipment, including a drone.
    Amount: $40,000

    Spuzzum First Nation – Section training and functional exercise.
    Amount: $40,000

    Squamish – This project provides a functional exercise and Incident Command System training.
    Amount: $35,000

    Sqwá First Nation – This project provides IT and operational equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    SȾÁUTW̱ First Nation – This project provides EOC training and IT, communications and operational equipment.
    Amount: $31,395

    Stewart – This project provides communications equipment updates.
    Amount: $10,116

    Regional: Strathcona Regional District – This project provides EOC training and supplies IT equipment, communications equipment, operational equipment and office supplies.
    Amount: $360,000
    Sub-applicants: Campbell River, Ehattesaht First Nation, Gold River, Nuchatlaht First Nation, Port McNeill, Sayward, Tahsis, Zeballos

    Takla Nation – This project provides training and supplies IT equipment, communications equipment and operational equipment.
    Amount: $39,774

    Taylor – Tabletop exercise and foundational training.
    Amount: $23,919

    Telkwa – This project provides EOC training and supplies IT equipment, communications equipment and office supplies.
    Amount: $39,994

    Thompson-Nicola Regional District – EOC equipment and training improvements.
    Amount: $40,000

    Tl’azt’en Nation – Emergency operations centre enhancement through training and generator purchase.
    Amount: $40,000

    Ts’il kaz koh – EOC project includes mobile trailer, training and operational equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Tsal’alh – Portable/deployable EOC kit and sections training.
    Amount: $39,197

    Tsartlip First Nation – This project provides EOC exercises and supplies IT, communications and operational equipment.
    Amount: $29,895

    Tseshaht First Nation – This project provides EOC training, office supplies and portable operational and communications equipment.
    Amount: $39,991

    Tsilhqot’in National Government – Tabletop exercise and foundational training.
    Amount: $37,500

    Tsleil-waututh Nation – Section training and tabletop exercise.
    Amount: $39,958

    Ucluelet – This project revitalizes the tsunami siren warning system.
    Amount: $34,549

    Valemount – Operation supplies and sections training.
    Amount: $35,159

    Vancouver – Incident Command Systems and section training for staff.
    Amount: $36,621

    Vanderhoof – This project provides IT, communications, operational and office equipment.
    Amount: $27,066

    Vernon – Rapid damage assessment kits and EOC training courses.
    Amount: $40,000

    Victoria – EOC update through IT supplies and earthquake exercise.
    Amount: $39,055

    We Wai Kai Nation – This project provides communications equipment and training.
    Amount: $39,425

    Wells – This project provides IT, office and operational equipment.
    Amount: $33,165

    West Moberly First Nations – This project provides functional tabletop exercise.
    Amount: $32,612

    Whistler – Essentials training and IT equipment.
    Amount: $24,650

    Williams Lake First Nation – Mock activation exercise and operational equipment.
    Amount: $39,265

    Witset First Nation – This project provides EOC training, communications and operational equipment.
    Amount: $40,000

    Xaxli’p First Nation (fountain) – Mobile EOC centre operation supplies.
    Amount: $39,688

    Yakweakwioose First Nation – Foundational training and operation supplies.
    Amount: $26,245

    Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it (tobacco plains) – This project provides a mobile EOC trailer, training and communications equipment.
    Amount: $39,928

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Isha Foundation’s Meditation App Surpasses ChatGPT’s Launch Pace, Signals Global Demand for Digital Stillness

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, CA, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As artificial intelligence dominates headlines, one of the fastest-growing wellness apps is turning heads for a different reason: silence. The Isha Foundation recently launched Miracle of Mind, a free meditation app that recorded over 1 million downloads in just 15 hours, outpacing even ChatGPT’s original adoption rate.

    Founded by spiritual leader Sadhguru, the app combines ancient yogic practices with adaptive technology to offer a simple, evidence-based approach to mental wellness. Its core is a 7-minute guided meditation designed to help users reduce stress, enhance focus, and build inner resilience.

    “People are overwhelmed—by information, by screens, by pressure. This app meets them where they are,” said an Isha Foundation spokesperson.

    Key Features:

    • Multilingual interface (English, Hindi, Tamil, Spanish, Russian) with plans for expansion
    • Gamified challenges, including streaks and badges
    • 100% free access — no subscriptions or in-app purchases

    The app’s methodology is grounded in research from Indiana University, Harvard University, University of Tennessee, Rutgers University, and University of Florida affiliated researchers, which have previously validated Isha’s meditation techniques for reducing stress and improving emotional regulation.

    Momentum & Impact

    • 45% of users are first-time meditators, primarily aged 18–34
    • 70% of users returned to the app within the first week, a retention rate that rivals leading meditation apps like Calm and Insight Timer
    • Self-reported outcomes include 34% drop in anxiety and improved sleep in six weeks
    • Rated 4.8/5 stars across 80,000+ global reviews

    The platform also features a dynamic AI chatbot—“Ask Sadhguru”—trained on over 50,000 hours of his teachings to provide real-time insights.

    Already in use by over 2 million individuals worldwide, Miracle of Mind is scaling faster than most mental health platforms in the nonprofit sector. When the app introduces upgrades such as biofeedback integration, augmented reality meditation environments, and personalized generative meditation tailored to user behavior, it could become even more engaging and exciting..

    As the mental health crisis intensifies globally, Isha Foundation’s Miracle of Mind offers something increasingly rare: an accessible path inward, rooted in wisdom, powered by technology, and available to all.

    Miracle of Mind is available for free on iOS and Android platforms.

    The MIL Network –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Dunn High School Sit-ins to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Dunn High School Sit-ins to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Dunn High School Sit-ins to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker
    jejohnson6
    Fri, 06/06/2025 – 10:23

    Protests and legal action by American Indian citizens in Harnett County that led to school integration in 1961 soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker. The N.C. Highway Historical Marker Program is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The marker commemorating the Dunn High School sit-ins will be unveiled at 10 a.m. Friday, June 13, during a roadside ceremony at the intersection of West Cumberland Street and North Orange Street in Dunn.

    Although the American Indians of the Harnett and Sampson County region have been recognized by the state as Coharie Indians since 1971, educational opportunities were limited in the preceding decades. Beginning in 1911, the state authorized separate schools for their children. By 1917, the Maple Grove Indian community that had formed near Dunn was large enough to begin petitioning for a school.

    Maple Grove School opened in 1924. As many as 60 children attended at times, often taught by one teacher for grades 1 through 7. After grade 7, students had no school to attend until 1942, when the East Carolina Indian School opened in the New Bethel Indian community a few miles north of Clinton. Children in Harnett and Sampson counties traveled by bus, with the 35-mile trip taking about two hours each way.

    By the mid-1950s, parents of students in the area became dissatisfied with the arrangement and began holding informal meetings at Maple Grove School. Between 1956 and 1960, parents of Indian children formally requested that their children be reassigned to Dunn High School but were denied.

    On Aug. 30, 1960, Indian parents went to Dunn High School to register their children and were turned away. The next day, students and parents returned. The students quietly entered the classrooms and took seats. Two students were charged with trespassing. These sit-ins lasted several days and ended when a judge issued a restraining order prohibiting Indian parents and students from setting foot on Dunn High School property.

    In October 1960, the families filed a lawsuit against the Harnett County Board of Education. A temporary order was signed by federal Judge Albert Reeves directing that the Indian children be admitted to Dunn High School until their eligibility could be determined.

    By June 1961, the school board had received 40 applications for reassignment. On June 20, 1961, 20 students were approved for reassignment to Dunn High School, but 26 elementary-age Indian children were denied admission to the city’s elementary school.

    The addition of Indian students to Dunn High School went reasonably well, it was reported. Later that year the parents returned to federal court to request that their younger children be admitted to Dunn’s segregated elementary schools. The county resisted, but in January 1964 a federal judge ordered the schools to admit 27 Indian elementary students. The county did not appeal, ending Indian school segregation in Harnett County.

    This activism also paved the way for the county’s Black residents to file suit in October 1963. By August 1964, they received a favorable ruling in federal court, ending school segregation for all Harnett County residents.

    For more information about the historical marker, visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2025/05/14/dunn-high-school-sit-ins-h-128 or call (919) 814-6625.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 6, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Seeks Public Input on Equine State Trail Master Plan

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Seeks Public Input on Equine State Trail Master Plan

    N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Seeks Public Input on Equine State Trail Master Plan
    jejohnson6
    Fri, 06/06/2025 – 10:18

    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Division of Parks and Recreation is seeking input on the Equine State Trail Master Plan. The master plan will be a 20-year plan that identifies a 10-mile-wide corridor for the trail.

    Authorized in 2023 by the General Assembly, the Equine State Trail is the 14th state trail. It is envisioned to be an equestrian trail that loops through eight counties, including Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, and Richmond counties. The trail has opportunities to connect Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Carvers Creek State Park, and Raven Rock State Park, and will offer a variety of equestrian recreation.

    Two public open houses will be held — June 18 at Raven Rock State Park auditorium and June 25 at Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve auditorium. Both open houses will be from 5-7 p.m. and attendees can drop in any time. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and can expect to spend about 30 minutes to review, discuss and weigh in on their preferred recreational amenities for the trail.

    Amenities that may be considered for the master plan include the trail surface type, campgrounds, trailheads, recreational user types, and connection opportunities within the eight identified counties.

    An online public survey is available for those who cannot attend the public meetings. Take the survey at: http://www.trails.nc.gov/eqst-survey.

    About North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
    The Division of Parks and Recreation manages more than 264,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 5, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Craig Friend to Discuss New Book ‘Becoming Lunsford Lane’ on June 24 at N.C. Capitol

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Dr. Craig Friend to Discuss New Book ‘Becoming Lunsford Lane’ on June 24 at N.C. Capitol

    Dr. Craig Friend to Discuss New Book ‘Becoming Lunsford Lane’ on June 24 at N.C. Capitol
    jejohnson6
    Fri, 06/06/2025 – 10:13

    The North Carolina State Capitol will host a free lecture by Dr. Craig Friend about his new book “Becoming Lunsford Lane: The Lives of An American Aeneas” on June 24 at 6 p.m. The State Capitol is administered by the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    By challenging the rules of enslavement and, later, pushing the boundaries of free citizenship in North Carolina, Lunsford Lane (1803-79) became a folk hero to many enslaved Southerners, as well as a generation of abolitionists. Author of a unique “slave narrative” and a speaking partner with some of the era’s greatest orators, including William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Highland Garnett, William Wells Brown, and Frederick Douglass, Lane became a celebrity who watched as the persona he created gradually faltered and failed him and his family.

    In the first biography of Lunsford Lane based on original and extensive research, Craig Thompson Friend portrays a man who dreamed beyond his enslavement, delivered himself and his family from bondage, and spun a story of his life that brought him lasting freedom and fleeting fame. Lane’s story is a biography for our times: a man searching to define life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in a changing American society scarred by contentious politics, economic challenges, class tensions, loss of political rights, and racial violence.

    Craig Thompson Friend is a professor of history at North Carolina State University. He is the author of “Kentucke’s Frontiers,” winner of the 2011 Governor’s Award, and “Along the Maysville Road: The Early Republic in the Trans-Appalachian West.” For more information about the event, visit the site’s Eventbrite page Becoming Lunsford Lane: Book Talk with Dr. Craig Friend Tickets, Tue, Jun 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

    The State Capitol’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history, architecture, and function of the 1840 building and Union Square. The Capitol is open to visitors Monday-Saturday and is located at 1 E. Edenton St. in downtown Raleigh. For additional information please call 984-867-8340 or visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/capitol.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 5, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 7, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: First Farm-Life School to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: First Farm-Life School to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    First Farm-Life School to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker
    jejohnson6
    Fri, 06/06/2025 – 10:08

    Schools built in the early 20th century to provide education in rural areas of the state soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker. The N.C. Historical Marker Program is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The marker commemorating Craven County Farm Life School, the first farm life school, will be dedicated at the intersection of U.S. Hwy 17 and Farm Life Avenue in Vanceboro, N.C. on Thursday, June 12 at 4 p.m.

    Authorized in 1911 by a General Assembly appropriation, farm life schools were promoted by state superintendent J.Y. Joyner and various farm groups. These schools were required to offer a standard high school education in addition to classes and practical experience in vocational agriculture and home economics.

    If a local governmental unit provided facilities (including dormitories for boys and girls) for $25,000 and then pledged $2,500 for operating expenses each year, the state would match the latter amount. Almost immediately, five counties took advantage of the offer, and by 1916, 21 farm-life schools were in operation.  

    Craven County Farm Life School opened on Nov. 4, 1913, with an on-site celebration and 30 enrolled students.  

    A second school — Rowan Farm-Life School in China Grove — opened in 1914 and was such a success that in 1921 the regular China Grove High School merged with it and shared the farm campus.  

    In Nash County, local farmer Tom Jones donated 25 acres of land, and the community voted for an additional $10,000 in bonds for buildings for the Red Oak Farm-Life High School.  

    Students within walking or horse-riding distances paid no tuition, but boarding students paid $12.50 per month. The boys cut wood for fires, and the girls cooked and waited on tables. Crop rotation, contour plowing, selection of nutritious foods, and improved homemaking practices were emphasized along with the academic curriculum.  

    For more information about the historical marker, please visit  https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/08/09/farm-life-schools-c-89, or call (919) 814-6625   

    The Highway Historical Marker Program is a collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Jun 5, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 7, 2025
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