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Category: India

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Warren, Blunt Rochester Condemn RFK for Making it Harder for Pregnant Women and Children to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines, Putting Their Health at Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    June 04, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), joined by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), today condemned U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for announcing changes to the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommended vaccine schedule that would dramatically limit access to COVID-19 vaccines for millions of pregnant women and children, needlessly endangering their health. In their letter, the Senators slam the decision as anti-science and politically motivated, criticizing Secretary Kennedy for failing to provide scientific justification for the policy change and for confirming their longstanding concerns that he would enact unscientific, anti-vax policies as HHS Secretary—despite all his clamoring before Senate committees that he would not restrict vaccine access.

    “Your politically driven, anti-science decision—made suddenly and behind closed doors, without input from the public or scientific and medical communities—flies in the face of your commitment to ‘not…take away anybody’s vaccines’ and will lead to an untold number of preventable illness and death of Americans,” wrote the Senators.

    “Enabled by President Trump and fueled by decades of anti-vaccine skepticism, you appear to be establishing a roadmap by which the United States’ government can implement unscientific, anti-vaccination policies,” the lawmakers continued. “By sowing distrust, creating chaos and justifying your actions with misinformation, you are laying the groundwork to undermine access to other safe, effective vaccines, including for those that prevent diseases like whooping cough, measles and more.”

    The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy:

    We write to express our extreme concern regarding the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) recent policy changes to dramatically curtail access to the COVID-19 vaccine for those Americans who would choose to receive it. We are particularly alarmed by your May 27, 2025 announcement on X—along with Drs. Marty Makary and Jay Bhattacharya, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), respectively—that the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be included under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) recommended routine immunization schedule for healthy pregnant women.

    We are also concerned that the CDC changed its recommendation for administering the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children and adolescents from routine to using “shared clinical decision-making” between clinicians and families. As of the writing of this letter, the CDC has updated the immunization schedule for adults, removing the previous recommendation for pregnant women. The unjustified announcement “blindsided” senior officials at the CDC and were designed to “further erode public trust in the [agency].” By side-stepping the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP’s) open and transparent deliberation of the evidence, you have thrown into question coverage of vaccines under Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance for millions of Americans. Your politically driven, anti-science decision—made suddenly and behind closed doors, without input from the public or scientific and medical communities—flies in the face of your commitment to “not…take away anybody’s vaccines” and will lead to an untold number of preventable illness and death of Americans. We therefore strongly urge you to reverse this position until there is a thorough, transparent consideration of the body of evidence regarding the COVID-19 vaccine’s public health benefit.

    Political Motivations Threaten COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Millions of Americans

    The ACIP’s vaccine recommendations, as adopted by the CDC, form the basis of no-cost access to the vaccines for millions of Americans. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, requires that most commercial health insurance plans and Medicaid Alternative Benefit Plans cover ACIP-recommended vaccines for a given individual with no cost sharing. In addition, for the Vaccines for Children Program, authorized by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, ACIP determines which vaccines are provided at no cost to children who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, Medicaid-enrolled or American Indian or Alaska Native. States must also cover ACIP-recommended vaccines and their administration for children enrolled in separate State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs without enrollee cost-sharing.

    More recently, the Inflation Reduction Act expanded no-cost coverage of ACIP-recommended vaccines and vaccine administration without cost-sharing to adults under Medicare Part D, Medicaid and CHIP. The uncertainty and confusion caused by your politically driven actions may lead to many insurers deciding to drop coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine for millions of people. Without insurance coverage, individuals who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be forced to pay up to $200 or more out-of-pocket—an insurmountable cost for many families, especially amid cost-of-living crisis exacerbated by the current administration’s policies.

    Politically Driven, Anti-Vaccination Decision-Making Circumvents Scientific Input

    You appeared to make this policy change without consulting the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) and prior to the next scheduled public meeting of the ACIP, the members of which are leading vaccine experts tasked with developing vaccine recommendations. You did so even though the ACIP had independently been considering updating COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to take into account the risk levels of different populations and was expected to vote on those recommendations when it was next scheduled to meet on June 25-27, 2025.

    Your announcement is a striking departure from the transparent and evidence-informed manner by which vaccine approvals and recommendations are formulated by HHS. For decades, scientists have weighed in on vaccine recommendations through a strenuous process. Following a decision from FDA experts about whether to approve a new vaccine based on clinical trial evidence and other data, ACIP “weighs extensive evidence about safety, effectiveness and other data to determine the best recommendation for who should receive the vaccine, when and how often.” The CDC director may choose to adopt, reject or modify these recommendations, though rejection or modification of such recommendations is rare. In the past quarter century, the CDC director has acted only twice to expand access beyond the ACIP’s recommendation, both times in response to extraordinary circumstances—in 2002 for the smallpox vaccine in connection with a vaccination campaign to address potential bioterrorism attacks, and in 2021 for the COVID-19 vaccine for front-line workers during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in an unprecedented and deeply troubling abuse of your authority, you did not wait to hear ACIP’s expertise, and you exploited a key vacancy at CDC to set these recommendations yourself. According to the Washington Post, this is “the first time an HHS secretary has unilaterally altered an existing recommendation from the advisory committee and the CDC.”

    Your decision represents a significant public health threat that will endanger millions of Americans. Pregnant women are at higher risk of serious illness and hospitalization if infected with COVID-19, and the virus raises the risk of having a cesarean birth, preeclampsia or eclampsia and blood clots. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy has also been shown to result in higher risk of lower birthweight babies, preterm birth and stillbirth. Babies born to women who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 are at higher risk of needing intensive care. That is why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) strongly recommend women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to get pregnant get the COVID-19 vaccine. According to ACOG and SMFM, the COVID-19 vaccine has been demonstrated repeatedly to be safe and protective for such individuals. Because this vaccine is so protective and safe for this population, ACOG further recommends eliminating barriers to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This is likely why the CDC stated in its “Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States,” updated on May 12, 2025:

    “COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older in the United States…Vaccination is especially important for people at highest risk of severe COVID-19, including people ages 65 years and older; people with underlying medical conditions, including immune compromise; people living in long-term care facilities; and pregnant women to protect themselves and their infants.” (emphasis added)

    After birth, infants under 6 months of age are at the same high level of risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 as adults ages 65 to 74, and the only means of protecting these infants from COVID-19 is through maternal vaccination. An analysis of HHS data by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that 11,199 children were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season, 7,746 of whom were younger than 5 years old. And 41 percent of children ages 6 months to 17 years old hospitalized with COVID-19 from October 2022 to April 2024 did not have a known underlying condition, meaning that “healthy” children are also at risk of severe disease.

    Establishing an Anti-Vaccination Policy Roadmap

    Enabled by President Trump and fueled by decades of anti-vaccine skepticism, you appear to be establishing a roadmap by which the United States’ government can implement unscientific, anti-vaccination policies. By sowing distrust, creating chaos and justifying your actions with misinformation, you are laying the groundwork to undermine access to other safe, effective vaccines, including for those that prevent diseases, such as pertussis (whooping cough), measles, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), chickenpox, shingles, hepatitis A, as well as cancer caused by hepatitis B and human papilloma virus.

    The May 27, 2025 video announcement is just one action in a series of anti-vaccination, anti-science efforts you have led since becoming HHS Secretary. For example, while the ACIP made recommendations for meningococcal and RSV vaccines months ago, you have failed to adopt the recommendations. Further, even though the United States is experiencing the worst outbreak of measles in 25 years, you have downplayed the harm of one of the world’s most contagious diseases and made false claims that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has not been “safety tested.” This undermining of trust in vaccines has led to multiple preventable hospitalizations and deaths. Indeed, President Trump’s nominee to serve as your deputy at HHS expressed unqualified support for your recommendation “encourag[ing] parents to take the measles vaccine,” while saying nothing about vaccinating children against the disease. And the Trump administration clawed back over $11 billion in pandemic-era funding, which has hampered the ability of public health departments across the country to contain the measles outbreak.

    Moreover, on May 20, 2025, Dr. Vinay Prasad, Director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and Commissioner Makary published an opinion piece in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), outlining a new FDA approval framework that creates significant barriers for approval of annual COVID-19 vaccines for millions of Americans. This announcement indicated that the annual COVID-19 vaccine will generally be approved without a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT) only for people ages 65 and older and for those who have medical conditions that leave them at higher risk for severe COVID-19. The framework says nothing about the eligibly of healthy people at higher risk of being infected with COVID-19, such as healthcare professionals. This means that, unlike in most other countries, the annual vaccine will not be available to healthy individuals older than 6 months of age and under the age of 65 without an RCT. This change in the approval process will take away Americans’ freedom to choose to get the annual vaccine and put them and their loved ones at risk.

    Further, placebo-controlled trials for vaccines when a proven intervention exists are widely considered by the medical and research community to be unethical. Ethical guidance advises, “Extreme care must be taken to avoid abuse of [the option to conduct placebo-controlled trials when a proven intervention exists]”; the FDA and HHS have guidance accordingly restricting placebo-controlled trials to certain situations. There is no question that the existing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are such “proven interventions,” and withholding their use in new placebo-controlled trials would constitute a grave ethical violation.

    Your new approval process for the annual COVID-19 vaccine will significantly delay access to updated FDA-approved vaccines, jeopardizing the health and lives of the American people. Typically, vaccines, such as the annually updated flu shot, are approved after exhibiting immunogenicity data or other laboratory testing data comparable to previous vaccine versions, which themselves have provided robust safety and efficacy data. A multi-year study and lengthy approval process, which is generally considered by experts to be unnecessary, particularly for annually updated vaccines. The significant hurdles associated with FDA’s new RCT requirement could discourage vaccine manufacturers and researchers from developing new, innovative products that could prevent cancer, HIV and other diseases and ultimately save lives. Dr. Peter Hotez from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston stated requiring RCTs for future vaccine development “would basically be a recipe for paralysis.”

    Indeed, the day after your announcement, Moderna withdrew an application for its new combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine, despite the new vaccine outperforming existing COVID-19 and flu vaccines. It also comes on the heels of the FDA delaying its approval of Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, missing its own April 1, 2025 deadline. When the FDA finally approved the vaccine, it did so for only a narrow population (adults 65 and older and those between ages 21-64 with an underlying medical condition). In a highly unusual step, FDA is also requiring that Novavax conduct a placebo-controlled RCT for less vulnerable populations.

    Given the suddenness of your May 27, 2025 announcement and its lack of detail or scientific justification, we respectfully request you provide written responses to the following questions no later than June 18, 2025:

    1. Despite “a commitment to gold-standard science,” you failed to provide an appropriate, detailed explanation for your change in the COVID-19 vaccination recommendations.

    1. What specific studies, scientific or clinical data did you consult as the basis for removing the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC’s recommended vaccine schedule for pregnant women and children? Please provide citations for the research articles or publications you considered.
    2. Did you consult with any scientific or professional organizations, such as those representing obstetricians, pediatricians, family physicians, virologists, immunologists, epidemiologists or other relevant experts, in developing this new policy? Please provide the names of such stakeholders.
    3. Did you decide not to follow any recommendations from the scientific and medical communities? Why not?
    4. Did you submit a memo that explains the rationale and scientific justification for your decision? Please provide a copy of such memo, along with any attachments and communications related to it.

    2. Your directive implementing the new CDC recommendations suggests that the decision was made “[b]ased on a review of the recommendation of the FDA and the NIH.”

    1. Please list all individuals who carried out this review and their qualifications to weigh in on such decisions, such as their formal scientific and/or medical training, previously held professional positions or appointments, etc.
    2. Please provide a copy of the recommendation made by the NIH.
    3. Why were the CDC and ACIP apparently excluded from the process through which you imposed the new CDC recommendations?
    4. Given the former acting CDC director’s nomination to be CDC director, who is currently responsible for finalizing CDC recommendations?

    3. Why did you fail to consult the ACIP before changing the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for children and pregnant women, particularly before the ACIP’s next public meeting?

    4. The ACIP is scheduled to meet in June 2025 to discuss COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.

    1. Do you commit to allowing the ACIP to move forward with its meeting in June 2025? If so, when will the meeting be publicly noticed in the Federal Register?
    2. Do you commit to not altering the anticipated agenda that includes the discussion of the COVID-19 vaccine?
    3. Do you expect the ACIP’s future COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to be influenced by your decision to publish the new vaccine approval framework?
    4. If the ACIP issues a COVID-19 vaccine recommendation that differs from your May 27 announcement, will you commit to listening to the experts and consider adopting that recommendation?

    5. Why did you fail to consult the VRBPAC before granting a narrow approval for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine?

    6. What role did you play in the decision to publish the new FDA framework outlined in the May 20, 2025 NEJM opinion piece, and in determining its content?

    7. Why did the FDA release this framework in an opinion piece, rather than formally publishing a regulation or guideline written by career vaccine experts?

    8. Does FDA plan to release a regulation, rule or formal guidance that formalizes the framework described in the NEJM article?

    1. If so, when will this policy be released?
    2. Will this policy be developed with the input of vaccine experts, providers, pharmacies, patient advocacy groups and/or other stakeholders?
    3. How will you and Commissioner Makary ensure vaccine experts, providers, pharmacies, patient advocacy groups and/or other stakeholders may provide input or feedback on the framework?

    9. Does the FDA’s new framework apply to initial doses (i.e., primary series) of new formulations of COVID-19 vaccines?

    1. Will this impact parents’ choices to vaccinate their children against COVID-19?
    2. Will you commit to preserving the current COVID-19 vaccine approval standards for the primary vaccine series?

    10. Given the ethical and recruitment challenges clinical trial sponsors may face because of new RCT requirements, how will FDA ensure the public has access to safe and effective vaccines if companies are unable to complete these trials in a timely manner?

    11. Figure 2 of the May 20, 2025 NEJM opinion piece listed pregnancy and recent pregnancy as underlying medical conditions that put an individual at risk of severe COVID-19.

    1. If the CDC is no longer recommending pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine, will such individuals still be eligible for the vaccine?
    2. If so, will they be able to get the vaccine at no cost?
    3. If there will be cost-sharing, what will be the cost-sharing policy for the vaccine, and who will make such decisions?

    12. Is the list in Figure 2 of the NEJM piece an exhaustive list for what medical conditions will be considered putting an individual at risk for severe COVID-19 disease?

    13. How do the conditions in the list align with the fact that the only high-risk condition now stated on the CDC immunization schedule for COVID-19 is “moderately or severely immunocompromised”?

    14. Do you believe that parents should have the right to vaccinate their children against COVID-19? If not, why not?

    15. Do you expect the current version of the COVID-19 vaccine to remain available in the primary vaccine series for individuals under 65 without underlying medical conditions?

    16. Will healthcare workers under age 65 who do not have a condition that predisposes them to severe COVID-19 and hospitalization be able to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine?

    17. Do you believe that young, healthy adults should be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the risk of getting Long COVID or of transmitting the virus to individuals with a higher risk of severe infection?

    1. If so, how will the FDA’s new framework preserve this choice?
    2. Why does the FDA’s new vaccine approval framework fail to consider a broad range of potential benefits of booster shots, such as reduced risk of Long COVID-19 and a shorter duration of illness?

    18. Has the FDA communicated with pharmacies about whether they plan to restrict COVID-19 vaccine access in response to the new vaccine approval framework?

    1. If so, will pharmacies require patients to verify they have health conditions putting them at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 to receive the vaccine?
    2. What will be an acceptable means of verification?

    19. What information did you provide health insurers (including Medicaid and Medicare) regarding their requirements for coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine going forward?

    1. Do you expect insurers to drop or alter coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine for children and pregnant women due to the altered CDC recommendation?
    2. If so, was that taken into consideration when formulating the recommendation?

    20. Have you communicated with the vaccine manufacturers to ensure there will be enough supply of the vaccine for the upcoming respiratory illness season? What steps are you taking to ensure supply chains will not be disrupted?

    21. Do you have any plans to change FDA approval frameworks or the CDC immunization schedule for any other vaccines? If so, which ones?

    Your anti-vaccine, anti-science stance has taken priority over the public health and well-being of the American people. We urge you to save lives by reversing course and making evidence-based policy in an open, transparent and clear manner.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: E-commerce opens broader markets for Xizang specialties

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

    Tibetan specialties are being sold via livestreaming at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

    In southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, a county perched at an altitude of 3,800 meters is embracing the digital era through livestreaming.

    Tashi Lhamo, a 34-year-old resident of Qonggyai County, held up her phone and greeted her audience: “I just got back from the farm. Please give me lots of likes today.” With ease, she promoted local products to her livestream viewers, a scene that has become increasingly common in this once-isolated highland.

    Thanks to the completion of a large-scale telecom network upgrade, internet coverage has become increasingly more stable, prompting many villagers to jump on the e-commerce bandwagon. A simple smartphone now connects the area with the outside world.

    As the county’s most popular influencer, Tashi Lhamo has around 4 million followers across Chinese video-sharing platforms. Through her livestreams, she helps villagers sell local specialties like butter and tsamba — the most popular staple food in Xizang — to customers nationwide, generating an annual income of more than 1 million yuan (about 139,109 U.S. dollars).

    Across Xizang, e-commerce is gaining momentum as the regional government seeks to promote high-quality development of the sector through measures including supportive policies, online vouchers, e-commerce bases and livestreaming competitions.

    According to the regional commerce department, from January to April this year, Xizang’s online retail sales reached 10.84 billion yuan, up 36.7 percent year-on-year. Of that total, livestreaming accounted for 3.36 billion yuan, a 41.8 percent increase, while online sales of agricultural products hit 320 million yuan, up 17.5 percent from the same period last year.

    In the regional capital of Lhasa, local wool products are rolling off the production lines at a factory run by Xizang Holy Trust Industry Co., Ltd.

    “In the past, most of our orders came from offline channels. Now, by leveraging Xizang’s rich wool resources, we have developed an integrated model: e-commerce orders drive on-demand production, cooperatives facilitate procurement, and herders adjust livestock breeding and wool harvesting based on market demand,” said Lhapa Trinley, board chairman of the company.

    Today, through various online platforms, the company’s products, such as scarves, clothing and rugs, are sold across China. Semi-processed materials like washed wool, cashmere and yak wool are even exported to countries including Nepal and India.

    Beyond agricultural and pastoral goods, cultural products such as Tibetan incense and traditional accessories are also gaining popularity, introducing Tibetan culture to wider audiences.

    “E-commerce means that Xizang’s products are no longer niche,” said Li Yanping, head of the e-commerce division at the regional commerce department, adding that the region plans to improve rural logistics and support more e-commerce talent to further expand the reach of its specialties. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: World Environment Day: Join Samsung Care for Clean India to Repair, Recycle, and Reduce E-Waste

    Source: Samsung

     
    Every year, the world observes World Environment Day with a shared resolve to protect our planet. At Samsung, we believe this day is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a call to action. One of the most urgent yet often overlooked environmental challenges of our time is electronic waste (e-waste).
     
    Sustainability Begins with Awareness and Action
    At Samsung, sustainability is not just a goal, but a responsibility. We are committed to raising awareness about the environmental impact of e-waste and empowering people with simple yet powerful actions that make a difference.
     
    Through our Samsung Care for Clean India initiative, we are creating a circular ecosystem for responsible e-waste management. We collect discarded electronics and ensure they are disposed of through government-authorized recyclers—safely, ethically, and sustainably.
     
    Repair, Don’t Replace: A Smart, Responsible Choice
    This year, we are going one step further. We are not just asking people to recycle, but to rethink how we consume.
     
    One simple yet impactful choice is opting for mobile screen repair instead of replacing the entire device. Our screen repair services are designed with sustainability at their core: they reduce the need for new raw materials, extend your device’s usage, and reduce the amount of e-waste generated.
     
    See how screen repair is a responsible choice – Watch the video
     

     
    When you choose to repair, you’re not just saving money—you’re reducing e-waste.
     
    This World Environment Day, Be Part of the Solution
     
    Every small action counts. Whether it’s repairing a cracked screen, recycling an old phone, or spreading the word—your choices matter.
     
    Here’s a message from your old electronics – Watch the video
     

     
    This World Environment Day, we invite you to join us in building a cleaner, more sustainable future. Let’s pledge to reduce e-waste, support responsible consumption, and care for the only planet we call home.
     
    Together, we can turn awareness into action—and action into lasting impact.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luttrell Introduces the Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act

    Source:

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX) introduced the Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act to ensure the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas, along with all other federally recognized Tribes eligible for gaming, are regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

    “I’m proud to introduce the Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act to ensure these Tribes have equal opportunities for economic growth and job creation,” said Congressman Luttrell. “Clarifying that the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is covered under IGRA will allow them to continue investing in their community and providing essential government services on the reservation.”

    “Equality for all federally recognized tribes is long overdue,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in Ysleta del Sur Pueblo et al v. Texas, this legislation is a continuation of our bipartisan efforts to codify equal treatment and opportunities under the law.” 

    Congressman Luttrell previously introduced this legislation in the 118th Congress. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australian kids BYO lunches to school. There is a healthier way to feed students

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liesel Spencer, Associate Professor, School of Law, Western Sydney University

    Getty Images/ courtneyk

    Australian parents will be familiar with this school morning routine: hastily making sandwiches or squeezing leftovers into containers, grabbing a snack from the cupboard and a piece of fruit from the counter.

    This would be unheard of in many other countries, including Finland, Sweden, Scotland, Wales, Brazil and India, which provide free daily school meals to every child.

    Australia is one of the few high-income countries that does not provide children with a daily nutritious meal at school.

    As families increasingly face food insecurity and a cost-of-living crisis, here’s how school lunches could help.

    School lunches are important

    During the week, children get a third of their daily food intake at school. What they eat during school hours has a significant impact on their health.

    Australian children have much higher rates of obesity than children in countries with healthy lunch programs.

    As children’s diets affect physical and cognitive development, and mental health, poor diet can also affect academic performance.

    International research shows universal school meal programs – where all children are provided with a healthy meal at school each day – can improve both health and educational outcomes for students.

    The problem with BYO lunchboxes

    In Australia, children either bring a packed lunch or buy food at the school canteen. But the vast majority of these lunches don’t meet kids’ dietary needs.

    As a 2022 Flinders University report notes, more than 80% of Australian primary school lunches are of poor nutritional quality. Half of students’ school-day food intake comes from junk food and fewer than one in ten students eat enough vegetables.

    While these figures are based on 2011–2012 data, subsequent national survey data does not show significant improvements in children’s healthy diet indicators, including fruit and vegetable consumption. Time pressures on carers mean pre-packaged food can be a default lunchbox choice.

    At the same time, many families with school students are not able to provide their children with healthy lunches. Food insecurity — not having regular access to enough safe, healthy and affordable food — affects an estimated 58% of Australian households with children, and 69% of single-parent households.

    Hot weather also raises food safety concerns, as it’s hard to keep fresh food cool in schoolbags.

    School meals programs in Australia

    There are some historical examples of providing food to children at school in Australia. This includes the school milk program which ran from 1950s to 1970s. There were also wartime experiments in the 1940s. For example, the Oslo lunch (a cheese and salad sandwich on wholemeal bread, with milk and fruit) was provided at school to improve the health of children.

    Today, there is a patchwork of school food programs run by not-for-profit organisations providing breakfast and/or lunch, and various schemes, including kitchen garden and school greenhouse programs.

    There are also pilot schemes providing hot meals. For example, in Tasmania, the current pilot school lunch program feeds children in participating schools a hot lunch on some days of the week with state government support. Evaluation of the program showed strong benefits: healthier eating, calmer classrooms, better social connections from eating lunch together, and less food waste.

    The 2023 parliamentary inquiry into food security recommended the federal government work with states and territories to consider the feasibility of a school meals program.

    In May, the South Australian parliament opened an inquiry into programs in preschools and schools to ensure children and young people don’t go hungry during the day.

    What would it take to introduce school meals?

    Rolling out universal school meal programs across Australian schools would require cooperation between government and private sectors.

    It could build on what already exists – including canteens, school gardens, food relief and breakfast clubs – to create a more consistent and inclusive system.

    There’s a strong evidence base to guide this, both from Australian pilot programs and international examples.

    Decisions would have to be made about regulation and funding – whether to opt for a federally-funded and regulated scheme with federal and state cooperation, or a state-by-state scheme.

    Funding mechanisms from international models include fully government-funded, caregiver-paid (but with subsidies for disadvantaged families) and cost-sharing arrangements between government and families.

    Costs per child per day are around A$10, factoring in economies of scale. Some pilot programs report lower costs of around $5, but involve volunteer labour.

    More research is needed to determine parent and community attitudes and model these funding options, including preventative health benefits.

    Delivery models may also vary depending on each school’s size, location and infrastructure. This could include onsite food preparation, central kitchens delivering pre-prepared meals, or partnerships with not-for-profit providers.

    Ultimately, providing food at school could save parents valuable time and stress, and ensure all Australian students can access the health and education benefits of a nutritious school meal.

    Liesel Spencer has undertaken volunteer work for the Federation of Canteens in Schools (Australia).

    Miriam Williams has undertaken volunteer work for the Federation of Canteens in Schools (Australia).

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

    – ref. Australian kids BYO lunches to school. There is a healthier way to feed students – https://theconversation.com/australian-kids-byo-lunches-to-school-there-is-a-healthier-way-to-feed-students-257465

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bringing High-Tech Manufacturing Jobs to New York

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that Orbic Electronics Manufacturing, LLC, a specialized global manufacturer of telecommunications and consumer electronics devices, has broken ground on its new $110 million manufacturing global hub at 555 Wireless Boulevard in Hauppauge, Suffolk County. This project is expected to create more than 1,000 new high-tech and skilled manufacturing jobs, retain 66 existing positions currently based in Suffolk County, and will bring Orbic’s complete manufacturing and production operations from overseas facilities in India and China to its New York-based Headquarters. Empire State Development is supporting this landmark reshoring initiative with up to $10 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits, recommended by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. The groundbreaking marks a pivotal moment in Long Island’s manufacturing sector and establishes New York as a national leader in rebuilding America’s critical technology supply chains.

    “Today’s groundbreaking at Orbic Electronics represents the future we’re building across New York State — one where companies choose to invest, innovate, and create good-paying jobs right here at home,” Governor Hochul said. “This $110 million investment proves that when businesses want to lead in advanced manufacturing, they turn to New York. From Long Island to the North Country, we’re seeing companies recognize that our state offers the perfect combination of skilled workers, world-class infrastructure, and strategic support that makes success inevitable. With projects like this, we are proving that New York doesn’t just compete — we lead.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Orbic’s investment is a bold step forward for high-tech manufacturing in New York State. By choosing to grow in Hauppauge, Orbic is deepening its roots in a region known for its talent, infrastructure, and innovation potential. At Empire State Development, we are proud to support this strategic reshoring initiative, which will bring over a thousand jobs to the region while fortifying our state’s position in the global technology economy. Projects like this reflect our core mission — supporting smart, inclusive economic growth that creates lasting opportunity for New Yorkers in every corner of the state.”

    Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, “This groundbreaking represents a major milestone for Long Island and a turning point for advanced manufacturing in the region. Orbic’s expansion is proof that Long Island has everything companies need to thrive — from a highly skilled workforce and strong transportation networks to a vibrant ecosystem of research institutions and community partners. The company’s decision to invest more than $100 million here is not only a testament to our regional strengths, but a signal to the broader industry that Long Island is ready to lead in 21st-century manufacturing.”

    Orbic CEO Mike Narula said, “This project marks an exciting milestone for Orbic and a powerful step forward for high-tech manufacturing on Long Island and New York State. This effort underscores our commitment to producing high-quality, American-made technology while supporting local vendors and strengthening the regional economy by bringing more than 1,000 new manufacturing jobs to the region from overseas. We are proud to grow in New York and to contribute to the state’s innovation economy, and we thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for their leadership, vision and invaluable support. Their dedication to building a prosperous New York has made a lasting impact on our company’s future, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership.”

    State Senator Mario Mattera said, “The past few years have clearly shown the importance of our region becoming more self-sufficient. This significant project will help advance that goal while strengthening our economy and creating valuable opportunities for the local workforce. Long Island is home to some of the most hardworking and skilled men and women and the addition of over 1,000 jobs will enable them to work and stay on right here in our community. I commend Orbic for their commitment to Long Island and look forward to their continued success at this new facility.”

    Assemblymember Michael Fitzpatrick said, “The arrival of Orbic’s $110 million manufacturing hub marks a significant step forward for Long Island’s economy. Creating over 1,000 skilled jobs and bringing production back to the U.S. strengthens our local workforce, benefits families across the region and will breathe new life into Long Island’s manufacturing sector. I am thankful to Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for making this transformative investment possible.”

    Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “We are grateful for Orbic’s decision to build their business in Suffolk County. This important project creates jobs and opportunities, helping Suffolk grow, and we look forward to seeing Orbic flourish.”

    Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said, “We are incredibly proud to see Orbic choose Smithtown as the home for this transformative investment. This is more than just bringing high-tech manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. — it’s about bringing them back to our community. Orbic’s expansion supports the Governor and the State’s goal of targeted investment, positioning New York as the premier East Coast destination for next-generation tech companies by leveraging our skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem. This move not only strengthens our regional economy and supports local families — it also puts Smithtown on the map as a hub for smart growth, forward-thinking development, and long-term opportunity. I commend the Governor and Orbic’s leadership for making this vision a reality.”

    Orbic, established in 2016 and headquartered in Hauppauge, Long Island, offers a comprehensive portfolio of technology 4G and 5G connected devices and related products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, mobile hotspots, routers and accessories, catering to both consumer and enterprise customers and markets. In response to global supply chain challenges and increasing demand for domestically produced technology, Orbic launched a strategic initiative to relocate its manufacturing operations to the United States. As part of this effort, Orbic is investing approximately $110 million to renovate and retrofit a 69,500-square-foot existing facility and add an additional 75,000 square-feet, totaling 144,500 square feet. Once complete, the advanced manufacturing center will feature state-of-the-art surface mount technology (SMT) lines, automated testing stations, precision assembly lines, and cleanroom environments to support high-volume, high-quality production. Completion of construction and start of manufacturing is expected in early 2026.

    The newly renovated production facility will be designed to manufacture up to five million devices annually — including smartphones, tablets, wearables, and networking equipment — meeting the needs of both consumer and enterprise customers. The new jobs being created will range from manufacturing technicians and quality assurance specialists to logistics personnel, engineers and support staff. Its location within the Hauppauge Industrial Park, one of the largest industrial parks in the Northeast, offers proximity to skilled labor, major transportation networks, and Orbic’s existing corporate offices, further enhancing operational efficiency and workforce integration.

    A key component of Orbic Electronics’ investment is its focus on workforce development to ensure a robust pipeline of skilled talent for its operations. Orbic will collaborate with Suffolk County Community College and Queensborough Community College to create specialized training programs focused on advanced electronics manufacturing, including circuit board assembly, quality control, testing procedures, and advanced manufacturing processes. The partnership will not only support Orbic’s operational needs but also create a pipeline of skilled workers for Long Island’s growing advanced manufacturing industry. By integrating education and industry, these initiatives strengthen Long Island’s workforce, enhance its economic resilience, and position the region as a hub for advanced manufacturing innovation.

    LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn, President and CEO at Bethpage Federal Credit Union, and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, President of Long Island University, said, “Orbic’s decision to locate and grow its advanced manufacturing operations on Long Island is a direct result of thoughtful regional collaboration, strategic workforce partnerships, and a shared commitment to economic growth. By working with local colleges to train the next generation of high-tech talent, this project is helping ensure that the benefits of investment reach deep into our communities. The LIREDC is proud to support projects like this — ones that create sustainable jobs, foster innovation, and position our region as a long-term leader in advanced electronics and connected technologies.”

    Orbic’s reshoring of its manufacturing operations to New York State exemplifies Governor Hochul’s comprehensive strategy to revitalize New York’s manufacturing sector and establish the state as a national leader in advanced production. Under her administration, New York has secured transformative manufacturing investments including Chobani’s $100 million expansion in the Mohawk Valley, IBM’s multi-billion dollar semiconductor research initiatives, Micron Technology’s historic $100 billion semiconductor facility in Central New York — the largest private investment in state history — and numerous other reshoring projects that have created thousands of jobs statewide. The Governor’s focus on workforce development, supply chain resilience, and robust support for minority and women-owned businesses has positioned New York as the premier destination for companies seeking to bring critical manufacturing operations back to America. This latest investment in Long Island’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem demonstrates how strategic state partnerships can catalyze transformative economic development that strengthens communities, secures supply chains, and advances America’s technological competitiveness on the global stage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA, ISRO Research Aboard Fourth Private Astronaut Mission to Station

    Source: NASA

    NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) are collaborating to launch scientific investigations aboard Axiom Mission 4, the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. These studies include examining muscle regeneration, growth of sprouts and edible microalgae, survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity.
    The mission is targeted to launch no earlier than Tuesday, June 10, aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

    During long-duration spaceflights, astronauts lose muscle mass, and their muscle cells’ regenerative ability declines. Researchers suspect this may happen because microgravity interferes with metabolism in mitochondria, tiny structures within cells that produce energy. The Myogenesis-ISRO investigation uses muscle stem cell cultures to examine the muscle repair process and test chemicals known to support mitochondrial function. Results could lead to interventions that maintain muscle health during long-duration space missions, help people on Earth with age-related muscle loss and muscle-wasting diseases, and assist athletes and people recovering from surgery.

    The Sprouts-ISRO investigation looks at the germination and growth in microgravity of seeds from greengram and fenugreek, nutritious plants commonly eaten on the Indian subcontinent. Bioactive compounds in fenugreek seeds also have therapeutic properties, and the leaves contain essential vitamins and minerals. Learning more about how space affects the genetics, nutritional content, and other characteristics over multiple generations of plants could inform the development of ways for future missions to reliably produce plants as a food source. 

    Space Microalgae-ISRO studies how microgravity affects microalgae growth and genetics. Highly digestible microalgae species packed with nutrients could be a food source on future space missions. These organisms also grow quickly, produce energy and oxygen, and consume carbon dioxide, traits that could be employed in life support and fuel systems on spacecraft and in certain scenarios on Earth.  

    Tardigrades are tiny aquatic organisms that can tolerate extreme conditions on Earth. Voyager Tardigrade-ISRO tests the survival of a strain of tardigrades in the harsh conditions of space, including cosmic radiation and ultra-low temperatures, which kill most life forms. Researchers plan to revive dormant tardigrades, count the number of eggs laid and hatched during the mission, and compare the gene expression patterns of populations in space and on the ground. Results could help identify what makes these organisms able to survive extreme conditions and support development of technology to protect astronauts on future missions and those in harsh environments on Earth. 

    Research shows that humans interact with touchscreen devices differently in space. Voyager Displays – ISRO examines how spaceflight affects interactions with electronic displays such as pointing tasks, gaze fixation, and rapid eye movements along with how these interactions affect the user’s feelings of stress or wellbeing. Results could support improved design of control devices for spacecraft and habitats on future space missions as well as for aviation and other uses on Earth.
    Download high-resolution photos and videos of the research mentioned in this article.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Committee Leaders Raise Alarm Over Burgum’s Interior Staffing Freeze: “Illegal and Dangerous”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    May 30, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, top Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding answers about a blanket freeze on personnel actions across the Department of the Interior, reportedly imposed earlier this month by the Department’s acting Chief Human Capital Officer—a former staffer of Elon Musk’s DOGE.

    “This sweeping directive has already sparked internal conflict at the Department, where staff are reportedly struggling to fulfill the duties of thousands of now-vacant positions essential to the Department’s day-to-day operations,” the lawmakers wrote. “Your actions to date raise serious doubts about your commitment to that obligation.”

    In the letter, the lawmakers cite the Administration’s proposed “skinny budget,” DOGE-led “voluntary” buyouts “backed by the threat of termination,” and pending Reductions in Force (RIF) plans as part of a “coordinated campaign of institutional dismantling” that “threatens the safety of our parks, the reliability of our water systems, and the scientific integrity of the very agencies entrusted with protecting Americans from wildfire, drought and other escalating risks.”

    The lawmakers also expressed concern over the reported removal of Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director Michael Nedd, “who reportedly raised concerns about the effects of the May 2 personnel directive on the Department’s ability to do its job.”

    The lawmakers called on the Department to provide a copy of the May 2 memo and respond to several questions, including what impact assessment was conducted, what essential functions are at risk, and whether other senior personnel have been penalized for raising objections.

    “Like other recent personnel actions, this latest personnel freeze is, at best, shortsighted and self-defeating—and at worst, illegal and dangerous for Americans who visit our National Parks, live near federal lands, rely on federal irrigation for their farms, or depend on sound science to protect their homes and communities,” the lawmakers wrote. “It represents yet another ill-considered action by the Trump Administration that leaves our country weaker, less safe, and less prepared to meet the challenges ahead.”

    The letter was signed by Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Federal Lands Subcommittee Ranking Member Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Ranking Member Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee Ranking Member Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), and Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee Ranking Member Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.).

    Read the full letter.

    ###

    Next Article Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: G7 Foreign Ministers Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity

    Source: United States Department of State (3)

    Office of the Spokesperson

    G7 Foreign Ministers Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity

    Media Note

    March 14, 2025

    The text of the following statement was released by the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union.

    Begin Text:

    1. We, the Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, reaffirm the G7’s steadfast commitment to contribute towards a free, open, and secure maritime domain based on the rule of law that strengthens international security, fosters economic prosperity, and ensures the sustainable use of marine resources.
    2. Maritime security and prosperity are fundamental to global stability, economic resilience, and the well-being of all nations, and the conservation and sustainable use of ocean ecosystems is essential to all life on Earth. Over 80% of global trade is transported by sea, and 97% of global data flows through submarine cables. Disruptions to maritime routes pose a direct threat to international food security, critical minerals, energy security, global supply chains, and economic stability. We express deep concern over the growing risks to maritime security, including strategic contestation, threats to freedom of navigation and overflight, and illicit shipping activities. State behaviour in these areas has increased the risk of conflict and environmental damage, and imperils all nations’ prosperity and living standards, especially for the world’s poorest.
    3. We recognize the role of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal framework for governing all activities in the oceans and the seas.
    4. We recall the G7 Statements on Maritime Security adopted in Lübeck (2015) and Hiroshima (2016). We welcome related work presently underway through other G7 ministerial tracks and working groups, on a range of issues including securing undersea cable networks and combating abandoned fishing gear. We welcome, as well, G7 work relating to transnational organized crime and terrorism that touches on the maritime domain, including in relation to piracy and armed robbery at sea, trafficking in persons, and strengthening the maritime law enforcement capabilities of coastal states. We acknowledge the importance of regional maritime security frameworks, to support coastal states to address collectively threats to their maritime security. We welcome existing initiatives, such as the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (G7++ FoGG, that Canada chairs this year), which has been, the primary forum for dialogue among G7 members and partners on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Emerging Threat on Safe Seas and Freedom of Navigation and Overflight

    1. Enhancing Stability: We underscore the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and other internationally lawful uses of the high seas and the exclusive economic zones as well as to the related rights and freedoms in other maritime zones, including the rights of innocent passage, transit passage and archipelagic sea lanes passage, as provided for under international law. We share a growing concern at recent, unjustifiable efforts to restrict such freedom and to expand jurisdiction through use of force and other forms of coercion, including across the Taiwan Strait, and in the South China Sea, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea. We condemn China’s illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of regions, including through land reclamations, and building of outposts, as well as their use for military purpose. In areas pending final delimitation, we underline the importance of coastal states refraining from unilateral actions that cause permanent physical change to the marine environment insofar as such actions jeopardize or hamper the reaching of the final agreement, as well as the importance of making every effort to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature, in those areas. We condemn, as well, dangerous vessel maneuvers, the indiscriminate attacks against commercial vessels and other maritime actions that undermine maritime order based on the rule of law and international law. We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties. We reaffirm that our basic policies on Taiwan remain unchanged and emphasize the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to international security and prosperity. We welcome the resumption of exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Freedom of navigation for commercial shipping in the Black Sea must be upheld.
    2. Attempts to Change the Status Quo by Force: We oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion including in the East and South China Seas. We undertake to implement means through which to track systematically and report on attempts to change the status quo by force and by the establishment of new geographical facts, including through coercive and dangerous actions on the oceans and seas that might threaten regional and international peace and security.
    3. Protecting Critical Maritime and Undersea Infrastructure: We are seized of the fact that vital energy and telecommunications infrastructure under the oceans and seas connects our economies and is vital to our prosperity. We recall the G7 Joint Statement on Cable Connectivity for Secure and Resilient Digital Communications Networks (2024) and the New York Joint Statement on the Security and Resilience of Undersea Cables in a Globally Digitalized World (2024). We share a growing concern that undersea communications cables, subsea interconnectors and other critical undersea infrastructure have been subject to critical damage through sabotage, poor seamanship or irresponsible behaviour which have resulted in potential internet or energy disruption in affected regions, delays in global data transmission, or compromised sensitive communications. We will enhance our cooperation with industry mitigate risks, reduce bottlenecks to operational tasks while strengthening repair capacities in order to improve the overall resilience of critical undersea and maritime infrastructure. In this respect, we welcome the EU Action Plan on Cable Security adopted in February 2025 by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
    4. Maritime Crime: Maritime crime, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, maritime arms trafficking and sanctions evasion, human trafficking, illegal drug trafficking and Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, continues to impede maritime security, freedom of navigation, and our economy and prosperity. We have been working together to tackle these maritime crimes, but maritime illegal activities have extended into new areas, to become an urgent issue to be addressed. We welcome the G7 Action Plan to combat migrant smuggling adopted under Italy’s 2024 G7 Presidency.
    5. Protecting Freedom of Trade: In the past year, indiscriminate Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have endangered maritime security of vessels and their crews, disturbed international trade, and exposed neighboring countries to environmental hazards. Enabled by Iran’s military, financial, and intelligence support, these illegal attacks have also contributed to increased tension in the Middle East and Yemen, with severe repercussions on the intra-Yemeni peace process. The vessel “Galaxy Leader” seized by the Houthis must be released immediately. We appreciate the efforts of all those countries that have engaged to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, protecting crucial shipping lanes and helping to restore regular flows of trade through the Suez Canal connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In this regard, we commend the efforts of EU’s maritime operation “Aspides” and U.S.-led operation “Prosperity Guardian”.

    Safe Shipping and Supply Chain Security

    1. Curtailing Unsafe and Illicit Shipping Practices: The rise of unsafe and illicit shipping practices, including fraudulent registration and registries, poses a significant threat to global trade and environmental sustainability. We are concerned that unsafe and illicit shipping imposes heavy costs on industry, governments and citizens. Russia’s ability to earn revenue has been sustained through its extensive effort to circumvent the G7+ oil price cap policy through its shadow fleet of often older, underinsured, and poorly maintained ships that routinely disable their automatic identification systems or engage in “spoofing” to avoid detection and circumvent international safety, environmental, and liability rules and standards. North Korea continues to pursue its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and evade sanctions, particularly through its illicit maritime activities, including prohibited ship to-ship transfers of petroleum and other UN-banned commodities. Through G7 coordination, we have exposed North Korea uses of “dark” vessels – those that engage in illicit activity – to circumvent United Nations Security Council mandated sanctions. Russia and North Korea are strengthening their economic relations including through maritime routes, such as the reported transfer of petroleum products from Russia to North Korea Unregulated, “dark” vessels undertake IUU fishing, destroying marine habitats and depleting fish stocks, with negative impacts for biodiversity and food security. Unregulated, inadequately insured “dark” vessels also pose a high risk of maritime accidents, including in fragile ecosystems such as the Arctic and Antarctic. We commit to strengthen our coordination, amongst the G7 and with other partners, to prevent the use of unregistered or fraudulently registered, uninsured and substandard vessels engaged in sanctions evasion, arms transfers, illegal fishing and illicit trade. We encourage relevant International Organizations to improve maritime domain awareness by expanding satellite-based vessel tracking and establishing comprehensive data records of the movement of individual ships and of ship-to-ship transfers, as a means of identifying and tracking illicit maritime activities. We are also committed to capacity building of the countries in the region in law enforcement and Maritime Domain Awareness.
    2. Shadow Fleet Task Force: We invite members of the Nordic-Baltic 8 (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden), and possibly others, to join participating G7 members in a Shadow Fleet Task Force to enhance monitoring and detection and to otherwise constrain the use of shadow fleets engaged in illegal, unsafe or environmentally perilous activities, building on the work of others active in this area. The Task Force will constitute a response by the participating States to the call by the International Maritime Organization in its Resolution A.1192(33) of 6 December 2023 for Members States and all relevant stakeholders to promote actions to prevent illegal operations in the maritime sector by shadow fleets and their flag states, including illegal operations for the purposes of circumventing sanctions, evading compliance with safety or environmental regulations, avoiding insurance costs, or engaging in other illegal activities.
    3. Enhancing Maritime Supply Chain Resilience and Energy and Food Security: Maritime supply chains will continue to underpin the global economy, but these face a variety of threats, both present and future, stemming from both geopolitical tensions and environmental factors. Maritime disruptions raise consumer costs, increase transit times, and can reduce demand in importing countries, which in turn means lower revenues and diminished competitiveness for producers in exporting countries. Such vulnerabilities in maritime transport can undermine energy and food security, particularly for developing nations reliant on stable shipping routes, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). We welcome maritime initiatives involving and supported by G7 partners intended to promote energy and food security, such as the Grain from Ukraine scheme, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. We invite cooperation with the African Union (pursuant to Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050) and other relevant International Organizations to identify best practices for enhancing maritime supply chain resilience and for safeguarding energy and food security, including in times of geopolitical crisis.
    4. Promoting Safe and Resilient Ports and Strategic Waterways: Port ownership and operational control matter to national security, as foreign control or influence over critical port infrastructure can create vulnerabilities in trade, in defense and security, and in economic stability. Port resilience is also crucial to economic stability and global trade and yet ports face growing risks from environmental degradation, extreme weather events and geopolitical conflicts. Strengthening port security and modernizing infrastructure are essential to maintaining safe and efficient maritime trade. Ensuring that the ownership and management of strategic waterways and key maritime choke points are not vulnerable to undue influence by potential adversaries is also essential to national security. We underscore the importance of scrutiny of ownership structures and port management and resilience within our own national jurisdictions, including with regard to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems, to ensure that adversaries do not gain leverage over supply chains, military operations, or the flow of strategic resources. We will work with partners and with relevant International Organizations to encourage robust cybersecurity standards for port ICT infrastructure, to increase resilience against malicious cyber incidents on maritime logistical networks, to reduce monopolistic power over key supply chain nodes, to promote secure and transparent port ownership, to limit unsolicited or undue foreign influence over critical infrastructures and strategic waterways, and to otherwise encourage greater focus on such potential vulnerabilities.
    5. Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) at sea poses a significant hazard to the marine environment, to the safety of fishermen and other users of the maritime space, and to various marine economic activities. We commit to enhancing diplomatic efforts and to exchanging best practices among national authorities, relevant international and regional organizations, and relevant industry sectors to accelerate the clean-up of UXO from the seas and ocean.

    Sustainable Stewardship of Maritime Resources

    1. Strengthen Enforcement Against IUU Fishing: IUU fishing is a major contributor to declining fish stocks and to marine habitat destruction. It may account for a third of all fishing activity worldwide, at a cost to the global economy of more than US$23 billion per year and with negative consequences for fisheries as an enduring economic asset, including for developing countries. We welcome the Canadian-led Dark Vessel Detection System in Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, the Philippines, and members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and would see value in replicating the model to support other partners whose fisheries are under threat from IUU fishing. We recognize that data sharing and transparency play a key role in this fight by exposing bad actors and that technological advances can support a robust Monitoring, Control and Surveillance and enforcement landscape. We encourage further progress in addressing IUU fishing, working with and through relevant International Organizations to establish and strengthen rules to sustainably manage fish stocks on the high seas and to improve the enforcement of these measures, including through the further development of detection technologies, aircraft patrols and high seas boarding and inspection of vessels, building upon the 2022 G7 Ocean Deal.
    2. We welcome the Third UN Ocean Conference, in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025.

    PARTNERSHIPS

    1. This G7 Maritime Security and Prosperity Declaration provides a framework for cooperation with non-G7 Partners, including countries hosting major ports, large merchant fleets, or extensive flag registries as well as relevant regional and International Organizations, such as the International Maritime Organization and ASEAN. We would welcome robust cooperation with Partners to take forward the goals set out in this Declaration, consistent with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, under the efforts of the G7 countries, including a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region, to build a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law, and of commitment to the sustainable development of the world’s maritime spaces.
    2. We welcome the cooperation on Coast Guard Functions, including the Global Coast Guard Forum hosted by Italy in 2025, as well as the Arctic Coast Guard Forum, which could also support the objectives of this Declaration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Public Schedule – May 28, 2025

    Source: United States Department of State (4)

    Office of the Spokesperson

    Public Schedule – May 28, 2025

    Public Schedule

    May 27, 2025

    ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

    SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO

    11:15 a.m. Secretary Rubio meets with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Department of State
    (CAMERA SPRAY AT THE TOP)

    Call time for video cameras, still cameras and writers is 10:45 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

    DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU

    12:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Landau meets with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the Department of State.
    (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

    SENIOR OFFICIAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS LISA KENNA

    11:15 a.m. Senior Official Kenna joins Secretary Rubio’s meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Department of State
    (CAMERA SPRAY AT THE TOP)

    SENIOR BUREAU OFFICIAL FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS BRENDAN P. HANRAHAN

    11:15 a.m. Senior Bureau Official Hanrahan joins Secretary Rubio’s meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Department of State.
    (CAMERA SPRAY AT THE TOP)

    BRIEFING SCHEDULE

    No Department Press Briefing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Dharmendra Pradhan calls for mass participation in ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ on World Environment Day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called upon citizens across the country to actively participate in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign, aligning it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). The renewed initiative aims to plant 10 crore trees between June 5 and September 30, to mark World Environment Day, celebrated globally on June 5.

    In a video message released ahead of the occasion, Pradhan emphasized that the campaign goes beyond just planting trees. “It is an emotional tribute to our mothers and Mother Nature,” he said, urging especially students to plant a sapling in the name of their mothers as a symbol of love, gratitude, and environmental stewardship.

    He noted that since its inception in 2024, the campaign has evolved into a people’s movement, inspired by the symbolic act of the Prime Minister, who planted a Peepal tree in memory of his mother at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi on June 5 last year. Over 5.5 crore trees have already been planted under the initiative, with active participation from citizens across India.

    Pradhan highlighted creative grassroots efforts from states such as Chhattisgarh, Tripura, and Rajasthan, where communities have adopted innovative methods like seed balls and bio fencing to support the campaign.

    The Minister also referenced the United Nations Environment Programme’s emphasis on lifestyle changes alongside technological innovation in combating climate change. He praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in launching Mission LiFE, which integrates sustainable practices into everyday living.

    In a notable achievement, more than 29 lakh students have generated over 50 lakh QR codes to digitally track the growth and maintenance of the trees they planted. This initiative, he said, helps create a national environmental database, allowing for real-time monitoring and a data-driven approach to ecological conservation.

    Congratulating students, teachers, and parents for their enthusiastic support, Pradhan urged all citizens to plant a tree in their mother’s name and share its story. “Each sapling is not just a tree but a message of love, commitment, and hope for a greener future,” he said.

    The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign merges emotional resonance with environmental responsibility, transforming tree planting into a personal and national mission. Trees, like mothers, provide life, care, and protection, he noted — making this initiative a profound gesture of tribute and action.

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mining in Motion Outlines Strategies for Formalizing Ghana’s Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector

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

    ACCRA, Ghana, June 4, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Industry leaders at the Mining in Motion 2025 summit spotlighted Ghana’s ongoing efforts to formalize its artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector.

    Participants on an India Gold Metaverse-sponsored session – titled Case Studies in ASGM Formalization: Learning from Successes and Addressing Challenges – emphasized that formalization has the potential to catalyze sustainability, build stronger communities and drive long-term economic growth.

    “We need regulatory and legislative changes that support small-scale miners and ensure that revenue from their contributions translates into real economic, social and communal growth,” stated Martin Ayisi, CEO of the Minerals Commission of Ghana.

    Ayisi called for bold regulatory and financial interventions in the sector, stressing the urgent need for investment in geological investigations and sustainable technologies to prevent encroachment on protected areas and improve sector-wide outcomes.

    From an regional perspective, Cisse Vakaba, Advisor to the President on Mining, Ivory Coast, emphasized the foundational role of geology in building a viable ASGM sector. He stressed that state support must go beyond issuing permits to include geological surveys, professional training, community engagement and digital tools for traceability.

    “I really think that the basis for small mines is the geological aspect. This is the aspect where we have to work, to see the areas where they can exploit,” Vakaba stated, adding, “The State must provide support. It’s not enough to issue a title, a permit. We need to support prospecting and geological research.”

    Meanwhile, Melissa Correa Vélez, Program Manager, Swiss Better Gold, highlighted the human-centered approach necessary to make formalization efforts successful. Velez – through Swiss Better Gold’s Boots on the Ground initiative – advocates for programs, including technical support and community-oriented training, that extend beyond legal structures to genuinely improve livelihoods and environmental stewardship.

    “If you want to work with artisanal miners, work with them. Keep the miners interested in being responsible. If the miners lose interest because of the challenges, they will become illegal,” Velez stated.

    For his part, Kwaku Afrifa Nsiah-Asare, Lawyer and Entrepreneur, Typhoon Greenfield Development, emphasized that government support will be a requisite for ASGM formalization in Ghana, speaking candidly on social and financial challenges in the sector.

    “By doing everything properly, the Minerals Commission of Ghana has been extremely supportive and made it worthwhile for us to do business. It’s about partnerships and leadership in government,” Nsiah-Asare stated.

    Bringing a tech-forward perspective, Lamon Rutten, Managing Director and CEO of India Gold Metaverse, spoke to the transformative potential of digital innovation in the ASGM value chain.

    “Blockchain technologies and AI can help improve artisanal and small-scale mining operations. Tools like geo-tracking, radio-frequency identification-equipped machinery and internet-of-things devices allow us to trace ore sources. If you really want to develop small-scale mining, work with local banks. Let them understand the sector and they will help drive sustainable growth,” Rutten said.

    During the presentation, the panelists agreed that projects including the Ghana Land Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project – a joint initiative with the World Bank – are setting a precedent. By offering financial and technical support, simplifying license through District Mining Committees, and organizing miners into Community Mining Schemes, Ghana is building an ASGM sector that is increasingly legal, sustainable and community driven.

    Organized by the Ashanti Green Initiative – led by Oheneba Kwaku Duah, Prince of Ghana’s Ashanti Kingdom – in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, World Bank, and the World Gold Council, with the support of Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the summit offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with industry leaders.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Indian Railways launches AI-driven crackdown on automated ticket bookings, records highest-ever per-minute ticketing

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major step toward ensuring fairness and accessibility in its ticketing system, Indian Railways has launched a wide-ranging digital reform initiative aimed at curbing unauthorized automated bookings. Central to this overhaul is the deployment of AI-powered bot mitigation systems, which have already led to the deactivation of over 2.5 crore suspicious user IDs on the IRCTC platform. This measure has significantly improved access for genuine users, especially during peak booking hours.

    As part of its broader digital transformation, Indian Railways has also integrated its ticketing system with a top-tier Content Delivery Network (CDN). This move is intended to enhance website performance and prevent disruptions caused by bot-driven traffic, which previously accounted for nearly half of all login attempts during the critical first five minutes of Tatkal bookings.

    The success of these upgrades was dramatically demonstrated on May 22, when IRCTC set a new record by booking 31,814 tickets in a single minute. This achievement underscores the scalability and robustness of the modernized infrastructure, now better equipped to handle massive volumes of simultaneous requests.

    To further enhance fairness, Indian Railways has introduced new user authentication protocols. Non–Aadhaar-verified users are now required to wait three days after registration before booking high-demand tickets such as Opening Advance Reservation Period (ARP), Tatkal, or Premium Tatkal. Meanwhile, Aadhaar-authenticated users can continue to book tickets without delay.

    These reforms have yielded measurable improvements in overall platform performance. The daily average of user logins has surged from 69.08 lakh in FY 2023–24 to 82.57 lakh in FY 2024–25, representing a 19.53 percent increase. Similarly, average daily ticket bookings rose by 11.85 percent during the same period. E-ticketing has now become the dominant mode of reservation, accounting for 86.38 percent of all reserved tickets.

    In addition to backend improvements, Indian Railways has restructured its website delivery, with 87 percent of static content now served via CDN, which ensures faster page loading and reduces server load. The system also employs sophisticated AI tools to detect and block bot activity in real-time. Suspicious user accounts are being actively identified and deactivated, with channels open for public complaints through the Cyber Crime Portal.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Travelling Gallery’s 2025 tour continues with SEEDLINGS: Diasporic Imaginaries

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Continuing Travelling Gallery’s 2025 programme is a group exhibition exploring ways to connect with our worlds through other-than-human perspectives. Challenging the boundaries between culture and nature, the exhibition looks to destabilise colonial systems, categories, and hierarchies, that tend to favour scientific theory and marginalise ancestral knowledges and indigenous cosmologies.

    Curated with Jelena Sofronijevic, and featuring work by artists Emii Alrai, Iman Datoo, Remi Jabłecki, Radovan Kraguly, Zeljko Kujundzic, Leo Robinson, and Amba Sayal-Bennett, the exhibition brings together a variety of contemporary artistic practices, including drawing, printmaking, sculpture and film, that reimagine our collective understandings and visions of places and times.

    Common across the works in the exhibition is the use of the seed as a means to think about and connect themes concerning ecologies, environments, and migration. For some, the seed represents a world of its own, a self-contained body or cell, capable of crossing borders. For others, it serves as a starting point for alternative possibilities and ways of being. Many of the artists have researched specific seeds, in their ‘native’ soils, and displaced in banks and libraries. The potato is offered as an incidental ‘root’ to many of their works. In the film, Kinnomic Botany (2022), Iman Datoo draws upon research in the Commonwealth Potato Collection at the James Hutton Institute near Dundee, the UK’s largest collection of potato seeds, to challenge dominant taxonomies or ways of classifying lives.

    More speculative connections can be made between Remi Jabłecki and Radovan Kraguly’s practices. The former’s futuristic sculptures remind us of the otherworldly, even alien qualities of these most earthly and everyday British crops, with the artist using them as a means to think about transformation and personal growth. Kraguly’s prints,though as detailed as scientific and botanical illustrations, are similarly cosmic, avoiding categorisation in their ambiguous representations and titles. Reflecting on relations of control between humans and nature, his works also illustrate the role of different pastoral and agricultural environments in the formation of the artist’s own identity and early adoption of ‘climate politics’, connecting his formative experiences growing up on a farm in the former Yugoslavia, to his later practice in rural Wales.

    Amba Sayal-Bennett’s architectural sculptures Kern (2024) and Phlo (2024) are part of the artist’s investigations into rubber, a commodity once so highly demanded its value surpassed that of silver. In a mission facilitated by the British government, Henry Wickham stole and trafficked 70,000 rubber seeds from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil in 1876. Transported to Kew Gardens in London, they were then dispersed to British colonies for cultivation. Its plural uses and potential for profit led to its proliferation across the globe – yet the soil in India refused to take the seeds, which the artist puts forward as a form of environmental resistance to the colonial project. Artist Emii Alrai, by contrast, focusses on excavation, exploring archaeology, Western museological structures, and the complex process of ruination.

    Scotland has proved fertile land for many of the artists’ practices, yet, for some, SEEDLINGS presents the first opportunity to experience their works in these contexts. Born in Subotica, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Zeljko Kujundzic lived and worked in Edinburgh between 1948 and 1958, before moving with his partner and frequent collaborator, Ann, and their children, to British Columbia (BC). His developed, complex work in ceramic sculpture, often featuring the thunderbird, a mythological bird-like spirit widespread in North American indigenous and First Nation cultures and storytelling, is deeply rooted in these early experiences. Yet his part in Edinburgh’s growing artistic community, and work with artists and writers like Ian Hamilton Finlay, Nannie Katharin Wells, Bernard Leach, and Joan Faithfull, has, thus far, been walked over, in more conventional art histories. A selection of archive materials concerning his invention of the solar kiln, unearthed from public and private collections across the UK and Canada, are presented here for the first time – the exhibition itself seeking to germinate future research.

    The exhibition will also include a newly commissioned essay, How does a tree fit inside a seed?, exploring the artists’ works, both individually, and as constellated in the exhibition, by the curator Jelena Sofronijevic. The text journeys through the construction and overlapping uses of terms like ‘native’ and, ‘invasive’, ‘indigenous’, ‘naturalisation’, and ‘dispersal’, to challenge binaries between beings, and consider ideas of home, identity, and belonging in the context of diasporas.
    Launching in Edinburgh on Calton Hill (outside the Collective Gallery) on Friday 6 June from 11am to 5pm, the exhibition will tour to arts venues, community centres, high streets and schools across Scotland including in the Western Isles, Glasgow, Falkirk,Clackmannanshire, North Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders before culminating at Edinburgh Art Festival in August.

    It is accompanied by a series of interventions on social media, highlighting the artists’ connections to the places of our tour, and a number of talks, tours, and workshops, including with artist Leo Robinson.

    Details of confirmed tour dates and venues can be found on the Travelling Gallery website. 

    Louise Briggs, Curator, Travelling Gallery said:

    It has been a real pleasure to work with Jelena Sofronijevic on this exhibition and to be introduced to the work of a number of artists, many of whom have interesting connections to Edinburgh and Scotland through their work & research as well as their personal & professional lives. This exhibition continues to explore our annual theme looking at The Environment and Climate Emergency. We hope SEEDLINGS will offer visitors a new way of thinking about our relationship with, and connection to nature and may encourage them to perhaps think about our worlds and our interconnectedness in different ways.

    Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham, said: 

    The Travelling Gallery is a unique and fantastic example of how art can and should be accessible for all. I’m delighted that, with our support, the Gallery has been able to remove barriers to art by taking powerful and thought-provoking exhibitions into communities across Scotland.

    This year’s exhibition not only invites us to engage with outstanding contemporary works but also encourages us to reflect on the world through different lenses. With such a talented group of artists involved, I encourage everyone to visit when the gallery sets off this week.

    Additional thanks go to: All of the exhibiting artists; Nena Kraguly; Family and Friends of Kujundzic; The City of Edinburgh Council; Creative Scotland; City Art Centre, Edinburgh; Government Art Collection; Ingleby Gallery; Carbon 12 Gallery; Palmer Gallery; and the University of British Columbia Library Rare Books and Special Collections, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
     
     
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 11 killed, 50 injured in stampede at cricket stadium in Bangalore, India /more details/

    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

    NEW DELHI, June 4 (Xinhua) — At least 11 people were killed and 50 others injured in a stampede near a cricket stadium in the southern Indian city of Bangalore on Wednesday, multiple local media reported.

    The stampede occurred outside the Mangalam Chinnaswamy Stadium where thousands of cricket fans had gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) winning their first Indian Premier League title.

    “The injured were taken to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital and Vaidehi Hospital. Seven people succumbed to their injuries in Bowring and four others succumbed to their injuries in Vaidehi,” New Delhi-based News18 reported.

    RCB won the league title for the first time in 18 years, which led to a rush of jubilant fans filling the stadium and surrounding areas to see their idols.

    Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar confirmed the deaths but did not specify the number of casualties.

    “I apologize for the stampede,” he said. “We have deployed over 5,000 personnel. We are dealing with a young, lively crowd and cannot use lathis (long batons used by Indian police) against them,” DK Shivakumar added.

    Television channels showed thousands of people, some waving the team’s red flags, lining the streets leading to the stadium as the cricket team arrived at the venue by bus. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Yoga Sangam 2025 draws unprecedented participation with over 30,000 organisations registered

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a show of unity and wellness, more than 30,000 organisations across India have registered to participate in Yoga Sangam 2025, the main event of this year’s International Day of Yoga (IDY), underscoring the nation’s deepening commitment to holistic health and community well-being.

    Organised by the Ministry of Ayush, the 2025 edition of Yoga Sangam reflects a growing movement that transcends traditional Yoga practice, positioning it as a nationwide initiative to promote mindfulness, resilience, and harmony. From educational institutions and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to NGOs, corporate bodies, and government organisations, entities from across the country have enthusiastically registered their intent to host events on June 21, the day observed globally as the International Day of Yoga.

    This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” continues to inspire a unified and inclusive movement, bridging geographies and cultures. The 11th edition of IDY will witness Yoga sessions in diverse settings—from the serene peaks of Ladakh to the vibrant beaches of Kerala, school grounds to corporate campuses, and historic temple courtyards to bustling railway stations—turning over one lakh locations into sanctuaries of wellness and unity.

    A key feature of IDY 2025 is the integration of technology for tracking participation. The Ministry of Ayush has launched a dedicated portal—yoga.ayush.gov.in/yoga-sangam—where organisations can register their events, conduct Yoga sessions on June 21, and upload participation data to receive an official Certificate of Appreciation. This digital interface ensures seamless documentation and enhances transparency and visibility of the initiative at a national level.

    Significantly, premier academic institutions such as IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities are actively contributing to the movement. These centres of excellence are not only hosting large-scale Yoga demonstrations but are also promoting its relevance in mental health, leadership development, and emotional well-being.

    As the countdown to June 21 begins, the Ministry of Ayush invites all citizens, institutions, and communities to come together in shared movement and breath, making Yoga Sangam 2025 a cornerstone of India’s global leadership in wellness.

  • MIL-OSI Global: For Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, ‘reproduction is like a death sentence’

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Masaya Llavaneras Blanco, Assistant Professor of Development Studies, Huron University College, Western University

    On May 9, Lourdia Jean-Pierre, a 32-year-old Haitian migrant woman, died after giving birth in her rural home in El Ceibo, Dominican Republic. The cause of death was a postpartum hemorrhage, according to a news report in The Haitian Times.

    Despite needing medical attention, Jean-Pierre was reportedly afraid to go to the hospital. Why? She feared being deported.

    Jean-Pierre was not wrong to be afraid. Soon after her death, paramedics arrived with police officers to check on the newborn and detain her husband, Ronald Jean. Jean left the newborn with a relative as he waited to be deported.

    Between April 21 and the end of May this year, 900 lactating or pregnant women were deported from the Dominican to Haiti. They are part of the new, extreme tough-on-immigration policies in the Dominican Republic. In May alone, 22,778 Haitians were deported to Haiti.

    A new wave of mass deportations

    Last October, the Dominican government initiated a new wave of mass deportations as President Luis Abinader ordered a quota of 10,000 Haitians deported per week. On April 6, he announced new extraordinary measures to control immigration.

    The rollout of this policy began on April 21. Migration officials were assigned to work in hospitals and required migrants to show their documents before receiving medical care or face deportation.

    The new protocol does not specify pregnant and breastfeeding women. However, it effectively targets them in hospitals. Evidence of this is the fact that the policy was immediately implemented in the 33 hospitals “that report the largest number of pregnant migrant women — mainly those of Haitian origin.”

    The targeting of pregnant women is not new

    The targeting of pregnant migrants in the DR isn’t new. In September 2021, the Ministry of the Interior and Police announced a protocol to limit pregnant migrant women’s access to health care in the DR.

    Dozens of deportation raids were carried out in maternity wards in the capital and other large urban centres. According to immigration officials, attendance at pre-natal appointments fell by 80 per cent by the end of 2021.

    Deportation raids in maternity wards slowed down between 2022 and 2024, but women were still afraid to go for their check-up appointments. Pre-natal care is essential in preventing maternal deaths.

    According to a media report, the Dominican’s National Health System estimates that Haitian women accounted for 56 per cent of maternal deaths in the first half of 2022.

    No documents, no health care

    There are almost no ways for Haitians in the Dominican Republic to apply for or renew visas. And Dominican consulates in Haiti have been closed since September 2022.

    There is a long history of a lack of documentation among Dominicans of Haitian ancestry, exacerbated by the denationalization of up to 200,000 Dominicans of Haitian ancestry in 2013. That means Dominican-Haitians are also at risk of being deported when accessing health care.

    This happened to Mirryam Ferdinad who, according to community reports, went to a hospital for a programmed Caesarean section and was instead detained in Haina, the country’s largest migrant detention centre. Ferdinad was released one week on Saturday May 31st. Is it possible to add that update with this link? https://www.instagram.com/p/DKWAD44N_N7/?igsh=cXY5a21xY2pud2tp

    Deportations are expected to occur after people recover from their ailments. But human rights organizations report that deportations regularly take place in unsanitary and unsafe conditions, in trucks filled beyond capacity.

    Structural racism

    Elena Lorac, co-founder of Reconocido, an advocacy group of denationalized Dominicans of Haitian descent, said the situation is exacerbated by structural racism.

    Anti-Black racism and anti-Haitianism runs through the politics of the Dominican Republic, whereby Blackness is associated with undesirable cultural and physical traits, and linked to neighbouring Haiti.

    In contrast, DR’s nationalist groups, such as the Antigua Orden Dominicana, emphasize their colonial Spanish roots.

    Reproductive health rights under attack

    Haitian pregnant women are between a rock and a hard place. Hemorrhages and unsafe abortions are among the main causes of maternal mortality. Most of these cases are preventable if pregnant people have access to health services.

    Haiti has the highest maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere.

    Maternal mortality in the DR is lower. But its mistreatment of pregnant migrants, and its criminalization of abortion in all circumstances, pose significant risks for women.

    Haiti: A country in humanitarian crisis

    Deported migrants usually have no family or social networks in the locations they are deported at. And they have limited to no access to health services and social services.

    Dominican-Haitians also get deported because they have no legal documents despite having lived there their whole lives. They often have never been to Haiti, and barely speak Haitian Creole.

    In Haiti, about 40 per cent of primary health care was funded by the now almost completely defunded United States Agency for International development (USAID).

    Though there are some groups supporting deportees, global cuts to humanitarian agencies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration are affecting personnel on the ground. The humanitarian conditions in Haiti are increasingly challenging.

    Financial cuts worsen the extremely precarious living conditions. Nine per cent of the population is internally displaced. More than half the population is expected to experience acute food insecurity by June.

    Protesting violence

    On May 28, 13 organizations led a demonstration in front of the Dominican Republic Health Ministry. Peasant women, domestic workers, artists and feminists demanded an end to deportation raids in maternity wards and the removal of immigration officials from hospitals.

    Sirana Dolis, co-founder of Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women MUDHA, said of the situation:

    “Haitian women and women of Haitian descent are a people who love life, but under these circumstances, reproduction is like a death sentence.”

    Masaya Llavaneras Blanco receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

    – ref. For Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, ‘reproduction is like a death sentence’ – https://theconversation.com/for-haitian-migrants-in-the-dominican-republic-reproduction-is-like-a-death-sentence-257427

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces State Advisory Council to Bring Order to Cannabis Market

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces State Advisory Council to Bring Order to Cannabis Market

    Governor Stein Announces State Advisory Council to Bring Order to Cannabis Market
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    (RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein released the following statement on the need to protect young people by bringing order to the unregulated cannabis market:  

    “Today all across North Carolina, there are unregulated intoxicating THC products available for purchase: just walk into any vape shop. There is no legal minimum age to purchase these products! That means that kids are buying them. Without any enforceable labeling requirements, adults are using them recreationally without knowing what is in them or how much THC there is. Our state’s unregulated cannabis market is the wild west and is crying for order. Let’s get this right and create a safe, legal market for adults that protects kids.  

    “That is why I am announcing a State Advisory Council on Cannabis. I am charging this group with studying and recommending a comprehensive approach to regulate cannabis sales. They will study best practices and learn from other states to develop a system that protects youth, allows adult sales, ensures public safety, promotes public health, supports North Carolina agriculture, expunges past convictions of simple THC possession, and invests the revenues in resources for addiction, mental health, and drugged driving detection.  

    “I want to thank members of the General Assembly for their interest in addressing this gaping loophole in state law. Let’s work together on a thoughtful, comprehensive solution that allows sales to adults and that is grounded in public safety and health. We can work together and get this right.”

    Governor Stein signed the Executive Order creating the Council on Tuesday morning. The Council will include representatives from the Office of State Budget and Management, the State Highway Patrol, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the General Assembly, and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Revenue, Transportation, and Justice.  

    Hemp and marijuana are both types of cannabis. The difference used to be how much THC was in the plant. Today, due to the cannabis industry’s unchecked and creative product development and packaging, the terms “hemp” and “marijuana” have lost their traditional meanings and are essentially the same thing. They both contain intoxicating levels of THC. As a result, anyone, no matter their age, can legally buy cannabis products in vape shops with high concentrations of intoxicating THC here in North Carolina. The status quo of zero protection of our kids is absolutely unacceptable. That’s why the work of this Advisory Council to recommend a regulatory structure for cannabis sales is important and urgent.  

    In the meantime, at a minimum, the General Assembly should prohibit the sales of products that contain intoxicating THC to anyone under 21 by requiring photo ID age-verification and require packaging that lets adults know what is actually in cannabis products, including the amount of THC.  

    Members of the Council are:  

    Co-chairs

    • Lawrence H. Greenblatt, MD, State Health Director & Chief Medical Officer, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
    • Matt Scott, District Attorney, Prosecutorial District 20 (Robeson County)

    Members

    • David W. Alexander, Owner and President, Home Run Markets, LLC
    • Arthur E. Apolinario, MD, MPH, FAAFP, 2002-2023 Past President, North Carolina Medical Society; Family Physician, Clinton Medical Clinic
    • Joshua C. Batten, Assistant Director for Special Services, Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, North Carolina Department of Public Safety
    • Representative John R. Bell, North Carolina House of Representatives, District 10
    • Carrie L. Brown, MD, MPH, DFAPA, Chief Psychiatrist, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
    • Mark M. Ezzell, Director, North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, North Carolina Department of Transportation
    • Anca E. Grozav, Chief Deputy Director, North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
    • Representative Zack A. Hawkins, North Carolina House of Representatives, District 31
    • Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., Commander, North Carolina State Highway Patrol
    • Michael Lamb, Police Chief, City of Asheville Police Department
    • Peter H. Ledford, Deputy Secretary for Policy, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
    • Kimberly McDonald, MD, MPH, Chronic Disease and Injury Section Chief, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
    • Patrick Oglesby, Attorney and Founder, Center for New Revenue
    • Forrest G. Parker, CEO / General Manager, Qualla Enterprises LLC / Great Smoky Cannabis Company
    • Senator Bill P. Rabon, North Carolina Senate, District 8
    • Lillie L. Rhodes, Legislative Counsel, Administrative Office of the Courts
    • Gary H. Sikes, Owner, Bountiful Harvest Farm and Partner, Legacy Fiber Technologies
    • Senator Kandie D. Smith, North Carolina Senate, District 5
    • Keith Stone, Sheriff, Nash County  
    • Joy Strickland, Senior Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Bureau of the North Carolina Department of Justice
    • Deonte’ L. Thomas, Chief, Wake County Public Defender Office
    • Missy P. Welch, Director of Programming (Permits/Audit/Product Sections), Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission 
    Jun 4, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Raskin, Keating, Foushee, Balint Introduce Resolution Urging the Immediate Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Becca Balint (VT-AL) are today introducing a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza and to bring about the release of the hostages.

    “Innocent civilian lives — children and babies — can be saved by ensuring that much-needed aid gets to Gazans,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “This humanitarian crisis is man-made and can be solved by allowing aid trucks to enter Gaza. Every diplomatic tool in our toolbox must be used to ensure that this happens.”

    “Each passing day brings new suffering to people in Gaza, who are experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Congressman Raskin. “Our Resolution recognizes that America must act now to save countless lives in the region. Just as the time is long overdue to bring all the remaining Israeli hostages home from their captivity at the hands of Hamas, it is time to assure the delivery of desperately needed food and humanitarian aid into Gaza to end the prolonged humanitarian crisis of Palestinians living there.”

    “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire and devastating. The entire U.S. government must urgently use all diplomatic tools available to bring about the release of the hostages in Gaza, facilitate the delivery of food and humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and work towards an end to the conflict in Gaza which moves us closer to a two-state solution,” said Congressman Keating. “This important bicameral resolution sends a strong message that we believe the U.S. must immediately do more to end the suffering in Gaza.”

    “The entire Gaza Strip is facing acute levels of hunger after a nearly two-and-a-half-month blockage on humanitarian aid. Although this blockade was recently lifted, aid groups do not have the resources or food available to properly provide immediate support to the millions of people facing starvation,” said Congresswoman Foushee. “I’m proud to join my fellow colleagues in introducing this resolution that will help address the dire situation in Gaza, and I implore my colleagues to support this critical step towards ensuring an enduring ceasefire that will alleviate suffering, save lives, and return the hostages safely to their families.”

    “It is indisputable that death is imminent for hundreds of thousands in Gaza and the level of starvation for children is catastrophic. We cannot waste another minute, aid must get to Gaza now,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “We must use every tool at our disposal to pressure to alleviate this crisis. The United States may not remain complicit in the face of the unimaginable suffering and dire need for aid and supplies.”

    The entire population of Gaza, an estimated 2,200,000 people, is facing acute levels of hunger. Over two months ago, Israel began a blockade on aid into the Gaza Strip. While some food is now being allowed into Gaza, it is not being allowed to do so fast enough to save lives. Since the start of the conflict, at least 54,000 Palestinians have been killed and 120,000 have been injured.

    The resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Donald Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), André Carson (IN-08), Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Herbert Conaway Jr. (NJ-03), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Jim Himes (CT-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rick Larsen (WA-02), John B. Larson (CT-01), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Doris Matsui  (CA-07), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), James P. McGovern (MA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Bennie G. Thompson  (MS-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek T. Tran (CA-45), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

    This resolution is endorsed by 18 Million Rising, 99 Coalition , A New Policy , Action Corps, ActionAid USA, American Friends of Combatants for Peace, American Friends Service Committee, Amnesty International USA, Arab American Institute (AAI), Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Center for Victims of Torture, Charity & Security Network, Church World Service, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), DAWN, Demand Progress, Doctors Against Genocide , Emgage Action, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Hindus for Human Rights, Historians for Peace and Democracy, Human Rights Watch, IfNotNow Movement, International Refugee Assistance Project, J Street, KinderUSA, MADRE, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC), Migrant Roots Media, MoveOn, MPower Change Action Fund, Muslim Advocates, Muslims for Just Futures, Muslims United PAC, National Council of Churches, New Israel Fund, New Jewish Narrative, No Dem Left Behind, Nonviolent Peaceforce, Oxfam America, Partners for Progressive Israel, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Reconstructing Judaism, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, ReThinking Foreign Policy, RootsAction, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, Sisters of Mercy of the America – Justice Team, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, The Borgen Project, United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), UNRWA USA National Committee, Win Without War, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, US Section (WILPF US), CAIR Washington, Christian-Jewish Allies for a Just Peace for Israel/Palestine, Church Women United in New York State, Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights , FOSNA Pittsburgh, Harrisburg Palestine Coalition, Historians for Peace and Democracy, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, MARUF CT, Minnesota Peace Project, Nepa for Palestine, Northern California Friends of Sabeel (NorCal Sabeel)Sabeel), Oasis Legal Services, Peace Action WI, Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW!, Progressive Democrats of America – Central New Mexico, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom DC-Metro Action Group, UPTE Members for Palestine, Valley View Church.

    Senator Peter Welch (VT) is leading the resolution in the Senate with the support of nearly all Democrats.

    The full text of the resolution can be read here.

    Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Van Hollen Introduce Life-Saving Hepatitis C Legislation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced life-saving legislation to cure low-income and hard-to-reach Americans with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Cassidy and Van Hollen’s Cure Hepatitis C Act will establish a voluntary drug subscription model to connect HCV patients to treatment and stop the spread of the disease. Today’s treatment for HCV cures more than 95% of cases with almost no side effects.
    “We can virtually eliminate hepatitis C in a fiscally responsible way,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Curing hepatitis C makes Americans healthy again while also saving the federal government billions by eliminating the need for chronic care. It’s a win for patients, and it’s a win for the taxpayers.” 
    “Hepatitis C claims thousands of American lives every year – but we have a proven model that can make this preventable public health crisis a thing of the past. Our bipartisan legislation offers a solution towards ensuring communities most at risk have access to the highly effective treatments that are available – saving lives while also saving billions in taxpayer dollars that are currently spent on costly chronic care,” said Senator Van Hollen.
    The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 is based on a successful pilot program in Louisiana, as well as in other countries. The five-year subscription model allows the federal government to procure HCV drugs through a competitive bidding process between the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and manufacturers and distribute them to HCV patients. Participation is optional, and there are no terms requiring manufacturers to engage in the subscription model. The subscription model is not one-size-fits-all and can be tailored to different populations in need of treatment. State Medicaid programs can opt-in to participate, ensuring that individuals can receive treatment. In addition, individuals receiving care in the Indian Health Program and in federal correctional facilities will have access to HCV treatments through the subscription model. State correctional facilities may opt-in if they choose to do so.
    When hepatitis C goes untreated, it can lead to a lifetime of chronic health issues and ultimately be fatal. Chronic health issues are a driving cost for Medicaid and Medicare and increase the amount federal taxpayers spend. Senator Cassidy and Senator Van Hollen’s proposal to reduce the number of hepatitis C cases has been estimated to save $6.6 billion in taxpayer dollars.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • UAE partners with WHO to launch two-year initiative targeting child malnutrition crisis on Yemen’s Socotra Island

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United Arab Emirates and the World Health Organization have launched a comprehensive humanitarian initiative to combat severe malnutrition affecting women and children on Yemen’s Socotra Island, where international health metrics indicate crisis-level conditions among the most vulnerable populations.

    The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Works announced the two-year program as part of the strategic partnership between the UAE and WHO, targeting an island where acute malnutrition rates have reached alarming thresholds that demand immediate international intervention.

    Global health reports indicate that Socotra Island’s Global Acute Malnutrition rate among children under five has reached 10.9 percent, with Severe Acute Malnutrition affecting 1.6 percent of this population. International health standards classify GAM rates between 10 and 14 percent as serious, while SAM rates above 1 percent are considered alarming, placing Socotra’s children in a critical health emergency.

    Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, Director-General of the Foundation, emphasized that the initiative reflects the UAE’s global humanitarian responsibility rooted in the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and continued under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s leadership. Al Khouri stated the program aims to effectively address food and health challenges through collaboration with WHO, focusing specifically on reducing maternal and child mortality caused by malnutrition.

    The comprehensive action plan encompasses multiple strategic components designed to create lasting health improvements on the isolated island. The initiative will enhance maternal, infant, and child care services while improving emergency preparedness and response capabilities for potential epidemics. Healthcare infrastructure strengthening represents a core element, involving medical staff training, medication supplies, and establishment of emergency preparedness mechanisms.

    Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr. Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo described the partnership as reflecting a shared vision of building resilient health systems across Yemen. She emphasized that the collaboration with UAE and national authorities addresses urgent immediate needs while establishing foundations for long-term health security on Socotra Island.

    The program extends beyond immediate relief measures to implement sustainable solutions for malnutrition prevention and food security assurance. Community awareness campaigns will complement medical interventions, while improved disease surveillance systems will enable more effective responses based on ongoing assessments and studies.

    This initiative forms part of broader joint aid activities between the UAE and WHO throughout Yemen, designed to provide urgent food relief and prevent nutritional and health deterioration across various population groups. The partnership aims to construct stronger, more responsive and equitable health systems serving Socotra’s population while contributing to Yemen’s overall health resilience during its ongoing humanitarian crisis.

  • Centre to conduct population census-2027 in two phases, including caste enumeration

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the Population Census-2027 will be conducted in two phases, with the inclusion of caste enumeration, marking a significant step in India’s decennial census process. The reference date for the census is set for 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, except for the Union Territory of Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where it will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.

    According to the ministry, a notification outlining the intent to conduct the census with these reference dates will be published in the official gazette on June 16, 2025, as per Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948. The census will be carried out under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990.

    The last census, conducted in 2011, was also held in two phases: Phase I (House Listing) from April 1 to September 30, 2010, and Phase II (Population Enumeration) from February 9 to February 28, 2011, with a reference date of March 1, 2011. For snow-bound areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, the census was conducted from September 11 to September 30, 2010, with a reference date of October 1, 2010.

    The Census of India 2021 was initially planned in a similar two-phase format, with Phase I scheduled for April to September 2020 and Phase II in February 2021. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted preparations, leading to the postponement of the census despite completed groundwork in some states and Union Territories.

  • Discovery of wartime bombs prompts large-scale evacuation in Cologne, Germany

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Thousands of people were evacuated from central Cologne in western Germany on Wednesday following the discovery of three wartime bombs, in what the city authority called the largest such operation since the end of World War Two.

    An evacuation zone with a radius of 1,000 metres (1,100 yards) was cleared from 8 a.m. (0600 GMT), impacting around 20,500 residents along with many workers and hotel guests in the city’s old town and Deutz district.

    Three American bombs, each with impact fuses, were found during construction work on Monday in Deutz, a bustling area on the bank of the River Rhine.

    Bomb disposal experts plan to disarm the ordnance later on Wednesday.

    Unexploded bombs are often found in Germany, where many major cities sustained heavy damage during the war.

    The evacuation area includes one hospital, two retirement homes, nine schools, and many hotels and museums.

    “Everyone involved hopes that the defusing can be completed in the course of Wednesday. This is only possible if all those affected leave their homes or workplaces early and stay outside the evacuation area from the outset on that day,” the city authority said in a statement.

    The measures caused major transport disruptions in the city of over a million people, with Germany’s national rail operator warning that many trains would be diverted or cancelled.

    A stretch of the Rhine will be blocked off before the bomb disposal operation begins.

    The Rhine, which runs from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea via Cologne, is one of Europe’s key waterways for the transportation of commodities such as grain and coal.

    Private television station RTL, whose main office is located in the evacuation zone, interrupted its morning news programme.

    “We have to leave,” the news anchor said, grabbing his bag as the lights were turned off

    (Reuters)

  • Jitendra Singh calls for time-bound pension grievance redressal at 13th Pension Adalat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Wednesday emphasized the urgent need for a time-bound redressal mechanism for pension-related grievances, aligning the initiative with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s citizen-centric governance approach. Speaking at the 13th All India Pension Adalat in New Delhi, the Minister declared that “no retiree should have to chase their rights,” stressing that administrative efficiency and empathy must guide pension governance.

    The event brought together pensioners, senior government officials, and departmental representatives from across India to address long-pending grievances. Dr. Singh highlighted the success of the Pension Adalat model, calling it one of the most effective and citizen-friendly reforms in recent years. He urged departments to move from reactive grievance handling to a proactive, technology-enabled, and compassionate approach, emphasizing a “whole-of-government” strategy to resolve issues efficiently.

    Since the inception of the Pension Adalats in September 2017, 12 sessions have been held nationwide, addressing over 25,000 cases, with 18,157 grievances successfully resolved—a resolution rate of more than 71%. Citing this figure as a testament to the initiative’s success, Dr. Singh also shared moving stories of pensioners like Jasoda Devi, who received her dues after 36 years, and Anita Kanik Rani, who was granted ₹20 lakh in family pension arrears on the same day her case was heard.

    At the Adalat, the Minister released a booklet titled “Brave Soldiers and Veer Naariyan”, showcasing success stories from the 12th Pension Adalat. The collection highlights resolved cases, particularly involving defence pensioners and widows of armed forces personnel. Dr. Singh noted that these narratives represent the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring dignity and justice for retired personnel, especially women and family pensioners.

    This year’s Adalat centered around family pension issues, with a significant number of cases presented by women, either as claimants or recipients. Dr. Singh commended the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) for focusing on this critical and often overlooked area.

    The Minister also stressed the importance of expanding digital access for pensioners unable to attend in person. Initiatives like CPENGRAMS (Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), integrated portals, and real-time grievance dashboards were highlighted as key tools in making grievance redressal faster and more transparent.

    Calling for stronger inter-departmental coordination, Dr. Singh urged officials to treat pensioners not just as beneficiaries, but as valued members of the administrative family. “Pension Adalats are not just forums for grievance resolution—they are indicators of administrative accountability and public trust,” he said.

    As the Adalats become a regular feature of the governance calendar, they have emerged as a vital bridge between the government and retired central employees, defence personnel, and family pensioners. Dr. Singh concluded by calling for more citizen-centric innovations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring senior citizens are treated with respect, care, and administrative urgency.

  • Pressure mounts on Netanyahu as opposition moves to dissolve parliament

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A member of Israel’s right-wing coalition threatened to quit the cabinet on Wednesday and support an opposition motion to dissolve parliament tabled for next week, piling pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Latest opinion polls suggest that Netanyahu’s coalition would lose power if an election was held today, with many voters unhappy over the continued war in Gaza prompted by the attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel in October 2023.

    United Torah Judaism, one of two ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, said it would withdraw from the government unless it secured last-minute concessions formalising an exemption for ultra-Orthodox men from military service.

    The opposition party Yesh Atid, led by former prime minister Yair Lapid, put forward a parliamentary vote for next week to topple the government, even as the Israeli army continues battling Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It would require the support of 61 out of the 120 members of the parliament to succeed.

    “This Knesset (parliament) is finished. It has nowhere to go,” Lapid said.

    Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has remained silent on the looming crisis.

    A spokesperson for United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf told Reuters the party would vote in favour of dissolving parliament unless exemption legislation was passed.

    With a week until the vote, Netanyahu and his allies still have time to negotiate over an issue that has dogged the coalition for months.

    A source close to the government said, on condition of anonymity, that negotiations within the coalition were continuing.

    Netanyahu’s coalition of secular right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties holds an 8-seat majority in parliament. United Torah Judaism has 7 seats while its ally, Shas, the other ultra-Orthodox party, has 11.

    BETTING ON A BLUFF

    The coalition is sharply divided over whether young ultra-Orthodox men who are studying in religious seminaries should be exempt from mandatory military service.

    Failing to pass an exemption risks a walkout by ultra-Orthodox lawmakers, while approving it could trigger a protest exit by secular parties.

    Coalition member Ohad Tal of Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party criticized Goldknopf for threatening to trigger elections and called on the ultra-Orthodox lawmaker to resign.

    He urged others to negotiate a new arrangement but that a blanket exemption from military service could no longer stand.

    Former Knesset member Ofer Shelah said Netanyahu was likely betting the ultra-Orthodox lawmakers were bluffing, given the polls suggested they faced defeat in any early election.

    In March, ultra-Orthodox lawmakers threatened to bring down the government over the same issue, but time passed without any action. Resentment over the informal exemption given to religious seminary students is growing and lawmakers from the ruling coalition and opposition ranks say it is no longer tenable.

    Netanyahu won election in 2022 and does not have to return to the polls until 2026. Historically, few Israeli governments serve a full term.

    He has faced widespread criticism for failing to prevent the surprise October 2023 Hamas attack that killed roughly 1,200 people, and is facing growing calls from protesters and families of hostages still held in Gaza to end the war to secure their release.

    But some in his coalition say the war must continue until Hamas is eradicated.

    Political analysts say that the ultra-Orthodox lawmakers could simply quit the government to protest their failure to secure concessions, without toppling the ruling coalition.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Endangered North Carolina Frog Gets a Head Start 

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Endangered North Carolina Frog Gets a Head Start 

    Endangered North Carolina Frog Gets a Head Start 
    jejohnson6

    KURE BEACH

    Carolina gopher frog populations declining in the wild are getting a leg up through the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) head starting initiative. Led by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), head starting is one focus of their Gopher Frog Conservation Plan with NCAFF and other partners. NCAFF is one of three Aquariums and a pier operated by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR).
     

    The Aquarium implemented the initiative in 2011 to augment  wild populations of these state endangered amphibians. The NCWRC team collects small portions of each egg mass and delivers them to the Aquarium team for care until frogs emerge. This year’s crop, now in tadpole stage, is from Southport near the Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point. Staff divided 444 tadpoles among 12 mesocosms, controlled small-scale ecosystems designed to mimic natural environments. The next step is to release the frogs to this same location.

    HEADSTARTING

    NCAFF aquarists suggested the plan after monitoring egg masses in Holly Shelter Game Land alongside NCWRC staff for several years. The number of frogs appeared low—as few as six to eight egg masses deposited in some years. Because of drought conditions, the pond had just enough water to stimulate the frogs to breed, but would not hold water long enough for the tadpoles to fully develop. Head starting gives them the right environment to go from tadpole to frog in their journey back into the wild.

    “We have continued to receive great support for our head starting work through the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission for the Carolina Gopher Frog and we look forward to a successful release in the coming weeks,” said Ryan McAlarney, husbandry curator, NCAFF. “The conservation of this species is important to the mission of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.” 

    HISTORY AND HABITAT

    The gopher frog, Rana capito, requires both appropriate breeding ponds and upland terrestrial habitat. Breeding ponds must be large enough to retain water throughout the tadpole stage, but shallow enough to dry periodically, because the gopher frog does not tolerate fish. Additionally, these ponds must be relatively open canopy with plenty of grasses where gopher frogs deposit their egg masses and developing tadpoles feed.

    POPULATION DECLINE

    The gopher frog was once found in many ponds across the southeastern Coastal Plain, ranging from North Carolina through South Carolina and Georgia, across Florida and into Alabama. However, many of these wetlands, or the uplands they are associated with, are gone. Historically found in at least 23 populations in North Carolina among 53 ephemeral ponds, the species is now only found in seven populations, with only 14 of those historical ponds still being used by gopher frogs. Most of these ponds have been destroyed or altered significantly; for example, deepened and stocked with fish.
    CALL TO ACTION

    • Service vehicles regularly to avoid leaking toxic fluid into waterways or wetlands.
    • Put bug spray on before you go into a wildlife habitat so that you don’t introduce it into the animal’s home.
    • Don’t touch frogs or toads. Their skin is very thin, and they can absorb anything from your skin, and it may be toxic to them.
    • Choose environmentally friendly pesticides and herbicides.
    • Drive extra carefully during and after spring rains, when amphibians are most likely to be crossing roads as they travel to breeding ponds.

    ###

    About the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher  
    The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington on U.S. 421 and less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. The Aquarium is one of three Aquariums and a pier that make up the North Carolina Aquariums, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The mission of the Aquarium is to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments. The Aquarium features a 235-000-gallon sand tiger shark habitat, an albino alligator, a bald eagle, a loggerhead sea turtle habitat and two families of mischievous Asian small-clawed otters.

    Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $12.95 ages 13-61; $10.95 children ages 3-12; $11.95 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; NC EBT card holders*: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members. *EBT rate is applicable to a maximum of four tickets.

    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.
    May 30, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Juneteenth Observances Set Across the State

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Juneteenth Observances Set Across the State

    Juneteenth Observances Set Across the State
    jejohnson6

    To commemorate Juneteenth, numerous N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites across the state will feature events and tours throughout June.

    Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It signifies the official end of slavery in the United States.

    The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission is excited to share the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration Toolkit. The toolkit is an interactive slide deck that invites readers to learn about North Carolina’s unique liberation stories of African Americans.

    The NCAAHC has partnered with two N.C. State Historic Sites — the N.C. State Capitol and Bennett Place — to share their sites’ Liberation Stories. To access and learn more about the toolkit, visit https://aahc.nc.gov/2025-juneteenth-toolkit.

    The commission will host two events at the N.C. Freedom Park site in June.

    The NCAAHC and the North Carolina State Capitol will host walking tours of the Capitol grounds and Freedom Park Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

    On Saturday, June 21, the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission invites visitors to N.C. Freedom Park in downtown Raleigh to celebrate the inspiration and reflections of North Carolina’s African American history. Led by the dynamic vocalist and historian Mary D. Williams, the event will feature tables inviting attendees to explore Freedom Park and the valuable resources offered by the African American Heritage Commission, the State Library of North Carolina, and the State Archives of North Carolina.

    For information about the commission’s June events, visit https://aahc.nc.gov/events.

    For more information about Juneteenth, including how the holiday is being marked at sites across the state, visit the 2025 Juneteenth Event Calendar | NCAAHC.

    DNCR Juneteenth Observances

    North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
    1 E. Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
    Voices of Freedom Walking Tour
    June 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
    On Saturday, June 14, in commemoration and honor of Juneteenth, the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission and the North Carolina State Capitol invite visitors to downtown Raleigh for walking tours of the Capitol grounds and Freedom Park. Tours will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This new guided walking tour will connect the history of the Capitol to individuals highlighted in Freedom Park. Tour topics include the enslaved men whose skill and labor constructed the Capitol, the stories of the Civil Rights movement in downtown Raleigh, and the African Americans who fought for freedom across our state’s history. Participants have a chance to win a NCAAHC tote bag at the end of each tour. Register by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-freedom-walking-tour-tickets-1355351806739. Contact: ncaahc@ncdcr.gov

    Songs of Liberation at NC Freedom Park
    218 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601
    June 21, 2-4 p.m.
    NC Freedom Park celebrates the inspiration and reflections of North Carolina’s African American history. Led by the dynamic vocalist and historian Mary D. Williams, this incredible performance honors the ideals of NC Freedom Park. The event will also feature tables inviting attendees to explore NC Freedom Park and the valuable resources offered by the African American Heritage Commission, the State Library of North Carolina, and the State Archives of North Carolina. Contact: ncaahc@ncdcr.gov

    North Carolina Museum of Art
    2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
    Open Stu: Proofs of Black Life
    Friday, June 20, 6-11 p.m.
    This Juneteenth weekend, join artists Derrick Beasley and Marcella Zigbuo Camara for Proofs of Black Life, a special edition of their ongoing community series, Open Stu.

    Open Stu: Proofs of Black Life is an invitation to the North Carolina creative community to create archival memory that centers Blackness. With the NCMA’s current exhibition, The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure as a backdrop, attendees are invited to contribute to the expansive canon of Black cultural memory through portraiture and archiving. Childcare is available. Cash bar and refreshments. Contact: (919) 715-5923 or help@ncartmuseum.org

    Historic Stagville
    5828 Old Oxford Rd, Durham, NC 27712
    Emancipation Tours at Stagville
    Thursday, June 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Each June, Historic Stagville offers special tours focused on Emancipation as part of the site’s commemoration of Juneteenth. This guided tour will highlight how enslaved people claimed their freedom at Stagville in 1865. Please call ahead for groups of 10 or more. Space may be limited in Juneteenth tours depending on guide availability. The event is free. Contact: (919) 620-0120, or stagville@dncr.nc.gov

    Juneteenth at Stagville
    5828 Old Oxford Rd, Durham, NC 27712
    Thursday, June 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
    Visit Stagville for the site’s Juneteenth program to remember and celebrate freedom at one of the state’s largest plantations. Explore local history about slavery and emancipation in Piedmont, North Carolina. Visit the original slave quarters at Horton Grove to reflect and remember those who survived slavery. Discover real stories of African American families who witnessed emancipation. Stories of love, loss, family, and resistance illuminate the complex history of freedom in 1865. This year will be the 19th annual Juneteenth program at Historic Stagville. Free. Contact: (919) 620-0120, or stagville@dncr.nc.gov

    Museum of the Albemarle
    501 S. Water St., Elizabeth City, NC, 27909
    Take It, Make It: Celebrate Freedom on Juneteenth
    Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    Stop by and pick up a free Take It, Make It Packet to celebrate Juneteenth! You’ll find at-home activities, learning resources, and information about regional sites that explore the history of slavery and emancipation in northeastern North Carolina. Packets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Contact: Noah Janis, (252) 331-4032, or noah.janis@dncr.nc.gov

    Lake Norman State Park
    759 State Park Rd. Troutman, NC, 28166
    StoryWalk©: Juneteenth for Mazie and Make your own Juneteenth Flag
    June 1-30, All Day
    The story walk is all month-long during park hours.Take a break from the heat and walk around inside the visitor center at Lake Norman State Park to read Floyd Cooper’s “Juneteenth for Mazie.” Visitors can also enjoy a make-your-own Juneteenth Flag craft station. Juneteenth-themed books will feature on a table display, to help celebrate our newest federal holiday. “Juneteenth for Mazie” was written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper and was published by Picture Window Books in 2015. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont. Contact: (704) 528-6350, or lake.norman@ncparks.gov

    Jones Lake State Park
    4117 N.C. 242 N., Elizabethtown, NC 28337
    StoryWalk©: Juneteenth for Mazie and Make your own Juneteenth Bracelet
    Thursday, June 19, 10-11 a.m.
    Join park staff in celebrating Juneteenth with a StoryWalk reading of Floyd Cooper’s “Juneteenth for Mazie” and bracelet making. The StoryWalk will be up throughout the week for all to enjoy. There will be Juneteenth bracelet making starting at 10 a.m. Participants should meet at the Jones Lake State Park Visitor Center at 10 a.m.Juneteenth-themed books will be featured on a table display. “Juneteenth for Mazie” was written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper and was published by Picture Window Books in 2015.The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont. Contact: Monique Mckoy, monique.mckoy@ncparks.gov

    Vance Birthplace
    911 Reems Creek Rd, Weaverville, NC 28787
    Summer Storytime
    Saturday, June 21,10 a.m.-2 p.m.
    Families with young children can enjoy stories themed around Juneteenth and the Fourth of July in the Vance house at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. Try out fun crafts in the visitor center as well! This event is free and does not require registration in advance, but donations are accepted. Our storytimes will be held seasonally/quarterly. Children who attend multiple storytimes are eligible for fun, bookish prizes at our Christmas Storytime in December. Contact: vance@dncr.nc.gov, or (828) 645-6706.

    About the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
    Created in 2008, the African American Heritage Commission is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The commission works across the department to preserve, protect, and promote the state’s African American history, art, and culture for all people. Its endeavors include identifying heritage sites, compiling resources for educators, extending the work of national programs such as the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Underground Railroad, and independent initiatives, including Oasis Spaces: Green Book Project African to Carolina, and much more. For additional information, please visit aahc.nc.gov

    About the North Carolina State Capitol
    The State Capitol’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history and function of the 1840 building and Union Square. It is within the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and is located at One Edenton Street, Raleigh. For additional information, please call or visit historicsites.nc.gov/.

    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.
    May 30, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Blue Whales’ exhibition opens at Museum of Natural Sciences June 21

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: ‘Blue Whales’ exhibition opens at Museum of Natural Sciences June 21

    ‘Blue Whales’ exhibition opens at Museum of Natural Sciences June 21
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    Blue whales are BIG! How big are they? They can grow up to 110 feet long, weigh up to 400,000 pounds, and have a heart the size of a small car. Even their appetites are big: they can eat 16 tons of tiny, shrimp-like krill in a day. And their voices? Blue whale songs can travel 1,000 miles underwater and measure 190+ decibels. Dive into the details behind their mind-blowing biology and discover how these mammals became and remain our planet’s largest animals ever in “Blue Whales,” a new special exhibition opening at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on June 21. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    Visitors to “Blue Whales” will see the enormous skeleton of a recovered blue whale and the only blue whale heart model in the world, then discover how these giant creatures evolved from land to sea, how they became so giant and how they breathe. Or step into the exhibition’s Whale Sound Chamber and experience surround-sound whale calls, compare different whale songs, and learn how and what exactly whales are communicating.

    Visitors will also learn about blue whales’ remarkable feeding behavior. Their enormous mouths contain rows of baleen — made of keratin like human nails or hair — that hang in “plates” from their upper jaw and act like a sieve. During feeding, blue whales open their mouths wide and engulf large volumes of water and krill, then push the water out of their mouth with their tongue while their baleen keeps the krill trapped inside. The exhibition even offers “License to Krill,” an exciting game of survival where visitors try to dodge dangerous obstacles and “dive deep” to capture and eat krill.

    Despite their massive size, blue whales are very vulnerable, and their population is only a small fraction of what it was before commercial whaling significantly reduced their numbers during the early 1900s. This immersive exhibition provides insight into what caused the decline of blue whales, what’s being done to protect them, and how scientists are using DNA to unlock some of the secrets of these elusive creatures.

    “Blue Whales” is produced and circulated by the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto, Canada. Sponsored by Friends of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. After nine blue whales were trapped beneath sea ice and died off the coast of Newfoundland in 2014, researchers from ROM worked with community partners to recover two of the whales, one of which is featured in this exhibition.

    “Blue Whales” runs through Jan. 11, 2026, and is offered in English and French.

    Admission: Museum Members get in FREE. Join today at naturalsciences.org/membership. Non-member Adults $18, Children (3–12) $14. Tickets are available onsite at the Museum Box Office or online at naturalsciences.org/whales. Exhibition Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.); also open Mondays (May 26 – Sept. 1 only), 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.).

    About the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
    The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (11 and 121 W. Jones St.) is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world. In addition to two downtown buildings showcasing seven floors of world-class exhibits, the Museum runs Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45-acre outdoor education and research facility in west Raleigh, as well as satellite facilities in Whiteville, Greenville and Grifton (Contentnea Creek). Our mission is to illuminate the natural world and inspire its conservation. Downtown Raleigh Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. General admission is free. For more information, visit www.naturalsciences.org.

    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 2, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aquatic WILD Workshop Gets Educators Outside at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Aquatic WILD Workshop Gets Educators Outside at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Aquatic WILD Workshop Gets Educators Outside at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    jejohnson6

    PINE KNOLL SHORES

    Formal and informal educators get ready for a bit of fun this summer during an interactive, hands-on, STEM workshop called Aquatic WILD on June 9 at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    Any interested teachers, informal educators, and homeschool parents can sign up for Aquatic WILD workshop from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 9 at the Aquarium.

    During the Aquatic WILD workshop, an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife, teachers will learn how to use the Aquatic WILD curriculum and activity guide, engage with other educators, and participate in WILD field investigations, STEM activities, outdoor activities, and connections to wildlife careers.

    “We hope that teachers will be able to use the WILD guides to incorporate environmental and conservation education into their daily teaching and be able to connect their students with the wildlife around them,” said Michelle Van-Hove, NCAPKS educator.

    All activities are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and North Carolina’s science, ELA, social studies, and math curriculums. Incorporating the curriculum in teachings will also help in WILD’s main goal of assisting students in developing awareness, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment.

    To register, visit the website www.ncaquariums.com/pks-teachers.

    About the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. 28512. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Its mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments and animals. The Aquarium is under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please visit www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores or call 252-247-4003.

    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 3, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Summer Paint Night Series Starts June 11 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Summer Paint Night Series Starts June 11 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Summer Paint Night Series Starts June 11 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    jejohnson6

    PINE KNOLL SHORES

    Splash into an underwater world of art during Family Paint Nights Under the Sea at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The summer paint night series starts June 11 and ends Aug. 11 with a Sip and Paint. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    During Family Paint Nights, paint a sea turtle June 11, a sea star June 18, a seahorse July 2, or octopus July 9 with your family, your friends, or for yourself. Bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy while you make fin-tastic memories during this relaxing night of creating artwork.

    Instructors will provide all painting supplies and guide you every step of the way. Family Paint Nights are held 6:30-8:30 p.m. in front of the 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck habitat and are for ages 6 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

    On Aug. 11, for one night only the Aquarium will host a Sip and Paint for ages 21 and up where participants will paint a beach sunset scene. For this special paint night, bring your own beverage and favorite snacks. Event will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m.

    Family Paint Nights and Sip and Paints are limited-capacity events. Register and purchase tickets only online before the event. No ticket sales at the door. Visit the event page for more information and to register for individual paint nights. www.ncaquariums.com/paint-nights.

    About the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. 28512. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Its mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments and animals. The Aquarium is under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please visit www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores or call 252-247-4003.

    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 3, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –