Category: Military Intelligence

MIL-OSI Russia: Multinational command and staff exercises “NATO-Georgia 2025” have ended in Georgia

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

TBILISI, May 8 (Xinhua) — The NATO-Georgia 2025 multinational command post exercise concluded on Thursday at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) near Tbilisi.

According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, Georgia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, Great Britain, the United States, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Armenia and Tunisia participated in the headquarters and field parts of the exercises.

NATO-Georgia 2025 is a brigade-level, computer-assisted command post exercise designed to prepare Georgian-led multinational forces to plan and conduct crisis operations.

The current NATO-Georgia exercises began on April 28 and are the fourth such exercises. They are held in Georgia every three years. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-Led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Two in the District of Hawaii

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

HONOLULU – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

“Our pledge to protect Hawaii’s keiki is among the most solemn and critical commitments we make to our local community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Working with our outstanding law enforcement partners we have consistently and aggressively pursued child predators and those who seek to exploit children either for profit or their own twisted gratification. Our efforts in Operation Restore Justice, including last week’s arrests, demonstrate the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to investigate, charge, and convict those who violate federal child protection laws.”

“The FBI is unwavering and united with its partners in the fight to protect children,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Our collaboration with state and local law enforcement allows us to extend our reach into communities, respond faster to threats, and ensure survivors get the support they need. FBI Honolulu will continue to conduct proactive arrest operations targeting those seeking to harm our children—we’ll work to get these predators off the streets and keep our kids safe.”

In the District of Hawaii, two individuals were arrested and charged with federal crimes, including Dominick Kalikokaeoeo Howard, who was charged by criminal complaint with distributing child pornography, and David Martin Garcia Perez, who was charged by criminal complaint with receiving and possessing or accessing child pornography.

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

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

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

Other online resources:

Electronic Press Kit

Violent Crimes Against Children

How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL Security OSI –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: GUU and MIREA celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory: a memorial was opened in the village of Selizharovo

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

On May 8, 2025, students and staff of the State University of Management, together with colleagues from the Russian Technological University MIREA, opened a memorial to Soviet soldiers in the village of Selizharovo in the Tver Region.

The opening ceremony, timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, was attended by Rector Vladimir Stroyev and students of the university expeditionary corps led by Vladimir Linnik on behalf of the State University of Management. RTU MIREA was represented by Vice-Rector Igor Tarasov and members of the Student Expeditionary Corps “Arctic Team”.

Two years ago, students from RTU MIREA discovered a reinforced concrete firing point during search operations, and while clearing it, they found a trench and the remains of a Red Army soldier. The remains were raised, and a memorial was subsequently founded on this site, arranged by students from GUU and MIREA. The construction of the memorial began on April 30. During the shift, the students also visited the Nilov-Stolobenskaya Hermitage, the source of the Volga River, and a livestock farm on an excursion.

Having greeted those gathered, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev noted that universities are engaged not only in education, but also in upbringing. Students are at an age when they are being formed as individuals and citizens. Search work on battlefields helps them to learn more about history and find themselves.

“We are a non-war generation, we grew up in peacetime thanks to our ancestors, who at the cost of incredible efforts achieved victory over the aggressor. Now there are almost no living veterans left, and we have no right to forget the contribution of each of them to the common Great Victory.

It so happened that today, on the fields of a special military operation, a new military generation is being formed, a generation of successors to the victors of fascism, who continue the fight against this inhuman ideology. This continuity is extremely important, because it is the peers of our students and they themselves who, many, many years from now, will tell their children and grandchildren about the current events.

I want to congratulate everyone on the upcoming Victory Day, the 80th anniversary of the Victory. And I am sure that another such day will definitely come when we will have a big holiday – our next big common victory,” Vladimir Stroyev wished.

Acting head of the Selizharovsky municipal district Dmitry Markuzov:

“80 years ago, the final page of the bloodiest war in history was turned. Every year we pay tribute to those who allowed us to live in a free country, to raise children and grandchildren. The opening of this memorial shows that in every corner of our country, there were stubborn battles for the Motherland.”

The Chairman of the Ostashkov District Public Organization of Veterans, Anatoly Lukashov, who helped raise the remains of many soldiers lying in the Tver soil and participated in the creation of the memorial exhibition in Selizharovo, reminded those gathered about the events of the Great Patriotic War that took place in the Tver Region.

After the fall of Smolensk, a decision was made to build three defensive lines around Moscow. The outer, third line of defense ran right through the territory of the Rzhevsky, Selizharsky and Ostashkovsky districts. The fortifications were built day and night, mostly by women and children. The production standard was considered to be 7 cubic meters per day. As a result, on August 27, 1941, the colonel who accepted the work wrote in a report, “The line was accepted with a good, almost excellent rating.”

“As is known, despite stubborn resistance, in November 1941 the village of Selizharovo was captured by the enemy. But not for long, in January the Red Army returned to these places and at the cost of great losses liberated the surrounding area. Yes, many guys died, about 4,000 people, but there are no unnecessary losses in the defense of the Motherland. The enemy was thrown back from our land, and later finally routed in his lair,” said Anatoly Lukashov.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05/08/2025

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: First Lady Melania Trump delivered remarks honoring military mothers at the White House ❤️

Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

#FLOTUS #MelaniaTrump #FirstLady #FirstLadyMelaniaTrump #POTUS #PresidentTrump #DonaldTrump #America #USA #WhiteHouse #Military #MothersDay #MilitaryMothers #Mother #motherhood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvc8f-qiPqo

MIL OSI Video –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio, Democratic Veterans Tear Apart Trump VA for Stalling Cancer Trials, Hurting Veterans Healthcare

Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

Following reporting from ProPublica, Democratic veterans in Congress highlight how much the Trump Administration is hurting veterans’ care across the country

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Navy and Iraq War veteran Congressman Deluzio and a group of congressional Democratic veterans came together to highlight how the Trump Administration is putting veteran lives at risk and hiding it from the American people, as reported most recently by ProPublica. Especially concerning is the fact that VA clinical trials for multiple types of cancer treatment have been stalled due to staffing cuts and an ongoing hiring freeze at the Department.

“This Administration is putting veteran lives at risk in Western Pennsylvania and all across the country—and they are hiding it from the American people,” said Congressman Deluzio. “What else do you call staffing disruptions so intense that they are stalling cancer treatment clinical trials and disrupting suicide prevention work? These are real life, dangerous impacts on America’s veterans—all of whom signed a blank check to serve or even die for this country. My fellow veterans in Congress are here to crank up the heat on Secretary Collins: veterans see this betrayal for what it is.”

At the press conference in Washington, Congressman Deluzio was joined by fellow veteran Members of Congress Ted Lieu (CA-36), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Salud Carbajal (CA-24,) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02).

Photos of the event are here, and a video recording of the press conference is here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: King Reintroduces Legislation to Save Lives, Protect 2nd Amendment Rights for Law-Abiding Americans

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As mass shootings continue to kill or injure Americans needlessly, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) reintroduced legislation to curb these mass killings without hindering 2nd amendment gun rights. The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act would protect communities from gun violence while safeguarding law-abiding Americans’ constitutional right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes by limiting the features of certain guns that allow for detachable high-capacity magazines. The legislation would also create a voluntary buyback program for individuals choosing to get rid of their weapons.
“The constant onslaught of news coverage that features mass shootings has become all too common and has traumatized far too many communities, including the heartbreak and loss we suffered here in Maine,” said Senator King. “The Gas-Operated Semiautomatic Firearm Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act addresses the lethal capacity weapons like the one used in Lewiston and most of the deadliest mass shootings across the country by limiting the functionality that allow for rapid reloading – and rapid killing – give police and first responders a chance to neutralize the situation. While nothing can bring back the lives of our family and friends in Lewiston, responsible actions moving forward can reduce the likelihood of such a nightmare happening again.”
Senator King previously led bipartisan, common-sense legislation to address the gun violence epidemic in the United States while protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. The Safer Communities Act, passed in 2022, includes funding for red flag laws, enhanced background checks for buyers under 21, and increased mental health resources.
In addition, following the Lewiston shooting, Senator King has worked to increase mental health funding. In March 2024, the entire Maine Delegation announced that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) would receive $2,048,452 through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Emergency Response Grant program (SERG). The funding is used for community mental health needs in the greater-Lewiston community. The delegation also sent a follow-up letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Army, Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin, to further press for a comprehensive review of the facts and events leading up to the October 25, 2023 mass shooting.
In addition to King, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).
Senator King’s past OpEd on the GOSAFE Act can be found here.
+++
More specifically, the GOSAFE Act would:
Regulate Sale, Transfer & Manufacture of Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms
The GOSAFE Act would regulate the sale, transfer, and manufacture of gas-operated semi-automatic weapons by:
Establishing a list of prohibited firearms;
Preventing unlawful modifications of permissible firearms;
Mandating that future gas-operated designs are approved before manufacture; and
Preventing unlawful firearm self-assembly and manufacturing.
Protect Americans’ Second Amendment Right
The GOSAFE Act protects Americans’ constitutional right to own a gun based on a firearm’s established use for self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes. The bill accomplishes this by including exemptions based on maximum ammunition capacity according to a firearm’s individual class: a rifle, shotgun, or handgun.
This capacity must be “permanently fixed,” meaning the firearm cannot accept a detachable, high-capacity magazine that would increase the number of rounds that can be fired before reloading and make reloading easier.
Exemptions include:
.22 caliber rimfire or less firearms
Bolt action rifles
Semi-automatic shotguns
Recoil-operated handguns
Any rifle with a permanently fixed magazine of 10 rounds or less
Any shotgun with a permanently fixed magazine of 10 rounds or less
Any handgun with a permanently fixed magazine of 15 rounds or less
Limit High-Capacity Ammunition Devices, Outlaws Conversion Devices
The GOSAFE Act limits a firearm’s ability to inflict maximum harm in a short amount of time by directly regulating large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill would limit the number of rounds that large capacity ammunition feeding devices are permitted to carry to 10 rounds of ammunition or fewer.  Additionally, the GOSAFE Act makes conversion devices, including bump stocks and Glock switches, unlawful.
Create Voluntary Buy-Back Program
The GOSAFE Act will protect the value of firearms already owned before enactment and prevent stockpiling of these lethal firearms and large capacity magazines by establishing a voluntary buy-back program. It would allow firearm owners to voluntarily turn over and receive compensation for non-transferrable firearms and magazines as defined by this legislation.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Israeli plan to occupy all of Gaza could open the door for annexation of the West Bank

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Leonie Fleischmann, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, City St George’s, University of London

Israel’s security cabinet has announced a plan to “capture” the whole of the Gaza Strip. The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on May 5 the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would remain in the territory indefinitely and take over the administration of humanitarian aid. What his government is referring to as its latest “intensive operation” is likely to result in Israel occupying all of Gaza.

This development should come as no surprise, given previous rhetoric from members of Netanyahu’s cabinet. But the announcement marks a turning point in official policy that could have significant implications.

Israel’s far-right has repeatedly advocated for the expulsion of Palestinians and the resettlement of Gaza. In response to Netanyahu’s announcement, the finance minister and leader of the Religious Zionist party, Bezalel Smotrich, said that there will be “no retreat from the territories we have conquered, not even in exchange for hostages”.

Smotrich envisioned that a successful Israeli incursion would leave Gaza “totally destroyed”, with the Palestinian population left “totally despairing” and wanting to leave the Strip.

Yair Golan, leader of the Israeli left-of-centre Democrats party, criticised the plans for an all-out occupation of Gaza. He wrote on X on May 5 that the operation was approved “not in order to protect the security of Israel, but in order to save Netanyahu and his government of extremists”.

Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

It’s an argument that has consistently been raised against Netanyahu’s response to the October 7 Hamas attacks. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum also criticised the government for sacrificing the lives of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza and spilling the blood of more Israeli soldiers.

Despite this opposition, it is Israel’s far-right politicians who hold the reins of power and appear to be influencing Israeli government policy when it comes to Gaza.

The government’s objectives to eradicate Hamas in Gaza, and shore up Netanyahu’s precarious position as prime minister – as well as Trump’s plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries – have given them the opportunity to realise their maximalist dreams. This is not only the reoccupation of Gaza, but also the annexation of the West Bank.

Gaza and the West Bank have notable differences. An all-out war of the kind being waged in Gaza is unlikely in the West Bank, at least at present. But there have been many attempts from various arms of the Israeli system to drive Palestinians from their land there.

Driving Palestinians from the West Bank

At the end of 2023, half a million Israelis were reported as living in the West Bank, compared with almost 3 million Palestinians. As of November 2024, the Israeli Peace Now movement recorded 141 settlements that it said were “officially established” by the Israeli government in the West Bank (not including those in East Jerusalem), with a further 224 outposts established without government approval since the 1990s. These are considered illegal according to Israeli law – although only two of these outposts have ever been evicted.

In 1993, under the sponsorship of the Clinton administration, the Israeli government and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation signed the Oslo Declaration of Principles (also commonly referred to as Oslo Accord 1). This divided the West Bank into three areas: A, B and C. These are not delineated areas, rather – as the Oslo accords map below shows – they differentiate between Palestinian cities and villages and areas under Israeli civil and military control, about 60% of the total of the land area of the West Bank.

Area C is where the majority of Israeli settlers live, alongside, at present, 200,000 Palestinians. Oslo Accord II mandated the gradual transfer of control of this area to the Palestinians, but this has never happened.

Map of Areas A B and C after Oslo II.
Researchgate

Research by the Norwegian Refugee Council has found that, despite full control of Area C being central for the creation of a viable Palestinian state, there are two separate planning systems in place, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians.

Israeli Human Rights Organisation, B’Tselem, has criticised Israel’s planning and building policy in Area C as “aimed at preventing Palestinian development and dispossessing Palestinians of their land”. This is achieved through denying permits for Palestinian construction and demolishing Palestinian buildings, while allowing Israeli settlement construction.

Meanwhile, for decades the Israeli settlers have engaged in intimidation and violent attacks against Palestinians there. This continuing harassment has led to Palestinian communities being displaced. In his recent documentary film, The Settlers, Louis Theroux films and interviews ultranationalist settlers who make it clear they have nothing but contempt for the Palestinians – solely motivated by what they believe to be their God-given right to sovereignty over the Greater Land of Israel.

As the exclusive authority over Area C of the West Bank, Israel is obliged by international law to protect the Palestinian communities. But a report by Israeli human rights organisation, Yesh Din, dating back to 2006 identified, even then, “a systematic evasion of applying the law to Israeli civilians who harm Palestinians in the West Bank”. The Israeli authorities, according to Yesh Din, “stand idly by” as crimes are committed by the settlers towards Palestinians.

2025 the ‘year of sovereignty’

In February 2023, Smotrich was entrusted with administration over civilian life in Area C. He has made no effort to hide his intentions of establishing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territory.

Unlike in Gaza, the annexation of territory in the West Bank has been incremental and often under the radar. The Palestinian human rights organisation, Al Haq, claims this amounts to de facto annexation of the West Bank.

Smotrich this week said the government would move forward with its plans to approve construction in the highly contentious E1 area of the West Bank. This would include the building of enough Israeli settlements to “bring in a million residents”.

Should it go ahead, it would significantly alter the situation by effectively dividing the West Bank in half and would bury any remaining hope for a two-state solution. In the words of Smotrich: “this is how you kill the Palestinian state”.

Leonie Fleischmann 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. Israeli plan to occupy all of Gaza could open the door for annexation of the West Bank – https://theconversation.com/israeli-plan-to-occupy-all-of-gaza-could-open-the-door-for-annexation-of-the-west-bank-256029

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Legislation considered under suspension of the Rules of the House of Representatives during the week of May 12, 2025
Source: US Congressional Budget Office

The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives announces bills that will be considered under suspension of the rules in that chamber. Under suspension, floor debate is limited, all floor amendments are prohibited, points of order against the bill are waived, and final passage requires a two-thirds majority vote.

At the request of the Majority Leader and the House Committee on the Budget, CBO estimates the effects of those bills on direct spending and revenues. CBO has limited time to review the legislation before consideration. Although it is possible in most cases to determine whether the legislation would affect direct spending or revenues, time may be insufficient to estimate the magnitude of those effects. If CBO has prepared estimates for similar or identical legislation, a more detailed assessment of budgetary effects, including effects on spending subject to appropriation, may be included.

CBO’s estimates of the bills that have been posted for possible consideration under suspension of the rules during the week of May 12, 2025, include:
- H.R. 167, Community Reclamation Partnerships Act of 2025
- H.R. 249, To redesignate certain facilities at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in honor of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.
- H.R. 331, To amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes, as amended
- H.R. 531, South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2025, as amended
- H.R. 618, Apex Area Technical Corrections Act, as amended
- H.R. 677, Expedited Appeals Review Act, as amended
- H.R. 952, Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act
- H.R. 1001, To provide for a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts of a certain record of decision on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund
- H.R. 1418, Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025, as amended
- H.R. 1550, Strengthening America’s Turning Point Act
- H.R. 1612, Flatside Wilderness Additions Act
- H.R. 1682, Military Families National Parks Access Enhancement Act
- H.R. 1829, Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025
- H.R. 2215, Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act
- H.R. 2492, Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025
- H. Con. Res. 30, Expressing support for local law enforcement officers
- H. Res. 352, Calling on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish American community
- H. Res. 364, Calling upon local communities to support organizations that provide resources and aid Gold Shield Families in their time of need
MIL OSI USA News –
May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wicker, Gillibrand Introduce Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced the Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act. This bipartisan legislation would address the severe health inequities faced by the residents of Vieques off the coast of Puerto Rico. These severe health outcomes are a result of environmental contamination caused by the U.S. Navy’s decades-long usage of the island for military training exercises and as a bombing range.

“The U.S. Navy left the island of Vieques over twenty years ago, but the thousands of American citizens who live there continue to suffer from contamination and high rates of illness,” said Senator Wicker. “It is time for the U.S. government to settle these victims’ claims and help improve the island’s healthcare infrastructure for the future.”

“For too long, the people of Vieques have lived with the devastating health and environmental impacts of military testing on their island,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill delivers long overdue justice by providing compensation to those harmed, rebuilding access to healthcare, and strengthening efforts to clean up the toxic waste that continues to threaten the Vieques community. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to finally give the people of Vieques the support and resources they deserve.”

Full text of the resolution can be found here.

Background:
- From the 1940s until 2003, the U.S. Navy used the island for training exercises and as a bombing range.
- Decades of munitions testing on the small island led to severe environmental contamination. Vieques’ residents have suffered from the health impacts of long-term exposure to this environmental contamination, including higher rates of cancer, cirrhosis, hypertension, diabetes, and heavy metal diseases.
- To date, the U.S. government has not provided the residents of Vieques with compensation for damages to their health. Hurricane Maria destroyed Vieques’ only health care center in 2017, exacerbating the island’s health crisis.
- Today, residents of Vieques must travel by ferry to the main island of Puerto Rico to receive medical care, a dangerous situation that is especially difficult for cancer and dialysis patients. The health crisis in Vieques only continues to worsen, demonstrating why Congress must act with urgency to pass this bipartisan legislation.
MIL OSI USA News –
May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Defense Ministry warns Philippines against any encroachment on China’s core interests

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

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) — Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang on Thursday issued a stern warning to the Philippines against infringing on China’s core interests in any form.

Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks at a press conference, commenting on the recent appearance of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in waters north of the Philippines during joint Philippine-US military exercises, as well as the words of a Philippine navy spokesman about possible joint maneuvers with Taiwanese troops.

According to the official representative of the PRC Ministry of Defense, the group of ships led by the aircraft carrier Shandong carried out annual training missions in the relevant waters in order to test and improve the comprehensive combat potential of the aircraft carrier group.

“This is in line with international law and generally accepted international practice and is not directed against any specific country or target,” Zhang Xiaogang stressed.

He noted that some Filipino figures are colluding with external forces such as the United States, “muddying the waters” for selfish purposes, undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and even trying to “play with fire” on the Taiwan issue.

“We strongly warn the Philippine side to stop violations and provocations, and stop encroaching on China’s core interests in any form,” Zhang Xiaogang said, adding that the Chinese side will continue to take resolute and effective measures to protect China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Texas National Guard Soldiers continue to support southern border operations

Source: US National Guard (video statements)

Texas National Guard Soldiers work with U.S. Border Patrol agents along the Rio Grande and U.S. – Mexico border near Roma, Texas, as part of Operation Lone Star, April 23, 2025. Operation Lone Star is a Texas National Guard mission to deter, detect, and interdict illegal border crossings and transnational criminal activity along the southern border. (U.S. Air Force video by Master Sgt. Amber Monio)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsDF9GHCAEw

MIL OSI Video –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Somaliland’s 30-year quest for recognition: could US interests make the difference?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Aleksi Ylönen, Professor, United States International University

More than three decades after unilaterally declaring independence from Somalia, Somaliland still seeks international recognition as a sovereign state. Despite a lack of formal acknowledgement, the breakaway state has built a relatively stable system of governance. This has drawn increasing interest from global powers, including the United States. As regional dynamics shift and great-power competition intensifies, Somaliland’s bid for recognition is gaining new currency. Aleksi Ylönen has studied politics in the Horn of Africa and Somaliland’s quest for recognition. He unpacks what’s at play.

What legal and historical arguments does Somaliland use?

The Somali National Movement is one of the main clan-based insurgent movements responsible for the collapse of the central government in Somalia. It claims the territory of the former British protectorate of Somaliland. The UK had granted Somaliland sovereign status on 26 June 1960.

The Somali government tried to stomp out calls for secession. It orchestrated the brutal killing of hundreds of thousands of people in northern Somalia between 1987 and 1989.

But the Somali National Movement declared unilateral independence on 18 May 1991 and separated from Somalia.

With the collapse of the Somali regime in 1991, the movement’s main enemy was gone. This led to a violent power struggle between various militias.

This subsided only after the politician Mohamed Egal consolidated power. He was elected president of Somaliland in May 1993.

Egal made deals with merchants and businessmen, giving them tax and commercial incentives to accept his patronage. As a result, he obtained the economic means to consolidate political power and to pursue peace and state-building. It’s something his successors have kept up with since his death in 2002.

What has Somaliland done to push for recognition?

Successive Somaliland governments continue to engage in informal diplomacy. They have aligned with the west, particularly the US, which was the dominant power after the cold war, and the former colonial master, the UK. Both countries host significant Somaliland diaspora communities.

The US and the UK have for decades flirted with the idea of recognising Somaliland, which they consider a strategic partner. However, they have been repeatedly thrown back by their respective Somalia policies. These have favoured empowering the widely supported Mogadishu government to reassert its authority and control over Somali territories.

This Somalia policy has been increasingly questioned in recent years, in part due to Mogadishu’s security challenges. In contrast, the Hargeisa government of Somaliland has largely shown it can provide security and stability. It has held elections and survived as a state for the last three decades, though it has faced political resistance and armed opposition.

Read more: Somaliland elections: what’s at stake for independence, stability and shifting power dynamics in the Horn of Africa

As new global powers rise, Somaliland administrations have pursued an increasingly diverse foreign policy, with one goal: international recognition.

Hargeisa hosts consulates and representative offices of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Taiwan, the UK and the European Union, among others.

The government has also engaged in informal foreign relations with the United Arab Emirates. The Middle Eastern monarchy serves as a business hub and a destination of livestock exports. Many Somalilanders migrate there.

Somaliland maintains representative offices in several countries. These include Canada, the US, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Taiwan. Hargeisa has alienated China because it has collaborated with Taiwan since 2020. Taiwan is a self-ruled island claimed by China.

On 1 January 2024, Somaliland’s outgoing president Muse Bihi signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed for increased cooperation. Bihi implied that Ethiopia would be the first country to formally recognise Somaliland. The deal caused a sharp deterioration of relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

Abiy later moderated his position and, with Turkish mediation, reconciled with his Somalia counterpart, President Hassan Mohamud.

What’s behind US interest in Somaliland?

The US, like other great powers, has been interested in Somaliland because of its strategic location. It is on the African shores of the Gulf of Aden, across from the Arabian Peninsula. Its geographical position has gained currency recently as Yemeni Houthi rebels strike maritime traffic in the busy shipping lanes. Somaliland is also well located to curb piracy and smuggling on this global trade route.

The US Africa Command set up its main Horn of Africa base at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti in 2002. This followed the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Read more: Somaliland’s quest for recognition: UK debate offers hint of a sea change

In 2017, China, which had become the main foreign economic power in the Horn of Africa, set up a navy support facility in Djibouti. This encouraged closer collaboration between American and Somaliland authorities. The US played with the idea of establishing a base in Berbera, which hosts Somaliland’s largest port.

With Donald Trump winning the US presidential election in 2024, there were reports of an increased push for US recognition of Somaliland. This would allow the US to deepen its trade and security partnerships in the volatile Horn of Africa region.

Since March 2025, representatives of the Trump administration have engaged in talks with Somaliland officials to establish a US military base near Berbera. This would be in exchange for a formal but partial recognition of Somaliland.

What are the risks of US recognition of Somaliland?

Stronger US engagement with Somaliland risks neglecting Somalia.

Mogadishu depends on external military assistance in its battle against the advancing violent Islamist extremist group, Al-Shabaab. It also faces increasing defiance from two federal regions, Puntland and Jubaland.

US recognition would reward Hargeisa for its persistent effort to maintain stability and promote democracy. However, it could encourage other nations to recognise Somaliland. This would deliver a blow to Somali nationalists who want one state for all Somalis.

– Somaliland’s 30-year quest for recognition: could US interests make the difference?
– https://theconversation.com/somalilands-30-year-quest-for-recognition-could-us-interests-make-the-difference-255399

MIL OSI Africa –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Somaliland’s 30-year quest for recognition: could US interests make the difference?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Aleksi Ylönen, Professor, United States International University

More than three decades after unilaterally declaring independence from Somalia, Somaliland still seeks international recognition as a sovereign state. Despite a lack of formal acknowledgement, the breakaway state has built a relatively stable system of governance. This has drawn increasing interest from global powers, including the United States. As regional dynamics shift and great-power competition intensifies, Somaliland’s bid for recognition is gaining new currency. Aleksi Ylönen has studied politics in the Horn of Africa and Somaliland’s quest for recognition. He unpacks what’s at play.

What legal and historical arguments does Somaliland use?

The Somali National Movement is one of the main clan-based insurgent movements responsible for the collapse of the central government in Somalia. It claims the territory of the former British protectorate of Somaliland. The UK had granted Somaliland sovereign status on 26 June 1960.

The Somali government tried to stomp out calls for secession. It orchestrated the brutal killing of hundreds of thousands of people in northern Somalia between 1987 and 1989.

But the Somali National Movement declared unilateral independence on 18 May 1991 and separated from Somalia.

With the collapse of the Somali regime in 1991, the movement’s main enemy was gone. This led to a violent power struggle between various militias.

This subsided only after the politician Mohamed Egal consolidated power. He was elected president of Somaliland in May 1993.

Egal made deals with merchants and businessmen, giving them tax and commercial incentives to accept his patronage. As a result, he obtained the economic means to consolidate political power and to pursue peace and state-building. It’s something his successors have kept up with since his death in 2002.

What has Somaliland done to push for recognition?

Successive Somaliland governments continue to engage in informal diplomacy. They have aligned with the west, particularly the US, which was the dominant power after the cold war, and the former colonial master, the UK. Both countries host significant Somaliland diaspora communities.

The US and the UK have for decades flirted with the idea of recognising Somaliland, which they consider a strategic partner. However, they have been repeatedly thrown back by their respective Somalia policies. These have favoured empowering the widely supported Mogadishu government to reassert its authority and control over Somali territories.

This Somalia policy has been increasingly questioned in recent years, in part due to Mogadishu’s security challenges. In contrast, the Hargeisa government of Somaliland has largely shown it can provide security and stability. It has held elections and survived as a state for the last three decades, though it has faced political resistance and armed opposition.

Read more:
Somaliland elections: what’s at stake for independence, stability and shifting power dynamics in the Horn of Africa

As new global powers rise, Somaliland administrations have pursued an increasingly diverse foreign policy, with one goal: international recognition.

Hargeisa hosts consulates and representative offices of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Taiwan, the UK and the European Union, among others.

The government has also engaged in informal foreign relations with the United Arab Emirates. The Middle Eastern monarchy serves as a business hub and a destination of livestock exports. Many Somalilanders migrate there.

Somaliland maintains representative offices in several countries. These include Canada, the US, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Taiwan. Hargeisa has alienated China because it has collaborated with Taiwan since 2020. Taiwan is a self-ruled island claimed by China.

On 1 January 2024, Somaliland’s outgoing president Muse Bihi signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed for increased cooperation. Bihi implied that Ethiopia would be the first country to formally recognise Somaliland. The deal caused a sharp deterioration of relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

Abiy later moderated his position and, with Turkish mediation, reconciled with his Somalia counterpart, President Hassan Mohamud.

What’s behind US interest in Somaliland?

The US, like other great powers, has been interested in Somaliland because of its strategic location. It is on the African shores of the Gulf of Aden, across from the Arabian Peninsula. Its geographical position has gained currency recently as Yemeni Houthi rebels strike maritime traffic in the busy shipping lanes. Somaliland is also well located to curb piracy and smuggling on this global trade route.

The US Africa Command set up its main Horn of Africa base at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti in 2002. This followed the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Read more:
Somaliland’s quest for recognition: UK debate offers hint of a sea change

In 2017, China, which had become the main foreign economic power in the Horn of Africa, set up a navy support facility in Djibouti. This encouraged closer collaboration between American and Somaliland authorities. The US played with the idea of establishing a base in Berbera, which hosts Somaliland’s largest port.

With Donald Trump winning the US presidential election in 2024, there were reports of an increased push for US recognition of Somaliland. This would allow the US to deepen its trade and security partnerships in the volatile Horn of Africa region.

Since March 2025, representatives of the Trump administration have engaged in talks with Somaliland officials to establish a US military base near Berbera. This would be in exchange for a formal but partial recognition of Somaliland.

What are the risks of US recognition of Somaliland?

Stronger US engagement with Somaliland risks neglecting Somalia.

Mogadishu depends on external military assistance in its battle against the advancing violent Islamist extremist group, Al-Shabaab. It also faces increasing defiance from two federal regions, Puntland and Jubaland.

US recognition would reward Hargeisa for its persistent effort to maintain stability and promote democracy. However, it could encourage other nations to recognise Somaliland. This would deliver a blow to Somali nationalists who want one state for all Somalis.

Aleksi Ylönen is affiliated with the Center for International Studies, Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, and is an associate fellow at the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies.

– ref. Somaliland’s 30-year quest for recognition: could US interests make the difference? – https://theconversation.com/somalilands-30-year-quest-for-recognition-could-us-interests-make-the-difference-255399

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Strickland Leads Bipartisan Bill to Expand Midwifery Care for Servicemembers and Their Families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)

Washington, D.C. – Earlier this week, on International Day of the Midwife, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), reintroduced the Maternal and Infant Delivery: Wellness, and Integration with Vital Expertise Support (MIDWIVES) for Servicemembers Act.

U.S. Representatives Emily Randall (WA-06), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) co-led the bipartisan midwifery legislation.

The bill would increase access to maternity care for servicemembers and their families by extending midwifery care to those enrolled in TRICARE through a 5-year pilot program. This legislation expands access to midwifery care and gives the Department of Defense the option to permanently expand coverage if the pilot program is successful. 

“It is our job to support our servicemembers, and this includes providing help before, during and after childbirth,” said Strickland. “This bill expands midwifery care options, giving servicemembers and their families the care that they deserve.”

“As our troops and their families serve our nation, they deserve access to the very best care, especially if they are looking to start or expand their family,” said Ciscomani. “As a dad of six I can tell you, planning to welcome a child to your family is an exciting time. However, serving in the military or having a spouse in uniform can pose additional difficulties for mothers-to-be. This is why I once again joined Rep. Strickland in a bipartisan effort to expand access to midwifery care for military spouses and women in uniform who are enrolled in TRICARE to ensure they can receive the care they need.”

“Sexual and reproductive health care is essential, and we have a responsibility to ensure that service members and their families can access the care they deserve,” said Randall. “Expanding midwifery services through TRICARE is a critical step toward closing the dangerous gaps in maternal health care that too many people — especially those who serve our nation— are forced to navigate.”

“As a Navy veteran and former nurse practitioner, I know firsthand the importance of high-quality, accessible maternal care for our military families,” said Kiggans. “The MIDWIVES for Service Members Act is a commonsense, data-driven solution that expands care options under TRICARE, improves outcomes for mothers and babies, and helps reduce strain on military healthcare systems. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to better support those who serve by delivering the care they and their families deserve.”

The MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act is endorsed by: American Association of Birth Centers (AABC), American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), Birth Center Equity (BCE), Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery (PICBM), True North Birth Center, and the National Partnership on Women and Families.

“As a retired military spouse, a mother who relied on TRICARE during my own pregnancies, and a midwife who has supported countless families, I know firsthand the unique challenges military families face. Being restationed—sometimes well into pregnancy—often means starting over and scrambling to find a new provider in areas already facing serious shortages. For the past year and a half, I’ve been advocating for a solution which has become The MIDWIVES for Service Members Act. Midwives provide safe, evidence-based, and compassionate care that meets families where they are. This bill will not only improve continuity of care for military families—it will expand access to high-quality maternity care nationwide. I’m deeply grateful to Representatives Strickland, Ciscomani, Randall, and all the supporters of this bill for recognizing the urgent need to better serve our nation’s heroes and their loved ones—no matter where duty takes them,” said Ashley Jones, Licensed Midwife and Executive Director of True North Birth Center please.

“The MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act directly addresses a critical gap in maternity care for military families by expanding TRICARE to include all credentialed midwives. By recognizing Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Midwives as authorized providers, this bill not only increases access to care, especially in underserved areas, but also affirms the right of military families to choose safe community-based care. With over half of U.S. birth centers staffed by CPMs, this legislation will dramatically expand access to midwifery-led birth center services. NACPM strongly supports this bill as a meaningful, evidence-based solution that honors the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of our nation’s servicemembers and their families,” said Cassaundra Jah, Executive Director of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives.

“The National Partnership for Women & Families applauds the reintroduction of the MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act, which would provide more care options for servicemembers, especially ones that reside in rural or maternity care shortage areas,” said Amani Echols, Senior Manager for Maternal & Infant Health at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Research shows that midwifery care provides equal or better care and outcomes compared to physician care on many fronts. For example, midwifery care results in higher rates of spontaneous vaginal birth, higher rates of breastfeeding, higher satisfaction with care, and lower overall costs. Passage of the MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act is an integral step towards improving maternal and infant health.”

“Expanding midwifery coverage for service members is a lasting investment in families,” says Leseliey Welch, Co-Founder and CEO of Birth Center Equity. “Evidence shows that the midwifery model of care leads to excellent outcomes including lower rates of interventions like cesarean sections and episiotomies, and increased patient satisfaction. Midwifery care also emphasizes a personalized, relationship-centered approach, fostering trust and empowerment for the birthing person.” With this bill, says Welch, “we hope that more and more service members will gain access to birth centers, the only health care facilities based in the midwifery model of care.”

“The American Association of Birth Centers is proud to support the Midwives for Servicemembers Act. Expanding coverage to include certified professional midwives and certified midwives will significantly improve access to midwifery-led birth center care. We commend Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Rep. Emily Randall, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. Jen Kiggans for their leadership in advancing high-quality maternity care for our service members and their families,” said Trinisha Williams, President of AABC.

“Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Midwives at freestanding birth centers stand ready to serve military families, but Tricare doesn’t currently reimburse for their care. The Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery is deeply grateful to Congresswoman Strickland for introducing the Midwives for Service Members Act, which would ensure these nationally certified providers are reimbursed. As military hospitals close maternity units and care deserts grow, midwives and birth centers are vital to filling the gap and ensuring military families aren’t left without options, said Mary Lawlor, CPM, Executive Director, Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery.”

“The American College of Nurse-Midwives urges policymakers to support the Midwives for Service Members Act to ensure that military families have access to the full range of high-quality maternity care options, including midwifery services. Expanding access to certified midwives and certified professional midwives within the Military Health System is a cost-effective, evidence-based strategy to improve maternal health outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and address longstanding disparities in access to care for those who serve our country,” said Michelle Munroe, retired Army Colonel, and CEO of the American College of Nurse-Midwives

You can read the full bill text here.

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Military parade held in Kyrgyzstan to mark 80th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War

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

BISHKEK, May 8 (Xinhua) — A ceremonial military parade dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War was held in the central Ala-Too Square in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on May 8.

The parade was observed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, veterans and servicemen of the armed forces, representatives of other security agencies of the country, representatives of the diplomatic and military-diplomatic corps accredited in the republic, as well as the public, youth and guests of the capital.

S. Japarov delivered a congratulatory speech in which he noted the historical significance of the Victory, the courage and heroism of the generations that defended peace. “So that future generations never forget the invaluable contribution of our fathers and the consequences of the devastating war that took tens of millions of innocent lives, we must teach young people to value peace and tranquility, to live with an awareness of their true value,” the head of state emphasized.

As noted by the press service of the country’s Ministry of Defense, the military parade in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory was the largest in the history of independent Kyrgyzstan both in terms of the number of personnel and the quantity and quality of equipment involved in the parade. In total, about 3 thousand servicemen and more than 120 units of military and special equipment, including heavy armored vehicles, artillery, air defense systems and aviation, took part in the parade. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: POV: Ya’ll wanna see some EXPLOSIONS?

Source: US Army (video statements)

About the U.S. Army:

The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts #Army

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmYt19ajAp0

MIL OSI Video –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Sorensen Demands the Department of Defense Protect Critical National Security Jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

Congressman Sorensen During House Armed Services Committee Hearing: “To Maintain Our Country’s Readiness, I Strongly Oppose Civilian Workforce Cuts to the Rock Island Arsenal”

Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) fiercely advocated for protecting essential jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal during a House Armed Services Committee hearing amidst news reports suggesting the Department of Defense is planning a significant reduction in force at the Arsenal.

The Arsenal plays a critical role in maintaining our country’s military readiness to combat threats around the globe and any potential layoffs threaten to hurt our national security.

“Our mission here at the Arsenal is essential,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen. “At a time when we face all kinds of threats all across the globe, we need a strong civilian workforce that is supporting the Department of Defense and its readiness to maintain our country’s readiness. I strongly oppose civilian workforce cuts to the Rock Island Arsenal and across the Department of Defense.”

Congressman Sorensen has taken advantage of his new position on the House Armed Services Committee to advocate for the Rock Island Arsenal. He recently led a bipartisan effort with Senators Chuck Grassley, Dick Durbin, and Tammy Duckworth to ensure the Department of Defense would not be jeopardizing our country’s military readiness with large job cuts. Earlier this year, he introduced the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, which would ensure the Rock Island Arsenal can remain competitive, create good-paying jobs, and sustain the regional economy.

You can watch the full remarks from Congressman Sorensen HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova: UK statement, May 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Speech

Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova: UK statement, May 2025

Ambassador Holland welcomes the work of the OSCE Mission towards preventing escalation and finding practical solutions to issues, amid the challenging backdrop of energy shortages during the reporting period.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

I would like to offer a warm welcome to Ambassador Keiderling for the final time at the Permanent Council as Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. Thank you to you and your team for the Mission’s work over the last six months, and for the comprehensive presentation this morning.

The United Kingdom fully supports the work of the Mission towards preventing escalation, mitigating a deterioration of relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol and finding practical solutions to the challenges of everyday life for all citizens on both banks of the Nistru. We regret Russia’s continued instrumentalisation of the Mission’s mandate and reiterate our call for a return to a full 12-month directive to ensure the Mission has the stability and predictability it needs to fulfil its vital role.

The UK commends the Mission’s efforts across its three lines of action during the reporting period, amid the challenging backdrop of energy shortages on both banks. We appreciate the constructive engagement between Chisinau and Tiraspol and the Mission’s role in facilitating dialogue through the Chief Negotiators and Working Groups. We also welcome the engagement of Special Representative Thomas Lenk during this period.

The UK again notes the lack of progress Russia has made in withdrawing its illegally stationed troops from Moldovan sovereign territory, which runs in direct contradiction to other efforts. Russia must remove its forces without delay and present a considered proposal to resume the process of removal and destruction of ammunition from the Cobasna site.

As our Foreign Secretary stated during his visit to Moldova in November, the UK will not stand by as the Kremlin attempts to undermine democracy, stability and security across Europe. As shown by the signing last year of the UK-Moldova Defence and Security Partnership, the UK is strengthening its commitment to Moldova’s security. At the UK-Moldova Strategic Dialogue yesterday, our officials were proud to reaffirm UK support on cyber, counter-disinformation and judicial cooperation to help Moldova to defend its democratic institutions from malign interference.

To conclude, Ambassador Keiderling, the UK highly appreciates the energy and dedication that you have brought to the role and towards advancing a peaceful resolution. As we look ahead to parliamentary elections in September, the United Kingdom will continue to support the OSCE Mission in fulfilling its mandate, and to support peace and stability for the people of Moldova.

Updates to this page

Published 8 May 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warren Demands Army Under Secretary Nominee Divest Stock Holdings in Anduril and Other Defense Contractors

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
May 08, 2025
Senator warns Michael Obadal that financial conflicts “will compromise your ability to serve with integrity, raising a cloud of suspicion over your contracting and operational decisions.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Mr. Michael Obadal, nominee for Under Secretary of the Army, with concerns about his refusal to divest from major defense contractors. Obadal will face lawmakers at his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 8, 2025.
If confirmed, Obadal will help manage the Army’s operations—consisting of a $186 billion budget, over 100,000 contracts a year, and over one million personnel. Obadal currently serves as a Senior Director at Anduril Industries, which was recently awarded a $22 billion contract to produce high-tech headsets for the Army. Obadal also holds between $250,000 and $500,000 in Anduril stock, which he has refused to divest from ahead of his confirmation. Anduril is also currently eyeing an initial public offering, and the company’s plan of going public would be boosted if it can secure more Pentagon contracts.
Even after divesting, Warren said Obadal should still recuse from specific-party matters involving Anduril.
“If you were to participate in a decision about an Anduril contract, your prior employment relationship with the company would lead the public to reasonably question whether you were more motivated to protect the company’s interests than the public interest,” said Senator Warren.
Obadal also holds stock in several other large defense contractors, including up to $15,000 in each of the following: General Dynamics, Eli Lilly, Thermo Fischer Scientific, and Cummins, Inc.
“By attempting to serve in this role with conflicts of interest, you risk spending taxpayer dollars on wasteful DoD contracts that enrich wealthy contractors but fail to enhance Americans’ national security,” said Senator Warren.
To address his conflicts of interest, Senator Warren asked him to make five commitments:
Divest his equity in Anduril;
Recuse from any matters involving Anduril;
Divest his equity in stock in other major defense contractors;
Commit not to seek compensation from any company that works with the Army for four years after leaving government service; and
Commit not to lobby the Defense Department for at least four years after leaving office.
Some DoD appointees have agreed to a cooling-off period before seeking compensation from defense contractors. For example, Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently committed not to work for major defense contractors after leaving government.
Relatedly, multiple former Biden appointees agreed to post-employment lobbying restrictions, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, IRS Chief Counsel Marjorie Rollinson, and Treasury Assistant Secretary for Investment Security Paul Rosen.
Senator Warren asked Obadal to make these ethics commitments in writing by May 9, 2025.
Senator Warren has sought to protect servicemembers and national security by pushing defense nominees to resolve their conflicts of interest:
In March 2025, ahead of his confirmation vote, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee Stephen Feinberg, urging him to recuse himself from all matters related to Ligado Networks, which has a pending $39 billion lawsuit against the DoD.
In March 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Mr. Emil Michael, nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, with concern over his history of inappropriate behavior at work, his attacks on journalists and public accountability, and his ties to technology companies that may seek contracts with the Department of Defense.
In February 2025, ahead of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Mr. Stephen Feinberg, nominee for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense, pressing him to explain his “serious conflicts of interest” and his track record of mismanagement.
In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Mr. Michael Duffey, nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment of the Department of Defense, ahead of his confirmation hearing, with serious concerns about his record, which include violating the law, disregarding Congressional authority, and his involvement in Project 2025.
In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Mr. Pete Hegseth, nominee for Secretary of the Department of Defense, regarding his ethics conflicts ahead of the Senate’s consideration of his nomination. Mr. Hegseth’s household’s ownership of stock in several defense contractors and his unwillingness to commit to the same post-employment restrictions he previously advocated for were particularly troubling for a prospective Secretary of Defense.
In March 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured ethics commitments from Douglas Schmidt, ahead of his confirmation to be the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) for the Department of Defense.
In June 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren and representative Andy Kim reintroduced the Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act, to limit the influence of contractors on the military, constrain foreign influence on retired senior military officers, and assert greater transparency over contractors and their interaction with DoD.
In July 2021, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured agreements to four-year recusals from former clients’ and employers’ party matters from then-Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and then-USD(R&E) Heidi Shyu.
In January 2021, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured a commitment from General Lloyd Austin III, then-nominee for Secretary of Defense, to extend his recusal from Raytheon Technologies for four years and to not seek a position on the board of a defense contractor or become a lobbyist after his government service.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pfluger’s “DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes” Act Passes the House

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, had legislation pass through the U.S. House of Representatives. Chairman Pfluger’s “DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes Act“ will defend American students from the Chinese Communist Party by prohibiting any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from flowing to universities that host a Confucius Institute or maintain a relationship with a Chinese entity of concern.

Following the legislation’s passage, Rep. Pfluger released the following statement:

“The Chinese Communist Party has proven to be an untrustworthy, adversarial actor by continually undermining American interests at every turn – in no world should they have a front-row seat in our classrooms funded by our own taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Pfluger. “The bipartisan passage of my legislation today sends a clear message: America’s universities and research labs will no longer be used to steal critical research, recruit talent for Military-Civil fusion enterprises, conduct espionage, commit transnational repression, and influence academic institutions to the benefit of the CCP. This is a victory for our national security and future generations of Americans.”

Several leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives also praised the passage of Rep. Pfluger’s legislation:

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said, “House Republicans will not tolerate adversarial regimes, like the Chinese Communist Party, using propaganda to manipulate students, undermine academic institutions, and compromise national security. Higher education in America must remain free from foreign malign influence. I commend Rep. Pfluger for his leadership in protecting students and ensuring taxpayer dollars are not used to fund institutions that host Confucius Institutes or maintain ties to Chinese entities supporting CCP interests.”

House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green said, “Beijing’s malign influence should never have been allowed to reach American campuses. Chairman Pfluger’s legislation will protect our universities from the CCP’s efforts to steal American research and innovation, which Xi uses to undermine our nation’s sovereignty,” Chairman Green said. “After years of hard work by Chairman Pfluger, I look forward to getting this bill to the Senate and signed into law by President Trump. We must prevent American taxpayer dollars from funding our greatest geopolitical adversary’s sinister ambitions.”

Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, “For years, the Chinese Communist Party targeted the United States and our institutes of higher education in attempts to influence and exploit American classrooms and research. Specifically, Confucius Institutes were extensions of the CCP’s influence network meant to conduct espionage in the U.S., impact academic institutions’ decisions, push propaganda, and steal intellectual property and trade secrets. We cannot allow foreign adversaries to infiltrate U.S. education, participate in shaping the minds of America’s future leaders, or allow them access to steal intellectual property. That is why we must ensure American institutions of higher education fully cut ties with these hostile entities or face consequences. I’m grateful to Rep. Pfluger for his leadership on this issue and for bringing legislation to protect our best and brightest.”

House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain said, “There’s no place for Chinese propaganda in America. House Republicans are ending CCP influence on college campuses and ensuring taxpayer dollars are not funding foreign agendas. My colleague Rep. Pfluger has done a great job getting this bill to the finish line, and I’m proud to have voted YES to pass this bill and defend our students from harmful CCP influence.”

Majority Whip Tom Emmer said, “We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate and influence American schools without consequence—especially schools that are funded by taxpayer dollars. I thank Rep. Pfluger for leading a bill that rightly restricts federal funding to any institution of higher education that chooses to align with the CCP’s anti-American agenda.”

Background:

Confucius Institutes have historically been presented as centers for promoting Chinese language and culture, but unfortunately, they have proven to be far from that. Confucius Institutes have been used to steal critical research, recruit talent for Military-Civil fusion enterprises, conduct espionage, commit transnational repression, and influence academic institutions to the benefit of the CCP.

At their peak, the United States hosted approximately 118 Confucius Institutes, primarily at colleges and universities. There are fewer than 14 active Confucius Institutes today, but the danger remains. Many of these programs have rebranded themselves within universities with the same mission as before: to subvert national security and expand CCP influence operations.

Prior to its passage, Chairman Pfluger delivered remarks on the House floor highlighting these dangers and more to outline the critical need for this legislation.

Chairman Pfluger has led this legislation since the 117th Congress, reintroduced the “DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes Act, and held a CTI Subcommittee hearing to combat threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. National Security. During the hearing, Chairman Pfluger had experts agree with the need for his legislation, stating that federal funding should be restricted from universities with Confucius institutes.

Following the hearing, Chairman Pfluger’s legislation passed through the House Committee on Homeland Security’s legislative markup with bipartisan support.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI: RTI Connext® Named “Best Overall Connected Healthcare Solution” by MedTech Breakthrough Awards Program

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the software framework company for physical AI systems, today announced that RTI Connext® has been selected as the winner of the “Healthcare Overall Best Connected Healthcare Solution” award conducted by MedTech Breakthrough. This marks RTI’s second win in the program, underscoring its leadership in providing AI-enabled connectivity solutions to leading MedTech companies across surgical robotics, patient monitoring, critical care, and medical imaging. Connext provides a real-time, data-centric software framework that accelerates the development of interoperable, intelligent, and secure medical systems.

“We’re honored to receive this award that recognizes our contributions in enabling the next wave of innovation in medical technology,” said Stan Schneider, CEO of RTI. “With Connext, development teams can focus on building intelligent architectures without worrying about managing complex infrastructure. As a trusted partner to many industry leaders, RTI is proud to provide the foundational software that enables the future of connected, AI-powered healthcare.”

As organizations increasingly shift toward AI-driven capabilities, RTI delivers the foundational software infrastructure to support this transformation. Most recently, RTI introduced Connext® AI, a suite of LLM-powered tools designed to build robust, scalable real-time systems. By offering intelligent assistance with system design, coding, and debugging, Connext AI accelerates time to market, streamlines development workflows, and enhances overall system reliability.

Notably, Connext plays a pivotal role in enabling NVIDIA Holoscan to integrate AI into existing healthcare systems—bridging legacy infrastructure with the future of intelligent care. Connext is also a foundational component in advanced surgical robotics, supporting more than 15 commercial programs that integrate diverse surgical elements. This versatility is exemplified in applications ranging from remote surgery—such as Monogram Orthopaedics’ world-first fully remote total knee arthroplasty—to powering minimally invasive platforms like Levita Magnetics’ MARS system.

“The healthcare industry requires smart, connected devices to process high-speed data and leverage interoperable applications and systems across components, platforms, and networks,” said Steve Johansson, Managing Director, MedTech Breakthrough. “RTI’s technology delivers on this need, providing a data-centric framework where distributed applications can seamlessly access data flowing anywhere in the system. We extend our sincere congratulations to the entire RTI team for taking home our ‘Healthcare Overall Best Connected Healthcare Solution’ award.”

To learn more about RTI in MedTech, please visit the RTI website: rti.com/healthcare.

About RTI

RTI is the software framework company for physical AI systems, with a mission to run a smarter world. RTI Connext^® provides the data architecture for over 2,000 designs in Aerospace and Defense, Medtech, Automotive, and Robotics – running in more than $1T of total deployed systems worldwide. Only RTI combines decades of technical expertise with industry-leading software and tools to develop smarter systems, faster. Learn more at www.rti.com.

Media Contacts:

Tiffany Yang
Public Relations, RTI

The MIL Network –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Xinjiang commemorates Soviet comradeship in anti-Japanese war through Red Tourism promotion

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

URUMQI, May 8 (Xinhua) — A wooden arch bridge, which has become one of the “calling cards” of Xinjiang’s red tourism, is still carefully preserved on the Baiyang River in Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The 85-year-old structure stands as a silent witness to the desperate story of how Chinese communists organized and protected a vital supply route for the Chinese nation from the Soviet Union through the northwest territory during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

After the Chinese people’s all-out anti-Japanese war began in 1937, Japanese militarists quickly captured China’s coastal regions, thereby cutting off communications linking the country to the outside world. At such a critical moment for the existence of the Chinese nation, the authorities were forced to organize a new route for the import of ammunition from friendly countries in the country’s northwestern inland region, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The first state to assist China in the all-out anti-Japanese war was the USSR, which supplied strategic cargo through Xinjiang by both air and road transport. In particular, cargo was sent by land from Almaty, after crossing the Khorgos border crossing, it passed through Ili, Dihua (present-day Urumqi), Turpan, Hami and other places in Xinjiang, and after leaving Xinjiang, it was delivered to the city of Lanzhou in Gansu Province.

The length of this transport route exceeded 1,500 km in the section within Xinjiang, and the above-mentioned arch bridge, called “Dabancheng”, became an essential passage on the way between Dihua and Turpan. The bridge was built and opened to traffic in 1940. Its length is 28.5 m, and the width of the deck made of wooden slabs soaked in special oil is 7 m.

According to published data, during the period 1937-1941, the USSR, with the help of this international corridor, delivered to the Chinese front more than 1,200 aircraft of various types, 82 tanks, over 2,000 vehicles, more than 4,300 artillery units and 14 thousand machine guns, as well as a large quantity of other ammunition.

According to Mai Yuhua, deputy director of the Research Institute of History at the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, of all the international aid and weapons received by China during the anti-Japanese war, 80 percent came from the USSR, and 90 percent of them were delivered to the front lines through Xinjiang. “Therefore, helping the local authorities of Xinjiang to protect and guarantee the continuity of this communication artery was one of the important tasks for the Chinese communists who were in Xinjiang at that time,” he noted.

Now, a tourist zone has been created around the Dabancheng Arch Bridge, which is included in the list of cultural relics protected at the level of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Here, visitors can view the arch bridge, learn about historical episodes of the Anti-Japanese War, and participate in various interactive activities, including a test of manually transporting strategic cargo in the absence of motor vehicles.

In recent years, the area has attracted more and more visitors, thanks to efforts by Xinjiang authorities to effectively utilize and promote red tourism resources. Such efforts have also resulted in the improvement and increased visitor numbers of other military and revolutionary memorial sites, including a museum dedicated to the Xinjiang Mission of the Chinese Communist-controlled 8th Army, which was once tasked, among other things, with the extraordinary task of organizing and protecting the “red” logistics route between Yan’an (Shaanxi Province, Northwest China) and Moscow, via Xinjiang.

Summing up the situation of Xinjiang’s tourism market during the recently concluded International Labor Day holiday (May 1-5), many online platforms reported a significant increase in the number of searches for museums, memorial sites, cemeteries of martyrs, and other red tourism sites.

According to data from the Urumqi City Museum, which also functions as the Urumqi Revolutionary Historical Memorial Sites Management Center, over 12,000 people visited various museums and memorial sites throughout the city every day from May 1 to 5 as part of the red tourism. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Landsat at Work: Satellites Help Extinguish Wildfire Risk

Source: US Geological Survey

Wildfire Risk to Communities (wildfirerisk.org) is a USDA Forest Service program that incorporates LANDFIRE data to help assess risk across the entire United States.

The LANDFIRE project uses Landsat satellite data to map wildland fuels. When combined with information about weather and population, LANDFIRE data can then be used to map wildfire risk.

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant program uses LANDFIRE-based wildfire risk data available on the Wildfire Risk to Communities website, wildfirerisk.org, a Forest Service program mandated by Congress in 2018.

“Since wildfirerisk.org launched in 2020, there have been 2 million views of the website,” said Kelly Pohl, associate director of Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit research group that helps manage the user dashboard. “LANDFIRE is a fundamental building block for what we do at wildfirerisk.org, and without it, it would be nearly impossible to continue to map wildfire risk for the country.”

LANDFIRE data is available at no charge on its website LANDFIRE.gov, a website at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.

This section from LANDFIRE’s Existing Vegetation Cover (2023) shows the four counties in Montana—Gallatin, Park, Stillwater and Carbon—that commissioned the Trans-County Wildfire Risk Assessment. Dark green pixels indicate tree cover; orange, herb cover; light yellow, row crops; and red or pink, developed land in towns and cities.

Another example of LANDFIRE data helping save lives and property comes from four Montana counties that commissioned an assessment of their risk for wildfires, paid for in part by a grant from CWDG. The four counties—Gallatin, Park, Stillwater and Carbon—all include parts of the Custer-Gallatin National Forest and touch several wilderness areas. Two of the counties border Yellowstone National Park.

Protecting homes and people’s lives amid so much forestland is a major concern, said Patrick Lonergan, chief of Emergency Management and Fire for Gallatin County. “Rarely does the main body of a fire burn into a community and burn the community down,” he said. “The main body of the fire produces embers because of the fuel makeup and the intensity of the fire, which then launches embers, starting spot fires and directly igniting buildings.”

Vibrant Planet, the company conducting the assessment, uses LANDFIRE data to map fuels—the plant life on the ground that might burn—and then adds more data like wind and weather conditions to predict what it calls Sources of Ember Load to Buildings.

Once potential sources of embers are identified, communities can target those areas strategically before a wildfire even starts in order to prevent homes and other personal property from burning.

Landsat Next is a trio of satellites with expanded capabilities that will orbit Earth more frequently than current Landsat satellites.

In 2024, the project started releasing annual LANDFIRE updates. “If you’re not making your decisions based on good, usable data, then you’re just sort of punching in the dark,” Brooks said. “The LANDFIRE datasets and the website are valuable tools to help you make smart decisions.”

LANDFIRE will gain even more insight in the future with the next generation of Landsat. A trio of satellites is planned to launch in late 2030/early 2031 as Landsat Next, capturing far more detail about features of the Earth’s surface more frequently than current Landsat satellites. “LANDFIRE welcomes every bit of data Landsat Next will provide, especially the expanded infrared capabilities that will help gauge the health of vegetation as well as potentially help differentiate additional vegetation types. I’m also hopeful new methods for analysis of fire damage will spring from the expanded bands keyed towards this very problem,” said LANDFIRE Project Manager Jon Dewitz.

Note: LANDFIRE products are generated at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center through an interagency partnership between the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, with The Nature Conservancy as an additional partner. Both Landsat and LANDFIRE data are available to the public at no cost.

Disclaimer: This web page contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other organizations. USGS is not responsible for the content of any off-site pages. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the United States Government.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI: Oma Savings Bank Plc – Managers’ transactions – Gillberg-Hjelt

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 8 MAY 2025 AT 16.15 P.M. EET, MANAGERS’ TRANSACTIONS

Oma Savings Bank Plc – Managers’ transactions – Gillberg-Hjelt
____________________________________________

Person subject to the notification requirement
Name: Gillberg-Hjelt, Irma
Position: Member of the Board/Deputy member
Issuer: Oma Savings Bank Plc
LEI: 743700LE1ECAPXC5UT18

Notification type: INITIAL NOTIFICATION
Reference number: 107543/5/4
____________________________________________

Transaction date: 2025-05-08
Venue: XHEL
Instrument type: SHARE
ISIN: FI4000306733
Nature of the transaction: RECEIPT OF A SHARE-BASED INCENTIVE

Transaction details
(1): Volume: 1188 Unit price: 0.00 EUR

Aggregated transactions
(1): Volume: 1188 Volume weighted average price: 0.00 EUR

Oma Savings Bank Plc

Additional information:
Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi

DISTRIBUTION:
Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Major media
www.omasp.fi

OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

The MIL Network –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI: How the Industry of Drones is Evolving Rapidly with New Trends and Technologies Emerging Regularly

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALM BEACH, Fla., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Experts in the drone industry are excited about its future. One such player said: “As we soar into a new era of technological innovation, drones are rapidly becoming a significant part of our everyday lives. From aerial photography to package delivery and from environmental monitoring to emergency response, drones are revolutionizing numerous industries.” They continued: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are at the forefront of drone technology advancements. Companies… are leading the way in this area with drones that can navigate complex environments autonomously using AI. The market for AI in drones is expected to grow significantly, impacting sectors like agriculture, construction, and security. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the market size for drones with AI is expected to grow from $2.1 billion in 2022 to $6.5 billion by 2027. The trend towards increased autonomy in drone technology is gaining momentum. Companies are developing drones that can perform complex tasks without human intervention, such as detecting leaks, inspecting pipelines, and even charging themselves. This increased autonomy is expected to boost efficiency and productivity in various sectors, including agriculture, construction, and logistics. For example, autonomous drones can be used for precision agriculture, where they can monitor crop health, apply fertilizers, and even harvest crops. The enormous commercial potential is why the global precision agriculture market size is expected to reach $19.24 billion by 2030.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT).

MarketsandMarkets added: “Drone swarming, the coordinated operation of multiple drones, is another emerging trend. Each drone in a swarm operates autonomously yet in harmony with the others, allowing the swarm to cover larger areas and perform tasks more efficiently than a single drone. Companies… are pioneering this technology, using it to create stunning light shows at live events. However, the potential applications of drone swarming extend far beyond entertainment. For example, in search and rescue operations, a swarm of drones can cover a large area to search for signs of life, allowing rescue teams to locate and reach victims more quickly. This technology could prove invaluable in the aftermath of natural disasters, where time is of the essence. The world of drones is evolving rapidly, with new trends and technologies emerging regularly. These advancements are opening up new applications and markets, from agriculture and construction to healthcare and entertainment. As we continue to explore the potential of these versatile machines, it’s clear that drones will play an increasingly important role in our future.”

ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Tests Proprietary Camera Enabling IQ Nano Drone Swarms for US Defense Applications and Blue UAS Submission – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that its subsidiary ZenaDrone is testing a new proprietary specialized camera that enables more efficient indoor applications such as inventory and security management, when utilizing IQ Nano drone swarms for commercial and US defense applications. The new camera prototype developed by its Taiwan component manufacturing subsidiary, Spider Vision Sensors, in collaboration with its certified electronics manufacturing partner, Suntek Global, will enable faster and more precise collection of data including multiple bar codes simultaneously scanned by multiple drones in a drone swarm. The company plans to apply for Blue UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) certification that lists and validates drones for military and government use.

“Our Spider Vision Sensors subsidiary in collaboration with Suntek Global, has helped us speed up development of customized and specialized cameras required for our innovative drone swarm applications for commercial and defense customers. This partnership will continue to be invaluable as we develop our NDAA-compliant supply chain and received Blue UAS certification which will allow military and federal agencies to directly purchase our drones.,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

Military and Defense departments use small autonomous indoor drones like the 10X10 inch IQ Nano for various applications such as inventory management, indoor building reconnaissance, search and rescue, training simulations, and explosives detection. ZenaDrone is also engaged in a paid trial which includes developing drone swarm applications for inventory management and security applications with a multinational auto parts manufacturer customer.

A drone swarm is a coordinated group of autonomous drones that communicate and work together using AI and real-time data sharing, to perform tasks collaboratively without direct human control. Drone swarms enhance efficiency, accuracy, automation, and performance compared to a single drone. Autonomous drones can rapidly scan thousands of bar codes or RFID tags per second with high accuracy, providing real-time visibility into inventory without disrupting workflows. A drone swarm can also cover more ground simultaneously, dramatically reducing inventory audit times and manual labour while providing near-total inventory visibility.

An AI drone swarm for indoor security and surveillance enhances coverage, response time, and efficiency by autonomously patrolling large areas, detecting threats, and providing real-time situational awareness. Unlike stationary cameras or human patrols, drone swarms can dynamically adapt to security breaches, track intruders, and coordinate movements to eliminate blind spots. AI-driven analytics enable them to identify anomalies, recognize faces, and detect unauthorized activity with high precision, reducing false alarms and improving security decision-making. Their autonomous nature minimizes human labor costs while ensuring 24/7 monitoring in complex environments like warehouses, data centers, or commercial facilities.

The ZenaDrone IQ Nano is available in 10×10 and 20×20-inch sizes, designed to perform regular and frequent inspections such as bar code or RFID scanning, facility maintenance inspections, security monitoring, 3D indoor mapping and other applications inside a warehouse, distribution, or plant facility. It is designed for autonomous use featuring integrated sensors, high-quality cameras, data collection and analysis including AI methodologies. Weighing 1.5kg and with a flight time of at least 20 minutes before utilizing the automatic battery recharging station, it is designed for hovering stability and safety with obstacle avoidance capabilities.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

In Additional ZENA News: ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Expands Ireland Office Offering Drone as a Service (DaaS) Including Precision Agriculture to a European Market Growing at 28.6% Annually – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces it will be expanding operations and opening a new, larger office and its European Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. The new hub will facilitate the Company’s drone sales and DaaS drone services — including precision agriculture solutions — to a growing UK and European market. The Company anticipates the official grand opening during the summer of 2025.

Strategically located near Dublin Airport and accessible via all major motorways, the new office location will serve a growing customer base in Ireland and enable growth across Europe, catering to agriculture as well as construction, renewable energy — including wind and solar farms — golf courses, racecourses, and warehouse and logistics.

“Expanding our Dublin office and establishing a European HQ marks a new chapter in our strategy to scale our drones and DaaS offerings globally while servicing the fastest growing agricultural drone markets located in Europe. Our AI-powered drone solutions are designed to boost crop yields while reducing operational costs and provide smart, data-driven insights — empowering crop monitoring and health assessment, nutrient and resource optimization, and profitability,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

The European agricultural drone market was valued at approximately USD 4.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 43.23 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.58% according to Market Data Forecast . This growth is fueled by the adoption of drones for crop spraying, mapping, pest control, seeding, and remote sensing, which enhance productivity and resource efficiency in farming. Growth is also supported by favorable European government policies and a strong focus on sustainable farming practices.    Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.zenatech.com/newsroom/

Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

To meet the emerging air threats of today and the rapidly evolving threats of tomorrow, AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently announced Titan 4, the next generation of its battle-proven, warfighter-trusted Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technology. Titan 4 is a smaller, lighter, more powerful, highly extensible Radio Frequency (RF)-based solution to detect and defeat Group 1 and 2 drone threats.

Titan 4 is portable and mission-adaptable—supporting mobile, dismounted, or fixed-site use—and can deploy in under five minutes to identify and neutralize threats, creating a protective dome around personnel and infrastructure. Titan 4 is 17% lighter and 73% smaller than its dual-chassis predecessor, now integrated into a single compact chassis as compared to its dual-chassis predecessor. It offers nearly 250% more transmit power with 540W of total output over six RF bands to address both current and emerging threats. For enhanced airspace awareness, AV has integrated its Titan-SV system within Titan 4 to provide operators with AI/ML-backed passive, long-range precision threat detection.

Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS), a leading provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions, recently announced it has secured a $3.4 million order for its Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAS system from renowned European defense contractor for their governmental end client. This marks the initial deployment of the Iron Drone Raider in Europe and represents a major milestone in the global expansion of Ondas’ counter-UAS business.

“Ongoing geopolitical instability and the rapid proliferation of hostile drone technologies have intensified the urgency for effective counter-UAS capabilities across NATO-aligned and partner nations,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas. “This order reflects the rising global demand for autonomous aerial defense systems that can be rapidly deployed, scaled, and adapted to modern threat environments. Iron Drone Raider delivers a differentiated solution for military and homeland security operators charged with safeguarding critical infrastructure and civilian populations from increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.”

Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN), a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the defense and commercial sectors, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, recently announced a significant testing milestone in their ongoing collaboration—the completion of an autonomous, cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.

During this most recent testing, which leveraged Red Cat’s Teal 2 and Black Widow drones and the Palladyne™ Pilot AI software, each platform operated using onboard edge computing and constrained communication protocols without reliance on centralized infrastructure to communicate. The system enabled real-time, distributed detection and tracking of multiple dynamic and static ground objects—including humans and vehicles—in different regions of interest, providing a single operator with comprehensive situational awareness. The two companies previously announced a successful two-drone flight operation in January 2025, and Palladyne AI announced a single-drone testing scenario in December 2024 to autonomously identify, prioritize, and track terrestrial targets.

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The MIL Network –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Basic research advances science, and can also have broader impacts on modern society

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bruce J. MacFadden, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Florida

As charismatic animals, sharks can stimulate interest in science, research and technology. Florida Museum (Kristin Grace photo)

It might seem surprising, but federal research funding isn’t just for scientists. A component of many federal grants that support basic research requires that discoveries be shared with nonscientists. This component, referred to as “broader impacts” by the National Science Foundation, can make a big difference for K-12 students and teachers, museumgoers, citizen scientists and other people interested in science, while also helping the scientists themselves give back to the taxpayers that fund their work.

Basic research, often done because of a curious scientist’s interest, may not initially have a direct application, like developing the smartphone or curing a disease. But these discoveries build important knowledge in the natural sciences, engineering, mathematics and related disciplines.

The U.S. is a world leader in scientific and technological innovation. On the federal level, the National Science Foundation, or NSF, is one of the primary funders of this kind of basic research. In 2022, the federal government funded 40% of all basic research done in the U.S., with the remainder coming from other sources, including the business sector.

During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to position the U.S. for strategic and economic leadership worldwide. He commissioned physicist Vannevar Bush to develop a vision for the future of U.S. science and technology. His 1945 report, “Science: the Endless Frontier,” became the blueprint for government-funded basic research. In 1950, Congress created the National Science Foundation to promote the progress of science, advance national prosperity and welfare and secure the national defense.

Vannevar Bush historically said that ‘without scientific progress, no amount of achievement in other directions can insure our health, prosperity and security as a nation in the modern world.’
Office for Emergency Management Defense

During the early decades of NSF, the 1950s until the late 1990s, proposals were mostly evaluated based on the quality of the science and the scientists doing the work. But then, the foundation created a new system, still in place today.

Thus, each NSF research proposal is now peer-reviewed based on two criteria: intellectual merit, or the quality and novelty of the science and track record of the research team, and “broader impacts” – related activities that disseminate the discoveries to general audiences.

Intellectual merit is about advancing science knowledge and innovation, while broader impacts describe why people who aren’t scientists should care, and how society could benefit from this research.

Another pragmatic aspect to broader impacts is that taxpayers pay for these activities, so it’s important for them, and Congress, to understand their return on investment. These broader impacts activities communicate about, and engage the public in, research in a variety of ways.

While researchers usually understand the intellectual merit of their NSF-funded projects, these broader impacts can be challenging to characterize.

Broader impact activities

Since childhood, I’ve had an interest in paleontology — the study of fossils and what we can learn from them about prehistoric life. This field is primarily basic research — adding to knowledge about ancient life. As a scientist conducting basic research, I’ve felt the responsibility to give back to society through broader impacts activities, and I’ve seen many of the benefits that these activities can have.

My primary area of interest has been extinct mammals of the Americas, particularly the 55-million-year-old record of fossil horses on this continent. For years, NSF supported my discoveries about this interesting group of animals. Fossil horses are a classic example of evolution — in books and museum exhibits.

A fossil horse from the Ice Age on display at the Florida Museum. Fossil horses are a classic example of evolution — both in books and museum exhibits.
Florida Museum (Mary Warrick photo)

Many people are generally interested in horses, so it’s easy to attract their attention with this charismatic group. They also are often surprised to learn that prehistoric horses were native to North America for millions of years. Then, during historical times, they were first introduced by humans onto the continent about 500 years ago.

Over the years, my research team has used grant-funded broader impact activities to teach people about these fossil horses and our research. One example included working with K-12 science teachers to develop lesson plans. The students measured fossil horse teeth and explored how their teeth adapted to feeding on grasses. We’ve also developed exhibits on fossil horses and studied how they communicate science to museum visitors.

Science teachers have joined our fieldwork to collect fossils along the Panama Canal during its recent expansion. I’ve given many talks and collaborated with fossil clubs and their members throughout the U.S. We’ve also promoted projects like Fossils4Teachers where fossil collectors donated their fossils and worked alongside K-12 teachers to develop lesson plans that were implemented back in the teachers’ classrooms.

The Fossils4Teachers professional development workshop, hosted by the Florida Museum in 2017, is one example of a broader impacts activity.
Florida Museum (Jeff Gage photo)

We’ve also been able to activate peoples’ interest in other animal groups — such as fossil sharks. Through our Scientist in Every Florida School program, we gave middle school teachers study kits with real fossil shark teeth. Their students learned to identify the shark teeth and then trained computers to identify the teeth using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence.

Students study fossil shark teeth through a program at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
Florida Museum (Megan Higbee Hendrickson photo)

Broader impact outcomes

Broader impacts activities like these can have a variety of short- and long-term outcomes. More than 50 million people visit natural history museums in the U.S. annually. Activities that promote museums can reach large numbers of people in their pursuit of lifelong learning.

More broadly, participatory science interest groups can allow people to learn about science while informing basic research projects. Within the field of natural history, a few popular examples include the Merlin app and the iNaturalist app, both of which have millions of active observers. Merlin encourages people to submit their observations of birds, and iNaturalist accepts sightings of plants, animals and fossils, which researchers can carefully vet and use as data.

Many of the K-12 teachers my team has worked with report that they feel more confident teaching the new science content that they learned from our collaborations.

Interestingly, although much of the research on science professional development focuses on the teachers, scientists also report a high level of satisfaction and improved communication skills after working with these teachers, both in the field and back in the classroom.

Basic research benefits for society

Generations of U.S. scientists have greatly benefited from federal investments in basic research. In the 75 years since NSF’s founding, the organization has funded hundreds of thousand projects to advance science and technology.

These have supported basic research discoveries and also the training and career development of the tens of thousands of scientists working on these projects annually.

Many prominent scientists have gone on to be productive leaders and innovators in the U.S. and internationally. NSF has funded more than 268 Nobel laureates.

While NSF invests in the discovery of foundational knowledge about the natural world, funded projects have not traditionally had direct applications for societal benefits. To be sure, however, many of NSF’s projects – for example, on lasers and nanotechnology – started out as curiosity-driven basic research and ended up with immense applications for technological innovation and economic prosperity.

For example, mapping the Earth’s ocean floor’s magnetic properties during World War II helped scientists understand how the crust moves and mountains form. This led to the plate tectonic revolution in the earth sciences. This line of basic research then led to an important application: predicting the probable location of high-risk earthquake zones worldwide.

None of these downstream applications and benefits to society would have been realized without basic research discoveries supported by federal agencies such as NSF, and the further value added through broader impacts activities.

Bruce J. MacFadden has received funding from the U. S. National Science Foundation.

– ref. Basic research advances science, and can also have broader impacts on modern society – https://theconversation.com/basic-research-advances-science-and-can-also-have-broader-impacts-on-modern-society-252983

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Navy nurse reflects on rewarding temporary assignment to Guam

Source: United States Navy

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam – Lt. Jodi Carroz, an Emergency Department Registered Nurse stationed at Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms recently returned from a temporary assignment at U.S. Naval Hospital Guam in April, bringing with her a wealth of experience, clinical knowledge, and unforgettable memories.

MIL Security OSI –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Russia looks to frame war as an inevitable part of life on Victory Day

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jennifer Mathers, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Aberystwyth University

Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the second world war on May 9. But while the cameras will focus on the assembled ranks of elderly war survivors watching the military parade in Red Square, Moscow, the focus of senior officials is on Russia’s children and young people.

Patriotism in Vladimir Putin’s Russia is built on exaggerated respect for key moments in the country’s history. These moments have been chosen to create a specific story about Russia. This is a story about Russia’s military might, the ability of its citizens to endure almost unimaginable suffering for the motherland, and the inevitability of victory over its enemies.

Victory Day gives the Kremlin a chance to retell that story. It also allows the state to assure Russians that they, like their ancestors, will be victorious in the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. Moscow describes this war as the modern-day equivalent of the fight against Nazi Germany.

With fewer witnesses to that historic victory still alive, the Kremlin’s ability to manipulate society by drawing on this important memory depends on the willingness of the next generation to embrace the state’s official history. And Russian political figures are worried that young people nowadays are disconnected from their heritage.

A poll conducted in December 2022 by the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre found that 76% of Russians aged 14 to 24 believe they have a good understanding of the history of their country. But the results of an alternative poll from June 2023 show that 70% of Russia’s young people do not know enough about their nation’s history.

Vladimir Medinsky, the chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission of Historical Education of Russia, reflected on the issue at a forum on how to interest young people in Russian history in 2023. He said: “What needs to be done to make our children interested in history? To make interesting historical performances, to make historical films.”

Russia’s leaders seek to address this perceived disconnect through military patriotic education. This is a system of surrounding children and young people with state-approved messages about Russia’s historic military victories and the role of its armed forces in making their country respected – and feared – around the world.

These messages are conveyed through textbooks and in lessons at school. But one of the challenges for the Russian state is finding ways of making this material attractive enough for young people to want to engage with it.

Putin himself has indicated that he understands this challenge. At a meeting with the Russian non-profit society Znaniye (Knowledge) on April 30, the Russian president argued that “it is crucial to have both an opportunity and skills to communicate the truth about past years and decades: sincerely, compellingly and – if I may say so – in a way that truly resonates”.

Patriotic youth groups are an important vehicle for delivering military patriotic education in fun and exciting ways. These groups organise activities including games and competitions, as well as more immersive activities such as role-playing and re-enactments. These activities are designed to create a deeper engagement with the events of the past.

One group, Victory Volunteers, emphasises collecting personal accounts from war veterans to add to the historical record. It also actively brings young people and war veterans together so that the heroes of future wars can be inspired by real-life stories of wartime heroism.

Listening to these first-hand testimonials is intended to enable young people to deepen their understanding of the experience of war, including its hardships and tragedies.

Yunarmiya (Young Army) is probably Russia’s best-known military patriotic youth group. It works with young people to develop their appreciation of history. But its focus on dressing its members in uniforms and training them in practical military skills has captured the attention of the world’s media.

These skills include military-style activities such as marching in formation, learning how to assemble and disassemble weapons, and how to fire them.

The Russian state also supports military patriotic education through the presidential grants fund. Hundreds of charities, youth groups and local societies apply to the fund twice a year, with the winners reportedly chosen by Putin himself.

Many of the successful applications involve activities to raise young people’s awareness of historical memory, especially the memory of war.

In 2022, for example, the historical reconstruction club Volnitsa received funding to organise a memorial march “in the footsteps of the winners” to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Bogucharsky region of Russia (near the border with Ukraine) from Nazi occupation.

The successful application emphasised the emotional intensity of the reenactment and its educational effects on young participants.

Events like the 80th anniversary of Victory Day have a significance for the Kremlin that goes beyond the speeches, parades and pageantry of the day itself. They are part of an effort by the Russian state to shape the expectations and behaviour of the next generation of its citizens.

By encouraging young people to feel a personal connection to Russia’s history of war, Moscow hopes to ensure that society will regard war as an inevitable part of life. The scale of this effort suggests that Putin and other senior officials anticipate the need for a society willing to make sacrifices so that Russia can achieve victories in future wars.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Russia looks to frame war as an inevitable part of life on Victory Day – https://theconversation.com/russia-looks-to-frame-war-as-an-inevitable-part-of-life-on-victory-day-255751

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Road workers have improved the area around 20 monuments in historical regions

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

In the reunited regions, for the anniversary of the Victory, road workers are tidying up the areas near memorial sites along the roads that are under repair. For example, the state company Avtodor alone has improved about 20 such spaces, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.

“From the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the capture of Donbass was one of the goals of Nazi Germany. Despite the fierce resistance of the Red Army, the Nazi occupation of the cities and villages of the mining region began in October 1941, and lasted until the end of September 1943. In memory of these and other events, many memorials have been created in the territory of all four new regions. Road workers are also involved in their improvement. In the DPR, the area around six monuments has been tidied up, in the LPR – around nine. In the Zaporizhia region, work was carried out along the Tokmak-Chernigovka highway,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

In Mariupol, the villages of Vasilyevka and Razdolnoye, as well as other settlements of the DPR, sidewalks were paved. In Chervona Polyana of the LPR, the territory was cleared, concrete surfaces were repaired and painted, damaged reinforced concrete slabs were replaced near the monument to Soviet soldiers near the village of Verkhnyaya Pokrovka, and parking areas were arranged.

“For us, this is not just landscaping work. The roads that we repair in the reunited regions are a connecting thread that preserves an important part of the historical memory of our country. We remember, are proud and cherish the feat of those who built the roads leading to Victory. Now it is our turn to build a peaceful future for the country. For residents of the regions and those wishing to honor the memory of the soldiers, we have arranged sidewalks and parking pockets, and also carried out landscaping of the territory near the memorials,” added Vyacheslav Petushenko, Chairman of the Board of the State Company Avtodor.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence mark 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day

Source: Government of Canada News

Ottawa, ON – Today, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence issued the following statement:

“On 8 May 1945, Sir Winston Churchill took to the airwaves to declare the unconditional surrender of all German land, sea and air forces in Europe. The announcement marked the end of the Second World War in Europe, and a decisive victory for the Allied forces.

“For Canada, it meant the safe return of hundreds of thousands of troops that had fought so valiantly for freedom, democracy and global stability. Among them was Chief Warrant Officer Anton “Tony” Pearson, who enlisted in 1943 and helped liberate the Netherlands. He was in Oldenburg, Germany, with the South Saskatchewan Regiment when the German surrender was confirmed.

“The end of the war was a moment of triumph for Canada, Newfoundland, and their Allies, but also one of solemn reflection as the more than 45,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who made the ultimate sacrifice were mourned. These losses would not be in vain.

“Canada would go on to play a key role in shaping the post-war order, becoming a founding member of the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and advocating for diplomacy, international development, the protection of human rights and the prevention of future conflicts.

“At this time of increased volatility in the world, we must never forget that the peace won in the Second World War is not self-sustaining. It requires vigilance, cooperation, and a deep commitment from likeminded allies who believe in the values of democracy, justice, and human dignity. Through organizations like the UN and NATO, Canada is committed to collective defence, international cooperation and the pursuit of a world where conflicts are resolved through diplomacy rather than war.

“As Churchill himself declared on Victory in Europe Day, 80 years ago today: ‘Long live the cause of freedom!’

Associated Links:

80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – Veterans Affairs Canada

MIL OSI Canada News –

May 9, 2025